For East London’s citizens and visitors alike the Gonubie Boardwalk is more than a wooden walkway next to the Indian Ocean Heavy seas and storm surges struck the boardwalk high tides with strong winds caused structural damage it was an event that impacted the heart of the community and destroyed a precious asset that everybody enjoyed “With the waves and storms eroding the foundation of the boardwalk there were doubts that we would ever again be able to enjoy the boardwalk activities or use it to reach Gonubie Beach Faced with the prospect of the boardwalk’s permanent closure SUPERSPAR Gonubie jumped on board to help ensure that an asset to the community did not vanish into the ocean we decided it was possible to rehabilitate the walkway work went ahead with the understanding that the SUPERSPAR Gonubie would continue with maintenance after the completion of the project the boardwalk was once again fit for use by locals and a ‘must-see’ for tourists,” says Thompson with SUPERSPAR Gonubie still maintaining it the walkway is once again the centre of community activities and a place everyone can enjoy In addition to being a favourite recreational asset the restored boardwalk also contributes to environmental conservation It provides a controlled access point to the beach minimises people’s impact on the surrounding dune ecosystems and allows easy access to the estuary of the Gonubie River which is a favourite spot for birdwatching the Gonubie boardwalk and the involvement of the local store perfectly illustrates how our independently owned SPAR stores become integral parts of their surrounding communities,” says Mpudi Maubane Communications & Sponsorship Manager at The SPAR Group “We are proud that many of our store owners are at the forefront of taking action when a need is identified in a community and that their local involvement adds to the vision and mission of The SPAR Group as a retailer committed to uplifting the communities in which we operate” The SPAR Group Ltd (SPAR or the group) is a warehousing and distribution business listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) in the Food and Drug Retailers sector supports a network of independent retailers who trade under our brand through our distribution centres which is present in 44 countries and has 240 distribution centres that serve 13 million customers every day has 10 distribution centres and serves 3 768 retail members through 14 store formats every day For more, please visit www.spar.co.za or https://thespargroup.com Massmart’s Makro is set to open its 23rd store on April 23 this time in Gonubie This is the first time Makro has opened a new store since 2019 and this expansion brings the retailer’s signature value and convenience to a thriving local business hub known for its family-friendly atmosphere and holiday appeal for travellers Located in one of the Eastern Cape’s fastest-growing business hubs reinforcing the brands commitment to meeting customer needs Having been considered the most affordable retailer on an essential grocery basket for most of 2024 according to independent research Makro’s store will bring this offering of fresh and pantry food items to the community without compromising on quality which will be offered through a standalone liquor store adjacent to the main store customers in the area will also be able to shop through Makro’s app and website with an option to either order online and pick-up the next day or request delivery in two days Customers also qualify for free delivery for large items within a 20km radius of the store for in-store purchases “We are thrilled to launch our newest Makro store in East London,” Makro interm vice president Duval van Rhyn said “This is a move we have been working on for some time and one that has been highly requested by shoppers in the area We have created more than 200 new jobs within this store further contributing to the local economy.” customers can expect exclusive promotions and in-store experiences The store is set to become a key retail destination for local customers entrenching the brand’s presence in the Eastern Cape Business owners can reach out to us on 043-102-0401 for commercial solutions that are tailored to your unique needs visit www.makro.co.za or follow us on our social media platforms: and website in this browser for the next time I comment Recaptcha Change Image Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Home | South Africa Two people have died and another five have sustained injuries following a crash involving three vehicles on the N2 near Gonubie Farms in the Eastern Cape The crash involved a vehicle carrying five passengers The Eastern Cape Department of Transport Spokesperson Unathi Binqose says that two females from the vehicle died on the scene while the occupants of the minibus taxi escaped unscathed “Our thoughts and prayers are with those families who are spending Christmas alone and who have just buried or are about to bury their loved ones And this accident that happened on the N2 near the Gonubie adds to that pain from multitudes of families across the province.” is calling on drivers to be extra vigilant and extra cautious 11 people died in a head-on crash on the N2 in the Eastern Cape Proficient burglars can ransack an empty house in just two minutes but thanks to a united front by Gonubie SAPS crime in Gonubie has plummeted nearly 50% in the past month According to Stats SA’s Victim of Crime report crime levels in SA have surged with housebreaking/burglaries increasing by 4.6% — a reality that has manifested worryingly in Gonubie of late as more homes are left unoccupied for long periods while owners are buying and selling or looking for tenants Burglaries are committed by a person who unlawfully breaks into a building with the intention to commit crime on the premises and in the last year and a half a home on Bower Street that was unoccupied in the wake of the owner’s passing was completely ransacked Within two weeks all the valuables that could be sold for scrap including copper wiring were removed and the rest of the house was completely vandalised This trend was rising in frequency within Gonubie local security companies and the community came together armed with a camera network to put an end of the spate of burglaries of unoccupied homes This collaboration has seen reported crime incidents to Gonubie SAPS decrease by 50% between mid-July and mid-August which has earned Gonubie SAPS detective services a commendation for July A recent housebreaking incident in Gonubie resulted in the theft of two laptops Gonubie Protect was able to identify and track the suspect The suspect’s movements were traced by four cameras until he was picked up by a taxi on 12th Avenue The footage identifying the suspect was shared on a community WhatsApp group Gonubie SAPS located and arrested him in the Gonubie township the suspect admitted to the crime and led authorities to the location where the wedding band and jewellery were hidden The suspect also directed authorities to the East London CBD The suspect remains in custody and will appear in court shortly SAPS Eastern Cape spokesperson Col Hazel Mqala said that crime in Gonubie is effectively being fought because of the good relationship between the Gonubie SAPS and the community Mqala said: “Gonubie police are already exercising such good relations even extending their services to the far end of their policing area “Members are being deployed on certain days of the week for service delivery  and crime awareness is conducted to local schools The station commander is always present during when services the community “These developments have enabled the SAPS to target Gonubie’s predominant crimes and fraudulent schemes targeting the elderly “Residential burglary is caused by non-reporting of the owners’ long absence from the property to the police Owners also leave their windows open for their pets and in that way “These burglaries also enable the theft of copper pipes which has forced Gonubie SAPS to increase monitoring of compliance at scrap yards and second-hand shops.” Gonubie Protect is assisting SAPS in actively expanding its CCTV camera network to monitor all streets and avenues in Gonubie for the identification and tracking of suspects as demonstrated in a recent housebreaking case where stolen items were successfully recovered within 24 hours Gonubie Protect relies on community donations and support from local businesses like Gonubie SuperSpar and Car Connection to sustain its patrols and keep residents informed through social media Ward councillor Valerie Knoetze highlighted that Gonubie faces frequent house break-ins and issues related to public intoxication and drunk driving with around 30 incidents occurring monthly She noted that factors like feeding schemes and the lack of nighttime police visibility achieved through collaboration between Gonubie SAPS has significantly improved the sense of safety in the community Knoetze emphasised the need for increased police visibility particularly through stop-and-search operations and beach patrols to curb alcohol-related problems Red Alert are part of a few security companies who perform patrols with Gonubie Protect and Gonubie SAPS daily which has also contributed to the decrease in reported crime in the community Red Alert’s Brett Harvey said: “Residents play a key role in the fight against crime Providing us with very important information so we can do our work “Whether it’s a crime in progress or just seeing something suspicious going on A devastating three-vehicle collision on the N2 near Gonubie Farms in the Eastern Cape has resulted in two fatalities and left five others injured The accident involved a sedan carrying five passengers two women from the sedan were pronounced dead at the scene while the minibus taxi passengers escaped unharmed Eastern Cape Department of Transport spokesperson expressed condolences to the affected families “Our thoughts and prayers are with those families who are spending Christmas alone and who have just buried or are about to bury their loved ones This accident that happened on the N2 near Gonubie adds to that pain from multitudes of families across the province.” Transport MEC Xolile Nqatha has urged drivers to exercise increased caution especially during the festive season when road traffic incidents tend to surge Nqatha emphasized the importance of vigilance to prevent further tragedies on the province’s roads This incident is part of a concerning pattern of road accidents in the Eastern Cape several fatal collisions have been reported including a head-on crash on the N2 near Dutywa that claimed 12 lives  and another accident involving a minibus taxi and a sedan on the N2 between Hemingway and Gonubie resulting in four deaths and multiple injuries  The Eastern Cape Department of Transport continues to appeal to all road users to adhere strictly to traffic laws and remain alert to reduce the alarming rate of accidents in the region 🔴Central News Weekly Edition 087🔴 Download the Latest Edition | Top Story: “Building ‘The Ngwathe We Want’:Dr Mothamaha Drives Cost-EffectiveSolutions with New Fleet Acquisitions” https://www.magzter.com/ZA/Central-News-Pty-Ltd/Central-News/Newspaper/All-Issues Central News also offers Sponsored Editorial Content To place your advert on our platforms (Print Newspaper or Digital Platforms) : Please email : sales@centralnews.co.za For Business Related:business@centralnews.co.za Newsroom:Send your Stories / Media Statements To: newsroom@centralnews.co.za Office Administrator:admin@centralnews.co.za Social Media Platforms (@centralnewsza) : Linkedin Local artist Nathan Sanan is using his talent to restore positivity to East London through vibrant murals inspired by the city’s natural beauty recently completed a stunning mural of a crowned crane in Gonubie which took six months of planning and five days to complete was part of the Project Yeyethu initiative led by Sune Moolman and Debbie Theron of Pam Golding Properties “The painting of this mural was a solo effort Sanan’s murals aim to beautify East London with another notable work being Your Journey celebrating the diverse life journeys of Eastern Cape residents Moolman and Theron said they collaborated with Sanan to create the mural to celebrate Gonubie’s natural beauty and shape the community’s image in a positive light The pair said: “Given the that the mural is on the reservoir in Gonubie Main Road the canvas brings the town’s heritage to life and adds a touch of art and culture to the lives of the residents “This makes the Gonubie Main Road a scenic journey through the heart of the town Gonubie Bird Sanctuary chair Tony Wessels said the mural represented the heart and spirit of the sanctuary which hopes to restore its wetlands and continue its role as a conservation hub the Gonubie Bird Sanctuary reopened this year after 30 years of neglect The NPO hopes to secure public and private investment to create a water estuary and flood plains emphasised the importance of preserving the sanctuary to protect local bird populations and provide education on conservation issues Buffalo City’s aging wastewater treatment infrastructure is crumbling under the weight of rapid development leading to frequent sewage spills into vital water bodies like the Gonubie estuary concerned locals are taking action with the formation of the Gonubie Estuary Management Forum (GEM) To develop a comprehensive estuary management plan (EMP) aimed at safeguarding the struggling Gonubie estuary from further degradation and ensuring its long-term protection Gonubie estuary forms part of the Amathole ecologically or biologically significant marine area (EBSA) which includes the biggest single collection of significant and special marine features in all of SA and provides a habitat for juvenile fish The Gonubie estuary is also a popular tourism site and used for boating and a launch site for ski boats going to sea it has become susceptible to increasing pollution from sewage overflows which if left unchecked could result in permanently negatively altering the estuary’s water quality This will have deleterious effects on the estuary including fish deaths Gonubie estuary is also vulnerable to modification by illegal bank stabilisation jetty constructions and high levels of fishing the Gonubie estuary is considered by ecologists as only lightly transformed with a B ecological status but this means its preservation is dependent on it not experiencing any further deterioration especially from sewage overflows If the city were to allow the Gonubie estuary to fall into permanent ruin this would be a huge blow to local tourism the GEM executive said its members are launching the forum and pursuing the development and implementation of an EMP for Gonubie estuary because now these steps are vital for the estuary’s survival The Coastal Management Act requires all estuaries to have EMPs which are then implemented by the department of economic development environmental affairs and tourism (DEDEAT) with the assistance of the estuary management forum extremely valuable and easily damaged ecosystems and an EMP will not only protect Gonubie estuary but surrounding Amathole marine life In addition to the EMP the GEM also plans to assist in the eradication of alien plants and illegal poaching form anti-litter campaigns and establish water quality monitoring groups with community members The GEM’s Mandy Uys said: “We are in the process of developing a GEM community group that will keep eyes on the estuary and on possible pollution sources “We have been offered the use of a database to record and track incidents so we will be able to keep track of incident reports and responses “We also really want to work co-operatively with Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM)  as seen this collaboration work on other estuaries the EMP will provide guidance on managing estuarine water quality and quantity and on means of ensuring that the activities taking place in the estuary do not impact further on the estuarine ecology and biological productivity “It’s important that the public understands that care of the river estuary and ocean is a mutual responsibility and relies on their interest Researchers for the African Journal of Aquatic Science in 2020 found that nutrient enrichment caused by wastewater discharges and urban runoff is the main cause of deteriorating water quality in SA estuaries In areas where urban runoff and effluent discharges are dominant the water quality of the affected estuary is categorised as severely or critically modified Researchers have also found that overlapping mandates in government departments create confusion over responsibility for estuarine water quality management which results in the disappearance of money that should be allocated for upgrades of essential infrastructure like wastewater treatment works It is recommended that engineering solutions must be found at local level to reduce and improve diffuse wastewater inputs into estuaries The GEM is officially launching on October 17 at 6pm at Gonubie Bowling Club and all interested in contributing to the plans are invited the Centre for Local Community Rights (CLCR) will be back in court to pursue an order against the BCMM that seeks to put an end to intermittent sewage overflows into the Gonubie River caused by a frequently backed up pump station down the road from Gonubie Primary School CLCR aims to see that the municipality implements a back up power supply at the pump station and separate the sewage overflow facility from the stormwater system as load-shedding or power outages caused by vandalism for longer than three hours causes the sewage overflow to flow into the stormwater and eventually into the river The increasing deterioration of Gonubie’s roads brings into question the success of the Buffalo City’s Municipality’s (BCM) Operation Valazonke programme which in May had committed to filling 30,000 potholes across the metro by the end of the financial year to the tune of R89.8m Run in collaboration with Sanral and the department of transport Operation Valazonke started locally in August 2023 and saw the municipality commit to resealing potholes in the worst affected areas by the end of July residents in Gonubie dispute the success of the programme as they believe there has been no visible change in their area have been deteriorating further in the intervening months Gonubie Ratepayers’ Association (GRPA) chair Henry Smit said that ratepayers were furious and outraged at the state of the roads in Gonubie instead of repair the roads as some potholes are half a metre deep on the edges and interior of some roads “The poor state of the roads in Gonubie has started to negatively impact the property market of the location and property owners who are looking to sell their houses can’t because prospective buyers are shocked by the size of potholes on the roads.” One resident said: “It is so costly and frustrating because you end up not wanting to pay your rates you can’t get away from rates but it feels like I’m being robbed every time I must change my tyres because of a pothole.” Some residents have made efforts to claim for damaged tyres from the Buffalo City Municipality Gonubie ward councillor Valerie Knoetze stressed that Gonubie residents pay among the highest rates yet receive what She confirmed that in following up on when the potholes would be addressed in urgent areas in Gonubie she was told that the seaside community was last on the priority list She said: “Residents take the issues to council all the time and ask the officials for help but the bottom line is that we do not have the funds for maintenance and BCMM is not taking us “Some citizens have taken matters into their own hands and sought out temporary solutions by filling treacherous potholes with gravel and more potholes in the community will be filled in this way throughout August and the residents supplied the cold asphalt It is not ideal as we pay for a service and then need to do our own thing to feel like we received service delivery.” Enquiries for an update from the municipality regarding the progress of Operation Valazonke in Gonubie have been made but are yet to be answer by the spokesperson GO!&Express uncovered the distress amongst Gonubie learner drivers who were appealing for community assistance in filling potholes on their test route which forces them to swerve into oncoming traffic and fail their driving tests due to National Road Traffic Act violations Driving schools in the area also face significant financial burdens from vehicle damage and lost business leaving learners and instructors in a challenging situation the residents and staff of Ebenezer Frail Care Home in Gonubie were treated to an unforgettable day thanks to the generosity of Dezzy’s Pub and its community a non-profit assisted living facility for the elderly relies on charity and community contributions led by its owners and the Dezzy’s Pub family donated over R120,000 worth of therapeutic equipment to the care center This equipment will significantly improve the mobility and wellbeing of the residents Shelley’s contribution was met with heartfelt applause and gratitude for his generosity and the families of Ebenezer’s residents from Cape Town These funds were used to provide a three-course meal for the residents The remaining funds will be used through vouchers at local retailers with Spar assisting with essential food items and Pep Stores providing clothing and bedding from as far as Chintsa and other suburbs outside of East London These patrons volunteered their resources and time without expecting anything in return The day was further enlivened by Gonubie Protect complete with blazing sirens and cars filled with donated items created an unmatched atmosphere of festivity Their participation added to the joy and excitement of the day Entertainment for the day was provided by DJ Julius whose performances brought smiles and even had some residents dancing His rendition of Hallelujah was particularly moving bringing forth deep emotions from those in attendance A special thanks goes to matron Engela Korff and her staff at Ebenezer Frail Care Home and unconditional care for the elderly residents have touched the hearts of many the Dezzy’s Pub family has plans to continue their support for Ebenezer Frail Care Home Upcoming fundraisers include a second-hand clothing sale and a small flea market The Dezzy’s Pub family urges the community to continue supporting this vital project The children living in the settlements just outside of Gonubie are vulnerable to abuse took taking life-saving services to the children last week Jika Uluntu hosted the lift campaign fun fair at Gonubie Farmers Hall August 14 Jika Uluntu director Ziyanda Xaso said they noticed a lack of services being delivered to the community and decided to partner with other organisations to fill the gap with the goal of benefiting the children and strengthening the bond between caregivers and children in the community She said: “The women and children in settlements outside of Gonubie are susceptible to gender-based violence we try to provide the services we can and try to connect the young adults with job opportunities to strengthen household economic standing.” She stated that they were trying to provide a holistic service within the family and the community that mainly aligns with Jika Uluntu’s four pillars: education Bumb’ingomso project co-ordinator Esethu Sotheni said to be part of the campaign as the community is one amongst others who have been neglected by local government for a long time “Jika Uluntu is the first organisation to addressing the needs of impoverished children in Gonubie’s settlements to have everyone here as different organisations providing social support is great “It also shows that NGOs need to collaborate more with each other to provide bulk social services to impoverished communities “Part of the work we are doing here today is not only to provide tangible help to the children but also to expose them to opportunities to unlearn harmful stereotypes about their identities especially where this concerns gender “This is part of our Ikhwelo Lethu programme which focuses on 10 to 14-year-olds and promotes gender equality and equitable relations “This is because boys demonstrate strong beliefs in harmful stereotypes that lay the foundation for the violence aimed at women and girls that we see in our communities.” Phelokazi Baleni from the Living Hope organisation was also invited to be part of the campaign and offered clinical services such as HIV testing for both adults and children Baleni said the campaign was vital because it built on the work NGOs like Living Hope had been doing in isolation Sinesipho Zweni from Kwelerha said that it was important to have these events involving social services NGOs in the community as many of the young people in the area do not have identity documents and the community is unaware of relevant authorities to contact when faced with threats to their wellbeing and GBV Zweni added: “It’s also great seeing that the children are being given an opportunity to play and be happy.” expressed her gratitude to Jika Uluntu for its assistance for impoverished and neglected communities I felt so much relief because I got help with everything I needed “I lived with a child who had no birth certificate and Jika Uluntu helped get the certificate for the child “This organisation has also been involved when the roof of my house got damaged by winds but Jika Uluntu and (the department of) social development came to visit and looked through the house and promised to help which is more support than we are usually given,” Fukula said The 8-track ambient-leaning album will arrive on 6th September Gonubie (aka dj raresoftware) has announced her debut album Arriving on 6th September via Métron Records’ sub label Small Méasures the 8-track album marks the South African musician’s producer debut having previously DJed under the raresoftware moniker Whilst her work behind the decks leans towards underground dance music ‘Signals At Both Ears’ explores Gonubie’s newfound love of ambient music and expansive chords “combined organically through a process akin to painting.” she said: “It is the spatial nature of sound through both its structural layering of components and its ability to craft the feeling of space intangibly that I carry with me in both music making and sharing.” Profits from physical album sales will be donated to Bridges for Music a non profit organisation focused on empowering young talent from under-served communities ‘Signals At Both Ears’ is available for pre-order here The 2nd Gonubie Scouts Group travelled to Gqeberha through to George from September 31 to October 8 as part of a tour to meet new Scout groups introduce recruits to other members and share ideas The Scouts were tested on an array of skills such as map work the Gonubie Scouts met up with the 1st Walmer Scout Group from Gqeberha for a leadership course knot work and Morse code with the Plettenberg Bay Scouts and met with the Knysna Scouts to learn axe safety They then completed a hedge maze activity with the Sedgefield Scouts at Redberry Farm said: “It was one of the biggest events the Eastern Cape Gonubie has ever accomplished and was planned entirely by the Scouts of 2nd Gonubie scout troop “We learnt valuable skills that will stick with us throughout our lives This experience built many strong relationships within all the troops we managed to visit “This was a tour that none of the 11 scouts and two adults that attended could possibly ever forget.” Chris Pretorius from Makhanda-based owl rehabilitation farm as well as interested residents from retirement village Settlers Rest are seeking to restore the Gonubie Bird Sanctuary to its former glory and to lease the premises from the municipality in 2024 the Gonubie Bird Sanctuary provides important nesting ground for many birds including the crowned crane due to municipal neglect of the sanctuary over the years it has fallen into disuse and the number of birds nesting there has decreased who is respected locally for his rehabilitation work with owls believes the space needs to be revitalised and used for the rehabilitation of owls and other birds who has been involved in rehabilitating owls since 2007 said education and awareness campaigns on animal welfare was vital as superstitions and misbeliefs had proliferated in the wake of Covid-19 Pretorius believes more owl nests are being raided because of the myth that consuming the birds’ eggs prevents contracting Covid which had decreased the population of various owl species compounded by the use of pesticides and insecticides for the prey that owls consume and other interested people have raised R600,000 to begin repair work at the sanctuary given the sanctuary remains under the municipality’s control said her predecessors had tried to use funds from their ward-based budgets and private businesses and residents had tried to intervene to save the sanctuary it had become home to vagrants and overrun with bushes Knoetzer said it was intended to have the fence replaced two years ago through the ward-based budget but a quote of R480,000 from a BCM supplier was not accepted Knoetzer said the fence repair had been moved to the ward priority list and would only be attended to in the 24/25 budget due to funding She added: “I would love to see school children and bird lovers using the sanctuary for what it is And to have it listed as a place to go on the tourism calendar But this cannot happen till we start with the basics “We thought that someone running a tea garden may be a good match for the bird sanctuary “The cutting of the pathways has fallen on residents as BCM does not have the funds to do this Pretorius visits schools and communities across the province to teach people about owls and their welfare Pretorius’ passion for owls began after he found a previously domesticated owl Uiltjie was successfully returned to the wild Pretorius and his family have rehabilitated almost 100 owls most of which had been partially domesticated by people or hit by cars Pretorius’ work involves feeding and providing medical care to the owls that arrive at his farm he stressed that more awareness work needed to be done to change the misbeliefs about owls This article may contain graphic and/or adult content unsuitable for minors and sensitive readers East London police are investigating the murder of a 34-year-old man who was found in his vehicle in Gonubie Main Road on Saturday with stab wounds to the upper body said at first it was thought that an accident had occurred after the vehicle had collided with a tree He said the deceased was found at around 5.30 in the front seat of the vehicle and was alone Kinana said there were no signs at the crime scene that shots had been fired The name of the deceased has not yet been released In separate incidents in East London recently Fort Hare University official Petrus Roets was gunned down in his car at the Gonubie off-ramp on 19 May a 34-year-old businessman was shot and killed in Frere Road in the early hours of the morning Police have not reported any arrests yet in these case an exclusive podcast on the life of Vicki Terblanche Dive into the expansive world of motoring with Naresh Maharaj Join Mark Marshall as he shares his extraordinary encounters with everything from bees to reptiles i East London once again has a stunning candidate in the running for Miss SA as Homba Mazaleni from Gonubie takes to the stage to compete for the crown later this year Mazaleni is a qualified sport scientist and student intern at the University of the Western Cape She has a bachelor’s degree in human movement science and an honour’s degree in sport science and she’s currently pursuing biokinetics The 23-year-old is excited to be taking part in the prestigious pageant and is using her new platform to change lives in SA “I’ve seen how much positive influence a person can make when they become a part of the Miss SA family “It’s inspirational how much these women achieved especially when it comes to the social causes they advocate for I want to build on my ideas and meet people who will remodel the way that I think “I would use this platform to bring light to the current state of accessibility of health and wellness in low-income areas “The most important concept for me coming into this competition is being a social servant Access to health in SA has always been difficult especially for those who are socially and economically disadvantaged,” Mazaleni said Mazaleni is passionate about making a change in the community especially in the realm of recreational therapy and uses these skills as part of work she does in under resourced areas with people who cannot access physical rehabilitation services She also volunteers at a stroke rehabilitation centre in East London the Miss SA pageant is symbolic of her journey towards self-acceptance She said: “The shame I used to carry about being queer and androgynous is something I am not always proud of Queerness is multifaceted and should have been my source of pride growing up and not my shame “My message to young girls is to own who you are and to undermine limitations society has placed on you big and as bold as every dream you have had.” The top 12 finalists will be featured on a TV show called Crown Chasers a series aimed at showcasing the finalists on their journey as they compete for the crown Finalists will be placed in real life Miss SA scenarios that include several challenges based on the four pillars of Miss SA The crowning will take place at Sun International’s flagship venue When you drive down the gravel road that leads to the Rieger Hires offices in Gonubie In one of the old silos just beyond the fence “Bathurst has got the biggest pineapple; we’ve got the biggest pot plant,” said Rieger Hires founder and owner Garry Rieger The history behind the tree is a fascinating one and stretches all the way back to the end of the Anglo-Boer War The land on which the tree currently stands was originally gifted to Sir Edward Yewd Brabant he oversaw the Ndebele forces employed by the British SA Company in Fort Victoria during the First Matabele War from 1893 to 1894 He later served as a Brig Gen of Britain’s forces in the Eastern Cape during the Second Anglo-Boer War where he led a force of soldiers to hold the Jammersburg Drift in Wepener against the Boer forces led by Gen Christiaan de Wet Brabant and Dalgety managed to hold out for 17 days before reinforcements helped them secure victory Brabant built the first structures on the land including a house made with wood salvaged from shipwrecks it was bought out from him years later by Cooper & Nephews Inc,” Rieger said the British pharmaceutical company was involved in experimenting on new methods of pest control for livestock is often credited as creating the first successful sheep dip in 1852 It was Cooper & Nephews Inc who constructed the silos in 1932 a type of animal fodder made from maize stalks then it would get too much air in it and go mouldy “So what they used to do is they would mix up barrels of molasses and they would pour it onto the stalks as they moved through the chaff cutter so they would be easier to compact “Then they used to put donkeys inside the silo with a sling and someone would lead the donkeys around to compress the silage,” said Rieger The next chapter in the story came when Rieger’s father purchased the land as part of his dairy business The old vertical silos were abandoned for more efficient trench silos which could be compressed with a tractor instead of the elaborate donkey set-up Rieger and his brother Rowan bought the farm from their father “After my dad passed away about 30 years ago The wild fig now stands over 6m tall and strikes an imposing figure Rieger said there had been much interest shown by visitors and he was considering turning it into a local attraction “I would be quite happy to put a gate there for people to come and see,” he said Two people have been killed after a motorist lost control of his vehicle on the Gonubie Main Road in East London A spokesperson for Provincial Traffic Unathi Binqose says the single-vehicle accident happened at midnight on Friday He says the driver of a BMW SUV failed to negotiate a curve and veered off the road It is alleged that the vehicle was travelling from the Gonubie Hotel towards the N2 The driver and his male passenger died on the scene A case of culpable homicide is under investigation at Gonubie SAPS The names of the victims will be released once their next of kin has been informed Gonubie traffic department learner drivers are appealing to the community to assist with refilling potholes on the learner driver test route that is forcing them to swerve into oncoming traffic Swerving or encroaching onto the right-hand side of the road into oncoming traffic to avoid a pothole is not permitted in terms of the K53 test as it brings into offence the National Road Traffic Act The Gonubie traffic department test route incorporates Oceanway Road Gonubie ward councillor Valerie Knoetze said her office had been trying to assist but without transport from the municipality her team was unable to reach Oceanway Road and had only been able to fill potholes within walking distance of the traffic department because they use wheelbarrows to transport the tar Knoetze said her team was not provided with any resources in 2023 including spades and tar and the resources were donated to her office by a community member Ward councillors have been set a steep target to fill 200-300 potholes a month however Knoetze said they had not been supplied with resources or training to do so Some ward councillors are paying for tar out of their own pockets and using their own vehicles while others are forced to use sand to fill the holes Knoetze said: “To address the potholes on the driver’s test route the residents will have to take matters into their own hands and buy tar and fill it ourselves which shouldn’t be happening because Gonubie residents are paying rates at a steep cost “How are people supposed to pass their driver’s tests if they can’t even drive straight and are forced to swerve “Pothole filling is a waste of money as its currently being performed because we are just dumping tar into the holes without compacting them and our teams have not been given sufficient training on how to fill the pothole in a lasting way.” Paul van Zyl of Paul van Zyl’s Driving School said Gonubie is plagued by potholes Van Zyl said he has spent thousands on constant repairs of tyres and wheel rims damaged on Gonubie roads He said that both in Gonubie and on Wilsonia’s Voortrekker Road the learner drivers are forced into a dangerous position facing oncoming traffic to avoid potholes Eugene’s Driving School said: “Most learner drivers get nervous when they see the state of the road because they don’t know how to react “The learner drivers failed for trying to swerve to avoid the potholes which put a financial burden on them to rebook for the test they check the state of the roads at different traffic departments and then opt to do the test with a driving school out of town at Stutterheim or Qonce and even as far as Gqeberha which is a loss of business for our local driving schools and traffic departments “The roads also cause damages to our cars which is an extra expense because we lose income while our vehicles are in for repairs “We are forced to teach learners now to that if there’s a single pothole they must avoid it and if there are several they need to drive slowly which impedes traffic “The holes in Wilsonia and Gonubie are so big and the damage they cause are huge financial burdens for a driving school to carry.” Last year the municipality launched the Valazonke pothole patching programme costing R89,8m to address the scourge of potholes across the city The municipality believes the programme is of critical importance to extend the life span of the deteriorating roads network however the patching cannot address the urgent need for the road to be completing resurfaced In a report from the BCMM infrastructure services the municipality said it would secure additional funds to invest in the roads however did not indicate a deadline or an estimated amount needed or how many potholes the Valazonke programme had managed to address by October 2023 We’re proud to announce that our newly rebuilt NSRI Station 21 in St Francis Bay is now officially open we held a blessing ceremony for two new state-of-the-art rescue vessels: the Spirit of St Francis III .. Gqeberha — The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) today officially celebrated the blessing of its latest state-of-the-art Offshore Rescue Craft (ORC) at a ceremony held at the PE Deep Sea Angling Club building Subscribe today for information about NSRI rescues The Gonubie Police Station was the site of much excitement on Monday July 26 as the police welcomed two new members to their team The two Belgian Malinois dogs were acquired by community member Amanda Timms along with dogs for other units in the province Timms is the organiser of a number of local WhatsApp groups dedicated to crime prevention “I saw an ad on Facebook that there were two rottweilers available in Germiston so I contacted [the owner] and she said she’ll think about it I contacted her again and she decided to give them to me “I decided the SAPS needed more dogs so I asked the crime groups to give me funds and then I approached the woman for another two dogs and she said she had Chucky and Laci.” While Laci was a bit camera-shy on the day Chucky was more than happy to share his excitement with the other attendants and couldn’t wait to give an enthusiastic greeting to everyone he saw BCM executive deputy mayor Helen Neale-May said the arrival of the two dogs was important for the local police “This is quite an auspicious occasion where the community has come together to raise funds through Amanda Timms’ community groups on WhatsApp,” she said “The metro is about to have a metro police force which will assist with the rural patrols “They [the dogs] will go a long way in assisting the police forces of the metro and the province.” Please check your email and enter your one time pin below:   Open in Gmail Sorry there was an error loading the audio Overflowing sewer pump stations have caused pollution of the Nahoon River Bonza Bay River and Bonza Bay Beach in East London The spills led to the closure of Nahoon Beach and Bonza Bay Beach last week.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Nahoon Estuary Management Forum chairperson Christo Theart said Nahoon and Bonza Bay beaches were closed because of sewage spills from sewer pump stations “The reasons for spills from sewer pump stations given by the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) are power failures because of load shedding failure to pump or [the] pump [has been sent in] for repairs and [the] pumping schedule… needs adjustment,” he said The Nahoon Estuary in the Eastern Cape was closed after a sewage spill last week (Photo: Supplied) The guidelines for pump stations are that all pump stations must have an emergency sump with a storage capacity of four hours pump stations must be fenced with a high-security gate with locks and sensors and all pump stations must have at least two pumps — if one fails pump stations have to have “a telemetry system that warns the municipality of any failure so they can respond immediately and a standby generator at each pump station should the electricity supply fail” He said if all these measures were in place no sewage spills would occur.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads “We are taking the municipality to court for every spill from a sewer pump station so that the high court can instruct the municipality to put these measures in place for that pump station,” Theart said He said the municipality did not have any of the requirements for pump stations in place “The only thing they have in place is an overflow into a stream or river or stormwater pipe to deal with overflows This is illegal in terms of the Water Act.” He said the forum would take the municipality to court over sewage spills into Gonubie Estuary we will ask the court to order BCMM to put measures in place in terms of their requirements for pump stations as they are making no attempts to do it themselves BCMM has not adhered to the court orders we obtained against them with regard to the sewer spills into Nahoon Estuary at Torquay Road and Nompumelelo We have instructed our attorneys to file for contempt of court,” Theart said BCMM Ward 29 councillor Valerie Knoetze said the Gonubie River and beach were affected by the sewage spills Ward 18 councillor Jason McDowell said sewage was continuously flowing into the Nahoon River through the settlements of Cambridge and Nompumelelo Knoetze said she called the municipality after load shedding to check whether the pump stations had been switched back on “They say they don’t have backup generators and as soon as they put generators they get stolen or get vandalised It is a huge problem in all our pump stations and we have sewage running into the ocean,” she said Knoetze said the situation had worsened over time “There is also another flow from a housing complex in Beacon Bay and sometimes from Hemingways the pipeline often overflows because the system is not maintained and also the design of the system is not big enough for the number of houses and toilets that are connected to it,” he said “In Inhlanza River we have a pipeline that runs from Vincent Park which is overflowing and sometimes bursts due to lack of maintenance The pump stations that are not easily accessible — which are in the bushes — are vandalised,” he said Ward 28 councillor Frederick Pohl said Bonza Bay River and Bonza Bay Beach were affected by the sewage spills He said a combination of factors caused the sewage spills but in many cases they were caused by dilapidated infrastructure and residents putting material in toilets that caused blockages “Sometimes I feel for the municipality as they have to amend the mess that the people make but sometimes the fault is that they don’t upgrade our infrastructure and they have made no attempt since load shedding started The only way to prevent the spillage is to upgrade our pump stations with a sump to provide for load shedding,” said Pohl Councillor Sue Bentley said the Inhlanza River “The smell is one of the reasons given by the organisers of the Iron Man as to why they have chosen not to come back to East London as the Inhlanza River is part of their route,” she said Bentley said one of the problems was that the sanitation department was under-resourced Visit Daily Maverick’s home page for more news “The turnaround time for an overflow or blockage should be 24 hours but because they are under-resourced with no jetting machines sometimes the turnaround time can be days or weeks “They don’t have the resources that they used to have. They used to have three sections with eight vehicles each, each vehicle had 20 rods, but now each section has one vehicle with 15 rods in two sections and eight rods for the third section,” said Bentley.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads She said many jobs could not be done because of a lack of resources “They used to have their own jetting machines but they don’t have them any more the people that get the tender do the jetting but don’t have high pressure to clear the line Bentley said sewage spills were reported daily in the coastal part of the metro “There is no chance of getting a Blue Flag beach which could help promote tourism and create much-needed employment,” she said BCMM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya had not responded to Daily Maverick’s questions by the time of publication ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " GONUBIE residents and law enforcement officials ventured out onto the street and into the bush for two consecutive weekends recently to try and weed out criminals in the area The “bush walks” saw members of neighbourhood watch group Gonubie Protect join Buffalo City Metro Law Enforcement and members of the South African Police Services (SAPS) for their patrol into the bush to look for hideouts and getaway routes that criminals might use after they have committed a crime They also had the use of a drone that was owned and manned by member André Oosthuizen helping the search with video footage from the air “We want to familiarise ourselves with the bushy areas around Gonubie so that we know exactly where to go looking if a crime happens,” Gonubie Protect chairman Daniel Ellis said during the first walk during the weekend before last The bush raid follows the murder of Ellis’s friend who was stabbed to death during a home invasion by two men in Gonubie on January 2 About 30 men and one police dog combed the bushy area from the Gonubie Point area of the beach Towards the end of the almost two-hour patrol the police dog came to a standstill next to a car that was parked in one of the open areas where fishermen park and patrons usually braai loose dagga and one larger package of dagga here There’s also a lot of loose cash; this looks like a dealer,” Warrant Officer Dirk Brenkman said at the scene “The stash has a street value of about R300 and the man was arrested on the spot for possession of marijuana.” The patrol also found in the bushes a wallet belonging to an Australian man All the cards were still in the wallet and all the money had been taken When one wing of the patrol spoke to a man sitting on the rocks he said that he had also weeks earlier found a wallet in the bushy area “The wallet had some blood on and no cash in it “ The police might think that I was involved,” said the vagrant Ellis and deputy chairman of Gonubie Protect said these finds on their first patrol would just make them more eager and see day and night patrols intensify in the area “We cannot have a community living in fear; one that is riddled with crime The group currently consists of 180 members with 45 people who patrol in shifts throughout the night in Gonubie about 14 vehicles belonging to Gonubie residents joined security companies who had asked to join the weekly show of force patrols to Kings Mall before driving along the beachfront through Mzamomhle On Saturday (9 September) the NG Kerk Gonubie Bazaar will be held from 9am to 2pm at the church in Jabela street entertainment and good old-fashioned church bazaar treats like curry-and-rice is a growing phenomenon across the world and this year it’s coming to East London Stephen Hammond is the ambassador of the South African Pickleball Association in the Eastern Cape and on January 27 he will be hosting a local launch of the sport at the Gonubie Sports Club He is currently training to become one of the first certified pickleball coaches in the country Hammond discovered pickleball during Covid-19 and fell immediately in love with it pickleball entails volleying a plastic ball using short handled paddles over a low net The game can be played in pairs on a level court either indoors or outdoors and the point is for pairs or individuals to score points and win sets faster than the opponents The main objective is to keep the ball in play Hammond said that pickleball is an ideal sport to introduce to the city because its implement is low cost and its benefits will feed into more traditional sporting codes He said “The plan this year is to launch pickleball among pre-schoolers and junior level schoolers to develop hand-eye co-ordination skills I have liaised with local coaches in tennis and badminton to teach the young ones pickleball to develop their basic skills to a level at which they are ready to play sports such as tennis and so forth “We are seriously trying to rebuild Border tennis because there is such a huge gap within the junior tennis division “There is a huge difference between pickleball and paddleball because paddleball is played at a very fast pace and resembles tennis “Pickleball is designed to be played by anyone “The ball is perforated and so can be hit with less strain than a tennis ball and the paddle is lightweight so it can be managed by anyone irrespective of age “Bowling amongst older people is very popular in East London but isn’t for everyone I feel that we were lacking options for sport that older people who used to play tennis and squash can do now “I believe pickleball is the best alternative as it’s not heavy on the body but you do get a good workout and its good for cardio even just for half an hour.” The Gonubie Sports Club pickleball launch will run from 2pm onwards and the day includes friendly games tutorials and equipment and court space available for use as well as live music by Peter Nel Contact: 076-571-8730 for more information A bus carrying Gonubie High School pupils were involved in an accident on the N2 close to the on ramp coming from Gonubie this morning (Tuesday) the pupils are not badly hurt and have just sustained some scratches On the Nubians Unlimited Facebook page a few people said that a Spar truck hit the bus carrying Gonubie High pupils out of Gonubie A bystander said on Nubians: “All kids seem ok Looks like a someone went through barrier from opposite side of highway Traffic backed due to bystanders and everyone going slower to see what’s happening.” Gonubie High teachers have arrived on the scene and are tending to the pupils Teacher Marcel Corson said: “Some learners have been taken to hospital as a precaution The rest are shaken up but seem to be okay.” Corson said that he and the deputy principal were on the way to the scene at the time of posting will bring you more on it as we receive information Gonubie-based Ebenezer Frail Care Home is asking for help from the community as they are facing challenges with maintaining the facility and residents “I started the home in 2002 out of desperation to care for my sickly mother as well as my brother who had Parkinson’s disease “The business just snowballed and today we have three homes and 45 residents of which 15 suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease,” matron Engela Korff said “I have started my plea for help in 2006 and have had three articles in the newspapers over the years  “I’ve had many meetings phone calls and applications with the municipality in order to obey all the rules and regulations required “We have the opportunity to develop now in this area We are situated in a cul-de-sac with seven houses and there are also two vacant plots which can be developed into retirement cottages bed-sitters and a much needed frail care centre.” Korff said: “We aim to have an Alzheimer’s centre which is to be completely separated from the frail care By Bhongo Jacob East London police have opened an inquest after a woman died when her home went up in flames in Gonubie this week Walter Sisulu University student Athini Konyana died after being rescued from her mother’s burning house Traumatised neighbour Paulos Soboyisi said builders from a neighbour’s house had heard screams coming from Konyana’s home around 1pm “The builders saw smoke coming out of the house and ran to see what was happening the main gate was locked and they tried to jump from the neighbour’s house to get inside.” He said the builders were able to rescue Konyana’s son Nkazimlo who was near the door when the builders gained entry “One of the builders took the young boy outside “The builders managed to break the windows and they pulled Athini out,” said Soboyisi He said the 28-year-old was sleeping at the time of the incident “Athini was sleeping inside and the domestic worker went next door to ask for flu medication – and that is when the builders heard her [the domestic worker] screaming out Athini’s name.” “We searched around and we cannot see anything that could have led to the fire there was no gas and they had no electricity in the house “The pots also had food in them but seemed as if they were still going to cook.’’ Konyana was doing her final year of a building and construction national diploma at WSU’s Chislehurst campus Close friend Andrea Botha said the Gonubie community had shown solidarity in helping the family Athini and I had just spoken a few days before … and my daughter loved her like a sister “On my Facebook page you can see how the community is really stepping up with help from all aspects – to help them rebuild their home Police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Hazel Maqala said an inquest docket had been opened She said the fire had started inside the house and that police suspected an electrical fault Mqala confirmed that Konyana had been taken to Frere Hospital MARIMBA MAGIC: Gonubie Primary School’s Major Marimba musicians performed a toe-tapping set at the ICC in East London recently The band will be taking part in the International Marimba and Steelpan Festival being held in Johannesburg : SUPPLIED the Ideal Butchery in Cambridge on Queen Street closed its doors for the last time on March 3 the butchery was the last shop on the block at the time until it expanded to owning half of the available retail space the shop employed up to 50 people but towards the end of its closure Its closure is a result of a combination of factors including load-shedding and the remnants of pandemic trading restrictions Following the announcement of its closure on Facebook dozens of messages of support from local patrons have flooded in said “I am very sorry to hear they have closed They always gave me good meat at a reasonable price but the prices increased after Covid and I presume that’s why they have lost some of their customer bases “Their service was always good and I am really surprised they have gone into liquidation.” -To read more, please visit DispatchLive on: https://www.dispatchlive.co.za/news/2023-03-10-end-of-an-era-as-ideal-butchery-goes-under/  owner and founder of Rieger Hire in Gonubie further cemented a decades-long partnership on Monday when he donated a number of rugby and soccer balls to the Mzamomhle-based Sea Birds rugby team Rieger has been sponsoring the team for the nearly 40 years Rieger has provided the team with uniforms and equipment he sent the team to Cape Town to take part in a rugby tournament “We do quite a lot for the community — we’re always there to help,” Rieger said He said sport was important for local communities since it provided opportunities and kept the youth occupied “I believe keeping them busy stops the nonsense that goes on,” he said Sea Birds member Andile Dambile said they were greatful for all the support Rieger had given them over the years This man [Rieger] has been our source of everything,” he said Dambile said that Rieger was busy helping to fence off a rugby field in Mzamomhle for the team The East London Biker’s Club hosted a successful Anti-Pants Anti-Poaching ride from Beacon Bay to Gonubie on Sunday swimming shorts and even costumes to take part in the ride from Spargs parking lot in Beacon Bay to the beachfront in Quigney and then on to the Gonubie Hotel where they stopped for some refreshments “A few were a bit shy to drop their pants but once they noticed others arrived with no pants we ended up at the Gonubie Hotel to have refreshments and were warmly welcomed by the friendly staff “It was great fun for all the bikers and the public “A few people there to have breakfast asked us what it was all about and we informed them of the charity run “Some of them also asked us for bank details to donate toward the anti-poaching fund.” The mass charity ride included 23 bikes with pillions which also took place in Pretoria at the same time was aimed at raising awareness of endangered giraffes and the Giraffe Conservation Foundation “This is something that has been popular in Johannesburg for many years “This initiative has raised awareness and funds for rhinos “When we were presented with the opportunity to do a similar ride in East London “We are the only bikers’ club that raises funds for animal awareness,” said Rehse ● The East London slot car club will have racing every Thursday evening from 7pm Come and see the little miniature slot cars on a new repainted 42m track For further information contact Hennie on 082-448-3221 ● Meals on Wheels are in dire need of volunteers They are looking to have volunteers available either mornings only or a full day once a week Volunteers need to have their own transport to and from the centre at 19 Smartt Road in Nahoon Contact Jeni on (043) 735-2166 or e-mail jeni@mealsonwheelsec.org.za ● A warm welcome is extended to all people over the age of 21 who love dancing Please join the EL Dance Club tonight and every Thursday night at the EL Bowling Club – entrance is between the new Jumbo complex and the big sports fields ● The Nahoon Estuary Nature Reserve is a must for those who love beautiful places Bird enthusiasts will enjoy sitting quietly in the two bird hides watching blue duikers and birds at the birdbaths and eating seed are welcome to join and are given a gate key that allows them to visit 24/7 ● The Beacon Bay Bridge Club is looking for players interested in playing social bridge every Tuesday and Friday between 1.30pm and 4.30pm They meet at the Eden Worship Centre at 10 Coad Road For further information contact Olga on 083-650-6653 or (043) 735-1736 or Heather on (043) 748-1465 ● Go and join the Scottish Country Dance Club They meet every Tuesday from 4pm to 5.30pm in the Ham’s Club Free lessons given.R10 per person per session For queries call Nookie Middleton 084-693-2836 or Merrylees Burgess (043)721-0375 ● If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at the Gonubie Community Policing Forum please contact Dewald Knoetze on 082-822-1035 or Fred Minty on 072-515-8646 ● Alcoholics Anonymous Gonubie meet at the Baptist Church in Watsonia Crescent at 7.30pm Contact Jan on 082-850-6918 or Nick on 072-831-7663 ● Come Party and dance to great music with Quentin at the Comrades Club tonight from 8.15pm till late Please call 083-255-3468 before 2pm Friday for table bookings ● The CCSA Caravan Rally will take place at Natures Rest from today until Sunday For more info please contact Sharonne on 083-318-3853 ● Dance to Donovan at Cambridge Sports Club at 7pm Cash bar and kitchen available and secure parking ● Join Masithethe’s (formerly Life Line East London) for their “Fusion of Cultures” fundraising event assisted by Hudson Park’s Port Rex Lions Cubs at 2pm to 5pm They will feature the talented Kerry Hiles as emcee Hudson Park Primary School’s drama club and choir including a raffle for a weekend at Morgan Bay Hotel and loads more The event takes place at The Venue at Hemingways Tickets are R100 and are available by calling 043-743-7266 or 084-091-5410 ● The Gonubie Saturday flea market takes place every Saturday morning in front of the municipality from 8am to 1pm – weather permitting For enquiries please contact Glenda on WhatsApp or call 082-714-3390 ● Dance to the music of Time is Tight at the Gonubie Farmers Hall at 8pm Cash bar and eats and dance the night away For more info please contact Janita 072-385-4360 or Gladys 083-968-1069 ● Yellowwood Forest in Morgans Bay will have their Forest Fare Farmers Market every Saturday morning You can find a selection of local farm fresh veggies For more information or to book a stall call (043) 841-1 598/084 5822 601 or e-mail info@yellowwoodforest.co.za ● The Lavender Blue Pineapple Walk takes place every Saturday morning at 6.30am (weather permitting) Meet Yvonne in the Lavender Blue parking every Saturday at 6am for a lovely walk and enjoy breakfast afterwards You will be taken on a 10km circular walk past farms and along farm roads Take the usual goodies with you and some money for a hearty breakfast afterwards ● Tea in the Trees have a market on the first and last Sunday of the month from 9am-2pm www.teainthetrees.com or on the Facebook teainthetrees ● The Flea Market Esplanade (in front of Osners Hotel) now on every weekend ● The Beacon Bay Ratepayers and Civic Association are having their next meeting at 6.15pm at the Bonza Bay Bowling Club The guest speaker will be Keason Naidoo on “Updating the Bonza Bay Local Spacial Development Framework Plan” See us on Facebook at “Beacon Bay Ratepayers Association” ● The East London Group of Alcoholics Anonymous meets at The Catholic Church Hall in Caxton Street Contact Morris 073-870-4486 or Pieter 082-094-0959 or (043) 722-4033 ● Alcoholics Anonymous Kayser’s Beach Group meets at the Chapel Hall at 7.30pm ● If you are living with someone who is drinking or perhaps you are experiencing problems from having lived with an alcoholic for you at the Al Anon Family Group Meeting held at Cambridge Methodist Church Hebbes Street every Tuesday at 7.30 pm Contact Elsie (043)721-0483 or 078-628-6311 ● There will be a presentation on “African leafy vegetables” by Annegret Mostert of the Wildflower Society and Dr Callistus Bvenura of the University of Fort Hare to a joint meeting of the Wildflower Society the Border Historical Society and the Friends of the Museum in the Courtenay Latimer Hall at the Museum at 7.30pm ● Alcoholics Anonymous Cambridge Group meets at the Methodist Church ● The pipe band meet at 6.30am at the Abbottsford Christian School For bagpipes call Robert on 082-897-8571 and drumming: Stephen 076-308-0912 ● The EL Bridge Club welcomes all who wish to play “Duplicate Bridge” Provision has been made for new players to begin at a “starter table” in order to be guided in the use of bidding boxes Come along with a partner on any Tuesday and/or Saturday at 1.15pm to the Berea Gardens Dining Hall Karen 082-856-0400 or Kathie 083-651-0418 for info ● Narcotics Anonymous meet every Wednesday and Friday from 7pm-8pm at St Nicholas Church ● There are times you just need someone to talk to Masithethe Counselling Services are hosting a “Live Laugh Support Group” to create a space where people can meet Masithethe (formerly LifeLine) will provide the space and facilitate the process To be held every third Wednesday of the month at 6pm at the Masithethe Centre at 3 St James Road For more info call 043-722-2000 or Whatsapp: 084-091-5410 and Facebook ● Please join us at our bridge drive in aid of Carel du Toit fund Make up a table of four and bring your own cards and scorers to the Berea Gardens dining hall at 1.45 pm Tickets R100 per person from Maree Connell 082-657-3941 At Gonubie Primary School’s Founders Day held recently this year’s matrics who were in Grade 7 at Gonubie Primary in 2012 came to celebrate the school’s 87th birthday Liwa Madlingozi and Lwanga Ndzamela Picture: SUPPLIED ‘Moomen’ will brave chilly waters to raise funds The East London Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa (CHOC) Cows will brave the chilly Atlantic Ocean from March 24 to 27 in a bid to raise awareness and funds for the organisation The group of 13 open water swimmers will swim from Robben Island to Big Bay Beach in Bloubergstrand Frere Hospital paediatric oncologist Barry Van Emmenes said the swim has always been on his bucket list “The butterflies in my stomach are humming already about the swim “ My inspiration are my patients and raising awareness for CHOC,” Van Emmenes said The distance the group will swim is just over 7.4 km Van Emmenes grew up in Cape Town and swam in the cool waters although he has not done a swim of this distance before “We will have a skipper and lookout and there will be scheduled breaks every 25 minutes There’s also the option to be pulled in should the sea conditions not be great,” he said The target for the swim is R30,000 with the group having already achieved more than half at the time of gong to print The CHOC Cows is a group of people on a mission to make a difference to children with cancer and their families The group will wear their distinct cow pattern swimming costumes and trunks for the event CHOC regional manager Debbie Kleinenberg said they were thrilled to finally have a bunch of Cows in the city “We’re super excited as its something we’ve dreamed of for a long time and honoured to have Barry [Van Emmenes] on board There’s also the amazing relationship between CHOC and the Frere Hospital oncology unit,” Kleinenberg said visit https://www.givengain.com/ap/barry-vanemmenes-raisingfunds-for-the-cows/ UPDATE: All CHOC fundraising events (both internal and external) and CHOC Cow sporting activities have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic