Adele Louw

A youth organisation of Khutsong is ready to educate young people about various conscientious issues in the area.

"Our organization, Khutsong Youth Friendly Service, was formed 12 years ago by young people of Khutsong", says Mr Tumisang Kgahlane, one of the young people who organizes the group’s activities. According to Kgahlane, the group was formed because people in the community were concerned about the effects that HIV/Aids might have on youngsters.

"We saw that there is a need to bridge the age gap, as most youths do not want to go to older people for advice", says Kgahlane.

For this reason, young people became involved so that they could learn how to assist their peers in the battle against the disease.

The group soon started with sexual education and life skills training in schools, an activity that continues until today.

"We are running several programmes such as outreach actions to educate and motivate the youth and also organize games."

"We saw that there is a need to bridge the age gap, as most youths do not want to go to older people for advice", says Kgahlane.

The organization has also joined forces with the department of education in a literacy programme.

Its activities have become some well-known that it has, amongst other things, received a certificate of recognition from a former mayor.

According to Kgahlane, the organisation’s activities are much-needed because there are many problems in the area, one of which is a growing suicide rate among young people in Khutsong. He says that several young people have taken their own lives during the past year because they could not cope with what was happening around them. Most of the suicides took place during spring and summer.

This problem led the organization to develop an awareness programme about depression and suicide.

It is also linked to national organizations such as LoveLife, Lifeline and the depression and anxiety support group, to which local youths with problems can be transferred.

Although the group previously ran their activities from an office inside the Goldfields clinic in Khutsong, it had to move after this clinic was closed because of ground instability earlier this year.

It currently uses the Khutsong main clinic as base.

People who want to know more about the organisation’s activities, cam contact Kgahlane at 018 783 0634 or 083 867 7964.

Cerise du Plooy

A devastated family suffered the loss of a father and husband on Sunday evening.

Mr. William Kinnear (41) lost his life in an accident involving his motorbike and bicycle on the Raadskraal road at approximitly 16:30.

Kinnear, a keen biking enthusiast, had gone for a drive, to no specific destination, when the collision took place, claiming his life, as well as the life of a cyclist who has not yet been identified.

According to his wife, Mrs Chandré Kinnear, her husband only developed a love for biking recently. "I always joked and said that he was going through a midlife crisis."

She says that Kinnear was always up early in the morning, and then he would get on his bike and just drive.

Kinnear lived in Carletonville for nine years, after moving here in 2001. He was first employed by AngloGold’s Savuka mine, and then Mponeng mine. He was later transferred to AngloGold Ashanti’s corporate office in Johannesburg, where he worked as the Planning Manager for the company’s Africa Region.

Success in his career comes as no surprise, as his wife describes him as a hard worker.

The first thing Chandré mentions about her soul mate, is the fact that her and William were born just 45 minutes apart, on the same day in the same hospital in Klerksdorp. "And our parents weren’t even friends," she says. "I was my parents’ first child, and he was his parents’ late-born child."

It was only in 1998, almost 11 years after meeting one another however, that these two discovered that they were born in the same hospital, less than an hour apart.

They met in 1987 in a music store where Kinnear worked. His wife laughs and says that she was originally dating a friend of his, but that he stole her away after they had met. On 2 September this year, William and Chandré would have celebrated their twelfth wedding anniversary.

The two arrived back from a romantic trip to Mauritius on Sunday, 11 July, just a week before Kinnear passed away.

When asked to describe the person her husband was, Chandré cries and says, "How do you begin to describe such a magic person?"

"What you saw was what you got with William," she tells. "He was a very straight forward man who cared a lot and would do anything to help people out wherever he could." "He was a genuine, loyal person."

One of Kinnear’s friends described him as ‘an extremely special person and real gentleman."

Although the two had no children of their own, Kinnear is survived by his two children, Kyle (19) and Candice (18), who are also devastated by the loss of their father. Kyle’s Facebook profile was flooded by messages of sympathy from friends, making it evident that this young man and his father were very close.

Besides too many friends to count, of which many started off as colleagues and ended as friends, Kinnear is also survived by his brother and sister, Kathy and Sidney. Kinnear’s funeral will take place out of the Klerksdorp Morester Hervormde Church at 11:00 on Thursday.

Last week, a young boy lost his life in a motorbike accident.

Although the Herald knew about the accident, the Carletonville SAPS were not able to provide any information regarding it, and thus no proper report was given.

This week the SAPS could confirm that the accident took place on the corner of Van Zyl Smit and Station Street on Saturday 17 July.

"The deceased Mr. David Mitchell (17) of Blyvooruitzicht had allegedly just left the Workshop nightclub," said Sgt. Busi Menoe, spokesperson of the Carletonville SAPS. "He allegedly used the motorbike without the owner’s consent. A case with regards to this was also opened. Furthermore a case of culpable homicide is being investigated.

The Investigating Officer of the case, Detective W/O Lucindi Botha urgently needs to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the accident or anything else.

Botha can be called at 018 786 0455 / 072 808 1475

The sewerage works in Kokosi, near Fochville, were a nightmarish scene on Wednesday morning, 21 July.

The lifeless bodies of two foetuses were found, presumably flushed down a toilet, by a passer by who alerted the police.

At first it seemed the foetuses were twins, as it was odd that there were two small bodies found at once, but it was later confirmed that they were not.

It was also not possible to establish whether these babies were stillborn or aborted, but what could be established was the fact that were developed up to between five and six months.

Due to the fact that, at this stage, the lungs and other parts of the little bodies are not fully developed, it makes them non-viable, which means that there is a possibility that they may not have lived after birth, should that have been the case.

The spokesperson for the Department of Health’s forensic pathology section, Ms. Christina Ngobeni, was contacted in this regard. The enquiry was handed to a woman at the department by the name of Kanye, who informed the Herald that only two of the seven questions asked by the paper, could be answered.

The two questions the Herald asked, that answers could have been provided for, were ‘how often does this kind of thing happen in the area’ and also ‘what the cause of death was in both babies.’

After saying that the sex, race etc. was evidence and could not be disclosed to the media, Kanye did promise to respond on just those two questions.

By publishing time, however, no response had been received from anyone at this department, despite the fact that enough time was given by the Herald.

Cerise du Plooy

Six suspects were arrested for attempted murder and robbery with a weapon other than a firearm on Thursday, 22 July.

A group of Carletonville detectives, under command of Lt. Col. Wessel Prinsloo, embarked on a suspect raiding operation on Thursday, to arrest suspects linked to crimes that took place in July.

The suspects who were arrested, stabbed a victim in his back four times with a knife, and then robbed him of his cellphone. Information about the whereabouts of the suspects was received, followed up and led to the successful arrests of these men in Blybank. The victim’s cellphone was recovered too.

Two other suspects were arrested in Khutsong for housebreaking and theft on the same day. The suspects were arrested and positively linked to other housebreaking and theft out of motor vehicle cases that were reported in Carletonville.

The detectives who ensured that the suspects were arrested, are Lt. Col. Wessel Prinsloo, Capt Sandra Sibeko (group commander), Detective W/O Vincent Kotelo, W/O Thomas Mono, Sgt Happy Mongalane, Const Lebo Mkhize, Const Simphiwe Tshongoyi and Const Seipati Ncapayi.

Adele Louw

Carletonville is letterlik ‘n donker plek na sononder omdat baie van die dorp se straatligte stukkend is en blykbaar vir maande nie herstel word nie.

‘n Inwoner van Antracitestraat, me. Annamarie Wagner, sê die straatlig voor die huis van haar en haar man, Peet, is al sedert Mei stukkend. Hoewel hulle die probleem dadelik by die Merafong munisiplaiteit aangemeld het, is niks tot dusver gedoen nie.

"Ek het al gekla en gesoebat, maar niemand kom maak dit reg nie", het Wagner Dinsdag aan die Herald gesê.

Wagner sê hulle vermoed booswigte het al een keer probeer om by hul huis in te breek ná hulle agtergekom het dat niemand hulle in die donkerkan sien nie.

"Toe ek die munisipaliteit skakel om weer oor die lig te kla, het ‘n vrou wat daar werk vir my gesê dat dit nie die munisipaliteit se plig is om lig in my erf te gee nie", sê Wagner.

Dit is egter nie net die Wagners wat na sononder in ‘n donker omgewing moet voortsukkel nie. Volgens Wagner het sy een aand 30 stukkende straatligte in Agnewweg getel ná sy van die Stasiestraat in dié straat opgedraai het.

"Wat doen die munisipaliteit aan die probleem?", het sy Dinsdag gevra.

Volgens haar het ‘n munispale amptenaar al by navraag gesê dat die munisipaliteit net een vragmotor het wat vir die insit van straatligte in die hele Carletonville, Fochville en Welverdiend betrokke is. Dié voertuigtekort was volgens hom die rede hoekom die munisipaliteit so lank neem om die ligte te herstel.

Ondanks dié probleem het mnr. Wagner verlede week ‘n munisipale vragmotor, wat op die oog af soos die vragmotor gelyk het wat gebruik word om die ligte reg te maak, verlede Donderdagoggend onder verdagte omstandighede naby die nuwe industriële gebied in Carletonville gesien.

"Hulle was besig om goed in en uit te laai. My man het ‘n foto op sy selfoon geneem en dit by die polisie gaan aanmeld", sê Wagner.

Die gesin is ook bekommerd oor ‘n groot gat wat op die sypaadjie agter Hoërskool Carleton Jones in Reineckestraat agtergelaat is nadat munisipale werkers onlangs aan ‘n waterpyp gewerk het. Dié gat, wat só diep en wyd is dat mense nie om dit kan loop sonder om voor aankomende voertuie te beland nie, was Dinsdagmiddag steeds om. Water het ook steeds uit ‘n pyp in die gat gestroom.

Hoewel die Herald vrae oor die voorval aan die Merafong munisipaliteit gestuur het, is geen antwoord teen druktyd ontvang nie.

Volgens die woordvoerder van die Carletonville polisie, sersant Busi Menoe, is straatligte wat nie werk nie ook vir die polisie ‘n kopseer. Hulle sukkel om baie donker gebiede te patrolleer en die donker gebiede skep dikwels ‘n wegkruipplek vir skelms. Indien straatligte nie werk nie, kan inwoners ook nie mooi sien wat om hul huise aangaan sodat hulle die polisie van verdagtes kan inlig nie.

Menoe sê die polisie het ook ‘n probleem omdat daar verskeie strate in Carletonville is wat nie straatnaamborde het nie. Dit vertraag die polisie se reaksietyd omdat polisielede met kaarte op hul skote moet rondry sodat hulle die addresse van misdaadtonele kan vind.

Adele Louw

‘n Bejaarde inwoner van Stasiestraat in Carletonville is só boos oor die rommel wat in dié straat gegooi word, dat sy ‘n openbare optog daaroor wil reël.

"Niemand kom maak meer hier skoon nie," het ‘n ontstelde inwoner van Stasiestraat, me. Willemien Visser, onlangs aan die Herald gesê.

Die bejaarde Visser is reeds vir ‘n geruime tyd besig om met die munisipaliteit te spook om rommel in dié straat op te tel.

Baie van dié rommel word uit vragmotors en ander voertuie, wat onwettig voor inwoners se huise parkeer gegooi.

Hoewel die munisipaliteit vroeër jare ‘n straatveër in diens geneem het om dié straat, wat ‘n vertoonvenster vir die dorp is omdat baie besoekers van ander dorpe deur dit ry, skoon te maak, het dit volgens Visser reeds vir maande nie gebeur nie.

Volgens Visser het sy al telkemale die munispale amptenaar wat in beheer van vullisverwydering is, mnr. Hezekiel Mantjane, oor die probleme geskakel. "Hy sê elke keer iemand gaan die volgende dag kom skoonmaak, maar hulle kom nooit hier uit nie," sê Visser.

Behalwe vir die rommel, klim daar selfs soms mense, gewoonlik vragmotorbestuurders of –passasiers, oor inwoners se mure om in hul tuine te ontlas.

Visser is al só boos oor die probleme dat sy besluit het om ‘n optog daaroor te reël.

Sy het reeds vorms om amptelik toestemming vir só ‘n byeenkoms te vra, by die Merafong munisipaliteit gaan haal.

Volgens haar het die amptenaar by die munisipaliteit se regsafdeling wat vir haar die vorm gegee het, hom amper doodgelag oor die feit dat sy sulke drastiese optrede beplan.

Verskeie ander inowners het egter al te kenne gegee dat hulle haar sal ondersteun omdat hulle net so boos oor die gemors is.

Visser sê ‘n openbare optrede sal dalk owerhede se oë laat oopgaan oor hoeveel inwoners deur die probleme geraak word.

Hoewel die Merafong munisipaliteit vir kommentaar gevra is oor hoe die rommelprobleem opgelos gaan word, is geen terugvoer teen druktyd ontvang nie.

Boere van die Leeupoort-omgewing spook steeds om in vrede met hul boerdery aan te gaan.

Die Herald het reeds vroeër berig dat boere in die omgewing reeds vir jare ongelukkig is oor die plakkers wat in hul midde gevestig is. Die plakkery het ontstaan ná die eienaar van die grond waarop die plakkershutte gebou is, mnr. Bart Moolman, die mense uitgenooi het om by hom te kom plak.

Hoewel Moolman volhou dat hy "net probeer om die mense te help omdat hulle geen ander heenkome het nie", sê die Merafong munisipaliteit dat die plakkers verseker onwettig is. Baie van dié plakkers werk vir die Driefonteinmyn, wat binne loopafstand van die plaas geleë is. Die myn het egter tot dusver nie tot die stryd toegetree om die probleem op die los nie omdat hulle reken dat dit die munisipaliteit se verantwoordelikheid is om iets aan die saak te doen.

Misdaad waaronder kabeldiefstal vier hoogty sedert die plakkers hulle in die omgewing gevestig het en boere moet aan die kant van die plakkerskamp deurry indien hulle by hul huise wil uitkom.

Intussen was een van die omgewing se boere, me. Debbie de Kock, verlede Vrydag hoogs ontsteld toe sy agtergekom dat ‘n groep mense skielik sonder haar of haar man se toestemming huise op hul plaas begin opslaan het. Dit het by nadere ondersoek geblyk dat dié mense werknemers van ‘n kontrakteur is wat werk vir die onderneming doen. Die deel van die plaas waar die probleem ontstaan het, is ‘n ent van die egpaar se woonhuis en is baie naby aan ‘n woongebied vir mynwerkers.

De Kock het die Herald gekontak na sy vroeër die dag van die probleem bewus geword het en sonder sukses probeer het om iemand van die myn óf die kontrakteurs in die hande te kry om haar te help.

"Ek het ‘n werker gestuur om te gaan kyk wat op hierdie deel van die plaas aangaan", sê De Kock. "Toe hy terugkom het hy vir my gesê ek moet dadelik kom kyk want daar is fout", het ‘n onstelde De Kock aan die Herald vertel.

Sy het met haar aankoms die onwettige sinkhuise op die grond gevind.

"Niemand het ons gevra of laat weet dat hier iemand gaan kom bly nie", het De Kock gesê.

Die De Kock-gesin is reeds vir ‘n geruime tyd bewus dat iets ongewoon op die plaas aan die gang is. Volgens De Kock het hulle verlede maand ‘n waterrekening van R11 000 gekry, wat meer as dubbel soveel is as wat die gesin gewoonlik gebruik.

Met die Herald se aankoms op die plek waar die kontrakteurs hul huise op die De Kock-egpaar se plaas opgerig het, was van die kontrakteur se werknemers besig om wasgoed te was met water wat uit ‘n kraan op die De Kock-gesin se plaas kom. Volgens De Kock het sy ook gesien hoe mense voertuie met water uit dieselfde kraan was.

Die kontrakteur het egter later dieselfde dag aandag aan De Kock se klagtes gegee en die plakkers is binne ure na die Herald se besoek geskuif.

Volgens wat De Kock kon vasstel, was die kontrakteur nie vir die hoë waterrekening van die vorige maand verantwoordelik nie omdat hulle toe nog nie op die plaas was nie.

Dit was teen druktyd egter nie seker wie die ekstra water gebruik het nie.

Abrie Bronkhorst

Runners, especially long distance runners, have a lot of time to think about why they are running.

American track and field athlete, Jesse Owens once said: "I always loved running... it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs."

Well, while Owens felt like fighting the wind, two athletes from the Carleton Harriers marathon club had to fight the cold weather and steep hills this weekend during the annual Washie 100 miler on Friday the 23rd of July. The 89 kilometre Comrades Marathon is not even two months cold when Manuel Alves and Johan Bekker took on the 34th Washie 100 miler stretching from Port Alfred to East London. That is about 161 kilometres.

Alves ran his sixth Washie on Friday afternoon and finished at about 10:30 Saturday morning with a running time of 17:31:40 seconds, earning him the third spot. Bekker (28) who took on his first Washie finished at about 08:10 the Saturday morning with a running time of 15:10:36 seconds earning him his gold medal.

Not only did Bekker just won his first Washie, he won it by a remarkable time because the average winning time since 2000 has been around 16 hours. "Winning the Washie 100 miler did not even cross my brain" Bekker said. Alves and Bekker had a team of four that went with them. "After every three kilometres we walk for 100 metres and they were the ones riding next to us giving us energy drinks and water. We averaging between 16 and 18 minutes per three kilometres" Alves said.

Overall 44 runners started on Friday afternoon at 17:00 with 26 hours to complete the race. Only two did not finish. The Washie 100 miler is ran during every first full moon in July for the runners to see the road, potholes and traffic.

Alves, who took on his 25th Comrades Marathon this year, and Bekker, who took on his ninth, started practising for the Washie about five days after the Comrades Marathon.

"We rested between three to five days after the Comrades and had exactly six weeks of long distance training for the Washie. You ran the Comrades at a reasonable pace. You basically train towards the Comrades with the Washie in mind," Alves explained.

"We will now rest four weeks then start training again for the 42.2 Soweto Marathon in November".

"It takes a lot of training, dedication, discipline and commitment, which is the biggest one."