Neighbourly Notes
THE Kowie Carnival takes place on Saturday at Port Alfred High School, including the Engela Neethling Potjiekos Competition, with proceeds going to the Blake Squires Cancer Fund. Then there’s the Bathurst Amazing Race, also on Saturday, including an 18km horse, bike ride or a walk which will also contribute to the Blake Squires Cancer Fund. THIS Sunday it’s the Rhino Run at Kenton. For the past few years, Kenton has had an excellent turnout, with people coming from all over the province to take part. There is a 5km run/walk and a 12km trail run, and enough breakfasts and coffee to keep everyone awake (as the race begins at 8am). So, polish off your sneakers and iron your running shorts and get to Homewoods in Kenton, to help save one of most iconic animals from extinction. FIGHTING, stun grenades and stones are being deployed again at the Wits campus as students – and others – rebel against Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande, who announced a limit of 8% increase in fees for 2017. The students are demanding “free” education, but one need ask what “free” actually means. Either universities will not be able to pay their staff and the institution closes, or else, government steps in and pays the difference. In the latter case, it will be the tax payers who foot the bill, as nothing in life is ever “free”. In an ideal world, education should be free, but only to those who qualify academically. Not everyone deserves a degree – or even needs one. However, it seems the liberal vice chancellors of the universities haven’t got the courage to say a clear and decisive “no!”, but Nzimande has placed the ball firmly in their court. It’s time for the adults to teach their children that violent protest is unacceptable. CONGRATULATIONS and happy birthday greetings to everyone having a special day in the week ahead, especially to Liezl van Zyl, Warren Bowdler, Rob le Roux, Sandra Wiblin, Aidan Sparrow, Ryan Axe, Tippin Crisp, Michael Armstrong, June Tapson, David Foulkes, Hendrik Smit, Priscilla Mike, Judie van Wyk, Jenny Dalgety, Judy Boland, Robert Atkinson, Douglas Meyer, David Painting, Tony Brown, Winston Bagley, Gavin Came, Isobel Meyer, Joyce Heny, Jack Elliott, Shirley Waters, Leonie Scheepers, Phyl Russell, Andy Hough, Eddie Botha, Herrington twins Jason and Jessica, Chloe Middleton, Jane Bladen, Elene Daubermann, Jarred Moss, Robin Hyde, JP Barkhuizen, Bruce Frederichs, Christo Paul, Charles Webster, William Whitham, (Dr) Dirk de Vos, Breyton Scheepers, Darian Keeton, Lucille Coltman, Robin Hyde, Wayne Cock, John Haywood, Tisha Marshall, Valda Elliott. THERE are many businesses and organisations celebrating an anniversary at this time of the year. Congratulations to all and we wish everyone all the very best for the future, especially The Kowie Striders Club, Kowie Key, Re/Max Kowie, IPC (Bathurst), Marko Polo, Coastal Blue Star, Barnetts and Book Ends. THE rand appears to be strengthening against international currencies over the last few weeks, with the most favourable exchange rates in recent months. However, this boom for imports will not last as the strongest currencies are floundering due to political uncertainty in America and Europe. By the end of the year, these matters might well be resolved and the Rand will go back to its pre-Brexit/US elections value. There is also uncertainty expressed regarding the state of parastatals such as SAA and the SABC – as well as SA Treasury issues that need to be decisively dealt with before Fitch, Standard and Poor and Moody’s reassess our credit-worthiness. With those factors in play, here are the latest financial figures (with last year’s in brackets to compare against). The rand was trading at R13.91 to the dollar (R13.44), R17.88 to the pound (R20.84) and R15.35 to the euro (R15.03). Gold was trading at $1 319.34 per fine ounce ($1 134.85), Platinum at $1 036.10 per ounce ($969.25) and Brent crude oil at $46.73 per barrel ($48.41). SPECIAL thoughts and prayers are with all those folk who are not well, who are having or have already had tests, operations and treatments. to Roy Potter, Andrew de Vries, June Hart, Linda Hulley, Val Kilian, Ben Kember, Blake Squires, Llewellyn Wicks, Philly Dell, Myrna Keet, Barbara Tee, Bevan Edwards, Martin Neethling and Brenda Shelton. SINCERE sympathy and kind wishes to the family and friends of Gwen Milne, especially her daughter, Debbie Axe. Gwen passed away at Damant Lodge and we hope that cherished memories will bring comfort to all those who will miss her greatly. WEDDING anniversary greetings to everyone celebrating another year and may joy and contentment continue to be yours, especially to the following couples, Craig and Penny Robertson, Christopher and Jill Japp, Godfrey and Kathy Elms, Sean and Jackie Elms, Ian and Haruyki Currie, Christy and Robey Pretorius, John and Janet Basson, Brian and Ann Meyer. SAD news is that Kwaito star Mandoza – real name Mduduzi Edmund Tshabalala – died of a brain tumour after attending the disastrous SABC Thank You concert at Orlando Stadium recently. Mandoza made Kwaito popular among white audiences with his hit ALSO, sad news is that the Springboks failed again last Saturday with a 41-13 loss to the All Blacks. The Boks looked ill-prepared and silly mistakes and a complete lack of defensive strategy led to a walkover win by New Zealand. The next Rugby Championship game for the Boks will be on October 1, when they take on Australia at Loftus Versveld, Pretoria. Allister Coetzee has a lot of work to do if the Boks have any hope of restoring pride in the team and the nation. FROM Facebook, a man complained to the police that someone had broken into his car where two Springboks versus Austrailia test tickets lay on the passenger seat. The man complained that, whoever had broken into his car had left four more tickets on the seat. THOUGHT for the week: “We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly”. BEST regards as always, The Team.