NEIGHBOURLY NOTES
WE are saddened to hear of so many beloved missing pets in our area. Janet and Bob Brannon, who lost all their possessions when a fire destroyed their home in Becker Street at the end of September, are still looking for their cat, Nellie. She is a tortoiseshell feline with black markings on her face and was last seen wearing a blue harness with bells. Cape Town visitor Rhian Meats lost her beloved little brown-headed tricolour, wire hair terrier Dave when she was visiting Wharf Street on October 6. Since his disappearance she has been frantically searching for him. She has remained in Port Alfred and has posted a reward for any information regarding Dave. A third fur baby, Brody, a female Jack Russell terrier, went missing in Albany Road on October 14. Daron Abercrombie, owner of GEM Auto, has posted a R2 000 reward for the safe return of Brody. If anyone has any information regarding these pets or sightings, please contact TotT on (046) 624-4356 and we can help reunite them with their loved ones. IN a shock move on Tuesday morning‚ President Jacob Zuma reshuffled his cabinet‚ swapping around six of his ministers. Most notably‚ South African Communist Party secretary-general Blade Nzimande has been axed as minister of higher education‚ and replaced with Hlengiwe Mkhize‚ who was minister of home affairs. Nzimande’s deputy‚ Mduduzi Manana‚ was replaced by Buti Manamela‚ former deputy minister for planning and monitoring in the Presidency. Manana resigned earlier this year after he admitted to assaulting a woman. Zuma’s shock move will inevitably place severe strain on relations between the ANC and other members of the tripartite alliance. SACP’s Solly Mapaila said they believe Zuma has specifically targeted Blade Nzimande in his cabinet reshuffle and that the reshuffle is a clear declaration of war against the SACP. If politics were a TV show, then this would be a good time to get comfortable, grab popcorn and watch as the drama unfolds. Will this move be the final nail in the coffin that sees the tripartite alliance pushed over “the brink of destruction”? Let’s hope the rest of South Africa does not become more collateral damage in this “act of war”. WE were quite surprised when we experienced the latest stop-and-go at Rosehill Mall this week, having spent a good 20 minutes waiting in line. As it adds to the frustration of travel time for long-distance commuters, or when one hopes to make a quick trip to the shop for milk and bread and it suddenly takes an hour, tensions may rise like we have seen on a Facebook post. Let’s all take a deep breath and remember, it too will pass, and that we are actually spoilt living in an area where normal travelling from A to B takes five minutes. Just think about how great the roads will be when the construction is over. Let’s also remember, we can be grateful that Port Alfred, and the R72, was earmarked for the massive upgrade. Many municipalities and towns in the Eastern Cape have no plans for road upgrades in the near future. A VERY special happy birthday to Clumber Church whose congregants are celebrating 150 years. This coming weekend is going to be a bumper celebration with loads of activities planned, from tomorrow through to Sunday. See our diary below for the order of events. CONGRATULATIONS and happy birthday greetings to everyone having a special day in the week ahead. We wish you all a wonderful day and a super carefree year ahead, especially to Dean Samuel, Michael Dewsnap, Jimmy Hyde, Gerald Spilkin, June Wheelwright, Irma Venter, Jean Steyn, Derrick Page, Shannon Hopkins, Johanna van der Merwe, Eddie Hoseck, Bea Klopper, Ria van der Merwe, Blake Squires, Sandy von Memerty, Diane Malan, Jessica Pullen, Hermann Heim, Reginald Prince, Lionel Farao, Maryna Shepherd, Anneli Hanstein, Jan Simpson, Talia Ohayon, Belinda Prince, Ivo Chunnett, Jeanette Msipa, Peter Sulter, Percy Elliott, Erica Alexandre, Alan McLean, Wesley Grove, Helen Cowie, Ewa Mogilnicka, Tracy Wilmot, Terri Kruger, Lorraine Samuel, Clinton ”Stoffel” Schultz, Claire Purdon, Arlene Young, Rory Gailey, Wendy Vivier, Erica McNulty and Jenny Potter. BEST wishes and continued success to businesses celebrating an anniversary soon. The Heritage Mall, Pig ‘n Whistle, Autozone (GHT), The Crazy Store, Village Gossip, The Hospice Shop, Guido’s Port Alfred and Bedford Garden Festival. WITH last year’s financial figures in brackets to compare against this year’s trading figures, at the time of going to press the rand was trading at R13.49 to the dollar (R13.88), R17.76 to the Pound (R17.07) and R15.84 to the euro (R15.25). Commodities were, with gold at $1 280.17 per fine ounce ($1 269.46), platinum at $947.70 per ounce ($945.00) and Brent crude oil at $57.88 per barrel ($52.42). SPECIAL thoughts and prayers are with all those folk who are not well, who are having or have already had tests, operations and treatments. “Sterkte” to Roy Potter, Andrew de Vries, Dot Fetherstonhaugh and Howard Dredge. SINCERE condolences to the family and friends of Margaret Burgess who passed away recently. A memorial service will be held on Thursday October 19 at the Presbyterian Church in Port Alfred at 11am. MAY happiness and contentment continue to be in your lives for many more great years ahead to all couples celebrating another wedding anniversary. Good wishes and congratulations especially to Popeye and Jean Steyn, Colin and Joan Purdon, Ryan and Sonai Owsley, David and Margaret Foulkes, Emil and Wilma Jurgensen, Cyril and June Wheelwright, Basil and Agnes Ormald, Graeme and Liesl Brown. THOUGHT for the week: “It is only when we silent the blaring sounds of our daily existence that we can finally hear the whispers of truth that life reveals to us, as it stands knocking on the doorsteps of our hearts.” BEST regards as always, The Team.