BRAILLORAMA
February 2012
Volume 43 No. 2
Printed in unified braille
by Braille Services of Blind SA
Private Bag X9005
Crown Mines 2025
Tel. (+27) 11 839-1793
Fax: (+27) 11 839-1217
E-Mail: Philip@blindsa.org.za
Visit our home page at:
http://www.blindsa.org.za
Editors: Christo de Klerk
Martie de Klerk
Philip Jordaan
Publishers: Blind SA
Direct all correspondence to: The Editor, Private Bag X9005, Crown
Mines, 2025, Johannesburg, R.S.A.
“This publication is made possible with financial assistance from the
Department of Arts & Culture”
Contents
Phone might be what’s holding you back
Michelle a ‘tyrant’ in White House
Too much rugby, too much travel
I have seen the future and it doesn’t work
Gains against racism
Advertisement
Phone might be
what’s holding you back
HARRIET MCLEA
The Times, January 9 2012
SPENDING too much time on a smartphone can make you depressed.
This is according to British professor Cary Cooper, of the department of
organisational psychology and health at Lancaster University, who says
that staring at a screen all day long means that people “don’t have to
interact with the [real] world” and deal with the problems it presents.
Janine Shamos, a spokesman for the SA Depression and Anxiety Group,
says smartphone-induced depression is a “growing problem” in South
Africa.
“We are living vicariously in 5Mb of fame,” she said, warning that
having thousands of Facebook friends does not mean you can count on
them when facing challenges in life.
Cooper said that constantly checking one’s cellphone “can be both
addictive and destructive in the way it occupies your mind without
stimulating it”.
And if a Youtube video of a US bride sending a text message during her
wedding ceremony and then slipping the phone back into her boobtube dress is anything to go by, then Cooper is right.
“We never know when we’ll get a satisfying e-mail, SMS or social-media
message, so we keep checking, over and over again,” he said.
Constantly checking for updates, alerts, e-mails and new messages on
our phones can be compared to gambling because “we never know
when we’ll get a satisfying e-mail, SMS or social-media message”, he
said.
“It’s like slot machines; we’re seeking that pleasurable hit.”
The main problem with people being glued to their phones is that they
are likely to forget important things because of the information
overload or “data smog” emanating from social networking sites such
as Facebook and Twitter.
Shamos suggests that people cultivate a more balanced life by having
“off time” and seeking “real connections” with real people.
“Switch off your phone, leave it at home and go out. We live in a
beautiful country, start doing things,” she said.
Shamos said the phone beeping, especially late at night, can lead to
sleep deprivation.
Cooper suggests that users gradually increase their “off-time” each day
instead of just throwing the phone away.
“The world will keep turning [while your phone is off], “he said.
If it is not safe or appropriate to reply to a message, do not feel
obligated to do so, he said.
“Not being available 24-7 doesn’t make you a bad person. Using your
mobile when you’re driving does.”
Michelle a ‘tyrant’
in White House
The Times Monday January 9 2012
SHE might appear charming, fashionable and diplomatic.
The White House machine likes to portray images of Michelle Obama
tending her organic vegetable garden or visiting the families of
servicemen posted overseas.
But behind the scenes she has repeatedly clashed with top presidential
aides - over everything from tactics on healthcare reform to her taste in
designer clothes.
A new book claims Barack Obama’s White House was plagued by feuds
and pitched battles as his wife fought his pragmatic aides for the heart
and soul of his presidency.
In The Obamas, Jodi Kantor, a respected New York Times reporter,
draws on interviews with 33 current and former White House insiders
to depict an administration riven by in-fighting during its first two years.
Michelle’s withering criticism did not spare her husband and their
marriage, although loving, suffered under the strain, Kantor writes.
The First Lady battled chief of staff Rahm Emanuel for influence and
was corrected on protocol by former spokesman Robert Gibbs.
The president, “who felt guilty about the sacrifices his wife was making,
was unwilling to tell her what she could not do … so Gibbs took on the
task”.
The book says Gibbs was forced into the “unenviable role” of internal
enforcer of the rules of the political world, issuing a steady stream of
warnings and no’s”.
He had to tell her she could not take a private holiday onto a state visit,
lavish money on White House redecoration or spend heavily on
designer outfits.
Kantor writes that Michelle tried to persuade her husband not to
employ Emmanuel, a famously foul-mouthed Democrat known for
political horse-trading and tirades littered with the f-word.
Emanuel then rejected her request to join his morning staff meetings
where the day’s agenda was shaped.
The biggest source of friction was her husband’s attempts to pass
healthcare reform. She also turned on her husband.
“She feels our rudder isn’t set right,” the president later told aides, who
had a sense that this was not the actual language she had used, Kantor
wrote.
Michelle “made it clear she felt her husband needed a new team”.
Gibbs later quit to run in, and win, Chicago’s mayoral election.
The White House responded disdainfully to the book, which goes on
sale tomorrow, saying the accounts were “exaggerated”.
The book tells of Michelle’s e-mails to long-time staffer Valerie Jarrett
complaining about news coverage. When she was unable to fit into her
husband’s schedule, she sent angry e-mails to scheduling director
Alyssa Mastromonaco. The e-mails were “so stern, Mastromonaco
showed them to colleagues, unsure how to respond to her boss’s wife’s
displeasure”, Kantor wrote.
Her office became so isolated that her aides began referring to her base
in the East Wing as America’s Pacific island territory of “Guam pleasant but powerless”.
Too much rugby,
too much travel
Dan Retief
Sunday Times NOVEMBER 20 2011
Why Springboks will have a tougher time in 2012 than NZ and Aussies
BEFORE the arrival of professional rugby a frequent subject in the press
concerned what was termed Player Power. Players were dissatisfied
that while they were the key generators of funds, they did not share in
the riches as demands on their time got greater, competitions got
bigger and television money flowed into the game.
It was speculated that they would use their clout to force the
administrators to cut them in. While there was never a full-on strike a
number of stand-offs (for instance between Transvaal’s Springboks and
Dr Louis Luyt following the World Cup in 1995) over remuneration
eventually forced the game into full professionalism in 1996.
Tournaments such as the Tri-Nations and the Super 12 followed and in
time other configurations were introduced to earn more cash from pay
TV stations in return for more “product” - culminating in the latest
incarnation, the ostentatiously named Rugby Championship, while
Super 12 has grown to Super 15.
In addition, end-of-year tours became mandatory and next season
there will be a throw-back to the good old amateur days with the reintroduction of longer tours including proper test series.
All this against a backdrop of medically proven opinion that the physical
demands on the players is far too great. There is growing unhappiness
among those who play the matches, make the tours and take the
bumps. They say there is just too much rugby and that the rewards are
no longer commensurate with the commitment required of them.
It is my prediction that the phenomenon of Player Power is about to reemerge - certainly when you study the fixture list the SA Rugby Union
has foisted upon its foot soldiers for 2012.
While Saru has introduced its own version of the Protection of
Information Bill when it comes to appointing the next man in charge of
the Boks (“Media are advised that Saru personnel will not be available
for interview on this subject until an appointment has been
completed”), you have to wonder if any of their “preferred candidates”
will want the job given what they’ll be up against. Yet again SA players
will be severely disadvantaged by travel demands, far in excess of what
their NZ and Australian opponents are subjected to.
In 2012 the Super Rugby competition starts on February 24 and
continues to June 2. But it does not end then; it gets put on hold for a
couple of weeks and re-commences on June 29. Why? To
accommodate a three-test tour by England who will face up to the
Springboks over three successive Saturdays - June 9, 16 and 23.
National players will go into the series just a week after two intense
local derbies (Lions v Sharks & Bulls v Stormers) and a week after the
last England test will be back in Super Rugby with a pair of derbies
(Stormers v Lions & Bulls v Cheetahs).
There’s more, much more. SA sides will have to undertake much longer
tours to complete their overseas Super commitments - five weeks as
opposed to the maximum of three by some of the others.
Super Rugby league play will then continue until July 14 before the
commencement of the drawn-out playoffs, culminating with the final
on August 4. It is a fact that the further any of the SA sides go in the
tournament, the greater will be the detriment to the Springboks.
The new Cuatro Naciones kicks off two weeks later on August 18 with
the Springboks up against Argentina at Newlands - but then look what
happens to the Boks.
The next day they’ll be on the plane carrying the Pumas to Buenos Aires
for the next test the following Saturday. They will then have a week’s
break but it may well be decided that it is better for them to fly directly
to Australia from South America (travelling east/west) rather than to
head back to SA (west/east) for a brief spell.
The Boks will then play their two away tests against the Wallabies and
the All Blacks, return home for a week, and wrap against their
traditional Tri-Nations opponents on September 29 and October 6.
By then, the Currie Cup will be nearing its climax while the national
coach ponders how to prepare for what is presently a one-off test
against England at Twickenham on November 24 but which may be
joined by an additional test or two. In short, he will have no time to
coach.
I have seen the future
and it doesn’t work
The Whipping Boy
Ben Trovato
Sunday Times JANUARY 1 2012
My tequila tells me the interesting stuff is yet to come
EVERY time I pick up a newspaper or turn on the TV I am confronted by
a special report on the highlights of the year gone by. Quite frankly, I
have had enough of it.
For a start, we know what happened in 2011. We were here the whole
time. And there were no highlights.
Have our memory banks been robbed by alcohol and drugs to such an
extent that we can’t remember being mugged by Bryce Lawrence at the
Rugby World Cup or that the climate change conference changed
nothing at all and, more importantly, that white girls can still be
crowned Miss South Africa?
Tell us stuff we don’t know. Some people say it is impossible to predict
the future. What nonsense. There is no easier thing to predict.
You turn up the music, open a bottle of Real de Magueyes Silver Mezcal
and start predicting. It really is that simple.
And if your predictions fail to tally with events, it is not your fault. The
Adjustment Bureau has made it difficult for all of us to nail down the
future with any real degree of accuracy. But it’s still worth a shot. So
here we go. Salt. Shot. Lemon.
President Jacob Zuma opens himself up and shows the nation what he
is made of. Meat and bones mainly, but, astonishingly, also a tiny
Chinese puppeteer squatting in his chest cavity.
In line with el presidente’s method of random selection, he offers the
post of deputy chief justice to an elephant from the Knysna forest. The
elephant accepts the position and alterations are made to the bench.
He also tries to hire Inspector Clouseau to head the Special
Investigating Unit after watching a video of The Pink Panther.
He has a wife-swapping party with Swaziland’s King Mswati III that lasts
for six months.
Khulubuse Zuma, Zondwa Mandela and Michael Hulley buy a uranium
mine and have a yellowcake sale to raise funds to buy a Maserati and a
loaf of sliced white bread for each of the 700 destitute miners at the
Grootvlei and Orkney mines. The cars go missing but, luckily, the bread
gets through. Unsliced.
Trevor Manuel returns to his Cape Flats roots and starts carrying an
Okapi knife to defend himself against critics of his master plan for the
country.
After a record 36 months of inscrutable smiling and nodding, Deputy
President Kgalema Motlanthe finally tells South Africans what he is
thinking. This is swiftly followed by a nationwide outbreak of
indifference that fails to capture the attention of our baton-wielding
riot police.
Julius Malema takes up a position as senior car guard outside the
Polokwane Spur and changes his name to Captain Fantastic. He is
assisted by The Brown Dirty Cowboy, formerly known as Floyd
Shivambu.
The ANC’s national conference at Mangaung sees the party emerge
with a generational mix of leaders.
The new minister of mines, a nine-year-old from a village in northern
Mpumalanga, changes the face of the mining industry after threatening
to hold his breath until all the mines are nationalised.
Plans to begin confiscating farms are hampered by efforts to find
someone in land affairs who can spell “expropriation” without crying
and stamping their feet.
Safa livens up the Premier League by allowing players to undergo
military training and bring concealed weapons onto the field. Orlando
Pirates get outside help from Somalia and win the league after holding
Kaizer Chiefs to ransom.
Jackie Selebi enters the Schabir Shaik Hall of Fame, an honour reserved
for medical miracles who defy all prognoses and continue to live full
and healthy lives even though doctors swear they should be dead.
Independent studies reveal evidence suggesting that Selebi has
transmogrified and become immortal. The former police chief denies
being a vampire.
Beijing declares Squirrel Ramaphosa an honorary Chinese.
The first bottle store opens in Fish Hoek. God retaliates by sending a
plague of fire, locusts and Congolese drug dealers into the town. This is
followed by a general smiting of the firstborns. Local resident report
conditions to be vastly improved.
Al-Qaeda renounces Islam and embraces the Jehovah’s Witness
denomination.
After a global campaign involving pre-dawn doorbell-ringing raids on
homes everywhere, the United Nations steps in and appeals to the
group’s leaders to revert to their previous affiliation.
Lady Gaga discovers her inner Stalinist and performs at the May Day
Stadium in Pyongyang wearing an outfit designed by Kim Jong-un’s
Cuban catamite.
The outfit - shaped like a nuclear missile - is impregnated with flesheating bacteria in accordance with the Mother Monster’s wishes.
North Korean timing ensures that only her skeleton remains by the time
she sings the last note of the final verse of her third encore.
The pop diva is buried in a shallow grave in the foothills of the Rangrim
Mountains and millions of North Koreans are encouraged at gunpoint
to display appropriate levels of grief.
Apple brings out a smartphone that is smarter than 94% of the
developing worlds. Sales are badly affected and the company releases a
new version called iMoron.
Gains against racism
The Times January 9 2012
The convictions for the murder of Stephen Lawrence have highlighted
racism in the UK. But how much has British society really changed, ask
Alasdair Palmer and David Barrett
A YOUNG black man is stabbed on the streets of south London. His
attackers shout vile racist abuse and leave him to die. The police fail to
investigate properly, in the eyes of the dead man’s parents, and most of
the gang go free. But this is not the case of Stephen Lawrence, however
eerie the parallels may be. It is the tragic tale of Rolan Adams, a 15year-old killed two years earlier, in 1991.
His father, Richard, is calling for the case to be reopened now that two
of those who murdered Lawrence have been jailed at last.
That he is still pleading for justice a full two decades after his son was
stabbed is evidence that there are many victims of racism who have not
had the attention given to the Lawrence family - and while they
celebrate the convictions of Gary Dobson and David Norris, they feel
there is a great deal still to be done. So, have things got better or worse
in the UK since Rolan and Stephen died? And what is the truth about
racism in Britain today?
It certainly gets much more attention than it used to. Last month the
England football captain John Terry was charged with using racist
language against an opponent. He denies the charges. Last week
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was banned for eight matches for much
the same offence, though the player and the club insist he is innocent.
On the face of it the British take racism much more seriously now. But
Tottenham MP David Lammy, who recently published a book on the
state of Britain after last year’s riots, believes such high-profile cases
give the wrong impression.
“We’re kidding ourselves. We [have] a false sense of security; we are
assured that, because we have been louder and more intense in our
indignation, racism and racists are being purged from our society. All
the while, real racism - the ongoing racist attacks on the streets, the
racism in classrooms and job interviews - is crowded out by a more
banal discussion about whether John Terry should keep the England
captaincy.”
It is still evidently true that there have been many changes over the
past two decades in the way ethnic minorities in Britain are treated - by
the police and everyone else - and nearly all of them have amounted to
improvements. Britain is a significantly less hostile place for non-whites
than in 1993. The number of racist incidents reported to the police in
London has dropped by more than half over the past decade, from
more than 23 000 in 2000 to fewer than 10 000 in 2010.
That is largely thanks to the Macpherson report into the killing of
Lawrence. Published in February 1999, it accused London’s
Metropolitan Police of “institutional racism”. Nearly all Macpherson’s
recommendations were accepted.
The convictions of two men last week were made possible by forensic
techniques that have been developed since the murders - they allowed
microscopic drops of Stephen Lawrence’s blood to be identified on
Dobson’s clothes, and fibres from his trousers to be found on Norris’s
sweatshirt. But it was also critical that a team of police officers had
been working full-time on the case for many years; itself an indication
of the extent to which the Met felt it had to demonstrate its
commitment to solving racist murders.
The father of Rolan Adams wishes his son’s case had received the same
attention. One of the attackers, Mark Thornburrow, was given a life
sentence for murdering the teenager, but only served 12 years. No one
else was jailed.
Police culture has changed. Tolerance of racist banter has all but
disappeared as a result of changes brought in after the Macpherson
report was published.
Racist abuse in a public place draws universal condemnation. The only
option for the guilty parties or their supporters is to try to pretend that
the offending language was not used and claim that everything is a
“misunderstanding”. That is the tactic used by Luis Suarez, the
Liverpool player.
There are about 7 million people in Britain not born there. One hope
for a more peaceful future is that the demarcation lines between ethnic
groups are being blurred. Put simply, people are falling in love and
having children. The most accurate estimate suggests there might be 2
million Britons with at least one non-white parent.
The UK’s Equality Commission has threatened to sue some police forces
for targeting black people unfairly in stop-and-search operations. But
the police insist that young black men are stopped more often because
they are more often reported to have been involved in street crime.
The reason is not racism but that might be hard to appreciate by those
who are being stopped. It is also true that young black men are not
faring as well as others in schools and in the hunt for jobs.
“The statistics on the gap in educational achievement between black
and white boys have been more or less the same for 50 years,” said Rob
Berkeley, director of the Runnymede Trust. “And that gap in
educational attainment affects their future. Though, over-all, one in
five young people is unemployed, one in two young black men is. The
rhetoric has changed. The reality of inequality for most black men has
not.”
The Stephen Lawrence Centre, in Deptford, is attempting to help young
people from disadvantaged backgrounds enter the professions,
including architecture and the law. If it can succeed then the
transformation in people’s lives - and the life of the nation as a whole might be the best and the most lasting legacy of Stephen Lawrence’s
dreadful death.
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Inhoud
Oud-radioman Robin Alexander sterf skielik
Die demokrasie kom onder druk
Klaar met skool, wat lê nou vir jou voor
Soek-soek só ... Hoe weet die wêreld?
‘n Roos vir elke tuin
Grover dié keer welkom in restaurant
‘n Nuwe waarheid uit die ou-ou woorde
‘Stille nag’ mag 1ste keer in 152 jaar in dié kerke gesing word
Oud-radioman Robin Alexander
sterf skielik
Beeld 5 Januarie 2012
Die minister van middernagsake is gister net ná middernag oorlede.
Die gewese radio-omroeper Robin Alexander (73) het in die vroeë
oggendure in sy huis in Parktown-Noord in Johannesburg aan ‘n
hartaanval beswyk.
“Hy het net ná middernag bed toe gegaan nadat hy gesê het hy voel ‘n
bietjie moeg.
“Hy het op die bed gaan sit om sy skoene uit te trek en ‘n reusehartaanval gekry,” het mnr. Ross Alexander (42), sy seun, gister gesê.
Alexander, wat in die destydse Natal gebore is, het sy radio-loopbaan
by die SAUK begin.
Sy stem is ook op LM Radio en Springbok Radio gehoor en hy was die
oggendaanbieder op Radio Hoëveld.
Hy is veral bekend om sy uitsendings van middernag tot 06:00 en later
van 01:00 tot 05:00 op die SAUK se deurnag-stasie Radio Orion van
1983 tot 1993.
Daar het hy as die “minister van middernagsake” en “mev. Alexander se
jongste en mooiste” bekend geword.
Nog een van sy geliefde sêgoed bly Andrew Sorrill, omroeper by
Jacaranda Stereo, by: “Brrright-eyed and bushy-tailed - hy het die r so
gerol.”
Hy laat sy vrou, Ros (70), sy seuns, Ross en Robbie (43), en vyf
kleinkinders agter.
Die demokrasie
kom onder druk
Leopold Scholtz
DIE BURGER 2012-01-06
In Bloemfontein hou die ANC makietie. Hy is ‘n eeu oud, ‘n prestasie, ‘n
geleentheid om aan die mense duidelik te maak dat hy nie sommer net
nog ‘n politieke party is nie, maar - soos dr. Hendrik Verwoerd destyds
oor die ou Nasionale Party gesê het - “’n volk in beweging”.
Talle kommentators het die laaste tyd die punt gemaak dat die ANC van
Jacob Zuma nie meer die ANC van Oliver Tambo en Nelson Mandela is
nie. Die historiese feite steun nie dié standpunt nie, want wat ‘n mens
tans in die party aanskou - die magsmisbruik, die aanslag op die
demokrasie, die korrupsie en bloedige binnegevegte - het reeds sedert
die jare sestig in ballingskap ontwikkel.
Wat ‘n mens nou sien, is inderwaarheid die natuurlike ontwikkeling van
die rigting wat die ANC reeds destyds ingeslaan het. Dat Suid-Afrika nie
reeds onmiddellik ná 1994 in ‘n korrupte diktatuur verander is nie, was
te wyte aan pres. Nelson Mandela se pragmatisme en die feit dat die
internasionale klimaat dit bemoeilik het.
Wat kan ‘n mens verwag as die ANC, soos hy voortdurend probeer,
werklik sy hande op alle magshefbome kan kry? ‘n Interessante
antwoord kom tans uit Europa, waar Hongarye stelselmatig beweeg in
‘n rigting wat die ANC met bewondering kan gadeslaan.
Die Hongaarse regering word gevorm deur die party Fidesz van premier
Viktor Orbán. Fidesz was in die doodsnikke van die kommunistiese
diktatuur ‘n vegter vir die demokrasie en Orbán ‘n intellektuele ikoon.
Maar Orbán het sedertdien toenemend na regs geswenk en streef tans
openlik na ‘n fascistiese diktatuur in sy land. Dit lê binne sy bereik nadat
Fidesz weens die eienaardighede van die Hongaarse kiesstelsel 68% van
die parlementêre setels met 53% van die stemme gekry het.
Daarmee kon hy die liberaal-demokratiese grondwet met ingang van 1
Januarie eensydig wysig en die demokrasie prakties afskaf.
Om mee te begin is die magte van die konstitusionele hof drasties
beperk, en die regering kry die reg om politieke aanstellings op die
regbank te doen. Mediavryheid is aansienlik besnoei - ‘n mediaraad
(klink bekend, nê?) - is in die lewe geroep om die media tot orde te
roep as hul beriggewing nie “ewewigtig” en “moreel” is nie.
Wat dit in die praktyk beteken, sien ‘n mens in die feit dat die enigste
onafhanklike radiosender se mond gesnoer is omdat hy kritiek op die
regering durf uitspreek het. Sien, die regering is immers deur die volk
gekies, en kritiek op die regering beteken kritiek op die volk - ‘n
doodsonde.
Die regering mag nou ook sekere wette só verskans dat enige
toekomstige regering hom slegs met ‘n twee-derde-meerderheid mag
wysig of herroep. Daardeur verseker Orbán dat sy fascistiese revolusie
kwalik ongedaan gemaak kan word.
Selfs die herinnering aan Imre Nagy, die man wat die 1956-opstand
teen die USSR gelei het, word nou in die buitenste duisternis gewerp
omdat hy hom ondanks sy opstand steeds as ‘n kommunis beskou het.
Gelukkig is daar altyd nog die kiesers se korrektief.
Peilings wys dat Fidesz se steun sedert die verkiesing van 2010 met die
helfte afgeneem het. As daar nóú gestem moet word, gaan Orbán
loshande verloor.
Maar wie wil wed dat daar nie binnekort ‘n verkiesing gaan wees nie?
En wanneer dit wel gebeur, dat die Orbán-regime die voorbeeld van
ene Robert Mugabe gaan navolg?
Wie die Suid-Afrikaanse politiek nougeset volg, sal talle parallelle met
Hongarye kan ontdek. Miskien moet Suid-Afrikaners die moeite doen
om die ontwikkelinge in Hongarye te volg sodat hulle kan weet
waarteen hulle hulle moet verweer. Die skrywer is Media24 se
korrespondent in Europa.
Klaar met skool,
wat lê nou vir jou voor?
MARGARET MENTZ
Beeld 5 Januarie 2012
Opsies vir diegene wat twyfel
Jy is klaar met matriek en kan nie wag om met jou volwasse lewe te
begin nie.
Meeste van jou maats het reeds besluit wat hulle volgende gaan doen,
maar jy bevind jouself in ‘n penarie aangesien jy nie die vaagste idee
het wat om te doen nie.
• Oorbruggingsjaar:
Een opsie is om ‘n oorbruggingsjaar te neem. ‘n Oorbruggingsjaar
verwys na ‘n jaar wat jy afvat van jou studies of om iets anders doen.
Baie mense neem ‘n oorbruggingsjaar voor die aanvang van hulle
universiteitsjaar, maar dit kan ook enige tyd geneem word. Meeste
kenners meen dat skoliere en studente wat sukkel met die besluit oor
wat hulle vir die res van hul lewens wil doen, eerder ‘n
oorbruggingsjaar moet neem. Baie werkende mense het die verkeerde
beroep gekies deur iets te gaan studeer wat hulle nie werklik wou doen
nie. En die feit is dat studies baie geld kos en daarom kan jy baie geld
spaar om eers uit te vind wat jy wil doen.
Die voordele van ‘n oorbruggingsjaar is dat jy kan reis, werk, mense
ontmoet, nuwe vaardighede aanleer of net onafhanklikheid en
avontuur kan beleef. As jy nie weet wat jy wil studeer nie, is dit ‘n goeie
manier om dinge wat jy nie ken nie, te ervaar. Of as jy weet wat jy wil
studeer, maar ‘n bietjie tyd vir jouself wil neem, is dit die beste manier
om jou onafhanklikheid te geniet.
• Leerlingskap:
‘n Verdere opsie is ‘n leerlingskap. Baie matrikulante vergeet die
voordele wat ‘n leerlingskap inhou. ‘n Leerlingskap bied professionele
onderrig en opleiding. Dit kombineer teorie en praktiese praktyke, wat
sal lei tot ‘n kwalifikasie wat by die South African Qualifications
Authority (SAQA) geregistreer is. ‘n Persoon wat ‘n leerlingskap
suksesvol voltooi, sal ‘n kwalifikasie wat op ‘n sekere beroep gerig is en
wat in Suid-Afrika erken word, kry. Maar wat is ‘n vakleerlingskap? ‘n
Vakleerlingskap is ‘n nie-eenheidstandaard gebaseerde geregistreerde
kwalifikasie, soos uiteengesit in artikels 13 tot 29 van die Wet op
Mannekragopleiding 56 van 1981. ‘n Vakleerlingskap bestaan uit die
integrasie van werkplek- en institusionele onderrig, en ‘n nasionale
kwalifikasie word verwerf.
Universiteite en kolleges kan betrokke wees in leerlingskappe. ‘n
Leerling-ooreenkoms behels die volgende:
- ‘n leerder;
- ‘n werkgewer of ‘n groep werkgewers;
- ‘n geakkrediteerde diensverskaffer.
Die tydperk wat ‘n leerlingskap duur is 30 weke tot een jaar. As die
leerlingskap suksesvol voltooi is, sal die leerder ‘n kwalifikasie verkry en
‘n sertifikaat ontvang as bewys van bekwaamheid. Aan die einde van
die suksesvolle leerlingskap is daar geen waarborg dat die leerder ‘n
werk by die organisasie of werkgewer sal kry nie. Die werkgewer wat
aan die leerder werkplek-opleiding bied, het nie ‘n verpligting om ‘n
permanente posisie aan te bied nie.
Hoe doen ‘n mens aansoek om ‘n leerlingskap? Werklose mense sal
met die arbeidsdepartement as ‘n werksoeker registreer deur
registrasiegeld te betaal en vorms te voltooi.
Die arbeidsentrums tree met hierdie mense in verbinding indien hulle
voldoen aan die minimum vereistes vir die leerlingskappe met ‘n
spesifieke werkgewer. Let asseblief dat die finale keuse by die
werkgewers rus. Diegene wat reeds werk, kan in aanraking kom met die
maatskappy se departement van menslike hulpbronne om aansoek te
doen of uit te vind van moontlike leerlingskappe.
Hulle kan met hul onmiddellike bestuurder of toesighouer gesels om te
help met die beoordelingsproses in die maatskappy. Andersins kan
hulle hul amptelike vakbond nader vir meer inligting.
Soek-soek só ...
Hoe weet die wêreld?
Beeld 2011-12-26
Nes elders ter wêreld het Suid-Afrikaners vanjaar gewonder oor die
iPhone5, die Britse sangeres Adele en die tegnologie-ghoeroe Steve
Jobs.
Hierdie terme tel onder die lys woorde waarna soektogte op Google
vanjaar die meeste toegeneem het. Dié soekenjin het vandeesmaand ‘n
oorsig van 2011 se soekgedrag bekend gemaak, genaamd die Google
Zeitgeist (Duits vir “tydsgees”).
Die vinnigste opgang onder soekterme internasionaal? Dit behoort aan
die tienersangeres Rebecca Black. Met “Friday”, haar popliedjie - of
elektro-kerm, sal ander sê, het sy 167miljoen kykslae op die
videowebwerf YouTube gekry.
“Vinnigste opgang” verwys na soekterme wat die vinnigste gegroei het
en nie wat algeheel die gewildste was nie.
So het die Japanse woord vir TEPCO, eienaars van die Foekoesjima
Daiichi-kernkragstasie wat in vanjaar se kragtige aardbewing beskadig
is, die eerste nie-Latynse woord geword wat die wêreldwye “vinnigste
opgang”-lys gehaal het. Op sy beurt was “Fukushima” die wêreld se
voorste nuus-soekterm in 2011.
Google het ‘n kopknik aan die “planking”-fenomeen gegee deur dit
eervol te vermeld. Dié aktiwiteit, waar mense ‘n plank naboots en dan
‘n foto daarvan neem, verskyn op ‘n hele paar lande se toplyste.
Dis veral kulturele neigings soos dié wat die lyste interessant maak,
skryf Amit Singhal, ‘n Google Fellow, op die soekenjin se blog.
Kolwyntjies (cup-cakes) het byvoorbeeld die topkoslys in tientalle lande
gehaal.
In Rusland was die gewildste soekterm vir troeteldiere “dwergkameelperde”, ‘n dier wat nie bestaan nie, terwyl “sugar gliders”, ‘n
vlieënde soogdiertjie van Australiese oorsprong, op die VSA se lys
verskyn.
Wonder jy waarvan ons praat? Google dit ...
Kyk by www.googlezietgeist.com.
Nuus
Nuus
1. Julius Malema (bo)
2. Kaizer Chiefs
3. Orlando Pirates
4. Facebook
5. News24
6. YouTube
7. ANC Youth League
8. Nelson Mandela
9. Manchester United
10. Arsenal
Sport
1. Super Rugby Fixtures
2. Wimbledon Live Scores
3. RWC 2011
4. Tri Nations 2011
5. Billabong Pro 2011
6. Super Rugby Results
7. Dakar Rally 2011
8. Foxsports Fantasy Rugby
9. Tabgold Racecard
10. Xscore
Vinnigste opgang
1. Whatsapp
2. Rugby World Cup
3. Royal Wedding
4. Facebook
5. Amy Winehouse
6. Adele
7. Gaddafi
8. Iphone 5
9. Velvet Sky
10. Steve Jobs
Glansmense
1. Kim Kardashian (bo)
2. Idols
3. Beyoncé
4. Britney
5. Rihanna
6. Megan Fox
7. Angelina Jolie
8. Scarlett Johansson
9. Mariah Carey
10. Jennifer Aniston
TV
1. Survivor Tocantins Winner
2. Bigbrother Amplified
3. American Idols 2011
4. The Bachelor Jake
5. The Bachelorette Jillian
6. The Bachelorette Ali
7. American Idols 2011
8. Xfactor USA
9. Mentalist Season 4
10. Topgear Festival
Foto’s
1. Facebook
2. Nicki Minaj
3. Love
4. Selena Gomez
5. Cars
6. Rihanna
7. Flowers
8. YouTube
9. Justin Bieber
10. Beyoncé
Wat is?
1. Facebook
2. Love
3. Life
4. HIV
5. Research
6. Technology
7. Energy
8. Aids
9. Cancer
10. Ubuntu
‘n Roos vir elke tuin
Alita Steenkamp
LIG DESEMBER 2011-JANUARIE 2012
Ludwig Taschner dra die kroon as rooskoning van Suid-Afrika. Oor die
jare het hy groot vreugde vir baie mense gebring met die pragtige rose
wat hy kweek.
Kom na my tuin waar die donkerrooi rose
Duist’re geheime vertrou aan die nag;
Sonnestraal-kusse en suidewind-kose.
Drome en liefde die lang somerdag ...
Die geliefde volksdigter AG Visser, by wie se huis in Heidelberg steeds
die mooiste rose blom, het meer as een maal die skoonheid van rose in
‘n gedig besing. Hy is maar net een van baie kunstenaars wat op die een
of ander manier hulle betowering met dié besondere blom uitgebeeld
het. Deur al die eeue heen is die roos altyd die koningin van die
blommeryk genoem. Dit het ‘n simbool van die liefde geword sodat ‘n
minnaar veel meer met ‘n rooi roos kan sê as met ‘n duisend woorde.
Maar iewers moet die plante wat hierdie pragtige blomme dra,
vandaan kom. Iemand wat sy kennis en vaardigheid gebruik om seker te
maak tuiniers landwyd kan die prag van rose in hulle eie tuin geniet, is
Ludwig Taschner, die befaamde rooskweker van Pretoria.
Die 69-jarige Ludwig se pad het vroeg in sy lewe met rose en ander
plante gekruis. Hy het grootgeword in ‘n klein dorpie, Osterwiek, in
Oos-Duitsland waar sy ouers ‘n kwekery gehad het. Na die Tweede
Wêreldoorlog was die behoefte aan kos veel groter as aan blomme en
sy ouers het hulle toegespits op groenteplantjies en vrugtebome. Dit is
waar Ludwig sy ambag as boomkweker geleer het. Net voor die muur
tussen Oos- en Wes-Duitsland opgerig is, het Ludwig na Wes-Duitsland
gegaan waar hy sy ambag afgerond het en toe is hy na Engeland. In
Engeland het hy gesien hoe die mense op die blomskoue in totale
verwondering staan voor die skoonheid van sommige rose. Daar en dan
het hy besef dat ‘n mens ‘n lewe sal kan maak met die kweek van rose.
“Toe ek in 1962 na Suid-Afrika gekom het, was ek 20 jaar oud en kon ek
nie ‘n woord Afrikaans praat nie,” vertel Ludwig. “Ek wou Suid-Afrika
altyd graag gesien het omdat ek soveel oor sy plante gelees het. Baie
van sy plante, soos zinnia (jakobregop) en malvas hou van ‘n gematigde
klimaat en ek het vermoed dat Suid-Afrika ‘n fassinerende land moet
wees.”
Ludwig lag wanneer hy al hierdie dinge in herinnering roep. Hy het in
Oktobermaand van daardie jaar in Pretoria aangeland en die
Jakarandas het vol in die blom gestaan. Oral het die mooiste rose welig
geblom en hy was dadelik verlief op die land. Ludwig het aanvanklik by
‘n blomkweker op ‘n plaas gewerk, maar toe ‘n groter maatskappy die
kwekery oorneem, moes hy skielik onder ‘n klomp base werk en hulle
het nie almal sy visionêre idees oor die kweek van rose gedeel nie.
“In daardie tyd het die hele tuinbedryf begin verander en ek het besef
vernuwing is nodig. Toe het ‘n mens nog jou rose by die Randse Skou
bestel. Al die boervroue het skou toe gekom en dan het die verskillende
kwekers stalletjies gehad waar die vroue hulle bestellings kon plaas. Ek
het besef ons sal die rose sommer direk in plastieksakke moet kweek en
het dit vir my baas voorgestel. Toe hy sê ‘n mens verander nie aan iets
wat werk nie, het ek geweet ek moet weggaan. Oral het tuinsentrums
soos paddastoele opgeskiet. Ek wou eers ‘n bietjie rondkyk en het
Amerika en ook Europa besoek. ‘n Hoër Hand het my na Suid-Afrika
teruggelei.”
Ludwig het in 1971 ‘n stuk grond gekoop en in die twee jaar wat hy
gewerk het om ‘n groot genoeg voorraad rose te kweek, het hy ‘n
tuindienste-onderneming in Pretoria begin. Ook hiermee was hy ‘n
voorloper. Natuurlik het die rose in die mense se tuine ekstra aandag
gekry, en hy kon al die lote wat hy gesnoei het gebruik om sy eie rose
van te kweek. Hy het egter gou besef hy sal sy volle aandag aan die
rooskwekery moet gee, en van toe af het sy kwekery gefloreer. Hy het
met vier personeellede begin en vandag verskaf Ludwig’s Roses werk
aan 200 mense. Afgesien van die plaas op Walmansthal waar al die rose
gekweek word, is daar nou ook takke van Ludwig’s Roses in
Johannesburg, die Kaap en Natal. Op hierdie manier probeer Ludwig
om goeie gehalte rose aan mense regoor die land beskikbaar te stel.
Ludwig het sy vrou, Pamela, een aand by ‘n danspartytjie ontmoet. “Die
enigste ding wat ek gedoen het, behalwe om rose te kweek, was om te
dans en by so ‘n geleentheid het ‘n jong blonde vrou ingestap gekom.
Toe ek haar sien, het ek geweet sy is die een vir my. Sy het pas
teruggekeer van Europa waar sy drie jaar lank by die Suid-Afrikaanse
ambassade in Parys gewerk het. Sy kon Duits en Frans praat. Ons is in
1978 getroud.”
Ludwig en Pamela se drie kinders is al drie aktief betrokke op die plaas.
Heike, hulle een dogter, bestuur die restaurant, Spiced Coffee, wat
natuurlik die naam van ‘n besonderse roos dra. Anja, hulle ander
dogter, hanteer die bemarking, die katalogus en reëling vir die
verskillende geleenthede wanneer Ludwig’s Roses van hulle besondere
nuwe rose uitstal. Halmar, hulle seun, is die bestuurder van die
onderneming en hy het ‘n belangrike bydrae gemaak met sy meer
moderne en innoverende boerderymetodes.
En as jy dalk wonder waar die mens se bewondering vir rose vandaan
kom, het Ludwig gou ‘n antwoord. Hy vertel dat hierdie betowering
baie duisende jare teruggaan. Selfs toe die roos nog in sy basiese
vyfblomblaar-formaat was, het mense dit al beskou as die koningin van
die blomme. “Die ou Kruisvaarders het baie rose uit die Midde-Ooste
na Europa teruggebring. Daar was natuurlik ‘n ander klimaat en die
mense in die Midde-Ooste het reeds met kruisings begin. In Suid-Afrika
het die roos saam met Jan van Riebeeck en sy skepe gekom. In die boek
The company garden skryf Van Riebeeck: “Vandag het ons die eerste
rose gepluk wat ons uit Holland saamgebring het.” Elke keer wanneer
nuwe immigrante, soos die Britse Setlaars, hierheen gekom het, het
hulle rose saamgebring. Selfs die Voortrekkers het rose saam met hulle
op die trek geneem. Dit was iets van jou tuiste wat jy saamneem.”
By Ludwig’s Roses is die werk nooit klaar nie. Hieroor glimlag Ludwig
breed. Een ding wat hy nie sal regkry nie, is om stil te sit en niks te
doen. Afgesien van sy betrokkenheid op die plaas, skryf hy gereeld
nuusbriewe en artikels in tydskrifte waarin hy raad gee oor die
versorging van rose.
In die ou dae, toe 10 Oktober nog ‘n openbare vakansiedag was, het
Ludwig altyd ‘n ope dag gehou en dan het honderde mense na die plaas
gestroom. Daar het baie water in die see geloop sedertdien, en die
kwekery is nou groter as ooit. Nou is dit nie meer nodig om mense op ‘n
spesiale dag hierheen te lok nie. Dit is met dankbaarheid dat Ludwig
terugkyk.
“As ‘n blomkweker lewe ‘n mens intens naby aan die natuur. Daarom
kan jy nie anders nie as om in verwondering te staan voor God se
skepping. Wanneer ek na ‘n volmaakte roos kyk, besef ek geen mens
kan iets so volmaak skep nie. Dit is ‘n voorreg om elke dag by so ‘n
besondere deel van God se handewerk betrokke te wees.”
Spogrose: Ludwig gee raad
• Wanneer jy ‘n nuwe roosboom plant, moet jy die grond om die boom
met water deurdrenk. Gee daarna elke tweede of derde dag ‘n bietjie
water totdat jy tekens van nuwe groei sien. Dan kan groter
hoeveelhede water op ‘n slag gegee word.
• Rose moet so geplant word dat dit daagliks minstens ses ure lank
volle son kry. Rose wat effe in die skadu staan, sal baie groter blare
ontwikkel, maar minder blomme. Indien daar te veel skadu op die rose
val, sal die blare maklik swamsiektes opdoen.
• Rose is besonder lief vir water en hoe meer water by die wortels
beskikbaar is, hoe beter sal die roos groei. Die hoeveelheid water hang
van die soort grond af. Sanderige grond sal meer dikwels water nodig
hê, selfs daagliks. Wees egter versigtig om nie te veel water te gee vir
rose wat in kleigrond geplant is nie. Rose hou niks daarvan om in water
te staan nie, en meer rose verdrink as wat daar rose vrek van te min
water.
• Rose moet maandeliks bemes word. Elke keer wanneer ‘n roosboom
klaar geblom het, moet nuwe stele en blare gevorm word en die aantal
nuwe lote gaan die aantal blomme bepaal. Al die bemesting wat jy in
Julie by die rose ingewerk het, gaan reeds opgebruik wees teen
Oktober. Roosbome se wortels is nie so wydverspreid dat dit na nuwe
voedingsbronne kan gaan soek nie. Maak seker jou rose kry genoeg
voeding in die vorm van mis, kunsmis of kompos.
• Moenie jou rose naby bome plant nie, want die boomwortels sal booor dié van die rose groei en al die voeding wat bedoel is vir die rose,
opslurp.
• Indien jy naby die see woon en jou rose word blootgestel aan die sout
seelug, moet jy gereeld die plante skoon spuit.
• Stut jou roosbome sodat dit nie in sterk wind omwaai nie.
• Indien jy perfekte rose wil kweek, is dit noodsaaklik om dit gereeld te
bespuit. Dit is nie nodig om al die name van die insekte of die
swamsiektes te ken wat op die sagte nuwe lote gaan teer nie. Spuit
eerder voorkomend. Die beste resultate word verkry indien jy elke
twee weke afwissel tussen Ludwig’s Insect Spray en ‘n konkoksie wat
bestaan uit Funginex, Garden Ripcord, asyn en ‘n spreimiddel soos G49.
• Lees meer oor Ludwig’s Roses by www.ludwigsroses.co.za
Grover dié keer
welkom in restaurant
Seugnet Esterhuyse
Beeld Saterdag 7 Januarie 2012
Blinde vrou kry gratis ete ná Kersdag-voorval
Die blinde vrou wat op Kersdag uit ‘n McDonald’s-restaurant in
Mayville, Pretoria, gejaag is, is op 6 Januarie saam met haar gidshond
op ‘n gratis ete in dieselfde restaurant getrakteer.
Me. Sanet Gouws van Worcester het toe saam met Grover, haar
tweejarige swart labrador, haar ma, Tienkels, en suster, me. Susan
Botes, en bestuurslede van McDonald’s geëet.
Nie Grover nie. Hy het nie eens sy lippe aan ‘n aartappelskyfie gesit nie.
Gouws het verduidelik gidshonde word opgelei om net twee keer per
dag hondeblokkies te eet. “Grover bedel ook nooit kos nie,” het sy
gesê.
Op Kersdag het Gouws, haar ma en suster saam met Grover
melkskommel in dié McDonald’s bestel toe ‘n werknemer vir hulle gesê
het honde word nie in hul restaurante toegelaat nie. Nie Gouws, haar
ma of Botes het melkskommels bestel nie.
Me. Wilma Maree, direkteur van eiendomsontwikkeling by McDonald’s,
wat die ete as deel van die franchise-bestuur bygewoon het, het gesê
McDonald’s sal die opleiding van ‘n gidshond borg.
“Dié hond sal dan seker Big Mac of Nuggets genoem word,” het sy
geskerts.
Voorts sal alle werknemers eersdaags met behulp van video’s verder
opgelei word om ‘n gidshond te kan identifiseer.
Kennisgewings met basiese riglyne oor hoe om ‘n blinde en sy/haar
gidshond te hanteer sal ook in alle personeelkamers aangebring word.
Plakkers met ‘n prentjie van ‘n gidshond sal volgens Maree ook
binnekort aan alle McDonald’s-vertoonvensters landwyd aangebring
word.
Gouws het gesê sy voel nou oukei oor wat gebeur het.
“Dis ‘n positiewe uitkoms,” het haar ma gesê.
“Dié hond wat nou opgelei gaan word, gaan ‘n ander blinde persoon
help. Dis veel meer werd as die gratis ete.”
Mnr. Greg Solomon, besturende direkteur van McDonald’s in SuidAfrika, het Gouws reeds op 29 Desember, ‘n dag nadat Beeld oor die
voorval berig het, persoonlik om verskoning gevra.
Solomon het ook toe aan Beeld gesê hy is baie jammer oor die voorval.
Hul eetplekke laat wel gidshonde toe.
“Ons het baie vinnig opgetree en e-pos aan al ons takke gestuur om die
beleid oor gidshonde duidelik te maak,” het Solomon gesê.
‘n Nuwe waarheid
Saterdag 7.1.2012
Op Kersdag het DANA SNYMAN iets gedoen wat hy jare laas gedoen
het - hy het kerk toe gegaan. Sou hy dít vind wat soveel jare gelede vir
hom weggeraak het?
Op Kersoggend besluit ek om tog maar weer ‘n slag kerk toe te gaan.
Dit is darem Kersfees, sê ek vir myself, en ek kuier darem op Calvinia.
Op sulke plattelandse dorpe gaan ook die afvalliges op Kersdag kerk
toe.
Die diens begin om halftien, maar toe ons net ná kwart oor nege tussen
die bakkies en die karre by die NG kerk in die hoofstraat stilhou, hang
die klank van mense wat ‘n Psalm saam met ‘n orrel sing, reeds in die
lug.
Die kerkgebou is hiér nog nie omring met ‘n palisadeheining soos op
soveel ander plekke in die land nie, maar agter die kerk, aan die
konsistorie se kant, staan ‘n gedenkmuur, met rye marmerstene daarin
gemessel.
‘n Mens sien deesdae al hoe meer sulke gedenkmure by Afrikaanse
kerke: Party lidmate verkies om veras en hier geplaas te word, eerder
as om te gaan rus in ‘n begraafplaas wat nie meer deur die
munisipaliteit in stand gehou word nie, waar die kakiebos die grafte
toegroei en die hek en die heinings weggedra word.
In die kerk se voorportaal lê ‘n paar ouerige Bybels en Gesangeboeke
op ‘n tafel.
Die kerk is byna vol. Ons stap tussen die banke en die singende stemme
deur, en terwyl ons stap, voel dit asof ek by ‘n plek in myself instap
waar ek te bang is om te kom.
‘n Paar rye van agter is vir twee mense sitplek, agter ‘n man, ‘n vrou en
‘n meisietjie. Ons skuif daar in, en toe ek gaan sit, buig my kop byna
instinktief vooroor. ‘n Paar oomblikke sit ek net so, met my oë toe. Toe
ek ‘n kind was, het ek altyd gekyk hoe die ooms en die tannies die kerk
instap, en hoe hulle gaan sit en hul koppe so laat sak, en toe het ek dit
oom maar begin doen. “Help my, Here,” sê ek in my gedagtes en maak
my oë weer oop.
“Kom laat ons jubel voor die Heer,” sing die mense steeds.
“Laat ons hom toesing lof en eer ...”
Die lied se woorde word op ‘n skerm teen die muur langs die preekstoel
gewys, maar eers sing ek nie saam nie. Eers bekyk ek alles rondom my.
Alles is so bekend: Die blokkiesvloere, die rooi tapyt in die gangetjie
tussen die banke, die preekstoel, met die kanselkleed waarop ‘n
prentjie van ‘n herder met ‘n staf en ‘n paar skape geborduur is. Die
Nagmaaltafel met die rangskikking affodille en krisante daarop. Die
doopvont.
Ek het in ‘n plattelandse NG gemeente soos dié grootgeword. Ek is in só
‘n kerk gedoop. In só ‘n kerk het ek Kinderkrans toe gegaan, en
Sondagskool toe; en in só ‘n kerk is ek een Sondagoggend lank gelede
aangeneem en voorgestel, in ‘n poeierblou pak klere wat spesiaal by
Couquis-mansuitrusters in Pretoria gaan koop is.
Alles hier is vir my so bekend, maar alles het ook vir my ‘n bietjie
vreemd geword, want iewers tussen my twintigste en dertigste jaar het
ek opgehou om kerk toe te gaan. Ek het begin twyfel aan die NG Kerk se
geloofwaardigheid. Hoe kan dit wees, het ek begin wonder, dat die kerk
eens sekere dogmas op grond van die Bybel kon verkondig, net om
dieselfde idees later op grond van dieselfde Bybel te verwerp apartheid, die vrou in die amp, homoseksualiteit, Sondagsport,
ensovoorts.
Die meeste predikante se preke het my ook nie meer geboei nie. Die
preke was vol moeë woorde en mishandelde frases. Ek het die skrywers
van die boeke op my boekrak meer as die Kerk en die predikante begin
vertrou om vir my te sê hoe moet ek lewe. N.P. van Wyk Louw. John
Steinbeck. Ook D.H. Lawrence wat gesê het: “Make tenderness an act
of courage.”
In die toring bokant ons slaan die klok een keer: Halftien. Die Kersdiens
hier op Calvinia gaan begin. “Goeie môre,” groet die dominee, ‘n
ouerige man met ‘n grys kop, van die preekstoel af.
“Goeie môre,” groet party mense terug.
“Is hier enige besoekers vanmôre by ons?” vra die dominee. “Steek ‘n
bietjie vir ons die hande op?”
Een van dié wat ‘n hand opsteek, is ‘n kind wat uit Londen gekom het
om Kersfees by sy ouers hier op die dorp te wees. Ek steek nie my hand
op nie.
Oor die jare heen het ek soms na ander kerke as die NG Kerk gegaan. Ek
was selfs een of twee keer in ‘n charismatiese kerk, maar dit het, glo ek,
nie veel vir my siel beteken nie. Die helder, onpeilbare woorde in ‘n Van
Wyk-Louw-gedig, bring my nader aan God as al die “hallelujas!” en die
“amens!” in ‘n pastoor of prediker met ‘n cowboyhoed se dienste.
“Kom ons bly net so sit,” sê die predikant, “dan buig ons ons hoofde in
gebed.”
Hy bid rustig en redelik, en gee daarna nog ‘n Psalm op. Ons staan op
en begin weer sing: “Loof die Heer wat alle Here ...”
Die pa voor ons staan ook op, met sy dogtertjie in sy arms. Die kind
staar met blou ogies oor die pa se skouer na my terwyl ons sing. Dit
voel of dit my vroeëre onskuldige self is wat na my staar.
Sal sy nog eendag so skepties en vol vrae soos ek wees?, staan ek en
wonder terwyl ek na haar kyk en die Psalm se woorde saam brom. Sal
daar, wanneer sy groot is, vir haar ‘n NG - of enige ander - kerk wees?
Of sal sy gelukkig en geestelik geborge wees in ‘n wêreld waarin jou
internetverbinding jou weg na die waarheid en die ewigheid is, ‘n
wêreld waarin die etiket op jou klere of handsak jou identiteit help
bepaal.
Ons gaan sit weer. Op die preekstoel blaai die predikant deur sy Bybel.
Hy begin ‘n hoofstuk uit die Psalms lees: “Kom laat ons jubel tot eer van
die Here, laat ons juig ter ere van die rots van ons heil ...”
Hy maak die Bybel weer toe. Hy gaan preek oor die vreugde van
Kersfees: Hoe daar ‘n kindjie in Betlehem gebore is, en hoe daardie
kindjie ‘n man geword het wat vir die mensdom se sondes sou sterf.
Ek kyk na die mense in die banke rondom ons. Dit is asof daar ‘n tam
gevoel oor almal hang. Teen die dak veg ‘n waaier moedig met wye
arms teen die hitte. ‘n Man lig sy arm en vee die sweet met ‘n
bruingebrande hand van sy nek af. ‘n Tante sit en staar na ‘n Bybel wat
oop op haar skoot lê. Baie van die tekste in haar Bybel, kan jy sien, is
onderstreep.
Baie van die mense hier is plaasmense. Oor een oom se voorkop lê ‘n
wit rif van hoed dra in die son, en om die tannie langs hom se een
vinger is ‘n stukkie pleister gedraai. By hulle sit ‘n man en ‘n mooi vrou
en twee seuntjies. Die man dra ‘n smal, pienk dassie. Hy is die oom en
tannie se seun, wat nou ‘n ingenieur of ‘n rekenmeester in die stad is,
raai ek. Hulle kuier net vir Kersfees op die plaas.
Miskien kyk ‘n mens op Kersdag met meer genade na jouself en dié
rondom jou, miskien is dít een van die laaste oorblywende wonders van
Kersfees.
Want opeens tref dit my: Hierdie mense wat ek hier sien, is die NG
Kerk. Die NG Kerk bestaan uit mense.
Goed, dit is seker nie ‘n baie oorspronklike insig nie, maar tog: In die
laaste paar jaar het baie van ons die NG Kerk so gekritiseer en afgeskryf
asof dit slegs ‘n instelling is, sonder alte menslike mense.
Mense met bruingebrande hande, en dun, pienk dassies. Mense met
kinders in Londen en Bybels vol onderstreepte teksverse. Mense wat,
nes ek, oor die jare heen deur predikante en teoloë en sinodes verwar
en selfs mislei is.
Mense wat, ondanks als, aanhou om Sondag ná Sondag kerk toe te
kom, en basaar te hou, en geld vir Bybelverspreiding en sendingwerk in
Hongarye in te samel. Mense wat hul kinders Sondagskool toe stuur.
Op die preekstoel lig die predikant sy arms. Hy is klaar gepreek.
“Ons sluit nou af met `Stille Nag`,” sê hy.
Die lied se woorde verskyn op die skerm, maar dis nie nodig nie. Ons
ken “Stille Nag” se woorde. Ons staan op en begin dit sing asof ons
nuwe waarhede uit daardie ou-ou woorde probeer los sing.
Die pa voor ons staan weer met sy dogtertjie in sy arms. Die kind staar
weer oor sy skouer na my, die hele tyd staar sy na my, terwyl ons sing.
Eers toe die orrel weer stil is, kyk sy weer vorentoe, en vra saggies vir
haar pa: “Pappa, hoekom huil die oom hier agter ons so?”
`Stille nag` mag 1ste keer in
152 jaar in dié kerke gesing word
Neels Jackson
Beeld 2012-01-08
Potchefstroom - Die Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika (GKSA) mag
nou vir die eerste keer die Kerslied “Stille Nag” in hul eredienste sing.
Dit is een van die eerste 18 wat liedere deur die sinode goedgekeur is
ná die ingrypendste wysiging in standpunt oor kerkliedere in die GKSA
se 152-jarige bestaan.
Dié kerkverband is in 1859 juis gestig uit weerstand teen die
sogenaamde “vrye gesange”.
Sedertdien het hulle hoofsaaklik Psalms gesing, aangevul deur ander
liedere wat uit die Bybel of die belydenisskrifte berym is.
Vrydagaand het die algemene sinode dié standpunt ingrypend verruim
deur ook die deur te open vir ander Skrifgetroue liedere, mits dit eers
deur die sinode goedgekeur is.
Saterdagoggend is ‘n aantal sulke liedere uit die Liedboek van die Kerk
vir goedkeuring aan die sinode voorgelê, nadat ‘n stel riglyne vir die
keuring van liedere aanvaar is.
Van die afgevaardigdes wat baie versigtig was dat dwaalleer of
oneerbiedige musiek nie die kerk ingevoer word nie, het bedenkings
oor van die liedere geopper.
Dr. Hennie van Wyk van Christiana en Bloemhof wou byvoorbeeld oor
“Stille nag” weet of die sinode nou dié nag heilig kan verklaar.
Dis nie eens seker dat Jesus in die nag gebore is nie, het hy aangevoer.
Ds. Christie Roets van Alberton-Wes het bedenkinge gehad oor die
geskiktheid van twee liedere se melodieë.
Hy het gevoel die wysie van Lied 329 (“Want so lief het God die wêreld
gehad”) klink te “hopperig” en die melodie van Lied 292 (“My enigste
troos in lewe en dood”) is nie wyd genoeg nie.
Een afgevaardigde het gemeen die reël “vrees vir straf laat my nie
weifel” uit Lied 241 (“Troue Here van my lewe”) klink of dit God
uitdaag.
Nog iemand het gemeen party liedere is te gerig op menslike reaksie of
gevoel.
Die besware het die sinode egter nie oortuig nie en op een ná is al die
liedere wat voorgelê is, goedgekeur vir gebruik.
Net Lied 353 (“Die Heiland is gebore”) is eers na ‘n kommissie verwys
om oor die dogmatiese korrektheid daarvan te oordeel.
Daar is aangevoer die tweede reël, “Daar in die stad van Dawid word Hy
Immanuel”, berus op ‘n foutiewe siening van God.
Hy was altyd Immanuel (“God met ons”), Hy het dit nie eens daar
“geword” nie.
SLOW COOKER RECIPES
Rosemary Lemon Wings
Lemon juice, zest, garlic, red pepper flakes, and pungent rosemary
flavor these wings. They can be addictive, so don’t plan on having any
leftovers!
3 pounds chicken wing drumettes
¼ cup olive oil
1½ teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
Freshly ground black pepper
SAUCE
½ cup lemon juice
Grated zest of 3 lemons
2 teaspoons salt
Pinch of red pepper flakes
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon finely minced fresh rosemary
½ cup chicken broth
Coat the insert of a 5- to 7-quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking
spray. Preheat the broiler for 10 minutes.
Combine the wings, olive oil, salt, paprika, and a generous grinding of
pepper in a large mixing bowl and toss until the wings are evenly
coated. Arrange the wings on a wire rack in a baking sheet and broil
until the wings are crispy on one side, about 5 minutes.
Turn the wings and broil until crispy and browned an additional 5
minutes.
Remove the wings from the oven. If you would like to do this step
ahead of time, cool the wings and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
Otherwise, put the wings in the prepared cooker insert.
Combine all the sauce ingredients in a mixing bowl and stir. Pour the
sauce over the wings and turn to coat.
Cover and cook on high for 3 hours, turning the wings several times to
coat with the sauce.
Serve the wings from the cooker set on warm.
Serves 8
Steak
One 1-inch-thick beef round steak (3½ to 4 pounds), cut into 6 pieces
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 large sweet onions, such as Vidalia, coarsely chopped
1 pound cremini mushrooms, quartered
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
1 cup ketchup
1 cup beef broth
1 teaspoon smoked paprika (see savvy)
Sprinkle the meat evenly with 1½ teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon
pepper. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the
meat and brown on all sides.
Transfer the meat to the insert of a 5- to 7-quart slow cooker. Add the
onions to the same skillet and sauté until they are softened and are
beginning to turn translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the mushrooms and
sauté until the mushrooms begin to color, 7 to 10 minutes.
Add the Worcestershire, ketchup, broth, and paprika and stir to
combine. Bring the sauce to a boil. Transfer the contents of the skillet
to the slow-cooker insert, covering the beef with the sauce. Cover the
slow cooker and cook on high for 4 to 5 hours or on low for 8 to 10
hours.
Remove the meat and vegetables from the slow cooker, cover with
aluminium foil, and allow to rest for 20 minutes.
Thicken the sauce if desired using any of the methods discussed in the
introduction. Season with salt and pepper.
Cover the meat and vegetables with some of the sauce and serve. Serve
any additional sauce on the side.
Serves 6
North African Beef Stew
The fragrance of Marrakech markets will perfume your home when
cooking this succulent meat dish with spices from the Kasbah. Filled
with hearty chunks of beef cooked until fork-tender, exotic spices, dried
fruit, and garbanzo beans, it’s a wonderful weeknight dinner served
with rice or couscous.
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into 1-inch pieces
1½ teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 large onion, coarsely chopped
2 cloves garlic, sliced
4 medium carrots, coarsely chopped
2 teaspoons sweet paprika
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 cups beef broth
One 15-ounce can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup dried apricots, cut into ½-inch pieces
½ cup golden raisins
2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with ¼ cup water
Heat the oil in a large skillet over high heat. Sprinkle the meat evenly
with the salt and pepper. Add the meat to the skillet a few pieces at a
time and brown on all sides. Transfer the browned meat to the insert of
a 5- to 7-quart slow cooker.
Add the onion and garlic to the same skillet and sauté until the onion
begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the carrots, paprika, cumin, and
cinnamon and sauté until the spices are fragrant, about 2 minutes.
Deglaze the skillet with 1 cup of the broth and scrape up any browned
bits from the bottom of the pan. Transfer the contents of the skillet to
the slow-cooker insert. Add the remaining cups broth, the beans,
apricots, and raisins.
Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours, until the meat
is tender.
Skim off any fat from the top of the stew. Add the cornstarch mixture
and stir to combine. Cover the slow cooker and cook for an additional
20 to 30 minutes, until the sauce is thickened.
Serve the stew warm from the cooker.
Serves 8