The Magic – and Madness – of Tulips

Read the Magic – and Madness – of Tulips further on…

Thanks, Hanlie Smith for the photograph

Tent-Pegging at Festival

This year’s bizhub BibberChillfees to be held on 26 May will be making history by introducing to the area the international sport of tent-pegging, in which South Africa are world champions, with Australia followed by Pakistan as closest rivals.

An old traditional war-time sport originating in the Arab world, tent-pegging is little-known in this country in spite of the fact that the national team has beaten all-comers on the international field and currently is competing in India.  This gymkhana event is likely to attract huge interest both for its spectacle and novelty. It also gives the festival greater than ever status.

Kiewet van Jaarsveld, a member of the South African Masters Tent-Pegging team, is organising the event for the festival and tells Smiffie that four women will be among the 25 riders.

The competition will be run over a 200m course which has to be covered at full gallop. Riders will be equipped with lances and swords. At the halfway mark a series of pegs in the ground have to be removed by these weapons and carried at full speed to the finish line.

In another event a lemon will be placed on top of a pole. Riders, once again at full gallop, will be required to slice the lemon, pick up a peg and continue for the remainder of the 200m course.

The South African Masters Tent-Pegging Team is the national team for riders over 50 years of age.

Update on Smiffie Runner

By Rose Lund

Our resident marathon runner, John Novasi, featured first in our November 2011 issue and again on page 17 of our last month (March) issue , is a very happy chappy. He recently received a pair of brand-new Asics all the way from London per kind generosity of family of Gerrie and Hester Potgieter. Gerrie himself is an accomplished marathon runner.

John is still training diligently, and hopefully more effectively in his new shoes; and is keenly looking forward to running the Two Oceans Marathon taking place this Easter weekend 6 & 7 April. However, finances are still a huge stumbling block for John and time is running short. He urgently needs sponsoring to cover travel and food costs. We call on all Smithfielders to please support a man who is a credit to our village.

All donations will be gratefully received, no matter how large or small. Donors can also contact the Smiffie office 051 683 0133 or Rose Lund 083 263 7923.

Basil Read To Use Water From Smithfield Dam

The town dam will soon be used by Basil Read to supply the water they need for rebuilding the N6, and officials of the contractors have assured the Smiffie their expertise on matters of water usage are such that there is no question of the town suffering a water shortage as a result.

They give the reassurance that water usage by road constructors is not nearly as high as is generally believed. Their commitment to Smithfield would ensure that they did not in anyway damage the town’s water facilities.

With Smithfield’s history of water shortages, news of the decision by the Municipality has created understandable concern at the approach of the dry winter season. However, Smiffie has learned that the company is investigating the condition of the pumps at the Caledon River with a view to repairing them in exchange for the dam water.

Mohokare officials met with Basil Read people in Zastron mid March and it was agreed at that meeting that the dam water would be made available for road building purposes. However, all parties agreed that there would be constant monitoring of the levels of the water. In addition, municipal officials are to inform the company of the lowest level that the water will be allowed to reach before the construction company must stop drawing from the dam.

In its search for a good source of water the company has also discovered that Smithfield is not supposed to be reliant on the dam water but that water pumped from the Caledon was intended to supply Smithfield’s requirements. The system came to an end some time ago and municipal officials claimed they had a problem with the pumps in the river.

No longer linked to the Caledon, the town dam has completely dried up twice in the last few years, and then it only fills up again after exceptional summer rain.

Road construction officials said that they needed access to the pump site as soon as possible so they could inspect the condition of the pumps and then get a quote for repairs.

If it is financially feasible Basil Read would be prepared to have the pumps fixed, which would mean that the town water supply would no longer be completely dependent on the rainwater caught in the dam.

Originally, the municipality had agreed to allow Basil Read to use the water in exchange for completing the road into Mofulatshepe which was begun but never completed by Rainbow Construction, the previous contractors who have since gone into liquidation.

Commenting on the current plans, a construction official said that, depending on the cost of repairs, the company could reinstate the pumps as well as complete the road, in exchange for the water. Whatever happens in relation to fixing the pumps will be decided very soon: construction officials said the dams where they are presently drawing water are getting low and they will need a new source within a month.

It is understood that the company approached several farmers about using water from their dams, without success. The company also suggests that infrared investigations have shown ample underground water resources in the immediate area of Smithfield.

Nog Melkskaap Geskiedenis Word Gemaak

‘n Proses wat gedurende Maart 2003 aan die gang gesit is deur ‘n besoek aan Australië, het eindelik in Maart 2012,
presies 9 jaar later, vrugte afgewerp.

Twee van die Awassi ramme in kwarantyn.

Elmarie van Aswegen het Australië in 2003 besoek om onderhandelinge te begin in ‘n poging om Awassi skape in die hande te kry om die genetika van haar melkskaap kudde te verbeter. Groot was haar ontnugtering toe sy met haar aankoms in Australie besef hoeveel politiek daar rondom die Awassi ras is en dat daar geen struktuur of organisasie was waarby sy kon aanklop vir hulp nie.

Oor die jare heen het sy met vele Australiërs kontak gemaak en by tye was dit ‘n baie fyn spel aangesien die Arabiere in die weste van die land graag ‘n monopolie oor die ras wou hê. ‘n Familie in die ooste het egter planne van hul eie
gehad met hulle verbeterde suiwel Awassi skape.

Dit het tot baie konflik en politiekery tussen die twee groeperinge gelei. Diegene wat nie direk by een van hierdie groeperinge betrokke was nie, het hulle eie agendas gehad en gegryp wat hulle kon.

In September 2010 was daar egter ‘n dramatiese wending toe die groep in die ooste besluit het om die eerste openbare veiling van Awassi skape te hou.

Dit sou die laaste geleentheid vir Elmarie wees om van hierdie skape te bekom, maar 10 minute na die aanvang van die veiling, is die veiling gekanselleer weens ‘n hofbevel wat die Arabiere verkry het.

Dit het gelei tot baie sensitiewe onderhandelinge en nog ‘n paar struikelblokke wat oorkom moes word soos ‘n uitvoer agent wat amper met Elmarie se geld vort is. Maar hierdie storie het ‘n gelukkige einde, want op 19 Maart hierdie jaar het drie Awassi ramme (24 uur voordat die invoer permit sou verval) op OR Tambo lughawe in Johannesburg geland, foto links, nadat hulle heelwat konsternasie onder passasiers op ‘n Qantas vlug veroorsaak het.

Die ramme is tans onder kwarantyn in Johannesburg. Sover vasgestel kan word is dit die eerste Awassi skape in Suid-Afrika.

Onderhandelinge is reeds goed op dreef om 50 Awassi embrios vanaf ‘n ander bron in ‘n ander land in te voer.

Sien ook spotprent.

POLICE BEAT

Easter – Busy Time for Police
While schools, government and non-government institutions will pause for the Easter holidays, it will be business as usual for the Police. Workers and learners will embark on long journeys to their respective homes and to churches for Easter devotions.

However, fatigue, illegal use and abuse of alcohol while driving or walking, and recklessness on the roads, are big contributors to road accidents during the season. Roadblocks have proved to be very effective in the past. This Easter they will be conducted all over the Cluster.

We will focus on the N6 and R26 (Zastron Road) and police will make sure that you get to your destinations safe and sound, and accident free.

People are urged to report any crime, including road users who disobey road rules, to our toll-free number 08600 10111 or nearest Police Station.

Liquor outlets will be visited to check if they still comply with the law and if they close within the stipulated time. Illegal
taverns and shebeens will be closed down. The law will act against anyone disregarding the Liquor Act.

Priority crimes in the Cluster include murder, assaults, rape, house and business robbery.

Lt. Col. H. M. Stapelberg, on behalf of the Cluster wishes all a Happy Easter – and remember – reducing crime to zero starts with you.

Issued by Corporate Communications Services, Smithfield, Free State. Contact: Sgt Yanga Ngcukana. 051 683 6201/
084 361 5591

Man Dies in Alleged Stolen Car

A 24 year old man died in the late afternoon on Friday 16 March after he lost control of the vehicle on the N6 road, 5km from Smithfield. The accident was reported to the police by a passing driver.

When the police arrived at the scene they found a male trapped inside a Silver Corsa Lite. Jaws of Life had to be used to free the man, who was certified dead at the scene by Emergency Medical Services paramedics.

The owner of the vehicle alleges that the deceased stole the vehicle late on Thursday night, 15 March, in Aliwal North.

A case of culpable homicide is being investigated

Woman Murdered in Mofulatshepe

A 54-year-old woman was brutally murdered at her home on Friday night 16 March in Mofulatshepe. According to a witness, he tried to intervene in a quarrel after which he left at around 22h00 that night.

On Saturday morning at about 08:00 the witness then went back to the woman’s house. On arrival he noticed a door was open and inside the yard there was a pool of blood. He summoned the police.

When the police arrived on the scene, the naked body of an African female was found lying on the floor with visible wounds on her face and neck.

One suspect was arrested on a charge of murder.

Top Wool Prices

Top price reached at official CMW wool auction:

2012/03/07 AM Swanepoel jnr  of Smithfield  for 3 bales of 18mic BMY sold at R86.85
2012/02/29 AJ Liebenberg  of Smithfield  for 2 bales of 19.3mic BMY sold at R72.75

Wêreld Skeerkampionskappe

Deur Gerrie van Zyl

Ek was bevoorreg om deur die SA Skeerfederasie genomineer te word om tydens die Wêreld Skeer- en Wolwerk kampioenskappe die wolwerk-kompetisie te beoordeel. Die kompetisie het te Masterton in Nieu-Zeeland plaasgevind. Daar is meegeding in hand-skeer, masjienskeer en wolwerk. Z. Hans van Suid-Afrika is gekroon as Wêreld Handskeer kampioen, terwyl nog ‘n Suid-Afrikaner, M. Zweni 2de in die dié kompetisie geëindig het.

Die masjienskeerders het minder goed gevaar aangesien die skape wat geskeer word baie verskil het van die in Suid-Afrika. Tydens die wolwerk kompetisie het Elna Kitching van Grootfontein Landboukollege 10de algeheel geëindig. Die wol in Nieu-Zeeland word ook baie anders geklas as in SA.

Daar word hoofsaaklik met Romney Marsh-skape of kruisings daarvan in Nieu-Zeeland geboer. Die wol se fynheid wissel van 29 mikron tot ongeveer 40 mikron en is hoofsaaklik geskik vir tapytwol. Daar is ongeveer 30-40 miljoen skape in Nieu-Zeeland, waarvan slegs 3 miljoen merinos is. Merinos word ook slegs in die droëer dele van die Suid-Eiland, nl by Otago aangetref. Die meeste weidings is aangeplante raaigras-klawer weidings, wat in die meeste dele nie besproei word nie aangesien die reënval bo 1200 mm/ jaar is.

Daar is geen slange, jakkalse of rooikatte op Nieu-Zeeland nie en byna geen vee-diefstal nie, aangesien die bevolking maar ongeveer vier miljoen mense is en werkloosheid baie laag is. Daar is egter geen arbeid nie en beskikbare arbeid is duur,
maar baie produktief. Skape moet elke vier weke gedoseer word agv die hoë reënval.

Tydens ons verblyf in Nieu-Zeeland was daar ook tyd om van die besienswaardighede te besoek. Gletsers, mere, vulkaniese aktiwiteite en reënwoude was van die hoogtepunte. Verskeie boerderye is ook besoek.