Fun & Fitness in Smithfield

Apart from some hectic exercising, these Smithfield members of Susan Swanepoel’s Zumba Fitness & Health Group, together with those in Rouxville, raised R1000 for the CANSA Association fund for fighting breast cancer. The event in mid-November at the Red Barn was called “Zumbathon in Pink”, and participants obviously put their best efforts into this good cause.

Museum Curator Dies in River

Police prepare to drag the body of Richard Motlingwe from the river at the entrance to Mofulatshepe on 1 November.
The 36-year-old was curator of the Smithfield Museum. Discovery of the body led to wild rumours about murder but police found no sign of injury. Unless the post mortem proves otherwise, it is assumed that he must have fallen off the low-level bridge at night, into the pool of deep water below. Police are still waiting for these final results.

Popular Teacher Lost to School

To lose a teacher of mathematics literacy as popular as Andrew Sefako (43) is indeed a loss that will be severely felt by both learners and educators at Relebohile Sibulele Combined School.

Mr Sefako had been a teacher at the school since 1995 and was Head Of Department for mathematics and science. Learners, coached in chess  by Mr Sefako, took part in provincial competitions. He was also the table tennis coach.

Mr Sefako is survived by his wife and three children.

In the words of Headmaster, Mr Bartman: “Mr Sefako’s results were not only excellent but also consistent”.

Smithfield Landbou Gee Sertifikate

Smithfield Landbou het hulle laaste algemene vergadering vir die jaar by Carmel gehou.

Boere entrepreneurs van die suid-Vrystaat het vertel van die begin en ontwikkeling van hulle boerderye. Theo Delport, van Carmel se besproeingstelsel is ook bespreek. Martiens le Roux het vertel van die dae toe Carmel ’n sendingstasie was.

By die afsluiting het die voorsitter, Johan Neethling, ’n oorsig oor die jaar se werksaam-hede gegee. Meriete sertifikate is ontvang deur: Salomien Erasmus, Trix Swanepoel, Selina Lebanya, Lenie Malherbe, en Magda van Wyk, vir dienste aan die gemeenskap. Eerbewyse is aan Harry Prinsloo vir sy voorsitterskap van die Nasionale Wolkwekers Vereniging, en aan Kathy Ward vir haar uitsonderlike prestasies met die teling en afrigting van skaaphonde, oorhandig.

ART and about in Smithfield

by Greg May
Local artist Gerd Seegers, left,  takes pride of space in Fresh Paint Gallery this December with an exhibition of work inspired by the Cape West Coast. The interesting thing is that it wasn’t only the picturesqueness of the environment that inspired him, but the lighting and colours that opened a new dimension to his palette. The tranquility that he experienced, gazing over the Atlantic Ocean seems to have provided him with both the time and space to open up a new inner eye. All of this comes out in his new pieces; vibrancy and harmony live side by side, colour and form flow together and with them Gerd has, I believe, produced his finest work to date.
Also on exhibition over December will be work from my own collection including a dynamic piece by well-known Durban artist Andrew Verster from his tattoo series. Alas,
I just don’t have enough space in my own house to display all the art I have!

I recently acquired new pieces for The African Toyshop, so for a really interesting and unique Christmas present why not pay us a visit.

BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL  many wonderful artistic creations on display at Fresh Paint Art Gallery

Deputy Minister of Health Visits Clinic

Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, visited Smithfield Clinic (Thembalethu Clinic) recently during her inspection of State health facilities in the Gariep area.
Here she is seen with Sister Sarette Coertze, Operational Manager Mohokare, in the clinic reception area.

In Smithfield….

Ian and Di Rosie at the Smithfield Market.

Annatjie Steyn and Fred Groves share their birthday at the Steyn’s farm.

Die afsluiting van die Tuinbouklub is in Hanli Smith se pragtige tuin op die plaas gehou.

Groups at the CANSA Brunch In Smithfield

 

 

StoepStories

by JJ

Our New Info Office
Smithfield’s Information Office has been a very valuable asset to the town in the past few years. The new office will be a further improvement in helping strangers find their way about the town and the area. Our town should benefit every time it answers an inquiry from a visitor, particularly if it does so with a knowledge of, and feeling for Smithfield. So our message to everyone in the area, give the office your full support.

More news

More news will be posted shortly….

Letter 01

Dear Smiffie
When I moved to Smithfield from Johannesburg about 12 years ago, our main street had the following:
A bakery, well-known for its fantastic range and quality;
A classic trading store where you could buy anything from a bicycle bell to fishing equipment;
A quality ladies’ boutique;
A second bottle store;
A quaint coffee shop, well-known to both locals and tourists alike;
A farmers’ meat and veggies store;
A branch of Absa Bank;
Two doctorss rooms.

While grocery and fruit and vegetable supplies have improved, go and have a look at what the main road looks like. I wonder what tourists think of our downgraded main road with broken bridges and gutters and a permanent mess, no matter how hard Abraham Molise works at picking up rubbish.
“Plastic Bag”