Geelboy Masiu parking Smithfield’s brand new tractor

Mohokare Municipality has bought three brand spanking new, bright red Massey Ferguson tractors – one each for Smithfield, Zastron and Rouxville. According to our sources this is the beginning of good things to come. With better equipment our municipal workers will be able to work more efficiently.

Smiffie has also heard that three municipal workers, who were under the influence at work, have been suspended for six months without pay. Such action is long overdue and is to be commended. The lack of supervision has long been a problem in town. Well done to whoever is in charge!

Municipal workers have tackled the untidy Juana Square, along with various other streets near the centre of town and the entrance to town from the Bloemfontein side. It would be wonderful if Juana Square could become a beautification project but the area would need fencing before it became worthwhile to spend time and money on it.

Smiffie has also noticed that some of the manholes that were coverless have received covers. Most noticeably, the manhole on the corner near OVK that was dangerous for traffic and pedestrians alike is now neatly covered.

No sooner has our Municipality overcome problems in one area than it is faced with others in need of urgent attention.

This time it is the effect of the recent rains. The arrival of the first of the summer rains has been widely welcomed – except by the unfortunate people living in some of the RDP houses.

On more than one occasion contractors employed by the Municipality have failed to meet the required standards of workmanship. Smiffie has seen for itself some of these results – roofs with insufficient overhang, gaps between roof and walls, and even a wall where daylight shows through between layers of bricks.

We have again received complaints from some of the unfortunates both in Greenfields and the lower part of Mofulatshepe who have had to cope with water pouring into their homes, swamping floors, drenching  bedding and clothing. It takes hours for the water to be swept out of the homes and some people have had to take time off from their work to save what they can of their belongings. This not only amounts to discomfort but also presents a potential health hazard as well as financial loss.

Reports of these incidents have been made to the Municipality  so it is to be hoped that something can be done to assist those in distress.

It would also be an added achievement if the municipality could catch up with some of he so-called contractors who are alleged to have failed to carry out their mandates.

Visit the Artists’ Colony website

In the past, the signboard directing traffic to turn left to Aliwal North was located near Rest-a-While. It was subsequently moved, to the corner just before Biba’s. This could have indicated to drivers that they should take the next turn left, which happens to be Church St. There are also some drivers who prefer to take Church St instead of Hoffman St as there is less traffic and, now that the surface of Church St is so good, they can race along at a good speed.

Last month a large truck with trailers did exactly this and connected with the electrical cables draped rather low over the road. A couple of days later, another large truck came belting down Church St and took out one of the electricity poles, once again leaving some residents without power and Herb Cottage with no telephone connection for several days.

Reportedly one driver was under the influence and between the SAPS and the traffic officer, he was made to drive to the police station where he and his vehicle remained for the night.

On both occasions Centlec responded quite quickly and restored the power but the first incident caused a surge of electricity, which in turn caused a short circuit at Telkom’s local centre.

In spite of the fact that the offending signboard has been taken down which should have resulted in traffic being directed down Pres Hofman St, a truck transporting a large tractor took the route down Church St and the canopy of the tractor caught the electric cables. As the cable snapped, Estelle Eloff was walking up the road and the cable caught her on the arm and leg. Fortunately she does not seem to have been badly hurt, with only red weals to show for her ordeal. She was, however, severely shocked.

Mr le Grange of Centlec informed Smiffie that he would inspect the situation personally and that longer poles would be installed. He added that the height of the road was partly to blame for the problem, as it had been built up quite a lot when it was resurfaced.

Hopefully the problem will be sorted out before there is an even more serious accident.

“Kyk daar! Kyk die maan.“
“It’s not the moon. It’s moving too fast.”

It was Sunday night 18 October 2009 at Tussen Die Riviere Game Park near Bethulie. The wind was fresh but the air was clear and the sky crammed with stars. The time was 20.50. Appearing over the horizon just below the Southern Cross an extraordinary object moved swiftly northwards, filling our view of the sky.

We all, hard-nosed skeptics or not, were stunned with amazement. Even the Smiffie  photographer reacted just not quickly enough to catch a good image. It resembled a small, bright star that expanded until it appeared to split open into 2 objects, all the while pulsating rings of light outwards like a stone dropped into a lake. Then the “star” quickly shrank again into a single core before repeating the process. As it moved towards the opposite horizon, the star and its rings gradually faded.
During the few short minutes the episode occurred it excited many confusing thoughts and emotions. Was it a UFO, or more rationally, simply a satellite?

On Saturday 24 October, during their 8.30pm astronomy programme, Radio Sonder Grense broadcast a report from Boyden Observatory and advised that further information was available on the website www.spaceweather.com. Surfing produced a blog http://transientsky.wordpress.com which gave this explanation: “… it was a fuel dump from a recent satellite launch.

At 16:12 GMT an Atlas V rocket was launched from Vandenberg AF base in California carrying the DMSP F18 weather satellite. Specifically it was a fuel dump from the Centaur upper stage used to place the satellite in its proper orbit. Excess fuel is “dumped” or vented into space in order to prevent any future explosions that will litter space.” (One wonders how explosions can “litter” space? Moreover, surely fuel dumped in space would create a highly flammable environment?)

It also appears that the image seen over Europe was not exactly the same as that seen in the skies of southern Africa.

Check images at:  http://www.astronomical.co.za/gallery.htm.

Visit the Bokmakierie website

China is to invest in a fish hatchery at Lake Gariep.

This is to be done in cooperation with the Free State Department of Agriculture. The centre is envisaged to be a fingerling supply station to rural aquaculture community projects in the Free State as well as outside the province.

It will also serve as a research station and will provide training to agricultural scientists, technicians and farmers.

The centre was formally opened on 27 October.

I’ve lived in Smithfield for four months now; prior to that I’d visited the town four times. Often when I’m out enjoying a glass of wine at one of the locals, I find myself being asked by an overnighter, somewhat incredulously: “Why Smithfield?”.

So, why am I here in Smithfield? I spent 57 years of my life living in a city – Durban to be precise.

Ever looked at the night sky in a city or even at the sky during the day? Try Smithfield: where did all those twinkling lights come from? And, hey honey, the sky is blue not brown.

Nestling amongst low mountains, a natural extension to the beautiful Maluti route, surrounded by the picturesque southern Free State, in Smithfield we enjoy a full four seasons.
Try rush hour traffic: this afternoon it took me all of three minutes to get home from the town’s centre.

Eating out in Durban, I was spoilt for choice but, like so many people, I only had a few favourite, regular restaurants. Here I’ve got three and I’m not bored with their fare yet and I eat out at least three times a week.

The people, those that I’ve met, are friendly, warm and always ready to help and extremely voluble when the Cheetahs are on the field, something I’ve also become since their well-deserved semi-final victory against the Sharks.

I also believe that the current trend in tourism, that of “going nowhere slowly”, affords businesses in Smithfield great opportunities. These travellers enjoy meandering from town to town; enjoying nature; beautiful night skies and fresh air; meeting people; country hospitality; browsing in shops and art and craft galleries; and being exposed to regional and local architecture, craft, art, collectables, fare and produce. They love the experience of local, of making a “find”, of taking it home to proudly introduce their discovery to family and friends. “You must try a piece of this delicious sheep’s milk cheese that we discovered in Smithfield”, they announce proudly to the neighbour who knows all there is to know about food.

Smithfield has so much to offer – let’s enjoy both the opportunities, welcome our visitors and be thankful for the pleasant surroundings in which we live.

All Greg May’s friends wish him a speedy recovery, and Greg Attaboy!
You’re great for this town.

Campaign Mounted Against Marauding Dogs

A police campaign has been mounted against rampaging dogs, which have been causing havoc among sheep and even cattle on farms in the immediate vicinity of Smithfield.

Many of the animals have been identified as coming from the Greenfields area but as is customary in such situations – the dogs are apparently ownerless (at least that is the impression given by the fact that few admit to ownership!).

Local farmers will be relieved to know that not only have the local police identified the problem but they are bringing in additional manpower to get rid of the dogs as well as punishing the owners. An SPCA force will be joining the campaign, as well as a stock theft unit

In spite of the difficulties in identifying dog owners, seven arrests were made during October.