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Weekend Post
SATU RDAY, S E PTE M B E R 14, 2013
News in brief
The Eastern Cape’s gold
Four in court over plane
landing at military base
PRETORIA – Four members of the SA National
Defence Force were charged before a military
court on Thursday on charges relating to the
landing of a private aircraft at the Waterkloof Air
Force Base.
SA National Defence Union (Sandu) national
secretary Pikkie Greeff, counsel for two of the
soldiers, said the exact content of the charges
was not yet clear.
“It seems that the military’s view of the matter
is that these officers are guilty of some military
offence for their role in the Gupta landing, but it’s
not clear what that role is alleged to have been.
“They are being charged with charges ranging
from disobeying written instructions to conduct
prejudicial to military discipline. It will only be
clear from the final charge sheet what exactly the
charges are,” said Greeff.
Appearing in court were Colonel Nomsa
Khumalo, Lt-Col Christo Van Zyl, Lt-Col Christine
Anderson and Warrant Officer Thabo Ntshisi.
A fifth officer, identified as Colonel Nkosi, was
scheduled to appear later yesterday.
Heritage Month provides the ideal opportunities to trace ancestors and link to the wider
Eastern Cape family. Lee-Ann Butler and Traci Mackie delve deep into the life and times
of the famous, infamous and not so famous
WHEN former President Thabo
Mbeki penned his watershed “I am
an African” speech in 1996, the
Eastern Cape’s founding families
were clearly top of his mind.
From the Khoi and the San
“whose desolate souls haunt the
great expanses of the beautiful
Cape” to “the warrior men and women that Hintsa and Sekhukhune
led” while not forgetting “the migrants who left Europe to find a
new home”, Mbeki paid tribute to
those who walked before him.
His words, “I owe my being to the
hills and the valleys, the mountains
and the glades, the rivers, the
deserts, the trees, the flowers, the
seas and the ever-changing seasons that define the face of our native land” are unquestionably reminiscent of the thousands of
die-hard Eastern Capers today.
Global icon Nelson Mandela and
respected billionaire businessman
the late Anton Rupert are among
the revolutionaries, rebels, visionaries, intellectuals, Xhosa kings
and queens, traditional chiefs, pioneering Afrikaners and European
settlers who hail from the Eastern
Cape – flawed at times by the same
families who have made it great.
Former
premier
Nosimo
Balindlela said the Eastern Cape’s
gold is its people. This wealth presents a collaboration of names that
keep friends and relatives searching for a link of belonging.
This week, names like Biko and
Rushmere came to the fore. While
the country remembered the anniversary of the death of Black
Consciousness Movement leader
Steve Biko at the hands of the police on September 12 1977, the
Rushmere family celebrated the
80th anniversary of the law firm
Rushmere and Noach, founded by
forefather Colin Rushmere in 1933.
The two portray the complexity
of the Eastern’s Cape heritage, as
well as its diversity.
Paying tribute to his grandfather, Graham Rushmere presented
the family’s current quest – save
the rhino.
Hardy as the Brits might have
been when they arrived, many
have become softened by the touch
of Africa. Shedding a tear, Graham
said at the law firm’s birthday celebration: “I can’t change the laws,
‘
Steve Biko was a
brilliant man. He
was a real thinker
who was not shy
to apply his mind.
He was not
quick to
accept
things,
always
questioning
whatever
was put
before him.
He loved
being
around
people
© Sapa
‘Jub Jub’ denied bail
pending murder appeal
JOHANNESBURG – Convicted murderer Molemo
“Jub Jub” Maarohanye’s application for bail was
denied by the Protea Magistrate’s Court
yesterday.
Maarohanye was asking the court to grant him
bail, pending an appeal against his murder
conviction and sentence.
The petition to appeal was filed in the
Johannesburg High Court in March.
Maarohanye and his co-accused, Themba
Tshabalala, were each sentenced in December
last year to 20 years’ imprisonment for murder
and four years’ imprisonment for attempted
murder. For use of drugs, driving under the
influence of drugs, and racing on a public road,
they got a year for each count.
Maarohanye and Tshabalala were drag-racing
in Protea North on March 8 2010 when they
crashed into a group of schoolboys. Prince
Mohube, Mlungisi Cwayi, Andile Mthombeni and
Phomello Masemola were killed.
Frank Mlambo and Fumani Mushwana were
© Sapa
left permanently brain damaged.
STAND PROUD: SARAH BAARTMAN AND STEVE BIKO
but we can open our reserves to
raise an awareness of what happens to rhino when they are
poached.”
The Rushmere family today own
private Kariega Game Reserve.
At the same time, at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, the
third annual Steve Biko Memorial
Lecture was held. Earlier, during a
tour of Biko’s Walmer police station cell, Moki Cekisani, who lives
in Walmer township, described
Biko as a brilliant intellectual.
“Biko was a brilliant man. He was
a real thinker who was not shy to
apply his mind. He was not quick to
accept things, always questioning
whatever was put before him. He
loved being around people and
starting discussions just to understand and read the minds of those
he came into contact with.”
Then there are the not so prominent “stars” like engineering whiz
kid Siyabulela Lethuxolo Xuza,
who put his Mthatha family on the
map by having a minor planet,
21382 Siyaxusa, named after him.
But far from the celestial galaxies
is the area around Mthatha, home
to many of the almost 40 chiefs who
carved out the Xhosa culture.
Apart from the infamous chief,
Mandla Mandela – controversial
grandson of Nelson, there is Paramount Chief King Mzikayise Sigcau, Paramount Chief King Maxhob’ayakhawuleza Sandile, Chief
Justice Thandathu Mabandla,
Chief Lent Whyte Maqoma and
Chief Sango Phathekile Holomisa.
Former national cricketer Dave
Callaghan is no doubt related to the
three Callaghans who arrived in Algoa Bay in 1820 with the British Settlers. As did the Kemps, ancestors
of Dave’s mother, Lynette, related
to cricket star, Justin Kemp.
Also among the 1820 Settlers,
were the Daniels clan – family of
Springbok rugby player Keegan;
the Pullens – family of cafe
founders Dulce’s; the Dicks – Kei
Road farmers; and the Berrys –
family of NMMU professor Dave.
Eastern Cape founding families,
however, would not be complete
without mention of the German settlers of 1858/59, the Malay slaves,
the Indian and Chinese, according
to Mbeki “whose being resided in
the fact, solely, that they were able
to provide physical labour”.
“I am the grandchild who lays
fresh flowers on the Boer graves . . .
I am the child of Nongqause. I am an
African,” said Mbeki, first and foremost an Eastern Caper.
– Additional reporting by Zandile Mbabela
Northern areas to hold
follow-up workshop
THE Northern Areas People Development
Initiative (Napdi) is holding a follow-up workshop
on Tuesday from 2.30pm at Famhealth Medi-Park
in Gelvandale, Port Elizabeth.
The workshop is aimed at assisting the youth
with sharing their thoughts with the National
Planning Commission’s Youth Engagement
Summit taking place in Port Elizabeth on
Saturday October 5.
Napdi director Neil Campher said: “Our
preferred approach is to incorporate your
thoughts and insights on the National Plan
session with the emerging possibilities for the
northern areas through our North Star Scenarios
exercise as a base.”
For more information, contact Megan on
(041) 457-1422 or [email protected] or
[email protected]
I AM AN AFRICAN: Former president Thabo Mbeki was first and foremost an Eastern Caper
PROVINCIAL ROYALTY
Group’s great 4x4 trek
Rich heritage tourism potential
NATIONAL Heritage Council chief
executive Advocate Sonwabile
Mancotywa this week challenged
Eastern Cape people to do more to
grow the province’s tourism potential
by linking it to its rich heritage.
Mancotywa – a son of the Eastern
Cape – highlighted the province as
the birthplace of important poets,
artists, writers, sportsmen and
women and jazz musicians, stressing
that there was untapped tourism
potential in the preservation and
protection of heritage sites.
“If we can put more resources into
them, educate and train the
community as tour guides and
empower them to protect these sites,
it would go a long way.
“The Eastern Cape is endowed with
liberation heritage. No other province
fought like it did in this country’s past
– from colonial wars to the liberation
struggle.
“The University of Fort Hare is
where all our African intellectuals
hailed from and where our political
leaders all met. The best lawyers are
from the Transkei and Uitenhage.
Mdantsane is the mecca of boxing.
Sarah Baartman, who is the
embodiment of the Khoi San nation,
was also from the Eastern Cape.”
Mancotywa said understanding
one’s heritage assisted in
nation-building and social cohesion.
“Younger generations want to
know more about their clans and
400 cyclists ready
to start inaugural
PE to Plett race
Shaanaaz de Jager
[email protected]
ABOUT 400 riders – among them professional
cyclists and celebrities – will have full access to the
beauty of the Eastern and Southern Cape when they
compete in the inaugural Investec PE to Plett race
today.
The mountain bikers will gather at Shark Rock Pier
at 7am today to take part in the tough 368km
four-day event.
The first leg of the competition starts in Port
Elizabeth with the race ending in Gamtoos Valley.
During the second phase riders will be put through
their paces as they travel through Kabeljous, Jeffreys
Bay, Paradise Beach, St Francis Bay and Oyster Bay,
ending at the Brakkeduine resort.
The third leg include racing through numerous
dairy farms in the Tsitsikamma area before heading
off to their final destination, the Storms River Village.
On the last day they will take off to Plettenberg Bay.
Johannesburg-based former rugby Bok Joel
Stransky said he was “very excited” about
participating in the race.
“It is certainly nice to be part of the inaugural race.
It looks tough and demanding, but also an
opportunity to enjoy the beautiful surroundings,”
said early yesterday morning before flying from Cape
Town to Port Elizabeth.
Red Cherry riders Ischen Stopforth and Robyn de
Groot will also race.
Professional cyclist Stopforth of George said she
was “looking forward” to the race.
“It’s going to be interesting. Robyn and I haven’t
raced together since the Sani2c Trail in May in
Kwazulu Natal. There is good competition in the
ladies field.
“This race is going to be a blast. This will be a good
build up to the Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek in October,
starting in Oudtshoorn,” Ischen said.
South African pole vault athlete Okkert Brits said
he has tried numerous cycling challenges but not
completed any.
their ancestry. This is because during
apartheid the identity of people was
[what] suffered the most . . . We need
to know where we have come from
and what has happened in the past.”
Also flying the heritage flag high is
John Wilmot, chairman of the Eastern
Cape branch of the Genealogical
Society of SA. He said the society had
also found there was a growing
interest by South Africans wanting to
understand their heritage.
“We assist members in researching
their ancestry.
“One of our national projects is to
record the information on headstones
in graveyards. We have compiled
over 250 000 names in 1 500
cemeteries in the Eastern Cape.”
LEGALLY FAMILY: Graham Rushmere
(front left) celebrates with dad Colin,
BLUE BLOOD: The late Princess Stella Sigcau (left) and paramount chief the brother Mark (back centre) and lawyers
late Botha Sigcau, in full regalia in 1960
Steve Gough (left) and Rob Jefferson
Knowing past important for future
HOLLYWOOD actor Will
Smith is not the only one
who says that if you don’t
know where you’ve come
from, you don’t know where
you’re going – Port
Elizabeth psychologist Dolf
Muller wholeheartedly
agrees.
Muller, who has tracked
his own genealogy back as
far as 1735 in Tulbagh in the
Western Cape, said
researching one’s family
tree was a positive exercise.
“You cannot know where
you are going if you do not
know where you came from.
I think it is a good thing that
more people are looking up
their family past.”
While technology had
made the world a smaller
place on the one hand, on
the other people tended to
feel lonelier and more
isolated than before, but
Muller said those willing to
find out where they had
come from had a sense of
security and belonging.
He said as people got
older, they often felt they
Boost for Cango Caves
had not achieved what they
wanted to. This led them to
research what past relatives
had achieved.
“You may find something
wonderful about your greatgreat-great-grandfather that
inspires you, or you may
find he was a farm worker
and feel you had improved
on that.”
TO COMMEMORATE the 178th anniversary of the
Great Trek, 34 intrepid adventurers will follow the
route taken by trek leader Piet Retief’s ox-wagon
party , but they will travel faster than the trekkers
as they will be in 4x4 vehicles.
The group, from the Western Cape, will arrive
in Graaff-Reinet on Monday, after which they
depart for Retief’s former farm in the Winterberg
outside Grahamstown.
The Great Trek took place between 1835 and
1838, when the trekkers left the former Cape
Province and travelled to various parts of
present-day South Africa.
The adventurers’ journey was initiated by the
Federation of Afrikaner Cultural Organisations.
They will be led by “trek leader” Gerhard
Groenewald, and will cross the Winterberg and
Drakensberg mountains.
Their journey will end at the Blood River
Monument in KwaZulu-Natal on September 28.
Undertaken for historical and adventure
reasons, the group will be unveiling nine
monuments during their journey. Despite using
modern equipment, the group is anticipating a
number of challenges along the way, but is also
– Shaun Gillham
expecting to have a great time.
GOING STRONG
Cutting-edge comms system opens up new possibilities
John Harvey
STATE-OF-THE-ART technology in the form of a groundbreaking underground communications system has come
to the world-famous Cango
Caves in the Klein Karoo.
The technology provides
100% underground coverage,
and while its initial role will enable tour guides to operate
more effectively in terms of
how tours are conducted, it also has the potential to revolutionise how the caves are studied through the use of data
transmissions from within the
chambers.
The fibre optic cables and
seven antennae used in the
system are cutting edge, with
London’s Heathrow Airport
making use of the same hardware and software.
John Fraser, of Oudtshoorn-based J & E Communications, recently spent two
months installing the technology, which was developed by
JVC Kenwood and which had
been tested extensively with
Kenwood last year.
“One of the challenges we
faced was that the caves are
obviously very hot and humid,
so we had to use materials that
would not erode in this climate,” Fraser said.
The need for effective communications was rooted in
safety concerns for the thousands of tourists who visit the
EXCITING
PROJECT: A
state-of-the-art
communications
system will
provide 100%
underground
coverage for the
Cango Caves
that will enable
tour guides to
operate more
effectively and
improve
security. It could
also
revolutionise
the way in which
research of the
caves is
conducted
caves every year. “Last year
there was a lady who fell and
sustained a bad gash to her
eye. The tour group was about
1.2km into the caves. Because
he had no way of communicating, he had to literally leave his
group and run for help,” he
said.
“There are also extremely
narrow areas at the caves, like
the Devil’s Chimney. That
means that only one group
may go through these areas at
any one time, and sometimes
the groups would converge because the guides did not know
where other groups were. This
communication system means
this will no longer occur.”
He said the system was also
linked to that of the Oudtshoorn municipality, which
would immediately be alerted
in the event of an emergency.
For Sean Mervitz, manager
of Kenwood Domestic Market,
it is the possibilities that the
system offers that makes the
project so exciting.
“There are so many things
you will be able to do. The system, which uses JVC Kenwood’s Nexedge two-way digital radio system, means that
you can set up an internal telephone exchange, and of course
for researchers it will mean
they can do underground 3D
mapping,” he said.
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“You can also do things like
chemical monitoring, and you
can switch lights on or off remotely, meaning you don’t have
to walk into the caves to flick a
switch at the end of the day.”
Some chambers are as deep
as 214 metres, but even here
the system provides 100% coverage.
“This really is an exciting
project. We have done coverage in mines before but never
anything like the Cango Caves,
which are so vast and such a
tourist attraction.
“I would estimate that the
entire project cost about
R500 000 which, given its capabilities, is quite reasonable.”
STILL GAME: Senior citizens (from left) William Mangaliso, 61, from Port Elizabeth, Nokhaya
Nyakaza, 70, from Cala, Nolulungile Stokwe, 64, from Ncobo, and Tommy Groener, 65, from
Port Elizabeth, show their sporty sides at the Department of Social Development’s Golden
Games, held at East London’s Jan Smuts Stadium yesterday and on Thursday. The games are
held annually in a bid to promote active ageing
PHOTOGRAPH: BARBARA HOLLANDS
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