Die fees is vir “groot pampoenkwekers” en word deur mense van regoor die land bygewoon. Volgens At was daar selfs mense van sover as Pelgrimsrus wat vanjaar se fees bygewoon het. At van Vanderbijlpark en Jannie van Sonlandpark in Vereeniging was die enigste inwoners van die Vaaldriehoek wat aan die fees deelgeneem het.

At vertel dat die lekkerste uitdaging altyd is om te sien hoe groot en hoe swaar die pampoene kan word.

Jannie het met die 1ste prys weggestap en At spog met drie pryse in die Top 10 naamlik 2de prys, 3de prys en 9de prys. Hy het kontantpryse vir sy 2de en 3de plek gekry.

Die gewig van At se pampoene was 117kg (2de), 76 kg (3de) en 31kg (9de).
Op die vraag wat daarna met die pampoene gebeur het, vertel At: “Die Transvaalse Landbou-unie bied die kompetisie aan en by die inweging vra hulle of jy bereid is om dit te skenk vir liefdadigheid, wat hulle wel doen. Die unie verwerk die pampoene dan en skenk dit vir liefdadigheid aan verskeie organisasies.”

At loop oor van trots, nie net op sy pampoene nie, maar ook sy familie wat hom so ondersteun. Sy stiefseun, Jan Heystek, help met die vervoer-werk van die reuse-groente fees toe.

Op die vraag of hy enige spesiale “versterkmiddels” gebruik om die pampoene te pamperlang, sê hy net reënwater wat hy opvang in dromme, en kompos wat hy self meng. Hy hoef dit nie eens te spuit teen goggas nie.

The Vereeniging Operatic and Dramatic Society (VODS) shares Wilde’s sentiments and surely does its best to grow this art form in the Vaal Triangle.

Among its many events and happenings this year is VODS’s Main Show: a production of the Pied Piper (as written by Moya Parsons with apologies to Robert Browning).

* This will be staged in the hall at HS Drie Riviere on Friday May 11 at 19:00, Saturday May 12 at 15:00 and again that evening at 19:00. Tickets cost R60 for adults and R40 for scholars, pensioners and members.

VODS is always looking for new members so if you would like to renew your membership or know of anybody who might be interested please do not hesitate to contact Dorothy (  083 284 5483 ) or Suzanne ( 082 780 6177 ).

The event will take place at 07:00 on Wednesday April 25 in the Vereeniging City Hall.
The meeting will be followed by the 2012/2013 IDP/Budget and the Growth & Development Strategy Consultative Meeting.

Its purpose is to share ideas with the business community on what the Municipality can do to achieve a better life in the region. This is the commitment to ensure more active community participation in local government.

“Working together with the Business Community,” says District Mayor Mofokeng, “we must collectively approach the reinvention of the economy from old to new by consolidating existing sectors and exploring new sectors of growth, and in this way building local economies to create more employment and sustainable livelihoods.”

“Our planning and alignment must first and foremost be informed by the five priorities set by government to address the poverty, inequalities, education, unemployment, health and rural development”, added the Executive Mayor.

“Our collective approach on these matters must at all times work towards the vision of our government, which is the creation of a united, non-racial non-sexist, free, democratic and prosperous South Africa.”

“Stop delaying the issue, Qualitas Career Academy will assist you in getting your B-BBEE done optimally and effectively with regards to the following elements, Skills Development, Socio Economic Development, and Enterprise Development,” says Ms Davus.

“We assist in the compilation of your documentation for these three elements, and lessen the administration headache for you and your staff. We advise in the effective management of these three categories.

“Well, gone are the days that we can ignore B-BBEE, as B-BBEE is fast becoming something that everyone is going to have to incorporate into their businesses, sooner rather than later. It is fast becoming very difficult for companies that are non-compliant to be able to tender, or even serve as a vendor on larger companies’ procurement list. “B-BBEE is a circle of compliancy; Companies only buy from clients/suppliers that are compliant, because their own score card depends on your compliancy status.

The higher your B-BBEE score, the bigger your likelihood to be awarded a tender, or alternatively the client will source another supplier that is compliant,” says Ms Davis. Where do you start with this process, and how do you go about optimising your B-BBEE rating effectively, and how do you gain maximum points on the different B-BBEE levels?

Having your business correctly verified in terms of the B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice is vital to the long term sustainability of your business, and essential for the future of your company in South Africa.

Skills Development Academy
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“Qualitas Career Academy currently is one of the few legally compliant Training Providers who offer companies vouchers from selected SETA’s, and effectively there is no cost involved for companies who train with us on the voucher projects we currently are running.”

* Contact Marentia Carruthers or Hester Davis at 016 932 4499/ 083 457 8929  for assistance.

Ask yourself what do you dream of one day? A business of your own, perhaps, further education, a new car, perhaps a trip around the world. Write your top priorities down and stick them up inside your wardrobe door or on your fridge. A constant reminder will make the dream seem more real and keep you motivated.

Step 2: Manage household expenses so your ability to save is not compromised.
If money is tight in a specific month, look at ways to trim household expenses.
• Compare prices on websites before you buy.
• Buy according to plan – make a list and buy only what is on it.
• Take advantage of sales and special offers.
• Make the most of your petrol – keep your car serviced and your tyres correctly pumped.
• Go through your home and look for ways to save energy and costs.

Step 3: Pay yourself first.
It’s very important to establish the habit of saving by starting a monthly investment. Treat your savings like a bill, preferably paid by debit order. Put the money into an investment fund towards your big goal.

Step 4: Decide where to invest.
Investing in unit trusts is a popular choice. They give you access to a diversified portfolio (without the stress of managing it yourself) and, if you need to, you can access your funds within one day. Most importantly, they have the potential to offer excellent returns over the medium to long term. But there are literally thousands of local and international unit trusts available to South Africans, so how do you decide what’s right for you? The trick is to keep it simple! Old Mutual Unit Trusts’ Classic 5 Investment Collection makes unit trusts even more convenient with a range of five handpicked funds, chosen out of a range of 40 unit trusts, which we believe are the perfect investment vehicles for most types of investors.With the Classic 5 Investment Collection, you can choose a fund to meet your specific needs – depending on whether you want a lower risk fund or a higher risk fund, which looks for maximum growth.

Then you can use this fund (or funds if you choose more than one) as the basis of your portfolio.
You can switch between them as your needs change, or you can add other funds from our full fund offering. Bottom line, you call the shots. For more information about which investments to choose, call us on 0860 WEALTH (932584) or contact your Old Mutual Financial Adviser or Broker.

You can also use our “InvestRight Tool” online at www.investmentcollection.co.za to help establish how much you will need to save and invest to meet your financial goals, be they short-, medium- or long term.

Die skoonmaakproses sal na verwagting meer as drie maande duur waarna die myn weer vir produksie oopgestel sal word.

C&I Homogenizing is ‘n familiesaak wat reeds die afgelope 33 jaar in die land droog-suiers en toerusting voorsien.

Formed in 2005, Red Carpet Auction Events (USA) soon became the leader worldwide in networked auction events. Red Carpet demystifies the auction business via its strategically transparent business model.

The result is that they can outperform even elite retail markets through their unique, entertaining and partner-orientated platforms. With new offices in the premium Vaal Lifestyle Center in Rabie Street, Vanderbijlpark, boasting breathtaking, well-known showrooms amongst other premier luxury asset suppliers within SA, they supplement their global growth strategy from their Miami USA headquarters.

“RCA’s show and auction experience covers 200 cities globally and over 3 000 collectors auctions,” says SA CEO and director of auctioneering Carlo Harris.

According to Mr Harris Balito (KZN), Camps Bay (CPT) and Centurion (PTA) showrooms are also in progress, each with their own local elite asset-stock on show locally and subsequently linked via the web with the help of some big screens, local auction teams, finance, insurance, technical and value-added service providers to facilitate the online auction process at each site locally.

Catalogues with significant visuals, reminders and pre-bidding functionality are available before auctions and can remind you on your email, cell or any connected device anywhere, anytime, says an enthusiastic Mr Harris.

Standards of assets and transparency are controlled via 100-point AA/RMI tests on cars, bikes, 4×4s, boats or aircraft and, 30-point specification reports with insurance accredited evaluations included.

For their real estate, running-concern businesses, art, memorabilia and collectables-auctions you can expect ‘due diligence’ reports, provenance, condition-and-value reports, to name but a few actions taken to bring the SA auction standard up to global premier auction house standards.

“It will make the overall experience more enjoyable, trustworthy, transparent and lucrative for all involved with “Edu-Tainment” supplied at each event,” says Mr Harris.

Red Carpet Auction Events is located on the corner of 2 Rabie Street and Muir Street, Vanderbijlpark (next to Fouche Motors). The company is fully licensed and a member of most major associations in the Industry for auctions, appraising and marketing.

* For more information go to www.redcarpetae.com or view auctions live, or the catalogue at www.GavelKing.com or find them on Facebook to win R10 000 in prizes. You can reach them on (016) 931 0720/1/2 for more info as reserves are realistic, assets diverse in nature and starting bids enticingly low!

A pilot study found that an unfashionable dessert apple which dates back to Victorian times had ten times more of a disease-preventing chemical than its newer, shiny-skinned equivalents.
A team of scientists from Unilever in England will now undertake a three-year study, examining older varieties of apples, bananas, onions, mangos and teas.

They have already found that the Egremont Russet apple, which is often used to make cider, contains considerably more phloridzin than modern glossy fruits.

The chemical increases the absorption of sugar from the digestive system into the blood, and can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

The scientists believe ‘pre-domesticated’ fruit and veg eaten in years gone by had higher levels of hundreds of chemicals that help prevent disease. These include salicylates, which are used to make aspirin and play a key role in fighting cancer.

Today, some mass-produced fruits and vegetables are stored for months at a time in cold conditions to slow the ripening process. This process depletes the vitamins in the skin.
In addition, supermarkets select the best-looking stock when, in fact, plants produce more nutritious chemicals if they have bruises, as these are produced as a defence mechanism against threats.

Professor Leon Terry from Cranfield University said a ‘paradigm shift’ was required to promote foods based on their health-boosting properties, not their appearance.