Port Elizabeth: MyPE

What, You Didn't Get Tickets to the Cricket?

www.MyPE.co.za: Yup, Port Elizabeth, Friday night's Pro20 Cricket Final between the Chevrolet Warriors and the Highveld Lions is completely sold out. In fact the stadium is so chock a block full that not even media stalwarts can squeeze an extra ticket or two out of EP Cricket.

Whilst you are crying in your beer over your lame assed tardiness in not getting tickets, pop over to the Pro20 Live Blog and predict the winner of Friday's clash. At least then you can say; "I was there to vote!"

So, the next best thing is to choose a connival spot for a cold Fanta Brown or six and watch the game in the presence of other losers and scum who thought that they could get tickets at the door, on the day, nogal.

ALL is not lost as the ABYC will still be holding their regular Pre-Drinks / Deck Party jol on Friday. All are welcome to pop along and enjoy a cocktail or three from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. followed by a Castle Happy Hour from 7:00 p.m. - buy one and get one free. DJ Craig will be on the decks on the deck (always wanted to write that!).

Of course there is nothing stopping you starting Friday with lunch from The Chartroom out on the deck, warm up frosties in the sun and then Rock Star cricket in the evening.

The choice is yours - just leave some room to party at the EP vs WP Rugby match on Saturday at the EPRFU Stadium from 3:00 p.m.

Related Links: Chevrolet Warriors vs Highveld Lions.

Tax Illegal Drugs and Finance the SAPS

www.MyPE.co.za: I did a quick statistic calculation, just to get a "feel" for the size of the horror that we are facing, regaining my balance after the initial shock of seeing South Africa's alarming statistics on Drug and alcohol abuse, as released by the International Narcotic Control Board of the UN's office for drugs and crime and the Central Drug Authority, I tallied up the calculated sum of South Africans in some kind of substance abuse.

I realise that many addicts have multiple addictions so a linear equation is not accurate, but it will grab your attention!

Based on the under mentioned statistics and calculations of South Africa's population at an estimated 40,000,000 the sum total of people in addiction is 26,700,000 i.e. from the under mentioned breakdown 65.5% of our population are in addiction!

The world average for Tik is 0.4% of the population; South Africa records 0.9% of the population. (360,000 people)
The world average for Dagga (Cannabis) is 4% of the population; South Africa totals 12% of the population. (4,800,000 people)
Cocaine is used by 0.8% of South Africa's population, while the world averages out at 0.4% (320,000 people)
Alcohol consumption in South Africa clocks in with the top 10 in the world, with 1,900,000 South Africans described as alcoholics, 37% of the population are binge drinkers with 10% counted as risky drinkers. (20,700,000 people). And the authorities continue to give liquor trading licenses all over the province!
South Africa's drug use has increased 20% year on year as reported by the International Narcotics Control Board of the UN office for drugs and crime.
South Africans consume three times the world average of Tik, Dagga (Cannabis) and Cocaine.

The Social development's Central Drug Authority reports "The drug problem in South Africa is very serious"

"Serious"? That is an understatement - if the addictive population is added up as a linear equation then it will mean that 65.45%, a TOTAL of 26,180,000 people, in South Africa suffers from one form of addiction!

John Preller

Editor's Notes: We took John's figures a little bit further and produced the following 'food for thought figures' by estimating the DAILY and ANNUAL amounts of money spent on addictions based on John Preller's figures above. Again, these figures are purely speculative, BUT we tried to be as conservative as possible:

Tik: R40.00 per hit per day = R14 610.00 per addict per year OR a total of R5 259 600 000.00.
Dagga: R5.00 per hit per day = R1 826.00 per addict per year OR a total of R8 766 000 000.00
Cocaine: 0.5 gram per day @ R300.00 per gram = R54 787.00 per addict per year OR a total of R17 531 840 000.00
Alcohol: R20.00 per addict per day = R7 305.00 per addict per year OR a total of R1 512 135 000.00

If South Africa had to tax the ILLEGAL Drugs at 25%, AND based on the above figures, the additional taxes would amount to R31 557 440 000.00 - funnily enough that is just the amount needed by the SAPS on an annual basis.

Pravin, excuse me, Pravin Gordhan, how about bringing the above illegal drugs into the tax net and dropping all personal tax?

Related Links: Not Cool Boet, Not Cool | 29 Billion Rand Abuse Problem? | Message to the Family of an Addict.

Port Elizabeth Dams Down to 38.5% Full

www.MyPE.co.za: Major Storage Dams supplying the Nelson Mandela Bay were at the following levels on 8 March 2010:

Kouga: 37%
Churchill: 16,5%
Impofu: 48%
Loerie: 37%
Groendal: 41,5%
Average: 38,5 % of total combined capacity

On Thursday 18 March, between 13:30 and 15:30, Inter-faith organizations from Nelson Mandela Bay in conjunction with the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality will join together at the Nangoza Jebe (formerly known as Centenary Hall) to pray for rain. This will be in addition to the critical steps suggested in the Emergency Drought Plan that the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is currently compiling to ensure that the city has water after the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa�.

Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor Zanoxolo Wayile said on Tuesday at a launch that the prayer service is an important addition to the other efforts being implemented to deal with the current drought situation.

"Together we can do more," Mayor Wayile added.

The Emergency Drought Plan entails the declaration of Nelson Mandela Bay as a disaster area to obtain funding from national government in order for the speedier implementation of projects such as the establishment of a Desalination Plant, the purification of recycled water to a potable standard, the upgrade of current infrastructure as well as the drilling of boreholes.

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Contacts.

Eastern Province vs KZN

www.MyPE.co.za: Eastern Province selectors today announced the team to play against KZN in Durban starting on Thursday, 11th March and ending Sunday 14th March 2010.

The team is as follows: Andrew Birch, Athi Dyili, Brandon Viret, Jon Jon Smuts, Kelly Smuts, Lyall Meyer, Michael Price, Michael Smith, Riaan Jeggels, Reece Williams, Sean Adair, Simon Harmer, Warren Bell, P. Botha (Coach)

And in a follow up to the last time that the EP Team was announced I would like to give the NMBT CEO, Mr Tshiwula some more grist for his poison pen. One of the players selected was, in 2008, suspended under child protection regulations while playing for Spondon Cricket Club, in the Derbyshire Premier League in England.

Sir, I put it to you that if someone was convicted of such a transgression it would be far more evil than racism.

Related Links: PE sportsman sent home after UK sex scandal | And I Stopped Counting the White Surnames a Looooong Time Ago | From the Primary School End.

Automotive Manufacturers Forced to Innovate During Tough Times

www.MyPE.co.za: Automotive component manufacturers in the Eastern Cape are being forced to innovate in order to remain competitive or to simply survive according to the Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC).

AIDC Eastern Cape Supplier Development manager Lance Schultz said local component manufacturers were still reeling from the global economic crisis. "The crisis has severely impacted the automotive industry worldwide. It has also forced the industry here to re-examine its operations carefully and to a degree re-invent the way it does business in order to create the lowest possible cost structure for its products." and "It is clearly not a case of business as usual."

Several component makers closed doors in 2009, including Kolbenco, South Africa's only automotive piston manufacturer, which eliminated the country's ability to manufacture this product. Among other closures were RAH Auto, Powdermet, Vinyde, Eaton Aero Quip and Bloxwich. Listed company, Metair closed its plastics business in the Eastern Cape at the end of 2009.

Schultz said the AIDC had intensified efforts to assist individual companies make substantial cost gains to stay afloat and to position themselves for growth. The AIDC's programs and interventions on the shop floor, around improving logistics and in the development of skills and productivity, are highly subsidised by Provincial Government.

Despite the economic downturn, some automotive companies have continued to position for growth and persisted in the implementation of continuous improvement initiatives, Schultz said.

Citing a recent case study, Schultz highlighted savings of over R309 000 achieved at Port Elizabeth based Hansens Engineering, producer of precision-machined aluminium components. Schultz said over 75% of savings were introduced within just 3 weeks by identifying and reducing wastes, adjusting process flows and increasing productivity.

NAACAM president Stewart Jennings said the industry is under even more pressure in 2010 because the strong rand is rendering local exports uncompetitive. Auto industry bodies have estimated that component exports nosedived 40% over the course of 2009.

"Many suppliers have to be assisted to identify wastes, reduce them and improve areas of productivity that they may not have believed even existed within their businesses," Schultz said.

Present and Scheduled Art Museum Exhibitions

www.MyPE.co.za: From now until 11 April 2010 you can view a selection of 20th Century South African Art. This is an exhibition of works spanning the 20th Century from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum's Permanent Collections.

Early 20th Century South African artists on show include some of those associated with the New Group who were influenced by avant-garde art in Europe. Famous names in this group include Maggie Loubser, Maude Sumner, Walter Battiss, Wolf Kibel and Gregoire Boonzaaier, who was one of the founding members.

Two famous family groups represented are Dorothy Kay and her daughter Joan Wright, together with Bertha Everard and her two daughters Ruth and Rosamund, who form part of the Everard group. Working as excluded artists under apartheid during the 50s and 60s were George Pemba and Gerard Bhengu.

Highlights from the late part of the 20th Century include works by William Kentridge, Helen Sibidi and Penny Siopis. Landscapes by artists Robert Brooks, Jennifer Crooks and Nigel Mullins, who were influenced by or participated in the Grahamstown Group, hang alongside conceptual landscapes by Keith Dietrich and Larry Scully.

Directly after visit and see a collection of Animals in art until 2 May 2010.

The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum's exhibition entitled Animals in Art features a menagerie of animals and other creatures, both weird and wonderful, from the Art Museum's permanent collections.

The works include paintings, drawings and sculptures that are grouped according to themes featuring domestic and wild animals, farm animals in pastoral settings, insects and abstract creatures and monsters of the deep.

The artists have looked at animals and nature for inspiration, from Hylton Nel's humorous worm and delightfully expressive cats to Gladys Mgudlandlu's red-beaked crows, Ardmore Studio's animal inspired designs, Derrick Erasmus's exaggerated chameleons and Walter Oltmann's cockroach.

Parralel to the Animals in Art exhibit Photography and video from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum's Permanent Collections will be on display from 17 April to 16 May 2010.

This exhibition represents the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum's determination to achieve a top photographic and video collection. Highlights include video art by internationally acclaimed artists Berni Searle and Churchill Madikida as well as local Eastern Cape artist Brent Meistre. Nomusa Makhubu's set of three photographic prints, Inquietude, will be on show with a selection from two very important portfolios which represent Nelson Mandela Bay, Rob Duker's Red Location series and Marc Shoul's Beyond Walmer.

Contact the Nelson Mandela Bay Art Museum.

R18.5 Million New Brighton Housing Project

www.MyPE.co.za: The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality today held a sod turning ceremony at the Silvertown informal settlement in New Brighton. The project, which is due to start within the next two weeks, will see 269 semi-detached houses build at an estimated cost of R 18, 511 504 for the residents of Silvertown.'We have started delivering, our programme is clear and we will let nothing stop us in our endeavour to build sustainable communities for our people' said Councillor Andile Mfunda, Portfolio Councillor for Housing and Land.

Delivering the keynote address, the Executive Mayor, Councillor Zanoxolo Wayile, told the gathered residents that 'this is the year of speeding up effective service delivery to our people'. He told residents that the municipality intended to deliver at speed despite the many challenges and limitations that exist. 'In my 100 days programme, housing delivery is one of the key deliverables and as the municipality we commit ourselves to ensuring that the delivery of quality houses is achieved, said Mayor Wayile. 'Projects of this nature should also benefit local people and I'm sure that as residents you will benefit through jobs created and the skills transfer that will take place during and post construction'. The Mayor went on to ask community members to unite and rally behind the municipality so that effective and efficient service delivery continues unhindered.

Yolisa Nicodimus, a beneficiary in the housing project, thanked the municipality and reserved special praise for Councillor Jimmy Tutu for his tireless efforts in ensuring that the housing project becomes a reality.

And we Thought That South Africans had the Monopoly on Prejudice?

www.MyPE.co.za: The song lyrics below have reference to just what is going on in the world and specifically the microcosm of prejudice that we are presently experiencing in Port Elizabeth Amateur Cricket. I have highlighted the words that resonate in my mind:

S-T-A-M-P
Stamp it on the ground

I've been round so many times before
Broke my back - been split open sore
I've tried to make it to the finish line
Been knocked down but I get up everytime

They're up in your face -
They don't think you belong
But man - you got it going on
What breaks the weak - Just makes you strong
You got game
Baby Bring it on, bring it on
I Said

Stamp your feet on the ground
Make it really loud
Make a big ass sound
You ain't going down

Rain comes in every player's life
You gotta stay in the game not on the sidelines
You gotta throw down - you gotta stand and fight
Keep your eye on the prize -Don't get caught up in strife
Go - Go for the shot boy make that play just right
Braggin about your swag won't get you through the night
I Said

Stamp your feet on the ground
Make it really loud
Make a big ass sound
You ain't going down

S-T-A-M-P
Stamp it on the ground
You got game
You got fame
You got name
You got fame

Sung by Donna Summers from the album, Crayons, released 20 May 2008. Written by Brisebois, Danielle/Kurstin, Gregory/Summer, Donna Summer. Lyrics copyright EMI Music Publishing.

Sent to MyPE courtesy of Ed Richardson.

Related Links: And I Stopped Counting the White Surnames a Looooong Time Ago | From the Primary School End.

From the Primary School End

www.MyPE.co.za:Received this letter to the editor from a primary school teacher and cricket coach, in response to this article: And I Stopped Counting the White Surnames a Looooong Time Ago.

My U/11 b's played against Pendla Primary's U/11 a's from New Brighton last week. Pendla arrived during school time, (an absolute shocker because that means that there were 3 teachers missing from Pendla to teach).

The team arrived with 1 umpire, a square leg umpire and a TV Ref - all of whom never understood any rules and they demanded to only play 10 overs when we play a minimum of 25 EACH innings.

They had no kit, not even wicketkeeper gloves, no pads, no batting gloves, only 1 Bakers Mini Cricket Bat, and this for a hard cricket ball!

Their umpire stood behind me and I had to umpire both ends. Shocking.

And Mr Tshiwula wants to know why there aren't any black players in his team! Tell him to raise the standards at junior level so the juniors can start playing properly. Then and only THEN will he start to see players come through.

There certainly are good black players who just need the proper equipment and they will go far.

Big D.

Editorial Comment: Once we get rid of the sense of 'entitlement' that permeates amateur sport then we will begin to see a normal society.

A practical example - for many years I was involved in what is referred to as development in sport. Myself and a core of dedicated sailors strove to introduce school pupils to sailing and a love of the sea. We introduced in excess of a thousand pupils to sailing and the sea. With NO money from government, lottery or foreign donors. The only monetary assistance we had was from a well know PE businessman, club members and candidate coaching staff from LoveLife.

We identified certain pupils as being able to really shine at the sport of sailing and organised sponsorship and boats for them. When the tough times hit the yacht club and money for the programme from sponsors dried up, the previously disadvantaged pupils whom we had such high hopes for just disappeared after we explained to them that they would have to pay for their own transport to get to the sailing area. Most frustrating to witness this combination of lack of resources and sense of entitlement from persons that you go out of your way to assist.

Frankly - the only 'Africans' that we have still sailing are ex coaches that were snapped up to work for yacht club members with yachts.

9 Divers Rescued from Sinking Duck

www.MyPE.co.za: Ian Gray, NSRI Port Elizabeth station commander said: "On Monday 8 March at 20h28 NSRI Port Elizabeth duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority following a request for urgent assistance from a 7 metre rigid inflatable rubber duck, with 9 local men on-board, reporting to be taking water 4.5 nautical miles West of Cape Recife, 1 Nautical Mile off-shore, (12 Nautical Miles from our NSRI rescue base), in 3 to 5 metre swells.

"Our NSRI duty crew launched our 5.5 metre rigid inflatable rescue craft Eikos Rescuer I, with our NSRI duty coxswain and 3 NSRI duty crew on-board, and on arrival in the search area white illuminating flares were used to find the casualty craft who's skipper had reported to have no battery power to his craft and only one torch to use as a signalling means.

"Following a brief search the casualty craft was found semi-submerged and all 9 men, 8 of whom were wearing wet-suits, were transferred on-board our rescue craft and they were brought safely to our rescue base where they required no further assistance.

"Daniel Heimann, NSRI Port Elizabeth duty coxswain, said that according to the skipper of the casualty craft his boat had become heavy laden with water from unknown means and as the craft got lower in the water she started to take water over the bow causing battery and motor failure and causing the boat to begin sinking forcing the men to call a distress.

"Daniel said that the craft was left at anchor, semi-submerged, with all her gear on-board, including dive cylinders and breathing apparatus sets, after the men were taken on-board the NSRI rescue craft but a Police helicopter that later searched for the location of the boat, in the vicinity of where it was left, found no sign of the semi-submerged casualty craft and her fate is unknown.

"The NSRI's mission is to save lives at sea and under the circumstances the casualty craft and her gear could not be brought back to shore with her crew.

"The casualty craft's owner will attempt to find the semi-submerged boat at day break."