20 Sep2018

Celebrating National Spain Day with Alma Flamenca

Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine will host the Spanish Festival of Food that – apart from a fun-filled evening of food and entertainment - provides a worthwhile opportunity for local cooks to enter the Perfect Paella Prize.

The contest carries a remarkable prize of a trip for two to Madrid (T & C’s apply) and the winner will be announced at the event. Second prize is a Trolley Dash at Park Lane Spar as well as two tickets to the next Flamenco Fusion evening and third prize is four tickets to the next Flamenco Fusion evening. Guests too could go home with one of the many lucky-draw prizes.

With guitars and castanets filling the air with lively melodies, the cultural event on 12 October 2018 – to celebrate National Spain Day- will feature delectable delights and an opportunity for guests to enjoy a colourful Spanish experience.

Alma Flamenca dancers, in vibrant costumes, will swirl and stamp to pulsating tunes from a local, South American band - and fire dancers will demonstrate their skills.

KwaZulu-Natal’s celebrity chef, Jackie Cameron, has invited other celebrity chefs to judge the entries and the winner will be rewarded with two airline tickets to Madrid, Spain by courtesy of Crossways Travel (Hilton).

Cameron’s chef school has often hosted cultural events - and Cameron, with local Spanish dance teacher, Cornelia Puler, has successfully co-hosted Spanish evenings at the school, in the past.

“To host the Spanish festival with a cooking competition is very exciting,” says Cameron, clearly enthusiastic about this upcoming event. “I value seeing amateur chefs displaying their talents and enjoy the Mediterranean flavours from Spain. There are many creative home cooks out there and this is an opportunity for them to reveal their culinary skills. With the competition being based on a single, well-known dish – namely paella – contestants will have to make a meal that stands out from the other competitors’ entries. We will be looking for the traditional flavours of a paella and would also like to see that ‘something’ that sets the dish apart from the norm. Presentation of the finished dish will count, as will the techniques competitors adopt during the cooking process. The latter will demonstrate the contestants’ ease in a kitchen environment.

Puler is happy to be bringing this event to Hilton. “It is an amazing opportunity for our dancers to show off their skills to an appreciative audience,” she says. “Spanish dancing is an art form, practiced around the world and it is exciting to expose people to the dance and combine it with other aspects of Spanish culture.”
This festival will be a celebration of dance, flavour and fun. It’s aimed at families and at enthusiastic amateur chefs.

Guests will have the opportunity sample Spanish food, prepared by the students at Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine - think spicy chorizo sausage and the sweet flavour of sangria – a Spanish ‘punch’.

Date: 12th October 2018.
Time: 17h00 – 22h00
Ticket price: R350

Includes: welcome glass of sangria; paella; churros with chocolate sauce and entertainment

Details and to book: https://stumbler.co.za/events/celebrating-national-spain-day/ or contact 082 9644 620

To enter the Perfect Paella Prize cooking competition, send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with a picture of the final dish and the recipe. Closing date for competition is 5 October 2018. Finalists will notified by the 8th October 2018, for the Perfect Paella Cook-Off on the 12th October 2018, where the celebrity judges will decide the worthy recipient of the Perfect Paella Prize (T &C’s apply).

News supplied by Alma Flamenca.

18 Sep2018

Annual Hilton Junior Tennis Tournament

The annual Hilton Junior Tennis Tournament will be held at Hilton Tennis Club on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 October 2018.

Age Groups are Under 18, Under 14, Under 12, Under 10 and Under 8 for Girls and Boys.
The entry fee is R240 per player, which includes both singles and doubles.
Entry forms can be obtained from Chris Folker at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and 082 443 4233

Stowell & Co. sponsored the tournament for the first time in 2017. Stowell & Co. is a leading and respected firm of Attorneys that has been serving the Pietermaritzburg and Midlands areas for over 75 years.

The Company prides itself in its professional service abilities in all areas of the legal profession, and is especially well known for its commercial and property law expertise. Their message about the tournament:

“The Company has long been closely involved with the Comrades Marathon and Duzi Canoe Marathon and has been looking for an opportunity to actively support junior sport in our local area.

The Hilton Tennis Club and its annual junior tennis tournament is an ideal starting place for this initiative and we are very pleased to be offered the opportunity to sponsor the Hilton Junior Tennis tournament.

We hope it will be the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship and let’s all work together to contribute, promote and encourage Pietermaritzburg and Midlands junior tennis to reach even higher levels of participation and excellence.”

News supplied.

06 Sep2018

Four shows for Bryan Hiles at Hilton Hilton College: 14 – 16 September

One of Durban’s most recognised and respected actors, Bryan Hiles, has a busy patch ahead of him at the 26th Hilton Arts Festival in four productions with seven performances over the three-day festival.

He will be front-and-center in the gentle telling of the tale about an unusual boy named Jakob. The story is an interesting melange of mythology, folktale and rural narration exploring Jakob’s life. Based on the short story by lighting designer, Michael Taylor-Broderick, it is brilliant and enigmatic theatre filled with riddles and questions.

The effervescent actor will be flexing his vocal cords in the three other productions, the first is the third episode of the Knotted series, this time entitled Get Knotted, where he shares the stage with Rowan Bartlett, and Darren King and the stony-faced Lola the Mannequin. The trio will be whisking you away with their forays down sordid alleyways and into neon-lit harems that form the backbone of Las Vegas.

Cardboard Carnival is an hour-long cabaret show featuring Hiles and King alongside Marion Loudon and Leigh Meyer. They delve into well known, popular, tried and tested tracks that take a closer look at the life of relationships.

In his final show at the fest, Hiles will be a guest of the KZN Youth Orchestra in their production Classic Blast where he will be singing renditions of Africa, Doo Bee Doo, the Lions Sleep Tonight and the phenomenal Leonard Cohen song, Hallelujah.

Hiles reveals, “The Hilton weekend is always a favourite and this year is no different. Everything is fab, the vibe, the coffee, the people and this year we have Michael Broderick’s new show to look forward to!”

Hiles has had a busy 2018 having worked on six productions already, including KickstArt’s Play That Goes Wrong and Roald Dahl’s the B.F.G. , “I love that you can constantly challenge yourself with performing. And you get to take your audience along a journey.”

He lists Little Shop of Horrors, Cabaret and Into the Woods as his favourites, “They rank very highly in my mind. Oh, and Enemy, I performed in this production in my third year at Tech! It is so difficult to single out a BEST!”

Asked if he could perform with anyone in the world, he states, “The list of who I would love to perform with can go on for days! Gary Oldman, Tim Roth, Geoffrey Rush, Michael Richards, Charlotte Gainsborough, Naomi Watts... I guess the simple answer would be - I don’t know where, what or with whom, but I love tackling gritty challenges. And if I could perform with someone who pushes and stretches me; I would do so anywhere in the world.”

But for now, Hilton audiences have the honour of catching this world-class actor at Hilton College from 14 – 16 September.

And then, he will be taking to the Sneddon stage as one of the Ugly Sisters in KickstArt’s family pantomime, Cinderella during the Festive season.

“I am plotting a plan to play in my workshop or head out road tripping as a form of relaxing after this fabulous busy 2018.” Hiles concludes.

The festival would not be possible without the generous support of Hilton College, Grindrod Bank, Black Coffee Design, DWR Distribution, Extreme Events, Bidvest Car Rental, KZN Dept of Arts & Culture, Redlands Hotel, Assitej South Africa, Loud Crowd, Sappi, BASA, RMB, and Corona.

For more info visit http://www.hiltonfestival.co.za/ or like the Facebook page, Hilton Arts Festival. Follow us on Twitter @HiltonFest and Instagram. All enquiries on 033 383 0126 / 7 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The 26th annual Hilton Arts Festival will run from 14 to 16 September. The full programme is on www.hiltonfestival.co.za. Online bookings are open, and programmes are available from various outlets in KZN. Refer to website for the list of outlets.

04 Sep2018

Rotary initiates a project to train Early Childhood Development teachers

In the picturesque KZN Midlands, a group of people is determined to take a step towards breaking the cycle of poverty and improving life for all in the area. The members of the Rotary Club of Hilton and Howick have embarked on an early childhood development education project that will see 25 of the most deserving teachers receive bursaries over the next few years.

Research has proved that when children begin their education earlier, they grow up more intelligent, capable and successful. While pre-school, and more specifically Grade R, in South Africa is not compulsory, the government has taken these findings seriously and plans to make Grade R compulsory.

For some time now, Rotary clubs across South Africa have worked to improve the situation at poorer pre-schools. Many found that once the teachers were properly trained, the support networks and participation from the parents developed.

Statistically, a better-educated population is more peaceful and has a lower incident of crime and other socio-economic problems. Sadly, education has not received the attention it needs and the members of the Rotary Club of Hilton and Howick feel that “the sooner we start implementing these long-term solutions to improve education, the sooner we will see the results in our communities,” explains President Maurice Wilkinson.

“Our conscience won’t let us stand by and watch the suffering continue. When you go to the poorer schools we support, you see how desperately the parents want their children to receive the best – but sadly, that is not what they can afford.”

However, says Wilkinson, “The teachers at these schools are an inspiration in themselves. What they can’t buy, they make. What they don’t know, they try their best to learn. We all know that tertiary education is expensive and sadly, that makes it an impossible dream for many of these teachers.”

Thankfully, the Rotary Club of Hilton and Howick’s members view the impossible as merely something that will need a little extra elbow grease! They have embarked on a project to train Early Childhood Development teachers over the next few years.

The course the club chose, in partnership with Caversham Institute, will not only equip the teachers but will ensure that their qualifications are recognised.

Courses offered by Caversham Institute are recognised by the South African Qualifications Authority and the teachers trained in this project will receive an NQF5** qualification in Early Childhood Development after two years of study.

The project will begin early next year when the first five teachers start their studies at Caversham Institute. It will be staggered over the next few years with a cumulative minimum total of 25 teachers being trained at a projected cost of around R700 000.

Fundraising began at the beginning of the year, but sponsorship and contributions are still needed towards funding these bursaries. “We still need to raise just under R50 000 in order to let the first five start their first year of study in January. However, the more we raise, the more we educate,” explains Wilkinson.

Organisations or individuals who would like to contribute and help the club reach its target can request the club’s banking details from Maurice Wilkinson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Howard Richardson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Rotary Club of Hilton and Howick is one of more than 35 000 Rotary Clubs in the world. Rotarians are community spirited people and leaders who join to exchange ideas and take action! Find us on Facebook, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or see rotary.org

**The NQF is a comprehensive system for the classification, registration and publication of articulated and quality-assured national qualifications and part-qualifications. It is a single integrated system comprising three co-ordinated qualifications Sub-Frameworks for General and further Education and Training, Higher Education and Trades and Occupations. An NQF5 falls into the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework.

31 Aug2018

Winter wonderland at Grace College

Grace College celebrated with the Matric Class of 2018 on Friday, 24 August at a Winter Wonderland themed Matric Ball. The Grade 11s magically transformed the hall through hours of focused toil, they selected a classy menu which they served all the guests and proved their year-long fundraising efforts were worthwhile. Congratulations on a well-coordinated and stylish evening of which we can be proud.

L-R: Lerato Manoko, Siya Zungu, Nonhlelelo Mnchunu, Karma, Nel, Tyler Francis, May Zondi, Andiswa Ngcobo and Mlugisili Ndulini.

News supplied.

30 Aug2018

Laddsworth Primary Junior Primary Athletics Day

Grade 3 boys 002 Laddsworth Primary School held its Junior Primary Athletics Sports Day on Tuesday 28 August 2018.

The Grade 1 to 3 pupils had lots of fun taking part in running races and fun races, cheered on by their parents and grandparents.

Pictured above: Grade 3 boys waiting for their races.

News supplied by Laddsworth Primary School.

30 Aug2018

Laddsworth Athletics Day

Laddsworth Primary school held its annual Athletics Field Events on 16 August and Track Events on 17 August 2018.

Grade 3 to 7 pupils took part in the event and there was great rivalry between the four Houses: Duiker, Kudu, Nyala and Oribi, with Duiker coming out the winner at the end of the two events.

Despite the cold weather 4 records were broken over the two days:

 Shot Put Girls Under 11 – Danielle Kaschula (Kudu) – Distance 9,15m
 High Jump Boys Under 9 – Declan Bornman (Oribi)- Height 1,11m
 High Jump Girls Under 11 – Ellen Oosthuizen (Oribi) – Height 1,30m
 Under 9 Boys 100m Relay –– Ayanda Kunene, Nicandro Padayachee, Cameron Dunbar and Quillan Fyvie (Oribi) – Time: 1m 09,94s

L-R: Dax Jursa (Grade 5) and Stuart Temple (Grade 4) running the Under 10 70m Hurdles.

News supplied by Laddsworth Primary School.

29 Aug2018

Spring Sale at Tanglewood Nursery

Don't miss this coming weekend's Spring Sale at Tanglewood Nursery!!

Starting on Friday, 31st August, until Sunday, 2nd September 2018 for the general public etc. From 9am to 4pm daily.

All plants will be less 10% and we have other plants that have been reduced even more in price, including young plants such as tecomarias, freylinias, plectranthus neochilus and buddleja saligna trees, among others!!

We have a small selection of roses in stock now, as well as a range of indigenous trees.

We hope to see you all here at the nursery - tell your friends, or better still bring them with you!!

News supplied by Tanglewood Nursery.

28 Aug2018

More great golf from Grace College's Nikhil Gopal

Nikhil Gopal, in Gr11 at Grace College - Hilton, performed brilliantly in his last two golf tournaments. Two weeks prior in the KZN schools tournament he placed first overall in a field of over 80 players. This past weekend he competed against players from all around the country in the KZN Amateur Championship and was placed 2nd. He played against an ex golf professional in the final and experience won.

News supplied.

19 Sep2018

Grace College speechcrafters graduate

Congratulations to these Grace College pupils who are Speechcraft graduates for 2018! These pupils worked hard and it showed in their delivery of well crafted, confidently presented talks which were all completed in perfect time.

Pictured L-R top: Cameron Stadler, Gugulethu Gwamanda, Claire Rilett and Sarah Rushworth.

Pictured L-R bottom: Robert Mitchell, Ruth Varrie (Distinguished Toastmaster), Munashe Makondo and Owethu Ngcamu.

News supplied.

14 Sep2018

Cool Winds Heritage Food Festival

Cool Winds Pre-Primary staff and children are very excited about our annual Heritage Day that will take place on Saturday, 29th September 2018 (1 pm to 4 pm). On the day a variety of food items, representing various countries, will be on sale. The countries featured, are South Africa, Portugal, France, Italy, Greece, and Thailand. Other stalls include a range of items such as books, toys, jewelry, beauty products, baby quilts, children’s clothing, baby accessories, beads, headpieces (cloth) etc.

This Heritage Food Festival will take place at Cool Winds Pre-Primary, 2 Hilton Avenue, Hilton. Families are encouraged to bring along picnic blankets and any other items needed for a family picnic get together. This includes camping chairs, gazebos, umbrellas, and cooler boxes. Although we shall not sell any alcoholic beverages, you are welcome to bring along your own drinks.

As parking at the school is limited, we would like to request parents to park outside the school, in Hilton Avenue. We will have security services to oversee the safety of vehicles. We look forward to seeing you all at this wonderful and joyous event!

Supplied by Cool Winds Pre-Primary.

05 Sep2018

Next up at MiTH - 12 September 2018

Coming up on 12 September at MiTH;

9pm - Rowan Stuart Music

8pm - Jessica Martins feat. Nish Pillay

7pm - Ilan Lax & Charles Webster

Durban singer-songwriter-guitarist Rowan Stuart will perform in Hilton this September as part of his national ‘Solitary Tour 2018’. Having recently released his fifth studio album, and with radio success on major stations countrywide with his latest single ‘Survivors’, Rowan continues to bring his own signature of Alternative Pop and Folk music to a wider audience. The performance will take place at Music In The Hills (MiTH) on Wednesday the 12th of September.

Rowan’s sound was motivated by a search for something deeper and more soulful within the landscape of modern pop music. He possesses a pure and effortless voice that recalls Thom York and Paul Simon, and a tastefully virtuosic command of the electric and acoustic guitar, reminiscent of John Mayer and Eric Johnson. Rowan believes his greatest strength is his imagination and has found that music is his favourite medium by which to share the inner worlds of his mind with others.

His songs are filled with stories of people and places just beyond the edge of reality, his lyrical themes often speaking of a deep need to escape from the complex and harsh modern world, to somewhere more primal and simple. It is this sense of escape and sanctuary that Rowan hopes to create for his listeners through his music.

His single ‘Silver Balloon’, which played across South African radio in 2016 and 2017, hit the sweet spot with its modern production, yet lyrically, spoke of a fable involving the Earth and the Moon in an eternal dance. His latest single ‘Survivors’ depicts a post-apocalyptic landscape where just one true ally can be a rare and priceless treasure. ‘Survivors’ has been playlisted on over 25 radio stations across Southern Africa, and has achieved chart success on major stations including Algoa FM and OFM (#2 on the OFM Top 10@10, July 2018).

The Durbanite has multiple South African tours under his belt, and has previously collaborated with artists such as Tresor, Just Jinjer and Gangs Of Ballet, and opened for many of South Africa’s top pop music acts.

Rowan’s new album will be on sale at the venue. Visit www.rowanstuart.com for more information.

***

This act consists of a unique blend of musical sounds; from indie-rock to reggae-folk. The duo makes use of a strong range of instruments such as Piano, Guitar, traditional and new- age drums such as the Tabla and electronic Cajon - performing soulful original music as well as modified popular covers.

Jessica Martins is a singer-songwriter based in Durban and was in the top 50 of The Voice South Africa Season 1. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eCS3zA89pg)

She has a great passion for music and continues to study, play and teach it everyday. She is joined by renowned hybrid percussionist - Nish.

Nish Pillay, a Hybrid Percussionist from Pietermaritzburg, plays the Tabla, Cajon and several other drums from around the world. He has performed live with over 120 international and South African musicians combined in the last year. He has recently made it to the top 100 of South Africa's Got Talent (2017) as a solo percussionist. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puvTux9jehA )

Jess and Nish have been a duo since 2016 and have been making steady progress in the industry. Festivals that they performed at thus far include:

- White Mountain Festival (2017) •
- Splashy Fen Festival (2017 & 2018)•
- The Michaelhouse Music Festival (2017 & 2018) •
- East Coast Radio Concert Comedy Craft Festival (2017)

The highlights of their career thus far include headlining the Acoustic Stage at Splashy Fen this year and being the supporting act for The Parlotones and Gangs of Ballet at a Mill Sessions gig in the Midlands. Jess has featured on one of ''Meh's'' song,'Chosen'- which has been played on most radio stations throughout South Africa and can be downloaded on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/za/album/chosen-single-feat-jess-martins-single/id1209784749

For more info visit www.jessicamartins.co.za

***

During the day, Ilan Lax is a legal professional consulting on human rights, environmental, land and development law; governance and organisational development and working as an adjudication specialist. But Ilan's other persona is a soulful, poetic musician who performs folk-rock, including ballads and original material, with deep emotion. His natural charm and obvious musical talent make him a pleasure to listen to.

A former news journalist, Charles Webster is a full-time corporate communication specialist, part-time student of philosophy, drinker of fine fortified wines and craft beers, part-time musician... and lover of lemon meringue pie. Wordsmithing is his professional craft, but it also finances his other passions and allows him to indulge his musical and philosophical proclivities. Musical influences include everything from Mozart to Led Zeppelin. A soulful balladeer and acoustic guitarist, Charles indulges in folk, rock, pop and even some light jazz to keep things interesting.

***

MiTH is located at The Knoll Historic Guest Farm, Knoll Drive, Hilton. Doors open at 6 pm and the music will kick off at 7 pm.
Entrance is R30 at the door.

ABOUT MiTH:
MiTH is a semi-open mic music club. An opportunity for musicians to share the joy of their music with a friendly audience which includes fellow musicians – who have all “been there” too. (Non-musicians welcome too!) Whether you’re a newbie looking for your first opportunity to perform publicly, or a more experienced / mature musician simply looking for people who are as passionate about music as you are – come along and join us!

Bring your own booze. Food and soft drinks are available for sale. Musicians who want to play at MiTH, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Charles Webster (082 331 7271), or Doug Borain (072 340 7034).

DIRECTIONS TO MiTH:
Take the N3 to Hilton, take the Hilton turnoff and go South into the Village (away from Hilton College). Travel 5,2km along Hilton Avenue (past two sets of traffic lights and Crossways Pub) and keep going straight as Hilton Avenue turns into Dennis Shepstone Drive. At the 5,2km mark, Knoll Drive will be on your right – the entrance to MiTH is the *second* entrance on your left into The Knoll Historic Guest Farm.

Visit www.mith.co.za for more details and directions.

News supplied.

Photo by Carryn Clicks Photography.

03 Sep2018

Notice: Holistic challenge - ESKOM Electricity Tariff Hike

Interesting yet altogether disturbing notes from THE
WITNESS / PCB ELECTRICITY IMBIZO held at Chamber
House this morning, Friday 31st August 2018.

ESKOM’s plans to recover losses from corruption and loopholes in the Multi Year Price Determination rules by
increasing your tariffs by 30% to recover over R 66 Billion before the end of 2018
Alarming POINTS:
 ESKOM will be in R 600 Billion debt by 2022
 90% of the country is supplied ESKOM
 Right now ESKOM has less than a months’ worth of coal in stock
 ESKOM are currently buying coal at R 800/t from Lephalale suppliers who came on board after the selfengineered
load shedding crisis in 2008, whilst ESKOM can get coal supplied locally around the Middelburg
area for R 400/t
 ESKOM consumes 10 million tons per month which translates into unnecessary expenditure of R 4 Billion
per month on coal alone
 Unnecessary expenditure is not restricted to coal alone: ESKOM have an 1estimated 30,000 too many
employees at CTC salaries of 4 x the World Bank average per post. Salaries at the new Medupi plant are on
average 10 x the World Bank average.
 The average CTC salary at ESKOM is R 700, 000.00 per annum
 They have 27 GM’s for 6 divisions (in the late ‘90’s there were 6); these F band managers earn R3 -4 M per
annum
 They have 488 no. E band managers (in the late ‘90’s there were 40)
 Koeberg Power Station by way of example now has 14 no. E band managers; in the ‘90’s there was 1 no.
 ESKOM appear to be crying wolf about sabotage- to date there has been no credible evidence of such
instances. The crying wolf tactic is being used to garner sympathy towards the struggles they are enduring
and to substantiate their tariff increases
 ESKOM contends that Consumers are expected to help ease their burden
 To remain afloat ESKOM will need to increase tariffs by 45% in three years- 15% annually for three years-
THIS ONLY RELATES TO THE NEW APPLICATION
 The old application which remains in effect called for 5% tariff increases per year for 5 years
 ESKOM’s energy supply debt is simply unmanageable; the new ESKOM chairman says they are unable to
fund their finance costs, never-mind pay back the capital!!
How did we get here?
 By way of the Energy White Paper of 1998 ESKOM set about requesting bids for private companies to
supply energy to South Africa. ESKOM still wanted to remain in control and set a profit cap of 8%.
 There were obviously no takers.
 In 2001 ESKOM opted to go about it themselves, registered ESKOM under the Companies Act, and changed
the business from non-profit to profit seeking
 A R16 Billion dividend was paid shortly thereafter; ESKOM have since overspent by R 1.4 Trillion.
 Ironically ESKOM now sell electricity at more than 100% mark-up as compared to the 8% limit they
themselves set in 1998
What’s required to turn the situation around?
 Government willpower
 A proper turnaround strategy developed by industry professionals
 Return electricity supply tariffs to 40c/kWh
 Forensic audit back to at least 2007
 Dumping Renewable Energy Independent Power frauds
 Upgrade/ open grid
 Open generation licenses
 Active citizenry
2
What are we up against?
The ruling party, hence government, uses a ‘balance of forces’ approach- they will only step back when there’s
enough pressure to do so...

The difference between how government and their parastatals operate vs how civil democratic society thinks they
operate is akin to the differences between the rules associated with the games of ‘cricket vs cage fighting’.
New ESKOM Chairperson, Jabu Mabuza, states that the only way to keep Eskom going on a business as usual
approach is tariffs and taxes.

Businesses need to audit their exposure to Eskom – electricity costs for heavy users used to be in the region of 5% of
their total costs, today this is up to around 15% and set to increase steadily unless challenged.
Business which are heavy consumers of electricity and which are operating in the region of a 20% profit margin will
be battling to survive in the next 12- 18 months.

TO COMPOUND MATTERS EVERYTHING DISCUSSED ABOVE HAPPENS BEFORE THE ELECTRICITY IS SUPPLIED TO
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WHO, IN TURN SUPPLY ELECTRICITY TO END USERS USING THEIR OWN INFRASTRUCTURE
AND TARIFF/ BILLING SYSTEMS. The issues in essence are mirrored and multiplied by a factor two, if not more.

What should we do?

 Pray?
 Protest?
 Plead?
 Fight or flight?
 Make alternative arrangements to sustain home/ business practices?
To begin with we can?
 Practice Active citizenry
 Insist on ESKOM transparency
 Insist on ESKOM accountability
 Insist on ESKOM write downs
 Revert ESKOM to being a non- profit organization (although they seem to be doing a good job of that
already!)
 Allow free market electricity supply
 Adopt an ‘agnostic’ technology approach, in other words adopt whichever is best for the economy and
particular industry
This is a CALL TO ACTION- you cannot expect to live in a democratic society without being an active participant of
the associated democratic processes. This is also a WARNING that unless something is done to arrest the ‘business
as usual’ trajectory of ESKOM the economy as we know it will undoubtedly falter and ultimately affect everybody
drastically, with indigent communities being hardest hit.
Some of the actions listed above are rather lofty and will take time to come to fruition, at the very least help get this
message out there NOW and take the time to leave your comments on the energy expert coalition
website https://eeco.co.za/projects/comment-on-tariff-hikes/
The webpage provides a well-structured SUMMARY of the issues at hand, as well as supporting documentation,
which can all be used to assist with your comment regarding ESKOM’s plans to recover losses from corruption and
loopholes in the Multi Year Price Determination rules by increasing your tariffs by 30% to recover over R 66 Billion
before the end of 2018.

30 Aug2018

Thanks from Dr Lee Pachonick

Umgeni Veterinary Clinic has been sold as a going concern, meaning that all staff will remain as usual, but Dr Lee Pachonick will be leaving the business.

Veterinary House Hospital from Pietermaritzburg has bought the business and it will be run under their umbrella, as Umgeni Veterinary Clinic.

All the pets’ clinical records will remain with Umgeni Veterinary Clinic – so clients do not have to worry about lost clinical histories, vaccination records etc.

Dr Lee Pachonick will be leaving the clinic on 31 August and in parting says, "Thank you to each and every one of you for having faith in our Veterinary Practice and for your very loyal support and friendship."

News supplied.

30 Aug2018

Ballet Certificate for Laddsworth pupil

Monika Grobbelaar, a Grade 7 pupil at Laddsworth Primary School, completed her Ballet Exam on Wednesday 17 August 2018 in Pietermaritzburg.

Monica received a merit certificate from the Ballet Academy of South Africa for Grade 6 Ballet.

News supplied by Laddsworth Primary School.

29 Aug2018

Don't miss the Spring Sale happening at D3 Studio

Don't miss the Spring Sale happening at the D3 Studio from Wednesday, 29 August until Wednesday, 5 September.

D3 Studio is a wonderland of beautiful decor goods for your home.

Visit Shop 12/13 at The Quarry Shopping Centre to take advantage of these Spring specials.

News supplied by D3 Studio.

28 Aug2018

Digby and the Lullaby return to the Hilton Arts Festival

Casting their indie-folk spell on audiences everywhere, Digby and the Lullaby head to the 26th Hilton Arts Festival at Hilton College from 14 – 16 September.

Making a Midlands stop during their national tour, Digby and the Lullaby will be making their third appearance at the Hilton Arts Festival, after two consecutive years of sold-out performances.

Made up by the husband and wife duo: Rouchelle Hubsch and Darren Peens - Hubsch takes the role of piano and vocals while Peens is on guitar and vocals.

“In our first show at Hilton, we needed to put in extra seating!” Rouchelle enthused. “The theatre manager that year, Ralph Piaden, said that we were the most complimented act in his venue throughout the festival!”

Digby and the Lullaby have a flair for intimate performances and single out Hilton as one of their favourite places to play. “Theatres are irresistible,” smiles Rouchelle. “It makes our connection with the audience so real and tangible.”

Their live performances to date include shows at the Kirstenbosch Gardens, The Chaplin in Port Elizabeth, Googies in New York, The Rhumbelow Theatre, Durban, Potters Place Jeffreys Bay, The Cash Store Port Elizabeth and of course, for two years running: the prestigious Hilton Arts Festival in KZN.

Their recently launched album, ‘The Somewhere Wind’ was produced in New York by Kieran Kelly who has worked with Angus and Julia Stone from Australia and Better than Ezra. “Our ‘pride and joy’ has now officially been released and we are tremendously proud as fans across the globe seem to be enjoying it. And according to Graham Ward, ‘You will be hooked.’ ” continues Rouchelle.

Graham Ward, drummer for the likes of Paul McCartney, Tom Jones, and Ray Charles, puts it best when he says, “The joy of hearing these two stays with you long after you leave.”

There is something undeniably captivating about Digby and the Lullaby, perhaps it’s their introspective honesty and uncomplicated melodies. Or perhaps it’s the fact that their journey as a singer-songwriter duo swept them off their own feet and down the aisle. Most fans and critics, however, think it’s simply that these two complement each other perfectly.

Catch them at the Festival, which will take place on the beautiful grounds of the Hilton College from Hilton College: 14 – 16 September 2018.

For more info visit http://www.hiltonfestival.co.za/ or like the Facebook page, Hilton Arts Festival. Follow us on Twitter @HiltonFest and Instagram. All enquiries on 033 383 0126 / 7 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The 26th annual Hilton Arts Festival will run from 14 to 16 September. The full programme is on www.hiltonfestival.co.za. Online bookings are open and programmes are available from various outlets in KZN. Refer to website for a list of outlets.

For more info on Digby and the Lullaby visit http://www.digbyandthelullaby.com/

27 Aug2018

Laddsworth Vocal talent

Mia du Preez, a Grade 5 pupil at Laddsworth Primary School, participated in the Queenburgh Festival of Arts during the recent June school holidays and achieved two A’s.

Mia also sang a duet at the Eisteddfod in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday 7 August 2018, and received a Silver certificate.

News supplied by Laddsworth Primary School.

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