NIEU-BETHESDA NEWS — Ward 2's district comprises the entire Horseshoe area in Graaff-Reinet, as well as all the farms up the Middelburg and Murraysburg roads and the village of Nieu-Bethesda including the Pienaarsig Township.
On Thursday last week, having been given a generous donation by a local farmer, councillor Linda Botha set off early for Nieu-Bethesda.
With the help of her Ward Committee member, Elizabeth Tromp, they delivered food parcels to the elderly, the disabled, HIV/Aids patients and the very poor.
Later she met with the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, and assisted the Extension Officer, Mr Toyi, in handing out tins of vegetable seeds to a garden project, as well as those who cultivate small gardens at their homes to the Lettie de Klerk School and others who are keen to start their own vegetable patches.
This was followed by a meeting with Christie Horn, Head of the Sneeuwitjie Crèche, regarding the extension of the little school, for which he is delighted to have obtained funding from the National Lottery Commission - a project that will benefit many of the village's children.
Councillor Botha then met with Mr Horn and Mr Kraai regarding the Brickmaking project in Bethesda.
They walked to the site where three years ago, the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) had placed two huge containers and supplied a brand-new brickmaking machine, as well as fencing for this project.
Sadly, due to a hold up with the municipality at the time, nothing further transpired. The containers are now standing, locks rusted, some windows broken and the brickmaking machine is locked away.
Councillor Botha has now urged the local municipality to go ahead with this project.
She spoke to the Head of the Department in Port Elizabeth who has confirmed that the funding is approved and available.
The DRDLR is ready to bring the fencing, crusher dust and cement to Bethesda. This project will initially create temporary jobs for fencers for which they would be paid a stipend, and then possibly provide a further 19 permanent jobs for the brickmakers.
The crafters outside the Owl House were then visited. One of the traders, Katrina Lottering, is extremely proud of the fact that she has been sponsored with fabric to make outfits for her little group of Khoi dancers whom she takes for lessons every week. She is excited to start sewing the outfits for these children who enjoy her dance group.
Lastly, a Ward Committee meeting was held where various issues were put on the table for future attention.
Just before heading home Linda stopped at Caroline Swartz's - the Quince Jam Queen - to collect a bottle of her beautiful quince jam.
'Ons bring jou die nuutste Nieu-Bethesda, Karoo nuus'
