The 2012 Punto, for the first time in a Fiat vehicle, offers the award-winning MultiAir engine, class-leading emissions mitigation technology, innovative technology and telematics and an unparalleled commitment to its robustness and reliability with a five-year 150 000km warranty.
Although it is an evolution of one of Fiat’s most popular cars in South Africa, the Fiat Punto, the 2012 Punto intensifies the distinguished personality of the vehicle with an important aesthetic update that includes new exterior colours and the seat upholsteries and class-leading features and technologies. The 2012 Punto is a car that arouses strong emotions; it combines intrinsic beauty with comfort, practicality and usability of a car from a higher segment. It is a technological and tactile delight appealing to all the right senses that give a car a soul.
Fiat has built a reputation for itself as a technology leader with technologies like its advanced normally-aspirated and turbocharged MultiAir engines – technology that won the 1.4 MultiAir Turbo the coveted Best New Engine of 2010 in the International Engine of the Year Awards. The 2012 Fiat Punto, not only features a host of dramatic and stylish aesthetic updates both inside and outside of the car, but also builds on the features that appeal to the modern buyer.
In addition to its design, technology advanced mix of materials and textures the 2012 Punto is spacious, with excellent front visibility, offers easy access and a capacious luggage compartment.
Having produced more than 8.5 million vehicles globally since the Punto was introduced to the world in 1993 (the year of the first launch) the Fiat Punto has been one of the company’s best selling vehicles. The same holds true for South Africa where the Punto has been one of the company’s best-selling products since its introduction in 2005 and will be sure to continue with this Italian-built trendsetter.
The 2012 Punto range comprises of four models in three trim lines – Pop, Easy and Lounge – each featuring a different content offer with the aim of satisfying different needs and budgets. Prices range between R120 900 and R209 900.
Source:  vaalweekblad.com

VANDERBIIJLPARK. – ‘n Gebrek aan kop-sterkte en ‘n Jack Russel-geaardheid…
Dit is volgens Gerhard Zandberg, Olimpiese rugslagswemmer van Suid-Afrika, deur die bank die vernaamste tekortkominge in Suid-Afrikaanse swem.
Die 28-jarige Pretorianer wat onder meer in 2004 en 2008 aan die Olimpiese Spele, vier wêreldkampioenskappe en ‘n Statebondspele deelgeneem het, het verlede week by die Virgin Active-gimnasium in Vanderbijlpark swemmers van die Sasol Sharks, Titans en River Rats tydens ‘n tweedaagse opskerpkursus onder hande geneem.
“Ek probeer terugploeg in die sport. Ek is nou aan die einde van my loopbaan. Dit sal selfsugtig wees indien ek 20 jaar se kennis vir myself hou,” het Zandberg in ‘n eksklu-siewe onderhoud met Vaalweekblad gesê.
Volgens Zandberg het hy onlangs vir sy meisie, Lizel Botes, in Vanderbijlpark kom kuier en toe hy vir Benny Jansen, afrigter van die Titans-swemklub, raakgeloop. Hy (Zandberg) het aangebied om die swemmers ‘n paar fynere kunsies te leer en die plaaslike klubs het onmiddellik ingestem.
Zandberg het onlangs ‘n pos in Namibië aanvaar om dié land se elite 15 swemmers af te rig.
“Ek het baie kennis opgedoen deur regoor die wêreld deel te neem. Ek wil dít en my passie vir die sport aan die jonger generasie oordra.”
Hoewel sy visier ingestel is om vanjaar vir die Olimpiese Spele te kwalifiseer, is hy versigtig optimisties en realisties oor sy kanse.
“Ek mik daarna om te kwalifiseer, maar indien ek dit nie regkry nie, gaan ek in April uittree,” het hy gesê.
Buiten al sy kennis en ‘n ooglopende passie vir die sport, beskik hy oor ‘n rare talent om sy boodskap aan die jongspan oor te dra.
“Ek het elke dag voordat ons begin swem het, ‘n 30 minute praatjie met die kinders gehad om te bepaal hoe hulle dink.
Ek wil by hulle tuisbring dat indien ek iemand soos myself as afrigter gehad het toe ek 12 jaar oud was, ek baie vinniger sou verbeter het. Wat hulle in twee dae by my leer, het my drie jaar geneem om uit te vind.”
Volgens hom kan mens nie temperament koop nie, maar wel voor ‘n sekere ouderdom aanleer. “As die wenners-temperament en grondslag nie gelê is teen die tyd wat jy 10 of 11 jaar oud is nie, gaan dit nooit gebeur nie. Baie sielkundiges stem saam,” sê hy.
“Ons jeug word baie beskermd grootgemaak. In sekere gevalle word die kinders opgepiep. Hulle beskik nie oor daardie tipiese Jack Russel-temperament nie. Hulle wil nie veg om te wen nie. ”
“Mens moenie dink omdat jy van Vanderbijlpark af kom wat ‘n klein dorpie is, dat dit jou grens is nie. Ek kom van ‘n plaasdorp af wat nie eers 20 000 mense het nie. Die omvang van jou drome bepaal jou perke.
“As daar nie iemand soos ek is wat vir hulle kom sê daar is iets groter daar buite nie, gaan hulle nooit voelers uitsteek om dit te probeer bereik nie.”Volgens hom moet ouers doelwitte en grense daarstel, maar die afrigters toelaat om hulle werk te doen.
Bron: vaalweekblad.com

DENEYSVILLE. – Host of the annual Round the Island Race, Lake Deneys Yacht Club (LDYC), is delighted to announce that Guinness World Records has approved the club’s application to officially challenge its record.

It previously recognised ‘The most yachts to finish an inland yacht race at 389. This was at the Sanlam Round the Island Race at Lake Deneys Yacht Club, Deneysville, Free State, South Africa on February 4 of 2007.’

SAMSA has announced its sponsorship of this year’s biggest South African sailing event. The claim is made according to sheer numbers. The ‘SAMSA Round the Island Race 2012’ will be the 54th anniversary of the regatta.

Tebogo Modibo, SAMSA’s Head of Marketing and Communications, explained, “SAMSA’s responsibility is ensuring safety on all of the country’s waters, both inland and offshore. Our active participation in this event offers us a great interaction-opportunity to educate sailors and visitors alike on aspects of water safety and encourage compliance around proper usage.

“We also hope to encourage water sports as a healthy lifestyle activity and tourism to these areas in those pursuits.”

LDYC has also taken a long, hard look at the profile of regular participants. They have identified that although keelboats and multihull participation quotas have been fairly steady, the number of dinghies and cats has been steadily diminishing over the years.

LDYC’s Commodore Tielman Burger elaborated, “To encourage them to come along, the race has been restructured into 3 starts instead of 5. The first will be the Ultra Class, a maximum of 50 boats with a handicap of 1.00 and above, racing the faster boats of other classes, followed by keelers and micro-multihulls in the second start.

“The third start will be for all cats and dinghies. All these boats will sail in very similar conditions as they will be within 20 minutes instead of 40 minutes apart. This will smooth the waters, so to speak, and make it easier for these competitors to go up against each other.”

Another change is the addition of four more trophies for which the entire fleet will be split into four new handicap categories in which boats of the same or similar speeds compete. This adds another enticing facet to the competition.

The weekend will again feature a big screen on which live footage of the start and finish will be watched by the onshore crowd. The usual bar, catering and top-notch entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights and great prizes in a draw at a price of R50 a head over 16 years of age for the entire weekend is unbeatable value for money.

Prize-giving has also been moved a week later than usual to Friday 17th, and promises to roll out in a refreshingly entertaining new format designed to speed up the proceedings and make the evening thoroughly enjoyable.

* To download entry forms visit www.ldyc.co.za or www. samsa.org.za.

Contact LDYC on (016) 371-1393.
Source: vaalweekblad.com

SASOLBURG. – Die Deneys Croc Ranch het op 19 Januarie ‘n baie rare verrassing gekry toe hulle wit leeuwyfie geboorte geskenk het aan vier wit leeuwelpies.
“Dit is baie, baie seldsaam dat wit leeus geboorte gee aan meer as twee welpies,” het ‘n baie trotse eienaar, me. Ina van Rooyen, vertel.
Sy en haar man Charles besit die Croc Ranch nou al vir die afgelope 12 jaar. Afgesien van die pragtige wit leeuwelpies is daar ook volgroeide wit leeus, bruin leeus, baie krokodille, Emu’s en ook heelwat voëls en plaasdiere om te besigtig.
“Ons bruin leeuwyfie is ook hoogs dragtig, so een van die dae het ons weer ‘n werpsel,” vertel ‘n opgewonde Charles. Hulle is elke dag van die week van 9:00 tot 16:00 oop, behalwe op Maandae.

As jy dalk die pragtige, rare wit leeuwelpies wil gaan besigtig, dit is verseker die moeite werd. Hulle het ook ‘n ten volle gelisensieerde restaurant waar ‘n mens lekker kan kuier. Die Deneys Croc Ranch is net buite Deneysville op die Vereeniging-pad. Vir meer inligting kan Ina by 082 801 7070 gekontak word.
Bron: vaalweekblad.com

Toets jou eie ore
Indien jy twyfel of jou gehoor nog na wense is, vra jouself die volgende vrae:
* Moet ek gereeld vir mense vra om te herhaal wat hulle gesê het?
* Sukkel ek om ‘n gesprek te volg as ek in ‘n groepsituasie verkeer?
* Sukkel ek om te hoor as ek nie vir die spreker kyk nie?
* Klink dit vir my asof mense mompel of onduidelik praat?
* Vind ek dit moeilik om te hoor as ek in plekke is soos in ‘n restaurant, winkelkompleks of vergadering?
* Sukkel ek om vroue en kinders se stemme te hoor?
* Stel ek die televisie of radio op ‘n harder volume as ander in die huis?
* Hoor ek ‘n gesuis of ‘n gefluit in my ore?
Indien jy ja geantwoord het op enige van hierdie vrae, kan jy gerus ‘n gehoorsentrum besoek vir ‘n volledige gehoor-evaluasie.
Wat behels ‘n gehoortoets?
‘n Gehoortoets sluit ‘n lug-, beengeleiding en spraakdiskriminasietoets in wat in ‘n klankdigte vertrek gedoen word. ‘n Volledige gehoortoets en konsultasie duur sowat ‘n uur en ‘n half. Na afloop van die gehoortoets sal jou akoestikus/oudioloog kan bepaal of jy ‘n gehoorverlies het, sowel as die graad en moontlike oorsaak van die verlies. Hy/sy sal jou na ‘n oor-, neus- en keelspesialis verwys indien nodig of die verskillende gehoorapparaat-opsies aan jou bekendstel.
Indien jy ‘n afspraak vir ‘n gehoortoets wil maak, kontak JJC Kruger en Vennote by (016) 423 3553 (Vereeniging), (016) 981 0328 (Vanderbijlpark) of 0860 GEHOOR.
Bron: vaalweekblad.com

All the graduates have been accepted to college or university, including top schools in the United States and South Africa. More than a dozen have received full scholarships.
Winfrey arrived in South Africa for the graduation ceremony at the school in Henley-on-Klip, to create what she described as a “final lasting moment” for the 72 girls who achieved a 100% pass rate in last year’s Senior National Certificate examinations and produced 188 matriculation distinctions between them.
“The pride that I feel today is overpowering,” Winfrey told her guests, who included the students, their parents and relatives.
“I have been on a mission my whole life to be able to give back what I have been given. Today I am fulfilling that mission. This class will prove that when you invest in the leadership of girls, you invest in a nation.”
Winfrey also used the opportunity to thank Mr Nelson Mandela, who served as an inspiration in establishing the academy.
Winfrey concluded by noting how she has been enhanced as a person through her time spent with the girls.
Present at the ceremony was Mr Mandela’s wife, Graca Machel, who gave the keynote address and serves on the board of directors of the academy.
Machel, who has a post-graduate scholarship for African Women named in her honour to train women in areas of health and education, emphasized the importance of women’s leadership in ensuring Africa’s prosperity.
Also among the guests at the ceremony was South Africa’s Minister of Basic Education, Ms Angie Motshekga.
Two of the girls were honored with special awards. Bongeka Zuma, from Nkwezela in Kwa-Zulu Natal achieved six distinctions. She is considering the study of Political Science at Spelman University in the United States of America and received the Dux award for Academic Excellence.
The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Award, voted for by peers and teachers, was given to Marwiya James. She scored distinctions in Afrikaans, Accounting, Life Orientation, Business  Studies and Visual Arts. She now plans to return to her native province of the Western Cape, where she hails from Mitchell’s Plain, to study at the University of Cape Town to become a Chartered Accountant.
Source: vaalweekblad.com

Annelie glo daar is nie ‘n kortpad vir sukses nie. “My leuse is: Doen ’n bietjie meer as waarvoor jy betaal word. Gee ’n bietjie meer as wat van jou verwag word. Probeer ’n bietjie harder as normaalweg. Mik ’n bietjie hoër as wat jy dink jy kan, geniet wat jy doen en sukses sal outomaties volg,” vertel sy.

Haar prestasies eindig ook nie by akademie nie. “Kultuur was nog altyd my forté. Ek neem elke jaar deel aan sangkunstefeeste, skoolkonserte, debat en redenaars. Ek het al deurgedring tot die ATKV redenaars se landsfinale. Ek speel ook al vyf jaar skaak vir die skool se eerstespan,” sê Annelie. Sy is die oudste dogter van Jannie en Linda du Plessis. Jannie besit verskeie besighede in die Vaaldriehoek en omliggende omgewing, en Linda is die vise-rektor van die Noordwes-Universiteit (Vaaldriehoekkampus).

“Matriek was ‘n besige, maar onvergeetlike jaar,” sê Annelie. “Tussen skool, vriende en familie het ons baie kosbare oomblikke gedeel!”
Bron: vaalweekblad.com

Along with the Beatles and the Stones, the Hollies helped shape the world of Pop and Rock as we know it today. Now, 50 years on, the Hollies adventure continues! They’re still pure Hollies. Still the tight, clean vocal harmonies, meticulously honed, precisely melded.
The Hollies will bring their talents to South Africa on their 50th Year Celebration of all things Hollies.
Though its composition has changed since emerging in the 1960s, a component of the magnificent British Pop Revolution, The Hollies’ hallmark sound, has not wavered.
Frontman Peter Howarth, for instance, seems to have been grafted without a blemish to the long-established rootstock of The Hollies and other members have melted into the musical fabric laid down by originals Tony Hicks and Bobby Elliott and others so many years earlier.
For their show in South Africa no support act is needed as they perform their Classics – The Air That I Breathe, Bus Stop, Carrie Anne, Just One Look, He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother and many more.
The Hollies’s 50th Anniversary World Tour to South Africa will be a very special event – not to be missed. They will be performing at the Grand West Arena in Cape Town on February 23 and at Carnival City in Brakpan on February 25 and 26.
Tickets are available at Computicket. Visit www.computicket.conm or call 083 915 8000.
Source: vaalweekblad.com

Mev. Drika Oosthuizen van die dorp het in 2010 die idee gekry om ‘n pan te ontwerp waarin die groot bruin sampioene gebraai kan word.
Sy en haar gesin is baie lief vir sampioene, maar Drika het maar altyd foeliebakkies gemaak waarin sy die sampioene kon sit, sodat die sous deel kon wees van die gereg.
Op ‘n dag het haar skoonsuster haar gevra waarom sy nie haar man vra om vir haar bakkies te maak nie, want dan hoef sy nie altyd die bakkies te vou nie.
Sy het dadelik aan die idee gedink om so iets te laat patenteer, omdat ons Suid-Afrikaners baie lief is vir braai en ook daarvan hou om sampieone te braai.
Met net ‘n prentjie in haar kop, het Drika na iemand begin soek wat haar kon help om die patent te laat registreer.
Toe dit uiteindelik geregistreer is, het die soektog begin om iemand te soek om haar ontwerp ‘n werklikheid te maak. Sy het uiteindelik by Gary van der Elst van Wahl Industries in Johannesburg uitgekom, wat haar gehelp het om haar droom ‘n werklikheid te maak. Hy het haar voorgestel aan hulle ontwerper, Jose, wat toe die tekening ‘n vorm van die pan laat aanneem het.
“Ek weet regtig nie wat ek sonder Gary sou gedoen het nie, want hy was en is nog steeds ‘n baie groot steunpilaar,” sê sy.
Hulle vervaardig ook die panne. Dit word van ‘n baie goeie gehalte “cast alluminium” gemaak en die pennetjies by die skarnier is van vleklose staal. Die pan kan dus glad nie roes nie. Dit maak ook baie maklik skoon.
Die pan is hoofsaaklik ontwerp vir die groot sampioene, maar nadat sy die eerste pan ontvang het, het sy gou besef dat dit meer as net vir die een doel gebruik kan word. Sy het begin eksperimenteer en agtergekom dat dit vir verskeie geregte gebruik kan word – van ‘n groot potbrood tot heerlike geroomde mossels en slakke.
Wat die pan baie veeldoelig maak, is dat jy dit nie net vir ‘n braai kan gebruik nie, maar ook in die oond en bo-op die stoofplaat. Dit is ook die ideale pan om saam te vat om te gaan kamp. Enigeen wat meer oor die pan wil weet, dit wil bemark of wil aanskaf, kan haar by (016) 973-2967 of 084 401 9817 kontak.
Bron:  vaalweekblad.com

Then they want to compile a calendar for 2014 with all the animals featured.
Rules
The rules for the competition will be as follows:
- You may enter as often as you want, but each entry should be in its own envelope.
Entries are R20 each.
- Refer your entry to the particular month – each month will run a month in arrears, i.e. March photo’s submitted will be for February.
- Photos of pets only.
- Photo’s may be no smaller than 4” by 6” and no larger than 5” by 7”.
All images must be high resolution, minimum 300 dpi.
- All images must be the original work of the entrant.
- A monthly winner will be chosen for every calendar month and that winner will be announced at the end of the following month.
The monthly winner will be announced in Ster.
- The Vereeniging SPCA reserves the right to refuse any entry if the photo is of poor quality or unsuitable.
- The competition starts 1 February and ends 30 January 2013.
- The monthly winners will all be invited to a final showdown where the Pet of the Year will be chosen.
- All entries will be posted on the Vereeniging SPCA website and Facebook page.
- Entries and payments can be made at the Three Rivers Vet in Three Rivers and the SPCA offices in Duncanville.
The winner will receive front page on the calendar, 12 bags of pet food, inoculation and deworming for a year, a luxury bed for the winning pet, 10 grooming sessions for the year and a lead and collar.
* For more information and to get your application form contact the Vereeniging SPCA on (016) 422-1505.
Source: vaalweekblad.com

Die Kansa-aflos ten bate van kankerlyers in die Vaaldriehoek vind op 24/25 Februarie met ‘n deurnag-aflos plaas. Die geleentheid simuleer die stryd van ‘n pasiënt deurnag en oorlewing word gevier met sonsopkoms. Spanne word genooi om teen R500 per span van 10 in te skryf. ‘n Karnaval met lekker eet- en drinkgoed  en vermaakkunstenaars sal deel van die aflos wees. Verskeie beplanningsvergaderings vind tans plaas en belangstellendes word genooi om betrokke te raak. Skakel Martie Botha by 082 867 5400 vir besonderhede.
Bron:  vaalweekblad.com

Elke pleegkind, asook ander kinders onder Geestegesondheid (Vaal­driehoek) se sorg het `n geskenk ontvang.
Geestesgesondheid (Vaaldriehoek) bedank graag hierdie twee besondere dames en die ouers van Engeltjietyd-kleuterskool wat die funksie moontlik gemaak het.
Die funksie se reëlings het sowat drie maande se beplanning en koördinering geverg.
“Die partytjie is aangevul deur lekkergoedpakkie-geskenke deur Globe Tree en in besonder wil ons vir Mariana Botha bedank asook vir Global Tree wat vir ons `n donasie van R20 000 geskenk het, waarmee ons skooltassies en skryfbehoeftes vir ons kinders gekoop het,” sê ‘n woordvoerder van Geestesgesondheid.
Geestegesondheid (Vaaldriehoek) wil namens elke kind wat iets ontvang het, baie dankie sê, asook aan die personeel van die organisasie.
“Dit was ’n wonderlike voorreg om die blydskap en verwondering op hierdie kinders se gesigte te sien. Dankie dat julle dit vir ons moontlik gemaak het,” sê Geestesgesondheid se woordvoerder.
Bron:  vaalweekblad.com

Allison has many years experience in fundraising, establishing relationships with her community and donors alike.
Allison’s career started as a per-sonal assistant to a director at FNB, but her interest in working in the charity sector was always calling.
She left the Corporate world and joined Cotlands where she spent nearly 10 years.
She then joined Sparrows Schools and after two years at these schools, her dream of moving to Henley-on-Klip was realised and she started to look for work closer to home as her son was due to start University in Vanderbijlpark.
“After 13 years of working in the children’s sector, I have gracefully accepted a new and exciting position with Wide Horizon Hospice, which will provide me with an opportunity to focus my efforts on a different cause, she said.
“We are looking forward to the new dimension that Allison will bring to Wide Horizon and I am sure that she will become a valued member of the team.
“I am also sure that Allison will enjoy the support of the Vaal as I have over the years,” says Gail Heasley, General Manager at Wide Horizon Hospice.
Source: vaalweekblad.com