JOHANNESBURG, AUGUST 8, 2019 – This month, Forestry South Africa (FSA) is celebrating women in forestry. Over the next few weeks, FSA will be publishing the stories of 24 women in a series of profiles on www.forestryexplained.co.za. With more than 320 years experience among them in a variety of roles, these women show that no job is off limits as long as you have the passion and dedication required. “Some have dedicated their lives to the sector, others are just at the start of their career, but all have one thing in common – the wish to dispel the myth that forestry is a man’s world,” says Michael Peter, executive director of FSA. "Their success is testament to how our sector has embraced and benefited from the skills and qualities women bring to the industry." In turn, the forestry sector gives women the opportunity to contribute to a challenging and ever-evolving industry that produces essential everyday items – from furniture to face wash, pencils to paper and a myriad of novel products all made from the wood of locally farmed trees. It is an industry where there is always room to grow, where you are part of a globally recognised community and have the opportunity to work outdoors with leaders in multiple fields. Khosi Mavimbela, executive director of the Forest Sector Charter Council, says, “It is little wonder why women in forestry are proud of what they do and all they have achieved. These women want to plant a seed of inspiration in the mind of others, who many not have thought about a career in forestry, but could greatly benefit from one.” By sharing their story of triumph and growth within the industry, FSA hopes other women will follow in their footsteps and the myth that forestry is a male-only workforce will be busted once and for all. “Women like myself operate machines and there is scope to learn and improve. I started out as a general worker, so forestry definitely provides opportunities for growth.” Ephine Mogakane, SAFCOL – Senior …
Bell takes Jock Classic in his own backyard
Nico Bell triumphed in his own backyard when he took two of the three stages to sprint to victory in the Takealot Jock Classic road cycle race in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, today. Riding for NAD Pro, the 35-year-old from Nelspruit shaded Reynard Butler, defending champion David Maree and Travis Barrett in the race for the line to win the three-stage one-day event for the first time. After winning the first stage, he also took the final 62.3km stage in 1:33:25 for an overall time of 3:53:58. Maree, of Team Enza, was second in 3:53:58, followed by Travis Barrett (OfficeGuru Racing) in the same time. The three stages took cyclists on a 150km route from Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit through White River and Sabie before ending back at the stadium. Bell, who turned his focus from the road to mountain-biking in 2011, said the victory was especially sweet as he had health issues at the beginning of the year. His triumph suggested he was returning to his best form. "It was a very nice one to win because I had an operation at the beginning of the year as I had been struggling with my stomach," he said. "But I am back to regular training and I feel my form is coming back. I don't have any of the previous issues and it is nice just to ride the bike as hard as you can." After taking the first stage of 40.9km over Maree in a sprint finish, Bell said they conceded the second stage of 45.4km to Alex Worsdale. "Alex had lost some time on the first stage and he rode away from the beginning, so we just let him go. "Coming into the finish I just made sure I went full gas into the corner and was able to come in second, just ahead of David." Heading into the final stage, Bell said he felt Maree was the one to beat and although there was a breakaway near the end it was brought back and the stage developed into a sprint finish. "David, Travis and I were all on the same time and coming up to the stadium Travis attacked up the left. "Luckily I saw him …
Maree rates Jock Classic as one of SA’s premier events
Defending champion David Maree has the Takealot Jock Classic down as a priority for 2019, describing the three-stage one-day event as one of the premier cycling road races on the South African calendar. Riding for the Enza team, the 29-year-old cyclist from Fourways in Johannesburg is relishing the challenge presented on Saturday by one of the country's longest-running events. Starting at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, the 150km route will take riders through White River and Sabie before finishing back at the stadium. "It is definitely one of the biggest events on the annual programme," said Maree, "and the fact that is has been around for so long gives it top status. "And it is a race that if you want to do well you have to put in a little bit more effort, coming at this time of the year." Having won his first Jock Classic title last year, he said the race would always have special memories for him. "You always want to defend a title you have won before, so I am pretty motivated to do well again," said Maree, who won the points race at this year's SA Track Championships. He admitted he had been struggling with "a bit of illness" recently, but added that their outfit had a few cards to play. "Besides the illness my form has been pretty good. But we also have Steven van Heerden, who has been competing in America and is really strong at the moment. "In addition our team includes a number of really promising young riders, so you may even see a surprise from them. "Nolan Hoffman is also joining our team for this race and, although the route doesn't quite suit his style as a sprinter, if he is in there at the end there will be some worried cyclists." The format of the Jock Classic throws up a different challenge, but that does not present a problem for Maree. "Obviously the three stages mean you have to approach it slightly differently but I am one of those riders who are able to find a rhythm quickly so a race of this nature suits my …
New look to Jock Classic opening stage
The opening stage of this year's Takealot Jock Classic will be slightly easier than last year, but competitors will need to keep something in reserve during the three-stage one-day road cycle race on July 13. That is the view of ASG Events chief executive Erick Oosthuizen, who confirmed that Brondal Road, about 20km into the race, would again be part of the route. Taking place from Nelspruit in Mpumalanga, one of the country's longest-running cycling events will cover 150km, but has the unique format of set starting times for each stage. It includes a whopping 2 900m of ascent. Starting and finishing at the Mbombela Stadium, the route takes the riders through the Lowveld towns of White River and Sabie. It then includes the gruelling Spitskop and Long Tom Pass climbs in the latter two stages. So cyclists might be grateful that the 40.9km opening leg has been eased somewhat by the inclusion of Brondal Road. Oosthuizen said the route had a slightly different look from last year. "Brondal Road was inaccessible due to roadworks last year, but its inclusion has made the undulating nature of the stage easier and flatter," he said. "However it will still be fairly cool in the early part of the race, which gets under way at 6.30am." He added that he thought the 45.3km second stage from White River to Sabie could be decisive in determining the final outcome and riders would need to ensure they were prepared for that. "If you lose ground on stage two during the Spitskop climb you'll lose time which I feel contenders should guard against," said Oosthuizen. "Admittedly the Long Tom Pass on stage three is a tough climb and cyclists will have already ascended 2 000m by the time they get there. "But it comes early in the stage and there is still time to get back if you are slightly off the pace." After the undulating nature of stage one, he said, it was a fairly long uphill battle on the second leg to Sabie "with some lactic in your …
126 million litres of milk consumed “loose” in South Africa every year
126 million litres of milk consumed “loose” in South Africa every year This twentieth World Milk Day on June 1, a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) day, once again encouraged milk and dairy consumption as part of a daily diet. Milk and dairy are important sources of nutrition for many of Africa’s inhabitants yet, in South Africa where more than 1,7 billion litres are produced annually, more than 126 million litres of milk are consumed untreated and unpacked, also known as loose milk, according to BMi Research. “Loose milk cannot be guaranteed safe,” says Stefan Fägerang, MD of Tetra Pak Southern Africa. Milk contains nutritional elements, such as calcium and vitamin D, that help bone and teeth development and strength. It contains a lot of water and is excellent for rehydration, which is why athletes favour it as a post-workout drink. Yet, loose milk, which is poured directly from the milkman’s container into a jar or plastic bag, likely contains harmful bacteria and additives. Just being exposed to light and oxygen either kills some of the nutritional content of milk or fosters growth of pathogens, which are germs that are harmful to humans. “Many people believe that boiling milk sterilises it,” says Fägerang. “But that’s not true. The temperature isn’t high enough to destroy the micro-organisms and bacteria and boiling it for too long destroys the nutrients. That’s why it’s important to use a scientifically-proven process that raises the temperature high enough to kill the pathogens but for a short enough time that the natural product’s nutrients survive intact through the packaging process.” Ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk is heated to between 135 and 140 degrees Celsius for just four seconds before it is immediately cooled. The process takes place in a sealed and commercially-sterile environment. “Our carton packs have six layers to keep the product safe during transportation, when it’s on shelves, and once it’s in …
Feature race remains popular Jock Classic option
The feature three-stage option in the Takealot Jock Classic road race remains the popular choice among cyclists for this year's event, which will take place in Mpumalanga on July 13. Even with shorter options on offer for the Takealot Jock Classic road race in July, the feature event of doing three stages in one day remains the popular choice for most cyclists. This is the view of ASG Events chief executive Erick Oosthuizen after the race organisers announced last month that riders could do one, two or three stages. The full distance for the July 13 race is 155km and will take place in Nelspruit, White River and Sabie in Mpumalanga. There are specific breaks for each stage, which adds to the challenge as cyclists have to go through the process of warming up for the next leg. Oosthuizen said there was plenty of interest in one of South Africa's longest-running races, even though it is still just more than two months away. "The entries are coming in steadily for all three distances, but the main interest is still in the feature three-stage event," he said. "But opening up the options for riders to do shorter distances has been a sound move. "For instance, I had a call this week from a guy in Australia who only wants to do two stages, so I think it caters for more types of riders." The unique challenge of learning how to manage three stages in one day remained a big incentive, added Oosthuizen. "It's a classic race in the Lowveld and the fact that it is one of the oldest events in the country underlines its popularity. "It really is a magical kind of riding experience. Although it's a bit cold in the early morning, the Lowveld winter provides the sort of warmth which allows you to find your rhythm pretty quickly." He reminded cyclists that the benefit of entering two or three stages would be that meals were included, which were so essential to maintaining your strength on the long haul. Many leading cyclists have won the Jock …
Engen Integrated Energy Centre uplifts Bushbuckridge community.
Engen in partnership with the Department of Energy and the Bushbuckridge local municipality officially launched an Integrated Energy Centre (IeC) in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga on 12 April. South Africa’s Department of Energy (DoE) gave a mandate to all major South African oil companies to contribute towards job creation and community development. As part of its Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Plan, the government identified Integrated Energy Centres (IeC) as one of many economically sustainable solutions to address poverty nodal areas. The roll out of the IeC programme is one of the vehicles that the DoE has embarked upon to contribute to rural development and the fight against poverty. Commenting at the launch ceremony, Mr Jeff Radebe, Minister of Energy said: “I sincerely appreciate the funding of approximately R18 million from Engen in setting up this facility. I also want to congratulate Engen in completing their first IeC project and encourage them to do more.” Engen responded to the DoE’s call to build the IeC, as it dovetails with their Black Economic Empowerment ethos - as a company that embraces transformation as a key enabler for socio-economic change. “This Integrated Energy Centre has been donated by Engen for the people of Bushbuckridge and the surrounding areas,” said Engen Managing Director and CEO, Yusa’ Hassan in an address at the opening. “It is our sincere hope that the residents access and benefit from the affordable and safe energy services that the centre provides. Hassan assured the community that the IeC will be operated on solid business principles by a Trust, which includes representatives from the community. “All profits from fuel and convenience sales will be placed into a trust account, run by three elected trustees, who have been approved by the municipality, Engen and the DoE. The trustees will identify relevant community upliftment projects to fund from the proceeds.” Hassan added that it is Engen’s …
Jock Classic offers cyclists several options
The Takealot Jock Classic, one of South Africa’s oldest road races, will offer a number of options when cyclists take the opportunity to stretch their muscles in mid-winter in Mpumalanga. Covering a distance of 155km, this event offers a unique package in which the overall distance is divided into three stages, all taking place on the same day – July 13. This deviates from the normal practice in cycling, where one-day races traditionally cover a distance around the 100km mark. But race organisers ASG Events are making sure that nobody gets left out this year by catering for various choices within the feature event, which takes place in Nelspruit, White River and Sabie. “We have decided this year to offer three options to those who want to compete in one of the country’s classics,” said ASG chief executive Erick Oosthuizen. “So this year you can do all three stages, for which we will naturally have the overall champions, or you can do the last two stages, or just the last stage. We feel this will cater for most riders.” However, there is a built-in incentive if you ride in two or three stages, because these come with meals, he added. The stages will cover 48km, 45km and 62km respectively and there will be starting times for each leg. Oosthuizen also said they would again have a junior men’s category, which was introduced for the first time last year. “We are keeping that because we would very much like to support cycling development and this fits in with our views and objectives.” Coming at a time of the year when the event calendar is not that full he felt it was an ideal opportunity to get in some decent winter training. “Fortunately, the weather is so good in the Lowveld that it is not a problem, while the race offers a unique challenge in incorporating three stages in one day. “Of course, the format of the event does throw up a few challenges, but it’s a great day out on the bike and you can learn a lot about your own …
Engen supports Caring4Girls at Lekete Secondary School
Lekete Secondary School in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga is the first of 30 schools to benefit from Engen’s R2.5 million cash injection to the Imbumba Foundation’s Caring4Girls programme. Engen and Caring4Girls visited the school on April 11th providing female learners with sanitary towel packs to help keep them in school during their monthly cycles. Caring4Girls currently reaches 750,000 girls throughout South Africa and aims to support 1 million girls in 2019 and 2 million by 2020. Engen Managing Director and CEO, Yusa’ Hassan stressed the value of education and how important it is to ensure that all young girls are empowered and have the opportunity to realise their full potential. “We cannot thrive as a society if some of our female learners are left behind, which is why we are very proud to partner with the Imbumba Foundation and contribute to this very meaningful initiative,” commented Hassan. Engen’s Head of Transformation and Stakeholder Engagement, Unathi Magida said it is important for Engen to actively support and take care of the communities in which the company operates. “At Engen we strongly believe that a country which is educated is a country that will prosper. By supporting these young girls, we will ensure that their confidence and dignity is retained and that they never have to miss school because of their monthly cycle. Most importantly, these girls will receive education and training around dealing with puberty, self-care and pregnancy avoidance, aimed at boosting their confidence. Education is a key enabler to transform lives, which is why we are so passionate about this initiative.” Lekete Secondary School was selected to benefit from the programme as the school is in close proximity to the Bushbuckride Integrated Energy Centre (IeC), a partnership between Engen, the Department of Energy and the Bushbuckridge local municipality, which officially launched on the 12th April. More good news The Integrated Energy Centre, …
Nic Von Rupp: XXL Nominee On Surfing The Left At Mavericks
The legendary wave at Mavericks is a notorious beast, where some of the most famous rides in history have been claimed off the Northern Californian coast. Heading to tame the infamous wave, Nic Von Rupp lined up a trip of his dreams and along the way managed to pull of a historical feat that few before him have conquered. Mavericks is a raging A-frame wave with a chunky lip that is challenging and fast, even for the world’s best big wave surfers. Famously a left, the cold-water spot can produce a rare left and it was this challenge that Nic set his sights: “On my way to Mavericks, the only thing I could think of was going left out there.. that wave has so much potential, probably the meanest, biggest paddle approachable slab around. After 3 sessions out there, I quickly saw my dream of slipping into one of these beasts diminishing. So much risk involved.. you gotta be under it, dodging 20ft sets.. seems like all the energy of the right bends into the left and dumps into edge of the ledge. You get pounded, you go to deep dark places, scraping for your life. What about trying to knife a 9.9 into a steep ledge like this. But that’s what makes it special.”- Nic Von Rupp YouTube: https://youtu.be/AQHXXw_prlA CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za. …