Brokkies

Van 1 tot 4 Oktober het die Bridgeton-sportgronde (Zebra-weg) in 'n openlugfees verander. Die Global Network of Evangelists (GNE), 'n bediening van Palau, het saam met plaaslike kerke en VWOW die fees aangebied — deel van 'n sendingweek in Oudtshoorn van 28 September tot 4 Oktober. Toegang was elke dag gratis. From 1 to 4 October, the Bridgeton sports grounds (Zebra Road) turned into an open-air festival. The Global Network of Evangelists (GNE), a ministry of Palau, presented the festival together with local churches and VWOW — part of an Oudtshoorn mission week running from 28 September to 4 October. Entry was free every day.

GNE is in 1998 gestig en bestaan vandag in meer as 100 lande. Hul eie woorde vir die benadering: “One Message. Many Expressions.” In Oudtshoorn het dit beteken musiek, getuienisse, gebed en vermaak vir kinders onder een dak van hoop. GNE was founded in 1998 and today operates in more than 100 countries. Their own words for the approach: “One Message. Many Expressions.” In Oudtshoorn that meant music, testimonies, prayer and entertainment for children, all under one roof of hope.

Op die verhoog: Kubamba, N1 Jozi, Al Johnson, Lux Kent, die Amerikaanse reggae-gospelgroep Christafari, Jimo, Ben Haydn, Nathan, Neville D, Cyprès en The Messenger — saam met BMX-vertonings en 'n kinderprogram. On stage: Kubamba, N1 Jozi, Al Johnson, Lux Kent, American reggae-gospel group Christafari, Jimo, Ben Haydn, Nathan, Neville D, Cyprès and The Messenger — alongside BMX shows and a children's programme.

'n Berading- en 'n “verlore kinders”-tent was elke dag beskikbaar. A counselling tent and a “lost children” tent were available every day.

Van Woensdag 7 Oktober styg petrol met meer as R3 per liter. Vir 'n dorp wat op toerisme, landbou en vervoer leef, bly dit nie by die pomp nie. Minister Gwede Mantashe het die Oktober-aanpassing bevestig: petrol 95 styg met R3.33 en petrol 93 met R3.12 per liter. Diesel styg met R2.84–R3.24 per liter, en paraffien met R3.58. Binnelandse 95-petrol kos nou R30.25 (kus: R29.38) — die eerste keer bo R30. From Wednesday 7 October, petrol rises by more than R3 per litre. For a town that lives on tourism, agriculture and transport, that doesn't stay at the pump. Minister Gwede Mantashe confirmed the October adjustment: petrol 95 rises by R3.33 and petrol 93 by R3.12 per litre. Diesel rises R2.84–R3.24 per litre, and paraffin by R3.58. Inland 95-petrol now costs R30.25 (coast: R29.38) — the first time above R30.

Waarom? Brent-ru-olie het van sowat $88 tot $101 per vat gestyg weens spanning tussen die VSA en Iran en onsekerheid oor olievloei deur die Straat van Hormuz. Die rand het skaars beweeg. Dit is nie 'n nuwe belasting nie — dit is die internasionale prys. Net die slate-heffing styg effens (4,38c per liter). Why? Brent crude rose from around $88 to $101 a barrel due to tension between the US and Iran and uncertainty over oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz. The rand barely moved. This isn't a new tax — it's the international price. Only the slate levy rises slightly (4.38c per litre).

Toerisme: Oudtshoorn is 'n bestemming wat op motorverkeer wentel — die N12 en R62, Kangogrotte, volstruisplase en vakansiegangers. Duurder brandstof maak die rit na die Klein Karoo duurder en kan kort wegbreek-besoeke laat afneem. Tourism: Oudtshoorn is a destination that revolves around road traffic — the N12 and R62, the Cango Caves, ostrich farms and holidaymakers. More expensive fuel makes the trip to the Klein Karoo pricier and could reduce short getaway visits.

Landbou: Volstruis-, lusern- en graanboere gebruik diesel vir trekkers, besproeiing en vervoer. 'n Diesel-styging van meer as R3 verhoog produksiekoste, en dit kom later in die pryse by die winkel uit. Agriculture: Ostrich, lucerne and grain farmers use diesel for tractors, irrigation and transport. A diesel increase of more than R3 raises production costs, which later shows up in shop prices.

Vervoer en kruideniersware: Alles wat Oudtshoorn binnekom, kom per vragmotor — kos, bou-materiaal, voorrade. Hoër vervoerkoste glip in rakpryse in. Taxi-tariewe staan ook onder druk. Transport and groceries: Everything that comes into Oudtshoorn arrives by truck — food, building materials, supplies. Higher transport costs slip into shelf prices. Taxi fares are also under pressure.

Huishoudings: Vir werkende gesinne wat daagliks ry, is R3.33 per liter vinnig 'n paar honderd rand per maand. Dit beteken minder om by plaaslike sake te bestee — juis waar kleinsake dit die moeilikste kry. Households: For working families who drive daily, R3.33 per litre quickly adds up to a few hundred rand a month. That means less to spend at local businesses — right where small businesses feel it hardest.

Wat kan jy doen? Koop plaaslik en spaar ritte: een rit, meer stoppe. Deel 'n rit werk toe met kollegas of bure, of span saam met ander vir 'n saamryklub. Kyk wat naby jou beskikbaar is by die gratis Trots Oudtshoorn-app — soms is dit net om die draai. What can you do? Buy local and save on trips: one trip, more stops. Share a ride to work with colleagues or neighbours, or team up for a carpool. Check what's available near you on the free Trots Oudtshoorn app — sometimes it's just around the corner.

Ek dink dat demokrasie gevaarlik is, nie omdat ek tirannie liefhet nie, maar omdat gewildheid nie as 'n plaasvervanger vir kennis beskou behoort te word nie. I think democracy is dangerous, not because I love tyranny, but because popularity shouldn't be treated as a substitute for knowledge.

My argument is eenvoudig. Demokrasie behandel alle opinies as gelyk, maar nie alle opinies is gelyk nie. 'n Oningeligte kieser het dieselfde mag as die persoon wat die probleem bestudeer het. Dit is die fatale ontwerp van volksregering. 'n Meerderheid kan 'n wet instel, maar 'n meerderheidsstem kan nie 'n vals stelling in 'n wetenskaplike feit verander nie. My argument is simple. Democracy treats all opinions as equal, but not all opinions are equal. An uninformed voter has the same power as the person who has studied the problem. That is the fatal design of popular government. A majority can pass a law, but a majority vote cannot turn a false statement into a scientific fact.

Demokrasie beloon nie selfvertroue nie; dit beloon gewildheid. Bekwame sprekers sonder wysheid het dit agtergekom. Hulle belowe eenvoudige antwoorde op komplekse probleme. Sommige mense is nie in staat om die kompleksiteite van die wêreld te begryp nie, en hulle aanvaar dit eenvoudig. Hulle wil alles tot 'n eenvoudige formule reduseer, en hulle doen dit met behulp van 'n ideologie — 'n ras-ideologie. 'n Ideologie is 'n bepaalde denkwyse wat voorgeskryf het hoe die werklikheid behoort te lyk, eerder as om die werklikheid te beskryf soos dit werklik is. Democracy doesn't reward confidence; it rewards popularity. Capable speakers without wisdom have figured this out. They promise simple answers to complex problems. Some people are unable to grasp the complexities of the world, and they simply accept that. They want to reduce everything to a simple formula, and they do so with the help of an ideology — a race ideology. An ideology is a particular way of thinking that prescribes how reality ought to look, rather than describing reality as it actually is.

As jy siek is, stem jy oor die behandeling, of vra jy 'n dokter? Wie wil jy in beheer van die skip hê — 'n gewilde keuse of 'n opgeleide, kundige kaptein? If you're sick, do you vote on the treatment, or do you ask a doctor? Who do you want in charge of the ship — a popular choice or a trained, competent captain?

Die dilemma · Kiesformule. Daar sal altyd plek wees vir klein partytjies op 'n raad. Stemverhoudings bepaal nie eenvoudig hoeveel setels elke party kry nie; die kiesformule is daarop ingestel om ook kleiner partye op die raad te verteenwoordig. Suid-Afrika se kiesformule ken nie bloot setels volgens elke party se werklike aandeel van die stemme toe nie. Nadat 'n party sy “kwota” bereik het, word die oorblywende setels volgens die formule aan ander, dikwels kleiner, partye toegeken, sodat selfs 'n party met relatief min stemme verteenwoordiging op die raad kan verkry. The dilemma · Electoral formula. There will always be room for small parties on a council. Vote ratios don't simply determine how many seats each party gets; the electoral formula is designed to also represent smaller parties on the council. South Africa's electoral formula doesn't just allocate seats according to each party's actual share of the vote. After a party reaches its “quota,” the remaining seats are allocated by formula to other, often smaller, parties, so that even a party with relatively few votes can gain representation on the council.

Die grondwet beskryf hierdie verpligte gemeenskapsregtelike verteenwoordiging as “algemene proporsionaliteit”. Dit verseker dat alle gemeenskappe, deur hul leierskap, op munisipale rade kan dien. Die minimum “threshold”-stemme wat 'n politieke party in totaal moet kry, kan uitgewerk word, en so 'n setel in 'n munisipale raad verseker. Dus sal daar in ons politieke bedeling altyd 'n stert wees wat die hond probeer rondswaai. The constitution describes this mandatory communal representation as “general proportionality.” It ensures that all communities, through their leadership, can serve on municipal councils. The minimum “threshold” of votes a political party needs in total can be worked out, securing a seat on a municipal council. So in our political dispensation there will always be a tail trying to wag the dog.

My voorstel is dat die grootste politieke partye, soos die DA en die ANC, wat tradisioneel die meeste stemme kry, hul trots insluk, saam in 'n koalisie gaan en ons dorpe regeer vir volgehoue politieke stabiliteit. Want op die einde van die dag gaan dit oor die beste belange van die mense van die dorp. My proposal is that the largest political parties, such as the DA and the ANC, which traditionally get the most votes, swallow their pride, form a coalition together and govern our towns for sustained political stability. Because at the end of the day it's about the best interests of the people of the town.

Moenie slaap daar buite nie — maak oop julle oë. Don't sleep out there — open your eyes.

Spotlig Skare — “Skep. Speel. Inspireer.” — bring Oudtshoorn se sangers, dansers, musikante en uitvoerders op een verhoog tydens die Spotlig Skare Showcase 2026. Spotlig Skare — “Create. Play. Inspire.” — brings Oudtshoorn's singers, dancers, musicians and performers onto one stage during the Spotlig Skare Showcase 2026.

Die vertoning vind plaas op Vrydag 18 en Saterdag 19 Desember 2026 by Grace Church International. Kaartjies kos R50 en is op die Trots Oudtshoorn-app geadverteer deur Dawid Piedt. The showcase takes place on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 December 2026 at Grace Church International. Tickets cost R50 and are advertised on the Trots Oudtshoorn app by Dawid Piedt.

Dit is 'n kans om plaaslike talent van naby te sien en te ondersteun — net betyds vir die Desember-vakansie. It's a chance to see and support local talent up close — just in time for the December holidays.