Helping You Transform, Inside and Out at Potch Diet Clinic Potch Diet Clinic & Beauty Salon , founded by Erika Du Toit in 2008 , has dedicated over 15 years to serving the Potchefstroom community. The mission is simple: empower people through health, beauty, and lifestyle transformation . At the core of this clinic is a profound understanding that true beauty begins with wellness . Erika and her dedicated team take a hands-on, personal approach to support clients in achieving their desired weight and appearance. This is not about fads or quick fixes. It’s about sustainable lifestyle changes, innovative treatments, and supportive guidance . A Lifestyle-Driven Approach to Weight Loss At Potch Diet Clinic, weight loss needs to be realistic and manageable . Their philosophy emphasizes: Free one-on-one consultations Tailored meal plans that foster long-term goals Effective slimming treatments for targeted fat reduction Motivational support to ensure you stay on track Key slimming & body sculpting treatments include: Lipo Laser Fat Reduction EMSculpt Fat Reduction / Cellulite Reduction HIFU 2-in-1 Liposonix RF Vacuum Cavitation Sauna Dome Far Infrared Blanket Lymphatic Drainage Slimming Programs with Supplements & Meal Plans These effective treatments make it easier to achieve and maintain your goals. The team focuses on providing methods that truly work. Beauty, Rejuvenation, and Relaxation In today's fast-paced world, taking a moment to breathe is essential. Whether you want to maintain your radiance or need a break from a hectic schedule, Potch Diet Clinic offers a wide variety of pampering beauty services . Their treatments are designed to revive, relax, and restore . Skin & Beauty Treatments Facials (all types) IPL RF Laser Treatments YAG Black Diamond Laser Plasma Pen Needling Skin Tag Removal Dermaplanning Grooming & Spa Services Waxing & Tinting Manicures / Pedicures Nail Art and Crystal Claws Massages (various types) Sunbed Sessions In every treatment, clients receive a personalized experience . The clinic recognizes that time is valuable. Whether you visit during a lunch break or spend a full spa day, you will leave feeling refreshed, confident, and cared for . Trading Hours Monday to Friday: 07:30 – 19:00 Saturday: 08:00 – 17:00 Sunday & Public Holidays: Closed A Clinic That Cares What distinguishes Potch Diet Clinic is the genuine care and passion exhibited by its founder, Erika Du Toit. Her mission goes beyond helping people achieve visible results. She aims to help clients feel better, healthier, and more confident in their skin. Offering exceptional service at reasonable prices , Potch Diet Clinic & Beauty Salon stands out as a trusted wellness destination. It combines science-backed treatments with a warm, human touch . Tips for a Successful Transformation To enhance your journey at Potch Diet Clinic, consider these tips: Set Realistic Goals : Focus on small, achievable targets. Stay Committed : Consistency is key to seeing results. Utilize Support : Engage with the team for guidance and motivation. Incorporate Lifestyle Changes : Adopt healthy habits to complement your treatments. Follow Your Meal Plan : Stick to the tailored plan that suits your needs. Ready to Begin Your Transformation? Don’t wait to start feeling your best. Reach out today! 📞 Contact: 082-781-8272 | +27 (0) 64 203 9059 📍 Location: 19 Holtzhausen Street 2531 Potchefstroom 📌 Diet Clinic Reg No: 2008/006006/23 📌 Beauty Clinic Reg No: 2020/221623/07 #TheGoToGuy #Businesstalk #potchefstroom #potchgazette #stroomstories #dietclinic #beautysalon Make your health and wellness a priority today at Potch Diet Clinic!

Dis amper weer daai tyd van die jaar wanneer jy wettig pannekoek vir ontbyt, middagete én aandete mag eet sonder enige oordeel. En dié keer is dit vir ‘n goeie doel: Oase van Hoop AGS in Baillie Park, Potchefstroom, hou ‘n musiekspan-fondsinsameling op 2 Augustus 2025. Die naam van die spel? Pannekoeke, baie pannekoeke. Wie’s die baas van die beslag? Die kerk se musiekspan wil hul klanktoerusting en verhoog opgradeer (want jy weet mos, daai microfoon wat altyd sukkel om te werk is nou regtig op sy laaste bene). So, hulle gaan pannekoek bak, en dis nie sommer net twee of drie nie. Ons praat van tot 50 pannekoeke op ‘n slag. Dis ernstig. Jy kan kies tussen: 3 pannekoeke vir R20 6 vir R40 9 vir R60 12 vir R80 15 vir R100 18 vir R120 24 vir R160 Of sommer ‘n hele 50 vir R330 Wanneer en Waar? Die pannekoek-proses begin Saterdag 2 Augustus 2025 vanaf 09:00 tot 13:30 by: 18 Wynne Straat, Baillie Park, Potchefstroom Jy kan jou bestelling kom afhaal by die kerk, óf, as jy bederf wil wees, hulle bring dit vir jou. Net R30 vir aflewering binne Potch. Dis goedkoper as Uber Eats én jy kry nie ‘n soggy burger nie. Hoe bestel mens nou weer? Maklik. Klik op die volgende skakel en vul die Google Form in: 👉 Bestel jou pannekoeke hier Maar moenie slaap nie, bestellings moet in wees voor Vrydag 1 Augustus om 17:00. Anders gaan jy net daar staan, sonder pannekoek en met ‘n honger hart. Kom eet pannekoek, ondersteun ‘n kerk wat probeer beter klank bring vir hul mense, en kry sommer jou suiker-fix in een slag. Dis plaaslik, dis lekker, en dis vir ‘n doel groter as jou maag. Potch, julle weet mos, ons support mekaar. Sien jou (en jou pannekoek) daar.

The last few weeks before your wedding should be all about calm confidence, not surprise beauty mishaps! As a Potchefstroom bride, you want to glow on your big day without any last-minute drama. Image : The Go-To Guy Creations To help, we’ve rounded up common salon services and when to do them (or not  do them!) in the final month. Follow this friendly wedding-planner advice to stay radiant from head to toe. Hair Colour and Styling Your hair is one of the first things people notice, so don’t gamble on a new shade just weeks before saying “I do.” Experts warn that any major colour change (like going from blonde to brunette or vice versa) should be done months  in advance . In fact, stylists recommend scheduling significant coloring at least 3-4 months before your wedding . This way, you have time to adjust the shade if it isn’t perfect. Instead, stick to gentle root touch-ups or glosses in the final weeks. Avoid DIY dyes or trendy colours now, if something goes wrong, there’s no time to fix it. Timeline:  Plan major colour work 2-3+ months out . Then use small touch-ups (or a demi-permanent gloss) about 1–2 weeks before the wedding. Why not last-minute:  New colour can turn out unexpectedly, cause damage, or leave a fringe of regrowth on your wedding day. Give yourself leeway to fix it if needed . Tip:  Show your photos to your Potchefstroom stylist well ahead, and consider a trial run of any new hue several months before the ceremony . Haircuts and Trims You want your hair long and healthy on your wedding day, so resist the urge to chop it all off at the eleventh hour! Most hairstylists advise getting your final cut about 1–2 weeks before the wedding . At that point, your ends will be fresh but the cut will have had a little time to “settle in,” making styling easier. If you’re simply maintaining length, a light dusting of split ends is perfect. Last Trim Timing:  Schedule your final haircut/trimming roughly 10 days – 2 weeks before your wedding . Avoid:  Any big chop  right before the day. If you want to donate or go very short, do it at least a month out (ideally after hair trials), so you’re not panicking about length. Why:  Hair takes a few days to look its best after washing and styling. A very fresh cut done just days before can appear too “precise” and not quite natural. Giving it approximately 10 days means it’s still healthy but not razor-sharp . Eyebrow Grooming (Waxing & Threading) Your brows frame your face, so you’ll want them on point – but not red and irritated! Waxing or threading can cause mild swelling and pinkness for a couple of days. To play it safe, get any brow wax or thread appointment about 5–7 days before your wedding . This cushion of time allows redness to fade and hair to regrow just a tiny bit for softness. Timing:  Plan eyebrow waxing/threading roughly one week ahead . This gives skin a chance to calm (even 3–4 days might work, but a full week is ideal). Why not too late:  Hot wax or threading can leave your brows red and slightly swollen. By the wedding day, you want that irritation gone . Lamination/Tinting:  If you’ve never had brow lamination or tinting, don’t start these in the last month. Lamination (which perm-lifts the hairs) usually needs a 2-step process 2–3 months out. A brow tint (dye) can be done a few days before the wedding, but only if you’ve tried that shade before. Image : The Go-To Guy Creations Microblading (Semi-Permanent Brows) Microblading gives long-lasting, perfect brows – but it takes weeks to settle. In fact, experts say to book microblading at least 3–6 months before your wedding . The pigment and tiny “hair strokes” need time to heal and sometimes a touch-up session afterward. Timing:  Do your first microblading session at least 6 months prior to ensure healing , then a quick follow-up appointment approximately 1–2 months before the wedding. Why not last-minute:  If done too close to the wedding, brows will still be flaky or uneven. You could be left with visible scabs or a color that hasn’t settled. There’s also no time for corrections. If you haven’t done it:  Skip it now. Instead, simply shape your brows with waxing/threading and fill in any gaps with makeup. On your wedding day, a pro makeup artist will give you beautiful brows the usual way. Facials & Skincare Treatments While glowing skin is a must, be cautious with intense facial treatments late in the game. Deep-cleansing or exfoliating facials (like microdermabrasion or chemical exfoliation) can leave your skin red and sensitive . Schedule these at least 1–2 weeks before the wedding. In the final week, stick to gentle, hydrating facials or masks that calm rather than stimulate. Avoid:  Any new or aggressive facial in the last month, especially if it’s not in your regular routine . That includes switching to a new serum, starting a harsh acid peel at home, or trying a funky spa treatment. Your skin could react unpredictably. Safe choices:  At most, do a soothing deep-clean or light peel one week out. Instead of stripping facials, opt for moisturizing treatments that plump your skin (think hyaluronic acid facials or gentle oxygen-infusion facials). Sheet masks and plenty of water will boost your glow in these final days. Routine:  Keep up your normal skincare (cleanser, moisturizer, SPF) right up to the wedding . Avoid experimenting so your complexion stays stable. Image : The Go-To Guy Creations Chemical Peels and Exfoliation Skip the chemical peels in your final month entirely. Dermatologists universally recommend getting any facial peel at least 4–6 weeks (or even 3 months) before your wedding . Even a mild peel can leave days of flaking, redness or sensitivity as skin regenerates. Why avoid:  Peels thin the top skin layer, which then peels away. If you peel too late, you might still have flakes or pink patches on your big day. Deeper peels especially can take a month to fully heal . If you already have one scheduled:  Make sure it’s no closer than 6–8 weeks before your wedding. This gives your skin ample time to bounce back. Alternatives in last month:  Gentle at-home scrubs or an antioxidant-rich, calming mask can help keep skin smooth and bright without peeling it off. Spray Tans and Sunless Tanning A beautiful golden glow is tempting, especially with our sunny Potchefstroom weather, but timing is key. Plan at least one trial spray tan a few weeks before to pick your perfect shade. Then schedule your final spray tan about 2–3 days before the wedding . This gives the colour time to fully develop and appear even. Avoid DIY or tanning beds in the last week, as they can streak or turn orange unexpectedly. Why timing matters:  A rushed, last-minute tan often looks uneven or too dark . Experts warn “avoid last-minute tanning!” or you risk patches that can ruin photos . Prep:  Shave/wax at least a day before tanning (not immediately before) and gently exfoliate dry areas. Then rock your safe, custom glow with confidence! Image : The Go-To Guy Creations Final Month Rule: No New Treatments In your last month of prep, stick with what you know. Avoid any brand-new  beauty treatments or products - that means no wild hair colour trial, no new skin care serum, no experimental spa gadget. Aesthetics experts advise keeping the final weeks “clear” of new procedures . This prevents any surprises (a rash, breakouts, or uneven results) that you wouldn’t have time to fix. Focus instead on rest, hydration, and maintaining the routines that have worked for you. In Conclusion Dear Potchefstroom bride, the month before your wedding should be about maintaining  your beauty, not experimenting. By following these timelines, you’ll minimize stress and look naturally radiant when you say “I do.” Remember, every bride is unique – trust the local Potchefstroom stylists and estheticians you love, and communicate clearly what you want. With this careful planning, you’ll walk down the aisle relaxed, confident, and truly glowing. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding – we can’t wait to see you shine on your special day!

Staying prepared can make all the difference when every second counts. The directory below gathers all key telephone numbers for police, fire, medical, municipal services and specialist responders in the Klerksdorp–Orkney–Stilfontein–Hartbeesfontein area (collectively the City of Matlosana). Keep it handy at home, at work and on your phone so that help is never more than one call away. Image: The Go-To Guy Creations South African Police Service (SAPS) Station Number Klerksdorp 018 464 5079 / 018 464 5080 / 082 856 0989 Orkney 018 473 8336 / 018 473 1665 / 063 217 9475 Stilfontein 018 484 7616 / 018 484 7600 / 018 484 7715 Fire & Rescue Station Number Klerksdorp 018 462 2222 / 018 464 8020 / 018 464 8060 Orkney 018 487 8233 / 018 487 8232 Private Security Control Rooms Company Office 24-Hr / Control-Room ActionForce 018 462 5689 082 451 7687 ADT 018 462 4756 – C8 Security 018 011 2456 080 001 4904 CPI Security 018 468 3792 064 779 2990 CSS Security 018 468 8506 076 949 5066 Fidelity 018 462 4732 – Pro-Watch 018 004 0035 – Z24 018 468 6022 – Hospitals Facility Number Life Anncron Hospital 018 468 0000 Klerksdorp–Tshepong Complex (Klerksdorp) 018 406 4600 Sunningdale Hospital 018 462 7536 Tshepong Hospital (Jouberton) 018 406 3111 Wilmed Park Hospital 018 468 7700 Ambulance & Patient Transport Service Number North West Provincial EMS 018 200 8520 Co-Prime EMS 082 853 4489 EMR24 061 600 3344 ER24 076 290 4864 FMR 072 364 7475 IMR 018 468 5117 Rescue Tech 018 110 0820 Quickcare 24/7 018 110 0812 State Mortuary (Klerksdorp) 018 465 2183 Matlosana Local Municipality Departments (Weekdays during office hours unless stated otherwise) Department Number Department Number General Switchboard 018 487 8000 Indigents 018 487 8608 Billing 018 487 8402 Land 018 487 8333 Cemeteries 018 487 8789 Licensing (Traffic) 018 487 8132 Civil Engineering 018 487 8364 License Offices (Klerksdorp) 018 487 8840 Community Services 018 487 8763 License Offices (Orkney) 018 487 8219 Customer Care 018 487 8088 License Offices (Stilfontein) 018 487 8273 Debt Collection 018 487 8615 License Offices (Hartbeesfontein) 018 431 0357 Electrical Faults 018 487 8701 / 018 487 8705 Library & Sports 018 487 8019 Electronic Banking 018 487 8407 Market 018 487 8800 Enquiries 018 487 8581 / 018 487 8511 Parks 018 487 8793 HR 018 487 8599 Pay Office 018 487 8488 Rates 018 487 8408 Payment Collection 018 487 8423 Pre-paid Electricity 018 487 8484 / 018 487 8403 Public Safety 018 487 8101 Roads 018 487 8369 Sewerage 018 487 8611 Stores 018 487 8944 Water 018 487 8383 / 018 487 8367 WhatsApp fault lines ⚡ Electricity: 072 646 7698 💧 Water: 077 602 0181 Community & Animal Services Service Area Number Animal Shelter Orkney / Klerksdorp 074 306 9811 Animal Shelter Stilfontein / Matlosana 072 814 5927 Specialist Wildlife Handlers Snake Removal Haiden Bedser – 084 995 3084 Naydine Beukes – 079 533 0435 Annette (WhatsApp) – 084 594 9927 Annette (Calls) – 066 202 7979 Renaldo J. van Vuuren – 071 896 2419 Willem Koekemoer – 061 178 2769 Martin Sadler – 073 736 4226 Johan Steyn – 082 577 2177 Bee & Wasp Relocation Ian Blair Hook – 083 662 2204 Celia van Eeden – 082 327 1543 Chris van Eeden – 082 808 4464 Arno van Rensburg – 078 301 3433 Johan Wehl – 083 601 9180 Mohammed – 078 644 0086 Ta'ariq – 076 055 4786 National 24-Hour Helplines Emergency Type Number Ambulance & Fire (Gov EMS) 10177 SAPS Flying Squad 10111 SAPS Crime Stop 086 001 0111 Childline SA 080 005 5555 Women Abuse Helpline 080 015 0150 Narcotics Anonymous SA 086 100 6962 Closing Remarks Emergencies rarely come with warning. By saving these numbers and sharing them with family, friends and colleagues, you strengthen the safety net for everyone in the Klerksdorp and wider Matlosana community. Keep a printed copy visible at home and in the workplace, review it periodically, and remember to dial responsibly, providing clear information when calling will help responders reach you faster. Stay prepared and stay safe. #TheGoToGuy #Klerksdorp #klerksdorpgazette #stroomstories #CityofMatlosana

At a recent Springboks Test match, swathes of empty blue seats were visible at Loftus Versfeld Stadium despite the national team’s massive popularity, a visual sign of the brewing discontent over ticket prices. Empty Seats Amid World Champions’ Homecoming South African rugby fans are used to packed stadiums whenever the world champion Springboks play at home. But during the mid-2025 test series against Italy, thousands of seats went unfilled. In the first Test at Loftus Versfeld (Pretoria) on 5 July 2025, television cameras caught large stretches of empty seating, an astonishing sight given the Springboks’ iconic status. Image: The Go-To Guy Creations Many supporters point to a clear culprit: ticket prices starting around R900  even for the cheapest seats. Such prices, they argue, have put attending live matches out of reach for ordinary South Africans. The public backlash over “exorbitant” ticket costs has been swift, sparking a nationwide debate about affordability, accessibility, and the financial realities of rugby in South Africa. This discontent is a sharp contrast to just last season. In 2024, fresh off a World Cup triumph, all six Springbok home Tests sold out in euphoric fashion. Big-name opponents (New Zealand and Ireland) and the post-World Cup buzz saw fans flock to stadiums despite some grumbling over prices (some Cape Town attendees reportedly paid up to R4,000  for All Blacks tickets) . But 2025’s less glamorous incoming series (against the Barbarians, Italy, and Georgia) has tested the limits of fan loyalty. SA Rugby set a nominal low-end price tier of R250–R350  for these mid-year matches, yet only a few thousand such budget tickets were offered and they sold out instantly . The vast majority of seats were priced between roughly R850 and R3,000   each . In practical terms, around R900  has become the new “cheap” ticket, a price many fans argue is simply unaffordable in the South African context. The effect has been visible in the stands. Unlike 2024’s full houses, the 2025 Tests have seen noticeable gaps. Loftus Versfeld was only about 80% filled (approximately 40,000 fans in a 51,000-seat venue) for the first Italy Test, highly unusual for a Springbok home game. A week earlier, a Springboks vs Barbarians exhibition in Cape Town also struggled with attendance (weather was a factor, but large sections behind the posts remained unsold). Normally Springbok Tests are near-instant sellouts, so this dip in turnout has raised alarms. Loyal supporters, it seems, are thinking twice when faced with triple-digit rand prices and lower-profile opposition. Steep Climb in Ticket Prices Since 2019 The rise in Springbok ticket prices over the past few years has been dramatic. Not long ago, seeing the Boks play didn’t require breaking the bank. In 2019, a fan could attend a Rugby Championship test match for as little as R100  (with top-end seats around R950). By 2022, after two years of COVID-emptied stadiums, entry-level prices had crept up to about R150 , and premium tickets for a marquee All Blacks clash were capped around R1,500. Fast forward to 2024–2025, and prices have surged several-fold. Official tickets now typically start in the mid-hundreds of rand  for any Test, with the best seats often running R3,000 or more . The table below highlights this escalation: Year (Event) Example Fixture Approx. Price Range (ZAR) 2019  (pre-WC) vs. Australia (Rugby Champ.) R100  (cheapest) – R950 (top) 2022  (post-COVID) vs. New Zealand (Mbombela) R150  – R1,500 (top) 2024  (world champs at home) vs. New Zealand (Cape Town) ~ R500  – R3,000 (official range; some up to R4,000) 2025  (Incoming Series) vs. Italy (Loftus Versfeld) R250–R350  (limited seats) – R3,000 (most tickets) Table: Springbok home Test ticket price ranges, 2019–2025. Prices have more than tripled at the top end, and even “cheap” seats have risen sharply.  Sources:  SA Rugby ticket announcements and media reports. This steep increase has outpaced general inflation and wages, as discussed later, and it marks a stark turnaround for a rugby culture that once prided itself on filling stadiums with passionate fans from all walks of life. R900  is now effectively the floor to see the Springboks live, a threshold at odds with what many locals can afford. The result, as seen this season, is patches of empty seats where there used to be standing-room-only crowds. How Do Springbok Ticket Prices Compare Globally? SA Rugby’s leadership has defended the pricing by claiming that Springbok Tests “remain among the most affordable top-tier sporting events” worldwide. It is true that major rugby matches overseas can carry hefty price tags. For instance, top tickets for a Six Nations game at London’s Twickenham Stadium can cost anywhere from around £91 up to £203  (roughly R2,000 to R4,800 ), seemingly above South Africa’s rates on paper. Likewise, in France, standard Test match tickets range from roughly €30 to €150  (about R600–R3,000) for regular games, and can climb higher for marquee fixtures basket-mag.com . However, direct price comparisons without context can mislead. Average incomes in Europe are many times higher than in South Africa, and many fans there obtain tickets through club memberships or lotteries at face value. In other words, a £100 (±R2,400) ticket in England, while expensive, represents a much smaller fraction of the typical UK monthly paycheck than a R1,000 ticket does for a South African earner. A more illuminating measure is purchasing power parity (PPP) , essentially adjusting prices by local cost of living. Using a “Big Mac Index” style PPP analysis, one report compared top-end ticket prices for equivalent big games across countries. It found that the most expensive seat for a Springboks vs All Blacks match in Auckland, New Zealand would come out to around R968  in local purchasing-power terms iol.co.za . That is significantly lower  than the roughly R3,000  top price charged for Springbok home tests. In effect, South African fans are being asked to pay about three times more  than New Zealanders for a similar marquee game after accounting for local earning power . The same analysis showed Springbok Tests in London  and Cardiff  this year having top tickets equivalent to roughly R1,469  and R1,017  respectively, still far cheaper in real terms than South Africa’s high-end prices, even though those countries are wealthier. In short, Springbok tickets are now among the costliest in the world when adjusted for what people earn locally. It’s worth noting that fan access models  differ internationally. In rugby nations like England and France, a significant portion of tickets for big matches are distributed to local rugby clubs, long-time members, or via lotteries at face value, which can soften the blow of high official prices. Some unions also offer concessions, for example, the Welsh Rugby Union provides 50% discounts for under-18s at many games autumn-internationals.co.uk . New Zealand, with smaller stadiums, often sells out tests via fan clubs and season packages, and All Blacks tickets, while not cheap, are generally seen as good value relative to Kiwi incomes. By contrast, South Africa’s system is a more straightforward public sale, and the combination of limited cheaper seats and no local membership discounts has meant regular fans face a stark choice: pay the going rate or miss out. The Economic Reality for South African Fans To understand why a R900  ticket causes such angst, one must consider South Africa’s economic context. While top earners in the country do very well, the average worker’s wage  is relatively modest. As of mid-2024, average monthly earnings  were about R27,500  (≈$1,500) before tax, and the average household brings in around R205,000 per year  (≈R17,000 per month) news24.com . These averages, however, mask deep inequality, a small wealthy minority skews the mean upward. In reality, most  South Africans earn far less. The median income for black households (the largest demographic group) is under R82,000 per year  (≈R6,800 per month), and many workers in poorer provinces have a median wage  of only about R4,000–R5,000  monthly. In this light, a mid-range Springbok ticket around R900  represents roughly a week’s wages for someone at the median income level . Taking a family to a match compounds the cost: for a family of four, even sitting in one of the cheaper sections (around R500 per seat), the outing could easily cost R3,000  when adding fuel, food, and drinks iol.co.za . Such an amount is out of reach for a huge portion of the population, especially amid tough economic times. South Africa’s unemployment rate  remains extremely high (around 33%  officially, and over 40%  by expanded measures that include discouraged jobseekers) tradingeconomics.com . Those who do have jobs have been squeezed by rising living costs; inflation spiked above 7%  in 2022  and, while it has since eased to about 4–5%  in 2023–2024 macrotrends.net , consumers still feel the pinch of past price hikes in fuel, food, and electricity. Stagnant wages and a string of interest rate increases have further crimped disposable income for middle-class households. In short, the economic backdrop means that for many South Africans, a rugby ticket has shifted from an accessible treat to a serious luxury purchase . From 1995 to Now: Rugby’s Changing Accessibility The debate over ticket pricing carries significant historical weight. Rugby in South Africa isn’t just any sport, it’s tied deeply to national identity and unity, especially since the iconic 1995 Rugby World Cup  victory. In the early post-apartheid era, rugby administrators and icons like Nelson Mandela sought to transform the Springboks from a symbol of the old white establishment into a team that “united the nation”  across racial and class lines. Part of that democratization of the game meant bringing new, diverse crowds into stadiums. For many years after 1995, a day at the rugby was reasonably affordable , helping to fill big venues and create a fervent atmosphere that represented all South Africans. Ticket prices were kept low enough that working-class fans and families could attend, and initiatives through schools and clubs often provided access to those who couldn’t pay. The sight of packed grandstands with supporters of all colors  singing Shosholoza in unison became a point of pride. That is why recent scenes of empty seats and the sentiment that rugby is becoming an “elitist” entertainment , strike a nerve. “Remember when a Springbok ticket was R100? Those days are gone,” lamented one longtime supporter on an online forum. Many fear that the sport could regress to only being accessible to wealthy, predominantly white fans, undoing some of the post-1995 progress. Rugby, after all, has historically been a unifying force across classes and communities  in South Africa. The Springboks’ slogan in the professional era, “Stronger Together”, speaks to that ideal of inclusivity. Critics argue that if young kids in townships or average working families are priced out of seeing their heroes in person, the game risks losing a generation of supporters. The post-apartheid rugby boom was built on expanding the fan base; today’s administrators are being reminded that accessibility was, and is, key to rugby’s place in South African society . Why Hike the Prices? Inside SA Rugby’s Finances If expensive tickets are causing such backlash, why has SA Rugby (the South African Rugby Union, SARU) set them so high? The answer lies in the union’s financial structure and recent changes in its revenue model. Unlike many national sports teams, the Springboks receive no direct government funding  and must generate their own income to fund everything from the elite team to development programs. “We generate our own funding. We don’t receive any funding from elsewhere,” explains Rian Oberholzer, SA Rugby’s CEO, underscoring that they rely on three main revenue streams: corporate sponsorships, broadcast rights, and ticket sales/match-day events . Every rand the Springboks earn has to cover not only the costs of the world champion team (player travel, salaries and win bonuses, stadium rentals, logistics) but also grassroots rugby and the operations of the 14 provincial unions across the country. Ticket sales have become more crucial than ever  in recent years due to a restructuring of how Test matches are run. Historically, Springbok home Tests were hosted by provincial unions, which paid SARU a fixed fee for the right to stage the game. The host union then set local ticket prices and kept the gate proceeds. Under that old model, revenue from Test match tickets accounted for only about 20% of SA Rugby’s “Springbok brand” income , a relatively small slice compared to rugby nations like England or Ireland, where sold-out home Tests can contribute nearly half of the union’s income. But around 2022, SA Rugby centralized its control of Springbok Tests . The national union now directly manages ticketing and match operations and then shares the proceeds with all provincial unions (not just the host venue). “It’s about controlling your own product,” Oberholzer notes. “The Springbok is our biggest income generator… We had to adjust our models to fund our programs and our unions. Previously, most unions received no income from Tests… Our new model ensures that every union in South Africa benefits  from Springbok matches.” This shift means Springbok ticket revenue has become a lifeline  for the entire domestic rugby ecosystem. Cash-strapped provincial unions, many of which face financial trouble, now rely on a share of big Test match gates to stay afloat. In this “pressure cooker” environment, SARU feels it must  charge premium prices to sustain the sport. Every high-priced sellout pumps money into development initiatives and keeps the professional teams running. Indeed, SA Rugby officials point out that after back-to-back World Cup titles, expectations (and expenses) are sky-high, from costly training camps to player insurance and bonuses for a championship squad. “People want a winning team… It’s tough to meet the budget. When the money comes in one door it goes out the next,” SARU President Mark Alexander told a TV interviewer, implying that the price of success is literally paid in rands. In the union’s view, charging what the market will bear  for tickets is necessary to bankroll a world-beating team and a broad rugby pipeline in a country with a weak currency and limited other funding. Broadcast rights are the other pillar of SARU’s finances, but they come with their own trade-offs. The bulk of South Africa’s rugby broadcast deal is with the pay-TV network SuperSport (DStv) , reportedly worth billions of rand over multiple years. That money is indispensable, yet it means most Springbok games are behind a decoder paywall. The free-to-air public broadcaster SABC has often been left out due to rights issues and its own financial woes. For example, the first Springbok games of 2025 were not shown on free television at all , leaving millions who can’t afford DStv unable to watch their team. Only after public outcry and in recognition of the symbolic 30th anniversary of the 1995 World Cup, did SARU strike a one-off deal to simulcast the second Italy Test on SABC2 in mid-July. This dynamic underscores SA Rugby’s balancing act: the SuperSport contract is vital for funding, but it also limits access and puts more pressure on in-person attendance  as the primary way for fans to experience games. With no subsidy from government or elsewhere , SARU has been reluctant to slash ticket prices, fearing it would undermine one of its main revenue streams when they need it most. Image: The Go-To Guy Creations Fan Backlash: Rugby for the People, or Only for the Rich? The reaction from the South African public has been loud and passionate. Many supporters feel priced out  of a sport that’s supposed to unite the nation. In recent months, social media have been abuzz with complaints from ordinary fans venting that they simply cannot justify spending thousands of rand to attend a single match. One viral TikTok video, filmed at Loftus Versfeld during the Italy game, panned across rows of empty seats with the blunt caption: “So many empty seats at Loftus due to high ticket prices by money-hungry SARU” thesouthafrican.com . The clip struck a chord, racking up views and comments from frustrated devotees. It encapsulated a common sentiment: the Springboks belong to the people, not just well-heeled corporates or tourists . As one fan replied, “Our team is world champion because of support from the whole country. Now we’re shut out unless we’re rich.” Even SARU’s president Mark Alexander has acknowledged the concern, conceding that most South African households have very limited disposable income and that “the Springboks are now regarded as a team of the people ”. That very status, a national team carried by broad public passion, is what makes loyal fans feel angry or even betrayed when high prices exclude them. If rugby is a religion in South Africa, many lifelong believers are suddenly finding the tickets to the service too expensive. Traditional media and commentators have also weighed in. Sports columnists warn that empty stands and alienated fans could have long-term consequences  for the sport. Beyond the optics, an eroding fan base could mean less talent coming through (as fewer youngsters fall in love with the game) and lower merchandise and sponsorship appeal over time. Players themselves thrive on the energy of a packed crowd, several Springbok veterans have said there’s nothing like the spine-tingling roar of a full house singing the anthem, and that empty seats can dampen the atmosphere  and even chip away at home-field advantage. Fans have not just complained; they are also calling for solutions. Many are imploring SA Rugby to reconsider its pricing strategy , suggesting that the current approach is penny-wise but pound-foolish if it leads to half-empty stadiums. The sight of unoccupied bleachers is not just embarrassing for a world champion team, it fundamentally clashes with the joyful, inclusive spirit that has long characterized Springbok rugby. Supporters point to other sports as evidence that affordability drives engagement. Recently, South Africa’s national soccer team, Bafana Bafana , drew a 50,000-strong sellout crowd to a crucial African Cup of Nations qualifier in the same Cape Town stadium where the Springboks struggled to fill seats iol.co.za . The key difference? Tickets for that Bafana match were priced at just R60  for adults. That family-friendly pricing allowed people from all walks of life to attend, and the result was a vibrant full house. Of course, Springbok rugby is a different product . with higher costs and traditionally higher demand and one can’t directly compare a game against, say, South Sudan in soccer to a test against the All Blacks iol.co.za . But the lesson  from soccer, fans argue, is clear: make it affordable, and the crowds will come . Rugby’s proudest moments in South Africa have been when it cut across social divides; the current trajectory, many fear, is turning it into a gated experience. Another sore point is broadcast access . Those who can’t afford to be in the stadium at least want to follow the Boks on free TV. The limited availability of Springbok games on SABC has added to fans’ frustration. When the first Italy Test aired exclusively on pay-TV (SuperSport), millions of South Africans without a DStv subscription had no way to watch their beloved team live. Only after public pressure and the symbolic significance of the occasion, did SARU arrange for the second Italy match to be shown on free-to-air SABC2. Many have floated creative ideas, from student discounts, to family bundle deals, to having sponsors underwrite blocks of tickets for schoolkids, anything  to fill seats and give ordinary people a chance to share in the Springbok experience. The clear message is that rugby must not become an elitist pursuit in a country where it has historically been a unifying force. Possible Solutions: Finding a Balance SA Rugby now faces a tricky task: maintaining financial sustainability while keeping stadiums full and fans happy . Is there a sweet spot that ensures the books are balanced but the Bok anthem still echoes around packed stands? Stakeholders and observers have put forward several recommendations to tackle the issue: Revise Ticket Tiers:  Reintroduce a wider range of ticket pricing categories . Currently, Springbok Tests usually have about four price bands, but critics say the 2025 breakdown was poorly executed, for example, seats behind the try-lines (historically the cheap seats) were priced nearly as high as prime halfway-line spots. Even Oberholzer admitted this may have been a mistake, promising a review of category placements. Going forward, more truly low-cost seats  should be offered. Even if it’s only in the upper tiers or far corners, having a substantial number of tickets in the R100–R250 range  (not just a token few thousand in the rafters) would allow more ordinary fans to attend. The pricing pyramid should be widened: let those who can pay top dollar continue to do so, but also provide a larger base of affordable options. A fuller stadium at mixed price points could ultimately yield similar total revenue as a half-empty one with only expensive tickets and it will look and feel a lot better . Dynamic Pricing by Match:  Adjust ticket prices based on the opponent and expected demand. Fans are more willing to pay high rates for headline clashes (New Zealand, England, the British & Irish Lions tour, World Cup finals, etc.) than for mid-tier opposition. In 2025, SA Rugby ostensibly charged the same top price (around R3,000) for games against Italy and Georgia as it did for a blockbuster against the All Blacks the year before. Many argue this shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all. For a series against teams like Georgia or a lower-ranked side, entry prices could be set lower across the board  to reflect the lower demand, helping ensure the stadium still fills up for smaller fixtures. Conversely, premium rates can be maintained for All Blacks or Lions showdowns that will sell out regardless. The goal should be maximizing total turnout (and aggregate revenue) over a season, not necessarily squeezing the most out of each individual game in isolation. Promotions and Bundles:  Use creative marketing to make attending more affordable. In 2019, SA Rugby tried a “season ticket” bundle, fans could buy a combined ticket for two home Tests (Australia and Argentina) at a discounted total of R900 . That bulk deal helped ensure both matches were well-attended in a year with only a couple of home games. Similar ideas could be revived. For example, offer a multi-match pass  (buy tickets to two or three Tests together at a discount) or a family package  (e.g. four tickets for the price of three). Even last-minute flash sales or two-for-one deals for sections that haven’t sold by game week could be considered, better to have a paying fan in the seat at half price than the seat empty at full price. These kinds of promotions can boost attendance without permanently “cheapening” the value of tickets. Community Allocations:  Set aside a portion of tickets for schools, youth clubs, and communities at very low cost (or even free). For instance, a few thousand seats per game could be designated for rugby development programs, schoolkids, or community groups from disadvantaged areas. Sponsors or CSR funds could cover the nominal cost. Imagine buses of schoolchildren from rural villages  getting the chance to attend their first Test match, or local volunteer coaches rewarded with tickets, these would be investments in rugby’s future fan base. (The Springboks did something similar in spirit during their 2023 World Cup trophy tour, bringing the Webb Ellis Cup to small towns to inspire young fans.) Filling some seats with enthusiastic youngsters not only boosts the atmosphere, it helps build loyalty among the next generation  of supporters. Broader Broadcast Access:  While not directly about tickets, making more games available on free TV can complement attendance efforts. When fans regularly see their team on accessible platforms, it sustains their interest and desire to attend in person when they can. The widely-praised decision to air the second Italy Test on SABC showed the demand for national reach. Perhaps going forward, at least one match per series (or a weekly highlights package) could be given to SABC, or big games simulcast on free-to-air, to ensure truly national viewership. Enhanced radio coverage and public fan park viewings are other avenues. The idea is that if more people can follow the Boks without paying, the pressure on stadium tickets as the only way to see the game might lessen , allowing a bit more flexibility on pricing. Plus, better broadcast exposure grows the fan base, which in time can create more paying customers, a long-term play that builds goodwill even if it means slightly less immediate TV revenue. Sponsor Subsidies for Fans:  Tapping sponsors to help make rugby more accessible. South African rugby has no shortage of big sponsors, some already provide perks like pre-sale ticket access or fan giveaways. These partners could be enlisted to directly offset costs for supporters. For example, a corporate sponsor might underwrite a “cheap seats” section (filling an upper tier with tickets at half price, in exchange for branding that section). A major bank or telecom could sponsor a certain number of discounted tickets for students  or run contests that give out thousands of free tickets as a promotional exercise. Such marketing spends could be justified by the goodwill and positive publicity of being seen to “stand with the fans.” It’s a model seen in some other countries’ sports events and could work in South Africa’s passionate market. Ultimately, none of these ideas alone is a silver bullet. But collectively, they show a path to finding a balance  between revenue and reach. Even SA Rugby officials appear to recognize the need for adjustment, Oberholzer has indicated that the union is reviewing its ticket category pricing after the 2025 experience. The hope among fans and pundits is that SARU will mix and match these strategies to “give everyone a fighting chance to share in the Springbok experience,”  as one supporter put it. As the Springboks continue their 2025 season and look ahead to future tours, fans and stakeholders alike will be watching to see if SARU heeds the call for greater affordability. A full stadium decked out in green and gold is an image money can’t easily buy, but sensible pricing can certainly help deliver it. In the words of one fan on social media: “Make it accessible, and we will fill the stands. We love this team, just give us a fighting chance to show it.”   If the Springbok administrators can get the game plan right off the field, they can ensure that no trophy or balance sheet ever comes at the expense of the people’s passion. South African rugby, at its best, has always been Stronger Together   and that must include everyone, from the lowest-priced seat to the most expensive box. #TheGoToGuy #Gazette #springbokrugby #ticketprices #emptyseats

Below you’ll find a deep-dive on the five technologies bundled in the clinic’s new winter promotion. Each section explains how the treatment works  and the key advantages  you can expect. Lipo Laser (Low-Level Laser Lipolysis) What it is Lipo Laser uses low-level red or near-infrared light. When the laser energy reaches the fat layer it temporarily opens microscopic pores in the fat-cell membrane, allowing triglycerides to leak out. The released fat is then carried away by your lymphatic system and used as energy or excreted, while surrounding skin and tissue remain unharmed. Why clients love it Totally non-invasive:  no needles, heat spikes, suction cannulas, or recovery time. Most people resume daily activities immediately. Spot-targets trouble areas:  ideal for the lower belly, flanks, arms, or under-chin pockets that resist diet and workouts. Comfortable 45-minute sessions:  you simply relax under paddle-style diode pads; many clients nap or scroll their phones. Progressive inch loss:  clinical data show up to approximately 24% fat-cell reduction in a treated zone after a series, with final results visible in 8-12 weeks. FIR Blanket Sessions (Far-Infrared Blanket Detox) What it is A FIR blanket is a full-body wrap lined with carbon-fiber or nanotube heaters that emit far-infrared wavelengths. Unlike surface heat, FIR rays penetrate 2–3 cm into tissue, gently warming the body core and raising circulation. Why clients love it Deep detox & water-weight release:  profuse sweating helps flush heavy metals and metabolic waste while relieving bloat. Circulation boost & pain relief:  FIR heat dilates blood vessels, delivering oxygen to stiff muscles and easing chronic aches. Metabolism kick-start:  a 45-minute “blanket sauna” can burn hundreds of calories, the equivalent of a light jog, while you simply lie back. Skin glow & relaxation:  improved micro-circulation leaves skin rosy, and the comforting warmth melts stress, aiding sleep quality. Meso Pressotherapy (45-min Lymph-Drainage Compression) What it is Pressotherapy uses an inflatable suit or leg sleeves that rhythmically compress and release, mimicking the pumping action of manual lymph drainage. Some devices combine this with targeted “meso” air jets to enhance micro-circulation. The goal is to move stagnant lymph, reduce fluid retention, and speed recovery. Why clients love it Deflates puffiness & heavy legs:  by mobilising excess fluid, it quickly eases ankle swelling and travel-related oedema. Cellulite smoothing:  better lymph flow helps clear fat-cell metabolites that contribute to the dimpled “orange-peel” look. Post-lipo & workout recovery:  athletes and post-surgical clients use pressotherapy to flush lactic acid, reduce DOMS, and shorten downtime. Hands-free relaxation:  you lie comfortably for 45 minutes while the garment does the work, many compare it to a “mechanical massage.” EMSculpt Sessions (High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic Training) What it is EMSculpt delivers supramaximal contractions, far stronger than voluntary exercise, by pulsing high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) energy into the target muscle. A 60-minute session can trigger approximately 20 000 crunch-equivalent contractions in the abs or squats in the glutes. Why clients love it Dual action:  studies show an average 16% muscle-mass increase and  19% subcutaneous-fat reduction in treated zones after four to six sessions. Cellulite firming:  more muscle tension plus local fat loss improve skin smoothness on thighs and buttocks. No sweat, no downtime:  you remain clothed; only a mild “workout soreness” the next day. FDA-cleared for safety on all skin tones. Perfect plateau-buster:  ideal for busy pros or gym-goers who need an extra edge before events or beach season. Lipo Lax Injections (Fat-Dissolving Cocktail) What it is Lipo Lax® is an injectable formulation containing deoxycholic acid and phosphatidylcholine. Once injected into small fat pads, deoxycholate emulsifies adipocyte membranes, causing cell rupture. The body’s macrophages then clear the debris over 4–6 weeks, gradually slimming the area. Why clients love it Pin-point precision:  excellent for under-chin fat, jowls, bra bulges, knee pouches, or lipoma-type bumps where devices can’t fit. Permanent cell removal:  destroyed fat cells don’t regenerate; results last as long as your weight stays stable. Minimal visits:  a single 10 ml vial treats multiple spots; most areas need two to three sessions for optimum contour. Non-surgical alternative:  avoids scalpel scars and general anaesthetic risks, with only brief swelling or bruising after treatment. Putting It All Together By layering these modalities, laser lipolysis to empty fat cells, FIR heat to detox, pressotherapy to drain, HIFEM to firm, and targeted injectables for stubborn pockets, the Potch Diet Clinic & Beauty Salon package attacks fat from every  angle while supporting muscle tone and circulation. The synergy means faster, more comprehensive body-shaping results than any single treatment alone, all with little to no downtime. Consult the clinic’s qualified therapists to tailor the sequence to your goals, medical history, and lifestyle, and enjoy a smoother, stronger, more sculpted you this winter. #TheGoToGuy #potchefstroom #potchgazette #LipoLaser #BodyContour #PotchBeauty #FatLoss #WinterSpecial

South Africa’s annual Craven Week is billed as a showcase of the nation’s best school-boy rugby talent, yet a quick glance at recent team sheets reveals that the vast majority of provincial spots are being filled by pupils from just a handful of elite schools. This concentration of players, illustrated most starkly by Free State’s 2025 squad, where 19 of 23 selections come from Grey College, has sparked fresh debate about whether the tournament still rewards merit nationwide or increasingly mirrors the resources and recruiting power of a privileged few institutions. Image: Craven Week Rugby A Nationwide Trend of Elite Dominance in Selections Across many provinces, one or two powerhouse rugby schools provide a disproportionate share of the players in provincial Craven Week teams. This concentration of talent  is evident in several regions: Free State:   Grey College’s dominance is extreme, 19 of the Free State U18 squad’s 23 players came from Grey alone. Only a few boys from other schools (such as Hoërskool Burgersdorp, Hoërskool Jim Fouché, and Hoërskool Fichardtpark) filled the remaining spots, and even the team’s head coach was Grey College’s own coach, underscoring the school’s influence. Notably, at U16 level (Grant Khomo Week) the pattern was similar, with Grey also contributing 19 players. South Western Districts (SWD):   Oakdale Agricultural High School, after an excellent season, contributed 14 players to the SWD Craven Week team. Only three other schools had any representation in that squad, a virtual monopoly by Oakdale in that province. Blue Bulls (Northern Gauteng):   Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) in Pretoria, a traditional rugby powerhouse, supplied 10 players to the Blue Bulls U18 team. A few others came from Pretoria’s Hoërskool Garsfontein and Hoërskool Menlopark, but Affies clearly formed the core of the Bulls side. Golden Lions (Johannesburg): Helpmekaar Kollege was the single biggest contributor with 9 players in the Lions’ Craven Week team. Two other strong Johannesburg schools, Jeppe High and Hoërskool Noordheuwel, provided 6 players each, accounting for almost the entire squad between just three schools. KwaZulu-Natal (Sharks):   Westville Boys’ High, having enjoyed a great year, produced 8 players for the KZN Craven Week side. Other large KZN schools like Hilton College and Northwood contributed 4 each, while longtime traditional power Durban High School had only 2 players in the team. This shows even in KZN a few top schools dominate the selections. Eastern Cape:   In the Border region, Queen’s College had an exceptional season and supplied 9 players to the Border U18 team, with another 8 coming from Selborne College, leaving only 3 players from all other schools (such as Dale College) in the squad. Meanwhile, the Eastern Province team was similarly skewed: Grey High School (Port Elizabeth) contributed 6 players and Graeme College 4, with only a handful from various other schools. Western Province:   The Cape’s schools scene is traditionally competitive, yet even here a few big names lead the pack. In 2025, the WP U18 Craven Week squad included 5 players from Paarl Boys’ High and 5 from Rondebosch Boys’ High. Surprisingly, Paarl Gimnasium, usually a top rugby school, contributed only 2 players that year despite having an unbeaten season. Wynberg Boys’ High added 4 players and Paul Roos Gymnasium 2. While Western Province’s talent was spread among several elite schools, it still highlights that representation came largely from a short list of traditional rugby giants. In smaller provinces, the pattern is even more pronounced: often one school forms the backbone of an entire provincial team. These examples illustrate a national trend : provincial youth teams are heavily composed of players from a select few elite schools. Year after year, the same institutions dominate, raising questions about the breadth of the talent search and opportunities for players outside these strongholds. Why Does Talent Cluster at Elite Schools? Observers and experts point to several factors that explain why the same few schools consistently produce most of the Craven Week players. These factors create a self-reinforcing cycle that funnels top youth talent into elite programs: Superior Facilities and Resources:   Top rugby schools like Grey College and Oakdale boast first-class training facilities, quality rugby fields, well-equipped gyms, on-site medical and physiotherapy support, etc.. Young athletes benefit from professional-grade conditioning and infrastructure, allowing them to develop faster and perform at a higher level than peers at schools with basic resources. High-Quality Coaching:   Elite schools hire experienced, highly qualified coaches, often former provincial or international players, to lead their rugby programs. These coaches provide advanced skills training, strategic insights, and intensive development from a young age. As a result, players at powerhouse schools receive expert mentorship that sharpens their abilities beyond those of players at smaller schools who may have more limited coaching. Aggressive Recruitment and Scholarships:   Prominent rugby schools actively scout and recruit promising talent from across their province and even nationwide. Through well-established networks, they identify standout players in primary schools and offer scholarships or bursaries to entice those kids to enroll. By the time players reach the under-16 and under-18 levels, many of the region’s best have been pulled into the elite school system. For example, Grey College doesn’t only draw students from Bloemfontein, it attracts strong players from all over the Free State and surrounding areas. This means smaller high schools often lose their star players to the big institutions even before Craven Week age, concentrating the talent in just a few teams. Exposure and Network Advantages:   Elite schools regularly compete in high-profile interschool tournaments (such as the Wildeklawer and North-South festivals) and enjoy extensive media coverage. Their games are frequented by provincial selectors and scouts, many of whom have personal ties to these school networks. Players from top schools thus get seen in action against strong competition on a weekly basis. Additionally, there’s an “old boys” network effect: in some provinces, coaches or selectors in the youth structures are themselves alumni or former coaches of the dominant schools. For instance, Free State’s U18 coaching staff included Grey College’s own coaches and alumni in key roles. This insider network creates a pipeline where talent within the circle is more likely to be noticed and promoted. Overall, these connections and constant visibility give elite-school players a significant edge in the selection process. These factors all contribute to a scenario where a few powerhouse rugby institutions consistently generate an outsized pool of provincial players . Thanks to superior training environments and aggressive talent hoarding, the top schools effectively stockpile the best young players. By the time provincial trials come around, selectors often have a talent pool dominated by those elite programs, indeed, some selection panels have been accused of simply focusing on one or two leading schools when picking teams, rather than casting the net widely. Image: The Go-To Guy Creations Controversy Over Selection Fairness and Inclusivity This concentration of players from elite programs has prompted debate about the fairness and inclusivity  of Craven Week selections. Rugby observers note that some provincial selectors “have cast the net wide” across many schools, while others focus on one or two leading schools  in their region. The Free State’s near-exclusive reliance on Grey College talent, for example, led one school rugby commentator to argue “we are making a mockery of Craven Week”  , suggesting the tournament’s spirit as a showcase of the country’s best diverse talent is undermined when one school supplies an entire team rugby365.com . Critics point out that talented players at smaller, rural, or under-resourced schools  often struggle to get noticed if provincial teams are picked mostly from powerhouse school lineups. A News24 opinion piece bluntly stated that without alternative pathways (like strong club or varsity competitions), a youngster who doesn’t attend an “affluent rugby high school” such as Grey, Paul Roos, Selborne or Queen’s “might never smell a Springbok jersey.” news24.com  In other words, the traditional school pipeline has been so dominant that it can exclude late bloomers or kids outside the elite school network . Even some coaches acknowledge the imbalance: Rugby365 notes that unions like Boland or the Leopards spread selections across 8–11 schools, whereas unions like Free State, Bulls, or Lions concentrated heavily on their top one or two schools rugby365.com . This disparity raises concerns that selection bias toward big-name schools may be overlooking meritorious players  from lesser-known programs. There have been calls for more transparent trial processes and even quota systems to ensure broader representation. (In fact, Western Province introduced a guideline that ~20–25% of their Craven Week squad should come from non-traditional or previously disadvantaged schools finglobal.com , aiming to widen the talent pool). The impact on youth development  is a real worry, if provincial honors (and the exposure to scouts that comes with them) are effectively reserved for a few school “academies,” players outside those bubbles might quit the sport or never reach their potential. Former Springbok Stefan Terblanche has argued that an obsession with concentrating talent in certain schools and “buying” 1st XV success is “part of a bigger problem where the game in our country is dying because of what’s happening at school level.” ssschoolsplus.co.za  He and others suggest that overemphasis on a narrow base of elite school players can hurt the broader development of clubs and the game’s growth. In summary, while the elite schools’ dominance  reflects where top coaching and resources are, it has also sparked ongoing criticism  that the Craven Week selection process is too exclusive, and that more should be done to scout and develop talent from all  schools, not just the traditional giants. Fairness and Representation: Small Schools Speak Out The heavy concentration of Craven Week spots among so few schools has sparked criticism about fairness and inclusivity  from many in the rugby community. Parents, coaches, and former players from smaller programs worry that the selection process is biased against those outside the elite school circuit. Key concerns include: Unfair or Inadequate Trials:   There are allegations that in some provinces, truly open trials for Craven Week are not even held, or not taken seriously. On social media and school rugby forums, it’s been claimed that selectors sometimes bypass full try-outs due to cost or logistics and instead default to known talent from powerhouse schools. As one online commentator remarked, he doubted “if any proper trials are still held, it’s likely easier just to stick with the famous schools” (a sentiment shared on the SchoolboyRugby blog). Whether anecdotal or not, such perceptions fuel the belief that team line-ups are pre-determined in favor of elite school players. Perception of Preselection:   For families at smaller schools, it often feels like their top performers never stood a real chance. A boy might be a standout at a lesser-known high school, yet see no path into the provincial squad because those places seem reserved for kids from the big name institutions. Some frustrated parents describe the provincial team as being “bought” or decided well in advance in favor of the elite schools’ players. This creates a sense that merit on the field is being overlooked. Overlooked Talent:   The most serious concern is that talented players from rural areas or non-traditional rugby schools may slip through the cracks  simply because they are not in the “right” school. If a gifted youngster happens to attend a smaller or outlying school with little history of producing provincial players, he might be ignored by scouts and selectors who focus on the usual pipelines. An opinion writer in The Citizen  warned back in 2019 that there was “a clear preference for picking players from the traditional big schools,” which meant outstanding performers at smaller schools were being passed over. This sentiment, that selection bias, even if unintentional, exists in favor of elite programs, is shared by many parents and observers who argue that selections should be based on merit alone, not on the prestige of the school on a player’s jersey . On the other side of the debate, supporters of the current system  contend that it is  meritocratic, they argue the strongest schools simply produce the strongest players. From this viewpoint, it’s only logical that provincial teams are filled with players from the top-performing school sides, since those teams win most of the games and their players have proven themselves at a high level. For example, Grey College supporters often point out that Grey is perennially one of the country’s top-ranked rugby schools, so it stands to reason that its players would earn the most provincial berths. Additionally, some selectors note that transformation goals  (ensuring opportunities for players from historically disadvantaged backgrounds) also influence selection. Big rugby schools that recruit talented kids from all communities help unions meet their diversity targets, which can result in more picks from those schools. Critics, however, respond that relying on a few elite schools to drive transformation is a shallow solution. If provincial diversity is achieved only by funneling a few promising players of color into elite programs, vast areas and many deserving individuals still remain overlooked. True inclusivity, they argue, would require broadening the talent search beyond the narrow elite-school pipeline. Otherwise, a kid at a disadvantaged rural school might never get noticed unless he somehow lands a scholarship to a major rugby school, a route that is available to only a select few. Long-Term Impact on Youth Rugby Development Rugby experts are increasingly worried about the long-term consequences  of this talent centralization in a handful of schools. For South African rugby to thrive, a wide and equitable base of school participation is essential. The current trend, if unchecked, could have several negative impacts on development: Shrinking the Talent Pool:   If players outside the traditional “macro” rugby schools are continually passed over, many could lose heart or even quit the sport. A school that knows none of its boys have a realistic shot at provincial selection might see its rugby program’s morale and participation dwindle. Over years, some smaller or rural schools might reduce emphasis on rugby (or drop it entirely) if their athletes never get recognition, stunting the sport’s growth in those communities. This could fragment the development pipeline , with large swathes of the country effectively unscouted. Missing Future Stars:   There is a real risk that South African rugby might miss out on discovering future stars  by looking too narrowly for talent. History has shown that not every great player comes through a big-name academy. In fact, several current Springbok heroes emerged from relatively small or less-famous schools. For example, World Cup winner Pieter-Steph du Toit attended Hoërskool Swartland in the country town of Moorreesburg; Makazole Mapimpi matriculated at Jim Mvabaza Senior Secondary in rural Eastern Cape; and Cheslin Kolbe is a graduate of Hoërskool Brackenfell, none  of these are traditional rugby powerhouses. Yet despite potentially lower exposure in their school years, these players rose to the pinnacle of the sport. Their stories underscore that top talent can come from anywhere . Observers caution that the next Mapimpi or Kolbe might be out there shining on some far-flung school field, but if scouting remains too focused on the usual elite hubs, that gem of a player might never be noticed, to the detriment of the game as a whole. In short, a development system that leaves entire regions or school tiers behind could limit South Africa’s rugby potential. A broader talent search and more inclusive youth competitions would likely yield a deeper reservoir of skilled players in the long run, benefiting clubs and national teams alike. Image: The Go-To Guy Creations Success Stories from Non-Traditional Rugby Schools Despite the dominance of the usual schoolboy powerhouses, there are shining examples of players who reached Craven Week and even Springbok glory from non-traditional or rural school backgrounds . These cases are often cited to emphasize that talent can emerge outside the elite school pipeline: Makazole Mapimpi (Jim Mvabaza SS):   Mapimpi’s rise has become legendary because he had no  high-profile school platform. He attended a small rural high school in the Eastern Cape and never made a Craven Week team  or any SA Schools selection news24.com . In fact, as a News24 feature noted, “there were no coaches to bring out the best in this young player; no Craven Week selection for him” , yet through sheer grit he carved his way into provincial rugby and ultimately became a World Cup-winning Bok winger . Mapimpi himself has said he “didn’t attend any major rugby school” and thus wasn’t even on the usual scouting radar . His story, from playing club rugby for a village team (for a crate of beer as prize) to Test stardom, underscores that outstanding players can be found outside the traditional school system if given a chance. Cheslin Kolbe (Hoërskool Brackenfell):   Kolbe is another example often mentioned, because he hails from Brackenfell High , a decent school but not a renowned rugby academy in the mold of a Grey or Paarl Boys. Kolbe did get to represent Western Province youth teams, yet his school was a ordinary state school in Kraaifontein. An analysis of the 2023 Springbok squad noted that Kolbe never made the SA Schools team  and did not have a decorated Craven Week résumé (his name shows “N/A” for Craven Week honors) ssschoolsplus.co.za . Still, his talent shone through via the Sevens and junior provincial circuits, and he’s now an iconic Springbok known for beating the odds (in size and background). Kolbe’s success is frequently cited as proof that a player from a non-elite school program can reach the top, Western Province picked him from Brackenfell, and he went on to star for the Stormers, Toulouse, and the Boks ultimaterugby.com . Pieter-Steph du Toit (Hoërskool Swartland):   Du Toit, World Rugby’s 2019 Player of the Year, is a product of a relatively small-town school (Swartland High in Malmesbury)  rather than a traditional powerhouse. He played Craven Week for Boland in 2010, coming from a farming community background ssschoolsplus.co.za . His school, while solid, wasn’t a perennial Top 20 contender – making his rise more atypical. A rugby publication quipped that “it all started at Swartland, of all places”  for the Springbok star nextgenxv.com . Du Toit’s case shows that even if a player isn’t in a major metropolitan school, they can still reach Craven Week (via a smaller union like Boland) and excel to the highest level. In the current Springbok squad, du Toit is one of several players who did not come through a big-name school 1st XV , his name appears alongside others like Jasper Wiese (Upington High) and Ox Nché (Louis Botha THS) as players from less traditional schools who made. Other examples include Kurt-Lee Arendse  (went to Paulus Joubert Secondary in Paarl, not a traditional rugby factory) and Ox Nché  (Louis Botha High in Bloemfontein, a school known more for producing one or two Boks rather than dozens), both of whom, like Mapimpi, did not play Craven Week at school level ssschoolsplus.co.za . In fact, a review of the 2023 Springbok World Cup squad reveals that 13 of the 33 players never played Craven Week  as schoolboy, a striking statistic that suggests alternative pathways (club rugby, varsity cups, age-grade academies) can produce elite players outside the usual school tournaments. This includes not only Mapimpi and Kolbe, but players like Damian de Allende  (Milnerton High) and Eben Etzebeth  (Tygerberg High) who either missed Craven Week or came from schools outside the traditional elite ssschoolsplus.co.za . These success stories are frequently highlighted by coaches and pundits to argue for broader talent identification . They demonstrate that while top schools do nurture many stars, talent is not exclusive to those institutions. As one rugby writer put it, only a small fraction of Craven Week school stars actually become Springboks, and conversely, many Springboks come from outside that system . The emergence of players like Mapimpi, “a boy from the rural areas who didn’t go to a private or elite school”, has inspired SA Rugby to invest more in academies at universities like WSU and grassroots programs . The hope is that the next Mapimpi or Kolbe will be spotted and developed even if they aren’t at an Affies, Grey, or Paarl Boys, thereby making the rugby pipeline more inclusive while still benefiting from the excellence of the elite schools. The Road Ahead The debate over Craven Week selections ultimately comes down to balancing two priorities . On one hand, provincial unions naturally want to field the most competitive teams possible at Craven Week, which often means drawing heavily from the winningest, high-performance schools. From this perspective, leaning on the elite programs makes sense to maximize short-term success. On the other hand, there is the developmental goal  of giving as many young players as possible a fair chance and growing the game across all communities. At present, the scales seem tipped heavily toward the established elite schools’ pipeline. The Craven Week stage has become, as some critics lament, a showcase largely for a select group of “chosen” players from powerhouse institutions, rather than a truly representative festival of nationwide talent. Many parents, coaches, and rugby supporters are calling for selectors and school bodies to cast the net wider . They argue that Craven Week should strive to be a genuine test of all  of South Africa’s youth rugby talent, not just those groomed at a few top schools. Broader scouting and more inclusive selection policies could help ensure that a boy’s future in rugby isn’t effectively decided by which high school his parents can afford or which talent pipeline noticed him at age 13. In the long run, South African rugby stands to gain from a larger and more diverse pool of players, as opposed to a fragmented system that funnels opportunities to a narrow group. It remains an open question how (or if) the current trials and selection processes might be reformed to address these concerns. Some suggest that provincial unions need to reinvest in scouting and holding thorough regional trials to identify late bloomers and outliers. Others propose structural changes to Craven Week itself to encourage broader participation. As South Africa looks ahead, the challenge will be ensuring that its most prestigious school rugby showcase, Craven Week, lives up to its ideal of celebrating the country’s best young talent wherever it may come from . Achieving that balance between elite performance and inclusive development will be crucial for the health of South African rugby in the years to come. #TheGoToGuy #potchgazette #CravenWeek #YouthRugby #SchoolSportsFairness

Mobile Service Footprint Where many bullion shops expect foot traffic, NextExchange reverses the flow: Joubert gets behind the wheel and meets clients where their valuables live. Weekly circuits span Potchefstroom, Klerksdorp, Carletonville, Fochville and the surrounding farming districts, while estate clear-outs can pull him as far afield as the Free State or Gauteng borders when a collection justifies the mileage. His compact “lab-on-wheels” features: Calibrated digital scales  accurate to 0.01 g for bullion and jewellery. Acid-free coin flips & archival sleeves  that protect patina during inspection. Handheld XRF pen  to verify metal purity without destructive filing. Tablet with streaming spot-price dashboards  so clients watch the gold and silver ticks in real time. Every valuation therefore happens transparently, in front of the seller, without courier risk or middle-man delays. Core Buying Categories & Value Propositions Category What Jay Buys Why It Pays More Through NextExchange Precious-Metal Bullion Krugerrands, Maple Leafs, Britannias, Kangaroos, 1 g–1 kg bars. Live-market premiums are locked at the moment of weighing; spreads are slimmer than traditional dealers because overheads are lean. Numismatic Rarities ZAR shillings, Union pounds, proof sets, off-metal error strikes, world crowns. Complimentary grading guidance; access to specialist club auctions boosts offers on scarcer dates and varieties. Vintage & Broken Gold Mismatched earrings, broken chains, signet rings, heirloom bangles. Payments calculated per gram minus zero  melt-loss buffer, a common hidden deduction in pawn-shop quotes. Militaria & Blades Boer War bayonets, WWII trench knives, medal groups, SADF memorabilia. Established collector contacts ensure esoteric pieces fetch collector, not scrap, prices. Fine Antiques & Décor Sterling tea sets, Delft blue porcelain, Art-Deco pocket watches, mid-century curios. Items destined for the firm’s curated Bob Shop store and forthcoming e-commerce site, giving sellers national exposure without listing headaches. The Five-Step Transaction Model Photo Share  – Clients WhatsApp or Facebook-message pictures; Joubert replies with an indicative price range within hours. Indicative Quote  – Live metal charts and recent auction comparables anchor expectations before travel is scheduled. On-Site Meet  – Items are weighed, tested and authenticated in the client’s presence; coins are handled with cotton gloves and placed in archival flips to prevent friction rub. Offer & Payout  – Immediate settlement via cash, real-time EFT or even USDT/BTC for tech-savvy sellers; no waiting for cheque clearance. Post-Sale Report  – Optional PDF notes detailing provenance, mintages and care recommendations for any heirlooms retained by the family. Competitive Edges Sellers Notice First Single-Point Accountability  – Joubert alone makes the call; no “send to head office” delays or percentage-shaving chains of command. Market-Linked Pricing  – Because his tablet streams refinery and exchange feeds, the buy price moves with the ticker, not yesterday’s fix. Discreet & Flexible Scheduling  – Evening and weekend farm visits respect busy diaries and keep estate distributions private. Collector-Calibrated Valuations  – Years of club-level trading mean esoteric medals, error coins and bayonets earn collector premiums, not generic melt rates. Reputation, Reviews & Social Proof Early Facebook feedback clusters around three trust signals: Honesty  – No hidden handling or melt-fees; every test is explained before contact. Knowledge  – Detailed commentary on mintages, assay marks and campaign medals reassures heirs who may be selling a late relative’s collection. Speed  – Door-to-door visits convert idle drawers of scrap gold into cash within a single afternoon. Digital Strategy & Future Roadmap NextExchange’s Bob Shop storefront already lists graded coins, militaria and curated décor to a national audience. Phase two, a standalone e-commerce platform, will broaden categories to period furniture, Africana art and high-character collectables, positioning the firm as a South African gateway between private estates and online connoisseurs. Bobshop Link: https://www.bobshop.co.za/seller/5419032/NextExchange The longer-term vision is clear: Unlock dormant household value  for ordinary South Africans without auction-house barriers. Preserve provenance stories  by documenting and passing along lineage notes with each sale. Maintain mobility  so that even remote farming communities gain professional access to transparent bullion and collectables markets. In a nutshell NextExchange fuses small-town approachability with expert-grade testing technology and collector-network reach. Whether a client is offloading a single Krugerrand, liquidating an inherited silver service set, or deciding what to keep from a grandfather’s medal chest, Joubert’s on-site, data-driven model delivers liquidity, learning and peace of mind, one driveway appraisal at a time. #TheGoToGuy #potchefstroom #potchgazette #stroomstories #businesstalk

NextExchange is a mobile, single-proprietor buying agency that travels the North-West goldfields to purchase precious-metal bullion, rare coins, vintage jewellery, militaria and antiques directly from private sellers. Founded and run by experienced numismatist Joubert, in Parys, the firm removes the traditional auction-house middle layer by bringing calibrated scales, XRF test kits and live spot-price feeds to the client’s doorstep. Sellers receive on-the-spot valuations and payment by cash, instant EFT or crypto, backed by Jay’s collector-network pricing insight and a reputation for transparent, courteous service. Mobile : 060-953-1625 WhatsApp : 060-953-1625 E-Mail: zoov.nextexchange@gmail.com Address: Parys Webbie Link: https://www.thegotoguy.co.za/potchefstroom/nextexchange- Business Card Link:   https://www.thegotoguy.co.za/business-card/nextexchange- #TheGoToGuy #potchefstroom #potchgazette #stroomstories #businesstalk

Hoërskool Wesvalia Hoërskool Wesvalia, geleë in Wilkoppies, Klerksdorp, staan bekend as 'n skool waar werk, waarheid en wysheid die rigting gee aan elke leerder se ontwikkeling. Met 'n sterk fokus op akademie, sport, kultuur, sosiale ontwikkeling en leierskap, bied Wesvalia aan elke leerder die geleentheid om ten volle te ontwikkel. Die skool het ‘n gevestigde reputasie as ‘n sentrum van uitnemendheid en trots in die Noordwes-provinsie. 2025 Atletiek: Wessies se Dogters Skitter in Ranglys In 2025 het Hoërskool Wesvalia weereens hul staal gewys, dié keer op die atletiekbaan. Die skool se O/18 dogters het naam gemaak met uitsonderlike individuele prestasies en het hulself stewig gevestig op die ranglys. Hoewel die items individueel is, was dit duidelik dat Wesvalia se atlete 'n gesamentlike gees van deursettingsvermoë en prestasie uitstraal. Image: Hoërskool Wesvalia Individuele Sterprestasies Vier van die skool se dogter-atlete het hulself onderskei teen mededingers van regoor die land: Carli Visser (O/17):  Carli het 4de geëindig in die 400m hekkies, ’n item wat fisieke krag en tegniese vaardigheid vereis. Haar deursettingsvermoë is duidelik oor elke hekkie gesien. Lolani Jansen van Vuuren (O/14):  Met haar 8ste plek in die 5000m stapitem het Lolani ‘n uitstekende uithouvermoë ten toon gestel en het bewys dat haar jong ouderdom geen beperking is nie. Luché van der Berg (O/17):  In die 2000m steeplechase het Luché ‘n briljante 3de plek behaal, ’n item wat bekend is vir sy fisieke en strategiese uitdagings. Denike Jordaan (O/15):  Denike het met ‘n 1ste plek in die 400m en ‘n 7de plek in die 200m haar status as veelvlakkige snelatleet bevestig. Elke een van hierdie atlete het nie net hul eie rekord verbeter nie, maar ook die naam van Wesvalia met trots verteenwoordig. ’n Span sonder Grense Hoewel dit individuele items was, is daar geen twyfel dat die prestasies van Wesvalia se dogters 'n weerspieëling is van die spangees en afrigtingsteun agter die skerms nie. Hierdie ranglys is meer as net getalle, dis 'n bewys van harde werk, dissipline en 'n onwrikbare strewe na uitnemendheid. Trots in Elke Tree Hoërskool Wesvalia is opreg trots op hierdie atlete. Hulle is rolmodelle vir hul medeleerders en inspirasie vir die breër gemeenskap. "Ons bars van trots!" lui die boodskap van die skoolgemeenskap, en met reg so. Deel Julle Stories met The Go-To Guy Is julle skool se atlete, akademie of kultuursterre ook besig om golwe te maak? Moet dit nie net by ‘n WhatsApp-groep hou nie, stuur dit vir ons! Ons is hier om jul stories te vertel. Stuur jou stories na ons redaksie en word deel van die stem van Potchefstroom en omliggende gemeenskappe. Ons vertel jou storie! Oor The Go-To Guy The Go-To Guy is Potchefstroom se mees volledige aanlyn inligtingsplatform, met meer as 75,000 besoeke per maand. Van ons nuusblad, The Gazette, tot ons besigheidsgids van meer as 2,500 ondernemings, gebeurekalender met 1,500+ inskrywings, eiendoms- en werksblaaie, dinge om te doen, oorblyplekke en sosiale gidse - ons dek dit alles. Ons Facebook-blad het meer as 77,000 volgers, met subkanale vir Potchefstroom, Ikageng en Klerksdorp. Ons het ‘n groeiende TikTok-kanaal, Instagram, X, en verskeie WhatsApp-kanale. Ons regstreekse uitsendingstudio bring weekliks plaaslike inhoud, van sport tot spiritualiteit. Elke maand stuur ons ons Potch Gazette  aan meer as 7,300 lesers uit, en ons joernalistieke span  dek alles van sake tot skole. Boonop bied ons verskeie bemarkingspakkette aan: Business Card Listings (gratis tot R50/maand) Starter, Growth en Premium bemarkingspakkette  (R499 – R4,499/maand) Eenmalige advertensieopsies, video’s, baniere en artikels Volledige digitale veldtogte via Digital Guy Opkomende geleenthede vir radio, buitelugborde en influencer -aksies Ons platform is beskikbaar via ons webwerf  www.thegotoguy.co.za  en www.potchefstroom.com , asook ons mobiele toepassing op Android en iOS. The Go-To Guy – We tell your stories. #wessiegreatness #TheGoToGuy #Klerksdorp #SchoolTalk

Residents of Potchefstroom are once again reminded to separate household waste from garden refuse following a renewed appeal from the JB Marks Local Municipality. According to a notice distributed via local councillors, refuse removal teams will not collect black bags or other containers filled with garden waste, including dry leaves, branches, and plant clippings, during their regular rounds. Image: The Go-To Guy Creations 🗑️ Garden Refuse Must Be Taken to Designated Dumping Sites The municipality encourages residents to dispose of all garden-related waste at official dumping sites that are equipped to handle biodegradable material. These municipal sites are designed to accommodate natural debris, ensuring it is processed in a way that does not interfere with household waste services. This approach aims to maintain the efficiency of daily refuse removal. Mixing household waste with garden refuse, the municipality explains, slows down collection operations and may even result in entire areas being skipped. 🚛 Why This Matters Refuse removal vehicles and staff operate on a strict schedule. When bags are found to contain unapproved garden waste, they cannot be collected, which causes delays and backlogs. By adhering to the separation guidelines, residents help protect the broader community from missed pickups and service disruptions. ✅ Keep the System Flowing The municipality’s message is clear: cooperation from the public is essential to maintain clean neighborhoods and uninterrupted services. Proper disposal of leaves and garden refuse at designated sites supports the smooth running of the refuse collection system and reduces strain on workers and resources. 📍 Where to Take Garden Refuse? Municipal dumping sites across JB Marks are open to the public and available for garden waste drop-off. For exact locations or operating times, residents are encouraged to contact their ward councillor or the municipal office. Closing Thoughts As seasonal maintenance continues and residents work to keep their properties clean, adherence to these waste disposal guidelines is vital. By ensuring that garden refuse is disposed of correctly at designated municipal dumping sites, the community plays an active role in maintaining a cleaner, more efficient city. Continued cooperation from all residents will support smoother municipal service operations and prevent unnecessary collection delays. #TheGoToGuy #potchefstroom #potchgazette #stroomstories #JBMarks #KeepPotchClean #SmartWasteSeparation #GardenWasteMatters

Amelia Nasorgsentrum in Potchefstroom, ’n sorgsentrum vir volwassenes met intellektuele gestremdhede, verkeer in ’n akute finansiële krisis ná ’n skielike 60%-besnoeiing van sy staatsubsidie . Dié sny, wat neerkom op ’n verlies van sowat R170 000 per maand (ongeveer R2 miljoen per jaar) vir die sentrum , bedreig die voortbestaan van die instelling. Amelia, wat sowat 113 permanente inwoners huisves en daagliks aan ongeveer 120 volwassenes dagsorgdienste lewer, doen nou ’n dringende beroep op die gemeenskap om te keer dat hierdie kwesbare inwoners hul tuiste en versorging verloor. Image: Amelia Nasorg Sentrum ’n Tuiste vir gestremde volwassenes Amelia Nasorgsentrum is ’n gevestigde, geregistreerde nie-winsgewende organisasie wat spesiale versorging en huisvesting bied aan volwassenes (18 jaar en ouer) met intellektuele gestremdhede . Die sentrum dien as ’n veilige hawe waar ongeveer 113 inwoners permanent woon en onder 24-uur toesig versorg word, terwyl nog sowat 120 volwassenes elke weeksdag die dagsorgprogram bywoon vir terapeutiese aktiwiteite en toesig. Vir baie van hierdie persone, van wie sommiges al dekades lank by Amelia is, is die sentrum die enigste tuiste wat hulle ken en die enigste plek waar hulle die nodige ondersteuning en sorg ontvang. Staatsubsidie skielik met 60% gesny Die Noordwes Departement van Maatskaplike Ontwikkeling het onlangs Amelia se subsidie onverhoeds met 60%  verminder . Hierdie drastiese besnoeiing is sonder veel waarskuwing aan die sentrum gekommunikeer en het Amelia se begroting onmiddellik met ongeveer R170 000 per maand  gekrimp . Volgens Werner Nel, ’n lid van die beheerraad, het dié nuus skokgolwe deur die instelling gestuur. “Die voortbestaan van die sentrum is in gedrang as gevolg van die departement se subsidie wat hulle gesny het, en volgende jaar gaan daar ’n addisionele 25% gesny word. Die finansiële impak is enorm: minder subsidie beteken dat Amelia sukkel om vaste uitgawes te dek en noodsaaklike dienste aan die gang te hou. Intussen groei die vrees dat die sentrum sy deure moontlik sal moet sluit as ’n langtermynoplossing nie gevind word nie, ’n rampscenario vir Potchefstroom se gestremde gemeenskap." Kwesbaarste inwoners het geen ander heenkome Amelia se inwoners behoort tot die mees weerlose lede van die samelewing en baie van hulle het min of geen ander ondersteuning. “Die inwoners is van die mees kwesbaarste mense in ons samelewing. Daar is omtrent 50 sosiale inwoners sonder ouers en ons beskerming oor hulle en die personeel wat dit doen is ’n spesiale prioriteit. Met ander woorde, talle bewoners het geen familie of finansiële rugsteun wat hulle kan help dra nie en hulle is uitsluitlik aangewese op Amelia vir kos, versorging en ’n dak oor die kop. Weens die aard van hul gestremdhede kan hierdie volwassenes nie op hul eie oorleef of werk om ’n inkomste te verdien nie. Indien Amelia sou moes inkrimp of sluit, het hierdie mense eenvoudig nêrens anders om heen te gaan nie. Die dringendheid van die situasie kan nie oorskat word nie. Die sentrum se personeel en bestuur fokus steeds daarop om top-sorg te lewer, maar erken dat hulle onder geweldige druk is. Daar is ’n nood om voedsel vir inwoners te kan koop, personeel salarisse te kan betaal en algemene uitgawes te dek,. Hierdie basiese koste was voorheen deels gedra deur die staatsubsidie; nou moet daardie geld elders gevind word. Gemeenskapsteun nou lewensnoodsaaklik Gemeenskapsdonasies en fondsinsamelings het skielik ’n lewenslyn vir Amelia geword. Die sentrum is toenemend afhanklik van vrygewigheid uit die gemeenskap om kop bo water te hou. Hul maak staat op donasies en fondsinsamelingsdae. Met die wegval van ’n groot deel van die subsidie moet elke rand nou deur skenkings en veldtogte ingesamel word om die ligte aan te hou en die inwoners se daaglikse behoeftes te voorsien. Elke uitgawe, van die kragrekening en kruideniersware tot salarisse, word nou moontlik gemaak deur die omgee en bydraes van Potchefstromers. Ondanks die finansiële druk het Amelia se bestuur vasberade begin planne maak om die gaping te probeer vul. Bydraes in kontant sowel as natura (byvoorbeeld kos en benodigdhede) word verwelkom en plaaslike besighede het reeds begin inspring met borgskappe waar moontlik. Alle fondse wat die sentrum deur fondsinsamelings ontvang, word 100% aangewend vir die versorging van die inwoners en instandhouding van die huis , die bestuur en personeel werk spaarsaam om te verseker dat elke skenking direk ten goede van die gestremde volwassenes aangewend word. Biltongfees bring fondse en vermaak Een van die grootste fondsinsamelingsgeleenthede op Amelia se kalender is om die draai. Op Vrydag 15 Augustus 2025 hou die sentrum ’n Biltongfees op hul terrein, ’n aand van kuier en lekkernye ter ondersteuning van ’n goeie doel . Die bekende Afrikaanse kunstenaars Dozi en Jakkie Louw tree daardie aand op en sal vir top-klas musiek en vermaak sorg . Gaste kan intussen na hartelus smul aan tradisionele biltong en ander plaaslike lekkernye, van wildsbiltong en droëwors tot tuisgebakte pasteie en soet lekkernye. Image: Amelia Nasorg Sentrum Die fees begin om 18:00 daardie aand op Amelia se groen grasperk in Bailliepark, Potchefstroom . Kaartjies beloop R500 per persoon (wat al die kos en vermaak insluit) of R5 000 per tafel van 10  mense . Besighede, vriendegroepe of families kan dus ’n tafel saam bespreek. Alle opbrengste van die Biltongfees vloei direk terug na Amelia Nasorgsentrum om te help met hul bedryfskoste en versorging van inwoners. Belangstellendes word aangemoedig om vroegtydig te bespreek, plekke is beperk. (Besprekings kan gemaak word by die Amelia-kantoor by 018 290 5543, of deur die organiseerders te kontak.) Deur hierdie geleentheid by te woon, kry die gemeenskap die kans om ’n lekker kuier aand te geniet én terselfdertyd ’n verskil te maak in die lewens van mense in nood. Gholfdag, basaar en kreatiewe inisiatiewe Buiten die Biltongfees, reël Amelia jaarliks nog verskeie ander fondsinsamelingsgeleenthede om hul inkomste aan te vul. Een hoogtepunt op die kalender is ’n liefdadigheids-gholfdag wat tradisioneel in die Lente aangebied word. Verlede jaar is dié gholfdag op 29 September by die Potchefstroom Buiteklub gehou , met plaaslike rolspelers en besighede wat vierballe ingeskryf het, al die opbrengs is tot voordeel van Amelia aangewend . Die gholfdag bied nie net ’n geleentheid vir sport en netwerk onder ondersteuners nie, maar dien ook as ’n broodnodige inspuiting vir die sentrum se fondse. In die herfs hou Amelia op hul terrein ’n jaarlikse basaar waar die publiek uitgenooi word om te kom ondersteun. Van pannekoek, koeksisters en kerrie-en-rys tot handwerk en wit olifant-tafels, die Amelia-basaar is ’n fees vir oud en jonk. Op 6 April vanjaar is die basaar gehou en die gemeenskap het gul opgedaag , Só ’n geleentheid bevorder nie net fondsinsameling nie, maar versterk ook bande tussen die sentrum en plaaslike inwoners deur direkté interaksie en bewusmaking. Die sentrum dink ook kreatief oor nuwe maniere om geld in te samel. ’n Unieke vennootskap met ’n plaaslike veearts, Potch Vet Care, stel byvoorbeeld diere-eienaars in staat om Amelia te ondersteun terwyl hulle na hul troeteldiere omsien. ’n Gedeelte van elke troeteldier-inenting wat by Potch Vet Care gedoen word, word aan Amelia Nasorgsentrum geskenk. Hierdie inisiatief beteken dat elke hond of kat se inspuiting indirek bydra tot kos of klere vir ’n inwoner by Amelia. Die sentrum loof dié kreatiewe vennootskap en moedig diere-eienaars in die omgewing aan om daarvan gebruik te maak – ’n wen-wen vir mens en dier. Potchefstromers gevra om hande te vat Te midde van hierdie uitdagings bly Amelia Nasorgsentrum se leuse eenvoudig: “Saam kan ons ’n verskil maak.” Die Potchefstroom-gemeenskap word opgeroep om betrokke te raak en te help om Amelia se deure oop te hou vir dié wat dit die nodigste het. Daar is verskeie maniere waarop mense kan bydra: Ondersteun die fondsinsamelingsgeleenthede (soos die Biltongfees en basaar), maak ’n finansiële skenking (’n eenmalige bedrag of ’n maandelikse bydrae), skenk in natura (enige bruikbare items, kos of diens), of bied jou tyd en kundigheid aan as vrywilliger. Die sentrum verwelkom ook sogenaamde “weldoeners”, individue of maatskappye wat bereid is om op ’n gereelde basis borg te staan of ’n spesifieke projek/inwoner te ondersteun. Enige hulp, groot of klein, sal ’n verskil maak. Mense wat betrokke wil raak of ’n bydrae wil lewer, kan die sentrum se voorsitter, John-Martin Parsons, kontak by 060 635  2028 , of Amelia se Facebook-blad besoek vir meer inligting en skenkingsopsies. Amelia Nasorgsentrum en sy inwoners vertrou op die omgee van die gemeenskap om hierdie finansiële storm te trotseer. Met Potchefstroom se hulp en betrokkenheid kan hierdie unieke instansie voortgaan om vir die volgende vyftig jaar (en langer) ’n liefdevolle tuiste te wees vir dié wat niemand anders het nie. StroomCares StroomCares is 'n nuwe inisiatief op The Go-To Guy Potchefstroom-platform, geskep om plaaslike fondsinsamelings en gemeenskapsprojekte te ondersteun. Van persoonlike veldtogte tot skool- en buurtprojekte, dit bied 'n betroubare ruimte waar betroubare stories gedeel en ondersteun kan word. Of jy nou wil help of self hulp nodig het, StroomCares maak dit makliker vir die Potchefstroom-gemeenskap om te gee en om te sorg. #AmeliaNasorgSentrum #Thegotoguy #Stroomcares #Potchefstroom #Geeterug

"Glass so clean, be careful not to walk through it."  This playful promise captures the remarkable shine that Imperial Specialist Cleaning Services brings to every window they clean. It’s well known that sparkling windows can make the difference between an average-looking building and an amazing one. Image : The Go-To Guy Creations Imperial Specialist Cleaning Services, based in Potchefstroom, has built its reputation on delivering that crystal-clear difference, turning dull glass into gleaming panes that brighten homes and businesses alike. In Potchefstroom, homeowners and businesses alike trust Imperial Specialist Cleaning Services for reliable, high-quality results. Beyond windows, Imperial also offers solar panel cleaning and deep carpet cleaning, a one-stop solution to keep every part of a property spotless and efficient. Higher, Faster, More Affordable Cleaning Imperial Specialist Cleaning Services stands out from traditional window cleaners by being able to reach higher, work faster, and deliver a more cost-effective service: Reaches higher: Using advanced water-fed poles, the team cleans windows up to five storeys high directly from ground level, eliminating the need for ladders or scaffolding. Works faster: Their modern pure-water system allows cleaning up to 70% faster  than traditional squeegee-and-ladder methods, meaning far less disruption to the home or workplace. Cost-effective: By avoiding cumbersome scaffolding and speeding up the process, Imperial’s service is more cost-effective – clients get superior results in a fraction of the time. Residential Window Cleaning For homeowners in Potchefstroom, Imperial Specialist Cleaning Services makes window maintenance truly hassle-free. They clean all types of residential properties, from single-storey houses to multi-level homes, tackling both interior and exterior windows with equal care. Even tricky skylights or high glass panels are no problem for their team, thanks to the water-fed pole system that reaches those spots safely. The technicians also go beyond just window panes: they can polish up glass skylights and wash down glass garage doors as part of a thorough home service. The result is a brighter, clearer view for the homeowner and a home that sparkles from every angle. Commercial Window Cleaning Imperial Specialist Cleaning Services caters to office buildings, retail stores, and other businesses with expert commercial window cleaning. Every client has unique needs, so Imperial provides flexible scheduling and tailored plans , including regular contract cleaning for those who want a consistently polished look. Whether it’s a storefront, a showroom, or a multi-story office block, the team can clean both the external glass facades and interior glass surfaces efficiently. They also ensure all types of signage and display glass are spotless, enhancing the professional image of the business. With reach up to five storeys high from the ground, they handle most jobs quickly and safely, with minimal disruption to the workplace. Image : The Go-To Guy Creations Solar Panel and Carpet Cleaning Solar Panel Cleaning: Dust and grime on solar panels can reduce their energy output. Imperial’s team safely washes solar panels to remove this buildup so the panels can absorb maximum sunlight. Using the same purified-water technology as their window cleaning, they leave panels spotless without harsh chemicals , improving efficiency and protecting the panels’ lifespan . This ensures local solar power users get optimal performance from their investment. Carpet Cleaning: Imperial also provides professional carpet cleaning that can restore rugs and carpets to a like-new condition. Their process lifts stubborn stains and extracts embedded dust and allergens, resulting in a fresh look and healthier indoor air. This deep cleaning goes beyond what regular vacuuming can do, removing pollutants and irritants that trigger allergies and degrade air quality . From plush living room rugs to high-traffic office floors, Imperial has the expertise and equipment to deliver a revitalizing clean. Expert Team and Cutting-Edge Equipment One of Imperial’s greatest strengths is its people. The cleaning crew is among the best in the region – fully trained professionals who take pride in their work and treat every property as if it were their own. Whether washing the exterior of a house or carefully detailing interior glass, these experts go the extra mile to ensure every surface is cleaned to perfection. Equipping this skilled team is state-of-the-art gear. Imperial uses an advanced water-fed pole system with 100% purified water, allowing technicians to scrub and rinse even high-rise windows safely from the ground. The purified water leaves glass spotless and streak-free, drying to a crystal-clear finish with no residue . And because no harsh chemicals or soaps are required, the method is eco-friendly and gentle on surfaces. This modern technology, combined with the team’s honed techniques, ensures every job is completed safely, efficiently, and to the highest standard. A Proud Local History and Mission of Quality Established in 2021 in Potchefstroom, Imperial Specialist Cleaning Services began as a small project and quickly grew to serve communities across the North West Province. From the start, the team handled every job, big or small, with the same dedication to getting it done right. This unwavering focus on quality and reliability earned them loyal customers and a stellar reputation. Today, the company’s mission is to provide the best window-cleaning experience possible while keeping services accessible and affordable for all. Imperial achieves this through a highly-trained team, advanced equipment, and a customer-first mindset that delivers outstanding value. Quality and customer satisfaction remain non-negotiable values, every staff member goes the extra mile on each job. By consistently delivering exceptional results, Imperial Specialist Cleaning Services stands out as Potchefstroom’s premier cleaning provider. In the end, Imperial Specialist Cleaning Services has become the go-to choice for keeping Potchefstroom’s windows crystal clear, solar panels at peak efficiency, and carpets fresh and spotless. With their friendly expert team, cutting-edge tools, and unwavering commitment to quality, this company truly makes every property shine; glass so clean, be careful not to walk through it.

Golf is a unique sport with its own terms and rules, but it’s easy to grasp the basics. This guide will walk you through how golf is played, from the structure of a round to scoring, equipment, course layout, rules, and etiquette. Image: The Go-To Guy Creations Game Structure: Holes, Rounds, and Objective Golf is played on a course  divided into holes. Each hole  has a starting point (the tee) and an ending point (the cup on the green). The objective of golf is to hit a ball into a series of holes using as few strokes as possible . A stroke is any swing of the club at the ball (including misses). A standard round of golf  consists of playing 18 holes in order , although some courses have 9 holes (you can play them twice for 18). Each hole is different, some are shorter or longer, and each has a target number of strokes called “par” (more on that below). Players typically play in groups (often 2 to 4 players) and move from one hole to the next until all holes are completed. At the end of the round, each player adds up all their strokes, the player with the lowest total score (fewest strokes) is the winner (in stroke play, the most common scoring format). Number of Holes:  Most golf courses have 18 holes (a full round), though some have 9. In casual play, you might play 9 holes for a shorter game or all 18 for a full round . Each hole is numbered (Hole 1, Hole 2, etc.) and you play them in sequence. The Objective:  Get the ball from the tee into the hole in as few shots as possible. Every time you swing at the ball counts as a stroke. Unlike many sports, a lower score is better in golf, you want fewer strokes, not more. Flow of Play:  On each hole, all players tee off (hit a first shot). Then, the players proceed to where their balls landed and hit again, and so on. Typically, the player farthest from the hole hits next (this is traditional order of play called “away”). However, many casual golfers use “ready golf,” meaning whoever is ready can hit if it’s safe, to keep things moving . Each hole ends when every player has gotten their ball into the hole. Then you move to the next tee. After the last hole, everyone adds up their strokes for their final score. A typical round format is stroke play, where every stroke is counted and the lowest total wins. There are other formats (like match play, where you win or lose individual holes), but as a beginner you’ll likely start with simple stroke play scoring. Scoring: Par, Birdie, Bogey, and Other Terms One of the first things to learn is the scoring terminology. Each hole on the course has a par, which is the number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to need on that hole . Par is based on the hole’s length and difficulty. Most holes are par-3, par-4, or par-5 (meaning an expert should take 3, 4, or 5 strokes to finish the hole). For a full 18-hole course, the total par is often around 70–72 strokes in total . Your score on a hole is described in relation to par: Did you take the expected number of strokes, or more, or fewer? Here are the common scoring terms: Par:  The expected number of strokes to complete the hole. If a hole is par 4 and you take 4 strokes, that’s “making par.” Birdie:  One stroke under par for a hole . Example: On a par-4 hole, a score of 3 is a birdie. Eagle:  Two strokes under par . Example: On a par-5 hole, a score of 3 is an eagle. Eagles are less common and a sign of excellent play. Bogey:  One stroke over par . Example: On a par-3 hole, a score of 4 is a bogey. For beginners, bogey (or even double bogey) is a very common result on many holes. Double Bogey:  Two strokes over par . For instance, 6 strokes on a par-4 hole. (Triple Bogey, etc.:  Three over par, and so on – not a term you want to say often, but as a beginner it might happen!) Hole-in-One (Ace):  This is when you hit the ball from the tee directly into the hole in a single stroke . It usually occurs on par-3 holes (the shortest holes) because longer holes are nearly impossible to ace. A hole-in-one is very rare and exciting, even many lifelong golfers never get one. When keeping score, every stroke counts. After each hole, you write down the number of strokes you took. At the end of the round, you might also compare your score to the course par. For example, if the course par is 72 and you took 100 strokes, you’d be “+28” (28 over par). If you scored 90 on a par 72 course, you’re +18. Shooting under par is a major achievement; beginner golfers are usually over par for a round. But don’t worry, the main goal starting out is just to enjoy and improve gradually! Key point:  In golf, the lower the score, the better. This can be counterintuitive if you’re used to sports where a higher score wins. So if someone says they shot a 85 and their friend shot 95, the one who shot 85 had the better round. Types of Golf Clubs and Their Uses During a round, you get to use a variety of clubs from your golf bag. Different clubs are designed for different distances and situations. By rule, a player can carry up to 14 clubs in their bag, but as a beginner you won’t necessarily use that many. Clubs are categorized by type: Image: The Go-To Guy Creations Example of different golf clubs: A golf ball lies next to irons and a wood. Woods have large heads for long-distance shots, while irons have angled faces for mid-range shots. Woods:  These clubs have large heads and long shafts. They are designed for the longest shots. The term comes from historic clubs that were made of wood (modern ones are metal). The most common wood is the driver (1-wood)  used from the tee for maximum distance. Other woods (like a 3-wood or 5-wood) are used for long shots from the fairway. Woods have the lowest loft (angle of the clubface), which makes the ball go farther and lower. Beginners often use a driver on tee shots of par-4 and par-5 holes. Irons:  Numbered clubs (usually 3-iron through 9-iron) with thinner metal heads. Irons are used for mid-range distances as you get closer to the green. A 3-iron or 4-iron hits the ball long, while a 9-iron hits it shorter with a higher arc. Higher-numbered irons (7, 8, 9) are easier to hit and used for shorter approach shots, whereas low-numbered irons (3, 4, 5) can be challenging for beginners to hit consistently. Irons are very versatile for many situations on the course. Wedges:  Wedges are specialty irons with a very high loft (angled face) to hit the ball high in the air for short distances. They are used for short approach shots near the green or to hit out of sand bunkers. Common wedges include the pitching wedge, sand wedge, and lob wedge. For example, a sand wedge helps lift the ball up quickly to escape a bunker (sand trap), and a lob wedge can drop the ball softly onto the green. Wedges are your go-to clubs when you’re close to the green and need the ball to stop quickly. Hybrids:  Hybrids are a cross between woods and irons (they often replace the long irons like 3 or 4 iron). A hybrid has a head shape somewhat like a small wood, but is often numbered like the iron it replaces. They are easier to hit for many players and very useful for longer shots out of tougher lies (like from the rough). Many beginners prefer hybrids instead of difficult long irons because hybrids can get the ball airborne more easily. Putter:  The putter is a special club used on the green (or just off it) to roll the ball into the hole. It has a flat face and is not meant to lift the ball at all. This is the club you will use when you’re on the putting green surface, trying to tap the ball into the cup. Putters come in various shapes (blade or mallet styles) but all serve the same purpose of precise, low-speed rolls. You will learn which club to use based on how far you need the ball to go and the terrain. A general rule: use woods or hybrids for long distances (tee shots or long fairway shots), use irons for medium distances or control, use wedges for short distances or getting out of tricky spots (sand or rough near the green), and use the putter on the green. As you practice, you’ll get a feel for how far each club hits the ball. Don’t worry, even experienced golfers have to think carefully about club selection. Golf Course Layout: The Parts of a Hole Golf is played over a wide outdoor area with different features. Knowing the parts of a golf course will help you understand what to do when someone says “your ball is in the rough” or “aim for the fairway.” Each hole generally has the same components: Aerial view of a golf course: Each hole has a starting area (tee box), a main area of short grass (fairway), and the ending area with the hole (green). You’ll also notice bunkers (sand traps) and water hazards scattered around as obstacles. Tee Box (Teeing Ground):  The tee box is where every hole begins . It’s a flat area where you hit your first shot. There are usually tee markers that indicate where you can tee off between (often different colored markers for different skill levels or genders, with forward tees for beginners and back tees for advanced players). You are allowed to put your ball on a tee peg here (a small wooden or plastic peg) to elevate it for the first shot. The idea is to give you a perfect lie for your first shot. Fairway:  The fairway is the main stretch of short, well-manicured grass leading from the tee toward the green . It’s usually the target for your tee shot on longer holes. Hitting from the fairway is ideal because the grass is short, making it easier to hit the ball cleanly. Fairways can be 30–50 yards wide or more  and are generally surrounded by rough or other hazards. Aim to keep your ball in the fairway for the best chance of a good next shot. Rough:  The rough is the area outside the fairway with longer, thicker grass . If your ball goes into the rough, it’s harder to hit because the long grass can tangle your club. Courses often have varying levels of rough, immediately off the fairway might be a “first cut” semi-rough (a bit longer than fairway grass) and further out is the deep rough (very long grass or bushes). As a beginner, you will inevitably find yourself in the rough; just know the ball won’t travel as easily and you might need a more lofted club to punch it back onto the fairway. Green:  The green (or putting green) is the smooth, finely mowed area with the hole (cup). The grass on greens is cut extremely short so the ball can roll smoothly when you putt. On the green you’ll see the flagstick (a flag pole standing in the hole to mark its location). The goal is to get your ball onto the green so you can putt it into the hole. Around the green there is often a fringe or apron – slightly longer grass encircling the green, which is between the green and the fairway/rough. If your ball is on the fringe, you can often still putt or use a wedge to chip the ball onto the green. Hazards:  Hazards are obstacles or difficult areas on a golf hole designed to make it more challenging. There are two main types: bunkers and water hazards . Bunkers (also called sand traps) are pits filled with sand. They are usually placed near greens or along fairways. If your ball lands in a bunker, you have to hit out of the sand, which requires a special technique (often using a sand wedge). Water hazards  include ponds, lakes, streams, or even the sea on coastal courses. These are areas you obviously want to avoid – if your ball splashes into water, you usually can’t play it from there (unless it’s shallow and you get lucky). Instead, you take a penalty (explained below) and drop a new ball outside the water. Hazards are usually marked by colored stakes or lines (yellow or red for water hazards, for example). Other features you might encounter are trees, streams, bridges, hills, and out of bounds areas (marked by white stakes or fences indicating the ball is off the course property or in a prohibited area). But the basic idea is: hit from the tee, try to land on the fairway, avoid the rough and hazards, then hit to the green and putt into the hole. Each hole will have its own design and challenges, but these elements are common to all. Enjoy the scenery too, golf courses can be very beautiful places! Image: Landbou Gholf Club Common Rules and Penalties Golf has a lot of rules, but as a beginner you should focus on a few fundamental ones to keep things fair and fun. The rules are governed by the USGA and The R&A globally, but we’ll highlight the basics you’ll likely encounter: Play the Ball as It Lies:  One of the fundamental principles is that you generally have to play the ball wherever it comes to rest, without moving it or improving its position . That means no picking it up to get a better lie (except in specific allowed cases or with a penalty). If your ball is on a pine cone or in a bush, you usually have to deal with it as is. (There are exceptions for hazards or if local rules allow preferred lies, but as a beginner keep this principle in mind.) Tee Shot Rules:  On the tee, you must tee up between or behind (never in front of) the tee markers. You can tee the ball up on a tee peg. If you swing and miss the ball completely, that still counts as a stroke. If you accidentally knock the ball off the tee before a swing, you can replace it without penalty. Out of Bounds (OB):  If your ball goes out of bounds (marked by white stakes or beyond course fences) or you lose your ball in the trees somewhere and can’t find it, the rule is “stroke and distance” penalty . This means you add one penalty stroke to your score and you must replay the shot from where you hit last time. For example, if you hit your tee shot out of bounds, you take a penalty and hit another ball from the tee, that next shot will technically be your third stroke (1 for the initial shot, +1 penalty, now hitting 3). To avoid delaying the group behind you, many golfers will hit a “provisional ball” (a second ball) if they think the first might be OB or lost, that way if the first is lost, the provisional is already in play. As a beginner, do your best to keep it in play, but know the rule if it happens. Lost Ball:  Similar to OB, if you cannot find your ball after searching (the rules allow up to 3 minutes to look for it), it is treated like out of bounds. You must take a one-stroke penalty and replay a shot from the previous spot (stroke and distance). Always watch your ball flight carefully and pick a reference point (“it headed toward that tree”) to help find it. Your fellow players can help you search too. If you declare it lost, drop a new ball where you hit last and add a stroke. Penalties for Water Hazards:  If your ball goes into a water hazard (like a pond or creek) and is not playable, you typically take a one-stroke penalty  and drop a new ball at a designated drop area or at a point behind the hazard inline with where it went in. There are detailed options (marked by yellow or red stakes which determine how you drop), but a simple way: drop a ball behind the water (keeping the point where it crossed the hazard between you and the hole) and add a stroke. Many courses have drop zones for water hazards to make it easier. Again, the penalty is one stroke. So if you hit one in the water, your next shot is effectively +1 on your score. Unplayable Lie:  If your ball ends up in a very bad spot, say deep in a bush, up against a tree, or in a crack in the ground, you have the option to declare the ball “unplayable.” You are the only one who can decide your ball is unplayable (except in a water hazard, where you can’t declare unplayable; the water rules cover that). For an unplayable ball, you take a one-stroke penalty and then drop the ball to get relief . You have a few options: usually, either go back to where you hit the last shot and replay (stroke and distance), or drop within two club-lengths of the current ball position (no closer to the hole), or drop back on a line keeping the spot where the ball lies between you and the hole (as far back as you want). For beginners, the simplest is often to go back to the last spot and hit again with the penalty. Unplayable lies are there to save you from trying an impossible shot; it’s often worth the penalty to get a better position. No Grounding in Bunkers:  When your ball is in a sand bunker, a special rule is you cannot ground your club behind the ball or touch the sand during practice swings. Basically, set up and hit the sand on the strike, but you shouldn’t test or touch the sand beforehand. Also, you can’t remove loose impediments (like leaves) in a bunker under the rules (as of 2019, some rules changed allowing removal of loose impediments even in bunkers, but be careful not to move the ball). On the Green:  If your ball is on the green, you can mark it (place a small coin or marker right behind it) and pick it up to clean or get it out of the way for others’ putts. Just remember to put it back in the exact spot before your next putt. There are penalties for hitting another ball on the green with a putt, so marking balls that might be in the way is courteous (and in some cases required by rules). Also, don’t use your putter to smack the ball hard out of frustration, that can damage the green. When to Play and Pace:  A common courtesy rule (previously mentioned) is that the farthest ball from the hole is played first on each turn. This is to ensure safety (no one should be ahead of the person hitting). In casual play, if you’re ready and others aren’t, “ready golf” is fine, just be sure no one is in danger and you aren’t breaking the order in competitions. Always make sure the group ahead is well out of range before you hit. It’s never  okay to hit when there’s even a chance you might reach the players in front of you. Maximum Strokes:  For casual play, if you are really struggling on a hole, there’s no official rule to stop you, but for the sake of time many beginners will cap their strokes (like double par or something) and then just pick up the ball. For example, on a par 5, if you’ve already hit 10 shots and are not on the green yet, it’s okay to wave the white flag for that hole. In a friendly round, you can pick up and say you got a max score. This helps keep things moving and avoids frustration. Remember, penalties in golf are mostly one stroke (there is no such thing as a “two-stroke penalty” for hitting OB, etc., except in rare rules breaches). The main thing is if you lose a ball or hit it in a place you can’t play it, it’s typically stroke-and-distance (which feels like a two-stroke swing because you lose the distance and add a stroke). Golf rules can get complex, but these basic scenarios cover most issues beginners face. When in doubt, ask more experienced players or look up the specific rule. Most golfers are happy to help a newcomer with the rules. Basic Golf Etiquette Golf has a strong tradition of etiquette – it’s about showing respect to other players and taking care of the course. As a beginner, if you follow some simple etiquette guidelines, you’ll fit right in and be appreciated by others on the course: Safety and Consideration:  Never swing a club when someone is too close, and never hit a ball if people are within range ahead. If your shot might accidentally hit someone, yell “Fore!” loudly as a warning. (Yelling “Fore!” is a universal golf signal to watch out.)Also, stay aware of your surroundings so you don’t walk into another group’s line of play. Quiet During Shots:  When a player is preparing and making a stroke, remain still and quiet . Golf requires concentration. Avoid unnecessary noises (talking, phone rings) or movements when others are hitting. This includes on the tee, fairway, and especially on the putting green. Wait until they’ve hit before you start walking or talking. Order of Play and Pace:  As mentioned, traditionally the farthest from the hole plays first, and on the tee, the lowest score on the previous hole has the “honor” to tee off first. In casual play, don’t fuss too much over honor, focus on pace of play. Play “ready golf” (hit when you are ready and it’s safe) to keep things moving . Always try to keep up with the group in front of you. A good pace means you don’t spend too long between shots. Limit yourself to maybe one or two brief practice swings, and be ready to hit when it’s your turn. If you think your ball might be lost, hit a provisional ball to save time. And if you do spend time looking for a lost ball, remember the rule is 3 minutes max to search. If a group behind is consistently waiting on you, consider letting them “play through” (they go ahead of you). Respect the Course:  Take care of the course so it’s nice for everyone. Repair your divots and ball marks. A divot is the chunk of grass you might take out with an iron swing – either replace the turf or fill the divot with sand/seed mix if provided . On the green, if your ball makes a pitch mark (dent) when it lands, use a tee or repair tool to fix it. After hitting from a sand bunker, rake the bunker smooth for others . Basically, leave the course as you found it or better. Never drive carts onto greens or tees, and follow cart rules (like cart path only if wet). On the Green Etiquette:  When on the putting green, be mindful of the “line”  of other players’ putts. Don’t step directly in the path between someone’s ball and the hole (your footprints can affect the roll). Also, don’t cast a shadow over their line or distract them. It’s polite to mark your ball (with a small flat marker or coin) if it’s even remotely in someone’s line. Typically, the person furthest from the hole putts first, and continue until everyone has holed out. Avoid walking around excessively or making noise like jingling change in your pocket during another’s putt. Once you finish a hole, don’t linger on the green  – mark down scores on the next tee, so the group behind can play up . Let Faster Groups Play Through:  If your group is playing slowly (maybe searching for balls or just learning) and there’s a faster group behind you waiting, it’s courteous to wave them through to play ahead . Usually you’d do this at a logical point, like on a par-3 if you’re taking multiple shots to hit the green or anytime you notice backup behind you. Step aside, let them hit and move ahead, then continue your game. Everyone appreciates this. General Courtesy:  Introduce yourself to other players if you’re paired with strangers. Don’t be loud or throw clubs in anger – it’s okay to be frustrated, but keep it together (golf is hard for everyone!). Dress appropriately  according to the course rules (many courses have dress codes like collared shirts). Arrive on time for your tee reservation. And remember to have fun and be gracious . Encourage others, say “good shot!” when appropriate, and don’t be overly negative about your own game either. Every golfer hits bad shots, so keep a positive attitude. Golf etiquette can seem like a lot, but most of it boils down to respect for others and the course. If you’re ever unsure, just ask your playing partners, “Is it okay if I do this?”, they’ll usually help you out. By following these basic guidelines, you’ll contribute to the smooth, enjoyable rhythm of a round of golf. Golf is a game that blends physical skill with mental strategy, and it’s built on traditions of fairness and courtesy. With this overview, you know the essentials: how a round is structured, how scoring works, what the clubs do, the parts of the course, key rules, and etiquette. There’s a lot more to learn, but these fundamentals are your starting point. If your eager to go play a game of golf, try Landbou Gholf Club . Image: Landbou Gholf Club Most importantly, get out there and have fun. Every new player hits bad shots, laugh them off and celebrate the good ones. Enjoy the walk in the outdoors, the challenge of improving, and the camaraderie with your fellow golfers. Welcome to the game of golf, play well and have a great time!

As May draws to a close, Potchefstroom continues to deliver an exciting lineup of experiences ,from hands-on workshops and spiritual gatherings to wine tastings, business seminars, and high-energy entertainment. Whether you're nurturing a new hobby, networking in your field, or dancing to live rock ‘n roll, there's something for everyone this week. Here’s your full events guide for 24 to 30 May 2025: Beginner’s Photography Workshop – Pierre Vee Photography 🗓️When: 24 May 2025 📌Where: Potchefstroom (Location emailed after registration) ⏰Time: 10:00 – 13:00 🎟️Tickets: R650 per person 📞Contact: Book Online Join Pierre Vee and team for a hands-on DSLR photography session that covers camera basics, theory, and practical model shooting. Perfect for anyone wanting to break out of auto mode. Equipment provided if needed. Space is limited. Image : Facebook Deané Jacobs Kühn  CRC Potchefstroom Business Seminar – Dr. Allan Bagg 🗓️When: 24 May 2025 📌Where: CRC Potchefstroom, Dagbreek Estates ⏰Time: 08:30 – 11:00 🎟️Tickets: Free | Kids Care: R50 (ages 3–10) 📞Contact: 018 004 0011 | monica@crcpotch.co.za  | Register A powerful morning of leadership and insight with finance expert Dr. Allan Bagg. Food and drinks on sale, kids’ activities available. Image : Facebook CRC Potchefstroom Konings Kuns with Trudie Brooks 🗓️When: 24 May 2025 📌Where: 194 Beyers Naudé Ave, Miederpark ⏰Time: From 09:00 🎟️Tickets: R180 per person 📞Contact: Trudie – 082 461 3840 Explore spiritual growth through art in this guided painting session with acclaimed artist Trudie Brooks. A creative and healing journey awaits. Image : Facebook Agape Gemeente Potchefstroom Evening Entertainment – Hoër Volkskool Event 🗓️When: 24 May 2025 📌Where: 41 Kruis Street, Potchefstroom ⏰Time: Evening 🎟️Tickets: R250 per person 📞Contact: Angelique – 076 316 2324 Join Volkskool for a relaxed, music-filled evening to wind down the week with community, fun, and light-hearted entertainment. Image : Facebook Volkies Potch Potch Community Event 🗓️When: 24 May 2025 📌Where: 1 Piet Bosman Street, Potchefstroom ⏰Time: From 10:00 🎟️Tickets: R100 per person | Pay at the gate 📞Contact: On-site An inclusive community event open to all. Expect good vibes, good people, and relaxed activities in a family-friendly atmosphere. Image : Facebook Steelwings - Potchefstroom RC Flight Day – Potchefstroom RC Club 🗓️When: 24 May 2025 📌Where: Unnamed Road, Potchefstroom Rural 2, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa ⏰Time: Morning 🎟️Tickets: R100 pilots | Spectators free 📞Contact: At the venue See RC planes, drones, and helicopters in action. Spectator-friendly with food carts and a family atmosphere. Ideal for aviation enthusiasts. Image : Facebook Midwest Model Club Gimmie Kuier – Big Family Day Out 🗓️When: 24 May 2025 📌Where: NWU Joolplaas Van Der Hoff Park, Potchefstroom ⏰Time: All-day 🎟️Tickets: R350 adults | R150 children 12+ 📞Contact: Book Here Bring your picnic blanket and join Gimmie-familie for a big day of laughter, dancing, food, and fun. A festival atmosphere for all ages. Image : Facebook Potchefstroom Gimnasium Main Show Potchefstroom – Fashion & Performance Night 🗓️When: 24 May 2025 📌Where: 2 Kock Street, Central Potchefstroom ⏰Time: Evening 🎟️Tickets: R200 (1st row) | R180 (2nd) | R150 (3rd) 📞Contact: At venue Potchefstroom's top brands and performers come together for a night of fashion, flair, and celebration. A night to remember! Image : Facebook Art Tree Collab Artisan Market – 36 Piet Bosman Street 🗓️When: 25 May 2025 📌Where: 36 Piet Bosman Street, Potchefstroom ⏰Time: From 09:00 🎟️Tickets: Free entry 📞Contact: On-site Enjoy local food, treats, live music by Gert & Modz, a car boot sale, and craft stalls. A relaxed Sunday outing for the whole family. Image : Facebook Rooy Food Market Couch to 5K Beginner Program 🗓️When: 26 May – 16 July 2025 Where: Vida e Café, 46 Christo Meyer Street ⏰Time: Mondays & Wednesdays, 06:00 – 06:45 🎟️Tickets: R912.25 per person 📞Contact: Register Here Build your fitness and confidence over 8 weeks. A supportive, low-pressure environment for those starting from scratch. Image : Facebook Couch Potato Run Club  Broken n Free Live @ The Texas Bar 🗓️When: 30 May 2025 📌Where: 82 Steve Biko Street ⏰Time: 20:00 🎟️Tickets: Free entry 📞Contact: At venue Rock out with Broken n Free  and Zoe Venter  at one of Potchefstroom’s most legendary venues. No cover, just cold beer and big sound! Image : Facebook The Texas Bar Tractors & Heels – Women in Agriculture Seminar 🗓️When: 30 May 2025 📌Where: 82 Govan Mbeki Drive ⏰Time: From 09:00 🎟️Tickets: R350 per person 📞Contact: Book via Quicket An empowering event bringing women in agri-business together to connect, learn, and grow. Proudly supported by Coca-Cola Beverages SA. Image : Facebook Black Cherrie Management Holdings Winter Wine Walk – NG Kerk Miederpark 🗓️When: 30 May 2025 📌Where: 22 Aarbei Avenue, Miederpark ⏰Time: From 17:00 🎟️Tickets: R250 (includes gift bag & glass) 📞Contact: 079 495 1836 Enjoy wines from 16 vineyards at this cozy evening walk. Limited tickets available at the church office or Suidsentrum Blue Bottle. Image : Facebook NG Kerk Miederpark  MooiRivier Mall Bridal Expo 🗓️When: 30 May – 1 June 2025 📌Where: MooiRivier Mall, Potchefstroom ⏰Time: Shopping hours 🎟️Tickets: Free entry 📞Contact: At mall A 3-day bridal fair featuring local vendors, dresses, catering, photographers and more — everything you need to plan your dream wedding. Image : MooiRivier Mall Make the Most of Every Moment in Potch This final week of May brings a wealth of experiences to explore , whether you're sharpening your skills, celebrating love, enjoying music, or supporting local businesses. Potchefstroom is alive with community, creativity, and connection. Don’t miss your chance to take part!

The team from Methodist Homes’ Samuel Broadbent House is trading in retirement home tranquillity for tee boxes and turf. They are hosting their Annual Golf Day on Friday, 13 June 2025 . This event will unfold at the Potchefstroom Country Club. It promises a morning of friendly competition and some much-needed mid-year unwinding. No golfing pedigree is required, making it accessible for everyone. Event Details: Who, What, Where, When Golfers will swing into action at 10:00 AM sharp. A shotgun start ensures everyone gets off the mark simultaneously. No early birds or back nine slackers here! The format is IPS (Individual Points Stableford) . This means everyone plays their own ball and scores based on how far under (or over) par they go. It's simpler than it sounds once you're on the green. This format keeps things social, helping to maintain friendships. Venue: Potchefstroom Country Club Date: Friday, 13 June 2025 City: Potchefstroom Tee-off Time: 10:00 AM Format: IPS (Individual Points Stableford) Entry Fees and Sponsorship Options Participation comes at a fair swing: R2000 for a 4-ball team R500 for solo players (yes, halfway house snacks are included) R2500 if you're feeling generous and want to sponsor a hole. This option includes a 4-ball and bonus bragging rights. It’s a solid mix of social sport and light sponsorship. This is ideal for those who want to sneak in some networking between drives. Golf Carts, Prizes, and Good Vibes Golf carts can be booked at the Pro Shop by calling 018-297-7875 . There’s talk of great prizes up for grabs, though the organizers are keeping mum on specifics. This is likely to avoid the golf club version of a stampede. Booking Details and Contacts For bookings or further information, you’ll want to chat with Theodor. Her phone number is 082-785-9248 . She is the girl with all the answers. She probably even knows who’s bringing the best snacks! Contact Summary: Bookings/Queries: Theodor – 082-785-9248 Pro Shop (Cart bookings): 018-297-7875 Venue Address: 66 du Plooy Street, Potchefstroom The Perfect Blend of Fun and Networking Whether you’re a serious player with polished irons or just someone who sees the golf course as a moving picnic, this is your kind of Friday. Golf Day at Potch is shaping up to be a cracking way to meet people and show off (or hide) your swing. This event provides a unique opportunity to unwind while contributing to a good cause at the same time. The atmosphere is set to be festive and engaging. Be sure to gather your friends and mark your calendars. You won't want to miss this chance for a fun day under the sun, all while supporting a worthy initiative. Don’t forget to check your golf equipment and practice your swing! Prepare for a day filled with laughter, great conversations, and perhaps even a few friendly rivalries on the green. It’s all about enjoying the game and building connections with like-minded individuals. Join us for what promises to be an unforgettable day of golf! If you're excited about networking opportunities and sharing experiences, this event is just what you need. Sign up today and be part of the fun!

Forget your usual gym flex. If your arms are worth their weight in biceps, Club Vertigo wants to see them in action. Potchefstroom's strongest (and maybe cockiest) are squaring off for the Vertigo Arm Wrestling Competition . The event runs from 30 May to 6 June, with the finals heating up the venue on 7 June. And no, this isn't just about pride. There’s R30,000 in prize money on the line—enough to fuel protein shakes for a year. Or you can just brag forever about your epic victory. The Details: Where, When, and How Much? Venue: 223 Walter Sisulu Lane, Potchefstroom Dates: 30 May – 6 June (Qualifiers) Finals: 7 June Time: 8 PM – 10 PM (or 9 PM – 10 PM, depending on who’s holding the stopwatch) Entry Fee: R100 per arm, because, of course, each limb is a separate warrior. Eligibility: 18+, sorry kids. What’s Up for Grabs? In this competition, you can win big. Here’s the breakdown of the prize money: Men's Division: R10,000 per arm Women’s Division: R5,000 per arm So yes, there’s more than enough cash up for grabs to make a scene at the next braai. Who’s Running the Show? The event’s being hosted by Vertigo Potchefstroom. There’s some muscle behind it too, thanks to sponsors like Kraken Strength Club and Pain & Gain. These names tell you exactly what to expect—strength, competition, and a whole lot of excitement. How to Enter or Just Be Nosy If you want to participate or learn more about the event, do not hesitate to reach out. Email: info@clubvertigo.co.za Phone/WhatsApp: 075-490-6468 They’re pretty responsive. You can ask questions about the event, like where to park or whether your gym membership counts as training. Why You Should Attend the Vertigo Arm Wrestling Competition Experience the Excitement This competition is not just for those who want to compete. It's a perfect opportunity to witness exciting matches. The atmosphere will be electric, filled with energy and enthusiastic supporters. Whether you’re entering for fame, cash, or just to see how long your mate lasts on the table, the Vertigo Arm Wrestling Competition is the place to be. Show Your Support If you're not competing, cheer loudly from the sidelines. Support friends, family, or even your favorite competitors. The community vibe will make this event even more enjoyable. Train Your Own Skills Even if you're not vying for the prize, attending this competition is a great chance to learn. Watch the techniques of experienced wrestlers. Perhaps you'll find inspiration to take your own training to a new level. Join a Community of Strength Enthusiasts This event gathers plenty of strength enthusiasts. It's not just about competition; it’s also about building community. Engage with fellow arm wrestlers, share tips, and make new friends who share a passion for strength sports. Get Social Capture moments and share them on social media. Tag fellow competitors and spectators. Use the opportunity to widen your social network. You might meet some future training partners or competitors who inspire you. Conclusion In summary, the Vertigo Arm Wrestling Competition promises to be an unforgettable event. Whether you choose to compete or just enjoy the spectacle, you’re in for a thrilling experience. Mark your calendars—from 30 May to 7 June —and prepare for a week of strength and competition. Don’t miss out on the chance to see who will take home the prize. Will it be you? Or perhaps your friends? Get ready to assert your strength, and let’s make this a memorable event for everyone involved!

The 9th of August 2025 is shaping up to be more than just a public holiday, thanks to the return of the Women’s Wine Gala at Pont de Val. Held on the banks of the Vaal River, the evening promises a heady mix of wine, live music, gourmet snacks and, of course, the shared joy of being fabulously female. Wine, Canapés and the Sweet Sound of Bingo In true Pont de Val style, this year’s gala isn’t just about sipping Chardonnay and smiling politely. There’s pink bubbly on arrival, gourmet canapés floating about, a full-on wine-paired dinner, and, hold onto your heels, wine bingo. With prizes. It’s classy, it’s fun, and it might even get competitive. Guests will gather at Belle Vue, the venue’s elegant events space, dressed in their most elegant gear (because the dress code says so). Expect a few “indulgent surprises” along the way, that’s all they’re saying for now. Judging by past events, it could be anything from chocolate fountains to secret dance floors. Or both. Tickets and Table Talk There are a few ticket options to suit your level of enthusiasm (and energy): R995 gets you into the gala itself. R4,490 includes the gala, a stayover, and breakfast for two. No need to worry about who’s driving. R4,350 secures a table booking for four, in case you prefer your wine with a side of besties. You can book your spot online via Pont de Val’s Events page . No Speeches, Just Sparkle This isn’t a sit-down-and-clap-for-hours type of gala. There’s no keynote speaker to politely pretend to listen to. It's a celebration, of women, of wine, and of surviving the first eight months of the year with (some) dignity intact. The only agenda? Good food, good wine, and a great time. Women’s Day at Pont de Val is about raising a glass, not eyebrows, and if the past years are anything to go by, the hangovers will be worth it.

The stage is set for a thrilling encounter as Kayo Stars Football Club, famously known as The Queens , prepares to face off against D’Scorpion in the next round of the Dr KK Regional Engen Cup Playoffs. The much-anticipated match will take place on Sunday, 13 July 2025, with kick-off scheduled for 12:00 PM at the EXT 2 Sports Ground, Tšhing Location, Ventersdorp. Image: Kayo Stars Football Club A Crucial Knockout Showdown This matchup marks a critical point in the Engen Knockout Challenge, with both teams fighting for a place in the next phase of the regional playoffs. Kayo Stars FC, representing a powerhouse of local talent, is determined to maintain momentum after their strong tournament start. Now, all eyes are on their showdown with D’Scorpion, a team known for fast-paced counterattacks and disciplined defense. The Kayo Queens are expected to bring their signature flair and unity onto the pitch. With outstanding performances in previous rounds, the team remains focused and ready to seize this opportunity on their journey toward provincial glory. More Than a Game Beyond the competitive spirit, the event serves as a celebration of community, empowerment, and the growing influence of women’s football in South Africa. Local supporters are encouraged to attend, cheer on their favorite players, and participate in a vibrant day of sport and unity. Event Highlights Match: Kayo Stars FC vs. D'Scorpion Tournament: Dr KK Regional Engen Cup Playoffs (Knockout Challenge) Date: Sunday, 13 July 2025 Kick-Off Time: 12:00 PM Venue: EXT 2 Sports Ground, Tšhing Location, Ventersdorp Admission: Open to all supporters and fans The Call to the 12th Player Coach, players, and staff are calling on their most vital ally, the fans. The Queens urge all football lovers, residents, and local partners to come dressed in team colors, bring energy to the stands, and help create a roaring atmosphere that inspires the squad to victory.

Die Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk Grimbeekpark gooi weer ‘n basaar en hierdie keer is dit op Saterdag, 2 Augustus, reg op die hoek van Zeederbergstraat en Paryslaan in Baillie Park, Potchefstroom. Dis een van daai dae waar niemand vir kos hoef te worry nie, bring net jou kontant, ‘n groot appetite, en sommer die hele familie saam. Gratis toegang, maar die kos sal jou laat betaal... van lekkerte Jy’t reg gelees, toegang is gratis. Maar as jy eers daai pannekoek en warm skyfies ruik, gaan jy jouself moet keer om nie alles op die spyskaart te probeer nie. Op die spyskaart is daar: Sosaties en hamburgers, reg van die rooster af. Kerrie en rys, en vetkoek , want wat is 'n kerkbasaar sonder bietjie kerriegeur? Warm skyfies en vars vleis, vleis wat nie die dag voor gister geslag is nie. Pannekoek en poeding, vir daai een tannie wat altyd sê sy eet nie kos by funksies nie, net nagereg. Dit begin 09:00, moenie laat slaap nie Die hekke maak 09:00 oop, maar as jy jou plek in die pannekoek-ry wil secure, stel ons voor jy’s daar betyds. En moenie worry oor parkeerplek nie, Potch is nie Sandton nie. Bring Ouma, bring Oupa, bring daai een vriend wat altyd honger is Die uitnodiging is eenvoudig: Kom kuier saam. Dié is nie een van daai fancy "food markets" waar alles R90 kos vir drie blare op 'n bord nie. Dis ‘n straight-up basaar soos in die ou dae, met kerkklanke, kindergelagg en mense wat jou groet of hulle jou ken of nie. Hierdie is nie net ‘n basaar nie. Dis ‘n community day, waar jy dalk ‘n ou skoolmaat raakloop, of ten minste iets te eet kry wat nie in plastiek gekom het nie. So, skryf dit neer, sit ‘n reminder op jou phone, en kom loer in by NHK Grimbeekpark op 2 Augustus. Jy’t niks om te verloor nie, behalwe dalk jou dieet.