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  1. 4zero68

    Road Closures in Phoenix!

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    Phoenix residents are urged to take note of road closures that have been taking place since 2 November and will continue until 16 November as construction continues on the Northern Aqueduct Augmentation (NAA).

    Eastbury intersection will be closed for rectification works, as well as the re-tarring of the intersection during these two weeks. There will be detailed signage of all detours available on site.

    Motorists will be able to turn left onto Phoenix Highway, then perform a U-turn at Grove End intersection to continue down Phoenix Highway to the R102. Phoenix Highway heading towards Eastbury will be open with motorists asked to perform a U-turn at R102 and back up Phoenix Highway. Alternatively, motorists can turn onto Longbury Drive.

    The road closures are connected to the laying of a final section of pipe towards Phoenix Reservoir near Phoenix Highway.

    This forms part of the second phase of the project which includes a 6km section of pipeline that begins at Duffs Road and ends at Phoenix 2 Reservoir and a 16km segment of pipeline that extends from this reservoir to Waterloo and uMhlanga, with a feed planned to the new Blackburn Reservoir.

    The R250 million NAA forms part of eThekwini Municipality’s long-term plans implemented to alleviate water shortages being experienced in areas north of Durban. The current Northern Aqueduct has reached capacity because of the growth in these areas and the construction of the NAA will provide sufficient network capacity to deliver to areas that need it most.

    The construction of the bulk water infrastructure is making steady progress, however, delays have been experienced because of rectification works which will certify all quality standards are met. A project of this magnitude means a number of safety and quality specifications must be adhered to, ensuring the pipe integrity is not comprised.

    Head of eThekwini Water and Sanitation (EWS), Ednick Msweli, said the construction of the NAA, which comprises seven individual projects, is extremely complex and the inconvenience was an unfortunate necessity which would provide residents with water supply.

    “We urge residents to take note of the traffic diversions and sincerely thank them for their ongoing patience during the finalisation of this project,” said Msweli. -Keeran Sewsunker
  2. 4zero68

    Nurses to the Rescue

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    Nursing students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal bring joy to the lives of psychiatric outpatients at the Starwood Clinic in Phoenix.


    The project saw the students teach enthusiastic outpatients the craft of creating jewellery using plastic beads. It was part of the practical requirements for completion of their degrees.


    The outpatients met once a week at the clinic and the workshops lasted for about half a day.


    There was no institutional funding for the project so students embarked on fundraising programmes, including the sale of samoosas and cupcakes at the clinic.


    Upon completion this week, participants were presented with a certificate and a piece of jewellery, personalised with their names.

     

    Charlotte Engelbrecht, a lecturer at the Department of Nursing at UKZN said students were expected to complete a community outreach programme as part of their fourth year curriculum.


    Engelbrect was the students’ supervisor.


    “These students identified the Starwood Psychiatric Clinic as a beneficiary . They chose beadwork as it was a way to keep those undergoing treatment at the clinic gainfully occupied. Working with beads requires them to be focused and precise and makes for excellent therapy. Working with the bright colours also stimulated them. We hope they will continue with the beadwork on their own, once the project is finished,” she said.


    Ronika Ganess, a nursing sister at the clinic, who is also responsible for student liaison, said the project was very beneficial.


    “This project is important for creating mental health awareness. We are always seeking ways to help remove the stigma attached to mental illness in our communities. Most importantly, the participants themselves have been greatly enriched by the experience. Their self-esteem has been boosted,” she said.


    Ganess said the outpatients could earn extra income by selling the products they created.


    The three students, Poovasha Naicker, Wendy Voigt and Stephanie Joubert  “thoroughly enjoyed” the project.


    Joubert said the project was a “good” learning experience.


    “I really enjoyed it. The participants were very excited and positive. They felt valued by participating. Personally I did not expect it to be so rewarding but it turned out to be wonderful,” she said.
     
    One of the participants, Amrish Ramkisson said the project had “changed” his life.


    He said he was a very negative person who mostly stayed at home. The project brought colour into his life, he said.


    Bubbly and vibrant Shamla Chetty, a former school teacher, said she was initially “afraid”.


    “I have a problem with my hands shaking when I am nervous. I was worried at first because I had completed very few keyrings. Then I committed myself to improve and steadily gained more confidence,” she said. –Keeran Sewsunker/Newsroom Media

  3. 4zero68

    Clayfield Businessman held at Gunpoint

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    A Clayfield businessman has recounted how he was held up at gunpoint before being robbed recently. Bilawal Khan says his business is attacked on an ongoing basis.


    Bilawal Khan said he was at the convenient store on evening last week when the incident happened.


    “My dad was at the counter and I was inside the shop. The guy walked in pointing a gun at my father. He then pointed to me before placing the gun against my head. My dad told him not to shoot and take anything he wants. He then robbed me of my Blackberry cellphone and went to the till and removed the cash.


    “It was strange that he also wanted soft pack Stuyvesant cigarretes-only softpacks. Maybe he smoked them. Police have told us that this is common at several robberies in the Phoenix area,” he said.


    Khan said then ran out of the shop and escaped.


    “We have guns and we will not be afraid to use them. I would have shot that robber if I had it with me at the time.


    Khan’s stepmum Ayesha Naidoo said about two weeks ago she had to defend herself by using pepper spray on an alleged robber.


    “We are always being attacked. This is the second time in 2 months that we have been attacked.


    Police spokesperson said Lt. Louise Naidoo said a case of robbery was being investigated.

    Article Courtesy of looklocal.co.za-Phoenix Verulam Tongaat

     


  4. 4zero68

    Phoenix Online 2013-05-08 09:23:00

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    A Phoenix teenager had to be airlifted to hospital after being run down by a speeding motorist at an intersection on the Phoenix Highway this morning.Eyewitness reports suggest the boy was on his way to school when the accident happened. The eyewitne...
  5. 4zero68

    HAVENPARK GIRLS IN HOAX YOU TUBE BRAWL

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    Havenpark Secondary School principal Doctor Peppy Maraj "almost collapsed" when he found out a a video of two Grade 10 girls fighting on school premises had been posted on social networking site You Tube.Speaking to 4Zero68 Dr. Maraj said he had called...
  6. 4zero68

    SUNFORD SPORTING HITS THE GROUND RUNNING

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    Officials and sponsors of Sunford Sporting at the Chartford GroundsSunford Sporting has achieved a milestone by becoming one of the first clubs in the area to "adopt" its municipal home training ground.According to club chairperson Pathmanathan Govende...
  7. 4zero68

    THIS IS HOW WE TREAT OUR DOGS

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    A Grove End pet owner is to face the wrath of the law for alleged animal cruelty after they continuously chained their dog and neglected it. 
    Speaking to Phoenix Tabloid Lisa Roberts, Phoenix Inspector for the SPCA said she was tipped off about the case by a neighbour and immediately responded. 
    "The woman's excuse was that the door was locked, basically her husband had locked her in the home. However it was but it was discovered that the other door was open," she said. 
    The dog was removed from the premises and examined by a veterinarian.
    "However it was too far gone and had to be put down. In all my years as a field officer this is one of the worst cases of animal neglect I have seen. We believe the animal was kept in that condition for quite a long period of time,'" she said. 
    "There is a real problem in the Phoenix area. We receive an average of four call outs per day. This is blatant animal cruelty," she said.  
    Charges were subsequently laid with the police.
    Roberts said she was awaiting a court date fro the case from the prosecuting authorities.
    According to SPCA marketing manager, Caroline Smith the society had recently responded to an "unprecedented" number of calls regarding dogs chained up in the Phoenix area.  “We will prosecute these cases.  This is a serious offence and these pet owners could receive a maximum of three years imprisonment and/or a fine of R60 000.”   said Smith.
     “Not only is chaining your dog illegal, it is also very cruel.  It is unimaginable the pain and distress caused to the pet, not to mention what a sad existence prevailed at the end of a rope day in and day out.  We will be laying charges of cruelty against these owners. We need to make people realise that dogs are sentient creatures.  This means that they feel pain and emotion, just like we as human beings do.  Would a mother chain up her child?" she added
    Smith said the SPCA has seen "countless" cases of chains cutting into and becoming embedded in dog’s necks, leading to infections and maggots breeding in these open wounds.  In some cases dogs that are tied up attempt to jump over a wall, and strangle themselves, Smith said.
    Smith said dog owners should have a fully fenced property.  
    A running chain is only acceptable as a temporary measure while walls or fences are being erected, she said.   
     Smith appealed to concerned members of the public to please report any ill treatment of animals to the SPCA Inspectorate.  “You are the ears and eyes of the SPCA.  Without you we cannot improve the welfare of these creatures,” she said.
    The SPCA can be contacted on 031 5796500. 
    After hours emergencies 083 212 6103.
  8. 4zero68

    PHOENIX BOMBSHELL SEEKS FHM GLORY

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    Phoenix lass Stacey Naicker is hoping to grab mens' magazine FHM's coveted sexiest woman in South Africa title.  FHM magazine runs the contest annually and features the top 100 woman in South Africa in special edition later in the year. Speak...
  9. 4zero68

    GREENBURY SECONDARY TOP ACHIEVERS

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    Greenbury Secondary principal with top student Mehendi Jugdhaw(left) and second placed Kirstin Leigh GovindasamyGreenbury Secondary School celebrated its matric academic success at a grand awards evening function last Thursday. According to govern...
  10. 4zero68

    SASTRI PARK HONOURED AT MATRIC AWARDS

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     Ethekwini Municipality Mayor Councillor J Nxumalo and Councillor Patrick Pillay congratulates the Principal of Shastripark Secondary Mr T. Marimuthoo for the most improved results in 2013, also in the picture is the top matriculant 2012 Miss Sarisha Chetty.
    Shastripark Secondary walked away with the  most improved school  award at last week's Mayoral Matric Awards.
    Minority Front Councillor Patrick Pillay, who is also a council executive committee member present said that he was very proud when the Shastripark Secondary School in his Ward 51 was given an award in the category for the most improved matric results for 2012 in Ethekwini Municipality by the Mayor.
    "The Principal, educators, SGB and the pupils must be commended for this great achievement. Shastripark Secondary is well positioned to go to greater heights and I wish them well in the future. I want to also encourage all pupils to strive for great heights and study hard, because education is the only root to success, "said Pillay.
    Mayor James Nxumalo, in his keynote address, stressed the point of education being the responsibility of learners, teachers and the community, “We as parents in our communities should encourage schools and learners to always strive to be the best in order to ensure that mediocrity is foreign to their minds, he said,"
    ”He also emphasised that it is of utmost importance to always recognise and reward excellence in order to motivate future generations to achieve greater heights in their academic endeavours. Nxumalo thanked the private sector for contributing to youth development, adding that the Municipality had not spent taxpayers money for the function. 
  11. 4zero68

    WHETSTONE LIBRARY ROOF COLLAPSES

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     Phoenix businessman Deva Chetty shows the collapsed roof of the Whetstone Library.

    Businessman Deva Chetty, who owns a a building adjacent to the library said it was about 8pm on Tuesday night when he heard a crashing sound. 
    "People were sreaming and when I came on the balcomy of my bar to investigate I saw the roof collapsing in front of me. It was a scary site. What if this happened while people were inside?,"
    Stanley Moonsamy, ANC parliamentary constituency officer, whose office is in Chetty's building said:"Thank God there was no one inside. We must question the commitment of the municipality officials in regard to infrastrcuture maintenance. This was a ticking timebomb."
    Moonsamy said the Whetstone Library held "important" historical value as leading figures like, Pravin Gordhan, Valli Moosa, Ebrahim Ebrahim and Curnick Ndlovu had adressed meetings at the library.
    Meanwhile eThekwini Municipality had already sent out a team to assess the situation.
    The municipality confirmed there was a guard on duty at the time but there no injuries. 
    Deputy Head of Libraries and Heritage Department, Guy Redman said site  inspections were currently being in order to determine the root cause of the problem.
    “We have Inspectors and the Engineers doing the inspection and based on their report we will be able to determine if the building is still structurally sound. In the same block we have the General Activities Room that was not affected which is also being inspected. We want to establish if it will be possible to operate from there in the meantime. The Inspectors and Engineer will advise us, if that is not possible we will provisionally close the library to make way for the refurbishment of the structure,” said Redman.
    Residents with books due should return them to the neighbouring libraries like Stonebridge, Caneside, Shastri Park, and Stanmore.

  12. 4zero68

    KEEPING PHOENIX SAFE

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    Basil Kotelo and Ntokozo Gumede are keeping the Phoenix central business district safeNtokozo Gumede and Basil Kotelo take their jobs very seriously. The pair are helping keep the central business district safe as part of the council's Safer Cities pro...
  13. 4zero68

    Reckless Taxi Caught!

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    Minority Front councillor Solly Singh is "appalled" at the reckless driving by a Phoenix taxi on a busy intersection last week.Singh said he was driving on Hannaford Road approaching the Phoenix Highway last week when the alleged incident occurred."Ini...

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