Spoornet Book-offs

According to Selby Mdu Dlamini, acting Senior Manager Communications & Media, Central Region for Transnet Freight Rail, this will be introduced nationally.

The introduction of the new book- off model was preceded by an intensive consultation between Transnet Freight Rail senior management and the Unions representing the employees affected.

"Furthermore, road shows were conducted jointly by Labour representatives and management representatives to brief employees on the new system. The new model will also run nationally, including Ladysmith Depot, on a pilot basis," added Dlamini.

Transnet Freight Rail constantly reviews its operational processes with a view to improving safety, efficiencies as well as satisfaction of customer needs.

"We previously operated our trains on a "cross point" system which entailed, amongst other things, the driver sleeping at home even, if the train had not reached customer destination. A train being stopped/ parked in the middle of the journey.Adversely affects the turn around of our assets, resulting in the low utilisation of our assets."

According to Dlamini, there were three cross points also known as hand-over points, namely at Lions River, Danskraal and Vooruitsig Stations. "Each time our drivers did a hand-over, it resulted in time lost".

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Festival Of Chariots

The highlight of the festival was the chariot parade. The chariot was pulled through the streets of Ladysmith by vibrant and ecstatic kirtans.

The Chariot festival brings people together to celebrate the victory of God and the Brotherhood of man. The climax of the festival is when everyone pulls the chariot together as the servants of Jagannatha, the Lord of the universe. Lord Jagannatha is the abstract deity of Lord Krishna.

Jagat means' world' and Natha means 'Lord'. Jagannatha is the Lord of the Universe, the Lord of everyone and therefore, can relate to anyone. The form of Lord Jahannatha is identical with the eternal blissful and youthful form of Lord Krishna.

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Bergville To Ladysmith

This year, 350 runners raced the Arthur Cresswell Bergville to Ladysmith, being one of the most popular events on the KwaZulu Natal racing calendar. Runners took to the road, running not only for the winning glory, but personalizing their best time on route.

The chairperson of the LAC thanked the sponsors, for without whom, it would not have been financially viable for LAC to continue to host this race. Amongst the sponsors were MTN, who come on board two years ago and sponsored the prize money as well as cell phones, T-shirts and goodie bags.

Department of Sport and Recreation, Mascor Toyota, MSC, Sharaj Ambulance services, IPPS Security were also thanked for their contributions. The LAC also sent a hearty thank you to Mr Steele from RTI and his team.

It is a milestone for Steele, who has been involved in the Bergville marathon for 22 years. Canvas and Tent, Maj Els and Capt Thirion from 5SAI also made valuable contributions.

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Virginity Testing Among Boys

Virginity testing is not just for the young girls anymore but teenage boys are also being tested. Virginity testing has been going on for years in Madadeni, KwaMashu in North Durban, Ixopo and Hlanganani. It is believed that these tests are done on a monthly basis to ensure that the boys are safe from sexually transmitted diseases.

Mr Reggie Khumalo from Isivivane Sama Siko, the organisation that promotes African traditional cultures, said that he has learned the methods of how to test young boys from being tested himself when he was a young boy. The Isivivane Sama Siko offers to train older men on how to test the young boys.

The virginity test is an old and wellknown tradition. When Mr Khumalo is asked to explain how the test is done, he said that boys have hymen, a white lacy skin on the foreskin. He explained that if the foreskin on the penis slips away easily it means that the hymen is gone, the boy is not a virgin anymore.He believes that when the foreskin is hard to move and painful it means that, the boy is still a virgin.

Mr Khumalo said that there are other methods to check for instance; if the boy urinates straight up into the air he is a virgin, if his urine sprays he has engaged in sexual intercourse. Mr Khumalo said that an expert male virginity tester could determine virginity by looking at the colour of the knees.If a man's knees are dark, he is not a virgin.

Newcastle Express approached AnaMarie Winterburn, a registered nurse, form the Provincial Hospital. She commented about Mr Khumalo's virginity testing. She said that men do not have a hymen and if men are hygienic and retract their foreskin to clean the penis, it can lead to the foreskin slipping back easily and masturbating also causes the foreskin to move more easily.

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Power Shut Down Over Weekend

If you are planning a sumptuous lunch this Sunday, we strongly suggest you give that idea a miss.

Due to Eskom meeting electrical supply demands over the Easter weekend, the power giant has decided to restore balance by cutting supply to residents. The first town to suffer such a cut is Newcastle.

Between Friday, 4 April and Sunday, 6 April, Newcastle will be plunged into total darkness. Tina Moodley, a Dundee resident, said she was disappointed with Eskom's new plan. " My granddaughter's 1st birthday is on Saturday and we have been planning her party for months now. This news means we have to phone and cancel the jumping castle, water slide and the rest. I am very heartbroken about the whole affair," a distraught Moodley said. Mark Vermuelen, owner of a local grocery store urged residents to stock up on candles and gas. "Residents should buy enough candles to last through the entire period. We are not sure if power will actually be restored on Monday morning, so they should prepare in advance.

I am a big Manchester United fan and I am very upset that I will have to travel to Durban to watch the match at my friend's house", Vermuelen said.

A spokesperson from the provincial hospital said that they have bought two new generators in the event of the power not being restored in the early hours of Monday morning. "We have taken the necessary precautions to cater for the hospital's enormous power demand. If the extra generators cannot cope with the demand, we will be forced to transfer patients to Ladysmith provincial hospital.

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