Rhino Rally -South Africa

So, continuing on my previous post about the road trip myself and LuckyL undertook:-
We arrived in Harrismith around lunchtime, Friday 28th Sept. Paid our entrance fee, made our way down to the Rally Office, got our badges, and then drove around the very extensive camp site, looking for the ideal place to set up camp.



Some places were too far from the "events" center, some too near, some too close to the water (dams and stream), but eventually we found a spot which we liked. It happened to be right next door to a section cordoned off for sole use by the Roadhogs, a bike club I used to ride for many, many years ago.

WE DECIDED TO PITCH THE TENT UNDER A SMALL TREE - FOR SHADE

So, we set up camp. Put up the tent and gazebo, unloaded the bikes, and took a ride around. Not long, and we saw the weather start to come up, so we went back to the car, got in, and decided to have a nap while the rain fell. Rain, hail, and incredible wind!
With the wind blowing later, we moved the trailer next to the tent, and tied the gazebo down onto it with ropes. However, with the storm that came over, the gazebo "lost" two of its legs, so we had to make a different plan.

This was plan B. Relocate the tent on top of the trailer, and the gazebo, with 2 long legs, 2 broken legs over the trailer, ans tie the whole thing down onto thew trailer.

 This was now, in effect, a caravan! We put our bags with clothing into the tent, and slept in the back of the car - double bed mattress and all! No way I was going to risk being blown away, rained on in another freak storm. This configuration held up well, and drew many comments from passing bikers!

Fallen tree.....

The storm that came up suddenly was so bad that it blew a tree down, crushing 2 tents (luckily uninhabited at the time), and and crushed some poor sods motorbike!!!

Smashed bike.....

As soon as it was over, we went back down to the events area. Pretty soon the wind came up again. At some point it blew away a few gazebos. Then it destroyed the tent of one of the stalls. I quickly ripped the back panels off of the next rent, as this was also going to take a flight, and let the wind blow through it. LuckyL and I spent some time helping the guys salvage what they could, and then left them to rebuild their stand best they could.

The remains of the structure of some poor sods gazebo - or 2!

We made our way around, checking out the damage to the various stalls, and some of the private tents. Eventually we ended up at the bar counter, inside a massive marquis. Just outside,some guys were trying to better secure the tent poles / ropes, with some of the 1m and 2 m long rope pegs having pulled out of the ground!
I bought a sheet of tickets, so that we could get some drinks. The wind was, by now, challenging the massive ropes and long tent poles. I went inside, much to LuckyL's dismay, to get some drinks. I bought a sheet of tickets (they can't trust their barmen with cash) and at that point the first main tent pole lifted off the ground, and gave way! He went outside - calling me. I demanded a round of drinks. The barman and lady were shocked and stunned - well, was I really going to spend who knows how much time without a drink if this tent collapsed? The second pole lifted off the ground. LuckyL came running back in :
"Dad, lets get out of here man, before it comes down on you head!" Coming, I said, picking up our drinks and following him out. Outside I realized this tent was in trouble. We stood to one side while the wind lashed at it - people were running into the tent to get the bikes out that someone had parked inside - cause they can!
 LuckyL did the honorable thing - opened a beer and filmed the tent collapsing! I will get the video from him and post it here.

The collapsed marquis tent - that's the end with the bar - the other end housed the stage and music / sound equipment. Check the water around it - 4 - 6 inches deep!!!

And then just as suddenly, the wind died down, and the rain fell softly. Simon Fourie - he of Bike SA owner and organiser of this rally walked past. I stopped him and commented "Think you have a problem", to which he responded - Already sorted - the guys are on their way from Durban as we speak! Now that's impressive organising! I offered my assistance if he needed it for anything - he replied - can you put up this tent? Smiled, and went on his way!

The next morning......

That night at about 8.30 pm, a truck arrived out of which climbed about 10 - 15 guys. They couldn't believe what they saw. By 3 am the next morning, the tent had been rebuilt, with new rope pegs, and all clean and sorted. They left off the side sheets, and that would have been the answer the day before, to remove them, and allow the wind to blow through. Anyway, they got it fixed.

Stalls - or rather what was stalls.

Simon Fourie -we got him to wheelie that scooter

There were some crazy stunt riders doing some shows, and they came through the camp sites,and decided out braai was a good obstacle...

Anyway,  Saturday was a nice clear day.
More to follow.

Salagatle!

Economic crisis? My fucking arse!

For many years we have been struggling with varying interest rates. This goes back to the previous regime as well, it's not an ANC problem. There has always been the need to try and find a balance for the cost of money (based on the cost / exchange rate against the USD, Pound, Mark, and more recently Euro and Yen, and also to try and control inflation.
The other problem we have had, which affects the economy is the price of crude.  I have for a long time said that the real market price of crude (Brent crude in our case) should be below USD50 / barrel.

Now we are hearing how big British banks, the first accused being Barclays, have been manipulating the interest rate. I am sure that this "syndrome" will roll over to include many more of the big international banks as investigations go on.

I am also convinced, and there is an article on in on News 24 today, that the same type of manipulation has been going on in the oil market.

All of the above is directly due to greed. And shareholder value! The "demand" driving the price up is a load of crap! The sole driver of the current situation, ACROSS THE WORLD, is greed.

Those that have the money have control of these institutions, and because of their greed, manipulate the system to enrich themselves even more, at the cost of the man in the street.

So what I hear you say! Everyone knows this. Yea, maybe so, but why is no one doing anything about it. Collectively, the man in the street outnumbers the manipulating few by, probably, a million to one! Why the hell are we putting up with this?

The "World" should dictate a base price for crude. $50 per barrel would be more than enough. At that price the barons are probably making $25 per barrel profit anyway. Let's not forget that the technology used to get the oil to the surface is old, and paid for a long, long time ago. Any new equipment bought to replace old is cheap (in comparison to the original cost). More advanced technologies have in fact reduce the cost to get to the oil, and bring it to the surface. A lot less people are required. The pipelines transporting the product have long been paid off. Why are we accepting the abuse from the greedy?? Not even the fact that we may run out of oil in the next 25 - 50 - 100 years is a driver. Those who now own the reserves have more money than they could spend in the next 1000 years anyway.

And oil from coal will extend the lifespan of this product for another 100 years anyway!
The time for alternative power has been around for some time. We need to put pressure on the system to move on with this option. Or is it a way to get us to accept that the next power source that will replace oil will cost the same as the oil, based on replacement factor at the time? More greed?

Manipulation of cost of money, and interest rate, only hurts the most needy - that is countries and people. It is disgusting to think that the whole world has degenerated to the point where their only drivers are to screw their fellow man as much as possible for personal gain! What the hell has happened to us?

Salagatle!

Big Brother watching......

More and more web sites are now being blocked by the corporation. A typical "Big Brother" type of control. I find to day that I can't open Facebook on my PC / Laptop at work anymore. Not that I care one way or other, as I have full access to it from my BlackBerry, and usually use that anyway. it was just interesting to note that it is now a blocked site. have found more over the past few months. Another one is the national lottery site for SA, www.nationallottery.co.za.

So, I just spent the past 10 minutes cleaning out my bookmarks, and sent all those I want to keep to my personal email address. These I will add to my bookmarks on my private laptop at home, and use them from there.

I fully understand the corporation wanting to manage how much 'private" use there is on company assets, I know and understand the concept of "lost work time", and the cost of data transfer / broadband, etc., but I don't think that this action will really save them much. But, it's their option. I have no problem with it.

What will happen now is the following, (and this from a colleague), instead of logging on from home to do "private stuff", like Facebook, and at the same time churn out some work, answer a few recent emails, finish of a proposal whilst online, users will now log onto their network, and update / work on their private stuff, and leave the work stuff till they get to the office, tomorrow.
No work after hours. Lose lose?

Salagatle!

Monday Update

Took a day off on Friday, and went to see the stainless steel railings company. Great stuff! I am definitely going to be doing some business with them. Just need to get the pricing estimator sorted out, and have already started to talk to some guys who are in the building game / in the process of doing building alterations!
Also this weekend, Italy managed to go through to the Semi-finals of the FIFA UEFA cup! What a game! England were nowhere! As commented in the office - Italy were either playing against themselves, ot against the England Goal keeper. The rest of the England team were absent! Amazing to see the Italian team hold more then 70% possession of the ball, have more than 40 shots at goal, and with more than 50% on trget. They just had no luck on their side! it could have easily been a 6 - 0 white wash. As it turned out, 4-2 on penalties was sweet justice! Next game is against the terrifying Germans, and I don't fancy our chances in that game. That said, football is a funny game......

A comment made by (what I thought were very pro-English) commentators, "In football, no two halves are the same, so we can expect to see a completely different outcome in the second half"! WTF? No matter, the second half was more of the same, with Italy in control! Done and dusted - bring on the Huns!
This is how we came through the ranks to this spot. No losses, and a couple of draws, so maybe we do deserve to be in the semi's after all!

Match log

Match log

Date	Competition	Phase
The home team is listed first.					Last updated: 25/06/2012 01:15 CET
03.09.2010	UEFA EURO	Qualifying round	Estonia		1-2		Italy
07.09.2010	UEFA EURO	Qualifying round	Italy		5-0		Faroe Islands
08.10.2010	UEFA EURO	Qualifying round	Northern Ireland		0-0		Italy
12.10.2010	UEFA EURO	Qualifying round	Italy		3-0		Serbia
25.03.2011	UEFA EURO	Qualifying round	Slovenia		0-1		Italy
03.06.2011	UEFA EURO	Qualifying round	Italy		3-0		Estonia
02.09.2011	UEFA EURO	Qualifying round	Faroe Islands		0-1		Italy
06.09.2011	UEFA EURO	Qualifying round	Italy		1-0		Slovenia
07.10.2011	UEFA EURO	Qualifying round	Serbia		1-1		Italy
11.10.2011	UEFA EURO	Qualifying round	Italy		3-0		Northern Ireland
10.06.2012	UEFA EURO	Final tournament - Group stage	Spain		1-1		Italy
14.06.2012	UEFA EURO	Final tournament - Group stage	Italy		1-1		Croatia
18.06.2012	UEFA EURO	Final tournament - Group stage	Italy		2-0		Republic of Ireland
24.06.2012	UEFA EURO	Quarter-finals	England		0-0		Italy

Overall, a nice weekend, damn cold, and windy. Today is more of the same. Started to stir things up at the office as I am not happy to have external influences fuck with my ability to close deals anymore. Have also started to collect all the information I have been saving over time with regards the manipulation of numbers that has adversely affected my commissions. Show down is looming, and I'm ready for it. Fuck the corporation!

The Princess is great, LuckyL is a star, GMan is, well, GMan, still home, still does not have a real job, still does not seem to really want to get one. Will have to work on that.

Salagatle!

IT, OS, and other related stuff

every now and then, my employer issues new Laptops to their users. Not all at the same time mind you, it is a progressive rollout. And as you machine reaches end of life, they issue you a new one, and take back the old one. This means that every couple of tears they have a mountain of old, but serviceable laptops in the store room. All information on them has been deleted, and they are basically expensive doorstops. Then they have a sale. An email goes out to the whole company (local office), and on a first come first served basis, they SELL them off. Yup, not give away, oh no, sell them. OK, so ZAR114.00 is not a lot of money, but still.

So, in the last offer they had 700 machines available. I shot out an email saying I would take one - and got picked. So, for ZAR114.00 I now have an IBM Think pad - model T41. Old, I know, but it makes a damn fine doorstop! Much better than those rubber wedges which keep disappearing, or which the dogs get hold of and chew up into tiny little pieces.

Also, from a previous roll-out, I had a extended battery at home, which I subsequently find out fits this model! Great! So, today I downloaded UBUNTU - and have created / made a boot up file on a memory stick. neat. This weekend I will install it on my machine back home, and start to play with the "new" OS.

Whats even neater is that I can boot up UBUNTU from any PC / Laptop with the memory stick, and as it's 8GB, I can store loads of stuff on there as well. So if I'm somewhere away from my PC / Laptop, and need to access a file, which happens to be on the stick I have in my wallet, as long as someone gives me a PC, I can access it, and open it, make changes, save it, go on my merry way. Well, in theory, that's how it should work.

Either way, I will have a laptop, with a free OS, which is NOT Windows, and which most people tell me does not keep crashing, with a load of apps (free) which can do lots of stuff (great), including open and read and change MS Office stuff! Nice. And it's all free.

Will let you all know how it goes. Hope I don' permanently damage the "door stop"!

I'm also going to check the on-board memory, and maybe see if I can scrounge some additional to upgrade it a bit, if it can be upgraded. Anyone out there have some memory looking for a good home?

Not too sure what I am going to do with this laptop, but might just use it to store pictures and music on it.

Salagatle!

Blog Update

I really don't like the new look of the blog "back office" stuff. That's this page where we go to when e want to write and post a new blog. It's not user friendly, I can't find half the stuff I want to, and it looks like a predecessor of the ark. Really backward stuff. Some things are best left alone, and this was one of them.

That said, there has been a whole lot going on here.
Matriarch, is settling in well in her apartment, and you can see improvement everyday in her walking and use of her arm. Added to that, she has started complaining about stupid little things again, so we know she's getting better.

Queenie is unchanged. Still drives me up the wall with her querkie things she does, but that's just who she is. I suppose we can't all be "normal"! Not that's she's abnormal, but she has "habits" which are just crazy. We think she's a bit OCD - and that explains a lot of why she does these little things she does!

GMan has decided he's going to the UK. Initially I thought it was a good thing, a) It would get him out of this bad environment he has got himself entrenched into, and away from the whole poker scene, and loan sharks, etc., b) It would get him away from the "girlfriend". Every other day he's telling us she's moving out, they have broken up, etc., but she's still there, still around.
So a) is on the button, b) is way off the mark. The girlfriends mom lives in the UK, with the new husband, and she's going to be going over to stay with them, and look for a job as well, and apply for a work permit / study permit / residency on the basis that her family are now resident in the UK. SO, instead of getting away from her, they going together. Ah well, it's his choice and his life. He plans to work as a dealer in the more legal gambling dens in London, London area. Apparently they pay quite well, and he will be staying (so he says) with another dealer friend who comes from there. Will see how that pans out. Ultimately, I think he's wasting his time, and hope he will find a real job once he's there.

LuckyL - well, where to start. Work wise he is really putting his everything into his job. So much so that he now has been told he's getting a 60% increase! it's not off a big base, but it was also not expected. Only worry I have is that come the end of the year he might not want to stop working, and go to varsity. But for now, I'm not giving him that option - and I plan to stick to that! He's also still enjoying the bikes (on and off road), but apart from me, does not have anyone to ride with him on-road.  So he's getting a bit disillusioned. It's no fun just riding to work every now and then on the bike. He wants to get out on a Sunday and burn up some miles, and it's not always fun doing it with Dad.

With GMan deciding to go overseas, they have given up their apartment, moved all of the girlfriends stuff into storage, and moved GMan's meager belongings into our place. Amongst his stuff is a big flat screen TV, a Playstation 3, and some other odds and ends. He also has a PVR Decoder. SO LuckyL and I installed the PVR into the lounge, and took my DSTV decoder up to our bedroom. We then, with much hassle, got the DSTV people to connect the second unit as a dual view so we have 2 x DSTV but only pay one subscription plus a nominal R60 a month for the second. It's worth it. We did all the rewiring through the roof ourselves, and had to redo, retry various options till we got it right. Then we split the cable going from the Lounge to the bedroom, and fed a line off it to LuckyL's bedroom. He has GMan's big flat screen set up there, and he has a "boom" channel changer. So, now when we go to bed at night, if the Princess wants to watch the end of a story, she can watch it in the room, with her own decoder, and can change channels there. LuckyL can watch DSTV from his room, via the downstairs decoder, and using the "Boom" channel changer, can change the channels from his room! Great stuff, especially for now with winter on our doorstep. Rather lie in a nice warm bed at night to watch a bit of TV, than sit downstairs in the lounge!!!

In the news recently has been quite a bit of interesting stuff. The Joe Public court case against the State and Sanral to stop the eTolling of our highways was successful! Well, to the point that they could not start tolling us yet, until further court action takes place, or the State find an alternative means to fund the "new" roads. And following this, the Sunday papers were full of information of who would be benefiting from the tolling - and it seems the ANC has more than just a small part in this. Talk about corruption! These Muther Farkrrs have taken it to a whole new level! And the way they plead ignorance to the fact is so pathetic. Just because the masses are too stupid to see through their act they think everyone will believe their drivel. Bunch of farking morons! From the president down to the sweeper in the Home affairs department. Complete farking morons.

Ok, go that off my chest.

Another interesting bit of news was some FHM model who was (again) sexually harassed by some kaffir! And the tweeted something about it, but used the word k@&&!r. And immediately the whole world took her on, FHM withdrew her position / nomination / status as MISS FHM 2011, and some of her sponsors withdrew their sponsorships as well. OK, they don't want to be associated with some one who uses the word k@&&!r. I get that. But nowhere has anyone said anything about that fucking k@&&!r that sexually harassed her! And to me that is the bigger issue here! You can sexually harass a woman, but she can't be calling you names, and especially not k@&&!r - because that's just not PC. Well fuck you very much world! It's like saying it's not rape if the attacker used a condom!!! Interestingly enough, another model (a darkie in this case) attacked her (tweeting - not physically) and made even more serious racial attackes!!! But I suppose because she's a previously disadvantaged k@&&!r, and was reacting to a "very serious racial slur" it will be accepted and forgiven!


Another interesting position in SA now is the Dept. of Education looking at banning cellphones from schools. There are many pro's and con's to this argument, which I am not going to expand on here, but suffice to say I think it goes against our constitutional rights to even consider this banning.  In today's time, communication and the ability to contact parents is a fundamental right, if not necessity, for any school pupil.

With regards the accident we were involved in in January, I have initiated talks with a friendly attorney who will assist us with the Road Accident Fund claim. This is more for Mom and her friend than myself. However, the amount of paper work required is frightening! Going to take me a few weeks to get it all together. But I know it's a long slow process, so will just keep at it.

With regards the new job, it's also slow going. Major problem is that the company cannot afford to pay me what I want at this time (want = need as a minimum). So for now I am doing some stuff for them in the background. I'm hoping to bring in a new client, who will buy a plant, that way I can earn a 10% commission (or more if I can wangle it) and use that to get rid of my bond, which means I can then work for a smaller salary! here's hoping I can pull this off!

This is my latest post on my facebook status:-

Interesting situation - You can get lambasted for Racism when reacting to a situation and posting a comment (defamatory I know) on it - But hey, nothing gets said about the Clown / Idiot / Previously Disadvantaged individual who sexually harassed her!!! So, in context, I understand that's it's OK to sexually harass a lady, but not be racist. That's a really severe crime! Tell you what - come and harass my Princess, and I'll show you racism, coupled with extreme violence, bad language, and if you really lucky, a 24" baton where it would hurt most!!!

 On the sporting front,  it looks like Chelsea are on a roll - here's hoping they beat BM. Locally, our rugby teams are performing dismally in the super 15 / 16 - what is it now? As for the rest, who cares. I know the SA mens hockey team beat the crap out of a lot of other teams to qualify for the Olympics, but I now hear that they will have to fund the trip themselves! WTF?!?!

Anyway, enough for now.

Salagatle!

Letters

Someone posted a thing on their blog where you have to write a letter a day. So the idea is to write a series of letters on following people subjects. I decided I'm not doing the letters thing - just couldn't be bothered, but I can make a comment on each point, so I did. Here's my input, (not all the comments are completely original, I liked what someone else had to say, so stole them, and just added some of my own input):-

Day 01 – Your best friend
Pity that this is the first letter I get to write - in fact, the problem is that as of right now I don't know if I have a best friend. How sad is that? I have a couple of mates who could qualify, we just not always in the same space - is that a requirement? In fact, what does constitute a best friend? In fact, I think the Princess is my best friend!!

Day 02 – Your crush
OK, so I sat down on the edge of the bed to cut my toenails, naked, and for some unknown reason my testicles moved and I sat on them - crushed! Other than that, I think the Princess would say that Shakira would qualify for me - I think she's damn fine - the way she moves those hips....

Day 03 – Your parents
Dad's passed - Mom's moved to a retirement village - If they really are my Parents that is! Probably the best parents I could have got! Taught me loads of stuff, but some of it

does not work on todays kids, so lessons learned are not always lessons that can be retaught.

Day 04 – Your sibling
Fuck that! Actually - since we had the big motorcar accident earlier this year (me and mom) I have rebuilt my relationship with my siblings. Not what it used to be, or maybe is supposed to be, but at least we are talking. Some things just will never be the same.

Day 05 – Your dreams
I want to be a gazillionaire! OK, maybe not Gzillion, but a few million in the bank would not go wasted. In fact, I could dedicate myself to doing some good for the world, as opposed just selling stuff to companies who think they need the shit I sell, and not add any value to humanity - yea, I used a bit word there, but more and more I'm feeling like I should / would rather be doing something for humanity (as sick as it is) than just be part of this "Shareholder value" driven machine!

Day 06 – Letter to a stranger
My letter would be pasted onto my car window, and my home front gate! OK, so it goes like this. Theft is a gamble. If you try to steal from me, and you getaway with it, good for you. If I catch you, I get to kill you. Deal? Had a guy try to steal a car radio out of my car parked in a side road in Braamfontein many, many years ago. Just happened to be on my way to the car when I spotted him. Near beat him to death with his own steel pipe. Don't think he had any unbroken bones in his hands, or face by the time I kicked him into
the gutter. Lesson learned.

Day 07 – Your ex boyfriend/girlfriend/love/crush
You don't want to go there. Or at least I don't want to. Have a few ex's, but couldn't be bothered to contact them anymore. Really have nothing to say, nor anything in common with them anymore anyway. Just part of "Life's school", and "school fees".

Day 08 – Your favorite internet friend
I don't have one.. ok, maybe I do...Nah, not! Or do I? Would the 2 - 3 people who sometimes read my blog qualify? If so, then I can / moight / should write them a leter - OK, so maybe I will. See future posts, sometime ....

Day 09 – Someone you wish you could meet
Dalai Lama - but they just wont give him a visa! Nah, fuck him, he's just a waste of air. Bill Gates - yea, if he wants to discuss buying the world rights to the "shit machine". Branson, maybe, but wonder if he can stay sober long enough to make have a meaningful discussion, or if he could actually add value to my life. Mandela, nah, he's just an old terrorist. Maybe someone who's 100 years old, but still has a good command of their mind, and memories. Imagine what they could share!

Day 10 – Someone you don’t talk to as often as you’d like
The Pope? Sorry, he's too busy punishing erring bishops and priests. Maybe a visit to Italy and time with the family - yea, that's it. That would be my call.

Day 11 – A deceased person you wish you could talk to
Moses. Where the fuck did u leave those tablets??My Dad - so much I could say to him now.

Day 12 – The person you hate the most/caused you a lot of pain
Ah well, ther's a book in this one - that would be telling... but then, he's deceased so it doesn't matter does it! Could get into a serious discussion on this with someone close, but right now I know it would be a waste of time and breath, so wont even bother. But this one I could really do. (Not hate - just serious pain)

Day 13 – Someone you wish could forgive you
For what/ I'm the perfect person - well, kind of, OK, I'm not, but... Don't really have a need for serious forgiveness. Not that I know of anyway.

Day 14 – Someone you’ve drifted away from
The shore line? Drifting away from people happens all the time. That's how life works. You meet someone, they add value to your life / or don't, and then you drift away. That's natural progression. I don't believe that we are supposed to stay near to everyone we meet forever. That's not conducive to learning new stuff.

Day 15 – The person you miss the most
Every time I throw something at someone I miss!!! Seriously though, my Dad, my late brother in law, some friends who I have drifted away from.....

Day 16 – Someone that’s not in your state/country
So, DMDad, I'm supposed to write to you. Duh. Consider this it.

Day 17 – Someone from your childhood
Hello Self (was a lonesome childhood) - I remember some of them who were friends during my childhood. I know where one or two of them are. Might even have their contact details.

But they "drifted" (funny how that term keeps coming up now).  Having got together with some of them after a long time only showed that we no longer have anything in common, and a regeneration of the old friendship just isn't going to happen. People change. So do our interests. Apart from that, many / most are deceased anyway!

Day 18 – The person you wish you could be
I wanna be free. I am the person I want to be (with a few faults maybe).

Day 19 – Someone that pesters your mind
My kids.

Day 20 – Someone that broke your heart the hardest
Never been broken - yet. Don't plan to let it be broken either!

Day 21 – Someone you judged by their first impression
My Princess - and I was soooooo right!

Day 22 – Someone you want to give a second chance
Too close to home this one......

Day 23 – The last person you kissed
The Princess

Day 24 – The person who gave you your favorite memory
The Princess - and still does so daily!

Day 25 – The person you know is going through the worst of times
Myself, and a mate who's been unemployed for a few months, and some others who are in a bad space through their own doing....

Day 26 – The last person you made a pinky promise to
Dunno that I ever did.

Day 27 – The friendliest person you knew for only a day
Never met one - or can't remember.

Day 28 – Someone that changed your life
My Kids

Day 29 – The person that you want to tell everything to, but are too  afraid
God - but then he knows everything already. The Princess? What does she not know....and....would it be in anyone's interest for her to know - if there was something?

Day 30 – Your reflection in the mirror
Me, myself, I......

Salagatle!

Just had to re-post this

Went to a blog link which I found on Fishmans blog, and found this - I just had to re-post it......

Ain't that the truth!

Salagatle!

Windows/Blackberry/Lotus Notes

Not too sure where the problem lies,but between the above named products, I am tearing my hair out trying to get any replication between these devices (my Blackberry and my PC).
I have the right software, I have the connection, I can see the phone, I can't, for the  life of me, get anything (other then photos) to copy between the two. Whats the point of having all this software and functionality, if you cant even replicate between devices!!

I know Fishman will have some comments about Blackberry and Lotus Domino - piss off! I have to use what I have, it works one day and not the next! and therein lies my challenge. I'm not going to install more / different / other software. This must work, cause it does - sometimes!!!

The main problem is this international battle for dominance in the market place, and everyone wanting to have their own O/S, and not accepting that the real value is in the functionality, not some stupid O/S that is incompatible with the rest of the world! Dumb Fucks!

Anyone out there know of any other means to get my calendar on Lotus Notes to replicate with my Blackberry? Other than using the stupid Blackberry Desktop Software?

Salagatle!

12/12/2011

Been a while (again) since I posted anything here. Well, anything worth reading I suppose. But hey, I also got stuff to do you know! Anyway, here's an update on the status of stuff, and if I am repeating anything, tough!
The Matriarch is now comfortable in her new home, settled, and making friends. The house is sold, and registered under the new owners, so that's also sorted. I bought her car from her for the amount offered to her by the second hand dealers, and then, a month later, sold it for a small profit! Every Saturday evening I pick her up, and take her to church. This last weekend I fitted a sliding Xpanda security door (LIU) to her patio door. They all say it's not really necessary, that it's safe, etc, blah, blah, blah, but if you come from an unsafe environment, there is no way you buying into that shit, so I fitted it for her, and now if she wants to she can sleep with the patio door open, or, when she goes out during the day, she dos not have to close up / lock up everything, her home and stuff is safe. Was a bit of a challenge fitting it, especially as I was on my own, but I got it done - good.

LuckyL has had a bit of ad luck with his car - just as I was bragging that he made such a good buy. So, We had 2 new tyres fitted - R 1750 (including wheel alignment), we had the starter serviced (was sticking occasionally, so cheaper to service it now than wait for it to break) and we had the car serviced - 148000km, needed to be done anyway - R 2500, and all this so that he could be safe going down to Ballito for the matric vacs. Oh, and we had a tow bar fitted - R 1950.

get the car back fro the service, and it starts giving error codes on the dashboard. Take it back to the garage. Turns out that the warning light is for a faulty Cam position sensor. OK, call around - Opel - R2200 - 4 days to come from the factory. OPEL A.S.A.P. in Pretoria - R 1300, and he has stock. It's Saturday morning, but we scream through to get it. Monday morning deliver to the mechanic. He fits it - still shows an error. Tuesday and Wednesday we do a million tests, changes, repairs, no help. Thursday morning we fit a new cam-belt and tension pulley. Same shit. By now I know we got shit, and as he was supposed to leave Thursday morning, we let him leave, at 1.15 in the afternoon, with the Princesses car, and trailer in tow!
Friday, and the mechanic says take off the battery terminals, and unplug the computer, leave over noight, and reconnect. Could be that the computer is now confused with all the errors and changes, and maybe needs to be reset.
Funny thing I identify though - if the car has been standing for a few hours (ie it;s cold) it starts and there is no warning light. Then you drive it for a while, stop to pick up something, and then start the car again after say 5 / 10 minutes, the fucking lights come on!!!! Anyway, I do the battery / computer thing, and Saturday afternoon, affter fitting the door for the Matricah, I reconect all the bits, start the car, and it's OK! Great, drive to the petrol station, 2 km away, stop. Fill up. Start, no problem. Great! Drive to the bottle store, push the car a bit, 8 km away. Stop. Go inside, buy some stuff, come out (6 minutes maybe?) and start the car - fucking light is back. Go home. Leave the car for 45 miutes - now it's cold again, start the car, no light.

OK - so I have discovered that the light only comes on if you are starting the car when it's hot. Should make it easier for the mechanic to fault find, with assistance from the Technical Manager from OPEL assisting. Here's hoping - I dropped off the car this am, and need it back by Thursday, as Friday is a public holiday here, and we want to leave for our vacation on Sunday!!!!

OK, so the Princess is using my car, and I'm commuting on the bike.......Fucking cars with fucking stupid ECU's! Gimme a pre 80's muscle car any day!!!!

So, for most of this year I was telling management that if they don't allow me to take leave during school vacations, which happen to coincide with company quarter ends, I will take my leave in December. Not sure if they thought I was joking, but 6 weeks ago I put in for leave from 19th Dec to 3rd January, and I still have another 8 days due to me before end January!!! When I informed management that I had put in the application, I also informed them that if they did not approve it, I would go on leave anyway, and we could sort it out with the CCMA (LIU) afterward!!! Needless to say, it has not been officially approved online, but neither has it been declined, so I go on leave, as of Thursday this week!!! Princess managed to arrange free accommodation with her boss in his apartment on the coast, so I'm looking forward to some serious "do nothing" chilling for a few weeks.

On the transport front, apart from LuckyL's car, my old Toyota is also gettin gto the end of it's life, but I need to nurse it along for a while longer - no finances for replacing that now. I've put all the motorbikes up for sale though, LuckyL's Aprilia RS 125 - he does not ride it anymore anyway, my Yamaha XJR 1200, or his XJR 1200, we need to keep one of them in the family for occasional rides, and. like now, when we short of one car.

I've also started to clean out 'stuff" in the garage. I've given away  boxes of tools I don't need (old stuff, miming tools, inherited from a friends late dad) really big stuff that can only be used really in industry, or on farms. A box full of lathe cutting tools. A couple of old Micrometers (still in inches), and so on. When I get back from vacation, going to do more cleaning out - will do a coule of trips to the antique shop to sell of some old stuff, as well as the local Cash Crusaders / pawn shop, to get rid of other unwanted stuff just stored in the garage - bicycles, bird cage, fish tank, hi-fi stand, double bunk bed, double bed with mattrass... fuck there is a whole houshold of stuff in the basement and garage. Going to clean out, and pocket the cash.
Then I'm getting into the stuff upstairs - the study / library has become a storeroom for stuff. No, I have no idea what it is, but it's going - Dump / pawn / trash / donate - whatever. There is also stuff in the safe that I know I am never going to use / wear / look at / bother with. Need to find a new home for that, as well as some of the stuff in the bar - loads of shit to get rid of. Suppose I'm heading towards a minimalistic lifestyle, makes more sense - hell we work all our lives to buy "stuff" which, one day we realize we really don't need / want / adds no value to our lives. Fuck it - time to clean up!
OK, that was a long paragraph!

Back in a bit - need a smoke.

OK, so on the home front - I fired the gardener, and got a new one. You would think these morons would appreciate a steady, regular job. No way, they start to skip a day here, come late the next ... so I sent him in his moer, and told he he can starve next to the road along with the rest of his brothers. Then I had a chat to my neighbor who has a gardener in twice a week, and got this guy to come in on Saturdays. Didn't turn up this week, but probably due to the fact it had been raining most of Thursday and Friday, and looked like rain on Saturday morning. Hope he comes in next week, or else there will be a jungle of lawn by the time we get back from our vacation.

GMan - well, he joined us for dinner on Saturday, and seems like he might join us for Xmas down at the coast. His girlfriend is in the UK, visiting with her mom and brother and step dad. Other than that, no other news on him.

Enough for now - will post more, if I feel like it, whilst sitting on the deck in Ballito, watching the sea......
Later all

Salagatle!

Blog Hopper

I have added "Blog Hopper" to the bottom of this page.
Go have a look - u might want to have it on your blog - or not.



Salagatle!

Typical American "Over the top"

Halloween!

http://m.wimp.com/videos43ll/218faa010ac407ca3d6d5e4e81b99830_rock.flv.blackberry.lq.mp4

Salagatle!

The end of an Era.

October 31, 1957. A recently arrived emigrant from the North of Italy to South Africa moves into her 'new" home.
October 31, 2011. The same person leaves this pace she has called home for 54 years.

Whats this about? Well, let me tell you.
When my dad emigrated to RSA in about 1954, he had already planned to marry my mom, and bring her out to this country. 3 years later, they got married by proxy. OK, what's that 1 of you are asking (so, only one out of my 4 readers, not bad). Mom went to a church in her home town, accompanied by her "father-in'law" to be. He stood in as proxy for my dad who was supposed to be in a church here in SA. (He was probably in a pub somewhere!) So they got married by proxy. The a few weeks later she was on the plane, those days it was probably a 3 day flight, what with all the stop overs for fuel etc. and arrived in SA at the beginning of October sometime. They stayed with an Italian family in Randfontein for a couple of weeks, while dad arranged for a house from his employers - Venterspost Mine. Those days everyone (white) who worked on the mines, and was married got a mine house. Very, very low rent, free water.

He got the house, and they moved in - with very little furniture - just the basic necessities. Dad didn't believe in buying on creit. So they bought stuff as they had the cash for it. First was a bedroom suite, and a fridge. Slowly they developed the house into their home. It was basic, and brand new.

Over time dad created flower beds, got lawns growing, created a vegetable garden, poured a concrete driveway.....

9 months later, in July, my sister was born. Their first child. Dad planted two palm trees in the front lawn to celebrate this event (probably a few days later, once he'd finished celebrating at the pub!!) 11 Months later, I came along. Not too sure if he planted anything then, or just went with the liquid celebrations!!!

And then in 1968, my brother came along. A "glipsie" as they say in RSA. but much loved by all.

Over the years much changed, was improved on. it has always been "home", even after we all got our own places - that was "home. I have so many incredible memories of home, and will at some point post some of them here.

Anyway, around 1995/6 dad got very ill, and was nursed for over 8 months at home till he passed, by mom. She was fine with stating on her own, and looking after the home, so we didn't consider any move. Soon after I build my place in 2004, I offered to build a flat / cottage for her on our property. There was no way she was moving! As far as she was concerned, she would die in her home.

But as time passes, things change. She is always complaining about her maid. Only comes in once a week, but she does not work like mom wants (think this is the 5th one she got). Thing is, mom always cleaned her home herself, and it's only in the past few years she has needed the maid, and it does not work.
She always is complaining about the garden services. I have spoken to them, I have explained to her what they are contracted to do, and what not. She is adamant they not doing their work. But then, she just wont listen.
Armed response - she gave them my number as the alternative contact person, in case something happens. So she gets pissed off every time they call me, and I call her to check if all's OK.......
But they have been good, and efficient.
And then there's the ongoing maintenance of the property, the fact that after 54 years as a member of the local Catholic church she's really pissed off with the black priest, the way the darkies are fucking it up, and the fact that they do not look after the people who, ultimately built, and kept going, this church
And she nearly did, a my earlier blog on her operation and recovery from it showed. This time we raised the option of her moving into a retirement village (something we have broached on and off over the years), and she agreed. We managed to get her a place in a Retirement village 3 km from where I live! It's a lovely develpoment, with varius sizes of accomodation, but also has high care, and frail care facilities. So, as you get older, and or sick, you can move into the part that you require to be for the care you need.

You buy the unit you going to live in, and furnish it. Then there is a monthly charge (currently ZAR5000 per month) which covers 3 meals a day, laundry, apartment cleaning, water and lights, security, garden services. Basically, she will not want for anything for day to day living, other than some stuff (snacks, coffee, tea) which she might want to keep in  her paratment.

It's a small place to move into after living in a 3 bed-roomed house for 54 years, but it's OK. A bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette / open plan living area. Ground floor so she has a "veranda (Covered) and access to the gardens. Nice. Cosy. Comfortable.

So, my brother is now driving up from the coast, and on Friday we will move mom into her new "digs". By Saturday evening, she will be settled.

For the past few weeks I have been going round to the house to clear out. Loads of stuff went to the dump. (It's amazing what "stuff" you keep for "in-case / one day"). Also moved some stuff to my place - temporary storage till she decides what she wants do do with it.

Furniture - we got the local pawn shop to come out and make an offer. The bedroom suite which my dad bought 54 years ago (laminated wood), consisting of two wardrobes, a double bed, and dressing table 0 they offered her ZAR2500!!!! Abut ZAR1500 more than I thought they would! Kitchen table, with 4 chairs, ZAR250. There's also a wonky book rack, and some other odds and ends which they will make an offer on in the next few days.

The house - this was a worry, as the market is flat / down. The house is in what is now the "old" area of Westonaria. Most of the people living there now are darkies (nice people though, ave been very good to mom). So the estate agent says market value is about ZAR450k. I am happy with that, as I had that figure in mind. Have been watching the market in that area for a few years anticipation this requirements. So mom gets 2 or 3 agencies on board to find a buyer. She has 3 couples come through the house in about 3 weeks. All want to buy. First couple - darkies - wife wants the house, husband says it's too much for a house in that area. Second couple, don't make a decision soon enough. Third couple - a white couple, walk in, like the place make an offer for ZAR440k, and are cash buyers. The deal gets closed today! Money is deposited (full amount) with the conveyancing lawyers, so there is no risk, and the deal is done! This is a big relief, as we didn't want a protracted sale situation. So we move mom over the weekend, and on presentation of proof of funds being deposited in the holding account, the new owners can  move in!!!

Then it's all the other stuff. Telephone account - new owners are transferring to their name. ADT armed response, they taking over the contract. All concerned parties have been notified of moms change of address. She has taken over the phone in the unit she has bough, so already has a new number.

Basically, everything is sorted, packed up, ready to go.  Although she's still driving, occasionally, she decided she didn't want to drive anymore after she moves. Not sure why, she said she's scared of the steep driveway to come out (it's not steep at all) but anyway, so she got a valuation from a local second hand dealership, and then I bought the car for the same amount. Not sure I will need it, but maybe GMan can use it, or I will sell it later. What I want to do is after she has moved in, I want to visit her in her car, then get her to go for a drive. But let her drive. a) She will see that the driveway is not as steep as she thinks it is. b) She wont get lost. c) She can get to the shops, and the church safely. Then maybe she will decide that she was a bit hasty in her decision, and I will give the car back to her. Let's hope!!!

Anyway, I'll post some more on this later, and some interesting pics to go with it.

Here is the first one -

Photo from some Google Earth function. In front are the two palm trees, now 53 years old.

The end of an era is is - and for me - old Mr. Sentimental - it's not an easy closeout!!!

Salagatle!

It's Monday

and I am back in the shithole. It's getting harder and harder to come to the office these days.
This morning I sent management an email giving them 4 days to sort out my client kist and commissions, after which I will present the facts to the CEO - and to CCMA for further action.
Done - in writing. Let's see if they take me serously or not.
Worst thing they can do is pay me to go away. Thank you, a golden handshake right now would do fine. Ultimately, they are screwing with me earnings potential, they don't seem to be taking my concerns seriously, they keep saying it will be corrected AT THE NEXT REITERATION, and it never is, they refuse to pay out commissions out of the cycle time, so if you have a correction done after the 15th of the month, they say you must wait for the end of the next month, and if it's not done, then you get to wait another month. FUCK THAT!!

Went to a great wedding on Saturday, drank way too much for one who does not drink anymore, and suffered a headache from hell from about 10pm Saturday, till about 10 pm last night. Geeezzzz, and to think I could open and finish a bottle of rum just a few years ago.

Sunday saw us at the Matriarch's house, sorting and throwing away stuff, and deciding what's to be kept, what gets given away, what's going to the hospice.... eish, not an easy thing for me to do, but we got a lot done. She's going to move into a retirement village in the next month, so we have to get rid of a ton of stuff - remember, she has lived there since 1957!! And even though my dad was never one for hoarding stuff, neither is she, but there is always the stuff you keep for "one day". Anyway, I have a friend who lives on a farm, and they can always use more stuff - old tools, saws, benches, tables, and the like.
I also found Dad's old Grappa Still!!! That's going to come in handy - we going to be making some moonshine on the farm!!!!

Anyway, suppose I better try and get some work done.

Later all

Salagatle!

Been a while since......

I last posted here. A bit of lazyness, mixed in with some hectic events mean I just didn't bother. And added to that the fact that I don't think anyone reads this anymore means I probably have not been letting anyone down anyway.

So whats been happening?
Well, I last posted that Mom went into hospital for a major operation. She came through fine, and is now down in Richards Bay, with my brother and his family, where it's a bit warmer, and she can recuperate. However, whist she was still in hospital, mom-in-law also got very sick.
It was a Saturday. She called upstairs, at about 4 pm, to say she was not well. The princess went down stairs, and immediately called me to say she had to take her to hospital. Mad dash down to her hospital, get her admitted, x-rayed etc, and they had to do an emergency operation for a perforated peptic ulcer!!!

Yup, and to make it worse, she had woken up at 2 am with an incredible pain, but didn't want to disturb us, so waited till sunrise. Then remembered that the Princess was working that day, so didn't want to disturb her, so waited till she got back from work! In the meantime all her stomach acids were leaking into her abdomen!!! 4FS!!!

And, it seems that she had been walking around with this condition (peptic ulcer) fro about a year, but had not bothered to go and see a doctor about it.
So much for common sense.

So, apart from running around between hospitals, working and trying to maintain some form of sanity......

Last Sunday the garden boy turns up at home. He had not come to work on Saturday, so I was kind of pissed off. Thought he might want to work Sunday cause he missed Saturday.... Anyway, he comes into the yard, and I ask him what's the story. He need R350.00. OK, what for? So, he lives in a squatter camp (which darkie doesn't?) His neighbors asked him, on Friday, to go to the bottle store to buy a couple of crates of beer (quarts). On the way he gets mugged, and they take the R350 from him. He goes back to the camp, and these clowns take his hands and shove them into the fire, burning his palms!!! And then say, if he does not make a plan to return the R350, they going to burn down his shack! 4FS! Normal people would go and see if they can find the muggers. Not these fucking kaffirs. No, much easier to threaten the victim! Anyway, so I gave him the money and he will have to work it off..

LuckyL is still doing great. School marks are good, still enjoying his bike, and his car. Recently had a big sound system installed into the car..... typical. It's not about the sound,  but about going round and bragging with what he has. Kids today....!

Gman - don't know.

The princess is great. Too some time off work to look after m-i-l after she came out of hospital, but now is back at work. She is an absolute star!

On the work front - same old same old. But, I have been asked to attend training in the USA for a week, probably the first week in October, and one of the VP's from the States has offered to mentor me! Not sure I need it (suppose I do), but apparently it will be good for me from a "network" perspective. Will see what value it adds to my life.

Overall, things are OK. And we just carry one, one day at a time.

Chat soon,
Salagatle!

Traffic offences and associated penalties

OK, so I trust the originator of this email, But have no idea where he may have got the info from.

Please note that the De-Merit system is in place as from twelve o' clock last night. Points are put on scale under your ID No. on the system for any traffic violations and thus you can unknowingly lose your license.
This morning, numerous people from Unisa as well as from Onderstepoort animal research station (Cruvet) were pulled over and received serious fines.There is no longer a 10km/h grace for exceeding the speed limit. They fine as from km one.
Starting today, they are going full-out.
Please share this information with all drivers you know!!

Registration and licensing of motor vehicles:

 

Violation	Fine	Pts
Motor vehicle not registered	R 1 000	3
Motor vehicle not licensed	R 1 000	3
Operating vehicle with special licence on public road	R 500	1
Motor vehicle with number plates not SABS approved	R 500	1
Motor vehicle displaying no number plates	Court	6
Motor vehicle displaying only one number plate	R 500	2
Motor vehicle with plates not applicable	Court	6
Motor vehicle with number plate obscured or illegible	R 250	0
Motor vehicle with both plates obscured or illegible	Court	6
Licence disc not displayed	R 500	1
Licence disc obscured or illegible	R 500	1
Licence disc on trailer exposed to weather	R 500	1
Operator did not change address particulars	R 500	1
Operator did not change particulars of proxy	R 500	2
Disposing of unregistered or unlicensed vehicle or of a vehicle with no registration or licensing papers	R 1 000	3
Owner did not report motor vehicle stolen	R 500	1
Owner did not report motor vehicle permanently unfit for use	R 500	1
Motor vehicle does not have an engine number	Court	6
Used motor trade plate for other purposes than described	R 500	1
Motor trade plate not displayed or displayed incorrectly	R 500	1
Transport persons on goods on vehicle with special permit	R 500	1
Temporary or special permit not displayed correctly or illegible	R 500	1
Display temporary or special permit not applicable to motor vehicle	Court	6

 

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Fitness of drivers

Violation	Fine	Pts
Driver not licensed	R 1 250	4
Driver does not have licence with him in vehicle	R 500	1
Driver did not disclose disqualification when applying for learner’s licence	R 1 250	4
Driver fails to submit licence to licensing authorities of the onset of any disqualifying disability	R 1 000	3
Driver did not notify authority of change of address	R 500	1
Employ or permit unlicensed driver to drive vehicle	R 1 250	4
Driver does not have professional driving permit	R 1 250	4
Failed to produce PrDP to court	R 1 000	3
Failed to produce licence to court	R 500	1

 

---

Fitness of vehicles

Violation	Fine	Pts
Not displaying roadworthy certificate	R 500	1
Operating motor vehicle without roadworthy certificate	R 1 000	3
Operating vehicle on public road, contrary to notice to discontinue	R 750	2
No emergency/parking brake on non-RWC vehicle	R 750	2
No emergency/parking brake on RWC vehicle	R 750	2
Parking brake inadequate on non-RWC vehicle	R 500	1
Parking brake inadequate on RWC vehicle	R 500	1
Brakes not in good working order on non-RWC vehicle	R 500	1
Brakes not in good working order on RWC vehicle	R 750	2
No airbrake warning device	R 750	2
Steering gear unsafe or too much free play	R 750	2
Illegal left-hand drive vehicle	R 500	1
Horn not working properly	R 250	0
Illegal window or windscreen	R 250	0
No windscreen wiper	R 250	0
Defective/no rearview mirror	R 500	1
Defective fuel tank, pipes	R 500	1
Defective/no fuel tank cap	R 500	1
Electrical wiring not properly installed / maintained / insulated etc	R 500	1
Engine not covered	R 250	0
Inefficient/no silencer	R 250	0
Excessive exhaust smoke	R 250	0
Fumes in cab	R 250	0
Oil dripping onto exhaust	R 250	0
Illegal entrances and exits	R 250	0
No reverse gear	R 250	0
Worn, damaged or illegal tyres (per tyre)	R 250	0
Missing seat belt	R 500	1
Defective seat belt	R 250	0
No speedometer	R 500	1
Defective speedometer	R 250	0
Defective/no wheel flaps	R 250	0
No rear underrun bumper	R 500	1
Defective/incorrectly fitted rear underrun bumper	R 500	1
Illegal axle on semi-trailer	R 500	1

 

---

Lighting and reflectors

Violation
Fine	Pts
Driving between sunset and sunrise without lights	R 750	2
Not using dipped beam with oncoming traffic	R 500	1
One rear or stop lamp not working on non-RWC vehicle	R 250	0
One rear or stop lamp not working on RWC vehicle	R 500	1
Two rear or stop lamps not working on non-RWC vehicle	R 500	1
Two rear or stop lamps not working on RWC vehicle	R 750	2
Lamps showing incorrect colour on non-RWC vehicle	R 500	1
Lamps showing incorrect colour on non-RWC vehicle	R 500	1
No chevron or incorrectly fitted	R 500	1
Chevron not SABS approved type	R 500	1
One direction indicator not working on non-RWC vehicle	R 100	0
One direction indicator not working on RWC vehicle	R 250	0
Both direction indicators not working on non-RWC vehicle	R 250	0
Both direction indicators not working on RWC vehicle	R 500	1

 

---

Vehicle and load dimensions and projection

Violtion
Fine	Pts
Too long	R 500	1
Drawing more than two trailers	R 500	1
Too wide	R 500	1
Too high	R 500	1
Turning radius too great	R 500	1
Rear/front overhang too great	R 500	1
Load projects too far at front/rear/side	R 250	0
Load projection improperly marked	R 250	0

 

---

Taxis and buses

Violation		Fine	Pts
Overloading permissible number of passengers by:
	1 to 5	R 500	1
	6 to 10	R 1 000	3
	11 or more	R 1 500	5
Bus overloading permissible of passengers by:
	1 to 10	R 500	1
	10 to 15	R 1 000	3
	16 or more	R 1 500	5
Not complying with regulations concerning the operation of vehicles carrying paying passengers		R 1 000	3

 

---

Loads on goods vehicles

Violation		Fine	Pts
Exceeding the permissible maximum massloads per axle, axle unit, axle group, vehicle or combination by:
	Up to 3,99%	R 250	0
	Between 4% and 5,99%	R 500	1
	Between 6% and 7,99%	R 750	2
	Between 8% and 9,99%	R 1 000	3
	Between 10% and 11,99%	R 1 250	4
	Between 12% and 13,99%	R 1 500	5
	Above 13,99%	Court	6
Total vehicle mass exceeds 5 times the mass on drive axle by:
	Up to 3,99%	R 250	0
	Between 4% and 5,99%	R 500	1
	Between 6% and 7,99%	R 750	2
	Between 8% and 9,99%	R 1 000	3
	Between 10% and 11,99%	R 1 250	4
	Between 12% and 13,99%	R 1 500	5
	Above 13,99%	Court	6
Mass on the steering axle of articulated vehicle is:
	Between 8% and 10,9% of total mass	R 500	1
	Between 4% and 7,9% of the total mass	R 1 000	3
	Less than 4% of total mass	Court	6
Mass on the steering axle of rigid vehicle is:
	Between 14% and 19,9% of total mass	R 500	1
	Between 7% and 13,9% of the total mass	R 1 000	3
	Less than 7% of total mass	Court	6
Load on one side of axle exceeds that on the other by:
	Above 10% up to 20%	R 500	1
	Above 20% up to 30%	R 1 000	3
	Above 30%	Court	6
Incorrect/no (load data) information plate		R 500	2
Insecure load		R 1 000	3
Load coming into contact with road surface		R 1 000	3
Passengers carried in the goods compartment not safely enclosed		R 1 000	3

 

---

Operator fitness

Violation	Fine	Pts
Operator not registered	Court	6
Operator card not on windscreen	R 500	1
Operator did not notify authority of change in particulars	R 500	1
Operator did not report loss of card	R 500	1
Operator did not exercise proper control driver	R 1 250	4
Operator did not ensure that motor vehicle complies with fitness requirements	R 1 250	4
Operator did not conduct operations with due care and safety	R 1 250	4
Operator did not comply with dangerous goods requirements	R 1 250	4
Operator did not comply with loading requirements	R 1 250	4

 

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Dangerous goods

Violation	Fine	Pts
No fire extinguisher	R 1 250	4
Incorrect or missing placarding	R 1 250	4
Did not remove placards on emptied packaged goods vehicle	R 1 250	4
Placards damaged or not clean or clearly visible	R 1 250	4
No danger warning diamond at front	R 1 250	4
Left vehicle unattended in an unsupervised area	R 1 250	4
Incorrect or missing transport emergency card/s or dangerous goods declaration/s	R 1 250	4
No designated space for documents	R 1 250	4
Did not ensure that load is compatible	R 1 250	4
Transport emergency card older than 3 years	R 1 250	4

 

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Road traffic signs

Violation	Fine	Pts
Disobeying stop sign or robot with non-RWC vehicle	R 500	1
Disobeying stop sign or robot with RWC vehicle	R 750	2
Overtaking on a white line with non-RWC vehicle	R 500	1
Overtaking on a white line with RWC vehicle	R 750	1
Pedestrian or cyclist disobeyed regulatory sign	R 100	0

 

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Speeding

Violation		Fine	Pts
Exceeding the speed limit by:
	11 km/h to 15 km/h	R 250	0
	16 km/h to 20 km/h	R 500	1
	21 km/h to 25 km/h	R 750	2
	26 km/h to 30 km/h	R 1 000	3
	31 km/h to 35 km/h	R 1 250	4
	36 km/h to 40 km/h	R 1 500	5
	Above 40 km/h	Court	6

 

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Lane discipline

Violation	Fine	Pts
Failing to keep to the left	R 1 000	3
Driving on the wrong side or across a dividing strip or traffic island	R 1 000	3
Overtaking illegally on the left	R 1 000	3
Cutting in after overtaking	R 1 000	3
Overtaking on the shoulders or verge	R 1 000	3
Overtaking on a blind rise, a curve, or where view is restricted	R 1 000	3
Accelerating while being overtaken	R 1 000	3
Encroaching the right half of the road obstructing oncoming traffic	R 1 000	3
Passing a stationary bus without due care	R 500	1
Driving on shoulder when circumstances do not permit	R 500	1
Driving across a road when it is unsafe to do so	R 1 000	3
Entering a road when it is unsafe to do so	R 1 000	3
Obstructing other traffic while changing lanes	R 1 000	3
Failing to use indicators	R 500	1
Failing to indicate when changing lanes	R 500	1
Failing to yield to the right at a traffic island	R 750	2
Failing to keep left while making a left turn	R 750	2
Turning right while unsafe	R 750	2
Failing to keep left while making a right turn (cutting corner)	R 750	2

 

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Stopping and parking

Violation		Fine	Pts
Stopping or parking
	Alongside/opposite another vehicle where road is less than 9 metres	R 1 000	3
	Alongside or opposite an excavation or obstruction	R 1 000	3
	At or within 6 metres of a bridge or tunnel	R 1 000	3
	At or within 6 metres of narrow portion of road	R 1 000	3
	Constituting a danger or obstruction	R 1 000	3
	Within the railway reserve of level crossing	R 1 000	3
	On the wrong side of the road	R 1 000	3
	In contravention of a “no-stopping” sign	R 750	2
	On a freeway illegally	R 500	1
Parking:
	In contravention of any road sign	R 250	0
	Double parked	R 250	0
	At excavation or obstruction	R 250	0
	Within the railway reserve of level crossing	R 250	0
	Within 9 metres of an approach to pedestrian crossing	R 250	0
	Where width of road was constricted	R 250	0
	Within tunnel or on a bridge	R 250	0
	Obstructing a fire hydrant	R 250	0
	Obstructing a traffic sign	R 250	0
	On the sidewalk	R 250	0
	On non-urban road within a metre of the edge	R 250	0
	Blocking entrance to public road	R 250	0
	Within 5 metres of an urban intersection	R 250	0
	On the actuating mechanism of a robot	R 250	0
	Further than 450 mm from the kerb	R 250	0
	On road less than 5,5 metres wide	R 250	0
	On a traffic island or pedestrian mall	R 250	0

 

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Towing

Violation	Fine	Pts
Towrope or towbar exceeds 3,5 metres	R 500	1
Towed vehicle not securely attached or not under control	R 500	1
No licensed person at the wheel of towed vehicle	R 500	1
Towing at over 30 km/h (unless a tow bar is used)	R 500	1
Conveying passengers illegally (over 30 km/h) in towed vehicle	R 500	1

 

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Accidents

Violation	Fine	Pts
Failing to stop at an accident to ascertain injuries and assist	Court	6
Failing to stop where there is third party damage	R 1 000	3
Failing to report accident	R 1 000	3
Removing vehicle from accident involving injury or death without police authorization	R 750	2
Removing vehicle without the owner/driver’s permission	R 1 250	4

 

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Reckless driving and driving under the influence

Violation		Fine	Pts
Reckless driving		Court	6
Inconsiderate driving		R 250	0
Driving under the influence		Court	6
Blood alcohol level for:
	Ordinary motorist not less than 0,05 g per 100 ml	Court	6
	PrDP driver not less than 0,02 g per 100 ml	Court	6
Breath alcohol level for:
	Ordinary motorist not less than 0,24 mg per 1 000 ml	Court	6
	PrDP driver not less than 0,10 mg per 1 000 ml	Court	6
Smoked before blood/breath specimen was taken		R 1 250	4
Refusing to give blood or breath sample		R 1 500	5

 

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Miscellaneous

Violation	Fine	Pts
Failing to comply with traffic officer’s instructions	R 500	1
Unauthorised tampering with vehicle	Court	6
Furnishing false information	Court	6
False number plate	Court	6
Not wearing seatbelt	R 250	0
No warning triangle	R 500	1
Warning triangle not as prescribed	R 250	0
Warning triangle not displayed or displayed incorrectly	R 250	0
Reversing too far or dangerously	R 1 000	3
Following too closely	R 1 000	3
Permitting a person to occupy a position in a vehicle restricting the driver’s full control	R 1 000	3
Permitting a person to interfere with the steering or operating mechanism	R 1 000	3
Driver not positioned to exercise complete control of vehicle	R 1 000	3
Leaving vehicle unattended and unbraked	R 250	0
Pulling away from kerb before it is safe	R 500	1
Failing to give way to emergency vehicle sounding an alarm (eg ambulance or fire engine)	R 500	1
Part of driver’s body (elbow) protruding from moving vehicle	R 250	0
Allowing person on roof or step while in motion	R 250	0
Engine emitting smoke	R 250	0
Leaving engine running unattended	R 250	0
Spillage of oil petrol or rubbish	R 250	0
Running engine while filling up	R 250	0
Jumping on or off moving vehicle, endangering others	R 100	0
Driving on the sidewalk	R 500	1
Driving while using hand-held cell-phone	R 500	1
Excessive noise	R 250	0
Hooter used illegally	R 250	0
Failing to yield to pedestrian at crossing	R 500	1
Pedestrian moving into path of vehicle suddenly at crossing	R 100	0
Overtaking stationary vehicle at pedestrian crossing	R 500	1
Racing on public road	R 1 000	3
Driving in convoy during weekend	R 500	1
Wilful obstruction of traffic flow	R 750	2
Abandoned vehicle	R 500	1
Damaging public road	R 1 000	3
Using chocks between wheel and road	R 1 000	3
Trading illegally on public road	R 250	0

Salagatle!