MiTH 6 December 2023

INFO: 082 331 7271

ENTRANCE: R50.00 - Cash or Zapper at the Door

VENUE: The Knoll Historic Guest Farm


9pm: Mmm Band

The MMM Band is a group of talented individuals who do more than provide great service and do excellent repairs; they know how to rock. It’s a common culture for them to have jams in the shop, and this time they’re bringing the jams to the people of MiTH.

Chilled, but deadly Aidan Compton will accompany the band on bass, keeping the vibes nice and steady. Taking on the drums for this performance is Javid Govender. Lastly on guitar, bass, vocals and… other, is Skippy Kubheka who will ensure that everyone has a great time, and sings along.


8pm: Freewheelers

The Freewheelers hail from Mtunzini in Zululand. The trio consists of Vicky Erasmus, a multi-instrumentalist focused on keyboard, accordion and cello; vocalist and bass guitarist Dave Squires; and Johan Gerber on vocals, guitar, and harmonica.

They focus mainly on music from the 60’s and 70’s and cover a range of genres
from folk rock and blues, to any good songs that tickle their fancy. They cover
songs from Simon & Garfunkel, and Eric Clapton via Willie Nelson, all the way to
Talking Heads!


7pm: Hilton Montessori (Double My Age)

The 4-piece band Double My Age started as a collective of young amateurs, led by self-taught, local "musical appreciation" coach Jes Bedingfield. It has now become more like a regular Tuesday afternoon jam.

The band, consisting of Madison Fisher on guitar and vocals, and brothers Aidan and Aaron Balfour on bass and ukulele respectively, will be accompanying Jes for their first time on stage. They will be performing a variety of folky, poppy, as well as some teenage grunge songs, for their debut at MiTH.

ABOUT MiTH: Arguably the KZN Midlands’ best-loved music venue, Music in The Hills (MiTH) is an opportunity for beginners, professionals, and passionate music fans to share the joy of music at The Knoll Historic Guest Farm. Visit www.mith.co.za for more details and directions. Musicians can contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for slots.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: MiTH takes place every second Wednesday at The Knoll Historic Guest Farm, Knoll Drive, Hilton. Doors open at 6pm and the music will kick off at 7pm. Entrance is R50 at the door. Food and soft drinks are available for sale. A cash bar is available.

DIRECTIONS TO MiTH: Take the N3 to Hilton, take the Hilton turnoff and go South into the Village (away from Hilton College). Travel 5,2km along Hilton Avenue (past two sets of traffic lights and Crossways Pub) and keep going straight as Hilton Avenue turns into Dennis Shepstone Drive. At the 5,2km mark, Knoll Drive will be on your right – the entrance to MiTH is the *second* entrance on your left into The Knoll Historic Guest Farm.

Tackling the Looming Challenge of Solar Waste in South Africa

Looking back, 2023 will undoubtedly go down in history as the year that South Africa's corporate and civil society "went solar" in a way never seen before. In an effort to avoid the crippling effect of loadshedding, hundreds of thousands of individuals and companies recently opted to invest in solar panels. According to a recent BusinessTech report, South Africa's imports of solar panels increased thrice from the previous quarter to an all-time high of R3.6 billion in the first quarter of 2023.

“Whilst this is good news for renewable energy, we also need to think about the long-term implications that even this ‘green energy’ will have on the environment,” cautions Dr Mark Williams-Wynn, KZN Branch Committee Member of the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA). "In the coming years, we will have to deal with the recycling of millions of solar panels and batteries that are currently being imported into South Africa.”

The Challenge: Millions of discarded panels and batteries in a decade
Williams-Wynn says there’s now an estimate of between 20 million and 25 million solar panels in the country after the recent influx. Most have an expected lifespan of about 20 years and according to Williams-Wynn, South Africa should be ready for mass recycling in about a 10 to 15 years’ time. “That is when we will see thousands of panels having to be replaced with new ones, and when recycling the old products correctly will become critically important.”

He explains that one of the challenges with solar panel waste is that they are banned from landfills, as they are potentially hazardous to both human and environmental health.

"We need to adopt alternative waste management solutions, such as recycling, refurbishing and repairing, or reusing them in lower-demand applications," he continues, adding that emphasis needs to be placed on the waste management of the batteries used in solar systems as well.

“I believe this to be the bigger challenge,” Williams-Wynn warns. “The batteries in household solar panels are lithium iron phosphate batteries, also known as LFP (lithium ferrophosphate) batteries. The only material in this battery that has some value when recovered is lithium. The iron and phosphate of such low value that it’s not really economically viable to try and recover them.”

Furthermore, the product is highly flammable. “And once that fire starts, it is self-sustaining,” he warns. “They don’t need oxygen to burn, and even when smothering burning batteries with foam they can continue to burn.”

The Solution: Adherence and Power of the Customer’s Voice

The success or failure of South Africa's solar waste story will depend on how responsibly we operate in the here and now, Williams-Wynn notes.

“The methods for properly disposing of and recycling panels and batteries are constantly developing and improving - but if we do nothing now, we could face a catastrophe later.

There is simply not enough adherence to the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations which took effect in 2021 and hold producers (which includes manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers) accountable for the end-of-life management of their products,” he says. “There are many reasons for this, including expenses, control and enforcement, but in the end, the environment suffers - and it will be everyone’s problem in future.”

According to Williams-Wynn, both the general public and solar installers have the ability to change things.

“Customers often don't realise the collective power that they have. To ensure that our solar and battery producers are complying with the EPR regulations, we must all exert pressure on them. If that happens, South Africa will be equipped and ready when the solar waste wave strikes in a few years.”

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One of the most hotly contested days of the Cowan House calendar is the Grade 7 Go Kart race and the 2023 teams did not disappoint.

It is not often that the same team claims the Stig Award for creativity and workmanship as well as the Winner’s Trophy, but this year Team “Burnout” managed to pull this off. Well done to Ross Harvey, Sophie Clark, Matthew Godbold, Max Marshall, Inati Ngcobo and Hannah Howes.

Until the back straight of the last lap, it was touch and go between them and Team “Gang Gang Gravity” (Callum Dreyer, Lily Perry, Kinsley Broad, Ben Franz and Angie van Niekerk).

To close off the morning, the male and female staff took on the interns, with the staff teams taking top honours once again.

SES Hilton is a sustainable energy solutions business specializing in customizable, alternative, adaptive power and energy systems for families and businesses. You can read about some of their client's experiences here. Call 073 966 0651.

On Tuesday 21 November 2023, the Laddsworth Boys and Girls brought the competitive swimming season to a close with a Gala at Howick Prep. Well done to both teams for the great results, especially the Girl's A Team, finishing in first place.

Thank you to everyone for your hard work and commitment this year, and thank you for always "Aiming High".

With the scorching heat and humidity at play, it's important to help your furbabies adjust. Heat stroke is a real concern, here are some tips to help manage the heat. Be wary for signs of heat stroke:

Excessive Panting:
Keep an eye out for heavy, rapid panting – more than usual for the given temperature.

Lethargy:
If your pet appears unusually sluggish or unresponsive, it could be a sign of heat-related distress.

Drooling:
Excessive drooling, more than usual, may indicate your pet is struggling to regulate its body temperature.

Elevated Temperature: 

Red or Pale Gums:
Check your pet's gums; they may appear either unusually red or pale.

Vomiting or Diarrhoea:
Heat stroke can lead to gastrointestinal upset. Look out for vomiting or diarrhoea.

Unsteadiness or Collapse:
If your pet seems unsteady on its feet or collapses, seek immediate veterinary assistance.

If you observe any of these signs, it's crucial to act swiftly. Move your pet to a cooler environment, offer water, and seek professional advice from your local vet. Prevention is key, so in warm weather, prioritise shade, hydration, and limited outdoor activity during peak temperatures.

More about Hilton Veterinary Hospital

A SILVER LINING

Singakwenza Early Childhood Education was awarded “Social Enterprise of the Year 2023” at the Pietermaritzburg and Midlands Chamber of Business event on the 17th of November. The judges took into account their governance, ethics, financial stability, growth, impact on their beneficiaries, collaboration with others, and health and safety protocols.
The team at Singakwenza are honoured by this award and deeply grateful to every person involved in the organisation for helping them to constantly strive to be the best they can be. www.singakwenza.co.za

Pictured here Left to right: Linda Hill (Project Coordinator and Fundraiser), Julie Hay (Founder and Executive Director), Colin David (From Mi7 – main sponsor of the event).

 

More about Singakwenza

Looking for the perfect gift idea? Look no further!

Introducing Nino’s Meal Gift Vouchers!

Share the love with friends and family – a gift that's sure to satisfy their taste buds and bring smiles to their faces.

Visit Nino's at The Quarry Centre or call 033 343 4515 or 073 186 1448.

Greening the Future

FreeMe Wildlife are proud to be a winner in the category of Biodiversity Stewardship in the Mail & Guardian 2023 Greening the Future Awards.

The awards ceremony took place today (30 November) to coincide with the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 28). The awards recognize the heroes who tackle problems ranging from biodiversity loss to polluted air and water exacerbated by climate change.

https://mg.co.za/greening-the-future/freeme-wildlife/

We love what we do, and how we do it.

Don't let your dental benefits slip away!

The year-end is approaching, and your smile deserves the best care.

Let Family Dental Care handle the nitty-gritty - we'll check your benefits, submit payments for authorization, and keep your dental worries at bay.

Give them a call today to have your dental benefits checked before the year ends:

Call 082 218 9222

Your confident smile is just a step away

As World Aids Day approaches on 1 December 2023, Keready, a youth-led health movement, accelerates its mission to provide factual information to the youth about HIV. Recognising the pivotal role of early detection and treatment in enhancing individual health and preventing virus transmission, Keready utilises their social media channels and 46 mobile health clinics across four Provinces (Gauteng, KZN, EC and WC), to dispel myths and provide education, prevention testing and treatment.

Dr Tutula Singata, a young Keready doctor in Gauteng, asserts, "The key to one’s health is always prevention, and to best understand how one can avoid contracting a disease. So education is important, as is dispelling the myths that often surround HIV. For those who are sexually active HIV testing can empower you beyond measure. It's absolutely crucial to know your status for your own peace of mind and to protect your partners. Get tested, it’s easier than you think."

Keready offers free, confidential HIV testing, with immediate results, dispelling myths and fear surrounding the testing process. In KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Saira Carim assures, "Testing is a sign of strength. It’s a responsible step towards a healthy future. Then if you need go on treatment you can start and take control of your health. HIV is not a death sentence anymore, you can live a long, healthy life while on treatment."

Emphasising prevention, Keready promotes condom usage. Condom use amongst the youth shows significant variations, highlighting the need for consistent and reinforced education around its importance. This includes emphasising the need to use a condom each time you have sex. Provision of free condoms is a pivotal part of the initiative with Keready’s 46 mobile clinics acting as crucial access points. Keready also promotes PEP and PrEP to youth: PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) is a medication that can be taken after potential exposure to HIV to prevent the virus from taking hold. PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) is a medication that can be taken on an ongoing basis to prevent the transmission of HIV.

Eastern Cape Keready doctor Dr Asanda Shabalala, affirms this, "Meeting the youth in their own environment with prevention, like PEP and PrEP can help reduce HIV infection in a community. It’s about early defence and sustained prevention."

Keready reaches beyond HIV testing, addressing the broad spectrum of sexual health by offering contraceptive counselling, STI testing and treatment, and pregnancy support services. This is all offered in a language that appeals to young people – straight talking without the jargon and judgement direct from young health professionals to youth.

With such endeavours, Keready endorses thorough education as a fundamental strategy against HIV and reinforces its commitment to empowering young South Africans in making informed health decisions. Not just ahead of World Aids Day, but throughout the year, Keready stands at the forefront, advocating for proactive youth participation in the fight against HIV/Aids.

 

Pictured here: #Keready Nurses Ntobizodwa Ngidi & Sithole Ndlovu - Photo by Val Adamson.

 

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"Attention to detail, friendly, efficient and kind. Excellent dental services.

Dr Naicker is kind, gentle and friendly. Everything is clearly explained.

There's a water-floss machine that she recommended - much gentler than dental floss on aging gums and teeth. Who knew!

Definitely getting one of those.” shared Judith Hawthorn.

We just love hearing your amazing feedback!

Vists the Hilton branch at The Quarry Shopping Centre, Hilton, Pietermaritzburg.

Call to book now on 033 343 1677

'We are excited to announce, that we are once again selling Funda Nenja calendars for 2024. They are the tent-shaped calendars that can stand on a desk. They should be ready in early December so please get your orders in as soon as possible.

To order your calendar, please email Lisa at : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The price is R80 (excluding postage).'

In a commitment to fostering a safer society, Keready, a youth-led health movement, is dedicating its efforts to help eliminate gender-based violence (GBV) during the upcoming 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign.

The campaign is a United Nations global initiative that takes place annually from 25 November (International Day of No Violence against Women) to 10 December (International Human Rights Day). Throughout the year Keready is actively engaged in educational campaigns designed to equip the youth, more especially young men, with the knowledge, awareness, and understanding of the lifelong negative effects that GBV has on the victims.

Dr. Dineo Sefoloko, a passionate young doctor overseeing mobile clinics in the Durban region, emphasises the significance of prioritising love, happiness, health, and safety. She remarks, "South Africa has one of the highest rates of GBV in the world. Let's unite to halt violence, curb the spread of disease, and eliminate any behaviour that poses harm to ourselves or others. It's crucial to reflect on what truly matters: our health and wellness."
Keready is able to do this through community events, and social media campaigns, as well as providing direct support for GBV victims.
With its 46 mobile clinics, run by teams consisting of nurses, drivers, mobilisers, and communicators and led by ten young doctors, Keready is actively engaging throughout the year in educational initiatives designed to equip young minds with the knowledge and awareness necessary to identify, prevent, and combat gender-based violence.

“We wish to get to the root causes of GBV with ambitious intentions to create awareness and behavioural change interventions towards a safer community for all. By being in the communities with our mobile clinics every day, we are often the first point of contact to come across these cases and we want to play an important role in referring people,” says young doctor Dr. James Menyah-Artivor, overseeing mobile clinics in Gauteng.

As the 16 Days of Activism unfolds, Keready extends and seeks to partner with individuals, communities, and like-minded organisations who share the urgency to address challenges associated with GBV. By nurturing awareness, implementing impactful interventions, and championing a culture of equality, Keready aims to act as a catalyst for positive change throughout this campaign. This commitment is evident not only through the presence of their mobile clinics on the ground but also in their weekly community radio chats and across their social media platforms, including @kereadysa, and their 24/7 WhatsApp line: 060 019 0000.

 

About Keready

#Keready launched in February 2022 and initially positioned itself as a ‘youth Covid-19 vaccination campaign’ with its #keready2flex Challenge, but it has evolved into a movement that seeks to enhance healthcare-seeking behaviour among young people and improve access to health services. #Keready now offers integrated health services, via 46 mobile health units, taken directly to young people.

Young people comprise well over a third of South Africa’s population making them a key demographic for social, economic and political change, yet more often than not they are excluded from decision-making that has a direct impact on them. It’s therefore not surprising that many young people are distrustful of government, business and society in general, especially when faced with service delivery having broken down, corruption, scarcity of opportunities, and limited social mobility or prospects for improved income growth. When it comes to health there is a gap in health services for young people with the focus primarily being on SRH services for women, and men are scarcely provided for or other forms of prevention either. Youth are also left out of the communication process that is aimed at them and aren’t likely to respond favourably to information that is state-sponsored or delivered by paid influencers with a hidden objective, even if it is for their own good. Instead, they tend to rely on information from their peers, professionals and trusted community members. 

So, what do you do when you are trying to motivate healthcare-seeking behaviour, active citizenry and agency among the youth? Well you launch an unbranded campaign that calls on young people to be the creators of their own message and you provide a platform for them to roll out their own content. Keready put young people in control of the message, creating incentives for their participation in vaccination programmes and public health activities, as well as offering unfiltered health information. No jargon and no judgement are just some of the Keready principles for communication and mobilisation. It also recruited young ex-community service doctors to talk to young people about their health in a lingo that is palatable and relatable (Mogodu Monday, Skrr skrr and 4-5!) and uses a mix of platforms to engage. Unconventional marketing platforms that aren’t usually used for health promotion, such as Twitter Space, TikTok challenges, Weekend Guides, IG lives with a guest doctor, Health Reels, Podcasts and WhatsApp A Doctor, are part of the mix where youth actively engage with Keready.

The frank, unfiltered approach of providing health information from young doctors and nurses for young people, bolstered its credibility, and this age group has seen the biggest proportion of weekly vaccinations since the Keready launch. The message is clear you have to reach people where they are. The Keready team also forms part of DGMT’s demand acceleration team tasked with driving public communication and awareness, by supporting and working with the National Department of Health, and has been fully endorsed by the Minister.

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A huge thank you to the KSS staff who work diligently, quietly, tirelessly and relentlessly in the background. The controllers in the Control Room, the financial, technical and operations administrative staff, and our fleet maintenance team are the quiet, unsung heroes who keep the KSS cogs turning.

Hot Items:
Copper pipes.
Brush cutters.
Scrap metal items.
Money scams at ATM’s.
Items left out in the open.

Pictured above: Gabby

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