One person was killed and two others were seriously injured in one of three accidents on roads outside Barberton on Wednesday, August 10. 
Light rain fell, causing roads to become slippery and dangerous. In a head-on collision near the Consort Mine turnoff on the Kaapmuiden road a 45-year-old woman was killed instantly while the driver and passenger of a white Opel Corsa were transferred to Nelspruit Medi-clinic with serious injuries. 
According to Insp Heidi Carey one of the vehicles skidded at the bend of the road into oncoming traffic, causing the collision. 
Audrey Phutemile Nhlabathi, the Barberton circuit manager of education, was killed instantly. Louis Koen and his wife Dina were seriously injured. 
Louis is the assistant rugby coach of Barberton Rugby Club. Dina was admitted to the intensive care unit with minor head injuries and broken ribs. Louis sustained a hip injury. According to Dina’s mother, Mina Spies they are currently both in a satisfactory condition. 

Another accident occurred on the Kaapmuiden road at the railway crossing between Barberton and Consort Mine. A white Nissan 1400 bakkie collided into the trailor of a white Toyota Hilux bakkie at the crossing. No one was injured. 

The third accident took place between the Caledonian- and Snymansbult turn-offs on the Nelspruit road when a White Uno skidded, rolled and came to a halt in the bushes next to the road. The driver, S.D. Hovana was only slightly injured.

Residents living near the koppie behind the Garden of Remembrance unanimously prefer the peace and tranquillity of their surroundings instead of a multi-million rand tourism development next to the garden. 
At an informative meeting with the developer, Rassie Schoeman, residents objected to the proposed project to construct chalets, a restaurant, a chapel and conference facilities, next to the gardens in Henry Nettmann Street. 
The proposed development will be adjacent to Oppikoppi, owned by Schoeman and will also serve as a starting point for his quad bike eco-adventures into Mountainlands Game Reserve. 

At the meeting it became clear the objections are aimed at the high noise levels associated with the quad bikes. According to the residents they are already annoyed with current noise caused by the quads when they drive the short distance through the municipal park from Oppikoppi to the reserve. Residents bought property next to the koppie at a higher than normal cost to enjoy nature and tranquillity. Homeowners are also afraid the development will have a negative impact on the resale value of their property. 

At the meeting Phillip Minaar, councillor for Ward 6, explained to residents that the developer would have to adhere to certain rules and regulations stipulated in the sale of the two park erven. One of the residents, Justus Dirks pointed out that the property could be resold and was concerned whether the next owner would adhere to these regulations. 

According to Kevin Kritzinger, independent town planner from Nelspruit, no quad bike trail is planned for the designated area. The shed for the quads would be at the furthest point of the development, which means that they would have a much shorter distance to travel to enter the park than at the moment. 
At the meeting residents also lashed out at the municipality. “If the council sells this park, what will prevent them to sell other parks for development?” Rhona Milstein asked. “The municipality ignores their responsibility towards recreation areas in town, as they do not look after them,” Sibongile Shongwe said. 
Minnaar denied this. He said that the municipality does not promote the selling of parks and if a park will be sold, the same legal process would have to be followed. 
Michelle Mohle wanted to know why the municipality did not divide the park into stands and sell them for R95 000 each, the current average price for a vacant, serviced stand. “This would have increased the income to the municipality,” she said. Kritzinger explained that the due to the current status quo of the land, it could not be compared to adjacent stands. The developer would have to install basic services at his own cost. Various impact studies and assessments would have to be done prior to the development, which will increase cost significantly, Kritzinger said. 

At the end of the meeting Schoeman explained that the development would utilise only one third of the area. His aim is to attract tourists to Barberton through quad bikes, 4 x 4 trails and mountain bikes, which were all popular recreation for tourists. “It is my dream to promote tourism to Barberton. The area has the most spectacular mountains in the world and should be accessible to everyone,” he said. 
Schoeman said that forestry and mining income was declining and tourism would have to play a bigger role in the economic future of Barberton. 
According to Gerry Morris the meeting was not an attack on Schoeman but property owners had to protect their investments. 

A tribunal would decide if the sale of the park would continue after all the complaints lodged by residents and other interested parties were heard. Their decision would then be laid before council.