The second participation of the gerbera association in the Bundes Gartenschau in Munich recently, was again successful. It won gold medals for all nine themes that it entered and to top it all, won a gold overall. Peter Ambrosius, honorary member who resides in Germany, handled the exhibition for them and did a good job once again. The themes ranged from Barberton and the Barberton daisy to the hybridisation history. According to Volkmar Seifert, president of the association, with all the points collected at the first and the second exhibition, the Gerbera Association South Africa stands a good chance of getting one of the three honorary prizes form the Bavarian Premier.

Three suspects charged of house breaking and theft from Etinjojeleni traditional medicinal plantation, which is a plantation aimed at addressing the concerns of traditional healers in terms of acquiring medicinal plants, appeared in the Barberton Magistrates Court last Thursday. 
Christopher Khoza, Anton Nyasongo and Sipho Magagula allegedly stole two boxes that contained 40 pairs of gumboots worth R500, a wheelbarrow worth R200, a spirit level worth R150, plastic roll worth R100 and a first aid kit worth R100. 

Appearing before Magistrate Christine Kruger, with the aid of Jimmy Gumede, interpreter, the suspects pleaded not guilty. 
Khoza told the court that he never stole the items but was hired by Squash Nkosi to collect them. Khoza said Nkosi asked him to assist him in carrying two boxes, which contained the 40 pairs of boots. He would pay him R50. “Nkosi went to buy cigarettes at the Emjindini taxi rank when the police arrived and arrested me while he was away,” Khoza told the court. 
Nyasongo said he was asked by Nkosi to keep some belongings for him while he was at a Shebeen. He told the court that when police arrived they found the items in his possession and arrested him without his even knowing that the items had been stolen. 
Magagula told the court that he found Khoza at the taxi rank and asked him for a cigarette. The police arrived and arrested both of them. He said he has nothing to do with the stolen items. 

Later on Kruger asked the men if they would like to apply for legal aid. Khoza and Nyasongo agreed to legal aid while Magagula preferred to defend himself. While the court was in session Nkosi was sitting in the audience taking note of the proceedings. 

The case was postponed to October 20.