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| 23
November 2005 |
| Pruned trees upset town |
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By Dalene Robus
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The Umjindi municipality cut huge branches of trees along the major streets in town last week.
This was done after heavy trucks and vehicle carriers used by the motor industry were damaged by overhanging branches.
Many residents phoned the Barberton Times’ offices complaining about the apparent butchering of trees.
Overhanging branches of trees in Sheba Road and General Street were trimmed to the trunk.
Some of the trees trimmed were growing in gardens and not on the pavement.
An upset Liska Heath said she was not consulted when the coral trees in her garden were trimmed. She complained that the municipality should have trimmed the trees at the kerb of Sheba Road and not at the tree trunk. The Coral trees provided them with privacy as well as buffering the noise of busy Sheba Road.
Branches of a large wild fig tree that stood majestically in 41 Sheba Road were also cut down, disfiguring the once magnificent specimen.
Members of the Marguerite Garden Club complained about a feather duster tree near the corner of General and Bland Streets that had been butchered.
According to Esau Mashamba, assistant director: community services, the municipality would be liable for any damage to brand-new vehicles transported by vehicle carriers or large trucks.
“The problematic trees were identified before the pruning commenced,” he said.
The branches were pruned against the mother trunk and re-growth would start within the next two months, Esau told Barberton Times. He said that if the branches were trimmed near the road kerb, there would be no re-growth.
He asked community members to lodge their complaints at the municipality.
The emergency numbers could be used on a 24-hour basis for prompt response or to lodge a complaint: 013-712-2222 or 013-712-2121 ext 1048.
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| Barbara Macauly at one of the trees disfigured by the municipality. |
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The coral trees in Sheba Road were severely trimmed. |
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| Park explained |
On Friday and Saturday people living around the proposed new Gerbera Park had the opportunity to meet with members of the Gerbera Association for a presentation of the plans for the area.
During his presentation speech Volkmar Seifert, president, showed everybody interested what it should eventually look like.
Not only are they planning a garden that will display the gerberas, but there would be a restaurant, amphitheatre, nursery and museum with a hybridisation history display.
According to Volkmar the response was positive and people showed enormous enthusiasm for the proposed plans.
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Brian and Gail Collins, Volkmar Seifert (president), Sandy and Tony Ferrar.
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| Wimpy celebrates two years |
| By Lynette Louw |
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Barberton’s own Wimpy celebrated its second birthday this month.
Frik and Annette Janeke, owners, decided to exchange the cold Bethal for the hot Barberton and officially opened the Wimpy doors on November 6, 2003. And they have never looked back.
According to Frik, life in Barberton must be close to living in paradise. “The town throbs with life,” he said.
This is not your ordinary Wimpy if you look at what they achieved during this past two years.
Within the first year, 2003, they received the Paul Mhlambi award for the best new comer in South Africa. The very next year, 2004, the second award came its way when it was crowned the Top National Store in South Africa.
This is not your everyday achievement and if you look at the standards set by Wimpy South Africa, the local franchise had to be on top and deliver exceptionally, each and every day.
Mystery shoppers visit the Wimpy every month and either order a sit down dinner or arrive with the family or order a takeaway. From the moment they step into the Wimpy the evaluation starts and a detailed report is submitted to head office.
Frik says they serve between 8.000 and 9.000 customers every month. “The locals keep us up and running but tourists and events hosted in Barberton give us that extra boost we need. Our busiest day was with the Staffie Rally when we served 980 people on one day,” he said.
The Wimpy staff consists of the owners, three managers and 24 permanent staff. Seven of them have been with Wimpy since it opened.
Well, congratulations from all of us at Barberton Times office for two years of excellent service. Wimpy has come to town and is here to stay.
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Members of the management team are Braam Koegelenberg, Charlene Swanepoel, Frik en Annette Janeke (owners).
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Some of the friendly waitresses are Nomkhozi Khumalo, Phethile Ntuli, Geraldine Zwane (cashier), Lorraine Prinsloo, Virginia Mashele and Prudence Ginindza.
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Working behind the soft serve machines are Thandeka Dlamini, Jabulile Mnisis, Lindiwe Hlophe, Olympia Mathebula and Promise Chicuamba.
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| Hold on tight! |
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Rassie Schoeman of Eco Quad Adventures gives Thembinkosi a
lift on his quad bike during the St John’s Christmas party.
More photos and article on page eight and nine.
Photo: Lynette Louw |
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