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7de Laan se Liam
kom Klerksdorp toe
Met die uitreiking van sy nuwe album '7de Hemel', versterk Chris
Chameleon opnuut sy aansien as een van die mees oorspronklike
stemme in Afrikaans. Die 13 nuwe snitte is `n opname van die
liedjies wat hy in sy hoedanigheid as die karakter Liam in die
gewilde SABC 2 sepie, vir 7de laan geskryf en uitgevoer het.
Die musiek vir die album is onder geweldige druk geskryf. Chris
Chameleon het dikwels eers die aand voor die volgende dag se
opname sy instruksies gekry oor waaroor die lied moet handel en
in watter konteks dit uitgevoer moes word. Met '7de hemel' sien
ons onder andere`n ligter kant van die konstant veranderende
verkleurmannetjie. `n Aantal van die liedjies is opgewonde en
speels van aard en Chris was nie skaam om van sy interessante en
dikwels grappige stemgeluide in te span om die album `n unieke
vars kleur te gee nie. Hy het ook die sensitiewe, intieme
vertolkende sang behou waarmee sy debuut solo album, “Ek herhaal
jou”, vir hom in die afgelope jaar roem verwerf het.
Die resultaat is dat “7de hemel” op sy eie voete staan as `n
unieke produk. Alhoewel die musiek deur die storielyn tussen hom
en Dezi voorgeskryf is, het Chris Chameleon sy meesterlike
talent met styl aangewend. Sy vier oktaaf strekkende stem speel
met gemak met die gevoelens van die luisteraars op `n album wat
beloof om mense te laat lag, huil en verlang.
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The power of SA
maize to be unleashed
Cars fuelled by South Africa's staple food of maize? Sounds like
science fiction, but this is soon to be a science fact in South
Africa. The first billion-dollar factory in Africa to make
bio-ethanol from maize unveiled its plans this week. The plant,
which will be located in Bothaville in the Free State, will be
fully operational by next year, and is to be the prototype for a
further seven such plants that will be built over the next 7
years.
By 2015, biofuels are expected to provide 12.5% of the country's
fuel needs. Not only will the increased use of biofuels address
the fossil fuel crisis, it will also go a long way to creating
jobs in rural areas, where the job shortage is most critical.
The plant in Bothaville is expected to produce half a million
litres of bio-ethanol a day. Although currently biofuels are
costly to manufacture, they can be produced at less than $50 per
barrel, and of course, they are much kinder to the environment.
A bio-ethanol is a blend component in fuel and increases octane
production. The emissions are much cleaner than those from
fossil fuels. The biofuels plant is likely to boost the economy
of the Free State at a time when there has been a decline in
both mining and agriculture, two of the mainstays of the
province. Free State Premier, Beatrice Marshoff, said that
developing the biofuels industry will have positive outcomes for
South Africa as it will lessen our dependence on international
fossil fuels, and alter the labour profile of rural workers.
Approximately 40% of the 120 000 residents of Bothaville are
unemployed, but this new biofuels plant should provide jobs for
10 000 workers. This should help bring prosperity back to the
town. One of the ways in which the use of biofuels is set to
boost the economy is by lessening the maize surplus and creating
a viable maize market. The production of maize will be expanded
creating jobs where they are needed most in the rural areas. At
a time when fossil fuels are decreasing, political instability
in the Middle East is creating havoc with the oil price, and
there are concerns over shut downs in oil refineries in the
United States, the plant at Bothaville will boost confidence in
the South African economy.
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World Cup 2010 a milestone, not an end: Public Works
The FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup will be a milestone and not an
end in terms of Government's infrastructure plans, the
Department of Public Works says. “As Government, when we plan,
we see 2010 as a milestone. It is not the end of the road, it is
the beginning of another,” spokesperson Lucky Mochalibane told
BuaNews.
“The Department's efforts go to 2010 and beyond, such as to 2014
which is when Government has targeted to halve poverty and
unemployment.” In this regard, it was planned that the
infrastructure being prepared for the soccer tournament being
hosted by South Africa would continue to be of use to the
country beyond 2010.
“Part of our preparations include putting down infrastructure
that will be vital to the games both in terms of the hospitality
industry and the sport infrastructure but also other
infrastructure such as roads, hospitals, clinics and police
stations, to cope with the influx of people into the country.”
Mr Mochalibane said the country's construction industry
currently generated R60 billion a year and contributed nine
percent to the Gross Domestic Product.
“Of that R60 billion, more than half is from Government's order
books. Government is the sector's largest client.” He said the
Department saw much scope for growth in this sector in the light
of 2010. This growth would be further enhanced because South
Africa was a developing country which had much infrastructure to
put down as its economy, population and needs grew. “We believe
this contribution can be grown. In China, the construction
sector contributes in excess of 20 percent of GDP. We are
looking to increase our sector's contribution for 2010 and
beyond. “The intervention of Government in this industry is to
promote development, to promote growth and most importantly to
promote the transformation of the industry,” Mr Mochalibane
said.
Apart from acting as the sector's largest client, Government has
also set aside R370 billion to be invested in the sector over
the next four to five years. Mr Mochalibane said President Thabo
Mbeki envisioned this contribution would stimulate further
growth in the industry and “serve as a magnet” for increased
foreign investment. Working through the 2010 Technical Task
Team, with the Department of Sport and Recreation as well as the
Local Organising Committee, the Department would intensify its
existing core competencies.
“Our Department is looking at its core competencies of
infrastructure development, both in terms of planning and
acquisition; maintenance operations as well as their disposal at
the end of their economic life.” Mr Mochalibane encouraged youth
to study mathematics and physics in high school and join the
construction sector, which he said faced the challenge of an
ageing skills base. He described the sector as an exciting,
creative outlet which could give young people much scope for
professional development, adding that it was not “a dirty
industry”. He said the sector itself, largely driven by private
companies, was well aware that in was in for an exciting time
because of 2010.
Young people will have a chance to learn more about the sector,
which is being highlighted from Wednesday, in the country's
first ever National Construction Week, during which schools will
be taken on tours to construction sites, amongst others. Another
key intervention of the Government in the sector is the Expanded
Public Works Programme, which this year exceeded its gross job
creation target of 130,000 jobs. Over the year, more than
223,000 gross jobs were created through the EPWP. |
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