Page 8 — 4th July 2007
Important notice from
the uMngeni Chamber of
Commerce & Industry
Members who attended the uMngeni
Chamber’s AGM at Fern Hill Hotel on
Wednesday 20th June 2007 resolved that,
for various reasons, the meeting had not
been properly constituted, and so it was
therefore aborted.
Due to the absence of a functioning
executive committee, it was resolved by
those present that an interim sub-commit-
tee be formed, which was duly approved,
and that this sub-committee be tasked to:
1) oversee the affairs of the Chamber
for the immediate future until such time
as a new executive committee can be
elected;
2) review the Chamber’s Constitution
and operations and amend same if deemed
necessary;
3) call for a Special General Meeting
of all members at the earliest opportunity
Chamber is drop-off point
for donations to fire victims
In a bid to assist fire victims the uMngeni
Chamber of Commerce & Industries’ office
at the Whitehouse Centre has been a desig-
nated a drop-off point on behalf of all its
members and the urban community for do-
nations.
Within minutes of notification late last
“Date rape” drugs
used in local attacks?
Local experts have warned people to be-
ware of their drinks being spiked with so-
called “date rape” drugs after police were
tipped off that a spate of spikings may have
occurred in the Midlands earlier this year.
A woman in her thirties was rushed to
hospital in February after her drink was
spiked, apparently at a local bar.
She tested positive for a drug commonly
used as an anaesthetic and as a treatment for
epileptic fits, and had to be put on a drip,
said a relative.
The woman had asked a friend to drive
her home when she felt nauseous while at
the local bar and she remained ill in bed for
two days before having to be hospitalised.
She was able to return to work only a week
after the attack.
Two other local residents told The Her-
ald they suspected their drinks had been also
spiked. They became violently ill after drink-
ing at a local bar and had no recollection of
the night after a certain point.
One of them experienced convulsions.
Police investigated following information
of alleged drink spiking and said they were
monitoring the situation.
A number of prescription drugs have be-
come known as “date rape” drugs because
when mixed with alcohol they incapacitate
the victim and remove their inhibitions,
making it easier to assault them sexually.
The person is unlikely to remember what
Tree63 plans to return
to elect a new executive committee and
decide on the future of the uMngeni
Chamber. (Please keep a lookout for this
notice in the near future).
Mr Alan Hastings was thanked for his
past service to the Chamber and will no
longer operate from the Chamber’s of-
fice in the Whitehouse Centre.
This office will however continue to
be manned and any enquiries can be di-
rected to the Chamber’s secretary, Zanitha
Jumman, on 033-330 5626 or 033-
330 5637 (fax).
Enquiries may also be directed to the
following members of the interim sub-
committee: Nick McConnell at 033-
330 2403, Bob Stafford-Mayer at 033-
330 3534 and Tim Lindsay-White at 033-
330 3865.
week three bags of clothes were already forth-
coming from the Hayfields Pick ‘n Pay in
Pietermaritzburg.
By Friday, 14 more bakkie loads of relief
aid were on their way.
Take your donation to the offices, or to
make arrangements telephone 033-330 5626.
happened to them while under the influence
of the effects, but may recall parts later.
It is extremely difficult for an establish-
ment to prevent drink-spiking as it can be
done easily without being observed; hence
it is up to patrons to take preventative meas-
ures, said Joey du Plessis, director of
Careline Crisis & Trauma Centre in Hillcrest.
The Midlands Crisis & Trauma Centre is
offering support to victims of drink spik-
ing. “If anybody suspects this, we have a
special kit to test for it and the facility to
test for all sorts of drugs,” said crisis worker
Jenny Morrison.
Various drug test kits also can be pur-
chased at pharmacies.
* Contact the Midlands Crisis & Trauma
Centre’s Rex van Schalkwyk on 082-
771 6653, Jenny Morrison on 082-264 5862,
the emergency number on 072-469 6795 or
the office on 033-330 5667.
Cawood Accounting
Solutions cc
41 Bell Street, Howick
Tel 033-330 8116 • 330 5546
The Midlands Herald
permanently to South Africa
Right:
Tree63 front man
Jon Ellis
characteristically
clowning around on
stage — at the
Golden Horse
casino in March.
SA Christian
rock band,
Tree63, was back
touring South
Africa for the
first time in a few
years, in March.
Currently
halfway through
recording their
untitled-as-yet
sixth album since
their last, Wor-
ship Volume 1,
the band has been
based in Nash-
ville, Tennessee,
since the begin-
ning of 2003.
Bass guitarist
Daniel Ornellas
told The Herald
at a press cocktail
party before their
Pietermaritzburg
concert on 6 th
March that the
advantage of liv-
ing in that city of celebrity musicians is ano- “We’re very proud South Africans.
nymity. There’s so much wrong and we want to en-
In the years spent in America Tree63 has courage people to think about how they can
mostly been on the road, and in 2006 per-
formed some 150 concerts.
The new album is due for release in Sep-
contribute to helping. But this place is worth
fixing; that’s the key — this place is worth
fixing.”
tember or October and will feature “11 or He goes on to describe their four years
12 songs”, all written by singer and lead
guitarist, Jon Ellis.
And this time the band will be adding a
away as “a long time”, and says: “It’s been
like a never-ending tour. We’ll wrap up the
States [within a year] and come home.”
new dimension to their lyrics. Their concert later, to about 1 300 peo-
“For the first time we focus really as ple, was a real thrill.
Christians on what is it that God cares about Tree63, who released their first CD ten
— and it’s not really about music; not really years ago, is so polished and perform so ef-
about church, even. What He’s concerned fortlessly that you only become aware later
about is the poor, the hungry, the sick. The on in the show just how far they’ve come.
issues of social justice . . . and as Christians If locals one day are surprised to recog-
you can’t ignore that. We’re encouraging nise one or some of the band right here in
people that that’s worth thinking about it.” Howick, they might be right: Jon visited
What he says God is putting on his heart Umgeni Valley Nature Reserve many times
particularly at this time is Africa. in his childhood and is passionate about it.
How to avoid The range of
having your symptoms of
drink spiked drink-spiking
• Trust no one with your drink. Pour
your own. may include:
• Never accept drinks from a stranger.
• Do not leave your drink unattended • feeling completely disoriented, ap-
or out of your sight. pearing extremely drunk and behaving out
• Do not accept an opened drink. Re- of character;
quest unopened bottles or cans. • feeling nauseous and vomiting vio-
• Avoid mixing drinks as this can have lently, especially the next day;
the same effect as spiking with drugs. • impaired motor skills;
• If you feel ill or strange, ask your • memory loss – or amnesia – setting
friends to drive you home. in within minutes followed by
• An agent can be administered to coun-
ter the effects of at least one date rape drug.
• loss of inhibition.
See a doctor if you believe you are experi- * Additional information can be obtained
encing the symptoms (see below). from the BBC’s news website.