10 April 2015 R1-20/FREE
‘We are being made fools of by the management!’
Money issues erupt in Bela-Bela Bela-Bela municipality
Morris Maluleka and Lucas Nhlapo engaging with SAPS during a protest by municipal SAMWU workers. Photo: TK Mashaba
Municipal workers in full swing singing at municipal premises. Photo: TK Mashaba
TK Mashaba TK Mashaba SAMWU workers in the Bela-Bela municipality started a protest on Tuesday, 31 March, which saw the SAPS called in to intervene. The municipal employees who are SAMWU members started their protest when they were allegedly not paid the bonuses and increases that they had been promised after their protests in February. They blocked the entrance of the municipal offices with paper and opened water taps inside the building before the police were called in. According to Elliot Molala, the local SAMWU chairperson and a municipal
employee, the municipality is taking their workers for granted and it is high time that they pay what they had promised. “We are being made fools of by the management,” he said. “They keep promising, but they never deliver, and we are sick and tired of the management undermining us.” The workers sang revolutionary anthems, some swearing at the municipal manager Morris Maluleka and mayor Lucas Nhlapo. A meeting was held inside the municipality with the police present. The mayor and municipal manager allegedly refused to talk to the protesters. “They were pleading that we must go
and protest outside the municipal yard,” he said. One of the protesters said that he did not think that the police could tell them to protest outside the premises. “This is our place of work and we will protest in here anytime we want as long as we are not vandalizing the premises,” he said. The police mediated and calmed the protesters to allow Maluleka to address them. He told them that the matter would be revisited in June next year. The matter is being taken to the bargaining council for mediation. SAMWU has given the council 14 days to respond.
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10 April, 2015
Cops capture alleged killers Justin Steyn Justin Steyn Three Zimbabwean men who were allegedly involved in the murder of Jakes van Deventer have been arrested. Van Deventer was stabbed to death by four men at his smallholding in Roodepoort in Bela-Bela on Tuesday, 17 March. His fiancé escaped with serious injuries on her hand and had to have three hundred stitches put in. According to Colonel Phetla of the Bela-Bela police the arrests were made after an operation was conducted by the police crime intelligence unit. The operation began on Tuesday 31 March when two teams from the unit travelled to Brits in Mpumalanga and Yeoville in Johannesburg. Phetla said that the suspects were traced after they had been informed about their possible whereabouts However, it was in a small shack at an informal settlement in Yeoville where Javas Kuzwayo, Lucky Ncube and Innocent Nyathi were apprehended by the unit. Ncube and Nyathi have also been linked to other incidents in Brits including various housebreakings and
robberies. No firearms, stolen goods or illegal substances were found at the premises and the men were taken into custody at the Bela-Bela police station. A fourth suspect is currently still at large. Phetla said that despite this success he is still concerned about the rising instances in knife attacks in Bela-Bela but is appreciative towards the local community. “I am still worried about the increase in knife attacks in Bela-Bela. It is the first time in my time in Bela-Bela as a policeman that these kinds of crimes happen. The community has become more involved in protecting one another since the last stabbing incident and this has been helpful in apprehending other suspects,” he said. Other suspects, Themba Ncube and Edmore Munango, who were found in possession of stolen goods related to the case remain in custody. Kuzwayo,Ncube and Nyathi made their first court appearance on Tuesday 7 March where the case was postponed to Wednesday 8 April. At the time of going to press the outcome of this appearance was not revealed.
Rubbish is being dumped in streets in Leseding. Owners are complaining that vehicles from lodges dump their rubbish in front of their houses instead of taking it to the Mabatlane landfill site. There are no visible signs directing people to the site, which lead some to suspect that those dumping may not even be aware of where the landfill site is. Photo: Marlene Vermaak
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Mogalakwena municipal manager dismissed for misconduct Mogalakwena Mayor Councillor Tlhalefi Mashamaite supports council resolutions to dismiss the municipal manager. Photo: Lizzy Bapela
Lizzy Bapela Lizzy Bapela The council of the Mogalakwena Local Municipality has dismissed the town’s municipal manager, Willy Kekana, on an alleged 19 charges of misconduct. Kekana’s dismissal follows his suspension on 3 December 2014, although the disciplinary hearings were only concluded on 23 March 2015. The council has resolved that the position would be advertised immediately. Kekana will be instructed to hand in all municipal property within seven days. “Among other charges, we include the fruitless and wasteful expenditure which resulted in paying salaries to 23 expelled councillors, irregular expenditure, failure to act in the best interests of the municipality, refusal to table the Auditor General’s Report for the 2013/2013 financial year, unauthorized use of municipal funds, and others,” said Municipal Spokesperson Malesela Selokela. “Following the suspension of the Chief Financial Officer, the council resolved that the acting municipal
manager, Puledi Selepe, be authorized to seek secondment of acting chief financial officer from the provincial and national departments of Treasury and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. The council has also resolved that the report regarding the legal fees for M G Phatudi Incorporated be referred to the corporate support services portfolio committee for adjudication within 14 working days,” Selokela added. On reviewing the present agreements between the municipality and Anglo Platinum, the Council resolved that the findings and the suggested strategy be noted and that the council be kept informed of the development. Selokela also said that Anglo Platinum Mine will be requested to make a presentation to the council within 14 working days. Mogalakwena Mayor Councillor Tlhalefi Mashamaite said that he supported all of the council’s resolutions, adding that he is confident that the municipality will run smoothly and continue to render basic services to the community of Mogalakwena.
Magol street in Vaalwater is one of the roads leading to Lesideng. The road is constantly in a terrible condition and pedestrians as well as motor vehicle owners are complaining about it. Photo: Marlene Vermaak
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10 April, 2015
Traffic round off after Easter holidays The relatively mild Easter traffic was made almost unendurable by clouds of dust from halfcompleted roads. Photo: TK Mashaba
Lizzy Bapela Lizzy Bapela The 2015 Easter holidays experienced numerous accidents on the roads following a heavy traffic through the weekend of Friday, 3 April to Monday the 6th. The long convoy of busses on the roads during the Easter weekend are said to be the main contributor to the traffic congestion which resulted in accidents during the holidays. A total of ten people died following an accident on the declared high accident zone N1 on Friday, 3 April. A taxi collided head-on with a bakkie at around 13:30 and the people were certified dead on the scene. The Waterberg Road Traffic control office manager Simon Kekana said that due to the convoys, people and drivers become impatient and this result into rear front bumper accidents. He added that the CBDs of Bela-Bela, Modimolle and Mookgophong were heavily congested and the hardworking officers on duty managed to alleviate the congestion throughout the period. He added that the stops for payments at the tollgates also contributed to the congestion and the department continues to work hard through various sorts of operations aimed for road safety. Kekana further confirmed that there were a number of accidents on the roads during the holidays, but did not have the exact statistics by the time of going to press. Meanwhile, various organizations
throughout the province including the ANC and the DA sent well wishes and safe trips to road users for the Easter weekend, as known to be very busy due to millions of people from across the country and abroad visiting the headquarters of the Zion Christian Church, Moria. The organizations urged motorists to exercise restraint on the roads, observe traffic rules and rest when necessary. The Provincial Government made necessary arrangements to have traffic officials’ continued visibility on the roads to ensure road safety during the busy period. Also, Traffic and SAPS officials from the Mogalakwena local and Limpopo Provincial offices had in partnership with Mokopane Anglo Platinum, filled the streets and entry points to the area on Thursday morning when local Mayor Thlalefi Mashamaite officially launched the 2015 Easter Road Safety Campaign to intensify the implementation of the 365 Days Road Safety Program. The Mayor was joined by other local and provincial dignitaries and stakeholders. During the campaign, the Mayor called upon all road users, private motorists, public transport operators of short and long distance, freight transport operators, passengers and pedestrians to take personal responsibility for their safety on the roads as they will be traveling to various destinations during the Easter holidays at all times.
The ability to concentrate and to use your time well is everything if you want to succeed in business—or almost anywhere else for that matter. Lee Iacocca
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Worker grievances lead to park upgrade delays It appears that very little has been done regarding planned park upgrades in BelaBela. Photo: Justin Steyn
Justin Steyn Justin Steyn It seems as if nothing is being done regarding recent park upgrades in BelaBela. This is what residents who reside next to a park situated at the corner of Ludorf- and Driver Street are saying. Residents claim that the workers who have been contracted for upgrading the park do very little and claim that some have been seen spending hours sleeping in wheelbarrows or sitting around chatting without any work being done. Residents are also worried about the lack of a fence around the park and fear that small children might fall and drown in its small pond. The park upgrades were planned at the end of 2014 and an estimated R12 Million was set aside for the upgrades. The upgrades are planned to take place in Spa Park, Pienaarsrivier, the Bela-Bela town and then Township area. Each park is expected to have facilities such as braai- and play areas included in the upgrades. Upgrades are expected to be completed by June this year. The endeavour is currently being contracted by the Department of Environmental Affairs and the Expanded
Public Works Project (EPWP) DA councillor Kobus van der Merwe said that several grievances from the workers are the reason behind the delay. He claimed that workers are complaining about their working hours and that they are unhappy with their wages. He said that he has tried to arrange a meeting with the Acting Head of the Department for Social Community Services, TJ Mothapo, but has had no response. Van der Merwe said that although the project is contracted by the EPWP, which means that the use of machinery is not involved, the project would develop much faster if the municipality had provided them with machinery. “No machinery is being used for this project and this obviously causes slow production. Although the municipality is not contracting the park upgrades tax payer’s money is being used to fund the upgrades. I feel that it would speed things up if the municipality would provided much needed machines needed for these upgrades,” he said The Bela-Bela Municipal spokesperson, Matome Sebelebele could not be reached for commented.
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10 April, 2015
Deputy Speaker denies allegations
Spokesperson for the Limpopo Provincial Legislature Andries Lekalakala stands by the Deputy Speaker Lehlogonolo Masoga. Photo: Lizzy Bapela
Deputy Speaker of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature Lehlogonolo Masoga says he remains unshaken by the conspiracy levelled against him. Photo: Lizzy Bapela
Lizzy Bapela Lizzy Bapela
official linked to Supply Chain Management on allegations of irregularities and corruption as picked up by the Auditor General’s report, but the suspension has nothing to do with the matter at hand. Nevertheless, it has come to our attention that the Office of the Public Protector has received a telephonic complaint from an anonymous caller about the Deputy Speaker’s phone bill for August 2014. We consider the matter to be sub judice and are unable to elaborate on it.” Masoga rejected the ‘malicious, libelous and defamatory’ allegations levelled against him by ‘conspirators’ to injure his integrity. “My commitment to serve the people and fight corruption and maladministration is unshaken and I will not allow bitter individuals to defocus me. I look forward to cooperating with the Office of the Public Protector to lay this matter to rest,” he said.
The Limpopo Provincial Legislature and the Deputy Speaker Lehlogonolo Masoga have recently referred to allegations of corruption as ‘cheap beer talk conspiracy’ and have said that the allegations are baseless and not supported by the facts. The spokesperson for the provincial legislature said that the allegations referred to a phone bill which was accumulated on an official trip to the US in August 2014. “It has come to our attention that some disgruntled members of staff with the backup of some politicians have illegally secured and leaked internal information with the intention of deliberately bringing the Honourable Masoga’s name into disrepute and undermine his integrity, the legislature, and his political organization, the ANC,” said Lekalakala. “The legislature suspended a senior
DA to introduce anti-blue light bill The DA recently elaborated the DA’s plan to halt the practice of the so-called ‘blue light brigades’ transporting officials in Limpopo. Photo as illustration.
Lizzy Bapela Lizzy Bapela The DA in Limpopo have told the media that they plan to introduce a private members’ bill to restrict the use of blue lights and sirens on motor vehicles transporting officials. The DA met with members of various media houses across Limpopo on Wednesday, 1 April, at the party’s provincial offices to brief them on the planned bill. The party says that the bill is long overdue in the province, given that Limpopo is losing government
officials and citizens to road accidents. The DA Provincial Chairperson and Member of the Provincial Legislature Jacques Smalle said that he planned to introduce the bill as the party’s Provincial Legislature Caucus leader to the Provincial Legislature for debate. Smalle added that he would work with other leaders such as Langa Bodlani and Katlego Phala. The party banned the use of blue lights on vehicles transporting officials in the DA-governed Western Cape except in cases of immediate danger.
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Allegations of fraud against member of the Limpopo provincial legislature Lizzy Bapela Lizzy Bapela The South African Youth Council (SAYC) in Limpopo say that they are greatly disappointed about allegations regarding the fraudulent soliciting of funds by Limpopo Member of Provincial Legislature Onnica Moloi. The member is alleged to have written to Minister of Agriculture Senzeni Zokwana asking for monetary assistance for youth programs on behalf of SAYC Limpopo. SAYC Limpopo Provincial Secretary Thabo Ramashala told the media that Moloi is not a member of their organization and was not authorized to raise funds on their behalf. Ramashala added that Moloi’s alleged behaviour should be regarded as nothing but fraud. “SAYC Limpopo is of the opinion that Moloi has not only abused her position as a public representative to fraudulently solicit funds but also misrepresented the SAYC and misled the minister and the government,” he said. “We condemn this type of act and confirm to the public and to our members that we have raised the matter with the Department of Agriculture on a national and provincial level, and the Limpopo ANC Youth League. They have yet to respond, but we call upon them to investigate the matter further and take drastic steps against the individual concerned, as this is bringing the legislature into disrepute and is damaging to the character of the ANC Youth League.” He also said that his organization is in consultation with its legal team to
Onnica Moloi, a member of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature, is accused of the fraudulent solicitation of funds. Photo supplied ascertain which actions would be appropriate under the circumstances. Ramashala said that the SAYC in Limpopo was seeking a full explanation from the ANC Youth League, as the matter puts their members in jeopardy. Moloi is both a member of the ANC Youth League Provincial Task Team and its spokesperson. The ANC Youth League Provincial Task Teak could not be reached for comment.
Pienaarsrivier Supermarket employees down tools Lizzy LizzyBapela Bapela Employees at the Pienaarsrivier Supermarket downed tools on Monday, 6 April, to demonstrate their disappointment with their employer, Leo de Goveia. Among other things, the workers allege that they are overworked and underpaid, and are working under terrible conditions. They also allege late payment, a lack of safety gear, and a lack of employment benefits such as double pay for holidays, and say that they are not being given enough time off. They also allege that they recently discovered that they were not registered in accordance with the Labour Act and were not receiving assistance from the Department of Labour in their labour disputes. The workers asked not to be named in the newspaper, saying that they fear victimization. They allege that one employee who protested against the employees’ treatment was given her salary and summarily dismissed. They also complained that the de Goveias are mistreating them and are generally disrespectful. During The BEAT’s visit, some of the employees complained that their employer’s wife had sworn at them and refused to listen to their complaints. “When we try to reason with them about late payments, they do not care, and say that they will loan us our salaries and deduct the loans once we are paid. Their treatment affects our lives — sometimes when we try to open accounts, we are told that our salary slips are invalid or fraudulent,” one of the employees said. The shop has over 30 employees including security guards, cashiers, cleaners, cooks and merchandisers, all of whom are complaining. They say that when they complain, their employers hire new staff for the day, and occasionally find that some of the old
staff are said to betray their friends in order to keep their jobs. Security guards complained that they are not given access to toilets and have to resort to the bushes when nature calls. The concerned workers wrote a letter to the South African National Civic Organization (SANCO), asking them and the community at large for intervention as they have ‘tried by all means to reach out to their employers but nothing is forthcoming’. The employers denied the allegations, saying that they had not been informed of the employees’ complaints, and said that they were disappointed that their employees had contacted the media without coming to them first. De Goveia said that he would comment after speaking to his legal representatives, and planned to address the employees. He told The BEAT that he would advise his employees to join a union which would help them to settle such disputes without resorting to the media. According to the Department of Labour’s sectoral determination, wholesale and retail sector minimum wages were adjusted upward from the beginning of February 2015. The sectoral determination is governed by the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, which makes provision for the setting of minimum wages. Workers in the named sectors are entitles to minimum wage increases varying from 6.1% and 8.1% in various categories with effect from 1 February 2015. Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant approved the new minimum wage for the sectors in terms of the sectoral determination which will be applicable until 31 January 2016. “Among the categories of workers who stand to benefit from the new minimum wage determination include cashiers, clerks, assistant managers, displayers, and sales people,” said acting Ministerial Liaison Officer Mokgadi Pela.
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10 April, 2015
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Photo of the week The spirit of Easter Increasingly, the spirit of Easter seems to have become just as mercantile as Christmas and Valentine’s Day. It’s an interesting phenomenon to watch, really. Weeks before, the shops start filling with chocolate rabbits and chocolate eggs and a million other things, usually also made of chocolate. Families plan their holidays for the long weekend — and a distressing number of them die on the road, victim of the Easter traffic. We even have a name for it now — it’s such a regular event that it’s not even unique. Two, three times a year, we lose hundreds on the road, and while there are campaigns decrying the losses, nothing much is really done. To be fair, what is there to do about it? As long as you have thousands of people on the road, moving from point A to point B, you will have accidents. People get tired, they get irresponsible … these things happen. It’s interesting to think, though, that fifty or sixty years ago, most of these deaths would not have happened. Not because people were more careful with their cars — although it must be said that there were fewer cars on the road, then — but because people did not use the Easter weekend to go on a little holiday. It’s sad, too. One does not have to be a Christian to feel sadness that a major religious holiday — one associated so deeply with sacrifice and humility — has been co-opted by the retail and travel industries and has become a perceptible cause of death in the world. It seems that some people will always try to exploit religion. Maybe next year we will do better. Maybe next year we will remember that Easter isn’t really about a chocolate rabbit. Maybe next year, fewer people will die on our roads.
Dea th, the Death, grea veller eatt le lev
Children enjoyed Easter holiday while studying from home. Photo: TK Mashaba
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Of all the fears that plague the heart of man, none is greater than the fear of death. It is our greatest fear, the sum of all other fears. We are afraid to die. We are afraid of what happens when we die. Death is the fundamental human problem. There is a poem called “Gray’s Elegy” written in a country churchyard in England: The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power And all that beauty, all that wealth e’er gave Awaits alike the inevitable hour The paths of glory lead but to the grave. Life is short and so uncertain. “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14b). Moses said to the Lord in Psalm 90:5-6, “You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning-though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered.” It is sometimes said that nothing is certain in life except death and taxes. But that is not wholly true. A clever man with a good lawyer can find a way around most if not all of his taxes, but no one escapes death. As George Bernard Shaw remarked, “The statistics on death have not changed. One out of one person dies.” Worldwide, there are approximately 56 600 000 deaths each year. That works out to 4,7 million per month, 155 000 per day, 6 500 per hour, 107 per minute, and 1,8 per second. The Greek playwright Sophocles said it this way: “Of all the great wonders, none is greater than man. Only for death can he find no cure.” Does death win in the end? On this side of the grave it’s hard to tell. Left to our observations, we don’t know much beyond the familiar words of Ecclesiastes. There is “a time to be born and a time to die” (Ecclesiastes 3:2). Visit any cemetery and you can’t really tell much difference between the Christian and the non-Christian. Oh, you can intuit something by reading the markers, but the dead lie buried side by side, six feet underground. There they are, all grouped together, young and old, male and female, rich and poor, famous and infamous, churchgoers and nonbelievers. Which is why we need to set aside our artificial differences of creed and culture and realise that in the most fundamental of ways, we are exactly the same. We are all born, we all die. Everything in between is just flavouring.
And one silly quote just for fun.... Never try to teach a pig to sing....it wastes your time and annoys the pig. Anonymous
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10 April, 2015
Repor t on ‘voice of the child’ expected soon
A comprehensive report on children’s opinions regarding religion in schools will only be available in April this year. For this reason, court documents of the six schools involved in a test case regarding a school’s policy and practices pertaining to religion will probably only be filed in May this year. An application for postponement was lodged in the Gauteng High Court recently. “We want to reiterate that time cannot be the determining factor in this case. For that the scope and impact of this case is simply too big,” says Paul Colditz, CEO of the Federation of Governing Bodies of South African Schools (FEDSAS). The Organisasie vir Godsdiensonderrig en Demokrasie (Ogod) asked the Constitutional Court last year to declare it unconstitutional for certain religious practices to be given preference over others. Six schools are named in the application. The governing bodies of the six schools are members of FEDSAS, and FEDSAS forms part of these governing bodies’ legal team. “The voice of the child is crucial. Not only is this a constitutional imperative, but Ogod’s own constitution declares that children have the right to say what
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DA’s blue wagons relieve water problems This group attended the handover. In the front of the group is Johann Abrie, DA organizer for the Waterberg, and Desiree van der Walt. Photo supplied
they think should happen and have their opinions taken into account when adults are making decisions that affect children. However, up to this point the organization has not shown that it really takes the children’s voices into account,” says Colditz In order to listen to children the schools involved have retained the services of a psychiatric forensic social worker, Dr Tanya Robinson, to amplify the voice of the child in the application. “Robinson’s investigation requires intensive research. This includes visiting all six respondent schools during the first quarter of this year, conducting a survey on learners’ views regarding religious practices in schools, an analysis of the data and the compilation of a comprehensive report. This is a time-consuming task and the report will therefore not be published before mid-April,” says Colditz. The research project is an initiative of FEDSAS, with AfriForum supporting FEDSAS and the schools with legal costs. Colditz says that cases such as these rest upon penetrating and comprehensive research. “Making informed decisions is a key aspect of a democracy. Informed decisions are based upon extensive information and FEDSAS, as part of the schools’ legal team, will continue to gather and investigate all possible facts pertaining to the case.”
Steven Manamela pours himself a cool drink of water. With him is Julia Ledwaba, Dingaan Motshweni and Simon Lehong. Photo supplied
These wheelbarrows are fitted with 110-litre water tanks fitted with taps. The DA presented 45 of them to residents of the Waterberg district which had been hardest hit by the recent water shortages. Photo supplied
With water shortages driving residents mad, the DA had the bright idea of manufacturing a 110-litre water tank that would fit on a wheelbarrow. The tank would be fitted with a tap. The first 45 of the bright blue wheelbarrows were
A fire burned for three days at the Mabatlane landfill site inside of Lesideng. Every house in a one kilometre radius around the site complained of the smoke and fire smell. Photo: Marlene Vermaak
presented to Waterberg residents hardest-hit by the shortages on Friday, 20 March. Special attention was paid to those who usually carry water from water points and dams far from their homes.
These four ladies form part of the Expanded Public Works Programme at the Mabaleng Office in Alma. Photo: Marlene Vermaak
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BEAT
10 April, 2015
Modimolle DJ aims big Modimolle DJ Khazamola Amos Mfumane aka Diamza aims for bigger achievements in the music industry. Photo supplied
Local lad denies possession
Samuel Khoza who was banned form the church after he was allegedly possessed by a demon. Photo: TK Mashaba
TK TK Mashaba Mashaba
Lizzy LizzyBapela Bapela Modimolle-born DJ Khazamola Amos “Diamza” Mafumane has big dreams. He told The BEAT in a recent interview that he wants to be a big man in his career, and sees himself playing at big gigs with the big names in the music industry. He is currently playing at various clubs and special occasions around Modimolle, including Hapido Café, Square Club, and P ‘n R Tavern. He also played at Rio Tech in Pretoria and is planning to extend his reputation to other areas. Mafumane started his journey as a DJ in 2012 and specializes in the Soul
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Samuel Khoza from Bela-Bela has denied that he was possessed by a demon. He claims that the local pastor asked him to record a CD with him to prove the pastor’s ‘healing powers’, and is now demanding that the CDs be recalled because his community now believes that he is a demon worshipper. “I just want the recordings to be retracted as I was doing this for the CDs,” he said. Khoza, who is working at a local funeral parlour, said that the pastor should stop using people for his own gain. According to Khoza, his ordeal started when he was a member of the Bela-Bela Christian Church in Extension 7 last year.
“I was asked to do the recording with other church members. I have never been possessed by a demon,” he said. “My reputation has been ruined and people are scared of talking to me since they heard the recordings. I don’t want to be thought a bad person or ruin the pastor’s reputation but I want the pastor to stop what he is doing because I’m a member of his church.” Khoza told The BEAT that he was badly beaten at church recently, while being told that he is a demon. “How can I be beaten bloody because I didn’t fall down when they prayed for me?” he asked. The pastor could not be reached for comment.
‘I was asked to
and R&B genres. He told The BEAT that he was inspired by the late artist Eddie Zondi, because he listened to Metro FM, a radio station which often featured Zondi. “I’ve encountered a lot of satisfied clients who admire my skills and had a good relationship with my customers,” he said. Mafumane is the brother of Jackie Mafumane, who is also a DJ and friends with artists from House Therapy record studios, which produced big names such as the late Bojo Mujo. Mafumane told The BEAT that his brother played a big role in his inspiration to join the music industry.
Auditions ffor or local mo vie movie
do the recording with other church members. I have never been possessed by a demon.’
TKTK Mashaba Mashaba Local film creators are calling on local actors to attend auditions for a film to be shot in Bela-Bela. The auditions will be open to anyone, and will be held on 16 and 17 April at the local Thuli Church in Bela-Bela. Interested parties can phone 072 426 4442, or 076 756 9740. According to Jacob Mononyane, the film’s writer and producer and a theatre actor, the film will be relevant to the township lifestyle and will showcase local talent. Mononyane has been on the stage for many years, and believes that it is the time to give the industry a bit of local flavor. Mononyame, in partnership with Lepu Productions, will be shooting the film on location in Bela-Bela township and in the town. Lepu Mahlanya, who has shot three local films, says that this is the right time to produce a quality film. “The other movies we shot in BelaBela were a learning curve for me and my team, and I have been able to get bigger and better cameras to do a better job,” he said. The film is scheduled to be given to Mzanzi Magic Productions to showcase Bela-Bela’s talent.
Jacob Mononyane, noted theatre actor, is planning a film set in Bela-Bela featuring local talent. Photo: TK Mashaba
These four students are part of the YES project (Youth Environmental Services) organised by the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve to assist the Department of Environmental Affairs with a tree planning day inside the Alma township area. Photo: Marlene Vermaak
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10 April, 2015
Diesel n Dust Netball the motivated after a good game
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Waterberg Executive Mayor Road Race
Diesel n Dust is delivering a stellar performance this season. Photo supplied
The 2014 Executive Mayor’s road race was a great success. Photo: TK Mashaba TK TK Mashaba Mashaba Bela-Bela’s Diesel n Dust netball team has had a recent morale boost after winning 17-12 against one of the highestranking netball team in the Waterberg, the Mokopane Thunder Girls netball team during a tournament held on 3 April. Their coach, Koketso Kgabo, told The BEAT that the girls had come second in the eight-team tournament and that their game against Thunder Girls has been a boost to their spirit.
The team played in a tournament earlier in the year in Tzaneen, where they beat Sekhukhune Young Fighters 59-3 before continuing on to beat University of Limpopo 39-28. On the 21st of March they played two games at Hoërskool Piet Potgieter in Mokopane, losing to Lulekani Cheaters of Mopani District, and beating Lufelle of Vembe District 41-15. Their next match will be played on 11 April and the provincial league games will be played on 18 April in Vhembe District.
The Waterberg District Municipality partnered with the Bela-Bela Marathon Club and Forever Resorts to host the Executive Mayor’s Road Race, and annual event initiated in 2012. Over the years the race has attracted an increasing number of athletes, and is aimed at unearthing sporting talent among the youth and to encourage community fitness. The 2015 road race, which will be taking place on the 9th of May, will be starting from Laerskool Nylstroom in Modimolle and will finish at Forever
Resorts in Bela-Bela. Potential athletes will be able to enter at Forever Resorts on 8 May 2015, from 12:00 to 20:00, and at Laerskool Nylstroom from 04:00 to 05:50 on the day of the race itself. Candidates can also enter online at www.entrytime.co.za until the 4th of May. Entries cost R90. Buses are expected to be available to transport entrants from Bela-Bela Forever Resorts to Modimolle and back — entrants who wish to make use of this service should be aware that the last bus will leave at 05:00.
Bela-Bela Finest Easter fun Games a success ‘Days like this build friendship and togetherness’ TK Mashaba Bela-Bela soccer fans enjoyed a fun day during this year’s Bela-Bela Finest Easter games. Residents and fans came in droves to the town’s Moloto Stadium to watch the games where six groups of teams played in knock-out stages. Skilled play was the order of the day, with older players showing how they used to play in their heyday. Thabang Sephai, a committee member of the Bela-Bela Finest, the games’ organizers, said that it is always nice to have such games. “It builds friendship and togetherness so we thank all who took part — the sponsors and those who attended,” he said. The next games are planned for June 16, followed by Spring Games and games for the Festive Season.
The Bela-Bela Finest team. Photo: TK Mashaba
Kenny Monyela (in the black jersey) with the ball, with watching. Photo: TK Mashaba
Piet Sebushi is down after a tackle during their game against Leseding. Photo: TK Mashaba
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