The Beat 11 October 2013

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11 October 2013

Matric farewell ruined!

Story on page 3...

Breakfast that was served for the learners during their matric farewell as photographed. Photo supplied

The learners had to share beds and some slept on the floor during the trip. Photo supplied

Ebrahim Ibrahim visits Bela Bela

Pg 6

HoĂŤrskool Nylstroom Matrics look stunning

Pg 7

Photographed is the food that the learners allegedly had for lunch. Photo supplied

Local teams fare badly in championship

Pg 8

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BEAT

11 October, 2013

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Public voicing disapproval with parking meters Justin Steyn

Parking meters in Chris Hani are expected to be fully functional by mid-October.

Photo: Justin Steyn

Meter reading troubles TK Mashaba Water meter troubles are not a new thing to township residents who, from time to time, end up paying high or low monthly service fees, as in the case of Peter Motsodisa, who has been experiencing troubles with the Bela Bela Local Municipality when his wife’s household account jumped from R 1 613 in August to R 7 832 in October.

“I’m still shocked by the slips I got from the municipality that stated our household account is outstanding by such a huge amount,” he said. According to Motsodisa, there should be no way that the water bill could reach such an

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amount in such a short time.

When Motsodisa tried to pay outstanding services on Monday, 7 October, he was told that he could also not buy electricity. According to officials at the municipalities, his connection was closed because of the outstanding bills.

“I couldn’t understand what was going on as I paid R220, the normal fee on the services I use per month,” said Motsodisa.

The BEAT later accompanied Motsodisa to the municipality to try and get to the facts of the matter. After being sent from port to starboard several times before he was finally able to buy electricity.

The BEAT contacted Matome Sebelebele on the 8th of October to ask if he was aware of the challenges the community was facing.

“All I can say is that errors used to happened on meter readings and we encourage anyone who might experience some kind of dissatisfaction to come through to the municipality for verification,” he said and added that the current meter reading company’s contract will be coming to an end shortly and that the municipality is in the process of interviewing new companies for the position.

A spate of unhappiness has hit BelaBela town residents concerning the newly implemented parking meters in Chris Hani Street. The meters are expected to be in full swing by 17 October and a lot of concern has grown from the initiative.

Isack Pelo, a car guard in the area, said that the meters will hamper his way of making a living because motorists can no longer pay for his services because they are now forced to pay for the meters.

“The meters are going to damage my income as motorists can no longer tip us for guarding their cars,” he said.

The BEAT also approached businesses and enquired about how these meters would affect them. The general notion was that the public would be discouraged from shopping in the area and would resort to businesses where parking meters are not present.

One store manager, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that she would now be forced to park her car in a different area and then travel on foot to avoid being charged for using the parking space in front of the store where she works.

The man on the street is posing the question, “if the Bela-Bela municipality has the funds to implement the meters, then why are the public roads constantly deteriorating?”

In an interview, municipal spokesperson, Matome Sebelebele, explained that the meters are a way to generate revenue in order for the municipality to provide public services such as road maintenance.

“People must understand that we as the municipality need revenue in order to supply the public with adequate and effective services which include maintaining our roads,” he said. He added that the elderly or disabled who wish to be exempted from using the meters should approach the municipality in writing.

Sebelebele stressed that strict measures will be in affect from 17 October to ensure that the meters are paid when parking is used.

“The Bela-Bela Traffic Department will be conducting patrols in the area and those who do not pay for the parking use will be fined accordingly,” he said.

To date a total of twelve parking meters have been erected in Chris Hani but more are expected by the end of the year.

The meters will function on the following tariffs: R1 for 1 to 15 minutes, R2 for 15 to 30 minutes, R3 for 30 to 45 minutes and R5 for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Operating hours of the parking meters will be from 09:00 to 17:00 on weekdays, 09:00 to 13:00 on Saturdays and free of charge on Sundays and public holidays

Crime round up Lizzy Bapela Thursday, 3 October Modimolle police and other stakeholder embarked on Operation Spaza in the area to check compliance within the tuck-shops (spazas). The local municipality, South African Revenue Services (SARS), Department of Environmental Affairs and the Immigration Unit joined the police in the operation so that they would address issues seeking their department’s attention.

The team got divided into two groups and visited all the shops in the township and some of those in town. Some of the ones in the township were found not to be complying with the law by not having permits and selling expired food among other challenges. They were all closed down and all the visited shops in town were found to be complying with no challenge encountered. Police spokesperson Warrant Officer James Findlay emphasized that such an operation a shop will be closed down if it does not comply with the law.

Friday, 4 October A man was found hanged at the graveyard in Modimolle at around 11h00. Warrant Officer Findlay said that the police only managed to get the surname of the deceased, Mothemane and no other information on him could be gathered. He added that it is still unknown as to what drove him to apparently commit suicide. The police have opened an inquest docket and investigations are continuing. * Eight people were arrested for being drunk in public, while two were up for drinking in public and one was caught in possession of

dagga of an undisclosed value.

Warrant Officer James Findlay said that the suspects were released after paying admission of guilt fines ranging from R100 to R300. He further said that the dagga suspect appeared before the Modimolle Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 7 October.

Sunday, 6 October A young boy drowned at the dam in Modimolle’s Extension 10 at around 16h00 after he went for a swim with his three friends. Warrant Officer Findlay said that children are often chased out of the area as it is dangerous, but unfortunately the four managed to escape from being seen and proceeded with their journey. He further said that three of the boys left the place and went back when they realize that their friend was not with them. On return, the boys only found their friend’s clothes on the ground and he was nowhere to be found. The police diving unit searched and found his body and notified the family immediately. The 10-year-old Jefrey Makhokola stays in the area.

Monday, 7 October A woman appeared before the BelaBela Magistrate’s Court in connection with a case of malicious damage to property. Police spokesperson Constable Glen Manamela said that the woman stabbed her husband’s car wheel tires with a knife during a heated argument between the two. According to the information received, the two were arguing in the kitchen when the wife, Sophy Manala took out a knife and tried to stand the husband, Dingaan. He ran out of the house and that was when Sophy allegedly resorted to tires. She is expected back in court Thursday, 31 October.

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11 October, 2013

BEAT

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Front page story...

Makhutjisha School matric dance disaster ‘The learners said that there was only one housekeeper at the resort and that some of the learners had to prepare and serve the food to their friends...’ meetings, which took place on Tuesday, 1, Thursday, 3 and Tuesday 8 October. Most parents attended and according to some of the learners, Mahlabegwane lied to the parents about what happened at the venue and fled before the meeting could come to an end. Mathews had to take over with some of the educators and address the audience.

The BEAT wants to stress the receiving of information that the principal was allegedly not part of the trip and arrangements prior to the trip.

However, The BEAT could not get hold of him through all the numbers provided

Makhutjisha Secondary School is making news in Mookgophong. Photo: Lizzy Bapela Lizzy Bapela The BEAT has learned of the disastrous experience that the Grade 12 learners of Makhutjisha Secondary School in Mookgophong encountered during their matric dance farewell.

Fifty-three learners, two female educators known as Mahlabegwane and Maleka and some members of the SGB were allegedly transported to Leweni Lodge on 21 September. The learners were told that they would not go to Legend Lodge as planned before, as the lodge was fully booked and could not welcome them as their guests.

Dressed to kill in their best outfits, expecting a wonderful farewell function at a great venue, the learners were instead greeted by a dilapidated place that had gathered unbearable dust everywhere, with a very dirty swimming pool and nothing usable on arrival, The BEAT was told. The place had reported been closed down for two years.

The learners said that they were forced to share bedrooms in groups, with boys mixed up with the girls in the same rooms and some had to opt for the bathrooms as there was not enough space. Everyone had to hide their eyes whenever someone had to use the bathroom. Several learners lost valuables such as money and cellphones because there was allegedly no security at the venue.

To make matters worse, breakfast made up of a sandwich, atchar, beans and juice was only served at about 12h45. For lunch, the learners had pap, burnt meat and atchar again. The learners said that there was only one housekeeper at the resort and that some of the learners had to prepare and serve the food to their friends.

If they wanted to cool off, the learners had to swim in a very dirty pool, make their way to find a bit of sleep and spent the next day on empty stomachs until breakfast was served at the time lunch was supposed to be served, while lunch was served at 16h00. Some of the learners did not have a chance to

eat, as it was already time to depart.

They had to run late for lunch as they were sharing bathrooms in numbers.

One learner, who wished to remain anonymous, said that they had to share a 1 litre concentrate juice, a 12 kg mealie meal, 2 kg polony and other unhealthy food among themselves. The learners said that they were told the school had to spend thousands on bookings, food and everything.

No formal event, address or motivation took place during the trip, which was just like an ordinary outing. An allegedly un-roadworthy bus was called to ferry the learners back home and they were forced to all fit in it, even when it had already loaded four passengers and some of the learners had to stand.

According to the parents, the educators got the principal Mr Mathews to sign them a letter, allowing them to go for the trip but could not get a circuit representative for a final signature.

It is said that without Mathews’ knowledge, the educators went to the trip with the learners, which the parents feel the educators have risked their children.

According to the information received, the owner of the lodge was given a stack of cash at the municipal lawn before the trip.

Learners say they had paid R650 per person to attend the event.

The school called parents’

under the school’s name, or any of the school’s educators. The district manager of the Department of Education Julia Madela was also not available for comment by the time of going to press. A complete follow up will be conducted to get sides of all parties involved in the matter.

Meanwhile, the Limpopo Departmental spokesperson Phuti Seloba said that the department does not know of the Mkhutjisha incident, as no complaint was lodged with them.

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BEAT

11 October, 2013

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A make or break for the Waterberg ANC: SACP Lizzy Bapela The ANC conference is still ahead and already causing tension between the members and leaders at branch levels on who should lead the region going forward. As has become usual, the ANC branches have split into two camps, with two leaders, Chairperson Morris Mataboge of Thabazimbi and Bela Bela born Secretary Andries Lekalakala getting support in their camps.

The Deputy Secretary of the SACP in the Govan Mbeki District (Waterberg) Sekgwari Philemon Magoai, writing in his personal capacity, expressed concerns with regards to the state of politics in ANC Watergberg region. He said that the conference ahead will be highly contested mainly because of various reasons.

Magoai highlighted that the chairperson and secretary of the region are divided and as a result, there are those who support Mataboge and those who support Lekalakala.

“The cracks started long before Mangaung conference and they are clearer now because political enemies cannot pretend to each other anymore.

The lobbying is intensive and everybody is aligning with their respective groups.

Prior to Mangaung conference of the ANC, the region was divided into those who supported Kgalema Motlanthe and those who supported Jacob Zuma. What makes matters worse in Waterberg, is the fact that towards Mangaung some of the people were pretending to be at

disagreement with the then Provincial leadership that will represent the working Executive Committee (PEC) under the class and the alliance in general. The party also said they are aware of leadership of Cassel Mathale, while in groupings of people who represent fact they were supporting his leadership or must I say they were benefiting foreign tendencies in the organisation underground,” said Magoai. and those groupings are ready to recycle the leadership that corrupted this He indicated that in an unfortunate turn province. The of events those who were against members of the alliance are the allegedly corrupt PEC of advised to guard In addition, we should Limpopo are joining against that. work hard to defend the The alliance said forces with that they are benefactors of the gains of Mangaung and same leadership. therefore not afraid Limpopo PEC He added that to tell their disbandment victories. individuals must members in the This brings me to my understand that the region that they should never capitalist agenda next point that was defeated in associate with Waterberg politics are Mangaung. those groupings. not principle driven but The members are “In addition, we depend on personal should work hard advised to instead to defend the gains work hard to interest and of Mangaung and influence branches accumulation, greed and of the ANC to elect Limpopo PEC position mongering. leaders who will disbandment bring this province victories. This brings me to my next point that out of political wilderness.

Waterberg politics are not principle Delegates are advised to think of the problems in their municipality area and driven but depend on personal interest and accumulation, greed and position who causes them and why the mongering. If the ANC Waterberg conference is highly contested and who is the highest bidder before they vote at regional politics were driven by principle, the conference. we were not going to have the current “Your vote for a particular leadership madness towards the regional must be driven by an interest to fix both conference,” he said. regional and provincial leadership.

The SACP in the district says that they Remember that you are not going to any do not support either side, but the

“

Shoprite’s strange smell a concern ‘I did my shopping at Shoprite this past weekend and the stench of cat urine was unbearable and to make matters worse, their air condition was very high’...

Justin Steyn A concerned reader, Mariaan van Niekerk, has written to The BEAT’s sister publication The Post stating her recent shopping experience during the past weekend.

Van Niekerk wrote an e-mail which states that she has sensed an overwhelming scent in the store which she described as cat urine. She also claimed that the air-conditioning within the store has been set at a higher temperature.

“I did my shopping at Shoprite this past weekend and the stench of cat urine was unbearable and to make matters worse, their air condition was very high. This was not the first time I have experienced this,” said van Niekerk.

Van Niekerk said that she is worried about the smell of cat urine as it holds a health risk to consumers and

suggested an investigation be done.

In a statement, Shoprite spokesperson Sarita van Wyk said that the store experienced a fridge failure on Friday and again on Saturday morning.

She said that affected stock, margarine, was removed from sale and the fridge sanitised.

Technicians were expected to have made the necessary repairs by Monday night. It might have been the cleaning materials that were the cause of a temporary odour, but we are not aware of complaints about it,” she said.

Van Wyk said that they are not aware of a problem with cats in the store.

It was explained that meat is kept in locked back storage fridges overnight to maintain the cold chain and in accordance with food safety regulations.

She added that the air-conditioning will be checked and adjusted or repaired as needed

conference for your own interests, but you represent the constituency that you come from. Lenin once said “Dialectics is the teaching which shows how opposites can be and how they happen to be (how they become) identical, under what conditions they are identical, becoming transformed into one another, why the human mind should grasp these opposites not as dead, rigid, but as living, conditional, mobile, becoming transformed into one another.”

“It should be noted that whatever the outcome of the conference, the ANC must emerge being stronger and united as ever. The SACP in Govan Mbeki wishes the ANC a fruitful regional conference, with hope that it will bring the leadership that will unite the alliance in the region and respect that unity.”

Two weeks ago during the re-launching of the Bela Bela ANC branches, Butani Mabunda of the Khutsong branch stated without fear that they rally behind Lekalakala and will make sure that they gather enough support from the branches for him.

Meanwhile, expelled chairperson of the disbanded Waterberg ANC Youth League, Sipho Mhlanga, commented on his own personal capacity that he supports Morris Mataboge. Other members of the league in Mookgophong who wished to remain anonymous shared the same sentiments.

DA presents Community Safety Bill Directorate only caters for situations where police are involved The DA in Limpopo has presented in crime. a Community Safety Bill to Premier The shifting of power to determine Stanley Mathabatha. It is a private the policing needs of each local members bill by the DA which is area from the National aimed at enabling the provincial Commissioner to local government to combat crime more communities. effectively.

The MEC of safety and security, DA spokesperson, Desiree Van Joyce Mashamba, will have the der Walt, said the bill was rejected power to accredit neighbourhood

by Cassel Mathale’s administration watches and provide support, and said that training and the hope that resources the bill would be where We now call on passed by the necessary. new premier.

“At the Premier Mathabatha to “We now call moment these put the interests of on Premier structures are Mathabatha to collapsing those affected by crime put the because there ahead of narrow party interests of is no cohesion those affected in dealing with interest and support by crime ahead them,” said Van this bill.

His predecessor of narrow party der Walt. failed to do so,.. interest and The Bill also support this bill. suggests His predecessor mandatory failed to do so,” said Van der Walt. reports to be provided to the MEC She explained that recent crime by the Provincial Police statistics, particularly the increase Commissioner including cases of sexual offences, serve to place reported, investigated and emphasis on the importance of the convictions achieved, firearms lost, bill. Van der Walt said that by deaths caused by police activity or passing of the Bill the Limpopo any other matter relating to the province will have the following efficiency of the police’s strategic crime prevention relationship with communities. advantages: Limpopo’s own It was said the DA is currently dedicated and independent continuing to consult with other Provincial Police Ombudsman to stakeholders and the public in investigate complaints about police general to garner support for the inefficiency. The present system of implementation of this bill.

Independent Police Investigative Justin Steyn

“

It is not work that kills men, it is worry. Work is healthy; you can hardly put more on a man than he can bear. But worry is rust upon the blade. It is not movement that destroys the machinery, but friction. -Henry Ward Beecher

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BEAT

11 October, 2013

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Photo of the week Should information really be free?

In a few weeks, a film called The Fifth Estate will be coming out.

It’s the story of Julien Assange, the founder of the website WikiLeaks.

WikiLeaks is famous for publishing leaked information for public consumption. The information provided to the website includes confidential reports from almost every country in the world. Some of this information was classified for very good reasons, while some of it was classified simply to save someone important from embarrassment.

Theoretically, information should be free. Theoretically, the government has no right to keep secrets from its citizens.

In actual practice, it often doesn’t work that way. In practice, sometimes secrets have to be kept for the good of everyone involved.

Although Assange’s intentions were probably good, the fact remains that WikiLeaks has gotten people killed.

People, good people who were just trying to do their jobs, have died because their names were published on the site.

And there’s the rub, isn’t it?

Because of course, some information should be kept classified, because revealing it to the world endangers individual lives, organizations or nations.

And if we could be sure that the information that was being classified was being classified for good, valid reasons, there wouldn’t be any problem. But we can’t.

Our own government has shown that they cannot be trusted to classify information secret for the right reasons — and let us be perfectly clear, sparing powerful people embarrassment is not actually considered the right reason.

Our own government is currently in the process of passing a law that will punish whistleblowers, preventing corruption from being discovered and hampering the ability of the media to do its job — which is to keep the people informed of the things they need to know.

They are trying to throttle the flow of information out of government, trying to make it more and more difficult for the people to know what is actually going on.

That law is probably going to pass fairly soon, and when it does, the South African media will be singing the praises of Assange’s site and its perfectly anonymous avenues of information.

Information should be free, unless there’s an actual valid reason for it not to be.

And until we can trust government — not just our own, but all government — to do the right thing when it comes to the dissemination of information, we need people like Assange, who see the world in black and white.

Your Conscience is a guide to safety Bishop Silas Tlou

These two elderly gentlemen were enjoying a game of marabaraba. Photo: Justin Steyn

The BEAT wants to hear from our readers. If you have a great story or something that you want us to bring to light, please email beateditor@gmail.com or send an SMS to one of our reporters. Lizzy: 076 609 7644 or TK: 076 756 9740. We would also LOVE to see some of your weird and wonderful photos for our editorial page. Do not delay, just contact us today!

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We tend to think of the conscience as a personal thing—something between us and God. We get offended if anyone tells us differently. But Scripture tells us that matters of the conscience aren’t just an individual matter. We must take into consideration the needs of our neighbor too. For instance, you may think nothing of passing on harmless information about your acquaintances.

However, to someone who was once addicted to gossip, your innocent news bulletins may spark her desire for juicer tidbits. If you have a friend who simply can’t curtail his spending when he visits his favorite store, you may need to find another activity to do together.

This is not to say we should become legalistic or rule-oriented. Through His death on the Cross, Jesus made us acceptable in God’s sight, and we don’t have to measure our righteousness by how well we perform. In Christ, we have liberty. However, our freedom is given so we can serve others, not so we can indulge ourselves (Galatians 5:13).

If we know an area in which our brother in Christ stumbles, but fail to consider it as we follow our conscience, we are not serving our brother. Our convictions may allow it.

Our conscience doesn’t rebuke us.

However, as a result of our example, a brother may think that if we can do it, he can too. “Just this once” may pull him back into an unhealthy obsession or addiction.

A hot topic for the early church was whether or not to eat meat that had been offered to idols. In Roman cities, meat was often presented to an idol before it was taken to the marketplace.

In Paul’s opinion, whether or not the food had been sacrificed to an idol––a statue of a pagan god––didn’t really matter. The “gods” the idols represented didn’t actually exist. But it really bothered some believers. Their consciences told them it was wrong to eat this meat. Paul assured the believers that they could feel free to buy the meat in the market, without asking if it had been offered to an idol.

However, if a believer did discover that the meat had been sacrificed in the pagan temple, he shouldn’t eat it.

Why? For the sake of another believer whose conscience is “weak” (1 Corinthians 8:9-10).

Today, our idea of a person with a weak conscience is a person who constantly indulges in sinful or questionable acts. But Paul uses it in the opposite sense. He means that a person’s conscience convicts him when there is no real offense at hand. It is for those people that we must be cautious as we exercise our freedom in Christ. Thankfully, being sensitive to the needs of other believers isn’t our responsibility alone. God is sovereign.

Even if we make a selfish decision, He can use our mistakes for good in the lives of those we harm. He can use our slip-ups to encourage believers to turn to Him for guidance and strength.

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11 October, 2013

Bela Bela drummer passes away

Mourners at the graveyard during the burial of Sipho Livhimbi. Photo: TK Mashaba TK Mashaba Waterberg residents came together to bid farewell to Bela Bela local artist Sipho Livhimbi, who passed away in an accident on Saturday, 28 September.

Livhimbi, was involved in a car accident on the R101 between Modimolle and Bela Bela on his way back from work.

Livhimbi, who was known for his humbleness and his drum beats, was described as always smiling and a quiet guy who loved playing his drums at church and art events.

His younger brother Bongani says it is hard to accept that his brother is gone.

“He was a memorable man, a brother I learned a lot from. He didn’t like talking a lot but he loved music wholeheartedly,” said Bongani. “His sudden death was shocking but it has just highlighted the contribution he made in the lives of others when he was alive. From the masses of people who came to his funeral we can see how well-known and loved he was even if we didn’t recognize

that,” he added.

Livhimbi started his schooling at Ulando combined School and completed it at Hleketani, and learned to play the drums in 2005 at church.

Among other things he was part of the Love Life campaign, and worked at Mabula lodge as an anti-poaching student. At the time of his death he was working at Modimolle Montoya Auto.

Boitumelo Makwela of the Waterberg Department of Arts and Culture said that they had lost a talented drummer.

“We’ve known him since 2012 when he invited us to a choir session in Bela Bela. He loved music but he was more of a drummer and that’s one of the things we are going to miss about him,” said Makwela.

Abram Mohlake of the Bela Bela Local Arts Council said that Sipho was a man who valued accuracy.

“He really committed to what he loved,” he said.

“We will miss his Djembe sound,” said Mohlake.

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Government to host second national Imbizo focus week Lizzy Bapela Monday, 7 October 2013 marked the beginning of the second national Imbizo Focus week and the government is engaging the public on the campaign.

The week provides a platform for national, provincial and local government executives to engage with the public and also for citizens to interact face-to-face with them. The Imbizo also celebrates successes and addresses challenges on implementation of government programmes.

The focus week, taking place until the 13th of October, will be held under the theme, “South Africa Is Much Better Place than It Was In 1994”. Government representatives take part in a host of activities that include door-to-door household profiling, walkabout or project visits, stakeholder dialogues and community engagements.

Mayors in the Waterberg District will be going out to address communities on service delivery issues and highlighting the progress of programmes in their municipalities. Maria Ramoshaba of the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) in Waterberg said that the aim of the initiative is to share government’s achievements with the public.

The two-day event will take place at the Thusang Sports Ground in Roedtan, Mookgophong Local Municipality on Thursday, 17 and Friday, 18 October.

The Waterberg District Municipality will provide bus services for local community members, with local municipalities transporting their communities to the venue of the event. The first day of the event will be the Imbizo, whereby community members will be granted an opportunity to address service delivery issues with their leaders. The second

Deputy Minister visits Bela-Bela

Rabies inoculations update Justin Steyn Rabies inoculations have been progressing since September and The BEAT caught up with those involved to enquire about their progress.

Spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture in Limpopo, Selby Makgotho, explained that domestic animals are inoculated annually for Rabies. In Bela-Bela animals can be taken to the Towoomba Research Centre, per appointment for vaccinations until Tuesday, 15 October.

“Other municipalities have finished with or are still rounding off their vaccinations and state veterinary offices can be contacted for further assistance,” said Makgotho She added that various vaccination points were planned and advertised

VACANCY

Tacoma Spur Warmbaths

ENERGETIC WAITRONS NEEDED Please report at Spur on Monday, 14 October at 10:00.

through notices which were put up around various places.

Makgotho said that the inoculations are free of charge because animal diseases are regulated by the Animal Diseases Act, 35 of 1984.

“Under this Act there are controlled animal diseases, which the state undertakes to control. Rabies is one of the controlled animal diseases; therefore vaccination against this disease is done at state expense” she said.

It was explained that the vaccinations are done by state officials such as animal health technicians and state veterinarians.

Makgotho reported a total of 1 553 animals, primarily dogs and cat, have been vaccinated. She added that dogs and cats can be vaccinated from 3 months old

day of the event will be the Batho Pele Day, with municipalities, government departments and companies distributing information in stalls at the venue.

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Processing and Dissemination in the GCIS, Harold Maloka, said that the Izimbizos have served as pre-eminent communication platforms, allowing political principals an opportunity to be at the coal face of service delivery while interacting with communities. The government expects that the Izimbizo will mobilize all role players and forge partnerships in the build-up towards celebrating 20 Years of Freedom. Maloka said that since the reintroduction of the National Imbizo Focus Week in June 2013, solid progress has been made in strengthening Izimbizo.

Under the first Imbizo Focus Week theme, “Working Together For Youth Development and a Drug Free South Africa”, the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, interacted with patients from partial care facilities. The Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Rejoice Mabudafhasi led a clean-up with the youth, observing World Oceans Day. The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Jeff Radebe hosted an Imbizo on Justice Services relating to youth.

Maloka said that it is their collective responsibility as government to actively participate in building the country towards reaching its vision 2030, as set out in the National Development Plan (NDP). He said that the Imbizo Focus Week programme will be updated on www.gov.za on a daily basis.

Deputy Minister of International Relations, Ebrahim Ibrahim, paid BelaBela a visit.

Photo: Justin Steyn

Justin Steyn Deputy Minister of International Relations and Co-operation, Ebrahim Ibrahim, paid Bela-Bela a surprise visit on Monday 7 October.

The BEAT visited an old age home in Mazakela where Ibrahim was expected to appear.

Upon his arrival the deputy minister, accompanied by his entourage and BelaBela mayor Freddy Hlungwane, met with the managing staff of the home. Ibrahim spoke to those present, saying that he has made a commitment to make more frequent visits to the home as he has noticed its deteriorating state.

Ibrahim further urged the elderly to vote in next year’s election stating that no one knows the value of a vote than those who had to endure the times of Apartheid.

“The youth of today undermine the value of a vote as the government of today does not take away their right to freedom of speech. They do not know what it feels like to be arrested for just being in the street at a certain time of night without a pass,” he said.

Ibrahim highlighted many of the developments that the ANC government has made since South Africa’s democracy in 1994.

“During the ANC rule, communities have enjoyed services such as housing, electricity and running water where there was none during Apartheid” he said.

Ibrahim said that he realized that South Africans still face challenges such as a high crime rate and unemployment and is urging local communities to work together in order to do more.

beateditor@gmail.com, Website: thebeat.linmedia.co.za

11 October, 2013

BEAT

Page 7

Hoërskool Nylstroom Matric Farewell

Koba Pholoba and Partner from Hoërskool Nylstroom at their Matric Farewell. Photo: Herman Steyn

Kganago Hazel and Partner from Hoërskool Nylstroom at their Matric Farewell. Photo: Herman Steyn

Mashishi Koketso and Partner from Hoërskool Nylstroom at their Matric Farewell. Photo: Herman Steyn

Lekalakala Phindile and Ngoma Zweli from Hoërskool Nylstroom at their Matric Farewell. Photo: Herman Steyn

Kodi Watida and partner from Hoërskool Nylstroom at their Matric Farewell. Photo: Herman Steyn

Nunzhedzi Dinah and Partner from Hoërskool Nylstroom at their Matric Farewell. Photo: Herman Steyn

Thabiso Makanatleng and Celeste Nothado from Hoërskool Nylstroom at theIR Matric Farewell. Photo: Herman Steyn

Ngoede Neo and Nohlake Nachoki from Hoërskool Nylstroom at their Matric Farewell. Photo: Herman Steyn

Baloyi Peter and Phuti Paulina Shongwane from Hoërskool Nylstroom at their Matric Farewell. Photo: Herman Steyn

Kgomotso Maitisa and Partner from Hoërskool Nylstroom at their Matric Farewell. Photo: Herman Steyn

Mahloko Penelope and Partner from Hoërskool Nylstroom at their Matric Farewell. Photo: Herman Steyn

Rihlamvu Lizel and Phala Kagiso from Hoërskool Nylstroom at their Matric Farewell. Photo: Herman Steyn

Page 8

BEAT

11 October, 2013

Modimolle and Bela Bela don’t do well at championships

beateditor@gmail.com, Website: thebeat.linmedia.co.za

Sports with a side of social responsibility The BBFU members giving groceries at Thusanang Special School.

Photo: Supplied

TK Mashaba

Soccer players during the School Sports league matches at Bela Bela Sunfa before they were selected for the province. Photo: TK Mashaba TK Mashaba The Provincial School Sports League Championship held in Polokwane on Friday, 4 October, saw the Bela Bela and Modimolle circuits returning home in defeat.

The Modimolle circuit consisted of teams from Lekkerbreek (rugby), Maokeng (cricket), Dagbreek (volleyball) and Phagameng (netball, aerobics, jukskei and rope skipping), while the Bela Bela circuit included Mmamakwa (netball), Spa Park Primary (table tennis) and Maope

(chess).

Sello Molebatsi, chairperson of the LOC committee of sports in the Waterberg, told The BEAT that the schools did not perform as well as they could have.

Mokopane and Mahwaraleng performed well, and six schools between those two circuits took first place in their events, and will therefore be continuing to the national championship, which is to be held at Bloemfontein in December.

The schools who will be continuing to the nationals are

Motshitshi Primary for under 13 boys football, from the Mokopane circuit, Tshumana Primary on under 13 morabaraba boys from the Mahwereleng Circtuit, Sepedi Primary School on under 13 girls basketball, also from the Mokopane circuit. Mpirwabirwa High School from the Mokopane Circuits will be fielding an under 17 boys basketball team, while Ebenezer High School, also from Mokopane, are sending an under 17 hockey boys team.

The Bela Bela Finest United Social Games were a rousing success, with hundreds attending. The games, held on 28 September, had people coming in numbers to participate.

“The games show that we can bring tourists to the region using sports as we had teams coming from as far as Gauteng to participate,” said Matome Sebelebele, the spokesperson for the Bela Bela Local Municipality.

He added that sport is an essential tool in overcoming challenges the community is facing, such as poverty.

“We feel that we have achieved our main objective, which was to ignite, revive and promote sports tourism, healthy lifestyles and social

cohesion,” said Sebelebele.

Among the teams that participated in the day’s festivities were the Devine Divas and Old Crooks netball teams and the Lehlabile Girls, Road Accident fund, Matjantja and Fat Queens football teams.

BBFU head of sponsors Tshidi Molebatsi said that they are very humbled to have had the help they did from local sponsors.

“These companies made the tournament a success,” she said.

The Bela Bela Finest United committee also spent Sunday 29 September with Fast Cats FC, Majantja FC and Alexandra Netball at Thusanang Special School where they handed out shoes and groceries.

Bela Bela Pirates have their hearts set on victory TK Mashaba The Bela Bela Pirates, playing in Stream A, are planning to take home the prize in the new season, which is due to kick off in two weeks.

The Pirates ended the last season in second place behind Total Surrender and are looking to solidify their squad in the 2013/2014 season.

The BEAT talked to Pirates owner Johannes Maboa this week. “This season we are going all out and we want to end the season in first place,” he said.

Maboa also said that they had started the previous season on a bad note, with some of their players not being fit before the start of play. It had also been their first season playing in the SAB League after the restructuring.

“It was a hard combination for the players as all the teams in the SAB are very eager to fight to get promoted into the second division so for my boys in their first season it was hard, but they kept fighting and on the

second season we played well and ended up in second spot in the SAB league log.”

Head coach Nno Pholoba told The BEAT that they are ready for the new season, but added that they were not expecting an easy road of it, as they had seen real quality in some of the other teams during the friendly games held last Sunday.

“This season we are going all out and we are going to continue where we left off,” he said.

Pholoba said that the team will be going into the new season minus two players, a midfielder and a defender.

“Glen Baloi and Samuel Kgasao have left to join the newly promoted Happy Hearts FC, but we already have new players on trials,” he added.

Pholoba also said that they had already approved Hlangani Kgasao, Samuel Kgasao’s younger brother, as defender, adding “we are happy with his play and we are looking to add other players before the beginning of the new season.”