The Beat 14 March 2014

Rain and flooding in

14 March 2014

the Waterberg

Page 6

Dam Disaster at Klein Kariba

The indoor swimming pool from which two bathers were carried way during the flooding.

Photo: Justin Steyn

Justin Steyn A burst dam from Thaba Monate resulted in severe flooding at the Klein Kariba resort in Bela-Bela last Friday.

It was reported that seven cars, in addition to various household goods and camping equipment, was swept away during the disaster The manager of the resort, Wim de Wet, said that the incident happened in the early afternoon hours while he was monitoring the rainfall from a nearby bridge.

“I went out to measure the rainfall from a bridge. The water at that stage rose to about ten centimetres below the bridge and I assumed that the worst was over”, said de Wet. He added that he had heard reports that a dam had burst but it was not until he heard an emergency call from one of the resort’s technical department employees that he realised the true extent of the danger.

“I was on my way back from the bridge when I heard a radio distress call from one of our technical personnel calling for an immediate evacuation. It was then that I realised that the resort was in very real danger”, he said.

De wet said that he and other employees at the resort instructed all visitors to evacuate all bathing and swimming areas.

Two couples were reported to have been at the indoor pools as the floodwaters approached.

“As the water approached two couples were using our indoor pools. One of the couples saw the incoming water and managed to escape through the back of the area as the water rushed in.

Unfortunately the other couple did not manage to escape and were forced through the windows of the indoor pool and swept away”, said de Wet. The Limpopo Department of Health and Safety’s Tactical Rescue and Rapid Intervention (TRRI) unit responded to the

The flooding was so powerful that it had swept cars and heavy appliances away. Photo Supplied

emergency and all the trapped victims were rescued by the late afternoon.

The TRRI also spent the entire Friday night and Saturday morning searching for the couple that had gone missing.

By Saturday local police confirmed that the body of one of the two, Erick Sparrow, had been found at a nearby river bank.

His wife, Elsa Sparrow, remains untraced.

The resort’s gift shop was reportedly flooded in leaving several clerks and customers trapped inside.

The BEAT visited the resort on Tuesday 11 March while a police diving unit was still searching for Sparrow and the damage caused by the flooding was still very much in evidence.

All sanitation and electrical lines in the area have been destroyed or severely damaged and employees were seen working hard to repair the state of the resort.

De wet said that it would take at least a month to repair the damage caused. An

estimate for the damage has not yet been determined. Those who visited the resort over the weekend will be reimbursed and bookings for the coming weeks have been cancelled.

De Wet said that the resort is extremely grateful towards the community and rescue teams who assisted them in their time of need.

“We have received a lot of donations from local supermarkets and resorts.

Soup was provided to our visitors from retailers and some were assisted with free accommodation from nearby resorts” he said He added that an inspection by various contractors stated that no further dam bursts were be expected.

De wet suspects that the dam wall’s failure was the result of an abundance of trees that put pressure on the walls over a period of time.

He also said that unmonitored water sluices could also have contributed to the situation.

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14 March, 2014

Car overturns and kills one person Members of the police at the scene of the accident that recently took place on the R101. Photo supplied.

The vehicle that was involved in a recent fatal accident on the R101. Photo supplied

Lizzy Bapela The police in Bela Bela are investigating a case of culpable homicide following an accident that happened on the R101, 2km from Klein Kariba Holiday Resort in on the afternoon of Sunday, 9 March.

Bela Bela Police spokesperson Constable Glen Manamela said that the car was turning at a sharp curve just after the area when the driver lost control and the car overturned and rolled. She said that the car had four occupants, who were all rushed to the local hospital for medical attention. She said that one person died on arrival and two were complaining about chest pains, while the driver was complaining about neck pain as a result of the

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Hitch-hiking causes problems Justin Steyn Crimes related to the practice of hitch-hiking have been on the rise in Bela Bela of late.

The latest incident involved a lady who would allegedly stand at the side of the road asking for a lift.

When a driver stopped to offer her a ride two men, hiding in nearby bushes would leap out and attack the occupants.

Conversely, hitchhikers might also find themselves at risk from those who have picked them up, as in the case of a young woman found dead along the N1 late last year, who was believed to be a hitchhiker who

came to an unfortunate end.

The Bela Bela police advices the community to avoid hitch-hiking alltogether and not to offer lifts to strangers.

The situation in Mookgophong has improved since last year July. The spokesperson for the Mookgophong police, George Ledwaba, said that they have had not any reports since they last highlighted hotspots that are famous for hitch-hiking crimes.

In Modimolle, Warrant officer James Findley said that they have had no reports of hitch-hiking crimes but concurred that giving and receiving lifts from strangers should be avoided.

Communities make demands irrelevant to a hosted gathering Young children from Modimolle watched the entertainment items attentively during the crime awareness meeting that was held recently.

Photo: Lizzy Bapela

accident.

According to information received from a reliable source, another accident took place on a similar stretch of road. The car involved, a navy blue sedan vehicle was knocked by an oncoming double cab bakkie. The source told The BEAT that the driver lost control of the car and the bakkie hit it from the side, then the car got crushed between the bakkie and a huge stone.

The source added that three people died as a result of the accident and one was rushed to the local hospital after sustaining serious injuries.

When contacted, Constable Manamela said that the only reported accident was the one she responded to the media about and nothing else.

The Makubenjalo traditional dance group entertained the residents during the meeting.

Photo: Lizzy Bapela

NHBRC hosts upcoming road show Justin Steyn In line with their mandate to assist and protect house residents, the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) will be holding a road show awareness campaign in Bela Bela and surrounding areas.

The aim of this particular campaign is to educate the communities against building contractors who deliver housing units of substandard design, workmanship and poor quality material.

Due to immense damage to housing

from to the heavy rains the NHBRC encourages the community at large to attend the educational program.

The program itself will also be attended by local municipal councilors, traditional leaders and the MEC for the Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA),Ishmael Kgetjepe.

The dates of these events will be on Wednesday 19 March at the Bela Bela community hall at 10:00 am as well as the Spa Park community hall at 14:00pm on the same day.

Lizzy Bapela Modimolle residents appeared to have misunderstood the purpose of a meeting that they were called to attend.

The meeting, a crime awareness campaign held by the local SAPS was intended to be an opportunity for the police to communicate with residents regarding criminal activities taking place in the area and brainstorm solutions on how to fight the crime in order to ensure a crime free society. The meeting was held at the Extension 8 and 9 soccer field on Thursday, 6 March.

Instead of focusing on the topic raised for discussion on the day, crime, the residents raised issues including the housing backlog, unemployment and nepotism within the local municipality among others.

One resident named Leah Ditsela said that they vote in every election but they never see the benefits, as their leaders always want to benefit themselves and their families. She said that their leaders discriminate them due to their status. That if a person is not known to them or is poor, that person is not taken serious and does not get any help.

Ouma Baloyi said that it is because of the unemployment rate that people often resort to crime because there is nothing else they can do to feed their families.

Linah Moatshe said that street lights

are far from each other and are often not serviced and that results to criminals getting away with crime as they commit and the victims are unable to identify them because of the darkness.

During his address to the residents present at the meeting, Social Crime Prevention Commander Captain Mike Motadi said that crime concerns the police, stakeholders and the community at large and joining hands in the fight against it can bring it to its knees. He urged the residents to always make sure that their households are secured and valuables are not left in the open, exposed to criminals. Captain Motadi also urged the residents to be on the alert at all times and build strong neighbourhood communities so that they can watch over each other’s households and be able to point out any suspicious events.

The chairperson of the local CPF, Patrick Lebogo, urged neighbours to stop fighting among themselves and bring back the neighbourhood watch practice, which helps spot criminals in unoccupied homes.

Crime Prevention Unit Commander Colonel Kiba Kekana graced the gathering, while Bagomotsi ba Morena Choir and Makubenjalo Traditional dance group entertained the residents.

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14 March, 2014

Heavy rains ruin Spa Park’s only tar road

BEAT

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ANC elections campaign truck in communities

ANC Modimolle Sub-Regional leader Klaas Mabunda addressed members of the community during their party’s elections campaign.

Photo: Lizzy Bapela

The only tar road in Spa Park which was severly damaged in last week’s rainfall. Photo: Justin Steyn

Lizzy Bapela The ANC Election Campaign Truck made the rounds in local communities, seeking votes from members of the public.

In Modimolle, a member of the Subregion Klaas Mabunda was the person taking it around the three parts of Modimolle Local Municipality including Alma, Vaalwater and Phagameng. He did this serving as the ANC Modimolle Sub-Regional leader and branch chairperson in Ward 6 Monotong branch.

In his addresses, Mabunda reflected on the achievements attained since the beginning of the “20 years journey to create a Better Life for All”—- the roads, schools, clinics, housing, police stations, and hospitals.

“As the youngest serving ANC leader and equally the previously held positions in the ANCYL — including being the spokesperson, the branches identified my relationship with the masses across the border, and decided to use me as the speaker.

Unemployment is still an ache in our

area and it subsequently nurtures criminal conducts. The ANC took decisions way before elections to build storm water channels and so on, because our people do not only live during elections’ time, but every day and such means that they should eat, bath, wear and be healthy,” said Mabunda.

He further said that the truck was unfortunately met with rainy conditions in Vaalwater and Phagameng, at the Mandela Park, although the people stood in a pouring rain and listened to the speeches. Mabunda said that Modimolle is the ANC loving community and the ANC has membership even in sectors of non-black communities although they have challenges. He said that nature dictates that human are defined by mistakes and eager to correct them.

“The visits of the campaign truck to flourishing and struggling communities make the ANC the only reliable transformation driving organization, as regardless of its internal challenges, the love for the people remains our identity,” Mabunda said.

Five-year-old drowns in open manhole in Mookgophong Marietjie Steenkamp

A resident pulled out pieces of the tar road to demonstrate the nature of its deteriorated state. Photo: Justin Steyn Justin Steyn Residents of Spa Park in Bela Bela were up to their knees in water after recent rains had flooded their homes and streets.

The area currently has very little storm drainage to mitigate damage from the heavy rainfall and residents are left to bear the brunt.

Heavy rainfall on Thursday left many homes flooded and damaged.

The Bela Bela disaster management team was dispatched to the area to aid the affected residents.

Members of the team were seen destroying parts of houses in an attempt to drain water from inside the houses.

The only tar road in Spa Park has

been declared totally destroyed.

A ward councilor in the area, Kobus van der Merwe, said that this particular road has been poorly maintained since 2007.

Van der Merwe said that the cost of the necessary repairs to this road is estimated to be in the vicinity of R2 million.

“The biggest factors pertaining to the damage of this road in particular is the result of poor planning and construction work, excessive stormwater and negligent maintenance. Now up to R2Million has to be spent to repair the road and this could have been used for something else,” he said.

He added that repair of the area will most probably be conducted within a few months.

An open manhole led to the death of a five-year-old boy in Mookgophong on Friday, 21 February.

Little Thato Johnson was playing with three other children in the rain water after a heavy storm when he fell into an open pipe.

Thato is suspected to have slipped, and was pulled along by the stormwater. The area around the open manhole was so covered in grass and dirt that the children were not even aware that the hole was there until Thato disappeared down it. It is speculated that the boy was forced into the hole by the weight of the water, where he eventually drowned.

His mother, Margaret, was not home and the children were in the care of their oldest sister. According to Rosina, Thato’s other sister, the children frequently played outside after school, as they did on that

day.

Thato disappeared without a trace and the other children were so busy with their games that they did not notice that he was gone.

After an all-night search his sandcovered body was found by passers-by close to the N1, about 1.5km from where he was sucked in.

The municipality covered the manhole with a rock after the incident and have started efforts to clean the area. Members of the community are upset about the incident, which they say is only one example of the results of poor service delivery in the area.

Thato’s parents could not afford the funeral, and the DA paid for the funeral and flowers. DA members also attended the funeral and are currently supporting the parents through counselling. Thato was a student at Dibuku Primary in Mookgophong.

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BEAT

14 March, 2014

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Resident says municipality failed her

Essential services operate without electricity

Elizabeth Moumakoe photographed standing at her gate looking at the dirty water from rain floods. Photo supplied

The Bela-Bela police station’s electrical socket buttons are down, showing that there is no electricity. Photo: Lizzy Bapela

Lizzy Bapela A resident of Extension 6 in Bela Bela says that the local municipality has failed her. Elizabeth Moumakoe told The BEAT that she asked for the municipality’s help on many occasions regarding problems next to her yard and was sent from pillar to post.

Moumakoe explained to The BEAT how her yard gets flooded when it is raining because of the faulty pavement right in front of her home. She said that if it rains too much as it has done recently, the floods remain for days and she struggles a lot when she has to leave her yard.

“It has been years now that I have been experiencing problems with floods at my gate when it is raining and I am still waiting for help from our municipality, after failing to get through to them on many attempts. I spoke to Mr Morris Maluleka and he told me that many people have the same problem and I was just being emotional. I was then referred to Mr Thomas Pilane, who apparently was told many times to get the area fixed and he always had excuses. I went to different offices, asking for help but was instead given the run around. Everybody had excuses when I asked them to fix the pavement

as it affects me and my family so badly. I even risk taking too much time off work attending to the problem,” she said.

With her, Moumakoe had a petition form, which the nearby residents signed, asking for the municipality to attend urgently to multitude of problems within the area. In the petition, residents also expressed concerns about the sewage pump between Khabele School and our street, complaining that the smell was offensive. The residents gave the municipality 14 days to respond, saying that failure to do so will be regarded as communication breakdown.

During an interview with The BEAT, the mayor, Freddy Hlungwane said that he is aware of the pavement problems around the township and the municipality has appointed a service provider, who was supposed to be on site already, but was disturbed by the rains. He said that all the damaged pavements will be fixed, also pointing out the ones in the first street and at behind Maope Secondary School. With regards to the stinking sewage pump and the pavement stones left next to Moumakoe’s yard, the mayor further said that he will speak to the technical services manager to attend to the problem immediately.

BELA BELA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY Chris Hani Drive, Bela-Bela, Limpopo.

Private Bag x1609. BELA-BELA 0480 Tel: 014 736 8000, Fax: 01 4 736 3288. Website: www.belabela.gov.za

Notice terms of Section 79(18) b of the Local Government Ordinance 1939, Ordinance 17 of 1939 as amended. The public would therefore be given 14 days to lodge objections.

NOTICE 20/14

ACTING MUNICIPAL MANAGER MM MALULEKA

Lizzy Bapela Departments rendering essential services in Bela Bela had to operate without electricity, following a recent cut-off by the service provider appointed by the local municipality.

Lights at the local police station, court, town clinic and the Department of Correctional Services were switched off on Monday, 10 March at around 14:00, due to outstanding municipal accounts. Service delivery at all these departments’ offices was badly affected as a result and 35 prisoners at the Bela Bela police went hungry because cooks could not prepare proper food for them without electricity.

“We were taken by surprise when we saw the municipality’s service provider switching off our electricity without any notice or communication with us. Luckily our cooks prepare food in advance and the prisoners managed to have supper, although they had to go without breakfast on the morning of Tuesday, the 11th of March. Our accounts are being handled at the provincial level and

we feel that the municipality should have communicated with us so that we could urge them to settle the accounts. Now we have to use back up plans to be able to deliver quality services to our people,” said Captain Johnny Thiyo of the Bela Bela police.

It was reported that the municipality received a certain amount of money from the office responsible for the departments’ accounts towards the end of February and had arranged to settle the bill sometime in March, before the beginning of their financial year in April. By the time of going to press, Captain Thiyo had said that procedures are in place to sort out the matter and get things back on track.

Meanwhile, Correctional Services had confirmed that they also got cut off and said their provincial office was attending to the matter. No abnormalities were reported from their side in this regard.

The provincial office and the BelaBela municipality could not be reached for comment on the matter.

Local NGOs discuss upcoming programs with constituency ways in which local government can assist in the organization’s needs.

Stakeholders from various Local Non“Government is currently looking for Government ways to assist Organizations communities via (NGOs), gathered NGO’s. By doing Government is at the ANC conthis we are bringing currently looking for stituency offices on government to the Thursday 6 March people” said ways to assist to discuss the Shivambo. communities via NGO’s. various programs Today the NGOs By doing this we are they have in the involved will bring bringing government to year ahead. for their the people...

Members from presentations organizations such before the as Light of Africa, constituency to Waterberg Youth development and the indicate their various necessities for their Bela Bela Youth Development said that upcoming programs. feeding schemes and shelter for the less Organizations such as Light of Africa privileged are high on their list of said that they are very excited to conduct upcoming programs. their food donation programs in the Chief administrator for the constituency, coming week and hopes that they can Peter Shivambo, said that the meeting receive more intervention from had been called in order to observe government.

Justin Steyn

“

Phone Justin Steyn for any news or crime stories on 072 388 8568

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BEAT

14 March, 2014

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Photo of the week International Women’s Day Sunday the 9th of March was International Women’s Day. Across the world people celebrated the great strides forward made in women’s rights in the last century.

It may be hard to believe but, a hundred years ago there wasn’t a country in the world where women held the vote. In 1914, a woman had basically three career options: wife and mother, teacher, and prostitute. Now? Now, you can be anyting you want to be. You can be a teacher, or a reporter, or a filmmaker, or an astronaut.

Women hold the reins of several Fortune 500 companies. Fiction for women, which has always been a bit looked-down upon, is a multi-billion dollar industry.

In the past century women have risen up and demanded their rights, demanded equal treatment. For the first time in history women are being acknowledged as fundamentally equal to men in almost every way.

We’re still not being treated completely equally, of course, because people are basically stubborn and unwilling to change the status quo. A woman is likely to get paid less for the same work as a man.

Women’s efforts are less likely to be recognized on the same level as men’s.

Several interesting studies have been done recently on gender and perception of it. In one of them, a teacher made a conscious point of giving exactly half his attention in the classroom to the girls. He noticed that the boys became restless very soon, and when he asked them why, they said it was because the girls were talking too much and getting too much of his attention.

In another, a group of well-known actors genderswapped a famous play – all the male parts were played by women, and all the female parts by men. The male actors became restless and unable to focus properly – it turned out that they were used to having many more lines than their female counterparts, and more interesting stories.

The Fortune 500, the list of the world’s richest companies, has only 4.6% women in top positions in these companies.

These studies are interesting because they proved one thing: there’s still a lot of work ahead of us. When women take equal part, we are perceived as taking more than our share. This is because men have always had the lion’s share of power and attention (and, in theatre, lines.)

It’s a well known fact that expectations shape perceptions. If a person is used to getting 60% of the speaking time and 60% of a gathering’s attention, they are naturally going to feel that they are being done in if they suddenly receive only 50%.

It’s the way the human mind works, sadly, and there’s nothing for it but time. Time, persistence and patience.

Never give up on demanding your fair share.

Never back down from sexism.

You deserve better. Your mothers, who marched and fought and sang in the streets so you could have the opportunities you do today, deserve better.

And your daughters, who will live lives we can only imagine now, deserve better.

An SABC Cameraman filming the devastation at Klein Kariba.

Photo: Justin Steyn

These enterprising gentlemen made use of a boat on the R510 between Thabazimbi and Lephalale

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Your freedom is in Christ Pastor Sammy Masole In John 8:32 we read, “and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”. The scripture which reveals such a truth is John 14:6,”Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”.

Out of these two scriptures, we should have the light of understanding that if we know Jesus Christ we will experience our own freedom or deliverance. We will be set free from sin, demon oppressions, sickness and every powers of darkness. The reason we see some church folks still entangled in all bondages I have alluded to is that, so many people come to church and to pursue wrong things, and some preachers do not tell people about Jesus.

People come to church to find out how sinful they are, how cursed, bewitched, having inherited evil things from their generations. All of these reminds me of when Jesus and his disciples met a man who was born blind, and they asked Jesus, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” People always search for the cause not the solution.

When the children of Israel were bitten by snakes in the wilderness, God commanded Moses to make a bronze serpent and set it one pole, and whoever looked up at the bronze serpent would be healed and live.

People died nursing and looking at their wounds and snakes instead of lifting their eyes to the pole. My problem is that for the lack of knowledge, preachers make people to look at the devil, demons, curses an so forth, rather than showing Jesus Christ. People should know Jesus, he is the truth that set free anyone who believes. The gospel of Jesus is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.

By believing in Jesus we are freely given the right and the power to become children and the sons of God. When we are in Christ old things have passed away, and we are the new creation, the devil has no dealings with you because you’re now free. We are justified if we believe in Jesus, meaning we are no longer guilty. When you are in Christ, all of your curses are broken, because he has been made a curse for us, meaning for our freedom. The record of our debt that stood against us was cancelled when Jesus was nailed to the cross. And he has disarmed rulers and authorities and out them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. I put it to you that you don’t have any reason to stay bound in sin, and in the devil’s holdings. You need to know the truth that sets free, and that is Jesus Christ, he is our freedom, he is our deliverance.

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BEAT

14 March, 2014

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Rain and flooding in Waterberg Floods destroy roads in Vaalwater

The R33 was still closed to traffic at the time of going to press, and travellers to Lephalale are advised to avoid the road for now. Photo: Marlene Vermaak.

The road that runs between Vaalwater and Lephalale. Photo Supplied

This is a dam in the Mokolo River. Farm owner Tinus Maritz tried to cross the dam wall in a tractor, but had to give up the attempt after he was nearly swept downstream tractor and all. Photo: Marlene Vermaak.

Warmbad Hoërskool’s rugby field was almost entirely under water on Thursday, 6 March. Photo: Bernice Mills

Several people were rescued from the overflowing Magol River in Vaalwater. Photo Supplied

Marlene Vermaak Residents of Vaalwater and the surrounding areas suffered severe flooding this past week. From the 1st of March, around 180mm has been measured, while farms in the direction of Melkrivier have measured amounts up to 300mm.

Dirt roads, bridges and dams suffered under the excessive water, and a number of people were stranded. A dirt dam on John Ligeti’s farm burst, causing in turn four other dams in the Zandriver to burst. The mass of water came sweeping down at speed into the

LEGALS BUSINESS NOTICE 1. Be pleased to take notice that in terms of Section 34(1) of the Insolvency Act No 24 of 1936, as amended, ROOS HANDELAARS CC, Registration Number 2007/108554/ 23, trading at 1 CHRIS HANI AVENUE, Bela Bela (District Warmbad), entered into an agreement with CANNISTRARO INVESTMENTS 222 PROPRIETARY LIMITED, Registration Number 2006/036918/ 07, for the sale of an immovable property, Erf 642 Warmbaths Township, which property is being rent out.

2. CANNISTRARO IN-

VESTMENTS 222 PROPRIETARY LIMITED, Registration Number 2006/036918/ 07, will carry on with the renting out of the said property under the name of CANNISTRARO INVESTMENTS 222 PROPRIETARY LIMITED, Registration Number 2006/036918/07 at the same address for their own account after 30 days from date of publication of this notice.

Signed at Polokwane on this the 06th day of March 2014.

DE KLERK’S ATTORNEYS 5 Albatros Centre - 21 Market Street Polokwane - 0699 P.O.Box 3915 Polokwane 0700 Tel: (015) 295 4017. (14 & 21/ 3)

Dwarsrivier.

The R33 tar road into Lephalale took serious damage in the flooding, and roughly 20km out of Vaalwater a nameless spring swept away a part of the road into the Mokolo dam. Traffic was backed up for hours on Monday, 10 March while volunteers from the local community laboured to clear the road.

Local farmers brought chainsaws and tractors and by 21:00, the first cars could cross the damaged road. Many motorists elected to return to Vaalwater, while others turned back to Modimolle to find shelter for the night.

This car was nearly washed away.

Photo: Bernice Mills

Call Lizzy Bapela for any news and crime stories on 072 264 7740

Bela Bela’s main street was a nearly impassable river, with the sidewalks barely visible over the water. Photo: Bernice Mills

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BEAT

14 March, 2014

The BEAT takes a trip to Cape Town

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Dads in the picture expands to Waterberg municipalities

Children having fun during the Dads in the Picture branch launch in Bela Bela. Photo: TK Mashaba TK Mashaba Dads in the Picture are planning to expand their activities into other Waterberg municipalities, launching more branches following the successful launch of the Bela Bela branch on 1 March at Bela Bela Park.

According to branch coordinator Coleridge Mahaheer it has been necessary to expand the group to other areas.

“Our primary concern is to have all our fathers under one umbrella and see to it that we all play a role in our

At the News Café. TK Mashaba

children’s lives,” he said. Mahabeer said that he is still worried about fathers who abandon their children and leave the care to mothers alone.

“We all have our roles to play and it has nothing to do with finances. The time spent with the children means a lot in their upbringing.”

Children at the launch of the Bela Bela branch were spoiled for fun with jumping castles and delicious snacks laid out for them while their dads had a braai with music.

“We’re still talking dates for the future expansion of our organization,” said Mahabeer.

Rain washes out SAB games TK Mashaba Camps Bay from one side view. Photo: TK Mashaba The BEAT’s reporter (and part-time DJ) TK Mashaba went to Cape Town last week to perform in three shows in the Mother City.

He arrived in Cape Town on Thursday, welcomed by his promoter, who had organized the gigs. After a trip to the beach, there was a quick lunch before they were off to the first club.

The first club was the News Café in Blaauwberg, right on the beach. He played for about an hour to an excellent response from the crowd, who danced along with great enthusiasm.

Due to a radio interview that failed to materialize, Friday was mostly a day of relaxation, and TK took the opportunity to have a bit of a rest before Saturday, which

was to be his big day.

On Saturday, he made the most of his opportunity to see the Mother City, travelling to such places as Table Mountain (of which he, disappointingly, did not bring back pictures) Lagoon Beach, Camps Bay. That evening, he was booked for two gigs in Gugulethu.

The first gig of the night was at Phunga Lounge, where he played for an hour to a receptive crowd, while the second was at Sky Lounge, where another hour was profitably spent. The crowd at Sky Lounge reportedly demanded encores which, due to time constraints, he was unable to give.

The BEAT’s reporter came home glowing with excitement about his trip.

Captain Johnny Thiyo of the Bela Bela Police Department joined the list of good Samaritans in the area when he donated a plastic bag full school shoes to needy pupils at Ulando Combined School. He was touched when he saw one Grade R pupil without shoes during the rainy times and bought her brand new school shoes. He also collected a few pairs for her and other pupils who need them. Photographed is Magdeline Selepe from Tsakane, one of the recipients. Photo: Lizzy Bapela

The heavy downpour in the Waterberg region has disturpted some of the SAB league matches, as teams couldn’t play because the stadiums were flooded.

SAFA’s regional office said that the fixtures will be rescheduled to an undecided but hopefully less damp time.

Bela Bela Pirates are still leading the log with one game in hand and equal points with fellow Bela Bela locals Diesel n Dust, who are holding down second place and just waiting for the Pirates to make a fatal mistake.

Struggling Happy Hearts are still clinging to the bottom of the league, while in stream B

Mokopane’s Simple Yellows were beaten 3-1 by Mokopane Ratanang, who proceeded to close the gap between them and log leader Yster United.

Yster is firmly in the lead, however, with two games in hand.

On Saturday, United beat Maxoma 2-1 while Siwelele FC played to a 1-all draw with Mosesetjane United. On Sunday, 9 March, Mokopane Ratanang gave Mokgophong All Stars a 5-2 beating.

Moloto Morning Stars are also having a hard time at the bottom of the log with a mere two points after playing seven games, drawing two and winning none.

In Stream C, lod leaders Shining Stars played to a zero-all draw with Township Rollers.

Modimolle player makes the provincial cut TK Mashaba Silas Setumo, a Grade 9 student at Phagameng High School, was the only Waterberg player to be selected for the provincial Under 19 soccer team at the selections held on Saturday, 8 March.

Setumo, who was among the 24 who were selected from the Waterberg for this leg of the

selection after they were shortlisted at Ephraim Mogale Stadium earlier this year.

Setumo will be attending a training camp from the 31st of March until 5 April, and will be hosted by Bojanala SAFA. This selection process is part of efforts by SAFA to ensure that talented players are identified and encouraged early.

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BEAT

14 March, 2014

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

Sizwe Stars netball team acquires new assistant coach ‘I love their dedication and I believe that they will go far. I even help with some of the logistics when they are in need.’

Players during their training sessions with the coach. Photo: TK Mashaba

A netball player up in the air for the ball during training session. Photo: TK Mashaba.

TK Mashaba Bela Bela-based netball team Sizwe Stars has been doing well with their new assistant coach.

Steve Monyai, who hails from Attridgeville, said that he has been with the team since December 2013 and has recently moved to Bela Bela to facilitate his work with the team.

“I’ve been playing volleyball and basketball in my career as a sportsman and I saw talent in these young people,” he said. “So I decided to help them reach new heights.”

Monyai said that most people do not

care much about helping the young players, but that he saw their potential and their need and decided to help them.

“I love their dedication and I believe that they will go far. I even help with some of the logistics when they are in need.”

Coach Koketso Kgabo said that he is very pleased to have Monyai on board to help the team.

“Currently we are back in our netball courts after they were renovated, and we are working on training sessions ahead of club developments and the national championships in July.

Call TK Mashaba for any sport and entertainment news on 084 490 9273 or (014)736-2723