25 July 2014 R1-20/FREE
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25 July, 2014
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Bela Bela Police and Safety Forums focus on children on Mandela Day
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Bela Bela’s Colonel Phetla hailed as a hero Bela Bela police detectives’ commander Lieutenant-Colonel Abel Phetla was recently labeled as a hero, following a breakthrough in a murder case in Mokopane. Photo: Lizzy Bapela
Children were the main theme at Sunfa Stadium’s celebrations of Mandela day. Photo: Justin Steyn
These children jumped for joy in celebration of Mandela day. Photo: Justin Steyn
Justin Steyn Police in Bela Bela worked hand in hand with Safety Forums and other stakeholders to celebrate Mandela Day at Sunfa Stadium on Friday, 18 July. At the event, children from the local township area were encouraged to spend the day being educated about the late President Mandela’s life. Esrom Nkwinika of youth Against Crime said that Nelson Mandela is only known as “Madiba” and that little is known about his life before the advent of democracy in South Africa. “The youth of today know very little about Mandela’s legacy. To them he is just “Madiba” but they don’t fully understand the great things he has done for today’s democracy,” he said. Nkwinika said that the decision to organize an event for children went hand-in-hand with Mandela’s love for children. “What better way to celebrate Madiba than through our children? He had a profound love for them and we decided to lie up to that and spend time with them,” he said. Apart from being taught about South Africa’s first democratically elected leader, children were entertained with
jumping castles and joined in games with members of the “In Touch” group from the Capricorn College. Student Representative Council President, Samuel Papo, said that it is the responsibility of the community to ensure that Madiba’s legacy endures. “Since Madiba’s passing we all have a responsibility to ensure that his legacy lasts forever. We can do our bit to ensure this happens,” he said. The group’s secretary, Richard Ndlovu, noted that education should not be undermined by the youth and should be appreciated. “Prior to ’94, there were few schooling opportunities for the youth. Today this is provided free of charge from the government. The children of today must understand that this came at a cost and should never be taken for granted,” he said. Strike Mokone of the Bela Bela Community Policing Forum (CPF) said that he is pleased about the event’s attendance. “During the event more and more children have flocked to the stadium, and this has been a great success. I would like to thank all the stakeholders involved for their participation,” he said.
Lizzy Bapela Bela Bela’s police detectives’ commander Lieutenant-Colonel Abel Phetla received congratulations and gratitude from colleagues and superiors following a breakthrough on a murder case from Mahwereleng Police Station. The case involves a man who was accused of theft and then attacked and killed in a mob justice incident on September 2013 in the area. The deceased’s family sent a complaint to the provincial SAPS offices, saying that their local police were not handling the case correctly. The provincial commissioner, Fanie Masemola, instructed Brigadier Morkel to appoint someone to the case. Morkel appointed Phetla, who made a success of the case. Colonel Phetla moved swiftly into the investigation on the case, and swiftly managed to arrest two suspects in the case. The suspects are Brian Mashishi, 39, who resides in Masodi Village, and Tlou Shikoane, 29, who resides at Mapela Sansloot Village in Mokopane. Both suspects were arrested in October 2013 and detained in the Bela Bela Police Station’s holding cells as they were still being charged. The suspects were later moved to Mahwereleng, where they appeared before the district court on charges of murder and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH). The
case was remanded to 29 November 2013, then 9 January 2014 for trial while the suspects remained in custody. The trial continued until 29 March, when all witnesses testified and was remanded for further trial on 27 April. The case was finalized on Wednesday, 9 July, and both suspects were found guilty on the charge of assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm, and were both fined R3 000 cash each or 12 months imprisonment. Mashishi was declared unfit to possess a firearm. Colonel Phetla said that the suspects could not be convicted of murder because witnesses could not point out which of them played a part in the deceased’s murder. Initially, Mahwereleng police arrested five suspects in the case, who were later released due to insufficient evidence. That was when the deceased’s family approached the SAPS provincial office for assistance. In his 29 years in the SAPS, Colonel Phetla has had many highlights, including four mob justice cases in ZebedielaMagatle in the Capricorn District, where four people were convicted, two being given life sentences and the other two receiving 25-year sentences. Again in Zebediela, he cracked a case where the suspect was eventually convicted of having murdered his father. He has worked in Bela Bela for 13 years and has received three awards in that time.
Police condemns tavern attack Lizzy Bapela Limpopo police management has strongly condemned an attack on tavern patrons, allegedly by the police across the province. Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said that incidents such as these do serious damage to the image of the police, and that police management views the acts of these officers in a very serious light. This follows recent incidents in the province that made the rounds on social networks. Mulaudzi said that the police are expected to uphold the law
and protect the people, and that this kind of uncouth behaviour by the custodians of law and order will not be tolerated. Provincial Comissioner LieutenantGeneral Fanie Masemola said that no unbecoming behavior will be tolerated from the police, and said that the community must feel safe in the presence of the police. “Ours is to serve and protect,” he said. “We strive for justice to prevail and we cannot be found on the wrong side of the law. We know that not all police officials engage in acts such as these, but the few who are, are putting the name of the police to shame and must be dealth with accordingly.” The commissioner also thanked members of the community who blow the whistle on such acts, saying that the community is the watchdog of the police and that it is within their rights to expose any wrongdoing by the police.
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25 July, 2014
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Front page story...
Mookgophong residents on the warpath about sewage in the streets Lizzy Bapela
Jan Maluleka stood next to the sewage in his yard, showing The BEAT reporter how bad the situation is. Photo: Lizzy Bapela
Angry residents of Mookgophong Extension 6 approached The BEAT newspaper in a quest to get their local municipality to listen to their grievances. The residents outlined the challenges they are facing in the area, saying that they were not getting any feedback from their municipality. The BEAT visited the area on Wednesday, 16 July, to see for themselves what the problem is. The smell is unbearable, and likely to get worse when summer’s heat strikes. The residents say that the sewerage system in their RDP houses has been a challenge, bursting regularly for the past three months. Residents are greatly disturbed by the issue, as it affects their health and that of their children. “It is very frustrating to watch as the waste fills our yards and the streets where our children play, and there is nothing we can do. The smell is terrible and our living conditions are rendered unhygienic — we cannot even enjoy our meals anymore,” said a resident, Jan Maluleka. “Whether
The BEAT reporter in accident The BEAT’s reporter, TK Mashaba, was in a serious accident on Sunday, 20 July. Mashaba, who was returning from Mafikeng where he was covering the SAFA Under-21 tournament, was asleep when the accident occurred. “When I woke up,” he said, “the car was already rolling.” Mashaba says that the driver of the minibus taxi later told him that they had gone off the road in an attempt to avoid a head-on collision with a truck which had burst a tyre. As a result of the driver of the minibus’ swift reactions, the truck only clipped the minibus, sending the minibus with its five passengers rolling. The passengers escaped without serious injuries. Mashaba himself suffered bruising of his right elbow and knee and a cut on his left eyebrow.
you stay inside or outside the house, the smell reaches you. We have dug ditches to control the waste but sometimes they overflow and waste flows into our houses, making it nearly impossible to relax because we never know when the waste will come flooding in. We are really suffering and plead with the municipality to come up with a solution as our lives are in danger because of the unhygienic conditions and the terrible smell.” The residents expressed their concern for a family with a two month-old baby, saying that the situation was untenable and dangerous for the infant. The family could not be reached for comment. Residents expressed their disappointment with the municipality for letting the problem go unaddressed for so long, but acknowledged that the municipality did send someone to check the system and try to unblock it, trying to control the situation. Acting municipal spokesperson Matshepo Phoka said that the municipality was attending to the matter and have already dispatched Technical Services staff members to the site. “We want to ensure that our communities
Bela Bela Municipality to build remembrance wall for Madiba Municipality representatives painted large trashcans with motivational messages. Photo supplied
Bela Bela Mayor Lucas Nhlapo helped to build the wall
The BEAT’s reporter TK Mashaba suffered injuries in an accident outside Mafikeng this past weekend. Photo: TK Mashaba
Legal team for axe attackers a no-show Justin Steyn The long anticipated trial for the victims of an attack which occurred in February has been postponed to Monday, 11 August. Rachel Groenewaldt and Manie de Beer waited anxiously for proceedings to commence on Monday, 21 July, at the Bela Bela Magistrate’s Court. After three hours they were told that the case was being postponed because the legal representatives for the accused had not arrived. A displeased De Beer said that he wished the ordeal would end. “My life has been ruined and my wife is suffering from the trauma she experienced. I just want this to end so that Rachel and I can focus on recovering,” he said. De Beer suffered severe head injuries to his head and jaw due to allegedly bring
struck several times with an axe during the break-in at their home at Leeupoort vacation resort. “I feel much better but the muscles in my left eye have not been functioning well, which causes them to become quite irritated,” he said. Munetsi and Sithole remain in custody, having been denied bail. During court proceedings on the same day, a twenty-five-year-old man, Sipho Motwete, was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to several incidents of housebreaking. It has been alleged that Motwete was involved in housebreading with Munetsi, who faces other charges of attempted murder and murder. Two of the five men involved in the attack remain at large and another was shot dead by Rooiberg Police on the night of the incident.
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are satisfied, so we have to move swiftly on the matter. We send our sincere apologies to the affected residents. We had a meeting with them on Wednesday, 16 July, and discussed the matter at hand. The Technical Services unblocked the system and improved the situation for a time. Workers are working continuously to unblock the system until the process of upgrading the pipes can be completed,” she said. “We checked back with the manager of the team and he said that the residents seemed satisfied with our progress. Communication with the people goes a long way.” The residents said that they have spoken to the municipal departmental supervisor, Jerry Kgabo, who told them that the pipes that were installed when the houses were built were too small, and needed to be replaced. Kgabo reportedly told residents that the municipality needed to wait for the next budget allocations as there were not enough funds in the budget to replace the pipes. Phoka confirmed that the pipes were indeed too small, with a diameter of 250 mm instead of 315 mm.
Justin Steyn The Bela Bela Municipality is currently working on a wall which is to display the face of the late Nelson Mandela. On Friday, 18 July, Bela Bela’s newly elected mayor, Lucas Nhlapo, along with the Deputy Minister for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) Obed Bapela, with local community member to build a Wall of Remembrance for the late icon. According to municipal spokesperson Matome Sebelebele the wall is to feature colourful artistic impressions of the former president once it is complete. The wall is to stand as an inviting landmark at the entrance of the Bela Bela township. Sebelebele added that the building of the wall was part of the international Mandela Day celebrations that saw Nhlapo and Bapela leading the repainting of road marks, clearing of storm
water run-off channels and popular illegal dumping sites around Bela Bela Township. “As part of our efforts to honour this freedom fighter who spent 67 years of his life fighting for the causes of justice, peace and reconciliation, we felt that we should express our gratitude to him by building this wall which should serve as a reminder of his outstanding work to all in the area,” said Nhlapo. Sebelebele said that Bela Bela remains the leading tourist attraction in Limpopo, attracting more than 400 000 tourists on social visits to its famous warm baths and countless lodges and private game reserves. Nhlapo said that it remained critical to respond to President Jacob Zuma’s call to use Mandela Day to clean up the environment so that the beauty and cleanliness of the municipality can be enhanced to attract more tourists. The Bela Bela municipality is planning to attract around half a million tourists to the area.
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Head-on collision in front of paramedic HQ
The scene after a head-on collision had taken place. Photo Supplied Justin Steyn The victims of a head-on collision refused to be admitted to hospital. According to Tromar EMS spokesperson, Gerrit Reynders, the accident occurred on the Pretoria road in front of their offices at the Bela Bela Waterfront on Sunday, 20 July. “At about 17:00 an Opel Astra travelling on the wrong side of the road collided with a Honda Ballade,” he said. Reynders explained that the scene
was inspected by paramedics and police and that the five occupants of the Opel were taken to the Bela Bela Hospital via provincial ambulance services. The occupants of the Honda were offered treatment by paramedics on the scene, but refused, claiming that they were uninjured and did not need to be admitted to the hospital. The spokesperson of the Bela Bela Police, Constable Glen Manamela, said that no incidents of drunken or reckless driving was reported.
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Blitz inspections on hospitality sector Lizzy Bapela The Department of Labour’s inspectorate is gearing up for a blitz inspection program focussing on the Hospitality Sector of South Africa. This series of intense inspections was expected to have taken place from 21 to 27 July with Limpopo’s brigade of inspectors ready to travel the province in search of non-complying employers. The Department’s spokesperson Johannes Mokou said that the inspection comes hot on the heels of the Department’s announcement of a minimum wage increase which took effect on Tuesday, 1 July. He said that part of the inspection will scrutinize compliance with the increased minimum wages as well as child and forced labour. Sectoral Determination 14 of the Hospitality Sector means that any commercial business or part of a business in which employers and employees associate for the purpose of providing accommodation in a hotel, motel, inn, resort, game lodge, hostel or guest house, including short stay accommodation, self-catering camps and caravan parks. Meanwhile, the Department’s Employment Equity (EE) team will meet faceto-face with various EE role-players to prepare for the implementation of the amended Employment Equity Act. The roadshows, running under the theme
“turning a new leaf” will also explore the ways the Department are planning to ensure compliance with the amendments and the Act in general. Role players such as employers or organization heads, academics, senior managers and others have been invited to attend the road shows with dates and venues yet to be released. The Department, through Public Employment Services (PES) unit has undertaken to unite people with disabilities with relevant stakeholders as part of their mandate to create employment in Limpopo. Mokou said that the gesture will be put to the works during a career exhibition, which will see notable stakeholders presenting their schooling, business and employment opportunities as part of their strategy to bring people with disabilities to the job market en masse. The exhibition will take place at the South African Broadcasting Commission (SABC) auditorium on 22 July 2014 at 10:00 and disabled individuals from all districts are invited to attend. Stakeholders invited for the day include, among others, the National Youth Development Agency, SAPS, Limpopo Economic Development Agency, Government Communication and Information System and the Department of Public Works. Mokou said that part of the exhibition will include registering the participants on the Employment Services of South Africa, to make them easier to find by potential employers.
Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world. Harriet Tubman
BELA BELA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY Office of the Municipal Manager, Bela-Bela Local Municipality, 58 Chris Hani Drive, Bela-Bela Private Bag x1609, Bela-Bela, 0480
INVITATION TO BID Suitably qualified service providers are hereby invited to submit proposals for the following:
Bid documents will be available from Monday, the 28th of July 2014, at 09h00, and thereafter during weekdays from 08h00 to 15h00, upon payment of a non-refundable fee as specified above. Proposals/Bids must be submitted no later than 12:00 on Friday, 01 August 2014, in the tender box at the Records Office of the Bela-Bela Municipality, or per postal address: Private Bag x1609, Bela-Bela, 0480. Late quotations, faxes, telephonic quotes and e-mails will not be accepted or considered. Bidders must take note of the following: Bids will be evaluated according to the 80/20 or 90/10 preferential points system as indicated. Persons in the service of the State are not allowed to bid. Bidders are requested to attach the municipal rates and taxes statement, and an Original Tax Clearance Certificate. The Municipality also reserves the right to negotiate further conditions and requirements with the successful bidder. Further information related to this tender can be addressed to Mr. L Matwalana or Mr. Mokwele at 014-736 8000. MM MALULEKA ACTING MUNICIPAL MANAGER
Notice Number: 58/14
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Photo of the week Education and thought
The Second Coming, by WB Yeats
“Ideally, what should be said to every child, repeatedly, throughout his or her school life is something like this: ‘You are in the process of being indoctrinated. We have not yet evolved a system of education that is not a system of indoctrination. We are sorry, but it is the best we can do. What you are being taught here is an amalgam of current prejudice and the choices of this particular culture. The slightest look at history will show how impermanent these must be. You are being taught by people who have been able to accommodate themselves to a regime of thought laid down by their predecessors. It is a selfperpetuating system. Those of you who are more robust and individual than others will be encouraged to leave and find ways of educating yourself — educating your own judgements. Those that stay must remember, always, and all the time, that they are being moulded and patterned to fit into the narrow and particular needs of this particular society.” — Doris Lessing, The Golden Notebook. Doris Lessing was born in Iran and raised in what was then known as Rhodesia, now of course Zimbabwe. She never graduated high school, but made herself into an intellectual and a writer despite that. In 1995, she was given an honorary degree from Harvard University. When it comes to education, therefore, Lessing knew what she was talking about. One is inclined to agree with her about education. If the schools were allowed to confine themselves to teaching children how to read and write, and such skills as maths and science, and the history of the world untainted by bias, the world would probably be better off. Instead, educational institutions are pressed into the service of the government propaganda machine, propagating the beliefs of those in power into the next generation. No matter how well-intentioned the government might be, any attempt to bias the youth toward a certain point of view is fundamentally wrong. It becomes especially evident when the syllabus is pruned to remove those facts that do not support the current truth. The simple fact is that if the full truth does not support your story, then your story is wrong. No government, no institution, has the right to pick and choose what should be taught to the young. For example, how many young women were harmed by the refusal of schools to teach such “immoral” subjects as sex education? How many teen pregnancies were caused by the failure of the school system to properly educate the youth? Ultimately, the school system as it currently stands exists to indoctrinate the youth in the values and beliefs of the dominant system, and that is a fundamental flaw in it. The school system should, in an ideal world, serve to educate the youth in the facts, and let them form their opinions by themselves.
The following is a poem by the poet William Butler Yeats (1865-1939). In it, he speaks of the Second Coming as is told in the Bible, but from a novel perspective. Yeats was convinced that time was cyclical, and that for Christ to come again, first the world would need to fall into chaos as it had been before his birth. Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.
This little girl listened to the late Former President Nelson Mandela’s story in amazement. Photo: Justin Steyn
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Surely some revelation is at hand; Surely the Second Coming is at hand. The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert A shape with lion body and the head of a man, A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun, Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds. The darkness drops again; but now I know That twenty centuries of stony sleep Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle, And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born? The poem contains some of the most striking imagery of the twentieth century. The centre cannot hold in particular is evocative, bringing to mind a routed army fleeing the field (in the old days of melee warfare a common tactic was to have the centre portion of the army meet the enemy head-on while the cavalry came down on their flanks, much like the bull’s horns developed by Shaka Zulu here in South Africa. If the men in the centre panicked, the battle was lost, because the entire tactic depended on the centre holding firm.) Another part of the poem which is especially relevant today is “The best lack all conviction, while the worst/Are full of passionate intensity”. It’s a phrase that speaks to us today, when the voices of tolerance and acceptance are drowned out by the screams of those who hate. In today’s world, those who are good are quiet, while those who do evil — those who preach hatred and divisiveness, those who murder people who do not agree with them — shout their beliefs from the rooftops. All in all, The Second Coming is a thoughtful poem, as relevant today as when it was written.
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Mandela Day 2014
Good Samaritans donated some goodies to the children of Dira-O-Direlwe Drop-in Center in Modimolle. The goodies include wheelchairs, paints, a stove, school shoes and cleaning materials among others. The donors include the Waterberg District Municipality, African Bank Bela Bela, Doctor William Shilajoe and his wife Reneilwe, Forever Resorts, DIY building material supply in Bela Bela and Cash Build. Photo: Lizzy Bapela
Modimolle mayor Kgaretja Lekalakala and the Waterberg District Executive mayor Tlotlanang Mogotlane led the people in painting the drop-in centre. Photo: Lizzy Bapela
Colonel Isaac Maila of the Modimolle SAPS led the members in a cleaning campaign on Mandela Day. Photo: Lizzy Bapela
Volunteers from Modimolle Local Municipality finished off unpaved roads in their area for 67 minutes. Photo: Lizzy Bapela
Modimolle SAPS members gathered to clean the Dorrnfontein Primary School outside Modimolle. Photo: Lizzy Bapela
Other Modimolle Municipal volunteers sorted out the area’s dumping site for 67 minutes. Photo: Lizzy Bapela
LEGALS NOTICE TO REINSTATE A DEREGISTERED CLOSE CORPORATION Notice is hereby given of the intention to reinstate the deregistered Close Corporation: Omewachem Bk, Registration Number: 1999/ 046504/23. The reason for the reinstatement is that the Close Corporation is still in business and was deregistered because of an administrative omission. For further information or objection please contact: NUMERI ACCOUNTANTS INC IA Van Niekerk, tel 014 004 0100, 35 Luna Road, BelaBela, 0480. (11/18 & 25/7) NOTICE APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL CONSENT Notice is hereby given that I, Matoane Steward Mothata, Id 630325 5751 085, intend to apply to Modimolle Local Municipality to grant special consent use on my property in Modimolle Extension 2. The property is currently zoned as “Residential 1”. The intend use is for a “Guest House” as contemplated in Table A of the Modimolle Local Municipality Land Use Scheme. The property is registered as Erf 494 Nylstroom Extension 2, measuring 7931 square metres and is held under T000044086/2012 KR,
also known as 62 Allen Street, Modimolle. Full particulars of the application will lie in the Municipal Offices and those of the Applicant Inspection. Any objection to this application may be forwarded to the applicant and the Municipality per registered mail to their respective addresses on or before 16:00 on 15 August 2014. (1) The Municipal Manager Modimolle Local Municipality Private Bag x1008 Modimolle 0510 or (2) The Applicant Prof. MS Mothata P.O.Box 2492 Modimolle 0510. (18&25/7). NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE ESTATE OF THE LATE: PAUL ABRAM DE BEER Identity Number: 360918 5009 086 Formerly of 9 Reitz Street, Bela Bela, Limpopo Province. Who died on 6th July 2014. Estate No: 022146/2014 All persons having claims against the abovementioned Estate are required to lodge their claims with the undersigned within 30 (thirty) days after the date of publication hereof. D E WILLIAMS Executor LANSER & WILLIAMS 16 Sutter Road P.O.Box 18 Bela Bela 0480 Tel: 014 736 2216/7.
Various stakeholders volunteered to fix and clean one house in Modmolle’s Marapong section which was badly damaged. Photo: Lizzy Bapela
Various stakeholders in Bela Bela volunteered to clean the streets for 67 minutes. Photo: Lizzy Bapela
The National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT) and its stakeholder volunteers gave Bela Bela’s Albert Luthuli Primary School a complete makeover. Photo: Lizzy Bapela
The “In touch” group contributed sweets to the children of the Bela Bela Township on Mandela day. Photo: Justin Steyn
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Mandela Day 67 Minutes of Charity events kick off Lizzy Bapela
The community of Bela Bela joined their local municipality when establishing Madiba Park in Leseding Section in the previous Mandela Day events. Photo: Lizzy Bapela
It is the time of year when people from all walks of life take time out of their lives to embark on 67 minutes of charity work in order to make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate. Various municipalities, companies, government departments and individuals from across the Waterberg District embarked on their 67 minutes in various places in the name of charity. The newly elected mayor of Bela Bela, Lucas Nhlapo, helped to clean the township on Friday, 18 July, starting from the railway line and continuing through the streets. Nhlapo said before the event that he would be joining other stakeholders in this drive in addition to showing his face at as many events as possible. He was accompanied by officials, managers and his political management team. Meanwhile, Bela Bela’s Forever Resorts under the leadership of Sam Rammutla joined the Waterberg Executive Mayor Tlotlanang Mogotlane and the Waterberg Department of Correctional Services in donating blankets and hampers at Modimolle’s Dira-O-Direlwe Drop-In centre. The
parties took the centre under their wing last year after learning of their needs and are committed to assisting where possible. As part of the district’s Mandela Day events the mayor of Mookgophong, Sarah Monyamane, embarked on a cleaning campaign in the parks in her area, as well as painting classrooms at Dikuku Public Primary School and painting damaged road signs. Modimolle mayor Kgaretja Lekalakala and her team got their hands dirty by cleaning in Vaalwater’s Extension 3 and part of the town, later joining the Department of Social Development at Mabaleng crèche for another campaign. The team later joined the local SAPS in painting the Doornfontein Primary School in Ward 2. The Diesel ‘n Dust Family, consisting of soccer and netball teams and led by their managing director Pat Seema cleaned out the dirt at Sunfa Stadium and fixing damaged poles. The Waterberg Government Communications and Information System (GCIS) led by Maria Ramoshaba and stakeholders cleaned streets in Vaalwater and assisted with gardening services for the elderly.
ANC Secretary Gwede Mantashe visits Bela Bela
ANC national, provincial and regional leaders recently visited Bela Bela for a Nelson Mandela memorial lecture. Photo: Lizzy Bapela Lizzy Bapela The ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe told an assembled crowd in Bela Bela to follow the message and example of former president Nelson Mandela, who said that “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” Mantashe said this while he was delivering a memorial lecture on the life of the icon. The event was held at Forever Resorts on Thursday, 17 July. Hundreds of people, including the youth and members and leaders of the ANC from branches to the provincial level attended the lecture. ANC members from the National
Executive Committee (NEC) also graced the event with the Waterberg Regional Executive Committee (REC) accompanying them. Among other delegates were Lephalale Mayor Jack Maeko in his capacity as an REC member, REC chairperson Morris Mataboge and ANC PEC members including chairperson and Limpopo Premier Stan Mathabatha and secretary Nocks Seabi. In his speech Mantashe said that during the apartheid years, struggle heroes were not fighting against white people, but against white domination. He spoke of Mandela’s determination to put education before everything throughout his years as leader of the country, and even into his retirement.
ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe received a warm welcome from the masses when he graced Bela Bela. Photo: Lizzy Bapela He said that the ANC has been telling a good story in the past 20 years, which has set a foundation to usher in the real journey to freedom that the people of South Africa are currently on. “Madiba challenged us to act in the moment, and not think that time is on our side. He taught us to use our time wisely and not waste it because if we do, we will be described as failures. To move South Africa forward we must move now and an ANC that does not support where we are today is not a liberated movement. We should never be led by fear, but by boldness and remember that “a cat catches mice regardless of its colour.” Money loses its value when more of it gets printed every day — the Zim dollar used to cost R1.50
and today it has no value whatsoever. If I promise to give you all farms and do not care how you are to manage them, and then I tell you that I will double your salaries, I will be failing you as a leader,” said Mantashe. He said that unity is not a choice but a must, adding that we must work with all people and not just those we love. He advised ANC members against forming factions and disempowering others within the party. Mantashe said that an ANC member must never feel unwanted or unwelcome within the party, but must all work together in peace and harmony. The assembled cheered the speakers during the event, showing respect to Mantashe and Mathabatha.
Albert Luthuli School to receive makeover Lizzy Bapela The National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT) embarked on their 67 Minutes of Activism in commemoration of Mandela Day at Albert Luthuli Primary School on Friday, 18 July. The NECT and its members along with members of the faculty will be working to renovate and paint the classrooms. The NECT is a partnership initiative aimed at strengthening cooperation between stakeholders in the education sector including government business,
labour and civil society with the stated goal of improving education outcomes in South Africa. It was established through the Education Collaboration Framework in response to the call for collaboration in the education sector in the National Development Plan was formally launched on 16 July 2013. The NECT aims to bring about transformation by influencing and supporting the agenda for reform in education. In celebrating the life, legacy and values of Nelson Mandela which promote a better education system in
South Africa, the NECT is embarking on an initiative called the Fresh Start Schools Programme. Mandisa Thusini of the NECT said that the programme seeks to pay attention to schools requiring urgent intervention. Thusini said that their approach is to recognize that some schools require an individualised approach in order to bring about improvement. She added that the approach requires cooperation from the Department of Basic Education, the business sector, teachers’ unions and communities.
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“Albert Luthuli Primary School in the Waterberg is one of the 291 schools that have been earmarked for a fullscale revamp, which includes learning processes, environment and relationships,” she said. “The 291 schools were selected from six of the eight districts where the NECT is already collaborating with schools, businesses and the local community to assist those schools that require urgent assistance.” The NECT encourages citizens to partner with them in order to give schools a fresh start.
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Nylstroom Flying Club organizes annual fly-in
Derek Hopins was at the helm of this Antonov AN2.
This 1942 Boeing Stearman was piloted by Hanno De Beer.
A Pitt Special, which was piloted by Ivan van der Schaar.
These two planes looked particularly impressive as they came in for landing.
The Nylstroom Flying Club held their annual fly-in on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of this past weekend — one of the largest of its kind in the country. The weekend is regarded as having been a success by those who attended. By Friday, 25 aircraft had already arrived, and all those who attended had a lovely time surrounded by the aircraft. Attendees were fed on
available for rent. There were no limitations on flying, so everyone went up as long as they liked. Saturday was buzzing, with over 230 aircraft moving around from 08:00 to 17:30. On Saturday evening there was a prize-giving ceremony where achievements in airmanship and other fields were honoured.
soup and had a braai, and there were beverages available. Around the fire in the evenings, attendees exchanged stories and old friends caught up with each other. While some of the attendees availed themselves of B&B’s in town, others camped out under the wings of their aircrafts, and still others took advantage of tents and beds that were
Derek Hopkins was honoured as the day’s best pilot, while Sue Singleton won the award for “Real Happy Camper”. Karl Jensen won the GPS raffle. After the awards attendees were entertained with music over dinner, and on Sunday morning there were breakfast rolls and coffee to wake everyone up for the return trip.
Germany flattens opposition in the Soccer World Cup Team Germany are deservedly proud surgery for another twelve children, of themselves after fighting to a hardbringing the total up to 23 as, fought 1-0 victory over Argentina in according to Ozil’s Twitter Profile, the finals of the 2014 Soccer World “The victory of the worldcup is not Cup. only due to eleven players but to the The German team and their entouwhole team.” Ozil’s bonus for being rage impressed locals before the on the winning team is $400 000. At championship current exstarted by making change rates charitable donathat is R4, 2 The victory of the tions and leading million or worldcup is not only due clean-up and 885 400 Brazilto eleven players but to charity efforts in ian Real. Rio. International the whole team.... After the German media reports victory, German that the Argenmidfielder Mezut tinian squad, Ozil donated his World Cup prize who fought to the bitter end against money to various charity projects in the Germans in the final, are donatBrazil. This follows on his paying for ing nearly $110 000 to the paediatthe surgery of eleven needy children ric cancer centre of a hospital in before the championship started. After Buenos Aires. This translates to the final, he announced on his nearly R1, 2 million, or 243 485 Facebook that he would sponsor the Brazilian Real.
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Germany’s team celebrate their victory. Photo supplied