The Beat 29 January 2016

Needles on the loose at F.H. Odendaal Hospital?

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2016

29 January

Lizzy Bapela Learners at Mukhari Secondary School at Mookgophong engaged in a go-slow from Wednesday, 20 January to Friday, 22 January, complaining that their demands were not being taken seriously. The learners voiced their demands during a meeting held with various stakeholders including the local circuit office and the EFF at their school on Wednesday, 20 January.

The learners were demanding, among other things, that the school should repair the roofs of classrooms that had been damaged by the wind in December. They also demanded that more educators be appointed, as the educator shortage affects and delays their progress, resulting in learners failing their subjects.

The learners also said that the school’s principal, Charles Hames, promised them when the schools reopened that the educator shortage would be addressed. He apparently told the learners that the number of educators would be increased from 11 to 17 before the end of the week, but this deadline had already passed, learners said.

The learners abandoned their classes and took to the streets in protest. They apparently resorted to violence in the process, and it is alleged that they vandalized school property.

They barricaded roads with burning tires and then made their way to Makhutijisha High School where the protest continued. It is also said that they threw old desks and chairs from the second floor to express their anger.

Meanwhile, the local EFF representative and Ward 2 Chairperson, Jimmy Kekana, requested that the circuit manager David Masemene intervene. He said that the shortage of staff is a serious concern which is affecting learners’ studies, and yet the principal has not taken any action. The EFF say that they are concerned about the school.

Read more on page 4!

“The challenge we have now is accommodation, and the learners refuse to be combined with their neighbouring school so that lessons may proceed.”

Learners threw desks from the second floor down to the ground during their protest. Photo: Lizzy Bapela

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CRIME

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29 January, 2016 Website: thebeat.linmedia.co.za

Police launch investigation following ANC meeting brawl Mzamane Ringane The police in Mookgophong are investigating several cases following disruptions at a Branch General Meeting (BGM) held at the local community Hall last Saturday, 23 January.

The meeting was a build-up to the 2016 municipal elections, where branch members nominate preferred candidates to contest in the forthcoming local elections.

Police spokesperson Warrant Officer George Ledwaba said they are investigating cases of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, attempted murder and malicious damage to property.

According to the police

spokesperson, two cases of common assault have also been opened.

Warrant Officer Ledwaba said no arrests have been made at this stage, and further indicated that investigations are underway.

He said one person was hospitalised after sustaining serious injuries, while a few others sustained minor injuries. A car belonging to one of the locals was reportedly damaged during the scuffle.

According to a source close to the situation, it is alleged that a group of people who did not approve of the meeting showed up at the Mookgophong Community Hall, carrying weapons including pangas and started causing mayhem.

“From what I saw, it was pretty clear that the group came with an intention to disrupt the meeting.

They just started chaos soon as the meeting was about to start. It looked like a scene in a movie. They were carrying pangas that looked like they were recently bought. It looks like they were fully prepared for war,” said the source.

The Beat attempted to contact the ANC Waterberg Regional office without any success.

ANC regional secretary Tolly Mashamaite’s cellphone also rang unanswered, and a text message from his cellphone number indicated that he was in a meeting.

There was no response from the regional secretary at the time of going to press.

Taxi war escalates with more injuries and damages

The violent meeting resulted in more damages, leaving one driver seriously injured.

Photo: Lizzy Bapela

Alleged serial rapist awaits bail Justin Steyn An alleged serial rapist in BelaBela is currently awaiting the court’s decision on his bail application.

The 47-year old man who may not be named until he has entered a plea, has been accused of 11 charges of rape. He was arrested by the Bela-Bela police on Thursday 24 December. The

man’s alleged victims are said to be between the ages of 13 and 33 and several cases of rape had been opened against him over a period of six years.

He made his first court appearance on Tuesday 5 January where he sought bail.

Pending an investigation regarding the several cases a decision regarding the man’s bail is expected to be finalized by the end of this week.

Solly Ndlovu could face trial in March Justin Steyn The trial of alleged murderer Solly Ndlovu might take place in February pending its current investigation.

Ndlovu has been accused of murdering his 28-year-old girlfriend Nathalia Maphanga on Sunday, 20 December at Extension 5 of Bela-Bela last year.

It is believed that the couple entered into a fight where both parties ended up drawing knives.

Maphanga succumbed to her

wounds at the scene and Ndlovu was taken to the Bela-Bela Hospital to treat injuries to his arms, neck, and chest.

Ndlovu made his first court appearance at the Bela-Bela Magistrate’s court on Friday 8 January. The case was postponed to Monday 11 January where his request for bail was denied.

Ndlovu made another court appearance on Monday 18 January but this was postponed once again to Friday 26 February for further investigation and where a trial date may be assigned.

Mamba makes himself at home in bathroom

Cor Viljoen with a black mamba, nearly two metres long, which was found in a BelaBela home. Photo: Justin Steyn Members of WATA and Ngobi associations met to find a solution to their route problem. Photo: Lizzy Bapela

responded to the request to catch the intruder. Viljoen said that the mamba had probably A resident in Bela-Bela received been looking for a frog or a a fright when a black mamba mouse inside the building.” decided to make itself He also said that the fact that comfortable in her home. the snake was not noticed until Charmaine Griessel said that nightfall, is a sign that it had she discovered the massive been in the house for most of snake, about 1,75 m long, in her the day. house on the way to the “At this time of the year snakes bathroom. are mostly looking for food or “I went to the toilet and shelter. In this case the mamba immediately saw the snake could have been inside the slither inside,” said the resident. house all afternoon.”

She grabbed her phone and The snake was apparently not stated that there was a snake in aggressive, and Viljoen said that her house on an Emergency he picked up the snake without Whatsapp Group. trouble and released it into a Cor Viljoen, a snake expert, nearby field.

Justin Steyn

Lizzy Bapela Three more taxis were damaged and at least one driver sustained serious injuries when he was assaulted during the taxi war between Ngobi Taxi Association and WATA on Friday, 22 January. The two associations were meeting at Cyferskuil to resolve their differences about routes when violence erupted.

Members of the Ngobi Taxi Association threw stones at WATA members during the negotiations and WATA fled the scene. Taxis from Bela-Bela fled Cyferskuil one by one,

avoiding more injuries.

Ngobi and WATA agreed that Ngobi would transport their passengers from their area, North-West, to Limpopo, while WATA would do the same from Limpopo. The process hit a snag when the parties began to discuss Radium, which is in Limpopo although it is very close to Cyferskuil.

Members of both associations stood at barriers widely separated from each other, attempting to resolve the situation amicably, but violence broke out anyway.

The two taxi associations met with the Bela-Bela Police on Monday, 25 January at the local police station and

resolved that the arrangements should return to what they were before this conflict while they seek a more permanent solution.

WATA spokesperson Israel Molusi confirmed on Tuesday, 26 January, that things were continuing as though the disruptions had never occurred.

He also said that the matter is now being handled at the national level, where both the associations met with their superior SANTAGO at their head offices in Pretoria.

The meeting was intended to discuss the problem at hand and chart a way forward.

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GOVERNMENT / POLITICAL

29 January, 2016 beateditor@gmail.com | Website: thebeat.linmedia.co.za

School protest result in learners vandalising property

Premature twin babies found abandoned at sewerage

Lizzy Bapela

Twin babies, believed to be premature, were found at the sewerage at Bela-Bela.

Photo: Lizzy Bapela

continued from page 1

Management responded that they had promised to attend to the learners’ demands, and that they had called in the MEC for Education, Ishmael Kgetjepe, to intervene.

Masemene told The BEAT that there are in fact educators at the school, and said that he does not understand which educators the learners are asking for. He said that they are concerned about the fact that learners seem to expect everything to be done at once, and that the parents seem to be supporting their decision to boycott classes.

“The challenge we have now is accommodation, and the learners refuse to

be combined with their neighbouring school so that lessons may proceed. We requested mobile classes and assistance for mobile classes from the Department, but that is a process which will take a long time to happen, hence the suggestion of combining schools,” he said. “The issue of boycotting classes is becoming a serious concern now.

The situation has turned violent and learners and educators are now at risk, and school is a place where they are expected to be safe. They are destroying resources, and how will lessons proceed without the relevant resources?”

Old school furniture was left abandoned outside classes.

Photo: Lizzy Bapela

Lizzy Bapela Bela-Bela municipal employee Lolo Ramabusha made another shocking discovery while on duty, when he found two prematurely born babies abandoned at the sewerage near the entrance to the township on Tuesday, 26 January.

At around 08:00 in the morning he came upon the first baby. When he removed it, he saw the second baby floating beside it.

Ramabusha phoned the local police to alert them about the incident.

People from nearby flocked to the scene as soon as they saw the police vehicles arriving. Many expressed their shock and

blamed the mother for doing such a “cruel and heartless thing”. The bystanders wondered why the mother of the babies felt that she needed to abandon them.

The BEAT consulted medical professionals, who estimated the babies at around seven months’, or 30 weeks gestation, and said that they were twins. At 30 weeks, babies are not able to breathe or eat on their own, and require serious medical intervention to survive. They cannot even regulate their own body temperature without outside help. If the mother gave birth alone, she may be in need of medical attention herself.

The police could not be reached to comment on the matter.

ANC election process turns violent The learners from Makhutjisha High School were left stranded and evacuated the school yard after protests. Photo: Lizzy Bapela

Crowds stood by the gates of the election station as the meeting is disrupted. Photo: Lizzy Bapela

Ashes from burnt tires covered the roads following a protest by angry learners from Mukhari Secondary School.

Photo: Lizzy Bapela

IEC Bela-Bela has reached 4440 people Community members attended the stakeholder event at the community hall.

Photo supplied Disruptive ANC members plagued the election process. Photo: Lizzy Bapela Lizzy Bapela TK Mashaba With the local government elections underway this year, the IEC at Bela-Bela, in partnership with the Community Policing Forum (CPF), COPFADA, Simunye Sunrise Hospice and other local stakeholders, conducted stakeholder events on 22 January at the Bela-Bela Community Hall.

According to information received from Mafangambiti Netshivhambe, the Electoral Programme Coordinator, stakeholders were educated on electoral systems and the registration process.

“This office has appointed three Democracy Education Facilitators who are

conducting voter education and registration in our communities,” she said. “We started in October 2015 and they have so far conducted 131 interventions, registered 409 voters, and reached 441 people,” she said.

“Due to the amalgamation of municipalities and the creation of new municipalities — processes still not concluded — the first registration weekend has been postponed to 5 and 6 March 2016, the second registration to 9 and 10 April, and elections will be held between May and August 2016.”

IEC Bela-Bela said in 2015 that the youth was not registering in sufficient numbers for the election, but the situation appears to be improving, thanks in no small part to the efforts of the IEC.

The ANC Branch General Meetings in Ward 2 and 7 of the Bela-Bela Sub-Region suffered disruptions on Sunday, 24 January, when candidates contesting the wards’ leadership positions were supposed to be elected. Ward 7’s Councillor, John Sesana, and Bonini Malete were not able to find out who had won the elections as the process was allegedly disrupted by members of Malete’s camp.

It was alleged that Malete’s supporters provoked their counterparts, as well as innocent bystanders.

The process was then postponed for the second time, and is now scheduled to take place on Sunday, 31 January.

Meanwhile Ward 2’s Spando Maluleka and Joseph Makhubela’s election process was also disrupted yet again, and postponed. It is alleged that there was some collusion to prevent current incumbent Maluleka from losing the election.

Maluleka is said to be unpopular in her ward, and allegations of incompetence have plagued the area.

Wards 3 and 5 saw the voting process proceed apace. Ward 3’s councilor, Letato Mpete, won the election against challenger Jan Ledwaba, while Henrietta Ledwaba of Ward 5 ran unopposed.

Several alleged ‘bouncers’ who were arrested for disrupting the elections in Wards 2 and 7, were released after paying admission of guilt fines. They are believed to have been hired to disrupt the elections.

29 January, 2016 beateditor@gmail.com | Website: thebeat.linmedia.co.za

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

May 2015

A change on the wind It’s happened all over the world. A need arises, and some enterprising soul arranges to fill it. In short order, he is the only person providing that service, leaving him free to set his own prices and decide how to serve the customers who are, after all, without other options.

It happened to Eskom, who now find that anyone who can afford to is switching to solar power. The sun,

after all, does not have load shedding.

It happened to Telkom, who had a virtual monopoly on the telecommunications industry for years. Their level of service delivery gave them the popular nickname “Hellkom”. When cellphones burst upon the scene, Telkom found themselves floundering, without the level of trust they needed to really make an impact on the scene. If most people could avoid dealing with Telkom, even at slightly higher fees and even though they might still be indirectly depending on Telkom for their services, they leapt at the chance.

It will be interesting to see whether the same thing happens on the transportation scene. Taxis were, for a long time, the cheapest option to get around in South Africa. With no truly functional public transportation system, taxi operators had a virtual monopoly and, since they got people where they were going, nobody really cared.

The problem comes in when the taxi operators stop doing their jobs. Their jobs

EDITORIAL

involve getting people from Point A, to Point B. School learners and employees everywhere depend on taxi operators to do their jobs. They depend on these people to get to school and work on time and when the taxi operators are late, or involved in a strike, or any of a million other things, then the learners and employees are the ones who suffer. They are the ones who are reprimanded for being late — because employers and teachers get tired of hearing “Taxi” as an excuse for tardiness and absenteeism.

The taxis fulfil a vital role in the fabric of society. However, if they do not fulfil their obligations — get people where they are going on time — then people will start looking for alternatives.

If the general public ever realize that they need not be dependent on shiftless taxi operators, the taxi industry will collapse.

But perhaps, if taxi operators and their superiors would stop worrying about petty turf wars as though they were a crime syndicate, that day may never come.

No Water at Laerskool Melkrivier for months Marlene Vermaak

Laerskool Melkrivier has been without water since November 2015. The school apparently does not have enough money to repair the electricity and the water pumps. Photo supplied

Learners from Laerskool Melkrivier stand in line for mugs of water after only a few barrels of drinking water was delivered to the school. Photo supplied

Tel: (011) 447-1264/5/6

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A school with nearly 150 learners has been without water since November 2015. Laerskool Melkrivier between Vaalwater and Maken’s pumps and electricity are out of order and the school cannot afford to repair the damage.

“Monetary help from the government is thin on the ground and we are always behind with payments,” one of the teachers said. “The school only has electricity in the office, which provides power to a computer and a copier.”

“The amount of money which is paid to schools from the Department, and which is intended to cover the school’s running costs, has been drastically lowered in the last few years.

Melkrivier received only R40 000 in 2015. This money is only enough for the school principal’s transport to compulsory functions, paper, and ink for the photocopier, and what is left over goes to electricity,” the teacher explained.

An electrician was sent to the school to quote for the repairs of the pumps, the power supply and the water problem. The school was apparently given a quotation of R8 298.

The school is well aware that they cannot keep going forever with no water. They want to repair the problem and would appreciate any help, said the teacher.

Readers who would like to help can contact Pieter van der Westhuizen at 082 701 7344.

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Hospital accused of negligence after needle discovery

An injection needle which was found at one of the F.H Odendaal hospital bathrooms, caused great unhappiness.

Photo supplied Justin Steyn Evert Rossouw, a resident in Bela-Bela, was shocked when he allegedly found an injection needle at one of the bathroom window sills at the FH Odendaal Hospital in Modimolle.

Rossouw told The BEAT that he went to the hospital for a doctor’s appointment he had organized for his two-year-old daughter.

He said he went to one of the hospital’s bathrooms where he saw this particular injection needle.

“I went to one of the bathrooms and I noticed an injection needle on one of the window sills.

The needle’s cap was not attached and I noticed a little bit of blood next to the needle,” he said.

Rossouw said that he reported the matter to one of the nurses who apparently told him that “it is not her problem and there is nothing that she can do”.

After this, Rossouw said he reported this to a matron and the needle was removed.

He believes that such negligence could cost a life or that a serious disease could be transmitted via the injection needle.

“I was very upset when I was told that a dangerous piece of equipment, which was lying around due to negligence ‘was not a nurse’s problem’,” he said.

A child could have possibly gotten the needle in their hands and injure himself or prick himself and get an infection due to the needle not being sterilized, “said Rossouw.

F.H Odendaal’s quality assurance coordinator Mmathaha Molebatsi said that an investigation will be conducted and feedback will be given within 25 working days. He added that the hospital can not issue any official press release.

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ADVERTISMENTS / LEGALS

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LEGALS MODIMOLLE LAND USE SCHEME, 2004 Notice is hereby given to all whom it may concern that in terms of Clause 23 of the abovementioned scheme, I (full name) TSHEPO RAMADUMETJA KATRINA intends applying to the Modimolle Municipality for consent to: Tuckshop on (property and suburb) 557 Leseding also known as (Street name and number) Shongoane Street situated in an Residential 1 zone.

(Example: Residential 1, Bisiness 4 etc.)

Any objection, with the grouds therefor, shall be lodged with or made in writing to: The Divisional manager, Town Planning, Ground Floor, Modimolle Municipal Building, Private Bag x1008, Modimolle, 0510, within 28 days of the publication of the advertisement in the local newspaper viz: Full particulars and plans (if any) may be inspected during normal office hours (08:00 - 13:00 and 13:45 - 15:00) at the abovementioned office for a period of 28 days of the publication of the advertisement in the local newspaper.

Closing date for objections: Applicant Street and postal address: 557 Shongoane Street P.O. Box 21 Vaalwater, 0530 Tel: 072 965 7030. (22 & 29/1/16).

BELA BELA LANDUSE SCHEME, 2008

APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL CONSENT IN TERMS OF CLAUSE 21 OF THE BELA BELA LANDUSE SCHEME, 2008, TO PERMIT A NURSERY SCHOOL. Notice is hereby given that, in terms of Clause 21 of the Bela Bela Land-Use Scheme 2008, I/we, the undersigned, intend applying to the Bela Bela Municipality for Special Consent to establish a Nursery school on Erf 37 zoned “Residential”, situated at 43 Reitz Street, Bela Bela.

Plans and/or particulars relating to the application may be inspected during office hours at 43 Reitz Street, Bela Bela or at the offices of the Manager: Planning and Development, Bela Bela Municipality, Chris Hani Drive, Bela Bela.

Any person having any objections to the granting of this application must lodge such objection together with the grounds therefor in writing, with both the Manager: Planning and Development, Bela Bela Municipality and the undersigned not later than the 30th of November 2015.

Applicant’s details: Full name: ALAN & CHRISTINE KANE Address: 43 Reitz Street Tel: (Home) 079 502 0767 Tel: (Work) 079 900 3995. (22&29/1).

CONSENT USE ON THE F ARM FARM KLIPPLAA T 745 KR, KLIPPLAAT BELA BELA Notice is hereby given in terms of clause 21 of the Bela Bela Land Use Scheme, 2008, that the undersigned, being the authorised agent, intends applying to the Bela Bela Municipality for special consent to use the farm Klipplaat 745 KR and/or buildings thereon for the purpose of a Wellness Centre.

Objections to or presentations in respect of the application must be lodged with or made in writing to: The Municipal Manager at the above address or Private Bag x1609, Bela Bela, 0480, within a period of 28 days from 22 January 2016 Further particulars with regard to the proposed use is obtainable from undersigned GEO PROJECTS, P.O. Box 919, Warmbaths, 0480,

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Modimolle Municipality denies suspension of Municipal Manager Modimolle Municipal manager Sam Bambo is said to be working and with no relation to any suspension case. Photo: TK Mashaba

TK Mashaba Modimolle’s Municipal spokesperson Patrick Shika told The BEAT on Tuesday, 26 January, that they are completely unaware of the suspension of the Municipal Manager, Sam Bambo.

Shika’s comments follow on reports in The BEAT’s sister

working as we speak, and we know nothing about his suspension,” said Shika. “I don’t know where the DA is getting their information from.”

Modimolle Municipality has, in the past few months, been haunted by allegations of maladministration. Chief Whip Grace Mashitisho was implicated in a fraud case along

with suspended financial accountant Guilty Marema, and their cases are expected to resume this year.

Shika also said that if there is anything to the allegations regarding Bambo, he would comment on the situation. For now, however, he maintains that all is well in the Modimolle Municipality.

newspaper, The Post, that Bambo has been suspended.

Bambo was apparently accused of ignoring Council decisions, among other things. He was allegedly given seven days to explain why he should not be dismissed. Molopo Namate, the manager of Social and Community Services, was said to be filling in his position.

“The Municipal Manager is

Tel: 082 881 7252.

(22 & 29/1)

NOTICE OF SALE OF BUSINESS

CONSENT USE ON 1142, W ARMBA THS WARMBA ARMBATHS TOWNSHIP TOWNSHIP,, BELA BELA Notice is hereby given in terms of clause 21 of the Bela Bela Land Use Scheme, 2008, that the undersigned, being the authorised agent, intends applying to the Bela Bela Municipality for special consent to use erf 1142, Warmbaths, Bela Bela and/or buildings thereon for the purpose of Bed and Breakfast Accommodation.

Objections to or presentations in respect of the application must be lodged with or made in writing to: The Municipal Manager at the above address or Private Bag x1609, Bela Bela, 0480, within a period of 28 days from 22 January 2016 Further particulars with regard to the proposed use is obtainable from undersigned GEO PROJECTS, P.O. Box 919, Warmbaths, 0480, Tel: 082 881 7252.

(22 & 29/1)

Notice is hereby given in terms of Section 34 (1) of the Insolvency Act No. 24 of 1936 that ZELPY 1214 (Pty) Ltd t/a TRIANGLE SERVICE STATION Registration number: 2002/002576/07, which carries on the business as a Filling Station and Kiosk at c/o Chris Hani and Potgieter Rds, Bela Bela Limpopo, intends to sell and transfer the full aforesaid business comprising the assets and stock to KHITA PETROLEUM (Pty) Ltd Registration number: 2015/375183/07, with effect from thirty (30) days after the last publication of this notice, where after the purchaser will carry on the business for his own account and benefit at the same address.

Signed at Bela-Bela this 21st day of January 2016.

D.J BLIGNAUT. P.O. Box 1633, BelaBela, 0480.

Tel:0147362356.

If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be.

Now put foundations under them.

Henry David Thoreau

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29 January, 2016 Website: thebeat.linmedia.co.za

Home-schooling the best option?

CHARITY / ENTERTAINMENT / SCHOOL

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Longest serving employee

‘In the key areas of reading and mathematics, online learners massively underperformed in comparison to learners attending traditional schools.’

Photo as illustration

Menyatso Funeral Parlour held an award ceremony to honour their long service workers and customers at the Diensentrum Hall in Bela-Bela on Saturday, 16 January. All attendees were treated to a gala event and some entertainment afterwards. The company started in 2003 and is now a group of six companies registered under Menyatso Multi Projects. They have created more than 75 jobs and are still expanding to more business enterprises. The owner, Menyatso George Korobele, who started showing the signs of a businessman while still in school, was described as a giving and caring person who always ensures the best interest of his employees and customers. He has strived and succeeded years of challenges and highlights with the help of his two wives Shirley and Lerato, together with his children. Photo: Lizzy Bapela

Marlene Vermaak The first comprehensive study comparing online home schooling with traditional classroom education recently published its findings.

Parents considering online education for their child need to take note of these findings.

“The internet has changed our lives in so many ways — how we communicate, how we shop, even how we fall in love. It seems obvious that it is going to impact how we educate our children as well. In fact, across the world an increasing number of parents have been choosing online learning for their children. But is online school actually better than the traditional bricks and mortar model?” asked Dr Phillip Calcott, Oxford graduate and well known specialist in educating circles at Vaalwater.

“As with many things in life one can guess — or one can collect and scientifically analyse relevant data. We are fortunate that three of the world’s top educational research institutions produced a comprehensive analyses comparing online home schooling to traditional schooling,” Calcott explained.

Stanford University’s Centre for Research on Educational Outcomes (CREDO), The Mathematical Policy Research Institute, and the University of Washington’s Centre of Reinventing Public Education (CRPE), pooled resources to research this subject.

“This extensive study involved the performance of a group of more than 9 million learners (including 163 000 online home schoolers) over a period of five years.

Great care was taken to match online users to similar learners in the traditional school environment to maximize effective comparisons,” said Calcott.

The study was funded by the Walton Family Foundation, a strong funder of online schools. If there was any “funding

bias” one would expect it to be towards online education.

The study involved comparing online education with US state education. “The problems facing the state sector in the US are well known, and maybe one should consider these results to be a comparison between online education and a rather underperforming form of traditional education,” Calcott said.

“The results are actually staggering. In the key areas of reading and mathematics, online learners massively underperformed in comparison to learners attending traditional schools. The performance gap in reading was equivalent to missing 72 learning days a year. In mathematics the gap was equivalent to missing 180 learning days per year. These are huge discrepancies and indicate that, as structured at present, online education is dramatically failing learners,” an amazed Calcott interpreted these results.

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, a major sponsor for online education in the US, concluded that it was “disheartened” at the “large scale underperformance”.

“The authors of the study identified the difficulty of keeping online learners focused on their work as the biggest factor causing the problem. It seems that even though online learners had access to online tutors, it simply did not compensate for the loss of the good old-fashioned educator standing in front of the class. Parental input seems unable to fill this gap,” Calcott said.

Calcott concluded that educators clearly are crucial to the learning process.

“Educators, take a bow, it seems you are not going to be replaced by computers yet,” Calcott said smiling.

“While it is wrong to say that online education should never be an option, it seems clear that in the crucial area of academic performance, online education is not yet up to speed,” Calcott concluded.

The company’s longest serving employee Dimakatso Letswalo received a brand new car as a token of appreciation for his commitment and selflessness in his job. He cried tears of joy when he opened his gift pack to see what was inside. Letswalo is said to have worked these long years without being absent, late or complaining.

Photo: Lizzy Bapela

Co-CEO of the Menyatso Group of Companies and wife to owner Shirley Korobele, Waterberg Traffic Chief Simon Kekana aka Royal-man and company owner Menyatso Korobele toasted to great achievements during the gala event. Photo: Lizzy Bapela

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29 January, 2016 beateditor@gmail.com | Website: thebeat.linmedia.co.za

SPORT

Total Surrender takes a break from SAB League Donnie Alberts, Sam Modise and Balko Mkhara some of the key players whose departure left Surrender paralyzed.

Photo: TK Mashaba

TK Mashaba Bela-Bela’s Total surrender has finally surrendered their hope of the SAB League championship this season.

Since the league has kicked off Total Surrender has played no games, and The BEAT spoke to the team owner John Mthunzini.

“My team has not done well in the past years,” he said. “This season I told myself that we are going to take a break and not play.”

He also said that if some of the players wanted to play, he would not stand in their

way.

Only a few of Total Surrender’s players are currently training, so it remains to be seen what the team’s future holds.

Surrender had a bad season last year, between their coach and several key players such as Donnie Alberts, Sam Modise, and Balko Mokhara, who now play for the struggling Terrors FC. Before the season closed, Mthunzini said that the team was looking forward to getting new players, saying that he was ‘done with older players who lack discipline and dedication.’

SAFA’s regional office refused to comment on the matter.

Terrors celebrates first win of the season

SAB Regional League goal avalanche

Qualitho FC and Modimolle All Stars in action. Photo: Mzamane Ringane Mzamane Ringane At least a total of 35 goals were scored in the Stream A of the Waterberg SAB Regional League between Saturday and Sunday last weekend.

The highest score recorded on Saturday, 23 January, when Flamingo FC defeated Celtic FC 4-2.

Flamingo FC continued to score more goals when they beat NTK Happy Boys 4-3 on Sunday 24, January.

Modimolle Home Defenders FC were held to a 2-all draw when they hosted Diesel N Dust FC of Bela Bela.

Diesel N Dust FC returned with a big win on Sunday when they beat visitors Modimolle Young Pirates 4-1.

Bela Bela Pirates FC defeated Modimolle Bussel FC 2-0 on Saturday, and played to a

New SAB team Flamingo FC confident following victorious weekend Mzamane Ringane

Terrors FC finally got their first win of the season. Photo: TK Mashaba Nno Pholoba is now safe after their team beat Giyani Hotspurs 2-1 on Saturday.

Photo: TK Mashaba TK Mashaba Terrors FC coach Nno Thwax Pholoba is a relieved man after his team collected a maximum of three points by beating Giyani Hotspors 2-1 in an away game in Giyani on Saturday, 23 January.

The team now has four points in their bag ahead of other games. Pholoba’s skill was tested over the past eleven games – with nine wins and one tie before this match, and fans blaming him for the failures, his job was on the line.

The team owner Speke Manamela told The BEAT that he did not want to say too much about the coach.

“I have not given up on my team and anything can happen but I am glad about their performance during the away game.”

Terrors will meet with Mighty FC at Sunfa, which is also expected to be a tough match and will decide who escapes the relegation zone.

Terrors still has a chance to escape relegation if they win all their remaining games.

0-all stalemate when they hosted homeboys Happy Hearts the next day.

Happy Hearts FC of Bela Bela beat Mabatlane’s Boys 2 Men 2-1 on Saturday.

It was not a good weekend for Boys 2 Men FC, as they continued to draw 0-all with Modimolle Troublemakers on Sunday.

Troublemakers did not win any of their league matches this past weekend, as they also played 1-all with Modimolle All Stars on Saturday.

Modimolle All Stars locked horns with Rapotokwane’s Qualitho FC in an outstanding match on Sunday, and the two teams were level-pegging with a 1-all score at the blow of a final whistle.

However, Qualitho FC managed to collect three points the previous Saturday, after beating NTK Happy Boys 2-0.

This coming Saturday, Modimolle Troublemakers will host local opponents Celtic FC at Ephraim Mogale Stadium, with NTK Happy Boys FC welcoming Happy Hearts FC at the Happy Boys Ground.

Diesel N Dust FC will welcome Qualitho FC at Sunfa Stadium, while Bussel FC was scheduled to do battle with Modimolle All Stars at Ephraim Mogale Stadium.

Young Pirates FC will face a tough test when they visit the high-riding Flamingo FC at Lekkerbreek Ground.

Ninth-placed Bela Bela Pirates FC will visit tail-enders KK United FC at Masakhane Ground.

Newly promoted Waterberg SAB Regional League campaigners Flamingo FC are oozing with confidence, following their two successive wins this past weekend.

Flamingo FC scored a total of eight goals last weekend when they played against their local opponents Celtic FC and NTK Happy Boys last weekend.

The team walloped Celtic FC 4-2 on Saturday 23 January and continued their winning spree when they defeated NTK Happy Boys 4-3 on Saturday 24 January.

Flamingo FC defender Hendrick Shadung said their weekend performance will boost their confidence, and it will certainly help them to stay focused throughout the season.

“We want to make sure that by the end of the season we are in the top four on the league log. We only have about seven have SAB League experience, the rest are from the promotional league.

We didn’t make major changes to our squad”, Shadung said.

Shadung said they will approach their next league encounter with an aim to win, but then further indicated that they will not undermine

their opponent.

Co-director Hluphi Lehong was also excited about his team’s performance in the league.

“We are still new in the SAB League, but we are already doing well. I am happy that we have already beaten big name in the league. I do not want to presume that we are going to win the league as it is still early. Anything is possible in this game. I am proud of the boys, they are doing a great job as a collective”, said.

Lehong also commended Daniel Ramaselela who is also known as Mowape by fellow teammates, for scoring no less than goals in the five matches that they have played so far.

He is also said praised team director Andries Lekalakala for playing a major role in building Flamingo FC brand.

Lehong said if it was not for the likes

of Lekalakala, Flamingo FC would not have been able to achieve what it has achieved so far.

He said Flamingo FC will be going all out this weekend when they host Young Pirates FC, in attempt to cement their position at the top of the league log.

“I am proud of the boys, they are doing a great job.” Photo as illustration