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7 December 2012
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7 Desember, 2012
Lizzy Bapela
Thursday 29 November Police in Pienaarsrivier are looking for suspects who robbed two Zimbabwean women of their belongings in the area. Police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Maxwell Nkanyane, said that the women bought wooden boards in Johannesburg to send home and asked for a lift on a truck also driven by Zimbabweans. He said the truck was supposed to take the N1 route but instead took the Rust de Winter road. According to the information
received, the driver and his crew had allegedly contacted their accomplices driving a bakkie to come and rob the women. The victims noticed the robbery, as they were the only ones who were searched and robbed of their cell phones, money and other belongings including the boards. The getaway bakkie was said to have returned from the Rust de Winter road back to Pienaarsrivier and police are investigating a case of armed robbery.
Sunday 2 December Two people were arrested in Bela Bela for drunken driving and they appeared in court on Monday, 3 December. Lieutenant-Colonel Abel Phetla, of the Bela Bela police, said that one driver was arrested In Leseding section, while the other one was arrested in town. He added the two were released on R1 500 bail each and their cases were remanded to February 2013. Bela Bela police are inves-
tigating a case of reckless and negligent driving following an accident that happened on the R101 just outside Bela Bela, in the direction of Hammanskraal. Phetla said that two vehicles collided head on but no deaths were reported as a result. He added that the occupants sustained minor injuries and the drivers appeared before the Bela Bela Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 3 December.
Ali and Nkele Pole were married in Modimolle on Sunday, 2 December. Photo: TK Mashaba.
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Husband jailed for sjambokking wives over missing sandals Two Limpopo women who sustained serious injuries on the eve of the 16 days of activism against women and children abuse now have no food on the table, after their husband was jailed for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. Augusto Shivambu (32) was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment in the Malamulele Magistrate’s Court last Wednesday, following his conviction. He savagely assaulted his two wives with a sjambok after a pair of sandals went missing. One of the wives, Nancy (25), who sustained serious injuries al over her body during the beating, had nevertheless played down the incident. She told Magistrate Norman Maluleke that the beating took one minute. Later she told Limpopo Mirror she talked of one
minute because she wanted her husband released. “I feel he should have received a warning. It was a mistake and he did not usually beat us,” she said. Limpopo Mirror visited the other wife, who had not been to court as she had run away. Elizabeth (28), the mother of five, said she ran away during the beating but could not escape the sjambok marks on her face. “I went to my relatives in Venda and only came back when I heard he had been sentenced,” said Elizabeth. “We are both unemployed and there is no food for the seven children,” she added. She said neither of them had an ID as they were from Mozambique, although they had been here for the last eight years. Three of the children were receiving grants, she said, and their father was the one
who had been receiving those on their behalf. “Our husband had been here for the last 20 years and that is why he has been given permanent residence in South Africa. He also did odd jobs to support the children, but with him gone to jail, we are starving,” she said. She said the beating took place when Shivambu found his pair of sandals missing in one of the huts, which did not have a lock. “He took offence and he said we should know as we are the people who are supposed to know everything at home,” she said. At the time of the visit, neighbours had given them some food. “I felt pity for the children and I gave them some food and if my husband knows, he may be cross with me,” said a neighbour, who refused to be named. — LiN News/Limpopo Mirror
43 000 illegal Zimbabweans deported the past year
Illegal Zimbabwean immigrants brave the treacherous and dangerous waters of the Limpopo River in order to cross over to South Africa. Photo: Supplied About 43 000 Zimbabweans were deported from South Africa to Zimbabwe through the Beit Bridge Border Post over the last 12 months as the crackdown on illegal immigrants staying in the country continues. Police spokesperson, Chief Supt Lawrence Chinhengo, said that, between October last year and this year, they handled 42 940 deportees.
South Africa resumed the deportations of Zimbabwean illegal immigrants last October, after having initially suspended the exercise in April 2009. This was after the country had introduced a moratorium on the deportation of Zimbabweans, granting them a special dispensation for one year, so that they could regularize their stay in that country. “On average, our statistics indicate that we receive between 200 and 300 deportees daily and most of them would have been brought in from Lindela in Johannesburg,” he said. The largest number of deportations on a single day was recorded on 5 December last year when 672 Zimbabweans were rounded up in Limpopo and Gauteng. Chinhengo indicated that several border jumpers were taking advantage of the drop in water levels in the Limpopo River to cross the border illegally through undesignated entry points. He said that they had intensified patrols along the border with their South African counterparts. Due to these patrols,
they had recorded a 76% decline in robberies along the Limpopo River between January and October, compared to the same period last year. “We continue to warn people against irregular migration, however, as they risk prosecution and being attacked by robbers who operate in bushy areas along the river,” he said. Chinhengo expressed concern over the continuous haphazard deportation of ex-convicts, saying it fuelled crime in the border town. “South African authorities are supposed to deport ex-convicts separately, but, sadly, we continue to receive them in a mixed batch and that is now a major challenge for us when it comes to screening. They are supposed to be vetted first and then categorised accordingly, because some of them would have been on our wanted list and end up engaging in criminal activities and fuelling crime in Beit Bridge,” he said. On arrival in the country, the returnees are received by the immigration authorities at the Beit Bridge Reception and Support Centre (BRSC) of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), who vet them to ascertain whether they are bona fide Zimbabweans. Soon after that process, they are then further vetted by police before being taken to the IOM, which offers them overnight accommodation, medication, food and transport to proceed to their respective homes. The BRSC IOM has the capacity to accommodate 600 people at any given time. Some of the deportees turn down any form of assistance from the IOM and those who opt to go home using their own means are released. Most of them resort to crossing back to South Africa illegally through undesignated entry points along the Limpopo River, despite of the dangers of being attacked by crocodiles or robbers operating in bushy areas near the river. — LiN News/Limpopo Mirror
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7 Desember, 2012
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Bela Bela detectives crowned the best
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Learnership students unhappy
LieutenantColonel Abel Phetla was crowned the Best Detectives Commander, while detective Frans Sekgobela was crowned the Best Investigator. Photo: Lizzy Bapela
Lizzy Bapela Two detectives from Bela Bela were crowned the best of the best during the first ever Prestige Provincial Awards held at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday, 1 December. Lieutenant-Colonel Abel Phetla was crowned the Best Detectives Commander, while detective Frans Sekgobela was crowned the Best Investigator. Unit commanders and provincial commissioners from all provinces across the country attended the event. The national police commissioner, Riah Phiega attended the occasion, with two commissioners from Lesotho accompanying her. She called for provinces to implement programmes that will influence employees to work hard and achieve good results. Phiega announced that the awards would be held annually and will be held nationally as from 2013. Phetla and Sekgobela have been working together for three years now and have achieved many successes since. They are the only two police officials in the Waterberg that won awards at the ceremony, joined by Tanya de Kock from their Supply Chain Management. Phetla started working for the SAPS in 1984 and worked in Witbank, Kgapane and Mankweng in the uniformed unit. He then went to work in the detectives unit in Zebediela, where he was promoted to station commissioner. Phetla came to Bela Bela in 2003 to head the local detectives unit, where
he worked with determined colleagues. Some of these colleagues left their original units to join him, as he was, and still is, regarded as the most humble, intelligent and easy to work with. On many occasions, Phetla received acknowledgements from his juniors for his sound and stable leadership. Sekgobela, one of those praising Phetla as the greatest leader ever, held a gun for the first time when he was in the army in 1994. He also worked in Johannesburg and Hillbrow and moved to Bela Bela in 2006, where he worked in the uniformed unit for three years. Sekgobela joined Phetla’s detective unit in 2009 and worked wonders with the help of his colleagues and commander in solving crimes and collaring criminals. Sekgobela has cracked major cases in and around Bela Bela including armed-, house- and business robberies, truck hijackings and car thefts. He was also part of a team that cracked down a group of suspects who were terrorising Bela Bela with housebreakings. He led a team of detectives who assisted Pienaarsrivier police in arresting suspects in cases such as truck hijackings and armed robberies, where one suspect was convicted in 32 cases. In their successes, Sekgobela and his team have managed to arrest suspects who fled crime scenes and those who evaded arrests and hid in Gauteng and Mpumalanga amongst other places. An official ceremony is expected to take place at the Bela Bela police station to celebrate the heroes’
Whatever you want to teach, be brief. Horace
Students of Bonwelong Skills Development programme are not satisfied with the run ning of the project. Photo: Michelle Murray Lizzy Bapela Students attending a tourism learnership programme in Bela Bela, ran by Bonwelong Skills Development from Polokwane, expressed their dissatisfaction with the working of the programme. The students told The BEAT that they were stopped from working and told to stay at home until proper placement for them is found. So far, there has been no news about when their placements will come into effect. They said that they are currently not attending any classes, receive only part of their stipends and have no proper uniforms. The 12-month pilot programme started on 28 May this year and the students were recruited through the Department of Labour’s database, which registers unemployed people for potential employers’ interests. One of the students, who wish to remain anonymous, said that they signed a contract in the beginning of the programme, which states that they would have 22 days in a month for theory and practical work, and eight days to rest. The students said that they decided to continue working because the contact states that the principle of “no work no pay” is in effect and they were afraid that they would not be paid, even if they did not stop working on their own. The students alleged that Bonwelong removed gazebos from their previous sites and did not communicate with them. “We were stopped from working on 22 October but we did work by distributing tourism information in town from 5 November. We tried communicating with the management of Bonwelong and our coordinator from the local municipality, Sephala Mokgohloa, but no solution has
been reached.” “Mokgohloa is rude to us when we talk to him and he even told us he does not want to be involved with us anymore so we are on our own,” alleged a student. Mokgohloa was off duty when The BEAT contacted the municipality for his comment on the matter and allegedly instructed his colleagues not to give out his contact details to anybody, especially if it concerns work related issues. The BEAT spoke to Jacob Motadi, of Bonwelong, who was surprised to hear that the students had problems regarding the programme and operations. He said everything is being communicated through phone calls and social networks and he even created a group chat where any student can talk to him at anytime. “I don’t complain even when they contact me in the evening, as I am always available for them. We have talked issues through and I explained to them why we removed the gazebos. We are still searching for proper placement for them, where they can be monitored.” “The students were coming to work in the mornings, when their coordinator came to mark the register and left immediately after he had gone, but they want to claim payments for that. We pay them according to the register and any mistakes made in the register are their responsibility. We can not tell what went wrong because we are far away from them,” said Motadi. He said that Bonwelong met with the national and local Department of Tourism and the Limpopo Economic Development and Tourism (LEDET) and will be coming to the sites to talk to the students about the way forward. Motadi said that the students just want things to be done quickly and that most of them do not even care to understand the processes but just want money. “We recruited the youth as they come from disadvantaged families and want to absorb them into various potential employment institutions so they can help their families,” he said. Motadi insisted that the pilot project runs throughout the province and that all information is communicated to the students.
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Letter to the editor The silly season The festive season is a time when people gather with family and friends and many enjoy a few alcoholic drinks around the braai or at parties. However, at this time of year there are many social gatherings that it can be easy to over-indulge. Too much alcohol is dangerous to the drinkers as well as those around them. Social time is important and can have many health benefits, such as pleasure, relaxation and stress relief. However, people who consume too much alcohol can endanger their health both in the immediate and long term. It is therefore an important time for people to be informed about how to consume alcohol safely and be careful to avoid consuming alcohol in quantities that put their health at risk. The National Department of Health is concerned about the bad effects of alcohol abuse in the country and the everincreasing health and social costs to communities, especially around this time of the year. Alcohol abuse is associated with increased injuries, illnesses, diseases and deaths. Alcohol abuse has been found to be a major contributing reason for road deaths. It accounts for up to 60% of road deaths in South Africa, including pedestrians. “With many holiday-makers taking to the road over the festive season, it is important to keep a responsible mind set,” advises Adrian Botha, of The Industry Association for Responsible Alcohol Use (ARA), an organisation, which promotes the responsible enjoyment of alcohol beverages and is supported by the alcohol beverage industry in South Africa. There are ways of enjoying alcohol and staying safe. Never drive or swim while under the influence of alcohol. Avoid drinking with partners who are prone to aggressive behaviour. When planning to go on a night out, agree upfront with a friend that he/she will be the designated driver. Avoid lifts from strangers, especially when intoxicated. Having food in the stomach reduces the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream and reduces the intoxicating effects of alcohol. It is very important to eat before or while consuming alcohol, and to eat enough food to fill the stomach. If you are planning a party, ensure there is plenty of food available for guests. Alcohol is a depressant; it can affect your reason, judgement and coordination, and slows down your reaction time. This means that if you drink to excess, you are putting yourself at risk. Drinking alcohol is a matter of individual opinion and responsibility. It has been a part of social life and celebrations around the world for thousands of years. Drinking sensibly means you can enjoy yourself — and stay safe.
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Please help us find our rescuers Brenda Read writes: Boet van Loggerenberg and I wish to meet and thank all the people that helped us after an accident and so bravely rescued us from our burning car. The accident happened on 11 June at approximately 11:30. We were travelling from Bela Bela to Modimolle when our car left the road for some reason and ended up against the rock face. The accident caused the dry grass next to the road to catch fire and our car also started burning, creating a very dangerous situation. On that stage, five men appeared and rushed to help us. They turned the vehicle, which was lying on its side, the right way up and helped us out in the nick of time.
Our family agree with us that we should try to find and meet our rescuers. We want to thank them and at least shake their hands for their bravery and initiative to get us out of the burning wreck. Personally, we feel that the rescuers deserve national recognition for their bravery. We also want to thank the police officer who called the fire brigade, police and ambulance to assist us. We are also thankful for the help that we received from Tromar Emergency Services and the fire brigade on that fateful day.
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How to judge your conduct Bishop Silas Tlou The daily conduct of Christians is very important because it is the only way others can see God work in their lives. How do we know if our conduct pleases God? There are some questions that Christians have to ask themselves. Does the Bible forbid this conduct in any way? The Bible contains many lists of sins to be avoided. Mark 7:2023; Romans 1:26-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 4:17-5:21; Col. 3:5-11; 2 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 3:3; James 3:13-4:10; 1 Peter 4:1-4; Revelation 21:8; 22:15. These prohibitions should be studied and obeyed. Remember that the Bible teaches in both general and specific terms. Sometimes it describes in detail that a specific act is sinful. Other times it presents general principles, which may include many specific sins. Study is required to determine whether a specific act fits the definition of something God has forbidden. Surely, we should avoid what God’s word directly prohibits, but we must also apply general principles to determine right from wrong. Will this conduct encourage others to serve God better? 1 Timothy 4:12 – “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. Instead, set an example for the believers through your speech, behaviour, love, faith, and by being sexually pure.” Matthew 18:6-7 – “As for whoever causes these little ones who believe in me to trip and fall into sin, it would be better for them to have a huge stone hung around their necks and be drowned in the bottom of the lake. How terrible it is for the world because of the things that cause people to trip and fall into sin! Such things have to happen, but how terrible it is for the person who causes those things to happen!” Will this conduct help or hinder my service to God? Consider the influence an act may have on you yourself. Matthew 6:13 – “And don’t lead us into temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.” If you know a course of action is likely to lead to sin, does it make good sense to start down that path? Will this conduct lead me to disrespect authority? God has ordained that certain people have authority over us on earth. Ephesians 6:5-8 – “As for slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling and with sincere devotion to Christ. Don’t work to make yourself look good and try to flatter people, but act like slaves of Christ carrying out God’s will from the heart. Serve your owners enthusiastically, as though you were serving the Lord and not human beings. You know that the Lord will reward every person who does what is right, whether that person is a slave or a free person.” Would you feel pure before God if you stopped in the midst of what you are doing and asked His blessings on it?
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Social Development postpones campaign Minister Lulu Xingwana is the leader of the South African Sixteen Days of Activism campaign. Photo: Supplied
Lizzy Bapela The Department of Social Development in Waterberg District has postponed their 16 Days of Activism Against Women and Child Abuse march. The march was expected to take place from Dira O Direlwe Drop-In Centre in Modimolle on Monday, 26 November. According to the spokesperson for the department, Legopheng Matlala, the march has been postponed until further notice. The 16 Days of Activism against women
and child abuse is an international campaign, celebrated with the motto “don’t look away, act against abuse,” from 25 November to 10 December annually. The theme for this year’s campaign is “elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and children.” The South African government mobilises every year, urging members of the public to wear white ribbons throughout the campaign. The government acknowledges the fact that the campaign has generated massive awareness on issues of violence
It all started with a dream
against women and children in the past. Spokesperson for the Government Communication and Information Systems (GCIS) in the Waterberg, Maria Ramoshaba, said the campaign will count on everyone’s support again in 2012 but must also move beyond awareness to practical action, the next level, behavioural change. According to Ramoshaba, the government also appreciates the contribution of all sectors of society and organisations towards the successful awareness drive. She indicated that in the past years the campaign has marked activities around the world to end gender-based violence. “Ending violence against women and children is up to all of us and anyone can play an active role in creating a safer community. The 16 Days campaign has been used to create a global movement to raise awareness, to address policy and legal issues, to campaign for the protection of survivors of violence and to call for the elimination of all forms of gender violence.” “The 16 Days of Activism Campaign therefore focuses primarily on generating an increased awareness of the negative impact of violence on women and children as well as society as a whole,” said Ramoshaba. The government champion for the cam-
Mass Feeva paints town in a rainbow The Carnivalists teams dancing in the road during the parade to the show grounds. Photo: TK Mashaba
Katlego Mashaba in full cry during their performances at Carnival festival. Photo: TK Mashaba
TK Mashaba
Members of the group get ready to perform before the show kicks off. Photo: TK Mashaba
TK Mashaba A group that seems as if they have been in the music industry for years, but in reality had only been performing for a year, stole the show at the Bela Bela Mass Feeva Caribbean Carnival over the weekend. The Bela Bela based band consists of a family of three brothers, Leon-, on base, Robbie-, on drums, and Bobo Mautla on piano. Tumelo Merelo joins them on lead guitar. Refilwe Matsho, Katlego Mashaba, Shana Thema and Lucky Baitseng complete the group with their vocal performances. The group is currently performing under the name X1 Crue, but they are looking to change their name to something more appropriate soon.
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Years teach us more than books. Berthold Auerbach
paign in South Africa is the minister for the Department of Women, Children and People with Disability (DWCPD), Lulu Xingwana. She is the national convener of the 16 Days of Activism. The Minister envisions that the 2012 campaign addresses real issues at grass roots level that affect vulnerable groups, including women, children and people with disabilities. These issues include abuse, sexual harassment, rape, murder and cultural practices that are harmful to women and children. The department is strengthening coordination and ownership of the 365 Days of Action Programme to end violence against women and children within government and through partnerships and this process will be led by the Council for Gender-based Violence. Ramoshaba said that the 16 Days of Activism Campaign is meant to be a period of intensive awareness raising efforts in a yearlong national action plan to end violence against women and children. She said that their task is to coordinate the activities of all government departments, civil society and corporate partners. She added that the aim is to grow the campaign’s reach year-on-year with the support and commitment of friends in all sectors.
X1 Crue made their debut at the Bela Bela Show Grounds during the Bela Bela Mass Feeva Caribbean Carnival and had the crowd eating out of their hands. “We started out as a house music group because house music had a huge influence on us last year,” Leon Mautla said. According to Leon, they were spotted by David Raborolo, famous Bela Bela basketball player, at a wedding and from there on doors started opening for them. “We manage ourselves at the moment and we are glad about the positive response that we receive from the audiences,” he said. The group started out after meeting at church and starting weekly performances at church gatherings. “We are very humble that we met at church, It taught us discipline and to take our careers seriously,” Leon explained. The group is working on their own songs in order to offer an original product to their fast growing fan base. The group performs afro-pop, rhythm and blues, gospel and house music.
The small town of Bela Bela came to a standstill when a Caribbean parade took the township and town by storm. The drizzling rain did not stop the spirit of the people having fun in the streets and at the Bela Bela Show Grounds. The municipality hosted the Carnival in collaboration with the government of Trinidad and Tobago Department of Arts and Culture, the Limpopo Provincial Government and local business. The official Carnival parade, that saw 1 600 people walking through the streets of Bela Bela in colourful costumes,
made its way to the show grounds where the festivities continued. This is the second phase of this festival. Last year the planning committee hosted a dress rehearsal that included a parade and some festive activities on the Bela Bela Festival Grounds. According to Matome Sebelebele, municipal spokesperson, the Carnival was much better this year because of the turnout. He did say, however, that there were issues to be considered before embarking on the next year’s Carnival. “The build-up and parade was fine but we suffered on the artistic side as the budget was not in our favour,” he said.
On Saturday, 24 November, the DA hosted a Christmas party, with presents and food, for the children of the Mantadi Youth Care Centre. The principal of the Centre, Anna Makwela, told the Christmas story and the children thoroughly enjoyed the food and cold drinks provided by the DA.
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7 Desember, 2012
Homes competition back by popular demand
Lizzy Bapela The Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) in Limpopo encourages owners of government built homes (RDP houses) to participate in the My Home My Pride Competition in the future. Provincial spokesperson for the department, Tseng Diale, told The BEAT that the department had already started with preparations to host the competition. She said that the adjudication committee has already screened and finalised the province’s top eight houses to stand a chance to win prizes worth building materials and gardening tools. Diale further said that the competition My Home My Pride was established in 2010 and is aimed at encouraging RDP beneficiaries to value their property by planting trees and vegetables and maintaining beautiful yards. She added that the campaign is part of consumer education programme set to raise awareness and to instil a sense of ownership to government built RDP housing beneficiaries. The competition was called “My RDP My Pride” when it was first established and
the department changed the name, as they feel it somehow sound undermined because they actually provide homes and not RDPs. “It also educates beneficiaries about the importance of taking proper care of the environment and improving the image of their homes. Greening is part of the overall government initiative. This will go a long way in contributing positively in the fight against global warming and improving environmental conditions thus leading to a healthier and more productive population,” said Diale. She added that this year’s prizes range from R150 000 for first place winner. Second place will walk away with R50 000 while third place will receive R30 000 worth of building materials. The department has invited the finalists, who are from various districts in the province to a ceremony that will be held in Polokwane on Friday, 7 December, and the venue is yet to be confirmed. The ceremony will be hosted at the same time as the department’ Service Excellence Awards, where government officials from across the province will attend. Diale said that members from the department’s provincial and districts offices will form part of the event.
The Limpopo Department of Agriculture and DuPont Pioneer have signed an agreement to improve maize production of smallholder farmers across the province through training and access to improved cultivars. Photo: Supplied
The Limpopo Department of Agriculture (LDA) and a giant seed company, DuPont Pioneer, have signed an agreement to improve maize production of smallholder farmers across the province. The two parties have met and signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the LDA’s head quarters in Polokwane on Thursday, 22 November. Spokesperson for the department, Mashudu Mabata, said that this endeavour seeks to increase productivity and income of smallholder farmers. According to DuPont Pioneer’s director, Tony Esmeraldo, this dream could be achieved through two activities, skills development for small-scale farmers especially on crop production and giving them access to improved varieties. Esmeraldo said Pioneer would provide further training to Agricultural technicians in
A M o o k g o p h o n g f a r m e r, R . M Mathabatha, became the pride of Waterberg when she walked away with R60 000 during the Limpopo Department of Agriculture (LDA)’s provincial awards. The department hosted a mini-agricultural expo at the Polokwane Show Grounds from Tuesday, 27- to Wednesday 28 November. The Limpopo MEC for Agriculture, Jacob Marule, gave awards to female entrepreneurs that have made an impact in the Agricultural industry during the Gala Dinner held on the first day of the expo. Mathabatha won the Top Producer Small Holder award, while two other farmers and a farm worker from Waterberg were also amongst the top five finalists announced during the ceremony. Bela Bela resident, Raesibe Agnes Sebola, working at Waterberg Eggs,
came in fifth position in the Best Female Farm Worker category. Crops producer from Thabazimbi, Ester Seobi, also came fifth in the Best Subsistence Producer Farmer category. The fifth position for the Top Producer Commercial/National went to Kanyane Masedi Farm Produce from Mookgophong. The department hosted the expo, during which departmental programmes such as Land-Care, Food Security and Female Entrepreneur of the Year were promoted. Farmers across the Limpopo Province had the opportunity to network and exhibit their commodities and produce. Input suppliers and agricultural service providers were afforded an opportunity to display their products. Spokesperson for the department in Limpopo, Mashudu Mabata, said that the awards were given under the annual Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s (DAFF) Female Entrepreneur of the Year Awards Programme.
the areas of plant breeding, variety or cultivar selection, agronomic practices and plant biotechnology techniques used in crop production. Agricultural technicians will impart the knowledge to farmers that will learn amongst others, to select the best seed variety suitable for their geographic areas to maximise yields. The pilot project will enable farmers to practise what they have learned on the demonstration plots at Madzivhandila College of Agriculture. “We are going to bring our biotechnologists, agronomists and scientists to assist in the project,” said Esmeraldo. The General Manager for Agricultural Services in the LDA, Jethro Nowata, said that the agreement would help farmers receive quality training. Nowata also holds the view that it will help the LDA since the department was refocusing on the agricultural colleges.
Waterberg municipality reach out
Mookgophong farmer wins BIG Lizzy Bapela
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Government aims to develop farmers
Lizzy Bapela The My Home My Pride competition was established in 2010 and is aimed at encouraging RDP beneficiaries to value their property. Photo: Supplied
BEAT
Political and government leaders led people with disabilities in a dance during an event held in Northam. Photo: Lizzy Bapela Lizzy Bapela The Waterberg District Municipality has gone all out to reach different communities under the local municipalities in the district. The district municipality hosted a number of events, in line with current campaigns and activities outlined in their events calendar. The municipality hosted an event to celebrate with the local traditional music artist Joyce Ledwaba, better known as Majoy. Majoy has made the Waterberg very proud when her album “Sereto” won her the Best Sepedi Album during the South African Traditional Music Achievement Awards (SATMA), held in East London in October. She also won Best female artist at the
SATMA awards in 2007 with her song “Moloi” from her Moferefere album. Members of various media groups attended the celebration, hosted by the district municipality, at Ga-Madiba Village in Mogalakwena Local Municipality on Saturday, 24 November. During the event, Majoy performed the songs she is known for such as “Limpopo ea di busa,” “moferefere, moloi” and many more. Mayor Mogotlane gave a keynote address during district disability event that took place at Northam Sports Grounds at a Thabazimbi Local Municipality event on Wednesday, 28 November. People living with disability and members of the disability council in the district attended the event, where they received messages of support, information booklets and were honoured. In Mokopane, the municipality hosted a fundraising gala dinner for the House of Traditional Leaders in the Waterberg District. The gala dinner was held at the Park Hotel on Thursday, 29 November. A delegation from the provincial House of Traditional Leaders and chairpersons from all district municipalities in the province also attended the gala dinner. Spokesperson for the district municipality, Pat Malete, said that the aim of the gala dinner was to welcome the members to their new house, which was officially opened on Friday, 30 November. The ceremony took place at T.T. Cholo (Bavaria) Stadium in GaMathapo, Mogalakwena Local Municipality.
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BEAT
7 Desember, 2012
tbeat3@gmail.com, Website: thebeat.linmedia.co.za
FC United Nedbank hopes dashed New name and image for Bela Bela they are looking forward to the TK Mashaba
A1 Terrors fell out of the Nedbank Cup tournament when they lost their game in Polokwane on 2 December. Photo: TK Mashaba. TK Mashaba The Waterberg winners of the Nedbank Cup regional round, A1 Terrors FC, had their dreams cut short during the provincial knock-out round of the tournament. A1 Terrors met their match on Sunday, 2 December, at the Seshego Stadium in Polokwane. The Modimolle based team lost their game against Manchester United FC, winners of the Capricorn district, with a final score of 20. Manchester United FC went on to win the provincial round of the game with a score of 5-4 on penalties after they played to a 0-0 draw against Chakuma FC, from the Vhembe district. A1 Terrors showed a lot of character in their road to the provincial knockout round. They played an excellent game throughout the tournament before the provincial winners bested them. Before departing for the provincial round of the Nedbank Cup, William Thulare, owner of A1 Terrors FC, told The BEAT that they have much to accomplish during the next two seasons. “We are in great form for this season and we are looking forward to great games,” he said.
On Monday, 3 December, after the defeat in Polokwane, Thulare said that his team did not perform to his expectations. He said that the reason might be the long journey from Modimolle to Polokwane. “This was one game that we were supposed to win. The opponents were not that strong. I believe we learned something from our loss and we will pick up the pieces. We left Modimolle early in the morning and played our game at 11:00. I think the tiring journey might have had an impact on the players,” he said. The Modimolle team might be out of the Nedbank Cup tournament, but they are still determined to have the best season possible. A1 Terrors are in the second position on the SAB Waterberg League log after three games played. They did not lose any matches and drew one match. They stand on seven points. The team will be facing Tota l S u r r e n d e r, f o r m e r l y known as Bela Bela FC United, on Saturday, 8 December. On Sunday, 9 December, they will play an away game against Diesel n Dust at the Sunfa Stadium.
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LEAD THE WAY
Charles Lephaswa is the team manager for the newly named Total Surrender soccer team. Photo: TK Mashaba.
Bela Bela FC United had a name change after a new owner bought the team and changed their name to Total Surrender FC. This deal had been in the pipeline since the last soccer season and was confirmed this week. Charles Lephaswa, the new team manager of the Total Surrender FC team, told The BEAT that the team is now owned by John Mthunzini. According to Lephaswa, Mthunzini is the sole owner of the team. The owned another team, also called Total Surrender FC, two years ago. “We are looking forward to a good season and working relationship with the team players and committee,” Lephaswa said. Bela Bela FC is currently in the first position on the SAB Waterberg log. The team said that
new management’s approach. Total Surrender did not change much of the technicalities that made Bela Bela FC a formidable team. Zwakala Mokoma is still the head coach, Tshepo Komape is the assistant coach and Mary Zikhali is the secretary of the team. During the previous season, rumours started floating that Bela Bela FC United were looking to sell their status after a particularly bad season. The team missed many games because they had no sponsors and no way to pay the logistics surrounding each game. Lephaswa said that the team managed to regain the whole squad for now and they even have a new soccer kit that shows off their new name and new purpose. Total Surrender FC will be facing A1 Terrors FC on Saturday, 8 December, at Moloto Stadium, the home ground of the Total Surrender team.