FREE
ESTABLISHED 1991
WEDNESDAY 1517 MAY 2013
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Spontaan is back DO not miss upcoming editions of Express to get more information about Central South Africa’s favourite, and biggest, singing competition. Once again amazing prizes are up for grabs, so warm up those vocal chords in the meantime. Rules to compete in the competition: ) You must be 16 years or older on 1 July to register. ) For the regional competitions in Bloemfontein, Welkom, Kimberley, Kuruman and Bethlehem you can sing any song. However, the song has to be contemporary music (no rappers or hip-hop artists). ) You are allowed to accompany yourself or use a backtrack. ) The competition is for soloists only. ) You must supply your own soundtracks and other equipment for the regional auditions yourself. ) Spontaan will supply the sound equipment for the final. ) The winner of each regional audition will be announced immediately after the audition. ) Judges reserve the right not to choose a regional winner. ) Should you be chosen as a regional finalist, you must prepare five songs for the final held in Bloemfontein at the Vryfestival. ) Finalists must supply their own backtracks or accompaniment for the final. ) The final is on Saturday, 14 July, in Bloemfontein and if you are a finalist you must organise own transport (if necessary) and your own accommodation if you are a finalist from outside Bloemfontein. ) Auditions will be held in Bloemfontein, Kimberley, Welkom, Bethlehem and Kuruman in May. No pre-registration is required. Simply arrive, pay R20 and register. Be on the lookout for future Express editions for audition dates.
CAMPAIGN PROPS? The Free State ANC is being accused of using less priveleged whites as voting cattle. Some of these “delegates” to the conference had no idea who Jacob Zuma was and said they were there because they were promised food parcels. The party’s top five provincial leaders were re elected unopposed, with Ace Ma gashule retaining the chairpersonship at the seventh pro vincial conference held in Welkom over the weekend. Photo: Selloane Khalane
Votes for food
Eyebrows raised about whites at ANC conference
} Selloane Khalane
HEINRICH “SANDLANA” SMIT, a member of the Free State Premier’s Intervention Unit for minority groups, has strongly denied allegations that the ANC is using disadvantaged white communities as campaign props for the 2014 national elections. During the party’s seventh elective provincial conference held over the weekend in Welkom, about 100 disadvantaged white residents from across the province attended. Clad in yellow ANC T-shirts depicting Pres. Jacob Zuma’s face, some of the residents from Vredefort said they did not know the ANC president and only went to the conference to receive food parcels.
“I did not know we were being brought to the conference,” said one of the confused attendees. Smit said the attendees were not being used to boost the party’s campaign to secure victory in next year’s national elections. He said however, some of the attendees did not know Zuma, because they did not have access to the media due to poverty. Olly Mlamleli, Free State ANC Women’s League deputy chairperson, said the white residents were members of the ANC and said some of the women were members of the Women’s League who participated in the party’s activities. Smit denied allegations that the residents were given or promised food parcels in return for attending the con-
ference as observers, but admitted that the party “often” supplied poor white communities with food parcels. “Poverty has no class or race, the ANC is for everyone and therefore helps everyone. My duty is to recruit minority groups closer to the ANC and dispel wrong perceptions about the party,” Smit said. Although Mlamleli told Express the residents were ANC members, Smit said a majority of the residents were not party members. “I just came to the conference to get a free lunch and see how the ANC functions,” said one of the residents from Welkom. Smit said the party had a mass of white members, but they did not disclose their support for the party for
fear of being victimised. Oupa Khaobane, ANC Free State spokesperson, said the residents were always complaining that the party was neglecting them and were therefore invited to experience the ANC culture. During his speech on Saturday at the same conference Cyril Ramaphosa, ANC deputy president, said he was glad to see the group attending, saying it was an indication that the party was for everyone. Ace Magashule, newly re-elected ANC provincial chairperson, said although the province was behind with campaigns for the national elections next year, it would secure 22 000 volunteers for the elections in the next two weeks.