Express NC 1 Mei 2013

Northern Cape

TEL: 053 ­ 831­2331

WEDNESDAY 1 MAY 2013

Saulspoort: Memories still painful } Boipelo Mere OLD wounds were opened over the weekend when the 51 families of the 2003 May Saulspoort bus accident were invited to the wreath-laying ceremony at the West End Cemetery.

Even after ten years, it is too painful for the families to bear when they remember their loved ones on the day.

Most of the deceased were bread winners at their homes.

The accident changed the lives of all who were affected.

Albert Louw (51), who was the only survivor out of eight to attend the ceremony, said he can still not lead a proper life after the accident.

“These ceremonies make us feel worse as not all of us are equally strong. On our way to the rally I was sitting next to a window. I don’t know how the accident happened and I do not know how I got the strength to do it, but I managed to break the window and escaped through it.

Then I started swimming on and on.

“I got lost in the water and something inside me just told me to turn around and return to the direction I had come from. That is when I heard people calling me. I saw people on top of the bus who helped me to get on top,” said Louw.

“I cannot even sleep at night as I keep on dreaming of those people, screaming and shouting. After the accident we, the survivors, were sent for counselling at the Kimberley Hospital Complex, but it did not make a difference at all. Two of the survivors later passed away.

One had a heart attack and the other one committed suicide.”

The man who rescued eight of the survivors, Leonard Slabbert, pledged to be part of the celebration every year.

Slabbert, the owner of a farm next to Saulspoort Dam, which was renamed the Sol Plaatje Dam after the accident, said the Sol Plaatje Municipality has become close to his heart since then.

“The tragedy will always be with me and I realise the importance of remembering those who lost their lives on that day. It was a cold day and I had to decide whether to act or to listen to a story when some of the people came to ask for my help. I thank God for giving me the strength for it was not easy to save the eight people that I did,” Slabbert said sadly.

The Free State provincial secretary of Cosatu, Sam Mashinini, said he can also clearly remember the day of the rally as if it were yesterday.

“I was on the podium when

Northern Cape

one of the shop stewards said to me in tears “bana ba kohae ba wetse metsing” (My homeboys have drowned).

“I did not believe her and told her to go and enjoy the rally. When it sunk in that she was in tears, I realised that it was true. I diverted the leadership who were from Johannesburg to the scene and they flew there instead of to the rally at the Charles Mopedi Stadium.”

The wreath-laying ceremony was a build-up to Cosatu’s national May Day celebration that is held at the Galeshewe Stadium today where Pres. Zuma is expected to deliver the keynote address.

The provincial secretary of Samwu, Duma Lebakeng, revealed at a press-briefing of the event that the rally will be used to unite Cosatu especially after reports that the federation is divided.

The the Sol Plaatje mayor, Agnes Nhlangula, made a startling statement that she keeps on asking herself whether Slabbert would have saved those people if it had happened in 1984 during the apartheid era.

This statement drew a murmur from the crowd who had applauded Slabbert non-stop.

The mayor further said that as a municipality they had done all they could to support the families and survivors of the accident.

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LENA POHA (mid­ dle) was grateful for the day when she could com­ memorate her son’s death. Pic­ tured are Leonard Slabbert (right). On the left her daugh­ ter Patricia and grandchildren Ohentse, Katlego and Refilwe Poha.

Photos: Boipelo Mere

IT was too painful for Juliet Klaas to bear the pain of re­ membering how her husband, John­ son Kgotlaitsile, had died. Here she is assisted by Jabu Cele and Thandi Makhapeloa of the Cosatu office.

PO Box 1583 Kimberley 8300

Editor

Boipelo Mere

Sales Manager Johan Rossouw

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EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 1 MAY 2013

NEWS

ANCWL supports Angie Motshekga THE African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) pledged to be 100% behind their president, Angie Motshekga, in her role as minister of Basic Education and reminds that she has shown her dedication and determination to see the children of South Africa receive a decent education.

The ANCWL describes the actions of SADTU as extremely disappointing and therefore accuses them of not taking education seriously.

“It is evident their priority is not to be in the classroom with our children, this was made apparent by their actions last week when they took to the streets during school hours, something which could have been done after school was closed if they were serious about the work they are supposed

to be doing. There are other options SADTU could have taken if they wanted their grievances resolved, including engagement with their alliance partners. As mothers we will not stand for our children’s education being used as a tool to launch a smear campaign against individuals,” stated Troy Martens, head of communications at the national ANCWL, in a press statement.

The league further congratulated the minister of Basic Education on the sterling job she was doing despite the challenges she faced and for the resilience she has displayed while being insulted and humiliated time and again.

“The indignity of people displaying underwear with her name on is juvenile, disrespectful and serves no cause but to inflict humiliation,” said the league.

GOOLAM AKHARWARAY, the Sol Plaatje municipal manager, on behalf of the mayor promised the Colville squatters that the municipality was in the process of surveying the area.

Photos: Boipelo Mere

Illegal squatting in Sol Plaatje continues } Boipelo Mere

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DESPITE the denial of Agnes Ntlangula, mayor of Sol Plaatje, that she approved the illegal squatting in Colville, people are still continuing to build shanties.

Concerns were raised by the Democratic Alliance (DA) that the area poses great danger to children, because the storm water drains could be dangerous during rains as there are underground electric cables in the area.

The party urges the mayor to rather provide suitable and available housing to the people in need to avoid illegal squatting.

The DA in the province also accuses the executive mayor of being irresponsible and disloyal towards the residents and squatters of Colville.

It claims that Ntlangula continues to mislead the squatters by assuring them that houses will be built on the same piece of land they are currently building shanties on.

In an article published on 6 March, Express Northern Cape referred to a community meeting in Omega Street, Colville, where Goolam Akharwaray, the Sol Plaatje municipal manager, gave the residents the go-ahead to stay on the land.

On behalf of the mayor, Akharwaray promised the residents that the municipality was in the process of surveying the area.

According to DA councillor Dirk

van der Merwe, who for several years has been involved with this piece of land and studies done on it, it was decided years ago that the land was not suitable for building houses on.

He revealed that an impact study was done and the problem identified was that servitudes are registered on the land. The municipality should first look at the plans and servitudes before decisions are made.

“If shanties or houses are to be built there, it will cause various dangerous situations and safety hazards for residents, as there are electrical cables, sewer pipes and water supply pipes under the ground.

“Should a cable burn, people inside the shanties or houses could get hurt or even die. It is tremendously unsafe to build on such cables,” stated Van der Merwe.

He further pointed out that the open storm water drainage ditches that are right next to the open land also pose a danger.

Lionel Askin, DA councillor of Ward 14, disapproves of the move and claims that he did all he can to prevent the illegal squatting, including involving the mayor.

He further reported that he did not receive the necessary support from the mayor, who rather ended up excluding him from a meeting held regarding this issue.

However, Martin le Grange, a

former ANC councillor in Colville, told the residents during the meeting that the land from Omega Street, past the St Paul’s Church, up to the Baptist Church had long since been donated to the Colville community and had been surveyed in 1989.

According to Le Grange, the new survey to be conducted by the municipality was to determine whether they could extend the yard sizes from 10 to 15 yards and whether there was a need to close the nearby water canal for it to run underground or just to reduce its size.

According to Le Grange, who some of the residents claim is using the issue to lure votes to be re-elected, they are tired of lies from their current councillor.

“We are tired of lies, we don’t involve any councillor in our grievances any more, we deal with the mayor directly,” he emphasised.

Another resident, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that they were again using vulnerable people before the elections.

“I knew this was going to happen.

All political parties are rushing into our community (Colville) again because it is time for elections,” said Darkie Hammud.

They also appeal for the situation to be monitored in order to prevent injuries or loss of life as the residents that stay on this piece of land are also fed up because their new neighbours steal their water.

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Human Communications 98363

THE shacks next to the water canal (at the back) that is claimed to be dangerous.

EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE , WEDNESDAY 1 MAY 2013

NEWS

Graduates part of programme } Boipelo Mere FOR the first time in history 60 unemployed graduates from the John Taolo Gaetsewe District had the opportunity to improve their employment opportunities at the Sishen Mine’s Small Business Hub. This is part of the mine’s development and youth empowerment drive budgeted at R3 395 770.

The aim was also to counteract the prevailing challenges in order to assist youths in becoming part of the economy, and to give them access to employment or to be self-employed.

The programme is further expected to address gaps in graduates’ training as highlighted by various companies including Eskom, the Joe Morolong Municipality, Gamaraga Local Municipality, National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and the Ga-Segonyana Municipality.

Candidates who entered this programme included graduates with degrees and national diplomas in Accounting, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Tourism, Information Technology, Communication, Land Reform, Marketing, Human Resources, Public Management, Logistics, Statistics and Agriculture.

Various life skills including communication, teamwork, effective time management, conflict resolution and how to analyse, organise and evaluate information, also formed part of the programme.

Sishen’s Small Business Hub promised to invite potential employers in the area to a prestigious event through which the skilled graduates would be able to present themselves to ensure maximum exposure for the candidates in terms of potential work and business opportunities.

Letters

Express Letters, PO Box 1583, Kby, 8300 Boipelo Mere Boipelo.mere@volksblad.com Tel: 053-831-2331 Fax: 053-831-2330

Take care ROSIE LUDICK, Kimberley: AS we are approaching Freedom Day we all need to be free from oppression. But in the long run we forget about factory workers who are trying to make a living for their families with their meagre salaries.

Then there’s the issue of short time. At one company in Kimberley they are working two or three days a week. You can imagine how much those people are taking home.

In these two days they are expected to perform miracles.

They are pushed for production and have to endure the threats of management. Is this freedom? Can those workers perform on an empty stomach? Where are the shop stewards?

The big question is why is SACTWU so silent?

These are our people working in appalling conditions.

What happened to their basic conditions of employment?

Those people are unhappy and yet everybody is turning a blind eye to their plea.

A GROUP of Ga­Segonyana graduates who are enrolled in the Graduate Development Programme at the Sishen Small Business Hub. Photo: Supplied According to Sydney Ntili, local economic development (LED) practitioner at Sishen’s Small Business Hub in Kathu, rural research conducted in 2009 indicated that there were many unemployed youths in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District.

“One of the key indicating factors contributing to the challenge for these unem-

Party must get house in order K.P. CHABAEMANG, Postmasburg: THE housing problem which prevails in Colesberg is a disgrace.

While our councillors live in expensive houses the community is suffering. Let the ruling party get its house in order

and not allow this pathetic situation to be used as an election toll.

They must not use it to score cheap political points in next year’s election. The homeless residents of Colesberg should stand up and occupy those RDP houses by force so that the local municipality must act.

ployed youths is the lack of resources to enable them to become more employable,” he said. “Youth development and empowerment is one of the strategic areas across all sectors in South Africa.”

Paseka Gaenakgang, a 28-year-old male who holds a national diploma in Electrical Engineering of the Tshwane University of

Technology, said this programme had been very helpful because it had taught him a lot about project management and had enabled him to obtain his driver’s licence.

“It has also motivated me to start my own business afterwards, something I always dreamt about,” concluded Paseka.

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EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 1 MAY 2013

NEWS

Oliphant honoured at service } Boipelo Mere SHE was described by many as brave, daring and intelligent, with unconditional love for her family.

Everyone said that she was not chosen as a deputy secretary of Sadtu in the province by mistake, but she was flying the red flag.

All this was said during the memorial service of the late Ruth Oliphant from Colville.

Speaker after speaker elaborated on how she was always showing genuine concern about the construction of the Northern Cape University. She kept on reminding everyone that it had to offer opportunities to the working class by being accessible to them.

Oliphant was reported to be

an unapologetic and high striver for the working class and transformation, as was expected of her.

According to different speakers, the death of Oliphant was a great loss to the ruling party, unions and, especially, her family.

“She died satisfied that her life as a educator was celebrated.

“She must be remembered as a proud mother because she saw her son Dr Clive Oliphant graduating as a qualified doctor and her daughter Clivine working hard to become a law student at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University,” said the MEC of Education, Grizelda Cjiekella.

She continued: “Ruth, we deemed to bid you farewell in this manner for God granted

you half a life, but we are grateful that you came along.

You gave years of long service to our people, a service that they will empower themselves with.”

Cjiekella added that the life of Oliphant must be celebrated with gratitude, as she had taken part in fighting for the rights of girls and the future of women.

“She did everything for us and more. We thank God for giving her to us and will therefore never remove her legacy from us,” added Cjiekella.

According to Anele Gxoyiya, the provincial secretarty of Cosatu, Oliphant made the dreams of many a reality.

“She was super-intelligent, respectful and never undermined anyone,” he added.

RUTH OLIPHANT’S final resting place was at the West End Cemetery where hundreds of people bid her farewell.

Photo: Boipelo Mere

RUTH OLIPHANT’S sister Mieta Mgantanna, her daughter Clivine and son Dr Clive Oliphant.

Photo: Boipelo Mere

Mine believes in women

} Boipelo Mere

THABISO LESLEY MASEGELA, training instructor at the Sishen Mine, believes that women can make a significant contribution to the mining industry.

The mine proudly got its first allwomen grader operator training team in their Mining Learnership Programme. The women are being trained as grader operators on theo-

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ry, as well as an experiential training component, for the next nine weeks.

The women are excited about the programme. Omphemetse Sephiri is looking forward to the next nine weeks and believes that the training is going to be challenging and rewarding.

“It is nice to be part of the Kumba family, and to show the nation that we as women can work in a predominantly male environment, and be just

as good,” says Boitumelo Mokwena.

“Not only are women more punctual than men, but they are also more accurate, and therefore more likely to be productive. They say if you teach a man, you teach an individual, but if you teach a woman, you teach a nation. We are all equal, no matter what our race or gender is. We need to build a legacy to leave to the next generation, and we can only do so if we work together,” says Masegela.

FROM the left are, front: Constance Buchwane, Gomolemo Mothibi, Thandi Segano and Boitumelo Mokwena; back: Lorato Mohutsiwa, Cecilia Ngakaemang, Thabiso Lesley Masegela (instructor), Doris Mosiane and Om­ phemetse Sephiri.

Photo: Supplied

EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE , WEDNESDAY 1 MAY 2013

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NEWS

Blindness doesn’t keep Petrus back } Boipelo Mere PETRUS GOEIEMAN (20) showed the world that being blind is no reason to end up a failure. He made his teachers at the Retlameleng Special School proud by becoming the first blind learner to achieve a university entrance in 2011. Petrus, who grew up in Phutanang, earned the respect of his community furthermore when he started studying for his degree in Education at the University of the Free State (UFS).

Every teacher’s face lit up when they spoke to Northern Cape Express about Petrus.

Petrus said the first school where he wanted to teach would be Retlameleng in order to give back to them what he had received.

“Although I have other options, I feel I owe it to myself and Retlameleng because I understand better the dynamics and challenges they go through,” he said.

He described his academic year of studying through long distance learning as totally different.

“Being at varsity is quite an experience. Although there is a lot of work here, at least there is support material as compared to the previous institution that I studied with. I do not expect to get special treatment though. I ended up doing only four modules last year instead of ten, as I received most of my material late,” he said.

“He has always been a brilliant learner. I taught him at foundation level (gr. 1 to gr. 3) where he used to show inquisitiveness and would listen attentively. I had the feeling that one day Petrus would be able to make a difference,” Viginia Sekwati, a teacher at Retlameleng, said proudly. According to Ethne Grey, an assistant teacher at Retlameleng, Goeieman has always been a motivation to other learners at the school. He is also a good performer in sports even though he is tiny. He was also part of the blind cricket team and was

PETRUS with his mother, Margaret Goeie­ man. . Photo: Supplied selected to represent the province in the South African team to India. “He used to fly to Cape Town to attend coaching lessons. Although he did not end up going due to a lack of funding, he did not dispair.”

The school’s principal, Joyce Philander, revealed how confused the other learners at Goeieman’s school were when Goeieman went to conduct teaching practicals at Retlameleng.

“Hey. sonny, o ntse o sa tle sekolong so lank,” meaning “you have not been coming to school,” they said. “We had to explain to them and motivate them to also follow Petrus’ example,” she laughed. Petrus’s ecstatic mother said shyly: “I am very proud of my son as he has always shown determination in his school work. He always told us at home that he wanted to be a teacher at Retlameleng to give back.”

Margaret revealed that Petrus did not let the situation of his poor background affect him.

“I feel so blessed. He has always made me proud, like when he first started playing the keyboard at church. There were times when he would fly to Cape Town without a cent in his pocket, but he would encourage me by saying things would get better. He has always been chasing his dreams.”

Women’s Network visits school } Boipelo Mere EACH CHILD was rewarded with a hotdog, juice and a packet of chips as well as a crime awareness booklet by Maj. Gen. Hilda Mohajane, the SAPS Women’s Network deputy provincial commissioner (DPC): Crime Detection, at the Diamantveld Primary School in Kimberley.

Mohajane encouraged about 120 learners between the age of 6 and 13 years to report any kind of abuse and assured them that the police were their friends and that all forms of abuse had to be reported.

The SAPS Women’s Network in the Northern Cape reached out to the community and visited various institutions as part of their crime awareness campaign.

MAJ. GEN. HILDA MOHAJANE, SAPS Women’s Network deputy provincial commissioner (DPC): Crime Detec­ tion, taught the children about mat­ ters regarding child abuse and chil­ dren’s rights at the Diamantveld Pri­ mary School. Photo: Supplied

The SAPS Women’s Network’s biggest aim is to partner with civil society to bolster the type of community which is supportive.

The police educate the community and help them to provide children with the kind of safe and nurturing environment they need to grow up in.

The SAPS promises to continue in their commitment of arresting criminals who commit crimes against children, and to create greater awareness amongst parents and guardians to look after and protect children.

“Crimes against women and children are a priority for the SAPS and communities are urged to rally behind the SAPS in eradicating these types of crimes as it can only be through working together that more can be done to ensure success,” she said.

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EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 1 MAY 2013

EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE , WEDNESDAY 1 MAY 2013

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EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 1 MAY 2013

THE first goal was scored by the EP Lekhela High School.

Photos: Boipelo Mere

Schools take part in tournament

} Boipelo Mere MANAGERS at Meriting Investment are confident that they are on the right track of reviving the u.19 school Wednesday league.

They heeded the call after they had been approached by the South African Schools Football Association (SASFA) to partner a pilot project, which would only run in the Sol Plaatje Municipality’s schools.

Although only four schools (two girl teams and two boy teams) participated in the launch games, 21 local high schools have already completed the registration process.

The schools that played during the opening games were the !Xukhwesa Combined School against the Girls’ High School and the EP Lekhela High School against the Floors High School in the category for boys.

According to Aubrey Isaacs, the vicepresident of Sasfa, they plan on spreading the league throughout the whole of the Frances Baard District if all goes well.

Marcus Banga, who is the chairperson of the investment company, said that some of the officials and shareholders within the company had experienced those kinds of tournaments during their school days. He

revealed that in their time, parents would support their children by attending soccer matches, which motivated them more.

“Thus they saw it as important for the children on the field, and cut off the Okka pipe time. This is not our first partnership with Sasfa, but a continuation, as we used to invest in the u.14 school league. The only difference is that this time we decided to concentrate on high schools instead of primary schools,” said Banga.

Refusing to reveal the amount of money they had invested in the tournament, Banga said: “As our social responsibility programme we have invested a substantial amount of money into this tournament.

After seeing the progress, we’ll definitely take it to other regions.”

Results: The !Xukhwesa Combined School beat Girls’ High 5-0, and EP Lekhela High and Floors High school drew 2-2.

AUBREY ISAACS, the vice­president of Sasfa, wishing the girls’ teams good luck before the game.

You can nominate your sports stars ARE you good at sport, or is someone in your school or place of education good at sport?

Are you a young coach working with future stars? Are you getting people active at your school, community or gym? We want to hear from you and make you famous.

In 2008 Z PR and SuperSport identified the need amongst the youth to get more active.

With this in mind, SuperSport and Let’s Play, in association with Media24’s Express Group, has launched a special initiative: We want to find and give recognition to learners at either primary or high school level who excel in sport or who are helping others to be more active.

The SuperSport Let’s Play Star of the Month is a competition for anyone aged 6 to 18.

You can nominate yourself or be nominated by a friend, teacher, lecturer or coach at your school or place of education.

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The monthly winner will receive a Let’s Play hamper filled with goodies.

From all the entries we receive each month one player will be chosen as the SuperSport Let’s Play Star of the Month.

At the end of the year one player from all the Star of the Month winners will be chosen as the SuperSport Let’s Play Star of the Year.

Let’s Play is an initiative to enhance recreation and development at schools through play and sport. Every school or place of education has

talented sportmen and -women.

Don’t be shy – we want to know who you are.

Send us your nomination today (nominations received before the 20th of every month will be included in that month’s selection. Nominations received after the 20th of every month will be carried over to the next month’s selection).

Your nomination must include your name, age and a short paragraph (less than 200 words) on what you have achieved, as well as your contact details.

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What you have achieved (200 words or less), contact telephone number or address.

You can email your nomination to supersport@zpr.co.za or SMS 072311-7716 (no phone calls will be accepted; normal cellphone rates apply) or fax 086-552-4922 or hand- deliver your entry to Z PR at 22A Reid Street, Westdene, Bloemfontein.

For more information please call Lynne at Z PR on 051-430-3027.