Express NC 3 April 2013

Northern Cape

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WEDNESDAY 3 APRIL 2013

Children speak out

} Boipelo Mere

IT was hard to ignore the almost 350 children from crèches who went on an anti-rape march through the streets of Galeshewe to hand over memorandums to officials at the Kagisho Police Station and Galeshewe Magistrate’s Court.

They made it clear to everyone that they were tired of the men, often related to them, who rape, abuse and kill children when they marched under the theme Children rights are human rights.

“Ao shame tog, how cute!

Where are they going?” exclaimed curious onlookers when they saw the small children bravely marching, carrying banners and singing in the streets.

One woman at the magistrate’s court also sang and chatted with the children. “Ba siame bana ba Modimo, ba lapile ke bo-papa le bo-malome ba ba ba-utlwisang botlhoko ba”! (They are right, the poor children are tired of these fathers and uncles who keep on hurting them) she shouted.

The children handed over memorandums to the Kagisho station commander and the Galeshewe Magistrate’s Court wherein they addressed their grievances regarding the scourge of rape and violence against women and children that is affecting the nation. The march was also aimed at creating awareness about human rights.

The march, which involved children from nine crèches around Mankurwane, was organised by GCIS in partnership with Galeshewe Community Development Workers (CDW’s) and started at the R.C. Elliot Hall.

At the Galeshewe Magistrate’s Court the child-friendly memorandum, which was developed through the assistance of Childline Northern Cape, was accepted by Gladys Maleho, who

Northern Cape

March held against rape and abuse

CHILDREN with their placards calling for an end to rape. is the co-ordinator of the court.

She promised the children that they would take the memorandum to a higher level.

According to Galaletsang Bosman from GCIS, the march was to create awareness and

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send a clear message that government will not accept the behaviour of abusers who go unpunished. She added that the march was a joint effort between government, local NGO’s, Childline and the Sol Plaatje

053 831 2331 053 831 2330

Photo: Boipelo Mere

Municipality.

“In general the march aims to create awareness and to educate people to put an end to rape and violence against women,” added Bosman.

When asked whether they

PO Box 1583 Kimberley 8300

would be doing the same programme with different structures, she responded that they would be running different programmes quarterly, depending on the need within the community.

Editor

Boipelo Mere

Sales Manager Johan Rossouw

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EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 3 APRIL 2013

NEWS

Business keeps on growing WHAT started out as an internet cafe in Kuruman that also offered office supplies, designing and printing services, blossomed into one of the Sishen Mine’s preferred stationery suppliers for the next three years.

The owner, Nomonde Ditshetelo, the talented businesswoman behind Imvusa, managed to honour her commitments through an Anglo Zimele loan.

“Although the internet cafe was profitable and I had clients, including the Northern Cape Department of Education, I needed more money over and above to deliver on the big demand and I was quite under pressure!” Nomonde tells.

“In a matter of days, I got the funding, a bigger warehouse and could employ a permanent driver. We are now a team of five permanent employees including the driver.”

Not only was Nomonde provided with finance; she also received excellent business advice.

“I received some wonderful assistance and mentoring, especially in the development of a business plan, which helped me a lot. I am also thankful for the support

and communication from the team; it makes me feel that I am not alone in this venture and drives me to go forward.”

The Sishen contract also came at the perfect time, says Nomonde.

“Although my life started from humble beginnings, I had a successful career as municipal manager in Moshwaneng and in the Kgalagadi Municipality. I needed a new challenge and wanted to try other business avenues. I am not afraid of new challenges or business environments, especially since I have a supporting family that backs my every move.”

What motivates Nomonde is the fact that through her business venture she can create more jobs and offer people a future. “It is a big motivating factor for me to create jobs, because I am a hard worker and believe in sharing.

“We do not need people from the city like we all sometimes think; I believe there is tremendous potential in our local people, and that the challenges we face here is a mere opportunity for success.”

NOMONDE in her stationery warehouse.

Photo: Supplied

We share in the grief HOW do you console someone who has lost a loved one? What do you say to a parent whose child has just died?

Words fail me as they would anyone else who is a mere mortal.

Nevertheless, we stutter and mutter a few words of comfort in the hope that the bereaved family hears us. Losing a loved one puts one in a state of mental confusion.

The families of 13 South African solders who were killed in the line of duty in fighting with Seleka rebels on the outskirts of Bangui, Central African Republic

My view

Sidwell Guduka Express Journalist (CAR), are now in such a state after losing their sons and daughters through death.

Corporals Mokgadi Darius Seakamela and Ntebaleng Andrew Mogorosi, and Lance Corporals Daniel Sello Molara and Lukas Mohapi Tsheke, were among those killed on Sunday, 24 March. The riflemen killed were: Lesego Maxwell

Hertzog, Zamani Jim Mxhosana, Xolani Dlamini, Vusumzi Joseph Ngaleka, Karabo Edwin Matsheka, Khomotso Paul Msenga, Maleisane Samuel Thulo, Motsamai William Bojane and Thabiso Anthon Phirimana.

All of those killed were members of One Parachute Battalion (parabats) from Bloemfontein.

Here is my lame at-

tempt at consoling the parents of the deceased soldiers and their families: As a parent, I cannot imagine the pain you are going through. It is my wish that the Lord takes me before he takes my child.

But our God, the merciful God, can sometimes come through and talk to us in the strangest of ways. He is talking to you (parents of the murdered parabats) and your families, though for the life of me I have no idea what He is saying. It will become clearer with time.

Curse God if you want, He will forgive you because you are human. Curse and thank Him at the same time. He gave you wonderful gifts in the form of children, but has taken them away from you.

When the sad news were broken to you, you probably shed a tear or two.

Jesus wept on the cross and said: “My God, why hast thou forsaken me?”.

You are probably asking the same question. But He has not forsaken you. He has put you through the tests that other mortals cannot pass.

Again as they say, He never gives you a burden that you will not be able to carry.

Our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the deceased. We share in your grief, but we cannot take away the pain.

Just know that we are with you in thought and in prayer. May the Almighty God bless you and your families.

EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE , WEDNESDAY 3 APRIL 2013

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NEWS

Ray Phiri assists local musicians } Boipelo Mere “YOU have got to be able to play a song anytime, anywhere, with anyone.”

Those words came from Ray Phiri of Stimela during a recent workshop with local artists managers at the Mayibuye Centre.

Ray Phiri was amongst the national artists who were in the line-up for the Diamonds and Dorings Festival on Sunday.

He was trying to motivate the artists into teaming up and constructing a Diamonds and Dorings song.

He succeeded in a similar programme in Durban where he monitored a local band to perform one of his songs in October.

“I develop the passion and love for music and mentor them. Some provinces are vast with abject poverty. Artist have to use their talent and break the boundaries of poverty by creating jobs,” he added.

Ray Phiri further urged the artists to build a fruitful partnerships with the local municipalities and Arts and Culture Departments.

“I also build those relationships and encourage the municipalities to use me, not abuse me, in nurturing local talent.

“My role is to try and find a solution in strengthening the partnership between the two.”

He said he is here to develop artists and see what the problem is in them not working together.

He promised to come back in three months to evaluate the situation and see if there is progress in order to invite other departments to come on board.

Ray Phiri, who calls himself an educator, revealed that the aim of the workshop was to have a feel of what the Northern Cape is all about. He said he was requested to come to Kimberley in order to find a solution to the managers’ struggles.

“I want to share the music knowledge that I have and instill it on to them. I know Galeshewe as a very social place from back in 1992 when I was here to perform,” he added.

He further discouraged the artists on bringing politics into the music industry and relying on government to survive.

“Government departments don’t instruct anyone to become an artist. It is your choice.

You have to work hard to be worthwhile,” he emphasised.

RAY PHIRI during the workshop with local artist managers at the Mayibure Centre.

Photo: Boipelo Mere

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EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 3 APRIL 2013

NEWS

Human Rights Day celebrated } Boipelo Mere IN a press statement sent out to all media in South Africa, the ANC said that, in commemorating Human Rights Day, South Africans should do so reminded of the traumatic and costly violation by the erstwhile government that did not value human life, particularly the lives of non-whites.

“In 1994 we were able to start a process of reversing the negative heritage that was brought about by a system that was classified as inhuman. We adopted a constitution that guaranteed people’s rights, both individual and collective that laid the foundation for a new nation to emerge. This day marks the collective resilience of South Africans from all walks of life, who took it upon themselves to ensure that human rights are a norm and that respect and dignity are restored to all South Africans irrespective of colour,” reads the statement.

The statement further called all South Africans to respect and appreciate fellow countrymen and -women who fell in the process of confronting the past injustices of apartheid.

The Northern Cape government held its provincial leg of the day in Askham near Upington where a memorial for the Upington 26 was held.

Speaking at the event the acting premier of the Northern Cape, Grizelda Cjiekela, revoked the words of the South African political icon and former president, Nelson Mandela, when he said: “21 March is South African Human

THE MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Pauline Williams, San leader Petrus Vaalbooi, and Acting Premier Grizelda Cjiekella.

Rights Day. It is a day which, more than many others, captures the essence of the struggle of the South African people and the soul of our non-racial democracy. 21 March is the day on which we remember and sing praises to those who perished

in the name of democracy and human dignity. It is also a day on which we reflect and assess the progress we are making in enshrining basic human rights and values.”

Various organisations, institu-

Young people the most unemployed in SA } Boipelo Mere THE deputy minister of Social Development, Maria Ntuli, called on the youth to form co-operatives and work in partnership with government in changing the lives of communities by establishing themselves to fight the scurge of unemployment.

Ma Ntuli highlighted her alarming discovery by the statistics which indicated that young people were the most unemployed citizens.

She spoke during the recent Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) two-day conference that was attended by all provinces in Kimberley.

The conference was aimed at finding solutions to the challenges facing EPWP workers and to identify areas that needed further improvements in terms of job creation.

EPWP is amongst the initiatives such as the Community Works Programme, which government has invested with the potential to absorb a large population of unskilled, unemployed and underemployed poor women and youth, as well as other vulnerable groups in our society.

She further announced that Ethe PWP created more than 160 000 job opportunities in the year 2012, thus government wants to determine how it can move on to improve the lives of particularly the poverty stricken communities.

“This conference is important if we are to succeed in our task of enabling our people to participate meaningfully in the economy as envisioned in the National Development Plan Vision 2030,”

THE deputy minister of Social Development, Maria Ntuli. she said.

“We have been on this mountain of poverty and inequality for a long time, let us hold our hands and move on,” emphasised the deputy minister.

“We will never be able to fight the scourge if we still work inside the silos. You know, poverty strips you naked of your dignity.

Quoting a Bible verse that says

Photo: Boipelo Mere

“if we look down upon the poor we are looking down upon the God who created them,” she elaborated that if you were blessed with a descent salary you must continue to do the right thing to the poor.

“Don’t forget to respect the right of the poor and vulnerable when you were blessed to earn a decent salery,” she concluded.

tions and government departments lined programmes until the end of March as in commemoration of the day.

The ANC Women’s League in the meantime launched a campaign against gender-based violence on

Photo: Supplied

Human Rights Day in Pretoria.

The campaign that started on Human Rights Day will culminate in a march to hand over a memorandum to the ministers in the justice cluster and it will end on Freedom Day, on 27 April.

Be responsible when using alcohol THE Association for Responsible Alcohol Use (ARA) encourages people to play it safe while they enjoy time spent at social gatherings with family and friends around holiday time.

This comes after the increase in road deaths reported over the past December and January holiday period were mostly attributed to alcohol abuse.

“If you drink before driving, you are putting not only yourself, but others at risk. The physical and emotional trauma caused by drunk drivers is entirely preventable,” advises Adrian Botha, director of the ARA. Here are some simple tips to consider if you are planning on drinking over any holiday period. ) Before deciding to go out, where you know you will be drinking, ask yourself “How do I intend getting home?”

Keep in mind that if you are staying in a different city while on holiday, check what metered taxi or shuttle services are available to you.

Also plan your outings so that you are not far from your accommodation without safe transport home. ) Once you have a list of taxi drivers, keep the contact details on your cellphone and ensure that you have enough money set aside in your purse or wallet for this, should you not be in a position to drive home. ) It is far cheaper and a lot more sensible to club together with your friends to hire a car or mini-bus with a driver so

that you can responsibly enjoy a night of fun. ) Alternatively, you can ask a friend to be the designated driver for the night and agree upfront who that person is and that they will remain sober when going out. ) If you are planning to host the party at home, make sure that you consider beforehand how you will handle friends who have overindulged in alcohol.

Either arrange alternative transport for them to get home, or offer them a spot on the sofa until morning.

While not drinking and driving is an important part of responsible alcohol use, there are other ways to enjoy your drinks with friends and family over this social period. ) Drink plenty of water before, during and after drinking alcohol ) Always eat before drinking alcohol and try to eat while drinking – choose foods that are high in fat and carbohydrates, like a burger and chips. ) Do not swim when you’ve had alcohol. ) Drinking on the beach is against the law and can be very dangerous, as can drinking at the river or the dam for those who live inland. ) Don’t supply drinks to underage persons – keep in mind that the South African legal drinking age is 18. ) Avoid drinking with partners who are prone to aggressive behaviour. ) Avoid lifts from strangers, especially when you are intoxicated.

EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE , WEDNESDAY 3 APRIL 2013

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NEWS

Truck drivers educated on health } Boipelo Mere TRUCK DRIVERS’ awareness around their health issues were raised during a recent Driver Wellness campaign in Kimberley.

The campaign, ran by Engen in collaboration with Trucking Wellness, is now in its third year and saw 17 Engen sites visited during the campaign.

The Driver Wellness initiative is aimed at raising awareness around health issues that have a direct impact on road safety, by helping drivers to manage their wellness better.

The initiative is also aimed at making a real difference to road safety in the long run and encourage a healthy lifestyle change in professional drivers.

Drivers get an opportunity to go for free voluntary screening in mobile clinics by qualified nurses and councillors for high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, tuberculosis, BMI (Body Mass Index) and HIV/Aids.

The programme also provides counselling and a referral service were required.

The Northern Cape Health MEC, Mxolisi Sokatsha, also graced the event and was tested for HIV/Aids.

He said the health and wellness of truck drivers are of great importance to their families, communities and the economy as a whole.

“Drivers are often the sole breadwinners of their families and spend most of their time on the road away from home travelling across the country,” said Sokatsha.

One of the drivers, Pitros

THE blood pressure of the MEC for Health, Mxolisi Sokatsha, is taken by nurse Rhita Nkosi as part of a complete evaluation process for early detection of illnesses.

Photo: Supplied Motenne, was more than willing to be tested.

He said that these screenings were of great assistance in his life because he never has time to

visit a clinic.

“I sometimes find myself in a situation where I get sick on the road and do not have the time to stop at the nearest clinic,

children were limited.

Rina Botha, local economic development manager: Sishen Mine, Oduetse Kolberg, local economic development practitioner: Sishen Mine, Humphrey Makoe, human resource director: Joyglobal, and Mpho Maseko, Joyglobal Transformation Unit, were present at the unveiling of the billboards.

Fundamentally, more children who are at home can now also register at these centres, because of the enabling environment that is created.

Rina Botha expressed how grateful they were to enter into a partnership with the stakeholder, because these projects would go a long way in the development of children by preparing them and making them ready to easily fit into the school system.

Joyglobal echoed the same

sentiments and was enthusiastic about further partnerships with Kumba in the areas around the mine.

Thus, proper management structures are in place and the Department of Social Development oversees and monitors the operations of both centres.

Both schools were overjoyed by the developments and thanked their sponsors for their initiative in aiding the ECD centres. The schools also pronounced that these investments were not in vain and the community would take care of the structures to demonstrate how much the sponsorship was valued.

because of the long queues. I then end up having to wait until I return home in Johannesburg to see a doctor,” he revealed.

Motenne further said that

there was an incident when he had a bad cold and was driving for almost a week.

On arrival at home he infected everyone.

New facilities opened at ECD centres TWO new classrooms and ablution facilities were officially opened at two Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centres in Olifantshoek.

The project to upgrade the facilities of Simba Kleuterliefies and the Mmabana ECD centres was a partnership between Kumba Iron Ore and Joyglobal.

Kumba upgraded the facilities while Joyglobal funded the fencing and supplied furniture, blankets and educational toys.

Kumba became involved in the project after a need was identified by the management of both the ECD centres to address the overcrowding problem and the lack of ablution facilities. The safety of children was also a concern since the fencing was insufficient. Educational toys were also limited; hence the developmental capabilities of the

HUMPHREY MAKOE (Joyglobal), Mpho Maseko (Joyglobal) and Rina Botha (Sishen Mine) at the billboard at Simba Kleuterliefies.

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EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 3 APRIL 2013

NEWS

Festival place to be over Easter } Boipelo Mere KIMBERLEY was definitely the place to be over the Easter Weekend.

That is after the much-awaited Diamonds and Dorings Jazz Festival was announced at least a month in advance.

Friends, families and distant relatives took advantage of the opportunity to reunite.

Although the biggest attraction was the jazz festival, the organisers of the event, Botlhale Communications, had a range of activities organised for the weekend which included amongst others a charity fun run and the Diamonds and Dorings Skateboarding Competition and Easter bun hunt on Saturday.

Thousands of people, even from nearby provinces like the North West and Free State, were not left disappointed after flocking to Kimberley to attend the jazz festival, which is now in its 12th year.

Young and old were not even discouraged by the three- to four-hour wait in the traffic to the Langleg Resort.

Toya De Lazy had everyone eating out of their hands when they graced the province for the second time this year with their energetic performance.

Then came Mafikizolo, with their latest album, Khona, that fuses sounds and rhythms of West Africa with local ones.

According to one of the fans, Mafikizolo’s performance was worth the wait. “I do not regret waiting for their performance from 03:00 at all,” said Kenosi Diphukwe, a fan.

Their dancing moves also left no doubt in anyone’s mind as they had to put on their dancing shoes to catch up on the latest dance routines.

Then came Donald being his charming self.

There was no doubt at all that he had a great deal of female fans.

He mesmerised and charmed everyone even more when he invited a lady to the stage.

Zahara, Lira and Stimela also put a stamp on the fact that they still remained everybody’s sweethearts. These artists are still on top of their game and never cease to please their fans.

The cherry on top of this line-up was the Northern Cape’s Lefa and Simphiwe Gwegwe who both went as far as the finals in the country’s biggest music competition, Idols.

The crowds also got an opportunity to witness and get a taste of the Diamonds and Dorings local artists who attended a workshop

by Ray Phiri.

TOYA DE LAZY were their energetic self.

A GOOD TIME to enjoy a braai whilst listening to different performances.

LIRA did not leave any stone unturned.

THE Diamonds and Dorings local band also performed.

ZAHARA was her darling self.

THE Moopedi family had a good time.

MAFIKIZOLO gave a taste of their new album, Khona

Photos: Boipelo Mere

THE group of friends Non, Pulane, Lebo, Anne and Sinah, were re-united after a long time.

EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE , WEDNESDAY 3 APRIL 2013

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NEWS

Nominations for Sports Star of the month open ARE you good at sport, or is someone in your school or place of education good at sport? Are you a young coach who is coaching 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, have launched a special initiative: We want to find and give recognition to learners at either primary or high school 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.

You can even be nominated by a family member or friend who knows how good you are.

The winner is chosen from all the nominations received for that month.

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.

For example: Name, age and grade, school or place of education’s name. 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 072-311-7716 (no phone calls will be accepted; normal cellphone rates apply) or fax 086-552-4922 or handdeliver your entry to Z PR at 22A Reid Street, Westdene, Bloemfontein.

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

EAST HIGH (BLUE) in action at the 2012 SKMSC national finals.

Photo: Supplied

Schools to do battle OVER 2 500 schools around the country are reportedly expected to fight for a slice of the R4,3 million in prize-money during the 2013 Richest High School Football Tournament.

The deadline to enter the competition closed yesterday and the South African Schools Football Association (SASFA) is counting the last entries.

The winning school in the

tournament will receive a whopping R1 million, second place R600 000, third place R500 000 and fourth place R400 000. In addition the nine provincial winners each collect R100 000.

However, no cash is paid to the winning schools, but the schools will have to identify their needs and these projects are then funded.

The 2010 winners were the Eletsa High School from the North who

benefitted from their prize-money. The school won R500 000 and spent the money on drilling a bore hole giving the school water, restoring electricity and upgrading classrooms. They purchased computers and erected perimeter fencing to keep the pupils safe. Other schools have bought buses, built sports fields and sports combos, just to name a few.

Willingly wasting water WATER was pumped from a pipe into Long Street by Sol Plaatje municipal workers on Monday night. On enquiry as to why the water was wasted rather than stored in water tanks, the municipal workers arrogantly responded that they did not see it as a waste.

Photo: Boipelo Mere

Apology for errors } George Mutloane ON page two of last week’s edition of this title I was given a chance to pay tribute to that gallant African soldier of the written word, the late Chinua Achebe. In the haste of arranging information I erred on several occassions.

Instead of writing that Achebe died in Boston in America, I wrote England. I also erred when I wrote that Ngugi wa Thiongo and Ngugi wa Mirii together wrote The devil on the cross. They actually wrote I will marry when I want in their language, Kikuyu, before it was translated into English. The devil on the cross was written by Ngugi wa Thiongo alone.

It is interesting to note that people of various nations read Express Northern Cape. This is evident from a call I received from Tendai Mpuru who lives in Kuruman, but is from Zimbabwe. Mpuru’s complaint was that I should not have mentioned the late Ngugi wa Mirii’s name in the same breath as Chinua Achebe.

Mpuru’s contention is that wa Mirii was, until his death, a staunch supporter of Pres. Robert Mugabe. The fact is I just stated a fact of what happenned in 1991 by saying that wa Mirii started a conversation on Achebe’s Things fall apart.

As to whether wa Mirii supported Mugabe, I will not deny or affirm, as I do not know.

Ugly smoke makes for a pretty picture THE smoke driven by the wind at the dumping site looks attractive, but the nice picture depends on the direction of the wind. Sometimes it turns to the surburbs, sometimes in Galeshewe or Platfontein’s direction. Although this makes an attractive picture, it is an ever looming risk.

Photo: Boipelo Mere

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EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 3 APRIL 2013

THE Sol Plaatje Local Football Association (SPLFA) Galeshewe and Mankurwane structure coaches Donald Mojaki (head coach), Vincent Kasingesi, Amogelang Semeri, Thabo Namisa and Kenny Makwene.

Photo: Boipelo Mere

Tournament a knockout

} Boipelo Mere

SIXTEEN teams of both boys and girls from the Sol Plaatje Local Football Association (SPLFA) Galeshewe and Mankurwane structure participated in the Grassroots Soccer knockout tournament at the Sweepers grounds. The date is still to be set for the finals. A beehive of activity preceded the tournament as community members were also afforded the opportunity to interact with health-care workers and a testing agency in regards to HIV/Aids matters.

According to Eric Saito of Grassroots Soccer, the event was aimed at creating awareness of HIV/Aids and to encourage a sense of pride in the young players.

He added that Grassroots Soccer usually hosts four events of this kind in a year.

“It was a good initiative for us where we build a close partnership with the LFA Galeshewe and Mankurwane structure in bringing people together and creating awareness,” said Saito.

He added they identified soccer as an angle to create awareness about various issues after they had realised the love the community have for the sport.

“This is our first event this year, but there will be a follow-up tournament where the winning teams will be awarded medals and trophies,” he said.

The coaches were happy and satisfied about the turnout at the tournament.

They all suggested that more matches should be planned for the school holidays.

They agreed more programmes should be planned to keep the children busy.

“This is not just a platform for games. The tournament also showcases the talent in Galeshewe and Sol Plaatje. It also gives us an opportunity to weigh our level in comparison with other structures,” said Donald Mojaki, the head coach of the structure.

He added the tournament also gives coaches an opportunity to identify “where we lack in demand of the modern game”.

“It also attracts children and keeps them away from bad things.

“Our only challenge is the lack of infrastructure as we wish to improve our facili-

ties. The lack of sponsorships is also a challenge,” concluded Mojaki.

The results of the tournament are: Knockout stages: 1. Real Madrid 1 vs Galeshewe United 2 2. Bush Bucks 2 vs Max United 4 3. Hope United 3 vs Tshwaragano Stars 1 4. Boikhutsong Aces 0 vs Eeish-Mann 2 Quarter Finals 1. Galeshewe United 3 vs Ghetto United 0 2. Max United 3 vs Basotho Tigers 1 3. Real Diamonds 1 vs Hope United 1 – (Hope United won 3-1 on penalties) 4. Dalton Brothers 0 vs Eeish-Mann 0 – (Dalton Brothers won with penalties).

The semi-finals and finals will resume in due course.

Hard work needed for boxers to impress } Boipelo Mere COACH RAYMOND MOTHOBI realises that he has to work harder in order to produce good local boxers for the next national trials.

This is after most of his boxers were unable to win any position at the recent national trials held in Pretoria.

Only Lulu Smith, a female boxer from Bushy’s stable, did an outstanding job. She returned home with a bronze medal.

The coach is confident and is keeping his fingers crossed that Smith will make it far in boxing as she is still young and willing to work hard.

Initially the team had two female boxers, but the one from Siyanda pulled out due to school examinations.

“You think that you have been doing the right thing, then you realise that it was not good enough when you arrive there.

“But it was a learning curve. The whole team was

committed and dedicated enough,” said the coach about the trials.

Mothobi said that before the team left for the trial, he had hoped to at least produce three professional boxers from the Northern Cape.

The boxers were amongst the 54 elite boxers from all nine provinces who had to go through the selection process for the national team.

Express Northern Cape had kept tabs on the goings on throughout the trials and our informant in Pretoria, Archie Jack, the president of the Northern Cape Amateur Boxing Organisation (NCABO), revealed that the team was not doing well.

He elaborated that the male boxers had already lost during the first two rounds to KZN and Gauteng boxers.

The team consisted of boxers from the Freedom Boxing Club, Just Do It, Bushy’s Boxing Club, Home Defenders and Tseketseke Boxing Club.

THE NCABO team members who represented the province are from the left, front: Obakeng Sekamegeng (52 kg) and Wilson Habi (56 kg); back: coach John Marumo, Thabo Mkhila (60 kg), Abdul Louw (81 kg), Lulu Smith (60 kg) and coach Raymond Mothobi.

Photo: Boipelo Mere