Northern Cape
TEL: 053 8312331
FREE
WEDNESDAY 13 MARCH 2013
Life will get better
Help at hand – if Valentine chooses to accept it } Boipelo Mere IT seems like there is hope for David Valentine (62), who lives under a tree on the corner of Mimosa and Mosquito Street. His sisters are going to build him a shack and instruct him to stay in it, whether he likes it or not. This comes after he ran away from a communal house in Kimberley and did time in prison for malicious damage to property. According to him, he was sent to prison after he was forced to break a window to get inside as his nephew, Vaughn Valentine, had locked him outside on a cold winter’s night. Valentine was convinced that the property in question, where he used to live with his sister Cathrine until she passed away, was his late parent’s home. “My sister and I had always lived like this,’’ said Valentine as he showed a sign of unity with his fingers. “After she had passed away, I became a wandering stranger, not by my own choice,’’ said Valentine, wiping away his tears. Valentine said after the funeral of his sister, his nephew, who is the deceased sister’s son, put him in jail, sold the house, took all the proceeds and left for Johannesburg where he still lives. Valentine decided to leave the Huis van Genade commune after his stay of ten days where he was required to pay R20 a day for board and lodge. That is when he found no home. Instead he found his few earthly possessions of blankets and clothes tossed into a corner. This is why today he is known as a homeless man who lives in a burrow under a tree. He had endured all kinds of weather and he believes God is protecting him and he will come out of this situation a better person. His other immediate problem is
Northern Cape
THE old man shed tears when he told the NC Express reporter how good his life used to be.
DAVID VALENTINE (62) in his burrow under a tree in Florianville, Kimberley. food which he gets if he visits his other sister in Kimberley North. Someone else (a woman whose name and address is in our possession) is in possession of Valentine’s
Tel. Fax
identity book and Sassa card. Valentine is a recipient of a government pension grant, however, he refuses to be put in an old-age home as he prefers to be independ-
053 831 2331 053 831 2330
Photos: Boipelo Mere
ent. Similarly, the owner of a nearby house offered him free accommodation which he declined because he wants his independence. The sad
PO Box 1583 Kimberley 8300
part is his teenage son from an old fling lives just opposite his burrow. “I think this is affecting him negatively, but he does greet me when he passes by,’’ said Valentine. However, when NC Express spoke to Caroline, the sister living in Kimberley North, she was surprised at the distorted information we had received from her brother. “Those are all halftruths and distorted information,’’ said Caroline in the presence of her husband. “The truth is that the house initially belonged to our late parents who sold it to our sister who lives in Botswana. Later Cathrine bought it and thus Vaughn inherited it following his mother’s death. “As a family we are trying to help him get proper accommodation. We hear rumours that his Sassa card is held by a well-known loan shark in Floors and she uses his money as she wishes,’’ Caroline said. Joined by other family members, Caroline promised that by winter Valentine will have a place to stay and it is up to him to turn his life around.
Editor
Boipelo Mere
Sales Manager Johan Rossouw
2
EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 13 MARCH 2013
NEWS
New executive appointed } Boipelo Mere ANDREW LOOTS was appointed as the new executive head of Operations Kumba Iron Ore at the Sishen Mine. Loots, who has been the mine’s general manager, took over the position with effect from the beginning of March. He has had a successful career within the Anglo American Group, mainly within Thermal Coal where he held various positions including general manager of Asset Optimization before his appointment as general manager of the Sishen Mine in June 2008. Loots graduated from the University of Pretoria (UP) with a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering and has a Masters in Business Administration from the Heriott-Watt University in Scotland. This new role was created following a strategic organisational review of Kumba’s ExCo structure in 2012. Congratulating Andrew, the CEO of Kumba, Norman Mbazima, said: “Kumba has moved on to become a multi-mine company. Introducing an executive head of Operations that will create the right environment to integrate current and future operations and drive synergies, and I am pleased that Andrew, with his knowledge of operations and experience of our business, has been appointed to drive these synergies.” Reflecting on his appointment, Andrew commented in his farewell message: “What a journey. I went to Sishen to expand my operational experience and got much more than what I bargained for. In
THE exciting Diamonds and Dorings Festival will revive the entertaining spirit for the people of the Northern Cape once again. The festival, which is the flagship carnival on the province’s entertainment calendar, now in its 12th year, promises not to disappoint. It is also expected to empower the economy by including local talent. All service providers will be from the Sol Plaatje Municipality and surrounding areas within the province. A local company, Botlhale Communications, together with Umfana Events and the Sol Plaatje Municipality is reported to be hosting this year’s music festival at Langleg Resort on Sunday, 31 March. Although the biggest attraction will be the jazz festival, the event was extended to a six-
Express Letters, P.O. Box 1583, Kby, 8300 Boipelo Mere Boipelo.mere@volksblad.com Tel: 053-831-2331. Fax: 053-831-2330
Expand training YCLSA, Northern Cape:
SISHEN MINE’S ACTING GENERAL MANAGER HANNES CRONJÉ. Photos: Supplied
SISHEN MINE’S FORMER GENERAL MANAGER ANDREW LOOTS.
just more than four and a half years I was flooded with great experiences in all spheres of leadership, management and mine matters,” he added. According to Loots, the most important lessons are the ones he collected from all the people that he worked with at Sishen. The position of Loots is temporarily being filled by Hannes Cronjé. Hannes, who has a Bachelors degree in Mining Engineering and MBA qualification, has joined the Anglo American Group in 2007.
He was appointed as Sishen’s mine manager in 2010 and will be acting as general manager until the position is permanently filled. “I am excited to lead this world-class mine into a next era. With the Sishen team behind me I am confident that we will grow further on the solid foundation that Andrew has provided,” he said proudly. Wynand Smith, Technical Services manager, will now act as manager Mining in the place of Hannes.
Diamonds and Dorings to be held } Boipelo Mere
Letters
day one as more local activities such as comedy and traditional and fashion events was added to feature local talent. All service providers are further invited to make bookings with the organisers of the event for vending stalls to those who wish to sell their wares, be it food and beverages. Local artists like old Simphiwe Gwegwe (23), who is the only person from the Northern Cape who made it to the top 18 of 2012’s South African Idols, and Lefa Pike (29) from Kimberley, who left Idols in 2011 with only four contestants remaining in the competition, and whose elimination made Idols judge Unathi Msengana cry, will be sharing the stage. Other artists include Mafikizolo, Stimela, Dr Malinga, Lira, The Soil, Toya Delazy and Zahara. Tickets are available at Computicket.
THE Northern Cape local artist Lefa Pike is to share the stage with Zahara during the Diamonds and Dorings Festival. Photo: Boipelo Mere
THE Young Communist League of South Africa in the Northern Cape notes the Sopa that was presented by the Acting Premier Honourable Grizelda Cjiekella on 1 March 2013. We note the continued crisis of capitalism, the likely persistence of its effects in the coming years and its vexing implications on the province. We appreciate the strides taken to reverse and eradicate the triple challenges, as well as the cash flow challenges facing the province. It is equally important in our view to address the service delivery challenges experienced by communities and households with the working class and the poor being on the receiving end. This infrastructure expansion will contribute to the cutting of the unemployment rate by increasing the skills capacity of unemployed graduates and matriculants through the expanded access to education and training, which must be done in collaboration with Further Education and Training (FET) Colleges, which in our view must be transformed to become Vocational Education and Training Colleges that also offer expanded and diversified quality higher education programmes including diplomas up to the first degree. The expansion of education and skills training must also be done through Sector Education and Training Authorities (Seta) which must be seen fulfilling their mandate. By welcoming government’s intention to continue investing in education, health and infrastructure development, we are excited about the infrastructure roll-out for the university which will take place this year and the intended enrolment by the university in the province by 2014. As much as we appreciate and support our provincial government initiatives in skills development and job creation by a variety of sectors, we would like to re-emphasise and encourage our provincial government to disembark and disinvest from useless projects, which will bear no fruits to kids from poor and rural communities, but to benefit only those who have the means to access them wherever they are taking place. If government is serious about sport and recreation, it must build infrastructure in or closer to poor communities, as well as to invest in sporting codes that thrives in our communities. We welcome the priority of government in tackling increased level of crime towards women and children, killing of young men with knives, especially at places trading with alcohol. We have learnt with disappointment and disgrace about the recent walk-out at the House Sitting in the Legislature during the acting premier’s response to Sopa. Not only is this offensive pushed by the likes of the DA and Cope, but its principal ideological platform and mouthpiece is mainstream print media and the courts. This is consistently demonstrated by the recent events by the DA and Cope failing to debate issue(s) in the Legislature and run either to the courts or media. In fact, this (anti-majoritarian) liberal agenda seeks to defend, protect and advance the interests of the white capitalist class and the petty bourgeoisie, without explicitly saying so like during the era of the racist apartheid regime; and yet in a manner not different from white minority rule, but in conditions of black majority rule. In addition, we are calling on government to act against a government employee by the user name TWhittaker who used the government email devise – GROUPWISE to promote Cope reactionary view of the Sopa by sending it to all government employees.
EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE , WEDNESDAY 13 MARCH 2013
NEWS
Five behind bars for cellphone scam } Boipelo Mere THE three men and two women who were arrested for defrauding the city cellphone retailers with fraudulent identity documents are expected to appear before the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on charges of fraud today. The suspects, aged between 25 and 48, have been in police custody since their arrest last week. They allegedly confessed to being originally from Gauteng and being in town to hit the retailers around Northern Cape hard. That is after one of them was arrested inside the retailer while waiting for an application to upgrade an existing contract phone to be processed whilst his accomplices were arrested in a Nissan bakkie on the N12 just outside the Northern Cape Mall. According to the police, they were alerted by a retailer after becoming suspicious of an identity document (ID) which one of the suspects used. The vigilant service provider noticed that something was not up to standard with the ID that the client had presented and had already made a successful application from another retailer earlier during the day, with the very same ID. It was only when the police interrogated him that the suspect told the police that he
FRAUDULENT identity documents and different cellphones and accessories were confiscated from the suspects. They are expected to appear before the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court today. Photo: Supplied was not alone in this scam. He allegedly directed them to his crew who were waiting for him outside in a white Nissan Hard Body bakkie with Gauteng registration number
plates. After a thorough search inside the bakkie, four fraudulent ID’s were found hidden inside the speaker box, including expensive cellphones such
as a Blackberry Z10, I Phone 5, Motorola, as well as a Samsung SIII Galaxy phone, still sealed in boxes which they had obtained from the retailers using the fraudulent ID’s.
More than ten second-hand cellphones, bank debit cards and credit cards found in their possession were also confiscated, as well as the Nissan bakkie.
3
4
EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 13 MARCH 2013
NEWS
Students complain about driving school
} Boipelo Mere
Owner refutes claims
RIAAN BOTHA, owner of the Highway Driving School in Jan Kempdorp, refuted claims that his driving school was racist. This followed after some of his disgruntled students raised several complaints regarding his school. The students quoted two occasions where different students were instructed by the owner to get out of the vehicles to give white people a chance to take lessons. “We have to spend the whole day under a tree without toilets or chairs to sit on and when a white person arrives we have to get out of the truck and allow them to have their lessons, even if they were not part of those waiting under the tree,” said the students. “I am not stupid enough to be racist. 99% of my clientele is black people. Whenever something white happens, it is called racism,” said an irate Botha. According to the students, the tree is used as a basis for starting the lessons. They have to be at the tree at 07:30 regardless of their lesson time. In certain instances some of the students don’t even get the chance to drive but they still have to be there at 07:30. According to the students, some of whom are women, there are no chairs, water or even toilets. “This is appalling. I have never seen anything like this in my life. I thought it was a give and take situation. We give a man business and he gives us training. But no, once you have paid you become a nonentity to this man. Keep in mind that ‘no refund’ is written in small letters on your receipt – you only see this once you’re given the receipt,” said Mathapelo Phasha. She admitted that she had taken on Botha which resulted in her being banned from driving any of the vehicles, with no refund. Another student who wanted to remain anonymous said that she had come to the driving school and had paid for a code 14 licence. She was forced to train in a code 10 for no apparent reason and she was not refunded the difference in price between the codes. “I am trapped because I have already paid and I cannot ask for my money back because the receipt clearly states ‘no refund.’ “Now I understand why some of the students just packed their bags and left without their hard-earned money. “I will never recommend this
Express Northern Cape called the driving school and the owner went ballistic when he heard that he was speaking to a reporter. “Do not speak rubbish, do not even think of printing this nonsense because you will suffer the consequences,” Riaan Botha, the owner of the driving school, said. After explaining the role of a journalist and the importance of giving his side of the story, he calmed down. “Why do you think those students failed to file a complaint with the state advocate? There are no irregularities at my school. All contracts that the students sign are drawn up by a lawyer. We advise all our students to read the contracts before they sign,” Botha responded. He added that he expected his students to use public toilets and access water from nearby garages and shops if they needed to. In response to the unavailability of chairs he said that the students were wasteful and kept on breaking his chairs. “I told them to sit on the cement next to the train rail if they wanted to sit. I am not prepared to buy any more chairs because I bought 15 for previous groups and there are only three left.” Botha said he had been running the school for the past 25 years with his father who had passed away last year. “The Traffic Department does not allow unroadworthy vehicles on the testing ground. Even I follow the K53 rule of renewing my instructor’s certificate every year. The hard workers always pass, but failures will always fail and end up blaming someone else,” he responded to questions regarding the school’s credibility. He concluded by promising that he usually made an agreement with the students before changing their codes. According to Botes, the white students that did not wait under the tree with the whole group were the ones who had made previous arrangements as they worked during the day. He said he had an agreement with the group to allow them to practise and then leave. In response to why he could not meet his students, especially the groups that stayed at his hostel halfway and transport them to the tree used as a basis for training like the other driving schools, he responded that there was not enough time as the instructor was expected to work nine hours a day.
THIRSTY, tired and drained students of the driving school have to sit under this tree every day.
Photos: Boipelo Mere
‘We have to spend the whole day under a tree without toilets or chairs to sit on and when a white per son arri ves we have to get out of the truck and allow them to have their lessons, even if they were not part of those waiting under the tree.’ school to anyone, even my worst enemy,” she said. Another student said: “We are like abandoned children. We meet next to another group from another driving school that provides services, including a time-table for its students. “That one is black-owned, but its students just come to the spot, take a lesson, then leave. Finding and leaving us sitting under the tree.” On the day Express Northern Cape visited the driving school in Jan Kempdorp the students had been sitting under the tree since morning waiting for a chance to drive which never
THE board of the Highway Driving School is visible in many towns around the Northern Cape. came. They said the instructor had just come and told them that the trucks had broken down. Joseph Matebese, another student from Kimberley who is an accomplished driver, revealed that he had also been shifted from code 14 to code 10. “I can drive code-14 trucks, but I do not have a licence. My coming here was to polish my driving skills so that I could go for testing. “Now they tell me that I’ll break their trucks. The saddest thing is that I took leave from work with the hope that I would return with a licence.
“When I paid my money, and I am poor, we had an agreement. Now they break the agreement and do not want to refund me. “I count myself as one of the statistics of the great Jan Kemp robbery,” he added. The students told many sad stories about the driving school, including that they always received negative remarks concerning their choice of school at the testing centre. They said that they had lost confidence in the school because they had been forced to use faulty vehicles that had resulted in at least two students failing their test.
EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE , WEDNESDAY 13 MARCH 2013
5
6
EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 13 MARCH 2013
NEWS
Volunteers not happy } Boipelo Mere
SOPHIE MOLUSI wearing her green Sassa marshal's apron and holding her achiever award certificate and certificates of appreciation that she had received over the years as a volunteer. Photo: Boipelo Mere
“GOD sees those who sit in their comfortable offices and cannot even say hello or thank you to those who had put them there,” said a bitter Sophie Molusi from Kimberley. For more than 15 years Molusi has been a member of the volunteer services team at pension pay-points. She had hopes for a better future because Nelson Mandela, who was president at the time, strove for a better life for all. But all she received were an achiever award certificate dated 1998, and four certificates of appreciation that she had received in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005, and a green marshal's apron for her to look presentable in in the eyes of the public. “I started volunteering at pension centres when Makhulupas was still the pay-point where we would get a stipend. “All that changed when Sassa came into being, and our own black people took charge. That’s when the ‘elkeen vir homself en God vir ons almal’ attitude befell us. “Even the little food we received was taken from us,” said Molusi.
Steve Mokalane, another volunteer, said that they were a registered volunteer committee. “We even compiled a business plan that was approved by CPS to render voluntary services at pay-points and even went for training. “It is so sad that from a group of 35 members we have dwindled since some of our members have passed away without seeing a solution to our problem,” said Mokalane, who is the vice chairperson of the volunteer committee. “The most astonishing part of the story is that we are required to sign in and out, and provide our ID numbers for every shift. “This makes us suspicious that they are possibly claiming pay with our registers. We know that corruption like this is possible.” Molusi said they were being treated like they were nothing by officials who sat in their offices, always holding a cellphone and car keys and in a hurry to go somewhere. “In 2011 we (pay-point volunteers) were invited to a meeting for the first time where we were presented with aprons with Sassa and CPS logos on them. “That was when they bought us something to eat and drink and informed us that government had allocated money for us. “The Sassa officials told us that the money was not enough to pay us and therefore they had decided to buy us these aprons so that we could look presentable in the eyes of the public,” said the woman furiously. “We love doing this job and feel that it is in the best interest of our elders. We risk our health and safety to go to work only to be treated like nothing. “The pensioners even knock on our doors after hours to seek clarity regard-
ing their payment. “Some of them do not even trust the officials at pay-points and prefer that we assist them,” she said. The team said they had attended a meeting with Sassa, which was requested by them. “For the three-hour meeting with two Sassa officials there were food and drinks. “Something they could not afford for those of us who worked on an empty stomach in the field,” they complained. Sassa clarified their relationship and position regarding the pay-point volunteers in the Northern Cape. They will not pay the volunteers. Even though Sassa stated that they appreciated the services of the volunteers, they reminded them that they came forth on their own to volunteer their services free of charge, based on the spirit of ubuntu. This came after Express Northern Cape made an enquiry on behalf of the volunteers who had complained that they had not been getting a stipend from Sassa. The agency also clarified that it did not need to employ staff for queue marshalling as they were only needed on a few payment days and were then idle for the rest of the month. The agency said that the register was for internal control purposes and to determine whether all members were present or available at the pay-points during the payment days, as well as to determine the size of the volunteer group in relation to the capacity of the hall and the number of beneficiaries per paypoint. Sassa pointed out that maybe after the re-registration of the new cards, the issue of stipends and other matters might be revisited.
NC still has no premier } Boipelo Mere
IT is still not clear who the next premier of the Northern Cape will be. The ANC provincial office still remains tight-lipped as to who will step up or step down. Grizelda Cjiekella, the MEC for Education, has been temporarily filling the position since the premier, Hazel Jenkins, GRIZELDA MEC collapsed in Febru- CJIEKELLA, for Education, is ary last year. The announce- still is still holding ment failed to materi- the fort. Photo: Boipelo Mere alise during a 30minute house sitting on 26 February, just two days before the State of the Province Address delivered by Cjiekella on 1 March. Although correspondence came through Mpho Masina, the spokesperson in the speaker’s office, that there would be no swearing in of members during a special house sitting at the legislature, journalists, ANC alliance partners, NGO’s and opposition parties filled the public gallery in anticipation that the announcement would take place during the sitting. Masina created suspicion when she announced that something important was going to be announced. Rumours are rife that Luthuli House chose the MEC for Nature Conservation, Sylvia Lucas, who is also the provincial deputy chairperson of the Women’s League to fill the position, but that the choice was rebuffed by the provincial executive committee. Opposition sources later revealed that Hazel Jenkins had refused to resign due to internal ANC fighting and unhappiness in the ANC concerning the appointment. Strangely enough, the rumours about Jenkins’s refusal to step down surfaced just after Lucas’s name was mentioned. According to an internal source, Lucas was chosen by the ANC national executive committee weeks after her name and that of Cjiekella and Pauline Williams, MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, had been submitted to Luthuli House. The provincial office said they would let the media know during an enquiry concerning the appointment of the new premier.
EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE , WEDNESDAY 13 MARCH 2013
7
NEWS
Science lab brings hope to learners } Boipelo Mere
DUWAYNE OOR, a gr. 12 Science learner of the Pescodia High School in Roodepan, was pleased that a solution was found for their empty laboratory challenge at his school. This after a mobile science laboratory project was launched by the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) in collaboration with the provincial Education Department. The mobile science laboratories are meant to improve teaching and learning methods for Physical Science experiments. Initiated by the NYDA (National Youth Development Agency) three years ago, the project is aimed at supporting underprivileged schools with mobile science laboratories equipped with lab apparatus that provides teachers and learners with a platform to perform experiments which they could otherwise not do due to lack of facilities. “Now I can look forward to getting my five distinctions,” said an excited Oor. The enthusiastic learner, who aims to study Chemical Engineering, said he had never felt demotivated by the fact that their school was left with almost no equipment to do experiments. He revealed that their school was constantly being burgled, causing the learners to suffer more. “This is an answer to our prayers as the lab will assist
us with Science and Chemistry. “Now we’ll also be able to understand the experiments better and change the way that the learners see Science,” he added. “My results are satisfying given my situation, but they will surely improve,” he added with confidence. The launch was attended by principals, Science teachers and learners of selected schools in each of the five districts of the province where different schools were given letters by the MEC of Education in the province, Grizelda Cjiekella, and William Tawuli of NYDA gave an overview and background information about the project. Cjiekella welcomed the donation and expressed her satisfaction that the Northern Cape’s turn had eventually come as she had been monitoring the project as it was being launched in Limpopo, the Eastern Cape and the Free State. “All our schools across the province and indeed where these mobile science labs will be placed, are expected to produce many top-class school leavers, and we hope that a large number of them will, with the help of these facilities, be motivated to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and help to make our province and our country internationally even more competitive in these critical fields,’’ said Cjiekella.
She further said that these science laboratories would further enhance the participation and performance in Maths, Technology and Science, with the hope that the encouraging gr. 12 results achieved last year in Science and Maths, would improve even further and encourage more young people to enrol in these critical gateway subjects. “As we work hard to increase participation and performance in Maths and Science, we need to link learning to employment opportunities or at least to the development of life and entrepreneurial skills,’’ continued the MEC. “These mobile science labs will also enable our learners to participate more meaningfully in campaigns such as National Science Week, as well as our science and maths festivals and similar platforms,’’ said Cjiekella. None was as happy as Eddie de Villiers, a teacher of the Bongani High School in Douglas in the Pixley ka Seme Education District. “Our school’s equipment is outdated, so this mobile lab is going to help. We are particularly grateful for the microscope, as we have a lot of children doing Science. “It has always been difficult to get chemicals, but I noted a booklet with contact numbers for a chemicals outlet. This is exciting,’’ said De Villiers, who was accompanied by a gr. 12 learner, Nosipho Tshazibane.
Family ‘failed’ by police } Boipelo Mere THE Rifels family from Delportshoop are still in the dark about the progress of their case after a member of their family, Moatlhodi Rifels, was allegedly stabbed to death by a group of minors. According to the family, a group of seven boys had allegedly attacked and stabbed Moatlhodi. They were astonished to hear from the media that only one of the minors was arrested and is out on bail, as they were not issued with a case number. The family feel they are failed by the police as they heard that one of the minors had moved to another town, Kuruman, where he is at-
tending school. They see the others just walking freely as if nothing happened. “No one is keeping us informed concerning the case that was opened in January already. The last time we went to enquire we were just told that the case will resume in April. Not a single document was issued to us,” said Daniel Rifels, the brother of the deceased. Daniel said after the murder had been reported, one of the boys had turned himself in at the local police station and had exposed the others. He said the last time they had heard from the police had been when they had accompanied them to the crime scene. Following the
blood tracks from where the deceased was found, they found empty bottles of glue where the boys sat before the attack. “All we want is justice so that we must have closure.” In response to an enquiry from Express Northern Cape the SAPS responded through Lt Olebogeng Tawana: “This office confirms that the Delportshoop police are investigating a case of murder following the death of Roos Moatlhodi. The incident happened on 8 January in the evening and the accused was arrested shortly after the incident. A 16-year-old boy was arrested and charged with murder. Currently he is out on bail. The investigation continues.”
RECEPTIONIST NEEDED FOR GUESTHOUSE. Experience in food preparation. Check-ins, invoices and must be computer literate. Fax CV with references to: 086 6213 187.
EK IS DRINGEND op soek na 'n tuinwoonsel vir R2 300 (water en ligte ingesl.) naby Northern Cape Mall vanaf 1 April 2013. Skakel 053 842 3380.
SELF-CATERING ACCOMMODATION in Margate. Affordable holiday accommodation available. Each unit can sleep 6 persons and are walking distance to Margate Main Beach. For enquiries please send an e- mail to: margate3056@gmail.com
UNO, GOLF of Cortinabakkie vir R20 000 kontant. 071 967 0285.
SEEKING COMMITTED ENTREPRENEURS to build own enterprise. Part or full time. No risk. SMS name, town to : 082 463 7998.
SEEK, BUY, SELL
FROM the left are, front: Volente Peters, a gr. 12 learner of the Pescodia High School, and the MEC of Education, Grizelda Cjiekella; back: Duwayne Oor, Chad Popham and William Tawuli of NYDA with their brand-new science lab. Photo: Boipelo Mere
8
EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 13 MARCH 2013
‘This event will give the skateboarders the chance to experience the incredible magic of the Maloof Money Cup and the amazing facilities at the skate park.’ – John Block
FROM the left are the MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, John Block, the winner of the best switch double flip, Dlamini Dlamini, Juanita Beukes, the deputy speaker of the Northern Cape Legislature, and Tim McFerran of Maloof Skateboarding. Photo: Boipelo Mere
Spotlight on skateboarding
THE Midway Mayhem, which marks the halfway mark to the next Maloof Money Cup World Skateboarding Championships in September, was hosted earlier this month where top skaters competed in the amateur contest. With free entry to the Skateboarding Plaza members of the public, including hopeful skateboarding enthusiasts, packed the venue to witness their favourite skaters perform miracles. Great spot prizes were up for grabs and local performers provided live entertainment to create a festive atmosphere at the state-of-the-art skate park. The line-up also included skate clinics and a trick jam contest for the youngsters. The event saw Shawn Burger, a skater from Pretoria, scooping first price for The Best Trick. Dlamini Dlamini from Durban got the courtesy of being personally congratulated
by Tim McFerran of Maloof Skateboarding amongst the crowd just before the pricegiving ceremony. He walked straight to the skater who was sitting amongst the crowd and shook his hand. Dlamini was evidently the audience’s favourite as everyone was cheering for him whenever he skated. He was later awarded for the best switch double flip where he got R4 000. According to the MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, John Block, this will be a perfect opportunity to turn the spotlight back on the sport of skateboarding. “This event will give the skateboarders the chance to experience the incredible magic of the Maloof Money Cup and the amazing facilities at the skate park,” added Block. The Northern Cape has been home to
the Maloof Money Cup Skateboarding World Championships for the past two years and will once again host the greatest skateboarding event in the world this September.