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WEDNESDAY 27 MARCH 2013
Lerato Park tackles rape Put faith in prayer } Boipelo Mere PASTOR KEEME MONGALE of the South African Prayer Movement for Change prayed for political leaders who have no regard for the poor and refuse to deliver services in Lerato Park. During a powerful prayer session on Human Rights Day in Lerato Park, Mongale referred to husbands who will rather wait for their women in the car whilst they are attending church and afterwards go to the graveyard to pray. He called that Satanic, and elaborated that Satan is the only one who knows no love. “Evil men are the ones who defile the spiritual land with rape, because they refuse to come back to God,” emphasised the pastor. This was when at least 100 residents of Lerato Park and churches heeded the call by Cope Women’s Movement to attend a prayer meeting to pray for an end to the rape, domestic violence and Satanism which are reported to be rife in the area. Next to the prayer tent, smoke was still rising from a nearby spot where a shack had burnt down the previous day. The family of four that lived in the shack had lost everything in the fire and nothing was done to assist them. Read more on p 6. Cope leaders Pakes Dikgetsi and Fezile Kies were also amongst those who attended the prayer session. According to Cope, they put aside their political affiliation and gathered as a community to pray. The pastor prayed for the Holy Spirit to enter the lives of the leaders to assist the Lerato Park community, the squatter camp that has been in existence for a long time. “Not that it is wrong of them to
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RESIDENTS of Lerato Park joined Cope in prayer for change.
Photos: Boipelo Mere
be rich and live comfortably in their houses, but they must also remember that there are poor people like these who rely on them for a better life,” prayed Mongale. He referred to other incidents of Satanic behaviour amongst children and the youth. Mongale encouraged parents to show their children love in order to break the powers of the dark world. Irene Mogorosi, chairperson for the Women’s Movement in Cope, said that the unending rape incidents that occur is a great concern to them as women, thus the party decided to hold the prayer session.
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“The last reported incident was very traumatising, as a four-yearold child was amongst the four reported rape cases. The perpetrator was reported to be caught and released the very next day. “There is a sickness in our society where little children are raped. We must put our faith in our Heavenly Father to heal this disease,” said Mogorosi. Cope feels that it is wrong that victims turn to the police and the justice system for help without getting the assistance they need. They should serve the community fairly and protect the innocence of children as a priority.
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PASTOR KEEME MONGALE of the South African Prayer Movement flanked by Cope councillor Gladys Mthukwane (left) and Irene Mogorosi whilst delivering a powerful prayer session in Lerato Park.
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EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 27 MARCH 2013
NEWS CHINUA ACHEBE. His first novel Things fall apart placed him on an international pedestal. Photo: Google Images
Achebe remembered } George Mutloane CHINUA ACHEBE died in Boston, England, at the age of 82. He has been the most prolific novelist of all time and his first nov-
el, Things fall apart, placed him on an international pedestal and helped put Africa on the literary map. In 1991, writers from all over the world converged on the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg for an international writers conference hosted by the Congress of South African Writers (COSAW) led by Professor Njabulo Ndebele. An array of luminaries from all continents were present, but Achebe was not there. South Africa was full of possibilities as politicians
were charting a new path for a new political dispensation. Hence in one of the evening rendezvous in a hotel in Braamfontein, it was the late Ngugi wa Mirii who brokered a discussion on Achebe’s much celebrated novel Things fall apart. Ngugi wa Mirii himself was an exilee from Kenya and was holed up in Zimbabwe at the university as a literature lecturer. His discussion with us was a warning of how things can fall apart in a new South Africa as it did
everywhere else in Africa. In fact, Ngugi put it that almost 70% of African writers on the continent live in exile due to things that fell apart. Ngugi wa Mirii and Ngugi wa Thiongo had cowritten a book called The devil on the cross, and as a result were hounded out of Kenya, their native country. Things fell apart for them. Achebe had therefore in 1958 penned a masterpiece in Things fall apart. Achebe’s title of the novel was taken from William Yeats’ poem The second coming.
Things fall apart went on to sell over 10 million copies and was translated to more than 50 languages of the world. It has been placed on a list of 100 best English language novels from 1923 to 2005 by the Times magazine. The book deals with the clash between Western and traditional African values and how traditional norms and values had been undermined. In a statement similar to Ingoapele Madingoana’s famous protest poem Africa my beginning, Africa my ending, Obierika, a friend to the main character of the novel, Okonkwo, says: “The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers and our clan can no longer act like one.” What prompted Achebe to pen Things fall apart is mainly that great proverb that goes Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter . . “but it is something we have to do so that the story of the hunt will also reflect the agony, the travail, the bravery, even of the lions” said Achebe, decrying the inaccuracy of European writers in characterising Africa and her people in their writing. Achebe went on to write several novels such as No longer at ease, a sequence to Things fall apart, Anthills of the Savannah, Arrow of God, A man of the People and a volume of poetry and essays.
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NEWS
All systems go for Easter service } Boipelo Mere
INTENSE preaching and interpretations like these of Rev. Elijah Madindi and a member of the Young Men’s Guild are expected to be delivered over the Easter weekend at the Centenary Methodist Church in Galeshewe. Photo: Boipelo Mere
THE Diamond Fields Circuit of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa is all set for the 2013 Easter service. The Kimberley Centenary Methodist Church will be hosting the service and expect branches from as far as Pampierstad, Jan Kempdorp, Warrenton, Boshof and Smithsdrift. Circuit ministers and two evangelists are expected to preside over the Easter service under the theme God riches at Christ expenses for 2013. Rev. John Thibane sends special appreciation to the Methodist congregation for making the upcoming service possible. Individual donations also came forth like the Young Women’s Manyano (YWM) who donated boxes of kitchen utensils towards the service, and the Vis family who donated money. Other donations included two cows, each from the Sebogodi and Sebusi family, and cordless microphones donated by the Mocumi family. The Easter service will start on Thursday night called Maundy Thursday where other ministers like Reverends Williams, Diba and Tiroyabone will join Thibane in Sacrament, followed by the robing of new members of the Young Women’s Manyano (Guild) by the wives of the ministers. Then the healing and praying service will follow conducted by the same ministers. A night vigil will then follow. The highlight of the Easter service will be the intense preaching
and interpretation of the seven words said by Jesus Christ during his crucification. The seven words will be delivered by seven different preachers. Speaking to Express Northern Cape, Thibane revealed that the Methodist preachers usually spend the Thursday night on retreat before delivering the words on Friday. They go to a secluded farm where they meditate, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide and give them strength for the Good Friday service. This is good for them because when they spread and are alone in the bush, some of them report that they feel the presence of God on that night. “Our preachers take this calling so seriously that they would sometimes go on a fasting period,” said Thibane. According to Thibane, the preachers go straight to church from the farm on Friday, still full of the Holy Spirit to preach to the congregation. Thibane says that there will be a repeat seven words service after lunch, for those who missed the morning service due to different commitments. “Members of other churches are also welcome to attend our services,” he added. On Saturday there will be a Sunday school rally, youth rally and robing of the new members of the Young Men’s Guild (YMG), followed by a church revival. The weekend will conclude on Sunday with an early street revival, followed by a church choir festival.
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EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 27 MARCH 2013
NEWS
Voters must see the light MICHAEL KAARS, Frances Baard DA councillor: I WRITE this letter because I am disappointed with the running of our Phokwane/Hartswater Municipality. In a recent visit to the municipality, I had observed old and young people who had had their electricity summarily cut due to failure of payments. However, of great concern was that many of the people I had spoken to had indicated that they had not been properly informed and notified of the impending cuts. As I write this letter, the electricity of many remains cut off, and some of the poorest of the poor have been forced to sleep in the dark. There are consequences to this brutish treatment of poor residents. For example: Some struggling pensioners who have no access to any other income except a meagre state pension, have had to borrow money from ruthless loan sharks just to afford electricity. It’s heartbreaking. When I confronted a mu-
Letters
Express Letters, P.O. Box 1583, Kby, 8300 Boipelo Mere Boipelo.mere@volksblad.com Tel: 053-831-2331. Fax: 053-831-2330
nicipal official (name withheld) about this desperate situation, the response I got was that “all residents have been served with notices and those who did not go to make arrangements for electricity have been blocked”. I then questioned why the accounts of the municipal manager had not been blocked, especially as he owed much more than any of the poor residents I represented. No response. How ironic. Perhaps this is a case of special concessions for the richer and politically connected? Or perhaps, is it just a case of poor people not mattering to the municipality? But then, why am I surprised, there are numerous other issues I have observed in this municipality which tell me it has its priorities all wrong. Under the watch of the very same
municipal manager we’ve seen the alleged abuse of state resources. Take for example work bakkies from the Frances Baard District Municipality meant to make the workload for our hard-working municipal workers lighter being used for other reasons other than their intended duty. This practice has also been on the human resources side, with staff employed to perform a particular function not being deployed there, but rather made to do ad hoc and noncore function work. Frustrated by this many have simply lost morale. Given many of these allegations, I question the municipal manager’s capability to manage the municipality successfully. Will the Phokwane Municipality ever get an unqualified audit report? Are we destined to be mediocre forever? I just hope our voters can see this. 2014 is around the corner, and as a voter you must decide whether you want more of the same, or are ready to join us in building the new majority and turning our beloved municipality around.
TSHOLOFELO SERIBA, one of the mentors at the Isibindi Centre in Lerato Park, teaching the children about their rights. Photos: Boipelo Mere
MENTORS of the Isibindi Centre who operate in Lerato Park are from the left, front: Imakatso Makhoba and Tsholofelo Seriba; back: Mmabatho Jacobs, Desiree Pienaar, Kenosi Ditsela, Cynthia Moiloa and Puleng Mokoena.
Children taught their rights } Boipelo Mere
THE Isibindi Centre observed Human Rights Day by gathering children from around Lerato Park at the centre to teach them about the significance of the day. The centre has a routine of running different weekly programmes in Lerato Park. One of these are the ECD programme where they give teachings to pregnant women until they give birth, and then include the child into the programme until he/she turns six years old. The centre also assists children who are involved in substance abuse, to help them overcome the stigma and the challenges. The children are then awarded certificates after they completed their course. The centre further assists the community and the children with paraffin safety and safety awareness programmes whereby they teach the children what to do if they are left
alone in the shacks. Other programmes the centre run, are Arts and Craft, a Youth Forum, Childline, Disability Awareness and Cultural Diversity. One of the children who attended the Human Rights Day session, an 11-year-old girl, said that she was not aware of the significance of the day. “All I knew, was that our parents lived under Apartheid conditions. I did not know what really happened. “But now I know everything and know that I have the responsibility to work hard,” said the girl. “Our grandparents fought for our freedom. I also know how they were killed. I am going to finish my schooling because I have the right to free education,” a 13-year-old boy said. Another 11-year-old girl said: “From the Bill of Rights I have learned that everyone has the right to privacy.”
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EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 27 MARCH 2013
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NEWS
Artists encouraged to take initiative } Boipelo Mere “ARTISTS in the Northern Cape need to pull up their socks in order to make it in the arts industry. “They need to take the initiative themselves to ensure that they are taken seriously.” These were the words spoken by Moagi Modise, a renowned actor who has featured in drama series and advertisements. Modise, who is also a member of the Galeshewe Theatre Organisation, was part of the 100 artists who attended the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) artists workshop aimed at assisting members of the creative industry, including musicians, actors, composers, film producers, dancers, poets and artists, to formalise their businesses. The workshop is part of the implementation of a resolution that was taken at the Anti-piracy Conference in Boksburg in 2010 where the deputy minister of Trade and Industry, Thandi Tobias-Pokolo, launched the National Anti-piracy Campaign. Busi Ngwenya, the director for Strategy and Special Projects at the DTI, explained that the DTI worked with the provincial Department of Sports, Arts and Culture in terms of mobilisation and incentives.
She said the workshop was an effort by government to show commitment in educating and encouraging the creative industry to formalise themselves and register as businesses so that they could access opportunities, understand their intellectual property rights and contribute positively towards the economy. She added that they encouraged artists to register companies and to form co-operatives in order to ensure that they achieve the same goal. “We further advise them to put their scripts in writing to protect their material from copy write. That way artists remain their own brand and trademark,” added Ngwenya. Modise is concerned that it was the third workshop of its kind in two years where the same faces raised the same problems. “There was the Lotto workshop, then Arts Council, now it’s the DTI that addresses the same problems.” He revealed that the same artists keep on coming back, they did not see this as a solution to their problems. He further added that the same requirements kept on coming up, but most of the companies remained unregistered.
“It seems like there is strong intervention needed in mentoring them to produce tangible proof. “The artists expect to be hand-holded to register their companies as there is a strong need to. “But we cannot rely on these companies that provide us with training forever. “But for artists in the Frances Baard District: Come on, you need to pull your socks up and leave the laziness,” continued Modise. A local producer, who ran a number of productions in the province and prefers to remain anonymous, added that local artists needed to take the initiatives of marketing themselves. In response to whether enough artists in the province were reached for the workshop, he responded: “Those who were not reached are not making themselves accessible. “If you do not meet the requirements, then it automatically means that you will not get funding from national as well.” According to Ngwenya, the feedback received from these workshops will form part of the post-evaluation report that will be presented to President Jacob Zuma.
JAMES NTLHAENG(44) next to the patch where all his belongings were destroyed by the fire. Photo: Boipelo Mere
Father of two loses all his belongings in shack fire } Boipelo Mere JAMES NTLHAENG (44) sadly showed Northern Cape Express a piece of wire that was part of his bed. With his eyes he quietly searched around the black patch where all his belongings were destroyed, to see if there was anything he could recognise. It was impossible, because everything he owned, had been destroyed during a recent fire that engulfed his shack. His was the last amongst many shack fire incidents that occurred in Lerato Park. All the father of two children and his wife had, were the clothes they were
wearing. After salvaging the few rusty zinc plates after the fire, they were forced to separate and squat at other shacks. He sadly explained how he found his shack burning last week on Wednesday afternoon. “We can still not figure out as to who or what caused the fire, because there was no one at home,” he said sadly. “If only we can get assistance to re-build our shack. It is hard for me as a man to be squatting with people and not be able to buy food,” he added. Ntlhaeng said his dignity was being destroyed, because he does not even know how to assist or comfort his family.
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EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 27 MARCH 2013
THE provincial finals were held in the Keimoes Sports Complex where five schools participated.
Rietrivier to finals Beat Willie Theron Primary in provincials
} Boipelo Mere THE Rietrivier Primary School’s coach, Kasper Spandiel, is proud of and prepared for the upcoming Danone national finals to be held in Johannesburg. The school from the Frances Baard Region was declared the provincial finalist of the Danone Nations Cup Provincials after beating the Willie Theron Primary School from the Pixley ka Seme Region by 2-0. They will represent the Northern Cape in the national finals wherein the ultimate winner from all nine provinces will represent South Africa in the World Finals in London. The provincial finals were
hosted at the Keimoes Sports Complex where three other schools from three other districts, namely the Blaauwskop Intermediate School (Siyanda Region), Madibeng Primary School (John Taolo Gaetsewe Region) and Okiep Primary from Namaqualand competed during heated tournaments. He said that they also learned to take every game as it came, because it was challenging that the teams did not know each other. “I encouraged my team before the game to express themselves and enjoy the game as I trust that they are well prepared,” said the coach with confidence. Whilst expressing his confidence in the whole team,
Spandiel said he did not have to make major changes to his team except to work on their weaknesses. “I also make use of the advantage that I still have of assessing and speaking to them individually to create more chances and defend as much as they can,” added Spandiel. The Willie Theron school coach, Abdul Tier, admitted to having lost to Rietrivier due to not having enough time to score goals. “Although we played well, the best team, which is the opposition, won the game as they used the opportunity to their advantage. But I am sure that they will not deny either that we gave them
a run for their money,” added Tier. The coach sends his appreciation to Danone for hosting such well-organised matches to the children. However, he suggested that the organisers should work differently on the five-minute time that they allocate to the players in order to give them more time to rest. “It was a provincial delight and with the highest level of professionalism. “We will definitely take part in the next Danone games and work on our skills of converting and creating more goal opportunities and work more as a combined and developed team,” concluded Tier.
Photo: Supplied