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WEDNESDAY 68 NOVEMBER 2013
RIOT: M.E. Mohloki, the local area manager of the Matjhabeng Municipality’s Health De partment, addressed angry patients under a tree outside the Rheeder’s Park Clinic last Wednesday. Photos:Teboho Setena
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CHAOS: The staff nurses at the Rheeders Park Clinic were temporarily forced to stop work ing and stand outside the facility as angry patients’ tempers reached boiling point.
Furore over services
Residents angry over poor service delivery at clinic } Teboho Setena THE Department of Health’s alleged inability to address crises in service delivery at the Rheeder’s Park Clinic in Welkom has caused an uproar in the community. A wave of discontent swept through the community following the department’s apparent failure to come up with a possible remedy at the facility. Residents demanded action and caused a scene as they staged a protest and disrupted nurses in their duty last week. Disgruntled residents told the Goldfields Express that the department’s slow pace in dealing with long-standing challenges had prompted their action. “Our efforts have proven futile to engage the department with a view to solve the problems encountered daily in the community. “Overcrowding is a direct result of the de-
partment’s failure to address the problem of a shortage of nurses and staff in order to improve service delivery. There is an urgent need to expand the facility to accommodate more people and employ nurses to improve the delivery of services. “However, the department seems less concerned because nothing has been done, only promises are made,’’ said Lungile Malawu, the chairperson of the clinic committee. Three hours went by before the situation returned to normal and before nurses could return to their work. This came after M.E. Mohloki, the Matjhabeng Health Department’s manager, had played peacemaker, and had addressed the angry crowd. As kings did back in the day, he addressed people from under a tree outside the premises of the clinic. Mohloki told them that their grievances had been referred to the provincial
department which has the last word about the immediate future of the clinic. The facility is situated in Rheeder’s Park, a suburb west of the Welkom Central Business District. It is run from a privately-owned house leased to the department. The department has converted the three bedrooms into consulting rooms. The lounge is utilised as a waiting room and administration office. The clinic’s catchment population is said to be in the region of 7 200 with a head count of no less than 1 300 patients who live in 7 adjacent residential areas. Adding to the frustration is that men and women as well as the 15 employees share only one toilet. Problems at the clinic emanate from the shortage of manpower in qualified nurses, and medication as well as the lack of security. The shortage of nurses results into a backlog
and patients return home unattended. Residents are worried because this situation has made them easy targets for criminals. “People risk their lives to get up early to queue outside the premises from 04:00 or 05:00 to ensure they are in the first group that will receive treatment when the clinic opens at 07:00. It is unsafe because dangerous criminals take advantage and rob them. Criminals break into vehicles to steal items,’’ said Malawu. He said the lack of security had seen criminals target the clinic to steal computers and medication. ) The Goldfields Express was unsuccessful in getting comment from the provincial department’s spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, regarding the situation at the trouble-ridden clinic. At the time of going to print the spokesperson had not yet responded to questions.
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EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2013
NEWS
ANTIFRAUD: Private and public sector stakeholders spearheading the fraud and corruption campaign in the Free State are from left Rudolph Laubscher, ACFE chairperson, Elzabe Rockman, Free State MEC for Finance, Gerhard Geldenhuys, PricewaterhouseCoopers director, and Anton Nicolaison, provincial head Standard Bank. Photo: Teboho Setena
Campaign fights fraud and corruption } Teboho Setena THE detrimental impact of fraud and corruption in both the private and public sector in the Free State is being highlighted through a weeklong campaign that is in full swing. Coinciding with the annual international fraud awareness campaign, the provincial anti-corruption drive started yesterday in the capital of Bloemfontein. It precedes two events to be held at the Kroonstad Prison tomorrow and at Bethlehem’s town hall on Saturday. It’s being held in partnership with the Free State provincial government, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), Standard Bank and audit firm Pricewater-
houseCoopers (PwC). The ACFE chairperson Rudolph Laubscher says the drive’s objective is two-fold, aimed at highlighting the negative impact fraud and corruption have on the country’s economic growth and it also encourages organisations and the public to support the fight against the crime. “Fraud and corruption in both the private and public sector is a concern and is very serious. It affects both sectors. “A previous survey conducted showed that on average organisations lose 5% of their turnover. When one looks at this in big organisations and government the percentage is substantial. But the fact is that it is value money that could have
Fraud, corruption rampant in FS THE Free State is third in South Africa with the highest proportion of fraud and corruption incidents reported, a Victims of Crime Survey revealed. Conducted by Statistics South Africa, the survey showed that the Free State has 4,7%, followed by the North-West 4,9% with Gauteng in the lead with 10,1%. The statistics were revealed at the launch of the International Fraud, Corruption and Risk Awareness Seminar on Monday in Bloemfontein. Held by PwC, the event was attended by both stakeholders from the provincial and private sector. Households were asked if any government or public official had asked for money, favours or a gift for a service that he or she had been legally required to perform. According to the survey, 4,5 % of people had been asked for money, favours or a gift by a government official for service that he or she had been legally required to perform. The least number of incidents of corruption were reported in KwaZulu-Natal (2,3%), the Western Cape (1,5%) and the Eastern Cape (1, 1%) respectively. The survey revealed that 4,2% had been asked for money by government officials for a service, 9,5% was reported in Gauteng, 4,6% in North-West and 4,2% in the Free State. Elzabe Rockman, the MEC for Finance, said that revelation of fraud and corruption would afford the community an opportunity to know the processes which were in place in government spheres used to combat fraud.
To tighten the belt against the prevalence of fraud and corruption she said the provincial government had secured the specialised services of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) in creating awareness and training for key officials within departments and municipalities. “Government has also developed fraud prevention and response plans and anti-corruption strategies that strive to deal with corruption in a holistic way. Laws and processes have been developed and implemented to protect whistle blowers who report alleged incidents,” said Rockman. “Various units in law enforcement agencies such as the Special Investigating United and the Commercial Crimes Unit have been established to root out corruption in the public sector.” She said prosecution of all offenders and blacklisting of people who had been found guilty was one of the stringent measures meant to curb fraud and corruption. “It is our responsibility as government to take accountability in our working environment to promote a fraud-free environment. This will in turn enable us to ensure that service delivery goals are achieved within the set timeframes, as efficiently as possible.” Rockman said. Members of the public can also report fraud and corruption incidents by calling the toll-free national anti-corrupt hotline on 0800-701-701 or the departmental SCM hotline on 0800-212-178.
been invested to make companies viable and profitable to create jobs to curb unemployment while in government it has a serious impact because it takes away financial resources resulting in poor service delivery. The important thing that we as stakeholders have to do intensifying the fight against fraud and corruption is to have control systems in place to prevent it from happening as well as to try to create a culture of integrity and honesty within the various organisations,’’ Laubscher says. He says the importance of organisations working together is that they can effectively promote the importance of detection, investigation and deterrence of fraud and
corruption. ‘’Fraud is by its nature a hidden crime. To complicate its detection even further, it often overlaps with other crimes like theft and corruption. People who are in a position to detect fraud, are often not legal or fraud experts and work in the finance or IT department as processors,” Laubscher says. PwC’s director Gerhard Geldenhuys says their organisation’s input will focus on the best practice available to combat fraud and corruption. Members of the public and organisations can support the anti-corruption and fraud campaign by registering their support on the fraud week website: www.fraudweek.com
FS Health Department is battling its financial woes } Selloane Khalane THE Free State Public Servants Association (PSA) has threatened legal action against the cash-strapped provincial Department of Health over unpaid staff bonuses. According to the PSA provincial head Gehart Koorts, staff members who qualify to receive annual performance development management system (PDMS) have not yet received their bonuses which should have been paid out in July. Koorts said the union had written a follow-up letter to the Office of the Premier, requesting Premier Ace Magashule’s intervention into the financial woes of the Health Department. The union said the trouble-ridden department was transgressing its own financial policies. The union said annually, assessments were finalised in June, so that outcomes of the audits were implemented from the first of July. “Some of the employees told the union they still had their assessments with
them,” Koorts said. Mondli Mvambi, the Department of Health spokesperson, said the department had just completed its PDMS assessments, raising the prospect payment of bonuses. Bonuses were expected to be paid by the end of last month, October, according to Mvambi. Mvambi denied that the department was struggling to source funds to pay salaries for January and February next year. The department is said to be under immense pressure to also secure an estimated R36 million to pay Cuba for accommodation, food and other expenses for about 120 students studying medicine in Cuba. However, Mvambi brushed off the allegations as “malicious rumours” meant to dent the image of the department. This is not be the first time the department has been under serious financial strain. In the previous financial year the department admitted to cutting costs, to ensure that primary health services could still be rendered.
EXPRESS , WEDNESDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2013
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Magashule gives Zuma the thumbs up } Selloane Khalane
LOBBYING: The Free State ANC’s chairperson and premier, Ace Magashule, rallies support for Jacob Zuma to get him to a second term in office as President of South Africa ahead of next year’s general election. Photo: Sidwell Guduka
LOBBYING for support for preferred candidates to represent the ANC in government began ahead of the country’s general election next year. The ruling party in the Free State started its race at the provincial list congress held last Thursday in Welkom with Ace Magashule, the ANC’s chairperson and premier, urging members to give President Jacob Zuma a vote of confidence by nominating him. “President Zuma must be number one on your list,” said Magashule, addressing more than 500 delegates from 222 branches across the province. Zuma’s nomination will grant him a second term in office as president of South Africa having already secured a second term as party leader. He was re-elected unopposed as the party’s leader at last year’s national congress held in Bloemfontein. The ANC’s provincial congress, which was a week ago rescheduled for last Thursday, saw members nominate their preferred leaders to represent the party in both provincial and national legislatures after next year’s general election. Maga- shule encouraged delegates to support the current national leadership, adding that the party intended to retain 60% of the current members of legislature in the province. Referring to rumours of a rift between his deputy and the Mangaung Metro executive mayor, Thabo Manyoni, Magashule said individuals and the media would not sow divisions between them. “Manyoni and I are solid,” he said. The same sentiments were shared by Manyoni
who pronounced the close bond he has with his long-time ally Magashule: “Just because we don’t always agree does not mean there is fallout between us. “As long as there is Ace Magashule in leadership, I will always be comfortable,” he added. The ANC provincial secretary, William Bulwane, said delegates were to vote for 30 candidates provincially who will represent the party locally. According to Bulwane, additional members could be added to ensure the party has a reserve list. With the election looming the party is determined to triple its efforts to reclaim the four seats the party lost to opposition parties in the previous election in 2009. Although Bulwane said the Free State MEC for Sports, Dan Kgothule, remains a loyal member of the party, several delegates at the conference who wanted to be anonymous said Kgothule’s head was on the chopping block. “Kgothule’s name might not appear on the list when the results are revealed,” said a delegate. The Free State chairperson of Cosatu and member of the ANC Free State provincial executive committee, Sam Mashinini, told journalists that Magashule’s long reign as chairperson of the party in the province was democratic. “You cannot dictate to democracy,” Mashinini emphasised. Bulwane said the ANC was not worried about the inroads made by Julius Malema’s political party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). “It is a matter of concern because or young comrades are flocking to EFF without understanding the economic policies of the party,” Bulwane explained. Results of the much anticipated list conference are expected to be revealed after 10 days from the day of nomination.
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EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2013
NEWS
EDUCATING THE NATION: The Lejwelputswa District Municipality launched the Young Women’s Gr. 12 Project last Thursday in Welkom. From the left are Dr Maramane MatabaneTsha balala, Palesa Kaota, Lejweleputswa’s municipal manager, Itumeleng Mantsoe (student), Sharpeville Technical College Welkom Campus principal, Molefe Maphutse, and students Moshebi Nkoane, Evodia Madisa and Nana Motsoane. Photo: Teboho Setena
Women given chance to get NSC } Teboho Setena THE Lejweleputswa District Municipality launched a far-reaching educational initiative through which young women get another chance to obtain their National Senior Certificates (NSC). A first of its kind and known as the Young Women Gr. 12 Upgrade Project, it was launched last Thursday in Welkom. It is a partnership pilot initiative between the Lejweleputswa District Municipality and the Sharpeville Technical College in Gauteng. A group of 40 women from the ages of 25 to 35 have enrolled for the life-changing initiative. Candidates have enrolled for a trimester pro-
gramme and wrote their first paper exam on Monday at the Sharpeville Technical College’s main campus in Gauteng. The Lejweleputswa Municipality has paid out R100 000 to ensure it materialises. Funding includes study material and accommodation. Enrolled students are from the Goldfields towns of Welkom, Virginia, Allenridge, Odendaalrus, Hennenman and Ventersburg. Lejweleputswa municipal manager, Palesa Kaota, said they intended to run the project to ensure long-term success intervention to improve the lives of women. The project’s success will be determined by funding and the success rate of students enrolled.
“The plan is to run the project on an ongoing basis to enable young women to change their lives through education as the key to improve their lives,” said Kaota. She said the long-term need to address the challenges facing women prompted Lejweleputswa’s management led by the mayor, Mathabo Leeto, to start the initiative. Kaota said enrolled students were screened to ensure they met the requirements set out. “We discovered that the majority of the students were unable to return to school to successfully complete gr. 12 and obtain their National Senior Certificate. There were various factors and money was a major factor hence we funded
their studies in the hope they would work hard to obtain their National Senior Certificate. On the municipality’s side I believe we have done our best to enable them to positively change their lives and achieve their dream to even further their studies at the academic institutions of their choice. It is significant that all of these women grabbed the opportunity, because there are many of them who are equally desperate to get a chance to get financial aid to realise their dreams and help us as a nation in the goal we want to achieve of changing the lives of our society through education,” said Kaota. She said the commitment of all the candidates would go a long way to build a proud nation.
Share news with ‘Express’ } How to reach Goldfield Express: WE are housed in The Strip Build, 1st floor, 312 Stateway, Welkom. We cover a range of newsworthy events, news and sports as well as community entertainment events. We invite readers in the greater Goldfields and the surrounding towns’ to phone us at 057-357-1304 about newsworthy happenings and ad-
vertising. For newsworthy happenings, news, sports and placement of community entertainment events for the weekly diary readers can email Teboho Setena at teboho.setena@volksblad.com or fax: 057-357-1300. For advertising please feel free to contact the sales executive, Innocent Mncube, on 057357-1304 or email him on Innocent.mncube@volksblad.com.
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JOURNALISM wasn’t always his first love, but in the end it turned out to be Teboho Setena's true love. This prodigal son of Media24 recently returned to the company with the task of establishing the Goldfields Express as the Goldfields’ number-one community paper. He knows it will not be easy as Express is facing some tough competition from other well-established community papers in the area, but he is looking forward to the challenge. Life didn’t start easy for Teboho, who is a born and bred Free Stater. He grew up in the southern parts of the province. As a young farm boy from Fauresmith he had to face many obstacles just to attend school. At times he had to walk as far as 14 km just to get to school before covering the same distance after school to return home. His family was poor as his mother was a domestic worker and he spent his childhood with both his grannies
and an uncle, being sent from one school to another until he finally managed in 1991 to get his matric certificate with exemption at the Lereko Senior Secondary School. After he matriculated he did a business course at the Central University of the Free State (CUT, formerly the Free State Technikon), but life had other plans in store for this talented man and when Media24 had positions open for trainee journalists Teboho decided to test the inky newspaper waters where he slowly fell in love with the world of news. He did his in-house training and then decided to study Journalism. As a qualified journalist he returned to Media24 where he worked until Ofm advertised a position at their news department. Here Teboho learned new skills as a radio journalist and soon discovered that he also had a passion for radio journalism. Many times friends and acquaintances told him they had heard someone on the radio sounding exactly like him. It
gave him great pleasure to tell them that it was indeed his voice they had heard. The 2010 Soccer World Cup brought new opportunities for this well-rounded newsman and as a then freelancer he was contracted by French broadcasters as reporter. He also did voiceovers for the French helping with translations from African languages into English. The French could then translate from English into French for their listeners. These were exciting times as he sees himself a student of life. Teboho still cherishes the opportunity the 2010 sports spectacle offered. After the World Cup, Teboho joined the independent newspaper Free State Times where he mostly worked as a sports journalist until he resigned to join his first media family. Life has come full circle for this man who has acquired enough skills to make him just the right candidate for the challenge of nursing the Goldfields’ new-born baby into a success.
EXPRESS , WEDNESDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2013
NEWS
SAPS bids dedicated officer farewell A FAREWELL FUNCTION was held for Lieutenant Mabinda George Radebe. He joined the police force in 1985 and retired as commander in one of the shifts in the Crime Room where he has worked since 2011. Radebe was trained at the Hammanskraal College. After he had graduated from the college he started working at the Odendaalsrus Police Station in 1986 as a constable. In 1991 he was promoted to the rank of lance sergeant and in 1993 he became a full sergeant. Because of his dedication and hard work he was promoted to the rank of warrant officer in 1995. In 2011 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and transferred to the Welkom Detective Service.
He decided to resign from the police after 28 years of loyal service. In his speech Radebe thanked all his colleagues back at Odendaalsrus and Welkom and thanked the management of the Welkom Police Station for trusting in him and giving him the opportunity to be the commander in his environment. He continued by saying: “I love the police and I will always cherish my best moments I spent within the Police Service.” He is going to become a businessman.
LIEUTENANT MABINDA RADEBE (left) receives a gift from Major Willem Boshof. Photo supplied
Jealousy leads to 16 years behind bars A MALE resident of the Phomolong township in Hennenman will spend 16 of a 19-year sentence in prison for murder and attempted murder. Three years have been suspended. The 21-year-old Abel Moeketsi was sentenced in the Virginia High Court last Thursday. He appeared before the prosecutor Colin Steyn and the magistrate Lewis Phöl on counts of murder and attempted murder. Moeketsi was found guilty of the murder of the 19-yearold Mavis Medupe and the attempted murder
of a man who had accompanied the deceased. Moeketsi’s sentencing in this complicated case followed an in-depth investigation by investigating officer Sthokothezi Ndayi of the Hennenman SAPS Detective Unit. On the ill-fated night of 4 December, the accused first stabbed the deceased’s boyfriend in the neck before he attacked Medupe with a knife. The deceased’s body was discovered in the morning near a graveyard by two cattle owners who were doing a routine inspection
at their kraal. They informed the police who found the deceased with two stab wounds, one in the neck and another below the left breast. The police spokesperson Malebo Khosana said after investigation the assailant was traced and arrested in Randfontein in Gauteng on the same day in connection with the murder and attempted murder. “The motive was disclosed to be jealousy as Moeketsi suspected that Mavis was seeing other men,” said Malebo.
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EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2013
NEWS
Showcasing soccer skills BUDDING STARS: Budding and prospective future football greats of Juventus FC captured perfecting their skills at a train ing session at a field in Las Ve gas in Thabong. Photos: Teboho Setena
Working together making Goldfields great
THE SURVIVORS: It is case of survival of the fitness for several unemployed youth in Thabong as three captured in the middle of traffic at a stop sign in the busy Constantia Road, adjacent to the infamous G Hostel, selling sweets, cigarettes and ice to earn a living.
GROWING STRONG: The joyful pair of The Rock community radio station in Welkom, oper ations director Azio Thate and presenter Siziwe Maruping (right), share in the station’s achievement of one year of broadcasting last Thursday. The station has its footprints firmly rooted in the greater Goldfields and Lejweleputswa Region.
WORKING TOGETH ER: Employees of the Matjhabeng Mu nicipality’s roads department, that in clude four men on the left and three women on right, captured working together to clean a blocked storm water drain along the town’s busy State way on Wednesday.
MOMENT IN TIME: The trio from left, Nthabeleng Chabangu, Jeje Phakoe and Loubi sa Dithebe, attended the launch of the Young Women’s Gr. 12 Upgrade Project which they are part of. Launched last Thursday in Welkom the initiative is a brain child of the Lejweleputswa District Municipality offering young women that failed gr. 12 another chance to obtain their National Senior Certificate (NSC) .
EXPRESS , WEDNESDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2013
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NEWS
LAUNCHED: The structure of the digital planetarium.
Naval Hill stairway to sky FS open first 3-D planetarium in Sub-Saharan Africa Lesego Ditheko NAVAL HILL, formerly known as the Franklin Nature Reserve, has much yet to be expected on it. One of the projects expected was the operating of a digital planetarium at the Lamont Hussey Observatory which was launched last Friday by the National Department of Science and Technology, Free State Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Economic Affairs together with the University of the Free State and the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality. For prospectile scientists, astronauts and universe fanatics around the province, even around the country, some of who has had only a glimpse through a home telescope and through sci-fi movies, Naval Hill has made it possible and the Science subjects learners to take a virtual trip around the 400 million light-year sized universe. Astronauts from South Africa and Ameri-
Initiative beginning to bear fruit THE Free State Tourism Authority (FSTA) initiative of developing water sports is beginning to bear fruit. Testimony is the steady progress made by one of the candidates in the programme, Kelebogile Malebo. The youngster claimed second position in the junior category of the F1 National Powerboat Championships and Lifestyle event held last weekend at the Parys Golf and Country Estate. A development wing of the FSTA, the event provided an entertaining race and was won by Nikita Tromps. This year was the fifth edition of this adrenaline-pumping competition which was split into five categories: juniors, F30, F1, jet ski and inflatables. The F30, which comprises graduates from the junior category, also sets the scene for the F1 through a high-speed race. Although none of the FSTA development sides in this category won any top-three positions, the occasion was never short of excitement with topseeded contestants showcasing their versatility fighting for top positions. Attie Tromp, Andre Kemp and Willie Meyer claimed the first, second and third positions respectively. The F1 event paved the way for the forthcoming Free State Grand Prix (F2 International Powerboat Championships) set to be staged in Sasolburg on 14 and 15 December. Mosebenzi Zwane, the MEC for the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, said the Free State would continue to stage water sports to promote tourism in and outside the province to ensure that such natural resources were fully explored for the benefit of the industry.
ca were part of the amazing launch of the full 3-D view of the world. It is our universe and the other universes within the 400 million light years spectrum. Amongst the guests present were the deputy minister of Science and Technology, Mike Masutha, the UFS chancellor, Khotso Mokhele, together with Professor Nicky Morgan, vice-rector, the MEC of Education, Tate Makgoe, the MEC of Tourism, Mosebenzi Zwane, and Professor Pat Seitzer of the University of Michigan in America. “Jwale ke nako ya kotulo” (today we are harvesting on what we have planted four years go). We are taking a historic step that will change the astro-tourism forever in this country. Naval Hill will become the home of the first digital planetarium in the Sub-Saharan Africa and truly will be a huge success,” said Zwane. Amongst the guests there were five members from the Unicom Primary School in Tweespruit: Lizeppe von Molendorff, the principal of the school, the school’s science teacher, Susan
Usher, and her learners Mbotywase Mafereka, Kagisho Motale, Boitumelo Mokoena and Thabiso Mphakalatsi who won the National Astro Quizz Schools competition which took place on 10 May this year. According to Usher, the learners only took a month to prepare for the competition and the criteria she used to choose the team was simple. She said she placed the learners in groups and she identified those who were interested not according to who was intelligent in the subject. The Old Mutual Foundation’s head, Clarence Tshitereke, was also called to the podium and he announced that next year in June the foundation will be taking the four learners and their teacher to an all-expenses paid trip to Sutherland as, according to Pat Seitzer, it has the most natural but splendid view of the Milky Way and is the place where an astronomer should start visiting when doing research. Makgoe shared the experience felt in the planetarium when it was displayed. “This was an exciting and phenomenal expe-
rience. This experience makes you feel like you are an astronaut,” said Makgoe. He also outlined that the institution would be the best place for aspiring learners to come and experience the horizon opening atmosphere. “One important detail which should be taken note of is that we can’t be importing scientists as astronauts from abroad whereas we have the tools and infrastructure to groom our own scientists and astronauts,” said Makgoe. Prof Matie Hoffman from the Department of Physics at the UFS was delighted by the visit from Minister Direk Hanekom, though in absentia, who said, this recognition and national interest in the project demonstrated the importance of the first digital planetarium in Sub-Saharan Africa to the advancement of science and astronomy. “It is evidence for a facility like this to train the next generation of scientists,” he said.
Get your event in the Express ‘What’s On’ diary What’s on THE deadline for submission of events intended for the What’s On diary is Thursdays at 10:00. Send information via email to: teboho.setena@volksblad.com Welkom S Tswelopele Arts meeting Tswelopele Performing Arts invites parents whose children participate in the organisation’s programme to a meeting set to start on Saturday at 14:00 at no. 18788 Moriqitlane Street in Sunrise View. Issues to be discussed include the formation
THE Khotsong Pri mary School’s mana gement presented merit awards to three educators as voted for by the lear ners for their invalu able contribution in teaching and uphol ding values of tea chers in the public at a prizegiving cere mony held recently. The event wrapped up a monthlong commemoration of World Teachers Day in October. The reci pients are from the left NV Mokoena, PT Morake and N Matle be. The aim of the annual World Tea chers’ Day is to mo bilise more support for teachers. Photo: Supplied
of a management committee, finalising a programme for the school holidays in December and Days of Activism Against Women and Child Abuse. Call Mamello Mosala on 073-1136007 for more details. S Success Quito Crèche graduation This year’s annual graduation of the Success Quito Crèche will be on 3 December. The graduation will be held at the centre’s premises at no.17566, Shuping, starting at 10:00. S Anti-rape campaign
Email: teboho.setena@volksblad.com
Before 10:00 on Fridays
On 9 December the AME Church will host an anti-rape awareness campaign in partnership with the Success Cultural Group, Tswelopele Performing Arts, Reabetswe Youth Centre and Reitz Park Soul Buddyz. Community organisations are invited to participate in the event. Call Teko Matieane on 084-0899656 or Rebecca Mogoera on 079-832- 6992.
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EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2013
For more sports photos and news visit www.expressnews.co.za
OFM MANGAUNG METROPOLITAN CYCLING RACE: The trio who took top honours in the race are from the left Reynard Butler (third), HB Kruger (winner) and Carl Pasio (second). Photo: Voight Mokone
Division starts on low } Teboho Setena
FOOTBALL TEAMS in the Free State campaigning in the South African Football Association’s (Safa) Second Division are set to commence with their fixture this weekend. The cash-strapped football association last Wednesday issued a statement informing clubs that the kick-off had been re-scheduled; the reason being that referees in the Free State had not yet undergone fitness and theory tests to determine their readiness for the start of the season. Safa had initially decided that the league would start last weekend. Normally the league starts in September, but this year’s was delayed due to
financial problems facing Safa. The kick-off was delayed because the football body had been trying to address non-payment of monies towards the 144 teams that campaigned in the Second Division. An urgent meeting between the owners of the clubs and Safa’s national executive led by the newly-elected president Danny Jordaan was held to address the issue of outstanding monies. The meeting was held a week ago in Gauteng. The monies owed to teams include travelling allowances, match officials and prizes for the just-ended 2012-’13 term. The federation failed to pay teams their monies due to financial crisis, apparently arising from alleged mismanagement of funds. This past season the majority of the
clubs had to provide for themselves and had to also take responsibility to pay monies for the match officials assigned to their entire league fixture. Due to non-payment of monies to clubs Safa decided to delay the start of the 2013-’14 season second-tier competition by two months during which it strove to source funding to pay teams their monies. The Goldfields Express reliably learnt that the owners of the clubs had at the two-day meeting reached a consensus to play first league fixtures only if Safa fulfilled its promise to pay teams monies owed for the 2012-’13 season. The football federation’s executive had apparently made a commitment to pay all monies owed to clubs at the latest this week.
The 2013-’14 term will see 147 clubs instead of 144 compete for this year’s Safa Second Division Championship. The increase in the number of the participating clubs by three came after judgement had been passed against Safa in legal matters in three provinces – Free State, Limpopo and North-West. The provinces in question will each have 17 teams in the league instead of the expected 16 as with the other provinces. Safa’s financial crisis developed after long-time sponsor Vodacom ended its sponsorship towards the league two years ago. The association has since then been unsuccessful in securing sponsorship deals for the second-tier league.