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Gangs call a truce Members of rival groups take hands to stop reign of terror

} Teboho Setena RIVAL gangsters, notorious for their reign of terror in Virginia’s township of Meloding, are now trying to end the ill-fated gang wars which have claimed the lives of more than 100 members.

This involved the Makaota, Portuguese, Pakistan, Makgomosha, Vaela, Rasta and One Big Family gangs.

The men who swore to kill one another over what they now see as nonsensical, are trying to rehabilitate each other and reunite to be part of a sober society. They have decided to end their spat, lay down their arms and join together as friends.

This attempt follows intervention by Elias Ace Magashule, the Free State premier, who transported different members of the rival gangs from Odendaalsrus and Virginia to Robben Island in Cape Town in the December holiday.

Subsequent to this, he assigned an intervention unit team to oversee the rehabilitation and reconciliation programme of former gangsters in Goldfields towns.

Rev. Diphoko Tsoaela, representative of the Premier’s Invention Unit Team, says gang conflict involving about 15 rival gangsters, mainly young men within Meloding, have been a cause for grave concern following a spate of brutal revenge killings.

“We felt we could not fold our arms as members continued killing one another,” says Tsoaela.

He says the premier’s initiative to take the gang members to Cape Town was bearing fruit.

“These members adopted a new name and are calling themselves The People of Order, because they want everything to be done orderly. Testimony is that none were involved in any gang activities in this past December holiday.”

Now, long-time rival gangs have called a truce. Further creating a

THE PEACEMAKER: Rev. Diphoko Tsoaela, representative of the Intervention Unit Team in the Free State premier’s office (left), with Dumile Malgas (right, in yellow) during the address about the mission to have former gang members reunite and end gang wars in Meloding, Virginia.

Photo: Teboho Setena

peaceful climate, last Thursday about 30 members who had belonged to the different gang groupings met at the Phahamisang Primary School in Meloding to roll out a cleaning programme which they planned to run in schools in Meloding.

According to Dumile Malgas and Lefu Nkgoa, the facilitators, the

men who participate in the programme no longer want to become involved in and be associated with any gang activities. The two men used to be associated with the group Makaota. They now work to turn over a new leaf in their lives and want to help spread the gospel of peace to end the gang wars which had

crippled the community of Meloding. Malgas says through the programmes initiated they strive to root out gangsterism, reunite all members of gangs and regain the community’s trust after years of subjecting the community to living in fear of their reign of terror.

Nkgoa, whose younger brother was killed in the bitter clash, says

they will work with the stakeholders that include churches, the community, the Office of the Premier and the MEC for Police, Butana Komphela, to bring about the desired change in Meloding.

“We are going to visit high schools where products of gangsterism still exist, to campaign against gangsterism,” says Nkgoa.

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EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY 28 JANUARY 2015

NEWS

Foundation of school journey } Teboho Setena

HANDS ON: Pulane Mohlapo, foundation phase teacher at the Hani Park Primary School, assess work of gr. 1’s Phehello Senkhe and Moleleki Thungwa (right) who, for the first time, are learning to correctly write and read the vowels.

Photos: Teboho Setena

TEACHING children in gr. 1 to read and write is not a task for the faint-hearted.

This is the beginning of a child’s gruelling 12-year journey which culminates in completing gr. 12 successfully.

It is the responsibility of teachers at primary school level to impart valuable knowledge to each child in his or her classroom.

The huge responsibility of primary school teachers is not limited to improving the reading and writing skills of youngsters, but goes far beyond that – setting goals and moulding children into valuable citizens.

More early childhood centres such as crèches and pre-primary schools have been set up recently to gradually help improve children’s development and education.

However, a lot still has to be done to lay a solid foundation to enable children to progress.

Despite the work done in these centres, Pulane Mohlapo, foundation phase teacher at Hani Park Primary in Welkom says the onus still lies with teachers at primary school level to lay the foundation Z teaching a child to read and write. “It is not easy teaching children who only start formal schooling in gr. 1 and where one educator has to attend to 40 children in a classroom, due, to overcrowding,” Mohlapo says.

Some of the learners cannot even hold or handle a pencil, she says. It is then a teacher’s task to teach them basic skills such as grasping a pencil.

“One then discovers that the children has never been to a crèche or pre-primary school where they can learn basic skills that are critical in the long run.

For children such as these learning to read and write for the first time is difficult.”

Mohlapo told Express Goldfields & Northern Free State that she becomes aware of these critical aspects of the children’s development during the first few days and as the year progresses. “You

CREATIVE: Pulane Mohlapo creatively uses a pen to demonstrate to her 40 learners in her class how the vowel “i” differs from the other vowels a, e, o and u. will find out that a child has some disability. Children who start formal schooling and never attended early childhood development centres, lag behind. They are unable to respond correctly when you talk to them. Again you find yourself teaching multilingually in order to make it easier for them to understand. It takes a long time, depending on their psychological make-up,” she says.

Mohlapo believes it is critical and advisable that crèches improve so as to at least introduce educational programmes such as colouring and drawing to enable children to handle a pencil. This would enable them to learn faster at the time they start formal schooling.

Among the findings Mohlapo has made is that children from pre-primary schools (grade R) are better off, because they have some basic skills. They can handle a pencil, draw, colour and read and write their names and surnames.

“In gr. R, there are books that will make it possible for them to start learning to read and write, and practise those fine motor skills. Children with a grade R background cope well and learn faster,” she says.

Mohlapo’s responsibilities

include teaching life skills, home language sotho, English and Mathematics. Despite the difficulties she encounters, Mohlapo loves teaching. During the first two weeks of the school year, her day often consists of calming down learners who cry during the first assessment of their work. “I find myself in the role of a parent and a mother of the nation as a foundation phase teacher. We, the foundation phase teachers, are the ones who lay the foundation for professions,” says Mohlapo.

Research done by the American organisation Learning First Alliance underlines the importance of home reading and recommends the following: ) Children should spend more time reading at home. ) They should read regularly for 20 to 30 minutes each evening. ) Parents can be asked to send in signed forms indicating that children have done their home reading. ) Children should read aloud with their parents, siblings, or others in first grades and silently thereafter. ) The books the children read should be of interest to them and should match their reading proficiency.

Lucky winner drives away with new car } Karen Herbert A BEAUTIFUL smile flashed across Vivienne Bojé’s face as the key she held in her hand unlocked the door of the Spark Campus, making her the winner of this snazzy Chevrolet.

Bojé drove all the way from Jeffrey’s Bay and her effort paid off as she walked away with the main prize in Engo’s For Our Children Project.

Vivienne and her husband, Kobus, are former Free Staters and said they had each bought a ticket for R20 at a butchery in Wesselsbron in the Free State.

The fundraising project for the benefit of Engo Free State was presented for the sixth consecutive year last year.

By simply making a R20 donation, supporters stood a chance to win a new Chevrolet Spark Campus.

A record-number of tickets were sold – 20 566 – and at R20 each, a total of R411 320 was raised. This is 6,43% more than what was raised the year before.

With the help of PwC, five finalists were announced on 9 January.

The finalists were Henk Nieuwoudt from Bethlehem, Renate Serfontein from Koppies, Fanie van Eck from Vierfontein, Bojé and Makgotso Ramosito from Rocklands in Bloemfontein.

The finalists competed last Friday during the main prize draw at Imperial GM Bloemfontein for the Chevrolet Spark Campus valued at R112 400.

THE winner of the car in the For Our Children Project was announced on Friday night. Here are from the left Marijke Vermaak (Engo: public relations – fundraising), Sidwell Guduka (Express journalist), Kobus Bojé (husband of the winner), Vivienne Bojé (winner of the Chevrolet Spark Campus) and Johan Gunther (Radio Rosestad).

Photo: Mlungisi Louw There were many consolation prizes given to the finalists, including accommodation and meals for the finalists and their partners at the Greenleaf Guest Lodge; meal vouchers sponsored

by Ocean Basket and Braza at the Loch Logan Waterfront, dessert sponsored by Fresko at Loch Logan; gift vouchers from Kloppers, accommodation at the Protea Hotel Bloemfontein Central

during a Super Rugby weekend, which also includes Super Rugby suite tickets for the finalists and their partners and gift vouchers from Head Artistry.

This type of fundraising is critical, since state subsidies for welfare organisations are shrinking rapidly.

“Every single contribution is like a spark that ignites the flame of caring,” Magda van

Niekerk, director at Engo, said at the event.

Engo is the largest non-governmental organisation in the Free State.

Their vision is to give hope to children and families in need, the elderly and people with disabilities. Engo Child and Youth Care Centres care for 800 children between the ages of 0 and 18 years, in 34 youth-care centres

across the Free State.

Additional assistance is also provided to about 3 000 children living in dangerous conditions.

The For Our Children Project would not have been possible without the support of sponsors.

This year’s sponsors were Imperial GM Bloemfontein, Radio Rosestad, Volksblad and its regional newspapers, including Express.

EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY 28 JANUARY 2015

3

NEWS

Water quality a big concern “Communities in the municipality have for years been forced to endure erratic water supply, and now they are forced to endure more suffering caused by the municipality’s inability to supply clean and safe drinking water,” he said.

Letuka said the DA had written to Olly Mlamleli, the Free State MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, requesting her department’s immediate intervention in the Masilonyana Local Municipality to ensure that this completely avoidable contamination of drinking water was put to a stop.

“We give Mlamleli seven working days in which to respond positively to our request, failing which, the DA in the Free State will pursue other alternatives to compel the ANC-led government to ensure the supply of clean and safe drinking water to these communities,” said Letuka.

The crisis of clean water also continues to cripple towns such as Kroonstad where residents are forced to buy water, as tap water in this town under the Moqhaka Local Municipality is not drinkable.

Uncovers illegal activity BUSTED: WO David Scott (in the green shirt) carries one of the many bags in which cool drinks worth R250 000, meant for illicit underground gold miners, were kept. The bags were confiscated during a bust by the police in which 14 men (on the ground in the back) were arrested last Wednesday in the St Helena suburb in Welkom.

The suspects face charges of conspiracy to steal gold and attempted gold theft.

Photo: Molly Green

For more photos and news visit www.express-news.co.za or go to the Facebook page and give your opinion on news.

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THERE is fear of the spread of waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea in Free State towns experiencing a poor supply of safe drinking water.

Brandfort and Winburg, towns in the Masilonyana Local Municipality, remain a grave concern.

Residents in both Brandfort and Winburg are battling waterborne diseases.

According to the DA, a medical doctor in Brandfort noticed an increase in the prevalence of waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea after treating a number of patients.

James Letuka, the DA’s member in the provincial legislature, has expressed grave concern regarding the conditions of water being supplied for drinking at the affected towns.

“Tap water supplied to the town carries a strong odour and is brown and green in colour. Must we wait for someone to die before action is taken, like in the NorthWest Province?

Letuka further lamented progress made by the Free State Government in providing safe drinking water in the affected towns.

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EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY 28 JANUARY 2015

NEWS

Constable roots out crime at school THE dedication of policewoman Const.

Ntombe Monnaruri has earned her recognition for intervening to help root out criminal activity at the Thotagauta Secondary School in Thabong, Welkom.

Maj. Gen. Lerato Molale, cluster commander of the Thabong Police Station, presented her with a certificate last Thursday at a joint anti-crime meeting of government departments and the police.

The certificate was presented to Monnaruri following assessment and positive feedback regarding her effort.

WO Malebo Khosana, spokesperson of the Thabong Police Station, said the Thotagauta Secondary School had been identified by the Free State Department of Education as one of the problematic schools classified as the top 100 hotspot schools in the five districts.

“Monnaruri put in extra effort as the adopted cop for this school. She ensured that all relevant stakeholders, the school governing body, school management and the student representative council, worked together to deal with the problems at this school.

“The problems that were highlighted were burglary and theft at this school. In order to bring about safety they had to develop a school-safety strategy, a peer education programme was implemented and anti-bullying training was given to the staff,” said Khosana.

He said the good news following Monnaruri’s intervention was that the Free State Department Education had declared Thotagauta safe. According to Monnaruri, learners were now safe from violent criminal activities such as gangsterism and drug abuse. She maintained that the school was now running smoothly and that there were no unnecessary disturbances.

“I managed to assist this school by

CONST. NTOMBE MONNARURI (second left) received a certificate of recognition from Maj. Gen. Lerato Molale (cluster commander: Thabong) for her intervention work in rooting out crime at the Thotagauta Secondary School in Thabong. At the presentation were Brig. Cois Muller (commander of the Thabong police, left) and Barry Tshabangu, representative of the Department of Education in the Free State (right). strengthening the partnership between all stakeholders and my colleagues. I could not have done it alone and I, therefore, thank everyone who was involved in keeping this school safe.

“I hope this will be sustained to keep this

South Africa needs well-educated citizens

EDUCATION is probably the most devastating and perplexing institution in our country.

It is difficult to identify one single crisis which can be regarded as the major challenge to education.

This is except apartheid which has affected all Z our history, economy and cultural spectrum.

There have been numerous interventions aimed at enhancing South African education, such as modifying the curriculum system. Despite these innovations, South African matric results keep on diminishing.

I base this argument on two pivotal points: Firstly, the number of learners enrolling at the institutions of higher learning (universities and universities of technology) and secondly, the performance of these learners at these institutions, particularly first-year students.

Although the above-mentioned points are critical and should be taken seriously, there’s another ongoing discussion about the number of learners who wrote matric versus a number of learners who enrolled 12 years ago.

From the learners who enrolled 12 years ago in gr. 1 only 52% of them managed to reach matric.

Many academics, essayists and analysts want to know what happened to the other 48% of learners. There are various factors which could have contributed to this decrease, some of which include teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, peer pressure, bullying, domestic violence and other social-related problems.

My biggest concern is that, yes, it is only half of the learners who enrolled 12 years ago who managed to write matric.

However, is it an issue when three quarters of the same half is unable to enter tertiary institutions? Would matric results have been different if all 2002 learners

school safe for future generations,” said Monnaruri.

“In the face of great adversity and personal risk, you showed dedication in dealing with the Thotagauta Secondary School in changing it from a hotspot into a safer environ-

ment for all the learners. This certificate should serve as motivation to you, and other sector managers who have adopted schools should learn from this that it is possible to make a difference in our communities,” said Molale.

My view

Benedict Leteane Social observer

matriculated last year? Is the focus here on quantity or quality?

Institutions of higher learning are incapable of accommodating all the students who have matric exemption, largely due to insufficient funds and space. This can, however, be attributed to learners repeating their first year and occupying the space which could have been allocated to another high school leaver.

Fact is, these learners enter university unprepared. Some institutions of higher learning have developed foundational courses to address the situation.

I am not cynical about the South African education system, it can be the best education system in the world.

The country has some of the best researchers who are able to identify problems and challenges facing the nation’s education system. It is not fair to put all the liabilities on teachers or the minister.

Every citizen of this country needs to make a pledge to assist our future leaders.

After all, these are our brothers, sisters and children. South Africa needs well-educated citizens, not people with certificates who are going to add to the country’s unemployment rate. ) Comment on or express your views about the issue highlighted in this column at www.express-news.co.za. Express Goldfields & NFS welcomes anyone to contribute to the column as public observers or citizen journalists. There is no payment for writers.

Send your opinion piece (not exceeding 450 words) to teboho.setena@volksblad.com.

COMEDIAN Tumi Morake is heading to the Goldfields Conference Centre on 28 February.

Photo: Supplied

Welkom up for a good laugh

SOUTH AFRICAN comedian Tumi Morake is heading to Welkom for a one-night-only comedy show at the Goldfields Casino’s Conference Centre on 28 February.

This will be the comedian’s second stint following the last in July.

She has a knack for keeping audiences laughing throughout her performances.

“Tumi has managed to keep a firm footing as one of a handful of successful female comedians on the corporate and commercial scene,” said Sharika Betts, Goldfields Casino marketing manager.

Morake has shared the stage with popular jokesters from David Kau and Marc Lottering to Stuart Taylor and Chris Forrest at festivals such as Whack

Jobs, Heavyweights Comedy Jam, Blacks Only, King Size Comedy, Have a Heart, Just Because Comedy Festival, The Tshwane Comedy Festival, The Lifestyle South Africa Festival and Old Mutual Comedy Encounters.

The comedy show is scheduled to start at 20:00. Tickets are available for purchase at the Goldfields Casino Customer Service Desk at R100 per person.

Black and Platinum cardholders will receive a discount on the ticket price of up to 20%. Book your spot soon as tickets are bound to sell fast with this female comedy sensation heading to town. For more information, visit www.goldfieldscasino.co.za.

EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY 28 JANUARY 2015

5

NEWS

Five readers can win vouchers EXPRESS GOLDFIELDS AND NFS, in association with Scooters Pizza, is giving away meal vouchers to the value of R150 each to five lucky readers. Get a Slice of the Good Life and enter now. To win one of the five vouchers, simply answer the question correctly: What is Scooters Pizza’s slogan? The competition closes on 30 January.

To enter the competition, go to www.express-news.co.za before the closing date. Provide your details, name and surname, as well as a contact number.

Winners will be notified.

SOUTH AFRICAN house price growth is expected to remain in “the high single digits”.

Be prepared when buying a house SOUTH AFRICAN house price growth is expected to remain in “the high single digits” in 2015, allowing property investors to beat inflation, even as the central bank continues to raise borrowing costs in an effort to quell rising prices, according to Standard Bank.

House price growth averaged 7% in 2014 with marginal real price growth, thanks to a combination of a shortage of housing stock in sought-after areas and a growing appetite among banks to extend mortgages to consumers, says Steven Barker, head of home loans at Standard Bank.

This has helped cushion the effects of rising interest rates, accelerating inflation and constrained economic growth on consumer appetite for purchasing “big ticket” items.

“We think we’ll continue to see real house price growth,” he says.

“While there are pockets of the market in sought-after areas within Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban – where we are seeing growth in the mid-teens, average growth across all segments is likely to remain in the high single digits this year.”

The South African Reserve Bank increased the repo rate twice last year (2014) to curb inflation, which remained above its 6% limit from March to August before easing to an annual 5,9% in September.

The central bank lifted its repo rate by 50 basis points at the end of January and a further 25 basis points in July, taking the repo rate to 5,75%.

“The market pivots around interest rates but while we’re in an upward cycle, Standard Bank does not anticipate a sharp and unexpected increase in

rates this year,” says Barker.

“At the moment, the fundamentals of the housing market continue to be driven by purchases that are triggered by life events such as getting your first job, marriage and starting a family.

“There are still a lot of people in South Africa looking to enter the property market for the first time and for the majority of wage earners, the most accessible part of the market is priced at under half a million rand,” he says.

A continuation in the strong demand for affordable housing stock is expected. These are homes that retail for less than R500 000.

Barker cautions prospective home buyers to carefully assess the affordability of any prospective house purchase by ensuring they have factored in the need for a deposit that can be as much as 20% of a property’s value, as well as legal costs and the possibility of rising interest rates.

Attaining a mortgage below the prime lending rate is not the norm these days and one has to factor an interest rate of prime plus fifty-to-one hundred basis points when looking to purchase.

It is advisable to do your calculations beforehand so that you are prepared.

“You need a 20% deposit for any property priced at more than R2 million and we strongly recommend that you factor in your ability to absorb interest rate increases in terms of your ability to repay your mortgage over the next 12 months.

“Planning ahead for these anticipations can help the purchase of your home become a smoother transaction,” says Barker.

Help to clean up their environment

Raise your hand if you understand EDUCATING THE NATION: The energetic Sebolelo Finger, gr. 3 Sotho teacher at the Hani Park Primary School in Welkom, is hard at work teaching learners the different sounds of the Sotho language. Here they are responding to “medumo”, to which they raise their hands to show they understand.

Photo: Teboho Setena

What’s on Fax information to: 086-676-3805 Email: teboho.setena@volksblad.com Before 13:00 on Wednesdays MELODING sector meetings The Meloding sector invites the community to meetings that will be held today and tomorrow.

Today at 16:00 sector 2 will meet at the Gold Steyn Hostel. The meeting of sector 5 will be at the Albany Sports Grounds tomorrow at 16:00.

FROM the left are Gabriel Mofadi, Daniel Mahlabakoe, Petrus Kraal, Theboho Samane, George Monethi and Patrick Jantjies. They participated in the recent cleaning project of the Hoopstad Correctional Centre. Through the programme parolees and probationers are given a chance to do good in the community.To have photos and stories of your events published, send an email to teboho.setena@volksblad.com.

Photo: Supplied

Prayer service held by police The Bronville police station invites members of the community to a prayer service tomorrow at the Bronville Community Hall, starting at 12:00.

Pastors, bishops, ministers, evangelists, deacons and church leaders who will be part of the service are requested to attend a briefing in the boardroom of

the Bronville Police Station that will start at 11:00.

The purpose of the event is to pray for the safety of police members and the community of Bronville, especially women and children.

Soul Buddyz facilitators meet The Soul Buddyz Club’s facilitators from schools in Thabong are invited to an important meeting that will be held on 5 February at the Tswelopele Primary School. The meeting will start at 14:00.

The aim of the meeting is to identify fund-raising projects, to draft a year plan and details for a cultural festival, as well as a capacity-building workshop for Soul Buddyz Clubs.

For more information please call Saduma Miya on 061-369-5528. ) The deadline for What’s On entries is Wednesday at 13:00. Send information about events to teboho.setena@volksblad.com.

6

EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY 28 JANUARY 2015

NEWS

OFF THEY GO: The Phahamisang Primary School’s enthusiastic athletes, girls aged seven, set off at the starting point of the 100 m sprint event during the school’s athletics meeting held last Thursday in Meloding, Virginia.

Photos: Teboho Setena

On your marks, get set . . . Go!

REBECCA TSOSANE, foundation phase teacher at the Phahamisang Primary School in Meloding, Virginia, helps the learners to line up according to age before their race. The school’s athletics trial was held last Thursday. The event was meant to select athletes to represent the school at the regional athletics meeting in February.

TIGHT RACE FOR THE BALL: Enga Mqini of Super Stars FC (in the red) beats counterpart Athi Khatshwa of Bayern United (in the blue and white) to the ball during the two clubs’ match played on the plain football ground near the B Hostel complex in Thabong, Welkom.

Photos: Teboho Setena

SEVEN-YEAR-OLD boys of the Phahamisang Primary School compete in the 100 m sprint.

MPOTSENG MEI, teacher at the Phahamisang Primary School, explains the rules of the 100 m race to the first-time athletes.

Battling it out for the ball

EATING DUST: Mduduzi Melani of Super Stars FC (in the red and blue) leaves opponents Lindokuhle Silekwa and Sonwabo Nethi of Bayern United FC (in the blue and white) in the dust during the two clubs’ recent match. The game ended in a goalless draw.

EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY 28 JANUARY 2015

7

SPORT

Runners sweat it out in Marathon } Teboho Setena THE blistering heat did not prevent marathon runners from springing into action when the athletic season started off with the 37th edition of the 42 km Mielie Marathon in Welkom last Saturday.

The race is the Free State’s first marathon of the year.

Staged annually, the Mealie Marathon course is flat, prompting a fast pace for the majority of competitors.

However, in last Saturday’s event, runners contended with high temperatures with the mercury rising to 32 °C when participating in the 10 km walking 10 km and 42 km running events.

The intense heat forced the runners to change their tempo and many switched between running and walking in order to complete the Mielie Marathon – one of the oldest races in the Free State.

The heat also prevented some of the runners from improving their personal best times.

Some made it to the finish line at the Welkom Technical High School in the nick of time, just before the cut-off point of five hours.

Those who finished the race within the permitted time,

Some runners made it to the finish line in the nick of time, just before the cut-off point of five hours. received medals for their efforts.

Despite the route of the race going through established residential areas of Welkom, there were not many spectators to spur on the competitors.

This year’s Mielie Marathon served as an easy qualifier for two ultra marathons – the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon over 56 km and the 21 km Half Marathon, staged in Cape Town and the Comrades Marathon over about 90 km in KwaZulu-Natal.

The Two Oceans Marathon will be staged during Easter Weekend on the 3 and 4 April and the Comrades will take place on 31 May. This year’s Comrades will be the 90th edition of this demanding race and will be an uphill -run, starting at the Durban City Hall and finishing at the Oval Cricket Stadium in Pietermaritzburg.

DAVID DUCIE of the Goudveld Multisport club in Welkom leads a pack of runners to finish the 42 km Mielie Marathon. Photos: Teboho Setena

MARIUS STRYDOM of Harmony Striders LEFT: Solomon Gatri, former Bloemfontein Celtic defender, in the home stretch of the 42 km Mielie Marathon.

RIGHT: Marathon winners: The 10 km category winners of the Mielie Marathon with sponsors, are from the left Phillip McLaren (sponsorship representative), Doloress Bondis (10 km winner, senior women), Moepadira Gaopalele (10 km walk senior winner), Samuel Matsepe (10 km winner senior men), and Hendrik Janse van Rensburg (sponsorship representative).

Future bright for u.20s THEY came, they saw and they conquered – that is the story of South Africa’s u.20 national men’s soccer team in the Commonwealth Cup Tournament which ended on Sunday in St Petersburg, Russia.

The victorious side made history when they vanquished big nations like Russia, Belarus and Finland en route to winning the Commonwealth Cup. The South African team beat the Finnish 2-1 to lift the Commonwealth Cup. To cap an incredible two-week tournament, Motjeka Madisha, South Africa’s captain, was named man of the tournament and striker Pule Maraisane was named striker of the tournament.

The team will now focus on the Confederation of African Football Youth Championship scheduled to start in Senegal in March this year.

“It has been an exhausting two-week competition, because in

Sports on

Struggling for possession

Fax information to: 086-676-3805 Email: teboho.setena@volksblad.com

THE striker of Dinonyana FC Ayanda Mabani (green) lost out in a battle for the ball to Swagger defender Nhlanhla Mabena in the Free State leg of the South African Football Association’s (Safa) ABC Motsepe League fixture. The two teams, tied on eight points in the bottom half of the 16-league leg, shared the spoils last Saturday after both teams failed to score in the match played at the Bronville Stadiu.

Photo: Teboho Setena

Before 13:00 on Wednesdays

ORLANDO PIRATES SUPPORTERS CLUB MEETING The St Helena branch of the Orlando Pirates Supporters Club in

most cases it meant playing back-to-back matches and this takes a toll on players as they pick up injuries and fatigue also sets in,” said stand-in coach, David Notoane, who was assisted by goalkeeper coach, Wendell Robinson.

Notoane said unfortunately there was no time to reflect on this sweet victory, because the team had to get back to work and start preparing for Senegal with the main goal not only qualifying for the World Cup, but winning.

While he praised the entire team for a job well done, Notoane admitted they would need to consolidate the squad with all their strong guns going to West Africa and this would include the likes of Ayabulela Magqwaka, Rivaldo Coetzee, Fagre Lakay, Hollandbased Nhlakanipho Ntuli and Tyrone Sadous of Brazil-side Gremio.

– SuperSport Welkom invites all supporters to an important general meeting on 1 February at 4 Peter Crescent.

The meeting is set to start at 10:00.

A representative from the club’s headquarters will give members feedback about the development of supporters’ branches and the provincial structure.

For information call Sammy Baatjies on 071-498-3362.

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EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY 28 JANUARY 2015

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Runners compete in Mielie Marathon

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Harmony side in control } Teboho Setena

GOAL-MOUTH SCRAMBLE: Harmony FC’s goalkeeper Tankiso Pholosi came out on top in a goal-mouth scramble, stopping the goal scoring effort of Sibanye Golden Stars’ Thabiso Ntseki (blue) who had beaten Harmony’s pair of Thamsanqa Mnazana and Tshita Nakeli during the two clubs’ derby played last Saturday at the Bronville Stadium. Stars won 1-0.

Photo: Teboho Setena

Stars take another win } Teboho Setena

THE determination of Sibanye Golden Stars earned them maximum points in a derby against arch-rival Harmony FC in their Safa ABC Motsepe League first-round fixture played last Saturday at the Bronville Stadium in Welkom.

Stars narrowly won 1-0 and the win saw them consolidate their position on the log leaving Harmony with hard work to redeem themselves. The loss saw Harmony temporarily lose ground in the challenge to win the Free State league championship of the Safa ABC Motsepe League.

The all-important goal came late in the second half of the closely-contested derby which saw the two clubs squander clearcut scoring opportunities. Harmony’s agile goalkeeper Tankiso Pholosi pulled breathtaking saves on the goal line to deny Stars

players goals.

In the just-ended season of 2013-’14, Stars overcame Harmony in two league derbies and last Saturday’s win made it three in a row over their local arch-rivals. After outclassing Dinonyana 3-0 in the other derby, Harmony was hoping to win another match to claim the bragging rights of local derbies involving Goldfields clubs campaigning in the second-tier division.

Harmony would have been happy sharing the spoils with Stars in the derby that would have seen them bounce back into the league championship contest after losing 2-0 to newcomers Free State Academy a week ago. Despite it being Harmony’s second defeat in a row, they still retain a spot in the top-five berth in the Safa ABC Motsepe League Free State stream.

Rooted in the fourth place on 19 points,

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Harmony is trailing behind third-placed Roses United (22 points), second-placed Super Eagles (27 points) and leaders FC Hunters (28 points). The Welkom-based outfit can only hope they redeem themselves when they clash against the gutsy Celtic Colts in a tough fixture to be played in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

For Stars the victory in the derby saw them bounce back after their 3-0 hammering by Celtic a week ago. Inspired by the win in the derby Stars can only hope they continue to improve against steadily-improving Mangaung United at the Bronville Stadium (18:00). The club’s narrow 1-0 win over local rivals Harmony improved their chances to claim the bragging rights in the Goldfields derbies.

The other derby results played last November and December are: Stars vs Days FC 4-1, Dinonyana vs Days 3-2.

THE Harmony Sports Academy football side campaigning in the Castle League continues the good fight to retain their status as fellow rookies Young Masters battles to adapt.

The two amateur clubs were promoted via the promotional play-offs last July to the third-tier division of the South African Football Association (Safa) Lejweleputswa region.

Harmony is gradually gaining momentum, boasting with 22 points after 11 matches played, leaving fellow rookies Masters with a single point at the bottom of the 18-league stream.

The latter side from Bothaville earned the point after they had drawn two-all with Real Rovers in the season’s opening league fixture played during October last year.

Despite their promising start in this league, the Masters are finding the going tough.

This league is the gateway to the professional league.

Guided by Pitso Mokoena, former Free State Stars midfielder, the Harmony Sport Academy has won seven matches. Only three games were lost and one was drawn.

Their fine form raises the prospect to finish the 2014-’15 season on a very high note.

If their form is anything to go by, this team is also one of the strong contenders to lift the Safa Lejweleputswa Castle League Championship trophy. They are 11 points adrift from log-leaders Thabong Young Stars, topping with 33 points.

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