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Battle lines drawn DDay for parties after epic end to election campaign 2014
} Boipelo Mere THE final push to convince the undecided voters to consider voting in favour of either the ANC, the DA or the EFF came to an epic end as the three political parties rented bigger venues for their Siyanqoba, Ayisafani and Tshela Thupa rallies respectively. The ANC displayed their super swag with close to 95 000 supporters inside and more supporters outside the FNB Stadium and about 10 000 in the Northern Cape, however not the 20 000 that was expected to attend the event in the Galeshewe Stadium where Pres. Jacob Zuma’s speech was broadcast live on a big screen. According to estimations, there were 20 000 supporters in the Western Cape, 20 000 in the Eastern Cape and 30 000 in KwaZulu-Natal attending rallies in what the ANC call outflow areas. An all in all estimation of 245 000 people attended ANC rallies in one day. Close to 5 000 people attended the DA rally in the Coca-Cola Dome, Johannesburg. The new kid on the block, EFF, managed to gather more than 30 000 people in Atteridgeville in their closing rally. It was however a disappointment for supporters from outside Kimberley who were bussed in to hear on their arrival in Galeshewe that the president would not be there in person, but that they would have to listen to a live broadcast from the FNB Stadium. Zuma was his usual self, leading his die-hard supporters in singing the Madela kufa song Ide lindlela. His speech, filled with statistics, was stately as if for diplomats and far removed from the electioneering mood reigning in the stadiums. Almost half of the people left the stadium, and the same happened in Galeshewe. Julius Malema, on the other hand, gave a mouth-watering speech in Sepedi. He spoke off the cuff, addressing every day problems. Malema brought the stadium down with laughter as he described how on his imagined first day in parlia-
MAKE YOUR MARK: With a simple X you will ensure that South Africa remains the best place to live in. Express encourages all its readers and Free State citizens to go out and exercise their hardwon right to vote. Remember to visit the voting station where you are registered and vote before 21:00. ment he and other members of his party would attend in overalls and their berets as a sign that they were going to work. Earlier when the EFF started their rally, the Gauteng premier candidate Advocate Dali Mpofu
demonstrated how the physical removal of the e-toll system would be done if they were to rule that province. Analysts agree that the ANC will win this election, probably not with a two third majority,
while the DA will retain their official opposition status. The EFF is poised to be third on the list with the possibility of being part of a coalition government in Gauteng. A challenge for the official
opposition in the Northern Cape, Cope, is that some of their high profile leaders recently defected to the ANC. Cope’s national chairperson, Pakes Dikgetsi, thinks that the party is still in good standing and is not affected by that move.
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Voting not about numbers only, every vote counts } Emily van der Merwe MOTHER THERESA once said: “If I looked at the masses I would never act”. Maybe all young voters who have lost faith should stop looking at collective power and start considering how poor our democracy would be without their individual vote. Student apathy remains a much-debated topic, but ironically is always addressed to the wrong group and thereby hangs the phrase of “preaching to the converted”. Looking at students on the whole (and disregarding individuality for the sake of this exercise), there is a multitude of things that we simply do not worry about: global warming, women’s rights, civil unrest in the Central African Republic and our annual Student Representative Council (SRC) election.
Last year, less than 16% of all students at the Stellenbosch University voted in the SRC election. Accordingly, there are very few things that students, in general, care about. So few indeed, that I have had to think quite hard to come up with examples. From afar, it would seem that most students simply cannot be bothered with anything beyond their immediate lives (academics, friends, internet connection-speed and parking restrictions). This is, if we accept that enthusiasm, is manifested by mass-participation. But I have reason to think that this approach is incorrect. For if we are to believe that one person can make a difference by caring – cue Dr Seuss: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” – We cannot possibly measure contributions by
numbers. I am part of a generation of South Africans known as “born-frees”, or people who have been born since the dawn of South Africa’s democracy. Many believe us to be the “wind of change” in South African politics when we vote for
the first time in May. This is not only an unfair burden to place on the shoulders of a group of 20-year-olds, it is also very unlikely to be the case when we descend on voting stations on 7 May. Of the possible 2 million born-frees who are eligible to vote, only 680 000 have registered this year, according to the Independent Electoral Commission. Even if every one of them does cast a ballot, theirs will amount to less than 3% of the total vote. It is thus highly unfeasible that this group should pose a serious threat to the ruling party. But again I rely on the notion that numbers are not the only thing that brings about change. There is something to be said about the enthusiasm of the individuals who do take voting seriously and who do believe that
they can contribute, no matter what the statistics say. Because the simple fact of a democracy is that every vote counts. It is therefore not student apathy or indifference that prevents born-frees (and their slightly older counterparts) from making the difference they are able to, but perhaps rather a disbelief in the power of their vote. While born-frees account for a very small percentage of voters in this year’s elections, estimates suggest that by 2019, when the next presidential election is held, one third of South African voters could be born-frees. It remains to be seen if these numbers will lead to change. But for my part, the change will occur when I make my first mark on an election ballot on 7 May, confident that my vote is significant.
Important to follow your dream } Boipelo Mere THE audience ended up singing along, clapping, dancing, ullulating in jubilation after the stunning performance of Letlhogonolo Nche. Nche is a member of the Mayibuye Dance Academy, who gave the dance performance of My gift during the Northern Cape Dance Stages over the weekend. Ignoring his dream, he decided to rather take his career the professional route and become a doctor, which was the biggest mistake of his life, as his life became a mess after he could not concentrate on his job. Whatever he did, he could hear the rhythmic beats and ended up dancing to it. He would even use his office desk to dance on, on a daily basis. Life only went back to normal after he had faced reality and followed his dream of becoming a dancer. That was the message that he was sending to his audience during his performance. At the end of the show he told the audience in short that dancing was not something to talk about or to discuss, it was all about performing. The Northern Cape Dance Stages was organised by the academy, where Letlhogonolo and his fellow dancers, who are post-matric second-year students, performed. Letlhogonolo’s piece alone communicated about dance as a choreographer’s gift. It touches the stories of following one’s dream no matter what may come your way. It is further aimed at inspiring people to start taking their talent seriously and build their careers out of it in order to do something that one loves and that is fulfilling at the end of the day. Although the event was not as successful as expected, it surely brought hope that theatre could be revived in the Northern Cape. According to the Spanish associate choreographer at the academy, Lizelle Julie, she was impressed by the dedication shown
by the dancers in their first show. “It took them some time to start showing the evident emotions and expressions on stage,” she said. Referring to the message that the group dancers were displaying, Julie said they were indeed sending the right message to the audience, which was an opportuni-
THE secondyear postmatric students of the Mayibuye Dance Academy mesmerised their audience on the stage over the weekend. Photos: Boipelo Mere
ty to relate to what was happening on stage. She confidently stated that it was quite disappointing to see the many empty chairs at the event, even though all the tickets were sold out. But due to other events happening in Kimberley, it was evident that arts and theatre still had a long way to gain recogni-
tion. She, however, said the academy would work hard in getting theatre back to Kimberley. “We promise a more successful show next year as we would have created more awareness about our existence,” added the choreographer. A youth member in the audien-
ce, Onalenna Sellwane, said bringing theatre back was a good thing. “This shows that there is still a lot to be done to revive theatre here. It also shows that people do not know how to appreciate arts.” ) Go to www.express-news.co.za for a video on the group performance and Letlhogonolo Nche.
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Disaster still not forgotten } Tladi Moloi ALBERT LOUW (62) says he wishes May wasn’t on the calendar. He has requested the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) to help them forget what they had gone through 11 years ago. Louw is one of the ten survivors of the Saulspoort Dam bus disaster which killed 51 Cosatu-affiliated trade union members who were travelling from Kimberley to a major May Day Rally in Qwaqwa when the bus they were travelling in plunged into the Saulspoort Dam near Bethlehem. “Every year at this time I can’t sleep because of bad dreams. I hear the voices of people screaming for help and those are late comrades,” he says. Louw says for the past 11 years he has struggled to put the event behind him. He says that he will suffer from this pain for the rest of his life. “I was forced to watch when my comrades died because I could not help them. I want to thank Len Slabbert, because he saved our lives that day. I would not be here celebrating today if it were not for him. I, however, believe that something could be done to help us forget. Counselling of some sort will do. I am
calling on Samwu to help us,” he says. Louw spoke during the May Day Bus Disaster commemoration service which was organised by the Dihlabeng Local Municipality in conjunction with the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality from Kimberley. Tjhetane Mofokeng, the executive mayor of Dihlabeng, thanked members of Cosatu, Samwu and the families of the deceased for honouring their request to come and commemorate the day with them. “Altogether 11 years ago at this time we were woken up with bad news. We could not believe it when they told us that a bus full of people had plunged into the dam. It was very cold that day and when I got there, there indeed was a bus in the dam,” he says. David Molusi, the executive mayor of the Sol Plaatje Municipality, said he was happy that the mayor of Dihlabeng had seen it fit that they could come to Bethlehem to celebrate the lives of those who had died in the dam. “God is great. I have been the mayor for four months and Louw was one of the people who welcomed me. We want to thank Slabbert who bravely saved our comrades,” he says. ) Visit express-news.co.za for more pictures.
The big day is here } George Mutloane IT has been six months now since the posters appeared. The posters first encouraged South Africans to register for the elections and only later did the posters about canvassing appear. Today those who have registered, are bound to line up at their different voting stations to secretly give the thumbs up to a party of their choice. But what has this elections brought us? Apart from Malema and his Economic Freedom Fighters and Agang SA of the highly respected academic Dr Mamphele Ramphele, these elections brought the reality that indeed millions of South Africans are suffering and they need help urgently. The problem is, both the ruling party and the opposition always shelve the suffering of the people until the next elections. The opposition will remove this from its can of worms and dangle the suffering around for all to see, while the government will open its own bag and dangle a myriad of deliveries for all to see. This normally lasts until the eve of the
elections and after the elections, the same political parties who have been calling each other names, will meet at an appointed place to share the spoils, each according to the X’s accumulated. The problem with the elections is that you cannot have all these people in parliament, because the constitution of South Africa demands that we only send 400 people to the national parliament and a varying number to provincial legislatures. A practical choice would have been to send them all to the legislative institutions in equal numbers, give them different listed tasks and see who amongst them do a diligent work. It would help if they were assigned different tasks and the citizens got an updated result biannually. That is not to be, accordingly since we are heralded all over the world as having the best constitution, it is proper for Northern Cape Express to proclaim the famous phrase: May the best party win.
NEO LITHEBE (sur vivor), Tjhetane Mo fokeng (executive mayor of the Dihla beng Local Munici pality) and David Molusi (executive mayor of the Sol Plaatje Local Munic ipality) at the Sol Plaatjie Monument in Bethlehem where wreaths were laid in remembrance of the 51 Cosatuaffiliated trade union mem bers who died in 2003. Photo: Tladi Moloi
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The freedom to talk about freedom } Boipelo Mere THE Freedom Day Orators competition turned out to be an eye-opener for both learners, teachers and the South African Local Government Association (Salga). This one-day event for learners was held at the Salga offices last week as part of Salga’s Freedom Month celebrations. Although the competition only resulted in one winning school, the topic of the day, A better place to live in, proved to be a fun and educational experience. The learners had to elaborate on the topic by touching on sub-topics, including Learn about the value of freedom and the pain South Africa went through in order to achieve it; Replace the negative perceptions about service delivery (in local government) to more positive ones of appreciating where we are now in comparison to where we come from; and Celebrate and appreciate the attainment of freedom and democracy in South Africa. The Dr EP Lekhela Secondary School, St Boniface High School and Northern Cape High School were the three schools that participated in the debate in the presence of educators, parents, and stakeholders from the offices of the executive mayors of the Sol Plaatje and Frances Baard Municipalities. The event was also graced by the presence of the runner-up for Mrs South Africa 2014, Lizzy Staffa, and a Noord-Kapenaar nominee of the year, Mark Kotze. According to Tsholofelo Mhiko of the St Boniface High School, who was declared the winning school, to them (learners) the competition was not about winning, but a platform to express themselves as the youth. She said the reason why they had won the competition is
THE three schools that participated in the Freedom Day Orators competition, organised by Salga, together with with their motivational speakers.
Photo: Boipelo Mere
because they had spoken about what they are experiencing as young people. “It is an honourable privilege for us to have won, but this was not about competing with other schools; it was about us expressing our thoughts about how we feel about South Africa being a better place as compared to other countries.” Ntesang Kgechane of the Dr EP Lekhela Secondary School appreciated the platform for expressing their views. She said the programme was motivation for her inactive school debate team and added that it would give them more exposure. According to Kgechane, she would love to partake in a similar
session in the future as they learned a lot from one another during the interactions. “It sounded like we had experienced the oppression and inequality that our grandparents went through. What we have to do is to make the best of this situation.” Kamohelo Lebakeng and Joy Mokgoroane of the Northern Cape High School said it was a great expe- rience to brainstorm with their groups about how they could change the negative experiences of today’s freedom into positives and to use it to their own benefit as young South Africans. Staffa, who delivered a guest speech, encouraged the youth to vote as a- form of practising their freedom of speech.
“That is why you have to vote; it is a way of contributing to the future of this country. She said she had learned through her personal experience as a finalist that today’s freedom had to be utilised fully. “It is through this freedom that I was a finalist in the Mrs South Africa pageant, otherwise it would still be limited to others.” Willie Johnson, the chairperson of Salga in the Northern Cape, said the programme was aimed at hearing from the youth about how they felt about freedom since 1994. “We need to get a sense of how they feel, then assess and evaluate whether they are ready and understand how they feel,” he said.
Johnson added that they intended to engage with other districts to persuade them to have similar programmes at education level. He highlighted that although they (Salga) noticed the confidence and eagerness of the learners in participating in the programme, they were still not as well informed about Salga. “We need to approach the schools in order to educate the learners about ourselves. We will embark on a programme in due course to implement a programme when the schools reopen,” promised the chairperson. ) Go to www.express-news.co.za to listen to a St Boniface High School learner telling how they won the orators competition.
Cooks now paid } Boipelo Mere
THE executive mayor of the Frances Baard District Municipality, Kgadi Moloi, led the National Anthem during the event. Behind her is the MEC of Social Development, Tiny Chotelo. Photo: Boipelo Mere
THE Northern Cape soup kitchen cooks will from now earn a stipend of R1 552,98 for seven months which is bound to increase to R1 688,20 for the remaining five months of the financial year. This was announced by the MEC for the Department of Social Development in the Northern Cape, Tiny Chotelo, when she launched the partnership programme between her department and the Department of Roads and Public Works in Warrenton last week. The programme, from which 333 cooks in the province will benefit, enables the Department of Roads and Public Works to contribute towards the payment of stipends from their respective Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) budgets for the 2014-’15 financial year. Unlike in the past when the cooks used to be paid from the funding provided to the soup kitchens, they will now be paid directly from the EPWP. According to the MEC, who was flanked by Kgadi Moloi, the
executive mayor of the Frances Baard District Municipality, Bisto Monopole, the Magareng mayor, and councillors, it previously meant that a considerable portion of the funds allocated for the daily operations of the soup kitchens were for salaries. She also highlighted that the partnership was an effort by the two departments to ensure that the soup kitchens would operate five days a week. She elaborated on allegations that cooks stole and mismanaged funds for food and the procedures for accounting for every cent allocated to them. Chotelo also said the partnership was aimed at bettering the lives of the cooks. Chotelo encouraged the community to stand together and support their needy neighbours. ) Go to the Express website at www.express-news.co.za and listen to Chotelo elaborating on how they monitor the soup kitchen funds. Also go into Express videos on this website and see how being a soup kitchen cook has changed Magdeline Marumolwane’s life.
EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE , WEDNESDAY 7 MAY 2014
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Love is (colour) blind
DYLAN MYBURGH and Lerato Modise. } Oteng Mpete
THE married couple Faheeza en Shiraz Morris.
GRANT RICHARDSON and JoAnna Lu.
Photos: Conrad Bornman
THE heart of South Africa is embracing an idea that would have been unthinkable 20 years ago: interracial relationships. In 1927 the Immorality Act was designed to ensure that the union between whites and non-whites would be illegal. This act allowed their homes to be raided. Those found guilty of such unions would be arrested and intimate artefacts from their homes would be used as evidence in court of their blatant defiance of the law. Once the Immorality Act was repelled in 1985, it was clear that white rule was coming to an end. Black and white With the celebration of our 20-year-old democracy came also a challenge to find positive stories that have transpired over this period. Lerato Modise and Dylan Myburgh are a handsome pair and at first glance one would be oblivious to the fact that they are an interracial couple. “When I realised that he was not perfect I knew I had to be with him,” said 25-year-old Modise. “I realised that she was a blessing,” said Myburgh, the 26-year-old manager of BellaSarmie. The one thing that they both agree on is that they never took each other’s race into consideration. Myburgh and Modise are one of very few couples that are fortunate enough to receive support and understanding from both sides of their families. This is probably because both Modise and Myburgh are children of mixed race couples. They both will be voting in the upcoming national elections. They assertively express that the state of current political affairs is purely based on antics and gimmicks. They hope that in time South Africa’s government will provide societal transparency and consistency. The couple believes that there should not be any racial classifications for South Africa to become a colour blind society. “We have never experienced discrimination as a couple,” said Modise. Myburgh retorted: “There are certain places that make me uncomfortable. We get stared at and are given dirty looks. I can handle being stared at by five or ten people. However, when 30 people are making it difficult for us to enjoy our dinner, then I feel like we are being discriminated against and I leave. “If South Africans would adopt a humanist approach, interracial couples would not experience hostility,” said Myburgh.
Not a new thing in South Africa Interracial couples are not new in South Africa; some iconic couples include renowned 90s television personality Dali Tambo and his wife of 15 years, Rachel Tambo. The now divorced politician Mosima Tokyo Sexwale and Judy van Vuuren, who were married for 20 years is another example. East and west Grant Richardson, an assistant researcher at the University of the Free State’s Medical Faculty, knew he had to be with 24-yearold professional nurse Jo-Anna Lu the moment a mutual friend introduced them at a braai. Richardson was concerned about how his family would react the first time they met Lu. “Within the first five minutes of meeting Jo-Anna, they loved her,” said Richardson. “My family is old school and they grew up in that (conservative) era. My great-grandfather came to South Africa during the Boer War, that is how white I am, but my decision to be with Jo-Anna was unconscious.” For Lu her decision to be with Richardson was a natural one. Lu’s parents are of different ethnicities. “My mother is a white woman with blonde hair and blue eyes and my father is Taiwanese. “We have never experienced discrimination as a couple,” said Lu. Lu has had her fair share of discrimination; she recollects: “When I was in high school, a boy told me I was not white enough for him to date. I have since learned to overlook such com-
ments and ignore the bad.” Lu has been exposing Grant to Asian dishes. “Chicken feet are delicious. Grant is trying and is open to suggestion but he does not always like what I try and force on him,” chuckles Lu. “We want children and mixed babies are the best. Our children will be taught and will understand exactly who and what their parents are,” said Richardson. The couple will be voting together. They both think that South Africa is headed in the right direction. “If we can be given all the principles of good governance, we will have a better South Africa. We need justness and fairness from our government,” said Lu. Grant’s sentiments are that it will take up to four or five generations to justify and correct the injustices of apartheid but it will happen. It is now easier to fall in love On 27 April 1994, the one-manone-vote dream became a reality. The realisation of this dream meant a new South Africa. A South Africa that would eradicate all unjust laws from the apartheid era, ultimately ensuring that South Africa belongs to all those who live in it. Nelson Mandela urged all to forgive and reconcile and these very messages resonate through the relationships of these interracial couples. Love in the age of technology makes interracial interaction far easier than going up and talking to someone of a different race. More than half of South Africa’s population never willingly engage a person of a different race. This is according to a study done by
the Institution of Justice and Reconciliation. Mild and spicy “The first time I met Shiraz was when I found out that he was white,” said Faheeza Morris, a 26-year-old Indian women. “We met online in a chatroom; I was 17 years old. We physically met when I was 20 years old, in front of Sweets from Heaven in Mimosa Mall. “I knew that I was going to marry this woman,” said Werner Shiraz Morris, 28. Faheeza grew up in Wepener, a small town near the border of Lesotho. Faheeza recalls that she and her sister were the only children of colour in the school. The community was predominately white Afrikaans in 1993, but they accepted our family. I never experienced any discrimination,” said Faheeza. “My father wanted me to be with a good Indian man from India so it was hard for him to initially accept my relationship with Werner.” Shiraz was born in Hermanus and comes from a staunch Afrikaans home. His decision to be with Faheeza was not received very well by his family. “Right up to our engagement, my mother thought that my relationship with Faheeza was a phase and that I would eventually get over it. My family is very Afrikaans; my ancestors were probably on the same boat that Jan van Riebeeck came on,” said Shiraz. The couple decided to be together even though they were completely different people. Morris converted to Islam for his
bride because it was important for her grandmother. He did that for two years and he followed all the rites and passages to become Shiraz, his Muslim name. The couple had to have two weddings to accommodate their families; a traditional Indian wedding with a red dress and a traditional church wedding with a white dress. Since their wedding, both families have reconciled with the couple and support their union. The couple has been married for two years, with no plans of having children any time soon. “We are still learning how to enjoy each other and work through all the quirks we face each day,” said Shiraz. The couple shares completely different viewpoints on politics. Faheeza will be voting alone. Even though she has not made up her mind about which party she will be voting for, she knows what she expects from the government. “Transparency and a government that is not selfish is important.” “I have no interest in politics but I do believe that South Africa has a great future. We were able to achieve what most countries cannot; a democracy without war or bloodshed. I can be proud of that,” said Shiraz. Faheeza’s hope for South Africa is that South Africans can learn to open up to people of different ethnic backgrounds. Even after apartheid, South Africa remains largely a racially segregated country, in that the different racial groups lead separate existences. The consensus is that most South Africans agree that reconciliation and moving forward is essential. Keep our future safe The responsibility of rectifying, this past lies with the current generation of young people, not only simply taking up the inherent role of being the custodians of these freedoms, but also the burdening role of being the safe keepers of the constitution of the republic. The urbanisation of Bloemfontein will indeed create opportunities for people of different ethnic backgrounds to interact, even though South Africans find it easier to identify with people who speak the same language or share the same cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Interracial couples break these constricts and create a story that is worth telling; a story that celebrates the growth of our young democracy, a story of progress, hope and determination. A new South Africa was indeed possible and not a misplaced dream.
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Kotze shows strength } André Botha “IF you dig, you find your strengths and then you become independent.” This is the lesson that Mark Kotze tries to teach young people – the lesson he learned when he was in prison. Kotze was sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment in 1998 (of which three years were suspended) for his part in a robbery at the former Trust Bank in which R502 000 was stolen. He was a clerk in the bank and his role was to calm the staff. He served four years of his sentence before he was released on parole. Then he worked for the National Institute for Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation of Offenders (Nicro). Now he manages the Tsosoloso Community Centre in Vergenoeg where a soup kitchen, as well as literacy classes, are operated. He also offers motivational talks at community centres and also has his own comedy show in which he transmits a message the comical way. “I realized when I was in prison that I had no direction. I had an idea of my strength, but did not realize how much I had.” He said after he came out of prison, he walked into another prison. “I had a label. I began to
MARK KOTZE, a nominee for Volksblad and Kumba Iron Ore’s Northern Cape Personality of the Year Competition, speaks about his work in the communi ty. Photo: Emile Hendricks realize who I really was, that I had the strength in me.” Now he teaches others to find their inner strength and to discover that they do own the power. The community centre for young people and the aged became a place where they did not only get food, but also learned valuable life lessons. Kotze also wrote a book titled Arrested . . . without the right to remain silent.
NC beauty needs your support
} Boipelo Mere
“VOTING for me will be lifting the Northern Cape flag high, because I have a vision that will benefit everyone in the province.” These were the words of the Northern Cape runner-up for the Mrs South Africa 2014 competition, Lizzy Staffa, during her campaign at the recent Freedom Day Orators competition for learners. “I will unlock opportunities for everyone.” According to Staffa, the SMS votes which she is pleading for from Northern Capers, are for Miss SA Public Choice. She still has to work hard, as it is still within her to win. Staffa dismissed reports that the Northern Cape was still lagging behind when it came to supporting its own through SMS or poll competitions. She said she refused to believe that she would not stand a chance if that was the
FROM the left with the Volksblad Floating Trophy for the best indoor exhibition are Des Bothma, NEC member of SANParks’ honorary rangers, Victor Mokoena, new tour ism and marketing manager of SAN Parks’ Northern Cluster, Christo Louw, vicechairman of the SAN Parks Honorary Rangers' Free State region and coordinator of the exhi bition project, Zwidofhela Netshau lu, SANParks sales and marketing department, and John Martiens, camp duty manager at Golden Gate Highlands National Park. THE stand also attracted visitors from other provinces. With honorary rangers Veronica and Louis van der Westhuizen (Free State region) are Engela Strydom from Vryburg and Renier Botha from Jan Kempdorp.
Exhibition a winner } Christo van Staden
THE Northern Cape runnerup for the Mrs South Africa 2014 competition, Lizzy Staff, needs your vote. Photo: Salga NC only way to win the pageant. “I am confident that I will get good results, because I have been receiving a lot of support from the province. It started off slowly, but it is getting there.” To vote for Staffa, SMS the Lizzy Staffa to 35959 or like her Facebook page (Lizzy Sebati Staffa).
THE SANParks exhibition at the Bloem Show has won the Volksblad Floating Trophy for the best indoor exhibition on the show this year. The exhibition, designed by the SANParks’s Honorary Rangers’ Free State Region, focused on the Golden Gate Highlands National Park and Mokala National Park, the two parks closest to Bloemfontein. The region every year takes responsibility for the SANParks stand at the show and members do duty at the exhibition, side by side with personnel from SAN-
Parks. Together they answer questions and inquiries from the public, promoting all the parks under SANParks’s management. Victor Mokoena, newly-appointed tourism and marketing manager of SANParks’s Northern Cluster, who also did duty at the stand, congratulated the team, who also won a gold medal this year. “I have been to a number of SANParks’s exhibitions where we had a stall, but this stand was the most beautiful I have ever seen,” he said. “The trophy is well-deserved. Clearly a lot of work has gone into the exhibi-
tion.” Mokoena said SANParks was really honoured to have honorary rangers with this level of commitment in the region. Div Bosman, chairman of SANParks’s Honorary Rangers’ Free State Region, described this “as a major achievement for us as a team after many years of hard work on this project”. He expressed his thanks to all the team members who worked together to make this possible. The stand received numerous compliments from the public visiting the show, that ran from 24 April to 3 May.
Donation welcome surprise for Child Welfare } Boipelo Mere
PETER GUTHRIE, general manager of the Flamingo Casino, Alvin Botes, MEC for Coopera tive Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Elmien Fredericks, Child Wel fare South Africa: Kimberley, Jacob Babuseng, a trustee, Ugen Govender, Sun International commercial manager for Casinos South Africa, and Peter Palweni, a trustee. Photo: Supplied
IT was a big surprise for the Child Welfare South Africa manager, Elmine Fredericks, when she received a call two weeks ago to attend a fund-raising event at the Flamingo Casino. She said she had only been told that her NGO was going to receive a donation after Abel Mjila, the chairman of the Northern Cape Gambling Board, had paid a visit to their premises in Galeshewe last year on Mandela Day. She was not aware that the organisation was going to be turned around for the best. “It only dawned on me when I was called to the stage to accept a cheque of R120 000 that sometimes people do see the hard work you put in and good work that you do,” she said. Child Welfare was one of the first two organisations to receive a donation from the newly-launched Teemane Northern Cape Community Trust (TNCCT). The other donation of R187 000 went to the Dr Izak van Niekerk Primary School in Bergsig, Springbok.
The TNCCT was launched to administer development funding to communities in need of socio-economic change. The trust is reported to have become a direct shareholder with the Flamingo Casino and will utilise the dividents it receives on community upliftment projects. The TNCCT has also been working closely with the Gambling Board to identify the two projects for the launch. “I didn’t think that it would be such a huge amount. Even after Mjila had observed everything and asked me to make a list of everything we needed. “It was something like a wish list, because we knew that we did not have money.” According to Fredericks, their next step is now to determine between the needs from their three service areas where financial contribution is urgently needed. Revealing Child Welfare’s three service areas, Fredericks said it was the Sinothando Child and Youth Care Centre, two of their childhood development centres and their social service unit.
EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE , WEDNESDAY 7 MAY 2014
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NEWS
Win a breakaway at scenic Golden Gate THE Glen Reenen Rest Camp in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park is not only the oldest camp in the park, but also the heartbeat from where most of the activities in the park are launched. The restcamp is situated between the well-known sandstone cliffs in the park, and the ideal position from where visitors can enjoy the brilliant, colourful shades cast by the sun on the sandstone rocks, especially the imposing Brandwag Buttress, keeping vigil over the camp. The restcamp, erected in 1963 with the proclamation of Golden Gate as a national park, consists of 31 self-catering chalets, all fully equipped and with a neat, comfortable and classy interior. Nine of the rondavels are divided in two – interlinked with a door. The other rondavels have a loft serving as a second bedroom. There are also family cottages in the camp, accommodating four to six people. Apart from the hiking trails as well as the horse trails that all start here, there is also a natural swimming pool next to the camp. Glen Reenen is a destination for every nature lover who needs to break away to a haven of peace, beauty and hiking. For more information on Glen Reenen and Golden Gate, go to www.sanparks.co.za, or call the national park on 058-255-1000. ) Express and SANParks today start a brand-new competition in which one lucky reader who
enters before 28 May stands a chance to win a weekend stay for a family of four in the Glen Reenen Restcamp. All you need to do, is to visit the Express website at www.express-news.co.za and follow the instructions to enter.
You only need to answer an easy question. The closing date is 28 May. ) The winner of a weekend for four at the Basotho Cultural Village in Golden Gate is Joseph Rantseke. This competition ran in April.
A MARCH by the community as a whole was done on Thursday. People from Colville, De Beers, New Park and Galeshewe marched and prayed to show their concern about the situation in Kimberley regarding social ills. Foto: Supplied
Social ills addressed A MASSIVE march by parents, children and the community as a whole was held on Thursday. People from Colville, De Beers, New Park and Galeshewe marched and prayed to show the concern for the situation in Kimberley regarding social ills. The Prophetic Generation 13 (PG13), is a Christian movement started in Kimberley to address several social ills such as substance abuse, broken families and Satanism. It comprises stakeholders such as the Kimberley community, SAPS Men for Change, SAPS Women’s Network, Nicro, Sanca, Famsa, Childline, Business Against Crime, Community Police Forums, Youth Against Crime, Women
Against Crime, NGO’s and schools. Lt. Sergio Kock, police spokesperson, says in Kimberley and Galeshewe children as young as ten years fall prey to glue sniffing, smoking dagga and Madrax and the use of okka pipes mixed with drugs. Kock said the movement handed over a memorandum to Councillor Daniël Lekoma (representing the Sol Plaatje Municipality) requesting a drug rehabilitation centre in Kimberley. “It is proposed that the contents of this memorandum be discussed with the relevant stakeholders such as the premier of the Northern Cape, MEC for Health and the Mayoral Committee.”
PUBLIC NOTICE
THE interior of the chalets.
Photo: Victor Mokoena
ABOVE: The rondavels at the Glen Reenen Rest Camp against the backdrop of the winter land scape in the park.Photo: Victor Mokoena
BELOW: To the left of the picture are the green roofs of chalets at Glen Reenen. The trees are hiding the caravan park, and to the right is the Brandwag Buttress. Photo: Supplied
Application for the trial release of genetically modified organisms Monsanto South Africa (Pty) Ltd, PO Box 69933, Bryanston 2021, hereby announces that an application will be made for authorisation to conduct confined field trials with genetically improved maize. These confined field trials form part of a larger field trial program to develop and evaluate drought tolerant maize hybrids for sub-Saharan Africa. These trials will be a continuation of previously approved field trials with these hybrids in South Africa. The recombinant DNA in these maize hybrids is derived from the bacterium Bacillus subtilis and codes for the production of a protein, cold shock protein B, which enables maize plants to be more tolerant to abiotic stress conditions. Neomycin phosphotransferase type II gene was used as a selectable marker gene. The transformation method used was Agrobacteriummediated transformation of embryonic maize cells. The trial release will take place in the Northern Cape (Hopetown district) and Free State (Orania district). The trials will be approximately 6-10 ha in size. The environment immediately surrounding the trial sites may include vegetables, maize, soya beans and natural veld. Further information regarding the application can be obtained from the Registrar. All interested parties should submit comments/objections to: The Registrar: Genetically Modified Organisms Directorate Biosafety Private Bag X973 Pretoria 0001. Fax (012) 319 6329 All comments/objections must be received within 30 days from publication of this notice.
Success lies in one solution
uppe marketing A10743/NCE
} Christo van Staden
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EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 7 MAY 2014
Tournament a huge success } Boipelo Mere
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BUILD IT in Christiana promises their community another, more successful, local soccer tournament on their home ground. This came after the company has fully sponsored an u.13 tournament at the Geluksoord Stadium the previous weekend in an effort of developing the community. Build it sponsored the winning team a kit that consists of a team trophy, players trophies, bags, balls, as well as a player of the tournament trophy. They also presented an officials kit that consists of players bibs, match balls, corner flags, referee outfits and water bottle sets from the South African Football Association (Safa). This can be used after the tournament to further develop soccer in the community. The company promised to work on all their weaknesses that they had noticed and experienced. The successful launch of the tournament saw young talent unleashed as 16 u.13 soccer teams (six school teams and ten league teams) from across the town to battle it out. Nana Bikwane, the owner of Nana Stars FC, was the proud winner to lift the winning trophy after her team had bravely beaten Asec Mimosa 1-0 in the final. The tournament was Safa recognized, regulated and supported. According to the community members, for a change the tournament succeeded in rather drawing the flow of traffic from the nearby taverns to the stadium on Saturday. “It was fantastic,” said Michelle Muller from Build it Christiana. According to the president of Safa in the region, Teenage Leslie, they feel honoured for having organized this kind of tournament. The tournament is expected to be a boost for the junior league that has been running with nine teams. He said the tournament had made a great impact as it would encourage local teams, including
THA Nana Stars FC were the team to lift the winning trophy after beating Asec Mimosa 10 in the final game. The proud winners received a winning team kit that consists of a team trophy, player trophies, bags and balls, as well a player of the tournament trophy, all from Build It. Photos: Boipelo Mere schools, to participate in the junior league. He said that 320 children were fully participating in the tournament, including in different activities, all sponsored by Build it. Concerning the community support on the day he said: “See for yourselves, the support is superb. If we managed to pull together 16 teams on one day, then we can improve soccer in town. We (Safa) have set a base of taking soccer forward and we have already made an agreement with all the coaches to participate in the league.” He added that the tournament had also opened doors to turn the youth from alcohol and criminal abuse like they usually do. Thabo Sellwane, the Kwalaketso Primary School principal, also sang the same tune. He appreciated the initiative of the sports equipment donation. “We have never had such a successful sporting event before. This will also encourage us as schools to make time for sports
THE Asec Mimosa team that made it to the semifinals. events.” The ward committee member Elias Kwena said the tournament was a great way of guiding young children and showing them that education and sports could take
them somewhere. “This is a good initiative. It shows that parents can show support to their children. “If parents and teachers can notice their children’s talent, they
can guide and encourage them to go further.” For the player of the tournament picture and for more pictures, go to Express’s website at www.express-news.co.za.