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WEDNESDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2014

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Elderly march for rights Alzheimer patients deserve good care

} Boipelo Mere THE issue of shortage of shelters for elderly people with Alzheimer’s disease is a concern in the Northern Cape. The issue was raised by the Northern Cape Alzheimer’s Association during an awareness march on World Alzheimer’s Day to the Galeshewe Police Station on Friday.

Held on World Alzheimer’s Day (WAD), which is celebrated internationally on Friday, 19 September, the peaceful awareness march which started at Gaasca in Galeshewe consisted of members of all service centres and interested communities.

Julia Pretorius, a social worker, highlighted that the march organised in partnership with Gaasca was aimed at making the people of Galeshewe aware of the plight of the elderly suffering from dementia.

Handing a memorandum to Col Patrick Goso, Pretorius said that the elderly were abused financially, physically, emotionally and sexually. Their human rights were at times violated and they were often victimised even by family members.

Handing over a copy of the memorandum, a pile of pamphlets, a copy of the Government Gazette quoting the Elderly Act, she pleaded that the police officers be patient in dealing with cases of elderly people. The police should understand that they might have a slower memory.

“Please give our elderly enough care, it might be you and me tomorrow,” said Pretorius to the participants.

“Older people who are physi-

THE elderly highlighted that they deserve to be heard at a march to the Galeshewe Police Station on World Alzheimer’s Day. Photos: Supplied

‘Older persons who are physically frail or confused are sometimes abused by loving and caring people because caring for them becomes too much and caregivers are not properly trained.’ – Julia Pretorius cally frail or confused are sometimes abused by loving and caring people because caring for them becomes too much and caregivers are not properly trained while the elderly dare not complain,” she

emphasised.

“There are still people, even in Kimberley, who think that these unfortunate people are bewitched and they lock them in or throw stones at them,” stated Pretorius.

JULIA PRETORIUS handed over a memorandum about the plight of the elderly to Col Patrick Goso at the Galeshewe Police Station.

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Taxi drivers divided over manager } Boipelo Mere “HE thinks he is God and owns this taxi rank. You can even see by the way he walks that he is overconfident. Last number.”

Those were the words uttered by a KLTA taxi driver when he saw the Thusanong and KLTA taxi manager known only as Mavus, giving instructions at the taxi rank on Tuesday.

He had just spoken to armed police officers who surrounded the taxi rank and bragged about how he had instructed them to pack up and go.

The police responded to the commotion when the taxi drivers and their assistants downed tools protesting at whether Mavus should be fired from the taxi rank or not.

Even though some commuters were not impressed by being stranded, there was

nothing they could do because the protestors gathered at the exit gate of the rank, making it difficult for the taxis to leave.

According to some of the drivers, they were sick and tired of being abused by the taxi manager who kept on throwing his weight around. They claim it is because of him that they are continuously suspended and also that he assaults them for no reason.

The groups of divided and angry taxi operators had to be dispersed by police with stun grenades and water while some were seen being loaded into the back of a police van. Some wanted Mavus to go while others defended him.

“Mavus is going nowhere. He is doing a good job at the taxi rank. We, the Thusanong and KLTA Association, gave him the authority to delegate operations and will be the ones who remove him for a valid reason.

It is because of him that there is no more illegal activities at the rank like dealing in drugs and gambling,” said the grievances chairperson of the taxi rank, Macdonald Mcheku. He praised Mavus and emphasised that the taxi manager was responsible for the law and order at the taxi rank.

“They (drivers) do not get the freedom to do as they please, including the illegal activities that they themselves know that they are doing. Since he started working as a taxi manager here three years ago, there has been fewer complaints of customers being ill-treated and verbally abused.”

Mcheku elaborated that Mavus was very good at his job and that the grieving operators should have followed the proper procedures of submitting a written complaint to the office.

“We do not allow afdak gossip and do not

follow it. Anyone can see that customer service has improve in the past three years.

Even the assistant drivers have stopped abusing the customers. Mavus solves all the complaints with the committee, that is why we are positive that he is doing nothing wrong.

“It is true that if we find a taxi driver or an assistant at fault we suspend them for three months. We don’t fire them. That is some form of rehabilitation for them. On their return to the rank they are always changed people,” he addmitted.

The grievances chairperson clarified that Mavus made an affort of searching the operators and assistants when he suspected any foul play or illegal dealings.

“But that he does in front of us. He brings the culprit straight to us before he does it, then we call the police.”

TAXI operators complain that Mavus (pictured) throws his weight around.

COMMUTERS were stranded at the taxi rank.

Photos: Boipelo Mere

HEAVILY-ARMED police officers were called to the scene.

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Three in court on theft charges } Boipelo Mere THREE municipal workers of the Siyancuma Municipality, Moses Mathee (47), Tumi Sehako (32) and Sonia Morolong (25), briefly appeared in the Douglas Magistrate’s Court on charges of corruption and theft after all three were granted bail last week.

The three will re-appear on 24 November after their bail application had been extended on Thursday.

Sehako and Morolong were released on R1 000 bail each after they decided to stand as state witnesses.

Mathee on the other hand was released on R5 000 bail after getting a stern warning not to come into any contact with any witnesses.

The three were reportedly arrested after the Hawks had found funds to the amount of R1,8 million missing from the Siyancuma Municipality.

Sehako and Morolong are both reported to be working in the Human Resource Department at the municipality.

The state procecutor Modisa Seatlholo alleges that Mathee, who was employed as a driver at the municipality, is described as the middle man in all the illegal activities concerning money laundering and unlawful payments.

Magistrate Joppie Fourie was on the bench.

Gerrie Botha appeared for the defence in the case.

Mathee, who was employed as a driver at the municipality, is described as the middle man in all the illegal activities concerning money laundering and unlawful payments.

SONIA MOROLONG is out on R1 000 bail.

TUMI SEHAKO got R1 000 bail.

MOSES MATHEE is out on R5 000 bail.

Photos: Boipelo Mere

According to the state, the current calculations of the amounts brought forward amounted to about R6 877 and

the amount was expected to increase as witnesses came forward.

It is further alleged that

Mathee would promise people jobs on non-existent projects and accompany them to the bank to open bank accounts. When the

money was about to be paid to the employees he would call them non-stop and remind them of his dues on the pay-outs.

It was also reported that Mathee was the person responsible for making a list of ghost employees that he submitted to Human Resources in the municipality between 13 June and 13 July.

Evidence and statements were brought forward that Mathee was tampering with investigations in the form of threatening the investigating officer and the witnesses whom he knows.

Amongst the evidence provided was the text message that he had sent to the investigations officer where he threatened him to bewitch him if he did not drop the investigation.

More witnesses with, whom the three accused have been warned not to make any form of contact, are expected to come forward and make statements.

More arrests are expected to be made on this case.

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Macufe brings great talent to Bfn MACUFE continues to be a significant brand for the Free State as it is a catalyst for promoting economic growth and it is a perfect platform to showcase emerging talent while promoting sport and tourism in the province.

The annual cultural event, now in its 17th year, promises cultural tourists the delight on a potpourri of the finest talent in music, arts, craft, fashion, comedy, poetry and a top-level game of professional football.

Early bookings at Computicket nationwide are thus encouraged to ensure the enjoyment of a stressfree 17th Macufe under the theme 20 Years of Melodi Ya Tokoloho.

The festival of note is expected to open on Friday, 3 October, at The Dome (Old Grey Sports Ground) with a show of youthful vibrancy and positive energy in the form of Tshepe, a hip hop sound unique to the Free State.

Presented in a battle of the DJs format the show will feature among others Maths, Kid X, Ma E, Maggs, Teargas, Vigilante, Shaxe, Naked DJ, Dimples and Tbo Touch. Tickets are available at Computicket for only R50.

All is set for the Macufe Gospel Concert where audiences will witness voices soar to the heavens on 5 October at The Dome (Old Grey Sports Ground). For an affordable ticket of just R150 gospel fans will be presented with their money’s worth in a show headlined by acts such as S’fiso Ncwane who has also been winning appreciation in churches of a different kind (nightclubs and taverns) with his hit song Kulingile Baba. Sharing the stage with

MAFIKIZOLO during one of their performances in Kimberley.

Ncwane will be Solly Mahlangu, Sipho Makhabane, Rebecca Malope, Benjamin Dube,Veliswa Skeyi, Teboho, Msingizane, Paul Lechalaba, Sello Malete, Morwesi, Tshenolo, Primrose, Thoko and many more.

For a mere R170 the mid-week blues will certainly be laughed away on Wednesday, 8 October, when Mzansi’s top comedians, including Cape Town’s Marc

Lottering, Kroonstad-born comic David Kau, Joey Rasdien and Skhumba Hlophe, take to the stage at The Dome. Lottering has been in the comedy business for 13 years while Kau began his career as the first black stand-up comedian in the 1998 Smirnoff Comedy Festival in Cape Town. Kau was the only black person on stage out of 44 comedians. Rasdien has performed in many major comedy

Photo: Boipelo Mere

festivals in South Africa and recently headlined the Blacks Only Comedy. Hlophe’s star is on the rise as he has just become a presenter on SABC 1’s Mzansi Insider Entertainment Show.

Sibongile Khumalo & Uhadi (featuring McCoy Mrubata, Paul Hanmer, Feya Faku, Herbie Tsoaeli & Justin Badenhorst), Don Laka with the Botshabelo Strings, Jimmy Dludlu share the stage

with USA guitarist Earl Klugh at The Indoor Jazz on 9 October at The Dome for only R220.

Chrisette Michele, Chantay Savage, Zahara and Choko appear in The Divas Concert on Friday, 10 October, at the same venue. R&B and soul singer-songwriter Chrisette Michele Payne won a Grammy for Best Urban /Alternative Performance with her song Be OK. Vocalist, Chantay Savage is a daughter of a jazz musician and grew up in Chicago where she was raised on the sounds of jazz and soul legends like Sarah Vaughn, Chaka Khan and Marvin Gaye. The Divas Concert tickets cost R250.

The Macufe Main Festival at the Rose Gardens on Saturday, 11 October, features Chrisette Michele (USA), Chantay Savage (USA), Earl Klugh (USA) and Mzansi’s award winning acts such as Mafikizolo, Jonas Gwangwa, Ringo, Thandiswa Mazwai, Oliver Mtukudzi, Max-Hoba, Victor Kgantlape and Press.

Tickets cost R320.

Concluding will be the popular Macufe Cup Tournament that sees two of the well-supported PSL teams, Bloemfontein Celtics and Kaizer Chiefs, battle it out on Sunday, 12 October, at the Free State Stadium. Tickets vary from R30 for juveniles, R50 open-stand, R60 grand stand and R2 166 for VIP’s.

Macufe is proudly supported by the Free State’s Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation department, National Department of Arts and Culture, Mangaung Municipality, National Arts Council and Free State Tourism.

SAPS unit takes action MEMBERS of the SAPS Upington Crime Prevention unit confiscated drugs with an estimated street value of R428 000 in Carlton Street after following up on information and raiding several houses in the Upington precinct.

The drugs were found hidden in blankets, curtains, in the corridors and some in the gutters and could therefore not be linked to anyone, as the house is occupied by many tenants.

At the same premises, the police also found three cellphones, two iPads, one GPS and one braai set.

Daniel Okiwelu (30) and Promise Owula (24) were arrested and charged with theft.

Another 55-year-old man was also arrested after 11x9 mm rounds, 6x3.57 rounds and 3x7.65 rounds were found in his room.

Joanto Santos was charged with possession of illegal ammunition.

The suspects appeared in the Upington Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 15 September.

Santos received R500 bail while Okiwelu and Owula were both remanded in custody.

These cases have been remanded for 23 and 25 September respectively.

The Upington Cluster Commander Brigadier Paul Cengani commended the members from the Upington Crime Prevention unit for a job well done and lauds the community for assistance in this regard.

HERE with the drugs are from the left, front: Student Constable Dineo Lebotsa and Constable Marilyn Potgieter; back: Student Constables Mpumelelo Ncembu, Danville Magosie and Gordon Bosch.

Photo: Supplied

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Turn up with Lil Jon in Kby FANS of American rapper Lil Jon will have the exclusive chance to see him performing live in South Africa this year when he headlines the Kimberley Diamond Cup concert in Kimberley on 4 October.

Tickets, which include concert passes, are available from Computicket outlets countrywide or online at www.computicket.com.

Lil Jon is reported to have been in chart-topping form with his latest hit Turn Down For What remaining on the dance/ electronic billboard charts for 13 consecutive weeks.

This collaboration with French artist DJ Snake has become one of the hottest songs in the world and is currently among the top 25 most globally played songs on Spotify.

It has also reportedly sold over 2 million copies to date and is the summer anthem in the United States.

Lil Jon also starred in the 2013 All Star Celebrity Apprentice series, which was aired in South Africa earlier this year.

The concert is one of the highlights of the Kimberley Diamond Cup skateboarding world championships presented

by Kumba Iron Ore, which will take place from 2 to 5 October.

The concert promises to rock the skate plaza from 20:30 and will feature an exciting line-up of top South African performers including Ready D, LocnVille, Jed Nery and Prime Circle.

Local favourite Black Coffee will be in action during the closing ceremony on Sunday.

According to Tim McFerran of World Skateboarding Grand Prix, Lil Jon has always been a huge supporter of skateboarding and it is incredible to have him back in Kimberley.

“This guy is a superstar with a career that has spanned decades and he keeps coming back with one hit after the other.

“This is a huge opportunity for his South African fans to see him in action as he’ll be performing one night only – so it is definitely worth your while to book your tickets and head for the Northern Cape capital.

“His live performances are absolutely electrifying and should not be missed,” explains McFerran.

On Friday night, the Kimberley skies will be lit up with a spectacular fireworks show and live performances by the hugely popular DJ Fresh together with three other 5FM DJs and local Kimberley performers.

The Kimberley Diamond Cup

LIL JON will grace the Kimberley Diamond Cup with his presence next month.

Photo: Supplied

‘His live performances are absolutely electrifying and should not be missed,’ – Tim McFerran of World Skateboarding Grand Prix is hosted in conjunction with the Northern Cape Provincial Government as part of their youth development initiative.

The event is also utilised to position the Northern Cape as the premier destination for adventure and extreme sports.

The world skateboarding event forms part of the Northern Cape Extreme Week, which will feature basketball tournaments, professional and amateur

Suspect facing various charges in Kby court

SAMUEL MAJOVE(40)

SAMUEL MAJOVE (40) appeared in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday on charges of house-breaking, intention to rape, attempted murder and theft.

Majove is being investigated by the Kimberley police following a case of rape whereby a 25-yearold woman was allegedly raped and assaulted on Saturday, 13 September, at about 20:00 in Greenpoint.

It is alleged that the 25-year-old woman was attacked by Majove, who is known to her. He allegedly forcefully assaulted her and raped her.

He was arrested by the police after a manhunt on Sunday, 14 September, in connection with the incident.

He has remained in custody and will appear again in court on 29 September.

The investigation continues.

street and vert skating as well as a big air contest.

Buy your ticket from Computicket by searching Kimberley Diamond Cup. Entry to the Kumba Skate Plaza is free on Friday while the weekend pass costs R50 and includes daily entry to the plaza as well as concert passes.

More information can be accessed by visiting www.kimberleydiamondcup.com.

Police are ‘in control’ WHILE challenges with certain categories of crime such as murder and sexual offences remain, South Africa’s police have a firm handle on crime, says the national police commissioner, Gen. Riah Phiyega.

“The police are in control. The fact that we arrested 1,7 million people in the past year alone says a lot. Policing is a highly-controlled environment with clear standing orders.

“Yes, mistakes are made, but they tend to be the ones that are flagged by the media,” Phiyega said on Monday.

She was reacting to criticism that police have lost the war on crime during The New Age business briefing on Monday. This follows the release of the 2013-’14 crime stats on Friday.

The statistics, which cover the period from 1 April 2013 to 31 March this year shows murder is up by 5% with an additional 809 murders.

The Western Cape showed the highest increase in murder by 12,8% from 2 580 in 2012-’13 to 2 909 in 2013-’14. It is followed by Gauteng by 11,2% from 2 997 in 2012-’13 to 3 333 in 2013-’14.

The third highest province in cases of murder was the Northern Cape with a record of 6,3% from 412 in 2012-’13 to 438 in 2013-’14.

The stats also showed that sexual offences had decreased by 5,6% from 2012-’13 to 2013-’14.

The decrease was recorded in all nine provinces, with the North West leading with a 12,2% decrease from 5 521 in 2012-’13 to 4 850 in 2013-’14.

Gauteng showed a decrease of 10,3% from 12 288 in 2012-’13 to 11 021 in 2013-’14, followed by the Free State with 8,3% from 5 252 in 2012-’13 to 4 814 in 2013-’14.

In addition, home robbery is up by 7,4% with 1 334 more cases than the previous year.

Business robbery is up by 13,7% with 2 238 more attacks, and car hijacking is up by 12,3% with 1 231 more attacks than the previous year. Theft of motor vehicles and motor cycles in KwaZulu-Natal have decreased by 10,9% from 9 788 in 2012-’13 as compared to 8 723 in 2013-’14.

SA is stable Phiyega said the fact that the country had investors wanting to bring business to the country showed that South Africa was stable.

“They know this is a stable country with order, and law enforcement agencies are doing their work,” said Phiyega, who was flanked by the Police minister,

Nathi Nhleko, and his deputy, Maggie Sotyu.

Phiyega said the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) investigated all police transgressions and that the SAPS management accounted to the reports from IPID. “(Fighting) crime is our business.

It doesn’t matter where it is, we will arrest a criminal. We will arrest our own if necessary,” she said.

“We are being held accountable.

That is why we are subjected to scrutiny,” said Nhleko, adding that there must be a balanced criticism of the police.

While welcoming criticism, Phiyega said society should not make it impossible for police to do their work.

She called on the public to partner with the police in the fight against crime.

Sotyu said they had forged strong community policing forums.

However, she urged communities to be more forthcoming with information.

Nhleko reiterated this, saying the issue of community partnerships was key in fighting crime.

“Even the National Development Plan (NDP) talks to this. The NDP envisages a state where police work closely with communities to ensure that the root causes of crime are addressed,” Nhleko said.

The NDP calls for the police to be professionalised and supported by a multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary National Policing Board (NPB) to guide a process of transformation.

It also requires senior police managers to be assessed against clear standards to determine whether they have the expertise, skills and integrity required for the posts they hold.

Nhleko has indicated that the recommendations contained in the NDP, which was adopted by cabinet in 2012, needed to be implemented.

This has been welcomed by crime and safety analysts who agree that this process would boost the confidence of senior managers and also give rise to a new and dynamic team of senior SAPS managers whose expertise, performance and integrity are beyond reproach.

Nhleko dismissed suggestions that South Africa was a war zone.

“We are faced with a particular social problem. We have high levels of violence and aggression in our society and we need to address that,” he said.

– SAnews.gov.za

God’s timing is in everything THE recent calamity that befell Nigeria led to many questions regarding the definite role believed by many religions played by God in the timing of the birth and death of men.

It is true that death is in itself a calamity and those affected, have a case if they are inconsolable.

The recent happenings in Nigeria cannot be celebrated as in death pain and suffering takes control. Accidents aside, my question is whether the unfortunate accident was, as the Christians say, an appointed time for dying.

The only problem I have, is with the decision to keep quiet by the church and Nigerian authorities.

In South Africa and the world at large communication has become synonymous with service provision.

Even if it said the prophet TB Joshua is constantly communi-

My view

George Mutloane cating through his Synagogue Church of All Nations (Scoan) television, the truth is the accident has escalated to international level and mass media will be used to calm down the people.

The silence from the Nigerian authorities leaves much to be desired. What we believe has happened, is what we see and hear in the media. To accuse South Africa of misinformation when you are quiet, is disingenuous to say the least, but in reality it borders on cult behaviour.

That many survivors still sing Joshua’s praises shows how blind loyalty can become. Shouldn’t the church reciprocate? After all, regardless of the situation, when death comes the corpse returns

home to the family and country.

It will be improper to give your opinion about the church – it may be seen as opportunistic.

Meanwhile, a plane carrying 25 survivors of the Nigerian church has arrived in South Africa.

Amongst them are three children who have been orphaned by this catastrophe.

Jeff Radebe, the minister in the Office of the Presidency, was amongst government officials who went to welcome the survivors. All the survivors were taken to the Steve Biko Hospital for medical care.

By Monday 84 of the 349 South Africans who were in Nigeria were confirmed dead.

In Nigeria on Sunday, Joshua told the more than 10 000 congregation members who gathered at his church in Lagos, that he was planning to come to South Africa once a month in honour of what he calls the martyrs of the church.

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Caregivers highlight their plight } Boipelo Mere HOME-BASED CAREGIVERS, who are volunteers and get a stipend on a monthly basis from the Department of Health, highlighted their plight to the deputy chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Raseriti Tau, and his delegation during the delegation’s visit to their village in Bothithong.

They pleaded for service delivery to be improved, including their own well-being and safety.

According to the caregivers, they need government to recognise them by deploying them into the system of the Department of Health’s database as they play a vital role in their society.

They highlighted to Tau that they were the ones that made a difference, given the shortage of nurses.

Since the Bothithong Clinic only operates from 07:00 till 14:00 on weekdays, they are the only hope for the community as they are expected to take care of the sick, including during emergencies.

“We need proper training and equipment, because we are at risk of infections like TB and HIV and Aids. We are well recognised in the community for the role we play.

Sometimes community members even call us when the clinic is open due to the trust they have in us. We also need assistance with the slow response of the only ambulance that we have for the 46 villages in Joe Morolong. There are many instances when we use a wheelbarrow to get a patient to the clinic due to the poor response of

DIKGANG STOCK (left) and the deputy chairperson of the NCOP, Raseriti Tau, led the delegation in Bothithong.

Photo: Boipelo Mere

the ambulance,” said one of the volunteers, Veronica Kgojang.

“There was an incident where we called the ambulance for a woman who was in labour. The ambulance took hours to arrive here. On its arrival it was already carrying a patient that was stabbed and a burnt child. On the way to

hospital the woman ended up giving birth in the ambulance in front of this man and child,” she quoted.

Another volunteer, Sebolelo Ramonne, who is a counsellor, highlighted how the Department of Health would boast about the statistics that were determined and

achieved through the hard work of the volunteers, those that they would not employ permanently.

“We work hard in the clinic and only earn R1 900 per month. The sad part is that the department continues to change NGOs, which we are supposed to fall under every time instead of employing

us.

“Our safety is a big issue. In 2007 I contracted TB and had to see to myself. I started being a volunteer in 2001 until now.

“How long are we supposed to remain volunteers? The sad part is that when we apply for grants, the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) says we are employed, because we have a personnel number.”

Her concern was that she put herself into risky situations as she sometimes attended to patients without gloves and masks.

“That way we end up suffering alone at home because our family members do not understand why we still do this work.

“We also do not get any kind of compensation or support from the department due to being volunteers. We really want to help as we see the backlog and are part of this community that suffers so much.”

The NCOP recommended that regarding the clinic, the Department of Health needed to address the poor working conditions that health practitioners worked under and the need to purchase and procure an ambulance in order for the community’s needs to be urgently addressed as it infringed on the rights of citizens.

It said in the next Provincial Week the programme should be drafted in a manner in which the NCOP was provided an opportunity to make presentations on the findings and recommendations of the previous oversight visits and state what measures had been taken to remedy the challenges that had been identified.

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Ups and downs of crime figures

FROM the left are, front: Portia Makamu (MDDA), Garth Damerell (chairperson NCRF Northern Cape), Johannes Dire (secretary: NCRF national office), Premier Sylvia Lucas, Nkopane Maphiri (The Media Connection) and Funeka Louw (Radio Teemaneng); back: Tebogo Monyo (Radio Riverside), Thabang Pusoyabone (secretary of the NCRF Northern Cape) and Monwabisi Nkompela (provincial government spokesperson).

Photo: Supplied

Radio connects people } Funeka Louw COMMUNITY radio is a crucial part of the South African broadcasting landscape, providing diversity for listeners and easy access to communities.

With democracy came the deregulation and liberalisation of broadcasting, and the number of stations operating outside of the authority’s control proliferated.

Community radio in South Africa began in 1994 when ICASA, the country’s broadcasting authority, began the continuing process of assessing and granting licence applications from groups as diverse as rural women’s co-operatives, Afrikaner communities and a variety of religious bodies.

The country now has more than 165 community stations, broadcast in a number of languages with content as diverse as the country itself.

Many community broadcasters are represented by the National Community Radio Forum (NCRF), which was formed in 1993 to lobby for the diversification of the airwaves and to promote the development and growth of the community radio sector.

The NCRF Northern Cape, which consists of six (6) community radio stations in the province, hosted a three-day strategic planning workshop in Upington from 9 to 12 September.

The community radio stations that are broadcasting in the province are Radio Teemaneng (Kimberley), Radio Riverside (Upington), Radio Kaboesna (Calvinia), Radio Ulwazi (De Aar), Radio NFM (Springbok) and Kurara

FM (Kuruman).

The leadership of these radio stations including board and station management came together with the sole purpose of creating a multi-year strategic plan for the NCRF – Northern Cape which will ultimately benefit all member stations and ensure the growth and sustainability of the sector in the province.

The workshop was supported by the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) and according to the acting COO of the MDDA, Manana Stone, “it was important for the MDDA to be part of this groundbreaking initiative by the NCRF Northern Cape as it will enable stations to become stronger and to fulfil their mission of serving communities of the province they are serving”.

Key to the plans derived from the workshop was to ensure the sustainability of the radio stations and improved local content which will benefit communities. The workshop was facilitated by Jayshree Pather who is a media and development specialist with a vast experience in community media.

“I am happy with the commitment of all stations who took part in the process. The stakeholders in the province can only benefit from the united and coherent community radio sector in the province,” she said.

Stakeholders like GCIS, ICASA, the provincial government and The Media Connection also attended the meeting where Garth Damerell, the chairperson of the NCRF Northern Cape, said many challenges confront-

ing the sector were identified by the meeting but that equally the sector recognised the important task that the sector had in ensuring that communities were informed, educated and empowered.

“The community radio sector plays an important role in the dissemination of information and the diversification of the media landscape and to be the voice of the voiceless in often the poorest areas of our province.

“Some of the objectives agreed on during the meeting included strengthened partnerships with relevant stakeholders, improved and good quality local content and the sustainability of the sector.”

The national secretary of the NCRF, Johannes Dire, highlighted that the Northern Cape stations were the first to sit around a table and pave a multi-year strategic plan with clear objectives, activities that needed to be done and the expected outcome which would ultimately benefit the communities served by the various stations in the province.

The national NCRF office also committed to support the initiative of the province.

Marius Nagel, the provincial director of the GCIS, said that government had a vested interest in the continued development of the community radio sector in the country as these were the most easily accessible and flexible media platforms that could ensure that government messages trickled down to all communities in the shortest space of time and in the languages best understood by the communities served by a specific station.

THE South African Police Service (SAPS) released the crime statistics for the 2013-’14 financial year, which show a range of increases and decreases in certain crime categories on Friday.

For the year under review there was an increase in murder, attempted murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

Overall, murder decreased by 9,2% over the past ten years (2004-’05 to 2013-’14), but showed an increase of 5% in the 2013-’14 financial year.

This means 17 068 people were murdered in South Africa last year.

Murder went up in all provinces, except in the Free State. Gauteng recorded an increase of 11,2%.

“We are very concerned about this trend,” said the national police commissioner, Riyah Phiyega, on Friday.

She once again called on society to work very closely with the police to reduce the scourge.

Attempted murder also went up by 4,6%, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm increased by 1,5% and robbery with aggravated circumstances was up by 12,7%.

Overall, attempted murder had decreased by 30,2% over the past ten years.

Common assault was reported to be down by 3,3% and sexual offences decreased by 5,6%, with rape and sexual assault dropping by 6,3%.

The Eastern Cape recorded the highest number of rapes.

“These are crimes where police arrive after the fact and which happen behind closed doors,” Phiyega said, adding that the police will continue to increase their visibility in communities.

House robberies increase Trio crimes, which are crimes relating to personal safety and business – house robbery, business robbery and carjacking – remained stubborn, as they increased by 10,8%, carjackings by 12,3%, truck hijackings by 12,1%, robbery by 13,7% and robbery in residential areas by 7,4%. Property-related crimes increased by 1,7% in the past five years (2009 to 2013) but reduced by 0,2% during the past financial year. Bank robberies saw a decrease of 77,4% over a five-year period, but increased from seven incidents in 2012-’13 to 21 in 2013-’14.

The SAPS hoped the integrated partnerships with businesses and the banking sector would go a long way to address crime.

The robbery of cash-in-transit vehicles stabilised at 145 incidents in the reporting period. Common robbery went up by 0,6%. Other serious crime reduced by 1,4% during the reporting period.

Drug-related crimes increased by 26,1% in the past financial year.

The Police minister, Nathi Nhleko, lamented the levels of violent crime. “If you look at the five- or ten-year trends, combined with the year under review, contact crime is a permanent feature,” he said.

Social responsibility Nhleko said when levels of poverty and unemployment were so high, crime statistics were bound to rise. He attributed that to the high social unrest as well as drug abuse in communities.

“The prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse in South Africa is very concerning. In most areas of our communities we find more taverns than schools and churches combined,” he said.

This “domino effect” was also highlighted by Phiyega, who said society could and should play a pivotal role in fighting crime.

Currently, South Africa has one police officer for every 346 South Africans. “All of us need to make a contribution in reducing crime and fighting corruption in our communities,” Nhleko reiterated.

He said in line with the National Development Plan (NDP) the focus would be on strengthening the criminal justice system, professionalising the police and building safety.

The statistics for this reporting period, according to Nhleko, are based on raw figures. These figures are also audited by the Auditor General (AG), working in conjunction with Stats SA. This, Nhleko said, had been done to address concerns about the reliability of the statistics, which had been raised last year.

Last year, the Institute for Security Studies said the crime statistics police released contained miscalculations and downplayed the rate of violent crimes. Police have defended their calculations, saying they based them on new population estimates from the 2011 Census results. – SAnews.gov.za

THE u.17 winners, the Bush Rangers soccer team from Welkom.

Photos: Boipelo Mere

Teams battle it out } Boipelo Mere

“BASIMANE ba ba dira sentle jaana, ba tlogele go tlhola ba re lelekisa” (these boys are doing the right thing, they must stop chasing us).”

Those were the words of an elderly man who seemed to be passing by, but who stopped to watch when he saw the u.13, u.15 and u.17 soccer teams gathered at the Madrid Soccer Grounds to participate in a two-day soccer tournament under the theme Say no to gangsterism over the weekend.

The teams that participated were Bushbucks Rangers, Tshwaragano All Stars, Bush Rangers from Welkom and Sasol Chiefs from Ritchie.

The tournament, which saw the Ward 9 councillor, Dimakatso Chinkuli, handing over the winning trophies, was hosted by the local team Tshwaragano All Stars.

Four teams with three divisions underwent a tough battle in order for three teams to be crowned champions over which the trophy will be battled for next year.

The u.17 team of Bush Rangers from Welkom drove to the Free State with the winning trophy after beating Tswaragano All Stars 3-0 in the final game.

The other two champions were Tshwaragano All Stars u.15 and the Bushbucks u.13 team.

Bushbucks beat Sasol Chiefs 2-1 in the u.13 finals while Tshwaragano All Stars beat Ritchie 5-0 in the u.15 game.

The Bush Rangers team coach, Elvis Sehloho, proudly expressed his satisfaction with this tournament.

“This was a trip worthwhile. I immediately loved the theme of the tournament when I heard about it. But we saw the chance for winning the first day of the tournament,” he added.

The Tshwaragano All Stars coach, Nkululeko Siyeni, said the tournament was not about winning for them. Highlighting his team’s capability he said that they were number one in the league and that they recently managed to beat the Danone champions in Bloemfontein.

According to the manager of Tshwaragano All Starts, this was the fourth tournament under the theme which they plan to host in different towns annually. The aim was to motivate the youth to stay away from gangsterism.

The ward councillor thanked all participating teams in the tournament and for their good behaviour in Galeshewe.

“Amidst reports that they had challenges to travel from Welkom and had to sleep in a shack, they kept their good behaviour and took the winning trophy home,” said Chinkuli.

Log onto the website www.expressnews.co.za for more pictures.

THEY called him Matlala. The admired and small captain, Moses Potsoedi, who went to accept the winning trophy.

THE u.13 winners are the Bushbucks soccer team.