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WEDNESDAY 22 OCTOBER 2014
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FROM the left are, front: PEC members Vincent Diraditsile (who retains his position as provincial secretary), Helena English (deputy chairperson), Solly Legodi (provincial chairperson), Sicelo Williams (deputy chairperson), Thami Eiland (treasurer) and Brummer Maribe (provincial organiser); back: NEC members Winnie Ngobese and Robert Tsikwe.
Conference a success
Photo: Boipelo Mere
Sanco members ready to rebuild branding } Boipelo Mere THE South African National Civics Organisation (Sanco) held its three-day elective conference in Kimberley over the weekend. The conference was attended by four of the five districts. The Namakwa Region was absent. Members of Sanco admitted that they had lost influence over the years and were seen as the poor cousin of the three other alliance partners, the ANC, SACP and Cosatu, since their last
campaigns including Asithenge, the rent boycott and Asithenge e Doropeni in the 1990’s. At the event it was highlighted that Sanco in the province was faced with the mammoth task of rebuilding its branding within the community and had to try and eradicate the challenges that it was facing. The document from the provincial general titled Building the organisation and alliance relations stated that the challenges Sanco was faced with were a
lack of administrative support and infrastructure, including full-time administrative staff and an organiser. It was also highlighted that a lack of marketing and communication, including the relationships in branches, regions and provincial structures, made Sanco’s work difficult. The newly elected leadership said it believed it could improve the situation. The conference was addressed by the chairperson of Cosatu,
Zam Nkosi of the national office of Sanco, and Normal Shushu, provincial secretary of the SACP. The former mayor of the Sol Plaatje Municipality emerged as the provincial chairperson and was also elected to the NEC alongside Winnie Ngobese and Robert Tsikwe. Fourteen other members were elected to the PEC while regional chairpersons and their secretaries become automatic members of the PEC.
‘Members of Sanco admitted that they had lost influence over the year s and were seen as the poor cousin of the three other alliance part ners, the ANC, SACP and Cosatu.’
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Money can curb Ebola outbreak } Boipelo Mere PHOEBOE DE LA RAY has to pause a couple of times to prevent herself from crying during her interview with Express Northern Cape. Describing how difficult it is for her to see how people die on a daily basis of the Ebola virus, she struggles to find the right words. “It is going better than I thought,” is her response as to how the Northern Cape or Kimberley is responding to their fundraising for Ebola. The team has put up a small stall in an awareness campaign about the organisation’s medical work throughout the world including its response to the Ebola crisis in West Africa. She explains how she and two of her team members of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) are touring the Free State and Northern Cape to raise funds for emergency relief towards containing the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Kimberley is one of the smaller towns throughout the country that the organisation engaged with with their Face-to-Face travel teams aimed at raising funds to support the Ebola response. De la Ray was actually impressed at such a positive response from locals in the seven days that they spent in Kimberley. She is pleased that although the majority of people that they spoke to did not know about them (MSF), they got an idea of what they were talking about. “They know that it (Ebola) should not reach our shores for sure. “Money is the only thing that can stop the spread, that is why we raise funds. We are bombarded by this virus and we are aware that we are not safe from the outbreak,” she emphasises. On their desk is a register called a field partner donation form on which the community members are encouraged to
THE MSF team, Phoeboe de la Ray, Prins Moalafi and team leader, Bongo Maqungo, during their recent campaign against Ebola at the Kimpark Shopping Centre in Kimberley. Photo: Boipelo Mere sign and pledge what they can afford. “Given the fact that this is a smaller mall with only one anchor shop, it is also heart-breaking to realise how everyone is willing to donate, but cannot due to being unemployed.” Touching on the question as to whether they have any idea of how far the country is from the outbreak, she says that one can never be sure enough. She continues to mention that this campaign for funds is just an added effort that they as a team make to save South Africa. She is positive that more funds can put South Africa on the map of having good
programmes, just like the TB and HIV and Aids programmes. According to De la Ray, the MSF has come to the realisation that people woke up too late about the Ebola outbreak. “Still not enough is being done. It is such a spreadable and contagious disease, with not enough facilities. It broke out in Guinea in March already and due to a lack of facilities some patients were sent home, where they continued to spread the disease in their communities and died,” she said. “You know, it is so difficult to watch the videos of the people dying of Ebola at work. It is only that we have to face the reality,” she adds, fighting her tears. She pleads with businesses, government and individuals to come on board to pledge and make a difference in stopping the outbreak. According to Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports on the internet, South Africa has only had 2 cases of the Zaire Ebola virus in Johannesburg. That was during the 1996 outbreak, where one of the two had died. The cases were reported to have been imported. News24 reported on Friday that the UN trust fund that was aimed at raising an estimated $1 billion to fight the epidemic that had killed around 4 500 people, had barely $100 000 left in it.
The report further stated that donors had given cash and non-cash contributions worth about $376 million to specific UN programmes.
Symptoms of Ebola include: ) Fever (greater than 38,6°C or 101,5°F); ) Severe headache; ) Muscle pain; ) Weakness; ) Diarrhoea; ) Vomiting; ) Abdominal (stomach) pain; ) Unexplained hemorrhage (bleeding or bruising). Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure to Ebola, but the average is 8 to 10 days. Recovery from Ebola depends on good supportive clinical care and the patient’s immune response. People who recover from Ebola infection develop antibodies that last for at least ten years.)
Cable thiefs get year’s sentence BRANDON KOCK (28) and Koos Basson (40) were found guilty on a charge of possession of suspected stolen goods by the Postmasburg Magistrate’s Court on 10 October. The two were sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment for the crime after being arrested for possession of suspected stolen copper in April. During the arrests on the Jenn-Haven gravel road the police stopped and searched the suspicious-looking motor vehicle the accused were travelling in. The 160 kg of copper that was found stashed inside the car was confiscated, together with the motor vehicle. For more news and photos go to our website at www.expressnews.co.za
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Trust helps ten needy families } Boipelo Mere THE Naana family in Camden were amongst the ten fortunate families in the JTG District to be adopted by the John Taolo Gaetsewe Developmental Trust (JTGDT) for a period of ten months. In support of the nationwide campaign of 67 blankets that started in July, stirred by the spirit of former President Nelson Mandela, the JTGDT accumulated more than 70 blankets which were donated by the staff of the trust and board of trustees. During the week of 6 to 10 October, the trust went on a visit to the identified ten impoverished families in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District to donate blankets, groceries and in some cases commit to build houses for them. The Naana family is headed by an elderly man named Robert, who has to assist in supporting 13 of his dependants with his old-age grant. The dependants are four children and nine grandchildren who are taken care of by their 21-year-old aunt. Five of Robert Naana’s grandchildren receive child grants and the other grandchildren not. There are six orphans in the house and everyone is cramped in a two-room shack with no beds. There is also a five-year-old disabled girl in the family who has to sleep on the floor like everyone else. Naana revealed that he would sometimes go to bed hungry because he has to share the little pension money that he received with the rest of the family. According to the family, the aunt is still in the process of registering the children for grants. “I’m very grateful to the trust and hope they continue doing the good job that they are known for,” he said happily. The other families that were identified and adopted are from Pepsi, Magojaneng,
THE John Taolo Gaetsewe Developmental Trust staff with one of the identified families, the Tshounyane family from Pepsi in the Joe Morolong Local Municipality. Photo: Supplied Maruping, Loopeng, Sedibeng, Nex, Bothitong, Olifantshoek and Camden. According to the trust, five of the adopted families will receive houses. Tumelo Mpolokeng, CEO of the JTGDT, made a pledge to the adopted ten families for a year until next year July where they
will be providing some of them with groceries every month. “To us as the trust it is a human element that is aligned with one of our Public Benefit Activities being humanitarian and welfare. We remain resolute to serving our communities,” he said.
“Of course the heart of Mandela Day and that of the former president is not about numbers and statistics. Let us demonstrate that the legacy of Nelson Mandela is a living one. Let us make Nelson Mandela proud every day that fundamental systemic issues are addressed.”
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EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE , WEDNESDAY 22 OCTOBER 2014
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Working towards zero blindness } Boipelo Mere WORKING tirelessly towards zero cataract blindness in the Northern Cape, Black Mountain Mining held its first cataract screenings and operations in Kimberley and Barkly-West throughout this week to mark World Sight Day in October. Screenings and surgeries were conducted in both towns over the entire week of 9 October. The general manager of Black Mountain Mining, André Trytsman, continued to encourage everyone to get their eyes tested and to remember that 80% of blindness is preventable or correctable. In partnership with the Northern Cape Department of Health, the South African National Council for the Blind and African Vision, the mining company is tackling blindness in the Northern Cape and supporting the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) and national government’s Vision 2020 strategy through this cataract operations drive. The cataract operations drive will also bolster government’s Eye Care Awareness Month (ECAM) campaign aimed at raising awareness about the importance of eye health, specifically around the prevention and treatment of avoidable
blindness. Observed on 9 October, World Sight Day is an important day within the ECAM calendar. It is also reported to be a crucial event in the World Health Organisation’s Vision 2020 programme which seeks to eradicate preventable blindness by 2020. According to the company the pilot project was introduced in 2012, which saw the drive reportedly exceeding over 500 cataract surgeries in the Northern Cape to date. It states that previous eye-care clinics were held in Upington, Calvinia, Alexander Bay and Aggeneys. “Cataracts are the major cause of blindness in these areas, alongside glaucoma. “While glaucoma is irreversible and can only be controlled, cataracts can be removed through a simple operation. Each cataract surgery, which is performed in under 30 minutes, aims to return the gift of sight to each patient. “As a responsible corporate citizen we recognise the role that we can play in working with our partners in government in the fulfilment of its mandate. The cataract operations drive helps us to contribute to the sustainability of the communities we operate in,” Trytsman concluded.
A DOCTOR performing a cataract operation on one of the patients on 9 October.
Photo: Supplied
Find your fire . . .
DA concerned about MSCC
} Dimakatso Lechwenyo
} Boipelo Mere
ALLOW me to take a moment and reflect on the roller coasters of life When I am high, trying to claim the winds of wisdom With my feet on the ground, my head in the sky My thought intact between reality and what is right My fingers gripping to my truth . . . with my heart beating and beating in my throat Allow me to colour the sky in manna And may Jehovah awaken the rain-queen in me so that I bring rain So that every child who sleeps on an empty stomach is fed So that I can finally make peace that I missed the blown belly That was conceived through love and Christ By the spirit that lives in my heart For a moment there . . . for a moment there I can relate to Mary Yet my Joseph chased away Mary because she was pregnant with another man’s child Maybe he missed the dream where the angel visits Joseph . . . Maybe the unconditional love suddenly came with conditions It is funny that nowadays it’s the believers that keep breaking the rules It’s the preference shares that no longer yield tangible dividends Its Zodwa and I that are left to feel crazy because we chose to love wholeheartedly The trial balance is per imbalance Nicolas and the likes keeps wondering how does Jehovah ask of Abraham to sacrifice His own son? We no longer know what it means to be faithful Wearing a condom makes it ok for a married man to sleep around. Families are scattered and hearts are melted Because the men, the fathers who ought to be the disciples fell asleep When Jesus went up to the mountain to pray Husbands are lying to wives and wives are lying to husbands Vows have lost their meaning and trust is compromised Leaving the children at the door to mend the broken pieces Accounting makes provision for previous year’s mistakes Yet life is too complex to accommodate journals where values are compromised. My eyes have been opened and I would not be doing myself poetic justice If I never shared every women’s story as
THE Northern Cape Economic Development Agency (NCEDA) and the International Convention Solutions (ICS) being at loggerheads has been highlighted as a concern by the DA in the Northern Cape. The DA aims to raise pertinent questions and probe the matter thoroughly during the NCEDA’s annual report tabling. Eyebrows were raised a week ago when the NCEDA published a public notice in the media that all bookings at the Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre (MSCC) should be placed through them. The notice further stated that the ICS no longer had a legal right to operate at the premises. The latter published an advert in response, stating that it has the legal and exclusive right to operate the centre and premises. It further warned that any bookings not done through the ICS would result in no event and could not be honoured. “This means that bookings can only be done through the ICS,” stated the notice. According to the DA, the management of the MSCC has long been a cause for major concern for them. “Apart from the abrupt manner in which the NCEDA terminated the contract of the service provider, many questions remain about the manner in which the centre is being managed. It
Dimakatso Lechwenyo if it were my own Life has a way of happening . . . Yet we each hold the title deed to who we are and what we want to be It is time we stopped the war inside and pardon our own mistakes To find our ears in the sky and listen to the voice that sings madness to human bones To catch the winds that laugh with the soul when the heart is burdened Woman . . . Sister-friend keep moving forward until you find your warmth I found mine in poetry The metaphors from my mouth have given me life as a painting And decisions as a paintbrush As I crisscross the rock art of my humble beginning and at times so rocky endings I gave to him the battle on a silver platter To focus all energies on winning the war I found my fire living in the shadow of modernisation Breathing lessons and customs that were lost and through generations I hold onto the reminder that the summer sun kisses your lips like a lover Loving you enough to bare your troubles for another day Whispering in your ears that the winters of here and now are not a disease That cannot be cured So breathe, Breathe Breathe and live again Many would love to see you fall Yet wear those heels and prove to the world that if your yesterdays were shoes They were made for walking . . .
seems that the correct tender processes were not followed in the decision to appoint the service provider,” stated the DA in a statement. The opposition party continued by accusing the Department of Economic Development of not having any contingency plan in place and that the financial transactions relating to the MSCC is shrouded in secrecy. It also revealed that the contract of the current service provider has been extended continually on a monthly basis. “Does the department now have the necessary capacity to operate the centre? If the capacity exists within the department, why was the decision taken to outsource the responsibility through a public entity to a service provider in the first place? Who is benefiting from these decisions? “In the 2012-’13, as well as the 2013-’14 annual report of the NCEDA, the Auditor General (AG) indicates that transactions relating to the MSCC cannot be substantiated. The only transactions backed by sufficient audit evidence are the payments made to the service provider in terms of the contractual agreements. “So we don’t know if the MSCC is generating a profit and, if there is a profit to speak of, who receives it. “Is it a case of the provincial government footing the bill for everything from construction and maintenance to rates and taxes, with the profits being palmed in by private service providers?”
‘So we don’t know if the MSCC is generating a profit and, if there is a profit to speak of, who receives it.’
Take care, protect your card FOR card skimming or cloning a card skimming device is used to fraudulently copy bank customer details stored on the magnetic strip of a debit or credit card. Whenever a person presents their card for payment they run the risk of being skimmed. However, the majority of skimming incidents in South Africa are recorded around ATMs and, to a lesser extent, at retail merchants when bank cards are presented for payment. The customer and card information is often used to manufacture counterfeit cards used to make fraudulent transactions. Shopping safety tips:
) Ensure your card never leaves your sight. Most restaurants and shops have portable card-swipe machines so there should be no reason for your card to leave your sight. If the person needs to use a different machine always accompany that person. ) Ensure your card is not swopped for another card after paying. ) Use cash instead of your card if you have any suspicions. ) Monitor you bank statements for any unusual transactions. ) If married, reconcile your account transactions with your spouse on a regular basis.
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For more news and photos go to our website at www.express-news.co.za
THE minister of Public Works, Thulas Nxesi, speaks to the EPWP workers of the storm water drainage canal in Greenpoint during the recent MinMec visit to the Northern Cape. Photo: Boipelo Mere
Canal will put an end to flooding } Boipelo Mere THE MEC for Roads and Public Works, David Rooi, promised that the Greenpoint community would no longer be bothered by over-flooding and burst pipes during the rainy seasons. That is after the construction of the 2,5 km long storm water drainage canal which is in progress under the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). The canal, which saw exactly 55 youths employed, will now mitigate the effects of occasional flooding that brought hardship to the community during the rainy seasons. According to the department, the programme was funded by the provincial government and implemented by the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality. It was reportedly completely free from external consultants and other service providers. It instead relied on government officials to monitor and oversee the programme at a huge saving to the government as funds were retained in the programme to be ploughed back into the project to create more jobs.
“To date the turn-over at the site has been more than 200 work opportunities created, indicating the popularity and usefulness of the programme,” explained Rooi. Rooi was explaining the success of the project to the minister of Public Works and the deputy minister, Jeremy Cronin, during the recent MinMec tour in Kimberley. The deputy minister emphasised that it was through projects like these that government made communities aware that it cared. He said that engagement with the community was crucial to everyone. “This 1,1 km that is already completed shows the love that the bridge was built with. All because it is on Sol Plaatje municipal land,” added Cronin. Motivating the workers on site, the minister of Public Works, Thulas Nxesi, reminded them that they would be talked about in years to come. “You must take this project seriously, because they will be talking about the work that you have done. This will also give you the necessary experience for the future,” said the minister to the workers before departing to another site visit.
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Centre gives hope to the disabled Ilse Watson THE founders of the Ba’One Intellectual Disability Centre in Kuruman had the vision to create a safe haven for youths with special needs. This vision and dream of Lena Fredman, Cynthia Ntwaeagae and Eunice Mabutiwane was realised when they opened the centre in 2010. The planning for this centre commenced in 1999. When it opened, they had 12 young people in attendance. Today they take care of 76 youths and they have a waiting list. “We were concerned about these youngsters who finished their schooling in a special needs school, but thereafter they had nowhere to go. They couldn’t study. They were a nuisance to society. Some of them were mistreated and some even raped,” said Fredman, school manager. At the centre, the youths are trained in different skills such as woodwork, beading, leather work, patchwork, papier-maché, knitting, painting, welding and weaving. “We serve the whole John Taolo Gaetsewe District (JTG). We applied to the JTG Trust for funds. The JTG Trust introduced us to the Maphalane Disabled Children’s Trust in Kimberley. “We are so excited as they are going to build eight new workshops for us. They will also build a hostel so that we can
accommodate up to 60 youths. There will also be a kitchen, dining room and administration block,” said Fredman. Fredman’s vision for the future is to train the youths and through the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) these youths can be accredited for their skills. “If they are well trained, then they can open their own small businesses.” “Youths, who are successful in their ventures, can also train other youths with special needs and therefore enable them to sell their projects.” Fredman is also responsible for assessing youths with intellectual disabilities. “Cynthia and I are both trained to work with intellectually challenged youths.” The staff of the Ba’One Intellectual Disability Centre are all volunteers. They have used their own pensions to start this centre and do their work. “We sanction ourselves for the youth. We do this because we are passionate about these youngsters and we want to give them a better future.” Currently there are nine staff members and anyone is welcome to volunteer and assist the staff members with the challenges they face. ) For more information, contact Fredman on 082-345-9565 or Mabutiwane on 073-1243956.
BEAUTIFUL leather handbags made by the special needs youth from the Ba’One Intellectual Disability Centre.
USING newspapers and papier maché techniques, this beautiful ornament was created by the youths of the Ba’One Intellectual Disability Centre, which is situated near Kuruman. Photos: Ilse Watson
YOUTH from the Ba’One Intellectual Disability Centre also created this colourful wooden chair as part of their creative projects.
Robbery under investigation THE Kimberley police are investigating a case of robbery that allegedly occurred in Hadison Park, Kimberley, last Thursday. The police reported that at approximately 18:30 a 55-year-old female driver of a Mercedes-Benz was robbed near Aviva Road by three men driving a silver VW Polo Classic. The three men reportedly forced the woman off the road and coerced her to stop before they all jumped out of the VW Polo. The men allegedly then pulled the woman out of her vehicle and shoved her around. Passing motorists witnessed the incident,
stopped to assist and apprehended one of the suspects. According to the police, the two other men fled the scene after they had robbed the woman of a very valuable diamond ring which they forced from her finger. The suspect was handed to members of the Flying Squad on their arrival and the victim was transported to hospital for medical treatment. The SAPS asks anyone with information regarding the incident to call Det. WO Marcus Mafaro on 079-504-7011 or send an anonymous SMS to 32211.
THE owners of The Dirt Friend are from the left Itekoleng Gaetsosiwe, Bernita Adams, Magneta Adams, Ikeleng Motlopi and Lizle Witbooy. They are happy that their laundry business is going from strength to strength. Kolomela assisted them in starting the business by supplying them with machinery and materials and providing them with the training to be able to render proper services. Photo: Supplied
TEACHERS, volunteer workers and youths from Kuruman attended the Small Enterprise Development Agency’s (Seda) information morning that was held at the Eldorado Hotel in Kuruman last Thursday.
A BEAUTIFUL wall decoration was created from wire.
GORGEOUS patchwork blankets for your home.
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EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 22 OCTOBER 2014
For more news and photos go to www.express-news.co.za
THE children who attended the first coaching clinics at the Mayibuye Cultural Centre.
Children try their hand at badminton } Boipelo Mere COACHING CLINICS for badminton are already in progress at the Mayibuye Cultural Centre in Galeshewe. Children from all over Kimberley are
being ferried to the centre in an effort to promote badminton. On the first day of the exhibition, at least 55 children from Molehe Mampe and the Thusong Children’s Home participated in the coaching clinics. The children were coached by some of
their peers, who are also South African Games champions, Mark van der Nest and Robert Summers. The two young boys were also assisted by the Northern Cape Development Transformations officer at the Department of Sport, Arts
Tournament aimed at promoting soccer } Boipelo Mere IT is all systems go for this coming Saturday’s recruitment drive for soccer lovers. Local supporters’ clubs are ready to register and revive the love of soccer amongst Northern Capers where they will engage in a motorcate through the streets of Galeshewe. The recruitment drive will start at the Pick n Pay in Galeshewe from 11:00
until 13:00. The motorcade will then move to Galeshewe Colour Blocking where more recruitment will be done. The recruitment drive is aimed at constituting different supporters’ clubs into teams for an upcoming tournament. According to the public relations officer of the supporters’ club, Phongo Babeile, the steering committee, which represents supporters from the four PSL teams Chiefs,
Pirates, Sundowns and Celtics are busy organising a soccer tournament on 8 November for players from different supporters’ clubs. The tournament will be held at the AR Abass Stadium in Kimberley where local clubs will be awarded trophies and medals. The tournament is aimed at promoting sport as a way of promoting health and curbing drug and alcohol abuse. For more information, phone Babeile on 071-884-4994.
and Culture, Nobethu Methuli, and U-C Cup champion in the Northern Cape, Thapelo Ndlovu. According to Methuli, the clinics was an effort by the department to introduce other kinds of sporting codes to the young children in Galeshewe.