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WEDNESDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2015

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No bail for murder accused

‘Suspect cannot be trusted’ } Boipelo Mere

THE family of Florence Stickiemens Berend (5 years old at the time of her death) sat quietly in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court listening as the state asked for more urgency in the case of the alleged killer of the little girl.

Ivan Mathibe, accused of being responsible for the death of Florence, appeared in court for the second time on Monday (09/02) and once again abandoned his bail application.

The Galeshewe community in Ward 12, who were reportedly gunning for the accused to be granted bail in order to deal with him, sat patiently and waited for the outcome.

The girl’s body was found abandoned in the veld behind the Galeshewe Police Station in December 2014 after a search party had been launched to look for her.

She was allegedly raped and killed and her body was found with multiple stab wounds and a screwdriver was found near her body.

According to the senior prosecutor, Tebogo Namisa, the application for bail was taken off the roll due to Mathibe’s untrustworthiness.

He is further accused of misleading the investigation by giving a false name. The state, however, successfully linked him to the indictment.

“I am here to oppose bail because he is not to be trusted and because he committed another offence while on parole,” said Namisa.

According to Namisa, it is the third case that the accused is involved in and he has served time for others.

“The first case was assault, the second was possession of dagga and the third, for which he was on parole, was that of house-breaking.

“Mathibe was on parole and expected

The Galeshewe communi­ ty in Ward 12, who were re­ portedly gunning for the accused to be granted bail in order to deal with him, sat patiently and waited for the outcome. to behave in a proper and acceptable manner in the community.

“But because he had committed a section 6 offence he has to prove that he deserves bail, citing exceptional circumstances, and that it would be in the interest of the justice system.”

It is clear that Mathibe is expected to serve the remainder of his previous sentence which is expected to end by the end of the year.

The prosecution is expected to request that the case be referred to the High Court and that the state ask for a maximum sentence.

Meanwhile, the deceased’s family and the Ward 12 deputy chairperson, Bobby Mongwe, is asking for calm in the community and for them to allow the law to take its course.

According to Mongwe, they, as the ward handed over a memorandum to the state prosecutor to oppose bail and are calling for a double life sentence.

KEDIBONE BEREND (left) led the ceremo­ ny to collect Florence Stickiemens Be­ rend’s spirit at the spot where her body was found in 2014.

Photo: Boipelo Mere

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EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2015

NEWS

Youths showcase talent } Boipelo Mere THE launch of Umswenko meaning “kasi fashion style” was a good learning curve for the young Galeshewe organisers of the show.

Umswenko members say they have organised themselves as youth into different groups, according to their talents.

The show where young local talent was showcased – like dancing (local, traditional, rap, solo and pantsula), poetry, magicians and local designers – was held over the weekend at the RC Elliot Hall. The idea was to uplift the youth and display their talent to their community.

Apart from the youth, who attended the event in large numbers, parents were also spotted cheering

MODELS strutting their stuff on the ramp.

their children during performances.

According to Boitumelo Riet, one of the organisers of the event and also the programme director, they realised that the show had not been up to standard, but they would work on their mistakes for the upcoming show, which would be soon.

“This was a learning curve for us.

We were showcasing raw talent for our groups.

We have learned that, apart from Facebook, we can also use other channels of communication such as the local media houses. That way we will sell more tickets and pull more crowds,” he admitted.

“We will work hard in an effort to pull more of Kimberley’s youth into fashion and style instead of into crime. This way we will also be motivating the models and perform-

ers and show them that there is indeed a future in talent.”

According to Riet, they staged the show using their own money because they wanted parents to feel proud after seeing their children’s talent.

They plan on extending the invitation to other groups in Galeshewe so that all groups can get a fair chance to promote local artists and introduce them to a wider audience in the country.

“We hope to promote mature dance classes for local schools and people in our community if funders can respond positively to our appeals,” said another organiser, Motsamai Lechuti.

“We will be glad to get investors in order to keep the momentum going".

PANTSULA DANCERS entertaining the audience.

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Photos: Boipelo Mere

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This is an open invite to the public. Seats are limited. To attend, kindly contact the ETDP SETA Provincial Office.

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Human Communications 115984

EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE , WEDNESDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2015

NEWS

3

‘Let it be said that if there is a project, people should be em­ ployed fairly to avoid the situation we find ourselves in.’

PAMPIERSTAD residents confronted the official of Rural Development during his site visit to do renovations at the Pampierstad Recreational Park.

Photos: Tshediso Moshoeshoe

PAMPIERSTAD PARK

Community take a stand about park } Tshediso Moshoeshoe FOLLOWING the recent renovations at the Pampierstad Recreational Park, the people of Pampierstad came together and took a stand against the activities taking place within their community without their knowledge.

The community is outraged that they were not made aware of the renovation, following the Phokwane saga (as reported on in Express Northern Cape of 04/02 “Acting mayor to turn tide”).

The park’s initial size was to be reduced due to a lack of departmental funding and the no-nonsense community members put a stop to it by saying that, “if the department has no funds, then let them leave our park as it is”.

When one of the officials of Rural Development arrived at the construction site, there was a sense of urgency in the air. According to the official, they had met with Sandy Mokwena, Ward 4 councillor, on 16 January.

Mokwena was supposed to report back to the community after their meeting. The official told Express Northern Cape that it was the councillor’s duty to consult with the members of the community before any work could be done on a community project. In this regard it seems that Mokwena failed to do what was required of him.

On 25 January a community meeting was convened in the hope of clearing the air on the Ward 4 park issue. It was agreed that Mokwena was supposed to be accompanied by a departmental official (the same one Express Northern Cape spoke to without Mokwena’s knowledge) and other ward councillors, and again he failed to do so.

He rather opted to face the people and answer some of the questions of angry community members.

In response to a question about the criteria used to employ some of the workers on the project, Mokwena said: “From each and every ward, two people were selected to partake in this project.”

It is reported that some of the workers on the project were politically deployed.

At this point it is still unclear as to how much money was allocated for the ongoing project, as Mokwena failed to answer this

question. “I am not the relevant person to answer such a question,” he responded.

The community further accused the councillors of taking over the task of giving instructions to contractors on who to hire and who not to hire, based on their political affiliation.

“It cannot be denied that it is not only ANC comrades who are going hungry, but half the community is hungry as well. It cannot be that every time a project comes, it must be politicised and first preference be given to fellow comrades,” shouted an angry member of the Pampierstad Concerned Citizens (PCC), Karabo Khorae, during the meeting.

The community urged Mokwena to do away with political deployment, as it was one of the factors contributing to community dissatisfaction.

Khorae read out the following statement: “Today, we, the citizens of Pampierstad, are divided because of this political deployment and we see each other as enemies on the streets, all because of the system that is being used by our councillors.

“Let it be said that if there is a project, people should be employed fairly to avoid the situation we find ourselves in.

“Let it be known that we all have the right to go and stop that project, as firstly, there was no consultation with us. I make a plea to the councillor to hire fairly next time.”

Khorae also alleged that he had been threatened by Mokoena when he and members of the PCC had confronted the latter at his house two days earlier. Following the community meeting, a task team of the PCC met with representatives of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and two councillors (Mokwena and Freddy Mojapele) on 26 January. Members of the PCC alleged that the meeting was influenced by Mokoena.

“We believe that we have been dealt with (sic) as our own agenda was totally dismissed and we know the reason for that. But it is fine, we will deal with these people.

Even if it means engaging the province, we will do that as well,” Kagisho Raadt, one of the members of the PCC, said after the meeting.

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EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2015

NEWS

Another life claimed by shack blaze } Boipelo Mere GABORONE MOENG (60) survived to tell the tale of how his wife, Lena, was engulfed in a blaze in their shack in the Sonderwater Squatter Camp in Warrenton.

The community is devastated by yet another death caused by a shack fire, with no water tap nearby to fight the blaze.

In his hospital bed in Warrenton, Moeng is still saddened by the fact that he was not able to make the funeral arrangements for his late wife himself.

He was only discharged to attend the funeral after being taken to hospital by the police and leaving his wife’s remains behind to be collected by the forensic services on 24 January. His wife was buried on 31 January.

He has been hospitalised in the Warrenton Community Health Centre since the incident. Moeng recalled how he was woken up by the strong smell of smoke in his shack where he was sleeping with his wife and six-year-old grandson.

Although the shack had electricity, the fire was reportedly caused by a candle in a room they had prepared for a guest. There was no globe in the specific room.

According to witnesses, the guest left the room to go and look for a cigarette when the fire broke out.

“It was dark and the blaze was already strong, so I could hardly speak,” said Moeng.

He told his wife that the house was on fire and that they needed to get out. Aware of safety measures in case of a fire, Moeng said there was no time for him to look for a blanket to cover himself with.

STILL stiff after the incident, Ga­ borone Moeng demonstrates how he protected his six­year­old grandson.

“We got out of the bed and I grabbed our grandson while she followed me.

“On our way out of the burning shack, she tripped and fell. That was when some of the burning plastic plates fell on me. I had my grandson and was trying to protect him from the blaze with my body and shoulders. My intention was to take the child outside and then come back for my wife.”

He said that he had felt numb and weak when he got outside and could not get himself to stand up and face the fire. A passer-by saw the fire and woke the neighbours, who all rushed to the scene and helped to extinguish the fire.

According to residents, Lena was not the first to have died because of a shack blaze. Sonderwater is well-known for its water challenges. The community is complaining

that while the area has been rearranged and electricity and pit toilets installed, nothing has been done about water supply.

“This is nothing new to us; people die in shack fires,” said a community member.

“This was one of the incidents where neighbours had to run around and fetch saved water from their homes to extinguish the fire.

We do not even know what a fire brigade looks like. After we called the police, they assisted in fetching water with the van, while some of the people on bicycles also assisted in fetching water with buckets from the only tap we have.”

A neighbour, Masithole Mosepele (25), who attended a funeral service with Lena the evening before the incident, said she had been woken by her husband who had heard screaming.

“We saw Gaborone sitting there with the child. We shouted Lena’s name, but did not get any response.

We broke down the shack in an effort to extinguish the fire and there was a time when I saw her going in the direction of the sitting room. I regret not following her movements, but it was a moment of confusion for all of us. We thought she went for safety. I heard her say ‘einananana’, but I thought she was outside among us,” said Mosepele.

It only dawned on them after the fire had been extinguished that Lena was nowhere to be found.

“It was then that we started searching for her in the dark and smoky shack. I was the first one to see her feet under the rubble.”

“That was the most shocking discovery I had ever made in my whole life.”

GABORONE MOENG’S upper body is completely covered in bandages due to burns he suffered to his back and arms.

Photos: Boipelo Mere

Snyders was pillar of strength in community } Boipelo Mere

service delivery.”

According to his father, Jan THE communities of Upington, Snyders, his son Marco truly Warrenton and the Northern lived for his community and Cape at large have lost a public served it through his professervant whose community sion. involvement was remarkable, For Marco it was not just a when one considers his age. profession, but a calling. He On 1 February the Snyders had a passion for his job and family in Upington and the performed it with the object of Warrenton community woke up healing people. to the tragic death of Hendré “He was so energetic and full Marco Snyders (26) who had of life. The world at large has been killed in a car accident on lost a very energetic man. He HENDRÉ MARCO had such a passion for life. He the N12.

SYDERS (26) will be was involved in sport and His death has left a vacuum buried in Upington played a huge role in commuin the community of Warrenton on 14 February. and particularly in the Departnity projects. He was so ment of Health, so much so passionate about helping that they held a moving memorial service people that it fills us with pride to hear for him last week Wednesday. from others about the role he played in Snyders was a physiotherapist who had the community,” said the father. been serving in the Warrenton, Hartswater According to Snyders his son started and Jan Kemp Health-care centres for the school in Upington. past three years.

His leadership skills came to the fore at Dimakatso Tau, the facility manager at the AJ Ferreira High School where he the Warrenton Community Health Centre, became captain of the school rugby team speaking at the memorial service, said the during his gr. 10 year, when he was also community had lost a pillar of strength elected as head boy.

According to her, Snyders was part of Marco also joined Love Life where he the Allied Health Clinical Support strucserved on the committee and managed to ture and was passionate about his job. secure many sponsorships for HIV/Aids “He was committed to achieving all his and TB-related programmes. objectives.

“After school he enrolled at the Universi“He was dependable, always punctual ty of the Free State (UFS) to study Physioand would always go the extra mile. therapy.

“We will always miss his dedication to “He entered the profession in 2012,” the community because he changed the Snyders said. lives of many for the better through his According to some of the mourners rehabilitation programmes,” added Tau. Marco also participated in the community “It is a terrible loss. We have lost youth programmes, such as the Warrensomeone who also helped me to attain my ton Soccer Club. objectives because he made a key contribuMarco will be buried in Upington on tion to my achievemnets in terms of Saturday (14/02).

THE Snyders family during the Memorial Service held at the Warrenton High School.

Photos: Boipelo Mere

HEART BROKEN colleagues Mpho Kgoro, radiographer, Rushda Abduraman, occupational therapist, and Beaunita Isaacks, assistant pharmacist, during the memorial service.

EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE , WEDNESDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2015

5

NEWS

Officer assaults journalist Police members in court } George Mutloane

} George Mutloane

A NORTHERN CAPE man claims he was humiliated and wrongfully arrested by police in Roodepan.

Samuel Hoogstander gave evidence before Magistrate Khandilizwe Nqandala in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court and related how he had been arrested at the multipurpose centre in Roodepan where he had gone to contest for a position in the ANC in August 2010.

He said the police had arrived at the centre and had arrested him for rape and attempted murder.

He was never formally charged with these crimes, and did not appear in court.

Hoogstander said the police did not have a warrant for his arrest or a search warrant to enter his property.

According to him, he was kept in chains for three days and never given an opportunity to seek legal assistance or to see his family.

He gave graphic details of what had allegedly happened to him at the hands of Supt. Kapok van Eeden, Insp. Piet Hugo and Capt. Nappie Hendricks.

All of the police members are based at the Roodepan Police Station in Kimberley.

The police are opposing the civil claim lodged by Hoogstander and are represented by the state attorney.

Nqandala allowed a hearing to continue without a break in order to speed up the process.

The court later adjourned, however, to allow Hoogstander to consult with his legal representative, Gary Botha.

The case continues.

Help find serial rapist THE South African Police Service has offered a reward of R70 000 to anyone who can provide information that may lead to the arrest of an alleged serial rapist in the province.

The suspect aged between 30 and 40 years has been linked to 32 cases of rape in the Northern Cape.

He has committed these crimes since 2011 until January 2015 in the areas of Modderrivier, Kimberley, Kagisho, Galeshewe, Roodepan and Pabello, Kakamas, Upington, Postmasburg, Kathu and Kuruman.

The suspect chooses his victims when they leave taverns.

After befriending them, he pulls out a large knife and threatens them to continue walking with him in a casual way.

He is not aggressive and lures his victims to quiet areas.

He insists that his victims look at him while raping them. He speaks Tswana and Afrikaans very well.

The victims allege that after the rape, he neatens their hair, tidies them up and gives them a kiss on the left cheek.

The two victims from Postmasburg alleged that he requested them to accompany him to his house to give his wife money.

He informed them that his wife would not allow him back to the house if he came alone, therefore he needed them to accompany him.

While on their way, he produced a knife, threatened them and raped them.

According to the police identikit, the suspect is approximately 1,8 m tall, well built with short black hair that is always under a woolly hat.

He has marks on his face, brown eyes and a tattoo on the neck with the number “26”. He has a new scar on the left side of the inner thigh.

He can be identified by his blue or black jeans, white All Star tekkies or black sports shoes and black sports jacket with white stripes on the side of the sleeves.

He also wears a black woolly hat.

THERE was drama at the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court when Capt. Nippy Hendricks charged at Zandisile Luphahla, a journalist of a daily newspaper in Kimberley. There were screams from people in court when Hendricks jumped from his chair, tried to grab Luphahla’s camera, and made a threatening move to hit him.

When Luphahla proceeded taking pictures, Hendricks blocked the lense of the camera and the camera fell.

This happened while Luphahla was taking pictures of the three police officers who are defendants in a civil matter instituted by

the aggrieved Samuel Hoogstander from Roodepan.

The president of the regional court, Magistrate Khandilizwe Nqandala, had just adjourned the court and was about to leave the chamber when the incident happened.

He witnessed everything and ordered that Hendricks be taken into custody.

There was no police orderly visible in the courtroom. One of the defendants, Supt Kapok van Eeden, allegedly approached the magistrate and made an excuse for the erratic behaviour as being the result of Hendricks being on medication.

Returning to the chamber, Nqandala withdrew the order for Hendrick’s arrest,

but ordered that their legal representation report Hendricks to his superiors. Nqandala explained that he was a possible witness to what had transpired, and as a result he had to recuse himself from the main case of a civil claim against the police.

The journalist opened a case of assault and all 11 people in court are core witnesses to what had happened.

The case could not continue as the magistrate had to recuse himself from the case at hand since he was now a possible witness to the drama and the actions in his court caused by Hendricks.

The case will resume when the new magistrate is assigned and a new date set.

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EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2015

NEWS

Holy cow! I am worth what?

V Oteng Mpete “MY lobola was R1 200 in 1987. I was the most expensive bride your father’s village had ever seen, because I was beautiful with long flowing hair and red nails,” says my mother beaming with pride.

The women of Masaleng in Qwaqwa never stood a chance against my mother’s beauty and her Tswana heritage.

Now, 28 years later, according to the controversial “Lobola Calculator” app for smartphones, my lobola would be a whopping R78 000.

A series of questions are used to calculate one’s worth. What is your highest qualification? How much do you weigh?

(Because your worth is closely determined by how many vetkoek you had last week.)

How attractive are you? To which the app’s creators crassly ask the quiz-taker to be “honest” on a scale that ranges from not at all, average and really hot.

Not for the faint-hearted When Nxobile Khubeka, a stay-at-home mom, met her husband in 2012, she was only 17 years old.

The following year he proposed and married her. Six months later, they were blessed with a baby girl.

“My lobola was R60 000. I was barely out of high school when my husband married me.

“I hear a lot of whispers about my lobola; that it was too much money for an unaccomplished woman.

“But I have never really paid attention to gossip,” says Khubeka.

“I am not hurt by the gossip, I believe that people are just jealous, that my husband could afford to splurge on lobola and an extravagant wedding,” she says.

Lobola, which is loosely translated to bride price, is meant to be a symbolic expression of gratitude from a man to a woman.

The groom shows his gratitude to the bride’s family by paying them a “reasonable” amount of money.

Lobola acts as the binding of the couple’s marriage because it joins two families.

“It is founded on two beliefs. First, that lobola is never finished nor paid in full. A man is forever indebted to his wife’s family for raising a wife for him and the mother of his children,” says Lesley Mofokeng, City Press columnist and writer.

“Second, it is to say that this precious woman’s value cannot be put into monetary terms. A more romantic man would say: ‘This is how far my money can stretch. It’s not enough to afford you, for I’m the lucky one to have you agree to spend the rest of your life with me’.”

“Everybody is doing it all wrong. The way lobola is practised nowadays is blatant exploitation of men.

“I wouldn’t mind if my partner would lobola me with just one cow. There should

KHULUBUSE ZUMA, mining millionaire and former taxi boss paid R600 000 which is 100 cows worth, of lobola for his Swati bride, Fikisiwe­Dlamini.

Photo: SundaySun not be a monetary amount attached to lobola,” says Ntando Mbata, heritage specialist and writer.

“It isn’t about the amount of money or number of cows one can give, but rather about the bloodshed that connects two families’ ancestors.”

With South Africa’s divorce rate increasing drastically each year, most black couples need to bear in mind that lobola money is non-refundable.

Selloane Khalane, journalist and mother of two, is currently going through an amicable divorce with her husband.

She is grateful for the life they spent together and the home she had built with him.

“My father didn’t want their lobola money; he didn’t believe that it was practical. He always emphasised that the best thing that must come out of the lobola process is that my husband treats me like a queen,” she says.

“My lobola was just over R20 000, because I was independent, charismatic and hard-working.

“I could drive a car and I was studying at a university.

“Although we’re not together anymore, my husband would never ask for his lobola back. It is an insult to do so.

“The money paid out during the lobola process is a small part of what lobola truly signifies.”

Why women do it Today, more and more women in South Africa are accomplished professionals.

These women drive expensive cars, pay their own rent and buy property.

FANIE FOURIE’S LOBOLA was a movie that depicted love between a Zulu woman and an Afrikaans man and the woes that came with negotiating lobola.

Photo: Channel24 “I would never be able to afford to pay lobola, I am an artisan and my girlfriend is a dentist,” says Musa Mchunu (27).

“I want to marry her, but I know that I will never be able to afford to please her family.”

Nevertheless, women with the financial means to do so, are considering paying their own lobola.

Lolola is now a trending topic The uproar caused by the “Lobola Calculator” on Twitter and Facebook is proof that the algorithms used to measure the value of the woman are flawed.

“I knew this app would end up being a way of making fun of our tradition, but I’m probably being oversensitive,” tweeted

Mayihlome Tshwete, spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs and the son of ANC stalwart Steve Tshwete who died in 2002.

Atlegang Moshugi thought it was ridiculous. “Relax, it’s not like your uncles are going to use the app during your negotiations,” tweeted Moshugi Sihle Ntsaluba tweeted: “What is the weighing based on? Does nobody feel that this app ridicules the true meaning behind what lobola stands for?”

People like to hide behind the name of culture and do things that are logically insensible and say “it’s my culture”.

All one can hope for, as a future participant of the lobola process, is that sensibility be practised by both families.

Nominate trustees for De Aar Solar Plant COMMUNITIES in the vicinity of De Aar Solar Power can now benefit directly from enterprise development and socio-economic development contributions, employment and procurement and community trust ownership, through the Sibona Ilanga Trust.

According to a statement from the community trust, the community trust, which is an 8% shareholder in De Aar Solar Power, is seeking to appoint two beneficiary trustees.

Nominations are sought from all sectors of the community in the Pixley ka Seme District. The aim is to carry out public benefit activities for the welfare of the local community.

“The trustees will be required to manage the utilisation of funds received from dividends for the benefit of the community,” explained Neville Gabriel, independent trustee of Sibona Ilanga Trust.

The purpose of the Sibona Ilanga Community Trust is to redress past inequities by promoting social development and cohesion and assist in the development of poor and disadvantaged communities in the vicinity of the solar farm, including De Aar, Britstown and Hanover. The trust’s 8% ownership is significantly higher than the government’s minimum threshold of 2,5%.

“This is an exciting step for us and for the local community, who derive financial profit from the solar farm,” added Gabriel.

Nominations are sought from all sectors of the community, such as sports, social movements, the arts, business, religion, the media, community development agencies and education and training institutions. Nominations of candidates with financial, legal, health, education and post-matric professional qualifications and or social dialogue skills are particularly encouraged.

“Nominated candidates who would be potential beneficiaries of the community trust should carefully consider accepting nominations as this would exclude their families from benefitting from the trust,” urged Gabriel.

Nomination process According to the trust, candidates must be nominated by a member of a beneficiary community and the nomination needs to be supported by at least 20 other beneficiary community members.

The nomination should include a letter of motivation, along with the curriculum vitae of the nominated candidate, as well as the names, contact details and signatures of at least 20 beneficiary community members that support the nomination of the candidate.

DE AAR SOLAR PLANT. “Interested parties should also note that nominated candidates are warned not to have any immediate association with an individual or organisation that will directly benefit from the trust.

“Candidates are hereby warned that they should not be publicly affiliated to, or a

Photo: Supplied

representative or official of, a political party or be an employee of a local municipality. Nominations should be emailed by 13 March to marion.greenthompson@globeleq.co.za with “Trustee nomination for the Sibona Ilanga Community Trust” in the email subject line.

EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE , WEDNESDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2015

7

NEWS

The Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison would like to express its appreciation to all role players that ensured a smooth service delivery of Learner Transport when schools reopened.

THE Strydenburg Future Leader Organisation will travel to Bloemhof, Klerksdorp, Welkom, Bloemfontein, Colesberg, Graaff­Reinet, Willowmore, Plettenberg Bay, Swellendam, Klein­ mond, Cape Town, Darling, Saldanha Bay, Villiersdorp, Worcester, Laingsburg, Drie Susters and De Aar, returning to Strydenburg on 28 February.

Photo: Supplied

Group has big plans

} Boipelo Mere THERE are great plans in the offing for the small impoverished town of Strydenburg. A group of ten people belonging to the Strydenburg Future Leaders Organisation, a non-profit organisation, plans to revive their small town and put it back on the map.

Restoring the Strydenburg Aloe Vera Park to its full glory in an effort to create jobs is one of the organisation’s biggest objectives.

This they plan to achieve by approaching income-generating projects throughout the country for them to plough back into the impoverished community of Strydenburg.

Strydenburg was internationally famous for its Aloe Vera Park in the 1980s. However, the park had been vandalised through the years.

All these initiatives are expected to create much-needed sustainable job opportunities that will result in other income-generating projects, including a school for disabled

learners where crafts can be learned and various arts and crafts markets established, such as at the Worcester School for the Blind.

In an effort to market the organisation more, the members will undertake a bicycle tour of more than 3 000 km this month.

This way they aim to change the mindset of the youth, as well as the general lifestyle of the Strydenburg community.

“We have already kindled a light in the souls of the youth of Strydenburg, now they will visit schools throughout the country to motivate and inspire learners,” explained Ronald Matjan, coordinator of the cycling group. He said the purpose of the cycling tour was twofold.

They plan to raise funds in order to fulfil the above-mentioned, as well as to provide bursaries to deserving youth.

Donations are welcome and people can contact the Strydenburg Future Leaders Organisation on 074 875 5597.

A big thank you to the following stakeholders: Department of Education's regional and provincial coordinators, Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison officials, service providers, learners, principals, parents, traffic officials, road safety officials, EPWP safety volunteers (Social Crime Prevention and Road Safety Volunteers), media, civil organisations and the community at large.

The Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison is committed to delivering safe, secure and accessible transport in the Northern Cape.

For any matters relating to learner transport, please contact Mr C. Shushu or Ms C Conradie on 053 839 1700.

X1PQ9EQ1-NE110215

NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE

DEPARTMENT OF ROADS AND PUBLIC WORKS

BIDS ARE HEREBY INVITED FOR: BID #

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICE

DRPW 029/2014

Kuruman: Construction of a new guardhouse and the fencing at old Kuruman hospital.

DRPW 030/2014

DRPW 031/2014

Richmond: Provisioning of office accommodation for the Department of Social Services.

Britstown: Provisioning of office accommodation for the Department of Social Services.

CIDB GRADING

5GB or above

N/A

N/A

DEPOSIT

BID DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE AT

CONTACT PERSONS

CLOSING DATE, TIME AND PLACE

SITE MEETING / INSPECTION

R500,00

Department of Roads & Public Works, 9-11 Stockroos Street, Square Hill Park, Kimberley 8300.

Mr D Tsoai 053 839 2283.

Mr T Mgijima 053 839 2299.

27/02/2015 at 11:00 at Department of Roads and Public Works, 9-11 Stockroos Street, Square Hill Park, Kimberley 8300.

NONE

R200,00

Department of Roads & Public Works, 9-11 Stockroos Street, Square Hill Park, Kimberley 8300.

Ms M Kgomongwe at 053 831 3041.

Mr T. Mgijima at 053 839 2299.

27/02/2015 at 11:00 at Department of Roads and Public Works, 9-11 Stockroos Street, Square Hill Park, Kimberley 8300.

NONE

R200,00

Department of Roads & Public Works, 9-11 Stockroos Street, Square Hill Park, Kimberley 8300.

Ms M Kgomongwe at 053 831 3041.

Mr T. Mgijima at 053 839 2299.

27/02/2015 at 11:00 at Department of Roads and Public Works, 9-11 Stockroos Street, Square Hill Park, Kimberley 8300.

NONE

A non-refundable deposit of R500,00 for DRPW029/2014 and R200,00 is payable for each document.

This project will be adjudicated on a 90:10 points system as stipulated in the Preferential Policy Framework Act (PPPFA) 5 of 2000.

NB: The tax clearance certificate as indicated in NCP 2 MUST be submitted in original at the time of closure of bid. No cheques or postal orders are accepted, cash ONLY. All forms NCP1, NCP4, NCP8, NCP9 and NCP6.1B should be completed and signed.

In terms of Preferential Procurement Policy Regulation 2011, Original or Certified copy, B-BBEE status level of contribution certificate must be submitted with the bid.

The client is not obliged to accept the lower or any of the tenders.

X1PQDL1M-NE110215

8

EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2015

Mainstay get second chance

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THE Northern Cape, and particularly the community around Upington, is once again hopeful that come next weekend (22/02) the media will be abuzz with stories of how Mainstay United humbled the PSL giants Ajax Cape Town.

This comes after the 26-year-old club got a second chance to redeem itself after being humiliated by African Warriors last year.

Should this envisaged miracle happen, the district of ZF Mgcawu would prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they are a force to be reckoned with in the Northern Cape, as they produce competitive teams and players at junior and school level.

In fact, the last time the Northern Cape had a team at a higher level was with Louisvale Pirates, also from Upington.

Rivaldo Coetzee, for example, hails from Kakamas, a stone’s throw from Upington.

He will be facing his home boys if he plays in that game.

But the Northern Cape minnows rate their chances high against Ajax because of improvements in their coaching structures.

Their coach completed the Carling Black Label Coach the Coaches Programme and he believes it is adding value to the team.

“This programme could not have come at a better time; for us as development coaches the course has been wonderful.

Everything that I have picked up I have brought to my team and it has paid off,” said Galiel Peluan, Mainstay United coach.

While the coach will test his newlyhoned skills during one of the biggest cup competitions in the country, he is quietly confident of his team’s ability, especially since it is their second appearance in the tournament.

It is only fair to say that Mainstay United will hopefully avenge the defeats suffered by Powerlines, Real Madrid, Douglas-based Charlton FC and Jacko Spears from Jan Kemp. Real Madrid is the only club to have gone to the last 16, as they also played twice in the Nedbank Cup. ) The game will be played at 15:00 at the Mxolisi Bicky Stadium in Upington.

Are you good at sport?

ARE you motivating or training others to be good at sport? Are you coaching future stars? Are you getting people active at your school, community or gym? We want to hear from you.

SuperSport’s Let’s Play identified the need amongst the youth to get more active in sport. With this in mind, SuperSport and Let’s Play, in association with Express Northern Cape, want to recognise learners in either primary or high school who excel in sport, or who are helping others to be more active. The SuperSport’s Let’s Play Star of the Month is a monthly competition for anyone aged from 6 to 18. You can nominate yourself or be nominated by a friend, or by a teacher, lecturer or coach at your school or place of education or even a friend or family member. The winner is chosen from all the nominations received for that month. The monthly winner will receive a Let’s Play hamper filled with goodies. From all the entries received each month, one player will be chosen as the Star of the Month. At the end of the year one player from all the Star of the Month winners during the year will be chosen as the SuperSport Let’s Play Star of the Year.

Let’s Play, which celebrates its tenth birthday this year, is an initiative to enhance recreation and development at schools through play and sport.

Nominations received before the 20th of every month will be included in that month’s selection. Nominations received after the 20th will be carried over to the next month’s selection.

Your nomination must include your name, age and a short paragraph (less than 200 words) on what you have achieved, as well as your contact details. You can email your nomination to supersport@zpr.co.za or fax to 086-552-4922. For more information contact Lynne Landman on 051-522-9574.

For more news and photos visit www.express-news.co.za

} George Mutloane

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY IN TERMS OF SECTION 31 OF THE ACT FOR A LICENCE.

CELEBRATION TIME: Erick Mathoho (middle) with his Kaizer Chiefs teammates Simphiwe Tshabalala (left) and Bernard Parker.

Photo: Sydney Mahlangu

Celtic take on Chiefs } Sidwell Guduka THE Free State Stadium will be no place for the faint-hearted when Bloemfontein Celtic square off with Kaizer Chiefs on Wednesday, 11 February.

Kick-off is at 19:30.

This will be the first match for both sides since December last year due to the recently-ended Afcon tournament that was hosted

by Equatorial Guinea.

Erick “Tower” Mathoho hopes Chiefs will start the second round of the season from where they left off before the Christmas break.

The Glamour Boys, who are the only unbeaten team in the PSL after 18 matches, are sitting on the summit of the log after collecting 46 points.

“It is always a big game travelling to Celtic,” Mathoho told kaizerchiefs.com.

“Celtic is not a so-called small team. They have the backing of their passionate supporters,” he said.

Mathoho was part of the Bafana Bafana squad that represented South Africa at the Afcon tournament. He arrived back in the country last week.

1. Sol Paatje Municipality 2. Stander-Atiaan,Johann 10 Steenberg Ave Royldene Kimberley 8301

“I am fresh and looking forward to combine well with my teammates to continue where we left off before the break,” said the former Celtic man.

Though Amakhosi are enjoying a 15-point lead at the top of the log, Mathoho believes it is still a long way before the Absa Premiership title will be decided.

“It is still a long way to go to the last game.

“We take each game as it comes.

Celtic will look at breaking our momentum, but they will find us ready to defend our pride and the badge,” Mathoho said.

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