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No matric exams Three matriculants give reasons for quitting before finals } Tladi Moloi
FRUSTRATED: Moeketsi Mofokeng.
Photo: Facebook
IT is every gr.12 learner’s dream to see their name in the newspaper in January but that is not going to happen for the three learners of the Rantsane Secondary School at Makwane Village in Qwaqwa. The final examinations have started and Moeketsi Mokoena (19), Thabang Mofokeng (19) and Dirontsho Motaung (21) cannot sit for their examinations because they allege that they have been expelled from school at the eleventh hour. Thabang and Moeketsi are keeping their fingers crossed that they can write their examinations. They claim they were told to stop coming to school even though Howard Ndaba, the Department of Education spokesman, says this is not true. Dirontsho has confirmed that she was not expelled by the school. She decided to quit her studies since she felt that she could not account for the subjects that she had failed. “I was called to the staff room about three times to account for the subjects I had failed. I was questioned on how I would ensure that I would improve on the subjects before the final examinations began. I felt that it was too much for me. I told them that I had problems at home and they promised to help me. They helped but could not improve the situation. She felt like a failure. At the time she told the principal that she had decided to stop coming to school. “The principal tried to convince me to stay at school but I had already made up my mind. One of the teachers came to my house and asked me to return to school but I was not interested,”
she said. Thabang and Moeketsi say they remained at the school for about ten months even though it was tough. They say a teacher known to them as Mphotle made their school year a living hell. Thabang says he thinks of suicide every morning when he sees his fellow gr.12 learners going to school. “Yes, it is true that we were once found smoking in class but we have apologised for that incident. We did not deserve the treatment that Mphotle was giving us,” he says. Thabang was told to return to school next year and he says “I am not crazy. Why would I go back next year? Am I still a learner at the school?” Ndaba pours cold water on these allegations saying that the department and school has had many meetings with the three learners and their parents. He says Dirontsho was asked on several occasions not to quit school but they could not do anything to change her mind. Dirontsho finally submitted a letter to the school stating her reason for leaving. “The Head of Department is the only person who can expel learners but protocol should be followed. Moeketsi has a good relationship with the principal and there was no way the principal would have allowed him to be expelled. The principal even bought Moeketsi a school uniform, because his is a brilliant learner.” On the other hand, Thabang’s father, who is a member of the school governing body, says that his son dislikes school. “We have, however, tried to convince Thabang to sit for the examinations but he shows no interest in our proposition,” he said.
FRUSTRATED: Thabang Mofokeng.
Photo: Tladi Moloi
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New stadiums help community development } Tladi Moloi IN total R18 million has been spent on the construction of the new Fateng tse Ntsho Stadium in Paul Roux. Tjhetane Mofokeng, the executive mayor of the Dihlabeng Local Municipality, said he hoped that the stadium would be used for a good cause. Mofokeng officially handed over the stadium to the community on Saturday morning and hundreds of people of the Dihlabeng Municipality came to witness the historical event. This was the second stadium the municipality had unveiled since the unveiling of one in Fouriesburg a month ago. Mofokeng pointed out that the Clarens Stadium,currently under construction, would be unveiled in December. He said there were ten teams based in Paul Roux and that two of them played in the Mayoral League. Mofokeng said they expected that the new sports facilities would help with the facilitation of unity between all the teams using the stadium. “We also want it to unite our youth and to ensure that they are encouraged to take part in constructive things. It does not only have a soccer field, but also swimming pools, volley ball, tennis and netball courts. We should have finished the stadium a long time ago, but there were some delays because of technical issues. We are happy that the stadium is
now ready to be used by the community,” he said. Mofokeng said Dihlabeng had the Free State Stars within its boundaries and that they hoped the sports facilities would help the team in their training sessions. “The bigger picture is to promote and develop soccer and other sports codes. We believe through development we’ll be able to produce young players for the big teams,” he said. Mofokeng said they had plans in place to complete the stadium in Phase 7. He said they had a cash-flow problem and that was why the stadium could not be finished on time. “We are aware that our delay has resulted in the vandalism of the stadium. We wanted it to be part of the stadia to be handed over officially to their surrounding communities before the 2014 national elections,” he said. Mofokeng said the construction of the stadium was under way in Rosendal. He gave his assurance that the stadium would be easily accessible by the community because it was being built for them. “We’re going to have meetings with a few schools, where we’ll ask them to use the facilities,” he said. Kanono Dlamini, one of the community members in Paul Roux, said they were happy about the stadium. He said the community hall was very small and added that now that they had a stadium some events could be staged there. “We now have something that
TJHETANE MOFOKENG, the Dihlabeng Local Municipality’s executive mayor, and David Lengoabala, the speaker, unveiled the new stadium in Fateng tse Ntsho, Paul Roux. Photo: Tladi Moloi
will keep our children busy, unlike before when they had nothing to do but get up to mis-
chief. There is a swimming pool and other good facilities at that stadium,” he said.
FS Health Department is battling its financial woes } Selloane Khalane THE Free State Public Servants Association (PSA) has threatened legal action against the cash-strapped provincial Department of Health over unpaid staff bonuses. According to the PSA provincial head Gehart Koorts, staff members who qualify to receive annual performance development management system (PDMS) have not yet received their bonuses which should have been paid out in July.
Koorts said the union had written a follow-up letter to the Office of the Premier, requesting Premier Ace Magashule’s intervention into the financial woes of the Health Department. The union said the trouble-ridden department was transgressing its own financial policies. The union said annually, assessments were finalised in June, so that outcomes of the audits were implemented from the first of July. “Some of the employees told the union they still had their
assessments with them,” Koorts said. Mondli Mvambi, the Department of Health spokesperson, said the department had just completed its PDMS assessments, raising the prospect payment of bonuses. Bonuses were expected to be paid by the end of last month, October, according to Mvambi. Mvambi denied that the department was struggling to source funds to pay salaries for January and February next year. The department is said to be under immense
pressure to also secure an estimated R36 million to pay Cuba for accommodation, food and other expenses for about 120 students studying medicine in Cuba. However, Mvambi brushed off the allegations as “malicious rumours” meant to dent the image of the department. This is not be the first time the department has been under serious financial strain. In the previous financial year the department admitted to cutting costs, to ensure that primary health services could still be rendered.
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FS’s best gr.6 in maths } Tladi Moloi KATLEHO MACHOBANE (12), a gr. 6 learner of the Motshepuwa Intermediate School, scoped the first position in the 2013 Mental Maths Championship which was recently held in Bloemfontein. Machobane, who hails from Bohlokong, Bethlehem, won the championship after she had contested with 26 other gr. 6 learners. She was followed by Jwalane Oliphant and Motshewa Modulane who finished second and third respectively. Machobane said it was the first time she took part in the competition and she was happy that she was victorious. “It started at school level where we were given question papers to answer and the top three learners from my school advanced to the next stage,” she said. The competition was aimed at stimulating learners’ interest in the subject and urging them to be the best in Maths from a young age. In all 78 gr. 4 to 6 learners from disadvantaged schools in the Free State competed in the championship. “I expected to win, because soon after I was told that I would be taking part in the provincial competition,” she said. Machobane said she obtained 85% at the district level and that booked the licence to the provincial stage. She said the award meant a lot to her and added that it would motivate her every year. “I’ll look at my award it every day and I believe it will stop me from doing bad things every time when I look at the award,” she said. Machobane said she would make sure that she worked harder so that she
“I expected to win it because soon after I was told that I would be taking part in the provincial competition I had to press a pause button on everything and make the books my friends and that worked for me.” – Katleho Machobane
KATLEHO MACHOBANE, a gr. 6 learner at the Motshepuwa Intermediate School scoped the first position in the 2013 Mental Maths Championship. Photo: Tladi Moloi could go to university and study medicine. “I want to help our disadvantaged people in our hospitals. That is my goal,” she said. She has urged the younger generation to fall in love with education. “They should have enough time to play and to read
books, because education is a key to success. They should respect both their parents and teachers because they will always show them the right way,” she said. She thanked all the teachers who had played a role towards her achievement and
added that she would never disappoint them in future. The competition started at school, cluster and district level with 900 learners from 140 schools in Quintile 1 to 3 level schools taking part in the competition, which encouraged mental maths be the first option in problem solving rather than a calculator. Through the championship the Free State Department of Education did not only develop learners’ skills in numbers, but also discovered and publicised talent in mental calculation. The Mental Maths Championship is now in its second year and forms part of the Maths for All campaign launched in 2013 which aims to encourage learners to study mathematics.
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FET College achievers awarded THE Bethlehem FET College has awarded the best achievers in Management Assistant, Marketing Management and Business Management. They were awarded with certificates on Friday.
NTSWAKI MAKHOBO, Nomadlozi Mbele, Caroline Raboroko and Sibongile Motloung received certificates in Business Management.
THE Management Assistant certificate went to from the left, front: Thato Borole, Puleng Mokoena, Mpho Mosia, Nomacazima Nhlapo and Thandi Mosikili; back: Mamphoko Mabesa, Dimakatso Mofokeng, Bellina Matake, Karabo Mofokeng, Mokete Shokane, Busisiwe Ndumo and Lerato Mofokeng. Photos: Tladi Moloi
JANISO MOFOKENG, Nthuseng Mofokeng, Nosipho Tyobeni, Daniel Monaheng and Seipati Masheane received certificates in Marketing Management.
Prizes motivate learners to study harder } Tladi Moloi THE Motshepuwa Intermediate School has rewarded its learners who have excelled academically ahead of the final examination set to start in a week or two. Learners from gr. 1 to gr. 6 received school bags, plastic folders, pencil cases, Mathematical instruments and crayons on Thursday courtesy of the stationery shop Libri in Bethlehem. Sana Skhosana, the deputy principal at the school, said they rewarded the top three learners per grade and added that it was not the first time that they did this. She however pointed out that it was the first time that they handed over expensive useful prizes. In the past the learners received certificates. “We hope this will motivate them ahead of the final examination. We all knew that they could not all be winners, but we hope those who did not win will work hard next year,” she said. Skhosana said she would like to thank Libri for the prizes and added that it was good to witness a stationery shop ploughing back into the community.
LEARNERS of the Motshepuwa Intermediate School who were rewarded with their teachers.
Photo: Tladi Moloi
Operation Dumelang clamps down on dealers } Tladi Moloi THOMPSON TUNDE (29), Chika Anaechi (38) and Kingsly Okafor (22) from Nigeria will appear before the Harrismith Magistrate’s Court tomorrow for a bail application. The trio, who is accused of dealing in drugs, briefly appeared before the same court on Friday but the case was postponed for the verification of documents of the residents and the formal bail application. They were arrested by the Free State Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations
(Hawks) and the Phuthaditjhaba Dog Unit a week ago. “Operation Dumelang” meaning greetings, criminals, know that were are here, was launched in January and terminated on 30 October focusing on drugs syndicates in Harrismith. Sgt. Mmako Mophiring, the police spokesperson, said during that period a number of transactions was made with the suspects in undercover operation as part of evidence. In that manner the suspects were easily identified for further handling. Therefore, arrests
were easily executed with the assistance of the Phuthaditjhaba Dog Unit where dogs were used to search car and houses of the three suspects in Harrismith, Intabazwe and Wilge park. “Drugs such as crack, cocaine and cat were found on the last transaction of purchase from the suspects. Money amounting to R92 000 was found hidden in a subwoofer speaker at one of the suspects’ home in Intabazwe near Harrismith. “The three suspects are all Nigerian nationals. They appeared before the Harrismith Mag-
istrate’s court on Friday facing charges of dealing in drugs,” he said. “Drugs are poisonous within society because they kill the future of the next generation at our schools and homes. It is our responsibility as society to stand up against drug peddlers for justice to prevail. “The operation is also linked to the festive season operation in which drugs will still be the focus of the operations. Let us squeeze their space to zero this summer,” said the acting Free State provincial commissioner, Maj Gen Moeketsi Sempe.
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Man enough to be just MAJOZI “KILLER” MBELE, Bohlokong, Bethlehem: I BELIEVE it is being manly to appreciate good things, even when they are done by those who might be regarded as your competition. So as the EFF in Dihlabeng we wish to become this man who acknowledges and does not sit in the grand stand and wastes energy criticising when there are positives done by those whom we had voted into power. I am specifically referring to the good work done by the acting executive mayor of Maluti A Phofung, Vusi Tshabalala, by organising an event that is somewhat meant to appreciate and promote the talents of our brothers and sister in the gospel industry. Between him and I we know that this might be an election strategy to gather hundreds of artists together to compete while worshipping, but the EFF hopes that the acting mayor could take this forward even after these poor people had voted. We have for years in our province witnessed only one artist getting the share of exposure and financial development that was supposed to be allocated to all who are as talented. We pray that this will change – as even the communities in the most rural areas and our elders can predict the three songs that this artist is going to sing. The three songs that he would from time to time convert to worshipping those who continue to pay his cheque and portray him to being the only talent we have in the Free State. Congratulations, Mr Mayor, and we hope that at the level of the mayoral forum in the entire district, you can influence the implementation of such programmes as not all our people are dependent on formal work to survive but some wish to be fed by their talents. Let Sport and Culture be a priority to your colleagues as employing members of the ANC.
Please be man enough as well and criticise the use of political affiliation as criteria to select beneficiaries of participation in events in our province, like it continues to happen with Macufe, Heritage Day, the Cherry Festival and other events that are meant to promote our talents in the Thabo Mofutsanyana district. I know it’s a difficult proposition as it might take you off the good books of the powers that be, but just be man enough and show that you can be independent as per the legislation that governs your office. As the government in waiting, the EFF is going to take such progressive initiatives forward as they help our people and put them in the limelight. We are not going to be apologetic when it comes to enriching our communities as we all have to share in the wealth of the state and what it has to offer, not only one person because they can sing praises and misdirect them to the people on earth instead of God. We thank you on behalf of these choirs and hope that your office will not exploit their gifts but rather include them in your planning going forward, because we believe that they do not want your food and free transport, but your assistance for them to grow and be self-sustainable, as this is business to them. They invest a lot of energy and time composing, practising and competing against each other Keep it up. Use that budget to change lives of people from whom you get money through taxes, rents and fines. It is their money and you know it. Lastly, fire all who are failing to develop our people, from incompetent LED officials who give locally-meant funds to enrich businesses from outside our boundaries, to YDO’s who cannot even draw up programmes, sports officials who cannot think and HR managers who do not follow recruitment procedures. We are watching.
Discipline an issue
THEUNIS BOTHA, leader of the Christian Democratic Party (CDP): AN online video, graphically depicting the murder of a teenage boy during a school fight, again highlights what is becoming of our youth. Discussions of this matter revolve around whether or not the video should have been
flighted or whether or not newspapers should have published photos of the incident instead of focusing on the real problem which is: What is going on in schools since liberal measures have been applied, and how are we to deal with it? Since the UN committee on the rights of the child challenged laws permitting physical punishment of children and called on all governments in the world to prohibit physical discipline, including within the family, many nations have complied, with South Africa banning corporal punishment in schools and now edging towards banning spanking of children in homes. In a study by Dr Fuller of the University of Akron’s Law School, which focused on Sweden, the first nation to impose a total ban on physical discipline of children, it was found that child abuse had exploded and physical abuse of children under 7 years increased markedly; teen violence skyrocketed with teenagers under 15 years becoming more violent towards their peers and youth criminal assaults having increased. Is this not what is now happening in South Africa? This latest incident is but one of a series that has taken place: a school teacher being beaten and kicked by a primary school (girl); a learner’s ear cut off; whilst another had a sharp object stuck into his back; during a school-boy skirmish an assortment of weapons, including knives and pangas. were wielded. These incidents are merely the tip of the iceberg. What to do? It is simple. The CDP appeals to the government to re-instate corporal punishment and keep its hands off parents spanking their children.
Nurture the youth of SA
THABISO MOKOENA, Bohlokong, Bethlehem: IN my history of working with youth, I attended numerous events where unfortunately elder speakers discredited the youth under the disguise of moral regeneration. I must indicate that for the better part of my life I have worked on projects and engaged in many efforts aimed at empowering the youth, and at no stage will I advocate for anything dif-
ferent. At these events adults preached moral regeneration and describe the youth as lost, unruly, immoral, disrespectful and many other negative descriptions. In one instance, a young man was made to stand in front of a fully packed hall by a mayor and his clothes (a skinny jean without a belt, causing it to not be exactly at the waist) was questioned. It was described as showing a lack of morals and respect, compared to an older man in the hall who was wearing trousers just above the waist with socks showing. This experience led me to questioning my understanding of the moral regeneration concept. Is it a youth-centred concept? Is it designed for elders to condemn youth with? In the midst of all these questions I intensively engaged the concept and could only conclude that it was being misrepresented and its fundamental values as per Moral Regeneration Movement Charter of positive values endorsed and adopted in 2008 at the Waterkloof Air Force Base by the patron, then Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ncuka, were severely incorrectly communicated and taught. The founding of moral regeneration has always been to address the moral decay in our societies in general, not specifically in the youth. Before running to the youth, we must first fix our society, for it takes a society to raise a child. The current display of the youth’s behaviour is a true reflection of our own societal ills which many a time we choose to ignore. In his founding statement of the Moral Regeneration Movement, former President Nelson Mandela said: “The symptoms of our spiritual malaise are too familiar. Then include the extent of corruption in both public and private sectors, where positions are used as opportunities for self-enrichment; the corruption that occurs within our justice system; violence in interpersonal relationships and families, in particular the shameful record of abuse of women and children; and the extent of tax evasion and refusal to pay for services used.” If we ought to see a productive application of this concept, we should rather join hands in building our societies, than condemning only one of its components. Let us curb the rate of parents abandoning their children. Let us become quality role models, not sugar mommies and daddies. Let us put an end to the escalating rate of rape and genderbased violence and many ills not mentioned. In so doing we will be building a better society inclusive of youth which we all will die proud of. The youth remains the future and must be nurtured.
Exam prayer service held for learners } Tladi Moloi THE Presbyterian Church of Africa, Qwaqwa Preaching Station, hosted an examination prayer session on Sunday at the Modibedi Intermediate School at Namahadi, Qwaqwa. The examination prayer was aimed at praying for learners writing their final examinations. According to Mapaseka Motloung, the vice-president of the youth, the prayer session is hosted annually. She said it was, however, the first time they had invited a motivational speaker to motivate the learners. “This year we decided to invite the educated members of the church because we thought it would be nice to be motivated by someone you
know. “In the past we would have just prayed for them during the church service and we thought that was not enough,” she said. Motloung said they believed that the learners who had attended the prayer session were motivated and pointed out that they were expecting them to return in future to motivate others.
MAPASEKA MOTLOUNG (vice-president of the youth at the Presbyterian Church of Africa, Qwaqwa Preaching Station), Fusi Makara, Melita Moeketsane and Thabile Radebe. Photo: Thabo Mokoena
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Dla2 and Dikwena lock horns } Tladi Moloi ZOA MOTLOUNG, the head coach of Dla2 FC, has warned Dikwena FC ahead of the finals. Motloung said they already counted the Mashinini Enterprise Trust Top-8 Cup in the Safa Thabo Mofutsanyana Regional League as theirs and added that they would score five goals against Dikwena. The two teams will battle each other in the championship on Saturday in the Bohlokong Stadium. The kick-off is at 15:00. The teams played against each other last Sunday in the Nedbank Cup where Dla2 won by 2-1 which gave the head coach confidence for the Qwaqwa derby on Saturday. “We have beaten Dikwena in the past three games that we played and will make sure that they get 0-5 on Saturday,” he said. “We have studied them and will capitalise on their weak points. They play short passes, but when they are out of position they can’t regroup on time. I have experienced players and that will make our job easier,” he said. Dikwena and Dla2 booked their place in the final after the had knocked out City Spurs FC, Zimisel FC, Manyatseng United Brothers FC and Mighty Wits respectively. Dikwena narrowly beat Spurs 5-4 before winning against United Brothers on aggregate 3-2. Dla2 hammered Zimisele by 4-0 before winning 4-3 on aggregate against Wits. Teboho Dlamini, the Dikwena head coach, said they had lost to the same team last
THE winner of the Mashinini Enterprise Trust Top-8 Cup will be presented with the pictured trophy. From the left are Mmenki Mosia (chairperson of the Setsoto Local Football Association), David Mashinini, the sponsor), Abiel Lethoba (president of the Safa Thabo Mofutsanyana Region) and Bongane Chabala (Safa Thabo Mofutsanyana Region treasurer). Photo: Tladi Moloi week and pointed out that they could not afford to lose two games in a row to the same team. “They knocked us out of the Nedbank Cup and now they have to give us the cup. Most of my players on the day were relaxed and the opponents failed to score more
goals. We gave them a run for their money and come the final day we’ll teach them how to play,” he said. Dlamini said they knew what to expect in the final even though they had never played in that stage before. He added that some players had sustained
injuries, but they would make sure that they received good treatment so that they would be able to attack with a full squad on the day. “The boys are ready for the final and all that we need to do is to prepare them mentally,” he said.
Free State Stars will face Polokwane City on Saturday } Tladi Moloi FREE STATE STARS will play the wounded Mamelodi Sundowns tonight in the Absa Premier League before they welcome the rookies Polokwane City on Saturday at the Goble Park Stadium in Bethlehem.
Ea Lla Koto have lost three games consecutively and should be prepared to make up for lost points in the next two games. Today’s game will take place at the Loftus Versveld Stadium in Pretoria. Kick-off is at 19:30. Steve Komphela’s boys know how important the next two league games are following their
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the Telkom Knockout competition by Kaizer Chiefs after the 4-2 penalty shootout following a one-all-draw during the game. Stars are sitting on the 12th position on the league table with eight points after seven games while Sundowns remains third with 14 points after the same number of games.
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disappointing run the past few weeks. They will be playing tonight’s game without Reuben Thebakang. In their two previous league games Stars lost 1-0 away to Ajax Cape Town before they were beaten 2-0 by Bidvest Wits on their home turf in Goble Park. They were also knocked out of
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“I am happy with the result, as I expected it wouldn’t be an easy game but we pulled through. We were a little under pressure because we did not want to lose the game in front of our supporters.” – Molefi Makhalemele
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CHAMPIONS: Real Madrid FC, a team from Fateng tse Ntsho in Paul Roux, celebrate with Dihlabeng Mayoral League the trophy after they beat Karolo FC by 3-2 in the final.
Madrid champions of the Top 8 } Tladi Moloi REAL MADRID FC narrowly beat Karolo FC by 3-2 to be crowned the champions of the inaugural Mayoral League Top 8 Cup. The world-class final took place at the new Fateng tse Ntsho Stadium in Paul Roux on Saturday afternoon. Thabo Mokoena’s brace and Morena Motsitsi’s goal earned the home team the title as champion while Martin Molise and Godfrey Abrahams netted the two goals for Karolo. The game started at a high pace in front of a satisfying crowd that sang for the whole 90 minutes of the game. Within a few minutes Mokoena broke the ice after he had outrun the opponents’ defence to give Madrid a 1-0 lead. The team from Bethlehem,
Karolo, kept pressing and within the half-hour mark, Molise levelled matters from the penalty mark after their strike was pulled down in the 18 yards box, making it 1-1. Before the interval, Motsitsi netted the second goal for the home side, making the score read 2-1. A few minutes from the half-time break, it was game on as Abrahams level matters 2-2. It was then a case of who wanted the cup more as both teams started attacking in search of a winning goal but it was Mokoena who stole it for the home team. Karolo kept pushing for an equaliser but pressure saw them struggling to penetrate the Madrid defence. The final score was 3-2 in favour of Madrid. The team won a trophy, gold medals and also took home R10 000. The team’s head coach,
Molefi Makhalemele, revealed that they were going to slaughter a few goats and give a braai for their supporters. “I am happy with the result I expected it wouldn’t an easy game but we pulled through. We were a little under pressure because we did not want to lose the game in front of our supporters. We are going to give a braai for our supporters who have been loyal throughout the years. It would have being a very disappointing result if we had lost the game in the new stadium,” he said. Makhalemele said they had not played well in the league because their focus was on the cup. However, he promised that they would go back and prepare for the league because it was important. Karolo received silver medals and R5 000 for their hard work.
Ellrico Swarts, the Karolo mentor, said they had lost the game because they were afraid of losing. He said they would have won the game had they played their normal game. “We gave away three simple goals and we paid the price. We also created many scoring chances but failed to convert,” he said. He said stage fright had contributed to their loss but he pointed
Photo: Tladi Moloi
out that they would make sure that they motivated the players ahead of the league competition. Do you think the Dihlabeng Local Municipality is doing enough for the development of sport? Send us your comment on 45533 or visit our website on express-new.co.za or Facebook page Qwaqwa Express Eastern Free State.