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Hard work pays off } Tladi Moloi
MAHLEHLE MOKOENA (18), a former gr. 12 learner of the Tsebo Secondary School, is on cloud nine after he was named the overall winner during the 2013 Investec Qwaqwa Promaths Awards ceremony held in partnership with Investec, the Kutlwanong Centre for Maths, Science and Technology and the Free State Department of Education. Mahlehle, who had obtained six distinctions – Mathematics, Sotho, Life Sciences, Life Orientation and Physical Sciences, as well as Geography – received two trophies, an iPad and R15 000, at the ceremony which was held on Friday at the Beacon High School in Phuthaditjhaba. He said he had not expected that because he was competing with the best. “I never saw myself winning, but that never dragged me down. I kept on working hard and in the end it paid off. I want to challenge the gr. 12’s of 2014 to never doubt themselves and keep on working hard,” he said. During the ceremony about 43 learners from Qwaqwa in the Thabo Mofutsanyana District who obtained a 80% to 100% pass rate in Maths and Physics, were recognised for best performance and awarded certificates and trophies. “I realised when I joined Kutlwanong that I was not the best. I had to put my foot on the accelerator and that worked for me,” he said. “I could not obtain seven distinctions because I only have level 6 English.” He invited anyone from the class of 2014 to challenge him. “I was the first learner of the
‘I never saw myself winning, but that never dragged me down. I kept on work ing hard and in the end it paid off. I want t o ch a l l e n g e t h e g r. 12 ’s o f 2 014 t o never doubt them selves and keep on working hard.’ – Mahlehle Mokoena
DEDICATION: Mahlehle Mokoena (centre), who won the top achiever award during the 2013 Investec Qwaqwa Promaths Awards, with Tate Makgoe, the Free State MEC for Education, and Fani Titi, the chair person of the Investec board of directors. Photo: Tladi Moloi Tsebo Secondary School to be in the top 100 best learners in the Free State. I hope I have opened doors for others so that we can put our beloved school on the map.” Tate Makgoe, the MEC for Education, said the success behind his department had been brought about by the partnerships that he had secured. “After I had realised what my weak points were, I decided to invite people who were better
trained than me. “Working together with people who are willing to bring about change in education has worked for us. Education is an apex priority in the ANC and we must make sure that the children in this province are given a chance to be taught and to learn,” he said. Makgoe said they believed in motivating the teachers because that would surely result in them motivating the learners.
“People were sceptical when I became the education MEC. They asked what I knew about education, but that did not worry me, because I knew what I wanted. “Not many people, even our friends, believed that we could do what we did. We should celebrate this.” The MEC said they would not have achieved what they had without Kutlwanong and Investec.
“They believed in our children. Because of them for the first time our learners were in the top ten in Mathematics and four received 100%,” he said. Setlogane Manchidi, head of corporate social investment at Investec, said it had been no surprise when the Free State had received the third spot in South Africa. “Their attitude and the way in which they were changing things was an indication of where they were going,” he said. Manchidi said he would put his head on the block that the Free State would retain that position for a long time. He said the MEC was the first in the country to not only endorse the programme, but to match them rand for rand. “We teach learners with potential. We don’t want learners who are already achieving, because that would not make a difference. This is social investment at its best,” he concluded.
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NEWS
Rape suspect in court A 32-YEAR-OLD man appeared before the Phuthaditjhaba Magistrate’s Court yesterday facing a charge of rape. When Express Qwaqwa and EFS went to print the outcome of the court was still unknown. It is alleged that the man raped a 27-year-old woman at his place after apparantly accompanying her from a tavern at DeBult in Qwaqwa in the early hours of the morning. Sgt. Mmako Mophiring said it was on Saturday at approximately 04:00 when a woman (27) walked with the man to his place from a
certain tavern at DeBult in Phuthaditjhaba. “They went to the suspect’s house where he allegedly raped her. She phoned the police who arrested the suspect while attending to the complaint at the same house,” he said. Meanwhile, the Phuthaditjhaba police reacted to a street robbery where a young man was attacked and robbed of his belongings by two young suspects who allegedly used a knife and bottle at Dipolateng in Riverside near Phuthaditjhaba. Mophiring said it is alleged that
on Saturday at approximately 21:30 the 26-year-old man was walking in the main road of Dipolateng in the Riverside location when he was attacked by two men. “He was walking from a tavern when the suspects approached him. They pushed him to the ground and searched his pockets. “They robbed him of his cellphone and the money in his possession. “The two suspects will soon appear in the Phuthaditjhaba Magistrate’s Court facing charges of robbery,” he said.
MAPHAKELA MAITSE aka Sponono sa Maluti with her new tradi tional gospel album. Photo: Tladi Moloi
Gospel diva releases new album } Tladi Moloi
MAPHAKELA MAITSE aka Sponono sa Maluti (50) has released a new traditional gospel album. The album titled Makoti o phehile totlo o banenesa boratsale comprises 12 songs. According to Maitse, it was released three weeks ago and is available in all leading music stores. Maitse started singing in 1995. She made her mark in the music industry back in 2002 when she released her debut album Mohaladitwe Shweshwe. The new album is her fifth studio album and she is hoping that it will sell like hot cakes. The album features songs like Thanks, my Lord, for everything you’ve done for me, Moya wa hao o phomole ka kgotso ntate Mandela and Mohlang ke phahamang kelo bolela ntate
‘Thanks, my Lord, for everything you’ve done for me is a song that I dedi cated to my Re d e e m e r, t h e o n e who made every thing possible in my life. He brought me joy and lifted me up.’ – Maphakela Maitse
Modimo bana ba hlotse. Maitse said she had decided to name the album Makoti o phehile totlo o banenesa boratsale after she had realised that marriage had lost its value because of the “modern woman”. “The title means that women are not cooking nice food because they are always on social networks and in taverns. Marriage in my opinion used to be the most respected of unions in the past, but now it has been turned into something that is not respected. “You’ll find a woman who was married the week before in a tavern. That would never have happened in the past.” Maitse turned 50 last year and she believes that she would not have reached that age had it not been for God’s love. “Thanks, my Lord, for everything you’ve done for me is a song that I dedicated to my Redeemer, the one who made everything possible in my life. He brought me joy and lifted me up.” Maitse said the album would not have been complete if she had not dedicated a song to the late Nelson Mandela. She said Mandela had been like Jesus to South Africa because he had fought for freedom and had been willing to die for all the children of South Africa. “When Mandela went to prison, I was still young and could not make sense of anything. When he was released I had four children. I turned 50 on the day that he was buried – 15 December 2013 – and that is a story I would like to tell my grandchildren,” she said.
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NEWS
Police motivate schools LADYBRAND CORPORATE COMMUNICATION as well as Ladybrand Social Crime Prevention visited four farm schools in the Ladybrand District on the first school day on the 2014 calendar. According to Sgt Martin Xuma, Ladybrand Corporate Communication encouraged young learners to focus on their school work and to stay away from crime-related issues. “They are the future leaders and we must make sure that we encourage them to work hard while they are still young. We also requested them to report any criminal activity to the police,” he said. The schools that were visited were the
Petrushoop Intermediate School, Mullersdrift Primary School, Phedisano Primary School and the Mamosa Primary School. During their visits, the men and women in blue gave away stationery to the learners. They gave the learners pencils, erasers, colouring books, rulers as well as pamphlets. “These visits were also conducted to ensure that the re-opening of schools took place without any incidents. “The principals of all the schools were delighted with our visit, and asked us to keep on ensuring safety and harmony in their respective schools,” he said.
LEARNERS of the Phedisano Primary School, the teachers and Const. Teboho Monese with the donated books. Photo: Supplied
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EXPRESS EASTERN FREE STATE, WEDNESDAY 29 JANUARY 2014
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Centre brings services to people } Tladi Moloi A MULTIMILLION RAND Integrated Energy Centre (IeC) was launched on Saturday in Makwane Village, Phuthaditjhaba. The IeC, which is worth R10.5 million, was made possible by the Department of Energy in partnership with Maluti-a-Phofung Municipality and Sasol. The centre will deliver energy essentials such as petrol, diesel, lubricants and LPGas. Siza Njikelana, the chairperson of the portfolio committee at the Department of Energy, said he is sure that the community of Makwane will take care of the centre. “The National Development Plan insisted that we should bring services closer to the people. This is exactly what we are trying to do by bringing services to the people of Makwane,” he said. Njikelana said the centre has a computer room that will help the school learners with their homework. “We know that there are no internet cafés in the rural areas
FROM the left are Tate Makgoe, the MEC for Education, Maurice Radebe, the chairperson of Sasol Oil Limited, Siza Njikelana, the chairperson of the portfolio committee of the Department of Energy, and Balekile Mzangwa, the executive mayor of the Thabo Mofutsanyana District, captured during the official launch of the Integrated Energy Centre at the Makwane Village. Photo: Tladi Moloi and this is definitely what the community has been waiting for,” he said. The MEC for Education, Tate Makgoe, who spoke on behalf of
the Free State Premier, Ace Magashule, said they want to thank the Minister of Energy, Dikobe Ben Martins, and all the stakeholders who were involved
in achieving this. Balekile Mzangwa, the executive mayor of the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality, said that they have worked hard
to achieve the centre. He added that this achievement will be one that remains in the history books. “This was a form of surety to our people that our government does keep its promises. The people of Makwane will never again walk long distances to get oil, paraffin and petrol,” he said. Maurice Radebe, the chairperson of Sasol Oil Limited, said: “The IeC represents the collaboration and partnership between various stakeholders and is a symbol of what can be achieved when we work together.” He thanked the community for allowing them to build the IeC on their land. He said this is the seventh IeC that they have built jointly with the Department of Energy. “An important aspect of these centres is that they are managed by the community where they are situated. It provides employment opportunities, but more importantly it ultimately empowers communities to build capacity and leverage this asset for the sustainable development of their community,” he said.
Qwaqwa Campus boasts new entrance THE Qwaqwa Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) boasts a new face. The new, colourful and long-awaited Qwaqwa Campus entrance is almost ready for use after a year of construction work. Meanwhile, the construction of the new 150-bed student residence and Geography and Physics building has just started. “The new residence comprises four double-storey and two three-storey sections, one caretaker’s house and a service room,” said Makere Mofokeng of Physical Resources. The Geography and Physics building, situated just opposite the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, is a double-storey building and comprises a boardroom, 9 offices, a 20-seater Physics chemical lab, 20-seater Physics post-graduate lab, 20-seater Physics instrument research lab, 20-seater Physics dry lab, darkroom, 180-seater lecture hall, 2 storage facilities and ablution facilities at groundfloor level.
‘The new residence com prises four doublestorey and two threestorey sec tions, one caretaker’s house and a service room.’ – Makere Mofokeng, Physi cal Resources “The following facilities are on the first floor: a boardroom, 10 offices, a 360-seater lecture theatre, a 102-seater Geography lab, a 198-seater Geography lab, a 20-seater Geography post-graduate lab and 3 storage facilities, as well as ablution facilities,” Mofokeng said. The Geography and Physics building is expected to be completed by December 2014 and the new residence by February 2015.
THE new entrance at the University of the Free State’s Qwaqwa campus.
Photo: Supplied
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EXPRESS EASTERN FREE STATE, WEDNESDAY 29 JANUARY 2014
NEWS
First Division stands AFRICAN WARRIORS marched to position seven on the National First Division (NFD) log table after they narrowly have beaten United FC by 3-2 away from home, while Maluti FET College suffered a 4-1 defeat to Witbank Spurs on Sunday. Milano United 2-0 Roses United Milano returned to win the top of the table with a 2-0 over Roses United at Grassy Park on Sunday afternoon. Brendon Theron and Bridget Motha netted to move them above Chippa United and Vasco da Gama. Roses are third from the bottom with 13 points. Chippa United 1 Vasco da Gama 1 Chippa and Vasco played out to a 1-1 draw to lose the top spot in the standings. The game went into the break goalless, but on the hour-mark Jaabier Delport gave Vasco the lead. However, the Chilli Boys equalised in the last 10 minutes through Sipho Mtuli’s superb free-kick. Maluti FET College 1-4 Witbank Spurs Witbank Spurs trashed Maluti FET College 4-1, with former Ajax midfielder Sici Shelembe and former Orlando Pirates striker Ralph Matema both netting braces. The win moves Spurs up to ninth, while Maluti drop down to 12th. United FC 2-3 African Warriors
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African Warriors scored three first half goals, with Vincent Pule getting a brace and Gift Sithole the other. Zondi Mthombeni and Strydom Wambi scored for United who remain fourth. Warriors are seventh, also with 24 points. FC Cape Town 1-1 Jomo Cosmos FC Cape Town continued their resurgence under Duncan Lechesa with a 1-1 draw against Cosmos at the NNK Rugby Stadium to move out of the relegation zone. Black Leopards 2-2 Baroka FC Leopards and Baroka played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Makhuvha Stadium, with Matlaka Maboke and Jabulani Ndebele scoring for Lidoda Duvha, while Excellent Mokobane and Tshepo Moithiba scored for the visitors. It means Leopards lose ground as the log leaders as they slip down to sixth. Sivutsa Stars 0-0 Santos Sivutsa Stars and Santos played to a 0-0 draw in Mpumalanga, leaving the People’s Team nine points behind the leaders in fifth place. Sivutsa are in 11th place with 19 points. Thanda Royal Zulu 0-0 Blackburn Rovers Bottom of the table Thanda and fellow strugglers Blackburn could not manage a goal between them, leaving them precariously placed in the danger zone.
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Daddy is speaking words of wisdom THAPELO MBELE, Bohlokong, Bethlehem:
EXPRESS EASTERN FREE STATE recently published a letter written by my father, Majozi Mbele. In it he congratulated Vusi Tshabalala, the acting executive mayor of the Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality. I would like to add something to that. For the record, my dad and I are fine, given the situation in which I was born and regardless of how much he has sacrificed for the ANC to continue to govern this country. But that I leave to those who worked with my dad both in the ANC and in government to confirm or deny that he has played a big role in ensuring that services are rendered to our communities. Speaking of the words of encouragement to Tshabalala, Daddy was just saying to the ANC that there are talented people within your midst and that you should please give them space and time to help change our lives as the poorest of the poor. All that he was trying to illustrate was that being an EFF member did not necessarily mean you had to be negative all the time towards what the ruling party did – even when they did good. I might not be politically inclined like my father, but I happen to understand that the SMSs that my father received from his former comrades, referring to him as “inciting”
division within communities, through one paragraph in that letter where he said not all people would become economically free through a nine-to-five job and that the Free State government and in particular our municipality should also help artists to grow. He was not being as radical as he is supposed to be as a leader of the EFF, but was being honest as a citizen of this province because even a blind man can see that only Teboho Moloi, a gospel singer, benefits from the millions meant to develop artists in this province. And since he became the sole beneficiary of all government programmes he has stopped being Teboho and Friends. He was made and developed by people who performed with him throughout the taxi ranks in our area. Daddy and I are not jealous of him, but we are just asking if he is the only talent from this area. Last time we attended a wedding we wondered if the ladies and gents singing like angels were fine singing for nothing. Or could it be because they have not attended ANC rallies to praise the leadership instead of God?
In terms of service delivery I asked Daddy about the criteria used by council to evict people. If people had bought sites and the person was expelled from council’s employ, was it the mistake of these desperate, poor and illiterate people? They bought sites in 2007, voted from that area in 2009 and 2011 and this year they are illegally staying there. Daddy could not give me answers, and I wish for some who have a better understanding than my dad to help me understand these scenarios. This coincides with the worry I felt when he told me that my greatgranny’s house had been demolished in 2008 in ward 1, Bethlehem. She was recently buried from a shack because she had been waiting for the government to come and finish her house. She did not ask for it to be destroyed and now four of my cousins – who are my age – will never feel what it is like to live in the comfort of a house built with bricks. My engagements with Daddy made me lose my case when he told me that even those people in Silahliwe and Captain Charles were illegal occupants of municipal land, but that they could not be evicted because they were regarded a stronghold of the ANC when it came to voter apathy. Extracts from conversations with my unemployed, educated parent will continue next week as he has to go do his EFF work.
Faith has never left me alone JOHANNES RADEBE, Kutlwanong, Harrismith: THE existence so purified, where do you come from? Nevertheless the misery and pain felt, You’re still in control, for this is the drama of faith. I talk intro, listen to words of pain felt. Attitude was so determined though vision so static goes with me now, flow with my verses, feel the passive voice so active. I am in a realistic chapter, the world of dope. Look at the wall you see history, because I told my story in a reality show. O, let the movie play. Let the fiction portray paintings of discovery; I discover power of salvation through wisdom of regurgitation of verses daily, Indeed, the Lord is my salvation, I shall not fear Even I can walk in the shadow of death. Come to the theatre of divine drama, The lesson of hardship, do you know Faith? Faith never left me alone for eternity. Psalm 55:22 Peace is in the drama of faith. Let the rainbow belt sing love in diversity. Amen
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EASTERN FREE STATE
‘We are in the semifinals because of the great support that we con tinue to receive . . .We are very thankful to the people of Bloem fontein.’ – Maxwell Konadu
Stars take on Celtic FREE STATE STARS welcome Bloemfontein Celtic at the Goble Park Stadium on Saturday. This Absa Premier League encounter is scheduled for
15:00. The tickets are available at Computicket outlets, Setsing Super Spar, the Lotto Shop in Phuthaditjhaba and Stars Sports Shop in Bethlehem.
Ghana faces tough challenge } Sidwell Guduka MAXWELL KONADU, the Ghana national team coach, has urged local fans to continue throwing their weight behind his side. He admits his side faces a tough challenge in their 2014 Championship of African Nations (CHAN) semifinal clash against Nigeria at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein tonight (20:30). “It is going to be a difficult match against Nigeria, but one
that we have to win at all cost. They are one of the powerhouses of African football. So we’ll have to be at our best to beat them. We’ll plan well for them. I think the whole of Africa will enjoy this match,” Konadu told Express. “I urge the people of Bloemfontein to rally behind us when we take on Nigeria. We’ve been enjoying their support since we arrived in South Africa for the tournament. Their support for Ghana has been amazing. We are in the semifinals because of the
great support that we continue to receive from them. We are very thankful to the people of Bloemfontein,” he said. “We’ve been received very well here. The local people are very friendly and they love us. We are happy to be playing our games here. Generally, I think the people of South Africa love Ghana,” he added. The Black Stars edged DR Congo with a 1-0 victory to reach the semifinals-stage of the tournament. Before that, they humbled both Congo and
Ethiopia by a goal to nil, and drew 1-all with Libya in the group stage matches. Konadu says it was not his side’s game plan to go out and score only one goal in every match they played. “We don’t take to the field to score only one goal. We plan our games according to the strengths and weaknesses of our opponents. But it happens that we score one goal and we defend it very well. That for me is a plus for our team. We’ll try to convert all the chances that we
THE referees who attended the workshop with the facilitators and referees.
create during the match,” Konadu said. In the other semifinal fixture today, Zimbabwe will battle it out against Libya for a final spot in the competition. The match kicks off at 17:00. The winners in today’s games will meet in the final at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday at 20:00, while the losing teams will fight for third position at the same venue three hours before the final. ) Tickets for the matches are available at all Computicket outlets.
Photo: Supplied
Safa aims to produce referees with merit SAFA THABO MOFUTSANYANA recently held a four-day referees workshop at the John Paul II Centre known as Eden. Dimakatso Mokoena, the
regional executive officer, said the workshop was funded by the 2010 Fifa World Cup Legacy Trust. She said 21 referees had attended the workshop.
“It was a very successful workshop and all the referees who attended, started officiating games this past weekend,” she said. She added that the workshop
was aimed at promoting new referees between the ages of 16 and 24. The workshop facilitators were Mohutsiwa Monyaki and Kalibe
Sedibe of the Safa Mangaung Metropolitan Region. The referees who attended the workshop were from the Thabo Mofutsanyana Region.