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WEDNESDAY 7 MAY 2014
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EXPRESS EASTERN FREE STATE, WEDNESDAY 7 MAY 2014
NEWS
‘Help us forget . . .’ Survivor of bus disaster struggles to live with bad memories
} Tladi Moloi ALBERT LOUW (62) says he wishes May wasn’t on the calendar. He has requested the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) to help them forget what they had gone through 11 years ago. Louw is one of the ten survivors of the Saulspoort Dam bus disaster which killed 51 Cosatu-affiliated trade union members who were travelling from Kimberley to a major May Day Rally in Qwaqwa when the bus they were travelling in plunged into the Saulspoort Dam near Bethlehem. “Every year at this time I can’t sleep because of bad dreams. I hear the voices of people screaming for help and those are late comrades,” he says. Louw says for the past 11 years he has struggled to put the event behind him. He says that he will suffer from this pain for the rest of his life. “I was forced to watch when my comrades died because I could not help them. I want to thank Len Slabbert, because he saved our lives that day. I would not be here celebrating today if it were not for him. I, however, believe that something could be done to help us forget. Counselling of some sort will do. I am calling on Samwu to help us,” he says. Louw spoke during the May Day Bus Disaster commemoration service which was organised by the Dihlabeng Local Municipality in conjunction with the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality from Kimberley. Tjhetane Mofokeng, the executive mayor of Dihlabeng, thanked members of Cosatu, Samwu and the families of the deceased for honouring their request to come
NEO LITHEBE (survivor), Tjhetane Mofokeng (executive mayor of the Dihlabeng Local Municipality) and David Molusi (executive mayor of the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality) at the Sol Plaatjie Monument in Bethlehem where wreaths were laid in remembrance of the 51 Cosatuaffiliated trade union members who died in 2003. Photo: Tladi Moloi and commemorate the day with them. “Altogether 11 years ago at this time we were woken up with bad news. We could not believe it when they told us that a bus full of
people had plunged into the dam. It was very cold that day and when I got there, there indeed was a bus in the dam,” he says. David Molusi, the executive mayor of the Sol Plaatje Munici-
pality, said he was happy that the mayor of Dihlabeng had seen it fit that they could come to Bethlehem to celebrate the lives of those who had died in the dam. “God is great. I have been the mayor for four
months and Louw was one of the people who welcomed me. We want to thank Slabbert who bravely saved our comrades,” he says. ) Visit express-news.co.za for more pictures.
Tsoaeli off to Matjhabeng } Tladi Moloi MARRY MOTLOUNG from Bohlokong, Bethlehem.
Photo: Tladi Moloi
‘Go in numbers and vote’ } Tladi Moloi MARRY MOTLOUNG (78), who hails from Bohlokong, Bethlehem, says that she will never vote for the DA. “They say we should vote for them. Never. I will die with the ANC.” Tjhetane Mofokeng, the executive mayor of the Dihlabeng Local Municipality, has pleaded with the community of Dihlabeng to vote for the ANC today. He says they know that they have upset some people, but that was not their intention. “We are very sorry. We know that some people are angry at us, but this is not the time to leave the party. After the elections we will go back to the table and talk,” he says. Mofokeng was speaking at the 150-year Bethlehem Celebration Gospel Festival which was held in the Bohlokong Stadium. He has requested all people to go in numbers and vote for the party that has taken them out of the apartheid regime. ) Visit express-new.com to watch the video of Motloung singing.
THABISO TSOAELI has resigned as the municipal manager of the Dihlabeng Local Municipality. He left the municipality last Wednesday for the position of chief financial officer (CFO) at the Matjhabeng Local Municipality. Mampe “Soso” Sephika is the acting municipal manager. Tsoaeli was appointed the municipal manager in 2010 after Sethlogo Monchusi had died in an accident in 2009. Tshediso Maitse, the municipality’s marketing and communication manager, confirmed the resignation and said it was very sad to lose a dedicated person of Tsoaeli’s calibre. “He is going to work as the CFO of the Matjhabeng Municipality. One might look at this as a junior position but that municipality is four times the size of ours. He will be running a much larger budget. Matjhabeng has the same problems we had a few years ago, so he was appointed to rectify the situation,” he said. He said the municipality had problems in their finance and service delivery departments. He added that Matjhabeng needed someone with his expertise. “We would like to wish him all of the best in his new position. We have learnt a
‘We would like to wish him all of the best in his new position. We have learnt a lot from him and we hope to keep following in his footsteps.’ – Tshediso Maitse lot from him and we hope to keep following in his footsteps. He has laid a solid foundation and it is now up to us to stay focused and to do the job.” Maitse said they would have loved to keep him a little while longer but had to let him go. Tshoaeli said it had been a privilege to work as manager at the Dihlabeng Municipality. “I enjoyed my time here and to work with a supportive executive mayor like Tjhetane Mofokeng made things much easier for me. I had a very supportive staff and I hope they will support the person appointed in the position. I did my best not to embarrass my party and I am glad that I did not let them down. I’ll always remember my colleagues,” he said. He concluded by saying all the things that he had achieved during his term had been as a result of team work. He also encouraged municipal employees to remain focused at all times.
THABISO TSOAELI, the former municipal manager of the Dihlabeng Local Municipality. Photo: Tladi Moloi
EXPRESS EASTERN FREE STATE, WEDNESDAY 7 MAY 2014 3
NEWS
Your donation can win you a car THE For Our Children Project in aid of Engo Free State’s children in need was launched last week at the Bloem Show. A Chevrolet Spark Campus to the value of R112 400 is the prize vehicle for this year’s For Our Children competition. By making a donation of only R20, you stand a chance to be the owner of the Spark. But more importantly – your contribution of R20 is one of the sparks that might kindle a flame of caring. This flame will make a big difference in the lives of thousands of children. Tickets, at R20 per ticket, are available at all Engo offices and centres in the Free State. The closing date for entries will be on 23 November. Five finalists will be announced on 9 January 2015 with the help of PwC. The final draw function will be on 23 January 2015 in Bloemfontein. The winner will drive away with a brand new Chevrolet Spark Campus. There will be several promotions during the next seven months across the Free State. People will be encouraged to buy tickets in aid of the For Our Children Project at these promotions. The Spark Campus will also be at the Kos-enkunsmark of Volksblad, the Vryfees in Bloemfontein, the Cherry Festival in Ficksburg and several shopping centres across the Free State. The project would not have been possible without the support of loyal sponsors. This year’s sponsors
are Imperial GM Bloemfontein, Radio Rosestad and Volksblad Sentrale Plaaslike Koerante. Engo Child and Youth Care (youth care centres, formerly known as orphanages) is a nonprofit organisation that takes care of children who were removed by the Children’s Court from their parental homes, because they were in urgent need of care. These child and youth care centres create a homely atmosphere for the children and is located within the community. About 800 children from the ages 0 to 18 years, in 34 child and youth care centres across the Free State, are being cared for. Additional help and support is provided to approximately 2 500 children in surrounding communities who live in risky conditions. The vision is to create hope in the lives of children. The goal is to provide protection and care for as many children in the Free State as possible. Engo Youth Care Centres in the Free State are struggling financially. The government’s subsidies have increased very little over the past few years and the centres are still expected to provide food for the children with less than R12 per child per day. It has become essential for the community to get involved in projects such as the For Our Children Project. For more information on the project and the availability of tickets in your area, call 051-4077222 or visit www.engo.co.za.
THE Chevrolet Spark that can be won.
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EXPRESS EASTERN FREE STATE, WEDNESDAY 7 MAY 2014
NEWS
Enjoy scenery } Christo van Staden THE Glen Reenen Rest Camp in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park is not only the oldest camp in the park, but also the heartbeat from where most of the activities in the park are launched. The restcamp is situated between the well-known sandstone cliffs in the park, and the ideal position from where visitors can enjoy the brilliant, colourfull shades cast by the sun on the sandstone rocks, especially the imposing Brandwag buttress, keeping vigil over the camp. The restcamp, erected in 1963 with the proclamation of Golden Gate as a national park, consists of 31 selfcatering chalets, all fully equipped and with a neat, comfortable and classy interior. Nine of the rondavels are divided in two – interlinked with a door. The other rondavels have a loft serving as a second bedroom. There are also family cottages in the camp, accommodating four to six people.
ABOVE: The rondavels at the Glen Reenen Rest Camp against the backdrop of the winter landscape in the park. Photo: Victor Mokoena
BELOW: To the left of the picture are the green roofs of chalets at Glen Reenen. The trees are hiding the caravan park, and to the right is the Brandwag Buttress. Photo: Supplied
Apart from the hiking trails as well as the horse trails that all start here, there is also a natural swimming pool next to the camp. Glen Reenen is a destination for every nature lover that needs to break away to a haven of peace, beauty and hiking. For more information on Glen Reenen and Golden Gate, go to www.sanparks.co.za, or call the national park on 058-255-1000. ) Express and SANParks today start a brand-new competition in which one lucky reader who enters before 28 May stands a chance to win a weekend stay for a family of four in the Glen Reenen Restcamp. All you need to do, is to visit the Express website at www.expressnews.co.za and follow the instructions to enter. You only need to answer an easy question. The closing date is 28 May. ) The winner of a weekend for four at the Basotho Cultural Village in Golden Gate is Joseph Rantseke. This competition ran in April.
EXPRESS EASTERN FREE STATE, WEDNESDAY 7 MAY 2014 5
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EXPRESS EASTERN FREE STATE, WEDNESDAY 7 MAY 2014
NEWS
For more news and photos go to www.express-news.co.za
GENERAL & HOME SERVICES
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SANDSTONE: Blocks, bricks, cladding, rivens, tiles, etc. Tel: 058 303 4840. 12 Archbell Street, BHM.
LEGAL NOTICES
AT the SANParks exhibition are from the left Louis van der Westhuizen (member of the SANParks’s Honor ary Rangers’ Free State Region), Sophia Kilian, Jana Botha, Tiana Botha, John Martiens (camp duty manager at the Golden Gate High lands National Park), Marizaan Bell, Sylvia Botha and Hannes Botha. On the banners behind them are pic tures of the Mokala National Park near Kimberley. Photos: Supplied
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THE stand also attracted visitors from other provinces. With honorary rangers Veronica and Louis van der Westhuizen (Free State region) are Engela Strydom from Vryburg and Renier Botha from Jan Kempdorp.
Contact Adelina at 058 303 5407/084 673 9986 or e-mail adelina.mokoena@volksblad.com
} Christo van Staden
911/QWA/18 AUG10/JJ
Notification of Major Hazard Installation
Grain Field Chickens (Pty) Ltd, Reitz
Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 3(b) of the Major Hazard Installation Regulations R.692 of 30 July 2001 that Grain Field Chickens appointed an approved inspection authority to conduct a major hazard installation risk assessment for the chicken abattoir at the corner of S51 and S589, Reitz 9810. The risk assessment report that confirms the major hazard installation status of the facility can be obtained in electronic format from Grain Field Chickens, PO Box 100, Reitz 9810, tel. (058) 863-8111/087 358 8413 or e-mail: andrebo@grainfieldchickens.co.za Interested and affected parties have 60 days from the date of publication of this advertisement to submit comments on the risk assessment for the plant to the Head of Operations of Grain Field Chickens, Reitz 9810 or to the Provincial Director of the Department of Labour in the Free State.
Hlokomediso Ya Dintho Tse Kotsi Tse Kentsweng Ka Hare Ho Feme Ya Grain Field Chickens (Pty) Ltd, Reitz
Grain Field Chickens ka kaho e fihlelwa atereseng e pakeng tsa Corner S51 le S589 seterekeng sa Rietz 9810. e fumane Hlokomediso ena ya dikotsi ka hare ho tshebetso hoya ka molao 3(b) wa ntho tse kotsi tse kentsweng molaothehong wa R692 wa 30 July 2001. Ho fumanehile ha dintho tse kotsi di ka bakwa ke di sebedisweng tsa motlakase ka di tsela le mefuta e fapaneng ka hare ho tshebetso Grain Field Chickens, PO Box 100, Reitz, 9810, tel. (058) 863-8111/087 358 8413, e-mail: andrebo@grainfieldchickens.co.za Bao ba nang le kgahleho kapo ba amehang ba kopiwa ho hlahisa di maikutlo a bona nakong ya matsatsi a mashome a tsheletseng (60 days) kantorong e kgolo ya Grain Field Chickens kapo lefapheng la basebetsi foresitata (Free State). Human Communications 108863
Exhibition a winner
THE SANParks exhibition at the Bloem Show has won the Volksblad Floating Trophy for the best indoor exhibition on the show this year. The exhibition, designed by the SANParks’s Honorary Rangers’ Free State Region, focused on the Golden Gate Highlands National Park and Mokala National Park, the two parks closest to Bloemfontein. The region every year takes responsibility for the SANParks stand at the show and members do duty at the exhibition, side by side with personnel from SAN-
Parks. Together they answer questions and inquiries from the public, promoting all the parks under SANParks’s management. Victor Mokoena, newly-appointed tourism and marketing manager of SANParks’s Northern Cluster, who also did duty at the stand, congratulated the team, who also won a gold medal this year. “I have been to a number of SANParks’s exhibitions where we had a stall, but this stand was the most beautiful I have ever seen,” he said. “The trophy is well-deserved. Clearly a lot of work has gone into the exhibi-
tion.” Mokoena said SANParks was really honoured to have honorary rangers with this level of commitment in the region. Div Bosman, chairman of SANParks’s Honorary Rangers’ Free State Region, described this “as a major achievement for us as a team after many years of hard work on this project”. He expressed his thanks to all the team members who worked together to make this possible. The stand received numerous compliments from the public visiting the show, that ran from 24 April to 3 May.
Chippa eyeing PE THE Chippa United owner, Chippa Mpengesi, has confirmed that he is involved in talks with the Eastern Cape government about moving the club to Port Elizabeth. The Chilli Boys won the National First Division. A lot of that success had to do with their good record at the Philippi Stadium, but a change could now be on the cards. “For now I can confirm with you that there are talks with Port Elizabeth,” Mpengesi says. “I have sentiments about Cape Town; it’s where I started everything with a big investment in the Philippi Stadium, but what has been offered is playing with my emotions. “The proposal made to us is a permanent move or no move. So that’s the decision we have to make. As you know running a PSL team requires money, and I’ve used my money most of the time. That’s why I have to take a decision whether I have to keep on using my money or maybe run it as a business that can make a profit.” The Eastern Cape has been bereft of a professional soccer team since the days of Bush Bucks, with Bay United having a brief – and very unsuccessful – stint in the top-flight before folding. – Kick-off.com
EXPRESS EASTERN FREE STATE, WEDNESDAY 7 MAY 2014 7
SPORTS NEWS
THE Meqeleng Primary School soccer team got silver medals in the Danone Nations Cup u.12 Free State finals which recently took place in Bloemfontein. Photo: Teboho Setena
Stars take trophy } Tladi Moloi YOUNG STARS FC are the champions of the inaugural Teboho Moloi Easter Tournament. Stars dominated the competition by winning the competition in the u.17 and u.23 division. They received gold medals and a floating trophy in both stages. The competition took place at the Tshiame B Sports Grounds near Harrismith. Stars beat AC Milan and Real Madrid in the finals of the tournament. In the u.17 division they beat Milan 3-0 in the final before beating Madrid in
the u.23 finals. Vusi Hlongwane of Stars was voted best player in the u.17 division while Bongani Malakoene of Madrid was named the best player in the u.23 division. Mphike Moloi, the tournament organiser, said the tournament was aimed at reviving football in Tshiame. He said it was painful seeing youngsters on street corners using drugs. “There were few soccer teams in our area. They have all gone and no one is taking care of the youngsters. We want to bring back the standard of football to where it was back in the day.”
THE Orlando Pirates FC Bethlehem branch supporters club will hold an executive meeting tomorrow at Ntsoakie’s place in Bohlokong at 18:00. The meeting will be followed by a general meeting for all members and or supporters. The meeting is scheduled for Sunday at 10:00 at the Thabo Thokoza Secondary School. On the agenda is amongst others 2014 membership, registration for new membership, financial report and many others. For more information call Tshidi Nzimande, organising secretary, on 083-248-5468 or 073-774-0470.
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EXPRESS EASTERN FREE STATE, WEDNESDAY 7 MAY 2014
EASTERN FREE STATE
For more sports news and photos go to www.express-news.co.za
Stars face wrong end of the stick } Teboho Setena AFTER six years of campaigning in South Africa’s elite Premier Soccer League, Free State Stars are facing a truly terrifying prospect, dropping down into the lower ranks of the National First Division. Their last-ditch effort will only be regarded worthy if they survive automatic relegation in Saturday’s league fixture against equally relegation-bound Moroka Swallows at the Dobsonville Stadium. The two sides will meet in this intriguing fixture to wrap up the current Premiership season as with the rest of their 14 other counterparts. This Saturday will also see the champions of the South African league being duly crowned. As things stand Mamelodi Sundowns will be handed the prestigious title unless the unthinkable happens with Kaizer Chiefs winning and Sundowns losing by a big margin to gutsy Maritzburg United. Despite Stars showing their spirit by not going down without a fight when they held Chiefs to a one-all draw last week
Wednesday, their effort was not enough to guarantee their safety from being chopped or forced to compete in the play-offs to retain their PSL status. Ea Lla Koto are still clinging to the edge of safety, forcing fellow relegation fighters Lamontville Golden Arrows, Swallows and Polokwane City to peel off their fingers one by one. Stars are hanging on to the hope that the fighting spirit will give their squad a boost in Saturday’s all-important outing against Swallows. While their destiny is in their own hands, Mike Mokoena, the team’s managing director, also relies on Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United to beat Arrows and City. While hoping Pirates beat Arrows, the reality is Stars must win or draw against Swallows to be in the play-offs with National First Division sides Black Leopards, Milano United and Baroka. The three teams in the NFD that will compete in the play-offs with the one side from the Premiership will be known on Sunday after the NFD clubs complete their term.
MIKE MOKOENA (right), Free State Stars managing director, with former captain Duncan Lechesa celebrate the club’s promotion in 2007.
Warriors’ dream up in smoke } Tladi Moloi THE African Warriors’ dream of taking part in the National First Division (NFD) promotional play-offs went up in smoke while the Maluti FET College FC remain safe. Warriors went on to play against Thanda Royal Zulu FC on Sunday with a slim chance to book a spot in the play-offs. But a 2-1 lost to Thanda saw that dream turning into a nightmare. Mathematically the Maihlome Ihlasele could have finished in the top three. But that was only if they could have won a game against Thanda and their last league game. Warriors are currently sitting on position eight on the league table with 41 points in 29 games. They will play their last league game against Sivutsa Stars FC at the Phuthaditjhaba Stadium on Sunday.
Kick-off is at 15:00. Meanwhile, the College boys have secured their NFD status regardless of losing by 2-1 to Jomo Cosmos on Sunday at the Charles Mopeli Stadium. Maluti scored first, but a lapse in concentration saw them giving away two goals to the opponents. However, the rookies will try their luck to finish in a better position next season. They are lying third from the bottom on the log with 29 points in 29 games. They will wrap-up the season away to Roses United FC at the Kaizer Sbothelo Stadium on Sunday. Kick-off is at 15:00. The results will mean nothing to both sides besides honouring a fixture. United have already been relegated and they should start preparing the team for the Safa Second Division while Maluti will finish on the same position even if they win a game by 10-0.
MALUTI
WARRIORS