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The Olifants News | www.theolifants.co.za
Ivory Park teacher wins an award for his writing
Issue 49 | Thursday, 9 December 2021
PUZZLE SOLUTION FOR ISSUE 48
by Dumisani Hlatswayo
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ne of the local teachers from Eqinisweni Secondary School has been recognised for his sterling writing ability. Enock Shishenge has been published in several poetry anthologies, newspapers, and literary journals. He was one of the few writers who received an African Honoree Authors’ Award. His writing has been published in several poetry anthologies, newspapers, and literary journals such as Timbila, Echoes, Turfwrite, The Burning Shacks, and others. A year ago, he wrote 21 poems during the first day of National Lockdown. Besides writing, Shishenge is a publisher with a deep passion for growing indigenous literature. Shishenge, originally from Jimmy Jones village in Limpopo province, was jubilant to receive the award. He said: “It is a nice feeling to win, but the main aim is not to win but to use a pen like the barrel of a gun. To challenge the status quo and unsettle power through the written or spoken word,” he told The Olifants News. He draws his inspiration for writing from anything, and great premises for his books originate from the most mundane beginnings to the harsh conditions of our existence. “I will write about where I live. I write about what people close to me live. I write about what happens in my community. So I don’t think I need to research when I write. My writing is centered around everyday life,” he said. “Harsh conditions of my present existence inspire me to write. It is these conditions that fire my imagination, so I paint different feelings on the page. That is why I don’t think you can be a good poet without painting feelings through words. Good poets make you feel what they feel because they attach feelings to their writings,” he explained. Shishenge said writing in indigenous African languages brings about a stimulating intellectual atmosphere on the page. “African languages are our identities, and they are the vehicle with which we can fight back the psychological violence we were subjected to in the ‘colonial’ classrooms. Indigenous African languages are the languages of our cultures. Using
Ekurhuleni new mayor calls for global solidarity in the fight against HIV/AIDS
T Enock Shishenge
in English forgetting their indigenous languages.” Most good writers start writing in their mother tongue. Speed kills; take time to write and get your work well edited. Writers are readers. No matter how big your writing talent is, you are doomed if you don’t read. Consciousness is very important for all writers. Writing in your language makes you not be detached from your culture. Writers without identities are very dangerous. You can tell, after reading two pages, a book written by a person who reads and who doesn’t,” said Shishenge. Other accolades that Shishenge African languages makes us escape won include, the Gauteng Brand from post-colonial imprisonment Ambassador Award, The Star in and fight against neo-colonial- Education Award, Somafco Trust’s ism. African languages remain the Essay Writing Award, and won the only vehicle through which we can Gauteng’s National Teaching Awards decolonise.” twice. He currently serves as the DepHe said the common traps for aspir- uty Secretary of Ivory Park South ing writers are speed, lack of reading, African Democratic Teachers Union consciousness, and wanting to write (SADTU).
he Executive Mayor of the City of Ekurhuleni, Tania Campbell has called for global solidarity and shared responsibility in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Mayor Campbell made these remarks during her welcome address at the World Aids Day Commemoration held at the Duduza Multi-Purpose Centre in Ekurhuleni. Premier David Makhura hosted the event on behalf of the Gauteng Provincial Government under the theme, “Working together to end inequalities, AIDS, TB and COVID-19: Get tested, get vaccinated, adhere to treatment.” As part of the city’s efforts to reduce the number of infections in the region, the City of Ekurhuleni established a functional AIDS Council in 2019. The Council represents 19 sectors that are instrumental in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Furthermore, the city currently has 8 Clinics that render 24-hour services, 3 clinics that render 12-hour services, and 19 Clinics that render Saturday services. All 93 clinics within the
City were assessed in terms of the National Core Standards. The latest Ideal Clinic Status has 77 of our clinics at platinum status, 14 at gold, and two at silver. “The alleviation of any pandemic depends on global solidarity and shared responsibility. Our fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 can and will be won, but it is going to require that we all play our part. There is no limit to how significant our fight can be if the government, the private sector, civil society, labour, academia, and the faith-based and traditional communities can share the responsibility of ending inequalities, AIDS, TB, and COVID-19. It may very well be the most important partnership the world has ever needed.” said Executive Mayor Campbell. The City of Ekurhuleni will be hosting a series of HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns across clinics in the Metro. Efforts to ramp up vaccinations are also being planned to mitigate the impact of the eminent ‘fourth wave’ of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ivory Park Man sentenced to 15 years in jail for murder by Dumisani Hlatswayo
Nyiko Dhlamini, 29, was con- friend. The two had an argument custody since then. victed and sentenced by the Tembisa after which Nyiko went to his “Substance and liquor abuse are he acting station commander Magistrate’s Court this morning for rented room, fetched a knife, and some of the major causes of serious of the Ivory Park SAPS, Col- the murder of Smangele Ndlovu, then stabbed the victim on the upper crimes in Ivory Park. The deadly onel Thembakazi Ndlovu, has 27, in June last year. The deceased body. She was taken to the para- argument, bizarre as it sounded, welcomed the 15 years of direct and Nyiko had an altercation dur- medics and was declared dead on should not have resulted in any imprisonment handed down to an ing a drinking session. At the time arrival. After hearing that the police person losing their life. We are, Ivory Park man for a murder com- of the murder, the victim was vis- were out to get him, Nyiko handed however, glad that justice has taken mitted in June last year. iting her boyfriend, who is Nyiko’s himself over, and he has been in its cause,`` said Colonel Ndlovu.
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Olifantsfontein SAPS 011 316 8022
