GAUTENG TROPHY TOUR GUIDE GAUTENG TROPHY TOUR GUIDE

30 MAY 2023 - SOUTH CORRIDOR

SICELO STADIUM, MIDVAAL | 11H00 -12H00

SAUL TSOTETSI SPORTS COMPLEX | 13H00 - 16H00

31 MAY 2023 - CENTRAL CORRIDOR

MAYORAL CHAMBERS, BRAAMFONTEIN & DSACR OFFICES | 09H00 -12H00

MAPONYA MALL, SOWETO | 13H00 -16H00

1 JUNE 2023 - WEST CORRIDOR

MATLAPANENG PRIMARY SCHOOL | 09H00 - 16H00

2 JUNE 2023 - NORTH CORRIDOR

JACARANDA FM | 06H30 - 07H45

ROSINA SEDIBANE SPORT SCHOOL |09H10 - 09H45

NETBALL SA OFFICES | 10H55 - 12H00

UNION BUILDINGS | 12H05 - 12H45

LOFTUS VERSFELD STADIUM | 13H15 - 14H00

SPAR DC - HEARTFELT ARENA | 14H30 - 19H00

3 JUNE 2023 - EAST CORRIDOR

GERMISTON CIVIC CENTRE | 08H30 - 11H00

SAM NTULI SPORTS COMPLEX | 11H00 - 16H00

I am passionate, very ambitious and driven to thrive on challenges and constantly set goals for myself so I have something to strive towards. I am not comfortable with settling and I am always looking for an opportunity to do better and achieve greatness. Currently I am employed as an Assistant Director in North Corridor responsible for Arts and Culture and Library component.

My recent greatest academic achievement is in graduating for a Bachelor’s Degree of Arts in Governance, Administration and Developmental Studies accomplished with 8 distinctions .

I am so grateful and very proud to have achieved such a prestigious accomplishment that has been a transformation towards my professional development and growth.

In what way has the department been able to alleviate the stress and challenges faced during the above-mentioned?

I am highly blessed and honoured to be a recipient of the departmental bursary scheme and I cannot express my gratitude enough on their financial support as it was a stress-free relief that helped me to my lifetime dreams.

What are the few difficulties you have faced in relation to juggling your career and your studies? How did you overcome them?

While working full-time it was a challenging but rewarding experience it showed me that through hard work, dedication, and prayers anything is possible. I am grateful for the lessons I learned during that time because working under pressure never phases me out, in fact, I was often feeling motivated when there is a sense of urgency. I remained calm and focused even in the most chaotic working environment and my strong spiritual belief, family and close friends support was one of my key strength. I`m grateful that I will put these skills to use in my career and it will be something that I will continue to learn on as I move forward. Studying and working at any level requires good time management and I have overcome all the challenges by creating study and work plans tactics by being more disciplined with my constant routine of getting up earlier, planning out my day, making maximum productive use of time to each of my subjects and work in order to meet deadlines of both tasks assigned to me.

Knowing what you know now, is there anything you wish you could change and why is that so?

To be very, very honest all my eyes are filled with tears because today I have again got that hope of becoming what I wanted to be in my very life. As the hope which I lost all due to my financial problems is back in me with this bursary I wish not to change anything but to request more financial assistance to still further my studies.

Please tell us one thing you enjoy doing that no one knows about you.

I have a wonderful, humble and God fearing twin sister Juliet, my prayer warrior gorgeous mother Thelma, my one and only daughter Rearabilwe, twin sister daughter Atlegang and Niece Bokamoso.

These are the closest people in my life that complete me to enjoy life to the fullest. Most importantly traveling the world is my biggest hobby which occasionally on my vacational leave, I booked myself cheap flights to discover new places which my first international trip was Mexico City, Thailand and Bangkok which is my wish to be a second home.

I frequently enjoy traveling to Hong Kong and China. Due to COVID-19 restrictions I was unable to travel for the past 2 years. This is something I really enjoy, and it also helps me to gain some perspective of life, to understand how lucky I am to have all these possibilities to work and to travel and to enjoy life. It gives you a sense of satisfaction and gratitude.

Considering that May is Africa month and the African experience in terms of shortage of resources for the African child, what does it mean to have your dreams and visions propelled forward through the department’s support?

Investing in African Child education is vital in creating and sustainable broad- based economic growth. The positive contribution by the department on my educational investment has a huge positive impact on my future endeavours.

What words of encouragement would you give our readers should they decide to further their studies whilst actively working?

The road to success is not easy to navigate, but with hard work, drive, and passion, it’s possible to achieve the desired dream.

Let’s start by thanking you and your team for choosing us.

Andrew

After completing my National Diploma in Sport Management at University of Johannesburg in 2011, I got an internship here in 2013 through my sponsor (Gauteng City Region Academy Bursary), I was placed under Sport Development and Coordination (SDC) and I was reporting to Gauteng Sports Council. I’m currently a Sport Promotion Officer (Contract worker) under Recreation based at Head office where I’m currently responsible for reporting and coordination of Provincial Siyadlala Programmes. My current position made me develop love and passion for reporting and planning. I see myself in the field of strategic Management.

Mabel

After the completion of my National Diploma in Sport Management at University of Johannesburg in 2012, I started working for the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation as a School Sport Coordinator in October 2015. In 2018 after the end of the contract I was appointed permanently as an Auxiliary Support Worker for Recreation in North Corridor. During my years as a School Sport Coordinator I developed passion for Office Administration in the field of finance and procurement. I want to see myself as a Financial Planner/Coach of which I’m working towards that by learning more about the field of financial planning and money management.

Let’s start by conveying our genuine gratitude to SACR for funding our studies. We Graduated in 22 March 2023 at University of South Africa Diploma in Public Administration and Management, the reason for the course is because of the passion in administration and public service delivery. Our target was to study the same course and graduate at the same time as husband and wife. That target was achieved and we thank the Almighty.

What difficulties did you both face while juggling your careers and studies? How did you overcome them as a team?

When we wrote our exams online, the system glitches made things worse for us, one of the exams (Policy Studies) did not go through due to glitches and we could not submit and therefore wrote a supplementary exam.

Another difficulties we faced was when we registered 10 modules in 2021.

We had a study plan in place and studying at nights. We also shared house chores. Weekend nights we dedicated to assignments since some weekends we were working.

In what way has the department been able to alleviate the stress and challenges faced during the above-mentioned?

We have supportive supervisors and they were always understanding and never put pressure on us when we were approaching exams.

They also helped us with our Work Integrated Learning and our Portfolio of Evidence which we both got distinctions on.

Our former colleague from HRD, Ms Phakamile Mpofu-Mahamba assisted us with some of the work to ease the pressure. Study leaves also assisted us to attend to our studies. Most importantly, the department fully funded our studies.

What are the next steps you wish to achieve post graduation?

Andrew

As the saying goes “You are a drop out if you did not wear a red gown” our aim is to wear a red gown (PhD) and we will not stop until we get that red gown (PhD). I have applied for Advanced Diploma in Business Management with MANCOSA for July intake.

Mabel

I am continuing with my studies, because the goal is to get to the red gown PhD and gain more knowledge in the administration field. I am studying advanced Diploma NQF level 7 in Administrative Management at Tshwane University of Technology. My wish is to pursue my goal in financial planning/coaching and money management.

Balancing work and study life does not come easy. What words of encouragement would you give our readers if they decide to further their studies whilst actively working?

Have a vision board at the beginning of each year and stick to it. Have a study planner and it must be aligned with your vision board. Have a work plan in place and stick to it. This will help you to stay focused Weekends: Day is for family or work (if you work on weekends) and nights are for studies.

There is an abundance in reasons for taking pride in being African. Africa Day is a reminder that there’s so much to celebrate about ourselves as Africans. Given our history, taking pride in who we are and where we’re from was not easy to come by. But we need to be grateful, to our predecessors (and to ourselves) for not giving up. To say I am African, and no amount of smearing, hypocrisy and heinous belittling will change that.

Africa is arguably the most diverse continent across the world. Not in just culture, language, and skin complexities, but its richness in biodiversity as well. With 54 countries and 11 territories that are home to over 3000 distinct ethnic groups and over 2000 languages spoken, and probably just as many textiles and delicacies. How can we not be prideful with our uniqueness.

With the age of social media, we see how people have grown more aware with what Africa has to offer more especially from a tourism aspect. Instead of being seen as a poor and developing continent, but that we thrive in so many ways. That we too, have a platform to further educate and solidify our space and the contributions we’ve made for global betterment in different mediums.

With the vast diversity of Africa, the richness in culture and appreciation of it is one of my favourite things to witness. Across the years we’ve gotten to see more individuals embracing their culture by adding their cultural twists within western tradition weddings, amongst other things. A surge of African influenced garments and trends have made it to runways of big fashion houses and shows.

We got to witness this in tv shows and movies alike, the Black Panther movie is the perfect example of this. In music and music videos as well as other forms of entertainment, so much African influence comes forward. Seeing more African inspired restaurants open in many places across the world is just another aspect of our visibility and importance.

There is so much to write home about as to why we need to take pride in ourselves as Africans. We could talk circles all day about what we truly believe it means to be African, from the texture of our hair, the sound of our voices when we laugh or cry, the colour of our skin, etc. I for one, feel boastful about who I am, and where I’m from.

To be in a space where not only do I embrace all that I am, but people in other spaces alike and unalike can resonate with the feeling and gesture.

By: Koketso Raletele

https://ghi.wisc.edu/a-diverse-continent-african-textiles-in-context-exhibition-opening-may/

Today we celebrate Africa, Africa Day Celebration at Maropeng Cradle of Humankind. We will celebrate this day with the people of West Rand and our stakeholders, A colourful day with a scenic display of cultural representation is what today is all about.

People from all walks of life graced the event with their unique cultural regalia, african songs and dances as they celebrate unity in diversity at the “City of Human Origin”. African Day celebration, which is also celebrating 60th Anniversary of African Union (OAU).

The President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa delivered a keynote address on the significance of Africa Day. Part of the delegation was the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Zizi Kodwa, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, MEC Morakane Mosupyoe and Mogale City Executive Mayor Mr. Danny Thupane.

Today message was clear from our President, “we are a people of many cultures, many languages and communities of many experiences. We speak different languages and have different customs, faiths and traditions. But we are bound together by the invisible thread that is our Africanness.”