tam TIMES
BOKSBURG & BENONI
A FRESH APPROACH TO LOCAL NEWS Volume 03, 02, 20 11 November October 2015, 2014, Week Week 4346
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Award-winning Boksburg resident and NATIONAL LEADER talks to us Justus Abrams
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“I believe that every group of people, whether we agree with them or not, whether we like them or not, has a right to life,” says Reverend Kenneth Meshoe. Kenneth Meshoe, the President of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) and Boksburg resident, was recently awarded the ‘Jerusalem Award’ in Nigeria. This award was presented to him by the Embassy of Israel, Abuja in recognition of his “defence, over the years, for the right of Israel to exist within safe and secure borders.” The Reverend said that “amidst the calls over the years for Israel to be annihilated, I said it is wrong, I said it is racism. When you want to destroy a group of people because of their religion or colour, that is racism – and we should oppose and even condemn it.” He said that the people who presented him with this award recognised the work he had done in this regard. He further added that he has disputed “the lie that Israel is an apartheid state.” He said that he “believes that if the conditions that exist in Israel today existed in South Africa, then there would not have been a need for the armed struggle.” During a visit of five Members of Parliament (MPs) to Israel, Meshoe said they visited a Jewish hospital. In the section called “Save a child’s heart” that they visited first, he said,
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they were surprised to find that the first people they met in this section were six Muslim women and then a Jewish father with his child. The first doctor they met at the hospital was a black Ethiopian. Meshoe said that, because of this and the Israeli Parliament which includes all races, religious groups and ethnicities, the country could not be considered an apartheid state. The visit to this hospital, he said, was an eye-opener for the MPs, as these conditions would never have existed in an apartheid state, as was clear in South Africa during previous years. The Reverend said that he believes that it is out of hate for Israel that these lies and propaganda are being spread and he believes that the truth must be told, and he is standing for the truth and that is why he was given this award. The Reverend said that, although he has been outspoken on the Israel matter, the award was a surprise. In our interview with the ACDP leader, we also asked him about the current state of the nation and for his stance on the Dutch Reformed church’s decision to endorse gay and lesbian civil unions. Kenneth Meshoe’s answers to these and other issues will be found in future issues of the tame TIMES.
NEW CHIEF OF POLICE FOR EKURHULENI Ekurhuleni Executive Mayor Mondli Gungubele this morning introduced Bafana Andries Mahlabe (46) as the City’s new Chief of Police. Making the announcement at the headquarters of the Municipality in Germiston, Mayor Gungubele said that after an extensive and rigorous interview process he was confident that Mahlabe was the right man for the job. “It has taken us over a year to fill this position because we were looking for the most relevant person - a person who understands the dynamics of the city and has a clear vision on how to win the battle against crime. During the interviews Mahlabe demonstrated such and we are convinced that he has what it takes to take us into the future,” the Mayor explained. “Our Metro Police is only 13 years old and therefore we need a visionary who can continue from where previous police chiefs like Mongezi India, Robert McBride and Hlula Msimang left off. “While we have done a lot in the 13 years, there is plenty more that needs to be done. We are now faced with new challenges, among them violent service delivery protests, land grabs and the scourge of drugs, at the forefront of which is the notorious nyaope. We recently also saw the shocking incidents of necklacing and gangsterism in Etwatwa; and as we head towards the festive season we need to sharpen our claws more because criminals are now on the prowl. “Therefore there would not have been a better time to fill this position so that we ensure that the EMPD is properly led and
guided during this period of the year. It is at this time of the year, more than ever, that we must be vigilant both on the roads and in dealing with crime because this is the time of year when most of our people are vulnerable and are prone to being victims of crime,” Gungubele elaborated. Gungubele indicated that because Mahlabe is not a member of the EMPD, the City is following all necessary processes as defined in the Police Act to ensure that the appointment is in accordance with the law. Mahlabe, who hails from Duduza in Ekurhuleni, is appointed with effect from 1 October. He takes over from Hlula Msimang, who left the post for the City of Johannesburg after completing his fiveyear term of office. The new police chief has been appointed on a five-year fixedterm contract. He will be taking an oath of office during a parade scheduled to take place in Germiston on Thursday 22 October.
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received, complaining about a service delivery issue in Villa Liza.
TO KEEP RESIDENTS SAFE
residents walking past. I have been following up with the municipality over the past four months with regard to my complaint. The municipality first indicated that they couldn’t locate the open manhole. Upon locating it, I was then informed by the Department of Sewerage that the Water Department was actually responsible for
covering the manhole. When the issue was eventually reported to the Water Department, it was logged as a water leak and not an open manhole which resulted in nothing being done. In September, I followed up on the matter again via the call centre and the municipality replaced the cover. However, the new cover does not fit the manhole properly, which means it is still open criminals can still hide inside the manhole and children can fall in. Residents living in Lama Street are disappointed that the Ekurhuleni Metro Municipality has failed to act timeously and effectively on this
matter. The DA believes that every citizen have the right to live in an area where children can safely play outside and residents can walk around their neighbourhood without the fear of being robbed or attacked. By failing to effectively close the manhole, the Ekurhuleni Metro has failed in their responsibility to keep the residents of Lama Street safe. I will therefore be writing to the MMC for Water, Doctor Xakaza, requesting him to intervene and ensure the manhole is properly covered as a matter of urgency.
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inspiring word of encouragement was delivered by Pastor Dillop. The Level Four and Level Five students were then called up to the stage by their assigned facilitators where they were introduced and recited the Edu-Build pledge. Thereafter, a testimony of hope was given by Teacher Marion, and honorary presentations were made to the award-winning Mrs Foster and F Adolph by the Edu-Build students for being excellent facilitators. One of the messages that filtered through at the ceremony was that teachers or educators have the opportunity to mould and shape the lives of the children entrusted into their care. They are the foundation builders, the anchors and the ones who can propel these children into their God-given destinies, as the future leaders of their generation.
OPEN MANHOLE IN VILLA LIZA: EMM FAILS IN THEIR RESPONSIBILITY
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By Bianca Maré On Saturday 3 October, Edu-Build Development Teachers College hosted a special dedication service at Freeway Park Primary School. Edu-build Development is a developmental programme which focusses on Early Childhood Development Training and Facilitation. It was birthed by former Reiger Park educators, Mrs Foster and her daughter F Adolph. Edu-Build aims to ‘Reach, Teach and Build’ the child, as well as to empower educators spiritually, socially, emotionally and academically. This learning institution is one which is built on Christian values and therefore hosts this dedication event annually to speak a word of encouragement into the lives of their students. The event’s programme was directed by Pastor Elvin Foster who also did the opening prayer and welcome. He was followed by the praise and worship team led by the talented Oume Shandu and a very informative and
Dear Editor,
In June, I reported a missing manhole cover in Lama Street in Villa Liza, Boksburg to the Ekurhuleni Metro Municipality. I was informed by residents about a young girl who have fallen into this open manhole and that there were a number of incidents where criminals had hidden in the manhole and robbed unsuspecting
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educators
Councillor Tiziana Burtone of Ward 45 in Boksburg, wrote the following letter to the tame TIMES that we publish as it was
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18 Moore Street, Benoni, 1501
Special dedication ceremony for
Ekurhuleni Executive Mayor Mondli Gungubele with the City’s new Chief of Police, Bafana Andries Mahlabe.
I BELIEVE THAT EVERY GROUP OF PEOPLE, WHETHER WE AGREE WITH THEM OR NOT, WHETHER WE LIKE THEM OR NOT, HAS A RIGHT TO LIFE, SAYS REVEREND KENNETH MESHOE.
Dr Lydia Meshoe and Reverend Kenneth Meshoe (MP)
20 October 2015
tame TIMES
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A FRESH APPROACH TO LOCAL NEWS
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