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MEC Mohono adopts community projects
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Four community Institutions will endure under the wings of the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to enable them to produce nutritious vegetables for the community members they host. The Department has adopted Tsamma Seconday School, Techford Disability Center, Emmanuel Disabled and Old Age Center and KhayaTshepo Home of Hope for Vulnerable Children and given them food security projects to sustain their need to have food. North West MEC for Department of agriculture and Rural Development, Desbo Mohono in partnership with Motlosana Local Municipality handed over food security projects to hundred and fifty (150) indigent families and the four institutions yesterday, 17 July 2019.
This was to mark Mandela Day commemoration. The 2019 Mandela Day marks a decade since the international charity initiative was established. This day is celebrated annually on July 18 to celebrate of Nelson Mandela’s life and legacy. It is a global movement to take his life’s work into a new era and change the world for the better. Mandela Day asks us all to “Take Action; Inspire Change; Make Every Day a Mandela Day.” The initiative was to mark 10 years of Nelson Mandela Day which is an international charity movement that encourages communities to take action against poverty, social injustices and change the world for the better. Amongst the new identified key strategy approach for International Nelson Mandela Day focuses on food and nutrition.
One of the 150 household beneficiaries’, Mpho Christina Tamane (63) who has been living in Jouberton since 1994 says that she survives on her government grant and selling vegetables from her garden “I am very happy that government realises the importance of food security and that I am one of the beneficiaries of this project. The extended vegetable garden will help me make more profit as there is now a variety of vegetables that people can buy”. Tamane added that the increase in profits will enable her to help her 8 year old grandchild with basic necessities and other household needs. In addition, the manager at the Emmanuel Disability and Old Age Center, Keikobile Martha Magabe expressed her gratitude towards the initiative and hopes that the department continues to assist many other centers that take care of the vulnerable with projects that contribute positively in their lives. “The center has been running since 2010 and currently houses 190 people with various vulnerabilities including orphans, victims of abuse and former drug addicts that no longer want to live with their families because of numerous challenges” said Magabe. She also said that the garden tools, seedlings received will assist with the challenge of nutrition and food insecurity within the center. The centre was also handed 40 indigenous chickens. Through the food security programme, the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development realises its constitutional mandate concerning the right to food and the freedom charter clause which advocates
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TAKE ACTION; INSPIRE CHANGE; MAKE EVERY DAY A MANDELA DAY. for food to be plentiful for all. MEC Desbo Mohono highlighted that North West is ranked as one of the most food insecure provinces in the country and has committed to delivering more projects. “I want to see North West citizens having access to quality nutritious food and living a healthy lifestyle. This project should be the foundations for our communities’ to start food markets in order for them earn money to be able to sustain their livelihoods” said Mohono. She has encouraged beneficiaries to sustain their gardens and assured them that the department’s extension and advisory services will assist with continuous monitoring and support as well as proper maintenance of the gardens. Identified families consist of unemployed youth, women, the poor and the vulnerable. They have received agricultural inputs, seedlings as well as feed so they can intensively engage in agricultural activities and contribute to poverty reduction at household level. The department will further assist to provide infrastructure for all projects. Four community Institutions will endure under the wings of the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to enable them to produce nutritious vegetables for the community members they host. The Department has adopted Tsamma Seconday School, Techford Disability Center, Emmanuel Disabled and Old Age Center and KhayaTshepo Home of Hope for Vulnerable Children and given them food security projects to sustain their need to have food.
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A NOTE FROM THE
EDITOR ‘BLACK TAX’ BURDEN
There is a responsibility of pulling others up when you succeed. We are still very afraid as young people to speak up because we think it is selfish. While others don’t mind paying black tax, the burden comes when nobody else is willing to take over the responsibility Parents should stop comparing their children’s success with others, just because their neighbour’s son manages to send money home and extend the house, doesn’t mean your children can also afford to do so. Black parents should be more understanding. We have our own lives to live, we have dreams that we want to achieve and if we are constantly. Young people need to adopt a saving culture. We are the generation that can take action in stopping this cycle by starting to save. We also need to learn to say ‘no’ and develop a habit of planning our finances to combat the cycle of poverty.
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LETTER TO EDITOR: Taxi drivers’ reckless driving has claimed numerous victims, not to mention innocent people who have been caught in the crossfire during violence in the industry. The taxi industry is the only one I know of that treats clients like trash. Their actions lead to the deaths of pedestrians, other motorists and themselves. They don’t follow the rules of the road. They skip red lights with impunity. If you want to observe their bad driving in all its glory, Soweto is the place. They simply disregard other road users, not forgetting they march in protest against the impounding of the wrecks they sometimes drive. It’s like people demanding to be allowed to kill others in peace. If they want to be taken seriously, they must start by respecting themselves and the passengers.
Ins and outs of starting a taxi business The taxi industry in South Africa has been given a bad reputation over the last few years, but what very few realise is that it’s a very lucrative business opportunity for taxi owners. There will always be commuters; hence there will always be a business opportunities available for taxi operators.
WHO TO REGISTER WITH As with any other business, owning a fleet of taxis requires planning. Planning that involves fleet management and acquiring the necessary paperwork to operate in a certain vicinity. After the business plan and funding has been obtained, the taxi owner must register his business with the appropriate South African agencies, including the Companies and Intellectual Property Registration Office (CIPRO), the Department of Labour and the Department of Transport. Thereafter the licensed taxi driver is free to operate and can be hired for business. What you need to get started
The most important certificate for a taxi operator to have is a route license. The taxi association will upload the driver and vehicle details on a database, which will then in turn show if the route is profitable or not. If there are too many taxis on the same route, then the likelihood of the driver making a profit will be reduced. The routes are also allocated and controlled by local governments, but the taxi association’s task is to be very careful in making sure that there aren’t too many drivers running the same route. They basically make sure that the routes are viable. This will also ensure that no conflict will arise between drivers, even if it may seem like the inevitable given the stigma of South Africa’s taxi operators. START-UP CAPITAL Commonly used vehicles are Toyota or Nissan taxies. These are called the premium vehicles in the taxi industry because of their reliability. These taxies retail from about R100 000 to about R340
Over 3K schools to close due to dwindling numbers
000, but for the overall cost that would include paying your license and taxi association fees, the total cost can amount up to R350 000 to start a taxi business. Every industry has its flaws, and every business comes with financial gains and financial losses. It’s up to the taxi operator to ensure that his business runs smoothly. Although minibus taxis are a familiar sight on South Africa’s roads, the inner workings of the business are not generally well-known. That is why before venturing bullheadedly into this industry, it’s best to do the necessary research. SPEAK TO SOMEONE IN THE KNOW Another great way to find insight into the world of taxi operators is to speak to a driver about the ins and outs of the business. You will be able to get a better feel for it and even learn a few tricks of the trade amongst the rest of the drivers. People are always willing to share if you are willing to ask.
The Mzansi Ndlovu Youth Choir continue to make us proud
By Sipho Mabena
Schools haemorrhaging pupils are mainly in the rural areas of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West and the Eastern Cape. The department of basic education is set to close thousands of primary and secondary schools throughout the country, the majority in the Eastern Cape, mainly due to the dwindling number of pupils. Provincial departments have received circulars detailing the number of schools that should either be merged or closed, a move which the department says will save money and optimise available resources. According to the department’s spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga, more than 3,000 primary schools with fewer than 135 pupils, as well as high schools with fewer than 225 pupils, will either be closed or merged. “It is also to save money because there is no reason to keep these schools open. If there are two schools that can be merged to reach the required [teacher-pupil] ratio, then that will be done,” he said. Schools haemorrhaging pupils are mainly in the rural areas of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West and the Eastern Cape, which leads the pack with more than 1,300 schools facing demise or merger in that province alone. By January 2017, 508 schools were either merged or closed down in the Eastern Cape, with multimillion-rand schools built as recently as 1994 left to rot and costly stationery and equipment gathering dust. There were also reports of pupils at Junction Farm School, closed in 2004 in the Cathcart farming area, complaining that their children were unable to get to their new school, 28km away, as there was no transport. The department said the main reason for the drop in the number of pupils in rural schools was because parents moved to cities, or moved their children to live with relatives in cities. Mhlanga said the process of closing down or merging schools took at least nine months, as every step had to adhere to rules and regulations. According to a circular from the Mpumalanga department of education, the school “rationalisation is intended to reduce or eliminate the number of micro schools and merge them with other schools so as to address inefficiencies in the system and improve quality of education”.
The Ndlovu Youth Choir recently opened up about their journey on America’s Got Talent (AGT). The South African choir caught Mzansi’s attention following their stellar performance on the show that saw them receive a standing ovation. The video of their audition on the show received over five million views. In an interview with Channel 24, the choir’s musical director, Ralf Schmitt said that the group is over the moon after they made it to the live show rounds. “We have received the most amazing messages of encouragement. One of the most beautiful ones was when someone said, ‘South Africa needs another 2010, and this is it’.”
Pastor feeds followers dog meat
Pastor Veteran Peter from the Heaven on Earth Centre Ministries in Mahikeng, North West, fed his congregation meat from a dog he had slaughtered. The church shared disturbing photos of the incident on its Facebook page and captioned the post with Mark 16. Peter confirmed he gave his congregation dog meat and claimed that all who ate received healing. However, when asked where he found the poor canine, Peter refused to answer and claimed he had to get to a sermon. However, this has been found somehow not good by those outside the ministry and there seem to be actions to be taken over this act.
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Busisiwe Mkhwebane surrounded by scandal
Busisiwe Mkhwebane has been accused of lying under oath and acting in bad faith. South Africa’s corruption watchdog is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Just three years into the job, there have already been two attempts to remove Busisiwe Mkhwebane from office. She has faced public scrutiny, accusations of political bias and has most recently become the subject of a scathing finding by the country’s constitutional court. The latest of her controversies is a ruling by the country’s highest court that the lawyer lied under oath and acted in bad faith, and should pay a fine for her dishonesty. It follows a protracted legal battle between her office and South Africa’s reserve bank. This is not her first run-in with the courts – which is odd for someone whose very responsibility is upholding the law. A number of Ms Mkhwebane’s major investigations have recently been overruled by the courts in South Africa. They have said her findings were “invalid” and “unconstitutional”. This has raised concerns about her fitness for office and questions about whether she has somehow become a pawn in a far larger political game. The DA asked Ms Mkhwebane to investigate President Ramaphosa over concerns that he had an “improper
relationship” with a controversial local company called Bosasa. At the time, Mr Ramaphosa denied receiving a R500,000 ($36,000; £29,000) campaign donation from the company. The latest of Ms Mkhwebane’s reports has found that President Cyril Ramaphosa deliberately misled parliament about a donation to his election campaign as party president in 2017. The political and public reaction to Ms Mkhwebane’s findings has been divided. Surely taking on those in power is the sort of thing that would be celebrated in a budding democracy, so why is this not the case with Ms Mkhwebane? Chiefly, it is fuelled by accusations from some members of the ANC that she is part of a campaign to discredit Mr Ramaphosa and undermine efforts to root out corruption within the party. They believe she is loyal to the Zuma faction, which remains influential even after Mr Ramaphosa replaced him as party head in 2017, and is using her powers to settle political scores. There has been no evidence of this, but it has done enough to taint public perception of her. Ms Mkhwebane has claimed that her office is under attack by people who do not want to be held accountable for their actions. These are uncertain times in South Africa, even with a new president, the ANC is a divided house.
The factionalism within the ruling party has permeations across all sectors of society. Within the former liberation movement it has created mistrust and paranoia, which distracts from the real business of rebuilding South Africa. Ms Mkhwebane’s supporters say she is simply the collateral damage of that infighting. In her defence, she inherited a legacy she did not plan for. She took over from former corruption buster Ms Madonsela whose findings forced former Mr Zuma to pay back millions of Rands of taxpayers’ money for unduly benefitting from upgrades to his rural home in Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal province. The so-called “Pay Back the Money” campaign, which was one of Mr Zuma’s many headaches, came after Ms Madonsela’s damning findings. So perhaps the public and politicians alike were always going to be hard on Ms Mkhwebane, comparing her to her predecessor, who still enjoys a reputation of being impartial, fearless and fair during her seven-year tenure. And rightly so, this is an important institution. Findings by the public protector are legally binding here and not mere suggestions, as the previous administration had been treating them. So having an adverse ruling from this office is a serious matter. Many are keeping an eye on not only which cases Ms Mkhwebane gives attention to, but also their outcome. This is a woman who is not only wellversed in the laws of the country but also in its application. But her critics have accused her of overstepping the bounds of her mandate, in some cases trying to change existing laws to suit her findings and whitewashing investigations linked to those loyal to Mr Zuma. None of it bodes well for the integrity of her office. Ms Mkhwebane is not one to shy away from a fight or accept defeat, not even from the courts it seems. She is determined to clear her name and restore the public’s faith in her as their protector.
Rise in Africa inspired dolls
In the past few years, South Africa has seen a rise in Africa-inspired dolls that are brown-skinned, have kinky hair and are dressed in outfits that represent the diversity of the country’s cultures. All the founders had one thing in common when they created these dolls — the hope that young South African girls would take pride in how they look because it’s reflected in the dolls they play with. We look at four of these creations: Sibahle Collection Sibahle is a Zulu word that means “we are beautiful”. The dolls in the collection have features that resemble most African and Caribbean children’s facial and body features. “We decided to do this because we want our children to know they are beautiful the way they are. We hope the dolls’ hair will teach our children how to take care of their own natural hair from a young age and to love the skin that they’re in,” said the founders, Caroline Hlahla and Khulile Vilakazi-Ofosu. Momppy Mpoppy “This is more than just a business, we are creating awareness that our dark skin and thick Afro hair are pretty as they are,” said founder, Maite Makgoba. “We want kids to see beauty in Mpoppy, to see themselves while playing with her.” Ntombenhle Dolls More than 10 years ago, Molemo Kgomo wanted to buy her daughter a doll that she would be able to relate to, and one that would help her little girl embrace her heritage and skin colour. “There were a few available ... but they were simply not true representations of black people,” she told Entrepreneur magazine. It is then that Ntombenhle dolls were born. Baby Thando Created by Girlz Ink, baby Thando (meaning love) has an Afro and chocolate skin tone. “This baby doll will allow little girls to appreciate their uniqueness, beauty and it will also teach them to learn the basics in our languages such as singing, counting etc.,” said the company.
Taxi boss by day, singer by night By Aaron Dube
Thembi Magubane juggles taxi business and music. ~ THEMBI Magubane (45) said being a taxi boss is not easy, but she has learnt to take the blows. The businesswoman from Daveyton, Ekurhuleni, owns nine taxis. She’s also a gospel singer with three albums under her belt. Thembi said she loved the taxi industry. The mother of two children said the taxi world is not always easy, but counting profits is always wonderful. “Some taximen find it hard to listen to a woman, even when I come up with a good idea,” she told Daily Sun. Thembi said there’s nothing that makes
her more comfortable than walking around the taxi ranks. “The taxi industry needs respect and unity. “It’s a good investment opportunity, even though there are challenges.” Her recording label is called Music is Life. “During the day I run taxis and at night I’m busy writing songs.” She’s working on a live DVD. It will be released in November. “It will be released at the same time as I’m on tour in the UK,” she told the People’s Paper. Her album Singakwazi has been nominated for this year’s Ingoma Awards in the category of Best Female Artist.
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Former soccer star Marc Batchelor shot dead
Former Kaizer Chiefs star Robson Muchichwa says the death of former teammate Marc Batchelor is painful for him to come to terms with. Batchelor was shot several times in his car by two assailants on a motorbike and died on the scene. Recent reports have suggested the motive for the attack may have been linked to the former footballer’s role in a drug trafficking ring. The former Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and Moroka Swallows striker was sadly just 49-years-old. Muchichwa told KickOff: “He was a great guy both on and off the field.
“My greatest memories playing with him was when we won the Rothmans Cup. That was a great memory with him at Kaizer Chiefs. “He was a born winner and he hated to lose. We would always sit down to discuss combinations and how we can score goals. “I am grateful that I contributed to his career and he also contributed to my career. “He is a legend and contributed to football in South Africa. It’s a loss. It’s painful how he died. It’s sad, but death is something that as human beings we can’t control.”
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Proteas fall short of Netball World Cup
Australia has just knocked the South African Netball Team out of the Women’s World Cup. the Australian team beat SA 55-53. The game was a close call, with South Africa outscoring Australia in the third quarter. However, the Proteas’ effort was not enough to topple the strong Australian team. The South African National Netball Team can be proud of their achievement, as they played well for the duration of the World Cup and made it all the way to the semi-finals. Taxi Times understands that the Australians are the defending champions of the Netball World Cup, as well as the current world number 1 team. Supermarket giant Spar, the SA netball team’s sponsor, has announced that they would pay R1.2m bonus and the money will be shared by the squad’s 12 players.