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Mirror journalists win Vodacom award for Lottery stories
By Staff Reporters The team from Limpopo Mirror, with support from online publisher GroundUp, won Vodacom’s regional Journalist of the Year Award (VJOY) in the investigative journalism category. The names of the winners were announced during a virtual ceremony on Monday night.
This is one of the most prestigious awards, especially for investigative journalism, in the country. Limpopo Mirror’s team had to compete against journalists from all major news outlets from the Free State, North-West, Northern Cape and Limpopo. The local team consist of Anton van Zyl, Tshifhiwa Mukwevho and Raymond Joseph. The prize was awarded to them in recognition of the work done in exposing the rot within the National Lotteries Commission.
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“The virtual awards announcement was the culmination of a judging process which reviewed more than 1 300 entries received nationally across 12 categories,” said Vodacom in a press statement afterwards. The theme for this year’s awards is “resilience”. “Despite many challenges, and sometimes at significant personal cost, South African journalists across the country have persevered to bring high-quality journalism to the public through various mediums,” the statement reads.
The Vodacom judges complimented the journalists who entered and said that the quality of entries had instilled confidence in the future of journalism in the country. The entries have “set a new benchmark for excellence in South African journalism”, the judges said.
This year’s VJOY judging panel consists of convener Ryland Fisher and judges Jermaine Craig, Arthur Goldstuck, Patricia McCracken, Mapi Mhlangu, Gilbert Motsaathebe, Collin Nxumalo, Jovial Rantao, Robin Sewlal, Phindile Xaba and Obed Zilwa.
Takalani Netshitenzhe, Vodacom South Africa’s Chief Officer for External Affairs, said: “For two decades, the Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards have recognised many of the leading lights of South African journalism, those who have contributed to upholding democracy and protecting the right of freedom of expression, so vitally important in our society.” Limpopo Mirror’s team won the award for a series of articles published that expose the shenanigans at the National Lotteries Commission (NLC). “The three stories entered for the Vodacom competition are to a certain degree a culmination of three years’ work. It is also not the result of one journalist’s endeavours. In order to properly investigate each of these grants, we needed to firstly find the project, visit the area and speak to as many people possible to find out what exactly happened and when. We interviewed sources who were often in fear of their lives and too scared to be identified. We also scrutinised hundreds of documents, some leaked and others in the public domain, to connect all the dots,” said Anton van Zyl, editor of the Limpopo Mirror.
“The story about the Mdabula Stadium in Vhembe is a good example of how patience helps. The NLC refused to provide information on this project. Our earlier 2018 story about a R27,7 million grant to Denzhe Primary Care exposed a corrupt lawyer and his modus operandi. One of his NPOs received R11,37 million for a sports project in Limpopo, but no-one wanted to say where it was. It was only in 2020 that we could connect the dots and, with the help of some leaked reports, trace the project back to the stadium in Mdavula village,” Van Zyl explained.
Mdabula stadium was built several years ago by the Thulamela Municipality. The GroundUp/Limpopo Mirror investigation found that the grant was used to do only minor refurbishments to an existing stadium, leaving close to R11 million unaccounted for.
In October 2020, Limpopo Mirror reported on a R3 million grant awarded to the Hangwani Mulaudzi Foundation. At the time, Hangwani Mulaudzi was the official spokesperson for the Hawks. What made this story interesting is that the NLC tried its best to not make public the names of its beneficiaries in 2019/20 and had to be forced to do so.
The final entry was about the old-age home at Maila village. “We have been monitoring this project for some time, checking on the progress – actually, the lack of it. This story was an excellent example of how many of the Lottery scams worked: dormant NPOs are hi-jacked and new bank accounts opened and used to funnel millions to individuals with no link to these non-profits,” said Van Zyl.
“We are very grateful for the recognition from Vodacom,” said Van Zyl. “The sad part is that you write about what is happening all around us, but it just seems to continue. Currently, the Special Investigating Unit and the Hawks are investigating the NLC and the organisations it funded, but the wheels of justice are slow.
“Villages such as Maila will never be able to escape the cycle of poverty if people do not stand up. Sadly, at this stage, only the journalists speak out. Maila village deserves more than half-built structures for a centre they never asked for. They deserve a better life, and if R26 million was earmarked to offer them a steppingstone to escape poverty, they must benefit from it,” said Van Zyl.
The regional award-winning journalists will compete for national honours against their peers in other provinces at the national awards ceremony on Thursday, 25 November 2021.
One of the many controversial NLC grants that Limpopo Mirror reported on. In 2020 we wrote about an R11,37 million grant made to “build” a sport stadium in Vhembe. Our team of investigative reporters finally traced the project. Instead of building a new stadium, the NPO did some slight renovations to an existing stadium, built many years before.
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Ndamuleleni Secondary’s principal Mugivhi retires after 39 years
By Silas Nduvheni Teachers so often do not receive the appreciation they deserve for the time and effort they put into educating our children, and yet, thousands of people around the world still choose this profession because they regard it as their true calling in life.
Recognising a true teacher is easy from their remarkable dedication and passion, and Mr Mukondeleli Mugivhi, principal at Ndamuleleni Secondary School in Ha-Mutsha village outside Thohoyandou, can certainly be counted among these.
After 39 years’ dedication to education, Mugivhi (65) finally handed the reins over and hung up his teaching coat on 1 November. He was delighted when the school organised a big farewell function in his honour.
“When I started teaching in 1982, things were hard because everything was done manually. There was no use of modern technology like computers, cellphones or social media that are used nowadays. We used to do and compile monthly schedules and, if not correct, no teacher would get paid for that month. We had to make sure everything was in order,” Mugivhi recalled.
After he qualified as teacher from the former Venda College of Education in 1982, Mugivhi cut his teeth when he started teaching at Ratshikwekwete Secondary in Tshitungulwane village in the Vuwani area. In 1983, he was transferred to Tshipetane Primary in Ha-Mutsha village.
He counted himself very fortunate when he was appointed as principal of the (then) newly established Ndamuleleni Secondary School in 1987, where he remained until now - 34 years later. Mugivhi said that he had enjoyed his career very much over the years, although he spent the majority thereof in a leading position, rather than teaching.
When asked about the advantages of education today, Mugivhi said that learners received more career guidance nowadays, as well as the opportunity to learn a lot about the digital world from an early stage.
He added that, through hard work and imposing good discipline among their pupils, they had been able to produce, among others, medical doctors, engineers, teachers, and successful company owners.
One of the educators at Ndamuleleni Secondary School, Mr Enos Nemalamangwa, described the retiring principal as a great leader who had steered the school well over the years. He said that Mugivhi had always ensured that both learners and educators produced quality work, and that they would surely miss him.
Mr Mukondeleli Mugivhi, former principal at Nndamuleleni Secondary School, waves goodbye after 39 years. Photo: Silas Nduvheni.
By Tshifhiwa Mukwevho Makondelele Mudau (32), born at Ha-Luvhimbi village, is an attorney who has achieved several milestones in the law fraternity, with his most recent being voted in as the new treasurer of the Black Lawyers Association in Gauteng. He now serves on the branch’s executive committee.
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Makondelele Mudau takes up seat as treasurer of Black Lawyers Ass
Mudau, who is no stranger to leadership as he previously occupied the position of head of events coordinating at the same branch, completed his studies in Bachelor of Law (LLB) at the University of Venda in 2009.
“Being voted in as the Treasurer of the Black Lawyers Association’s Gauteng branch is a big achievement for me,” Mudau said. “It affirms my passion for law and the career path I took. I will continue to be the voice of transformation for the legal profession, addressing major issues such as the problem of skewing briefing patterns.”
He said the fact that he had been voted in showed the confidence his fellow attorneys and members of the Black Lawyers Association had in him. He recalled the time when he was doing Grade 10 in 2006. One of the subjects he took was history, and the content had a chapter explaining about Apartheid and the formation of the ANC.
“I was fascinated by the subject, and I learnt that a majority of those who formed the ANC, or who led in various structures, had been lawyers,” he said. “The likes of Alfred Mangena, Pixley ka Isaka Seme, George Dixon Montsia, Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela. I developed a strong desire to also study law, my aim being to liberate the people like what the former leaders had in mind.”
Mudau is a co-founder and director of Mudau & Netshipise Attorneys, a firm of attorneys based in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Alberton. “I head the labour and criminal department and have appeared in high-profile cases as an attorney representing either the accused persons or companies. I appear in both the high courts and lower courts, including tribunals such as the CCMA and bargaining councils.”
After completing his law degree, Mudau was enrolled to study a six-month practical legal training course at Polokwane School for Legal Practice. He then did his articles through Legal Aid South Africa, stationed in Durban, for a period of a year. In 2015, he was admitted as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa by the Pretoria High Court after he had satisfied all the requirements to be admitted as an attorney.
“I consider myself still young, but through integral living, a noble character and my God-given wisdom and passion, I have been given this incredible opportunity to be among leaders and carry this responsibility, which allows me to serve and encourage those that look up to me,” he said.
Mr Makondelele Mudau is an attorney who keeps scoring milestones in the law fraternity. Picture supplied. Filled with excitement, Mr Makondelele Mudau receives his certificate from the advisor of the Minister of Transport, Mr Kaizer Khoza. Picture supplied.
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