mashinini steps up mangaung ready to engage anc …theweekly.co.za/download/553.pdf · 2019. 2....

By: Neo Ntsele & Ramosidi Matekane

Thousands of ANC supporters are expected to descend on Dr Rantlai Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein tomorrow (Sat), where the party’s national

chairman Gwede Mantashe is set to unveil the movement’s provincial election manifesto.

ANC Free State provincial secretary Paseka Nompondo said yesterday the launch will afford the ruling party an opportunity to connect with the people and outline its achievements over the years,

Nompondo told a media briefing that the event will also enable the ANC to summarise its plans for the next five years, adding at least 80 percent of the attendees are expected to come from the Mangaung region and 20 percent from the other regions.

ANC Free State provincial chairperson Sam Mashinini is also expected to address the launch, expected to be attended by party heavyweights including secretary general Ace Magashule, the former premier of the province.

Mantashe’s visit is part of ANC leadership’s countrywide tour to drum up support for the ruling party as it intensifies its campaign for the much-anticipated general elections set for May.

“The party invites all members of society and confidently assures them that all logistics pertaining to the successful host of such an event have been met, including crowd management and overflow facilities,” Nompondo said.

The event will also include a cake cutting ceremony to mark the ANC’s 107 years anniversary.

Nompondo explained the 2019 ANC manifesto was launched against the progress and challenges encountered in the implementation of the party’s 2014 campaign.

He noted tomorrow’s launch will also afford the ANC an opportunity to follow up on their commitments and evaluate the impact they made on the lives of the people in the province.

In the build up to the launch, the ANC highlighted that it conducted an intense selection process for prospective public representatives to be deployed at the provincial legislature as well as the national parliament.

The outcome provided a list of capable cadres that carried the mandate of the ANC and Nompondo said their manifesto confirms beyond any doubt that it is a product of rigours engagements and public consultations across the province.

This goes a long way in reaffirming the ANC as the people’s movement centred around their needs, he noted.

“In our 2014 election manifesto we set our programmes and strategies that will help free

Free State Province

YOUR RELIABLE SOURCE OF NEWS

FREE STATEFree - Gratis - Mahala www.theweekly.co.za

Free State Province

Copy No: 553

www.theweekly.co.za

Free - Gratis - Mahala

TO ADVERTISE CONTACT: (051) 446 4720 Email: [email protected]

MASHININI STEPS UP ELECTION CAMPAIGN

PAGE - 2

15 - 21 February 2019

Continues on page 2 Continues on page 2

MANGAUNG READY TO ENGAGE INFORMAL TRADERS

PAGE - 5

ANC FS LAUNCHES POLL MANIFESTO

By: Martin Makoni

The Deputy Speaker of the Free State Legislature, Sizwe Mbalo, says he wants young people from across the province to attend next week’s State of the Province Address (SOPA) so that they understand the work of the provincial government and the various programmes aimed at improving people’s lives.

Mbalo said the youths are the leaders of tomorrow and it is important for them to know how government works and how they can also benefit from its programmes as this will be outlined by Premier Sisi Ntombela when she delivers her speech.

The Deputy Speaker said this in an interview with The Weekly yesterday after a media briefing on preparations for the SOPA set for Tuesday, February 19, at the Vista Arena, Bloemfontein at 10am.

“Generally, we want everybody to attend but our main focus is on young people,” noted Mbalo.

“I think those are the ones that we would like to talk to because they expect a lot from government. Therefore, I think their attendance will be highly appreciated,” he added.

The delivery of the SOPA also marks the official opening of the final session of the fifth term of the Free State Provincial Legislature.

Mbalo emphasised that no one will be denied access to the venue but he urged those attending the event to behave in an orderly manner and cooperate with the security details as they will be deployed to maintain order.

He said it’s important for people to attend the event in their numbers because this year is unique in that two SOPAs will be presented as there will be a change of administration following the May 8 national and provincial elections.

“There are two aspects; first, the Premier will be reporting on the progress that has been made over the past five years as well as the challenges

All set. . . ANC Free State provincial secretary Paseka Nompondo

FS youths urged to attend SOPA

our people from economic and social legacy of apartheid, and over the last years we have worked together with the people to fight against the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality,” added Nompondo.

“Despite the negative financial situation in the country and sluggish growth of the national economy, more of our people are being lifted out of extreme poverty. We have expanded social grants, housing, and basic services to our people and ensured massive investment in education”.

The provincial secretary also said the ANC was proud that it had not betrayed their mandate to improve the lives of the people across the country.

“There are still challenges here and there. There have been errors in the process but the ANC in the Free State province has delivered to

the people,” he pointed out.The ANC has already unveiled its election

manifesto in Durban, KwaZulu Natal where President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasised the importance of unity in the organisation.

The Free State has been delivering massive votes for the ANC since the advent of democracy in 1994 including in local municipalities where the party has continued its dominance and influence over the years.

Following the delivery of the January 8 statement, Mashinini has called on all ANC members in the Free State to join in door to door campaigns to sell the party manifesto to the electorate.

The movement scored a convincing win in the last general elections in the Free State, garnering 67% of the ballots cast. In 2009 the ANC broke

All systems ready… Deputy Speaker of the Free State Legislature Sizwe Mbalo addressing the Pre-SOPA Media Breakfast in Bloemfontein yesterday

record and scored an unequalled 94.7% of the votes in the Free State, ushering then premier Magashule into office.

Delivering the 25th State of the Nation address on Thursday last week, Ramaphosa said as South Africa was emerging from a period of uncertainty and a loss of confidence and trust, the government has resolved to break with “all that divides us, to embrace all that unites us”.

“In our magnificent diversity, and despite our many differences, the people of this country answered the call of Thuma Mina. In their multitudes, South Africans asked not what can be done for them, but what they could do for their country. In ways both large and

ANC APPROACHES 60%: SURVEY

PAGE - 9

News2 The Weekly - Free State Province 15 - 21 February 2019

By: Ramosidi Matekane

The ANC in the Free State has moved its election campaign a gear up, with provincial chairperson Sam Mashishini leading ongoing efforts to engage all stakeholders as the party drums up support to ensure a decisive win in general elections set for May.

The campaign has seen Mashishini mingling with various groups including the ordinary man in the street and Christians alike as he sells the ruling party’s election manifesto.

Just last week Mashinini went down to Mangaung’s sprawling informal settlement of Calebo Motshabi where he was flanked by party leaders in the area to listen to the plight of residents under the Thuma Mina campaign, launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa last year.

Calebo Motshabi is one of the many informal settlements that had sprung up in the country

and later on turned into formal residential areas by the ANC led government.

Mashinini described his visit to the area as part of the traditions of the ruling ANC to interact with its constituencies from time to time.

“Today I visited the community of Caleb Motshabi, ward 10 and 12 in Mangaung, as part of the ANC tradition of interaction with, and listening to, the people,” said the provincial party boss.

He was accompanied by local ANC leaders including branch secretary Left Cobo, executive member Heila Abrahams as well as scores of volunteers wishing to lend a helping hand in wooing voters.

Mashinini said the ruling party was committed to continuing its efforts to improve the lives of the people, especially the most disadvantaged.

“The ANC has, in the short term, committed to fix the roof of a house belonging to one community member, and materials will arrive tomorrow to start work. We have also agreed to assist a bereaved family with essentials as they prepare for a funeral,” he noted.

This visit was preceded by an invite to the Methodist Church of South Africa stationed in Thabong, Welkom, where Mashinini unpacked the long standing history between the ANC and the church.

He said the ANC would not be celebrating 107 years of existence as a political formation if it were not because of the support it has been getting from the church over the years.

“The African National Congress is today a giant organisation, which is respected all over the world. But we, members of the ANC, know very well that the ANC is a giant not because of its own strength, but because of its

relationship with the church.” Mashinini added: “The ANC was born and

bred right in the belly of the church. Our glorious movement turns 107 years old this year. It would not have survived all these years without the role played by the church.”

He recalled that day in history back in 1912 when the clergy, chiefs and professionals from all walks of life met in Waaihoek in Bloemfontein to give birth to the ANC. This makes the organisation to not only appreciate the church as an important part of its existence, but also the role it played during the birth of the party.

“We understand that the church continues to play a significant role in our communities. It continues to be a place where our people get spiritual, emotional, and psychological healing.”

The ANC knows that for any society to thrive it needs to be healthy in mind, body, heart and spirit, said Mashinini, who is also police and transport MEC.

“Such a society is conducive for development, progress and growth. We therefore view the church not only as a place of prayer, but also as a place of moral regeneration, social transformation and healing. The ANC shall continue to recognise the important role played by the church in our society,” he added.

The party would also continue working with faith-based organisations like the Methodist Church to realise the objectives of a free, democratic, non-racial, non-sexist, peaceful and prosperous South Africa.

It was not by accident that the ANC was established in the premises of the Methodist Church, Mashinini said, adding that because of its vocal leaders in rejecting apartheid, administrators declared the church illegal.

“Many of the leaders of the Methodist Church were banned and some were arrested for their involvement in the struggle for peace, democracy and freedom,” he noted. Former ANC presidents ZR Mahabane and President Dr Nelson Mandela were some of them.

Mashinini said the church can still assist in fighting today’s social ills such as gender based violence, gangsterism, HIV and Aids, abuse of children and women, as well as drug and substance abuse.

“We are convinced that, working together with the churches, we will resolve these challenges. We also call on the churches to continue to criticise and guide us. This is because we understand that the church must play a central role in social transformation, and in the betterment of society,” he also noted.

By: Martin Makoni

Mangaung Metro Executive Mayor Councillor Olly Mlamleli has applauded her council for the political maturity it exhibited in addressing long-standing disputes over the use of the Inter-modal Transport Facility in downtown Bloemfontein.

She said the construction of the taxi rank was a huge test for the city and she was happy the challenges surrounding the use of the facility had been resolved.

Mlamleli said this during the official signing of the lease agreement with the Greater Bloemfontein Taxi Association (GBTA) for the operation of the Inter-modal Facility on Tuesday.

“Today I am so excited and I just would not hide how pleased I am to be here on the occasion of sealing the long-awaited agreement on this taxi rank,” she noted.

The taxi rank which was completed in 2011 could not be opened for use as there were some structural defects which needed to be attended to first, for the safety of both commuters and the taxis themselves. The facility is now expected to be operational in eight to ten months’ time.

The mayor said the municipality worked closely with the provincial government and the national Department of Transport in establishing the integrated public transport network in line with the National Land Transport Act.

“The council remained committed to working closely with relevant stakeholders in ensuring a safe, efficient and affordable public transport.

“Our commitment is embedded in our vision of establishing a city that is globally safe to work

in, invest in and live in. Critical to this vision is to improve our local transport network for the maximum benefit of every citizen of Mangaung,” said Mlamleli.

The signing of the lease agreement was important because the taxi industry remains the most effective, easily accessible and most affordable form of public transportation system used by the majority of the people, not only in Bloemfontein, but nationally.

“As a matter of fact, before we could even think of the economics of the taxi industry itself,

it constitutes a basic necessity to us Africans. Now, you can imagine the effects of the delays that stemmed from the non-functioning of this facility since completion in 2011,” said Mlamleli.

She noted the reference of the Intermodal Public Transport Facility by some people as a white elephant had remained a major concern to her since her inauguration, hence she worked hard to get the matter resolved.

“I considered this expression ‘white elephant’ as derogative to all who made the taxi rank development a reality… this facility is one of the

greatest infrastructure investments in our city and the taxi industry in particular.

“Ladies and gentlemen, since this taxi rank was completed seven years ago, we did not rest on our laurels as we have been engaging all relevant stakeholders especially the taxi industry in an attempt to fast-track the opening of this facility,” the mayor added.

Given the fragility associated with the taxi industry, she said, the city held several meetings with the taxi industry seeking to find possible solutions to the disputes they raised regarding the facility.

“We wanted everyone to take ownership of the final product as we assume so today… ours is a democratic state which provides for all sides to be heard. Hence we wanted all allegations of corruption involving the building of this taxi rank to be thoroughly investigated first.

“And in this regard, both our legal and democratic systems were tested accordingly in relation to the allegations in question, and we were proud when the Public Protector found us not guilty on this matter,” she explained.

Mlamleli said the operation of the taxi rank is expected to ease traffic congestion around the area as there are many taxies operating there.

GBTA chairperson Leemisa Seloane said he was happy that his concerns regarding structural issues at the facility were going to be addressed.

“I was the first one to raise concerns regarding the structural issues and as a matter of fact, those are going to be attended to. That is why I said between eight and 10 months of construction, we will see the structure fit for purpose. We still have to do a lot of work,” said Seloane.

Mlamleli applauds effort to address taxi rank impasse

8 Genius LocciCP Hoogenhout and Maretha Maartens StreetLangenhoven ParkBloemfontein9300

T: (051) 446 4720 - F: (051) 446 4723 Email: [email protected]

If you have a story that you would like us to inve stigate or report send us an e-mail with your contact details and phone number to: [email protected]

The Weekly

Code of Conduct

This newspaper has committed itself to reporting news which are truthful and accurate and publish comments which are fair, with the highest standard of journalism as provided in the press code of South Africa. Should you have any complaints with our newspaper, please report it to our Editor at [email protected]. The Weekly is published by Letlaka Media

All correspondence must include the name, address and phone number. The Editor reserves the right to accept or reject letters.

Engages Calebo Motshabi residents, the church

Leading election campaign . . . ANC provincial chairperson Sam Mashishini

ANC steps up election campaign

Staff Reporter

The Free State provincial government is hosting a two-day summit aimed at addressing challenges faced by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Community Based Organisations (CBOs).

The summit, which started yesterday and ends today (Fri), is being attended by participants from civil society organisations and social sector departments.

Hosted by the Social Protection and Community Development Cluster, the meeting

Deal on paper... GBTA chairperson Leemisa Seloane, left, Mangaung Executive Mayor Olly Mlamleli, Mangaung Speaker Mxolisi Siyonzana during the signing of the lease

FS hosts Social Sector Summitalso seeks to improve the interface between the state and civil society.

The interactive summit, to be held under the theme: “Strengthening partnerships with the social sector towards poverty alleviation”, will reflect on a variety of issues and deliberate on the approach to the National Social Sector Summit. This would convened after the Provincial Sector Summits.

In a statement, the Department of Social Development said the ongoing meeting is expected to lay the basis for more responsive and effective collaboration to deliver on the promise of a better life for all South Africans.

This would be done by ensuring that commitments are clear and precise, that they strengthen existing initiatives and develop new ones; and that they take into account the

challenges faced by each social partner.The meeting is also seeking mechanisms to expedite the full attainment of the resolutions of the 2012 National Social Sector Summit in the following areas: resource mobilization, fragmentation in the regulatory framework, transformation of the sector (accessibility of quality services and employment equity), and capacity support.

A total of 120 participants will be nominated to represent their provinces at the national summit.

Continues from page 1

FS youths urged to attend SOPAfaced by the provincial government. She will also be outlining to a certain extent, the budget and what she hopes to achieve at the end of the day, even though we know that the term of this particular administration will actually come to an end on the 8th of May. But constitutionally, she must announce what she wants in terms of the budget as well as the service of service delivery.

“Immediately after that, when the sixth administration comes in, the Premier is also expected to deliver another State of the Province Address and outline the five-year programme of government. So, I think what’s important is that this administration is coming to an end and we should therefore close and hand over to the sixth administration,” explained the deputy speaker.

Mbalo also allayed any disruptions due to load-shedding saying they had secured standby generators which would immediately kick-in the event of a power outage at the venue.

Also according to the deputy speaker, there will be adequate security to deal with any form of disturbances, to ensure no security risk is posed to those attending the event.

The Premier’s speech is expected to build on the State of the Nation Address delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa in Parliament last week and has been widely welcomed by business, civil society and several international organisations.

Continues from page 1

ANC FS launches manifesto small, both public and private, South Africans set about building a better nation,” he noted.

He added the government has also focused its efforts on reigniting growth and creating jobs. “We have worked together - as government, labour, business, civil society and communities - to remove the constraints to inclusive growth and to pursue far greater levels of investment.”

Tripartite alliance members; the SA Communist Party, the SA National Civics Association as well youth and students formations aligned to the ANC including the Congress of South African Students (Cosas), the ANC youth league, the Young Communist League and the South African Students Congress (Sasco) are all billed to attend the provincial launch of the eagerly awaited manifesto.

News 315 - 21 February 2019 The Weekly - Free State Province

Mpiyakhe is furious when he discovers Jabu has compromised his plans. Judas continues to use Mpiyakhe’s actions against him and, just as Mpiyakhe is ready to make his move, new information arrives that points to an entirely different suspect. Mpiyakhe and his team make swift plans to track down the new suspect. Judas starts to act like he has already won the battle for Operation Khuculula, while Iris and Shadrack struggle to find a way to stop him.

Moseki and Dipuo are more than ready to rule Kweneng. Moseki and Dipuo finally achieve the power and finances they had always dreamed of. Dipuo feels over-ruled as a queen and realises that she doesn’t have as much freedom as she thought she would in her new role. Dipuo finds out that being a queen is not what it seems. Odirile has a plan up her sleeve. Moseki is enjoying the benefits of being the Queen’s father. Sephiri shut down Dipuo’s plan to replace Mosadi as the face of Kweneng Tea.

Patronella comforts Goodness. Thato apologises to Akhona. Will he accept being in the friend-zone? The Ngcobo’s offer a goat as compensation for Thabiso’s wrongdoing. Goodness is torn as she gets mixed signals regarding what action she should take. Shaka is left feeling confused after Mmabatho behaves coldly towards him. Thabiso gets away scot-free. Meanwhile, there is trouble in Shaka and Mmabatho’s marriage. Goodness learns that she is not Thabiso’s first victim. Siyanda threatens Goodness and tells her to stop spreading lies about Thabiso. Shaka links up with an old flame.

News 36 - 12 October 2017 The Weekly - Free State Province

Jack’s secrets are causing major tension in his family. Tau is not happy about what he sees at a restaurant. Mazwi tries too hard and ends up ruining things. Zach finds out about James’s well-kept secret. Wandile tries to listen in on a clandestine meeting. Things get tense when Nolwazi asks broke Getty for rent. Cosmo isn’t happy to hear what Gadaffi wants him to do. Zitha is nervous about admitting she’s a JMEC shareholder. AK plays his trump card. Mpho is being influenced by the wrong man in the wrong way. Molefe’s revelation leaves the Mabasos reeling. An unexpected kiss catches both parties by surprise. Fana’s warnings about not acting hastily fall on deaf ears. Nandi is horrified to find Jack bloodied and lifeless on the floor. Getty and Mrekza come to blows.

Zodwa snubs Skolopad GENERATIONS

100%

Let’s get dancing . . . Warren Masemola in Tjovitjo

100%


By: Thapelo Molebatsi

Dancer and socialite Zodwa “Penty-less” Wabantu has found herself on the wrong-side of social media once again, this time for refusing to take a picture with Skolopad at this year’s recent Feather Awards nominations party held in Johannesburg.

Wabantu who is expected to grace the City of Roses tomorrow (Saturday) at The Thoughts Night Club criticised her follow entertainer Skolopad, accusing the star of being an infant in the industry and seeking attention with “stupid ideas”.

Asked why she refused to take a picture with Nonhlanhla “Skolopad” Qwabe, Zodwa said, “I’m not threatened by Skolopad. She is still crawling in this game. We are in a very fast industry and don’t know what tomorrow holds for us, so it’s time to make money. Skolopad forgets that we are ageing and when the opportunity lands on your lap you grab it with both hands. I’m not

here to play games but to make money.” Zodwa added that she planned to leave the

industry in 2019 to “buy a house, car and fall pregnant,” and was not interested in taking part in publicity stunts.

However, the dancer immediately found herself under heavy criticism from fans who accused her of being a joke and hypocrite, while others suggested her refusal to take pictures with Skolopad was driven by jealousy.

A fan, Matshido Hlalane tweeted, “Skolopad might be an infant, but she’s an infant that doesn’t flaunt her pun**i for all to see. Fact!”

Hlalane went further to point out that Skolopad was making her through entertainment and working as a nurse.

Miss Fabulous Dee took to Facebook to share her thoughts and said, “Zodwa is the last person to talk about publicity stunts when that’s all she’s been doing from day one. What the hell is this b*tch talking about?” Thato Mbuso and Lesedi Moroka said Wabantu’s

Controversial dancer unapologetic... Zodwa Wabantu who is expected to rock Bloemfontein remains unapologetic for her refusal to take pictures with Skolopad at this year’s Feather Awards Ceremony

utterances were as result of bitterness. “The game has a new player and others are bitter that they no longer occupy the spotlight alone. Go Skolpad,” Moroka tweeted.

However, in a telephonic interview with The Weekly, Wabantu said she was not threatened by Skolopad or any other entertainer for that matter. She noted, “I am not here to play nor am I here for stupid publicity stunts. Mine is to make money and that is what I am doing, period.” Asked whether her statement suggests that the Qwa-Qwa born entertainer, who’s also a nurse by profession was not making money, Wabantu snapped, saying, “Look here buti, I am talking about me and not other people. I don’t know or care whether they are making money or not. I am simply telling you that Zodwa Wabantu is making money.” Reflecting on the negative comments that rocked various social media platforms accusing her of being jealous and bitter now that she’s no longer the dominating headlines alone, Wabantu retorted, “I could really care less what people say or think about me. If I cared I would not have stayed for so long in this industry. People are allowed to say and think whatever they like about me, it does not bother me. I have nothing to be jealous about. She is doing her thing and I am doing me. End of story.”

The entertainer, who will be making her debut in Bloemfontein expressed delight coming to the City of Roses, stating that she was looking forward to having fun and entertaining her fans on the night. “We are going to have a crazy, crazy night. I can’t wait to see and meet my friends in Bloem.” Kelly Khumalo, who also graced the awards, indicated that the industry was big enough for both parties.

Khumalo was later seen posting pictures of herself and Skolopad at the ceremony. Wabantu and Skolopad will battle it out for top honours in this year’s Socialite of the year category. Also included in the group is South African’s most successful businesswoman, Basetsana Khumalo (Top Billing), who is tipped to walk away victorious.


It’s hardly a secret that since re-opening its door, TRT Carwash has emerged as one of the top hotspots in the city’s nightlife and has managed to draw the who’s who to its shores – thanks to its wide variety of local and alternative acts.

This Saturday and Sunday, the joint will host its first two-day festival of local bands, appropriately called Summer Explosion Weekend. The depth and variety is highly impressive for an all-local roster, anchored in alt-house/deep house but also stretching to hip-hop and commercial house across 26 acts scheduled to perform.

Organiser and owner of the popular nightlife spot, Michael Mochini who has remained devoted to the city’s music culture and live scene, wants to help it grow even further.

Explaining the concept, Mochini said the point is to prove the all-local concert is a solid and practical one for the city, and make sure all the artists get paid.

Mochini who needs no introduction in the entertainment industry rubbished claims that despite the positive reaction the event has received on various social media platforms (Twitter/ Facebook and Instagram) the exclusion of national acts could hamper its success. Previously, the multi-award winning South African House duo group Black Motion had been eyed to be part of the concert only to be dropped at a later stage.

Responding to the views, Mochini said, “This concept is not only solid and practical, but importantly it is development based.”

He expressed delight in the improvement shown by local artists in not only fighting for their spot locally but nationally as well with some of them getting their singles played on national radio stations such as Metro FM, regarded as the country’s biggest commercial station.

“They are solidifying their spot in the entertainment industry and they are getting the attention they deserve and that is major news for our guys locally and a step in the right direction for musical culture,” he pointed out.

The remark follows the inclusion of Kamogelo Modise’s single Happiness feat Blaq Dutch recently played on Metro FMs Urban Beat Show which airs Fridays from 22:00 – 01:00 am. Popularly known as Dj Dice, his song was highlighted as one of the bangers by South Africans legendary DJ and Godfathers of house music, Christos Katsaitis.

Local is lekker... Deep house DJ Dice and Hip-Hop Tmani expected to rock the two-day Summer Explosion Weekend at TRT Carwash

Summer Explosionis here!

Reflecting on the show which is without a national act, Mochini said: “Part of the reason why you see other provinces are ahead of us is because they are not afraid to have major summer festivals with no A-list headliners but their own local artists. This has done worked wonders for them and part of that is because they were not afraid to promote and expose their own, a gamble that promoters not only in Mangaung but in the province have failed to do.”

However many promoters continue to argue that while festivals hope to offer entertainment to revellers, there was also the business side of it, hence the inclusion of national artists to draw larger numbers to various events across the province.

The soft-spoken Mochini refuted the logic, indicating that hundreds of festivals across the country have been successful without a single A-list muso. “The debate has no substance and throughout our annual festival held in Clocolan, we’ve proved that year in and year out. Local

artists are the way to go,” he said.“Nightlife spots in the city are packed week in

and out and there’s never a single national artists on their card, it’s all local. So where is this notion/concept or belief that an all local card would not be a hit with revellers while we see its impact,” he quizzed.

Among those scheduled to entertain fans expected to grace the event are Dixie and Zille, Urban Pipper, Tmani, The Saw, Mageza, Lady Dee, Dice, King Nation and Surprise the DJ.

“We’ve brought the best of the best and we’re certain that revellers will have a night to remember,” Mochini noted.

Dj Mageza expressed delight in the change, stating that it was refreshing that local acts are now being afforded to their rightful place not only at clubs, but major festivals as well.

“It’s long overdue and that fact that is finally happening is something we should all celebrate,” he said.


It was the most eagerly anticipated birthday celebration of the year and it did not disappoint.

Hundreds of revellers graced The Bottling co. at Ficksburg a fortnight ago for Mochini’s annual celebration which more than lived to expectations.

Buoyed by a solid line-up, the more than 500 revellers were treated to a night of magic as DJs brought the house on fire, leaving them in disbelief and wanting more.

Among the DJs that gave the fans their money’s worth were Caba Cannal, DJ Virus, Marvel and The blues. Surprise the DJ, a well-known commercial DJ stole the night with his one hour set as he dropped back to back hits much to the delight of the fans.

“It was a tough crowd and I certainly didn’t expect the response but it feels good because it means am on the right path. It was a truly a humbling experience,” he said.

DJ Leegody, one of the rising stars in the entertainment industry, was not to outdone along with hype-man and popular radio presenter, Shaun Dihoro. Known to locals as King of Gqom, Leegoy - despite a rather brief set - proved why he was deserving of the title as he made sure that kept revellers on the dance floor following Surprise the DJ’s awesome set.

“Nothing is more pleasing that seeing fans happy and as entertainers that’s our sole responsibility and achieving that whenever we are afforded the platform is super awesome,” said

Legoody calmly. With the mood set an all-time high, DJ Finzo who needs on introduction in the entertainment industry, could have delivered a profound set but was not par as he crossed from his usual house to African pop and Hip-Hop which are not his forte. However, Mr. Short and Sweet as he’s affectionately known, still got the right tick from his loyal fans who took to Facebook to express their delight.

“Finzo…Wow,” wrote Lerato Nthipe who travelled 52 km from Fouriesburg to be part of what was a memorable night for revellers.The night was not without hiccups as The Saw, a local group from Ficksburg which since its introduction in the entertainment has been a hit, did not perform for unknown reasons.

Addressing the matter, Michael Mochini, organiser and founder of the annual festival which continues to deliver top class entertainment to small towns extended his apology for The Saw’s non-performance. “People paid their hard-earned money to see their favourite DJs and to have one of them not perform is really unfortunate. It was not a deliberate decision but there were reasons which cannot be disclosed publicly as to what transpired. We do however apologise and we’ll find a way to make it up to our fans.’’Mochini expressed delight towards the night’s main acts for delivering beyond expectations, stating that this was a testimony that locals DJs in the province have indeed upped the bar.

Fete hits the right cord

This week’s Diva is 21-year old Julia Leaha. The sizzling hot up-and-coming Marquard-born model is carving herself a niche in Joburg’s dog-eat-dog modelling industry.

CUT launches whistle-blower hotline

continues to page 9

Twenty six-year old Nandi Selogelo enjoys watching movies and listening to RnB and gospel music. She works for one of SA’s leading financial institutions




100%


100%




















































continues to page 9

News 33 - 9 November 2017 The Weekly - Free State Province


Popular actor and producer, Thapelo Mokoena has vowed to help talented up and coming entertainers get their first gig in the cut-throat industry.

Mokoena who’s the son of Mike Mokoena, owner of Premier Soccer League club Free State Stars based in Bethlehem, said there was a lot of talented people who deserved to be given a chance but were being overlooked in the entertainment circles, thus leading to recycling of talent in the industry.

Through his talk, #BookYourFirstGig, Mokoena will share with budding entertainers practical skills and tools to help them secure their first show.

Speaking to The Weekly on Tuesday, Mokoena noted in his line of work as a producer, he had come across talented people who do not make it through auditions simply because they just did not know how to audition.

“This concept was born from interactions I had have with various people. On an average day, I’d have people stopping me in malls, restaurants and other public spaces asking how they too can get their big break. It frustrates me that I never have time to share all that I want to share with them, because I always like to engage,” Mokoena explained, adding the talk is the first of many to come and also part of a bigger picture.

“It all starts here. We are starting from the bottom with a dream, where the playing fields are levelled. Anybody can just get up and go try. We are helping you pack the right tools and carry the right weapons, so you can go book your first gig. We are on a mission to empower African artists and to guide them on how they can establish solid careers,” he noted.

Mokoena has roped in industry heavyweights who will also share how they got their big break -- Terry Pheto, Warren Masemola, DJ Sbu Leope and Sthembiso Khoza, among others.

He said “We should be having the #OpenUpTheIndustry conversation every day because that’s what grows the value of our industry. Opening the industry goes beyond just performances -- from distribution all the way down to acting. Also, how you see yourself as an artist matters -- do you see yourself as just a local artist, or a global artist? Artists ought to open up their mind-set, and then once they have done so they will start attracting things that are out there.”

Unable to confirm whether the talks will rotate across different provinces in the country to enable interaction with up and coming artists in their respective areas, Mokoena noted, “The idea did cross my mind but that’s something that we one will have to look into and see if its viable or not.”

By: Thina Tuoane

Free State artist Morwesi Sebiloane has been nominated for this year`s SABC Crown Gospel Awards.

She is the first female gospel artist from the province to receive a nomination for Classic of All Times for her infectious song ̀ Modimo Fela`.

The muso will strut the red carpet in her Urban Zulu designed outfit at the Durban ICC, 26 November live on SABC 1 at 8pm.

“I still don’t believe that I have been nominated. I was alone in my room when I received the news; I didn’t know if I should scream, cry or shout,” said Sebiloane.

Born in Thabong, Welkom the vocalist began her musical journey at a very young age imitating artists such as Brenda Fassie, PJ Powers and Yvonne Chaka Chaka. She was discovered at the tender age of 17 by the choir master of The True Happiness wHere she went on to be the lead vocalist and has been unstoppable ever since.

Her second award album `Another Level` which was released in 2014, won her the Best Gospel Artist Awards in 2015 at the Golden Bean Free State Music Awards.

Sebiloane, who left a well-paying management position at the Free State Government to heed to the music calling, said it was a worthy sacrifice as she continues to reach new heights.

Her nomination comes at a time when she is busy in the studio finishing her upcoming project. This is a great achievement for the artist who admits her journey in the music industry has not been an easy one. She attributes her strength to prayer and a strong belief in the word of God.

“I look forward to be accompanied by at least three buses full of fans and plans are underway to make this a successful journey,” noted Sebiloane.

The gospel sensation said her dream is to travel across the country through her music and spread a message of hope.


With the prestigious Feathers Awards around the corner, Free State will be chanting support for their own, in hope that they bring the awards home.

Athlete Wayde van Niekerk and local entertainer Nonhlanhla ‘Skolopad’ Qwabe have earned themselves nominations.

Van Niekerk who broke Michael Johnson’s 17-year-old 400m world record to sensationally win an Olympic gold at Rio 2016 will in battle it out with Proteas fast bowler Kagisho Rabada in the Sportsman of the year category.

The local lad will have an uphill task against Rabada who gained two slots to reach a career-best third position among bowlers in the ICC Test Player rankings after his player of the match performance against Bangladesh in Bloemfontein, which helped complete a 2-0 win in the two-Test series.

The performance sees Rabada ranked 3rd best bowler in the world after James Anderson

of England and Ravindra Jadega of India at 2nd position.

Skolopad will take on her rivalry, Zodwa Libram, known in the entertainment industry as Zodwa Wabantwu in the socialite of the year category. Also nominated in the category is the self-proclaimed queen of Gqom Babes Wodumo and Mampinsha.

Victory for controversial Skolopad will be massive as she finds herself battling the country’s top entertainers, all who are from Kwazulu Natal, Durban.

While she might not as big as Zodwa Wabanthu, Skolopad has created a name for herself in the industry which a few years back did not event give her a wink – until the yellow dress she wore to last year’s Metro FM awards nearly broke the internet after going viral.

Speaking ahead of the awards ceremony, Skolopad said it would be a huge honour for her to reign supreme on November 9, particularly as many don’t expect her to win.

“It will be justice for me to win on Thursday.

A part of me feels it would be justice because a lot of people don’t expect me to win or see me worthy of the award so it would be poetic justice for me,” she said politely.

Wabanthu also expressed her desire to win, confidently saying the award had her name written all-over it. “I’m not worried about winning. I have this one in the bag already so unlike other people am not even stressing about it,” said the confident Wabanthu in a telephonic interview with The Weekly on Tuesday afternoon.

Musician of the year award is another major category that fans will be eagerly watching. The category sees Amanda Black, Lady Zamar and Kwesta going head to head. No doubt this will be one of the mostly highly competitive categories as all three artists had a big year with the release of their debut albums.

The ninth instalment of the Feather Awards will be held on November 9 at Kyalami’s Theatre on The Track.

GENERATIONSMazwi ruins the mood for everyone. The information in the stolen file gives AK an idea. The two runaways have no other option but to sleep on the streets. Zitha wakes up to a startling discovery. Smanga blurts out the truth about Rori’s paternity. Sphe is shocked by what the blood tests reveal. Nolwazi is getting fed-up with her best friend’s attitude. Mpho gets beaten up. Nandi panics when she hears someone picking the lock … Gog’Flo gets even deeper into sports betting. Vuyo finds out Getty lied to him. AK makes it clear he’s not backing down. Mazwi is shocked to hear what his PI suspects. Namhla is floored by what Smanga suggests. Will Fana do the unthinkable to protect his family?




100%


100%




















































continues to page 9

Stars eye Feathers AwardsIn high hopes . . . Local entertainer Nonhlanhla ‘Skolopad’ Qwabe hopes to win her first gong at the Feathers Awards to be held at Kyalami’s Theatre on The Track.

By: Martin Makoni

Dealing with the loss of a loved one often leaves some people devastated and not knowing how to pick up the pieces and continue with life. They become vulnerable, ready to believe anything including things they know to be impossible.

But this is usually as a result of not allowing one enough time to understand the loss and be ready to accept that the inner pain is inevitable and can be healed if you allow the healing process to unfold.

“How high the moon” which opened at Pacofs on Wednesday night last week and ran till Saturday explores the hidden emotions people often try to suppress after losing someone close and resort to a life of make-believe as a way of dealing with the pain, and yet induce more emotions in the process.

Staged on a simple set with a cast of three, the story chronicles the life of a man named Thabo, played by Mlungisi Tshomela and his daughter, Lerato, acted by Boitumelo Mohutsioa. The two are dealing with loss and unable to handle grief following the death of the mother, Pretty Mokoena.

Lerato doesn’t want to accept that mother

is dead and so does Thabo. They convince each other that she is coming back. In dealing with the loss, the two become obsessive of each other and they don’t want to leave each other’s side, thereby creating tensions between them.

The daughter does not want her father to date because she feels that another woman would take her mom’s place. The daughter decides to be her mother, Pretty.

Through a spiritualist, Thandi, played by Nomveliso Tshabalala, they are advised that if they keep calling her and talking to her she will be back. They believe it and try it but to no avail.

The story is an emotional journey of a family in denial and trying to find a way of releasing their inner pain.

The play is written by Monde Jack Mayephu and directed by Mpho J Molepo assisted by Oscar Motsikoe. Costume designer is Tshegofatso Martin while the set and lighting are done by Oscar Motsikoe. The entire cast and technical crew are from the Free State.

Malepo, a renowned actor and director said the idea for this approach was to give a chance to local artists to work with established artists to give them more exposure.

“We don’t want the so called big artists to be

known as people who come from a particular place,” said Malepo in an interview on the opening night of the play.

“I only came here with a script and said I wanted to work with a local cast and crew. It has worked. We only had two weeks to rehearse instead of the standard four. This is raw talent. These actors have achieved what most established actors would only do after a four week rehearsal. I am really impressed,” he added.

Turning to the play, Malepo said he was trying, together with the writer, to explore an aspect they felt theatre was not really touching on.

“You know, everybody has lost someone close to them at some point. While people may talk about it, we don’t really talk overcoming those emotions. So, when I sat with the writer, we said we needed to do something theatre was not really doing.

“We wanted to explore how one can deal with suppressed emotions, known as catharsis. The idea was to see how two or more people dealing with loss can support each other and release that inner pain. The play was inspire by that urge and what to do when one experiences loss,” noted Malepo.

FS cast in emotional family drama

Gospel sensation nominated for Crown Awards

Beside herself with joy . . . Morwesi Sebiloane hopes to come out tops at this year`s 10th edition of the SABC Crown Gospel Awards

Mokoena shows novices ropes of the trade

Twenty-two year old Leena Gxalaba of Bloemfontein is business management at one of the local private colleges. She describes herself as an outgoing person who is fun to be with with. This week`s model is Molebogeng Thulo. The beauty is a businesswoman and an aspiring fashion influencer.

THE QUEEN

ISIBAYA

Chad da Don doing well after break-up As rumours swirl around the status of his relationship with singer Kelly Khumalo, rapper Chad da Don has told fans he is in a good space at the moment.

Speculation that the pair had split first surfaced at the end of January after fans noticed that all their loved-up pictures together had been deleted from their social media accounts.

While rumours that they’ve split continue to do the rounds, sources told Sunday Sun that Kelly›s ancestral calling could have been a reason for the parting.

Kelly’s management told TshisaLIVE they could not comment on the star’s private life.

While numerous attempts to get comment

from Chad went unanswered , he did reassure fans on social media that everything was fine on Tuesday.

Responding to a fan on his Instagram page, Chad said he felt blessed.

He added that he was a “f**king star” and nothing was keeping him down.

“Look at me! My mom gave birth to a f**king star, how can I not be good my G,” he added.

The star blue ticked all requests from fans to confirm the rumours but wasn’t shy to slam followers who tried to troll him for his looks or dateability. The rapper told one troll to “go do 100 makeovers”. -Timeslive

“All things work together for my good.” This is how singer, actor and music producer Brian Temba sums up his 20-year acareer.

Now the artist is moving to the next level with the release of his spin-off album called UnABC Deluxe - taken from his 2017 album UnABC.

The project is a reintroduction of himself as a music artist after five years of focusing on his TV career and giving the album a chance to shine.

“Due to my TV career, I felt like the album didn’t get enough marketing and promotion, and I, therefore, decided to rework that very same album and bring it back to the public to be

appreciated,” says Temba, unpacking the album that also features three new house tracks, musical elements that speak to who he is.

The album features various collaborations with other artists including local music group The Muffinz.

“I believe you should not be boxed into one genre. This album is a perfect example of putting everything that I love into one collection. And that is the beauty about being an independent artist, where you are not being dictated to by the industry, but get to work with whomever you wish to and create music for yourself first

Temba to focus on his first love

Soweto Gospel Choir shines at Grammys

before taking it to the public.“When I look at years gone by, that has

been the beauty of being an independent artist. Getting to grow and establishing yourself as a creative, because you are not bound to anything. I appreciate that,” he said.

Over the years, Temba has produced music and played roles on various productions, including being the first South African to play the role of Simba in the award-winning musical The Lion King.

He also starred in the Market Theatre’s Lion and the Lamb, a play directed by Dr John Kani and also played Ranthomeng on SABC 2’s popular soap opera Muvhango.

To celebrate this milestone, Temba plans to host tours around Mzansi and neighbouring countries.

“With or without the money, it will happen. All I know is that it is important for me to perform music, to do what I love and take the music to the people,” he noted.

Although he has momentarily halted his acting career to focus on his first love, Temba is still active behind the scenes in the film.

He is directing music on former Scandal actor Kagiso Modupe’s upcoming film ‘The Day I Lost My Dad’.

“I remember writing this dream years back and it is coming to fruition now. When you look at all my experience on screen, I had to go through all that I went through and do all that I did to get here,” he added.

Temba released a single called Angeke last Friday and the full album will be out by the end of February. “And since it is the month of love, why not give the people what they want?” -IOL

THE THRONE

Multiple award-winning South African gospel group, the Soweto Gospel Choir, won the Best World Music Album Grammy for their album Freedom at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards ceremony, at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Soweto Gospel Choir was formed to celebrate the unique and inspirational power of African Gospel music

The Best World Music Album is for albums containing at least 51 percent playing time of new vocal or instrumental world music recordings. Other nominees included Nigerian musician Omara “Bombino” Moctar; Malian

musician Fatoumata Diawara; and Nigerian musicians, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80.

This was the Soweto Gospel Choir’s fifth nomination in this category and they have won the award a total of three times.

The award was received by album producer Diniloxolo Ndlakuse; Shimmy Jiyane; Mary Mulovhedzi; and Mulalo Mulovhedzi - whose late father David Mulovhedzi co-founded the group with producer/director Beverly Bryer 17 years ago - on behalf of the group.

“The Grammy Award-winning album “Freedom” was recorded in June 2018 as part

of the group`s tribute to the 100 Years of Mandela celebrations. It features a selection of South African struggle songs including their scintillating version of Johnny Clegg`s poignant “Asimbonanga”, the group said in a statement.

“The album was released in the United States where the group have just completed a highly successful three-month long tour. Further tours are planned for 2019 including an Australasian tour scheduled for July through September, and locally, a performance at this year’s Cape Town Jazz Festival in March,” it further announced. -ANA

Tracing his roots . . . Actor Brian Temba

In good space . . . Kelly Khumalo and Rapper Chad da Don

Addresses rumours . . . Prince Kaybee, right

Prince Kaybee speaks on tiff with TNSPrince Kaybee has confirmed cheating allegations involving his ex-girlfriend and close friend, TNS. The Charlotte hitmaker also responded to claims of “royalty theft” levelled against him by TNS.

Kaybee shared a lengthy statement on Facebook in response to a Sunday World report that claimed the Wajellwa hitmaker allegedly didn’t pay TNS for songs they co-produced.

“I would like both the public and the media to know that the allegations made against me are false and they are spread by Nkazimulo Ngema with the intent to discredit my brand,” he said.

Kaybee accused TNS (real name Nkazimulo Ngema) of spreading the “lies” in order to tarnish his brand, further saying he especially felt betrayed that TNS had allegedly taken his girlfriend.

“These false allegations are painful and

discouraging considering that I went out of my way to support his career and finance his dreams during the period of our personal and professional relationship only for him to betray me by having an affair with someone I was seeing a while back,” Kaybee noted.

The Club Controlla hitmaker said he had taken TNS under his wing, and even gave him a roof over his head and provided food for him.

Kaybee also confirmed that he took back the car he had loaned TNS after their relationship turned sour.

“This is a person that I believed in and took under my wing. I opened my home, studio, networks and financially backed because I believed in him as a young artist. “

TNS hit back with a statement of his own, accusing Kaybee of lying about several things.

“I didn’t want to go this far but because I’m now seen as an attention seeking artist, now let’s clear this. The money you gave me doesn’t amount to even R40k and you call me ungrateful after I gave you songs worth more than R500k.”

The young artist said Prince Kaybee’s album release was held up by the fact that he took away nine of his songs.

He added that Kaybee had a habit of making other people look bad so that he looks like the victim. Although TNS kept mum on the love triangle, he made it clear that he was definitely done with Kaybee.

“Karma knows where everyone lives, your arrogance will catch up with you Prince Kaybee,” TNS wrote. -Timeslive


Staff Reporter

Thabong police are looking for Maditaba Modise, 23, who is a witness in a murder case that took place in Phokeng in November 2017.

Police have information that Modise might be in Hoopstad.

On the day of the incident, Modise allegedly had an argument with the father of her child, one Buti Lereka, aged 31.

Lereka is said to have taken out a knife and stabbed Modise and fled the scene.

Police said Modise’s mother who was in the house at that time allegedly took her whistle and summoned members of the community members in the area upon realising what had transpired.

Residents came out in their numbers and took the law into their own hands by stoning Lereka to death. He was certified dead on the scene and a case of murder was opened for further investigation.

Thabong police are appealing to anyone with information about Modise’s whereabouts to contact Detective Sergeant Gerrie Nel at 082 806 8432.

Acting Thabong Cluster Commander Brig Cynthia Molale urged community members to refrain from acts of mob justice as it creates a rift between them and the police.

She further urged families and communities to avoid using violence to solve their problems, but consult professionals to assist with solutions to their differences.

A 41-year-old man died on Wednesday after his truck left the dock and landed in the Durban Harbour.

According to KZN police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Thulani Zwane, the body of Sifiso Dladla had to be recovered from 12 metres underwater.

Zwane said the heavy-duty truck horse had driven into the bay shortly after 8am.

The incident took place near the M Shed. Police Divers from Durban Search and

Rescue along with Metro Police SAR, Life Response, Port Fire and Rescue and KZN EMRS were called out to assist.

“A dive operation was conducted and the driver recovered from the wreckage at a depth of 12m,” noted Zwane.

A second dive operation was conducted by police divers to secure heavy duty rigging to the truck.

“An Elcon Crane was used to hoist the truck to the surface and onto the Wharf side. An inquest docket was opened at Maydon Wharf SAPS for investigation.”

KwaZulu-Natal Emergency Medical Services spokesperson Robert Mckenzie said there was nothing more that could be done for the victim and he was declared dead on scene. - Daily News

The Mankweng Regional Court in Limpopo will today (Fri) deliver a verdict against Seshego Pastor James Thubakgale for allegedly raping two teenage girls.

The 57-year-old Thubakgale is facing further charges of fraud, assault and more than 40 charges of rape in a separate case. This week, Thubakgale was arrested along with five of his right-hand men at the church on multiple charges. Spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said police received a barrage of complaints from some of the congregants against Thubakgale.

“Members started investigating these cases that the pastor and his accomplices allegedly assaulted them severely during church services when they failed to make tithe offerings. Others

allegedly had to surrender their houses and cars and were told to stay within the church premises. Other allegations included extortion of hard-earned millions of rands from pensioners who had just retired,” said Mojapelo.

“The pastor is also suspected of having raped girls as young as 14. More than 40 cases of rape and assault are being investigated. The police are also investigating the allegations that the deaths of certain congregants might have been concealed.”

The rape of two teenage girls dated back to 2012.

“The victims were 14 and 16 at the time. He was out on R2000 bail when he was arrested for the latest crimes,” said Mojapelo.–ANA

Thabong police seek murder witness

Pastor to be sentenced for raping teenage girls

Man drowns after truck lands in Durban harbour

Wanted by police . . . Maditaba Modise

Home Affairs said on Tuesday it was investigating the South African residency of Malawian self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri.

The controversial super-rich leader of the Enlightened Christian Gatherings church and his wife Mary were last week released on R100 000 bail each after being arrested for fraud and money laundering.

They had spent five days in custody. They are scheduled to return to court on May 10.

Home Affairs spokesperson Siya Qoza said the investigation was to ascertain compliance with the Immigration Act. He said the purpose was also to support the work of law enforcement agencies.

The investigation was expected to conclude by the end of this week. “The department is part of the justice and security cluster. We get involved when a law enforcement agency asks for confirmation of the status of a foreign national; we can initiate the investigation too.”

The State is also expected to approach the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, for an order to preserve Bushiri’s assets, including residences, vehicles and a private jet.

According to the department, Bushiri first entered South Africa in September 2009, but

Police probe Bushiri SA residency

Under investigation . . . Malawian self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri

Police let an alleged teen killer roam free for four years despite “overwhelming circumstantial evidence” linking him to the murder of his ex-girlfriend.

Shannon Lee Roberts’s body was found in dense coastal bush at Doonside Beach in Amanzimtoti on November 14, 2014.

The Daily News has established that a police statement was never taken from her ex-boyfriend, Dylan Taljaard, who is now abroad, suspected to be travelling with false papers. Both were 18 at the time.

Taljaard’s father, Wynand, 57, believes his son is innocent and will return home to face trial.

He was scathing about social media commentary on the case.

“Dylan and my family have lived through hell over the last few years,” said Taljaard.

“Apart from him being made to look like a suspect and found guilty on social media, mainly by Roberts’s family, Dylan was never informed that he is a suspect. Eighteen months after he left South Africa in 2016, a warrant for his arrest was issued that I am sure he is not aware of,” noted Taljaard.

He dismissed the suspicion that his son might be travelling on false papers. “What would be the need for that?”

He said his family last heard from Dylan when he was in South America in October last year, and had not heard from him since.

Shannon’s adoptive father, Gavin Roberts, does not believe Taljaard, and suspects his family have provided financial assistance to Dylan, enabling him to backpack abroad.

For Roberts, the pain of losing his daughter has been exacerbated by the frustration of witnessing police “botch” what he believed

Global manhunt for ‘girlfriend killer’

Fugitive from justice . . . Dylan Taljaard should have been a simple investigation.

“That afternoon (Friday, November 14, 2014) Shannon went down from a friend’s place to meet Dylan at the beach, and an hour or so later she was dead. Yet Dylan was never even taken in for questioning.

“Instead, when Dylan himself went with his father to the police station, presumably to confess, he was reportedly told by an officer not to incriminate himself but to rather speak to a lawyer first,” said Roberts.

Roberts said other damning flaws in the investigation - including a failure to study CCTV footage, examine cellphone records and satellite tracking of Shannon’s and Dylan’s phones at the time of the murder - had effectively let Dylan roam free instead of facing trial.

He said it was only after he put pressure on the Directorate of Public Prosecutions to intervene that progress was made.

A new team was appointed under Warrant Officer Rajan Govender of the Provincial Organised Crime Unit.

“After that, there was a complete about-turn leading to a warrant of arrest being issued for

Hawks imposter arrested for R200K extortion

Dylan Taljaaard last year.” Roberts noted given the “overwhelming circumstantial evidence” placing Dylan at the scene of the murder, a murder conviction was very likely if he ever stood trial.

But police are battling to trace him.“His last known whereabouts was Argentina

when he posted pictures of himself on Facebook with new backpacking gear,” said Roberts.

Although Interpol was advised in October last year that Dylan was backpacking around the world, the agency has yet to publish pictures of Dylan, now 23, who has a large and distinguishing tattoo around his neck which reads “Pain is just a moment”.

A South African police source said “a movement control” showed that Dylan bought a ticket to Dubai in 2017.

“The passport does not show any movement out of Dubai, so that’s where the difficulty comes about, and the suspicion that he is travelling on false documentation,” said the source.

Police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele would not comment on the case, beyond stating that a warrant of arrest had been issued for a suspect after the matter had been transferred to a provincial task team for investigation.

Interpol also declined to comment about its “red notice” on Dylan not including a photograph or description of distinguishing features, including his tattoo.

“Interpol does not comment on specific cases or individuals except in special circumstances and with the approval of the member country concerned,” read the statement from Interpol’s press office. -Daily News

acquired permanent residency which would have allowed him to run his church only in May 2016.

But his church is recorded to have already been active in South Africa in 2012.

Police are also investigating a case of defeating

the ends of justice as an incident, where three women killed during a stampede was not reported to law enforcement immediately on December 28. Nine other congregants were injured as they ran for shelter during a heavy storm. –Pretoria News

A man who posed as a member of the Hawks has been arrested for allegedly attempting to extort R200 000 from a person implicated in allegations of wrongdoing at the state capture commission of inquiry.

This is after the Gauteng Hawks’ serious corruption investigation unit was alerted to the blackmail.

It is believed that the suspect, 34, posed as an officer and allegedly told the unnamed person that he would make investigation against him disappear, Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said.

“To do this, he demanded R200 000. The complainant met with the suspect and handed him R8 000 with the promise of settling the balance later that afternoon. The second meeting took place as agreed and the suspect was apprehended by the Hawks officers,” Mulaudzi noted.

Supplemental sworn statements, which News24 has seen, show a WhatsApp conversation between the complainant and suspect in which they talk about cases pertaining to facilities management company Bosasa and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa.

In the chat, the suspect writes; “I’ve spoken with the prosecutor from the NPA, he can sort things out from his side in terms of paperwork. He’s waiting to hear from me on the way forward”.

He further writes and asks the complainant what he offered “on the table” as payment.

The suspect also writes that it would take “R200K for both cases” to go away.

“150K for Bosasa only. Very high profile case” the suspect writes.

The suspect is expected to appear in the

Nabbed . . . Man posing as a Hawks officer Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

Mulaudzi said the suspect, who was arrested on Tuesday, was found wearing Hawks-branded clothing in Sandton.

He was also found to be in possession of fake South African Police Service, Hawks and National Prosecuting Authority documents as well as a false Hawks appointment certificate.

National head of the Hawks Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya has welcomed the arrest.

“I welcome the work of the team that was

involved. The arrest has removed the threat posed by the suspect on the community. We encourage members of the public to continue to provide information on criminals.”

Lebeya said the days of faking the Hawks’ identities were over.

Last week, the Hawks arrested former Bosasa chief operations officer Angelo Agrizzi and former correctional services commissioner Linda Mti on allegations of corruption related to the facilities management company. –News24


TVET workers go on strike

Mangaung ready to engage informal traders


The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) on Wednesday said it totally supports the shutdown of services at Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges by sector union the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu).

The action by Nehawu is expected to run indefinitely until the workers’ salary increment demands are met.

Cosatu national spokesman Sizwe Pamla on Tuesday unravelled plans for a massive nationwide strike affecting all TVET colleges across the country including the Bloemfontein based Motheo TVET as well as Flavious Mareka in Welkom, Thabong in the Free State.

Pamla said the strike will also affect all the Community Education and Training [CET] colleges in the country.

“Workers are justified in their decision to withdraw their labour and send a clear message to the powers that be that they are no longer going to allow themselves to be exploited,” he noted.

He added Cosatu is calling on the national department of higher education to negotiate in good faith and to work with organised labour in different campuses to resolve issues raised by the workers.

“We commend Nehawu for focusing on workplace battles to help improve workers’ wages, conditions of employment as well as defend their jobs,” said Pamla in support of the national strike by Nehawu.

Nehawu is also demanding “a responsive and accountable leadership in the higher education secto”r.

Pamla said workers in this sector still battle what he said is ‘bureaucratic arrogance,’ adding that the Nehawu strike in part demands that government officials be selfless and dedicated to improving the working conditions of workers through embarking on a series of campaigns aimed at turning the situation around.

Workers needed to remain united throughout their action until their demands have been met.

“The anti-union and anti-worker tendencies need to be eradicated. We cannot tolerate the victimisation of our shop stewards and workers need to remember that we lose the rights we do not defend,” cautioned Pamla.

He further called on all affiliates of Cosatu as a federation of unions in the country to throw their weight behind the Nehawu strike.

Nehawu says there has been no salary adjustments for workers since 2015. It also cites the continued unilateral termination of work contracts by management, the no-deduction of provident fund from community training centres, non-implementation of bonus payment structure, as well as failure by the then minister of higher education, Blade Nzimande, to address issues raised by workers back in 2017.

Promoting economic growth . . . Mangaung Executive Mayor Olly Mlamleli says informal traders can bring good business if supported

By: Martin Makoni

Mangaung Metro Municipality says it wants to work closely with informal traders because they play an important role in growing local economies.

Executive mayor Councillor Olly Mlamleli told The Weekly in an interview on Tuesday that the city has several programmes in place aimed at ensuring informal traders operate freely within their communities and also followed council laws so as to maintain order.

She said due to misunderstandings with community members, some foreign nationals running small businesses in the townships had fallen victims to xenophobic attacks and the municipality continued to intervene in order to address the problems.

“Some foreigners have turned RDP houses into their businesses and some community members are not happy with that,” noted Mlamleli.

“What happened is that our people, trying to make money, rented their RDP houses to the foreign nationals. Some of the foreigners then set up spaza shops in the yard, causing some people to target them whenever there are protests or gang fights in those communities. These people are not paying rent for their businesses and that’s not how it should be.

“So, we have been talking to them saying they must follow our laws and also ensure they sell quality products that don’t endanger people’s lives. We have also been talking to our people that if they want to go into business, they should

be prepared to learn from others and compete. Business is all about competition,” she added.

Mlamleli said this following calls by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Zweli Mkhize for mayors and councils to stop what he called the unleashing of municipal police on informal traders and find ways of working with them.

“I understand where the minister is coming from. He is saying South Africa belongs to all who live in it. Give them an opportunity to do business, but clean business. So, when something is not right, people mustn’t gossip. They must report. As Mangaung, we have joint operations that we embark on with the SA Police Service. We go with our health inspectors to check and if we find something wrong, we close the place. And most importantly, informal traders must keep their money in the bank and they must not sleep inside the shop. It’s unhygienic,” said the mayor.

Mkhize said this was important because informal traders are key to the development of local economies. The minister made this call at the Council of Mayors meeting hosted by the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) in Cape Town last week.

The meeting was held under the theme “Enhancing the Role of municipalities in promoting Investment and Job Creation”.

“There is a need to find ways of licensing informal traders and other innovative ways need to be found to mainstream the traders. Some of the efforts already underway involve

Unit 8 - Genius Loci Office Park, 6 CP Hoogenhout Street, Langenhoven Park, Bloemfontein, 9300.Tel: (+27) 51 446 4720 Cell: (+27) 71 462 7030 Fax: (+27) 51 446 4723 E-mail: [email protected]

Construction System

Innovative Thermally Insulated Load Bearing Light Weight Fast ConstructionEVG 3D Africa (Pty) Ltd

• Fire Retardant

Shotcrete

• Thicknesses of 50, 100 and 150 mm

Galvanised welded-wire Cover Mesh

Galvanised Steel Diagonals• 3.8mm wire diameter

• 50 x 50mm mesh x 3.0mm wire diameter

• Fire Retardant

Shotcrete• Applied on-site using a shotcrete pump

• Concrete thicknesses on either side vary from 40 to 80mm

EPS – Expanded Polystyrene

• Residential Units• Villas & Bungalows• Multi Storey Apartments (up to medium rise buildings)• Extension to existing buildings and penthouses• Offices• Industrial & Commercial Buildings• Hospitals• Hotels• Agricultural Facilities• Boundary & Retaining Walls• Road WallsEconomies of Scale & Advantages During Construction:• Less Material on site• Less Wastage of Material• Less Heavy Machinery and Equipment on site• Less Man Power• Less Dust During Construction• Less Noise During ConstructionBenefits:• Lightweight Construction System• Faster Erection Process• Energy Efficient Building• Monolithic Structure• Anti-Seismic Construction• Thermal Insulation which satisfy 2020 EU Directives

• U-Value for EVG-3D-G Wall Panels– 0.7W/m K• U-Value for EVG-3D-S Wall Panels– 0.4W/m K

• Fire Rating of up to 4 hours• Acoustic Insulation• Easy and Fast Installation of Mechanical and Electrical Services• Same lifespan of conventional building• Ballistic tested

Bullet resistant as speci�ed.

• BNG Houses (RDP)

• Agrément SA 2017/554• FIRELAB (Fire resistance)• NHBRC (registered)

Certi�ed by:

EVG construction system, can be used to build:

2

2

the conversations with the dti and department of Small Business Development,” Mkhize said.

“Small business is at the heart of creating employment and each municipality should be

leading in creating employment in their spaces. Each municipality needs to find the way to do the basics to attract and retain investment. Over and above that, each mayor and council needs

to find the competitive edge to attract more investment which could include the development of industrial parks,” he noted.

He also called on municipalities to identify land for industrial park developments, especially near townships where there is high unemployment and not only focus on human settlements.

In terms of supporting infrastructure in municipalities, the minister announced that through the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent, at least 150 engineers will be appointed and sent to various areas. An important part of that initiative, according to the minister, will be a drive to recruit young graduates to be mentored and be part of that support given to municipalities.

Mkhize acknowledged that the issue of electricity reticulation have been a problem but indicated that Cabinet has now approved a framework to sort out this issue and CoGTA and other department are now working on the implementation plan

He also indicated that CoGTA and SALGA are continuing to sort out the issues around the appointment of municipal managers to ensure the smooth operation of municipalities.

The Cape Town gathering provided a platform for mayors to meet annually and address the challenges they experience. It is also as a platform that can be used for learning, sharing and reflecting. The meeting also allows an opportunity for focused discussions on the realities of the executive arm of municipalities.


Surgical kits to ease backlog

METRO MUNICIPALITY METRO MUNISIPALITEIT LEKGOTLA LA MOTSE

www.mangaung.co.za www.facebook.com/mangaung.co.za Call Centre - 0800 111 300 Issued by MMM Communications

BIDS BULLETIN NO: 126 (15 FEBRUARY 2018/2019) – BIDS TO BE DEPOSITED IN BID BOX A

BID NUMBER DESCRIPTION PREQUALIFICATION CRITERIA FOR PREFERENTIAL PROCUREMENT

LOCAL CONTENT REQUIREMENT

EVALUATION CRITERIA CIDB GRADING

PRICE

( Non-refundable)

COMPULSORY BRIEFING SESSION

CONTACT PERSON (TECHNICAL) SCM CONTACT PERSON CLOSING DATE AND TIME

MMM/BID 513: 2018/2019

APPOINTMENT OF AN INSURANCE BROKER TO MANAGE THE INSURANCE PORTFOLIO OF THE MUNICIPALITY FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS

A minimum of 30% to be subcontracted to an EME or QSE which is at least 51% owned by black people

Not applicable 80-Price 20-B-BBEE

Functionality Details in the document

None R 504.00 None Coenie Pienaar @ 051 405 8144.

Email:[email protected]

Beverley Scheepers @ 051 411 3219.


Lindiwe Ndebele @ 051 411 3234.


Date: 20 March 2019 Time:11:30

MMM/BID 514: 2018/2019

REMOVAL OF ILLEGAL OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SIGNAGE IN MANGAUNG METRO MUNICIPALITY FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS

Only tenderers who are EME or QSE having Level 1 BBBEE status contributor will be eligible to bid.

Not applicable 80-Price 20-B-BBEE


None R 252.00 None Tilfred Mabuza @ 05105 8321.


Thabo Mkuzangwe @ 051 411 3219.


Ntombikayise Hlongwane @051 411 3234.



MMM/BID 515: 2018/2019

SALE OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL SITES IN BLOEMFONTEIN AND BOTSHABELO (INDUSTRIAL ERVEN ONLY IN CHRIS HANI AND BOTSHABELO)

Only tenderers having Level 1 BBBEE status contributor will be eligible to bid.

Not applicable 100-Price

Functionality None

None R 252.00 None Nelson Mofokeng @ 051 405 8449.


Beverley Scheepers @ 051 411 3219.


Portia Mollo @ 051 411 3234.



MMM/BID 516: 2018/2019

SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF TYRES AND TUBES FOR PERIOD OF TWO (02) YEARS

Not applicable Not applicable 80-Price 20-B-BBEE


None R 353.00 None Lebohang Phitsane @051 405 8826.


Thabo Mkuzangwe @ 051 411 3219.


Mojalefa Thipe @ 051 411 3234.



PAYMENTS CANNOT BE MADE AT SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT OFFICES BUT CAN BE MADE AT THE FOLLOWING MUNICIPAL PAY POINTS:· BRAM FISCHER BUILDING BLOEMFONTEIN, · RE –A-HOLA SHOPPING COMPLEX – BOTSHABELO, · THABA – NCHU CIVIC CENTRE, HOSTEL ONE – BLOEMFONTEIN (DR. BELCHER ROAD), · MANGAUNG REGIONAL OFFICES – CNR. MOSHOESHOE & GEORGE LUBBE ROADS BLOEMFONTEIN.

ALTERNATIVELY DIRECT OR ELECTRONIC DEPOSITS CAN BE MADE TO THE MMM BANK ACCOUNT:

ABSA BANK, ACCOUNT NO: 470001380, BRANCH CODE: 632005,REF NO: 4302142551019ZZZZZ11

AVAILABILITY OF DOCUMENTS: 15 FEBRUARY 2019 All BID DOCUMENTS TO BE COLLECTED AND SUBMITTED AT: Supply Chain Management Offices, 6 Mannion Road, Orangesig, Blo mfontein, 9300

Notice: 156

Minimum Requirements:

1. Tax clearance reference number and tax compliance status pin.2. In the case of the Joint venture a tax clearance reference number and tax compliance status pin of all parties must be attached. 3. Certified Copy of Company Registration Certificate reflecting names and identity numbers of active shareholding must be attached (Except for sole traders and partnerships) 4. In case of a JV Certified Copy of Company Registration Certificate reflecting names and identity numbers of active shareholding of all parties must be attached. 5. Copy of JV agreement (in case of JV) must be attached. 6. Proof from the relevant Municipality that municipal rates and taxes of the bidder are not in arrears for period of more than 90 days or, proof that the bidder is leasing a property and the valid lease agreement must be submitted with the bid document on the closing date of the bid or, proof that the bidder is sub - leasing a property and the main lease agreement must be submitted together with the sub – lease agreement on the closing date of the bid or, provide a stamped letter from the relevant Councilor stating that bidder’s business is conducted in the property where the municipality is not issuing municipal accounts / statements . 7. In case of a JV document (s) stated in 6 above must be attached for each member. 8 All supplementary / compulsory forms contained in the bid document must be completed and signed in full. 9. Bidders will only be allowed to submit one bid document per bid (either as a joint venture or individual company not both). 10. Failure to comply with the above mentioned conditions will invalidate your bid.

2. Please Note: Section 217 of the constitution of the Republic of South Africa requires an organ of state to contract for goods and services in accordance with a system which is fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost effective. 2. No bid(s) will be accepted from a person in the service of the state. 3. No telegraphic, telefax and late bids will be accepted. 4. The bidder who scores the highest procurement points in terms of the preferential point system will not necessarily be accepted and the Municipality reserves the right to accept where applicable a part or portion of any bid or where possible accepts bids or proposals from multiple bidders. 5. Municipal Supply Chain Management policy and Preferential Procurement Regulations 2017, pertaining to the Preferential Policy Framework Act No5 Of 2000 states that tenderers other than EMEs must submit an original or certified copy of a BBBEE certificates from verification agencies, accredited by SANAS; or tenderers who qualify as EMEs must submit sworn affidavit signed by the EME representative and attested by a Commissioner of oaths. Note must be taken that certificates issued by IRBA and Accounting Officers have been discontinued; however valid certificates already issued before 1 January 2017 may be used until they phase out completely by December 2017. 6. Bids or proposals that are invalid, non-responsible in terms of Clause 16.2.16 of the Supply Chain Management Policy will be disqualified at the opening. 7 In the case where bid validity period is not indicated in the bid document the bid validity period shall be 120 days from the closing date of the bid. 8. The municipality will only communicate the outcome of the bid with the successful bidder. 9. The municipality will perform risk assessment during the evaluation stage in line with the municipal supply chain management policy. 10. The municipality reserves the right to negotiate market related prices to with the preferred / successful bidder(s).11. No statement of accounts/tax invoices from businesses /landlords will be accepted as a replacement of lease/sub lease agreement.

FREE STATE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTFree State Provincial Government is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer. It is our intention to promote representativity (race, gender and disability) in the Province through the filling of these posts and candidates whose appointment/promotion/transfer will promote representativity will

receive preference.

Directions to applicants Applications must be submitted on form Z.83, obtainable from any Public Service Department and must be accompanied by certified copies of qualific tions, driver’s license, identity document and a C.V. (Separate application for every vacancy). Applicants are requested to complete the Z83 form properly and in full. Qualification certificates must not be copies of certifiedcopies. Applications received after the closing date and those that do not comply with these instructions will not be considered. The onus is on the applicants to ensure that their applications are posted or hand delivered timeously. Candidates who possess foreign qualifications and/or short courses certificates must take it upon themselves to have their qualifications evaluated by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), and must please attach proof of the level of their qualifications after evaluation on all applications. No e-mailed or faxed applications will be considered. Applicants are respectfully informed that if no notification of appointment is received within 4 months of the closing date, they must accept that their application was unsuccessful.APPLICATIONS TO BE SUBMITTED TO: Head: Public Works and Infrastructure, P.O Box 7551, Bloemfontein 9300 or Applications that are hand delivered must be brought to the Foyer of O.R Tambo House where they must be placed in the appropriately marked box at: Security Ground Floor, O.R Tambo House, St. Andrews Street, Bloemfontein. NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED BY STAFF IN OFFICES IN THE BUILDING.

CLOSING DATE: 11 MARCH 2019

POSTS: DEPUTY DIRECTOR: ASSET MANAGEMENT SUPPLY

CHAIN MANAGEMENT(REFRENCE NO: PW19/13)

SALARY: A basic salary of R697 011.00 p.a.

CENTRE: Head Office Bloemfontein)

REQUIREMENTS: A relevant Tertiary qualification atNQF level 7. 3 years related financial/asset managementexperience at supervisory/management level. Valid driver’s license. Knowledge of SCM and Treasury Regulations. Valid driver’s license.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE

RECOMMENDATIONS: Computer literacy, ability to work under pressure with minimal supervision and willingness to travel and work irregular hours. Problem solving and analysis. Decision making Team work. Analytic skills. Creativity. Self –Management. Customer focus and responsiveness.

DUTIES: Manage the Sub directorate: Physical Asset Management. Design and develop asset management systems, policies, perform strategic and annual physical asset management planning, establish the asset management capability of the department. Monitor and review the capturing of all physical movable assets in the physical asset management of registers. Monitor and review the allocation of assets to asset holders. Oversee and review the monitoring of assets in accordance with the relevant policy and procedures. Inform guide and advice departmental employees on asset management matters to promote correct implementation of sound asset management practices. Manage the Sub-Directorate: Physical Asset Management. Maintenance of discipline and management of performance and development. Undertake Human Resource and other related administrative functions, Establish implement and maintain efficient and effective communication arrangements. Develop and manage the operational plan of the sub-directorate and report on progress required. Develop, implement and maintain preprocesses ensure a proper control of work. Compile and submit all required administrative reports. Serve on transverse task teams as required. Procurement and asset management of the sub- directorate. Planning and allocate work. Quality control of the work delivered by employees. Provide functional technical advice and guidance. Perform the functions of department transport office .

ENQUIRIES: Mr K Radebe Tel No: 051 492 3902

POSTS: ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

(ACQUISITION)SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

DIRECTORATE (REFRENCE NO: PWI19/14)

SALARY: A basic salary of R356 289.00 p.a.

CENTRE: Head Office Bloemfontein)

REQUIREMENTS: A relevant Tertiary qualification atNQF level 7. 3 years related supply chain experience at supervisory level. Valid driver’s license. Knowledge of SCM and Treasury Regulations. Valid driver’s license.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Computer literacy, ability to work under pressure with minimal supervision and willingness to travel and work irregular hours. Problem solving and analysis. Decision making Team work. Analytic skills. Creativity. Self –Management. Customer focus and responsiveness.

DUTIES: To coordinate, review, undertake and implement the supply chain acquisition management framework and policies through the execution of the bidding process, compilation of a list of service providers, according to the prescribed procurement methodologies. Coordinate (synergies), review and execute the bidding process. Provide secretariat services to the Bid Evaluation Committee and Bid Adjudication Committee (includes obtaining approval). Compile Bid documents. Publish tender invitations. Receiving and opening of bid documents. Coordinate, review, and compile the list of prospective providers for quotations. Compile terms of reference to invite service providers for an expression of interest. Receive, evaluate and adjudicate the expressions of interest. Compile a database of approved suppliers. Coordinate review, and source quotations from database according to the threshold values determined by the National Treasury. Supervise employees to ensure an effective acquisition management service and undertake all administrative functions required with regard to financialand HR administration. This would, inter alia, entail the following: General supervision of employees. Allocate duties and perform quality control on the work delivered by supervisees. Advice and lead supervisees with regard to all aspects of the work. Manage performance, conduct and discipline of supervisees. Ensure that all supervisees are trained and developed to be able to deliver work of the required standards efficiently and effectively. Develop, implement and monitor work systems and processes to ensure efficient and e fective functioning.

ENQUIRIES : Mr K Radebe Tel No: 051 492 3902

POST: ARTISAN PRODUCTION GRADE A (14 POSTS)

DIRECTORATE: WORKS CONSTRUCTION AND

MAINTENANCE REGIONAL OFFICES

(Building & Plastering /Plumbing/ Carpentry /Painting/Welding/Electrical)

Thabo Mofutsanyane (5 posts) (Ref PWI 19/15) Motheo/Xhariep (4 posts) (Ref PWI 19/16)

Lejweleputswa/Fezile Dabi (5 posts) (Ref PWI 19/17)

SALARY: A basic salary of R179 523.00 per annum (OSD)

REQUIREMENTS: A completed Apprenticeship and passed Trade Test in terms of the Provisions of Section 13(2)(h) of the Manpower Training Act of 1981, as amended or a Certificate issued under the Provision of the Repealed Section 27 of the same Act. Knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act No. 85 of 1993) (OHS Act).

DUTIES: Maintenance, including new work to build infrastructure works. Ensure that routine daily maintenance is carried out on all client departmental institutions. Perform day- on–day duties in terms of emergencies and normal maintenance as prescribed. Adhere to safety practice (OHS Act). Perform other essential services and maintenance oriented duties applicable to the post. Maintain good housekeeping in the workmanship. Ensure that the machinery is maintained in good condition. Maintain tools. Compile material quantities per project. Preparation and compilation of material lists. Report writing. Planning and organizing activities. Minor and new installations. Manage equipment, tools and machinery used. Conduct maintenance of all buildings. Perform construction work in all civil structures. Perform fabrication work in the workshops. Maintain good housekeeping in the workshops. Maintain good housekeeping in the workshops. Ensure Machinery in the workshop is maintained and in good condition. Manage equipment, tools and machinery used and evaluate subordinates. ENQUIRIES: Mr M Ndlebe Tel No.:051 492 3908

www.fs.gov.za

By: artin Makoni

Free State Health MEC Montseng Tsiu says the minor surgical equipment donated by Mediclinic for use in public hospitals in the province is expected to help speed up work and significantly reduce backlogs caused by a shortage of critical tools to conduct operations on patients.

Tsiu noted the shortages were so dire that in some cases operations are delayed due to the lack of important surgical equipment in some hospitals, thereby posing a major health risk to patients.

The MEC said this during a handover ceremony for surgical equipment donated by Mediclinic to the Free State Department of Health worth about R500 000.

“What might be considered surplus in the private sector is certainly needed in the public sector, and I believe that this donation will

South Africa’s public finances are constrained and government will have to direct resources to programmes with the greatest impact on poverty alleviation, job creation and economic growth, President Cyril Ramaphosa said yesterday.

The President was addressing the National Assembly as part of his replies to issues raised by MPs during the State of the Nation Address debate which has taken place over the past three days.

“We are at a moment in our history where we need to make difficult choices. Our public finances are constrained, we will hear this more clearly when Finance Minister Tito Mboweni announces the budget,” he said.

The finance minister will announce the National Budget on February 20.

Ramaphosa noted that Eskom will need assistance from government to stabilise its finances. “Doing so means stabilising the economy of the country.”

This comes at a time when public finances are constrained, so financial support must be accompanied by a “credible, far-reaching” turnaround plan by Eskom which has both an immediate and “lasting impact”, he said.

The department of public enterprises told the oversight committee that Eskom’s R420bn debt represents 15% of the country’s debt. If it defaults, it will threaten the SA economy. -Fin24

We’ll have to make difficult choices: Cyril

further strengthen our current partnership,” said Tsiu during the brief ceremony held at the department’s head office at Bophelo House in Bloemfontein.

“Our partnership with Mediclinic is already assisting us to address the surgical backlogs and I am certain that the equipment provided will have a significant impact on our ability to meet the growing demand for care,” she added.

The surgical equipment was procured by Mediclinic but is no longer part of the specified equipment used in their theatres, creating the ideal opportunity to assist the health department in this region.

The MEC said she was happy to receive the equipment as it would go a long way in saving lives.

Although the surgical equipment will be used at Pelonomi and Universitas hospitals, it will serve the entire province because the two are the biggest referral centres in the Free State.

“The two hospitals treat patients from across the province so, that equipment will serve the people of the Free State,” she explained.

Mediclinic central region operations

executive Frikkie Burger said they were happy to be associated with the provincial health department and assist wherever they can.

He said even though their donation was small, they found it important that they were contributing towards the improvement of the public health sector.

“We understand that the surgical equipment is a small gesture between ourselves and the Department of Health, but we believe that ultimately, it is the small measures that add up to a significant difference when delivering care,” noted Burger.

“We are excited to be strengthening and expanding a sustainable partnership, identifying where synergies lie and where the private sector can draw alongside the public sector to help relieve the enormous pressure currently being experienced within the hospitals. The increasing burden of disease is a national challenge and by working together and assisting each other, practical solutions can be found,” he added.

Theatre equipment boost . . . Health MEC Montseng Tsiu, third from left, receives surgical equipment from Mediclinic central region operations executive Frikkie Burger, left


Human Communications 145028

Nozi NkoeHunting Packages157 hunting packages – 10 different Nature Reserves (19 species)109 Trophy Hunts (including Buffalo, Black Wildebeest, Blesbok, Blue Wildebeest, Common Reedbuck, Cape Mountain Zebra, Southern Bush Duiker, Gemsbok, Impala, Kudu, Ostrich, Plains Zebra, Red Hartebeest, Sable Antelope, Springbok, Tsessebe, Warthog, Waterbuck and Eland)48 non-trophy hunts (including Black Wildebeest , Blesbok, Plains Zebra, Common Reedbuck, Eland, Gemsbok, Impala, Kudu, Ostrich, Red Hartebeest, Springbok, Warthog and Waterbuck)

TROPHY HUNTS – SOUTH AFRICAN AND FOREIGN HUNTERSNON-TROPHY – SOUTH AFRICAN HUNTERS ONLY53 Game Carcass Packages – 12 SpeciesBlack Wildebeest BlesbokBlue Wildebeest BuffaloEland WarthogGemsbok KuduPlains Zebra Red HartebeestSpringbok WaterbuckContact DetailsDave Hayter, Cell: 079 507 8820Belinda Hayter, Cell: 082 823 0295Nozi Nkoe, Cell: 082 040 4195Auction venue: S28˚18.026; E27˚08.546No exceptions will be allowed.- Registration starts 2 hours prior to the Auction.- A refundable deposit of R1 000 will be charged on registration.- Facilities for electronic payment (Internet banking) will be available at the

auction site.- Reserve prices are applicable. Articles to be sold can be added or

withdrawn without prior notice. Strictly cash or bank cheques in RSA mint system on the day of the sale made out to the FREE STATE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT.

2019 ANNUAL GAME AUCTIONWILLEM PRETORIUS RESORTSATURDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2019 – 13:00 (auction starts)

(TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY)

The Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality hereby notify for general information in terms of the provisions of section 47(3) (a) and (b) of the Municipal Land Use Planning By-Law, read together with the relevant provisions of the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act, 2013, that the following applications have been received from Messrs Sekonyela Trust.

Any person who wishes to make an objection to the approval of the application, is hereby invited to lodge and substantiate their objection in writing to the Town and Regional Planning Sub- Directorate, Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, PO Box 3704, Bloemfontein, 9300 or send to [email protected] Objection(s) stating comprehensive reasons must reach this office within a period of thirty (30) days from the date of publication hereof, from 08 February 2019 – 10 March 2019 provided that the objection stipulates the full particulars of the objector (s) (postal address, street address, telephone numbers(s) and e-mail address).

PORTION 5 OF PLOT 54 QUAGGAFONTEIN, BLOEMFONTEIN.Application for the amendment of the Bainsvlei Town Planning Scheme by the creation of a new special use zoning; and for the simultaneous rezoning of Portion 5 of Plot 54 Quaggafontein, Bloemfontein for a guest house and self-storage facilities.

MANGAUNG MUNICIPAL LAND USE PLANNINGBY-LAW (PROVINCIAL GAZETTE NUMBER 35 OF

03 JULY 2015).

FREE STATE FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE REQUEST FOR SPONSORSHIP

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:Our School, Our Father’s Academy, will be hosting a soccer development camp from the 25th – 30th of March 2019 at Grey College.

The aim of the Camp is to teach, develop and train the young players in the following aspects:

TEAMWORK;Teach the importance of working together in a team and what it means to be a team player.

DISCIPLINE:Train to have a disciplined lifestyle on and off the pitch.

CHARACTER:Develop and train a Godly character that will not only benefitthem on the field but in their future and at their communities

MANHOOD:Teach about growing up and developing into manhood.

SKILL:Develop football skills in order to produce quality on the fiel .

The training will be conducted by professional and qualifiedtrainers, including:Coach Ricardo Katza (Former Bafana Bafana Captain and Super Sport United player) ASP Sport- Fitness & Mental thought Specialist OFA Football Coaches

At the end of the camp, the players will participate in an 8-team tournament, whereby Mamelodi Sundowns and Bloemfontein Celtic will be scouting for players.THIS INITIATIVE FOCUSES ON THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES:

SKILL AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT• Through the annual Football Camp provided by this initiative

the young football players will go through proper skill training that will enhance their football skills.

• The boys will engage in different character development sessions, where they will be taught and mentored on

the importance of walking in integrity and character. We endeavour to help them see how these attributes will sustain them in any future career they might venture to follow. This will also benefit our communities in the end as more andmore young men will be developed in their values.

EXPOSURE AND OPPORTUNITY• We aim to institute an annual tournament using this initiative

as its base. The young boys will have an opportunity to play against different schools in and around Bloemfontein. This will challenge them to develop and advance in their football career.

• There will be scouts from professional clubs that will be scouting for young and upcoming talent to select and take to their development clubs and develop them there.

EXCITEMENT FOR SPORT FOR PROPER CHILD DEVELOPMENT• Sport is quite beneficial for children, by playing sport childr n

develop physical skills, exercise, make new friends, have fun, learn to be a team member, learn about fair play, improve self-esteem etc...

• This initiative is going to ensure that children are excited about sport and they have fun while doing it, as sports plays a fundamental role in child development.

2019, the year that this initiative will be launched; will see Our Father’s Academy being the first sch ol to take part in the development camp seeing they are the founders and hosts of this project. The winners of the one-day tournament will attend an all-expense paid football camp in 2020 (with professional trainers and coaches). This will help to encourage and develop football in the Free State. The winners will also receive R1000 cash prize and McDonald’s vouchers.

This initiative is supported and in partnership with : • Department of Education Free State *• Department of Sports ,Arts, Culture and Recreation *

Mail: [email protected] phone no: 081 581 2765 or Setjhaba Lekhafola 072 460 2783

Promoting tourism . . . MEC Limakatso Mahasa

Tackling Eskom crisis . . . President Cyril Ramaphosa


Concerted efforts by government to boost economic growth in the sprawling rural town of Qwaqwa in Eastern Free State continues to bear fruit, as evidenced by the construction of a multi-million rand lodge in the area.

Metsi Matsho Lodge, a joint venture by the national Department of Tourism and the Free State Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (Destea) will be officially handed over today (Fri) by tourism minister Derek Hanekom.

Hanekom will be accompanied by Free State Destea MEC Limakatso Mahasa.

The magnificent facility can accommodate

60 people at any given time, and is a flagship programme of the department’s drive to improve the experience of tourists in the province and to create jobs.

In a media statement issued yesterday announcing the event, MEC Mahasa said Destea in the Free State built the Metsi Matsho Lodge as part of the National Tourism Sector Strategy.

“We meant for it to increase tourism products at rural homes and to enhance visitor experience,” she noted.

She added the facility is one of a number of infrastructure projects under the department’s Working for Tourism initiative, which are bankrolled by the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).

The lodge is expected to help the local municipality of Maluti-A-Phofung, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Thabo Mofutsanyane District Municipality, to address the challenge of unemployment and help in the stimulation of the local economy.

After the launch, Hanekom together with members of the Free State provincial government, will attend an Imbizo with local residents where more information on tourism related opportunities will be shared.

“The will afford the minister along with members of the provincial cabinet to engage with the community on tourism development in the area,” said Mahasa.

President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday said a special cabinet task team has been established to deal with the Eskom crisis and provide him with reports daily on the state of the power grid and “what actions need to be taken to ensure energy supply”.

Responding to the debate on the State of the Nation Address, Ramaphosa said there was no “silver bullet” to solve the power utility’s massive problems.

“For those who have doubted the extent of these challenges, this week’s load shedding has provided a hugely damaging reality check,” he said.

The cabinet task team would be led by deputy president David Mabuza and will include Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, Energy Minister Jeff Radebe, Transport Minister Blade Nzimande, Police Minister Bheki Cele and State Security Minister Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba.

Ramaphosa said while his announcement that Eskom will be split into three entities grabbed the headlines, what was more urgent was an effective and competent power plant maintenance plan which was properly funded and led by skilled engineers, saying it “is the one thing that stands between reliable electricity supply and darkness”.

On the unbundling of Eskom, he reassured unions they would be consulted and ruled out any privatisation.

The three entities that the utility would be split into would be “100 percent state-owned”, the president said, adding the unbundling was necessary to ensure Eskom’s long-term sustainability.

“Restructuring will reduce the risk of a massive Eskom that at times has, in its current form, been termed too big to fail, placing the government in a position where all our eggs are in one basket,” he noted.

Five pupils at a high school in Cullinan, outside Pretoria, were arrested on Wednesday on drug dealing charges.

According to police spokesperson Constable Connie Moganedi, sector managers arrested the five pupils.

It is alleged that they were dealing in drugs from a local high school.

The pupils appeared in the Cullinan Magistrate’s Court yesterday and were granted R500 bail each, police spokesperson Constable

Connie Moganedi said.“The suspects, aged between 19 and 22,

were searched during the police school safety operation and found in possession of what was suspected to be CAT,” she said.

The arrests follow that of a 20-year-old pupil from the same school on Tuesday for possession of suspected drugs.

The pupil appeared in court on Wednesday, Moganedi said.

She urged parents and teachers to join

the police in the fight against the use of illegal substances.

“Everyone should be observant and become aware when children are reacting to peer pressure which leads young people to believe that turning to drugs and alcohol is how to become popular in high school...high school is often the first time that many children encounter illegal substances and the curiosity can be too much to resist,” she noted.

–News24

Multi-million lodge to boost MAP

No ‘silver bullet’ solution for Eskom

Pupils arrested for drug dealing

“Now the breakdown of six units immediately takes out 4 000 megawatts and has an overarching impact not only on the economy of our country, but the lives of ordinary South Africans and his happens because we have all our eggs in one basket.”

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan

and the Eskom board have been tasked with the “building up of an adequate electricity security margin” that will be able to meet power demands, the president said.

The president will be meeting with unions in the next few days following criticism of the unbundling plans, and fears of job losses. - ANA


ANC approaches 60%: survey Support for the ANC is tracking towards 60% as the election approaches, the DA is in trouble and the election result in Gauteng is on a knife edge, says the latest opinion poll by the Institute of Race Relations (IRR).

The poll suggests that voters who were previously alienated from the ANC are moving back towards the governing party.

It follows a full political survey by the IRR in September and has the ANC on 56% of the vote, the DA on 18% and the EFF on 11%. The survey has a 3.9% margin of error, meaning that these percentages can deviate by 3.9 percentage points in either direction.

Since September, ANC support has climbed by four percentage points, while the DA’s has dropped by five percentage points and the EFF’s by two percentage points.

“The poll suggests a shift in support towards the ANC since September. The opposite trend applies to the two biggest opposition parties, with the EFF and the DA down significantly since September,” the IRR said.

The poll also models voter support on various different voter turnout scenarios, an important

factor in the predictive strength of the poll.On a turnout of 69% - which the IRR

considers likely - ANC support rises to 59%, the DA to 22% and the change in support for the EFF is negligible.

In Gauteng, the survey puts the ANC at 48%, the DA at 25% and the EFF at 12%.

Once turnout is factored in at 73%, the ANC’s support rises to 50% and the DA to 27% and the EFF drops to 10%.

However, because the Gauteng sample is relatively small, the margin of error is 6.4%. This puts the Gauteng election on a knife edge where no party emerges with a clear majority and strengthens the prospect of an ANC-EFF coalition.

“A coalition between the ANC and the EFF would likely constitute a stable, two-party majority in the province and, given the pressure and tension informal DA-EFF coalitions are currently under, this would seem a possibility both the ANC and EFF will now be well aware of,” the IRR noted.

The DA’s support took a hammering across the board, with both black and white supporters

losing faith, and voters in general viewing it less favourably. Since September, its support among black voters has declined from 10% to 6% and among minority voters from 71% to 61%.

But the minority voters who have abandoned the DA appear not to have migrated to the ANC, whose support among these demographic groups is at only 12%, a little down from where it stood in September.

“The most likely explanation for these trends is not current affairs but a general move back towards the ANC by those voters previously alienated from the party, although issues like the advent of Patricia de Lille’s new party and the VBS Mutual Bank scandal would have acted to retard the ability of both the DA and the EFF to counter this.”

However, the IRR cautions that a great number of variables remain at play.

The voters returning to the ANC are fluid and could still be won over by the DA and EFF.

Campaigning also plays a role as the election draws closer, with bigger parties tending to squeeze out smaller ones. -Businesslive

The stage is set for the North West State of the Province Address (Sopa) in Mahikeng today.

Three large tents have been pitched at the Mmabatho stadium. One will host the legislature, from where Premier Job Mokgoro is expected to deliver the address.

The other tent will be used by journalists and the third tent will serve as a dining area for VIPs.

In his address, Mokgoro is expected to highlight collaborative efforts to improve delivery of basic services as well as initiatives

aimed at boosting the province’s social and economic infrastructure projects.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has said Mokgoro’s Sopa address would be “empty”.

“No doubt it will be flowery self-praise of delusions of grandeur of a desperate and failing ANC. The people of North West should not be fooled,” DA North West leader Joe McGluwa said.

McGluwa made the statements while presenting his “alternative state of the province

address” to party members in Danville, near Mahikeng, yesterday.

He said the promise of “a better life for all” - a popular ANC slogan - had been “looted” to the extent that there was only a better life for some within the governing party.

McGluwa and DA federal chairperson Athol Trollip are expected to lead a picket during Sopa to highlight issues of rural safety and crime in the province. - African News Agency

Numbers swelling . . . ANC supporters

Loadshedding an act of sabotage, says Kodwa

Acting ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa says the latest round of load shedding is an attempt to sabotage the new vision for South Africa which President Cyril Ramaphosa outlined in his State of the Nation Address last week.

“The coincidence is suspicious. This comes a few days after the president made very bold statements during the State of the Nation address about growing the economy and boosting investment,” Kodwa said on the sidelines of the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture on Tuesday.

Kodwa said government’s intention to unbundle Eskom, as announced by Ramaphosa

in his SONA 2019, would make the struggling state-owned enterprise more profitable. A number of other attempts to stabilise the utility are in the pipeline.

Kodwa appeared to blame Eskom’s current management for the alleged sabotage, saying either they don’t know what they are talking about or they have been lying to the country.

He claimed the implementation of Stage 4 load-shedding was akin to calling for disinvestment.

“The country has been assured of sufficient electricity. Suddenly, with very short notice we went on Stage 4 yesterday,” he added. -IOL

Mthembu defends commissions of inquiryAfrican National Congress (ANC) chief whip Jackson Mthembu on Tuesday quoted scripture as he defended the various commissions of inquiry unearthing the startling extent of state capture, corruption and looting of the public purse.

“As shocking as the testimonies in the various commissions appear to be, as the ANC, we are totally convinced and resolved that we must go through this pain to save our country from clutches of state capture operatives both in the public and private sectors,” Mthembu said as

he opened the two-day debate on the State of the Nation address (Sona).

“All those implicated in wrong doing by the testimonies before the various commissions, including those who are in our own ranks, must and should give their own credible versions to the commissions regarding these allegations.”

Mthembu agreed with President Cyril Ramaphosa that the revelations in the state capture inquiry and various other inquiries must be followed by swift investigations and prosecutions. -ANA

Let’s save our country. . . ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu

DA leader Mmusi Maimane has disputed polls indicating a dramatic fall-off in support for his party, saying that internal polls show that it will do better than the 22% of votes won in the 2014 elections.

Maimane addressed a media conference on Sunday on the outcome of the three-day meeting of the DA federal council, the party’s highest decision making body between congresses.

The council unanimously adopted the DA’s election manifesto which will be officially launched on February 23 at the Rand Stadium in Johannesburg.

“It is an Ipsos poll that says the DA will get 14%. It has been consistently inaccurate. Our internal polling indicates that our support is higher than that of 2014,” Maimane said.

Maimane also did not believe that the ANC under President Cyril Ramaphosa would increase its support significantly.

He said the DA was aiming to win Gauteng, Western Cape and Northern Cape, and increase its support nationally.

“With 87 days to election day, the party is united, focused, and equipped to deliver our strongest campaign in history,” Maimane pointed out.

The federal executive has vetted the candidate lists of all nine provinces and has sent them back to structures for appeals where necessary. The focus was on competence and diversity. The lists will be made available at the end of February.

Maimane said the DA’s election manifesto

centred around “a solid plan with workable solutions to fix our economy”.

“On the matter of redress and empowerment, the manifesto is clear: we believe race is a proxy for disadvantage and an accurate reflection of who is still excluded from opportunity,” he noted.

“The party has not decided to move away from race-based redress policies, however we unequivocally reject the ANC’s version of redress which operates to enrich and re-enrich the connected elite. Our offer is truly broad-based in that it seeks to break down the wall that exists been the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’.”

He added “one SA for all” could not be built when citizens who “by circumstances of their birth and the history of this country” are left out of the economy.

“We are unapologetic. Those citizens are black South Africans. So when we say race is a proxy for disadvantage we don’t mean that it is principle whereby you want to take from some to benefit others but so that you can create a citizenship where all citizens have equity in the economy and ultimately we can address historical injustices. That view was unanimously adopted by federal council,” Maimane further said.

The DA’s view was that if two professionals, one white and one black, were being considered for a job and were of equal competence, the black person should be chosen. -Businesslive

Forecasts of DA vote decline a ‘myth’: Maimane

Didiza appointed to chair land expropriation committeeNational Assembly house chair Thoko Didiza was elected on Tuesday to chair the parliamentary ad hoc committee tasked with redrafting section 25 of the constitution, or the property clause.

The committee met for the first time on Tuesday to elect a chair and consider its programme.

In December, the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP)

Leading the process . . . Thoko Didiza

adopted a contentious report that called for a constitutional amendment to make it explicit that expropriation without compensation could be used to address skewed land ownership patterns dating back to the colonial and apartheid eras.

The ad hoc committee consists of 11 voting members of the National Assembly and will be made up of six members from the ANC, two from the DA, one from the EFF and two from other parties. The committee will also consist of 14 nonvoting members of the National Assembly - two from the ANC, one from the DA, one from the EFF and 10 from other parties.

The debate on the issue has polarised the country and spooked investors, with the proposed amendment set to be challenged in court by various stakeholders and political parties.

The matter could eventually be processed by the next parliament after the elections, which will take place in May. This means the amendment might not happen at all if the ANC and EFF fail to secure a two-thirds majority between them.

ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu congratulated Didiza on her election. She served as land affairs minister under former president Thabo Mbeki between 1999 and 2006.

“The resolution of the land question forms part of the founding principles of the ANC. In essence, it is the ultimate expression of transformation and restitution. With this in mind we wish the committee well as they embark on this historic process,” Mthembu said. -Businesslive

Stage set for North West Sopa


Public enterprises acting director general Thuto Shomang says Eskom’s current debt stands at R435 billion, which represented 15% of South Africa’s sovereign debt.

“Default is threatening the economy,” Shomang said while briefing the public enterprises portfolio committee on Wednesday.

Shomang also noted cash generated by the entity did not cover operating and servicing costs.

He added the escalation of municipal and Soweto debt totalling R28 billion was growing at R1 billion a month.

“The number of employees increased from 32 000 in 2007 to 48 000 in 2018 with associated costs growing from R9.5 billion to R29.5 billion over the period,” Shomang said.

Eskom was struggling to maintain operational sustainability with its ageing generation fleet on average about 37 years, he pointed out.

There has been no implementation of essential mid-life refurbishments and the poor quality of maintenance due to poor workmanship with at least 40% of plant breakdowns due to human errors.

Shomang also said there was also on-going coal shortages due to poor management and

lack of investments in cost plus mines as well as significant loss of critical skills and low staff morale.

He also told the MPs that Medupi and Kusile plants have suffered massive delays and cost overruns due to poor planning, poor engineering designs, poor procurement practices and corruption.

“The costs for the plants have escalated significantly to over R300 billion; Medupi from R24.9 billion to R145 billion and Kusile from R80.7 billion to R161.4 billion.

The acting director general said Eskom has experienced systematic corruption, malfeasance and fraud. He added that state capture has compromised the credibility of the organisation and eroded investor confidence.

“The resultant effect of these corrupt transaction is the pass-through to the consumer and the shareholder,” he noted.

Earlier Shomang said Eskom is technically insolvent and at the current rate it will have problems beyond April to fulfil its objectives

He told the parliamentarians that Eskom needed to find a new business model in line with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement last week. - IOL

Debt owed to Eskom growing at R1bn a month

South African Communist Party second deputy general secretary Solly Mapaila’s statement that PAC founder Robert Sobukwe was favoured by the apartheid regime has been roundly criticised by the public.

Mapaila made the comments at a dialogue celebrating the Rivonia trialists at Liliesleaf Farm in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

He contended that Sobukwe had led a more comfortable life than his fellow detainees on

Robben Island and that this was unforgivable.Mapaila also claimed that the fact that

Sobukwe was held in solitary confinement in a house on the island while his contemporaries were imprisoned in cells was further proof of the privileges afforded him.

On Wednesday social media users tore into Mapaila, with many branding the SACP official a fake communist. -IOL

A new socialist party that launched last year, Rebuild South Africa (RSA), appears to believe that load shedding is nothing but a conspiracist plot to destabilise the country and force the privatisation of Eskom.

Their statement this week may also be many South Africans’ first opportunity to see their party logo, which appears to bring together interests in farming, mining and traditional warfare.

“As an organisation, we hold that there is no problem with Eskom. The situation is a deliberate mission created to privatise the entity and the people who stand to suffer the constant increasing blackouts are the people of South Africa,” said party leader Blessings Ramoba.

“We condemn the self-inflicted

dysfunctionality of the state entity and we regard this as treason. Furthermore, we condemn the escalation of power cut from stage 2 to stage 4 load shedding within just five hours, he noted.

No business and the economy, in general, could operate effectively without power supply.

“This has a major effect on business and the South African economic outlook as it creates uncertainty. These power cuts by Eskom are costing the country as much as R2 billion a day,” said Ramoba.

Eskom on Wednesday said it would implement stage 3 rotational load shedding from 8am and it was likely to continue until 11pm, due to the shortage of capacity. Stage 3 calls for 3,000MW to be rotationally loadshed nationally at a given period. -ANA

Mapaila slammed for Sobukwe comments

New party joins Eskom debacle

Roundly condemened. . . Solly Mapaila

Fare thee well, Helen Zille, and “good riddance”.This will be the ANC’s message today when

its members #OccupyWaleStreet, while Western Cape Premier Zille is delivering her final State of the Province Address.

The ANC has mobilised communities to deliver the “real state of the province”, the party’s provincial leadership announced on Wednesday.

Ebrahim Rasool, former premier and ambassador and currently the ANC election campaign manager in the Western Cape, said he expects a “whitewash of the last decade in the Western Cape”.

ANC provincial secretary Faiez Jacobs said he had spoken to residents from various communities who would get a chance to speak and raise the following issues:

• Lack of public participation;• Failures in clean governance;• Fiscal dumping;• Racial polarisation;• “Messing up” the water situation;• Employment equity; and • Evictions.

“They’re evicting everybody,” said Jacobs. “It is now the time for the DA to be evicted.”

Khaya Magaxa, acting provincial chairperson and leader of the opposition in the Western Cape legislature, said the ANC was not going to disrupt Zille’s speech “like other parties”.

“We’re going to expose her,” he said.“We’re not going to take her shine,” he said,

remarking that Zille was the first Western Cape premier to finish two terms.

“She’s been very fortunate that she has been allowed to mess up this province for two terms.”

Magaxa noted racial tension in the province had grown during Zille’s terms and she had given confidence to racists with her tweets about colonialism.

Jacobs said Zille would seek to create the impression that she had served the people of the province.

“We want to wish Zille well, and also good riddance,” he said. “After 10 years, our people are tired. We must direct that gatvolness to Wale Street.”

Zille is expected to arrive at the legislature between 09:30 and 09:45, and the ANC’s rally is expected to convene at 10:00. Zille’s speech will start at 10:30. - News24

Good riddance? . . . Western Cape Premier Zille

ANC to disrupt Zille’s final Sopa

The ANC has dismissed claims by Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota that President Cyril Ramaphosa was a sell-out.

Lekota had made the claims in Parliament on

Wednesday, during the debate on the State of the Nation Address.

However, the ANC yesterday said the allegations were baseless and Lekota was a

ANC dismisses Lekota claimsdesperate man who had run out of ideas.

“The ANC is alarmed at the baseless allegations Terror Lekota levelled against President Cyril Ramaphosa. We reject these insinuations with the contempt they deserve. The ANC has full confidence in Ramaphosa, and we do not take kindly to desperate attempts to call to question his integrity. Allegations of this nature are often made when the accuser fears exposure for his own misdeeds or runs out of political ideas,” said the ANC in a statement.

The party said Ramaphosa has risen through the ranks of the party over the years and was eventually elected to lead the party at Nasrec in December 2017.

It said Ramaphosa’s leadership qualities were without question and said Lekota was desperate.

Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi also asked Lekota to produce evidence to back up his claims.

He said Lekota cannot go around making allegations when he had denied that Ramaphosa had sold out way back in 1982. -IOL

President Cyril Ramaphosa is completely free to appoint a new SA Revenue Services (Sars) commissioner after former tax boss Tom Moyane’s Constitutional Court bid to get his job back was dismissed.

The court, in an order dated February 4, but released on Tuesday, dismissed the case saying “it bears no reasonable prospects of success”.

The court decided not to award costs in the matter.

This is the second time Moyane approached the highest court in the land with no success in his running battle with Ramaphosa, who fired him late in 2018.

Under Moyane’s leadership, Sars’s capacity was diminished through a far-reaching restructuring that he planned even before being appointed to the post.

It culminated in a R100bn hole in revenue collection.

The court’s order comes as the process to appoint a new Sars boss is at an advanced stage, with interviews held at the weekend for the key post. -BusinessDay

Moyane Constitutional Court bid fails

Court bid dismissed . . . Tom Moyane

CCONVERSATIONS

MOSHIDI SPEAKS ON LEAVING THE RIVER

ONE ON ONE WITH DR DAVID MOTAU

PAGE 12

PAGE 16

KAGISO THE NEXT BIG THING IN SA FILM

NEWS15 - 21 February 2019 The Weekly - Free State Province 11

PAGE 12

A debate is raging over a proposed amendment to the Child Care Act that would outlaw charging fees for adoption services. The amendment is expected to be passed by the end of the year, as part of a number of changes to the Act.

Adoption is currently overseen by the Department of Social Development. Social workers in the department process adoptions. The department also accredits adoption organisations and private social workers.

Lumka Oliphant, spokesperson for the department, said that it has accredited 102 organisations and 59 social workers.

She noted that the department supports the amendment because adoption “is not a

business but a child protection measure”.But adoption organisations and social

workers say the removal of fees will worsen adoption, or even stop it altogether.

Katinka Pieterse, chairperson of the National Adoption Coalition of South Africa, an umbrella organisation with over 100 members, says “We are asking [the department] to simply talk about [the implications of the amendment and provide a] clear rationale for the decision.”

While the national department does subsidise some adoption organisations, Pieterse says most funding “is not comprehensive” and a no-fee situation will force some of the organisations to close and cut social workers.

Julie Todd, director of the Child and Family Welfare Society of Pietermaritzburg, says that adoption charges are often on a sliding scale and are not a “revenue generator” but rather there to cover the costs of a “complex process”.

But Oliphant told GroundUp that adoption numbers will not fall because besides accredited adoption organisations the department itself has social workers providing adoption services.

Western Cape Minister of Social Development Albert Fritz has written two articles criticising the amendment, posted on January 14 and January 25. Fritz wrote that the removal of fees will result in a “total shutdown of all adoptions in South Africa”.

But Oliphant says the amendment does not make adoption services the sole responsibility of the department. Organisations “may render services the same way like all other areas in the Children’s Act where their services are required for free”.

How the clause was introduced is controversial. Both Pieterse and Todd said that the amendment was only introduced in the gazetted version of the Child Care Act, giving them very little time to respond.

But Oliphant says the clause was discussed at length at the National Child Care and Protection Forum (NCCPF) which was held on in November. - GroundUp

Furore over adoption law amendment

PUBLIC CANNOT ASSESS EFFECTS OF SEWAGE DISPOSAL IN SEACape Town’s scenic beaches,

which are a draw card for tourists, are occasionally contaminated by bacteria from faeces, at levels which pose

a risk to human health. The City claims this is due to pollution washing out the storm water system when it rains, but local scientists suspect the millions of litres of sewage pumped into the sea every day from pipelines at Mouille Point, Camps Bay, and Hout Bay also contribute.

Overflows at the Zandvliet wastewater treatment works, which flow into the Kuils River and from there into False Bay, are also a concern.

Yet the City has not made the results of water quality tests easily available to the public for the last five years. And the last results contained in their 2018 State of the Environment Report date back to 2016.

Other than a preliminary treatment in which the sewage is pumped through a sieve to remove solid objects such as plastic bags and tampons, what is released into our ocean is what we flush down our toilets, sinks, and baths. These include the drains at light industrial and hospital buildings.

The Camps Bay sewage outfall is about 1.4km out to sea, but the sewage is dispersed little more than 700m from Maiden’s Cove on the eastern horn of the bay, which has two tidal pools and popular small inlets. The outfall services Camps Bay and Bantry Bay, and was spewing out 2.4 million litres per day in 2016, according to a report by the CSIR.

The Mouille Point outfall runs 1.7km out to sea. It pushed out 28.4 million litres of sewage in 2016, generated from Woodstock, the city centre, Greenpoint, Mouille Point, and Sea Point. It also takes all the sewage from the Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital, containing infectious viruses and bacteria. The Hout Bay outfall is 2.1km out to sea, but spews out 5.7 million litres per day closer to Dungeons, the world renowned big wave break.

Also, the Camps Bay and Hout Bay outfalls pump sewage into the Marine Protected Area (MPA) which stretches from Mouille Point, around the peninsula to Muizenberg. This is prohibited by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) unless permission is granted by the minister. But permission has not yet been granted because the City has been waiting for the finalisation of its Coastal Waters Discharge Permit, which came up for renewal in 2016.

Concern over the marine outfalls was raised at least five years ago when Edda Weimann took independent samples at Clifton beach in 2013. She found that five out

of six samples taken between February and March failed the water quality standards for the beach’s blue flag status.

Although the sewage outlet points are 28m and 23m below the surface for Mouille Point and Camps Bay respectively, there was further controversy three years ago when photographer Jean Tresfon released aerial footage on social media of the sewage plumes apparently reaching the surface, including what appeared to be drift into Camps Bay. Many articles have been written about it, including a well-written summary by Marina Keenan in The Big Issue.

Despite concerns expressed publicly and in scientific papers by professional experts on the health risks of exposure to microbes, and more seriously, persistent organic pollutants such as contained in prescription drugs and household detergents (including natural and synthetic hormones) - the testing for which is not required by national legislation - the City maintains that the sewage pumped out through marine outfalls do not pose a risk to human health or the marine environment. On the one hand it’s not alone: many large cities dispose of sewage in the same way, but on the other hand the City is failing to publish the results to prove there is no health risk.

The City tests the water at beaches every two weeks to monitor levels of E.coli and Enterococcus bacteria. These organisms indicate how many other microbes there are. But despite historic data revealing periodic incidents of high E.coli contamination at the shore, the City has failed to make these results public in recent years. Up until five years ago the City published an Inland and Coastal Water Quality report at sub-council meetings every six months, which contained the test results for the previous six-month period.

The City’s reasons for discontinuing the publication of these results is unclear, with different answers being provided. In January 2018, the City said the report’s format was being reworked to align with new water quality guidelines, part of which required beaches to be graded in terms of water quality. A report on this was supposed to be presented to sub-councils before the end of 2018. It did not happen.

Then last month, Mayco Member for Water and Waste Services, Xanthea Limberg, said the reporting was deferred because of a restructuring process in the City which began in 2017.

Limberg said water quality reports were presented at catchment management fora meetings and to Protected Area Advisory Committees (PAACs). However, the report presented to the Zandvlei PAAC, for instance,

details only the test results for Zandvlei.So public access to city-wide results has

been, for all practical purposes, non-existent since 2013, and for no clear reason. The results of these tests used to be reported by at least one media outlet, West Cape News.

While the national Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) guidelines have recently been updated by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), the City’s State of the Environment report refers to the old guidelines for the sake of continuity. The DWS had a “strict” guideline in which 80% of samples must contain no more than 100 indicator organisms (such as E.coli and Enterococcus or Streptococcus) per 100ml, and a “relaxed” guideline in which 95% of samples must contain no more than 2,000 indicator organisms per 100ml.

The State of the Environment report notes that Three Anchor Bay (on the border of Mouille Point and Sea Point) failed the “strict” guideline in 2016, while Saunders Rocks in Sea Point failed both guidelines that year, as did The Kom in Kommetjie.

Fish Hoek and Muizenberg beaches failed the “strict” guideline, with a number of other beaches on False Bay failing both. These include Mnandi, Monwabisi, and Kalk Bay Harbour beach.

But the report does not describe when, and how often, these beaches failed the minimum water quality guidelines. We can only discern that they failed the “strict” test more than 20% of the time, or the “relaxed” test more than 5% of the time during the year.

The lack of information for 2017 and 2018 means there is no way for the public to know via the City’s mandatory testing, whether bacteria loads increased along the Atlantic seaboard during holiday season when visitors increase the amount of sewage, nor what the situation is in winter when rainfall is common and the predominant north-west winds are likely to blow the sewage plume shorewards. Aerial photographs taken by Tresfon show that under certain conditions, the sewage plume appears to enter Camps Bay. Once in the bay, wave action would keep it there. The City rigorously contested this at the time.

Independent tests for E.coli and Enterococcus conducted by Senior Professor Leslie Petrik at the University of Western Cape’s Chemistry Department in 2017, revealed that while the majority of results were fine, one sample taken on the edge of what kayakers identified as the sewage plume off Mouille Point, contained an E. coli count of 12,650 Colony Forming Units (CFU)/100ml.

The latest guideline for the safety of health

is that half the samples must be at most 14 CFU (Colony Forming Units) per 100ml, with not more than 10% of samples should exceed 31 CFU/100ml. Samples should never exceed 800 CFU/100ml on any given day. Petrik says that on the same day, a sample taken a kilometre from shore contained an E.coli count of 4,700 CFU/100ml. (See this study by Petrik and her colleagues.)

While the average beach goer may not swim 1km out to sea, especially given the water temperature, beach sand is also contaminated if sewage plumes drift ashore, or when beaches are contaminated by storm water runoff. One sample taken 30cm below the surface of the sand contained an Enterococcus count of 1,460 CFU/100ml while on a separate day a count of 7,200 CFU/100ml was measured.

A CSIR report of 2017 (Cape Town Outfalls Monitoring Programme - 2015/2016 Survey), commissioned by the City following the outcry over the sewage outfalls, found that there was “clear evidence” of effluent not being dispersed before reaching the sea surface in some surveys, although there was no clear evidence it was reaching the shoreline. However, the report stated there was “indirect evidence from faecal indicator bacteria counts in seawater samples collected at many sites along the Cape Town shoreline over an extended period that effluent is possibly, even if infrequently, reaching the shoreline”.

Although this effluent was likely to be from stormwater runoff, “regardless of the source of the bacteria their counts in shoreline water samples at many sites were, at varying frequencies depending on the site, high enough to suggest a significant periodic risk to humans recreationally using nearshore and shoreline waters”.

Although sewage outfalls are common in coastal cities around the world, the CSIR states, “The world cannot use the marine environment as a waste receptacle in perpetuity and opportunities for improved and economically and environmentally feasible wastewater treatment, and the feasibility of using alternate strategies for disposing of wastewater to the marine environment should be investigated by the City of Cape Town (and other municipalities).”

Limberg says that the cost of treating sewage currently being pumped to sea cannot be justified, given the lack of evidence there is a problem. But she also said the City will not increase the capacity of the current sewage outfalls. - GroundUp

Potential health hazard . . . Cape Town’s beaches are not always as clean as they look. Millions of litres of raw sewage are pumped out to sea at Mouille Point, Camps Bay, and Hout Bay.

The Weekly - Free State Province 15 - 21 February 201912 ENTERTAINMENT

Send your event info to [email protected] before 12:00 on a Wednesday.

ZiwaphiYour weekend entertainment guide

Kagiso the next big thing in SA film

Moshidi speaks on leaving The River

The offices of Diprente Films are in Johannesburg’s epicentre of swag, Braamfontein. At the top of a flight of steps, Diprente’s headman, Kagiso Lediga, is wearing his signature surprised expression and “I just threw it on” ensemble, but beneath his chilled exterior is a tension that speaks of looming deadlines.

The 40-year-old producer, director, writer, comedian and actor politely slides his work devices away but keeps one eye on his laptop and the stream of notifications lighting up his phone. Some of these have to do with Matwetwe, a film dear to his heart that is now playing on the big screen in SA.

Matwetwe, written, directed and produced by Lediga, is a comedy set in his hometown, Atteridgeville. It tickled critics at film festivals in the Netherlands and South Korea long before it opened in South African cinemas, where it has been making locals laugh for the past fortnight.

The film has been in his story bank for almost as long as SA has been a democracy.

“I wrote Matwetwe when I was a student,» says Lediga. «I think it was in my first year, when I had just discovered weed at the University of Cape Town. I thought of a cool coming-of-age story that would happen in Atteridgeville and had weed involved. It evolved into what you see on screen now.”

Filming began in December 2016, at the same time that Lediga was wrapping up Catching Feelings, his directorial debut, which last year became the first African feature film to be picked up by Netflix.

Lediga has had a number of firsts in the local entertainment industry. As a dreadlocked dreamer in his 20s, he put in what he calls the “10,000 hours” that formed the bedrock of his later career.

That foundation was PMS, as those involved with it liked to call the Pure Monate Show, which was simultaneously ahead of its time and broadcast at just the right time, and which

changed the comedy landscape in SA.Lediga made the SABC sketch show

precisely because it was something no-one else was doing.

“It was my first time producing; I was 24 and it was quite stressful,” he says. “The show was like film school, not just for me but for some of the production designers, directors, cinematographers and others who worked on it.

“Most importantly, it was a great launch pad for a lot of comedians and the type of South African stand-up comedy that exists now.”

Several television series and a few stand-up comedy gigs later, Lediga graduated to Late Night News, which he created with comedian Loyiso Gola. The satirical series, which first aired in 2010, was anchored by Gola and featured fellow comedians including David Kibuuka and Chester Missing. The show was nominated for two international Emmy Awards but was cancelled in 2015.

Lediga went on to create The Bantu Hour, which aired in November 2015 and which Lediga co-hosted with the late Hugh Masekela. The duo hosted two seasons of the live show, which combined satirical comedy sketches, live musical performances and stand-up comedy.

“Working with Bra Hugh was unforgettable,” says Lediga.

Throughout his career Lediga has had the Nike approach (“just do it”) to any project he takes on. He regards PMS, LNN and The Bantu Hour as career highlights, always pointing out that in each case he worked with a trusted team to break new ground and used the shows to provide young and emerging talent with a platform and creative outlet. They also broadened the scope of entertainment in SA.

“Before Late Night News, people were doing a certain thing, so we made the other thing and then people asked, ‘What is this?’ and then it became the norm. Even the way news was told after that show was different. News tried to be

funny and smarter in a way.”Having conquered local broadcasting,

Lediga has his sights set on world domination, starting with Queen Sono, which will be Africa’s first Netflix original series. It stars actress

“Netflix is a big corporation that’s taken over the world and they’re coming to Africa,” he says. “For them to think that we, our team, are the perfect people to partner with in this territory is great.

“I’ve been working with more or less the same people for many years so it’s good for all of us to graduate together. We’ve written for SABC, M-Net, e.tv . The next frontier is Netflix,” he says.

Soon more posters will join the reminders of other films he’s worked on in various capacities. A Blitzpatrollie poster is up on the wall near one for Bunny Chow, which he says always reminds him about relying on the power of instinct.

“Bunny Chow was great,» he says. «One of the things I learnt from [director] John Barker was the instinctive way to make film. He goes, ‹Let›s shoot this thing!› and then we go.»

He adopted this same attitude when making Matwetwe in a limited time on a tight budget. The 2016 Barker-directed film, Wonderboy for President, which saw Lediga’s face on spoof presidential-campaign T-shirts all over SA, took five years to complete because of financial constraints.

By the time Lediga was ready to film Matwetwe, he and his partners - including co-producer Tamsin Andersson - had found the industry cheat-code to filming on a budget. That was to shoot in December, when most companies were closed, equipment didn’t cost as much to hire and crew were mostly not engaged elsewhere.

They went way over their R800,000 starting budget, spending a total of R2.2m. Emergency assistance appeared in the shape of South African musician Black Coffee, who was

No longer in . . . Moshidi Motshegwa

There’s no stopping . . . Kagiso Lediga

Despite being one of the most popular actresses in Mzansi and playing a character that has kept fans glued to their seats for weeks, Moshidi Motshegwa has confirmed that she has left drama series The River.

Moshidi plays the role of Malefu on the show, a devout but firm woman who would kill for her family. It is a character that many can relate too and has made her a firm fan favourite.

While the show has entered its second season, Moshidi says she was no longer on the cast list.

The star revealed she had left the production after apparently being told there was no longer a story for her character.

“They said they don’t have a story for Malefu. It’s as simple as that. That is what the producers have said. I am repeating what the producers said... I just left. I finished my job on that day and they told me they don’t have a story,” she said.

Moshidi joined the series in January last year, making a much-anticipated return to local screens and has no regrets being a part of the cast.

“For me, the most important thing is that I came back, I did the work and I did it at the level I wanted. I have no regrets about the work I have done.”

During an interview on Real Talk with Anele last year Moshidi explained that she didn›t just jump at every opportunity during her break from the spotlight because she often felt like she didn›t fit in with the lifestyle of the industry.

“It’s complicated, this industry. I don’t fit into the scene. I remember I was working on Channel O and Channel O was always having parties. I remember standing there and going, ‘You just don’t belong here. This is not you. Go home’. I got into my car and went home and I’ve been home since,” she said. -Tshisalive

Listen UpWhether she talks a lot or is on the quiet

side, all women want to be heard. If you’re not the greatest listener, get to work on these skills. First, put away the phone. Second, focus on what she’s saying and how she’s feeling. Third, ask questions to clarify and draw her out. Finally, reflect back on what you’ve heard in your own words. You’ll show her how important she is to you.

Open UpGet real with her and communicate what you

want in the relationship. Do you want to date once or twice a week, with benefits or without, spend all your free time with her, mingle the friend groups, or what? Decide what’s right for you and then see if the two of you are on, or at least near, the same page.

Man UpNo one wants a mama’s boy. It’s fine to

have a close relationship with your mom, but the girlfriend’s got to come first. That means telling her your exciting news before your mom, sharing secrets with her alone, and never giving her reason to think that your mom is more important than she is. Women want a real man, not a boy who looks like one.

Be presentAsk her questions and truly listen opposed

to prejudging what she will say. Get to know her values, beliefs, goals and dreams by gently taking a deep breath and bringing your mind back to the moment when it wanders.

Bring your most confident self on each date and believe that you deserve love.

It is common to experience dating jitters, but focus on embracing your inner confidence and resisting the urge to believe self-critical thoughts. Remember that you attract a great partner through your own self-worth and availability.

Don’t lose yourself

Don’t disappear into a couple. Make sure you each retain your own interests and hobbies. Get stuck attached at the hip and you may never find your ego again.

Don’t let yourself go If she wanted a baby hippo, she would’ve

found one. Just because you have a significant other, does not mean you should stop going to the gym and spend your life in sweats. She liked you put together and fit. Keep it up.

Don’t stop having funThere will be plenty of of monotonous

humdrum. There will be puppies, children, diapers and chores. Find the time to enjoy each other’s company – whether it’s in a restaurant or a lounge, find time to have fun with each other – just the two of you.

CallDon’t Text. Seriously, if a woman texts you

back, still CALL her, you will win her over with making an effort.

Make a date plan Make sure you have reservations, places to

go afterwards, a guy with a good date plan, gets the second date!

Be early Women get more nervous that you will not

show up, so being there early shows you made the effort and that you are calm and relaxed (instead of apologizing and short winded) when she gets there.

Be a gentlemen Walk her to her car or make sure she gets

into a cab, show interest in her safety.Call for another dateThe sooner the better, since so many people

have people “ghost” or “flake” on them, it’s better to show interest these days.

Make sure that she can count on you! This alone for a woman to be able to depend on a guy is huge. She needs to know that you will be there for her. If you say you are going to be

somewhere, then you show up on time. If you say that you will call - you call. This is how trust is developed over time.

Show appreciation There are different ways to show appreciation

and you better make sure it matches the way she needs love to be expressed to her, be it a verbal affirmation or a big kiss and a hug. The last thing she wants to feel is taken for granted. If that happens, then know that she will be considering her other options in the near future.

Tell her she’s special Your girlfriend wants to know that you have

eyes for her only. She needs to know why you chose to be with her. And she wants to see that you will be loyal to her. Most woman worry that you will tire of them, move on or become unfaithful. By expressing why you are with her, she will feel more secure in the relationship and that you are not going anywhere.

Demonstrate that she is being included in your future Do you talk about taking a vacation together? Are you including her in activities with your friends and family? Is your girlfriend invited to spend time with your family during the holidays? Has she met your parents yet? All these actions demonstrate that you are including her in your future and that she is important to you.

Remember her birthday It’s important to remember her birthday and holidays such as Valentine’s Day, Christmas or Hanukah or Kwanza. Women feel special when you make a big deal about these special occasions with an appropriate gift, a romantic dinner or a weekend away together. Don’t forget the flowers and other items (food or meaningful trinket) that she enjoys. Again, this shows her that she’s special to you and worth all the effort. If you need help pulling it together, then seek help. Don’t fall down here or you will be history!

To win her heart, hear her out!

persuaded to come on board as an executive producer (in essence a fancy term for donor).

This happened when Matwetwe was roughly finished and was screening at a festival in Rotterdam.

“I had used one of Black Coffee’s songs but we hadn’t paid for it yet,” says Lediga. “People picked up on Black Coffee’s music in the movie and started tweeting - luckily in Dutch - about the great soundtrack.

“Then I saw that Coffee was performing in Rotterdam and I tried to call him to get tickets, not even thinking that I might get into trouble for using his music without being sure of the permissions.

“When I came home I thought I should speak to him, so I got him to watch the film first. We had a really cool funky cinema in Bryanston; he came with his wife and they really liked it. And I said: ‘Can you help us with money to finish the film and also be presenting

partner?’ He said yes.”And so Matwetwe finally made it onto the

local circuit.“I really like this movie a lot,” says Lediga.

“There was a lot more instinct in it. It felt something like the Pure Monate Show, when I was very young and just starting out. This one was like that, not waiting for permission, not waiting for people to say this is how movies are made, it was just straight up, let’s go!”

As he proved from the beginning, when PMS launched many of SA›s stand-up comedians, Lediga has a gift for unearthing talent and putting artists on a platform that becomes their trampoline into the industry.

For Matwetwe, he chose actors from Atteridgeville and the greater Tshwane area, not just for budget reasons but for authenticity. Many of the cast in Matwetwe are first-time actors or those making their big-screen debut. - TshisaLIVE

ENTERTAINMENT15 - 21 February 2019 The Weekly - Free State Province 13

IF YOU WANT US TO COVER YOUR EVENT PLEASE CONTACT US ON: [email protected]

SIMPLY IRRESISTABLE . . . Kim Cohen showed what professional dancing is all about at PACOFS

MUSIC SENSATION . . . Zamo rocked at the Intimate Sessions After Party

SOULFUL VOICE . . . Well-known musician Press rocked at PACOFS and fans couldn’t have enough of him

LADIES IN BLACK . . . Tshidi Sharon and Carol Khotle had the times of their lives at PACOFS

IN TOWN . . . Top SA actor Themba Nofemele attended the Intimate Sessions at PACOFS

USUAL DOSE . . . Surprise DJ dished out his usual magic at Mahungra Car Wash on Saturday

WELCOME . . . Thembinkosi Ndolase, Tshepang Mollo and Lemohang Lekhetho ushered revellers into PACOFS.

GOOD ACCOUNT . . . Musa was not to be outdone. He gave his best and left music fans begging for more.

INTIMATE SESSIONS AT PACOFS

ANALYSIS The Weekly - Free State Province 15 - 21 February 201914

EXPR

ESSI

ON

S“The ANC is today a giant organisation, which is respected all over the world. But we, members of the ANC, know very well that the ANC is a giant not because of its own strength, but because of its relationship with the church.”

ANC provincial chairperson Sam Mashinini addressing a gathering at the Methodist Church of South Africa stationed in Thabong, Welkom

w w

The Weekly

Cartoons by Zapiro from https://www.zapiro.com

Editorial

“Generally, we want everybody to attend but our main focus is on young people. Those are the ones that we would like to talk to because they expect a lot from government. Their attendance will be highly appreciated.”

“The launch of the provincial manifesto will afford the ANC an opportunity to connect with the people and outline our achievements, as well as summarise our plans for the next five years.”

The Deputy Speaker of the Free State Legislature, Sizwe Mbalo, in an interview with The Weekly yesterday after a media briefing on preparations for the SOPA

ANC Free State provincial secretary Paseka Nompondo addressing a media briefing in Bloemfontein yesterday ahead of the launch of the ANC provincial manifesto

Radical transformation is the new buzzword. It means everything and nothing. It is about a state of radical uncertainty. It requires us to strip layer after layer of ego, thinking, habits and attachments to the comfort zone of the past. But it is a gift - finding the courage and conviction to face our shadow as a country and as individual citizens.

Living in a knowledge society is knowing that knowledge is not stagnant. It is constantly evolving, changing, improving towards wisdom. It today shapes society far beyond the reach of financial capital and technology. How do we co-create and then co-activate such a new paradigm?

Millennials today have different ideas. They think inter-generationally. They are concerned about the environment, women’s rights, ending child labour, hunger and an improvement in living conditions and wages for all. They want to see qualitative as opposed to just quantitative growth.

Non-financial indicators are as important to them as profitability and market share. They see the need for intelligent co-operation to replace competitive individualism. Holding on to human talent needs more than throwing money at them. They want to explore the deeper meaning of life and what their purpose is in broader society.

The wounds of our past are deep. We have to find the courage to build a shared understanding and identity, which is the basis of building a nation. And there are no shortcuts. It needs a painstaking and authentic conversation, not an off-the-shelf, one-size-fits-all discussion in every space.

Our world is going through dramatic changes today. Old systems are dying. Old institutions are losing their legitimacy. Just as we transitioned through great upheaval from an agrarian to an industrial economy and from an industrial to technological age. We are facing a radical new transition to a knowledge-based life-sustaining economy. It will shape our values, our education systems, arts and every aspect of our lives. But many of us are stuck in old paradigms. And these do not provide many answers to the future.

Peter Drucker, one of the most widely known and influential thinkers on management, had this to say:

“If you want something new, you have to stop doing something old. Management is doing things right. Leadership is doing the right thing.” He continues:

“The most important thing in business is hearing what is not been said. One’s rank should not confer power. It should impose responsibility.” To listen with the heart.

Drucker talked about the four pillars of good leadership, entrepreneurialism and economy:

“Competence, character, compassion and community.” Without this DNA we become a deep abyss of desires and wither away our humanity.

So what is the vision that should lead this transformation within the workplace, corporate, government, civil society and even the personal and in the family? Everything is open. As a new level of consciousness rises it is going to tackle patriarchy and hierarchically driven entities. As the feminine energy grows in society we will get to a more nurturing and responsive culture that will be based on human values and a commitment to social change. To make a positive difference.

Therefore boasting a portrait of Nelson Mandela in your board room or having a transformation charter does not stop the rage of exclusion that festers in the lack of transformation. Each generation born into the oblivion of joblessness, poverty and growing inequality is growing more impatient and angry.

We failed to do the hard work of transformation because we swept it under the carpet in a fervour of Rainbowism. Clearly, what was missed of the Mandela spirit is his deep sense of solidarity, of listening with his heart, to the other side. He consistently chose love and compassion over hate, peace and harmony over conflict and war. And it was a principled, not a sell-out position.

The recent beach sagas in Cape Town demonstrate how far we are apart on so many things. Often these public spats rage back and forth across issues of history, culture, privilege and exclusion. A plethora of opinions clog the media, much of it tone deaf and mostly adding fuel to the fire.

Clearly, a transformation is urgently required, and soon. But saying so, and achieving it, are two very different things. South Africans face the fact that business,

as usual, is not an option. A lot has to change, and fast.

The damage done to all our people by apartheid will take far more than economic growth to repair. Radical social transformation is needed too. Pretty much every aspect of human activity in our society faces a transformation imperative. And herein lies the challenge. We are a highly diverse nation across race, gender, age, sexual orientation, education, religion, health, wealth and almost any other category.

Oscar van Heerden, head of internationalisation at the University of Johannesburg, recently wrote in Daily Maverick: “Whites share a particular narrative that they are now at the receiving end of racism in South Africa; and, hence, whites are becoming more emboldened and arrogant. The question must be asked as to why now? ”

He goes on to question the lack of imagination and action in averting what by now is a looming crisis, confronting us with clear and present danger.

In the same week, Max du Preez, journalist and commentator, said: “…wouldn’t it be dishonest and racist in its own way to treat black people differently from white people? Well, that’s our reality in South Africa right now. After a quarter of a century, since political power had been transferred from the white minority to the black majority, many or most of us are still trying to figure out how to deal with race”.

Perspective is an important step in becoming more conscious. Can the perspective - “my” position - somehow be loosened or even dissolved? Binary thinking - “I’m right, you’re wrong… shut up” - explodes into conflict because channels of communication are closed. We are left with a feeling of the lack of power, emptiness, anger and helplessness.

We focus on the quantitative in the sense of policies dealing with BBBEEE, Employment Equity, affirmative action, gender parity, social grants and so on. In short, quotas. Whereas qualitative transformation is the “messy” stuff… human dynamics as emotion, identity, culture, diversity, modern-day exclusion, fairness versus equality.

So, what about: If time and money were no object, what would you do? Can we talk about this question and move towards an inclusive future? How do we deal with perspectives of meritocracy — “I made it on my own” which encompasses blind spots around the social background, race, rank and power?

Facilitating such a shift within the root perspectives of people represents a quantum leap and requires a dialogue around deep democracy. Deep democracy

ANCWL has hit the right notes At last someone is saying the right things that need to happen for the development of our country and its people to be a living reality...

Calls by the ANC women’s league for the transformation of the financial services sector cannot be more welcomed at the time when the country is at loggerheads with itself, torn between the exorbitantly rich, largely white middle class and an extremely poor and largely black and African working class.

While this renders South Africa as one of the countries with deep inequalities in the world, it is refreshing that at least someone, in the form of the ANCWL, is pointing the movement in the right direction.

It cannot be right that the same financial institutions which by design and ownership were meant to make Africans step ladders in the success of other races can be expected to again service the same people they were created to marginalise, exploit and strip of any form of economic power.

While of the resolutions of South Africa’s governing party during its 54th elective conference was the formation of a state owned bank, this has but been a talk with no real action taken towards the realisation of this noble goal.

It beats the mind to think that there are those who still see red whenever mention of a state owned bank is made, and these are the people that base their disapproval of this mega step forward on recent revelations of corruption related to the VBS bank - as well as untested testimonies of witnesses at the ‘soapie’ like Zondo Commission of Inquiry into allegations of state capture.

Doomsayers with regards to establishing a state owned bank - despite the noble mandate it will have in funding development projects initiated by black and African people with no securities for loans and all the red tape requirements demanded by commercial banks - believe the bank will falter because of corruption and other vices.

In their spiteful manner of thinking, they seek to hold development and positive initiatives ransom on the basis of speculation as to what could transpire.

In Solomonic wisdom this is as much as asking the King to slice the child in half to give to each woman claiming it is hers.

But in real fact those opposed to the measure are former beneficiaries of unsecured loans and all sorts of financial development packages issued by the then apartheid regime.

Now that they see that the tables have turned - they are so pretty quick to label such a development as going to add to the state challenges with its public entities.

It would be counter-productive for any government wishing to introduce sweeping changes and empowerment of a long oppressed people to try and do this without back-up of a ready and willing bank financier.

Indeed not creating such a bank would be more like someone aiming a shot at their own and expecting to hurt another person. Extricating many millions of people starved by poverty from their sorry state of life through begging on the doorsteps of the same people that unleashed fatal hatred on them would just be the same as subjecting them to second torture.

So harsh was racist disempowerment of the indigenous people of this continent that they ended up being second class citizens in the land of their birth, wanderers with no place to call their home. This being said, it would be improper to conclude this comment without a glance at the springing reactions to the state capture commission chaired by deputy chief Justice Zondo.

While many are happy at the seemingly dead skeletons apparently rolling out of the closet at the talk of the town Zondo commission, it is still important for all to stand back and appreciate that the commission is not a court of law and cannot find anyone guilty though it can make recommendations.

The ANC has already said in its statement that the commission came into existence at the insistence of some of its members who felt the movement needed to be cleansed of corrupt elements in order to live up to its mandate of creating a better life for all.

The ruling party said it initiated and supports the work of the Zondo commission solely because it realises that any form of corruption or state capture is self -defeating. More so as it will negate the movement’s mission and objectives in effecting positive change in their lives of the poor.

Instead of shying away from the fact that high ranking party executives were implicated in the testimonies of some witnesses, the ANC chose to say in reaction that even before the commission began its work there was agreement that some of the revelations would be embarrassing.

It cannot be over-emphasized enough that to step away from falling into a trap of speculative talk over names being dropped at the commission, that is better off to wait for the commission to finish its work and release its findings and recommendations.

OPINIONJAY NAIDOO

Radical transformation - we have no other choice

is a framework for building the relationships among individuals within society at large, for qualitative transformational change which supports collective governance. It is a belief that all viewpoints have value. It includes rational views, but also emotion and intuition.

It welcomes inner voices. Makes use of diversity and existing social tensions. It accesses subjectivity and vision, as well as tangible results. It promotes a feeling of shared compassion and develops awareness of social issues such as racism. It facilitates the support of all sides in a conflict and deals with the real politics of inequality in the world. Ultimately, it teaches us that every conversation is the beginning of the next conversation. We can dissolve the boundaries between perceived threats and actual threats.

The twin factors of resistance and resentment have, hitherto, bedevilled our attempts at reconciliation. South Africans still come from divided spaces that are unequally resourced and culturally different. While people may end up sharing learning and common spaces later in their lives, very little prepares them for navigating and being effective in these environments. This speaks to what is at the heart of our national challenge:

Belonging — connection with others or sense of self.

Security — the ability to maintain control in one’s life.

Diversity — wanting and having more variety.

Recognition — opportunity to achieve and to grow.

Achievement — the need to make progress in life.

Challenge — the opportunity to stretch one’s abilities.

Excellence — self-satisfaction and pride in one’s actions.

Responsibility — the need to contribute to society.

At a time when the political space is severely contested, the private sector presents us an opportunity. But, why would business get involved? Well, for the first time in living memory, young people believe that their standard of living will be no better, or even worse, than that of their parents. How would business leaders have a meaningful dialogue with the rising pressures from below in their organisations?

“No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it,” Einstein wisely said.

The bottom line is that business can do well by doing good. The transformation may feel like all is falling apart. But in reality, it is coming together for the greater good. We have to evolve out of our comfort zone so that we can realise the true potential of what we birthed in 1994.

Jay Naidoo is founding General Secretary of Cosatu, former Minister in Mandela Government and former Chair of GAIN, a Global Foundation Fighting malnutrition in the World.

ANALYSIS15 - 21 February 2019 The Weekly - Free State Province 15

“Today I am so excited and I just would not hide how pleased I am to be here on the occasion of sealing the long-awaited agreement on this taxi rank.”

Mangaung Executive Mayor Olly Mlamleli speaking during the signing of a lease agreement with the Greater Bloemfontein Taxi Association

Free State Health MEC Montseng Tsiu speaking after receiving minor surgical equipment donated by Mediclinic

EXPR

ESSI

ON

S

Letters to the EditorWRITE TO: [email protected]: (051) 446 4723

The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject letters. Pseudonyms may be used, but must be clearly marked as such. All correspondence, including emails and SMSes, must include your name, address, and a phone number. Preference will be given to shorter letters.

Ramaphosa, man of concrete action

What about the plight of people with disabilities?

“What might be considered surplus in the private sector is certainly needed in the public sector, and I believe that this donation will further strengthen our current partnership.”

One could say President Cyril Ramaphosa did a dry run and he has shown that he is a leader par excellence who is committed to building the Republic of South Africa. He is working hard to take South Africa, our beautiful country, to greater heights and bring back the glory days. He is correct when he said:

“The task of building a better South Africa is our collective responsibility as a nation, as the people of South Africa.”

We need to be patriotic at all times and love our beautiful country. This can’t be only the government’s responsibility; we need to be active citizens at all times.

South Africans should give the ANC a chance under the leadership of President Ramaphosa going into the national elections, as he is showing the political will to make sure we build our country. Under his leadership, we can all see the economy is growing and that he has boosted investor confidence. The economy cannot grow if investors don’t come on board. Since he was deployed by the ANC in 2018 as the president of the country, we have seen the work he has done internationally and domestically to restore the image of the country. South Africa now has a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

We need to reflect on the 2018 State of the Nation Address. A lot has been done under his leadership, based on what the ANC had promised the people of South Africa after the ANC NEC January 8 Statement. This is a clear sign that the ANC-led government has been working hard to ensure that the people of this country have a better life. The government has even made sure that young people who enter the job market are not required to have work experience - responding to a call made by the ANC Youth League.

When the women of South Africa under the #TotalShutdown movement marched to the Union Buildings in protest against gender-based violence and demanded to give the memorandum to the president, he stopped everything and went to the Union Buildings to listen. President Ramaphosa committed to government hosting a gender-based violence

summit before the end of 2018, and indeed the summit was hosted. Work continues to be done by the ANC-led government to fight gender-based violence.

President Ramaphosa is a man of action who implements everything he commits too.

In 2018 the president hosted the jobs and investors summit to ensure that more jobs are created in South Africa. We are all aware that the youth unemployment rate is too high. The government cannot create jobs on its own and needs investment in the country for jobs to be created. When you go to townships and rural areas during the week, you might think it is a weekend, looking at the number of young people that are unemployed. It is good to see that President Ramaphosa is taking youth unemployment seriously, as we are a youthful country. Under his leadership he launched the Youth Employment Service initiative in 2018.

South Africans need to give the ANC another mandate in making sure more good work is done under the leadership of President Ramaphosa, as Parliament will be dissolved soon. The ANC must also learn lessons from past mistakes and make sure it puts the people of South Africa first. Its deployed cadres must understand what they are expected to do to change the lives of the people of South Africa for the better.

The ANC must always humble itself, as you can’t serve people when you are arrogant. We must always remember the words of Che Guevara:

“The true revolutionary is guided by a great feeling of love. It is impossible to think of a genuine revolutionary lacking this quality.”

A true revolutionary knows and understands that the people come first at all times.

Thank you, Mr President, for your commitment to the people of South Africa and for uniting us as a nation towards working together and emphasising the importance of being active citizens.

Rebone Tau is former ANCYL National Task Team International Relations Chair. She writes in her personal capacity.

Once again it will be required from the working class to unite and deliver the ANC to victory in the upcoming 2019 general elections. It is the working class, in their millions on the ground, that are the force behind the election’s machinery of the ANC time and again. It is our ANC, and as the working class, we must continue to defend and vote ANC.

It is the ANC government that passed the 1996 Constitution embraced by all South Africans; it is the ANC government that has built 4,7 million houses, and connected millions of households with water (9 out of 10 South Africans) and electricity (8 out of 10 South Africans); it is the ANC government that are paying grants to 17,5 million people, which include the most poor and vulnerable people; it is the ANC government that provides 4,5 million South Africans living with HIV with

HIV antiretroviral treatment, making it the biggest antiretroviral treatment programme in the world.

It is also the ANC government that has given back land to those that have been disposed; given access to higher education to the majority of our youth by increasing NSFAS funding to R15 billion last year; achieved near universal access to basic education for young children aged 7-14 years of age; established robust Chapter 9 institutions, judiciary and invested more than R2 trillion in infrastructure projects over the past 10 years to build more schools, clinics, roads and the freight logistics network.

The ANC has launched its election manifesto – A people’s plan for a better life for all! The word “manifesto” means “a public declaration of policy and aims.” The ANC election’s manifesto (the winning manifesto) declares amongst

others the following: Develop enabling legislation for the

country-wide introduction of the NHI, which will improve healthcare to the majority;

Strengthening the implementation of the National Minimum Wage that will benefit at least six million workers and continuously push for a better living wage;

Implement a Sustainable Land Reform Programme that expands participation in, and ownership of, agricultural production, advances food security and helps reverse the apartheid spatial separation of our cities and towns;

Accelerate industrialisation by supporting enterprises, including black industrialists, to save and create decent jobs in the core industries of manufacturing, agro-processing, mining and beneficiation, and tourism;

Strengthen public procurement to leveraged

We must continue to defend and vote ANC support for locally produced goods and services and promote the Buy Local Campaign;

Grow Small Enterprises, Co-operatives and the Township and Village Economies for economic transformation, job creation and innovation and encourage all forms of entrepreneurship;

Remove work experience as a requirement for employment of young people, especially in the public sector, as it robs the youth of employment opportunities;

Guaranteed placement of TVET graduates in public employment programmes;

Ensure that the Mining Charter provisions benefit state, community and employee owners;

Finalise fishing quotas and ensure this is given effect to support aquaculture and sustainable livelihoods;

Provide public assistance to enable employees to purchase viable private businesses from retiring owners that wish to sell their businesses to employees;

Expand the primary health care system by absorbing over 50,000 community health workers into the public health system;

Put an end to state capture, restore the integrity of public institutions and continue to tackle corruption, while ensuring that government has the capacity to serve citizens effectively; and

Conduct lifestyle audits on public officials and prevent public servants from doing business with the state.

The above aims, as declared by the ANC election manifesto, will ensure a better live for all. South Africa needs to remain firm in the hands of the ANC if we want to secure a better life for all, especially the poor and working class. It therefore remains, as it has always been, the revolutionary duty of the working class to defend and vote ANC!

Working Class MemberOJ Fourie

Dear President Ramaphosa, Listening to your State of the Nation Address, I was once again proud to be a South African citizen. I was especially pleased that you addressed the scourge of discrimination, abuse and violence against women and children in our society and that you are committed to implement the decisions of the National Summit on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.

But not once did you mention the plight of People with Disabilities, people – especially young people who as fellow South Africans also want to rise to your Thuma Mina call to realise the vision of a democratic, just and equitable society.

South Africa has approximately three million persons living with disabilities, equating to about 7.5% of the country’s population. Historically, people with disabilities have been excluded from the majority of meaningful activities in society, including access to education, health and economic opportunities.

Disabilities are most often seen as medical defects that must be cured by doctors, a restrictive approach often referred to as the “medical model”. In most societies, people with disabilities are an oppressed minority, and are often seen as having a negative effect on society. In response to this systematic bias, disability advocates and researchers have called greater attention to the need to break down historic barriers that prevent people with disabilities from fully participating in mainstream activities, effectively promoting their inclusion as full members of society and empowering them to maximise their own level of self-determination.

In the SONA, you envision a South Africa in which every man, woman and child is provided with the opportunity and means to make a better life for themselves. Surely this vision should also embrace people with disabilities, not only to overcome the divisions between black and white, rich and poor, rural and urban, between sexes, sexual orientations and language groups, but also between the abled-bodied and disabled?

At a dinner in Davos during the recent World Economic Forum you used the term “the nine lost years”, referring to a period when we as a country could have done so much better. This is not only true on a social-economic level, but also when it comes to the plight of people living with disabilities. I was appointed to the presidential task team under your predecessor, and during this nine lost years, we only met once.

OPINIONREBONE TAU

As you are aware, I am a staunch advocate for the rights of this marginalised community. By invoking the words “daring greatly” of Theodore Roosevelt towards the end of SONA 2019, we should dare to do more, recollect the losses of the past, and set out on a new course where people with disabilities

are embraced as full human beings and active citizens of this country.

Kindest regardsMarlene le RouxChief executive of Artscape and recipient of

the prestigious Commonwealth Point of Light award

The Weekly - Free State Province16 CONVERSATIONS

One on Onewith FS Health Dr David Motau

South Africa’s health sector is faced with a set of daily challenges including a shortage of critical staff, drugs and surgical equipment as well as limited theatre time for those needing surgery, among others. The Free State province is not immune to these challenges. The Weekly’s Martin Makoni asked the Head of the Free State Department of Health Dr David Motau why the situation had persisted for several years and what was being done to address it. Makoni also asked Motau how bad the situation was in the province. Excerpts:

There have been recent reports of some doctors not being employed yet the country is faced with a serious shortage of doctors and other key health staff, how would you explain this?

It’s a multi-factoral problem. One reason could be that one will be facing personal problems or reason, another one could be system issues, that is the system now that has to absorb these doctors. Let’s start with the personal problems; a doctor that I spoke to said to me that I had decided to sit at home because I had personal problems. Now, if somebody says to you they are resigning because of personal problems, there is nothing much we can do. So, they will add to the list of unemployed doctors.

Would you know how many such doctors we have out there?

My guess is as good as yours as to how many of those we have out there. But then it means the system would have failed in making sure that it addresses the challenges faced by these doctors in terms of employer assisted programmes in order to understand their problems and be able to support them so that they come to work happy and they don’t make mistakes and all that. But the second thing is that you have somebody who gets fade-up, for lack of a better term, because the system is not making it easy for them to do their job.

Let’s talk about the system, how effectively is it in addressing issues?

While the system is expected to address these issues, it is also faced by a host of challenges. One such factor could be there won’t be any funded posts advertised. The second one would be the fact that we frustrate these colleagues in terms of them not having enough equipment to use, or that the equipment is broken or they are unable to do their work because of a shortage of other support staff such as cleaners, porters, nurses, radiographers and others. Now, you should understand that medicine is a profession which requires a holistic approach, so you need everybody around you to be a good doctor. If

you don’t have those people, it can be a major challenge. Some people would tell you that instead of jeopardising my career through negligence and all that, let me rather stay at home or go into the private sector.

But is there something tangible being done right now to address these problems because this can’t be allowed to go on, what’s being done?

We are certainly trying to address all those issues faced by the system. You would remember President Cyril Ramaphosa called a Presidential Summit where one of the biggest discussions was around human resources. It was agreed that we need to fill positions. But that means that there has to be enough funding to allow departments to deal with the ever increasing burden of diseases. Now, if you don’t have the money, it means these doctors will be out there on the streets.

How has the issue of geographical local affected your efforts to recruit, because there have been cases of some professionals preferring certain areas only, how is it here?

We do face the issue of geographical challenges in terms of doctors that would have qualified out the country that have to go through the system of the Health Professions Council for us to appoint them. Also, if you look at the Free State as a rural province, the other problem will be that somebody, for personal reasons, feels I can’t go to the Free State. I would rather remain unemployed because the Free State is rural, and it’s a fact. For example, if one comes here and there are no schools to take their children, or you find the accommodation that we offer not habitable, that will make you not want to come to the province. So, issues of recruitment and retention of these doctors is highly important, but largely, the system is what needs to be corrected.

Does the country’s health system have the capacity to assist these doctors facing personal issues?

We do have the capacity but not to the extent

Life wouldn’t be possible without insects, yet we know precious little about them, besides their immediate purpose. Bees pollinate flowers, dung beetles move nutrients around and bats eat mosquitoes.

The millions of different kinds of insects - the world’s most populous of all species - have evolved over millions of years to form the base of the ecosystems that allow life on Earth to continue.

Our attention has focused on the decimation of charismatic vertebrates such as rhinos and elephants, but scientists are now investigating what they call the “insect apocalypse”.

One way they do this is with the windscreen test.

It’s pretty crude: drive along a road and see how many insects end up smashed on the windscreen (or in a net hanging out the window). It is a fitting test for counting how many are killed by something that exists solely for humans. Around the world, scientists (and other people) have anecdotally reported that this number has been decreasing. Remember how

many insects used to splat on the windscreen when your parents took you on holiday?

The growing concern about the decline in insect species numbers has now led to the first comprehensive look at how many kinds exist, and how their numbers are changing. Scientists from universities and research institutions in Vietnam, Australia and China studied 653 publications - across 40 years of research - that examined insect populations. Their findings in an article titled Worldwide Decline of Entomofauna: A Review of Its Drivers, was published in the journal Biological Conservation this month.

The headline figure is that no less than 45% of all insect species could become extinct in the next few decades. The scientists noted: “It is evident that we are witnessing the largest extinction event on Earth since the late Permian and Cretaceous period [65-million years ago]. Such an event cannot be ignored and should prompt decisive action to avert a catastrophic collapse of nature’s ecosystems.”

About half of the world’s ecosystems are being

encroached on and altered by human activities and farming and cities are the main drivers. Forests are being cut down at an unsustainable rate, 12% of all land has been converted to farming, which destroys ecosystems, residential and industrial areas expand and land not being farmed is affected by air and water pollution from industrial chemicals.

This conversion of land dramatically intensified during the so-called Green Revolution of the 1950s, when agriculture turned to industrial fertilisers, irrigation and intensive farming with the aim of growing enough food for rapidly expanding populations.

The Green Revolution was hailed as one of the greatest achievements of our species - the man behind it, American Norman Ernest Borlaug, got a Nobel peace prize - but this latest research exposes the cost of the revolution.

“The current rates of species decline - which could progress into extinction - are unprecedented,” say the researchers. The rate has accelerated in the past two decades, reaching “alarming proportions”.

The destruction of ecosystems affects insects, which have spent 400-million years evolving to be the base of so many ecosystems, in a variety of ways.

In South Africa, beekeepers lose a third of their colonies each year. One reason for this is that bee populations, which have historically been able to coexist with pathogens, are being destroyed because the pesticide contamination of their pollen has weakened their immune systems.

Of the 155 dragonfly species in this country, 13 are in decline and four are extinct. The introduction of rainbow trout has hit the already endangered Ecchlorolestes peringueyi dragonfly.

Data for the effects on South Africa’s insects is in short supply - research data on insects in developing countries is generally inadequate, because scientists focus on other problems. Most of the data for this latest research on insects is from the northern hemisphere. Even then, it is inadequate.

Regarding the ant and wasp populations,

We’re causing an insect apocalypse

15 - 21 February 2019

registrar is a student that is studying to specialise in a particular field of medicine. Now, this one was studying to qualify as a dermatologist. That person was taught by other dermatologists. As we train, we don’t train for ourselves only. We train for South Africa as a whole. Now, at the end of that contract, depending on the need, we appoint on a full-time basis if it’s a South African citizen. So, they were supposed to explain to you how they got into that contract and what the expectations were at the end of that contract. So, it’s normal for the contract to come to an end, but whether the need was there or not, in-terms of appointing, is another question. We obviously would want to appoint everyone that comes through the system but we have limited resources.

But there is a shortage of specialists in almost every area in the country’s health system. Patients have to wait for months to see a dermatologist, surely there is need to hire, why the long processes?

Remember you are talking to the HOD of the health department. There’s a shortage in almost every department, you are correct. But there is no dire shortage because patients are still being seen and registrars are still being taught. So, maybe you want to ask me, where do I want to take the provincial health department. Where I want to go is strengthen my regional hospitals for all of them to have their own specialists so that other health centres don’t bring all cases up here to the major referral hospitals. In that case I would have won because I will be able to keep the load down. District hospitals should be able to refer to those regional hospitals and from

there, they should be able to down-refer. That means, only specialised cases can be brought up here. It’s very expensive to treat a patient up here. It actually depletes our money.

In terms of theatre how is the situation the province, let’s say one needs to undergo some orthopedic procedure, how long can they expect to wait?It depends on the type of injury that you have. If it’s a life threatening injury where it’s a fracture of a long bone, which tends to bleed much quick than a small bone, and may lead to cardiac shock, it becomes an emergency and you will be operated on, quickly. But if you have somebody with a degenerated joint to the point of needing a replacement, we will then consider those cases and put the patient on a waiting list and advise them on when to come for the operation.

So, where does that leave the Free State, is the situation dire or it’s manageable?

It’s not that dire, but I am not happy with it. I think we can improve. That’s why now we are doing blitzes where we call all the doctors on a weekend, open all the theatres at Pelonomi Hospital and deal with all these cases. We are also opening an extra theatre in collaboration with one of our partners to deal with some of the cold cases of scoliosis. This is where your spin has sort of changed and assumed a certain curvature. In other words, the spin is not straight, it has curved and therefore it impacts on your lungs, your breathing, your heart and others. We are dealing with such cases. We presently have about 64 of them which we are dealing with.

the researchers say: “The status [of how many there are] remains practically unknown to this date.”

When insects die off in large numbers, the researchers warn: “The repercussions this will have for the planet’s ecosystems are catastrophic to say the least, as insects are the structural and functional base for many of the world’s ecosystems.”

And this is without the accelerated change brought about by climate change, which is already being felt. Animals are unable to evolve fast enough to survive their habitats getting hotter or colder, drier or wetter. That change will be felt hardest in the tropics, for which there is the least data on insect numbers.

Given the apocalyptic nature of their findings, the researchers say urgent action is needed: “A rethinking of current agricultural practices, in particular a serious reduction in pesticide usage and its substitution with more sustainable, ecologically based practices, is urgently needed to slow or reverse current trends, allow the recovery of declining insect populations and safeguard the vital ecosystem services they provide.” –M&G

the demand detects. I don’t want us to make it like doctors are the only important people in as far as healthcare provision is concerned. Everybody is important. Even in my office, if my PA (Personal Assistant) is not well, I have to subject her to a wellness programme for her to be able to discharge her duties of management for me otherwise the department will fail because I won’t be doing things correctly through her. I have a staff establishment of almost 17 000 and I can guarantee you that almost three quarters of those people have one form of anxiety or depression or another.

It’s clear the challenges are known, why then is it taking long for them to be addressed or is it a question of priorities?Those are the things we need to look at. Some of them, for instance, your EMS (Emergency Medical Service) personnel, which by the way is also a very important area, we don’t debrief them. They get to accident scenes where they find people that are decapitated, some of them debowled and all that, nobody ever says, let’s take this group of people and debrief them. So, those people gather all those issues in their sub-conscious and the day they burst, it becomes a problem. We need to deal with our employees historically and give them all the support they may need. But the main thing I want to emphasise on is that, if there could be adequate funding for us to be able to appoint, I would take a doctor from the street and appoint them and then deal with the rest.

But the health department used to have this key support staff in charge of the wellness programmes, where are they now, or did you, as a department, frustrate them out of the system?

No, we did not frustrate them. Remember, we have a system which determines how much staff we can have at a given time. Now, these people get old and retire, some of them leave due to attrition processes and then we fail to appoint because we don’t have money.

But these are key people given the role they play to ensure those charged with responsibilities in the health sector are able to discharge their duties well, why not prioritise their recruitment too?

They are key, yes. But somebody will say let me prioritise this money that I have to your critical skills which will be your doctor, and they will be wrong. They forget that these are people also getting affected by all these things. And they are also a critical skill, so it’s quite important that we look into that, but the issue of funding is very important.

At the end of last year, I heard a Registrar Dermatologist in the Free State remark jokingly that ‘I might not be employed in January, my contract ends at the end of December’, how does that happen given the shortage for specialists, and why can’t the contracts be renewed in advance?

We don’t simply renew. Let me take you through what it means to have a registrar. A

CONVERSATIONS15 - 21 February 2019 The Weekly - Free State Province 17

SA needs to reverse its low score on CPIA number of instruments are used to rate and measure a country’s level of corruption and notable among these is Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). The CPI, for example, uses various corruption indicators to arrive at a country’s corruption index. Countries are ranked on a scale of zero to 100, with a score of zero representing highly corrupt and a score of 100 very clean.

The corruption scores are standardised before being averaged into the CPI and the 2018 CPI was released on January 29, 2019. According to Transparency International (TI), the CPI reveals varying degrees of countries failing to control corruption, and thus posing a threat to democracy worldwide.

The CPI results came with a few surprises. For instance, the United States is ranked outside of the top 20 internationally least corrupt countries for the first time since 2011 at number 22 with a score of 71 (global average). Denmark is ranked number 1 with a score of 88 as the least corrupt country.

The CPI puts South Africa at an unenviable position number 73, with a score of 43 in the perceived level of public sector corruption out of 180 countries /territories in the world. SA’s ranking is similar to that of Morocco, and just three notches better than Lesotho, Trinidad and Tobago, Ghana and Burkina Faso, who all ranked at 78 with a score of 53. Singapore scored 85 with a ranking of number 3 and Hong Kong is ranked number 14 with a score of 78.

Interestingly, both Singapore and Hong Kong are identified by many scholars as countries the South African anti-corruption framework must emulate. Another country South Africa is hoping to emulate with respect to combating corruption is Botswana, with the ranking of 34 and the score of 61. Botswana took the title of the second least corrupt country in the whole of Africa after Seychelles, which is ranked at number 28, while Somalia took the title of the world’s most highly corrupt country in the world and in Africa, ranked at number 180 and scoring only 10.

In fairness to titanic South Africa, one must also recognise that the CPI placed South Africa in the top 10 of the least corrupt countries in Africa. However, recognising this “decent” placement does not mean one should ignore or forget the fact that some of our very own institutions, including people at the executive level of government, spurned the recommendations of institutions like the Public Protector that sought to ferret out corruption. Others opposed the implementation of Advocate Thuli Madonsela’s remedial actions against corruption, maladministration and all the related rot. Truth be told, being in the top 10 means nothing when considered against the fact that our anti-corruption agencies need to be admitted to ICU – they are acutely diseased and

sick.Responding to the appalling 2018 CPI results,

President Cyril Ramaphosa said that “(t)his should now be the last time that South Africa is described like that. We are going through a very cathartic moment where all the wrong things are spewing out”. It would have raised eyebrows had the First Citizen and the Commander-in-Chief of South Africa not expressed concerns with the score and the rating South Africa received. Not that it is anything new because the country has not been consistent in improving its corruption-free character. For instance, in 1996 South Africa achieved a high score of 57 (56.80 Points) and it fell 10 points between 2007 and 2011 from a rating of 5.1 to 4.1. And the 2018 CPI remains the same as that in 2017.

A number of reasons can be noted for this unstable anti-corruption performance, particularly the country’s 2011 worst CPI ranking since the CPI was established. Notable amongst these include the cost of corruption involving government procurement reported at around R30 billion each year, according to the then head of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) Willie Hofmeyr in his report to the Portfolio Committee for Justice and Constitutional Development in October 2011. At the time the SIU was investigating 588 procurement contracts valued at R9.1-billion and about 360 conflict-of-interest matters valued at R3.4-billion.

The year 2011 also saw two Cabinet members released from duty following allegations that they had been compromised and conflicted in that they misused their powers for irregular and illicit gains for themselves and/or some people connected to them.

The late Sicelo Shiceka, then Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, was fingered for misusing state resources allegedly to visit a girlfriend in a Swiss prison. The details of his transgressions are contained in the Public Protector of the Republic of South Africa, report In the extreme: Report No.11 of 2011/12 of the Public Protector on an investigation into allegations of a Breach of the Executive Ethics Code by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr Sicelo Shiceka, MP.

Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde, then Minister of Public Works, was also fingered for her role in the awarding of two tenders worth R1,116 billion and R604 million respectively to a politically well-connected businessman for the lease of new premises for the SAPS at above reasonable market price. This matter was also investigated by the Public Protector and resulted in a scathing report titled Against the Rules Too, Report of the Public Protector in terms of Section 182(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 and Section 8(1) of the Public Protector Act, 1994 on an investigation into complaints and allegations of maladministration, improper

and unlawful conduct by the Department of Public Works and the South African Police Service (SAPS) relating to the leasing of SAPS accommodation in Durban, 2011.

Another revelation in November 2011 was the story by The Mail & Guardian newspaper about extensive upgrades at the homestead of former President Jacob Zuma in Nkandla at the cost of R60-million at the time. Also, seven complaints lodged between 13 December 2011 and November 2012 with the Public Protector regarding Nkandla renovations. These triggered an investigation by the then Public Protector Thuli Madonsela in 2013, and her report titled Secure in Comfort: Report by the Public Protector on an investigation into allegations of impropriety and unethical conduct relating to the installation and implementation of security measures by the Department of Public Works at and in respect of the private residence of President Jacob Zuma at Nkandla in the KwaZulu-Natal province, Report No: 25 of 2013/24, March 19 2014, revealed that the former president and his family had unduly benefited from upgrades which has escalated from R60-million to R246-million in costs. The notoriety of Secure in Comfort was that it took the intervention of the Constitutional Court in 2016 to conclude the former President and his Parliament violated the Constitution by repeatedly ignoring the Public Protector’s findings and arguing that they were not enforceable. Furthermore, the Nkandla saga was identified with the slogan “Bring Back the Money” and the consequent chaotic handling of the sittings of Parliament.

The fact that South Africa’s 2018 CPI remains unchanged from 2017 is not a surprise or rather should not be a surprise. By now it is common knowledge that corruption is endemic in South Africa. Past and recent events, including various revelations about corruption and corrupt practices, indicate that public office/public service corruption could be a significant problem in South Africa.

There is no way that international corruption indexing institutions could have missed the events leading to an investigation into alleged improper and unethical conduct of the country’s executive, and possibly corrupt award of state contracts and benefits to the Gupta family’s businesses, for example. The

resultant Public Protector State Capture Report of 14 October 2016 was also widely revealed. And it precipitated the setting up of the Zondo Commission on State Capture.

The Zondo Commission has already revealed that corruption is a pernicious phenomenon and a challenge that the country must deal with. The testimonies at the commission, particularly those relating to the Watsons and the Guptas, postulate state capture as “characterised by complex networks and interpenetration of business, politics, administration, police and security forces, and sometimes NGOs, which colonise the interface between ostensibly different spheres, between public and private”. You have single individuals or families exerting undue and illegal control over both state and economy. Also, oligarchies with a complex range of networks and corrupt and reciprocal relations have been formed.

The CPI rating must mean and spur many things for South Africa, including putting in place a concerted, comprehensive and holistic approach to combating the spate of corruption engulfing South Africa as a corrective response. There are innumerable actions/approaches/interventions that can be considered. Below is a sample of the many.

Prosecution and consequence managementFirst and foremost the authorities must

begin with visiting consequence management on those who are involved in corrupt activities, including the corrupt leadership, especially at government/executive level. Sadly, our beloved NPA has expressed its unwillingness to exercise its prosecutorial powers and functions until the Zondo Commission is done and dusted.

What if the Commission takes a decade to complete as has happened in State Capture investigations in some countries? This reluctance to prosecute happens despite the publicly known importance of the NPA to revive and maintain its prosecutorial integrity, which in my view could benefit from decisively dealing with the rampant selling and purchasing of political and government’s administrative decisions in a broad sense.

One would have expected the NPA to independently investigate these allegations and, where applicable, begin a prosecuting process. I would have expected institutions like the NPA and other law enforcement agencies including

OPINION

OPINIONOMPHEMETSE S SIBANDA

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has had a very incompetent and weak leader in Mmusi Maimane. Granted, this statement may be extreme, but it is appropriate given that Jacob Zuma’s removal as ANC leader has seen the gradual decline of Maimane in the DA.

It is now time - especially in light of the upcoming elections - to take stock of the damage Maimane could cause his party at the ballot box.

Zuma’s depravity served as cover for Maimane’s inability as a politician and party leader. But Cyril Ramaphosa’s appointment as ANC leader and head of state has exposed Maimane’s shortcomings earlier than expected.

Maimane’s election as the DA leader in 2015 took place against the backdrop of the party’s avowed intention of taking over the government of the country.

In this regard, Helen Zille, previous leader of the DA, was farsighted: she realised quite early on that that ideal could be realised only with the aid of large numbers of black votes for the DA.

She contended that the election of a black DA leader was a prerequisite.

Millions of black voters, who were beginning to feel alienated from the ANC because of the brutal removal of Thabo Mbeki and the rise of the traditionalistZuma, were ripe for the plucking.

But by 2011 Zille faced a colossal dilemma: the DA did not have prominent black leaders to reap that harvest. Zille opted for Lindiwe Mazibuko (then only 31) as candidate for the position of parliamentary leader.

The peace between Zille and Mazibuko was short-lived, allegedly because they clashed about controversial caucus decisions. Be that as it may, many political commentators and politicians inside and outside the DA were sceptical about whether she met the requirements for this challenging job on account of her youth and lack of parliamentary experience. In 2014, Mazibuko exited, unheralded.

As if Zille had not learnt from the Mazibuko experience, she turned to another young black DA member, Mmusi Maimane, to gather new black voters. In May 2015, allegedly at Zille’s insistence, Maimane was elected in her place as party leader.

I was already sceptical at the time, because

his election was proof that the DA had bought into the trend, evident internationally and locally, that political parties move away from the “far right” or the “far left” to the moderate and acceptable centre of politics, merely to win elections.

Ideas then cease to take precedence, which leads to the gradual erosion of the intellectual gene pool in political parties and also in communities. Deeper interpretation or the intellectual grounding of concepts recede or become extinct.

It is clear that bread-and-butter issues - or the economy - are key priorities for communities.

Worldwide, workers are experiencing an economic decline, mainly because they feel left behind by globalisation. This feeling was strong among marginalised voters in the United States in 2016 and played a crucial role in Donald Trump’s unexpected victory over Hillary Clinton.

The “centre right” results of the European parliamentary elections in 2014 (and the British elections in May 2015) were clearly influenced by the economic concerns of Europeans and the political shift to that position over the past 14 years of European politics.

In South Africa, the focus on radical economic transformation has deteriorated into the relentless pursuit of resources and the plundering of state coffers. The direct causes of this are reckless populism among the youth and the erosion of the much-needed intellectual class in both the ANC and the DA. The removal of Mbeki, an intellectual economist, to make way for the unskilled Zuma and the appointment of the inexperienced Maimane over the highly regarded intellectual Dr Wilmot James are practical examples.

With Maimane’s election, the DA overturned everything - experience, their classical or neoliberal ideas and intellectual ability - just to be able to compete with the ANC at the centre-left spectrum of politics. It was done purely to attract more black voters in order to win elections without giving serious thought to the challenges and the future of the country.

Despite this criticism, Maimane initially resonated with many South Africans, because he was young, fresh and black to boot - in

sharp contrast to Zuma, who was regarded as incompetent, corrupt, arrogant and bored.

A lively orator, thanks to his years behind the pulpit, Maimane soon got the better of Zuma in Parliament, labelling him a “broken” president, to the delight of many. Focusing on Zuma’s faults and shortcomings served him well for a very long time because he was able to hide his own inability and shortcomings. This could not last forever, however.

The euphoria of the 2016 municipal elections, when the ANC lost three large metros to the DA/Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) coalition, soon made way for DA infighting and racial debates, making enormous demands on Maimane’s leadership ability. He was accused of having limited knowledge about the Constitution after he made ambiguous comments to explain his stance on the death penalty.

The water crisis in Cape Town, Zille’s contentious tweets defending the consequences of colonialism and the falling-out with Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille all assisted to catapult the DA into mayhem. Maimane’s announcement in October 2016 that the DA would diversify its leadership, so that all party structures from branch to national level should set targets for the recruitment and development of exceptional black candidates for public office, added oil to the flames.

“Going black”, however, was in line with Maimane’s approach to race - as former journalist turned academic Christi van der Westhuizen stated - which meant a break with the DA’s liberal tradition.

It is not that surprising because liberalism has become problematic in South African history, because it is based on colour-blindness, which is not in line with our colonial and apartheid realities.

Maimane’s statement: “If you don’t see that I am black, you are not seeing me” is indicative that he intends to confront the (neo)liberal traditions of the DA head-on because, despite the failures of neoliberalism, the DA’s faith in it is unshaken and any attack on it is regarded as an attack on whiteness.

This has split the DA into two groups - the one black (social democrats) and the other

The rise and fall of Mmusi Maimane

white (liberals/ “liberal core”) - who are engaged in a fierce battle for the soul of the party.

In an attempt to entrench the social-democratic and black nature of the DA, Maimane appointed the young and well-spoken Gwen Ngwenya, 29, as MP and head of policy. This was a tactical error because Ngwenya, who was tasked to develop a new policy directive on broad-based black economic empowerment, is actually an arch-conservative opposed to it.

What makes matters worse is that Ngwenya, just like Maimane and Mazibuko, is too inexperienced for her position. None of them have a significant power base in the DA.

To date, Ngwenya, who recently resigned her position as head of policy, has failed to formulate any new DA policy - something for which Maimane will pay a high price in future. This will happen because the “liberal core” proponents within the DA, including Ngwenya, do not embrace a race-conscious and transformative political outlook in its election offering.

In addition, Maimane is under pressure from two minority groups (white and coloured Afrikaans-speakers) who, for years, have kept the DA alive at the ballot box. Whites, particularly, are concerned that the DA has not taken any stance on the seemingly systematic abolition of the Afrikaans language and about Maimane’s remarks on white privilege and black exclusion. The coloureds are worried about affirmative action and how this has affected them, especially in the Western Cape.

In recent years, the DA has attracted South Africans of different backgrounds with diverse ideological views. Maimane is under enormous pressure to keep these different interest groups, with different backgrounds, happy in the party. These groups are now locked in battle, unashamedly competing to represent and promote their interests inside and outside party structures.

Maimane is caught between a rock and

a hard place and is battling to navigate his way through the pitfalls and landmines of the political landscape. He has consequently been criticised for being a stylised politician without a backbone.

The lack of credible black leaders in the DA saw Maimane being pulled from his comfort zone behind the pulpit into the political arena. He is essentially a reluctant political participant who has never really had a well-seasoned political strategy and vision. Maimane operates, like most clergymen, from a theological reference frame that has little or no space for other social influences.

His task to grow the DA is complicated further by the election the credible, modern technocrat Ramaphosa, who is getting rid of the Zuma baggage and building a new ANC.

Make no mistake, Maimane is young, dynamic, well spoken and intelligent. But intellectual ability must be accompanied by political experience. The DA is currently rudderless and without any useable ideas or policy to provide answers to the complex post-apartheid political, social and economic challenges.

The latest Ipsos opinion survey indicates that the DA will receive only 14% of votes in the upcoming elections - compared with 22.23% in 2014 - which is possible proof of Maimane’s inadequate leadership.

Maimane has also failed to command authority and respect from mainstream black political parties such as the ANC and the EFF. Worse, he has failed to maintain authority in the DA itself. Against this background, it is probably not difficult or unfair to conclude that this must be at least partly because Maimane is black.

Erstwhile British politician Enoch Powell stated that most politicians’ careers end in failure. Time will tell whether Maimane’s will follow suit.

Jason Lloyd is a social commentator, columnist and former journalist

the SAPS, the Hawks and IPID to appreciate the fact that perceptions of their complicity in the rampant corruption are taking place against the background of, and as part of, a broader public disillusionment with the criminal justice system.

Historical precedence indicates that some jurisdictions take the issue of corruption seriously, particularly political corruption and executive corruption. For instance in the United States case of United States v Kenny International Corp (Cr No 79-372), DDC, filed Aug 2, 1979 a New York corporation, Kenny International Corp, was convicted of offering Sir Albert Henry (the then Premier of the Cook Islands) and the Cook Island Party (then the majority political party in the Cook Island Legislative Assembly) financial assistance to the value of NZ$337,000 in connection with his re-election through using an aircraft to fly voters from New Zealand to the elections in the Cook Islands. The intention was for Sir Albert to ensure that Kenny International Corp secured the renewal of an agreement of its exclusive promotion, distribution and sale of Cook Islands postage stamps throughout the world.

Fortunately, as part of his views on the CPI and the on-goings at the Zondo Commission Ramaphosa emphatically declared that “(t)here should be real serious action taken. It’s important that we hold hands and fix our country. We should not be a country that is defined by acts of corruption that are completely out of kilter with the value system we put for ourselves.” And nothing can be more serious an action than the president leading a clear warning to institutions such as the NPA that a decision to keep in abeyance the investigation of those alleged to have been perpetrators and co-perpetrators, conspirator and co-conspirators, accomplices to State capture, and accessories after the fact is wrong. It is tantamount to dereliction of duty, assault on democracy and human rights.

Investigation and prosecutions must be commenced without any further delay if we are serious in our determination that “(t)his should now be the last time that South Africa is described (as one of the corrupt countries in the world)” and committed to our vow that there will “be real serious action taken” to ensure that South Africa is not “defined by acts of corruption that are completely out of kilter with the value system we put for ourselves”. The country’s executives that are found to have been involved in public corruption must be severely punished. So are the members of the public, companies doing business with the government and owners/directors/board members of companies doing business with the government that are a party to these corrupt activities. Perhaps South Africa must consider following countries like China with severe penalties for corruption, except of course that unlike South Africa, China has no constitutional bar to impose the death

Continues on page 18

JASON LLOYD

The Weekly - Free State Province 15 - 21 February 2019BUSINESS18

Desperate sugar cane farmers send SOSThe sugar industry growers are calling for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s intervention in an effort to help save the multibillion-rand sector from imminent collapse.

The distress signal comes after grain farmers recently embarked on a drive to raise at least R3 billion to assist maize producers affected by drought.

SA Cane Growers’ Association chairperson Graeme Stainbank said that the country’s sugar sector was in an unprecedented state of crisis.

He noted the R14bn industry was at risk of collapse, along with the 350 000 jobs it provided and the one million people it supported.

“Sugar cane growers, emerging farmers, farmworkers and surrounding communities could soon disappear if government fails to take urgent action,” added Stainbank.

The problems facing the industry were numerous and included unsteady rainfalls and that sugar regions in KwaZulu-Natal were recovering from a three-year drought that resulted in a more than R2bn loss for cane growers.

“Despite the severity of the drought, very little, if any, help was extended to cane growers - neither during the prolonged drought nor during the recovery period,” Stainbank lamented.

Another challenge pertained to plunging sugar prices, little cushioning against imports, and dropping demand. Stainbank said sugar

cane farmers were plunged into another crisis when about 500 000 tons of imported sugar landed in the country last year. “South African sugar, which is some of the highest quality in the world, was summarily dumped on to the world market.”

He said as a result cane growers incurred immense losses and many were now on the brink of going out of business.

“These challenges are coming together in a perfect storm. If we don’t do something, they will kill the sugar industry – a sector that contributes close to R14bn to the South African economy.”

Stainbank said it was puzzling that the government was willing to protect the industry from imports through the dollar-based reference price.

“Yet it has no qualms implementing a tax so damaging that it could ultimately sound the death knell for the sugar industry,” he added.

The association called on the government to grant the industry tariff protection to level the playing field and shield it from cheap imports, tighten restrictions to prohibit sugar entering the country that wasn’t subject to duties and to invest in innovations including ethanol production.

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Senzeni Zokwana said he was concerned about the issues raised and would follow up on them. -BusinessReport

Save our sugar . . . The sugar industry growers are calling for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s intervention in an effort to help save the multibillion-rand sector from imminent collapse.

FDI strengthening well: President Ramaphosa The government is to continue its drive to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) into SA, with R70bn flowing into the country in the first three quarters of 2018, compared with R17bn in the whole of 2017, President Cyril Ramaphosa has said.

This was a phenomenal achievement compared to the low level of investment in the previous years. “We aim to raise even more investment this year,” he said.

In 2018, Ramaphosa set a target to lure investments of $100bn by 2023 in an attempt to stimulate economic growth, which has been falling far short of the 5.4% annual target set in the National Development Plan.

2018’s Investment Conference attracted about R300bn in investment pledges from South African and international companies, he said, adding that this conference would be hosted again in 2019.

“To prove that our investment conference was not just a talk shop where empty promises were made, as we speak, projects to the value of R187bn are being implemented and projects worth another R26bn are in pre-implementation phase,” Ramaphosa noted.

The aim is to attract investments into projects throughout the country, the president said. “In

this regard, I have asked provincial governments to identify investable projects and ensure that we build investment books for each of our nine provinces to present to potential investors.” KwaZulu-Natal has already done this.

The Public-Private Growth Initiative was set up to facilitate focused investment plans of leading companies across 19 sectors of the economy, and that these industries were expected to substantially expand investment over the next five years.

“As part of our ongoing work to remove constraints to greater investment, we have established a team from the presidency, Invest SA, National Treasury and the department of planning, monitoring and evaluation that will address the policy, legal, regulatory and administrative barriers that frustrate investors,” Ramaphosa said. The team would report to the cabinet monthly.

He added government had set itself the target of being among the top 50 global performers in terms of the World Bank’s annual Ease of doing Business report.

Currently SA ranks 82 out of 190 countries tracked. “We are going to get there,” the president promised. -BusinessDay

SA needs to reverse its low score on CPIContinues from page 17penalty for corruption.

Recalibration of anti-corruption agencies and other state units

President Ramaphosa has called for the “recalibration” of state institutions and the appointment of individuals to these institutions who are fit and proper. “We are headed in a direction where we are rebuilding the integrity of our country and reforming our institutions and addressing SOEs. The efficacy of our SOEs needs to be recalibrated,” said Ramaphosa. According to my prefatory observation “recalibration” reforms – and I am assuming here an earnest, transparent, open process to rethink our anti-corruption agencies and relevant other institutions including membership of the Parliamentary integrity committees – may positively affect the anti-corruption crusade and succeed where many have failed.

Recalibration must not be another exercise that will produce paper tigers; or a mere act of musical chairs of heads of institutions and state-owned enterprises (SOEs). The appointment of Advocate Shamila Batohi as the head of

the NPA, for instance, makes me believe that with people like her at the helm of the NPA the country’s prosecutorial prowess will be re-orientated. However, the fight against corruption and instilling prosecutorial ethics, integrity and efficacy cannot be achieved effectively by just relying on the competence and character of Advocate Batohi, supported by her well-intentioned prosecutors and investigators. Otherwise, she will fail dismally. Issues of organisation effectiveness and co-operative governance, and the apolitical operational environment of these organisations must be addressed.

Better control of public resourcesWriting about accountability and

transparency to fight against corruption, Brusca, Rossi & Aversano(Brusca, Rossi & Aversano. Accountability and Transparency to Fight against Corruption: An International Comparative Analysis. 2018. Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis: Research and Practice, 20:5, 486-504) correctly noted that “in the public domain, the availability of resources

that are not directly controlled by a single owner can create the perfect ground for corruption through, for example, large procurements and major public works projects, tax administration, debt management, customs and ill-designed privatisation of state-owned enterprises”. Their observation rings true in the South African context.

Public procurement and tenders came in handy for the corrupt and provided a fertile ground for corruption. These authors further observed that “(i)n the domain of democratic theory, corruption is seen as a violation of the basic norms of the democratic process which disempowers citizens. In this perspective, the role of strong institutional control and good auditing has been highlighted as a way to prevent bad politicians from diverting resources”. Conducting a nationwide audit on all contracts with the State – past and present contracts – will be helpful towards achieving and maintaining control of public resources. So is the Open Budget Index (OBI) – which is the index used to measure the disclosure

of budgetary reporting and transparency. Another interesting observation by Brusca, Rossi & Aversano is that “countries that have a higher OBI score have better positions in the Corruption Perception Index of Transparency International and the World Bank Governance Indicator of Control of Corruption”.

Public vigilanceThe public too must build momentum

towards holding the South African Criminal Justice System, the government and its executives to virtues of accountability and transparency – even if it means having recourse to public interest litigation and private prosecution to spur actions against corruption. Thecultural, economic and political characteristics of the country should never be allowed as a safeguard for corruption and corrupt activities. Robert Klitgaard once explained corruption in a simple formula: Corruption = Monopoly + Discretion – Accountability (in International Cooperation Against Corruption, International Monetary Fund 4 (March h 1998). South African government holds a monopoly over the

public purse and many other public resources, and when the government, its executives and other public office bearers are not publicly held accountable the fight against corruption will be lost. Active and passive corruption by government officials will become a normal occurrence.

In conclusion, let us always remember that “Corruption can be likened to a cancer. It operates insidiously destroying the moral fibre of the nation. When it is discovered the damage has already been done. Whilst the particular act of corruption may be excised, just as a malignancy may be removed in a surgical intervention, society is not what it was prior to the corrupt act. The roots of justice and integrity, so vital in a fair and democratic society, have been permanently scarred by the corrupt act. The moral fibre of society has to be re-built after the excision of the corruption”. This important and frank observation was made by the South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, in the infamous case of S v Selebi (Judgment on sentence) (25/2009) [2010] ZAGPJHC 58 (3 August 2010).

Professor Dr Omphemetse S Sibanda is a Professor of Law at the Faculty of Management and Law at the University of Limpopo.

Angry and shocked . . . President Cyril RamaphosaPresident Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed anger and shock at Eskom’s latest round of load shedding.

Speaking at the African Union heads of state summit in Addis Ababa on Monday, the president said he announced the unbundling of the power utility because he realised that Eskom was in “a danger zone”.

Ramaphosa said the news that there are six generators which are not functioning properly was “shocking”.

“I am also quite angry that we have reached

this stage of dysfunctionality, and the minister of public enterprises is busy right now, together with the board, with that issue,” he noted.

The president said the solutions government is looking at to resolve the crisis at Eskom would be difficult and painful but would be a necessary evil to put Eskom back on track.

One of the problems Ramaphosa said was that Eskom is South Africa’s sole generator of electricity and that the country could no longer afford to “put all our eggs in one basket”.

Ramaphosa also hit out at consumers who do

Cyril slams Eskom’s ‘dysfunctionality’

Tenure at risk . . . Treasury director-general Dondo Mogajane

Government to probe Treasury DG President Cyril Ramaphosa has effectively put in place a process to probe National Treasury director-general (DG) Dondo Mogajane, putting his 20-month tenure a risk.

Ramaphosa on Monday said that he had decided to implement Public Protector Busi Mkhwebane’s remedial actions about Mogajane’s alleged non-disclosure of a previous criminal record during his application for the position.

The president said he had tasked the Minister for Public Service and Administration, Ayanda Dlodlo, with studying Mkhwebane’s report on Mogajane and to advise on the steps that needed to be taken.

He delegated Minister of Higher Education and Training Naledi Pandor the responsibility of initiating any disciplinary action against Mogojane.

“The president is of the view that the current minister of finance, who is required to take ownership of decisions made by his predecessor, may be conflicted in this situation, and it

would therefore not be appropriate to delegate the power to institute disciplinary actions against Mr Mogajane to the current minister,” presidency said.

Mogajane was appointed to be National Treasury’s accounting officer for five years by erstwhile finance minister Malusi Gigaba in 2017.

He is National Treasury’s fourth post-apartheid DG after Absa chief executive Maria Ramos, SA Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago and Standard Bank chief executive Lungisa Fuzile.

In her report released last year, Mkhwebane said that Mogajane failed to meet the standard imposed on him to act with integrity and honesty towards his employer.

“He did not disclose his criminal record in his application for the deputy director-general during 2015, and, after being made aware of the criminal record in 2015, he acted dishonestly in his Z83 application form for the position

of director-general during 2017 by failing to disclose that he had a criminal record,” Mkhwebane noted.

Mogajane was caught speeding in 2011 and paid a fine for the offence.

Mkhwebane also found that Gigaba “knew, or ought to have reasonably known, about Mogajane’s failure to disclose the criminal record in his Z83 application form”.

Mkhwebane had called on the president to take disciplinary action as a result of Mogajane “blatantly and dishonestly” making false representation of material facts in his Z83 form.

Mogajane joined National Treasury in 1999 and has fulfilled various roles, including the intergovernmental relations, provincial budget analysis and the international economic relations divisions.

He replaced finance minister Tito Mboweni as a non-executive director of the BRICS New Development Bank. - BusinessReport

not pay for services, saying: “If we want Eskom to survive, we have to pay for the electricity we use.”

The president said he would get the report on the utility’s latest woes this week.

On Monday, Eskom’s board met with Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan to discuss the latest crisis.

Eskom had initially implemented Stage 3 load shedding due to a shortage of diesel, but moved to Stage 4 by 2 pm.

“The escalation from stage two to stage four load shedding was caused by a further seven generating units that tripped within a period of five hours,” said Eskom.

“This report on the causes, including all the challenges of the new and old power station, was much of the deliberations between the board, management and the Department of Public Enterprises in today’s meeting that lasted for more than six hours.”

The power utility said by Monday evening, four units had returned to service and it was expected that the remaining three would be back to service by Tuesday morning.

“We will have a systems and operations update within the next 24 hours,” it added. -IOL

The Weekly - Free State Province

SPORT ONTHAPELO MOLEBATSI

SPORT ONTHAPELO MOLEBATSI

With 2019 well underway, I struggled to come up with a topic for this week’s column…Yes, Bloemfontein Celtic was on the card not only due to its close proximity but because of the inside information that is at my disposal. However, a friend on social media (Facebook) asked what my thoughts were regarding the controversial Chippa Mpengesi.

And to be honest, I vowed never to waste my time talking about this man’s antics but that’s exactly what it all boils down to. But when Teboho Majara asked this question and shared his personal opinion at the same time, much as I promised to never utter a single word about Mpengesi and how he runs his team, I just had to say something.

Siviwe ‘Chippa’ Mpengesi is one football owner who is full of jokes in the Premier Soccer League and I mean literally so. The man doesn’t take his brand seriously. Either he doesn’t realise that he is carrying gold or he doesn’t care much for it.

His team has the potential to challenge some of South Africa’s big guns but he is hampering that progress with his antics of firing the coaches like nobody’s business. The Chilli Boys boast an array of talent in their squad, but that talent is being confused.

Confused by who? By Mpengesi himself!He started the season with Dan Malesela

and he fired him after three games, and then he roped in Eric Tinkler to take over the reins. Tinkler didn’t last as he was replaced by Joel Masutha, who has since been fired. Clinton Larsen is now the incumbent coach, but the question is, how long is he going to last?

Chippa United are blessed with proven stars like Mark Mayambela, Daniel Akpeyi, Thabo Rakhale, Thamsanqa Sangweni, Daine Klate, Kurt Lentjies, Andile Mbenyane, and Zitha Macheke, but they can’t deliver to the best of their abilities because they are confused.

Come on, guys! This team doesn’t deserve to fight relegation, but it is because of Mpengesi.

Coaches come with different philosophies. If you keep changing coaches, how do you expect the players to master these philosophies at once?

These stars at Chippa United are confused.I don’t have anything against Mpengesi,

but I’ve got a problem with the way he runs his club.

He is running it like a spaza shop.With due respect to the National First

Division, I think Mpengesi must go and learn his lesson in the NFD. Maybe NFD will suit his style of management, but this movie can’t go on in the PSL. We’ve seen enough of it. Enough is enough now.

Chippa United are the only football team that is campaigning in top-flight football in the Eastern Cape at the moment. Mpengesi should be taking advantage of that, but he is not. He is busy killing this brand.

There was a time when I used to enjoy watching Chippa United. It was under the tenure of Dan Malesela where they were playing enterprising football. They were marvellous to watch.

They were turning on the style. They were winning games and playing vigilant football.

The Chilli Boys had an identity at that time.

If there’s one owner who deserves to be relegated, it is none other than Mr. Mpengesi himself. Sometimes in life, we need to learn lessons the hard way. I’m quite sure that the majority of his players will be able to get PSL deals somewhere else because they don’t deserve to go to the NFD, but Mpengesi does.

He should go and play his games in the NFD and maybe he will come back a better chairman. If he does survive, Mpengesi must get his act together. Mr. Mpengesi, it is now time to wake up and realise that you are carrying gold.

You need to take good care of that gold because you will realize its value only when you have lost it.

Your life is in your hands. So, do the right thing, sir. I’m pleading with you to do what is right.

We love this brand called Chippa United.

Chippa a disgrace to football

19SPORT

Former Under-23 national team coaches, Steve Komphela and Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba will battle it out for a place in the quarter-finals of the Nedbank Cup tomorrow.

Komphela of Golden Arrows is pitted against Mashaba of Witbank Spurs in the Cup at 3pm.

Mashaba stunned Maritzburg United at the first hurdle on penalties. The former Bafana Bafana boss will be eyeing another big scalp against the Premier Soccer League side.

Speaking with the media, Komphela made it clear that it won’t be elementary against Mashaba.

“It is going to be a difficult match because Bra Shakes is a highly experienced coach. Obviously players respect him and he has got the pedigree. Witbank Spurs are also a serious team in the NFD. I even know the boss of the team.

“We played Witbank Spurs when I was still at Free State Stars and it wasn’t an easy match to play,” Komphela said.Abafana Bes’thende haven’t won a cup since 2009 and they’ll be looking to end their trophy drought.

“We have to go profile them and watch them. We know what happened against Maritzburg. Who says to you, ‘it will be easy going to play Witbank?’ It is going to be a difficult match,” he added.

Witbank are winless in their past two games - they shared the spoils with Uthongathi FC in a 1-1 stalemate in their last encounter, and last week, they succumbed to a 3-1 defeat against Pretoria University.

“The quicker we get information about them, the better, so that we can know what they are doing,” Komphela explained.

Arrows suffered their first loss under Komphela’s regime over thew weekend, as they were shot down 3-2 by SuperSport United at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Clermont.

“There were very few negatives... in fact the

only negative today (Sunday) is the result. All three of the goals that we conceded came from us. We could have defended all those three balls. The first one, second and the third one were give-aways.

“You can’t give away so many goals and expect to win the match. Apart from that there’s a lot of positives. Sabelo (Siphamandla) made a difference, Conco (Siboniso) made a difference, Bilankulu (Musa) made the difference,” Komphela elaborated.

The former Celtic coach has done well in South Africa’s version of the FA Cup with KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) teams. He reached the final with Manning Rangers back in 2004 before being knocked out in the last four with Maritzburg in 2014.

“We went to the final in 2004 and we reached the semi finals with Maritzburg. We will keep working. After 16, we will go to eight but we are not going to underestimate the opponents. We have to be serious and work hard.” Ko mp h e l a concluded. -IOL

Minister of Sports and Recreation Tokozile Xasa has called on the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) to act on the recommendations of the 2015 Pullinger report, before the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

The ministry appeared before Parliament’s portfolio committee on sport and recreation. It briefed the committee on the report of the ministerial committee appointed to investigate irregularities or malpractice in the governance and management of Sascoc.

The ministry’s director-general, Alec Moemi, said: “The number of letters that have been written to Sascoc failed to achieve the desired result of them considering the report of Pullinger. The minister of sports wanted to know why there was reluctance in the adoption and consideration of the report.

“The committee of inquiry looked into the matter and found that Sascoc needed to have considered the report and pronounced itself - it

cannot simply serve as a post office. The minister cannot therefore finish Sascoc processes. If she wants to intervene, she must initiate her own processes,” noted Moemi.

The Pullinger report, which came out in mid-2015, was led by advocate Alex Pullinger in 2013.

Pullinger found that there had been intimidation of minors manipulation of scores in competitions discrimination inappropriate awarding of national colours a corrupt relationship between SA Sports and Fitness Federation office bearers and maladministration of funds, of which the senior national officials were aware.

Moemi said Sascoc ordered the investigation and should thus act on it.

He told Parliament that the report did not please the management at Sascoc, and thus instead of adopting and implementing it, Sascoc had sent it to the minister. -IOL

15 - 21 February 2019

If Rassie Erasmus’ most recent squad is anything to go by, there should be at least one cracking match-up in tomorrow’s north-south derby between the Bulls and the Stormers at Loftus.

Ruhan Nel, surprising as that may seem given his quick rise, is expected to only make his Super Rugby debut in this game and will have the task of competing directly against Jesse Kriel.

A former Blitzboks star, Nel was included in the national squad for the latter stages of the Rugby Championship as well as the year-end tour but didn’t make an appearance.

There’s probably no better way then for the 27-year-old midfielder to not only show his worth … and stake a Bok claim.

He’s acutely aware though of the task that lies ahead.

“Jesse is a very, very talented player,” said Nel.

“He does his job very well. I know it is going to be tough. He takes a lot of pride in his work. It is a nice challenge to have in the first game of the season, to make my debut against the Springbok No 13.”

Should any nerves and even doubts creep in, he’ll have the experience of another Bok centre, Damian de Allende, on his inside.

De Allende and Kriel have consistently gelled as a combination at international level.

“I’m very excited to play with Damian,” said Nel.

He added: “For any outside centre that is the dream to have the Bok inside centre with you. He brings a lot of experience and is a calming influence too. Last year we played a couple of Currie Cup games together and got to know each other quite a bit on tour.” -Citizen

The baptism of fire Nel has been waiting for

Minister passes buck on Pullinger report

Wants action taken . . . Sports minister Tokozile Xasa

Komphela not taking Witbank lightly

Super Rugby debut . . . Ruhan Nel

The Weekly - Free State Province

Page 19

20

Page 19

20

Minister passes buck on Pullinger report

Komphela not taking Witbank lightly

CHIEFS COACH STANDS BY HIS PLAYERS . . . It happens (that players make mistakes). Unfortunately, what can we do? We could have corrected it. That’s part of the team work.

15 - 21 February 2019SPORT

Former Under-23 national team coaches, Steve Komphela and Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba will battle it out for a place in the quarter-finals of the Nedbank Cup tomorrow.

Minister of Sports and Recreation Tokozile Xasa has called on the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) to act on the recommendations of the 2015 Pullinger report.

It happens . . . Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp

The scrums and the error-rate are the two main areas the Bulls will be looking to get right this week ahead of the crunch derby against the Stormers at Loftus Versfeld that opens their Super Rugby campaign tomorrow (Sat).

The scrums are obviously a key area of strength for the Stormers as they enjoy the services of three Springbok props in Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe and Wilco Louw, as well as a hooker with 26 Test caps in Bongi Mbonambi and a back-up No 2 who has toured with the national team in Scarra Ntubeni.

The Bulls will be taking on the Stormers up front with a Test tighthead in Trevor Nyakane, fellow international Schalk Brits at hooker and Springbok tourist Lizo Gqoboka at loosehead. Both front rows will have Springbok locks flexing their muscles behind them.

The vastly experienced Brits has a bit of a calf niggle, but was walking freely after their weekend warm-up match against the Sharks in Ballito, while the Stormers are sweating over Kitshoff ’s hamstring strain.

“One day we’re up and one day we’re down. It seems to be the way it goes with our scrums, and the Stormers have a strong pack, but I can’t wait to see who wins that battle. I feel comfortable alongside Schalk and Lizo, they both have a lot of experience, but you have to be up for the battle each week.

“I don’t know if the Stormers will be targeting

the scrums. I can’t think for them, but whatever they bring, we have to match it. But the scrum is an eight-man battle, so the personal battles don’t matter. Consistency is the key for everyone in Super Rugby if you want to win, it’s about how well we work as a unit and we must stop having ups and downs,” Nyakane said.

A 7-7 draw against the Sharks in Ballito in their final warm-up suggests there was not much to comment about in terms of the Bulls’ play, but the same handling errors that bedevilled their Superhero Sunday game against the Stormers in Cape Town a fortnight ago were once again to the fore.

Humid conditions obviously made the ball slippery, but the Bulls seem to be playing good rugby but then undoing all their hard work with basic errors.

“Mistakes cost us, but they are things we can work on and sort out. But against a side like the Stormers, they will punish you if you make mistakes. We have to keep ball-in-hand and ensure we have continuity. Otherwise we went alright against them.

“But this weekend they will obviously be at full strength, so it’s going to be a challenge. We don’t need any extra motivation for this derby and if you’re not ready on Saturday then you shouldn’t be in professional rugby. Hopefully the crowd will also be our 16th man,” Nyakane said. -Citizen

Bulls brace for StormersBanking on crowd support . . . Trevor Nyakane

The no-nonsense Kaizer Chiefs coach, Ernst Middendorp, came out in defence of Hendrick “Pule” Ekstein who lost the ball several times in the Soweto Derby - a

criminal offence for a playmaker.Amakhosi let slip an opportunity to beat

their arch-rivals Orlando Pirates for the first time since 2014. The Buccaneers fought back to share the spoils in a 1-1 draw at FNB Stadium on Saturday.

The draw felt like a defeat for Amakhosi. They pinned Pirates back with their energy and hunger to end a hat-trick of successive defeats from the Sea Robbers.

But small mistakes, including giving possession cheaply, cost Amakhosi. Ekstein was among those who gave the ball away too easily. He struggled to complete passes, which is alarming for a player whose job is to pass the ball as Chiefs’ creative livewire.

“For players to grow and really be able to play 90 minutes, be consistent, responsible, accountable and express their talent and skills - you need games over a long period,” Middendorp said.

“You need training to get it right and find

the right tools. Hendrick is an outstanding player. He isn’t a youngster anymore. He is 28. This is definitely somebody who can carry the team forward, with his ideas and what he regularly does.

It happens (that players make mistakes). Unfortunately, what can we do? We could have corrected it. That’s part of the team work.

“We could have closed space and be a little bit more alert, then nothing would have happened. Unfortunately, it happened but he is an outstanding player and one of the best players I have ever worked with,” he added.

A win for Chiefs would have seen them level on points with fourth-placed Cape Town City, who lost to AmaZulu in Durban. A victory for the Buccaneers would have moved them to second place, two points behind Bidvest Wits, who lost to Highlands Park in Tembisa.

This weekend’s results favoured Mamelodi Sundowns. The Brazilians are in a comfortable position in the league race, not just because other challengers dropped points but because they will go to the top should they make the most of the three games in hand they have over Wits who are three points ahead of them.

Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane once said

that should his team be No 1, the other teams should forget about the championship because they won’t relinquish that position.

Calling Chiefs title-contenders is a stretch. Not only are they nine points adrift, but they also aren’t consistent enough to keep up with the leading pack. Despite that, Middendorp still has belief that they can battle it out for the Absa Premiership.

“There’s a reasonable distance between us and the top, we have to do our best to pick up points,” Middendorp said. “Off course we also have to wait and see what the teams ahead of us are doing. They also all have to play each other. You see the result today on the other side (Wits losing to Highlands Park) - good. If someone who is in front of us slips, and we can use it to our advantage, then we will do.

“It’s unfortunate that we only got one point. We have a very clear vision, we’ll try to prepare well and try to win every game that we go into regardless of whether it’s home or away.

“I am not saying that the season is over. There’ll be a lot of results that will surprise you,” he noted. - Football Reporter

Cape Town City coach Benni McCarthy has opened up about the departure of Bafana Bafana international Ayanda Patosi.

Patosi left the team last month to join Estenghlal of Iran in a move that caught many in the football fraternity by surprise.

Patosi was an imperial figure for City last season. He encountered some weight issues but when he overcame them, he was a difficult customer to stop.

McCarthy said that they couldn’t stand in his way.

“If I had 40 players, I don’t mind losing (him) but we are a team that doesn’t stand in a

player’s way. It was a great opportunity for Pato to go to Asia,” he noted.

“We said that we are a team that wants to improve players. We want to grow them and if an opportunity comes from a foreign club, and the player is happy to go and can make a decent living for himself let him go. If I was told that I can’t go to Iran and the money that I will earn there (is better), I will put up a fight,” McCarthy added.

Patosi joined City in 2017 from Belgian outfit, Lokeren. He captured the MTN8 during his stint with City.

“It was not easy to convince the player to

try and stay. When you are going to earn two or three times as much money than what you are earning here now why hold on to a player. We don’t hold players’ careers back.”

McCarthy has made it clear that City will be doing business when the season ends and the transfer market reopens in June.

“We will be able to replace him (Patosi) with quality. There are a few games left. It is not too long for the season to end.

“In the new season, we will definitely go into the market and see which top European players want to come back to Africa with experience,” the coach said. –The Mercury

City will not stand in a player’s way: Benni

mashinini steps up mangaung ready to engage anc …theweekly.co.za/download/553.pdf · 2019. 2....

Documents