MohauRamashidja
18-06-2011
Tholulwazi Home Base Care and Training in partnership with aFacebook group calledDifferenceMakersgave out food parcels and clothing to orphans in Block BB and DD in Soshanguve. The event was hosted in a community park at Block BB.
Venice Lekwane who is the founder of the organisation, was inspired by her past experiences as a child to start a home for the sick and the orphans. “My mother passed away when I was 9 years old. I know how it feels like having to grow up without experiencing the love of a mother. That is why I decided to start Tholulwazi,” she said.
Having endured criticism from people for taking care of those living with HIV/AIDS and orphans, the shelteris currently taking care of 180 orphans.
Local musicians took centre stage to dazzle the crowd with performances.
The success of the day was rooted in the special contributions made by donors such as; Topika, Block BB and Mabopane BP filling stations, MTZ’s electrician, Sechaba Research Centre, and many more.
“We felt that we needed to build a strong working relationship with Tholulwazi to provide for those in need in the community of Soshanguve,” said Block BB manager, Sophie Khoza.
With 15 years in operation, the Home gave special thanks to a faithful contributor for her constant support throughout the years, who ensured that basic food and cleaning supplies were provided for the centre.
“It is painful when one goes to bed with an empty stomach. I saw it being essential to give out a helping hand to those who are in need,” said Gertrude Semono.
Smiles were brought to the orphans as they received food parcels and new clothing to sustain them throughout the winter season. “Tholulwazi has proven to be a great help to struggling families in and around this community, it understands that there are some families who can’t afford to provide for their loved ones. Most especially during this time of winter their help is much appreciated.”added B.JDingaan.
Mother of butched daughter:“I can see progress”
Mosima Rafapa
20-06-2011
The case of the late Masego Kgomo is still ongoing. Kgomo aged ten at the time went missing while playing with friends in a street close to her home in Soshanguve on New Year’s Eve 2009.
She was abducted, allegedly raped then murdered. Five suspects were arrested including a 14 year old boy for her murder and kidnapping. Kgomo's badly decomposed body was found nine days later near a train station in Soshanguve after one of the suspects led the police to her body.
 The same suspect who showed the police where the body was dumped is on trial in the Pretoria High Court for Kgomo’s murder while the other four suspects have been released.
The remaining suspect Brian Mangwai was offered R3 000 by a sangoma (a practitioner of Muti) on condition that he brought the body parts of a girl under the age of 12. Kgomo’s body parts were removed from her body- including her bladder and womb.
After the first appearance in court, residents in Soshanguve were furious and torched some of the suspects’ houses.
Masego’s mother Kate Kgomo, said she and her family have not missed a single court proceeding. “There is only one problem, we didn’t know what is happening." "We want to find out what happened to our child because we didn’t know what exactly happened", mentioned Mrs Kgomo. "It’s very difficult to sit in that court room, especially when the confessions are read” added Mrs Kgomo.
According to Pretoria News, Mangwai gave several policemen various versions and two magistrates’ two different stories on how Masego was killed. In some versions it appears he cut out Masego’s body parts and in other versions he was present while the sangoma did the work.
In most of the different versions that Mangwai gave to the policemen and magistrates, it appears that Masego was still alive when she was cut open.
Mrs Kgomo says so far she can see progress and it helps with her heeling process.”I have not even once underestimated the justice system. I cannot say they are slow or not, we don’t know what they are still trying to find out but so far I can see where they are headed.
"There are times where I feel that I have accepted but other times you become confused and ask yourself how did this happen,” she concludes. 
Photo By: Lebogana Ngobeni
CHARITY ORGANISATION HELPS THOSE IN NEED
By Lebogang Ngobeni
25-05-2011
Balwani Ba Sechaba is a non-governmental organization (NGO) aimed at helping underprivileged people all over the country. It assists various charities with funds and all the other essentials needed for the homeless and poor.
The organization hosted a party at MacNose Café popularly known as “Shot’Left” in Soshanguve Block K on Sunday. A blanket, warm clothes or a pledge of R40 was needed for an entrance into the venue and people from society volunteered to help wash cars for a small fee as a way of raising funds. The organization depends on the support of the society through donations and various funding.
To show support for this organization DJ Black Coffee and NtsikiMazwai performed without any kind of compensation and people pitched in large numbers to support the initiative. The success of the event was determined by the undisclosed amount of money made by the car wash. The community also took a pledge to lend a handwhere they can and the number of clothes and blankets received.
The event organizer VusiMagagula“thanked people for showing support and said the money and the warm clothes and blankets are going to be fairly distributed according to the needs of the various charities especially with winter here.
TAXI INDUSTRY GETS UIF
By Tholi Mhlanga
23-05-2011
The Department of Labour recently visited the Springs taxi rank to pledge the taxi owners to register their drivers for UIF. The taxi drivers were pleased by this initiative by government. Most of these taxi drivers have being driving for over ten years without any guarantees.
Vusi Mayisela who has been a taxi driver for eleven years says “I have been in the taxi industry most of my life from one owner to another; they were no real benefits at the end of the day. For one I am very happy about this effort by the Department of Labour at least now we will be registered like other employees”.
Mandla Maseko who has been a taxi driver for over a year now says that “I couldn’t have joined the business at the best time. I’ve always loved the taxi industry and now at least my wife will take my job more seriously”.
Gugu Nhlapo from the Department of Labour says that the taxi industry is one of the most largest industries in this country and other countries as well. “It is time that taxi drivers are regarded as real employees because they are. We depend upon them daily to transport us from one place to another” she further added “they are very important and their jobs should be equally rated, if they strike commuters, students, employees, companies suffer as well”.
Thabiso Lehoko who is a taxi owner complains saying that they are already paying a lot of money to the taxi association every month. ‘ Now we should also pop out other money to pay for UIF, as it is the petrol prices are going up daily, we are not making enough money, to top it all the taxi industry is a hand to mouth kind of business, the drivers don’t always bring the expected amount, the business is sometimes slow and sometimes its ok” |
Itumeleng Nkosi
20-06-2011
The month of June is a very important month for the youth of South Africa and the rest of the nation. This is where we all go back to 1976 in Soweto, where school learners had an uprising. This was against the Bantu education system, which was put aside only for black schools only. The system meant that black schools had to learn their subjects in Afrikaans and the education system was of poor quality compared to that of the white schools.
Photo By: danyasteele.wordpress.com
This year marks the 34th anniversary of Youth Day. Young people during this month are expected to make change in various aspects in their lives. Unlike the youth who fought in 1976, we are faced with a totally different war. We are faced with crime, early pregnancies, abuse, HIV/AIDS and a lot more. As a result young people are expected to bring about change in those areas.
They will be different programs available for young people throughout the month, either at NGOs, churches’ and governmental organisation such as the NYDA. The NYDA have programs for the youth all month long. They will be hosting a youth festival in Cape Town from the 14-16 and it will include many other activities that are meant to empower young people in the surrounding areas of Cape Town.
Mosima Rafapa
12-06-2011
 The city of Tshwane will officially be declared as the third largest metropolitan municipality in the world.
Immediately after the local elections on May 18 this year, the Metsweding district which consists of two local municipalities namely the Kungwini (Bronkhorstspruit) and Nokeng tsa Taemane (Cullinan and Rayton) will merge with the city of Tshwane.
“When we merge by land mass we will become the third largest municipality in the world. First it’s New York, Tokyo and then it will become us. So it is important just to know that by land mass we will approximately be 6,500 square km, this will be our geographical area," said Pieter Denecker spokesperson for the mayor of Tshwane. "The Metro land mass is bigger than some countries,” added Denecker.
The new city of Tshwane will bring many opportunities. The current Metsweding district has underdeveloped land that will offer a great deal of opportunities to Tshwane residents as a whole. For instance the N4 highway road to Mpumalanga that is still under development.
Next year Tshwane plans to issue bonds worth of R1, 5bn for capital projects for economical purposes. The council will seek a total R10bn on the capital market within five years.
ARETHABENG
PRIMARY SCHOOL
LAUNCHES A
NEW BOOK
Thandekile Sibanyoni
Learners showcasing their newly launched book.
Photo By: T.Sbanyoni
Arethabeng Primary School in Soshanguve BLOCK L has finally managed to launch their new book after months of delay and postponing. Story GodWingwhich is the name of the book is written in four languages which are Namibian , Finnish , Setswana, and English.
Three countries Namibia , Finland and South Africa came up with the idea of writing the book and publish it in 2009 .
The purpose was to encourage children not only to read but to be writers too. The learners were given an opportunity to write short stories about children’s rights and share their experiences.
A DVD containing the same stories was also produced. Mmapula Sekhu the School Principal said ”she is overwhelmed and happy to see the success of the project, and thanked all the teachers who sacrificed their time to to translate and put effort into the project.”
ELDERLY COUPLE DIE OF
COAL
STOVE
By Tholi Mhlanga
23-05-2011
A tragic accident befell the Molefe’s family when their father was killed by carbon monoxide from a coal stove last week Sunday in Springs, Gauteng. The church members as well as their landlord Mr Mbonani became suspicious when Mr. and Mrs. Molefe did not attend the Wednesday service as they normally did.
Their landlord Mr. Mbonani decided to break the door to check if anything has happened to the elderly couple. When they entered the room they found the bodies of Mr Lifu and Mrs Molefe on the floor. According to the post mortem results they were killed by carbon monoxide from a coal stove.
Lindiwe Molefe the deceased daughter says that if his father and her step mother did not go to bed whilst waiting for the stove to produce more heat they would have been alive today.
Mr Molefe’s landlord was dumb strike by this situation he says “I don’t believe that Lifu and his wife died and the sad part about all of this is that a whole lot of us in the townships we still use coal stoves, we now know how dangerous is the carbon monoxide that comes out of it, it cost me two beloved friends”
According to the Kwa-Thema SAPS spokesperson Kenny Mabujwa he warns the public they should be more vigilant when using coal stoves as they can also pose as great danger on one’s life. “We come across many cases such as this one during this time of the year.” added Mabujwa.
Lebohang Sithole from the Fire Department also warned about gas stoves and heaters as well. She says that they also produce a lot of carbon monoxide, which can cause a heavy headache. In order to lower the effects one should always put water in front of a heater and never stay nearer to a heater. “You should always make sure that gas stove is properly switched off”.
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