Thursday, October 18, 2012

FREE STATE NEWS October 19 2012 samples


Free State News October 19 samples

This web page(s) regularly focuses on the leading Free State (South Africa) newspaper – Free State News – the first regular newspaper to be orchestrated fully by black people in the Free State province. The paper has been published on a weekly basis since 1999. Regular items like “Feature of the week” have appeared here over the years.


Free State News crew

Publisher

Moses Vinger

Confidential Secretary/Manager

Maki Mohapi aka “Madam Maki” “H.C”

Receptionist

Thobeka Funani

Editor

Kaya M

News Editor

Omoseye Bolaji

Contributors

Nthabiseng Lisele
Dineo Mokgosi
Raselebeli Khotseng

Columnist (Feminine Flutters)

Regomoditswe Motsalane (below)



Lay-out artist

Tumisang Takang


Contact number:


051 447 1655 051 447 1655

KOMPHELA REVEALS CRIME STATS

By Nthabiseng Lisele

The Mec for police, roads and transport Butana Komphela released the provincial crime statistics for the period of 1 April to 31 March this year.

“This is a duty that must be understood by society as a reflection o the work done in the fight crime”, said Komphela.

Komphela said that, “the crime stat that we are sharing with the province indicates a mixed bag with marginal downward trends in some of the crime categories. We will continue to draw from the lesson and replicate in other areas”.

Numbers shows that for the 2011/12 financial year, the sexual offences ratio increased by 1, 8% and as for rape it increased by 2, 5%.

“We need to emphasize that as government we are still concerned about the scourge of rape in our province”, said Mec Komphela.

Komphela admitted that this one of challenging for police to police. He said that it is also influenced by a reporting behavior, if victims trust the police then they will get more reporting.

“So the issue of under-reporting remains a challenge and not just in the Free State but also in South Africa and internationally”, said Komphela.

For 2011/12 financial year only, car hijacking increased by 20, 9%, cash-in-transit decreased by33, 3%, as for the bank robberies there was a stable reports with no increase or decrease reported.

There was also increase in crime regarding house robberies by 4, 0% and business robberies increased by 8, 0%.

Komphela indicated that most crime takes place within communities and many members of the public are aware.

“As such the public is encouraged to be whistle-blowers against crime and report crime at all times”, he said.

He further said that communities must resist from creating a market for stolen goods including CDs and DVDs by not buying stolen items and participate in neighbourhood safety forums.

The illegal possession of firearms ratio decreased by 1, 5% while ATM bombings decreased by 26, 6% from 15 cases to 11 cases.

“For at least the past four financial years the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition case remained absolutely constant however we still remain concerned and we shall be rolling out various campaigns to address this challenge”, said Mec Komphela.


Arts and Crafts feast at Macufe

By Dineo Mokgosi

Accomplished deaf artist, sports coach and arts teacher at Bartimea School for the Deaf and Blind in Thaba Nchu, Simon Ndaba exhibited his artworks at the 15th annual Macufe arts and crafts exhibition in Bloemfontein.

Ndaba who has exhibited and sold his art pieces at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival, showcased two of his most prized pieces at this year’s Macufe. He exhibited a painting called Mask and Women Dance valued at a whopping R5 000 and a Mahatma Gandhi portrait valued at over R3 000.

Other exhibitors on the day included Thaba Blinds from Phuthaditjhaba in the Eastern Free State. Thaba Blinds are manufactures of unique African range of natural grass products. Their collection of blinds is well known in both South Africa and international décor. This proudly South African product is suitable for a whole range of environments and offers a natural aesthetically pleasing alternative to providing privacy and light diffusion in the home.

The Thaba Blinds cooperative is situated about 50 km outside of Harrismith in Phuthaditjhaba. The local community joined forces with the Department of Social Development and the Department of Arts and Culture to establish the Phuthaditjhaba Grass Weaving Factory Trust that has been providing the area with a highly successful and sustainable job creation and empowerment project, benefiting hundreds.

One of the benefactors of the project is Mamoya Mofokeng from QwaQwa. She is one of the women involved in crafting the products.

“I really enjoy this job. It has benefited our community a lot. We are now able to feed our families from the money that we receive,” said Mofokeng.

Mofokeng said they provide a full service to their customers. They take all measurements in the house and windows, and deliver your products via courier.

Thaba Blinds’s other products include African pots, baskets, ceiling finishes, bags, wall and floor, wine bottle covers and table mats which are valued at R30 each, small décor hats go for R5 and blinds are valued at R50 each.

THE BOOKSHELF (Column) With K A Motheane

Illuminating wordfest!!

It’s been exciting times for FS literature again, as the government – via Dept for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation put together a three day superb Wordfest; as part of the just concluded Macufe.

A wide range of speakers turned up and delivered speeches on many aspects of writing, publishing, marketing etc. There was especial focus on Sesotho literature from the very beginning and current trends and developments.

Speakers included the likes of Mongane Wally Serote, Simphiwo Mahala, Flaxman Qoopane, KPD Maphalla, Pule Lechesa and many others. It was an artistic and dramatic occasioned characterized by cultural dances, songs and open mike sessions where stakeholders joined in the fun.

The MEC for Sport, Arts Culture and Recreation Dan Kgothule who basked in the occasion also delivered key address where he pointed out the vital significance of writing, especially in the mother tongue. He was on hand to advise younger writers against certain temptations

Mr Qoopane delivered an excellent address on the fusion of journalistic and fictional aspects of writing. Using eclectic examples from around the world including Eurocentric and African wordsmiths he painted a vivid picture to the audience.

Mr Pule Lechesa also held forth on Sesotho writing over the years especially as regards the importance of the mother tongue. He also elaborated on other aspects of writing like self-publishing, rejection by publishers and their readers – in sum he took the floor and fielded many questions with some expertise

PIX: Free State News' Raselebeli Magic Khotseng and O Bolaji at the wordfest

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