FREE STATE NEWS (JULY 2010 editions)

FREE STATE NEWS (July 2010 editions)

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 celebrated its 10th year anniversary last year). 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”

Editor
Kaya M

News Editor
Omoseye Bolaji

News Desk
S. Botsime

Contributors
David Mofokeng
Piet Motaung
Hector Kunene

Office Assistant
Gavin Ignitius

Lay-out artist
Tumisang Takang

Contact number:
051 447 1655


JULY 30 – AUGUST 5 2010 edition

FEATURE OF THE WEEK: “Magiva is no more!” By S Botsime (Page 3)

Reproduced below:

Magiva IS NO MORE!!!

By S Botsime

Hearing the news of the passing of a great man – Ntate “Magiva” Selebano - has left me speechless and I feel honoured to have spent lots of time with the great legend that was rather unsung in his life time.

I was collaborating with the legendary singer over a book that will chronicle his life and times. Hence I was a regular visitor to his house situated at Bochabela. Ntate Gideon Thole Selebano will always be remembered for being an active deep rooted musician for well over 50 years! He lived and breathed music.

Once, before his demise, I even spent almost four hours at Ntate Gideon Thole Selebano’s house, and for me it was a privilege since I knew the great man very well. I remember the first time I knocked on his door and heard a voice from a distance, asking me to come in. I found him sitting on the sofa and busy talking to a gentleman who quickly greeted me and disappear.

He was wearing a floral shirt and a blue trouser with a black jacket and grey morning slippers sitting in front of the double bar heater; and underneath his feet he had put on and old newspaper that dated back to 2007 (a local news paper)…..

I feel great that although he is gone I happen to have documented his life and most of all it makes me feel great that I showed him how great he was while he was still alive. Many will praise “Magiva”, but the truth will remain “he wanted to be praised while he was STILL ALIVE”. We (the living) tend to praise the dead, but the sad part about that is that the dead will never hear or have any saying. Any doing under the sun, neither wisdom but the living knows for a fact that they will die and they have a say under the sun.

A good name is better than a fine perfume, and the day of death is better than the day of birth. Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof, “Magiva” is gone and let his trumpet be blown at tekoa , and may the living wear the breastplate of righteousness and wear the helmet of salvation - may we eat and drink since for surely we knows that tomorrow we will die.


PARALLAX SNAPS (Column)

With Hector Kunene

This is a reader’s response to Hector Kunene’s “Home cooked meals or nothing” which was published in Free State News. Neo Mvubu is the writer of this ‘rejoinder’:

Dear Hector, I must confess that when I read “Home cooked meals or nothing” I became enraged. My feelings became heated and I felt like I was boiling inside and something just erupted. I read the poem critically and I’ll have to say I’m very much offended by your words. When you talk about women in the kitchen, you really touched a nerve.

Let me start by giving you a perspective on the side of women: Women back then (in the past) did not have much choice, if they didn’t get married, bear children and work in the kitchen, what other choice was there? They did this out of obligation and not necessarily out of love. They eventually learned to love the kitchen as it was the only way they could boast about it to their friends. Women used marriage as a means of survival in a society where they had no rights whatsoever. You can ask any woman who has had 12 children with a man who was never home, working in the mines rather gallivanting with mistresses. It is a painful history - that of oppression and abuse and no woman can ever say they were proud to be acting like slaves inside their own homes. They were chained to the kitchen for life and this was due to the lack of education that you talk about.

Poverty and the oppressive government created this dependency mentality that we can see today. The mental outcome of this dependence cannot just be overcome easily; women have to constantly fight this force that is pulling them into the pit. Today when a woman is her own person, financially independent and can afford to buy those “long nails and fake hairs” for herself, you assume she is a trophy wife. She worked hard to have those nails and now men still assume that someone else paid for them.

Maybe a real woman is one that wears a doek on her head and a blanket around her waist or maybe she is the one who cooks everyday and washes clothes. After I do all of that and please you as my man, it is still not enough, you still go out with those girls with the fake hairs and the long nails, the one who can’t cook or clean. I think it’s about time we women stand up against this mentality. What makes a woman good is not the outward appearance or have we forgotten the soul, have we forgotten to rather judge the soul and not the clothes. Looking good is now a curse rather than a blessing.

When I cook, I cook because I love my man, I clean because I feel respected in the home and I wash because I want to be a good woman to a good man. I do this because I know he loves me and I feel it at the inner core of my atrium.
Note:

I love you in the mighty storms
The glittery power of the sun
I love you in the silence of the full moon
And the loud cries of the rain



JULY 23– JULY 29 2010 edition

FEATURE OF THE WEEK: “Mandela Day in Kroonstad” By R. Khotseng (Page 2)

Reproduced below:

Mandela Day in Kroonstad

By R. Khotseng

Kroonstad

The Free State Department of Education embraced Mandela Day by decorating and cleaning J.S.M Setiloane Secondary school in Kroonstad last Saturday. Dignitaries like MEC Tate Makgoe and other high ranking officials in the department led the way in cleaning the school, together with teachers and students.

They were supported by parents, staff and other stakeholders such as SADTU, NEHAWU, COSAS, SAPS, NDA, Correctional services among others. The MEC pointed out that by choosing Setiloane School, they were encouraging and instilling confidence in teachers and students alike - since the school woefully obtained 17 percent pass rate last season. “We need them to get 100 percent pass rate” he stressed. After the painting and cleaning, the MEC received applause from participants when he announced that the department will hire someone permanently to clean and care for the school.

The celebration was punctuated with praises for Madiba and the school choir performance. Mrs. L.J Mabote, a deputy director of education in Fezile Dabi and also the programme director of the day, explained the purpose of the day whilst the Moqhaka executive Mayor, Me Mokgosi welcomed the guests and reminded them of the importance of the day, which has now assumed international significance.

Director Mr. Malope informed participants that Mandela once built a school right there in Fezile Dabi district which was called CREDO; and as a result one of the schools in this district must be named after Madiba as an honour to what he did here.

JULY 16 – JULY 22 2010 edition

FEATURE OF THE WEEK: “Madiba at 92” By O Bolaji (Front page)

Reproduced below:

MADIBA AT 92!!

By O Bolaji

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, the most revered and celebrated black man in the world, turns 92 this weekend. And as usual the Free State, the whole nation, and the world is rejoicing!

The increasingly frail statesman and icon is expected to mark his birthday in Johannesburg on Sunday. Meanwhile scores of children will be flown in flown in from Qunu to Gauteng to rejoice with the grand old man. The motto remains “Make everyday a Nelson Mandela Day”

In Mvezo village, and Qunu, the celebrations will also take place, with the President of the country, Jacob Zuma expected to attend and address many important dignitaries who will be present, including parliamentarians.

The Mandela Foundation has been requesting people from around the world to give 67 minutes of their time to volunteer work; symbolically this stands for one minute devoted for every year Madiba spent in his struggle for equality

Nelson Mandela became world famous during his incarceration. Throughout Mandela's imprisonment, local and international pressure mounted on the South African government to release him, under the resounding slogan Free Nelson Mandela! In 1989, South Africa reached a crossroads when Botha suffered a stroke and was replaced as president by FW De Klerk. De Klerk announced Mandela's release in February 1990.
De Klerk continued his reforms (eg un-banning the ANC and other parties), and multi party negotiations began which led to the country's first multi-racial elections. In 1991, the ANC held its first national conference in South Africa after its un-banning, electing Mandela as President of the organisation. His old friend and colleague Oliver Tambo, who had led the organisation in exile during Mandela's imprisonment, became National Chairperson.
On 27 April 2004 the first multi racial elections were held in the country and the ANC won 62% of the votes in the election, with Mandela, as leader of the ANC inaugurated on 10 May 1994 as the country's first black President; and with the National Party's de Klerk as his first deputy and Thabo Mbeki as the second in the Government of National unity. Thereafter as President from May 1994 until June 1999, Mandela presided over the transition from minority rule and apartheid, winning international respect for his advocacy of national and international reconciliation. He played a pivotal role in South Africa winning the bid to host the 2010 World Cup finals which the country has just successfully executed with elan and panache.

Also:

Parallax Snaps (Column)

With Hector Kunene

Art Galleries still a major tourist attraction?

During the World Cup 2010 we had an estimated number of about 475 000 visitors who came to our shores. South African art galleries had a surety to be viewed and even had quite a number of artwork sold to travelers who appreciated our African art.

I took a walk to view some of the work displayed at Bloemfontein centres. I noticed a remarkable work of several artists who did painting, drawing, beading, pottery and others. I personally spoke to one of the artists named Richard Boller who was busy painting Nelson Mandela holding a World Cup during the bid. His work is phenomenal for those who love painting, they can go and see it being done live freely.

I must say that one of the works that really caught my eye was the work of Flaxman Qoopane, our very own journalist at Free State News. He displays history in its origin. He keeps portraits of artist in different genres the likes of Gcina Mhlophe, Jah Rose, Ntsiki Mazwai, Lebo, Kgafela oa Gogodi, to the greats likes of Eskia Mphahlele both in his younger days and as an elder, the list is endless, if you have never seen a portrait of Dambudzo Marechera or Bessie Head you must find yourself in this gallery. It boasts of the world class writers such as Wole Soyinka, Antjie Krol, Ngugi wa Thingo, Zakes Mda, Chinua Achebe, Omoseyi Bolaji, to mention few.

I was amazed at this gallery and pondered on the magnificent national and international literary museum in Grahamstown (NELM); at least locally (FS) the Qoopane gallery is great; we can learn a lot and he is there to take us through the journey as he is the core of the idea behind the gallery. Most of the pictures with several artists are displayed with him including the one at the Bloemfontein Museum.

On the national level, Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape boasts flair of activists and a lot can be achieved in terms of learning and persuading genuine knowledge about our history in art and culture. But Mr Qoopane as an individual has done a superb thing with his own literary gallery.

JULY 09 – JULY 15 2010 edition

FEATURE OF THE WEEK: “Grand Old Lady of Mangaung” By David Mofokeng (Page 2)

Reproduced below:

GRAND OLD LADY OF MANGAUNG!!

By David Mofokeng

Grand Mama Mosadithebe Molisaetsi from Thaba-Nchu zone 3 location is in a lofty class of her own. She has marked 90 years of being on this earth. In fact, she is strong enough to jump high to touch the sky!

This grand old lady at 90 was resplendent, and surrounded by her family-one son and two daughters, although nine of them are unfortunately “no longer with us, but God is still very much with me.”

She says: “Only one thing that keeps me strong and healthy is meat”. Mmaboy Molisaetsi, now hitting the 90 years of birthday ceremony, is used to a daily fare of meat. “If you want to visit her make sure that you come up with meat or else you can leave!” insiders revealed, jokingly.

The grand old lady told Free State News that; “I grew up in a decent family which was full of respect and that’s why I reached the 90 years. My parents taught me how to respect myself and other people; I want to thank Baba Madiba (Mandela) for fighting for freedom for us and bringing this blessing – the World Cup trophy here in our country.”
She finally added: “To the youth, respect your parents and yourself, and you can be anything you want to be in life.”

Also:

THE BOOKSHELF

With Kgang Abel Motheane

Book: How do I talk about my Ordeal?
Author: Maxwell Perkins Kanemanyanga
Publisher: Eselby Jnr Publications

The author is a fine writer of fiction, no matter what some critics might say about his alleged “moralistic writings”, which is not a bad thing in itself. After all we are not happy with many things going on in the society, so why should a writer keep quiet?

To be a writer, one needs imagination – and Maxwell has it a-plenty. He creates stories effortlessly and writes well. And in his second book he has put together some interesting stories.

The first story, the title story, shows how a (young) woman can rise above the horrors of being raped. Some observers would prefer that a man not write about such ordeals, as apparently the perspective of a woman is very different. But we have seen many women (like in this story) rising above rape – and a world celebrated example is that of billionaire Oprah Winfrey

I did not quite understand why one of the stories in this second work– Enemy of the State – was reproduced once again in this edition; after all, last year this was the title story of the author’s maiden book. But I discerned there were some additions to the original story.

This shows that an author can indeed respond to criticism, which many of us do not think is the right thing. The critics and scholars can have their say, but do we have to do their bidding? It would be a sad day when writers (usually apprehensive of critics) go out of their way to please such critics!

Maxwell’s second book is interesting in that the stories not only have local colour, but embrace ideas familiar all over black Africa in general. The author’s humane approach is also commendable; the “negativity” of many of the stories in his first book (Enemy of the State) is not repeated here.