FREE STATE NEWS (December, 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.

This community newspaper will be taking a break – festive season beckons! – until the second week of the New Year (2011) Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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
Neo Mvubu

Contributors
Flaxman Qoopane
David M Mofokeng

Office Assistant
Gavin Ignitius

Lay-out artist
Tumisang Takang

Contact number:
051 447 1655

DECEMBER 17 – 23 2010 editions

FEATURE OF THE WEEK: “Former Regional Commissioner off with fanfare” By Flaxman Qoopane. Front page

Reproduced hereunder:

FORMER REGIONAL COMMISSIONER SENT OFF WITH FANFARE!

By Flaxman Qoopane

The Department of Correctional Services in the Free State & Northern Cape Region bade farewell to Zacharia Moleko Modise, the former Regional Commissioner.

Speaking at the farewell function held at Kopano Nokeng lodge in Bloemfontein on Monday, Grace Molatedi, the Acting Regional Commissioner in the Free State and Northern Cape said the Department congratulates the former Regional Commissioner Modise who has been appointed to the National Department as the chief – Deputy Commissioner: for Corrections, “Goodbye, the National Department made the right choice. We wish you good luck with your future endeavors.”

The cynosure of all eyes, Zacharia M.I. Modise said: ‘I came to the Free State (Northern Cape Region) to implement the recommendations of the Jali Commission. We needed to clean up the Correctional Services. At Grootvlei Correctional Services, there was large corruption. My task was to root out corruption and we have succeeded. I had a good working relationship in the region.”

He continued: “The Acting – Regional Commissioner has a huge responsibility to work hard with her colleagues to contribute to the service delivery within the region. Thank you for your good working relationship with me; and goodbye and may you have a wonderful Christmas and a Prosperous Happy New Year!”

Gustav Wilson, Regional Head: Development and Care at Grootvlei Correctional Centre prayed for the family of Modise. He was accompanied by his wife Angie (41), children Waratoa (13), Matshego (17), Tshego (6), Modise (17) and Tumelo (24).

The following speakers Joe Joseph, Area Commissioner: Kimberly Management Area and Brigadier GENERAL Thingi Moadira from the SANDF talked about their great experience with the former Regional Commissioner Zacharian M.I.Modise.

During the farewell function, Zacharia Modise received some gifts from the Old Mutual.


Also:

THE BOOKSHELF (Column)

With Kgang Abel Motheane

Great year for FS Black Literature!

This is likely to be my last column for this year; hence I want to pay tribute here to an outstanding year of Free State Black Writing, with so many new authors publishing their first books. We started by celebrating the world class fiction writing skills of NMM Duman which found expression in her debut novel, Deepest Springs.

Most people would agree however that Hector Kunene is probably the writer of the year (such a pity the Province no longer has an award for ‘writer of the Year’) But anyway, by publishing two fine books, Through the Tunnel (poetry) and Omoseye Bolaji (literary criticism) Hector has already made an indelible mark on literature and deserves the world- wide respect he is now getting.

JahRose (Nthabiseng Jafta) also published her debut book, Rooted from the Heart, making a strong impression too; most importantly showing that young black women can hold their heads high too in the genre of literature. JahRose is well known as a poet, and also went out of her way to produce a beautiful book.

The literary promise of Teboho Masakala – in his very early 20s – has been known for quite some time now, and he has gone some way towards fulfilling his promise by publishing his first book, Mind, Pen and Ideas. Inevitably, the young man needs time to mature even better, but he has also made his name – putting Thaba Nchu on the map!

The year was rounded off with a “veteran” poet and essayist, Raselebeli Khotseng publishing his very first book of poems. The book, titled Hold Back your Tears contains a number of “Magic’s thought provoking poems. So – a remarkable year for Free State Black Writing!


DECEMBER 10 – 16 2010 edition

FEATURE OF THE WEEK: “Horror! Lesotho boy strangled to death” By Flaxman Qoopane. Page 2

Reproduced hereunder:

Horror! Lesotho boy strangled to death

By Flaxman Qoopane

The seven year – old boy from Lesotho who was allegedly raped, his neck broken, and put into the pit latrine at Dinaweng Squatter Camps in Mangaung last Friday has been identified as Seabata Moremoholo (7)

His brother Kgosi Moremoholo (8) was also allegedly raped by the rapist; the rapist also burnt the body of Kgosi with matches, sticks, and subsequently an angry mob killed the man known as Lungile Booi.

The mother of the two boys, Dineo Moremoholo told Free State News: “Kgosi(8) and the late Seabata(7) are our sons with my husband Tshehla Moremoholo (34). They are from Mafeteng in Lesotho, they came to visit us in Mangaung in October this year.”

Modiehi Lekometsa (24) from Dinaweng Squatter Camp said; “On Friday at 03:30 early morning while we were asleep with my husband Mokoto Ramonyatsi (36) we heard a knock at our shack, Mokoto went outside and found Kgosi wearing only a T-Shirt full of shit. The smell was unbearable, I went to inform Kgosi’s parents “

Tshehla Moremoholo said “We went to the house of Modiehi we were shocked to find our son in that terrible condition. Kgosi told us that a man named Lungile allegedly raped him and his brother Seabata. He also allegedly burnt their bodies with matches sticks, Kgosi said he left his brother at the house of the rapist, we were very furious.”

After the residents of Dinaweng Squatter Camp heard of the child abuse of the two brothers, they decided to take the law into their hands. Thabo Lesia (30) said: “I saw everything, it was on Friday at 07:00am , the angry mob went to the shack of the suspect and started beating , punching ,kicking and assaulting him. The suspect pointed at the pit latrine where the body of Seabata was found.

The parents of the brothers said; “It pains us lot because our sons came to visit us to be with us during the festive season. The mob stoned the rapist to death and he was slaughtered like an animal.

Lt- Colonel Thandi Mbambo said: “The police discovered two bodies not far from another at the scene. A case of sexual assault and two counts of murder were registered .No one has been arrested and the police are following the leads”


DECEMBER 03 – 09 2010 edition

FEATURE OF THE WEEK: “Polished Mangaung Artist” By Flaxman Qoopane. Page 2

Reproduced hereunder:

Polished Mangaung artist!

By Flaxman Qoopane

Artist, Tshidi Motsumi (21) from Ipopeng in Mangaung is not an ordinary artist. His works have been exhibited in Belgium and in Britain.

Motsumi told Free State News: “It has been my dream that one day I should exhibit my works abroad. In September 2006, the Free State government sponsored me with another artist Thapelo Mawela, musicians Kaya groups, Peter Nthwane and Kubu Dancers to represent our country in Belgium and Britain, during a cultural exchange programmes with the two countries.

“We were abroad for two weeks to show people in those two countries what the Free State artists could offer them through arts and culture. We exhibited our works, several art-lovers, art-collectors and owners of the art galleries bought some of our works. We exchanged ideas with artists in Belgium and Britain. And we also met some African artists who emigrated abroad. I thank the government for making my dreams a reality!”

In June 2006, Tshidi won R7000 and a certificate during the Annual Youth Commission Premiers Awards held in the Free State. He got position three in the visual arts category. “I was inspired, with the R7000 I bought art-materials and I felt motivated to continue improving my skills”.

He started practicing art professionally in 1999. Motsumi painted art-works that now hang on the walls of companies, hotels, offices and advertising-agencies in the Free State. Most of the time he paints portraits of individuals and also of famous people. His prices are very reasonable and Motsumi also does mural paintings He is best known in Mangaung , Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu to have done the ANC emblem next to the portrait of the ANC President Jacob Zuma. Some ANC members have congratulated him for his works painted on the walls of buildings in Mangaung.

“While I was at Ikaelelo High School in Thaba Nchu, I did a lot of the decorations during the functions. Teachers, students and their parents often asked me to design cards for them during their birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Mothers Day and Father’s Day”. His talent blossomed when he was doing Sub-B at Selosesha Primary School in Thaba Nchu “I was already drawing as a teenager. At school I drew dogs, cats and lions. I also used to draw pictures for my friends and my school mates and they used to give me money and I used to buy fat-cakes”

He says art-centres and art-galleries are needed in our townships “where the artists can share their skills”. Motsumi has also exhibited his works all over the country.

Also:

THE BOOKSHELF (With Kgang Abel Motheane)

THE BOOKSHELF
With Kgang Abel Motheane

Chinua Achebe at 80

This columnist has in the past celebrated the extraordinary legacy of Chinua Achebe, the first black African to write a novel that shook the whole world (Things fall apart)

The world has been celebrating Achebe’s 80th birthday in style and countless lovers of literature have been praising and applauding him for what he has done to put Africa on the world map, imaginatively and intellectually.

In all (over a 30-year period) Achebe produced five world class novels: Apart from Things fall apart (1958) he also wrote No longer at ease (1960), Arrow of God (1964) A man of the people (1966) and Anthills of the Savannah (1987)

Of these works, by far the most famous is of course Things fall apart which even after 50 years has been voted the most illustrious and best African novel ever. As for Achebe himself, so many books and studies have been written and published about him all over the world.

This columnist also wishes Chinua Achebe a wonderful Birthday and many years more…