Free State News August 2012 - samples

Glee over SA’s Olympic Gold medals


By Omoseye Bolaji

Unbridled glee swept through the country after Cameron van der Burgh and Chad le Clos, both at the current Olympics (Swimming) soared to victory, winning gold medals with panache. And Free Staters have not been left out of the euphoria.

Seasoned Free State sports pundit, Masilonyane Lefuo told Free State News: “It was a magnificent triumph and we have been blazing a trail so early at the global fiesta. My mind went back to the 1996 Olympics when Penny Heyns did so well bagging gold twice at the swimming events! Both Cameron and Chad have done very well,”

Jerry Seekoei of Mangaung also beamed; saying: “It’s been two exhilarating moments from the Swimming events for us. The two gold medals put the country on the map solidly – remember at the time South Africa was already much ahead of great sporting nations like Britain (hosts) Germany and Australia. And of course we were then the only African country to have won medals, not to say gold!”

It started with Cameron van der Burgh on Sunday night, as he bagged South Africa's first medal of the London Olympics when he won gold in the men's 100 metres breaststroke in a world record time of 58.46 seconds.

The South African led from start to finish as he annihilated the rest of the field. He set a world record, becoming the country's first male swimmer to win a gold medal in an individual event at the Games.

"It is just a feeling that I can't describe right now," Van der Burgh said after the race. "The last four years have been a lot of hard work."

Van der Burgh was followed by Christian Sprenger of Australia in a time of 58.93 and American Brendan Hansen who was third in 59.49.

The night before, Van der Burgh had clocked a time of 58.83, improving his previous national and continental record of 58.95 which he set at the 2009 Fina World Championships in Rome.

Van der Burgh, however, said he cared more about the Olympic crown, a title he will carry with him for the rest of his life, than he did about the time.

“I don't really care about the world record. It really doesn't faze me,” he said. “Once you become an Olympic champion, you join a club and they can never take it away from you."

He said if was difficult to stay focused in the build-up to the race and had relied on friends and family to keep his mind off the matter. Then Chad le Clos chipped in with his own magic too!
(Published in August 3 2012 edition)


ALUTA CONTINUA


By Raselebeli “Magic” Khotseng

Like birds chirruping in the sky nor waves roaring in the sea

Before mighty throne angels lead their uncompromising hosannas

But in the battlefield Aluta unifies our hearts in solidarity with the vanquished

From struggle via the grave to Martyrdom

With defiant message on their placards “An Injury to one, is an Injury to all”

A message borne out of devastation of Bantu Native Act and State of emergency

That holds spirits of martyrs in Mangaung and Avalon

Aluta Continua! Shame the enemy and embrace Lembethe, Tambo and Sobukwe

For time is over to remain playing ground for colonial vampires

Their bullets smile when blood is scattered in the battlefield

Their blood dripping hands cannot plant any seed but could easily pull a trigger

With destructive minds they plan our future with cornflakes and wine

And emerged with a binding solution “Education first, liberation after”

Their slave teaching never make us desert emancipatory programme

Yes we’ve been taught “renegades are not the advocates of the cause they deserted”

Man afraid to give his life for a right cause is like roots refuse to absorb water

Always confess before a racist Magistrate and prosecutor

Shivers before an arrogant police and interpreter

Aluta Continua! Fighting evil is an indication of bravery to horrified witnesses of brutal murder of police dogs


Mangaung braces up for ’76 uprising!

Mangaung will come alive this weekend as the 36th anniversary of the pertinent 1976 student uprising is commemorated.

Already, many stalwarts of the struggle are bracing up for the occasion. Some of them told Free State News this week that the Soweto uprisings of 1976 was also mirrored in the Free State at the time, and young people must realise this.

“I believe very strongly that youngsters of today must be conscientized about the past,” Raselebeli “Magic” Khotseng said. “When I see the very good life available to young blacks nowadays, it rather saddens me that so many of them do not even know the horrific struggle people like me went through in the past for them to be enjoying today. It is good that the Mangaung uprising will be remembered this weekend,”

Mr Khotseng, who is a well known, celebrated poet and literary activist, will be one of the keynote speakers at the event this weekend at Pax Nova in Bochabela. Other speakers include Sekhopi Malebo, Modise Phekonyane, Smanga Ntlola among others. The celebrated journalist, Mr Mpikeleni Duma will be orchestrating proceedings.

Meanwhile Free State News spoke to a number of people in the Province this week about the event. Unfortunately, many young people professed that they did not know anything about those galvanic events in Mangaung 36 years ago; but also pointed out that they would be proud to be enlightened in this wise. Older respondents stated that they are happy that even in the new dispensation, the terrible struggles of the past can still be remembered.

The theme of the anniversary this year is “Aluta Continua”. The date of the event is Saturday the 18th of August, 2012. Proceedings kick-off at 14H00.
(Published in August 17 2012 edition)