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

Free State News October 5 2012 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

Lay-out artist

Tumisang Takang

Contact number:

051 447 1655 051 447 1655


Correctional Services week commemorated

By Dineo Mokgosi

The Department of Correctional Services in the Free State and Northern Cape region embarked on a corrections week which began on September 24th to September 30th in an effort to showcase pockets of excellence throughout the correctional centres at the department.

During the week, the department sought to inform and educate the public about the achievements in the delivery of corrections, rehabilitations and reintegration of offenders into the society, ensuring a safer and more secure country.

Regional Commissioner, Subashni Moodley said they were only following the mandate of the minister of correctional services, Sbu Ndebele when he said “correctional centres must not be places for locking people up and throwing away the key, not letting offenders rot in cells, but where offenders have to face up to what they have done to victims, engage with restorative justice processes, complete corrections and development programmes and become involved in production workshops and return to the community with skills,” Commissioner Moodley said.

The commissioner said correctional services are the last hope for victims of crime and for many of the individuals sentenced for crime.

“All offenders except for lifers who are considered inappropriate for parole, return to society at the end of the sentence. It is the responsibility of us all to ensure that they are in the best state to be constructive members of society upon their release. Corrections is a societal responsibility in partnership with each other and with the department, we can help reduce the levels of crime in our country,” the commissioner said.

Corrections week was commemorated to create awareness among communities and different stakeholders to take responsibility for correcting offending behavior through foundation units in the family.

Activities in the corrections week included restorative justice processes at the Colesburg centre where there were interactions with victims of crime and awareness on victim participation in parole hearings. There was also a public awareness day in Upington where different regions embarked on a public awareness drive targeting masses as busy intersections, taxi ranks and busy routes to distribute educational information packs about correctional services. Kroonstad correctional centre had an offender family day to encourage family members to visit their offenders in the correctional centre.



FS ROAD ACCIDENT FUND MEET THEIR CLIENTS

By Nthabiseng Lisele

The Road Accident Fund (RAF) dedicated a day to every resident who has been affected by death and injuries from the everyday road accidents. They organized a campaign where people where informed more about the procedures of RAF.

According to the Road Accident Fund (RAF), 2012 has been declared as “The Year of the Customer” which implies that the RAF will be embarking on various initiatives to take their service offering to their customers.

The department such as marketing, communications including stakeholder relations was in collaboration with RAF’s provincial offices, regions and customer services network in the Free State. This special event took place at Batho Township in Mangaung.

The communication manager Jacquie Sobantu indicated that, “In our endeavour to meet the faces behind our files, as well as those families who have been affected by motor vehicle accidents, the RAF hosted this massive community outreach campaign for you”.

The Free State News did learn that the mandate of the RAF is to assist the residents with the status of claims, making settlement offers, to issue medical undertakings certificates and invite eligible community members to lodge claims directly with the RAF.

This campaign amongst other things helped the RAF management to also educate residents of the Free State province, community members of Batho Township and the society at large including the surrounding communities about the RAF.

“The aim of this campaign is to bridge the gap between the RAF and our customers in order to improve service delivery and meet the RAF’s overall strategic objectives”, said Jacquie.

The RAF management also added that this campaign is being rolled out nationally and the visit to Bloemfontein, Batho Township was their 9th lap of the highly successful ‘RAF on the Road’ community outreach, since beginning of the year.



Illuminating Seminar in Mangaung

By Raselebeli Khotseng

The community hall teemed with diverse activities as the World Bible School from America orchestrated proceedings.

The resonant theme at the occasion on the day was – “The word of God must be known to the people, the word says we must trust in god” Indeed, many people here warmed to this theme, as Free State News gathered.

Eddie Mogopodi excelled at the occasion. The main speaker, Mr Mabena, extolled the virtues of the World Bible school. “One nation, one God!” He pointed out that people should join the school, as the courses were not only free, but also illuminating.

“The school is very important for all communities around the world,” he said. A wide medley of people, including officials, the community at large, the Grootvlei choir, basked at the seminar.

It was a majestic day that witnessed fine speeches, moving prayers, and responses from stake holders. The way forward was suggested by many, with the society at large expected to move forward.

Others called for the positive transformation of the people, more especially the prisoners from Grootvlei. Sipho, who works at Gospel Chariot Mission touched on the significance of the bible, and community libraries.

“The Lord is surely coming soon,” he said. Also in attendance was Ntate Kgang Abel Motheane, the well known, prolific, versatile writer and columnist