FREE
STATE NEWS JUNE 28 2013 SAMPLE STORIES
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”
Editor
Kaya M
News Editor
Omoseye Bolaji
Free State News crew
Publisher
Moses Vinger
Confidential Secretary/Manager
Maki Mohapi aka “Madam Maki” “H.C”
Editor
Kaya M
News Editor
Omoseye Bolaji
Contributors
Letshego Moeng
Raselebeli Khotseng
Lay-out artist
Tumisang Takang
Contact number:
051 447 1655 051 447 1655
Letshego Moeng
Raselebeli Khotseng
Lay-out artist
Tumisang Takang
Contact number:
051 447 1655 051 447 1655
Community
service produces budding stars
By Letshego
Moeng
It was exhilarating times as Free State News – which has always committed
itself to teaching young high school students about the world of Journalism –
added another feather to its cap last week in respect of the newspaper’s
educational development programme.
Kamogelo Motse (17) who lives in Bloemanda and
Zikhona Hleko (17) who lives in Bayswater, are both from Eunice High school.
These two young students are aspiring future journalists and wanted an opportunity
to see how the newspaper works.
“We came here to find out more about what
journalism entails and we learnt a lot from proficient mentors,” said Kamogelo
Motse.
The reason Motse decided to pursue a career
in journalism was because she loves reading and has also written articles for
the school newspaper.
During the mentorship programme both young
ladies were exposed to the layout of the newspaper and given a chance to interview
people. Motse’s classmate, Zikhona Hleko was also impressed with the
information she received. “We got a lot of information from different perspectives
and this enabled us to make an informed decision pertaining to our career,”
said Hleko.
According to her, they received an
assignment from school to not only research about the career they want but they
also want to pragmatically step in the shoes of journalists.
“We
went to other newspapers but they were unable to assist us, however the Free State News welcomed them,” said
Hleko.
“Other newspapers could not help us but
here we felt much welcomed by the publication,” she said.
During the lessons they had an opportunity
to meet with the staff who had a positive impact on their choices. “It was fun and nice to meet the people and see
the different characters and still be able to work together,” said Hleko.
The students realised that in order to go
somewhere in life, there is always a starting point. “In order to achieve our
goals, we needed to take the first step and we also realised that success does
not happen without hard work. It depends
on whether to come here because you have to start somewhere and not be in the
upper position haphazardly,” said Hleko.
They felt that they did receive what they
came to seek. They learnt that they didn’t necessarily have to study journalism
to become good journalists or writers.
Motse echoed that now that she has an idea
of what Journalism is all about she will definitely look more into studying
Law. “Look more into studying law and not journalism only,” said Motse.
“Our expectations were met and we are still
going to do more research regarding what we would like to study,” said Motse.
PRAISE FOR IHOBE
By Regomoditswe Motsalane
Praise
has been pouring in for the play, Ihobe
the freedom song which was dramatized in Bloemfontein last week courtesy of
Pacofs. There are now plans to ensure the drama continues to be ensconced on
stage.
Ntate
Godfrey Nthejane who told Free State news
that he is a “veteran” of the struggle having once been a “thespian” for the
late Gilbert Modise said: “It is very important that people, the youth in
particular must know about South African history and the struggle that almost
tore the nation apart in the past,”
“On
my own part I am very excited about Ihobe,”
Thabo Mafike, a well known playwright and author said. “I found the drama
exciting and timely – especially as it was churned out during Youth Month. The
actors did well and obviously rehearsed a lot prior to performance”
Matshidiso
Rutla, part of the audience that savoured the play, said: “I was a bit ashamed
whilst watching the great play, as I realized I hardly know the history of my
own country not to talk of what Free Staters, the youth contributed to the
struggle decades ago. We the youth are mainly obsessed with material things
now, not appreciating what those who came before us in the past did,”
Fikile Qithi, the gentleman of whom the riveting play is
essentially weaved around is a former student leader of Ihobe Secondary School,
and former political prisoner at Robben Island. He said: “The event
commemorates the Mangaung Students Outburst. We are all indebted to younger
students in Mangaung who were inspired by the Soweto uprisings of June 1976,
who also took part in the struggle against Afrikaans as the medium for
education.” Fikile Qithi, real life icon of the struggle has pointed out.
Free State News gathered
that such schools included: Ihobe Secondary School, and Marang Primary School,
Sehunelo High School, Lereko High School, St Bernard Roman Catholic School.
History reveals that these institutions rejected the imposition of Afrikaans.
Their heroes included: Mpho Diba, Pinkie Litheko, and the indomitable Fikile
Qithi himself.
Mr Mpikeleni Duma,
veteran journalist and activist who was instrumental in ensuring the play was
successfully put on stage has been milking the applause since. He said this
week: “I make no apologies that I want our people to realize the type of jagged
history our country has had. Ihobe was
conceived in this light. We must not be supine or rest on our laurels,”
Riveting Workshops on Storytelling,
et al
By Raselebeli Khotseng
The
Archives Organization for poetry sessions in partnership with RAONA Trading
organised an amazing educational workshops on story-telling and literature
reading for pre-schools and high schools at National Afrikaans Literature
Museum in Bloemfontein.
The
event was in line with the June 16 celebration month and took place on the 14th
and 15th June respectively (2013). They both kick-started at 10 am
The
first event for pre-schools or crèches took place on a high note with
story-telling and puppet show on Friday the 14th June. Various
crèches’ learners from five pre-schools around Bloemfontein attended in great
numbers where they (the little ones) were exposed to the ways of telling
stories and enjoying puppet shows.
About
one hundred and ninety children graced the occasion which was conducted by Me
Charmaine Mrwebi and Ratanang Menong, both the co-founders of RAONA; whilst the
entertaining puppet show was demonstrated by Lindiwe Damane under the watchful
eyes of the archives poetry pundits.
“Children
should be informed about the importance of historical celebrations like June 16
and know that what you’re fighting now as a right cause will benefit you in the
future” said Charmaine, a well known writer and literary activist. She went on
to say that they (kids) must learn to say yes when they realize that it is
right to say so and also learn to say no without being forced to say so,” she
concluded.
Mme
Lindiwe agreed that children should be given an opportunity to learn, by
playing, unlike adults whose attention span is more limited to about twenty
minutes.
With
this the Archives committed to inspire the spirit of reading amongst young
children, and also to host many creative workshops throughout the year.
The
second most important workshop for secondary high schools and adults took place
in the afternoon till Saturday…it was attended by local and other schools from
Welkom, Virginia, Odendalsrus and Mangaung. Under the theme, “Creative Writers
Workshop” the event sparked into life with the high participation of students
from Welkom CUT, Lepholla Secondary (Welkom), Harmony High (Virginia) to
mention a few.
Impressively,
an array of artists displayed their paintings and craft. One of the well-known
writers and author of the scintillating poetry book, SECRETS, Matshidiso Taleng (above) motivated budding writers and generously donated two copies
of her book to Harmony and Lepholla schools.
