FREE STATE NEWS JUNE 7 2013 SAMPLE STORIES

FREE STATE NEWS JUNE 7 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

Contributors

Letshego Moeng
Sebedi Seroalo
Raselebeli Khotseng

Lay-out artist

Tumisang Takang

Contact number:

051 447 1655 051 447 1655 

FS WOMEN BASK IN ILLUMINATING CAPE TOWN TOUR

By Regomoditswe Motsalane (below)

The Free State Department of Premier and Government took sixty women from five districts in the Free State for a revelatory tour to Cape Town for four days. The ladies hail from Thabo Mofutsanyana, Motheo, Fezile Dabi, Lejweleputswa and Maluti a phofung districts.

This was to educate elderly Free State women about South African pristine history. These women are all members of Women’s League, and priests and wives of priests. In every district they nominated twelve women. After arriving in Cape Town, they were taken to the Parliament where they learnt a lot about the National Assembly chamber and how laws are implemented, they were further taken to the Aquarium to be shown fishes, reptiles and their ilk. They also learnt about how all these aquatic animals live and what they eat.

On their last day in the Mother City, the cavalcade was taken to Robben Island to be shown where their revered icon and hero, former South African president Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for 13 and half years of hard labour imprisonment. The tour guide showed them around and explained stories to them along the way; and they were also allowed to ask questions if they did not understand.

They were also given permission to enter struggle stalwart, Robert Sobukwe's, house who died at the age 54 and was house-arrested for 9 years; the tourists were able to pore over letters he wrote to his wife while in prison and to see the shoddy clothes he wore when he trained dogs; his iron, blanket and bed.

Mr Sandlana Smit of the Intervention Unit of the Premier minorities in the Free State Province told Free State news that it is in their best interest to educate people about what their leaders went through during the apartheid time. "It’s saddening knowing that most of these elderly people, their family and friends’ lives were ended during the time of apartheid and they only heard that these selfless activists were dubbed ‘terrorists’ but never really knew what happened to them. It is also good that they learn about how their Parliament works.”

He added: "South Africa is a place of all races, we also wanted to set an example that we are a rainbow nation despite the colour of our skins, when we talk about democracy for all we talking about unity and this is what the Department of Premier and Government is trying to show,"

It was the first time for some of these women to visit Cape Town and their excitement was palpable. Some cried tears of joy, and some even vomited because of their anxiety of being in a ship for the first time. Most cried when they were told stories about Robben Island during the time of apartheid. "I used to bring learners here while I was still a teacher, but it never held such feelings for me like it does now. I got so emotional especially when I remembered how my father got killed here in 1977. It brings back memories but I am glad it all came to pass; now these tears are tears of joy not of pain. I am so happy to have been one of the chosen women to come here" said a tear-soaked Me Ntswaki Thejane (69) from Qwaqwa.

Me Alina Mangaka Ramokhula (61), also told Free State news that for her the tour was all about honouring and respecting those who brought democracy to our country, together with respecting our leaders. She said that people must learn to appreciate what they get from their Free State Government because “this is for the first time I have ever heard of any Provincial Government that puts its people first like the Free State Province does." She added uproariously: “We were spoilt rotten with food, accommodation, and the rest of the tour. I am not going to stop telling people about this trip, I am going to be the butt of jealousy by many!” Suke!

Rewarding Love for the Free State

By Letshego Moeng

Winners basked at the refulgent occasion. Earlier, in April, Free State Tourism Authority launched a page on facebook called 'I love Free State'. A competition was opened in which the Free State community was asked to submit pictures.

"We opened for 2 weeks and the response was overwhelming, over 115 people entered the competition" Tshediso Lerumo, disclosed.

"The Free State Tourism Authority has realised that the social media platform are fast becoming the marketing initiative that allows the entity to be in the pocket of every mobile phone holder who is a facebook user; and the entity registered- ‘I love Free State’ page where ordinary citizens talk about their experience of the province", said Chairperson of Free State Tourism Authority, Glen Motau.

Andile Mokhathi garnered the 1st prize of R5000 for the image of Maloting Hiking Trails in QwaQwa. "I'm inspired by endless beauty, and I relish my breath being taken away through traveling which is what I do for fun. Anything you would like to know about Free State I'll let you know, and if I don't know, I'll refer you to someone who does" said the excited Andile, who is a traveller and an adventurer.

Anthony Mitchell came in second for his image of the Appeal Court, winning R3000. "It’s my hobby to take pictures and the Appeal Court is one of the landmarks in Bloemfontein which encouraged me to capture it and I love Free State" said Mr Mitchell, a part time photographer. Ms Licolette Smit, for the image of Bethlehem covered in snow, won the 3rd prize winner of R2000. However she was unfortunately unavailable, due to her studies.

Laudably, the public at large actually voted for the best picture.  "We launched the page which we needed to interact with community on tourism issues and ensure that Tourism is felt even more in the Free State…now with the inception of the new board, we came up with some new marketing strategies and initiatives are in place" added Motau. One of the initiatives is the Big Five that was launched during the recent Tourism Indaba in Durban. "Our intention is to get more people involved, for Free Staters to share their experiences with Free States and be ambassadors of their province.”

Tourists are encouraged to visit the Free State. "There will be other competitions in the future where we will have best restaurant, best guest house, best 'chisanyama' and the like", said Mr D Pillay, acting CEO. "Once we have completed our social media strategy we will announce more interactive marketing initiatives that will ensure the province is vigorously marketed,” concluded Motau.

WOMEN IN CBO’S ORGANISATIONS EMPOWERED

By Raselebeli Khotseng

The Free State Network on Violence Against Women (FSNVAW) in partnership with the Education and Training Development Programme (ETDP) SETA have come to the rescue of women working with Community Based Organisations (CBOs).

The partnership has organised a successful project management training aimed at capacitating managers from CBOs organizations on project management, or on how to manage their programmes.

The training which took place at Motheo FET College in Bloemfontein was attended by twenty-four CBOs managers (mostly women) from different sectors such as deaf community, disability, Hiv/Aids and Victim Empowerment Project (VEP) organizations.

The first session of the training course kick-started on the 24^th and 25^th April 2013 whilst the second and the last one took place on the 29^th and 30^th May 2013 at the same venue (Motheo FET)

The participants of this accredited training course were to be awarded with NQF level 5 certificates. “Actually we need to develop women’s capacity in leading societal programmes and their respective organizations” said Alinah Mahasela, the director for Free State Network.