Free State News, July 19 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
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MADIBA!
By Raselebeli Khotseng
As part of the euphoria that
swept the world yesterday – the 95th birthday of the global titan,
Nelson Mandela - the FS Department of Education and Treasury orchestrated its
employees and officials outside the Provincial Department Building C.R Swartz)
with the aim of making his birthday a memorable one.
This was part of South
Africans’ joint effort to come together in singing the special “Happy Birthday”
song for the international icon yesterday.
The occasion started at 7.30
am and it was attended by a plethora of well-wishers from other government
departments. Before the kick-start of this epochal event, even the jubilant
crowd sang songs of praise to Mandela “Hayo
Mathata ha Madiba a le teng”
billowed forth complemented by freedom songs.
Mr Lefaso Mofokeng asked the
crowd which comprised a miscellany of colours and race to sing the national
anthem; before calling upon Mr N Kotjomela to chip in with an effusive prayer.
Afterwards Mr H.L Kgomongwe,
the Department’s Chief Executive Officer opened with some revelatory remarks,
reminding people about what Mandela stood for. “We grew up under his image and
guidance as he sacrificed his entire life for human lives,”.
He enthused
further: “We should emulate his values by doing the right things…people must
not bear grudges against another, and try to forgive and forge ahead,”
Afterwards, Mr Ephraim
Semanego recited a praise-poem in honour of Mandela. Then Mr R.S Malope, the
head of Department, said that Mandela is a dignified hero who the world
reveres, and can never forget. “What made him even more special is that he is
also a human being like others, but he has inspired us prodigiously. He stands to promote spirit of volunteerism,
respect of diversity and reconciliation,”
He went on to encourage
officials to embark on efforts that Madiba requested them to do which includes
sacrifice for the lives of others,” concluded.
The occasion was wrapped up
with the department’s choir singing “Happy Birthday, Madiba!”
Free State News joins the
fray!
·
Free State News
chipped in with a helping hand yesterday to boost the young ones at the
far-flung Oreratile Adra Care Centre as part of quintessential Madiba’s
birthday celebrations.
The normally serene, placid
area with its rustic ambience lit up as the children and matrons at the Centre
became exhilarated at the assorted gifts of snacks, personal accessories and
drinks which the newspaper donated to them.
The Publisher of Free State News, Mr Moses Vinger
personally graced the event and explained that international Mandela Day was an
auspicious opportunity for people to embark on sundry acts of philanthropy and
magnanimity especially where the disadvantaged are concerned.
Mr Vinger said: “Free State News has an enviable
tradition of always bringing some sunshine to needy people or organizations
during the icon (Mandela’s) birthday every year. It is in this spirit that we
have donated these items to this Centre,”
The matrons of Oreratile Adra
Day Care Centre thanked Free State News
for the gesture of goodwill. They explained that the Centre has a number of
problems – including inadequate electronic warmth, and basic needs for the
young ones. The public at large is invited to help the Centre in any way they can.
Those who want to support the institution can do so by contacting Free State News.
‘Connie’
is a woman of substance
By our correspondent
Constance Nokuzola
Sambokwe-Leeuw has had an intriguing, rather checkered history. She epitomizes
the new-brand mature South African woman, post 1994.
In this wise, this intrepid
lady continues to have her fingers in pies- she is an entrepreneur, sports
enthusiast, philanthropist, political activist, and even a constructor. She
told Free State News this week that
when she reminisces about her life journey she is rather satisfied.
“I remember when I was a
little girl many years go in a boarding house; I was already politically
conscientized. We used to hold meetings discussing what we could do to fight the
scourge of apartheid. One thing was for certain, we were not going to be slaves
in our own country forever. At home, during holidays in those days we did not
want our parents to know that we were already into politics”
Later on whilst undergoing
her tertiary education in Mangaung ‘Connie’ would display her non-conformist
stance. “I was rather hotheaded even in my dealings with our teachers and
lecturers. One day right in public with all the students around, I verbally
confronted one white teacher and told him that he was very wrong with one of
his comments. I felt he was undermining blacks and I put him in his place”
Connie is the proprietor of
Integrated Wound and Health Care Products and Services, a health firm based in
Andries Pretorius Bloemfontein “We deal with diabetic sores, Eczema and Psoariasis,
superficial wounds bacterial infections, bad sores, surgical wounds, shingles
and traumatic wounds. Young ladies who have got into trouble are free to
frequent the place,”
Connie, who over the years
has taken a number of young women under her wing, more or less “adopting” them,
adds:: “Young ladies nowadays should continue to be hard-working and seize the
many opportunities open to the in the new South Africa. Diligence, focus,
determination, intelligence – that’s the way to go,”
NO RDP FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS!
Leshego Moeng
47 year old Mapadi
Morenammele is an impoverished woman who lives in Phase 3, Mangaung, with her
family where they eke out something of a miserable existence.
Her three children are: Mamello
Khasu (28), Kgotsofalang Madidimetsa (38) - now married - Relebohile Moremmele,
(21), and Puseletso Morenammele (15)
Morenammele told Free State News: “At 11 am I wake up to
get water because at 8am in the morning running water stops. Sometimes these boys come and chase you so
hard that you leave the bucket behind just to salvage your life because you
don’t know what they might do to you!”
They use this water for
cleaning, washing, laundry and cooking. “This toilet has been put here and has
been blocked since then,” she said. “My
daughter Mamello works, but her salary can not build a house as we have been
waiting for an RDP till now. There is no safety here and there is something
wrong with our electric poles; should there be a strong wind we will die.”
She added: “They did come to
fix it but they pass here and don’t do anything, except reminding me how
dangerous it is,” Morenammele went on to explain that the man who gave her this
place is her employer who had written the place in his name’s son but changed
it when she had an identity Document. “I used to get sick pension and now it is
gone,” she said.
Morenammele is amongst the
many residents across the Free State who are experiencing the trouble of
service delivery.
Incidentally, the Premier of
Free State, Ace Magashule discussed these issues related to service delivery at
the Open Government Partnership earlier this week.
Free State News
learned that the Batho Pele Coordinators in the various Departments have
established Service Delivery Improvements Forums which are functioning well but
need further capacitating and resourcing in order to mainstream their work into
the mainstream of government work and roll-out of Government Programme of
Action.
Magashule pointed out: “On a
regular basis we Implement a “Know Your Service Rights and Responsibilities”
campaign, which has seen government officials going to the coal face of Service
Delivery and educating the various communities about their rights and
responsibilities but ensuring that the people know their government and are
enabled to access services that will impact positively on improvement of their
lives. At an Executive level, we embark
on Door to Door Campaigns as we implement service delivery improvement through
Operation Hlasela activities”
He added; “Our various
service delivery programmes are ensuring that this administration knows where
the people live and how they live as well as developing an understanding of
what can be done to improve their lives”.
