By Obakeng Maje

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has announced that preparations for the launching of the Provincial Arts and Culture Indaba are in full swing. 

Chief Director: Arts and Culture, Libraries and Archives, Mr. Thabo Mabe, says the Indaba, which was initially scheduled for October, will now take place in November in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District. 

“The October date was subject to a number of things being in place, matters including the venue, the completion of district indabas and the confirmation of speakers for the event,” says Mabe. “Now we have a clear schedule of district indabas, with the first one in Ngaka Modiri Molema District on October 29. We encourage all artists to participate at district level, before we engage at provincial level.

“As we speak, logistical arrangements such as the engagement of all genres, the venue, and selection of participants and confirmations of attendants are underway.”

The theme of the Indaba is: “Carving a Place for the North West in the Mzansi’s Golden Economy”, in recognition of the need for the development of cohesive and well-defined and thought-out strategies for the carving of a proper role and space in the socio-economic development of this country.

“The overall outcome is to ensure that out of the indaba we have clear guidelines regarding such critical issues as funding policy and other elements,” says Mabe. “We want to ensure that all stakeholders know the rules of the game.“

Mabe says he is impressed with the engagement of the artists, as they are critical to the success of the Indaba. Following a meeting with the artists and Premier Thandi Modise, a joint steering committee comprising artists and Departmental officials was formed. 

“Already, five members of the Arts and Culture community have been part of three meetings with Departmental staff in preparation for the Indaba. That is an impressive development, as we seek to find solutions to common challenges. I am confident that we will work together for the benefit of arts and culture in the Province.”

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By Obakeng Maje

The North West Province’s support for the universal call for attention to the essential part that reproductive health plays in creating a just and equitable world is to be amplified at the provincial event to commemorate World Population Day to be held at the Orion Hotel in Rustenburg on Thursday.

The theme adopted by the United Nations to reenergize commitments made in the past towards universal access to reproductive health and to recognise those who provide information, services and supplies as part of commemorating the 2012 World Population Day is “Universal Access to Reproductive Health Services.”

“Although reproductive health is recognised as a human rights issue which should be at the very heart of development and crucial to delivering the United Nations Population Fund vision of a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every child birth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled, problems associated with it remain the leading cause of ill health and death for women of childbearing age worldwide says Premier Thandi Modise.

Premier Modise added that with the world population having reached 7 billion, investing in sexual and reproductive health is one of the surest and most effective ways to promote equitable and sustainable development and achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

“We are challenged to take urgent concerted action to bridge the gap between demand and supply of reproductive health care because women and young people who are in good health, and who have the power and the means to make their decisions about how many children to have–and when to have them, are better able to contribute to the development of their societies If we can reach the poorest and most vulnerable communities with reproductive health information and services, we can save many lives and improve countless others. We will also make significant strides in reducing poverty, advancing development and protecting human rights.” she stressed

The provincial commemoration hosted by the Planning Commission in the Office of the Premier in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund and the Provincial Department of a Health is intended at promoting and informing citizens on various aspects of reproductive and sexual health will determine whether we are committed to the idea that everyone has a right to reproductive health.

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By Obakeng Maje

Back-from-injury central defender Amanda Sister scored in a crowded penalty area, to give Banyana Banyana a 1-1 draw with Cameroon in a friendly international match played at the Omnisport Stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon on Monday, 22 October 2012.

By Obakeng Maje

Yaounde-Back-from-injury central defender Amanda Sister scored in a crowded penalty area, to give Banyana Banyana a 1-1 draw with Cameroon in a friendly international match played at the Omnisport Stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon on Monday, 22 October 2012.

The Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana are based in Yaounde to acclimatise the players ahead of the hot conditions expected at the eight-nation CAF African Women championship 2012 in Equatorial Guinea from October 28 to November 11.

Tall Cameroonian striker Enganamouit Gaelle tested the Banyana Banyana defence with a chip over advancing goalkeeper Thoko Mndaweni as early as the 7th minute, but the Banyana Banyana gloves lady stretched and held on to the ball to stop a certain goal.

But Banyana Banyana were not as lucky second time around, when the same movement in the 27th minute saw Gaelle first to the ball ahead of van Wyk and a charging Mndaweni, to chip into the back of the Banyana Banyana net.

Banyana Banyana head coach Joseph Mkhonza tried out various options in the second half with CAF African Women Footballer of the Year 2009, striker Noko Matlou, being introduced into play at the expense of the speedy Jermaine Seoposenwe.

Bloemfontein Celtics Ladies (Sasol League Free State) striker Sanah Mollo came on for Durban Ladies (Sasol League KwaZulu Natal) goal-getter Silindile Ngubane and another Durban Ladies player, defender Charlotte Mshengu, made her Banyana Banyana debut, on for right-back Zamandosi Cele

SA were much more offensive after the substitutions were made and a period of extensive pressure on the Cameroonian final third, saw Sister stab the ball home in a packed home team penalty area with just two minutes of play left.

Sister, who missed the previous two matches against Zimbabwe due to a quadriceps injury, added much solidity to the visitors’ rearguard, while in midfield Refiloe Jane, was involved in the majority of possession won which were turned into Banyana Banyana attacks.

Playing in front of a small crowd in the 20 000-seater Omnisport Stadium, Banyana Banyana looked more attacking after the substitutions were made in the second half with Matlou in particular, showing signs of her old self, which saw her score 55 goals in 78 outings.

Banyana Banyana will open their Group A campaign at the CAF African Women Championship 2012 against Equatorial Guinea in Malabo on October 28, before facing Senegal in the same city on October 31. The South Africans will then travel to Bata for their final group encounter with DR Congo on November 3.

The semi-finals will take place in either Malabo or Bata on November 7, with the 3rd/4th place playoff and the title decider both scheduled for Malabo on November 11.

“The match against Cameroon was just the type of physical encounter our players needed ahead of what should be a tough Group A fixture against hosts Equatorial Guinea at the CAF African Women Championship,” said Mkhonza afterwards.

“Safa and our team sponsor Sasol need to be thanked for their support of the Banyana squad and I know the players will give their all at the African tournament. We were not outclassed today against Cameroon. We were competitive, and know which areas of our play to work on ahead of the tournament in Equatorial Guinea. We had our chances against Cameroon just like they did, but were kept out by some superb goalkeeping.

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Cape Town – The death toll in flooding-related incidents in the Western Cape and Eastern and Cape has risen to double figures, with more details emerging of heavy damage caused at the weekend.

In Port Alfred one house was washed away and others severely damaged by rising waters. Part of a road in the town was washed away, isolating a suburb.

Rains across the country caused havoc. On Sunday eight people had been confirmed dead, with reports of an increase to 13 deaths, 11 of which were in the Eastern Cape.

Storms and heavy rain lashed the Western Cape and Eastern Cape at the weekend, with roads and bridges washed away and many people missing and feared dead.

Repair work still being done to repair the damage by similar flooding in 2010 suffered major setbacks, said Sisanda George, spokesman for the beleaguered Eastern Cape province’s Department of Roads and Public Works.

In Port Alfred and St Francis Bay, National Sea Rescue Institute volunteer crews had their hands full helping people from flooded properties and getting people safely across flood waters where bridges had washed away.

In St Francis Bay, a large part of the road into the town had washed away and NSRI boats ferried people across the damaged area, including children who had to get ready to write matric exams.

The flooding and heavy rains had not only caused new damage, but also severely set back work done to repair the damage from 2010, George said.

“We are still trying to assess the damage, but it is widespread, throughout the province. If you think just in terms of the building materials and aggregate that had been washed away now at the construction sites, the costs should be very high,” he said.

Closer to Cape Town, the Overberg was also hard hit, with swollen rivers flooding their banks.

Rescuers saved people clinging to the roofs of their cars from a flooded river in Napier after they were swept off bridges due to heavy downpours at the weekend.

Two cars were swept off separate bridges on Saturday, Overberg fire chief Reinard Geldenhuys said on Sunday.

“We found [one] driver about 20m down the river, stuck on top of the vehicle for two hours. We deployed rescue swimmers and brought him to safety.”

Geldenhuys said Byron Lombard had been on his way to retrieve a vehicle that had been washed away earlier when his breakdown vehicle was also washed away around 2am. When rescuers found him, Lombard had been on top of his vehicle for four hours. He was treated for hypothermia.

In separate incident, a man, his wife and child were also swept into the river while driving over another bridge, Geldenhuys said.

“The family were rescued by a farmer. They were also found clinging to the roof of their vehicle.”

Later, a man who was being pursued by police jumped into the Napier river to escape arrest. He is still at large.

In the Eastern Cape, a section of the N2 between Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth collapsed on Saturday night.

Provincial traffic and disaster management spokesman Tshepo Machae said the collapse was due to rainfall in the area. “There is a huge hole, about 25m wide and 50m deep on the N2, by the Pumba Game Reserve, between Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown,” said Captain John Fobian.

The road has been closed and traffic is being diverted from Port Elizabeth to the N10 through Cookhouse.

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Durban – Instead of writing his first matric exam paper on Monday, a Newlands West teenager will attend the funeral of his eldest brother.

Romano Dean Govender, 20, was at a friend’s 16th birthday party at a hall at Hillgrove Secondary School when he was allegedly shot dead by a policeman on Saturday night. He had apparently tried to intervene in a fight between two boys, over a girl.

Niven Govender said on Sunday that witnesses had told him his nephew had tried to separate the sparring boys.

“Romano managed to break up the fight and was walking out of the school yard with one of the boys when he was shot. He died in the school car park.”

The policeman who allegedly shot him had been a guest at the party, Govender said.

The bullet entered Romano’s arm and lodged in the youngster’s heart, Govender said.

Romano Dean Govender, 20, who was allegedly shot dead by a policeman, at a party on Saturday night.

SUPPLIED

Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) spokesman, Moses Dlamini, said it was being investigated. He said details were sketchy at this stage.

The policeman is being held at the Inanda police station. He was expected to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday on a charge of murder.

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