Generations: The Legacy actor Rapulana Seiphemo has finally broken his silence after being involved in a deadly car accident earlier this year telling fans that the experience could have “destroyed” him.

Taking to Instagram for the first time since the accident which left three people dead and the soap star in intensive care‚ Rapulana thanked fans for their prayers and support.

“As you all know by now; I went through a traumatic incident a number of months ago. I am well on my way to recovery; a recovery that would not have been possible without the thoughts and prayers of so many of you: my supporters‚ family and friends.”

Rapulana revealed that the experience has left him shaken and credits the prayers and support of friends and fans for helping him pull through.

“I would like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. It was something that could have destroyed me‚ but (for the) hope and inspiration from all of you. I am blessed and grateful to be surrounded by all of you.”

According to Generations: The Legacy publicist Gaaratwe Mokhethi‚ the actor is expected to return to the set of popular SABC 1 soapie in the next few weeks‚ once he has fully recovered from his injuries.

Source: http://www.timelive.co.za

ACTING MEC for culture, art and traditional affairs (CATA), Manketsi Tlhape said action needs to be done to implement the department’s R659.6m budget presented recently.

The department has a mandate to make issues of culture central to economic development after Premier Supra Mahumapelo singled out the component together with agriculture and tourism as the key economic pillars for the province.

Tabling the budget, Tlhape said: “We have managed to obtain funding for Library Practice Learnership to the tune of R1.2m from the PSETA during last financial year. The department also contributed R326 000 to augment for of learners stipend. Most of the learners were recruited from the areas where Libraries are located. They have completed formal training in January and are awaiting finalisation of their assessments.

“Another grant to the tune of R135 030 was sourced from CATHSSETA for skills development. The exercise was completed in January and workers are at Klein Marico Hospitality Facility on Food Service Aid. The same SETA has approved a grant to an amount of R336 000 for the intake of eight interns for Performing Arts, Crafts and Visual Arts advertised through the entire province,” she said.

The MEC added that ten interns were also placed on a PSETA programme. She said the amount of R576 000 grant was received.

The internship programme will end at end of December this year. She further added 20 learners benefited from R720 000 grants until next year.

“Two hundred artists and arts and culture practitioners benefited from skill development progamme called Ikatisong. We will forge an agreement with the education department to place at least 30 practitioners in schools,” she said.

Tlhape pointed out that they will help art centres across communities. Six applications received for upgrading and refurbishment of underutilised as CACs.

She said they will host 85 festivals throughout the province and that these will be organised by their service points and districts in collaboration with traditional leaders and local municipalities.

The MEC indicated that these festivals will promote Mahika Mahikeng Festival as the year end bash.

Tlhape said priorities for traditional affairs will be taken into considerations. She said the construction and renovation of traditional council offices cost R27 million. Tlhape said a support for traditional council in the form of grants was R19m.

“Tools of trade for Dikgosi like cell phones cost the department R700 000. Maintenance of fleet like vehicles allocated to traditional councils was R2m, and Induction and training of newly elected members of traditional councils cost R1.5m. The finalisation of the North West Initiation Schools Matters Draft Bill was R300 000.

“We will continue to rebrand, reposition and renew our province. We will continue to increase the number of village-based recording studios. The department will spend R1.5m on this project in the four districts,” Tlhape said.

“During this financial year R24 685m will be transferred to municipalities for smooth operations and service delivery to our people. We will be handing over libraries to communities during this financial year namely; Tlokweng, Lomanyaneng, Ganalaagte, Khunwana, Tlakgameng, Ipelegeng and Boikhutso,” she said.

-TDN

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THE North West Flames Netball team continues to do the province proud as it leads the pack in the ongoing 2016 Brutal Fruit netball League.

MEC for education and sport development in North West, Wendy Matsemela applauded the team’s exploits after it defeated a fired up Kwazulu-Natal Kingdom Stars team.

Matsemela said she was proud that the team continued to show its mettle at the tournament.

“We urge our people to continue rally behind the team. They are making the province proud with their weekly performances. Our North West Flames Netball Team dominated the weekend games again in the 2016 Brutal Fruit Netball League. This was round 4 of the tournament and took place at Ellis Park Indoor Arena, Johannesburg,” Matsemela said.

North West Flames has played its two crucial games and looks set to be a surprise package this year. The team played against the Kingdom Stars of KwaZulu-Natal on Friday and Gauteng Jaguars on Saturday and came out unscathed.

Matsemela said these two games were taunted as a make or break for the Flames to consolidate their position of staying at the top of the Premier League.

In a thrilling game against the Kingdom Stars, The North West Flames Netball team dominated all the quarters and won 46 – 39. On the second day of Round 4, The Flames played another difficult match against the Gauteng Jaguars in which they ended up sharing the spoils at 52 – 52 goals.

The results of these two games propelled the North West Flames to stay on top of the log above all teams with 11 points.

North West Flames player, Fikile Mkhuzangwe scooped player of the match award. She was awarded R5000 cheque.

Mkhuzangwe said: “I am very excited and attributes my win to the team as a whole. It was all about hard work and dedication. I am very happy and excited to be named the Player of the Match. This means a lot to me as a player and my hard work has paid off.”

North West Flames coach, Doretta Bardenhorst expressed her temporary relief after playing the toughest games in the tournament.

She said: “Somehow I am truly relieved after playing these two games. These were a mammoth task and I will like to thank my players for giving it all. Now going forward, we will take every game as it come.”

Expectations are that the team will managed to clinch the coveted trophy this year and residents in the province have been urged to keep on supporting the team.

-TDN

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Picture: Potch Herald/Selogile Leshage

GRADE 12 pupils from various schools and other various stakeholders gathered at Toevlug primary school in Ventersdorp to attend the JB Marks education trust fund career expo.

The activity was organised by the National Union of Miners (NUM).

Chairperson of the board of trustees, David Sipunzi said the aim of the initiative was to assist needy students with financial resources and also expose them to career choices up for grabs.

“The initiative was established back in 1997 in honour of the Ventersdorp-born former trade unionist, teacher and political activist JB Marks. He died in Russia after suffering a stroke while in exile in Tanzania. He was sent to Russia for medical treatment, but unfortunately he passed away there.

“This is befitting after JB Marks remains were repatriated back to Ventersdorp last year. He was reburied in this area. We wanted to provide bursaries for mineworkers’ children. However the trust fund has now been opened to the public and deserving students,” Sipunzi said.

He said the JB Marks Education Trust has produced about 900 graduates and post-graduates to date. He further encouraged learners to work hard and strive for success.

“We want many kids to benefit from this expo. Unfortunately we had not received that opportunity during our time. So it will be more imperative for our children to embark on the career of their choices.

“Career guidance is very important because it allows every kid to choice their own path. Bursaries will be awarded on merit, so all previous disadvantaged learners are welcomed.

We are very grateful after seeing so many learners gaining interest to visit the expo. This is a two day expo, and we invited close to 48 exhibitors,” he said.

Big companies like Honda, Old Mutual, UNISA, SAICA, NYDA, Justice Department of Justice, SAPS, Mining Qualifications Authority and North West University were also part of the proceeding.

Education and sport development deputy director general, Stephinah Semashwe said that pupils were offered career advice. She further added that they were advised on which subjects to select for grade 12 pupils and for which career.

“We urge our learners to take the opportunity of this bursary. We highly appreciate the generosity displayed by NUM. We hope to see as many graduates as we can benefit from this initiative. We also encourage Ventersdorp learners to apply and benefit as well from the trust,” Semashwe said.

The JB Marks Education Trust Fund covers registration, tuition, examination, bridging courses, textbooks, meals, on-campus accommodation, and capacity building programmes.

One of the learners who attended, Keamogetswe Masigo, 14 from from Kgololosego Intermediate School in Ventersdorp said: “The bursary initiative will encourage us to achieve our career goals in life. I would like to be a social worker after I matriculated. So this fund will come in handy for previously disadvantaged learners like me,” Masilo said.

JB Marks’ great-granddaughter, Pastor and Lecturer, Laurian Marks commended the NUM for the initiative. She said her family was grateful about this and we believe this will be a beacon of hope to many students.

“We are also happy that our great grandfather is home. We can now pay tribute to him for all what he has done. Let us continue with the struggle and strive for betterment of our people,” Marks said.

-TDN

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President Jacob Zuma’s first appearance in parliament since the courts made two damning rulings against him got off to a bumpy start on Wednesday when rowdy EFF members were ejected from the National Assembly.

The EFF wrote a letter to speaker Baleka Mbete asking that Zuma not be allowed to speak in the National Assembly as he had violated the Constitution and also faced the reinstatement of corruption charges.

Zuma was present to address the National Assembly in Cape Town regarding the 2016/17 budget allocations for his administration.

Mbete declined the request.

Source: Timelive