Picture: Bokone Bophirima Premier, Supra Mahumapelo 

BY REGINALD KANYANE

BOKONE Bophirima Premier, Supra Mahumapelo embarked on his enterprise development and economic growth programme on Tuesday. Mahumapelo said he will visit all local municipalities in the province over a period of four months.

“The first visits will be undertaken in Bojanala Platinum District Municipality, with Moretele local municipality targeted for today. We will spend a week at each of the province’s district where we are expected to engage with stakeholders comprising private companies, business people and chambers of commerce amongst others.

“We will also highlight on the existing opportunities for entrepreneurship development and economic growth at each local municipality’s villages, townships and small dorpies,” he said.

Mahumapelo will be joined by MEC for Finance, Economy and Enterprise Development, Wendy Nelson, District and Local Mayors as well as the Traditional Leadership.

“Targeted stakeholders at each local municipality will also have a discussion with a panel of experts and the meeting will focus on access to finance, procurement processes, and registration of companies, marketing and access to markets. Our VTSD enterprise development economic forum sessions at all the VTSD areas are not only about giving meaning to the province’s five concretes, but also seek to promote leadership accountability, encourage active engagement with the citizens about their development as well as the spirit of working together.

“For Bojanala Platinum District Municipality programme, the stakeholders’ morning engagements with me, will start at 09h00, while the afternoon panel of experts’ discussion and media session will start at17h00, at the following venues,” he said.

Tuesday, 18 April: Moretele Community Hall, next to Moretele Local Municipality

Wednesday, 19 April: Madibeng Community White Hall, Madibeng Local Municipality

Thursday, 20 April: Moses Kotane Community Hall, Moses Kotane Local Municipality

Friday, 21 April: Tlhabane Community Hall, Rustenburg Local Municipality

Tuesday, 25 April: Reagile Community Hall, Kgetleng Local Municipality

The Premier’s VTSD Enterprise Development Economic Forum engagements will be taken to Ngaka Modiri Molema District in May, followed by Dr Kenneth Kaunda in June, and will end in July at Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality.

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A COMMUNITY radio station, Vaaltar FM, from Taung recently won a South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) award for its role in uplifting the lives of poor people.

  The station manager, Kgakololo Mothei said the community radio station that broadcasts in Taung and surrounding areas were crowned the provincial winners and came as runners-up at national level.

  Mothei further said the station won the provincial leg of the SAHRC community radio competition.

  “The competition was dubbed “Stand up for human rights” and seeks to honour community radios which champions human rights issues on behalf of ordinary civilians. The SAHRC and the United Nations Human rights (office of the high commissioner) are the custodians of this awards which was held in Johannesburg on March 29.

  Vaaltar FM was honoured after a heart-breaking story covered few months ago. The story depicted the plight of rural schools which still use trees as classrooms in modern day and era. The story was about Pelonngwe Primary School which is located in Takaneng village, near Taung. There is overcrowding at that school and pupils use trees as classrooms,” she said.

  Mothei also applauded her dedicated reporters for touching the lives of ordinary citizens.

National Community Radio Forum provincial chairperson, Tsholofelo Moepeng said: “We want to commend the Vaaltar FM Community Radio for their achievements. The awards can be credited to dedicated staff members as well as community. They have shown resilience amid hostile economic conditions throughout the years since its establishment.”

  He added: “We applaud them for using the platform to address current challenges faced by our society in the current epoch, especially that of Digital Migration. South Africa has witnessed substantial transformation of the broadcasting sector over the past two decades. Changes are most visible when it comes to community broadcasting, as shown by the number of community radio stations that have been licenced and the increase in radio listenership.”

  Moepeng said that statistics show that many people listen to community radio stations across the country.

  He indicated that the recent figure confirmed that radio is the most listened to medium with 37 million listeners and records 256 community radio stations to date.

  “This sector needs enormous experience and skills. Advertisers invest their money where there are guarantees and Vaaltar FM has demonstrated to be one of trusted and reliable business partners. We wish the province to host the National Community Radio Forum conference anticipated to take place soon,” he said.

  The forum is where all member stations throughout the country would be descending to showcase their abilities.

  “We welcome other stations from elsewhere to the shores of the most beautiful and tourist friendly province belonging to the likes of our own dear grandparents like Mama Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Uncle JB Marks and Moses Kotane to mention the least distinctive Africans who put the interest of their country and its people first rather than self-enrichment in the expense of the poor masses,” Moepeng said.

   Vaaltar FM can be reached online through www.vaaltarfm.com or directly tune in on 93.6 MHZ. – Newsnote

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BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

Eight people sustained minor to moderate injuries when their bakkie crashed through a barrier on a bridge and down an embankment along the R54 Potchefstroom-Vereeniging road on Sunday.

ER24 spokesperson, Werner Vermaak said the accident took place shortly after 9am. Vermaak said paramedics from ER24 and Tlokwe Fire Department arrived on the scene where they found the bakkie several meters down the embankment.

“Seven of the occupants, including four children (10 years old and younger), were found standing near the bridge. They were assessed and found with minor to moderate injuries. A woman was still trapped in the overturned vehicle. The Tlokwe fire fighters had to free her from the wreckage,” he said.

All the occupants were treated on the scene and later ferried to a nearby hospital.

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BY BAKANG MOKOTO

Kagisano-Molopo local municipal mayor, Bitsa Lenkopane bequeathed sports equipment to eight football teams across the municipality recently. Lenkopane handed over eight sets of soccer kits and footballs to local teams that participated in the Youth Development Sports Tournament held in Tosca sports ground in Tosca during Easter weekend.

“The tournament was one of our continuous youth support and development programmes. Our aim is to make a growing impact with every service delivery programme we undertake. We aim at fighting poverty, inequality and unemployment within our society through sport. The basic service the municipality render to our people must have impact in their lives with an everlasting change.

“The tournament was also part of response to Bokone Bophirima Premier, Supra Mahumapelo’s ten point plan addressing sports development and participation campaign. It is also the address to the obesity challenge that concerns Mahumapelo. We want to get every member of the society to actively participate in any sport activity to keep fit and healthy,” she said.

Lenkopane added that with this tournament, they brought everybody together to participate. She further said this was a stepping stone towards sport development especially in far-flung areas.

“The sport also brings families and communities together. I remember during our youth days where families will flock to sporting fields to enjoy themselves. Sport activities used to bring people together. Supporting our favourite teams used to make us a family where we built strong bonds among us and lookout for each other.

“Remember we are in a process of rebuilding our community. The donation of these sport equipment goes beyond the sport itself. The initiative also addresses five concretes of service delivery. With these activities, we aim at Reconciling, Healing and Renewal of our people. We create a platform for the village economy where local hawkers and retailers will benefit,” she said.

Lenkopane also urged teams to sustain their existence and encouraged them to recruit more young people into their ranks for a continuous participation in sport.

The second leg of the tournament will be played in Itireleng village, in ward 8 in a fortnight’s time.

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A PLAY called Itsoseng which was written by an internationally celebrated and actor and writer from Bokone Bophirima, Omphile Molusi, is currently running at the Market Theatre.

  The production is about a childhood love story and life in a township (Itsoseng) formerly known as “Mooidorpie” because of its beauty during the Bophutatswana days. 

  Molusi’s talent was showcased at the Edinburgh Arts Festival where he received the Scotsman Fringe First Award, an honour which is given to the best plays at the international festival.

  Itsoseng was first published by Junkets Publishers, later by Oxford Publishers and it has been adopted as a formal set work for grade 11 drama students.

  His formal training at the Market Theatre Laboratory led him to become the first winner of the Royal Shakespeare Company Brett Goldin Bursary which enabled him to study theatre in the United Kingdom (UK) where he sharpened his skills in acting, voice and heightened writing.

  The play has toured in the UK, Ireland, America and Zimbabwe and has also played at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town.

  Molusi is also a winner of the Black Excellence Award in Chicago in the United States.

HE said that what keeps him going is his love to keep people entertained and a passion for storytelling.

  “My family also motivates me to take my work seriously and achieve even greater things as I have a loving wife and a three-year-old daughter. It has not been an easy journey though, people think that when you are from The Market Theatre Laboratory you will instantly make it. You have to keep hustling and make sure that you are always innovative and creative.”

  Molusi has also written a number of published short stories which include Cadre-based on the story of an African People’s Liberation Army (APLA) soldier, For the Right Reasons and Balalatladi.

  He also teaches writing at the Market Theatre Laboratory and is a writer for a popular television soapie on e.tv calledScandal!

  The play is currently showing at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg. It started on April 7 and will run until May 7. -Newsnote