When actor Raphael Griffiths joined Muvhango as Vusi Mukwevho eight years ago‚ he was greeted by a lot of hate for his “lack of acting skills‚” but he has picked himself up to earn his stripes in the industry since then.

The actor burst into the spotlight in 2009 as a presenter on SABC 2’s youth programme Q-base 28‚ and bagged a role on Muvhangostraight after.

“When I started presenting‚ I knew for sure I could do it. But when I got into acting‚ I was not an actor and only after stepping into it I realised‚ ‘man‚ you actually suck at this.’ I also got a lot of people just brutalising me‚ everywhere even on social media and I thought‚ ‘yoh‚ maybe I should quit.”

Raphael said there was a time he got help from three acting coaches at once because he was not willing to accept that he was a bad actor.

He said he found mentors such as his on-screen mother Thandaza (Sindi Dlathu)‚ started reading more books and watched endless hours of online master classes.

The Department of Education and Sport Development received the largest chunk of Bokone Bophirima’s provincial 2018/2019 budget. MEC for Finance, Economy and Enterprise Development (FEED), Wendy Nelson, tabled the budget on Thursday before the North West Provincial Legislature.

R16.183 billion – which translates to 39% of the total provincial budget – was allocated to the department for the financial year starting on 1 April.
The budget allocation is the clearest sign that education remains a key priority for the provincial government to use as an instrument to develop future generations and improve their lives.

MEC Nelson said education would continue to receive the largest portion of the budget in the province.
“The Department of Education and Sport Development has received the largest portion of the budget and it will continue to receive the largest portion of the budget. This is because it is an investment into our future and investment into our children. The budget will cover running of operations, grants and infrastructure. To address the backlog in infrastructure, R1billion has been allocated to improve the conditions in which our learners are studying under. Schools will also be consolidated so that we do not have many schools servicing the same grades in one area,” she said.

Education and Sport Development MEC, Sello Lehari, said the department deserves the biggest budget because it has got the largest number of employees.

“We welcome the announcement and we will use the money wisely. It is important to remember that we have the largest department and we are tasked with a huge responsibility of educating the nation,” Lehari said.

The Department of Health received the second largest portion of the Provincial Budget at R11.154 billion for 2018/19, R11.934 billion and R12.884 billion in 2019/20 and 2020/21 financial years respectively.

The 2018/19 allocation includes the funding of R1.315 billion for the comprehensive HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis (TB) Grant of which R167.729 million is allocated to a new component of the Community Outreach Services Grant. National Tertiary Services Grant is allocated R283.055 million and Health Facility Revitalisation Grant is allocated R585.886 million.

In line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the budget allocation is expected to strengthen the effectiveness of the health system by increasing life expectancy and thereby decreasing mortality rates.

“We strive to equip our medical institutions across the province to reduce shortages of medicines and medical supplies. To this end, an amount of R3.047 billion has been allocated over the 2018 MTEF with R1.350 billion allocated in 2018/19 Financial Year,” said Nelson.

The allocation for the Department of Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development (READ) amounted to R1.440 billion for 2018/19, increasing to R1.531 billion in 2019/20 and R1.645 billion in 2020/21 financial year.

The Department of Culture, Arts and Traditional Affairs (CATA) was been allocated a budget of R732.049 million for the 2018/19 financial year, increasing to R812.245 million in the outer year of the MTEF period. This allocation will amongst others, assist this department to preserve the rich history of this province and by so doing creating the tourism market.

MEC Nelson said community and road safety remains one of the provincial government’s paramount priorities.

“The Department of Community Safety and Transport Management receives an allocation of R6.815 billion over the MTEF period. An amount of R2.163 billion is allocated for 2018/19, R2.263 billion for 2019/20 and R2.388 billion for 2020/21,” she said.

The Department of Local Government and Human Settlements was allocated R7.767 billion over the MTEF, largely funded by the Human Settlement Development Grant. An amount of R2.477 billion is allocated for 2018/19, growing to R2.570 billion in 2019/20 and R2.719 billion in 2020/21.

“In pursuit of the province’s Five Concretes, this department’s allocation will contribute to the Rebranding, Repositioning and Renewal of Bokone Bophirima through the provision of houses. The allocation will also improve access to basic services such as water and sanitation,” said Nelson.

The Department of Public Works and Roads received R3.021 billion in 2018/19 increasing to R3.326 billion in 2020/21 financial year. Of this allocation, an amount of R960.604 million is earmarked as a conditional grant for provincial road maintenance.

Departmental budget announcements will follow soon after this provincial budget announcement.

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

Bokone Bophirima Premier, Supra Mahumapelo, said he was disappointed that Health Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, made conclusions about the controversial Mediosa mobile clinic contract without even discussing the matter with him.

The Premier was reacting to Motsoaledi’s visit to Madibogo to one of the mobile clinics provided by Mediosa, where the Minister made calls in the media for Head of Department of Health, Dr Thabo Lekalakala to be fired. In his widely publicized media interviews, Motsoaledi also said the mobile clinic services provided by Mediosa were not needed in Bokone Bophirima.

In a statement issued by Office of the Premier following Motsoaledi’s utterances, Mahumapelo said: “Unfortunately the Minister came to the province without the courtesy to inform us as part of Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act. Had the Minister cared to talk to us, we will have not stopped him from doing whatever he wants to, but we would have appraised him on progress we are making on this matter”.

The Premier said it was wrong for Motsoaledi to conclude that he – the Premier – would even think of protecting HOD Lekalakala. Mahumapelo announced over a week ago already that his office was instituting a forensic audit into alleged irregularities with the Mediosa contract, including that the health department made an advance payment of R30-million to the company before it started work in the province. The Minister also said he regarded the R30m upfront payment as fraud, a comment Mahumapelo said was too premature considering that an investigation is still underway. Other allegations are that Mediosa is a front company for the controversial, wealthy Gupta family.

On Friday an irritated Mahumapelo said: “Because he [Motsoaledi] chose the populist approach, we will rather speak to the President in this regard and the Head Office of the ANC, Luthuli House.”

During his visit to Madibogo – with a large media contingent tagging along – Motsoaledi said he was there in an effort to understand what is going on in the health services in the province.

“I saw pictures of Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) interrogating the Head of Department (HoD), Dr Thabo Lekalakala. We also received report from media that certain services can no longer be provided because there is no money. There are workers who are on strike because they cannot be paid bonuses due to lack of money,” he said.

Motsoaledi said he characterizes Medioa as an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card for the Gupta family to withdraw money from the health department. He added that if the Premier did not fire Lekalakala, he would force the matter through the courts.

“Our health system is in disastrous and overburden situation because of its tight budget. Our health facilities are congested because of the explosion of chronic diseases. The department needs to save each and every cent. We do not have any spare money to do what has been done here. So, whoever entered into this contract must find a way to terminate it.

“South Africa does not need these services because our own healthcare centres are offering them. Mediosa screens people and refer them back to state hospitals if they are sick. The private healthcare centres can charge much lesser than what Mediosa is charging the department,” Motsoaledi said.

On the sidelines of Motsoaledi’s visit, a small group of workers was protesting, saying Mediosa has not paid their salaries.

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

Distress and anxiety has struck at e.tv and eNCA studios with some staff reportedly leaving the channels amid allegations of “constructed retrenchments”.

Employees at the studios have told The Star that eMedia Investments, which owns the channels, has been unfair to them by formulating retrenchments “fronted as reconstruction”.

“People are being exploited here. The team I’ve worked with for the past three years was told yesterday that they will not be needed by end of March but they are employed as permanent staff. The same was done at archives and IT departments. Reporters at eNCA are in distress. It’s a mess,” said an e.tv programme anchor.

The Star has also been told that some employees have already started packing while others have not reported for work since the new changes were communicated.

These new developments follow the sudden resignations of the head of current affairs Debbie Meyer and the news channel court reporter last month. It’s believed that Meyer’s exit was sealed as part of a retrenchment deal but she has publicly rejected this.

hese new developments follow the sudden resignations of the head of current affairs Debbie Meyer and the news channel court reporter last month. It’s believed that Meyer’s exit was sealed as part of a retrenchment deal but she has publicly rejected this.

Mark Rosin, chief operating officer of eMedia Investments, said that they were considering making changes that would benefit the business. “At times in the life cycle of a business, it is necessary to look at a company’s needs and requirements. eMedia Investments is currently considering its structure and making necessary changes to ensure it continues to be a profitable and strong business,” said Rosin.

However, he was cagey and did not want to explain how these changes would impact on staff or programming.

“This is an internal matter between the Company and employees and we will not discuss or debate it in the media. eMedia Investments is committed to ensuring that employees are treated fairly and respectfully during this process, which is of course difficult for everyone,” said Rosin.