Daily Archives: December 18, 2019

North West Model Wins Big In Thailand

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

Rustenburg-born model, Kealeboga Matsafu said modeling must be treated as a career rather than a hobby. Matsafu (17) represented South Africa at the Miss Teen Globe International Pageant competition in Thailand recently and crowned the winner.

She described herself as “the rural girl with global dreams.” Matsafu who was born in Mabieskraal village near Rustenburg said that she prides herself through cultural background and her upbringing.

“I believe that my background has groomed me to become a person I am today. I am an outgoing and vibrant person, but love to read books too. I also make time for my social responsibilities through a charity organization called Rare Seeds.

“Having grown up in a rural village, I knew just how much I needed someone I could look up to. I needed someone whom I could draw inspiration from and that alone inspired me to be a model. So, I pushed myself to be that perfect example and inspired others,” she said.

Matsafu said it was not an easy task to become a model, but with morals, discipline, kindness and perseverance a break-through was guaranteed. She also said it is imperative for aspiring models to know what they want.

“I would like to encourage young and aspiring models not to try unethical short-cuts to get to the top because by so doing one will be putting her/his modeling career at risk. They must have direction and put all efforts into their craft.

“Remember, rejections are part of the journey, so do not despair but rather use that as a learning curve. One cannot make it through in every casting or pageant audition, but one needs to keep going,” she said.

Matsafu added that education is very significant and encourages young people to take it seriously. She said being educated gives a person the power to be able to stand up for herself or himself.

“If you are educated, you can afford the lifestyle you have always dreamt of. You are given freedom because as long as you are uneducated, no one will take you seriously. However, we understand that it is not by choice that others are uneducated, but because of the situation.

“I’m still in high school at the moment and I will be matriculating next year and I’m so grateful that I am doing quite well at school too. The experience of going to Thailand was amazing and it was my first international trip,” said Matsafu.

She advocates for the rights of women and children and said that “16 Days of Activism against Women and Children” need to be celebrated every day.

“I was born on the first day of 16 days of activism and I believe that I have to be the voice for those affected. I think this is not something that should be celebrated because it should be a norm already to live in homes without violence.

“We should campaign against GBV every day and break free from the abuses that we experienced recently. Women and children need to have people advocating for their rights not only for 16 days,” she concluded.

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The bank builds houses for the needy!

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

Two families from Mokgareng and Ditshilong villages in Taung breathe a “sigh of relief” after the Greater Taung Local Municipality in partnership with Standard Bank promised to build them houses respectively.

Motsamai Tsolo (73) from Mokgareng village was staying alone in a dilapidating mud house and relied heavily on his pension grant for survival. He said it was difficult to live in dire condition and applauded the municipality and the bank for assistance.

“I am so grateful after I was identified as one of the beneficiaries of this project. I experienced challenges during rainy and windy seasons. However, my life will change for the better. Shelter gives people a feeling of well-being and boosts their will to live.

“Having a shelter is also a basic human necessity, in addition to food and water. The shelter also provides privacy and encourages independence from the community. I can now have a decent house and I am so grateful,” said Tsolo.

Another beneficiary, Martha Mooka (69) said: “Ten of us stayed in a two-roomed mud house and it was horrendous. However, I am happy to see the GTLM along with Standard Bank doing a sod-turning in my yard. No one is working here and we all rely on my pension grant for survival.

“We urge our government to ensure that underprivileged people receive basic needs. We would also like to send our attributes to Eddie Mogorwe who fought tooth and nail for us to get a house.”

Mogorwe said he known the family after he ran to the house seeking shelter, while it was raining. He said he was hurt by the unpleasant conditions the family was subjected to at that time.

“I am so grateful to see that the family will receive a decent house after a long time. I ran to the house seeking shelter because it was raining at that time. However, I found disaster as the water was flowing freely inside the house and the family had nowhere to go.

“So, I took it upon myself to ensure that I inform the municipality about the Mooka family’s living conditions. I disseminated the information to the municipal mayor, Kgosi Charles Motlhabane during the municipality’s imbizo. I want to applaud the municipality for their swift response,” he said.

Motlhabane said: “Even though GTLM is a rural municipality, it strives to change the lives of its people. Most of our population is marred with unemployment, inequality, and poverty, but we engaged with Standard Bank to address this matter. We do not have enough budgets, but we will ensure that our people receive dignified houses.”

Standard Bank Public Sector Banking Head in North West, Walter Mogotsi shared the same sentiments. Mogotsi said it is his responsibility to build a strategic relationship, especially where his deliverables in the provincial government and local municipalities are key.

“The importance of us building houses for the needy came upon when I received these projects, so I realised that there were some areas that we never touched on especially in the most rural areas where there is a need.

“So, I took it upon myself to look around those municipalities and we approached them. Each beneficiary will receive a decent house worth R350 000. Standard Bank has constructed other ten houses across the province for the needy,” he said.

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ANCWL: “DO NOT LOOK AWAY, FIGHT AGAINST GBV”

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By REGINALD KANYANE

South African women call on the government to take harsh steps against those who continue to abuse and kill women and children. This comes after the country experienced rape and killing of women during the 16 Days of Activism against women and children campaign.

Tsholofelo Leshoe from Modimong village in Taung was allegedly killed by her boyfriend, Kabelo Seelo. According to the police statement, a fight ensued between Leshoe and Seelo during a love triangle argument at Seelo’s residential area. It is alleged that Seelo who is on R1000 bail, stabbed Leshoe and dumped her body in a nearby veld afterwards.

He was subsequently arrested and charged with murder after his other girlfriend allegedly informed the police about the tragedy. In a separate incident, an 18-year-old girl from Seweding village in Mahikeng was also brutally murdered allegedly by a 19-year-old suspect.

Gomolemo Legae-Mashetla suffered third-degree burns, but it was reported to have positively identified her attacker to the members of the community who had come to her rescue before drawing her last breath.

North West Premier, Job Mokgoro said it was a ‘concern’ to see the increasing number of violent rape and murder being perpetrated against young women in the various parts of the province recently.

“We would like to condemn the senseless, violent rape and brutal murder of Legae-Mashetla. In addition, we also thank the police for the arrest of a 37-year-old man, identified as Tebogo Setlhare for the alleged murder of his partner, Kgaugelo Tshwae (28) whose burnt remains were found in her charred Mini Cooper recently.

“We would also wish to condemn the stabbing and murder Eunice Motlaleso (34) from Dibate village in Mahikeng. Motlaleso was allegedly stabbed by a 36-year-old man, who has since been taken into custody by the police,” Mokgoro said.

Meanwhile, the African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) in the North West discussed Stakeholder Relations and Cooperation to fight Gender-Based Violence, Women Empowerment, and Strengthening Support for the ANC and Governance.

ANCWL acting provincial secretary, Bitsa Lenkopane said: “Gender-based violence has reached unacceptably high and alarming levels where a woman or a girl child is attacked and killed every two minutes in the country. Perpetrators of this brutal and senseless deed have extended their reach to institutions of learning (schools, colleges, and universities) where young women have been raped and killed.

“The scourge has even placed the development of women, young women, and girl children in jeopardy as it will only be a matter of time before they’d start to be

discouraged from attending a learning institution in fear of being attacked.”

Lenkopane further said the ANCWL has decided to work closely with NGOs, NPOs and religious organisations to widen the reach to mobilize society to fight gender-based violence. She added that they have worked together in a number of activities including the last memorial services of the late Legae-Mashetla and the Mokopanele brothers who were brutally killed in vicious gender-based violence act.

“The league will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Christian Ministers Fraternal (SAMIFRA) and other Non-Governmental Organisations to work together in each other’s programmes to fight gender-based violence and address challenges that lead to the scourge.

“Women bear the brunt of social and economic challenges. They are burdened with family responsibilities and the nurturing of children. Such responsibilities are unbearable for women as they have no financial muscles to attend to these challenges with male partners and or fathers of children not playing a role as required,” said Lenkopane.

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