Daily Archives: February 24, 2021

Unemployed youth fix damaged roads in Pampierstad

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Picture: Pampierstad unemployed youth fixing damaged roads  

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

It’s been three weeks since twelve unemployed youth in Pampierstad embarked on a voluntarily process to fix potholes in their internal roads. Thabo Monnamme said the status quo of the area remains appalling.

“We have lost hope in the Phokwane Local Municipality as the residents of Pampierstad. The municipality is not ready to embark on service delivery and is aware of our challenges.

“We were enthusiastic after we received the new mayor, but things remain the same. The municipality officials including the new mayor, Olebogeng Tumudi pass by and they do not even bother to greet us,” Monnamme said.

He said last time they planted trees on those potholes in awareness to grab the municipality’s attention. However, Monnamme said they were accused of inciting violence amongst the community.

“We have decided to fix those potholes by patching them with mortar. Fortunately, we have received unwavering support from our community. Some of them even donated cement and other items. There is a high rate of unemployment, lack of service delivery and inaccessible roads in our area.

“Internal roads continue to be in dire conditions but we have the municipality at our doorstep. Actually, we do not recognize the Phokwane Local Municipality anymore because it is marred with nepotism, corruption, and lack of service delivery,” he said.

Monnamme laments that the roads they have in their area were constructed during the former Bophuthatswana homeland under the stewardship of the late Lucas Mangope. He said other than that, the current government has failed them dismal.

“We still experience uncollected garbage, no recreation centres like parks and leisure. We also experience a high rate of unemployment among the youth but the municipality careless to create job opportunities through skill development programmes.

Meanwhile, Tumudi failed to respond to our inquiry prior to publishing this article. On Saturday, he responded to our WhatsApp message and said: “Can we talk tomorrow regarding this matter”, while the municipality spokesperson, Kgalalelo Letshabo did not bother to respond to our WhatsApp messages and calls.  

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Taung artist nominated for Hip Hop award!

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Picture: Hip Hop artist, Lion The Rebel

By BAKANG MOKOTO

Taung-born Hip Hop artist, Lion The Rebel said he is grateful for finally finding his niche in the music industry. This comes after he was nominated for the Best Hip Hop artist by PLAMAS.

“It all started with the love for poetry. I realised that I love poetry more when it is in the music, then I started free-styling on top of the beats. It feels enormously great to be recognized.  

“Being nominated for this award out of so many artists in the province gives me courage. My first song was recorded back in 2012 after being a street cipher rapper for a while,” he said.

Lion The Rebel (28) said he is a rapper, writer, poet, and recording/performing artist with outstanding skill. He further said his rap fuses languages in a unique way and most are classified under the Motswako, which is a Hip Hop sub-genre.

“I am mostly known for my hit single titled Top 7 and other hits like On, Mo Ke Gatang Teng, Lekwalo La Motswako, Leroborobo La Corona and a track called Khapo Terug that came out with an official music video that is available on YouTube.

“I am a poet, and my daily life situations inspire my content. I do celebrate other artists, but none of them is fueling my artistic spirit. I live to be inspired then put it in the music,” said Lion The Rebel.

In 2018, he released his first album titled Mind State with ten tracks. Lion The Rebel said even though he was born and bred in Mokgareng village, outside Taung, moving to Klerksdorp was a great move.

“I moved to Klerksdorp where I matriculated before heading to Pretoria to study further. I also attended a lot of freestyle cipher sessions where I would showcase my talent.

“I started seeing people jamming to my lyrics and that encouraged me to find my niche in the game. I’d like to embark more on the business side of music in the future, but still writes and record music while having a healthy stable family,” said Lion The Rebel.

He also encouraged aspiring artists not only to concentrate on music as it is seasonal. Lion The Rebel who is a qualified nurse said education is key.

“I am a qualified nurse and unfortunately, I was financially excluded while studying towards my chemistry degree at the University of Pretoria. Life is one big game and education is the best cheat for it.

“There are other challenges in the music industry like publishing and distribution deals. You will need money to neither make money, so if you do not have any sponsor or budget, it becomes almost impossible to create music,” he said.

Lion The Rebel said music took him out of a very dark place in his life. He added that he highly-appreciate everyone who has been there supporting him through thick and thin.

You can find Lion The Rebel’s music on YouTube, Reverbnation and Audiomack or visit his social media platforms such as Facebook: LION THE-REBEL Twitter: @LiontheRebel or alternatively email him at liontherebel607@gmail.com

Those who would like to vote for him can sms: PLAMAS AAM to 45633 and the sms costs R1.50. You can vote as many times as you want.

taungdailynews@gmail.com