BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

RUSTENBURG mayor, Mpho Khunou applauded the 2016 Comrades Marathon winner, David Gatebe and other athletes from the municipality who participated in this year’s run.

Khunou hosted a mini ceremony to honour the athletes, encouraging them to mentor others so that more champions can be produced from the province.

“We have 2015 comrade marathon winner, Gift Kelehe who works as a policeman in Rustenburg. We also have David Gatebe from Sun Rise Park in Rustenburg. These achievements augur well for our city. We want to put Rustenburg against the best cities in Africa and this is a testimony.

“We now want to formally congratulate David Gatebe as the municipality. He conquered the gruelling 89 kilometer down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on May 29 to win the title,” Khunou said.

He added that Rustenburg and the North West at large is now on the map owing to the exploits of Kelehe and Gatebe.

“You have not only put Rustenburg on the world map, but made us proud once again after Gift Kelehe did the same last year by winning the 2015 comrade marathon. You continue to inspire the youth of Rustenburg in particular, North West province and the rest of South Africa in general.

“Congratulations and keep it up as you will be defending the championship next year. The municipality will support your efforts at all times. We are in the process of availing Olympia Park stadium to yourself and club mates, Gift Kelehe, Peter Gaebetse and Gordon Lesetedi. We want the stadium to be your official training venue,” he said.

Gatebe appreciated the support shown by the municipality and promised to continue inspiring young people.

“I am grateful to God for granting me such strength to break a stunning world record. I also broke the record set by Russian Leonid Shvestsov in 2007. I am happy to celebrate the rare moment with the people of Rustenburg in general and Sunrise Park in particular. I dedicate this win to them,” Gatebe said.

-TDN

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Picture: (Mmabana employees barricade entrance at Mmabana Head Office in Mahikeng)

BY REGINALD KANYANE

STAFF at Mmabana Foundation said they will continue to embark on a strike if the institution does not commit itself in writing while addressing their grievances.

The workers downed tools at all the parastatals offices across the province on Friday.

Provincial coordinator for striking workers, Portia Phadi addressed the workers on Monday at Mmabana Foundation Head Offices in Mahikeng.

She alleged that the Mmabana Foundation exploited them and downgraded their salaries without engaging with the workers first.

Phadi said they embarked on a protest because the management ignored their call. She said they urged Mmabana Foundation to engage with their union (NEHAWU) before they could downgrade their salaries.

“We were guaranteed the certificate to embark on a strike by CCMA hence we shut down all entries leading to Mmabana Foundation Head Offices. As employees, we are paid meagre salaries. Employees were also not part of the decisions taken by the institution.

“They alleged that the institution does not have enough money in their account. We want to know where the money went to because we are aware that the culture, art and traditional affairs department (CATA) is injecting money into the institution,” Phadi said.

She added that the institution receive budget from the department of CATA however they could not even get salary increment as employees.

Phadi added that CATA department requested a meeting with NEHAWU.

“NEHAWU will be engaged in a meeting with CATA. However we stand firmly on our ground and need our grievances to be addressed. If there is no agreement, then we will continue to embark on a strike,” she said.

NEHAWU provincial spokesperson, Cassper Nanto said some employees alleged that the CEO and management get exorbitant salaries while they living in poverty.

“How relevant it is for the CEO to get R1.4m salary while workers are starving? It is the time now for the provincial government to enter into the fray and investigate exactly what is happening at Mmabana Foundation,” Nanto said.

However CEO for Mmabana Foundation, Sipho Nkese disputes the allegations levelled against him. He said the employees embarked on illegal strike.

“It is not true that the management is paying themselves exorbitant salaries. The union has salaries of everybody in the organisation. Our salaries are in line with what the government is paying its employees. So there is no one earning R1.4m at Mmabana Foundation,” Nkese said.

CATA head of department, Nono Bapela said interventions were put in place to assist the beleaguered institution. She said the portfolio committee also urged them to monitor Mmabana Foundation.

“We have engaged with the Mmabana Foundation management. We met with the acting CEO Sipho Nkese and newly appointed CFO. We are in the process of appointing the substantive CEO. We also believe that the situation can be turned around.

“There has not been a good collaboration between Mmabana Foundation and our department over the past few years. However we will continue to engage with senior management. The collaboration needs to take place particularly through art and culture component,” Bapela said.

“Drastic measures will be taken against those who mismanaged of resources at the institution after the completion of the investigations. We will make sure that we leave no stone unturned,” she said.

Bapela said the establishment of Mmabana Foundation was to promotes and unearthened art and culture within the province. She said even though the institution still does that however more can be done.

It is alleged that the CATA department reduced the Mmabana Foundation’s budget by R10m.

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

MORE than 150 needy pupils from Keagile Primary School in Ikageng location, Potchefstroom, received new pairs of shoes on Friday.

The shoes were donated by two healthcare workers, Kagiso Mojanaga, a paramedic and Mzukisi Jam, a professional nurse.

Mojanaga said it was imperative to plough back to the community to develop the high-quality future leaders. He said seeing kids going to school barefooted touched his heart.

“We will continue to show support to other schools. Our intentions are to make sure that the pupils have confidence when walking to school. By so doing they will produce better results. We hope this will play a pivotal role in the development of these learners,” he said.

Muzikisi Jam also highlighted that they were assisted by other doctors also working at Potchefstroom hospital.

It was all smiles for pupils who received the shoes.

Jam said they were on their way to work when they saw kids walking barefoot to school and decided to do something about it.

“We offered them a lift and ask why are they were not wearing shoes. Some of them highlighted that their parents are not working. And the other one said he was promised a new pair of shoes only in December.

“We went to the school and met with teachers. They identified 250 needy kids and we went on to buy 150 pairs of shoes. However we will continue to work hard to achieve our target,” he said.

Keagile Primary School Principal, Tefo Thabane said: “This is indeed a gesture of Ubuntu. This brings happiness to the needy. Seeing ordinary citizens doing such an extraordinary work is amazing. We highly appreciate the contribution at the school.”

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

MORE than 1 000 former Aquarius Platinum Mine workers in Kroondal, near Rustenburg received food parcels from Association of Mineworkers Construction Union president, Joseph Mathunjwa on Saturday.

The former mine workers said they have been living in abject poverty since their dismissals.

One of the former mine workers said: “We have been surviving by eating cats, jackals, rats, hares and wild spinach. Some of other miners died because of hunger. We have been living in abject poverty.

“We are sick and dying from poverty. We have tried all avenues to try to get our jobs back but with no avails. However we believe AMCU’s intervention will bear fruits.”

Another former mine worker from Lesotho said he could not visit his family because he has no money.

“Some of our compatriots have died here and we could not be ferried them to the country of birth because we are destitute,” he said.

In his address, Mathunjwa said that the situation the former mine workers are living in is appalling.

He said he will now urge the Mineral Resources Minister, Mosebenzi Zwane for intervention.

“I am not here to try to drop names but to save the situation. These are our fellow blacks and fathers who deserve better. I wrote a letter to the Minister of Mineral Resources, Mr Mosebenzi Zwane requesting a meeting to discuss how to address the situation.

“This is temporary, not permanent and it is not sustainable. These workers have skills and they can be employed around.  We have been told by them they have been blacklisted.” Mathunjwa said.
He said the former mine workers were dismissed back in 2009.

Mathunjwa added that it was reported that many of the former miners died without receiving compensation.

The mineworkers were allegedly dismissed after embarking on an unprotected wage strike.

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

THE North West Film Commission (NWFC) met with upcoming filmmakers in the province during its recent road-show campaign.

NWFC spokesperson, Pieter Kruger said that the tour afforded them an opportunity to meet with various filmmakers and film production companies.

“We conducted our road shows in Rustenburg, Mahikeng, Vryburg and Klerksdorp since last week. The dearth of the sector robbed North West people many opportunities in the past.

“Some of the challenges came across was that the province was poorly resourced and lacked skill pool to grow and develop the film and television sector. Hover most people were grateful to see the emerging of NWFC. They stated that the province will now play its role in utilising talents,” Kruger said.

He added that many implored the NWFC to mobilise financial grants, lobby government departments and facilitate distribution and marketing of their film projects.

NWFC has already held high-level meetings with MICTSeta. Kruger said the discussions were underway for the establishment of transformational relationship between the two bodies.

He added that Big Fish Production Company was another partner they will foster a relationship with.

“The Big Fish Production Company will provide training to local filmmakers.

Plans are afoot to fast-track the sector development. We also met with Zidaka to collaborate filmmakers and production companies in North West. This will result in a number of locations be identified for shootings.

“We will create opportunities for trainees and internships for North West talent. Five projects will form the core of this relationship between NWFC and Zidaka,” he said.

NWFC said they will also support the Mafikeng International Film Festival that will take place in August. Kruger said they will also meet with organisers of Bojanala Film Week.

Zidaka chief executive officer (CEO), Jeremy Nathan said: “The discussions about the province’s participation at major film festivals national and international as well as the national premiere release of the world acclaimed “Mandela’s Gun” are at an advanced stage.”

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

STAFF at Mmabana Foundation embarked on a strike at all the parastatals offices across the province on Friday.

The employees alleged that the Mmabana Foundation exploited them and downgraded their salaries.

Provincial coordinator for the strike, Portia Phadi said they embarked on a protest because the management ignored their call.

She said they urged Mmabana Foundation to engage with their union (NEHAWU) before they could downgrade their salaries.

“We were guaranteed the certificate to embark on a strike by CCMA hence we shut down all entries leading to Mmabana Foundation Head Offices. As employees, we are paid meagre salaries. Employees were also not part of the decisions taken by the institution.

“They alleged that there institution does not have enough money in their account. We want to know where the money went to because we are aware that the culture, art and traditional affairs department (CATA) is injecting money into the institution,” Phadi said.

She added that the institution receive budget from the department of CATA however they could not even get salary increment as employees.

One employee said: “I have 26 years as an employee at Mmabana Foundation. However I am ready to go on pension, but I do not have enough money. I am living in abject poverty, yet I am working.”

Another worker said the CEO and management get exorbitant salaries while they living in poverty.

NEHAWU provincial spokesperson, Cassper Nanto urged provincial government to investigate discrepancies at Mmabana Foundation.

“How relevant it is for the CEO to get R1.4m salary while workers are starving? It is the time now for the provincial government to enter into the fray and investigate exactly what is happening at Mmabana Foundation,” Nanto said.

However CEO for Mmabana Foundation, Sipho Nkese disputes the allegations levelled against him. He said the employees embarked on illegal strike.

“It is not true that the management is paying themselves exorbitant salaries. The union has salaries of everybody in the organisation. Our salaries are in line with what the government is paying its employees. So there is no one earning R1.4m at Mmabana Foundation,” Nkese said.

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

THE manager at Taung Hotel School and Convention Centre, Herman Phetlho has been suspended.

North West Tourism Board acting CEO, Charles Ndabeni said Phetlho was put on suspension to allow for investigations into his conduct.

“We can confirm that Phetlho has been suspended for administrative purposes. However I cannot get into details because the matter is now sub-judice. We have already started with investigations and we hope to complete them soon,” Ndabeni said.

More than 200 hotel students embarked on a strike three months ago after they were promised bursaries.

One of the students who spoke on condition of anonymity said they were sold empty promises by Phetlho.

“We are been ill-treated at the school by the management. We hope the NWTB will resolve our challenges because the management at the hotel school turned a deaf ear. We are also working abnormal hours and knock off late with no transport to get home,” she said.

However, the contractor is busy building accommodations at the hotel school for students after the tourism department intervened to resolve accommodation issues.

Efforts to reach Phetlho were futile.

-TDN

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Here are the winners of the 22nd South African Music Awards. The ceremony took place at the Durban International Convention Centre last night.

The full list of winners for the 22nd Annual South African Music Awards:

Album of the Year (served hot by Nescafe)
Black Coffee  – Pieces of Me

Duo or Group of the Year
Big Nuz – For the Fans

Female Artist of the Year (Brought to you by Metro FM)
Zonke – Work of Heart

Male Artist of the Year (Brought to you by Umhlobo Wenene FM)
Nathi – Buyelekhaya

Newcomer of the Year (Supported by Apple Music)
Nathi – Buyelekhaya

Best Rock Album        
Desmond & the Tutus – Enjoy Yourself

Best Pop Album  (Brought to you by 5FM)
Tresor – VII

Beste Pop Album (Afrikaans) 
Karlien van Jaarsveld – My Hartjie

Best Adult Contemporary Album   
Judith Sephuma – One Word

Beste Kontemporêre Musiek Album
Elvis Blue – Êrens in die Middel van Nêrens

Best African Adult Album       
Dizu Plaatjies & Friends – Ubuntu – The Common String

Best Alternative Album 
Petite Noir – La Vie Est Belle/Life is Beautiful

Best R&B/Soul/Reggae Album
Nathi – Buyelekhaya

Best Rap Album
Emtee – Avery

Best Kwaito Album (Brought to you by Ukhozi FM)
Big Nuz – For the Fans

Best Dance Album
Black Coffee – Pieces of Me

Best Traditional Faith Music Album  
TYGC Family – The Journey Begins

Best Contemporary Faith Music Album     
Ntokozo Mbambo – Spirit and Life

Best Maskandi Album (Brought to you by Ukhozi FM and KUMISA)
Imithente – Ichakijana

Best Jazz Album (Brought to you by Metro FM)
Marcus Wyatt & the ZAR – One Night in the Sun Jazz Orchestra

Best Classical and/or Instrumental Album
Wouter Kellerman – Love Language

Best Live Audiovisual Recording
Jimmy Dludlu – Live at Emperors Palace   

Best Collaboration
Dbn Nyts ft. Zinhle Ngidi – Shumaya & Trademark

Best Music Video of the Year
Jack Parow & Freshly Ground Army of One

Best Produced Album of the Year
Zahara – Country Girl

Best Engineered Album of the Year
Black Coffee – Pieces of Me

Best Remix of the Year
DJ Sliqe – Do Like I Do Remix

Special Awards
International Achievement Award – Black Coffee
Lifetime Achievement Awards (Brought to you by Telkom)– Nana Coyote (posthumous award), Bhekumuzi Luthuli (posthumous award), Roger Lucey

Best Selling Albums and Music Downloads of the Year
Best Selling Album – Nathi (Buyelekhaya)
Best Selling DVD – Joyous Celebration (Volume 19: Back to the Cross)
Best Selling Overall Music Download – Sfiso Ncwane (Bayede Baba)
Best Selling Music Download (Ring-back Tone) – Sfiso Ncwane (Bayede Baba)
Best Selling Full-track Music Download – Nathi (Nomvula)

Sampra Award

Highest Radio Airplay of the Year – DBN Nyts (Shumaya)

Samro Award

Highest Radio Airplay Composers’ Award – Samkele Maphumulo, Kabelo Masekane, Cebo Ngcobo, Wanda Shabalala and Lwazi Yokwana for Shumaya by Dbn Nyts

Capasso Award

Best Selling Digital Download Composers’ Award – Sfiso Ncwane (Bayede Baba)

Amstel Record of the year

Roll Up by Emtee

Source: Sunday Sun

The Democratic Alliance (DA) would not forget why they were elected and who they served, leader Mmusi Maimane promised on Sunday.

He was speaking during a campaign stop in Gauteng’s Malibongwe Ridge’s Itsoseng informal settlement.

He said the ruling party, which was due to handover houses in the area this month, forgot about the area in between elections, and only remembered them during campaign season.

“Sometimes it’s food parcels, sometimes it’s blankets and sometimes it’s the keys to a few houses,” he said.

Let people down

In his last appearance in Parliament, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said the party did not have to buy votes with food parcels.

Maimane questioned the timing of the delivery of houses in the area.

He called for residents to think carefully before casting their votes in the next election.

“What we’re seeing are the actions of a party that knows it has let the people down, and is desperately trying to avoid being punished in the elections,” he said.

Maimane said this was unacceptable. “The people elected to run this city have a duty to take care of you, and they have a duty to stick to their word.”

Source: http://www.news24.com

Tefu Mashamaite of Kaizer Chiefs during the Absa Premiership 2014/15 football match between Kaizer Chiefs and Chippa United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa on December 13, 2014 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

That’s the message club boss Kaizer Motaung has conveyed to coach Steve Komphela.

In a frank assessment of a pedestrian, barren and well-below-expectation season endured by Amakhosi, Motaung didn’t mince his words.

“We lacked soul, we didn’t play our game, especially in the second half of the league.

“It was not in our character the way we played. It was just not Kaizer Chiefs,” Motaung told the Sunday Times.

“The coach [Steve Komphela] knows that, he knows there has to be a change. He has committed to ensuring that things will be different.

“Any other team would have been happy to say we made two finals [MTN8 and Telkom Knockout]. Not here.

“It was a bitterly disappointing season for our supporters, not one to remember in terms of our standard,” he said.

#SteveMustFall

Amakhosi faithful were less enamoured with Komphela’s stewardship in his maiden season.

The #SteveMustFall became all the rage with every below par performance as the league campaign progressed.

“I can’t speak for him, but he tried his best to deal with the club. He came to fill very big shoes [replacing Stuart Baxter, who won four trophies].

“He tried to introduce his own kind of philosophy and change the style of play to make it the way he wanted,” said the Chiefs chairman.

But the team that won two league titles and a Nedbank and MTN8 trophies in Baxter’s three-year tenure capitulated in 2015-16, finishing in fifth place without winning any silverware.

Motaung sounded sympathetic towards Komphela and appeared to be questioning the resolve of the players.

“It must also be taken into cognisance that probably some of the changes he made, he didn’t have the kind of resources in terms of the players to deliver what we wanted.”

Players lost appetite

“I don’t know, some of the players lost appetite, they were not as hungry as before.

“A team with a bite and hunger goes an extra mile. This time, the guys were a bit relaxed.

“The telling blow happened in the second round when we were supposed to be gunning for the league.

“But we didn’t have the strength, so we stumbled, lost momentum and the rest is history.

“One hopes the coach got some lessons along the way. You cannot simply judge him by one season.”

But the winds of change are blowing at the club – in an unprecedented massive spring cleaning, Chiefs showed the door to 20 players on Wednesday.

Team needs cleaning up

“We looked at the past two or three seasons and decided the team needs cleaning and beefing up,” said Motaung.

“The crux of the matter is that when you look at the team, we are lacking and very poor upfront.

“In defence, we conceded goals that were very uncharacteristic for us to concede.

“We gave away too many unnecessary points.

“Hence we embarked on that process to make sure we use the period to reinforce so we can look forward with much more purpose.

“I am sorry we could not deliver any silverware for the supporters. But we will bounce back, that is what our character demands.

“We hope the next season will be different. We have to strengthen the defence and attack, no doubt. Whatever acquisitions we make, the coach will have made a contribution as well.”

Komphela is working round the clock behind the scenes to bolster the squad.

Wooing Mashamaite

The Sunday Times understands that Komphela has met Tefu Mashamaite for talks aimed at bringing the former club captain back to the club to fortify a rearguard

A rock in the Chiefs defence in the 2014-15 season in which he won Premier Soccer League Footballer and Player’s Player of the season, Mashamaite left Chiefs when contract renewal negotiations collapsed.

After a failed trial with Major League Soccer side New York City, Mashamaite landed a contract with BK Hacken in Sweden.

He signed a two-and-a-half-year deal. BK Haken won the Sweden Cup final in May.

Mashamaite, 31, played no part owing to a thigh muscle rupture he suffered in the semifinal.

But Chiefs will not have it easy in their bid to woo Mashamaite.

SuperSport United, now coached by ex-Chiefs coach Baxter, are big admirers of the former Bidvest Wits skipper.

Yesterday, Baxter told the Sunday Times: “I would definitely be interested in Masha were he to become available.

“In principle, I am always interested in Masha. I spoke to him a while ago, checking up on his injury

“A player like Masha has got a good basic education in how to defend intelligently.

“He is top quality by South African standards. Everybody is trying to strengthen.”

Baxter has already brought Reyaad Pieterse, Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Keagan Ritchie to SuperSport from Chiefs, while Sibusiso Khumalo has gone the opposite direction.

Chiefs are also understood to have renewed their interest in Bafana Bafana international Sibusiso Vilakazi.

The latest bid to bring the Bidvest Wits forward to Naturena Village is believed to involve money and two players going to Gavin Hunt’s side.

Motaung would not comment on the players they are chasing.

The number of Chiefs youth development graduates who have been released from their contracts may be a silent admission by the club that its development structures have not delivered the desired quality.

Source: Sunday Times