Late September 2015

t @soshtimes

LATE SEPTEMBER 2015

SANLAM/ MDDA AWARDS FINALIST

f soshtimesnews www.soshtimes.co.za SOSH TIMES P1 FREE COPY

Incorporating The North West Post, the platinum’s mouth piece DROWNED TO www.soshtimes.co.za

BOY REST

soshtimesnews

LEARNERS TO CHOOSE LANGUAGES

LAID

PAGE 02

PAGE 05

AWARD FOR SOSH TIMES SPORTS REPORTER

PAGE 11

@soshtimes Our Blog: soshnews.wordpress.com admin@soshtimes.co.za Office Tel.: 012 797 2397 www .soshtimes.co .za

LATE SEPTEMBER 2015

Eskom’s R3500 bribe

By Thapelo Masilela

A

n insatiable Eskom employee has solicited a bribe of R3 500 to erase a customer’s bill from the electricity supplier’s database in Temba.

Mr. David Letsoalo of New Eersterus was given a rude awakening when an Eskom technician informed him that he has been using ‘Ghost units’ and demanded a bribe instead of him having to pay a fine of R6000.

The technician, name withheld, had removed Letsoalo’s old meter box, number 04202463255 and replaced it with meter box 07124402905 registered in the customer’s wife’s name prior to demanding the bribe.

A Xitsonga cultural group wows communitty members gathered at Ditsong ;Tswaing Materiote Crater during a recent event held to commemorate September, Heritage month. See story on Page 9.

SACAP & SAIAT REGISTERED

MBIZA & SONS

15 Block K, Soshanguve

HOUSE PLANS

For hassle free plan drawing services.

Plans approved at any municipality in the following provinces Gauteng, North West, Limpopo & Mpumalanga

13

Assorted 150g Each

9

50

LOW PRICE CARNIVAL 2015 Out of Cash?

SPEND YOUR POINTS Switch points to cash back on your card at the kiosk or on the Pick N Pay Mobile App

: 072 294 6740

Mike

: 072 797 9921

mmbiza9@gmail.com

1490

15

Cola Cola Regular 2.5 Litre

Spekko Long Grain Parboiled Rice 2.5kg

Equates to 11.92 for 2 Litre

SAVE R7

Morvite Instant Porridge Assorted 1 kg

Willards Cheese Curls

M.A. Mbiza

90

90

16

90

Shop online www.picknpay.co.za BUY 2 FOR

All Gold Tomato Sauce 700 ml

SAVE R12

SAVE R4

22

90

PNP White Sugar 2.5kg

30

R

Each

Story continues on page 2

Rama Original Magarine 500g Brick

AFFORDABLE NUTRITION Smart Food for Smart People

Empower Business, Families and your Community Experience the famous “5 day e’Pap effect”

Technology

R1990

Empowering your mind and body through a well balanced diet Pre - Cooked Instant Food Fortified with 28 Nutrients State of the Art Technology

THE MARKET LEADERS IN BIO-AVAILABLE/ABSORBABLE AFFECTIVE NUTRITION

PRICES VALID 22 -27 SEPTEMBER 2015

P2 SOSH TIMES www.soshtimes.co.za News

f soshtimesnews

t @soshtimes

LATE SEPTEMBER 2015

‘Account was not his’ - Letsoalo Continued from page 1

LETSOALO SAID the technician was adamant that they money should not be paid into an Eskom account, but rather it should be paid through the Shoprite Money Market.

“When I threatened not to pay the money, unless it was directly deposited into his (the technician’s) personal

bank account, he promised to give me the Absa E-Bag Wallet as an alternative, which he never did.

Surprisingly, that account did not belong to him, but to an accomplice, known only as Kagiso,” said Letsoalo.

The technician finally acceded to Letsoalo’s demand and he deposited R500, according document in possession of Sosh Times,

on 2015/09/19, through the Shoprite Money Market.

“I called the technician’s cellphone number notifying him of the transaction. He acknowledged receipt of an sms I sent to him and gave him the reference number,” said Letsoalo.

Sosh Times is also in possession of Letsoalo’s transactions at Shoprite Money Market to cellphone

number 0787984766, Ref no: M15091966998314, Pin 6507. Letsoalo had been previously sent a ‘By-Pass Tamper Notice NRRP 564569 in early September, signed by Eskom’s Regional Manager Sales and Customer Services, Mr. Bongani Mkhwanazi.

He warned Letsoalo that the supply to his installation has been discontinued.

“After a re-connection fee

of R6000 has been paid” “By you, we will reconnect your supply. The fee must be paid in at your nearest ABSA Bank into Account 2310000119.” stated Mkhwanazi’s notice.

Concerted efforts to get response from Eskom’s Corruption Line number 0800112722, were futile.

Emotions high at drowned boy’s funeral

By Tlaki Baloyi THERE WAS A SOMBRE mood as friends and family members described Abram “Fanafana” Maluleka as a funny soul who always made others laugh. “Fanafana,” as he was affectionately known died after drowning in a trench which had been left open for more than a year.

His teammates and friends cried uncontrollably when they paid tribute to the 16 year old. Maluleka’s friend and team mate, Tebogo Nyakane (13) said they were playing soccer when their ball fell into the trench. He said Fanafana decided to retrieve it..

Left: Abram Maluleka’s mom(centre) with her sister and her aunt; Right: some of Abram’s teammates shed tears during his “He then jumped into the funeral trench and immediately after that he started calling for us to help him as he was drowning already. Our coach arrived and attempted to save him but he too nearly drowned so he quickly got out. Seconds later, Fanafana’s body was floating on the water surface,” said Nyakane.

He was sent to go fetch a ladder and when he came back, they had already pulled Maluleka out of the trench and they were busy to resuscitate him but it was already too late.

The deceased’s uncle, Mr. DR MUSISI & MAMA MARIA HERBALIST HEALER France Maluleka, said when he arrived at the scene, his Problem with Libido Job Promotion nephew had already been taken Hard Erection Remove Bad Luck out of the trench. He said the Bring Goodluck paramedics confirmed that HIV & AIDS Symtoms Visit us at Fanafana had died.

Bring Back Lost Lover Mabopane & Sosh He further said the Customer Attraction community had been worried Body Pain In Business about the trench all along not TB knowing that it would kill his Early ejeculation nephew. Maluleka appealed Court Cases Financial to the municipality to do Diabetic Call 078 840 1286 Problems something about the trench before it claims yet another life.

The residents of both Block V Extension 1 and Soutpan Informal settlement, the two areas which the trench runs TAX - ACCOUNTING - AUDIT in-between, have in the past Financial Statements preparation raised their concerns about Monthly Bookkeeping services the unprotected trench. They called for the trench to be Tax (Individual, Companies and Customs) closed down.

Professional Business Plan/Profile Ward 13 Councillor Mr Khala Phahlane has infuriated BEE certificate the residents for reportedly Share Certificate informing a national daily Company secretarial services newspaper, that the trench previously been cordoned off (eg, renewal of CIPC) and that the residents stole the Company/Trust/Corporative/Trademark fencing. Residents dismissed CIDB/SARS registration and ect his claims as being far from the truth.

Compliance review On the day Maluleka died, Contact us and we will come to you: another the local councillor Cell: 072 862 3265 promised that the trench would be closed, however, at the time Fax: 086 666 0770 of the burial of Fanafana, the Email: info@kulungwana.co.za trench was still open.

Website: www.kulungwana.co.za

f soshtimesnews

www.soshtimes.co.za SOSH TIMES P3 Morula Casino and Hotel REDWORKS 85581

LATE SEPTEMBER 2015

t @soshtimes

MIDWEEK ACCOMMODATION FOR 2 INCLUDING BED AND BREAKFAST AND R100 IN GAMING CREDITS OR CHIPS

FOR ONLY

R490

* PER NIGHT

(VALUED AT R1175) *Rules with complete offer available at the MVG Desk and suninternational.com

Morula SUN INTERNATIONAL SUPPORTS RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING. GAMBLING FOR PERSONS 18 YEARS AND OLDER. WINNERS KNOW WHEN TO STOP. NATIONAL RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING TOLL-FREE COUNSELLING LINE 0800 006 008. SUN INTERNATIONAL CASINOS ARE LICENSED CASINOS.

P4 SOSH TIMES www.soshtimes.co.za Opinion and Analysis

t @soshtimes

LATE SEPTEMBER 2015

Let’s continue preserving our heritage and our languages

Tlaki Baloyi

A

s we are concluding Heritage Month, I think it’s only fair that I encourage fellow Africans to continue preserving our heritage, our culture, and our languages. It is very disheartening that we live in a country where African children know how to speak ‘proper’ English and are proud of that but they can’t speak their home language properly or they don’t know it all and yet are not worried about this.

It is very sad as well, that we live in a country where as black brothers and sisters we laugh at each other for not being able to speak the so-called queen’s language and we praise others if they can speak this language

properly, yet people see nothing wrong with not being able to speak our very own languages.

The situation is so bad that we are not in the least ashamed when we tell people that we don’t know or speak our indigenous languages.

As we are concluding the celebrations of Heritage Month, let us look at ourselves properly, look at our history and our past, look into the present and see if we have stories and fables to tell to our grandchildren one day. Let’s see if we will be able to teach the future generation proper language and proper speech.

Speaking of language brings me to the most important part of our heritage, OUR IDENTITY! Our names are part of our identity. They make us who we are, it is also sad that we let other people get away with pronouncing our names wrongly and misspelling them wrongly.

The sad part is that we even let them talk us into misspelling these precious parts of our identity.

Why go to the extent of spelling our names like this; Lee-Rah-Toh (Lerato) just so that the other person can be able to read that? Do you think Ursula will ever spell her name Esh-la or Kobus spell his name Kobos just so you can read it?

Think again. Black fellow, we also need to start being jealous with our names. Tell that other

friend that your name is not Liratho, but Lerato.

All this things got me thinking that they were right when they said we are the lost generation, but we can still find our way and reach the right destination, right? How about we start being proud of our names and stop calling ourselves bo Tlaki Van Der Baloyi? I mean you can even hear that these things don’t gel, so why the fuss, why are we confusing ourselves?

Dear African child, we understand that somebody who does not even speak your language taught you how to write your name, but do you realise that the damage this person did is not only to your name itself, but also to its meaning and on your identity. Because let’s look at it this way, Tshepo and Tsepo, just like Nthabiseng and Ntabiseng and Tumi and Tumy; these are pairs of two different things, therefore they have different meanings.

If you are going to tell people that your name is Lirato, then this no longer means love, it means something else. Be jealous when it comes to your identity, if it needs be then protect it with you life. If push comes to shove, then fight when somebody constantly pronounces your name wrongly.

Speaking of identity, another mistake we are doing as black people is the fact that we don’t let other people know that with

us family transcends to more than just mom, dad, sister and brother. I once read a book in which a black child was explaining to a white child about the closeness of the black family and how it works.

The child went on to explain that mmane/mangwane, mamogolo, ramogolo and rangwane means younger mom, older mom, younger dad and older dad. This child went on to tell this friend that she does not call the children of the people she has mentioned cousins, she told her that they are her brothers and sisters. She explained to her friend who her uncles and aunts were and who her cousins were.

So next time you have to go to your Mmane’s funeral or your brother’s funeral and somebody tells you that you can’t get a day off because they are not family, give this person the explanation above and tell them, proudly so, that with you, an African child, family transcends way beyond mom, dad, sister and brothers.

If it needs be, tell this person that there are neighbours whose funeral you can’t miss, because they are like family. Tell them that it’s an African thing!

*Baloyi is a Journalism Graduate and a Lay-out Artist

Na No T g R m Le sh nd n T r e h e h an of l l a p ip a du hi ek to o ha b w e x ha NtMoipone olo a bo Mmane Ramogolo Mashudu Zandile Mbalenhle Xolelwa Ntsoaki Lesego ho e e Tinyiko m n ni p Madzela o a a a m l i w o L a g s ig g M n en z o Nomakula a b o h R K N Te Heritage

!!!

?

Selaki

It is poignant that when many South Africans still jealously cling to their cultures and heritage we are observing a steep decline of these virtues amongst Black people. This phenomenon is also rapidly spreading to the country’s rural areas. Black South Africans are pathetic copy cats of weird foreign cultures, often in excessive formations.

Is it a question of self-loath?

Imagine Black parents both Batswana from Taung or Bapedi from Ga-Masemola at a Pretoria shopping mall. They would talk to their children in English, deliberately within earshot of a white family, because it makes them feel good and sophisticated. Do these warped parents only speak to their children in public? Actually no, they communicate in this language even at home and encourage their off springs to do the same when they speak to their grandparents who, in all probabilities, far less educated.

Whereas on the other hand, Hendrik Beegte, who his children attend an English medium school, come rain or shine, speaks Afrikaans to his children. Somewhere in the pages of this newspaper, our colleague writes; “It is very disheartening that we live in a country where African children know how to speak ‘proper’ English. And are proud of that but they can’t speak their home language properly or they don’t know it all and yet are not worried about this”.

We can’t agree more with her critical observation.A lady (?) in a brown weave lambasts Michael Jackson (May his soul rest in peace) for being a fake, is this not a contradiction of extremes?

It is ironic for someone who uses skin lighteners to the see a stick on someone’s eye while he or she cannot see the log in his or her eye. Black people are susceptible to all sorts of pranks that are thrown at them by their white counterparts, no need to Google these pranks because more than twenty years ago, Black women were victims of these skin lighteners, they had perceived that the pigmentation of their dark skin was not as beautiful as that of their white counterparts.It is not enough to set aside less than 24 hours a year to acknowledge our heritage, we need to breathe, live, and always be conscious of ourselves. This is where our writers come in, of course a small number of them have made some strides, filmmakers and producers.Instead of portraying Black people as thus, greedy drug peddlers and prostitutes, there is a lot they can write and produce about the values and heritage of Black people.

African names

COMMENT

f soshtimesnews

Publishing Editor Thabo Mooke 012 797 2397

General Manager Thapelo Masilela

Sub Editor

Tshepo Marutha

Marketing Team Marketing Manager Mapula Chiloane Thabo Maleka

Graphics Team

admin@soshtimes.co.za editorial@soshtimes.co.za Tebogo Modiba www.soshtimes.co.za Kgololosego Sethibe Published/Layout and Design by Versatile Media Institute Tlaki Baloyi

t @soshtimes

LATE SEPTEMBER 2015

f soshtimesnews

It is all systems go for class of ‘15

T

he matric class of 2015 is entering one of the most challenging and arguably most important times of their lives - the build up to their final examinations.

With only 37 days remaining until the start of the 2015 National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams, the Department of Basic Education says it’s all systems go.

“All processes are on

track to ensure the smooth administration of the NSC. Examination papers have been set and have been sent to provinces”, said Minister Angie Motshekga.

Provinces have appointed markers and all processes are going ahead as planned.”

This year, 801 688 matriculants are registered for the examinations.Of these, 674 232 of those are full time candidates and 127 456 are part time

candidates.“We are happy to also see an increase in the number of people who registered to write their exams this year. The increase in the number of part time candidates is also very encouraging.”

Minister Motshekga said her department has printed over 10 million question papers that are ready to be distributed to almost 7000 examination centres.“We will have 65 000 invigilators

and 35 000 markers in 118 marking centres around the country,” she added.

The provinces have also indicated plans are well underway and going well in order to effectively administer the examinations.The National Senior Certificate exam will start on 26 October and finish on 27 November.

Results will be available at schools on January 6, 2016.

- SAnews.gov.za

“I wanted to see more of my grandkids, but not by moving into their livingroom” A gambling problem hurts. It doesn’t have to be that way.

CALL OUR TOLL FREE COUNSELLING LINE 0800 006 008 or send a “please call me” or sms to 076 675 0710. counsellor@responsiblegambling.co.za

WINNERS KNOW WHEN TO STOP

www.soshtimes.co.za SOSH TIMES P5 Education

Learners to choose languages SCHOOLS WILL BE required to include indigenous languages in their curriculums from next year on, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said on Friday.

Speaking to the media after a regular meeting with the Council of Education Ministers, Minister Motshekga said the meeting received a progress report on the Incremental Introduction of Indigenous African Languages that will be implemented in Grade 1 across the board from next year.

This means that schools that previously only offered English and Afrikaans will now be mandated to offer an African Language from Grade 1 and continue incrementally year-on-year.

“This is an exciting and important development as far as languages are concerned,” Minister Motshekga said.

She encouraged all South African authors, poets and universities to continue to develop the country’s local indigenous African languages by creating literature in South African local languages.

The Minister said there has been misconceptions formed over the addition of Mandarin to the list of the other 15 additional foreign language options.

She said the introduction of Mandarin, which has been met with criticism from various sectors of the community, is no different from other foreign languages that are currently on offer in the country.

“This forms part of a country to country agreement, like those we have with other countries.”

To date the foreign languages most extensively offered in South African schools are German followed by French and other languages such as Portuguese, Urdu, Tamil and Arabic.

These languages, she said, are also on offer at the same level as Mandarin, adding that there was “nothing special about Mandarin”.

“To reiterate, Mandarin is now available to schools that wish to offer it at an optional third language level. It will have no impact on our current compulsory curriculum in which it is mandatory to take two South African languages.”

Competency tests for principals Other changes on the cards include the implementation of competency tests for the appointment of principals as of January 2016 in all provinces.

Draft guidelines on new measures for the appointment of principals, which include a component on competency assessments has been developed, Minister Motshekga said, adding that a draft framework containing areas for assessing principals’ competency has been completed.

The Western Cape has a functional competency assessment programme running in the Premier’s Office, while Gauteng has developed a competency assessment programme and has taken principals and deputy principals through the programme.

“We are confident these measures will improve leadership in schools and improve the accountability of principals,” said Minister Motshekga.

Bullying, violence in schools Regarding bullying and violence in schools, she announced that a Lekgotla to discuss and find ways for dealing with violence in schools will be convened on a date yet to be announced.

“The age cohort of some learners was also raised as a contributing factor and it was discussed that the rollout of different streams of education especially the vocational stream should be prioritised to prevent learners staying in school long after the appropriate age if they are not coping with the academic stream,” she said.

Already the department has signed a protocol with the South African Police Service (SAPS) whereby every police station would adopt a school. – SAnews. gov.za

P6 SOSH TIMES www.soshtimes.co.za

f soshtimesnews

t @soshtimes

LATE SEPTEMBER 2015

Indigenous

Setudiyo sa difilimi se bulwa kua Mahikeng

M

otlatša-tonakgolo wa tša Bokgabo le Setšo Mohumagadi Rejoice Mabudafhasi o fane semmušo ka setudiyo sa maemo a godimo sa dipontšhokopana sa Mmabana seo se tlilego go abela maloko a setšhaba sefala sa gore ba kgone go anega dikanegelo tšeo e lego tša bona ka mokgwa wa go dira dipontšhokopana.

Mabudafhasi o re go neelana ka setudiyo se go diragala ka nako yeo maAfrika Borwa go tšwa dinhleng kamoka tša bophelo ba ketekago letšatši la bogwabo ka fase ga moeno wa “Tsebo ya segaborena, Bogwa ba rena: Go ya go lemoga, go godiša le go lota bogwa bjo bo phelago bja Afrika Borwa” O hlalošitše gape le gore ka mokgwa wa bona wa go hlabolla, Kgoro ya Bokgabo le Setšo, ba ikemišeditše go fetola seemo sa lekala la bokgabo, setšo le bogwa ka ge dilo tše e le tšona tšeo di ralokago tema e bohlokwa go lenaneo la mmušo la go tšea magato a go hlola mešomo yeo e tlilego go tšea lebaka, hlabollo ya bokgoni le hlabollo ya seemo sa leago le sa ekonomi sa lefapha le.

Go ya ka motlatša tonakgolo, tšhelete ya go lekana R850 000 e šomišitšwe mo go hlabolleng Setudiyo se sa Mmabana.

“ Setudiyo se sa Mmabana se tlile go hwetša le go lemoga talente, sa fana ka hlahlo ya katišo ya maleba, gomme sa fana gape ka maitemogelo ka katišo ya bona ya “AtWork” gomme ba bowa gape ba tšwetša bao ba nyakago go ngwala difilimi nyanyeng. Se se tla fa maloko a motse monyetla o mo botse wa go šomiša ditudiyo tše gore ba kgone go anega dikanegelo tša bona,” go boletše Mabudafhasi.

O boile gape a bolela gore filimi ke ye nngwe ya bokgabo bjoo bo nago le matla mo lefaseng la tša kgašo le go ngwala, e kgona go fihlelela batho go sa lebelelwe nako, leleme, setšo le bodulo gomme e anege dikanegelo tša go kgoma pelo, e kwalakwatše ditiragalo gomme e be e hlole poledišano go ba yona ngangišano.

Mabudafhasi o re, go ba bantšhi difilimi le thelebishene di bontšha nako yeo re phelago go yona le tema yeo e swanetšego go kgathwa ka kgorong ya tša bokgabo le setšo ya go kwalakwatša leeto la maAfrika Borwa.

Mabudafhasi o re kgwerano ya bona le ba ga Top Crew Home Brew Movies (TCHBM) e tlile go kgonthišiša gore ba hlahla le go hlabolla boradifilimi ba

ba nnyane gomme se se tla tšweletša phetogo ye kaone ya bokgabo, setšo le bogwa ka ge ba kgonthišiša gore batho ba bantšhi ba na le phihlelelo ya ditlabakelo, kudukudu bafša.

“Maloko a setšhaba a tla humana monyetla wa go bona difilimi tšeo di tšweleditšwego ka mono nageng ntle le gore ba ye mafaseng a ka ntle moo go nago le disinema ka ge difilimi tšeo di tla tsamaišwa ka mo nageng,” go boletše Mabudafhasi.

Ge a be a tswalela polelo ya gage, Mabudafhasi o rile o na le tshepo ya gore setšhaba sa Mahikeng se tla šomišana le Mmabana Cultural Foundation le Top Crew Home Brew Movies gomme ba tla hlokomela setudiyo se sa maemo a godimo gore ba kgone go tšwela pele go bontšha dikanegelo tšeo e lego tša bona.

O rile o lebeletše pele go bona baraloki ba difilimi ba ba kaone ba hlagiša ke porojeke ye. Mabudafhasi o re o na le bonnete bja gore difilimi tša maemo a godimo di tla tšweletšwa gomme di tla phala difilimi tše dintšhi tša bosetšhaba le tša boditšhabatšhaba.

SUMMER

is around the corner and it’s time to showcase your unique

le!

Sosha sty

September 2015

Take your selfie at our Selfie Station in the centre and upload it to our Facebook page to stand a chance to win your share of prizes worth

R10 000!

Those with the best Sosha style will be featured in the Sosh Times newspaper.

Details, terms and conditions on Facebook and our website.

Ditsong e keteka setso Ka Thabiso Mosima TSWAING CRATER Maseum e ewelang mo Ditsong Museums e dirisana leba motse toropo wa Tshwane e ne e tshotse letsatsi la go keteka setso sa bana ba sebilo malobanyana mo.

Letsatsi leno la keteko lebone dibini tse di faroganeng di gaisana ka kopelo le goja loto.

Leloko la Komiti ya Rratoropo ya Tshwane eleng (MMC) Thobeka Makeke o enenng ele sebui sa letsatsi one a rotlowetsa batho ba baneng ba le mo moletlong go ipela ka setso sa bone. Makeke o aneng a apere kobo e entle ya setso sa Sexhosa, one a kopa batswadi go ruta bana ba bona setso sa bone ba sale bannye gore ge ba gola bakgone goba MaAfrika a itsing kwa batswang teng.

“Rona rele ba toropo- kgolo ya Tshwane re ipela go ba teng ga Ditsong/Tswaing Craft

Museum mo motseng wa rona ka gonne e na le histori e ntshi. Ke rotlowetsa badudi ba Tshwane go etela mafelo a go tshwana le Ditsong gore batle ba itsi gore ke bo mang, batswa kae ebile baya kae. Setso sa Ma-Afrika se a itumedisa, entse ekaba ditlhabisa ditlhong go bana ge sene se ka timelela mo moeng. Re tshwanetse ke go ruta bana esale masega setso se mme re gopotse ba lebetseng gore rele Ma-Afrika re bo mang,” go okoleditse Makeke.

Batho bane baneng baleng ko moletlong o wa gokeketa letsatsi la Setso bane ba itumediswa ke ditlhopha tsa mmino wa setso tsa go tshwana le Mmakaunyane Tsonga Girls, Vhavenda Cultural Group le Moshate Brass Band. Moletlo o one o etetswe ke maloko gotswa go bogoshing ba Kekana le Mahlangu le baemedi ba Masepala wa Tshwane.

TO ADVERTISE ON SOSHTIMES CALL 012 797 2397

t @soshtimes

LATE SEPTEMBER 2015

BUDGETING FOR SUCCESS CBE&T Business Academy

W

with B.A.M. Lehari

hen we talk budget everybody has his/ her explanation of what a budget is. Some dictionaries say a budget is a quantitative expression of a plan for a defined period of time. It may include planned sales volumes and revenues, resource quantities, costs and expenses, assets, liabilities and cash flows. Others say a budget is an estimation of the revenue and expenses over a specified future period of time. A budget can be made for a person, family, group of people, business, government, country, multinational organization or just about anything else that makes and spends money At the Centre for Business Education & Training we strongly believe that budgeting is a process each SMME, Church, School, Individuals, Family, Community should seriously consider (B) before (U) using the money (D) do not (G) get (E) easily into (T) trouble lest you hate your unwise actions. How many

people do you know who are today in trouble because of bad budgeting. In simple terms it is about money coming in and money going out and money remaining. You do not need to be a rocket scientist to know how to balance the two. But you need to have the knowledge of balancing the income, expenses and surplus.

Please get me right on this one, I am not saying you must have education but I am saying you must have the knowledge to understand the budget.

Education and knowledge are parallels to talk about at a later stage.

Is a financial plan or summary of your income and expenses in a given period of time determined by yourself in your business etc.? It is the knowledge to easily understand the breakdown of how much money you have coming in and how much you are letting go and how much remains for yourself.It’s an invaluable tool to help you prioritize your spending and manage your

money—no matter how much or how little you have.

Many financially successful people have learnt the art of budgeting God’s money to the point where it increased tremendously and made their future and that of their grand and great grandchildren to understand a life of financial freedom. Those who did not learn the art of budgeting God’s money lived to a point where it decreased tremendously and made their future and that of their grand and great grand-children to understand financial poverty.

As you read this article be fully aware that life was meant to have two sides of the story.

That is why God gave you two legs and not three. Please don’t wish you have three legs because your wish will and is not within God’s purpose for your own purpose. Such a wish is sinful and futile. As you read this article and relook at your current financial situation, I will like to plead with you that do yourself a favour (lest

f soshtimesnews

www.soshtimes.co.za SOSH TIMES P7 Business

you develop a high blood pressure) acknowledge that your current financial situation was of your actions and your free will. Whatever you’re current situation, you and you alone with the help of those you wish could help you can get yourself out of financial poverty. Change is not change until you decide to change. My advice is if you took the left road and you realise (as you read this article) that the road is not exciting, develop the strong will to change direction no matter what it can cause you. I can assure you the other direction will be far better than the first one. If you aspire to budget for success take the following tips: use the tracker and track your spending habits.

Become fully aware where your money is going and why is going there. Give serious consideration.Pay with cash if you truly can. Budget for big things you need in your life.

Do not copy what other people are doing because you do not know the reasons why they do what they do. Once you’ve determined how much to set aside for saving, spending and investing, it’s time to make those numbers stick. The growing popularity of credit cards and debit cards makes it all too easy to overspend and become a financial slave whose master has long died.

Take this for yourself and your children and those you love: if you save R2.00 a day for thirty days you will have R60.00. For twelve months R720.00. If this habit goes on for fifteen years you will be at R10, 800.00 not including compounded interest. To all the

18yrs old, how much have you saved? To the 36yrs old, how much have you saved? To the 54yrs old what do you have and what is the total value of what you have? Begin to consider the power of residual income to help you bring your life to a successful position. You see the problem is inability to budget God’s time. We all have the same time on the planet earth but our greatest enemy is the knowledge to budget our time. We waste so much time idling and getting involved in non-financial activities.

We spend time on activities that will not make us better people tomorrow. The formula is: when today’s activities are meaningless we are really preparing for a meaningless disempowering tomorrow.

What are you currently doing with God’s time?

If you do not know what to do God’s time allocated to you, then ask Him. (A)at all times and always (S) seek His (K) knowledge for your betterment. People who do not ask get nothing. Are you one of them?

If your answer is no savings, unemployed and financially poor, employed but struggling, self-employed but financially wondering and about to be bankrupt, PHONE/VISIT US AT 2249 Block F Industrial Site Soshanguve Tel: 012 799-2842 or beeo complex hammanskraal tel: 0729822449 or 012 711-2139. Follow us on our Facebook page Centre For Business Education & Training or www.cbecentre.co.za.

Good luck and God bless you!!!B.A.M. Lehari

SA third in Open Budget Index Survey IN RECOGNITION of South Africa’s commitment to a transparent budget process, the country has notched third place in the 2015 Open Budget Index (OBI) Survey.

“Over the years, South Africa has consistently entrenched its reputation as a global leader in budget transparency. This is evidenced in the expansive budget information that is published for public analysis and scrutiny, as well as in its performance in international budget surveys,” said National Treasury on Wednesday.

South Africa took the third spot after New Zealand and Sweden.

The International Budget Partnership’s Open Budget Survey is the world’s only independent, comparable measure of budget transparency, participation, and oversight.

The survey 2015 examined 102 countries from around the world, measuring three aspects of how governments are managing public finances.

Past survey results have been used to identify gaps in budget transparency and informed measures and mechanisms adopted to address those gaps, said National Treasury.

The introduction of a new framework for strategic plans and a framework for annual

performance plans and the enhanced commitment of the South African government to engage with civil society organisations to ensure increased participation in the budget process are among the reforms that the country implemented between 2010 and 2015.

“In 2010, South Africa obtained first place in the Open Budget Index Survey.

The 2015 ranking of third out of the 102 countries that were surveyed reflected increased emphasis placed on budget participation,” said National Treasury.

In view of South Africa’s

commitment to improving budget participation, the National Treasury is pursing the following measures: - Continued support to civil society in their preparation of citizen-friendly publications about national budgets tabled in Parliament.

- A possible collaboration with civil society organizations that includes looking into creating a data portal in the near future will be looked into, to provide data in a user friendly format and create a social dialogue on budget issues.

“South Africa remains committed to constantly

improving the budget process in order to maintain its international reputation as a global leader in budget transparency. South Africa continually seeks to enhance the expansive information it provides to its citizens on how public resources are generated and used with the aim of improving budget participation,” it said.

The survey provides a comprehensive review of South Africa’s budget process.

Citizens are encouraged to use information published in budget documents for effective analysis and research. SAnews.gov.za

SA’s economic growth affected by global crisis MINISTER IN THE Presidency responsible for Planning Monitoring and Evaluation, Jeff Radebe, says the global economic crisis has affected economic growth in the country over the last four years, prompting a deceleration in the rate of growth.

Updating the media on progress and challenges and the interventions required to close the gaps in implementing the 14 priorities of government on Friday, Minister Radebe said the global economic crisis is coupled with the ongoing relative under performance

of the domestic economy, prompting government to lower its own Gross Domestic Product expectations.

“Besides low global demand, significantly low commodity prices and the global steel over supply.

“Our economy is facing several other challenges, including decades of under investment in economic infrastructure, an exchange rate that tends to be too volatile, rising administered costs, high port and freight charges with port charges amongst the highest in the

world, too fast and deep trade liberalisation and electricity supply challenges amongst others,” Minister Radebe said.

He further noted that despite some progress in increased employment with the yearon-year comparison, overall employment growth remains low and insufficient to absorb the high level of new and existing entrants in the labour market.

In the first quarter of 2015, the unemployment rate increased to 26.4%. – SAnews. gov.za Minister Jeff Radebe, Picture sourced from: www.drum. co.za

P8 SOSH TIMES www.soshtimes.co.za Environment and Health

f soshtimesnews

t @soshtimes

LATE SEPTEMBER 2015

HPCSA informs patients about their rights

By Cynthia Nkgudi THE HEALTH PROFESSION Council of South Africa (HPCSA) recently held a road show at Falala Community Hall in Soshanguve, to raise awareness on issues pertaining to the registration, education and training, professional conduct and ethical behaviour of practitioners, in ensuring continuing professional development and fostering compliance with healthcare standards.

The Chief Executive Officer of HPCSA Dr BN Majamba-Matsoba, said the council is committed to promoting the health of the population, by determining the standards of health care professionals in setting and maintaining excellent ethical and professional practice.

“The council in terms of Health Professions Act No.56 of 1974 is committed to promote the health of South Africa’s population; it determines the standard of professional education and training, to register any health practitioners in order to avoid fake practitioners.

“All people have the right to good health and quality health care. As a patient you have a right to seek help from any health practitioner of your choice, a

right to ask for help with any disease you are suffering from, a right to be treated in a clean and safe environment, a right to disagree to any kind of treatment you feel uncomfortable and an entitlement to know what a Medical Aid cover is and how to make payments,” said MajambaMatsoba.

The Communications Manager at HPCSA, Ms Priscilla Sekgonyana encouraged patients to know their rights.

“We basically want community to know their rights as patients because most of our elderly do not know their rights, they would visit doctors for examinations but at the end of the day they would not know what is wrong with their health.

The whole idea was to open the communication line between them and their doctors,” Sekgonyana.

A member of the community who attended the event, Mr Robert Manyike said that the occasion was very educative.

“It taught us many things that we were not aware of, such as bogus doctors. I wish that something could be done about those people who claim to be real doctors while they do not have any qualifications, as they put our lives in danger,” said Manyike.

Israel the Secret to the Blessings

FOR

Gods ultimate purpose is to Bring both His Original Covenant People Israel & His New Covenant People together as One New Man through Faith in Jesus, The Saviour of the World. Ephesians 2:15 Pray for the Salvation of the Jewish Nation. May their eyes & Hearts be opened to their Jewish Messiah Jesus.

When the Christian church Shows Love to Israel, God will explode His blessings Upon the Church like Never Before. Romans 11 Africa United For Israel

LATEST

NEWS

@Soshtimes

FOLLOW

US ON

TWITTER

Modiba's beat on the environment

with Tebogo Modiba

Heritage day can raise environmental awareness Different South African Ethic attires

Every year on Heritage day, 24 September, South Africans dig deep into their wardrobes and fish out their traditional attire to celebrate their unity in diversity. Citizens see this as a day to meet together with friends and undertake what has become a unique South African tradition, buying plenty of boerewors for a braai.

However there are different ways in which South Africans celebrate the Heritage Day. Some choose to wear their traditional regalia to work, usually the day before Heritage Day and some gather at events characterised by indigenous music, dance and speeches by local leaders.

Tsonga women usually adorn their familiar Xibelani (Motjeka) attire, a waist-high skirt made of metres of cloth.

Married Zulu women wear skirts made of cow hide called Izidwaba. While Venda women would parade in their colourful skirts called Minweda.

Proud Xhosa women would distinguish themselves with their beautifully painted faces and head gear. But it’s not only women who showcase their flair for traditional fashion. Zulu men also embellish modern trousers and shirts usually khaki trousers and shirts with detailed designs and patterns which have come

to be known as Umblaselo.

For the sake of preserving our environment, wearing traditional gametes manufactured out of waste products will also be one of the great tools to raise awareness about reusing products.

During my visit to Matlapaeng Primary School in Soshanguve Block UU, its pupils used recycling material like beverage lids to create music instruments. For instance traditional performances by both the Tsonga and North Sotho, the pupils used their imagination and wore outfits made of plastic material.

In the past Zulu warriors used to wear traditional attire made out of leopard skin. The

leopard skin is a symbol of pride and royalty. For the sake of preserving our endangered species, the leopard skin is slowly being replaced with faux fur made in China.

However, with the big cat populations threatened by loss of habitat and poaching, a cheaper and more predatorfriendly alternatives that still upholds tradition is being used.

While we will be celebrating our heritage it is also important to preserve our environment and species. Which I believe are part of our heritage.

LATE SEPTEMBER 2015

t @soshtimes

f soshtimesnews

www.soshtimes.co.za SOSH TIMES P9 Roots

P10 SOSH TIMES www.soshtimes.co.za News

f soshtimesnews

t @soshtimes

LATE SEPTEMBER 2015

Land claimants prepared to die

By Letlhogonolo Mosete

T

he Bakgatla Ba Moiletswane Board of Trustees Chairperson, Mr Phineas Motsepe,said villagers of the area were prepared to die for the land they were apparently forcefully removed from during the apartheid era.

Motsepe was addressing villagers during a land claim campaign and registration drive in Damonsville, outside Brits in the North

West.

The tribe has been embroiled in a bitter battle for years to lay their hands on the mineral rich land.

They claim they have been forcefully removed from the farm Elandfontein 440JQ in Brits by the old apartheid regime government of the Republic of South Africa, during June 1962 to the farm Buffelsdoorn 237JQ in the North West Province, without compensation.

Last year the tribe marched

to the Madibeng Local Municipality offices, but they have still not received response even from relevant departments.

The tribe also levelled accusations of maladministration, corruption, fraud, and financial mismanagement were levelled against the Madibeng Local Municipality, Bakgatla Ba Mmakau Tribal Authority by the Bakgatla Ba Moiletswane chairperson.

In a memorandum presented to officials of the MEC of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Department of Mineral Resources and the municipality last year, the tribe stated;“We are still surprised that even today our newly democratic did not register and recognise us as the Bakgatla Ba Moiletswane, as some governmental institution officials were juniors at the time of forceful

removals and today they are in high positions and they are covering up the fraud, forgery, corruption, maladministration and mismanagement of Bakgatla Ba Moiletswane tribal trust fund in cahoots with the Bakgatla Ba Mmakau tribal authority.”

Madibeng Local Municipality officials were not available for comment.

Mekgoe wants quality healthcare for all

By Letlhogonolo Mosete IN ENSURING THAT communities in and around Odi Hospital have access to quality healthcare services, the hospital recently hosted its annual open day at its premises in Mabopane recently.

Operating as a level I hospital with all the offerings of a district hospital , the aim of the open day was to market, exhibit some of the amenities the hospital has to offer. Also

the event was to introduce senior hospital presonnel, educate and address some of the issues raised by the community, Tranparency, acessibility and provision of quality healthcare services were some of the key piontts mentioned at the event which saw residents being transported to the health insitution for the event Odi Hospital Chief Executive Officer Ms.Matilda Mekgoe sharing her vision

with Sosh Times said; “I want to see the hospital flourish and prosper during my tenure as I also reside in Mabopane. We want to create a hamonious relationshp between us, as service providers and the community. We also want to grow our services in order for the community to have access to quality and affordable healthcare.”

“Some of the problems we encounter is self referals by patients who could have

easily been treated at their local clinics. This create unnecessary volumes in the hospital. Due to the ever increasing population the supply and demand is not met. I want to create a hspital where all healhcare problems are addressed and service them to thier needs.”

Ms. Margaret Dube (56) from Tsebe said; “I am pleased that the hospital has decided to host an open day so that we can see some of the services

Govt to subsidise digital migration

By Letlhogonolo Mosete HOUSEHOLDS IDENTIFIED as indigent will get 100% subsidy from government to ensure a seamless transitional migration from analog to digital broadcasting from next month.

This was said by Minister of Communications, Ms. Faith Muthambi, when addressing a packed hall at Mabopane recently.

She was flanked by key state owned entities in the broadcasting arena such as Sentech. ICASA and the South African Broadcasting Corporation.

Muthambi said the switch to Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) will see households earning less than R3200 benefit from the rollout and installation of set-top box for free.

“We have been given a mandate

by President Jacob Zuma to create a vibrant broadcasting enviroment.

Everyone has the right to quality information.With the rollout of DTT the need for local content will increase, we need to tell our stories in our own languages so that we create a conducive broadcasting enviroment and boost the economy.

“Come the first of October we are launching the registration. The Post Office is ready. We’re starting

in the Northern Cape because it’s an SKA area and it’s part of our priority. So on the 2nd of October we will be launching awareness, then it means all indigent people will be going to thePost Office.

We will use the indigent register from the municipalities so that we check also your means, whether you are able to afford or not, but come the first of October the Post Office will be open throughout the country to make sure that the people start to register,” said the minister.

South African Post Office Representative, Mr. Frank Ramotsau, said; “We will be administering the applications process to determine who qualifies to be subsidised and who doesnt for the set-top box. We have improved our technology to accomodate the process. We have more than 2.400 outlets nationwide to deal with the pplication process.”

ICASA Councillor Nomvuyiso Batyi said; “We as the broadcasting regulating body we are thrilled with the move to move from analogue to digital as it will mean that the community will receive quality content. We urge the them to embrace the migration as it is for their benefit.”

they render. Also so that our grievances are addressed by hospital leaders, because sometimes we are not sure if our concerns reach relevant people.”

Other government entities such as Home Affairs, Government Employees Pension Fund and Road Accident Fund were present to promote and address some of the issues the community might have.

TOMBSTONE FACTORY 21 PIET RAUTENBACH STREET BRITS TEL: 012 250 1862 FAX:086 544 1775 E-mail:info@royalmemorials .co.za www.royalmemorials.co.za PROMOTION VALID FROM 01/09/2015 - 31/01/2016

TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY

R 5 900

R 5 800

R15 000

FS 011

FS 013

FS 012

ND BUY 2 A GET 1 E FOR FRE

TOP POLISH OR FRONT POLISH NO CEMENT IMITATION WE ONLY USE GRANITE MATERIAL

Israel the Secret to the Blessings

R23 800

R 14 500 FS-014

FS-016 BRANCHES

Gods ultimate purpose is to Bring both His Original Covenant People Israel & His New Covenant People together as One New Man through Faith in Jesus, The Saviour of the World. Ephesians 2:15 Pray for the Salvation of the Jewish Nation. May their eyes & Hearts be opened to their Jewish Messiah Jesus.

When the Christian church Shows Love to Israel, God will explode His blessings Upon the Church like Never Before. Romans 11 Africa United For Israel

ERASMUS

SOSHANGUVE

BAPONG

PRETORIA

LEGALAOPENG SECTION SUN CITY ROAD CELL: 082 255 5209

66 CNR. BLOED & POTGIETER STR TEL./FAX 012 703 8118

SHOP NO. 2 DIPERENG SHOPPING COMPLEX OLD WARMBATH ROAD CELL: 082 255 5209

KLIPGAT

SPRINGS

STAND NO 9 HEBRON ROAD HEBRON TEL.: 012 706 0034

STAND 69 EXT O, M17 ROAD SOSH/VE SOUTH CELL: 082 255 5209

TEMBISA

WARMBATH (BELA - BELA)

MABOPANE

IVORY PARK NEXT TO PICK ’n PAY CELL: 082 255 5209

HOUSE NO.: 3, STATION HOUSE POTGIETER STREET TEL.: 014 736 3984

OFFICE 206, CENTRAL HOUSE, NEXT TO CENTRAL CITY TEL.: 012 701 4749

HAM/SKRAAL GA-RANKUWA

SHOP 08, YARONA 1ST AVENUE, CNR 3RD SHOPPING CENTRE, & NEXT TO METRO POLICE KLIPGAT CELL 083 476 6479 TEL.: 012 707 9318

ZONE 1 SHOPPING COMPLEX OLD DR MARIVATE SURGERY TEL/FAX 012 703 8118

KWA - NDEBELE Stand No. 2 Buhlebesizwe Vlaklaagte No. 2 Kwa - Ndebele

R 8 000 FS-015

Emergency numbers

083 476 7479 24 Hours 082 255 5209

t @soshtimes

LATE SEPTEMBER 2015

f soshtimesnews

www.soshtimes.co.za SOSH TIMES P11 Sports

Sosh Times sports reporter receives an award his work in community, grassroot sport development and the fight against substance abuse.

He is also the host of Sports Button show on Soshanguve Community Radio.

Handing over the award, the event Organizer, John-English Molepo described Mojela as a man who has dedicated his life to serving the community.

“This year’s recipient of the community builder award is a man of many talents.

He has dedicated his life to serving the community with passion and distinction. His

T SI I V US

selfless hard work and singular contribution in sports and education development has been a source of strength and an epitome of success to many. He is a teacher by profession, a sports columnist and sports reporter for Sosh Times newspaper, a sports presenter at Soshanguve Community Radio, CEO of Obedsons Communications, just to name but a few,” said Molepo.

Receiving the award, the elated Mojela said the award came as a surprise; “I have never thought that one day I could be rewarded for doing something

Shop No 2278 Block F West Industrial Site Soshanguve

that I love.

It is really an honour and a humbling experience for me to be receiving this award. I want to wish the Foundation all the success in their future endeavours and that they should keep on keeping on doing the good work they are doing for our communities. ” The founder of the foundation and awards Marcia Lebambo, conceded that this year’s community builder of the year is a true role-model and a shining star in our community.

Specialists in TRAILERS

SEAT COVERS

MOBILE KITCHENS

Sosh Times sports journalist, Mashilo Mojela flanked by the founder Marcia Lebambo and Event Chief Organiser and TUT fm talkshow host, John Molepo.

By Tshepo Marutha Sosh Times sport columnist and reporter, Mashilo Mojela, has scooped, The Best Community Builder of the Year award at the glittering 3rd annual Marcia Lemabo Foundation’s Spelling Bee competition,

held at Tshwane University of Technology’s Soshanguve campus.

The event was graced by over 200 learners from schools in Gauteng, Mpumalanga and North-West provinces.

Mojela who is a teacher by profession, was recognised for

GET FREE QUOATE !!!

CALL US ON

012 797 4070 OPEN MON - SAT 076 391 7107 8:00-17:30

Sports Talk With Mashilo Mojela

1. WELCOME TO SPORTS TALK, KATLEGO!!!YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN ATHLETICS FOR QUIET SOME TIME. PLEASE TAKE US THROUGH THAT JOURNEY. -Thank you. My love for athletics dates back to my days at Reitumetse High School, in Soshanguve. I have always been passionate about athletics and my favourite races have been middle and long distances.

Since joining the Monacho Athletics Club under the then leadership of Jeff Maake and later being appointed as one of its directors, I have learned a lot about athletics. The club has about 40 registered athletes from Soshanguve, Mabopane and Hammanskraal.

We are currently using TUT Soshanguve main campus as our training facility. We have managed to host 10 successive annual Monacho Athletics running competitions.

2. ATHLETICS IS ONE OF THE POPULAR SPORTING CODES, YET THE MOST MARGINALISED. WHAT IS YOUR TAKE? -I want to agree with you there, before we could say what is it that the government can do for us to revive the sport, I think the big question that we should ask ourselves is how much we have done to promote the sports in our communities amidst lack of facilities. Our kids do not have enough athlete role models to inspire them anymore. At school we only have inter-houses, cluster athletics competitions and later district championships.

3. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU EXPERIENCE IN ATHLETICS? -You would remember that our communities have been disadvantaged and marginalised for far too long. Even though things are changing for the better but there are still few challenges

of such as the lack of facilities, resources, sponsorship and medical assistance.

4. HOW IMPORTANT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCHOOL SPORTSAND COMMUNITY FEDERATIONS? -The relationship between the two cannot be over-emphasised.

The more schools are active in sports, the more we will make up for efficient federations.

We need to go back and revive those days of Sports Wednesday where school sports participation was a compulsion.

5. THERE IS A NOTION THAT ATHLETICS SOUTH AFRICA (ASA) NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DETERIORATING STANDARDS IN ATHLETICS. DO YOU AGREE? -I’m honestly tempted to agree with you on that, considering that they are the custodians of

athletics in our country. The many challenges that we have in athletics from administration to funding, all speak to one thing, which is the lack of coordination and sustainable systems.

However, we are appreciative of the little contribution and support we enjoy from them.

One would wish to go back to the days of Yellow pages competitions and many others.

6.

SOUTH AFRICA MANAGED TO BRING ONLY THREE MEDALS FROM THE RECENT IAAF HOSTED IN BEIJING. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? -Well, disappointing as it may be but I want to believe that just to qualify for participation at that level on its own means we are in the right track and a force to be reckoned with. If we could make it at international levels after so many years of isolation, numerical results should not matter. We are still in the building phase.

7. DO YOU THINK SOUTH AFRICA HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO HOST THE UPCOMING 2022 C O M M O N W E A LT H GAMES? -Look, our country has what it takes to host any tournament of any magnitude. The number of World Cups and continental tournaments we have hosted thus far, all but bear testimony to that. Furthermore, we are a hospitable country with Ubuntu and warm welcome.

Katlego Baloyi.

P12 SOSH TIMES www.soshtimes.co.za

f soshtimesnews

t @soshtimes

LATE SEPTEMBER 2015 LATE SEPTEMBER 2015

MBIZA & SONS

HOUSE PLANS M.A. Mbiza Mike

BRINGING SPORTS NEWS TO THE PEOPLE

: 072 294 6740 : 072 797 9921

For hassle free plan drawing services.

Plans approved at any municipality in the following provinces Gauteng, North West, Limpopo & Mpumalanga Services Offered includes; Working drawings, Site development plans, Re-zoning, Project management.

Dare Devils thrills adrenalin junkies

By Thabiso Mosima

Photo by redbull.com

I

n a record breaking attendance of over seventeen thousand adrenaline junkies, the Redbull X Fighters Freestyle Xtreme World Cross Biking Championship held at the Union Buildings, Pretoria left many begging for more.

The qualifying round saw 12 of the world’s best freestyle bikers battle it out in a bid to advance to the finals for Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in October.

Favourites such as last year winner, Australian Josh Sheehan, Remi Bizouard (France) and Taka Higashino (Japan) wowed the spectators when they pulled out their dare devil stunts in midair. In the end, it was French, Tom Pages, who dominated the Pretoria stop and emerged victorious; picking first position followed by Clinton Moore (Australia) and third place was the “Wild Cat” Taka Higashino.

Pages took no prisoners in this year’s competition after coming out short during last year’s final also held at the Union Building.

The crowd were treated to a series of high risk, high flying manoeuvres such the Cliffhanger, Tsunami Flip, Double grab flip, Lazy boy, Shaolin Flip, Double Back Flip just to name but a few.In a media briefing the French man said that he was thrilled that he did well in the

A biker performs a stunt during the Redbull X Fighters Freestyle Xtreme World Cross Biking Championships held at Union Buildings in Pretoria recently.

Pretoria leg of qualifications and was now focusing on winning the Abu Dhabi finals.

“This win puts a bull’s eye on my back because I have for a long time enjoyed being an underdog and now that I have earned my stripes. I am sure they are aware of my potential and will no longer treat me with kids’

gloves.

I am humbled that I got a chance to redeem myself in South Africa after my previous performance which was dismal.

Performing my stunts under the wide open arms of the statue of the late President Nelson Mandela was overwhelming but good motivation,” said Pages.

Tshwane Mayor, Councillor Kgosientso Ramokgopa said that the city has proposed to work with the organisers of the freestyle Xtreme Championship in training and developing aspiring athletes to take part in this sporting code.

“We want to see a South African one day representing our country

nationally or internationally in freestyle Xtreme biking events and winning as well. I see the interest people have for this sport and we will see to it that we groom local talent to take on this world class sport ,” he added.

Own Correspondent

tournament. A special visit from the renowned former Bafana Bafana coach Clive Barker, captain, and Lucas Radebe honoured the players.The duo took part in the boot swap event, an ice-breaker which saw each boy receive a shoebox with either two left or two right soccer boots. They were then tasked to find the boy with the matching pair, team up and create a slick soccer move.

Despite language barriers, age differences and cultural gaps, the boys showcased an array of talented tricks. Under the guidance of Radebe and Barker, the best eleven were then filmed and documented as the “11

Moves for Unity”.

The Senior Communication Manger of Brand Experience at Coca-Cola South Africa, Malefetsane Mbele said the camp was more than just football.

“The Copa SABU camp is more than a week of football. It’s an opportunity for these teens to pursue their football dream, and in the process, come together to make new friends and learn what it takes to be part of a diverse team.

“At the end of the day, we are more alike than we think and it’s our shared passion for football that allows the sport to transcend all cultural, language and race barriers,” said Mbele.

SADC champs celebrates diversity through soccer THE CHAMPIONS OF the seven Southern African Development Corporation nations’, 2015 Copa Coca-Cola tournament recently took part in a week of football at the Copa SABU camp held at the University of Pretoria’s High Performance Centre.

The 67 talented teens from South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Swaziland, were given an opportunity to celebrate their diversity but united in their common love of the game.

The week was filled with soccer tricks, coaching, a trip to Soccer City, a round-robin