eMapepeza Vol7 Issue 15 - December 18

MAHALA! IT’S FRE

E!

TAKE ON E City Of Ekurhuleni

Women take to the streets to fight gender based violence!

11-18 DECEMBER 2020 (ISSUE #15)

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CELEBRATING 20 YEARS

2ND WAVE HITS MZANSI!

BY LEBOHANG MASHILOANE

Sister2Sister, an NPO based in Jameson Park joined by members of the community marched from Angelo Mall to the Nigel Police Station to handover a memorandum calling for harsher sentences to perpetrators of Gender Based Violence/Femicide.

Sijabulile Sithole a board director at Sister2sister handed over the memorandum to Captain Naude on Tuesday, December 8. The organization is also calling for the police to be visible around communities to ensure the safety of women and children in the community.

“It is our duty and the community's duty to fight gender based violence as we all want to live in

a safe community where women and children are not constantly living in fear,” said officer Mkhize.

Before the Station Commander, Captain Naude received the

memorandum, she shared a few words, “We as Nigel SAPS don't tolerate gender based violence.

Rooting out abusers from the community is a priority to us as bodies of women and children are not crime scenes.''

The women of Nigel and Jameson Park are adamant that they will not stop fighting against gender based violence until all perpetrators are isolated from the public.

While women and children face the burden of being abused on a daily basis but suffer in silence, Sister2sister offers their counselling services to them.

Mpho Bengu is a councillor at Sister2sister and urges women and children who are facing abuse to speak up and seek help even though it might not always be easy.

Contact Sister2Sister for more information on 065 905 0450, follow on Facebook at Sister2Sister Ministries and Instagram at @s2sministries

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Mapepeza

VOL. 7 ISSUE #15 - 11-18 DECEMBER 2020

Happy 20th birthday to Ekurhuleni

The City of Ekurhuleni celebrated its 20 years birthday on December 5.

Formerly called the East Rand district, the City was established from an amalgamation of 11 administrations and nine towns in 2000.

The journey to establishing an effective and efficient local government started with the mammoth task of having to merge the different administrative systems responsible for governance and service delivery in the nine towns and 17 townships.

Since inception, the City of Ekurhuleni’s population has grown form 2.5 million in 2000 to 4 million today. The City continues to strengthen its infrastructure so that it can handle the ever-growing population.

COE is a major economic and social role-player in South Africa by means of its strong industrial characteristics and contribution to the national economy, and the size and extent of the population that is reside within its administrative boundaries. With a gross domestic product of R334 billion in 2018 (up from R160 billion in 2008), the COE contributed 19.67% to the Gauteng GDP of R1.7 trillion in 2018 increasing in the share of the Gauteng from 19.57% in 2008.

EMPD officer fatally wounded in late night accident!

An on-duty Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) officer, deployed at Vosloorus precinct unfortunately passed on near the Klippoortjie area, after she was involved in a motor vehicle crash.

On Thursday evening, December 10, a silver Mercedes Benz sedan driven by a 24-year old male who was travelling on R554 road towards easterly direction, crashed into a fully branded EMPD Nissan NP300 vehicle, driven by the 51-year

We look forward to many years of providing quality service to the people of Ekurhuleni.

old female Metro Officer.

Both vehicles collided on the corners of Osborn and Forsdick/R554/Van Dyk. The EMPD van lost control and rolled.

“The Emergency Services (EMS) personnel had to use ‘Jaws of life’ in order to extract her lifeless body (after she was declared dead on site, by medical experts) from the wreckage. It is not clear at this stage what actually occurred before the crash, on that active traffic light/robot controlled inter-

section. The EMPD Accident Reconstruction Unit, was summoned to the crash site to investigate further and a case of culpable homicide, has been registered at the Elsburg police station,” said police spokesperson Kobeli Mokheseng.

The intersection was partially closed to the flow of traffic, until all emergency personnel, Chaplains, Units responsible for motor vehicles recovery and Roads maintenance concluded in the early hours of the next day.

NOTICE: MAPEPEZA WEBSITE OFFLINE Our website, www.mapepeza.online has been temporarily taken offline for server maintenance and updates. The team is working around the clock in getting us back online. We apologize to our readers for any inconveniences caused. In the meantime, keep following Mapepeza Newspaper across Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Issuu and Instagram for news updates.

You can also join our Whatsapp community by sending a message with your name and location (e.g. Sipho in Tsakane) and we'll add you to the group that gets the news first. Thank you for your understanding and support.

News Briefs

ESSENTIAL SERVICES UNINTERRUPTED DURING HOLIDAYS

The City of Ekurhuleni wishes to inform its ratepayers of the closure of Council offices between Christmas and New Year.

All administrative offices, libraries, selected rates halls and pay-points will be closed from 13:00 on Thursday, 24 December 2020 and will re-open on Monday, 4 January 2021.

However, emergency and essential services such as refuse collection, electricity and water services will not be affected by the recess, though refuse will not be collected on 25 December.

Thereafter refuse collection will resume as per the schedule, which is also available on www.ekurhuleni.gov.za.

Residents are advised to utilise the following numbers: • Life Threatening Emergency Line - 011 458- 0911 or 10177 - 112 from mobile phones • Municipal Services Call Centre - 0860 543 000 Residents are also reminded to pay their municipal accounts on time and utilise facilities such as the online rates payment platform, Siyakhokha.

The municipality wishes all its residents a wonderful and blessed festive season and prosperous New Year.

EKURHULENI EXTENDS THE VALIDITY OF DRIVER’S LICENSE AND PRDPS Has your driver’s license or professional driver’s permit expired? Did it expire on the period from the 26 March to date (during lockdown)?

The good news for motorists is that the City of Ekurhuleni has extended the validity period of learner’s licenses, driving license cards, temporary driving licenses and professional driving permits.

The validity period was initially planned to expire on the 31 December 2020 and has now been further extended for a grace to end on the 31 August 2021.

Motorists are encouraged to visit the nearest Driver’s License Testing Centres for more information.

VOL. 7 ISSUE #15 - 11-18 DECEMBER 2020 Mapepeza

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More truck drivers are being attacked on N3 freeway!

A 31 year old truck driver was attacked while driving along the N3 Freeway near Spookbrug in Heidelberg on December 8 during the night.

“The victim was coming from Johannesburg to Durban when unknown suspects in a silver grey Toyota hilux fired shots at the truck. The truck driver continued driving until the N3 Freeway Weighbridge where he stopped. The truck have a bullet hole on the side of driver. No one was injured,” said police spokesperson Captain Tshilate.

An attempted murder case docket was opened for investigations. Motive of shooting is unknown. Suspects are also unknown.

In an earlier and similar incident on Monday evening (Devember 7), a 66 year old truck driver was shot on the right thigh and chest. He sustained gun shot wounds and was hospitalized for treatment. Police reports say the same silver grey Toyota Hilux was responsible for the attacks.

Police are appealing to anyone with in-

formation about the whereabouts of the suspects or who might be knowing who the suspects are, can call the SAPS Crime Stop 08600 10111 or MySAPS App or sms to Crime Line 32211.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the recent arson attacks affecting the road freight industry. This is after multiple trucks were hijacked and set alight by unknown groups recently on roads near Heidelberg and Vosloorus.

How to report fraud on SASSA cards at post offices!

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) hereby wishes to educate beneficiaries on the process of reporting challenges experienced with their SASSA cards.

The Agency has adopted a zero tolerance approach to any incidents of fraud and advises beneficiaries to follow the below listed steps when reporting:

• Suspected fraud should be

referred to the nearest Post Office.

• Post Office staff must assist the beneficiary to complete the prescribed affidavit which must indicate the actual amount fraudulently withdrawn.

• Post Office staff must assist the beneficiary in having the affidavit commissioned by the relevant person in that Post Office that have been appointed as a commissioner of oaths, or refer the beneficiary to the

nearest police station for the affidavit to be commissioned.

• Post Office staff must make a copy of both sides of the card in the beneficiary’s possession as well as the ID and certify these as true copies.

• The certified documents must be attached to the affidavit which the Post Office staff will forward to Postbank Fraud division for further attention and reimbursement of the beneficiary, once the preliminary in-

vestigation has been undertaken.

It should be noted that not all investigations will necessarily result in reimbursement.

Beneficiaries can report any Post Office staff who refused to assist in reporting the fraud at the nearest SASSA Office. This information must be specific and contain the name of the Post Office, date of the incident and the client’s personal details including contact numbers.

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Mapepeza

VOL. 7 ISSUE #15 - 11-18 DECEMBER 2020

Mzansi enters second wave Informal Traders get COVID-19 funding! of COVID-19 infections!

South Africa has officially hit the second wave, with 6 709 COVID-19 new cases reported in the last 24 hours pushing the total number of cases to 828 598.

In a special briefing on Wednesday night (December 9), Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, said the country now meets the resurgence criteria formulated by scientists and modelling teams.

Meanwhile, he announced that teenagers are driving the second wave of infections this time around.

“In the last two days the age distribution of new cases showed a different pattern from the norm, the peak age in this period is in the 15 to 19 age group,” he said.

“This is believed to be due to a large number of parties involving young people drinking alcohol with no adherence to non-pharmaceutical interventions,” he added.

The Minister said the super-spreader events “spillover” into the rest of the country, as this age group is highly mobile, while the majority of them are asymptomatic.

“If this trajectory continues, our healthcare system will be overwhelmed by the numbers. Hence, part of the recommendations that are being tabled by provinces themselves is that large gatherings and parties must be urgently curtailed.”

New cases peak exponentially Four provinces are currently leading the pack, with the Western Cape recording the highest number of new cases at 30%, while the infections have peaked by 24% in the Eastern Cape, 23% in KwaZulu-Natal and 17% in Gauteng.

The Free State, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and the North West accounted for 1% of new cases each, while the Northern Cape contributed to only less than 1%.

“You will notice from the seven days moving average graph that the rapid increase in KZN and Gauteng are exponential. This means that we should expect faster-rising numbers at a higher peak than in the first wave.”

The Department of Small Business Development and Nedbank have called on informal fruit and vegetable traders, who were negatively affected by the pandemic, to apply for funding.

The two entities have collaborated to empower 40 000 informal traders by helping them to restart their businesses.

The Minister said his department has already sent letters to all MECs urging them to prepare their respective provinces for a second wave.

“In a total contribution of R40 million, qualifying traders will receive grants of R1 000 each.

The money will be used to buy stock,” the department said.

“The key issues that we have raised are that the provinces need to ensure that testing turnaround times are as quick as possible to facilitate patient flow, assess bed capacity including recalling field hospital beds, attend to staffing and equipment needs urgently and to tighten up monitoring and evaluation and reporting to national department,” he added.

The initiative falls within the Department of Small Business Development’s Township and Rural Enterprises Programme (TREP) launched earlier this year.

COVID-19 Deaths reported thus far According to the stats, 135 more people succumbed to COVID-19 related deaths, which pushes the death toll to 22 574.

Of the latest fatalities, 56 are reported in the Eastern Cape, 48 in the Western Cape, 16 in Gauteng, 15 in Free State, 15 in Free State and seven in KwaZuluNatal.

“We convey our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the health workers that treated the deceased patients,” Mkhize said.

In addition, the recoveries now stand at 754 658.

The information is based on the 5 690 263 tests completed, of which 38 200 were performed since the last report.

Globally, the World Health Organisation is reporting 67 780 361 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 1 551 214 deaths.

“Since March 2020, the department launched support schemes for small businesses to help alleviate the negative impact of the pandemic including the Township and Rural Entrepreneurship programme (TREP). The focus of the TREP is to support enterprises based in townships and rural areas, and also micro and informal businesses, to restart, rebuild and improve their businesses as part of the reconstruction and recovery of the South African economy,” the Minister of Small Business Development, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said.

The TREP seeks to stimulate the economy through focused financial and business development support geared towards informal traders and micro businesses based in the villages, townships and peri-urban areas (also known as small dorpies).

The department has worked together with Nedbank to find a simple, easy and cost effective mechanism to disburse the grant money, using mobile wallets.

HOW TO APPLY FOR TREP FUNDING Traders seeking support can apply for the grant by following two key steps: – Traders can register on the National Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME) website for small business funding and complete the online form.

– Key requirements are a South African ID and valid municipal trading permit.

Upon successful registration, each trader will be directed to apply for the grant by dialling *120*001# and select option 6 “Apply” from their mobile phones and follow the easy prompts to finish the application.

The Minister has also raised concerns about the positivity rate that currently stands at 18%.

Successful applicants will receive R1 000, which will be deposited into their mobile wallet, a Nedbank MobiMoney account, which is automatically generated as part of the account application process.

“This is well above the ideal 10% that the Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19 recommends,” he said.

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Mapepeza

VOL. 7 ISSUE #15 - 11-18 DECEMBER 2020

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ICONS agency taking local talent to new heights!

The ICONS Talent Management agency (ITMA) hosted its first talent showcase and workshop at the Lebone Community Center in Ratanda on Saturday, November 21.

Performance artists and actors signed to the agency held a spectacular show, expressing their talents to audience.

The agency was established on January this year, when founder Violet Maseko saw the need for the development of artists in and around Heidelberg.

As a mother raising two talented daughters Violet says it is her duty to nurture the talent of her daughters and those who grow up around her children.

“At ICONS, we aim to improve personal qualities of our actors, make new connections which will be useful in their future careers. We are not only developers of local talent but we source local talent as well,” said Maseko during the event.

The show was MC’d by the beautiful Karabo Makgrabe also

known as Kaybo, who is also an artist at ICONS. Karabo believes that it is a privilege to be part of the arts revolution in Heidelberg. “It is so amazing to be surrounded by such amazing and being part of an agency that brings creative change in and around Heidelberg,” said Kaybo.

Currently, a number of Icon artists are cast in one of Mzansi Magic’s popular televisiion drama series, Gomora.

“In the acting industry, there

are no small roles only small actors. Never under estimate any role because it might be your breakthrough in the industry,” said Fanie Mpongo actor and production manager.

“Being part of the agency has been a learning curve, the classes have sharpened my skills as an artist, my mother who is also the founder of the agency doesn’t send us to auditions when we are not yet ready, she makes sure that we are ready for auditions,” said actress Sthandwa Maseko.

Ishashalazi honours local theatre greats!

Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Mbali Hlophe honoured actress Thembi Nyandeni famously known as “Mkabayi” for her drama character on Isibaya with MEC’s Special Award. Nyandeni was recognized for her role of using artists that were showcased in Ishashalazi and Mtjeko dance festivals in her productions of Umoja.

The veteran actress who has performed so many roles in television dramas and series such as Zone 14, Generations, Jacobs Cross and Kwakhala Nyonini just to mention a few, was awarded at the Gauteng Ishashalazi Theatre Awards. The ceremony took place on Friday, December 4 at The Market Theatre in Newtown, Johannesburg.

A number of stars were awarded to best theatre, poetry and dance productions from the 2020 Ishashalazi Festival staged in February.

The two biggest winners of the night were Tainted, for Best Theatre Production who took home R35 000 and Amagents for Best Dance Production, who took home R20 000. The duo also qualified to represent Gauteng at the coming Isigcawu Festival in Durban.

The piece, Kwanele bagged 2 awards for Best Musical Rendition and Most Promising Theatre Production.

“Congratulations to all of the winners, whose work continues to showcase Gauteng as the home of artistic excellence.

Individual recognition went to Mdengase Govuzela for Best Male Actor and Mbali Ntombela for Best Female Actor.

“The province is a scene of many events even during years of political struggles, which is enough content for creative. We want to see expansion of the arts within communities going beyond the level and category of development but into the mainstream.

For years creative industries

The Life-Time Community Theatre Development were awarded to Malesela Lucky Khafela and Lekgodi. Khafela is the found-

2020 Winners List Best Supporting Male Actor: Teboho Serapelo ,Kwanele

Best Supporting Female Actor: Tshepiso Fenyane, Kings of Kings Best Actor Male: Mdengase Govuzela, Kwanele Best Actor Female: Ntombela, Tainted

Mbali

Moment of Brilliance: Dingaan Khanye, Blah Blah Brothers Production Best Music Composed in a production: Generation of Stars, Kwanele Best Script: Thabang Mboshane, The Guy Code Best Director: Potsane Mohale, Blah Blah Brothers Production

er of Tlhakanang Drama Group in 1990, which groomed many talented children throughout the country, while well-known veteran actor Lekgodi is also a Sports man, Musician, Composer, Songwriter, Dancer, Choreographer, Scriptwriter, Film Maker, Producer, Director and Educationist.

have proved to be one of the main contributors in the economy of Gauteng and we want to see this also making an impact at grassroots socio economic conditions," said Gauteng Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation MEC, Mbali Hlophe.

Most Promising Dance Production: Amakoporosho Best Dance Production: Amagents Most Promising Theatre Production: Generation of Stars, Kwanele Best Theatre Production: Tainted

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Mapepeza

VOL. 7 ISSUE #15 - 11-18 DECEMBER 2020

Spot the Difference

Sudoku 19-22

P

APER LAY

Sudoku is a great activity to sharpen the mind.

The object of Sudoku is to ямБll in the empty spaces of a 9x9 grid with numbers 1-9 in such a manner that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains all numbers 1 through 9. It's fun and challenging for all ages.

Musical Instruments Find and circle all of the musical instruments that are hidden in the grid below.

The remaining letters spell a secret message.

ACCORDION BAGPIPE BALALAIKA BANJO BASS BODHRAN CABASAS CELLO CHIMES CITTERN CLARINET

CONGA CORNET COW BELL DIDGERIDOO DRUM EUPHONIUM FLUTE FRENCH HORN GUITAR HARP

HURDY-GURDY LAOUTA MANDOLA MARACAS MELODICA MIZMAR OBOE OUD PENNYWHISTLE PICCOLO

More GAMES on the next edition of Mapepeza Newspaper.

SAZ SITAR TARKA TRIANGLE TROMBONE UKULELE VEENA VIBRAPHONE VIOLIN XUN

Zoo Animals Find and circle all of the zoo animals that are hidden in the grid below.

The words may be hidden in any direction.

ALLIGATOR BAT ELEPHANT FLAMINGO GIANT PANDA GIRAFFE GORILLA

Spot the Difference

IGUANA LION ORANGUTAN OSTRICH PEACOCK POLAR BEAR

PUMA PYTHON STORK TIGER TORTOISE ZEBRA

Mapepeza

VOL. 7 ISSUE #15 - 11-18 DECEMBER 2020

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Mapepeza

VOL. 7 ISSUE #15 - 11-18 DECEMBER 2020

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MAHALA!

IT’S FRE

EVERY M O

E!

NTH

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