TEMBISA HOSPITAL CEO ON A MISSION TO FIX STAFF ATTITUDE

Multi-talented artist releases a hot single

by Dumisani Hlatswayo

“Nothing can dim the light that shines from within.” This quote by Maya

Angelou sums up Nonofang Molamu’s talent well. She is a teacher, model, rapper, and vocalist of note.

The 24-year-old artist uses the stage name ‘Kgosigadi,’ which means

‘queen’ in English. Kgosigadi has released a hot Tswana Afropop single, Sia (run away) in the first week of December, a song that promises to keep dance floors packed.

Kgosigadi’s passion for art began at the primary and middle school levels as a poet. She would later write her songs and begin rapping influenced by the likes of Beyonce, Nicki

Minaj, Rihanna. At age 13, Kgosigadi realised that she had a rare gift of touching other people’s hearts with her voice. It was this realisation that made her continue performing her music, mainly during school functions.

Today, Kgosigadi is a full-fledged musician who has shared the stage with big names in the music industry. She shared the stage with Nathi,

Mlindo, Vusi Nova, motswako rappers Tuks Senganga and Notshi, Prince Kaybee, Mobi Dixion, Donald, to name but a few.

Kgosigadi told The Olifants News: “I am fusing Afropop using Afrobeats with hip hop to create my unique sound and sing mostly in Setswana. In some songs, one might hear the hip hop side of me or the Afropop dominating, at times both in one song. Although on the single that is out now, I only sing. I am running away from being boxed in because I am very versatile. I can wake up tomorrow and jump on an Amapiano song like no other,” she said. According to Kgosigadi, the country’s high rate of teenage pregnancies inspired her to compose the song, Sia. Currently, teen pregnancies in South Africa stand at 60%, with Gauteng leading all the provinces. “Ke letse ke sa lala banna ba rora/Ke letse ke sa bo bona banna ba rora O Legammanna ba go batla o sa tshwarwa,” those are the opening lines in Sia.

“In the song I say, young girls should avoid trouble when they see boys as they normally end up leaving them to continue with their lives, while girls have to stay at home raising kids instead of being at school. In the song, I refer to boys as lions,” she said. “I’m sending out a message to young girls to run away from being involved in intimate relationships at a young age. As they say, ‘it’s books before boys because boys bring babies,” said Kgosigadi.

Kgosigadi is looking at working with an undisclosed Nigerian artist soon. She also thinks that Makhadzi, Boohle, and Shasha are amazing artists. She is busy cooking up her EP with her producer. Early next year, she will be releasing a single or two, then an EP will later follow.

To aspiring artists, Kgosigadi said: “Do your research. I can never overemphasize that, especially if you’re an independent artist. You shouldn’t leave any stone unturned because music goes beyond being on stage or sleepless nights at the studio. You need to know all your rights and marketing strategies of the industry,” she concluded. Indeed, she is a queen and her soul is royalty.

Connect with her on her social media platforms: Facebook: Kgosigadi Instagram: Kgosigadi_n Twitter: @Kgosigadi_nonny

Teacher, model, rapper, and vocalist Nonofang Molamu aka Kgosigadi.

Mamete’s gives nyaope addicts a second chance in life

By Samkelo Sibiya

Linkie Thabyane, founder and chairperson of Mamete’s home-based care, a non-profit organisation based in Thembisa. It is a community-based organisation that also focuses on the rehabilitation of young people to enable them to be contributors to their society.

“We have rehabilitation programmes for the so-called “nyaope boys”, they are drug addicts, and we are helping them through rehab programmes to get them clean,” said Thabyane.

“We have 18 boys that undergo this rehab programme. We also have agriculture projects and other similar programmes that help them acquire practical skills,” she explained.

She adds that I-college has about R38 000 worth of school bursaries for those who want to go to school.

“We do health awareness campaign’s together with the police. Besides this, we realised that others would love to study further; that’s where i-college comes to play,” said Thabyane.

“Our main aim is to have a soup kitchen where we will be able to feed many people in the morning, and after school, we have done food

Linkie Thabyane, founder and chairperson of Mamete’s home based care.

parcels distribution in the past at Rabasotho, “ said Thabyane. The organisation recently donated clothes to the underprivileged, and the donations were well received.

 Clothes in plastic bags donated to kids in Thembisa.

New Tembisa Hospital CEO on a mission to fix staff attitude

By Dumisani Hlatswayo

The new CEO of Tembisa Hospital, Dr. Ashley Vusi Mthunzi, is on a mission to fix staff attitudes at one of Gauteng’s most bad public hospitals. Mthunzi joined the Tembisa hospital after leading Pholosong

Regional Hospital in Brakpan from

November 2019 up until April 2021. Before taking the reins at Tembisa Hospital, Mthunzi acted as the Far East Rand hospital CEO for a short period.

Mthunzi’s appointment came at the right time when Tembisa Hospital was facing a deluge of complaints from patients. On June 25, 2020, Shonisani Lethole tweeted his ordeal from his hospital bed and appealed to former Health Minister Zweli Mkhize to intervene. “Mkhize, can I respond to your tweets if the problems I have at one of your facilities continue(s), it’s becoming unbearable and they don’t seem to care.

Didn’t eat for 48 hours,” he tweeted.

The hospital seems to struggle to serve an estimated 2.5 million population from the three Gauteng metros — Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg, and Tshwane.

Tembisa Hospital

Earlier last year, a report by the Health Ombud found that Lethole’s death could have been avoided and recommended that 19 workers at the Tembisa Hospital face disciplinary action for their alleged roles in what happened.

During his keynote speech, Mthunzi reminded everyone how Covid-19 put pressure on hospitals.

“2020 till date, the busiest day was on the 17th of July, you will think that was the third wave. We received 255 patients on that day alone. You have to appreciate it because, for 255 patients, you need a porter there, and you need a cleaner there,” he said.

To nurses and doctors, Mthunzi said: “You need to change your attitude. Then your patients will be advocates; they will say Tembisa Hospital has changed. Something is happening in Tembisa, and I am not sure what is happening. It is not the issue of food that is happening now, but there is something that is happening there,” Mthunzi said.

However, most residents still believe a lot still needs to be done to improve the quality of service at the hospital. Speaking to one of the residents who requested to remain anonymous, he said clinicians at Tembisa Hospital don’t take patients seriously. “If your family member is sick when you come to visit them. There won’t be any doctor or a nurse that will explain their sickness,” he said.

Imbizo Shisanyama new restaurant wins Best Restaurant Design Award 2021

by Staff Writer

Imbizo Shisanyama is proud to announce its venue at the Mall of Thembisa, opened during hard lockdown in November 2020, has won the Restaurant Design category in the SA Council of Shopping Centre’s Retail Design & Development Awards.

These awards annually recognise exceptional shopping centre design as decided by industry leaders in the design and development of retail centres. In the same awards, the Mall of Thembisa won the 2021/2022 International Best Retail Design in the New Developments category on the continent.

Founder of BUSY CORNER Imbizo Shisanyama and author of Conquering the Poverty of the Mind, Rita Zwane, more affectionately known as MaZwane, says seeing Africa’s Ultimate Braai Experience in a mall setting is a dream come true. “But to receive an award through MDS Architecture is the cherry on top. All of this happening while dealing with the devastating effect of the pandemic is like a rainbow of hope.”

Moving into the Mall of Thembisa was ground-breaking in many ways. The Imbizo Shisanyama there – the group’s fourth venue – shows how this township-grown dream is finally recognised in the global food and beverage sector. “This outlet delivers an authentic African experience that celebrates our culture and heritage while still keeping close to our roots in cultivating a local value chain - Umuntu Ngumuntu Ngabantu,” adds MaZwane.

The design celebrates the authentic African culture and heritage of the open ‘braai’ and creates a stunning experience where customers can watch whilst their special cuts of quality meat are being braaied over a traditional coal fire. The interior spaces are arranged over three floors with the rooftop and glass elevator providing a premium experience for the restaurant’s well-known legends and Afropolitans.

The entire concept is an authentic celebration of the great African lifestyle and identity and the design at the mall embodies the brand’s promise to patrons which offers the Ultimate Expression of the Experience. The open fires of the braais and their stainless-steel roof canopy deliver an innovative and experiential focus for the customer and to this remarkable restaurant which, whilst located in a township, would not be out of place in any city of the world, hence many call it New York in Thembisa.

Developer Jason McCormick, MD of McCormick Property Development (MPD), says that while the township economy may not have reached its full potential, innovative entrepreneurs like MaZwane have become the backbone of this economy and can provide other aspiring entrepreneurs with valuable lessons.

This recognition of a homegrown township dream that began on a dusty street corner in Ivory Park, Gauteng, underscores MaZwane’s belief that while South Africa is still in the storm economically, a positive mindset will help us through it.

“Covid has shown us flames and I feel that it is now more critical than ever to teach survival skills. I am doing this under the MaZwane Foundation, a registered NPO, in partnership with Youth Leadership Entrepreneurship and Development (YLED), and the private sector to build a world-class Entrepreneurship Skills Development Centre in the heart of the township, as we need more innovative and business-minded young people,” she explains.

Steven Zwane, founder and chairperson of the Youth Leadership and Entrepreneurship Development NPO and faculty lecturer at University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) business school, believes we can learn a lot from MaZwane, and others like her. “And hopefully, we can inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs who will take the baton from them and build corporations whose roots can be traced back to townships,” he says.

Her advice for young aspiring entrepreneurs in this climate is to remember that entrepreneurship is a journey. “A vision gives you purpose. Have a vision that will live long after you are gone; a vision that when you think of giving up will remind you why you started, that will help you to weather any kind of storm because it will keep your mind focused on your North Star,” MaZwane concludes.

Tip off lands nyaope dealer behind bars

The station commander of the Ivory Park SAPS, Brigadier David Mbongeni Ngcobo, has welcomed a tip-off from an anonymous community member, which led to the arrest of a nyaope dealer. The police arrested the 32-year-old suspect near the taxi rank at Ivory Park’s Extension Three. According to a statement issued by the police, the man was plying his trade when the police caught him. Members of the Benoni Flying Squad were alerted by a community member and quickly acted on the information provided. He had at least 22 parcels of nyaope and one thousand rands in cash with him, which were part of the proceeds of his illicit work.

He will be charged for dealing drugs and is expected to appear in the Tembisa Magistrate’s Court. “Tip-offs such as this make our work as the police easier. It is comforting to know that the community is supportive of our efforts aimed at ridding drugs in our communities,” said Brigadier Ngcobo.

MaZwane receives the prestigious award.