EDITOR’S NOTE What a month it has been. November was filled with so many events, we could hardly keep up with all the festivities. Let us introduce you to Modisana Mabale. He is our cover star of the month. He is a township art ambassador from Sharpeville who is an artist himself. He was part of a campaign called “Save our youth from codeine” which was aimed at aiding young drug addicts by teaching them and the public about the dangers of codeine. This year, he and his team members won 1st prize for most compelling project (District 6 Storytelling Website by Afrikcreatives) at the Hack Ur Culture Virtual Exhibition for which he was the writer and character developer. This was a platform for interactive storytelling. Mabale is also an environmentalist, theatre-maker and a spoken word artist. In this issue, you will read all about DVST which is a retail company from Zone 6. They are young creatives who own a space that is inspiring and innovative. We also spoke to Basetsana Lesego Ntsoele who is the owner of LeNdawo Café. She told us about her journey into entrepreneurship and how her brand is doing. We also featured a section called Season’s greetings. This feature is a pure celebration of the year. It is the public’s way of wishing friends and family a wonderful festive season. Since this is the last issue of the year, we aim to end it on a high note. Thank you to each and every person who took the time to read our issues. Thank you for sharing, commenting and liking our content. Thank you for being loyal readers to the kind of content we produce. The Vaal is a beautiful place. It is full of talent. Our job is to get you closer to that talent. The016 team wishes everyone a happy and safe festive season. Let’s meet again next year. To telling authentic Vaal stories.
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FEATURES
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We featued some of our favourite Vaal photographers in this series. We wanted to showcase the beauty of their work.
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Creative of the month- This month’s chosen creative is Teboho Serapelo
Cover story- Wet met up with Modisana Mabale, a ceartive from Sharpeville. He tells us all about his passion for storytelling. DVST- “Dust settles but people should not.” DVST from the Vaal is a retail brand that we featured this month.
C O N T E N T S
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Season’s greetings Wishing you a wonderful festive season that is filled with love, warmth and memories. Be safe and enjoy the holidays
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“To a year that was filled with nothing but sorrow and difficult times…But today we stand with hopeful hearts looking forward to new beginnings. Let’s end it off with a bang. Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas and a free pandemic 2021.” - Thandeka Tsakane Manganyi
“This year has been an extraordinary one. We have been tested to our limits. What matters though is that we were able to keep our heads high. Let us all be safe as we enter the festive season. Let us make beautiful memories with those who matter most. Let’s meet again next year in one piece. Happy holidays everyone.” - Reitumetse Shebe “Let 2021 bring more oportunities. Let it bring change and success. To all who will be embarking on journeys to visit loved ones, be safe. This year’s Christmas certainly doesn’t feel like any others but we have to make the most of it. May everyone have a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year!” - Ndlalifa Mqwathi
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PHOTOGRAPHY
Nozi Yinga Kunene @EyeofYinga Snapped 6 | THE016 NOVEMBER 2020
Vocablic Ashlee @Vocablic Ashlee Media WorkX @godschampion134 Urban society THE016 NOVEMBER 2020 | 7
Smiles Mphonyana Mosikili @5miles_photography @mutlemothibe The ripple effect 8 | THE016 NOVEMBER 2020
ART
Ingane Emnyama
Inspired by black people in the 80’s, 90’s and the 19th century, Bafana Khumalo, relatively known as Blaq Child, had a series of photos which highlighted how men are labeled by society as being too feminine based on how in touch they are with their feminine selves. He named the series Ingane Emnyama. Let’s look at each other differenty. We are art. The team: PC: @thapelokhoarai Stylist/ Creative director: @blaqchild_rebel MUA: @itsonnibabe Hair: @bongani_style_avenue Models: @matthews_molamu @gracious_osler @tshepo.shawa @cliffmphomolapisane @ about_sands @african_nacre @allyjulzz@iamluckymakume @beta2geda @tebundongela @leboforo @shes_king_gojiirah
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CREATIVE OF THE MONTH This feature aims to empower creatives in all their greatness. This month’s creative is Teboho Serapelo. He is the Founder and Chairman of Generation of Stars. He has won 3 awards this year at the GITA awards. 1 for best musical play. 2 for most promising production and moment of brilliance. He also won best supporting actor in Gauteng. Teboho, we celebrate you this month. Keep shining.
PHOTO TAKEN BY NDLALIFA MQWATHI
Teboho’s quote is: “This industry is not for the fainthearted. It is not by the genius of man but by the grace of God, therefore, one must make sure they are spiritually stable because the power to face life comes from that. Some figure it out, some don’t.” Socials: Generation of stars on Facebook. 12 | THE016 NOVEMBER 2020
EVENTS
Dinsthang?
A brief run through of events that recently took place
INKULULEKO 365 FOUNDATION - Fundraiser event
This event was aimed at raising funds to help buy groceries for the less fortunate in the Zone 7 area. In an effort to raise those funds, the Inkululeko 365 Foundation hosted a family fun day. Water slides, jumping castles and food stalls were available on the day.
LEVEL UP - Upliftment conference
THRIFT EXCHANGE - In with the new, out with the old
This event was classy, clean and spiritual. The host was Proph Abigail Monica and the guest speaker was Priscilla Mathebula. The ladies held it down as they educated the audience about not giving into any challenges that come their way. The event was a stern reminder to always level up.
This event was hosted in Zone 7. To participate in this event, the aspiring traders would need to hand in any item of clothing they wished to exchange in advance so they could secure a spot on the day of the event. A register was marked off and then you’d be on your way with new clothing. The last one of the year will be on the 13th of December 2020. THE016 NOVEMBER 2020 | 13
YOUR ONE STOP SPARES SHOP
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HEALTH
HELLO DOCTOR
Dr Stephane Enos (WITS Medical School) A chronic condition including attention difficulty, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. ADHD often begins in childhood and can persist into adulthood. It may contribute to low self-esteem, troubled relationships and difficulty at school or work. What Are the Symptoms of ADHD? Adults and children with ADHD typically exhibit some or most of the following symptoms: •Short attention span, especially for non- preferred tasks •Hyperactivity, which may be physical, verbal, and/or emotional •Impulsivity, which may manifest as recklessness •Fidgeting or restlessness •Disorganization and difficulty prioritizing tasks •Poor time management and time blindness •Frequent mood swings and emotional dysregulation •Forgetfulness and poor working memory •Trouble multitasking and executive dysfunction •Inability to control anger or frustration •Trouble completing tasks and frequent procrastination •Distractibillity •Difficulty awaiting turn What Are the Types of ADHD? ADHD is a neurological condition defined by a consistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactive impulsivity that interferes with
daily functioning in at least two settings – for example, at school and at home. It impacts children and adults, boys and girls, and people of all backgrounds. The symptoms above represent the broad range of symptoms associated with ADHD, though symptoms differ with each subtype.1 ADHD comprises three subtypes: •inattentive type •hyperactive or impulsive type •combined type ADHD Symptoms: Inattentive ADD Checklist •Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities •Has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities •Does not seem to listen when spoken to directly •Does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (not due to oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) or failure to understand instructions) •Has difficulty organizing tasks and activities •Avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort (such as schoolwork or homework) •Loses things necessary for tasks or activities (e.g., toys, school assignments, pencils, books, or tools) •Easily distracted by extraneous stimuli •Forgetful in daily activities THE016 NOVEMBER 2020 | 15
COVER STORY
A man of many faces Modisana Mabale is art. He lives and breathes art. If he isn’t working on educating the youth about the dangers of substance abuse, he is receiving awards for his work. The young creative from Sharpeville strives to be an ambassador of change. He was part of a campaign called “Save our youth from codeine” which was aimed at aiding young drug addicts by teaching them and the public about the dangers of codeine. This year, he and his team members won 1st prize for most compelling project (District 6 Storytelling Website by Afrikcreatives) at the Hack Ur Culture Virtual Exhibition for which he was the writer and character developer. This was a platform for interactive storytelling. Mabale is also an environmentalist, theatre-maker and a spoken word artist.
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Tell us about the “Save our youth from codeine” project/ campaign, and the importance of raising this awareness ? Young people have become victims of drugs, have noticed empty bottles in public spaces. It was through noting those bottles that sparked my curiosity. I began using the very same empty bottles(used bottles) as a point of enterrogation through perfomance art. And allowing the public to interact with me in public about codeine, and the public is given a chance to share their general feelings about codeine. Tell us about Streets Arts Government, and what exactly is it that you’re trying to achieve through the production? Street Arts Government, was established to use arts programs that are not limited to space, I. E the streets are very central. Street Arts Government was established with the aim of establishing applied arts process to allow access to the arts. To use alternative spaces to communities without access to the arts. The creative industry is constantly evolving, how do you stay on top of your game to ensure longevity in your career? By collaborating with creatives with different skills, eg I have recently collaborated with game designers, content creators, photographers, environ-
mentalist, health practitioners etc. This enables me to reach out to a broader audience. What are some of the challenges you’ve experienced in the creative space? Performance arts? Lack of funding, shift from public spaces to online platform. This has affected our target audience due to Covid-19 Sharpeville is known for its rich history, As a community activist, how has your community’s struggles/history inspired the work that you do today? I have constantly used educational theatre programs to educate, engage young people about stories related to Sharpeville history. This, I have done through telling stories of ordinary Sjarpevillians. How did the collaboration with T-bo touch come about on the Restore Vaals Dignity Clean up campaign? What inspired the campaign and what was the overall outcome? It all started with environmental campaigns through performing arts in public spaces as awareness about illegal dumping engaging the public about the impact of dumping sites in our communities. Dumping sites became central spaces of my interventions, dumping sites became perfomance spaces in oder to draw attention of the public. I began sharing pictures of my processes, perfor-
mances and dumping sites on social media. Some of the pictures went viral on Twitter and Facebook... That’s how Tbo-Touch noticed pictures on Twitter and invited me. Vaal Dignity was responding to illegal dumping in the Vaal and it was about encouraging the community to take action in eradicating illegal dumping. Outcomes : - Community members began taking responsibiliies - New parks established by community members What advice would you give to a person that wants to pursue a career in the performance arts/creative space as a whole? Be passionate about what you do. Don’t not limit your creativity. Expand. What are some of the top qualities/competencies an individual is suppose to posses to make it in this industry? -Consistency - Working on your strengths Socials: FB: Modisana Mabale (Phunyuka Bamphethe)
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FOOD
WELCOME TO LENDAWO
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Lesego Nstoele’s passion for cooking surpasses her love for anything else. She then decided to open a food business that caters to the appetites of those who do not have the time to cook from scratch. The 26 year old from the Vaal sells homely foods that are sure to keep you coming back for more.
Background I am Lesego Ntsoele, a 26 year old young lady, with a passion for food and people. I was born at Sebokeng Hospital, and lived in Sharpeville until my family and I moved to Pretoria when my dad got a better job opportunity and I’ve been there ever since. 2010 I enrolled at General Smuts High school in Vereeniging. Honestly I fell in love with how they prided themselves in their school uniform, the blazer alone made me want to be a part of the school. Business venture Since matriculating, I’ve went back home to Pretoria and today I am the proud owner of a recently launched, startup business, in the food industry, called LeNdawo. The name means “ That Place”. You know when you want to remember the name of a place where you last had the best time of your life and you want your friends to help you figure it out. Where? The response would be “ that place /pleke yane/ Le ndawo” as you frustratingly trying to remember. I’ve been a victim of such, so I didn’t want people to guess in frustration the name of my business, the logo and everything is a beautiful reminder of “ That place” Le Ndawo. I am not Zulu, so the Zulu part of the name, just sounded good and fitting to me.
business, Hit a few bumps in the road, however 31 October 2020, I decided to step out in faith and officially launch my dream and see where it’ll lead me. Offerings For now I sell burgers and chips, wings, braai meat, salads and mocktails. As well as modern traditional meals that we call plates. Our meal prices range between R25 and R65. Currently I’m operating in Mabopane, the northern part of Pretoria. When I have the means to branch out in the near future Vaal is definitely the place in my radar, for now I just want to spend time learning and getting the hang of things. Looking back I remember the Vaal as a place that was my holiday destination when the schools closed, playing in the streets, walking around with no fear of harm except when crossing the busy roads. Today not so much, I believe it’s not only a Vaal issue but a national crisis, kids are being abducted no matter the time of day, they can’t play or go anywhere as freely as we used to. I pray that things will get better and that we as communities will continue to expose and not protect the people who put our lives in danger and incite fear in our communities.
Socials Passion for food People can find me on my most active I absolutely love food and love how my social platforms Facebook I’m LeNdawo cooking makes people feel. That’s one of Café and Instagram @lendawo_cafe. the reasons I started this business. I’m We are also on twitter as Lendawo Café a creative person by nature, so it only however not as active, not much of a seemed right to create spaces for myself twitter user but we’ll get the hang of it to be and do the things that allowed me with time. to use my gifts and talents most of the time. In 2016 December after saving a bit of money, I resigned from my good paying office job, to go start my food THE016 NOVEMBER 2020 | 19
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FASHION
Who we are. DVST FROM THE VAAL Is an independent Lifestyle brand and a concept Store based in Sebokeng Zone 6 and was established in 2016. DVST brand purpose is edutainment which drives the art and design created by the youth for the youth, and in return adding value not just to the lives of those who interact with us but to the society. “DVST is not an acronym but a word, pronounced DUST. The letter V stands and represents yoU in this case because Vaal. (Therefore, dust from or of the Vaal)” Our products are 100% pure reflections of our perspective, thoughts and surroundings, which identifies as an urban/streetwear brand. Why do we do what we do? What better way to start a natural movement and branding it around where we come from, especially within townships. We are aiming at tapping into the minds of the youth, to learn that DUST SETTLES BUT PEOPLE SHOULD NOT. When do we feel fulfilled? We pride ourselves in uplifting our community through collaborative efforts we make and maintaining a creative outlet that makes people feel special in what they represent. Find dvstfromthevaal on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. DVST From the Vaal – Because nature only sides with the truth. THE016 NOVEMBER 2020 | 21
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Nthabiseng is a flower about to bloom. She loves words and uses them to free herself. She shared two poems with us this month.
POETRY CORNER
Socials: Twitter: @MaphutseN Instagram: @whiterose5343
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To see the light, I had to sit in the darkness. To love without holding back, I had to feel every definition of hate running through my veins like blood. I had to leave to stay in touch with myself. To find peace in this world I had to fight endless battles within. I searched forbidden places for life before I got lost in hopelessness and died trying to give breath to my soul, How it hovered dimensions of Erebus after Chaos gave birth to meaningless existence made God whisper in thunders and I could see Him cry when droplets drizzles landed on my skin. Oh how I wish my shoulders big for Him to cry on sometimes. I had appreciate nothing before this empty space got filled with colours Of black and white, endless ones. And nights that were cold had to be endured to dance on days so hot I could feel my sins brought to nought. I had to be stripped naked to understand that certain clothes are just not for my body! Everybody had to leave continuously before I could fall in love with being alone, I was in denial of abstract entities. Like a fool I thought I must say something without having something to say. To live again, I had to let go of a died part of me, Burn myself into ashes and like a Phoniex I had to rise!
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Moving There’s a fine idea I crave on your face. It can’t be mistaken with a phase, it’s no secret we have moved past that stage yet the sparkle emitted from your eyes still stayed, animating the woman in me like your soul does to the body. Look at me, making bees envious everytime I caress your lips with a kiss, It’s a miss so tragic for them, I have made them pissed! You spread nectarean memories on each slice of life with smiles that reside on your face, You’re so sure of how I like them, I have to confess we’re moving at right pace to a place where days are waiting for us to spend together. Please bear with me,this is new to me as much as it is to you. So how about you take me on a tour while I gather words fit enough for this confession. I hope I’m well-dressed for the occasion. It’s starting to occur in my mind that the man in-front won’t disappoint the woman I am about to unleash
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