LIMPOPO MIRROR
8 14 September 2012 Tshifhiwa Mukwevho
Coghsta official evaluate family’s living conditions approval for the project, since the place falls within their district," said Mr Ledwaba. According to Ledwaba, the municipality has approved the project and the beneficiary will sign a letter of confirmation soon. Once this is finalised, the contractor based at Vleifontein and Muila will undertake the construction project, said Ledwaba. Six members of the Marhumeke family, Mudjadji Marhumeke (73), her daughter Maria Marhumeke and Maria's four children, have been sharing a small, one-room structure which can hardly be defined as a house. The shelter is made of mud bricks up to shoulder height, old blankets and thick plastic sheets used for walls. One can see inside the shelter from the outside. Maria said that she was unemployed and could not afford to build herself a house. She pointed at a mud-brick rondavel the family is trying to build, which they cannot complete because of a lack of timber, wire and nails. “We'll be happy if our government can build us an RDP house,” said Maria, her face looking pale with scabs from the cold. Meanwhile, Maria has no ID book; neither does she know her age. She can neither read nor write. None of her four children receives a social child support grant, as they also have no birth certificates. The family relies on old Mudjadji's A new mud rondavel which the Marhumeke family is struggling to social grant to survive. “My 15-year-old daughter quit school in March this year because she had complete. no school uniform,” said Maria. “She told me that other children would laugh at her.” Coghsta's Mr Ledwaba expressed his utter amazement when he recalled that RDP houses were given over to some residents in 2010. “One will always wonder why this family doesn't have an RPD house,” Ledwaba said. The construction project manager of Coghsta (Co-operative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs), Mr Thabo Ledwaba, recently visited the Marhumeke family in ValdeziaMambedi, where he evaluated the destitute family's living conditions.
His visit followed after the Valdezia-Mambedi Sanco had contacted the Coghsta office on behalf of the Marhumeke family for assistance. Sanco appealed to the department to build the poor family a house. “Our office has liaised with the Makhado Municipality, where we sought their
From left are Hilda Khunoana (UCT first-year chemistry student) who nominated her former physical sciences teacher, Mr Phuti Ramarope, and Dr Max Price, vice-chancellor of the university. By Phathutshedzo Luvhengo
UCT honours local teacher The University of Cape Town's tivational letter to the university in Centre for Higher Education and which she explained how Phuti had Development (CHED) recently motivated her and other learners awarded the Stella Clark award to work hard and to be committed to Phuti Ramarope, a teacher at to their studies. “He is not only a the Sinthumule Senior Secondary good teacher, but also a good deputy School at Ramantsha village. principal. He manages the school The physical sciences teacher and well, solves problems and takes over deputy principal of the school became the principal's duties when he is not the first Limpopo recipient of this around,” wrote the 17-year-old Hilda award. The Stella Clark Teachers in her motivational letter. Award was established by UCT, in Phuti said that the award proved collaboration with Stella Clark’s fam- that schools from rural areas could ily and friends, to honour her many also compete with former Model C years of dedicated service to teaching Schools. “I always motivate learners students from educationally disadvan- throughout the year and inspire them taged schools in the Western Cape to believe that they are the best,” he and at UCT. UCT annually invites its said. He called upon other teachers students to nominate a teacher who to finish each year's syllabus early is currently teaching in a secondary and spend more time on revision. “It school and who, in their opinion, also prepares learners for university deserves recognition for years of studies,” he added. dedicated teaching to students from In 2011, Sinthumule Secondary educationally disadvantaged back- School obtained a 92% Grade 12 grounds in the country. pass rate in physical sciences and an Phuti was nominated by a former overall pass rate of 94.7%. learner who is currently By Theophilus Netshivhodza studying chemical engineering at the university, Hilda Khunoana. She felt her physical science teacher deserved A policeman attached to the Mphephu Police recognition for his hard Station, W/O Norman Naledzani, was found work. She wrote a mo- hanging from the roof of the toilet at his work station at the Musekwa satellite station a fortnight ago (31/8). Naledzani was out on bail of R1 500, after a recent appearance in the Dzanani Magistrate’s Court, having been charged with two accounts of attempted murder and of the pointing of a firearm. He allegedly wounded a 64-year-old pensioner at Mauluma village on 17 August. Dzanani Police station communication officer W/O Lazarus Netshidzati said Naledzani was recently served with a notice of intent to suspend and face departmental action. He was working the night shift at the Musekwa satellite station with two male co-workers at the time of his death. “He was found by his two colleagues,” said Netsidzati, adding that the deceased had left a suicide note, asking his co-workers to call his wife and apologise to his wife for his behaviour. W/O Naledzani survived by his wife and four children. He was buried at the Mauluma cemetery last Saturday.
Man found dead
Mr Thabo Ledwaba (Coghsta) speaks to Maria Marhumeke at the Marhumeke household in Valdezia.
Mathombo Supplies cc Aggrigates next to Nandoni Dam.
SPECIAL OFFER!!! FOR ONE MONTH ONLY!
CRUSHER DUST R120 p/m3(incl. VAT)
Starting from 17 September 2012 to 17 October 2012 We also sell 19mm Stone, Riversand and Filling
084 492 0217
Crime
Two in custody Two Zimbabwean nationals, aged 18 and 19, were arrested at Ha-Rabali on Sunday on charges of the possession of two stolen firearms and ammunition. Two 9mm Parabellums were found in their possession. According to a police report, the two pistols were identified as having been stolen from Const Phiona Mathebula, who is based at the Vuwani Police Station. One magazine and 15 rounds of ammunition were also found at their place. The suspects tried to run away from the police and one suspect was shot in the foot after several warning shots had been fired. According to the SAPS spokesperson at Dzanani, W/O Lazarus Netshidzani, the two will appear in court soon. He added that more charges might be added, pending the investigation into the case.