LIMPOPO MIRROR
4 15 April 2016 By Frank Mavhungu
By Silas Nduvheni
Bishop Elijah Tshidane passes away The death of a well-known spiritual leader, Bishop Shandukani Elijah Tshindane (60) of the Israel Apostolic Church in Zion, has saddened people countrywide. Bishop Tshindane succumbed to a short illness at the Polokwane MediClinic last Wednesday, April 6. After completing matric at Mphephu High School, Tshindane went to Mangosuthu Technicon in Durban, where he studied for a diploma in Business Management. Born at Thononda village on 02 June 1956, Bishop Tshindane was not an ordinary religious leader, but a real community leader. He was the first chairperson of the Thononda branch of the South African National Civics Organization (Sanco). He was one of the advisers to the local traditional leader. Before he was ordained as a bishop in 2008, Tshidane was actively involved in football. He started playing football in 1980. At that stage he was the captain of a local team, Thononda All Stars. He migrated to Lutomboni Fire Boys in 1985, where he served as player-coach for several years before he became the team’s head coach. When Lutomboni Fire Boys sold their status to M& R Remember Fire Boys in 2002, Tshindane refused to leave foot-
ball. He was one of the founder members of Lutomboni Junior Fire Boys. He led Junior Fire Boys to numerous successes, including winning the Magwaba Soccer League championship in 2007. When his father, Bishop Manzini Tshindane, passed away, he took over as the new bishop in 2008. Although he resigned as coach after he was ordained as bishop, Tshindane continued
to assist local football teams financially, saying it was part of his social responsibility as a religious leader. Bishop Tshindane was a public servant at the time of his death. He was an Assistant Director in the Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs. He will be buried at Lutomboni village cemetery tomorrow morning.
Murunwa community on the rampage after funeral of murdered woman Members of the Murunwa community barricaded the Witvlag road with big rocks and tree logs on Sunday after the burial of 56-year-old mother of five Mrs Naledzani Sikhwayi. Sikhwayi's body was discovered with stab wounds at the Mutshedzi river last Monday. Angry community members feel that the police are failing the community, "as they have done nothing more than arrest the suspect." One of the community members said that they would continue to block the road until they saw justice was served for the deceased. “We are not going to let this vanish like other cases. We need to see the law fighting for us and not against us,” said the community member. The councillor for Ward 30 of the Makhado Municipality, Mr Fhumulani Madzhiga, said that different stakeholders in the community would meet and try to find a way forward. He added that the community members had indicated that they wanted to march and submit a memorandum to the relevant people
and to ensure that justice was being served. The spokesperson for the police at Siloam, W/O Edward Tharaga, indicated that police visibility would be high around the Murunwa area to ensure
that there was no vandalism and public violence. He added that an inquest docket case was still open. The police are investigating and the suspect is still being questioned by the police, Tharaga said.
The deceased, Ms Naledzani Sikhwayi.
By Kaizer Nengovhela The late Bishop Shandukani Elijah Tshindane.
Sr Deborah Ramalepe and her husband, Br David Ramalepe, photographed with an offering raised for her by members of African Methodist Episcopal Church during her farewell function. The church members raised R25 960 for her. She will soon leave for the United States of America to attend the MM Makone General Conference.
These hockey players from Eric Louw High School in Musina have been chosen for the second round of the boys U/18 trials that will take place on Sunday, 17 April, at Pietersburg High School in Polokwane. In front, from left to right, are Matthew Ngwena, Mashudu Ramashidza and Mashau Matumba. At the back is Rafa Mokoki. Photo supplied.
Angry parents close Shayandima school Learning and teaching at Shayandima Secondary School outside Thohoyandou came to a complete halt last Tuesday when angry parents and pupils locked the main gate, barring all people from entering. According to reports they were protesting against "lazy educators," who they say are not dedicated to their work. They also demanded that an HOD in English leave the school or else there would be no classes at the school. Waving placards, the parents and pupils, who had arrived early in the morning, sang and danced at the gate, demanding that the circuit manager come to the school to resolve the matter. SGB secretary Robert Ramukeka said things were not running smoothly at the school. "We
are tired of a situation whereby our children always come home to complain that they are not being taught. We have tried everything to resolve this issue, having engaged the principal and also the circuit without success," he added. He accused the head of the English department, "who comes to school when he feels like it and the worst part is that he seems to be a bully who does not respect anybody. We are fed up as community and we will not relax until this matter is resolved," said Ramukeka. Ms Mercy Tshiwandimoni, SGB chairperson, said she was appalled by the situation at the school. "The school has been turned into a restaurant, where most of the time is used for cooking. Some of the educators are no
longer giving time to their work and this has a detrimental effect on our children," she said. Later on in the day, the circuit manager arrived and, together with and the SGB and educators, were holed up in a meeting for most of the day. Limpopo education spokesperson Dr Naledzani Rasila said parents should follow the right protocols in solving issues. "Firstly, the challenges should be brought to the attention of the department where an amicable solution could be found rather than disrupting the education of the children." He added that the department's doors were always open and that parents "should feel free to approach us if challenges arise." At the time of our going to press, classes had resumed at the school.
Pupils at the locked gate at Shayandima Secondary School.