Charity begins at home

Love Life recently held a charity event at Youth Centre, Orange Farm where they donated food and clothing parcels to orphans from various shelters in and around the area.

Drama, poetry and different sporting codes were some of the activities that kept the audience on their toes as everyone seemed to have forgotten about the hardships of life for a while.

“Through this event we hope to bring the element of fun and in the same breath instill the mentality to the children that much as they cannot do anything about their current situation but they hold the power to change their future” said groundBREAKER Mahleke Matome.

Deviating from the event Matome was quick to make a plea to the youth, out there to come join Love Life not only to pass time but to be equipped with life skills “We have eight programmes which are exclusively aimed at our youth especially nowadays as they have lost hope and often sought solace in alcohol and drugs” he said.

The booth with Ivy Tshabalala

Gone are the days when fathers were the sole bread winners, mothers are no longer fierce only in their homes but corporate world as well hence it has had to adjust in order to accommodate them. After trying to pin Ivy Tshabalala down for a one on one session finally, I managed to track her down at her house in the Vaal. In due-time she will be jetting off to Namibia for two weeks on a tour for the Deaf organizations.

Ivy, a former actress, mother, ambassador and deaf activist is still nursing blisters and change in skin tone due to her recent 132km walk from Sasolburg to Kroonstad in commemoration of deaf awareness. She was born slightly three decades ago and has been living in the Vaal since her mother tied the knot. Although it is a norm that kids become completely different to their parents, she emphasize it out that she emulated a lot of things from her mother and is glad to see that even her own daughter is walking on the same path.

FAMILY

She speaks fondly of her daughter Naledi and the face glitter, showing a sign of a proud mom. “She is turning seven tomorrow and it’s been sometime since I last saw her, as she’s staying with my mom but I am planning a surprise party at the school. We recently bought a vehicle and named it after her and whenever we drive it she would remind us to drive her car gently. I must confess that I was an average student but Naledi is just too bright, extreme and fronting which is why I can’t wait to expose her to the possibilities by getting her the best education a mother can give. ”

She touches base on her mother whom she holds highly and can’t stop singing praises and a brother who came into picture recently but is quick to thread carefully about saying much about her late sister and love life respectively.

RELIGION

Asked about the escalating number of prophets who claim to be god-sent she said “Long as the people are being saved, see the light and repent it’s alright. That’s all that matters”

“At age sixteen I was born-again and received Jesus Christ as my savior, I am Bishop Stephen Zondo’s daughter – he is my spiritual father. I remember at one time I followed the music that led to a temple on my arrival I felt at home, I am a regular at church except when I’m away on business. I don’t slaughter animal to appease ancestors however I attend such gatherings and feast on food cause that’s what they are made for, though I watch what I eat”

POLITICS

“I am a staunch member of the ruling party as you might have notice with campaigns we had with my friend who is a well-known actor (name known by this paper). I will always be its activist as it was started by churches, which is why I like referring to it as African National Congregation. I believe that Julius Malema is a great leader, look at the massive support he gets with his disciplinary hearing and whenever he talks the world listens. The ruling party strides by its tagline “A better life for all” as I believe it doesn’t fail only delays, it’s unfortunate that our people grew up with the mentality that for something to be achieved toyi-toying is the way to go.

Discrimination across racial line still exist however before that we need to do self introspection, we turn to think that we are superior to others mainly because we attend certain churches and when it comes to monetary value its even worse.”

WORK

Ivy attended drama classes and considers herself fortunate to have being lectured by the veteran actor John Kani, her television career kick started with a show called Dtv and has went on to grace the small screen on Zwa-hashu and later Muvhango which made her popular although she is reluctant to refer to herself as a celebrity. “My memorable moment in the broadcasting industry was my first time on set, you know how thick make-up is and after filming I didn’t wipe it off instead I boarded two taxi back home and that’s when I knew good things were only beginning. My first scene on Muvhango with Thandaza (Sindi Dlathu), where the storyline was identical to my real life is worth a mention.”

I owe my appreciation to my team at Bathabile Training and Services for being my pillar and sharing the same sentiments and vision in seeing it take a step further in growth. The company is not that big and I source out staff and my dream is to open a school for the deaf.

It’s a magnificent Friday

The department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture in Gauteng recently invaded the Sedibeng region, together with Emfuleni Local and Sedibeng District Municipalities they embarked on what they term “magnificent Friday” at Evaton Plaza.

“Our country is a sport loving nation and we would like Friday to be magnificent with people donning their sport replica. Rugby and many other sporting codes have to be available in our townships. Our aim is to divert youth from insane acts such as drugs and alcohol and help them to be fully involved in sport” said MMC Cllr. Zaza Raikane.

Numerous sporting codes were on display and revellers took some time to indulge, despite a no-show from the professional soccer teams including MEC Lebo Maile, hip-hop muso Mr. Selwyn and House music sensation Micasa gave a sterling performance.

A leading clothing company was welcomed as it opened doors at the plaza and it is understood that in the near future another major food outlet will be forthcoming. A reported R 22 million is in place to upgrade the plaza into a mall.

Hold on, Libraries are on suspension

It is now a norm that politicians often make an avalanche of promises to citizen when vying for their votes and its very rare that they keep them upon being elected; but in cases that they do it is puzzling as to why the end product takes longer to be brought to use that’s if its not poorly constructed.

At an IDP (Integrated Development Planning) meeting hosted by the Emfuleni Local Municipality which this journalist attended, community voiced their anger and frustration over an abandoned building which they say is a library. This building which was built and completed over two years ago and up until now is not operating is situated in Palm Springs, Sebokeng.
Maya Morongwe, a concern resident said “That building has been vacant since 2009, though it is too small for a library but at least it’s a good deed by our government. Municipal vehicles are often seen making their way into the yard but nothing seem to progress. Ward Councillor Louis Ngubane referred all queries to the office of the speaker.

When contacted Emfuleni Local Municipality, Spokesperson Klaas Mofomme said “I’m currently in a meeting but l will liaise with the relevant personnel regarding the matter then will get back to you”
Meanwhile Evaton library which was closed last year due to construction after the ceiling fell is said to be at an advanced stage and will soon re-open.

Sedibeng soccer legends and disability

South African Soccer Legends which comprises of five Gauteng regions graced Lebohang Centre in Zone 10, Sebokeng for the Mental and Physical illness awareness. In attendance were members of Emthonjeni Awareness Centre and football superstars of yester-year including the likes of Lucas “Masterpieces” Moripe (who is now using a walking stick), Vincent Makroti, Peter “Fuduwa” Mokotedi (who is now blind) and Super Mofokeng to name a few.
It was all joy and smile on children’s faces at the centre as they danced and sang with the legends. The Soccer legends are in the process of ploughing back to communities and often give massages to the kids and they reportedly responded well to such therapy.
Nkosi “Let them dance” Molala, former Bantu Callies star who gave a keynote speech said “There is no such a thing as a perfect person, and being disabled mean partially or a complete dysfunctional part in one’s body. It is up to us as public to create an environment that is viable for the mentally and physically challenged. We know how expensive their lives are, in other countries the illness has disappeared not because people are not impaired but community structures are being implemented which are conducive to them hence we call upon the government to come on board and aid us.”
”It is a health month and when we planned this awareness, we took into consideration these legends whom some of them experience lives of disability. Disability is not immune even kids who are here today didn’t choose to be in that condition. We fill that we can teach people to live with any disability, however we are disappointed with the lack of support from the community, we hope that with time they will buy into the idea and take part as they are doing with other diseases. Our aim is simply to teach people that disabled people need to be catered for and loved, and not be locked indoors as such they have a constitutional right to live.” Sedibeng Soccer Legends Chairperson Bricks Mokolo, said.
Mental illness and emotional disorders in children can be treated through various methods, some of which include counseling, psychotherapy and medication. Environmental factors also contribute to emotional disorders in a child. A child can develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress or panic attacks if the child witnessed a traumatic episode.

A summit that aim to uplift the youth

In an effort to uplift and better the lives of the youth, the Emfuleni Local Municipality hosted a summit under the theme “The generation with a mission” which was held at Ingwe Lodge, Vanderbijlpark. This comes after a Youth dialogue which was convened by the Executive Mayor Cllr Greta Hlongwane.

The summit which took three days to conclude was chaired by MMC for Public Transport, Roads and Public Works Cllr Sello Pitso. Among topics covered included social and economic development, sports and recreation, youth development policy and crime prevention strategy.
Amid threats from individuals and political parties to boycott the summit and cause disruption the event went well and showed signs of development especially as it was a first of its kind in the region.
“Unlike the youth of the apartheid regime whose challenges were oppression today’s youth are faced with different challenges which among includes lack of employment, teenage pregnancy and substance abuse. We want to take this opportunity afforded to us to change all negative things about the youth, the summit was a first step and we are ready to go out there and implement whatever we agreed on, it won’t take a day or a week but in due course changes will be visible for all to see” said one delegate.

In taking a stance and making their voices heard and presence felt, the youth of Emfuleni urged the municipality to accommodate them in the upcoming budget and elect a representative in the forum within the structure and further went on to draft a policy.
The policy was declared with a tagline “A strategy without tactics is an easy way to victory” uttered as a motivation.

Alas my own house

Government’s initiative to provide destitute and elderly people with houses, has been hit by a backlog to extend that phrases such as “Don’t ask what they can do for you, rather what you’re doing for them” has been the meal of the day. It was all smiles and joy when Samuel Radebe and other Orange Farm residents were handed keys to their new houses by Habitat for Humanity.
This great deed was in collaboration with Arcellor Mittal, AfriSam, Nedbank, Independent Development Corporate and other stakeholders.
Radebe who is partially blind is a father of four children, he lost his wife and job 8 years ago and now survives on grant.
“After having waited for 16-odd years to have a civil roof over my head, I had lost hope that one day my dream of owning one was ever going to be realized. I will now sleep peacefully in my new house and not be bothered by rats which were now taking over my shack” he said.