Youth must lead the country-IFP

Sthembiso Sithole

@SITHOLEEXPRESS

Inkatha Freedom Party Member of Parliament and The National Chairperson of the Inkatha Freedom Party Youth Brigade call upon youth to participate in decision making of the country. Mkhuleko Hlengwa was speaking during a political conference in the parliament.

IFP MP address students about leadership

The conference was organised for journalism students as part of their Cape Town Trip assignment.  Hlengwa expressed his views about the need for the youth to play a role in developing South Africa.

Hlengwa told more than hundreds of students that today’s struggle has changed and that there is still a need for well rounded people.

“The youth are future leaders of this country and they should equip themselves with education and start their own businesses,” Hlegwa said.

According to Hlengwa the government and private companies should assist the youth with opportunities that will make the country a better place. 

 Hlengwa lashed at Minister Basic of Education Angie Motshekga about the textbook saga in Limpopo, calling her and the education department to be held accountable. He added that government should avoid risking with the future of the children.

Limpopo made headlines over the past months about late delivery of textbook in most schools in the province. The textbook crisis in the province has led to opposition political party’s calling upon the president to act against all those involved in Limpopo education department.

The ANC Youth League also called upon the minister to step down in her position as they believe she failed to do her duties.

Responding to the question about how IFP is planning to bring back its members that joined National Freedom Party during the local government elections in 2011.

Hlengwa said they are working on a new project called ‘The Road map to discussion of smooth transition’ that will help the party to have more supporters, including those who left the party.

“We want all our members who joined NFP to know that they are welcome to come back home. We have a project that we hope it will assist to bring back former and recruit new members,” Hlengwa said.

IFP made outrageous headlines when former IFP Chairwoman Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi formed her party NFP. In less than four months Msibi become a force in South African politics. She spent most of her time campaigning for members in IFP strong holes in KwaZulu-Natal’s 19 hung municipalities, where the NFP and ANC entered into coalitions.

Journos Away from Campus

Sthembiso Sithole

@SITHOLEEXPRESS

After months of waiting for the Cape Town Trip, finally second year journalism students from Tshwane University of Technology spend a week at the mother city.

The Cape Town trip is an annual trip that is part of the journalism department curriculum which enables students to visit Robben Island, Media houses and Parliament.

South African historical prison Robben Island
 where freedom fighters were imprisoned.

The trip is also used as another platform for students to network with senior journalists and editors who are already working in the journalism profession. 

After a long journey from Pretoria to Cape Town students finally arrived at their booked venue Amalfi Exclusive Suites Hotel, Sea Point.  The first item in their Cape Town programme was to visit Robben Island.

Robben Island is South Africa’s historical prison that was used during Apartheid for political, activists and other prisoners who acted against the law of the old regime.

Students looked keen to know about the prison and the leaders that were part of the liberation struggle. Most of them prepared questions along the journey on the boat to Robben Island.

According to former MK and prisoner Itumeleng Makoena the conditions that political prisoners lived under during those dark days of Apartheid were bad and that led to endless hunger strikes.

“Due to dissatisfaction within the prison and bad treatment from prison warders, most prisoners organised hunger strikes,” Makoena said.

He added that the system of the time didn’t allow prisoners to see their families often.

“Prisoners only had a visit from their families once a month and some prisoners came from other parts of the country and their families couldn’t visit them.

One of the students Shakira Masethe who went to the trip said “I never thought that Robert Sobukwe was house arrested.”

Sobukwe was founder and first president of Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) and was house arrested in Robben Island.

He is known for rejecting any model suggesting working with anyone other than blacks. Sobukwe was not allowed to spend time with his fellow leaders during his house arrest. After he was released from prison to Kimberly, Sobukwe later died of lung cancer.

According to broadcast lecture and organiser of the trip Tshamano Makhadi everything went according to plan.

“As the department we are pleased to that everything went well and that students were able to explore Cape Town.

Soshanguve gogo’s making a difference

Sthembiso Sithole
@SITHOLEEXPRESS

Travelling is often regarded in Soshanguve as something that is done by young people but that will soon change.

Grannies from Soshanguve Block G have started a non-profit organisation called Gogo on Tour, established in May.

Gogo on Tour, grannies ready to travel the world.

 Gogo on Tour chairperson, Thoko Matjokane says she told her two daughters   about her dream to start the organisation.

According to Matjokane, many grannies spend most of their time doing nothing and she wanted to change that by introducing a new idea that will help them to be active.

“After observing how our senior citizens are discarded once they reach the age of retirement, I wanted to do away with one foot in the grave mentality,” Matjokane said.

She added that the grannies would be able to meet peers from other walks of life.

The project targets grannies from Soshanguve, Mamelodi, Atteridgeville and Hammanskraal.

Grannies are divided in three categories according to age.  The Silver Group are grannies that are between 60-70 year-old will be given an opportunity to travel long distances as to Robben Island and other neighbouring countries. The Golden Group are grannies from 70-80 years.  They are set to travel locally to museums and the zoological gardens.  The Platinum Group are 90-100 years get a chance to attend big functions such as Mandela’s birthday party.

One of the grannies involved in the organisation, Monica Nkosi said she was in high spirits as she believed that Gogo on Tour would help her to stop worrying about death.

“I think this is a great idea. We will be able to relax and have fun,” Nkosi said.

 Gogo on Tour still needs financial assistance, office equipment, and support with logistics.

Multitasking Gospel singer

Sthembiso Sithole
@SITHOLEEXPRESS

During the day Lulama Kwani is a teacher at Beyond Kindergarten Pre-School in Soshanguve Block XX. After school she is a gospel musician and a preacher.

This 44 -year-old left her job at the Department of Water and Forestry Affairs in 2008 just to fulfil her calling.

Lulama Kwani following her calling

to help the comminity.

"I resigned where I worked because God called me to serve Him and preach gospel to the people," Kwani said.



She started singing at an early age and released her first gospel album titled “My first love,” in 2008. In the same year she became a church member at Grace Christian Centre where she managed to touch many lives through the word of God.

One of the reasons she followed her calling was to reach out to the youth.

"There are a lot of things that are happening in this country. Nyaope is having a negative impact on the lives of our children and I hope that things will change," she said.



During her journey as a musician and preacher she finally decided to open a pre-school in February 2011. "I love being with children. I take it as a ministry and my happiness rests in them," Kwani said.

According to her at the pre-school they teach pupils about Christianity.

Nomsa Nawa, a teacher at the pre-school expressed her satisfaction with Kwani.

"She is a good boss who believes in God. Parents and children are happy with her effort towards them," Nawa said.



In the afternoon from 6:00 pm until 12:00 am Kwani usually has practise sessions with her band.  They prepare for upcoming performances. She recently performed at a fundraising concert at Thabang mental home in Soshanguve Block S. 

She said that on 14 December they will visit local orphanages and help raise money for them.



MALEMA HITS BACK

STHEMBISO SITHOLE

I have read and heard most of my friends and fellow South Africans expressing their views about Malema. With others even calling him a fool after yesterday press conference. I personally think and believe that it is a political game that Malema is playing. As you would know and understand Malema has a big influence to the masses.

GOOGLE

Attacking the president and the current ANC leadership is another way to hit back on what happened to him and his fellow comrades early this year.

 I still think President Jacob Zuma used Malema to get the votes from the masses and he made a huge mistake to allow Malema to be victimised by the NEC.

Since when people in a democratic country are not allowed to express their views and why does Zuma  say Malema is taking advantage of the miners?  When Malema addressed University students, it was said that Malema is taking advantage of the students. The fact is and will always remain Malema is in touch with the masses and that is a huge threat to Zuma and his loyal followers.

Responding to comments by some fellow South Africans about Malema deciding to speak about corruption within ANC. I think one should understand that any politician expelled from the party he love and work hard for would do whatever it takes to discredit the current leadership of that party and all those who had a final say to remove him/her.

I wish one day most South Africans would stop, I mean stop including emotions when discussing politics. Remember politics is about critical and radical thinking. Malema made it clear yesterday that he is ready to fight for miners. He added that he see no reason for the army to be deployed at Marikana. It is no secret that there were innocent residents in that area who were shot and injured.

Twitter useful at Lonmin Shooting

Twitter has been one of the social platforms that journalists used to report the Lonmin Massacre that made headlines both local and international news.

Different media houses assigned their journalists to report about the event as it transpired. These reporters used twitter to update their followers about the shooting at Marikana.

Some of the journalists that were tweeting live from the event were Poloko Tau, Karyn Maughan and Cathy Mohlahlana.  All these reporters reported in their unique way that attracted the reader’s attention.

Three of the timelines of these reporters kept followers on track about the event by reporting each and every detail about the shooting as it happened. These reporters managed to build their credibility through twitter as followers were keen to be updated about Lonmin massacre.

Poloko Tau is a political reporter at The Star Newspaper. He is one of the leading reporters that used twitter to keep his followers and general readers about the Marikana shooting.

His timeline was unique as he gave followers background information about Lonimin miners and what led to them refusing to work.

He dug up the past and ensured that he relates that information with the current event as it unfolded.

He further described the shooting at the scene and gave us an overview of how the miners come close to the police. 

Karyn Maughan who is a senior legal reporter at ENEWS interacted with her followers as they asked question about the situation at Marikana.  She ensured that she answered most of the questions asked about the shootings.  Her timeline was interesting and informative. She made her followers feel part of the shooting.

Cathy Mohlahlana is also an Etv news reporter. Her timeline was packed with different sources that she spoke to as they expressed their views about the shooting. . She described the mood for us throughout the day.

It is a known fact that twitter was useful during the Lonmin shooting and journalists managed to update their followers. What happened at Lonmin was a clear indication that twitter is taking over news coverage in the entire world.

CITIZEN JOURNALISM TAKING NEWS TO ANOTHER LEVEL

Citizen journalism is still a growing element of reporting news as they unfold through social networks.

In the past traditional media was regarded  as the only source that can inform or report news to the society but through the fast growing technology many citizens have also found themselves repoting news.

Through citizen journalism readers are not only comsumers of news but also contributors as they also use different forms to report news event as they unfold.

In different parts of the world such as South Africa many citizens now use social networks such as blogs,facebook, twitter, google plus just to mention a few  to express their views, opinion and report about anything that they think is relavent or worth dissucssioning.

I must say such platforms have created a huge challenge for journalists as they are not the only ones who inform the community.

 In most cases readers had to wait for late news bulletins or tomorrows edition of the newspaper in order for them to read about the accident or breaking story that took place in that early morning of the day.

Today citizines use their smart phones to take footage of any event of public interests and blog, tweet about it. We have witnessed in the past and even now many media houses rely on citizens to send footage when there are protests or police brutality.

I support citizen journalism because I believe it serve its purpose as it enables the community to participate in news making and decision making on what is in public interest.

According to Fackson Banda in his book Citizen Journalism and Democracy in Africa, he research about citizen journalism. Many people support citizen journalism because it enlighten communities that can identity and articulate tghier issues using available media channels that are owned by the respective communities and the use of information as a form of emepwerment.

He futhurered stated that citizen journalism network should also collaborate positive with all sectors of the community to promote information and knowledge sharing forums which shall contribute to prevent futhuer spread of HIV/AIDS.

According to my view citizen journalism is affecting our career as journalists in a positive way beause we are now working hand in hand with citizens who only consumed news in the past.

I must say the interaction and unity helps the nation to move forward in resolving whatever challenges that the country might be facing.

Chikane warns ANC

STHEMBISO SITHOLE
@SITHOLEEXPRESS   

As the ANC marks its 100th anniversary as a political organisation this year, questions are being asked about what has helped it survive for this long, with some suggestion that it might not survive the next 100 years.

The prophetic words of Rev.Frank Chikane who spoke as part of Think! Fest (and The National Arts Festival) at Rhodes University on Monday 2 July.



Rev.Frank Chikane addressing
at Rhodes University-
pic-by Tony Manyangadze



According to Chikane, who was director-general in the office of the president during the Thabo Mbeki presidency, one of the reasons for the ANC’s success was its fight for the struggle. Chikane shared his experience within the ANC as secretary of the cabinet and holding other high positions within government during the period of different presidents.

“We must congratulate the ANC for being around for a long time,” he said, “It is not easy for a party to survive for this period.”  However, the former ANC insider criticised the current administration for being full of factionalism and Intensified divisions.

”If you put a list of factionalism you institutionalise it. The elected group became a faction rather than leaders of the organisation.”

Chikane also blamed graft and misuse of public funds for many of the things that are going wrong in the ANC, lamenting that, “once you get compromised you can be used for corruption. Compromising the leadership and thereby opening of opportunities for syndicators and criminal gagsters to operate.”

The focus has shifted “to pursue of self-interest,” he said, yet the DNA of the ANC was to work and die for the party.

“When there is a tender it is no more outsiders and the ANC but it is against the ANC and ANC,” he said.

According to Chikane corruption also goes as far as electing a branch leader. “We buy our way through, we buy the system. It is corrupting politics.”

He argued the ANC to come together in serving people. He said if the party miss serving them it will lose its supporters. “The only way in which the ANC can survive is to actually make sure that the DNA which is about serving people becomes a defining factor.”

“The policy conference tells you a story,” Chikane said of last week’s ANC’s National Policy Conference in Midrand. “This is a critical moment in the life of the ANC 2012, a year of radical change to turnaround.

He added that the conference gives hope and that by the time the ANC reach Mangaung they must correct the direction the movement is going.  “If we go beyond to Mangaung factionalised, we will continue exercising power in the interest individual’s faction rather than the interest of the people.” Chikane said.

2012 National Arts Festival Pictures

By STHEMBISO SITHOLE

@SITHOLEEXPRESS

Relativity: Township Stories

Abusive boyfriend raping her partner.

Dean sharing his story about how he misses his wife.

2012 National Arts Festival

By the Apricot trees

STHEMBISO SITHOLE

@SITHOLEEXPRESS

50 WORDS PLAY REVIEW

We often hear that they were behind bars but we don’t know the loneliness they felt.  By the Apricot trees is a play about one of the liberation fighters Thendeka who was locked in prison during the dark days of Apartheid.  Thandeka speaks to her inner self to cope with loneliness.  

Thandeka with her inner self in prison

Details

Duration : 55 minutes

Directed By : Ntsako Mkhabela

Written By : Ntsako Mkhabela

Featuring : Molebogeng Modiba, Khutjo Nakinzi- Green

Language : English

Age Restriction : All Ages

Tickets

Full Price : R 45.00

First Performance : R 0.00

Student price : R 40.00

Block price : R 35.00

Dates

◦Thu 5 July 2012, 20:30 @ B2 Arena

◦Wed 4 July 2012, 18:00 @ B2 Arena

◦Tue 3 July 2012, 14:00 @ B2 Arena

◦Mon 2 July 2012, 22:00 @ B2 Arena

◦Sun 1 July 2012, 10:00 @ B2 Arena

2012 National Arts Festival

The Memory of Water

STHEMBISO SITHOLE

@SITHOLEEXPRESS

50 WORDS PLAY REVIEW

GOOGLE

Losing the ones we love is often a difficult thing that we go through but mourning together makes things easy. The Memory of Water is one of those plays that showcase how people grieve in their own way when they lose someone.

Details

Directed By : Debbie Robertson

Written By : Shelagh Stephenson

Featuring : Candice Gawler, Tyson Ngubeni, Michelle du Plessis

Language : English

Age Restriction : Suitable for Ages 13 and over

Reason for restriction : L

Tickets

Full Price : R 30.00

First Performance : R 30.00

Student price : R 20.00

Block price : R 20.00

Dates

◦Thu 28 June 2012, 18:00 @ NG Kerk Hall

◦Fri 29 June 2012, 13:00 @ NG Kerk Hall

◦Sat 30 June 2012, 18:00 @ NG Kerk Hall

The Tale of Qedusizi and the Rhino

STHEMBISO SITHOLE

@SITHOLEEXPRESS
50 WORDS PLAY REVIEW

GOOGLE

If we don't tell African stories who will. The Tale of Qedusizi and the Rhino is about a man called Celausizi who is involved in Rhino poaching. The play showed me the other side of how Rhino Poachers get involved in this crime.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Details

Duration : 51 minutes

Choreographed By : Pieter Human

Written By : Pieter Human

Performed By : Pule Motale

Featuring : Tristan Mcconnell, Brinsley Motsepa, Mona Monyane

Language : English

Age Restriction : All Ages

Tickets

Full Price : R 50.00

First Performance : R 50.00

Student price : R 45.00

Block price : R 45.00

Dates

◦Thu 28 June 2012, 12:00 @ Vicky's

◦Fri 29 June 2012, 18:00 @ Vicky's

◦Sun 1 July 2012, 14:00 @ Vicky's

◦Sun 1 July 2012, 22:00 @ Vicky's

◦Mon 2 July 2012, 16:00 @ Vicky's

2012 National Arts Festival

STHEMBISO SITHOLE

@SITHOLEEXPRESS

50 WORDS MOVIE REVIEW

31 Million Reasons

It is no secret that crime is often committed by those who work inside. The name of the movie caught my attention and that is why I chose to watch it. South African corrupt cops try to hide evidence about the heist of R31 Million.



GOOGLE



Details

Duration : 90 minutes

Age Restriction : All ages

Tickets

Full Price : R 25.00

First Performance : R 25.00

Student price : R 25.00

Dates

◦Fri 29 June 2012, 10:00 @ Olive Schreiner Hall, Monument

◦Tue 3 July 2012, 17:30 @ Olive Schreiner Hall, Monument

'We are still fit to stay'

Sthembiso Sithole

@SITHOLEEXPRESS

Living in a new democratic South Africa with limited resources going to university has been one of the solutions for many young black South Africans to fight the battle of poverty.
Many students who are in university their dream is to complete their studies on record time but for some student political leaders that turns not to be the case.
According to Sthembiso Ndlovu an education student and political commissar of South African Student Congress Organisation at Tshwane University of Technology completing a course in university on record for political students is a waste of time.

http://soundcloud.com/sthembiso-sithole/radio-docummentary

Sthembiso Sithole

@SITHOLEEXPRESS

                         African Reporting Brought to the Spot Light

The issue of how the media reports on African stories has always been a discussion that media practitioners, journalists, government officials and ordinary citizens have always discussed.

The International Relation and Cooperation in partnership with Oresego Holdings hosted a second Media and Communications Colloquia titled “Telling the African Story: Presenting the Continent to the world”. The event was held at OR Tambo Building, Pretoria on 21 May.

Minister of Home Affairs addressing
at Media Communication Colloquia

Different media practitioners, journalists and government officials such as The Star Editor Makhudu Sefara, political adviser to the presidency Charles Nqakula and Minister of Home Affairs and former Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma was amongst those who attended the event.

“What is story telling? How to tell it in your advantage? Those are the questions that were asked by Koffi  Kouakou a senior lecturer and programme convener at the Wits University Public and Development Management during the debate about how media reports on Africa.

The debate was on, as the panel debated some of the challenges that are faced in the African media landscape. One of those challenges that were debated are ownership of the media and what influences the stories that editors chose when running their publications and news bulletins.

Charles Nqakul, Mandy Rossouw
and Makhudu Sefara

 Nqakula expressed his views on the media reports about Africa. “The story that we are carrying is about failure. The president cannot read his speech that is a story.”         

Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma also took part in the debate were she made her remarks about the theme of the Colloquium. She spoke about the need to tell African and South African stories.

In her opening remarks she said “Telling a story should be our collective responsibility media and all of us.”

“There is a saying that says as long as lions don’t have historians the story will be told by the hunter, we should tell our own story,” Dlamini said.

Mail& Guardian political reporter Mandy Rossouw responded to the remarks that were made by Nqakula that the media reports mostly about negative things that are taking place within government while there are good things that are done e.g. opening clinics and so on.

“Why should we congratulate what the government is supposed to do while my editor does not congratulate me when coming to work?”

The audience were also given a platform to ask questions and one of the questions that were asked was what can journalism schools do to ensure that journalism students are taught about the need to tell African stories.

Other debating panels were Tsepiso Makwetla PM Live presenter an Mzilikazi Wa Afrika and Profesor Pippa Green.

 Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma also urged young journalists to report about African stories

 “Young journalist should be inquisitive and should want to find out for themselves and not write down stories they hear from other people. They should find out for themselves, they should tell stories themselves and should be proud themselves to be Africans.

                                                                          

RADIO PRODUCER TAKES EDUCATION SERIOUS

Radio producer and presenter with more than four qualifications Marcia Lebambo believes that hard work pays. 

Marcia Lebmabo in her third graduation
at TUT, Gencor Hall



Lebambo was born and raised in Bushbuckbridge, Mpumalanga before she moved to Pretoria to fulfil her dreams.

Lebambo is a current affairs show producer and presenter at TUT FM Live@ 6. The radio station is based at Tshwane University of Technology, Soshanguve.

According to Lebambo, she enjoys informing the community about news and things that are taking place in their area.

“Reporting and informing the community is what I enjoy most in the show. We discuss different issue that affects them and we invite different guests for different departments to help bring solutions about the challenges that the community faces.

In 2004 Lebambo completed her matric at Skhukuza SeniorSchool and passed Business management and Economics with distinctions.

Lebambo said she always desired to further her studies but because of financial reasons she thought her dreamswon’t come true until she had a word with her principal Mr Letswalo

“I went to the principal to enquire where I can further my studies and get funds.”

She added that she wrote a letter for different universities after the principal gave her a contact book with different university addresses.

“I wrote for different universities but only TUT responded. I wanted them to accept me after I have upgraded my economics and mathematics,” Lebambo explained.

Lebambo said she initially planned to study for journalism but her parents couldn’t afford to pay for registration fees before the closing date.

Through that she lost her chances of being registered as a student journalist. She had to wait for her parents to get money at the end of the month so that she can register for another course.

In 2005 Lebambo managed to secure her space and registered on time for Administration management. She added that she told herself that after this qualification, she would enrol for another qualification.

“My aim was to enrol for more than one qualification. On my first year I passed all my subjects with distinctions.”

During her first year, Lebambo was an active student as she participated in many activities such as political structure Azania Student Convention, debate team, residents committee and TUT FM 96.2.

“I told myself that Ihave to participate in different activities beside my studies. I didn’t want to be an ordinary student,” Lebambo said.

During her first year, she started volunteering at TUT FMas she saw radio as a good platform to develop her communication skills.

“I saw radio as platform to developmy communication skills.”

In 2008 Lebambo registered for a B-Tech in Strategic Management before she got a job as a resident assistant at Tshwane University of Technology.

At the age of 20-years –old she became a permanent TCE 1 resident’s manager.

In 2010 Lebambo went an extra-mile to register for masters in Entrepreneurship with Tshwane University of Technology.

“The whole last year I was busy with my masters but I did half of it. I am happy that I will be finishing it this year,” Lebambo said.

Lebambo also has a certificate in Business Communication from UNISA and another B-Tech in Public Management.

According to Lebambo she saw education as her only friend.

 “I am not from a good background that is why I took education as my friend. I don’t have a friend that can change my life. The only friend that can change my life is education,” Lebambo said.

Lebambo won several awards such as awarded for being best resident’s manger in the year 2008.

Recently Lebambo visited her previous school to propose a project were she would be offering career guidance.

“I went back to where I did matric and proposed that I will visit them during my spare time and offer career guidance and other things that might take learners to the next level,” Lebambo concluded.