Sthembiso Sithole

Soulfull Productions record label owner, house dj and musician Steven “Mario” Zwane had an exclusive interview with SITHOLE EXPRESS on Thursday, 25 August.



Mario and Sandile Mdluli.



A TUT student is yet to release a new album and some of his songs are already hitting the radio waves.

Steven “Mario” Zwane started doing house music in 2009 after he realised that he has potential to produce.

The third year Information Technology student describes his 13 track album as an adventure.



 He said has worked with different creative people such as DJ Locker, M-Chase, Johny J, Lerato, Aborica, DJ Pat and vocal artist and poet, Sandile Mdluli.

On July this year, in block H, Soulfull Productions hosted an event where they were looking for a girl that would be in the cover of the album.

Like any artist; Mario experienced challenges before he made it into the music business.



 “I started with one computer without proper equipment but today I am happy that things are going my way.”



Mario’s close friend, Sandile Mdluli, is also featured in the upcoming album titled “DJ S.Mario House Evolution”.

  Mario says he has uploaded 400 page reviews, music downloads and tracks from his upcoming album.”

To listen to DJ S.Mario House Evolution, visit www.soundclick.com /djs.mario or join him on Facebook, Dj S.Mario.

Photos Send A Message

Sthembiso Sithole

Photographers are there to do what they do best and they are not there to be part of a story or to change the meaning of the photo. 

A photo of a ten day dead baby in a bin

South Africans have expressed their views and feelings about the fact that Daily Dispatch newspaper has placed the photo of a dead baby in the front page. In most papers the headlines were; Horror of the recent Daily Dispatch front page of a dead baby; what do you think of the front page of today’s Daily Dispatch?


Well in respond to those headlines and to the question whether the Daily Dispatch was right or wrong in printing the photo. This is what I think. Photos are what keeps the town talking and photos in a newspaper are aimed to send a message and to alert the community of what is happening around them.


The photo adds significance in the story and this story was best told with this photo. The public can’t ignore the fact that there are many mothers who put their ten day children in danger.  For the fact that it got people talking, I believe it raised awareness about what is happening and the impact of children being raised by mothers who take drugs.

The thing about this photo, most readers have viewed it in a negative way only forgetting the message behind it. I think they should take time and review the photo in another angle.

Reference: http://mishsolomon.com/daily-dispatch/,

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-132763/Ten-day-old-baby-dies-going-entire-spin-cycle-wasthing-machine.htm#ixzzW1ZwnW4F,

http://www.news24.com/

http://www.twitpic.com/

 www.newseum.org/

Community Believes Butchery Sells Human Body Parts

Sthembiso Sithole

The Winterveld Community believes this
butchery sold a child a human penis.



“I am scared to sleep at night, I am no longer free. I regret why I gave community members that difficult meat to chew.”

This is a reaction of Paulina Mahlangu who was sold mixed livers that allegedly had human parts in Winterveld in the local Butchery.

This comes after her grandchild, Lindeni, was sent by her mother who refused to be mentioned to buy mixed livers for supper as usual.

Mahlangu says she didn’t check the pots when her grandchild was cooking but later told her she was hungry. “I was eating with my grandchildren when I tried to bite the meat that was difficult for me to chew. I called my child to explain why this piece was hard to chew, I then asked my self what kind of meat is this?”

Paulina Mahlangu is conviced she ate
a partof a human penis.

Mahlangu says she thought it was a turkey’s heart, but her daughter and some community members disagreed saying they were male sex organ.

“My grandchild was doing her washing when her cousin came and asked where I placed the meat. I told them that I threw it in the bin. With their curiosity they searched for it, discussed it and later told other people,” she explains.

After some community members saw the meat they agreed it was a penis and later called the police. Thereafter there were suggestions the butchery from which the meat had been bought should be burnt down.

The police first went to the butchery, but couldn’t find the owner. They later took Mahlangu’s daughter and grandchild to make a statement at the station.

Loate Police say the meat has been taken to forensic testing and results should be released in three weeks.

Buthery owner, Joshua Khoza, says he is being falsely accused . “I don’t sell human body parts, I sell fresh meat for my community and I am a Christian,” he says.

Mr & Miss TUT Res Elimination Photos

After an 18 Year Wait for Houses Residents Build Shacks by Force

Sthembiso Sithole

Soshanguve residents without government subsidised houses are calling for their councillors to step down as they say they haven’t fulfilled any of the promises made before elections. They say they had been promised houses but this hasn’t happened and as a result about 100 families have decided to build their own shacks rather than sit and wait for the people tasked with assisting them. Some even accuse those in power of selling these free houses to foreign nationals – an accusation that has been the cause of many alleged xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

“The current elected councillors are misrepresenting us. That is why I call for Soshanguve to unset (Simon) Maratula,” says one of the residents.

In the township’s extension 7 residents say they have even taken their grievances to the Department of Human Settlement but their requests have been largely ignored.

The Soshanguve Housing Data Base Council (SOHDACO) is a group of residents who say they applied for RDP houses in 1994 without a single one being built.The group says proper procedure was followed. SOHDACO chairperson, Matshona Matjeke, says they have been in and out of Housing Department offices and are always told that they are on a waiting list. As a result these residents have met in the township and decided to write an authoritative to the City of Tshwane. It seems there isn’t enough land for their interim solution an.

“We are now fighting for space where we can build our [shacks]. By tomorrow shacks must be standing in extension 7 to show that we are serious about occupying the place,” says Matjeke.

SOHDACO Secretary, Patrick Masuku says they can no longer wait for change and they must take what they want as they have been ignored in the past. “If people can use force they will get what they want. The issue of foreign nationals getting houses that we have applied for a long time, is creating problems,” explains Masuku.

Some residents are concerned about the lack of safety in the township and worry about police reaction to it as they say a Metro police shot a 72 year old lady with a rubber bullet during the public meeting.

Sowetan Entertainers Doing it for the Love

Sthembiso Sithole
Sowetan, Bonginkosi Madondo, says he is driven by the love of art, African culture and traditions and as a result has participated in various theatre productions such as Amasiko and Devil Protest. He started performing at the Positive Art Society in Phiri Hall in the township in 2003. Through the legacy of the late Thembinkosi Nkabinde who was the founder of the group, Bonginkosi has taken over the initiative.

“Art is something for us performers to tell those untold stories. It heals spiritually,” says Bonginkosi.

The 29 year old who is also gumboot dancer and choreographer believes that one can make a living out of art.

“I have raised a kid and built a place to sleep in through art. Everyone who loves art can achieve his/her dreams,” he explains. Walking around Soweto it becomes apparent that the arts are keeping many children off the streets.

Mkhonto Arts and Cultural Group is one of the few art groups that are growing in the township. The group involves different aspects of art such as tap dancing, drama, gumboot dancing, etc. It is based in Phiri Hall, Soweto and caters for youngsters from High school to those who have completed their schooling.

The group has performed at President Jacob Zuma’s Inauguration and at the recent Siyabakhumbula Awards on 25 June this year at Gallagher Estate, Midrand. Through their hard work and determination they have showcased their art skills in countries such as Spain, Austria and so on.

As any group growing in the township, they also experience challenges such as a lack of funding. The group master feels that there is still a lack of recognition of South African actors and he does not agree with the fact that international stars come to the country and portray icons like Nelson Mandela and his ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.

“If Soweto is known worldwide, why don’t they fund it? It is all about making money but not empowering our South African artists,” he elaborates.

20-year-old Zanele Sibisi joined the group three years ago and believes that participating in such activities helps her from getting up to mischief. “I benefit a lot from the group and it takes me away from drugs,” she explains.

Tap dancing is one of the activities that are growing in the country and Mduduzi Buthelezi says he is ready to go an extra mile to make it in this genre of dance.

“I want to achieve big time in my career. Many [black] people don’t know much about tap dancing, whites are exposed to it and I want to change the perception that it is meant for whites,” he stresses.

The group is planning on telling the stories of human trafficking and is currently preparing for a Pan African festival to take place in Algeria next month.

Chiawelo Residents Meet to Demand the Release of those Arrested

Sthembiso Sithole
Chiawelo residents are demanding the release of those arrested for the burning down of a former councillor’s house and the attack of the new councillor’s car and on Friday they protested outside court where those arrested earlier in the week were appearing. They say the case should not have been postponed.


On Wednesday evening there was an emergency meeting in the township where their way forward was discussed.


An estimated 2000 residents attended the Jo’burg City emergency meeting on former councillor Miriam Ramafola, newly elected councillor Johannes Nemangauni and the green metred electricity boxes that started all the trouble. As Eskom General Manager Bandile Jack was approaching the podium the crowds started singing struggle songs.

Jack told the crowd why some had their power switched off. “It started when we switched off electricity for those who had illegal connections,” he said.

His message seemed to have been falling on deaf ears as some were calling him names with a few youths waving posters written “Green Boxes Down”.

A 70-year-old woman identifying herself as MaTshabalala complained said she grew up in the area and the metred box grievances have been going on for a while and said the initial promise was that they would be removed in 2007.

“We are finished by this electricity, we pay a huge amount of money with our pension money. It is unfair,” MaTshabalala said.

Mayoral committee member, Matshidiso Mfikoe, told the residents that they embarrassed themselves while SAPS representative Simon Mpembe said none of the 25 arrested will be released as the community demands.

“Police are not responsible to the release of people who are arrested, the court is responsible,” he elaborated.

Some community members left early swearing and turning chairs upside down.

Those who remained behind were told to register with Siyasiza Expanded Social Package. This initiative is offered to those who are disadvantaged and offers free basic water, electricity and create short, long term job path.

Eskom promised to come back and switch on the power for those who have been switched off.

The 25 will appear in court on Friday next week.