Living her dreams without fear

Sthembiso Sithole

@SITHOLEEXPRESS

SABC Digital News
Journalist, Hasina Gori

 

 It is often said that dreams do come true. When something is meant for you no one can take it away from you. Like most journalists, Hasina Gori once had a dream to be in the world of news and today that is a reality.

As she grew up in the city of Pietermaritzburg before moving to the heart of Zululand, Empangeni at the age of 10, this 25 -year -old knew that one day she would be something big in life. Once she starts talking about the things she has done and the love for news, one can’t stop her from talking.

She began her story by defining her childhood and what it meant to her.As I listened, she seemed relaxed and ready to answer all the questions that I spend hours preparing.  “Growing up around adults meant I grew up with a greater world view and maturity than people my age, But I was still a curious kid who loved following stories and events.”

Most kids her age at that time never concerned themselves with news or reading newspapers but for MiZz_haSiNa as she is known on twitter was always ready for a challenge. “My interest in journalism, I think it has been with me from a young age.  Watching the way people would pause their lives to watch the evening news daily or hush their family to listen to the news bulletin, I think I realised that it was something I want to do.”

It is often said in journalism that, you have to hustle your way up to get your name and work know. Her story reminds me of how I hustled my way up in the media industry. She said; "Journalism is a career that doesn’t pay in cents and notes but pay in bylines and a feeling of purpose.”

Usually when I do interviews with sources, they often look serious and want to leave a good impression for me to write good stuff about them. Well, for“Crazy Hasina” as her colleague Sipho Kekana described her, she was spinning the chair and playing with her legs as I conduct the interview.

I was surprised when she told me her education background. “I started studying Medical Science at University of Zululand, but changed after a semester to Psychology and Communication Science at UNISA in 2009. After completing my undergrad I did my honours in Journalism at Wits University in 2011.” With two qualifications on her shoulders, it was time for her to look for a job and that was one of the daunting tasks she had to face.

After her hard work and building her name on social networks, she finally got a job at the SABC Digital News as a news writer and News Break reader. She took a deep breath as I asked her about some of her career highlights working in digital media. “My career highlight was when I was assigned to cover the court case of blade runner Oscar Pistorius, the social media ‘junkie’ said.

She was in the midst of both local and international media tweeting from the Pretoria Magistrate's Court.  

As the saying goes; all good things come to an end. I could see from her eyes and gesture that this future ‘Al Jazeera war correspondent in Africa’ wished she that she could have had more time to reveal more of her future aspirations. Unfortunate I had another appointment. Oh, yes she is a nice person with passion for what she does.

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.