South Africa is sinking slowly

I am afraid when I think about what is recently happening in South Africa, my blood boils for a while. Earlier this year, we were talking about the division in the ruling party African National Congress because of the two camps that cropped up in favor of Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki. Things did not go well for the party at all, and then there was a ANC Youth League saga which also made the South Africans to think other wise for a while.

Something makes me to believe that what is happening recently in the country is the result of Polokwane Conference that was held last year in December. After the national conference, there were provincial conferences around all provinces. If people can realize, most of the premiers who were forming part of Thabo Mbeki camp suffered, they were not elected again for the position of chairpersonships in the provinces; some were also removed from the premierships.

What is happening to Thabo Mbeki is something that is being done in favor of Jacob Zuma. Zuma was sacked by Thabo Mbeki because of corruption charges, now Zuma won the case and the judge made it clear that Thabo Mbeki was involving himself politically within the same case. According to the ANCYL it is Mbeki’s turf to feel the pain that was felt by Zuma the time he was sacked. Fortunately Mbeki is coping very well with everything that is happening, he is not taking the issue very bad.

The issue of massive resignation by ministers is very bad. Outgoing minister in the presidency Essop Pahad will address a news conference later today on cabinet resignations. Government spokesperson Themba Maseko did not want to disclose what is going to be announced but it is believed everything regarding resignations.

President Thabo Mbeki has, to date, received letters of resignation from the following members of Cabinet which, regretfully, he has had to accept:
1. Deputy President2. Minister of Defence3. Minister of Finance4. Minister in the Presidency, Dr. Essop Pahad5. Minister of Intelligence 6. Minister of Correctional Services7. Minister of Public Enterprises8. Minister of Science and Technology9. Minister of Public Works10. Minister of Provincial and Local Government11. Minister of Public Service and AdministrationThe following Deputy Ministers have also tendered their resignations:1. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Aziz Pahad2. Deputy Minister of Finance and 3. Deputy Minister of Correctional Services
According to the office of the presidency The resignations will be effective from the day that the President’s resignation takes effect. All the Ministers have expressed their availability to assist the incoming administration in the hand-over process and any other assistance that might be sought from them. President Mbeki thanked the Deputy President, the Ministers and the Deputy Ministers for their dedicated service to the nation and wished them well in their future endeavours.

Dr. Musibudi Mangena launched Agro-Food-Technology Station in Limpopo

A new exciting project that will enhance and change the life of entrepreneurs who produces agricultural product was launched in Limpopo this week by the Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Musibudi Mangena. University of Limpopo was selected by the Minister to be the home of this Agro-Foot-technology Station. According to the Minister this is the first traditional University to host such an exciting Technology station. The vice Chancellor of the University of Limpopo professor Mahlo Mokgalong says as a University they are very happy to have such a project. “Gone are the days where Universities were doing things without realizing and recognizing what is going on at the communities around them” said Prof Mokgalong.

“My department realizes that effective technology diffusion and solutions can best be achieved in partnership with higher institutions which through research and development generate knowledge and a wide variety of technologies. We have developed programmes that support technology transfer and diffusion to small businesses and one of them is Tshumisano Technology Station Programme” said Dr. Musibudi Mangena.

Minister also highlighted that the programme started in 2001 with only three technology stations and now they have 12 fully operational stations spread through seven provinces, and they are also working on establishing technology stations on the remaining provinces. According to him the main purpose of the stations is to improve the competitiveness and innovation capacity of small businesses in specific sectors like the one of Agricultural food in Limpopo.

The Limpopo Agro-Food technology station offer a wide range of scientific services to the SME’s, agricultural co-operatives and food industries in developing, enhancing and maintaining a safe, efficient and cost-effective food production.

Limpopo Celebrate Africa Public Service Day

From Policy to results based implementation, this was this year’s theme of the Africa Public Service day. Africa Public Service day is an annual event that is held around African countries in order to share best practices and challenges that are being met when delivering services. According to the Department of Public Administration in South Africa the fundamental objective of APSD is the provision and delivery of value and quality public service to Africa's citizens, and due recognition of the working conditions and the quality of officials who devote their lives to diligently serve the various publics.

In Limpopo Province the 23rd of June was celebrated in a very sophisticated manner at University of Limpopo Turf loop campus, various government departments availed themselves for exhibitions and information giving sessions. People from the community of Mankweng in turf loop and surrounding areas were there to also celebrate the day. From Polokwane municipality all councilors were there and Councilor Lois Hardy managed to welcome all people and visitors.

People who attended the celebrations also managed to enjoy themselves by viewing a parliamentary discussion on the parliamentary channel via DSTV. There were also entertainment groups like Tinyungubyiseni Cultural Group and Military Brass band. The premier of Limpopo Sello Moloto was supposed to give a key note address but he did not manage to arrive at the event due to some unknown technical problems.

The art of celebrating youth day

“Today it is not yesterday and tomorrow will never be like today, why youth of today are always told about their behavior, the type of the world and the type of situation that we found our self within today will never be like the one youth of 1976 found themselves in” said one of the Sekgosese youth who was attending a youth celebrations at the Sekgosese community hall.

Ululations were heard all around the country as people were celebrating the commemoration of Soweto Uprising in 1976 were young people in South Africa stood up and fought for their rights. When fighting many of them died after being shot by police. Young people who were most were students were fighting for Afrikaans after being used as a medium of constructions at schools. The 16 June was then proclaimed as a public holiday by the recent government in honor of the youth who died when fighting for their rights.

Different youth from all provinces in the country celebrated this day through different activities. In Sekgosese Limpopo out site Polokwane, youth of Temosho Educational Development organized a huge event whereby young people from the region gathered to celebrate. Drama, poetry, dance, and different speeches were the orders of the day.

Inspector of Police in Sekgosese region Mr. Mashao said as police they are concerned about the escalating number of young people who are being arrested in daily basis. “These days we are aware that young people do no longer fight for their rights and needs, but they fight hard to engage themselves in criminal activities like rape and house robbery” he said.

Peer Educators from University of Limpopo in Turf loop campus were also there to give a health education to the youth; they were encouraging young people to refrain to sexual intercourse “in the name of preaching abstinence”. They also had a chance to demonstrate the proper use of condoms in order for people to avoid being effected with HIV.

“The youth of 1976 fought for their rights and need and what are we doing as youth of today when enjoying the fruits of their fight, are we going to sit down even if young people are dying because of HIV/AIDS?, are we going to ignore the escalating number of young people who are passionate in killing and raping our own society, let us wakeup and fight a fight which do not need guns, but our own minds and voices” said the administrator of the Temosho Educational Development.

The event was attended by more than 200 young people including the olds. Temosho Educational Development was formed in order to eliminate illiteracy at Sekgosese areas. It mission is to help young people on their way to a brighter future by giving advises and all information they might need. It is based at University of Limpopo and according to its members; it is planning to grow abroad so that it can reach all young people across the Limpopo province.

Student died as a result of Bus Crash laid to rest on Saturday

Three students who died last week after a horrible bus crash were laid to rest on weekend at separate villages in Tzaneen. One student died on the spot, the other on the way to hospital whiles the third one at the hospital. The accident happened when they were on their way to burry one of the former student at University of Limpopo who was enrolling with University of South Africa at Polokwane campus. He also died after having a tragic accident.

Students from University of Limpopo Turf loop campus supported the families of the deceased by going to the funeral in large numbers. Even if some of students did not manage to face the reality of their fellow student being lifted down the grave, some managed to be brave to carry their graves. “It is really difficult for us, they were our friends, colleagues and home mates, we do not know how to accept that they are gone and gone for ever” said one of the students.

The families of the deceased students made clearly at a memorial service held last week that they accepted that their beloved daughters are gone. “We are not pointing anyone with fingers and we are not ready to point, because we believe that it was their time, we live through a principle that always guide us and through the principle we believe that our daughters are gone for good not for bad” said Doreen Hlangwane’s uncle. He continued by saying people should respect what we believe as a family.

According to the Student Representative Council at the University, the funeral should have been prevented if only the management of the University should have provided transport. SRC says the management should buy new transport and also find a proper operation system for the transport in the campus. Since the beginning of the year, six students died because of the road accidents. “If a conducive transport system was operating in the campus, there would not be these types of accidents” said the students.

Most of the students at this particular University are also afraid of attending funerals because it is seems if going to a funeral is a call for another death. Some students also believe that there is a curse that needs to be cleansed in the campus.

Meanwhile last week the management of the University of Limpopo arranged a formal counseling session for the victims and survivors of the accidents including those who are affected by the incident.

“Students should make sure that they support and strengthen the family and friends of student who just past away, they should heal themselves as soon as possible so that to avoid being chief mourners at the funeral” said Dr. Msimeki when continuing with the counseling. Students who are the victims of the accidents and those who are just affected by the death and accidents expressed their selves that it is very difficult for them and it will take time for them to forget what happened.

Senkgate direthe

Senkgate direthe

Mangadi ke ngadile;
Matepe ke tepeletse;
Kere kotse o tla nkatologa;
Manganga o ngangabane;
Molala o phetlile;
Mantsu gao bolele o a tswa.

Hle ntlogele wene;
Ntlogele wene nkakarapa ya mosadi;
Hleng bangwe ba kgoba goja;
Hleng bangwe ba kgona go nwa;
Gobaneng nna o mpaledisa;
O se nkgate direthe.

Go nkgata o nkgatile;
Dinao tsa ba ditatapue;
Go gata ka nanaila;
Mesito ya ka ya ba samaloba;
Go thulwa di thutswe;
Gomme ka gare gwa tswa a masweu.

Go lokile go lekane;
Tsa gago ke dikwele;
Bja gago bobe ke bo kwele ka ka mmele;
Ka ge ka ditsebe ke kwele ka se kgolwe;
Ka mahlo ke bone go bela gagago;
Ebile ke bone go hubala ga mahlo a gago.

Bo rare le bo mme ba go lemile;
Ba go tlogetse ba go tlogeletse batho;
Gomme lehono makoko o a rwele ka magetla;
Boikgantsho o bo dira lesedi;
Go sepela ke boganka;
Mpholo o bonala lelemeng la gago.

Wa gago mpholo gonna ke sa maloba;
Thibela malwetsi ke hlabetswe;
More mogolo se kgwakgwarapetsa magaga dithaba ke nwele;
Kotse ya mosate se kona ntlhana tsa marumo ke swere;
Ka diatleng ke khupareditswe diemadirile;
Go mme phatleng ke tloditswe ka a retse.

Nteke wene ngwana mosadi;
Nkgate dikgato bjalo ka maloba;
Ge o be o bolaisa batswadi baka ditatapue;
Nna thuto e mphele bohlale;
Gomme ga go motho yo a ka tlago ka mahlajana;
A busa a mphenya.