Black Wednesday on Tuesday

Today is Tuesday and we the media people we call it Black Wednesday. We remember the role of the courageous journalists, newspapers, anti-apartheid organisations and activists targeted by the apartheid regime in 1977. These men and women sacrificed their freedom in their quest to inform the public about the realities of our country then; and in the struggle for democracy.

I was not born in 1977 on the 19th of October as most of, when The World and the Weekend World newspapers were banned by then minister of Justice Jimmy Kruger, their editor Mr Percy Qoboza and deputy editor Mr Aggrey Klaaste were detained and 17 anti-apartheid organisations were banned.

I read that Mr Nelson Mandela and his colleagues, then they were imprisoned on Robben Island. The Nelson Mandela foundation writes that, it remembers how Mr Qoboza was one of the first public figures to campaign for their release from jail. It goes on by saying that year marked a turning point in the South African state’s oppression of the media, and in the next decade many more journalists were detained and banned and newspapers were shut down. As the struggle intensified, so did the regime’s attempt to silence the media.

When he was finally released from prison in February 1990, Mr Mandela paid tribute to the press, both local and international, for keeping the world informed of his plight and that of his colleagues. The release of Mr Mandela and other political prisoners, the unbanning of political organisations and the return of exiles after 1990 led to democracy in South Africa and the adoption of a Constitution which enshrines press freedom (Nelson Mandela Foundation).

Mr Mandela had often paid tribute to journalists. In December 1997at the closing session of the ANC’s National Conference, Madiba said: “Instrumental in keeping us in touch and informed, in the dissemination of both, the good news and the bad, the sensational and the mundane, has been the media. I wish to pay tribute on this occasion to their unflinching, and often ill-appreciated, commitment to their task and their contribution to a more informed and hence a better world.”

We at Kovsie FM would like to honour all those journalists who had contributed to the struggle for freedom, and all our media who continue to contribute to the making of democracy. To our entire journalists and up and coming journalists of tomorrow happy Wednesday a happy Black one.

ABSA Macufe Cup 2010

After all music sounds had died out, it was time for the sounds of the vovozelas at the Free State stadium. The defending champions Kaizer Chiefs were outnumbered by the ever green and white Bloemfontein Celtic fans. Both fans were entertained by the curtain-raisers between Premiers eleven and ABSA-eleven, in which premier Ace Magashule was one of the players taking part. Premier eleven won two-one.

Coming the Macufe Cup between the host and Chiefs, the game started with both teams at each other’s throat. Celtic dominated the first opening minute, however, in the eleventh minute Prince Olomu scored the opening goal from a rebound by Benett Chenene. A minute after George Lebese missed a clear cut goal. In the fifteen minute again Lebese was denied by Patrick Tignyemb on the near post.

In the sixteen minute Chiefs was awarded a penalty, after Tignyemb brought down Kaizer Motaung Jnr. Jose Torrealba failed to equalize from the penalty mark. Chiefs came close to equalizing but Kaizer Jnr was denied by Tignyemb. Towards the end of the first half Chiefs played nice football in the middle of the path and Kaizer managed to equalize from Mthokozisi Yende’s pass. At half time both teams where level with the score of one each.

With the start of the second half both teams played an entertaining football but failed to produce any goal at the end. Referee Harry Lekitlane signalled it was time for penalties after a one all draw. In the penalties Kaizer Chiefs’ David Mathebula failed to score his penalty and after that Luyanda Bacela joined him too. After Tshifiwa Mmboi failing to convert his penalty, Bloemfontein Celtics’ Danny Venter scored the penalty that saw Sewelele been crowned the ABSA Macufe 2010 champions.

MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture & Recreation, Den Kgothule, said the Macufe has grown since it started in 2003, and the year it was yet another success. He said it is an initiative that they will continue to support.