Ace speaks out on xenophobia in the Free State

Ace Magashule has condemned on the Xenophobic violence in the Welkom area during last week's portests. Shops owned by foreigners nationals were broken into, set alight and looted in Thabong, Welkom and Odendaalsrus. Magashule said the attacks were a clear violation of the rights of immigrants and foreigners. He said it appeared “criminal elements” had taken advantage of the situation. “These attacks violate the fundamental principles of our Constitution, which rejects discrimination and intolerance on the basis of race, creed or geographic origin.” Free State police said Thabong and Kutloanong (Odendaalrus) were quiet on Wednesday. About 40 people have been arrested in Thabong since groups of youths took to the streets last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Warrant Officer Malebo Khosana said a group of jobless youths were unhappy after talks with local mines about jobs and took to the streets. They wanted mines to recruit local people first. Twenty-four businesses were damaged in the three-day rampage in Thabong. Captain Stephen Thakeng said Kutloanong was quiet on Wednesday. Seven people were arrested after youths started to attack foreigners and their businesses on Monday. Sixteen shops were damaged and looted. Police had to escort foreigners out of the township. Police said the violence in Kutloanong seemed to be related to the public violence and looting in Thabong last week. Magashule urged residents in the area to condemn the violent attacks on innocent people, whose lives were threatened because of their geographic origins. “We call upon our people to refrain from participating in such violent acts.” He said the provincial government would continue to work with all concerned parties to find solutions to some of the problems facing citizens. Police said those arrested in the two towns would begin appearing in courts from Wednesday to Monday next week. – Sapa

A worker by night-A student by day… The 19th of November saw the celebration of a remarkable woman, a wife, a mother, a friend, more and above a church leader. Born to a single mother, Baleseng Ruth Matswakeletse celebrated her achievements, after successful completing her Boc Sc degree at Free State University. Quoting from one of Charles Dickens’ book, a Tale of two cities, Zonela Mkhumbeni, the programme director of the day, described Matswakeletse’s achievements saying “it was the best of time-it was the worst of time…” in a nut shell. Speaker after speaker, they all described what tuff times Matswakeletse went through to get her degree. Standing in front of the masses that came to celebrate, Menky, Matswakeletse’s daughter said “it was unusual for us at first; we were all used to having her at home and to help us with school stuff”. Menky said they had to learn to be independent and had to do things all on their own. What she has taken out of her mother’s ordeal is that “I had learnt a lot from mama” in over whelming tears of joy. Free State provincial sport, arts and culture director, Vincent Khetha was the main speaker at the celebration, who said he was honoured to be afforded an opportunity to convey a message of support to Matswakeletse’s achievement. “We know very well Mrs Matswakeletse’s academic struggles and the route she travelled. We have heard her talking to us about Criminology and Sociology exams and analyses of different theories. We have heard her turning down our invitation at our house saying she is preparing to a test” this was in Khetha’s opening remarks. He said these days things are changing, change itself is changing and the question today is what an individual is doing with the changing environment. He went on and said “Just like Mrs Matswakeletse, you have limitless abilities to achieve whatever you want in life”. Khetha referred Matswakeletse as a good dreamer just like Joseph in Genesis 37, “today we are celebrating the manifestation of a good dream” as he added on. He encouraged everyone to keep on dreaming, irrespective of what people say. In a strong nice and slow manly voice, Khetha said “Your background is less important to determine your destiny; your past should not remind you that you can’t be anything in life”. As the people cupped hands, the Director mentioned “Most of you may be aware of the fact that Mrs Matswakeletse comes from a background which is not that glossy but she managed to breakthrough irrespective of unfavourable circumstances”. When asked what role he had played as a husband, Pastor George Matswakeletse proudly said “I inspired her”. However, Pastor Matswakeletse said they had being orphans for more than five years, “her presence was not felt, as she was at work at night or on campus during the day, even if she was at home she had to study”. On the 14th of September when she graduated, the Pastor said he felt relived and “finally we got our person back”. The lady celebrated on the day, she said it was never easy to get her degree. She had to work night shifts and during the day she had to attend classes. “I had to fight to get where I am now, at first I wanted to study nursing but all did not go my way and I fought my way through” she said as a tear drop roll down. Come 2012 Matswakeletse plans to register for her honours degree.

Power Reporting 2011. The African Investigative Journalism Conference. In his opening words, Prof. Tawana Kupe, the dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of the Witwatersrand said “the true defenders of democracy are journalists, in this case investigative journalists”. Kupe describe the past Power Reporting Conferences as a platform where young journalists equip themselves with new skills. “This is the place where you journalists can network among yourselves, so feel free to make new friends” added Kupe in a slow and sugary voice. This year Wits ship-in speakers as far as China, US and UK, making it more than an African conference. Closer to home they had speakers from Botswana, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria and Nairobi. Amongst the heavy weights it was The New York Times’ investigative reporter, Ron Nixon. Ron, as they call him, has taught investigative techniques and computer-assisted reporting to journalist across the world. The award winning journalist and special correspondent, Felicity Lawrence, had delivered a presentation on food in Africa. On the African side, it was Nigerian journalist, Eric Mwamba, whom is famous for investigating the trafficking of young footballers in his home country. For all the South African delegates, it was not difficult to miss The Sunday Times’ Mzilikazi wa Afrika. He has uncovered and exposed a number of dodgy deals and corrupt politicians including the government’s controversial arms deal story that landed former ANC chief whip Tony Yengeni in jail. What was on every speaker’s lips was “follow the money-follow the money”. They had advised journalist to investigate who is getting the money, where the money comes from, amongst other things. Topics that were tackled arranged from climate change, mapping news, business and finance, lobbying for oil, China in Africa, the state vs investigative journalism, to mention a hand full. Young and upcoming future journalists from various universities in South Africa gain more inside from the masters themselves. Representing the University of the Free State was Teboho Ntsepe, Irawa’s cartoonist, top student More Tshidiso and Kovsie FM senior journalist Zonela Mkhumbeni. The three were awarded a fully paid bursary from Wits. At the end every signal delegate was awarded with a certificate of attendance. Ending this years’ Power Reporting Conference, was Sunday Times editor, Ray Hartley, who spoke about the ongoing battle between the state and investigative journalism. When asked who is winning, Hartley proudly said “we are!”

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.

NASA helps with the trapped miners in Chile.

A team of NASA doctors and scientists will travel to Chile this week to lend efforts to keep thrifty-three trapped miners fit and healthy. News24 reports the Chilean government had asked NASA to provide technical advice that might assist the trapped miners at gold and copper mine. NASA's expert knowledge of how astronauts deal mentally and physically with arduous space journeys could help the miners cope for months underground.

MySpace allows users to sync posts to Facebook

MySpace has recently revamped it’s image to look more like Facebook, is now allowing users to sync their posts to Facebook, too. News24 reports, users on Facebook can see their friends' MySpace items without leaving Facebook. MySpace users will also be able to share music, videos, game applications, links and photos across both social networking sites. The changes announced are part of an over pull at MySpace, which has faced falling advertising revenue and stagnant user growth.