E F SASTERN REE TATE

TEL: 058 ­ 3035411 WEDNESDAY 29 JANUARY 2014 WWW.EXPRESS­NEWS.CO.ZA FREE

} Tladi Moloi

MAHLEHLE MOKOENA (18), aformer gr. 12 learner of theTsebo Secondary School, is oncloud nine after he was namedthe overall winner during the2013 Investec Qwaqwa PromathsAwards ceremony held inpartnership with Investec, theKutlwanong Centre for Maths,Science and Technology and theFree State Department ofEducation.Mahlehle, who had obtained

six distinctions – Mathematics,Sotho, Life Sciences, LifeOrientation and PhysicalSciences, as well as Geography– received two trophies, an iPadand R15 000, at the ceremonywhich was held on Friday at theBeacon High School in Phutha-ditjhaba. He said he had notexpected that because he wascompeting with the best.“I never saw myself winning,

but that never dragged me down.I kept on working hard and inthe end it paid off. I want tochallenge the gr. 12’s of 2014 tonever doubt themselves and keepon working hard,” he said.During the ceremony about 43

learners from Qwaqwa in theThabo Mofutsanyana Districtwho obtained a 80% to 100%pass rate in Maths and Physics,were recognised for best per-formance and awarded certifi-cates and trophies.“I realised when I joined

Kutlwanong that I was not thebest. I had to put my foot on theaccelerator and that worked forme,” he said.“I could not obtain seven

distinctions because I only havelevel 6 English.”He invited anyone from the

class of 2014 to challenge him.“I was the first learner of the

Tsebo Secondary School to be inthe top 100 best learners in theFree State. I hope I have openeddoors for others so that we canput our beloved school on themap.”Tate Makgoe, the MEC for

Education, said the successbehind his department had beenbrought about by the partner-ships that he had secured.“After I had realised what my

weak points were, I decided toinvite people who were better

trained than me.“Working together with people

who are willing to bring aboutchange in education has workedfor us. Education is an apexpriority in the ANC and wemust make sure that the chil-dren in this province are givena chance to be taught and tolearn,” he said.Makgoe said they believed in

motivating the teachers becausethat would surely result in themmotivating the learners.

“People were sceptical when Ibecame the education MEC.They asked what I knew abouteducation, but that did notworry me, because I knew whatI wanted.“Not many people, even our

friends, believed that we coulddo what we did. We shouldcelebrate this.”The MEC said they would not

have achieved what they hadwithout Kutlwanong andInvestec.

“They believed in our chil-dren. Because of them for thefirst time our learners were inthe top ten in Mathematics andfour received 100%,” he said.Setlogane Manchidi, head of

corporate social investment atInvestec, said it had been nosurprise when the Free Statehad received the third spot inSouth Africa.“Their attitude and the way in

which they were changing thingswas an indication of where theywere going,” he said.Manchidi said he would put

his head on the block that theFree State would retain thatposition for a long time.He said the MEC was the first

in the country to not onlyendorse the programme, but tomatch them rand for rand.“We teach learners with

potential. We don’t want learnerswho are already achieving,because that would not make adifference. This is social invest-ment at its best,” he concluded.

Hard work pays off

DEDICATION: Mahlehle Mokoena (centre), who won the top achiever award during the 2013 InvestecQwaqwa Promaths Awards, with Tate Makgoe, the Free State MEC for Education, and Fani Titi, the chair­person of the Investec board of directors. Photo: Tladi Moloi

‘I never saw myselfwinning, but thatnever dragged medown. I kept on work­ing hard and in theend it paid off. I wantt o ch a l l e n g e t h egr. 12’s of 2014 tonever doubt them­selves and keep onworking hard.’– Mahlehle Mokoena

Energy for the people – p 4

2 EXPRESS EASTERN FREE STATE, WEDNESDAY 29 JANUARY 2014

NEWS

} Tladi Moloi

MAPHAKELA MAITSE akaSponono sa Maluti (50) hasreleased a new traditionalgospel album.

The album titled Makoti ophehile totlo o banenesa borat-sale comprises 12 songs.

According to Maitse, it wasreleased three weeks ago and isavailable in all leading musicstores.

Maitse started singing in 1995.She made her mark in the

music industry back in 2002when she released her debutalbum Mohaladitwe Shweshwe.

The new album is her fifthstudio album and she is hopingthat it will sell like hot cakes.

The album features songs likeThanks, my Lord, for everythingyou’ve done for me, Moya wahao o phomole ka kgotso ntateMandela and Mohlang kephahamang kelo bolela ntate

Modimo bana ba hlotse.Maitse said she had decided

to name the album Makoti ophehile totlo o banenesa borat-sale after she had realised thatmarriage had lost its valuebecause of the “modern wom-an”.

“The title means that womenare not cooking nice foodbecause they are always onsocial networks and in taverns.Marriage in my opinion used tobe the most respected of unionsin the past, but now it has beenturned into something that isnot respected.

“You’ll find a woman whowas married the week before ina tavern. That would neverhave happened in the past.”

Maitse turned 50 last yearand she believes that she wouldnot have reached that age hadit not been for God’s love.

“Thanks, my Lord, foreverything you’ve done for me isa song that I dedicated to myRedeemer, the one who madeeverything possible in my life.He brought me joy and liftedme up.”

Maitse said the album wouldnot have been complete if shehad not dedicated a song to thelate Nelson Mandela. She saidMandela had been like Jesus toSouth Africa because he hadfought for freedom and hadbeen willing to die for all thechildren of South Africa.

“When Mandela went toprison, I was still young andcould not make sense ofanything. When he was releasedI had four children. I turned 50on the day that he was buried –15 December 2013 – and that isa story I would like to tell mygrandchildren,” she said.

Gospel divareleasesnew album

MAPHAKELA MAITSE aka Sponono sa Maluti with her new tradi­tional gospel album. Photo: Tladi Moloi

‘Thanks, my Lord,f o r e v e r y t h i n gyou’ve done for meis a song that I dedi­c a t e d t o m y R e ­d e e m e r, t h e o n ewho made every­thing possible in mylife. He brought mejoy and lifted me up.’– Maphakela Maitse

A 32-YEAR-OLD man appearedbefore the Phuthaditjhaba Magis-trate’s Court yesterday facing acharge of rape.

When Express Qwaqwa and EFSwent to print the outcome of thecourt was still unknown.

It is alleged that the man raped a27-year-old woman at his place afterapparantly accompanying her froma tavern at DeBult in Qwaqwa inthe early hours of the morning.

Sgt. Mmako Mophiring said itwas on Saturday at approximately04:00 when a woman (27) walkedwith the man to his place from a

certain tavern at DeBult in Phutha-ditjhaba.

“They went to the suspect’s housewhere he allegedly raped her. Shephoned the police who arrested thesuspect while attending to thecomplaint at the same house,” hesaid.

Meanwhile, the Phuthaditjhabapolice reacted to a street robberywhere a young man was attackedand robbed of his belongings by twoyoung suspects who allegedly useda knife and bottle at Dipolateng inRiverside near Phuthaditjhaba.

Mophiring said it is alleged that

on Saturday at approximately 21:30the 26-year-old man was walking inthe main road of Dipolateng in theRiverside location when he wasattacked by two men.

“He was walking from a tavernwhen the suspects approached him.They pushed him to the ground andsearched his pockets.

“They robbed him of his cell-phone and the money in hispossession.

“The two suspects will soonappear in the PhuthaditjhabaMagistrate’s Court facing charges ofrobbery,” he said.

Rape suspect in court

EXPRESS EASTERN FREE STATE, WEDNESDAY 29 JANUARY 2014 3

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LADYBRAND CORPORATE COMMUNI-CATION as well as Ladybrand SocialCrime Prevention visited four farmschools in the Ladybrand District on thefirst school day on the 2014 calendar.

According to Sgt Martin Xuma, Lady-brand Corporate Communication encour-aged young learners to focus on theirschool work and to stay away fromcrime-related issues.

“They are the future leaders and wemust make sure that we encourage themto work hard while they are stillyoung. We also requested them to reportany criminal activity to the police,” hesaid.

The schools that were visited were the

Petrushoop Intermediate School, Mullers-drift Primary School, Phedisano PrimarySchool and the Mamosa PrimarySchool.

During their visits, the men and womenin blue gave away stationery to thelearners.

They gave the learners pencils, erasers,colouring books, rulers as well as pam-phlets.

“These visits were also conducted toensure that the re-opening of schools tookplace without any incidents.

“The principals of all the schools weredelighted with our visit, and asked us tokeep on ensuring safety and harmony intheir respective schools,” he said.

Police motivate schools

LEARNERS of the Phedisano Primary School, the teachers and Const. Teboho Monesewith the donated books. Photo: Supplied

4 EXPRESS EASTERN FREE STATE, WEDNESDAY 29 JANUARY 2014

NEWS

} Tladi Moloi

A MULTIMILLION RANDIntegrated Energy Centre (IeC)was launched on Saturday inMakwane Village, Phuthaditjhaba.

The IeC, which is worthR10.5 million, was made possibleby the Department of Energy inpartnership with Maluti-a-Pho-fung Municipality and Sasol.

The centre will deliver energyessentials such as petrol, diesel,lubricants and LPGas.

Siza Njikelana, the chairpersonof the portfolio committee at theDepartment of Energy, said he issure that the community ofMakwane will take care of thecentre.

“The National DevelopmentPlan insisted that we shouldbring services closer to thepeople. This is exactly what weare trying to do by bringingservices to the people of Mak-wane,” he said.

Njikelana said the centre has acomputer room that will help theschool learners with theirhomework.

“We know that there are nointernet cafés in the rural areas

and this is definitely what thecommunity has been waiting for,”he said.

The MEC for Education, TateMakgoe, who spoke on behalf of

the Free State Premier, AceMagashule, said they want tothank the Minister of Energy,Dikobe Ben Martins, and all thestakeholders who were involved

in achieving this.Balekile Mzangwa, the execu-

tive mayor of the Thabo Mofut-sanyana District Municipality,said that they have worked hard

to achieve the centre. He addedthat this achievement will be onethat remains in the historybooks.

“This was a form of surety toour people that our governmentdoes keep its promises. Thepeople of Makwane will neveragain walk long distances to getoil, paraffin and petrol,” he said.

Maurice Radebe, the chairper-son of Sasol Oil Limited, said:“The IeC represents the collabora-tion and partnership betweenvarious stakeholders and is asymbol of what can be achievedwhen we work together.”

He thanked the community forallowing them to build the IeC ontheir land. He said this is theseventh IeC that they have builtjointly with the Department ofEnergy.

“An important aspect of thesecentres is that they are managedby the community where they aresituated. It provides employmentopportunities, but more impor-tantly it ultimately empowerscommunities to build capacityand leverage this asset for thesustainable development of theircommunity,” he said.

Centre brings services to people

FROM the left are TateMakgoe, theMEC for Education, Maurice Radebe, the chairperson of Sasol Oil Limited,Siza Njikelana, the chairperson of the portfolio committee of the Department of Energy, and BalekileMzangwa, the executive mayor of the Thabo Mofutsanyana District, captured during the official launch ofthe Integrated Energy Centre at the Makwane Village. Photo: Tladi Moloi

THE Qwaqwa Campus of the Universityof the Free State (UFS) boasts a newface.

The new, colourful and long-awaitedQwaqwa Campus entrance is almostready for use after a year of constructionwork.

Meanwhile, the construction of thenew 150-bed student residence and Geo-graphy and Physics building has juststarted.

“The new residence comprises fourdouble-storey and two three-storey sec-tions, one caretaker’s house and a serviceroom,” said Makere Mofokeng of PhysicalResources.

The Geography and Physics building,situated just opposite the Faculty ofNatural and Agricultural Sciences, is adouble-storey building and comprises aboardroom, 9 offices, a 20-seater Physicschemical lab, 20-seater Physics post-gradu-ate lab, 20-seater Physics instrumentresearch lab, 20-seater Physics dry lab,darkroom, 180-seater lecture hall, 2 storagefacilities and ablution facilities at ground-floor level.

“The following facilities are on the firstfloor: a boardroom, 10 offices, a 360-seaterlecture theatre, a 102-seater Geography lab,a 198-seater Geography lab, a 20-seaterGeography post-graduate lab and 3 storagefacilities, as well as ablution facilities,”Mofokeng said.

The Geography and Physics building isexpected to be completed by December2014 and the new residence by February2015.

Qwaqwa Campusboasts new entrance

THE new entrance at the University of the Free State’s Qwaqwa campus. Photo: Supplied

‘The new residence com­prises four double­storeyand two three­storey sec­tions, one caretaker’s houseand a service room.’– Makere Mofokeng, Physi­cal Resources

EXPRESS EASTERN FREE STATE, WEDNESDAY 29 JANUARY 2014 5

6 EXPRESS EASTERN FREE STATE, WEDNESDAY 29 JANUARY 2014

NEWS

Daddy is speakingwords of wisdomTHAPELO MBELE, Bohlokong,Bethlehem:

EXPRESS EASTERN FREESTATE recently published a letterwritten by my father, MajoziMbele.In it he congratulated Vusi

Tshabalala, the acting executivemayor of the Maluti-A-PhofungMunicipality. I would like to addsomething to that.For the record, my dad and I are

fine, given the situation in which Iwas born and regardless of howmuch he has sacrificed for theANC to continue to govern thiscountry. But that I leave to thosewho worked with my dad both inthe ANC and in government toconfirm or deny that he has playeda big role in ensuring that servicesare rendered to our communities.Speaking of the words of encour-

agement to Tshabalala, Daddy wasjust saying to the ANC that thereare talented people within yourmidst and that you should pleasegive them space and time to helpchange our lives as the poorest ofthe poor.All that he was trying to illus-

trate was that being an EFFmember did not necessarily meanyou had to be negative all the timetowards what the ruling party did –even when they did good. I mightnot be politically inclined like myfather, but I happen to understandthat the SMSs that my fatherreceived from his former comrades,referring to him as “inciting”

division within communities,through one paragraph in thatletter where he said not all peoplewould become economically freethrough a nine-to-five job and thatthe Free State government and inparticular our municipality shouldalso help artists to grow.He was not being as radical as he

is supposed to be as a leader of theEFF, but was being honest as acitizen of this province becauseeven a blind man can see that onlyTeboho Moloi, a gospel singer,benefits from the millions meant todevelop artists in this province.And since he became the sole

beneficiary of all governmentprogrammes he has stopped beingTeboho and Friends. He was madeand developed by people whoperformed with him throughout thetaxi ranks in our area. Daddy and Iare not jealous of him, but we arejust asking if he is the only talentfrom this area.Last time we attended a wedding

we wondered if the ladies andgents singing like angels were finesinging for nothing. Or could it bebecause they have not attendedANC rallies to praise the leader-ship instead of God?

In terms of service delivery Iasked Daddy about the criteriaused by council to evict people. Ifpeople had bought sites and theperson was expelled from council’semploy, was it the mistake of thesedesperate, poor and illiteratepeople?They bought sites in 2007, voted

from that area in 2009 and 2011 andthis year they are illegally stayingthere. Daddy could not give meanswers, and I wish for some whohave a better understanding thanmy dad to help me understandthese scenarios.This coincides with the worry I

felt when he told me that mygreatgranny’s house had beendemolished in 2008 in ward 1,Bethlehem. She was recently buriedfrom a shack because she had beenwaiting for the government to comeand finish her house. She did notask for it to be destroyed and nowfour of my cousins – who are myage – will never feel what it is liketo live in the comfort of a housebuilt with bricks.My engagements with Daddy

made me lose my case when hetold me that even those people inSilahliwe and Captain Charles wereillegal occupants of municipal land,but that they could not be evictedbecause they were regarded astronghold of the ANC when itcame to voter apathy.Extracts from conversations with

my unemployed, educated parentwill continue next week as he hasto go do his EFF work.

Faith hasnever leftme aloneJOHANNES RADE-BE, Kutlwanong,Harrismith:

THE existence sopurified, where doyou come from?Nevertheless the

misery and pain felt,You’re still in con-

trol, for this is thedrama of faith.I talk intro, listen to

words of pain felt.Attitude was so de-

termined thoughvision so static goes

with me now, flowwithmyverses, feel

the passive voice soactive.I am in a realistic

chapter, the world ofdope.Look at the wall

you see history, be-causeI told my story in a

reality show.O, let the movie

play. Let the fictionportray paintings ofdiscovery;I discover power of

salvation throughwisdom of regur-

gitation of versesdaily,Indeed, the Lord is

my salvation, I shallnot fearEven I can walk

in the shadow ofdeath.Come to the theatre

of divine drama,The lesson of hard-

ship, do you knowFaith?Faith never left

me alone for eterni-ty.Psalm 55:22Peace is in the dra-

ma of faith. Let therainbow belt sing

love in diversity.Amen

GENERAL &

HOME SERVICES

First Division standsAFRICAN WARRIORSmarched to position seven onthe National First Division(NFD) log table after theynarrowly have beaten UnitedFC by 3-2 away from home,while Maluti FET Collegesuffered a 4-1 defeat to WitbankSpurs on Sunday.Milano United 2-0 Roses

UnitedMilano returned to win the

top of the table with a 2-0 overRoses United at Grassy Park onSunday afternoon. BrendonTheron and Bridget Mothanetted to move them aboveChippa United and Vasco daGama. Roses are third from thebottom with 13 points.Chippa United 1 Vasco da

Gama 1Chippa and Vasco played out

to a 1-1 draw to lose the topspot in the standings. The gamewent into the break goalless,but on the hour-mark JaabierDelport gave Vasco the lead.However, the Chilli Boysequalised in the last 10 minutesthrough Sipho Mtuli’s superbfree-kick.Maluti FET College 1-4

Witbank SpursWitbank Spurs trashed Maluti

FET College 4-1, with formerAjax midfielder Sici Shelembeand former Orlando Piratesstriker Ralph Matema bothnetting braces. The win movesSpurs up to ninth, while Malutidrop down to 12th.United FC 2-3 African

Warriors

African Warriors scored threefirst half goals, with VincentPule getting a brace and GiftSithole the other. ZondiMthombeni and Strydom Wambiscored for United who remainfourth. Warriors are seventh,also with 24 points.FC Cape Town 1-1 Jomo

CosmosFC Cape Town continued

their resurgence under DuncanLechesa with a 1-1 draw againstCosmos at the NNK RugbyStadium to move out of therelegation zone.Black Leopards 2-2 Baroka

FCLeopards and Baroka played

out an entertaining 2-2 draw atthe Makhuvha Stadium, withMatlaka Maboke and JabulaniNdebele scoring for LidodaDuvha, while ExcellentMokobane and Tshepo Moithibascored for the visitors. It meansLeopards lose ground as the logleaders as they slip down tosixth.Sivutsa Stars 0-0 SantosSivutsa Stars and Santos

played to a 0-0 draw in Mpuma-langa, leaving the People’sTeam nine points behind theleaders in fifth place. Sivutsaare in 11th place with 19 points.Thanda Royal Zulu 0-0

Blackburn RoversBottom of the table Thanda

and fellow strugglers Blackburncould not manage a goalbetween them, leaving themprecariously placed in thedanger zone.

MISCELLANEOUS

1845

FOR ALL TOMB-STONES and repairs todamaged tombstones, aswell as epitaphs, etc.Phone 058 303 4840. BHM.

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REPAIRS

3080

EXPRESS EASTERN FREE STATE, WEDNESDAY 29 JANUARY 2014 7

8 EXPRESS EASTERN FREE STATE, WEDNESDAY 29 JANUARY 2014

E F SASTERN REE TATE

THE referees who attended the workshop with the facilitators and referees. Photo: Supplied

Safa aims to produce referees with meritSAFA THABO MOFUTSANYA-NA recently held a four-dayreferees workshop at the JohnPaul II Centre known as Eden.Dimakatso Mokoena, the

regional executive officer, said theworkshop was funded by the 2010Fifa World Cup Legacy Trust. Shesaid 21 referees had attended theworkshop.

“It was a very successfulworkshop and all the referees whoattended, started officiating gamesthis past weekend,” she said.She added that the workshop

was aimed at promoting newreferees between the ages of 16and 24.The workshop facilitators were

Mohutsiwa Monyaki and Kalibe

Sedibe of the Safa MangaungMetropolitan Region.The referees who attended the

workshop were from the ThaboMofutsanyana Region.

} Sidwell Guduka

MAXWELL KONADU, theGhana national team coach, hasurged local fans to continuethrowing their weight behind hisside.He admits his side faces a

tough challenge in their 2014Championship of AfricanNations (CHAN) semifinal clashagainst Nigeria at the Free StateStadium in Bloemfontein tonight(20:30).“It is going to be a difficult

match against Nigeria, but one

that we have to win at all cost.They are one of the powerhousesof African football. So we’ll haveto be at our best to beat them.We’ll plan well for them. I thinkthe whole of Africa will enjoythis match,” Konadu toldExpress.“I urge the people of Bloemfon-

tein to rally behind us when wetake on Nigeria. We’ve beenenjoying their support since wearrived in South Africa for thetournament. Their support forGhana has been amazing. We arein the semifinals because of the

great support that we continueto receive from them. We arevery thankful to the people ofBloemfontein,” he said.“We’ve been received very well

here. The local people are veryfriendly and they love us. Weare happy to be playing ourgames here. Generally, I thinkthe people of South Africa loveGhana,” he added.The Black Stars edged DR

Congo with a 1-0 victory to reachthe semifinals-stage of thetournament. Before that, theyhumbled both Congo and

Ethiopia by a goal to nil, anddrew 1-all with Libya in thegroup stage matches.Konadu says it was not his

side’s game plan to go out andscore only one goal in everymatch they played.“We don’t take to the field to

score only one goal. We plan ourgames according to the strengthsand weaknesses of our oppo-nents. But it happens that wescore one goal and we defend itvery well. That for me is a plusfor our team. We’ll try toconvert all the chances that we

create during the match,”Konadu said.In the other semifinal fixture

today, Zimbabwe will battle itout against Libya for a final spotin the competition. The matchkicks off at 17:00. The winners intoday’s games will meet in thefinal at the Cape Town Stadiumon Saturday at 20:00, while thelosing teams will fight for thirdposition at the same venue threehours before the final.) Tickets for the matches areavailable at all Computicketoutlets.

Ghana faces tough challenge

‘We are in the semifinals becauseof the great support that we con­tinue to receive . . .We are verythankful to the people of Bloem­fontein.’– Maxwell Konadu

Stars take on CelticFREE STATE STARSwelcome BloemfonteinCeltic at the Goble ParkStadium on Saturday.This Absa Premier Leagueencounter is scheduled for

15:00. The tickets areavailable at Computicketoutlets, Setsing SuperSpar, the Lotto Shop inPhuthaditjhaba and StarsSports Shop in Bethlehem.