RESIDENTS PROTEST FOR JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND BETTER SERVICE

Residents closed the roads with burning tyres demanding for better service and jobs at Bock AA, BB and F-West in Soshanguve.

HOPE MOTAU

Soshanguve Blocks AA, BB and F-West were covered by the dark clouds of smoke from burning tyres.

People from all walks of life participated in community mass protest. Residents accused the municipality and ward 29 councillor for not listening to their need.

Among the concerns were tar roads at Block BB, a decent park at Block AA as well as a soccer ground, accusing the councillor of nepotism and not employing youth within the Blocks for the project that are taking place in the community.

The police tried to disperse the protesters by shooting rubber bullets and tear gas, but the protesters continued burning tyres.  "I am here because we need better services delivery. Block BB was started in 1986 but we still do not have tar roads. We also need solar geysers and we have been waiting for so long," said Peter Mhlongo from Block BB.

The lady with red T-shirt was running awy from the police who were shooting rubber bullets.

Some of the residents were injured by the police rubber bullets, but they came back to continue protesting, burning tyres and chanting.

Police spokesperson, warrant officer Lolo Mangena of Rietgat police station said "We deployed our officers here to get this demonstration under control because we do not want any damage to property."

A school pupil is burning the tyre at the Soshanguve Plaza, during the school day.

Soshanguve Plaza was closed by the protesters during the protest hours and no one was allowed to enter. All schools within the community were closed due to the protest. The school pupils were also taking part in the protest. Tumelo Phalane (18) from Kgomotso Comprehensive High says, "As a Grade 12 pupil my opinion is that the strike should not involve leaners, because we would be left behind at school. Let them allow us to go to catch-up because there is teacher's go slow currently, so we need to catch-up before teachers go for strike in one to two weeks time". Sphiwe Mhlongo (18) and Anikie Chauke (17) the matric pupils at Soshanguve High from Block BB are worried that they should not go to school due to community mass protest. They say that this might affect their matric results at the end of the year.

"We will also find out why the police used rubber bullets. But if the situation was bad, there was no other way the police could control crowd. We want to protect innocent people and property. We deployed police officers who deal with public violence and other officers from the local police station." said Mangena. Six men and a woman were arrested for public violence and released later on Friday.

MORULA ATM BLASTED

The Absa ATM blasted by a group of armed men who later fled with the money.

HOPE MOTAU

A group of unknown armed men bombed the Absa ATM with explosives at Morula Complex in Mabopane.

The incident took place at around 3:00 on Friday. They fled with three vehicles, among those was a Mercedes Benz and Corsa.  Tinyiko Maluleke from Morula View said she awoken by the blast on Friday at dawn. 

"I did not understand what was happening. I thought maybe it was the huge crackers at Morula Sun, but in the morning I was told that the ATM at Morula was bombed". Crime experts are continuing with the investigation. Captain Van Aarde of Akasia police station said that an undisclosed amount of money was taken and there was a shoot out between police and suspects, but no one was injured or arrested.

 

 

"They used something that really makes a big blast. A case was opened at the Mabopane police station and investigations will follow. We ask the community to also assist us if they have any information," said Van Aarde.

It is said that the thieves tied the police’s hands at the police offices at Morula Sun and the security officers who were working during the night at the complex. Chief Security officer said that he did not want to talk to the media and denied Record from talking to any security officers.

HAPPINESS OF THE FIRST DAY OF THE SECOND TERM AT SCHOOL.

The Grade R learners of Sediba Tsebo Early Learning Centre are very excited for the first day at school.

The Grade R learners of Sediba Tsebo Early Learning.

BY: HOPE MOTAU

When other children are crying when they arrive at school for their first time, the Grade R learners of Sediba Tsebo Early Learning Centre are excited for their first time arrival at school in the second term. The South Africa’s future leaders started their first day with a beautiful uniform, of yellow shirts for both boys and girls with gray trousers for boys and gray skirts for girls. The black shoes are compulsory to them. Obakeng Sentle (5) who started learning at the centre since from the age of one says he was longing for this place and he can’t wait for Grade 1 next year.

Sediba Tsebo Early Learning Centre was established in 1996 by Maria Moekeletjie of Mabopane Block V who is currently still working at the centre. Moekeletjie who is 45 years old says the love of children inspired her to start this centre. She was working in isolation back then when the centre was just started with eleven children. The support of the families within the community inspired more her to continue with the centre where lot of children were joining the centre every day. She employed Linda Chauke, Surprise Manyaka to help in the daily basis work.

The centre is taking care of children from the age of 0 to 6. This year the centre opened with more than 80 children and the centre is still looking forward for other children to come through. The government or the Basic Education Department is not helping this centre even though there is no school within Block V and the surrounding.  “We are calling upon our government to help us with anything they can, so that we could raise up these future leaders. They can help us financially, giving us food for this children or build the class rooms for us,” said Maria Moekeletjie, the founder of the centre.

 The centre has only one building it is operating in as a class and three sharks which are used as classes and the other one as kitchen. The children pay about R100 a month depending on the age of a child, so that the centre could buy food for them and pay its employees.