Vele Manenje Contract with Phalaphala FM terminated 8 days after joining the station

Multitalented TV and radio personality, Vele Manenje's contract with Phalaphala FM had been terminated 8 days after joining the station. Vele was recently a co-host for the morning drive show with Terry Mudau, from 6 am to 9 am weekdays, but this did not last. She only worked for 8 days hosting the Breakfast Show, before she parted ways with the station.

It is reported that the Phalaphala FM management received numerous complaints from its listeners who were not pleased with Vele behind the mic, and wanted the changes to be made. Twitter influencer Musa Khawula broke the news to the public by tweeting that “Vele Manenje’s contract has been terminated by Phalaphala FM." The Skeem Saam actress known for her role as Evelyn also made stint on numerous TV dramas such as DiepCity etc.

Manenje has also come out with her side of the story. She says there are a lot of projects she is currently working on and she is also a new mother. She also said that juggling everything has become a lot and she has decided to part ways with the radio station. She further stated that there is no bad blood between her and the station.

IS IT STILL RELEVANT FOR PUPILS AND STUDENTS TO LEARN AND STUDY IN ENGLISH?

Is it still relevant for learners and students to learn and study in English, when they have their own home languages?

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga announced that the government will soon be implementing language changes in South African schools. According to Angie, children are performing poorly in school because they are being taught using English – a language that is foreign to them.

This is a good step in the right direction... Lot of people out there are struggling and failing in schools because they don’t understand the language. Every year when you check the matric pass rate, the country is sitting at around 70%, but the fact of the matter is that only less than 20% of those who have passed matric, qualify to go to University.

Back in the days I used to do three languages in Primary school, until I abandoned Afrikaans because it was adding no value to my studies and the school also abolished Afrikaans at the later stage. I think this is how the home language policy could be implemented. I've been saying this for years and I believe that this will work and improve our quality of education and subsequently improve our quality of life as South Africans. 1. We group our African languages in 3 groups. Sotho, Nguni, Northern Lingos (Venda and Tsonga) 2. You study all the subjects in your mother tongue. 3. You do three languages in school, English, Mother tongue e.g Sepedi and One Nguni language. 4. You study in a language of choice from Grade R to PHD in University. 5. Change this modernised Bantu education and bring in a new effective and decolonised education from Primary to the University.

By doing this, South Africa will produce more professionals and entrepreneurs, unlike now when we produce more job seekers, when already there are no jobs. This thing of people who are saying we should study everything in English is nonsense. English should just be a language and it should be optional and not mandatory.

Other nations like Chinese, Arabs and more are flourishing both academically and economically because they are doing everything in their mother tongue. Some of them can't even say Good morning in English, yet they are far much better than English speakers. If you still have the mentality of thinking that English determines the person's intelligence, then you're still mentally colonised and you belong nowhere in the Africa we want. I conclude by Nelson Mandela's words: If you speak to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his mind but if you speak to a man in his language, that goes to his heart.

MR AND MISS TUT GA-RANKUWA 2014 CROWNED!

Finalists of 2014 beauty pageant of Tshwane University of Technology Ga-Rankuwa campus.

HOPE MOTAU

TUT Ga-Rankuwa campus hosted a successful Mr and Miss TUT 2014 beauty pageant that was combined with the same years’ campus residence beauty pageant. The two events were normally hosted in different occasions but they were combined for the first time and hosted at the mutual venue. The event that was described by many students as remarkable was held at the College hall in the University' student residence of Hebron in Mabopane on Friday last week.

Itumeleng Molose, one of the event organisers said that the basic reason they hosted the event at the Hebron residence was because the hall is bigger than the University's Aula hall that they have been using.

                            Itumeleng Molose, one of the event organisers.

"We are struggling in terms of the facilities and the size of the hall in Ga-Rankuwa campus. It is very small than the Hebron’s," he said. Molose explained further why they have decided to combine the two pageants. He said that it was agreed upon after realising that the funding for both pageants respectively came in a form of the duplication. 

"We are trying to eliminate the funding duplication and keep the standards of both pageants the same,” Molose said. “We integrated them so that we could have one event. The other thing we are afraid of is competition of both pageants because normally students compare them," added Molose.

A 21-year-old student doing final year in a National Diploma in Economics Management Analysis, Nokuthula Gwebu, was crowned a queen after winning Miss TUT 2014 pageant. Gwebu was excited to have participated in the event. She said that she entered the pageant because she wanted to be herself and reveal her true self.

                     

Nokuthula Gwebu, the crowned Miss TUT Ga-Rankuwa campus 2014

She continued to say that she got a chance to express herself and by winning the title made her proud. Gwebu who looked beautiful in her white dress with the queen's crown on her head and flowers in her hand said: "If I could have not won this pageant, it could have hurt, at the same time I got a chance to meet new people and I was going to be happy with whoever may had won, but I am glad I did win," she said. 

Khabo Ngcobo, Nokuthula's mother and Nokuthula Miss TUT Ga-Rankuwa 2014.

Khabo Ngcobo, Nokuthula’s mother was one of the family members who flanked Gwebu to the pageant expressed her feelings. "I am very delighted that my daughter won this pageant. I have always had a feeling that she was going to make it because she said that she wanted to make me proud," she said. Ngcobo added that she was going to appreciate other students' victory if her daughter had not made it.”

Third year Cost and Management Accounting student, John Khoza was crowned Mr TUT 2014. Khoza said that he had no adequate words to describe how he felt as he had been losing countless times in the past.

John Khoza, Mr TUT Ga-Rankuwa 2014 after being crowned.

“By being Mr TUT I hope that I will make a difference thus make good use of it," said Khoza. He added that he did not give up easily and he would have been grateful of whatever position he could have obtained if he did not made it. 

Gugu Ngwenya first time contestant and National Higher Certificate in Accounting second level student was crowned

Gugu Ngwenya, Miss TUT Residence Ga-Rankuwa 2014.

"I am very shocked and beyond joy because I did not expect to win,” Ngwenya said. She said that she was confronted for her to partake because Molose and Rofhiwa Ramulondi one of the event organisers persuaded her to enter." 

Junior Nkambule, a National Higher Certificate in Accountancy student, was crowned Mr TUT Residence Ga-Rankuwa 2014. 

Junior Nkambule, the crowned Mr TUT Residence Ga-Rankuwa 2014.

“I am more excited being crowned Mr TUT Residence. To me it is more than just a title, but an experience I will carry with me for a very long time,” he said. Nkambule further said that the title like this carries a lot of responsibility and expectations.

“If I wouldn't had made it, I would be slightly disappointed with myself, more especially after all the sacrifice and hard work I had made to ensuring that I am in a good shape,” he added.

DJ and artists playing music to entertain the audience after the event.

The event was later followed by the after-party with a good music and locals artists’ performance on stage.

OTHER PICTURES

HEALED, THE TRADITIONAL WAY

Doctor Mugaga, a traditional healer, with his bones and muti.

HOPE MOTAU

Many traditional healers see Mabopane station as a good place to do business.

Among the traditional healers who practice their rituals and have a surgery, is Doctor Mugaga. He has twelve years experience, but started to work at Mabopane station eight years ago.

Mugaga, who is originally from Uganda said that he treats people who have body pains, sickness, sexual problems, spiritual problems, and helps those who are unable to have children.  He works with other traditional healers and refers some of his patients, whom he is unable to treat, to his colleagues.

 “I do not treat babies, because I do not have knowledge about children’s diseases,” said Mugaga. Mugaga also said: “Some people want promotion at work, but they do not have qualification, so it is not easy for us to help them because that is where their problem lies.  If you have qualifications and do not get promotions after working for many years, it means you have spiritual problems and that is where we intervene.”

There are many traditional doctors working and opening surgeries at Mabopane station and it seems that all of them are making a living from their businesses.

Doctor Mugaga said he is at the station in order to treat people who were sick, not for making money. He said that he rents a room at Block AA but he cannot bring his patients there, because he does not own the premises.

Nobuhle Dlamini from Soshanguve Block GG told Record that she believes more in traditional healers than medical doctors.  She said she was sick a very long time and she was healed by one of the traditional healers at Mabopane station. “I had something living inside my stomach for about a year, which was taken out by a traditional healer. He said it was a snake that tried to block my pregnancy,” said Dlamini.

David Sebotsa of Mabopane Block C said that the traditional healers were very significant on his life and the public must treat them with respect.  “Our fore fathers were only relying on traditional healers before medical doctors came to Africa. There are also some diseases and problems, which medical doctors cannot treat, such as the ‘Tokoloshi’,” said Sebotsa.

Mugaga said ‘Tokoloshi’ could be caused by the wrongful mixture of bloody muti and the trees that are forbidden or by people who are jealous of others. He explained that traditional muti are just like chemicals where the wrongful mixture of chemicals can cause a bad thing.

“The challenges we are facing are people who want us to give them muti to kill others. But as traditional doctors, we are professional and have the ethics.

I cannot give someone muti to kill others, because our main aim is to help people to live, and killing is against our ancestors.” said Mugaga.

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, PATRIC MOTHAPOAND LILLIAN MSIBI

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 away 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."

WARRANT OFFICER LOLO MANGENA : RIETGAT POLICE STATION

SOUND CLIP OF SOSHANGUVE RESIDENT

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 learners, 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.