2016

R1-20/FR

EE

27 May

Massive drugbust near Vaalwater

Marlene Vermaak

Members of the Bulgerivier police, situatedbetween Vaalwater and Lephalale,confiscated drugs and cash estimated to beworth millions, after stopping and searchinga suspicious vehicle on Monday, 23 May.The police were alerted that a possiblesuspicious vehicle carrying drugs and cashmay have been planning to enter thecountry, and the Groblersbrug border police

sent out a warning.“A bulletin was sent out to all police

stations in the area,” said Colonel RonelOtto, police spokesperson for Limpopo.“Police officers from the Bulgerivier stationspotted, stopped, and searched the vehicle.”

Initially the search appeared to be in vain,but members of the border police underWarrant Officer Hennie van Staden soonarrived on the scene.

The border police focuses on monitoringimports and exports between South Africaand Botswana, and makes it their business

to identify and investigate suspiciousvehicles.“Smuggling between South Africa and

Botswana is definitely our field of expertiseand we know what to look for when we aresearching a suspicious vehicle,” said VanStaden.The vehicle was thoroughly searched and

yielded R139 900 and $10 000 in cash, aswell as heroin with an estimated street valueof R93 million, in 1kg packaging.The police found hidden panels in the doors,

behind the seats, and in the back of the Nissan

NP200-bakkie.“The driver was a 33-year old man originally

from Tanzania. He has been arrested, andappeared in the Lephalale Magistrate’s Courton charges of owning, trading, andsmuggling, illegal drugs,” said Colonel Otto.The case has been taken over by the

Limpopo Organized Crime Unit.“The suspect was calm and peaceful and

never aggressive,” said a source close to theinvestigation. “It didn’t look as though hebecame angry or upset while his vehicle wasbeing taken apart.”

Warrant Officer Hennie van Staden andConstable Mahlatsi Tselana (both fromthe Groblersbrug border police) standbeside Warrant Officer Pieter du Plessisfrom the Bulgerivier police stationbetween Vaalwater and Lephalale.Beside them are some of the 93 1kgpackages of heroin which were found inthe car.

The police findcash which was

hidden in thebakkie.

Altogether93parcels ofheroin weighing1kg each werefound in a bakkiebetween Vaalwaterand Lephalale.

Committeefights crime

2

2 | 27 May, 2016beateditor@gmail.com | Website: thebeat.linmedia.co.zaCRIME

Street committee to fight crimeWarrant OfficerKhangelaMaluleka andCaptain MolokelaMotadi (far right)with members ofthe newly formedstreet committee.Photo: MzamaneRingane

Residents of Selemela Street in Phagameng,Modimolle, have decided to take a standagainst crime, by joining hands with theSAPS in combating crime.Modimolle SAPS Sector 1 Commander

Captain Molokela Motadi led members ofthe police at a community meeting whichwas held at Phagameng on Thursday 19May.Captain Motadi said the main aim of the

meeting was to officially unveil the newmembers of the street committee and to alsopresent them before the community.Captain Motadi indicated that the

established street committee shall be

Mzamane Ringaneaccountable to the Community Police sub-forum.The Community Police sub-forum shall

then be accountable to the CommunityPolice Forum (CPF).Members of the community were

warned not to take the law into theirhands, but they should apprehendsuspects and hand them over to thepolice.Part of the street committee’s duties

will be to keep a watchful eye againstvigilantism and to also conduct clean-ups in the area.Residents were also invited to attend a

massive crime awareness campaign forthe Modimolle cluster to be at the localEphraim Mogale Stadium on 10 June.

Modimolle citizenstired of drug-related crime

Mzamane Ringane

Members of the community in Modimollehave expressed their concerns over drugrelated crimes in the area, and vowed tobreak the silence to overcome this scourge.This occurred at the community dialogueheld at Thusanang Crèche at Modimolle’sMandela section on Tuesday 17 May.

The community of Mandela sectionattended the meeting with among otherstakeholders, the Modimolle SAPS,Department of Social Development andNational Development Agency (NDA).

Members of the community raisedconcerns about criminal activities affectingthem on a daily basis.

According to many residents who attendedthe meeting, nyaope addicts are stealingtheir belongings and selling them at thelocal scrapyards in order to satisfy theirdrug addiction.

Among other issues that were raised at themeeting, residents expressed concern oversyringes that were left lying around by drugusers.

Parents felt that their children were at riskof contracting diseases from the usedsyringes.

All the parties that attended the meetingagreed that the issue of crime was a societalissue, and everyone has to play a role intackling crime from its roots.

The biggest concern was that people whosell drugs are living in the community and

Modimolle SAPSSector 1CommanderCaptain MolokelaMotadi. Photo:Mzamane Ringane

citizens are reluctant to report such cases.District Officer Tebogo Machaka said the

NDA assists young people with typing,photocopying and internet access, if it isrelated to applying for jobs and admissionto tertiary institution.

Modimolle SAPS Sector 1 CommanderCaptain Molokela Motadi said the policealone cannot eradicate crime, if members ofthe community are not on their side.

He also told members of the communitythat it is their responsibility to make afollow-up after they have opened cases withthe local police.

Some members of the community claimedthat criminals are always released back intothe society soon after their arrest.

In response to that, Captain Motadiindicated that the people who are chargedwith crime have a right to be presumedinnocent, until proven guilty by a court oflaw.

He said street committees and theCommunity Police Forums are there toensure that the relationship between thepolice and the public is strengthened.

Captain Motadi urged members of thecommunity to work closely with the localpolice, so that crime can be wiped out.

Lieutenant Colonel Kiba Kekana of theModimolle SAPS said members of thecommunity must break the silence andreport crimes at the local police station.

He also called on residents to supportmembers of the SAPS, to ensure that crimeis eradicated.

Five abandon bail application

Five Zimbabwean men who werearrested on Thursday, 5 May, inconnection with a robbery at a residencenear the R101 at Bela-Bela, abandonedtheir bail application during their latestcourt appearance on Tuesday 24 May.The five are said to be illegal

Justin Steyn immigrants from Zimbabwe. During theirarrest, Police found and confiscated threeillegally owned 9mm Pistols and a huntingrifle.

Maswanganye said that all five suspectshave since been positively linked to othercases involving armed robbery, burglaryand theft, business robbery and murder.

Ngobile Nyoni (28) Christophe Mugabe(23), Wilson Monjeza (34), Elvis Musimeki

(29) and Jacob Chio (22) made their firstcourt appearance at the Bela-BelaMagistrate’s Court on Monday, 9 May.During their latest court appearance the

five men abandoned their bail applicationand their case was postponed to Monday 27June for further investigations and theresults of a pending ballistics report.They are currently represented by Legal

Aid.

Three men walked calmly into theMarkhams store at the Modi-Mall onTuesday, 24 May, and robbed the store ofR2 100 and several cellphones.Warrant Officer James Findlay of the

Modimolle police said that one of the menhad a school bag over his shoulder, whichaccording to the store’s staff, containedweapons. The weapons, however, were notaimed at the staff.The men demanded money and told the

staff to unlock the safe and lie down on thefloor. Cell phones were stolen from thesafe, and the three men made tracks.The men were captured on CCTV, and

residents have been asked to contact thepolice if they recognize them.Jet, the Tamsen bottle store, and a bakery,

have all been the victims of armed robberythis year.

Robbers get awaywith cash andphones

The police believe that these two mencan assist them in their enquiriesregarding a robbery at a clothing storeat Modimolle. Anyone with informationregarding their identities is asked tocontact Warrant Officer James Findlayat 082 414 3218. Photo supplied

Ronél van Jaarsveld

The Bela-Bela police station Commander,Colonel Lindie Marx, asked the localcommunity to exercise neighbourhood watchas a means of helping the police combat crimein the area. This comes after a theft inExtension 5, where the suspects helpedthemselves to a man’s steel table and chairs,which were put at the back of his house.The incident was discovered on the morning

of Monday, 23 May when the complaint wentto check on his properties and discovered that asteel round table, 20 plastic chairs and a crateof empty beer bottles were missing. He furtheralleged that he received information that twosuspects were seen leaving his house, with onehaving a crate of beer in his possession.Bela-Bela police spokesperson Constable

Maria Maswanganye confirmed that a case oftheft was opened at the station and the suspectswere traced and arrested on the same day. Theywere expected to appear before the Bela-BelaMagistrate’s Court this week.Meanwhile, the station commander urged

Bela-Bela police reach out tocommunity for safety measures

members of the community to know theirneighbours and to keep an eye on each other’sproperties when they are away, and to reportany suspicious people, cars, and movements intheir area at the police station. She also advisedthem not to buy stolen property as this willresult in them been arrested and prosecuted forpossession of suspected stolen property.

Bela-Bela police station CommanderColonel Lindie Marx requested the localcommunity to exercise neighbourhoodwatch. Photo: Lizzy Bapela

Lizzy Bapela

| 327 May, 2016beateditor@gmail.com | Website: thebeat.linmedia.co.za GOVERNMENT / POLITICAL

Leseding family loses all in fire Lizzy Bapela

Members of the Monareng family atBela-Bela’s Leseding section recently suffereda shocking ordeal when an unknown man isbelieved to have set their house alight. Thefamily told The BEAT that they were woken upby the raging fire around 02:00.

One of the family’s daughters, RebeccaMonareng said that they called the emergencynumber for the police and fire fighters, but thepolice did not arrive until after 08:00 in themorning.

The family said that by that time, everything

had already gone down in flames and all thatthey were left with were the clothes that theywere wearing.During an interview with The BEAT, the

family members expressed concerns about notreceiving help on time, which could have savedsome of their belongings. They said that theyfeel like even the local municipality could haveintervened after the fire but failed them.“Our ward councillor Jeremiah Ngobeni

only came in the morning to see whathappened but he never came back to us. Amunicipal official Thipe Dlamini came andbrought us corrugated iron sheets, door androofing materials. By that time, we had

already started fixing the house ourselves. Healso told us that the municipality could nothelp us with an electric box as they are notavailable at the moment. Our mother waseven hospitalised after the ordeal as a result ofinhaling the smoke,” said Monareng.The family received donations of food and

clothing from the neighbours and the localLiving Word Bible Church. They alsoreceived a donation of cash from Shoprite.Local businessman Akim Mkhabela alsohelped the family by donating food. Theywere sleeping at their neighbours’ while theywere busy fixing the RDP house andrebuilding the shack.

Bela-BelaSuperspar (JakoMuller) hands overa cheque ofR26 680 to Lightof Africa (JosiasRamalekana).

History:This program strives to bring progress and successto communities and individuals living at risk ordifficult conditions. Through partnership withother organisation, business and government.Work to create jobs, feeding scheme and othersocial benefits.

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Needs/Challenges:Office building and equipment.This will enable us to run theorganisation effectively.

Neighbours of theMonareng familycame to comfortthem during thehardship. Photo:Lizzy Bapela

The RDP house was gutted by the flames.Photo: Lizzy Bapela

The remains of the family’s shack afterthe fire. Photo: Lizzy Bapela

The rubbish container in which thefamily’s belongings ended up.Photo: Lizzy Bapela

Water levels in Bela-Bela are still low andrestoring the balance of the town andsurrounding areas remain a challenge. Butthere is good news.

Risimati Ntekele, head of TechnicalServices at the Bela-Bela Municipality, saidin an interview that three boreholes in townhave since been fully equipped and arepumping 1,2 million litres per day. But thesad news is that because of the drought, thewater table had dropped lower thanexpected.

To extend the boreholes’ lifespan, lesswater is pumped at certain intervals, saidNtekele.

Municipal teams have recently completedcleaning of the two main reservoirs close toKoppewaai and the Renaissance retirementresort, where new valves, meters and acontrol panel to regulate the motors and thepumps were installed. But with the

4 | 27 May, 2016beateditor@gmail.com | Website: thebeat.linmedia.co.zaGOVERNMENT / POLITICAL

Donkey cart owners in Bela-Belarecently received a strong messagefrom the local municipalityfollowing vandalism at localparks.

Traffic officers GoshRachidumela and ThaboTshabalala told The BEAT thatthere have been a number ofincidents where cart owners

An alleged serial rapist fromBela-Bela will have to wait alittle over four months to havehis day in court.The 47- year old man, who

may not be named until he hasentered a plea, faces elevencharges of rape, the first ofwhich allegedly occurred inMarch 2009 when he allegedlyraped a 29-year old woman ona farm.His victims are said to be

between the ages of 13 and 33.The man is said to have been

on the run from police for as

Service delivery in Bela-Bela – where it stands Andries van der Heyde continuing drought and the ongoing water

restrictions in town, people are still urged touse water sparingly, said Ntekele..

During the recent discussions of themunicipal draft budget the amount of waterthat is to be given to indigent householdshas been brought down from 10Kl to 6Klper month per household. The amount ofelectricity per household is also down from100Kwh to 70Kwh in relation to theprevious financial year.

Ntekele said that indigent registrations forthe new financial year have increased froman estimate of 3600 households to 4600households this year.

“The prescribed minimum for indigents is6Kl and above. The municipality hasdecided on this amount of water due to themunicipality’s financial capabilities andbecause the increase in households,” saidNtekele. These figures will only beaccepted once the public participationprocesses for the municipal budget arecompleted and a final budget is approved,

said Ntekele.“Water provision is currently stable

thanks to the community using itsparingly. Since January we’veexperienced very few problems and theSouth African national accreditationsystems laboratory (SANAS) found thatour water is class 1.”On the electrical side, the municipality

has since March fixed 294 of the 387street lights in the busy sections of townand 183 of the 200 street lights in thetownship. Residential areas are soon to betaken care of and scheduled maintenanceis to be completed in Roodepoort andNoodhulp, said Ntekele.A recent in-house report of the

municipality where the focus was shiftedto the standard of various roads,municipal staff compiled a report toidentify degrading roads and establishhow much capital is needed to upgradethem.Ntekele said R122 million is needed to

build new roads and the maintenance ofthe current roads will cost R80 million inthe area. He said that no consultants wereused when compiling the reports sincethere are staff at the municipality who areable to do the job, he said.As a bonus to residents, the long-awaited

integrated client service centre at themunicipality finally opened for business atthe beginning of May, where residents arenow able to report or be assisted on anymunicipal matter with greater efficiency, saidNtekele.The municipal client service centre can be

reached on 014 736 1011/1012. Ntekele’soffice can be reached at 014 736 8047 forpeople who wish to report others who fail tocomply with the water restrictions or reportother matters.Ntekele said lastly that people in town who

use boreholes in their yards are to placevisible signage outside their property so thatothers know that the water they are using isborehole water and not municipal water.

Burglars cause thousands in damages

Laerskool Vaalwater was robbed onFriday, 20 May, and the thieves alsocaused thousands of Rands indamages.

Leonard Vorster, the principal,arrived at the school just after 07:00and came upon the chaos in theadministrative building.

“When I entered the office Iimmediately smelled a strangeburning smell and knew somethingwas wrong,” he said. “Shortly after

Marlene Vermaak that I saw that the office had beentorn apart, and I immediatelycontacted the police.”

The suspects are believed to haveentered through a bathroom windowafter cutting the fence at the rugbyfields.

“They caused a great deal of damagein the admin building; all the wiringand electronics have been damaged,”Vorster said. “Our telephone andInternet cables, school bell and alarmsystem have been destroyed, and theirwires cut to ribbons. They also brokeopen the safe and burned the carpets in

the process, and threw the contents onthe floor. Every possible cubby wassearched for cash.”

“I think it is disgraceful to steal fromschools that are already havingfinancial troubles,” said Christi Fourie,the school secretary.

The damage to the school isestimated at R100 000.

The police at Vaalwater have openeda case, but no suspects have beenarrested in connection with theincident. The police also said that theycould not recover any fingerprints atthe scene.

LaerskoolVaalwater’s officewas chaotic afterthe schoolsuffered a break-inlast weekend.Photo: MarleneVermaak

Bela-Bela Municipalitywarns donkey cart owners

vandalize the parks’ fences inorder to gain entry to the sandinside. They are believed tocollect and sell the sand.

Rachidumela and Tshabalala saidthat the damage makes it look asthough there was never a park atall.

Rachidumela took The BEAT on avisit to the park in Extension 6,where someone has vandalized thefoundations where a trampoline wasto be installed. He said that

warnings have been sent out, butthat the guilty parties seem to beignoring them.

The police therefore confiscatedtwo carts to set an example.

“We thought that the death of achild a year or so ago would scarepeople away from the sand pits, butthey still come in large numbers tofetch the sand. The holes that theydig in the process pose a danger tothe lives of residents, especiallychildren,” said Rachidumela.

Tshabalala held an awarenessmeeting at the community where heinvited all donkey cart owners.

Municipal spokesperson ButaniMabunda said that if the problempersists they would have to ask theDepartment of Justice and thepolice to intervene.

Lizzy Bapela

Gosh Rachidumela and MikeSuke of Bela-Bela LocalMunicipality confiscated thecarts. Thabo Tshabalala escortedthem to the municipal building.Photo: Lizzy Bapela

Alleged serial rapist toface trial in Lephalale

long as six years, but wasfinally apprehended onThursday, 24 December 2015.

Further investigations bypolice have linked the man toother crimes such as robbery,kidnapping and assault.

On Monday 4 April, the courtdecided to transfer the case tothe Director of PublicProsecutions and on Thursday19 May it was announced thathe will stand trial at theLephalale High court onFriday 11 November.

He remains in custody at theKgosi Mampuru IICorrectional Centre inPretoria.

Justin Steyn

| 527 May, 2016beateditor@gmail.com | Website: thebeat.linmedia.co.za EDITORIAL

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Victim Support Centre has stood test of time

The Phagameng-basedModimolle Victim SupportCentre which has been a pillar ofstrength for many locals, hasbeen in existence for more thana decade and it grows on a dailybasis.

Programmes manager at thecentre, Cathrine Moropa whojoined the organisation in 2002when it was still based inModimolle, told The BEAT thatit is by God’s grace that she isstill able to stand firm and servethe community relentlessly.

According to Moropa, theorganisation was officiallyregistered in 2003.

Moropa says she started as avolunteer at the centre back inthe days, and some of her dailyduties included making tea forstaff and clients.

As a result of commitment and

The staff at the Modimolle Victim Support Center. In the backrow (standing) ;Lavern Phala, George Nkuna, Levy Moselaneand Christina Makwela. Seated are Catherine Moropa andNompumelelo. Photo supplied

Mzamane Ringane

achieved, she finds the courage towork even harder.Modimolle Victim Support Centre

offers services such as counsellingto victims of abuse and violence,trauma counselling, outreachprogrammes and awareness

campaigns.Moropa said their outreach

programmes and awarenesscampaigns target schools,crèches, men’s groups andwomen’s groups.She said most of their campaigns

are in line with the nationalcalendar of events.Moropa also took the

opportunity to thank formerfounding members Pastor HermanLeboye, Deidre Stoffberg, and RikaBotha for their support.

the love of supporting helplessmembers of the community,Moropa found herself as part ofthe centre’s senior staff when itwas relocated to Phagameng in2005 and is now the programmesmanager after 14 years.

In order to realise this dream,Moropa said she had to dependon God’s mercy and blessings.

“We come across challenges asthe organisation and also asindividuals, but the love of Godkeeps us going. We are not herefor a salary, but we are here tohelp our community so they canovercome various difficultiesthat they might come across.There are many people whodepend on us, so that’s whatmotivates us to never give up. Ifwe were to give up, all thosepeople will not have anyone toturn to,” Moropa said.

She said when she looks backand recollect all the successstories that the organisation has

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NOTIFICATION OFAPPLICATION FORENVIRONMENTALAUTHORIZATIONNotice is given in terms ofSection 24D the NationalEnvironmental ManagementAct (NEMA), No. 107 of1998, as amended and theEIA Regulations, 2014 (GNR 982 of 4 December 2014)

in respect of ListedActivities that have beentriggered by Applications interms of the Mineral andPetroleum ResourcesDevelopment Act, 2002(MPRDA) (As Amended)Roelan Trading 173 (Pty)Ltd (Roelan) has applied foran environmentalauthorization to theDepartment of MineralResources to conductprospecting activities(application ref noLP12372PR) for platinum

bearing and other economicminerals on variousproperties spanning 3510halocated 20km West ofMookgophong and 30 kmNorth of Modimolle.Proposed prospectingactivities include:Non-invasive PreparationLiterature review anddesktop studiesSurface MappingAirborne surveys andgeophysical prospectingInvasive prospecting (todisturb ± 3 ha).

Establishing access routesto prospecting sitesEstablishing prospectingcampsDrilling of explorationboreholes (±16)Excavation of surfacetrenches (±50) and bulksampling pits (±2)Non-invasiveDocumentationPrefeasibility / Bankablefeasibility studyPotential EnvironmentalAuthorizations triggered:GNR 983: Activity 20

GNR: 983: Activity 27GNR 984: Activity 19GNR 985: Activity4(a)11(ee)Public participation:UMHLABAENVIRONMENTALCONSULTING(UMHLABA) has beenappointed as theindependent EnvironmentalAssessment Practitioner(EAP) responsible forundertaking the publicparticipation and S&EIArprocess. You are invited to

register as an Interested &Affected Party (I&AP) withyour name, contactinformation and interest inthe matter, on or before 30June 2016 to:GREG COATES, at e-mail:greg@umhlaba.co.za Post:P.O. Box 731504, Fairland,2030. Tel: (011) 791 3389.Fax: (011) 791 3384.Upon registration as anI&AP you will be notifiedof the opportunities toprovide input into theauthorization processes,

including a public meetingantisipated for mid-June.Public documents relatingto the application can beobtained either on requestor fromwww.umhlaba.co.za. Thedraft scoping report will beavailable for review andcomment from 01 June to01 July 2016. Pleasecontact UMHLABA forfurther information on thedate and venue of thepublic meeting.

Restricting governing bodies will notprevent corruption with education posts,says FEDSAS:The Minister of Basic Education’s report on

so-called “cash for posts” incidents presents adark picture of corruption and irregularitiesregarding the appointment of teachers. Thisreport was published last week.“The Minister has to be commended on her

efforts to expose and eradicate corruption ineducation. In this regard shehas the full support ofFEDSAS,” says Mr PaulColditz, CEO of the Federationof Governing Bodies of SouthAfrican Schools (FEDSAS).FEDSAS was one of thegoverning body organisationsinvited by the Minister to discuss a summary ofthe report. Colditz says the organisationsagreed that changes to legislation and therestriction of school governing bodies’functions are not solutions.“In this regard the task team as failed in the

sense that governing bodies do not appointteachers. A school’s governing body canmerely make recommendations regardingappointments. The authority to makeappointments rests with the educationdepartments. This finding therefore pointsfingers to education officials,” says Colditz. Totake governing bodies out of the appointmentprocess will not solve the problem and willalienate school communities.

Colditz says the report’s finding thatgoverning bodies do not have the necessaryexpertise is also an indictment against theeducation department. “According to article 19of the Schools’ Act, the education departmenthas a duty to train governing bodies. In mostcases there is no training. Where there is someform of training it is usually inadequate.”National regulations provide for governing

body organisations to provide training togoverning bodies. FEDSAS, aninternationally recognised expertin the field of school governance,has made offers to all nineprovinces to be involved intraining. None of the provinceshas made use of the offer andonly two, Gauteng and theWestern Cape, acknowledged the

offer. “Properly equipped governing bodies isthe starting point for eradicating this and otherforms of corruption,” says ColditzFEDSAS’ commitment towards establishing

quality education rests on properly equippedand informed school governing bodies. “Wewill work with the Minister and other role-players to re-establish the integrity of theschool system as this is the only way to ensurethe future of our children,” says Colditz.(FEDSAS is a voluntary association of school

governing bodies of public schools andsupports quality education in these schools.More than 1900 public schools are alreadymembers of FEDSAS).

You have been defamed– what now?

In the previous article we examineddefamation, and how a balance isachieved between defamation andfreedom of speech.

Today we will examine the remedies forwhen defamation has taken place.

The first thing that most people want todo is to sue for damages. This is certainlyan option, but it is not always the bestoption. The amounts awarded fordamages by South African courts arerelatively small, usually between R40 000and R100 000. A defamation suit isclearly not the path to riches. Aside fromthat, legal fees are high and it may takeyears before you have your day in court.By that time, the defamation has beenlong-forgotten and you yourself may noteven care that much anymore.

There are alternatives.When the culprit is a newspaper or a

media publication, a letter to the editor isusually a good starting point. Wherefactual errors were made, ask for acorrection and apology in addition to theremoval of the online article. Where yourside of the story was not asked orrepresented properly, ask for space toexplain your side of the story, and ask that

it be linked to the online article.A complaint to the Press Ombudsman

is also a good option. The benefit ofthis approach include swift results andlow costs. The Press Ombudsman has astaff that will help you with yourcomplaints, and no lawyers areallowed.

Where the culprit is an onlinepublication, demand the immediateremoval of the publication. If this fails,approach the service provider with atake-down notice. A last resort wouldbe to request an urgent court order tohave the offending statementsremoved. Many social media platformshave a “report this post” functionwhere you can report defamatorystatements.

Defamation may also be criminallycharged. In cases where you can provethat the defamation was malicious, youcan lodge a complaint with the police.Remember to keep records of what youare complaining about. Make printoutsof the publications, because oncesomething disappears off the Internet,getting it back is considerably moredifficult.Willem de Klerk is a media lawlawyer in Johannesburg

Pienaarsrivier actress and singer PreciousMarobele says she wants to see herselfbeing able to point out numerous namesfrom her neighbourhood, saying that shehelped them climb the ladder to success.She said this during an interview with TheBEAT recently about her journey as anartist.

Marobele has been in the entertainmentindustry for 16 years now; as an actress,singer, praise poet, writer, director, andproducer, and says that she draws herstrength from God and the kind of supportsystem that she has.

She started performing professionally in2002 and performed for various theatre andtelevision productions. She played for 90Plein Street as a news reporter, Soul City 7as a nurse, on Tsha-Tsha 4 as a socialworker, on Generations as a personalassistant; and more theatre productions. Shewas a presenter for Mindset Health, aprogram on DSTV. She has written fivetheatre scripts and directed three that wereperformed at Windybrow and MacufeFestivals.

Marobele is currently the managingdirector of an arts and culture productionscentre in Pienaarsrivier called The Best ArtCentre. She also serves in the nationalCultural Creative Industries Federation ofSouth Africa (CCIFSA), as one of themembers and artists representing Limpopo.She currently has a play titled “whenplayers are played” which staged in herhometown recently. It is about negligenceby funding agencies, where funds are givento organizations for projects and follow ups

Precious Marobeleaims for success

Lizzy Bapela

Precious Marobelewith some of herco-stars from therecent play. Photosupplied

on the project progress are not made.“The story unfolds with the protagonist

seeking for justice to be done after her bestfriend, who received funding with her for aproject, decided to utilize funding for herpersonal needs, like buying a different job,a car and hiring people to kill her. In thatprocess antagonist also fell in love with herfriend’s boyfriend, who is later used toreveal the truth,” she said.

There are three upcoming performers andare all from Pienaarsrivier and were trainedat Marobele’s centre. Semakaleng Ngwana,Tumelo Mmakola and Boitumelo Maimelaonce performed in Macufe 2011 in aproduction titled “it’s all about I”, withKgopotso Seemise from Bela-Bela. Theplay is written and directed by Marobeleand she says that the actors are veryprofessional.

“The audience enjoyed the play very muchand wanted more. The local community hallwas full to capacity, with some peoplewatching from outside through thewindows. There was a taxi from Modimolleand two from Bela-Bela with people tosupport the opening of the show.

I have written 17 plays since from the timeI was at FUBA as. I base my plays onrealism as most of them are inspired by truestories and real lives.”

The National Lotteries Commissionfunded The Best Art Centre on the projectof “Bringing Theatre to the Community”.Other funders for previous projects includethe national Department of Arts andCulture.

Her message to the youth is that inwhatever they do, they must never forget thatthey are God’s project and all plans aboutthem are known and implemented by Him.

LETTERTO THEEDITOR

| 727 May, 2016beateditor@gmail.com | Website: thebeat.linmedia.co.za ENTERTAINMENT / SPORT / SCHOOL

The BEAT has learned that Bela-Bela’s Raeleng Secondary Schoolhad their textbooks delivered thisyear and on time; a source at theschool confirmed that. This followsThe BEAT’s enquiry regardingreports in the national media thatthe school was allegedly runningshort of text books.

The report stated that the schoolwas running short of textbooks forMathematics, English, Economics,and Life Science for Grade 8 to 12learners. The DA in Limpopo had

Raeleng denies textbook troubles Lizzy Bapela

then issued a statement saying thatthey wrote the Limpopo MEC forEducation Ishmael Kgetjepe, askinghim to urgently provide mobileclassrooms, chairs and desks as aninterim measure to addressovercrowding in affected schools.

The DA provincial leader JacqueSmalle said in the statement thatthey believe that Ulando CombinedSchool also did not receive theirtextbooks for Grade 8 to 12 learnersand is short of educators. He addedthat In the 2013/2014 financial year,60% of the Department’s capitalinfrastructure grant was not spent.

Meanwhile, the Department’s

provincial spokesperson, DrNaledzani Rasila was reportedsaying that nine service providershad been appointed to send 42 000desks to affected schools in theprovince. He added that thedistribution of textbooks began inNovember last year and wasexpected to be completed beforemid-year.Rasila further said that when

schools reopened in January, theyhad not received word of anyshortages.The schools’ principals could not

be reached for comment on thematter.

Bela-Bela cluster soccer team keeper being beaten by thenumber eight player of Lephalale clusters during wintergames at Khabele Primary School sport ground.Photo: TK Mashaba

Limpopo team becomessecond to join PSL, province rejoices

Mzamane Ringane

As the soccer fraternity in the entireLimpopo province is celebrating thepromotion of Baroka FC into thePSL, the tourism industry is also setto benefit from this milestone.

With the recent promotion ofBaroka FC into the highest footballrank in the country, Limpopo willnow have two teams in the PSL.

The other 14 teams from acrossthe country will be frequentingLimpopo for their away matches,meaning that both the informal andformal business sectors willhopefully benefit from scores ofsoccer followers who will bearriving in the province to supporttheir favourite teams.

During busier days the Waterbergregion’s Mookgophong town often

experiences a congestion of traffic,with local businesses likely tobenefit from hundreds of peoplewho often stop for refreshments.

Youngsters from across theprovince will also have a chance todisplay their talent on a nationalplatform, as Baroka FC’s reserveteam will be joining the other 15PSL teams in the MultiChoice DiskiChallenge.

The Limpopo Tourism Agency(LTA) CEO Ndumiso Matlala alsocongratulated the team for winningthe NFD League and subsequentlygaining promotion into the PSL.

“The Agency takes this opportunityto congratulate one of our own,Baroka FC “Bakgaga baMphahlele”, for realizing theirdream of being crowned 2015/16National First Division Champions,”Matlala said.

“We know it was a long journey forthe team and congratulations are inorder for their newly earned status.This is indeed a big boost fortourism in the province as theprovince now has two teamscampaigning in the super league,which will bring a lot of people toour province to grow the economy”,he continued.LTA also applauded the decision by

the Premier Soccer League andNedbank for choosing to stage thefirst ever Nedbank Cup final at PeterMokaba Stadium between OrlandoPirates FC and SuperSport United FCon Saturday 28 May.The LTA CEO appealed to the

citizens of Limpopo to come-out intheir numbers to watch the game assports promoters will use this game asa yardstick to stage future games orevents of this magnitude at this venue.

Pat Seema, theSAFA Provincial

League secretary,said that this is a

huge achievementfor the province as

a whole.“This shows that

there has beendevelopment in

Limpopo in soccer,and serves as

motivation to theyouth in the

province. If youare determined,

you can doanything!” Photo:

TK Mashaba

Sam Modise, captain of Bela-Bela’s ABC Motsepe team TerrorsFC, said that Baroka is a clearpicture of what success is.“They are a motivation to anyyoung player in the province andshows us that opportunities arethere, for us to be scouted and todo trials like Baroka did.”Photo: TK Mashaba

Lucas Nhlapo, SAFA Deputy Presidentand CAF match commissioner, said thatBaroka’s achievement will be a hugeboost for the province.“This is really great,” he said. “Barokacame from the rural area of Ga Mphahleand for them to reach this stage – it’s amotivation.” Photo: TK Mashaba

Terrors and Mosesetjane mightkiss ABC League goodbye

TK Mashaba

The hopes and dreams ofsoccer fans in the Waterbergmay have come to ascreeching halt as two fan-favourite teams may berelegated to the SAB Leagueafter their dismalperformance in the 2015/2016ABC Motsepe League.Mosesetjane faces automatic

relegation after playing 30games, winning seven andlosing 21, with two draws.They scored only 23 points inthe season.Terrors FC from Bela-Bela’s

fate still hangs in the balance.Whether they are relegated ornot depends on the

performance of lead teamMagezi in the promotionalplayoff.

Terrors have been picking uptheir game in the latter part ofthe season, bringing theirtotal up to seven wins andnineteen losses, with threedraws, and beat Mosesetjane2-0 on Saturday. They occupy15th place on the log with 24points, five points behindGiyani Hotspurs, who have 29points after 30 games.

If Magezi performs wellenough to win a promotion tothe National First Division,Terrors may still salvage theirABC Motsepe League hopes.

Magezi will face teams fromthe other 8 provinces laterthis year.

Terrors FC’s fate hangs on lead team Magezi’s performance.(Terrors are in red and blue)Photo: TK Mashaba

8 | 27 May, 2016beateditor@gmail.com | Website: thebeat.linmedia.co.za

7 7 7Sport Sport Sport

These Under-12 girls of Jinnah Park Primary School at Bela-Bela will participate inthe SA netball league in Tzaneen on Friday, 3 June. In front is Boipelo Baloyi,Tshegofatso Nhlapo, Botlhale Mpshane and Ofentse Moima. At the back is StellaMaluleka (coach), Boitshepo Khoza, Rethabile Komane, Karabo Ngobeni, RoshumaNetshifhire and Makwena Mehlape (coach).

These Under-13 girls from Jinnah Park Primary School were chosen to participatein the SA netball league which will take place in Tzaneen on Friday, 3 June. Fromthe left is Stella Maluleka (coach), Hope Modise, Tintswalo Paul Kekana,Sebaetseng Maluleka, Aobakwe Kutu, Precious Tshwane, Nobuhle Seroba,Boitumelo Setlhare and Makwena Mahlape (coach).

Sifundo Dlomo and Karabo Ndhlovu from Jinnah Park Primary School took part in alocal soccer match on Friday, 20 May, at Bela-Bela where Sifundo was chosen toplay for the district team in Polokwane and both were awarded medals for theirparticipation. With them is their teacher Gerhard Odendaal.

The fact is, that to do anything in the world worth doing, we must notstand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger, but jump in and

scramble through as well as we can.Robert Cushing

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The first step in the acquisition of wisdom is silence, the second listening,the third memory, the fourth practice, the fifth teaching others.

Solomon Ibn Gabriol