By TUMELO MOTSHEGARE

Blessed is the hand that gives more than the one that takes It's already year-end for the 2024 school calendar, and some learners are writing their exams, but we still have learners struggling with uniform-like school shoes at Morare High School in Pella village in the North West province.

Learner Kgomotso Tau’s plea for school shoes was heard at the Praised and Salvation Foundation. Mmamane Angy Motlhabane and Rre Thato Lesejane ensured that Kgomotso and other learners find positive response that will give them their self-esteem.

Mmamane Angy Motlhabane said a staff member of Morare High School made her aware of the learners' situation, and she reported this matter to the Praised and Salvation Foundation. Fortunately, Rre Thato Lesejane, like always, went all out to find assistance on behalf of these learners.

“A staff member of Morare High School made me aware of the learners' situation and I reported this matter to Praised and Salvation Foundation fortunately Rre Thato Lesejane like always went all out to find assistance on behalf of this learners. Learners challenge include lack of school uniform especialy school shoes, we intervene and make sure they get help,”said Motlhabane.

Thato Lesejane also from Praised and Salvation Foundation said he received a plea about learners without school uniform at Morare High School and decide to intervene.

 “I visited them to do my own analysis so I could have more understanding on how to assist. I immediately searched around for possible help, finally Rre Tau Nakedi volunteered to assist.

“Today we donating eight pairs of school shoes to eight learners only as their situation needs urgent attention. We are blessing Morare High School learners but we will come back again next year as the list of their needs is too long,” said Lesejane.

Rre Tau Nakedi who volunteered to make a difference in his community said when he was approached by the Praised and Salvation Foundation he was touched and decided to contribute to help the learners.

“Making different to these learners its true fulfillment, my aim is to ensure that I empower those in need. These are our future leaders and we have to inspire confidence in them, it takes community to raise a child.

“I thank Praise and Salvation Foundation for making it possible so that we to contribute to shaping these kids' future, I promise that I will come back next year to contribute again where it is possible because education is the key to success.

Kgomotso Tau one of the learners who received the new pairs of shoes said, “I am happy to be among the lucky ones, I have been struggling with my old shoes and hoping that my God will provide. Today I a m saying thank God for making it possible for me to be stress-free so that can I concentrate on my examination.”

Morare High School principal Mmalekwakwe Moeketsi said the donation of school shoes came at the right time when they are busy with exams, she said this will boost their morale and give them more inspiration learners to focus on their books.

By TUMELO MOTSHEKGA

 A COOPERERATIVE AND entrepreneurship workshop was organised by Praised and Salvation Foundation with the help of North West Provincial Department of Local Economic Development at Traditional Authority Community Hall in Pella on the 12 September.

‘Rural communities should be able to champion their own rural economy development better anyone, should have better knowledge and  understanding on how to use and work with the availability natural resources even feed themselves’, these are sentiment shared by rural youth attending cooperative and entrepreneurship one day  workshop.

Mme Damaris Motlhabane was one of the workshop organisers, she advised females, young females to stand up on their own and be in charge of their financial needs. She emphasize the fact that majority of households in rural areas are led by unemployed females who are able to fed their families that include boys and men.

“It is time for women to stand up and be in charge in business and be in charge of their financial needs. This will inspire us to motivate young girls to be better business women in furtture,” said Mme Motlhabane.

 Mme Motlhabaneis among some individuals with history of successful cooperative once known as Madikwe Sisal which was the state of art project where cooperative members were able to work and employed fellow communities members.

One of the women attended the workshop is Marry Twala  she said, “ I am delighted to attend this meeting so I am able to have knowledge on how to register and manage cooperative, because many cooperatives have failed and continues to fail so I am asking myself why”.

Another local resident James Twane said they cannot just wait for employment as the youth but has responsibility of creating our self sustainable employment and help our fellow youth.

“We cannot just wait for employment as the youth but has responsibility of creating our self sustainable employment and help our fellow youth. I am not getting Sassa Youth grant by choice as I have small business and employed 3 people,   we started a car wash and we also sell small consumable items like sweets,  cigarette and bottle water. This is a very small enterprise, not registered, I want information of registration and want to know how government can help me to grow this business,” said James Twane.

Residents have different business ideas, Thabang Lesejane said, “We have natural environment where they can be able to develop hospitality and tourism opportunities, mining and build communities infrastructure.

Kgomotso Phetoe from Dedect in Bojanala Office was sent by his department to educate young and elderly people on cooperative registration, private companies and close cooperation. He explained to them how to register, where and what is required for registration of business entity.

Phetoe encourages youth to take advantage of government services and build their hopeful success from that point and he also explained about available financial grants and support that can be accessed in different government agencies.

By TUMELO MOTSHEGARE

THE HOUSING backlog in Pella village in the Moses Kotane Local Municipality is one of our country's major challenges. Some residents registered for RDP houses before 2010 and are still waiting for the Human Settlement Department to deliver their houses today.

One of the construction entrepreneurs who did not want to be mentioned said, “The big elephant in the room is construction Mafias.” He said this during a community meeting held on Sunday the 18  July in Pella. A new service called the New Moon Projects, the new construction company was appointed to build 154 RDP houses.

Pella Ward 18 Councilor Orapeleng Setlhodi addressing a meeting in Pella said, “I am a new ward councillor and this is among big projects under my administration and will ensure that relevant registered residents who apply for their RDP houses do access and benefit in this project”.

Some community members said RDP beneficiaries are disappointed as they were left with unfinished RDP houses in their yards because the previous construction company left without finishing them.

Resident Martha Ramadi was disappointed when she was told that these new construction companies focus only on new houses. “I am disappointed because we also expected the construction to finish old houses. I understand that construction mafias claim 30% from the appointed company and it affects the budget provided as a result we end up with nothing,” said Martha.

Another resident Richard Molete is one of the luckiest to be on the list of the 154 houses to be built. “I registered for an RDP long ago; I gave up and didn’t expect that I would be assisted especially after the previous construction company ran away. I will only celebrate when it is finished.”

Another person from the newly appointed construction company, known to Pako Community Newspaper fearing the construction mafia said,“ We are only here to do 154 new RDP houses and we don’t know about the outstanding houses, let’s leave that to the department and the previous construction company”.

“We called on community meeting to update them about the new housing company and what will we do. We also encourage community members to take advantage of this economic initiative and position themselves for better opportunities, our company will hire local sub-constructors to build the houses. This will include roofing, blustering, glazing and so on”, he said. 

By THATO LESEJANE

TAU NAKEDI WELLKNOWN as Malome Tau a Satma award praise singer from Madikwe township in Moses Kotane Local Municipality, North West Province plough back to the community. Malome Tau recently donated 50 pairs of shoes to needy learners at Mogosana Primary School in Madikwe as part of the Mandela Day celebration. The activities at the event include a soccer tournament, cultural dance and singing.

He was born perfect with both legs until one of his legs got infected and later amputated in the hospital but that did not discourage him from throwing down the towel. Despite challenges, he managed to make a difference in his community.

In an interview with Pako Community Newspaper, Malome Tau said, “This is a special day where I am donating school shoes to 50 learners at Mogosana Primary School in Madikwe. When I grew up I was exposed to poverty and donations for survival meaning the majority of us depended on donations from those who we were able to afford.

“For me to donate is part of our culture as a community, donations mean volunteering to help those in need and only when you can, it is important to help one another as this is part of our culture called Botho or Setho which is humanity. The donation includes creating fair and progressive opportunities for one another.”      

“It takes passion, understanding, effort, time, money and communication with the people to do this. I first identified the needs of these learners and I knocked on doors to get more help. I communicated with relevant institutions, organisations and individuals the majority turned me down and only a few assisted.”

He concluded by encouraging others to make a difference in their communities by helping those who need their help, especially the needy.

By PAKO REPORTER

GOOD FRIDAY, Leap Year 29 April 2024 came earlier than expected as usually this Easter weekend is celebrated in May, many people were confused when Easter weekend was introduced self-unannounced.

The church of Praise and Salvation (Christ Apostolic Church) popularly known as Pako le Pholoso celebrated its Good Friday or Easter weekend on the 29 April 2024, at Pella Mount Horebe next to Letlhakane. The Easter weekend marked an important date on the Christian calendar, there are many interpretations of the popular meaning of this date but it is still valid and valuable to Christians worldwide. 

Virginia Tlhapi the North West Province MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism, candidate councilor Orapeleng “Castro” Setlhodi and other important members of the African National Congress visited The Church of Praise and Salvation Christ on Good Friday.

Archbishop Stephan Mokgadi Molokwane, Bishop Ramapatsi, Baruti and the congregation welcomed them. The MEC Tlhapi said they are not there to campaign but this is a special visit to pray and praise God.

“This is Good Friday, it is an important day for Christians across the globe, we commemorate the death of Jesus Christ according to the Christian religious calendar. We are here to spend a day with our constituency and community members to celebrate this important day,” said Tlhapi.

 Archbishop Stephen Mokgadi Molokwane said it’s a great honour to be remembered by special peoples in our government even if they’re not here as governmental officials but to us, they remain our governors. 

“We know and understand that our visitors come to church like ordinary congregation members, nothing special and wish they could also visit other churches. This visit will make defiantly bring change in our own life and certainly to our visitor’s life hence we have Setswana saying, Moeng goroga re ja kawena,” Molokwane.

Speaking at the church Castro said, “I’m here to give thanks to the church as I have been at this church before. As you know from our previous local government election, you voted for me and successfully won but when I meet challenges. The church was there for me during that time.

“I won but was not allowed to take the position of being a Councillor but it was not God's time. Today I can confirm that I will contest the same position again but to cut this short I am not here to campaign but to enjoy church service.”

Congregation member MmeMmamatute Lesejane said I feel blessed to be part of this service and church led by Archbishop Molokwane. “This Good Friday is different as we are in the mountain where we will be able to refresh our soul, mind and body with the word of God accompanied by this beautiful natural environment.

“This place is at peace and full with the presence of the Holy Spirit. This year's main message was about praying for a free and fair election environment, our archbishop reminded politicians as society leaders must take responsibility for avoiding violence and have a sense of political tolerance for each other.” 

By PAKO REPORTER

THE SOUTH AFRICAN Police Service in Madikwe extends their service to help 102-year-old Togo with a decent home. The gogo was staying in a one-room shack that she was sharing with 9 family members in Madikwe in the North West province. Gogo Johannah Mmaletlhokwa Motlhanke who was born in 1921 has a reason to smile after a house 3 room house was handed to her by SAPS Madikwe.

In an interview with Pako Community News, Gogo Motlhanke who could not hide her happiness said, “I am happy to receive this house, three rooms is better than this shack. Shack had its challenges, during rainfall water comes inside, and during winter, it is like we are sleeping outside in an icy cold winter.

“It is very cold and we got sick with flu. No one is working, and we survive on my old age grand. I would like to thank the police and other members of the community for their support.”

Sergent Tumelo Mogami of the SAPS Madikwe Cluster Social Crime Prevention said Gogo Motlhanke survived on her social grant, with no additional income or financial support to sustain and maintain herself, her children and her grandchildren.

“Gogo Motlhanke stays in one one-room shack with 9 family members and there is no privacy for all of them. She turned 102 years on 6 November last year so we joined hands with different community members and organizations to assist them with three three-room house,” said Mogami. 

Archbishop Stephan MokgadiMolokwane of the nonprofit charity organization Praised and Salvation Foundation said even if they didn’t present anything, they thank the SAPS and all those who managed to make contributions to provide decent shelter to the old woman and her family.

“We will be with the family and ensure that all family members access relevant assistance provided by our government starting with children's birth certificates so they can get identity documents and have access to SASSA grants for their survival,” said Archbishop Molokwane.

By TUMELO MOTSHEGARE

We welcome 2024 with Saint Valentine, a Roman Priest who dedicated 14 February as a day to spend quality time with children. The day has been associated with romantic love since the 14 and 15th centuries till this day. 

This day is used to celebrate romantic love not just love, this day is celebrated in many ways by many people globally.    What is Valentine’s Day to you? Musician Thato Lesejane says, “Valentine’s Day does exist and can’t be ignored, in my understanding this is one of those special days in some dedicated to romantic love not just love”.

The day talks to a couple in a romantic relationship, it's a day of self-reflection, where a couple has an opportunity to assess their journey in building their future.

Snajo the entertainer, father and husband from Hammanskraal said to him Valentine’s Day is to help a couple to revive their relationship commitment.

“Valentine’s Day is like an important date when couples meet, many people especially males forget the day they made relationship union with their partners and its wrong issue to be addressed at this year's man’s conference”, said Snajo.

Thabo Ngwetsana from Phokeng said although this day comes with a Western meaning and may be celebrated in any way, I am African.

“I always embrace Africanism meaning promoting African progressive ideologies which has the right to compete globally, this means as a couple we celebrate our relationship every day and value the day we agree to establish this relationship.

“We are motivated by our will to achieve all that we promise each other and this relationship. Valentine’s Day is good and let the people enjoy it and celebrate it the way they can, is not about expensive things but can be all about exclusivity”, said Thabo.

He said one can choose to cook an exclusive meal for a partner or can wash and iron the clothes for a partner and so on.

He concluded by saying many males are not working or employed so it is difficult to provide even the simplest present but if one can create something with their hands so let it be.