By PAKO REPORTER

YOUNG PEOPLE OF Pella Village in the North West celebrated World Aids Day in style. The event was organized by Angels Guides, top achievers in debate, brownies, girl guide, and rangers were awarded certificates.

Speakers include Lenah Kgaswane and Lefa Papa, who spoke about abuse and advised kids what to do, Ann Kotane talked about HIV/AIDS and how they can protect themselves and prevent it and Manno Mekgwe talked about a healthy lifestyle and the importance of education.

In an interview with Pako Newspaper, Keabetswe Mekgwe one of the organizers said they organized the event as part of World Aids Day and 16 days of activism against gender-based violence to involve the youth who are future leaders of this country.

 “This was a special day to honour our young volunteers’ with all these trophies as a token of appreciation, we have the responsibility of motivating and giving hope for success to our young rural leaders, and instilling in them a sense of self-discipline that helps build self-confidence and character. Training and teaching girl child to be socially and economically self-sufficient reduce dependency from male partners and it is necessary to ensure that young males also access this opportunities in advancing their own life and living.

“The event was organized as part of World Aids Day and 16 days of activism against gender-based violence to involve the youth who are future leaders of this country. Top achievers in debate, brownies, girl guides, and rangers were awarded certificates at the event to motivate the youth,” said Keabetswe.

Lenah Kgaswane told the audience particularly girls and children who experience abuse from parents what steps can they take, some parents do abuse their children but might also not be aware that what they do is referred to as child abuse.

“There are some social behaviours, what might be known as traditional, cultural or customary norms used by parents in their daily management and administration of home, rules and regulations for a child to participate in house activities.

“Some of these rules and regulations including processes were made to humiliate female and girl children since slavery and forced to be part of our customary or cultural process, rules and regulation such as child hard labour, denials girl child right to education, right to associate and freedom of expression,” said Kgaswane.

She added by saying some parents who think they're within their rights trade with their girl child, encouraging them to sleep around with elderly males and demand exaggerated financial payment for unofficial sexual exchange.

“We condemn rape at all times and we must equally condemn this new trend of sexual exchange schemes,” she concluded.

By PAKO REPORTER

THE PRAISE AND Salvation Foundation’s Victim Empowerment Programme donated the full school uniform to a Pella boy who cannot be named because he is a minor. The 9-year-old boy was going to worn-out shoes because her mother was taking Sassa grants for her own personal use. The boy who was reported to local social workers by the Praised and Salvation Foundation Victim Empowerment was happy to receive the new school uniform: shoes, trousers, socks, shirt, lots of toys and groceries.

Angy Motlhabane of the Praised and Salvation Foundation Victim Empowerment said the vulnerable community members' knock at their door made them stand up and launch a communal door-to-door campaign with the aim of understanding what might be wrong in their communal family.

“One of the common cases we discovered during our door-to-door campaigns is a situation where some young mothers trusted to receive Sassa grants on behalf of their children as beneficiaries neglected their children while cashing Sassa grants every month while rightful beneficiaries starve with hunger alone in the village.

 “Same situation with our brave kid, we then referred his case to our Madikwe Social workers then we monitored the developments to a point that through the Social worker child, Sassa card was taken from the mother's hand to the uncle of these children who are leaving fulltime with this children’s. We also donated full school uniform and toys to the boy,” said Motlhabane.

She said as an organization they had to monitor the process through time to time engagement with relevant social workers. “We also had to facilitate on our side by tracing the mother and convincing her to acknowledge situations or changes made. It was not an easy task for us, but finally, mother was cooperative hence we are in this fruitful moment.  We will continue working with social workers; mother and uncle for the benefit of the children as it takes a village to raise a child.”

Uncle Kebakilwe Mothobi who was impressed by the intervention of Praised and Salvation Foundation Victim Empowerment said, “I am honestly relief that I will be able to help my sister's children, I try to engage her sometimes back but it is what it is. When comes to money some people have their own ways of doing things but together with Praised and Salvation Foundation Victim Empowerment will be able to take care of my nephew.”

By PAKO REPORTER 

MORE THAN 20 youths from Pella village attended a business workshop organized by the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) from 29 August to 1 September. They were given 5 days to pitch selling business ideas and eight of them managed to come up with credible ideas. The 8 were awarded NYDA certificates that will enhance them to start their own business and allow them to apply for funding at NYDA.

The eight who received certificates are Tumelo Motshegare, Paballo Pule, Bertha Selotlego, Remoneilwe Selotlego, Mpiri Kgaswane, Keabetswe Ngobeni, Kopano Masoko, and Reamogetswe Lesejane.

Simon Mokwena also from NYDA came and spoke to them about the process of funding he also told them as soon as they are done registering their business they should call him so that he can come and help them with funding.

“You should register your business and our doors will be open to help you get funding for your business and we will give support where we can as NYDA. Praised and Salvation Foundation should also involve disabled people so that they can also join the entrepreneurial segment of owning their businesses but through training first,” said Mokwena.

 The CEO of the Praised and Salvation Foundation, Archbishop Stephen Mokgadi Molokwane thanked the youth for their effort and the NYDA for caring about the youth and empowering them with business skills to boost the village economy.

“I would like to thank the NYDA for their good work in empowering the youth with business skills and helping them to kick start their businesses. I would like to encourage youth to work hard around the clock to make sure that their businesses succeed and the important rule in any business is respecting time and time management,” said Molokwane.

By PAKO REPORTER

RECENTLY THE Mmabana Mmabatho Arts with an invitation from the Praise and Salvation Foundation visited Pella to unearth raw talent. They visited the Pella Tribal Hall led by the Head of the Drama department at Mmabana Mmabatho, Khumo Motsikoe came with a group of kids from Mmabatho. Khumo teaches the kids poetry, dance, drama, music and other things related to art and theatre.

The mothers of the village kids were there and they were taught poetry which they will teach their kids at home to give them inspiration in poetry.

In an interview with Pako Community Newspaper Khumo said Pella has raw talent like other villages which is why they saw the need to visit the local community hall to come and give inspiration to kids who are interested in art and theatre.

“We also encourage mothers to create poems and recite them with their kids this will help to unearth more talent in Pella village and we are happy with the support we get from both parents and their kids,” said Khumo.

Angy Motlhabane of Praise and Salvation Foundation said Mmabana Mabatho and Praised and Salvation must continue working with village women to help the youth reach their dreams in arts. “We must continue to work together with village women to help the youth reach their dreams in art in general. I am also impressed to see the youth showing their talent and interest in art”.

By TUMELO MOTSHEGARE 

DESPITE A CALL made by President Cyril Ramaphosa against gender-based violence, this pandemic shows it’s alive and many women are victims and live in fear. One of these many victims of gender based violence Mmapule Mogorosi of Silverkraans in Tlokweng is dealing with trauma after being turned into a punching bag by an abusive jealous boyfriend just less than 5 days after the 9 August 2023 Women’s Days celebration. The woman is punched, kicked and stoned by the insecure weak jealous boyfriend every time he speaks to a man. 

In an exclusive interview with Pako Community News the 28-year-old Mmapule said, “Look at my swelling face, I was beaten by someone claiming to love me. I expected him to love, trust, protect and care for me, but my boyfriend and father of my late child did this to me. 

 This is not the first time, it’s happened since we started to date. It is painful because he doesn’t want me to speak to male neighbours including my male relatives he doesn’t want me to talk to the opposite gender. He is insecure and jealous, What hurts me is that he always apologises after beating me and does it again after I forgive him. He was punching, slapping, kicking and stoning me, I can’t take it anymore. I am tired of this relationship as it is clear that he can’t change,” said Mmapula. 

Mmapula said the beating has affected her face, which is now swollen and she can longer walk around the village or visit friends and relatives. She said their families (her and the suspect family) convinced her to drop the charges.

“I am currently in trauma as it seems he intended to kill me. I couldn’t even look at myself confidently in the mirror but I consulted a medical doctor and SAPS who managed to arrest him I later withdrew the charges after my family and my boyfriend's family convinced me to drop the charges. 

“He was controlling and I noticed that he was insecure, what hurt me most was when he said I must not talk to any male person but at the same time he talked to females freely in my present and I didn’t have to say a word I will never forgive him not in a make me scared of a relationship.    

Praised and Salvation Foundation’s Victim Empowerment Programs chairperson, Angy Motlhabane said they became aware of Mmapula’s case 3 days after it happened and the suspect was already arrested.

“The withdrawal of this case is a drawback, because this case has public interest now it's our responsibility to ensure that we mobilised all relevant stakeholders so that the victim gets justice. We have already corresponded the outcome with some women and children organizations outside our area.

 “Some organizations in our area kept quiet and waited for the court to make a ruling. It is no longer about withdrawal but it's all about us as organizations claiming to represent victims of gender-based violence. The step we took is to inform the office of Minister Nkosasana Zuma of the Department of Women and Children Development to support us in ensuring that this case gets back to court so that we restore justice on behalf of the victim. Will also engage with the perpetrator, We don't have much to say except that we are mobilizing support to revoke the court decision”, said Motlhabane.

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By PAKO REPORTER

A School in the North West Province has joined hands with the local anti-drug group to combat drug abuse at their institution. Thebe Ya Tlhajwa Secondary School in Koffiekraal in the North West Province, South Africa has teamed up with Ipopeng Basha to reduce drug and substance abuse at their school.

According to Tiny Lekabe of Ipopeng Basha drug usage at schools is a challenge since drug dealers identified public schools as one of their lucrative target market areas.

“Disadvantage of drugs in school to learners includes the level of sober mind and drugged mind are not the same. Learner drug usage leads to academic difficulties, not easy to understand curriculum and will add on things making learning difficult for a learner, it leads to learner misbehaves, confrontation with educators and fellow learners, learning interruptions, absenteeism, very poor performance of the learner, drop out, violence and crime.       

“National Department of Education established the National Policy of Drugs Abuse Management in schools published in 2002. Many schools do not have drug policies while others did cut and paste from other school policies hence failing to implement such copied policies. Thebe Ya Tlhajwa Secondary School in Koffiekraal is making a difference by working with Ipopeng Basha to combat drug abuse,” said Lekabe.

Ipopeng Basha in support of Praised and Salvation Foundation victim empowerment program invited drugs survivor Dan Mfatshe who was the motivational speaker. Dan shared his sad and bad experience on drugs with learners his presence and presentation made it easy for learners to also speak out about their experiences and problems.

“I grew up in a difficult environment because I was neglected as a kid that is why I ended up using drugs because of the abuse at home,”Mfatshe.

The Principal Israel Kabelo Rakate said we are working hard with Athini Cakata, SGB, Educators, Learners and a community-based organization called Ipopeng Basha to reduce the risk of learner’s drug usage.

“We engaged in drugs awareness as a school to address and strengthen learner behaviour which is affecting teaching and learning in our school. Our school has a history of drug and alcohol abuse, bullying, and teenage pregnancy leading to school dropouts. This new culture of drugs and alcohol abuse started around the year 2000 it has grown to an alarming proportion which is disturbing. Presently as a school, our challenge is that taverns and shebeens opened gates and doors to underage learners.

“Educators are mainly focusing on the delivery of the curriculum and assist learners with information exposing damages made by drugs and alcohol. Learners are exposed to dagga, a whitish substance, we suspect cocaine. When we suspect drug behaviour we usually refer such allegations to the police. The worst experience of leaner under the influence of drugs is when they threaten educators even in the presence of their parents, secondly is vandalism of school property,” said Rakate.

By TUMELO MOTSHEGARE

PELLA SPORTS GROUND was packed with residents who came to get help from service providers. The service providers include National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa), Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and others. They were organized by Praised and Salvation Foundation an empowerment program led by Angy Motlhabane and her team.

In an interview with Pako News, Angy Motlhababe said this public education where they as Praised and Salvation Foundation offered the community members an opportunity to get services from departments and agencies of the government.

“Our role as an activist organization is just to facilitate the process for community members to get access to basic service as their constitutional rights, such as the right to access South African birth certificate, the right to have an Identity document, rights to social grand’s or Sassa, rights to access education, health facility and so on.

“We advocate for vulnerable victims of the system as those who lack the means to ensure that they get these services. Victims of the system are those who lack information on how to access basic constitutional rights from our public offices and agencies. This includes those who lack transport money to visit such public institutions of help, those who lack the strength to inquiries who these public offices can assist them in accessing basic services and so on,” said Motlhabane.  

Boitshoko Mosiaco known as Tshoki a youth division leader said the majority of the youth in the community are unemployed, some are graduates while some are drops outs and we also have those who have never got a chance to experience a bit of formal education, it is our responsibility to give them equal opportunities to prove themselves out.

“We called the youth to come and access NYDA information and services, including Sassa, IEC and others. This time Home Affairs mobile truck didn’t make it as it is reported that it went out for services,” said Mosiaco.

Thapelo Disang from Sassa said he is at the ground to make sure residents get all the help they need by filling out application forms for grants and answering questions where they need clarity about child support grants, old age grants and other services they provide.

“I am here to fulfil Sassa's mandate which is to identify social grand beneficiaries and ensure that they get relevant services in the time of need. Pella has many inquiries that mean our service is required by the majority of people but it’s our agency's interest to intervene and provide necessary service,” said Disang.

Semi Mokwena of NYDA said we intend to empower youth, and we are happy to reach out to rural places like Pella where the majority of community members are youth.

“We promise to come back specifically for them in due course. We did introduce NYDA programs and processes, objectives and intentions. We will arrange with Praise and Salvation Foundation soon for special programs delivery,” said Mokwena.

Story and Photos by TUMELO MOTSHEGARE

ARMSCOR IN CONJUNCTION WITH a local NGO Moses Kotane Community Social Care donated 175 full school uniforms to grade R to grade 7 learners at Gobusamang Primary School in Pella village in the Moses Kotane Local Municipality recently. Parts of the donated school uniforms are pants, jerseys, black shoes and socks for each of the 175 learners.

Moses Kotane Community Social Care founded by Mme Sekedi Ann Kotane in 2008 managed to identify these kids with the help of the school teachers. In an interview with Pako News Mme Kotane said the formation of this organization was just about adding value to their community, identifying community needs and mobilising care workers to focus on poverty alleviation when they started food gardening so they distribute food from their garden direct to their beneficiaries’ within the community of Pella and other villages. 

“Today it’s a special day as we are with our board members among them we have our chairperson Rre Daniael Motlhabane, we are in Gobusamang Primary School to donate school uniforms. We are not alone but with the support of Armscor who made it possible for us to be here.

“The unemployment rate is high; many parents are not working so we had to intervene and assist only where we can. This is our first sponsor only with God's grace here we are today. We are happy to see companies like Armscor helping us to fight poverty,” said Mme Kotane.

Armscor representative Mme Manthwadi Motau said it is with stakeholders like Moses Kotane Community Social Care that they can reach out and reinvest in vulnerable kids who might be tomorrow's leader of our country or Armscor.

“It is with stakeholders like Moses Kotane Community Social Care that we can reach out and reinvest to our vulnerable kids who might be tomorrow's leader of our country or Armscor. We are here through Mme Ann Kotane to donate school uniforms for Grade R to Grade 7 learners.

“We are donating school uniforms to 175 learners at this school. The donated school uniforms are long pants, jersey, black shoes and socks for each learner,” said Mme Motau.

Speaking on behalf of the learners Albertina Segwabe a grade 7 learner at the school said they are happy to receive the school uniform and it will help every learner to be in school full-time.

“This school uniform will help to prevent absenteeism no learner will stay at home because of cold weather or lack of school uniform. We appreciate the donation as the learners of Gobusamang Primary School,” said Albertina.

The school Principal Mofalodi said they are happy to receive the donations for the learners at Gobusamang Primary School who need them. “We are honoured to be among those who are remembered, today's donation will defiantly bring change in the mindset of the learners and the school environment in general. It is motivating to all of us; we thank them for the support”.

For more information on Moses Kotane Community Social Care visit them at No 761 Lengeneng section, Pella village or email them at mkotanecommunity@gmail.com or call 0820562313.

*Scroll down for more pictures of the event.

By PAKO REPORTER

The South African National Freedom Month is every April, when we have an annual national holiday on the 27 April to celebrate National Freedom Day. This month is significant to all Black South Africans as it goes down with history that from 1652 to 1990 South African white minority has oppressed the South African Black Majority. In 1652 Dutch settlers arrived in South Africa as part of the European imperialism agenda to colonise Africa. History informs us that those were the same years that led to social and economic injustice we witness in today's daily life and the living.

Black South Africans were not included in the decision-making of their own lives and living, this means people were not allowed to think but made to appreciate minority ruler’s decisions imposed on those years’ generations. Black people's minds, emotions, feelings, movements, and expressions were captured and controlled by white rulers, all this created room for self-hatred, lack of self-respect and lack of self-confidence to the majority of Black people as were made to glorify anything from white and despise anything from their own. These traits still exist in some of us in this democratic dispensation.

There is a lot of self-hatred in our black society as a result we see an escalation of corruption that undermines the efforts and sacrifices made by our fallen heroes of the struggle. Corruption undermines good theories, ideologies and slogans such as Government by the People for the Peoples, RDP (Reconstruction and Development Programs) Batho Pele, Government Open Door policy, New Down and so on. Stealing from the public purse for political greed is a characteristic of self-hatred as you hate the same people who you’re supposed to serve and service. It is a strategic manipulation, abuse of power; lying under oath, disregarding your constitutional mandate to serve the public office, self-distraction activity and betraying efforts, principle and sacrifices of the struggle for freedom.     

In 2023 Freedom Month Kgotlaya Boo Ra Lesejane in Pella Village celebrated it differently; this was more like a family and clan reunion month, elder called for a meeting known as PitsoyaKgotla. It was mix general meeting where elders emphasised that young generations must fully participate in clan engagements so that they get used to clan activities including how can this clan participate effectively in community development structures in what is known as PusoMorafe Activities.

One needs to be warned not to mistake freedom celebration Month for National Heritage Month. This Freedom Month elder used it to educate young people so that they can liberate their mindset from inherited colonial apartheid laws, practices and activities.

One of the valuable things that were on the agenda is food security and agricultural production of the clan to reduce the high level of poverty in the community. Elders advise and encourage youth to come up with straightforward farming programs to benefit people in time of need, some young people are obsessed with a fashionable project of mining without doing relevant research and investigation including consulting elders about why we don’t approve of mining in our area.

Let's use our land effectively and spare it for the next generations as this is the only tangible thing we have now. Agriculture and farming are doable with our own hands after 2 to 3 months we rip what we sow and deal with immediate hunger, starvation and other health issues. Yes, we like mining but let’s do what we can afford and offer with our own hands for our immediate benefits to address these daily real issues we face now.