7 DIKGANG TSA MOGALE NEWS October 2007 Adding colour to kids’ lives Plascon lavishes special attention on Birdsville creché on Colour Day BY CLIFFORD MOGOTSI W hen the oldest residents of Kagiso hear the name Birdsville, the only thing that tickles their minds is the over indulgence in alcohol and dancing the night away. Well, this once famous shebeen is now a home for toddlers. And, it is known as one of the admired day care centres in Kagiso. While for some the name still carries old memories, for the owner Sandra Mokgwathi, the name Birdsville now means a sweet home for toddlers. The 13-year-old crèche recently celebrated National Colour Day in a unique style and new bright colours adorning the old walls bear evidence that there is a bright future for our kids. Birdsville, which is neighbouring the Boipelo Primary School, houses a total of 90 children who live as far as Tshepisong, M’qandash and ext12. South Africa’s leading paint manufacturer Plascon chose this township abode as an ideal spot to celebrate colour day. Paint experts displayed their benevolence and painted the interior and exterior of the crèche. Spotted in white overalls, the management team initially spread the awareness of a disease called cataracts, a leading cause of blindness in South Africa. This disease clouds the lens leading to blurred or dull sight. And, the very worst cataracts – where the iris appears almost entirely clouded over – is said to cause a total loss of vision. Plascon’s Group Brand Manager Monde Keebine, said: “By supporting this worthy cause you will be able to help others see their world in a different light”. Though there are no cases of cataracts at the crèche, Plascon saw a dire need to visit the crèches after receiving a data of registered day care centres from the Mogale City Local Municipality. Plascon’s Co-operate Social Investment Manager, Patrick Seager, was hard at work rolling the paint on the wall. Seager said their long term goal is also to improve the conditions of crèches in Kagiso. “Our company is based near Kagiso and we’ve decided to sponsor crèches with paint, ceiling and a financial boost.” At the time of rolling first and second coat water-based paint on the old structure, children were transported to Rosebank Kuality where there were special kids BRIGHT LIGHT: Plascon Brand Manager Katlego Mashishi joins in the colouring operations. programmes put in place. However, the inhalation of paint is known to inflict a health hazard, paint champions employed a water based prima, Low Sheen Pure Acrylic, a first coat which is solvent free and contains no chemicals. And, second layer, a solvent-free High Sheen Pure Acrylic was used and colours decorating the children’s room are Winnie the Pooh, Simba and Huney Yellow. Alleged traffic-cop killers get bail BY SIPHO NONE The Krugersdorp Magistrate’s Court granted bail to the two men charged with the killing of Mogale City Local Municipality traffic officer Thabo Jonas Tladi. The pair – Fikile Zikhali (22) and Bonginkosi Tiyane (23) – both from Kagiso, appeared briefly in the Krugersdorp Magistrate’s Court on charges of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances. The suspects were granted R 3 000 each bail. Investigating officer David Makoko did not oppose bail. After a 20- minute cross- examination by the defence advocate Phillip Nel Makoko said the suspects will not oppose any threat to the witnesses. However, prosecutor Rungolani Mhlongo argued in favour of the state and refused the suspects bail. He said the suspects, despite not posing any threat to the witnesses, are a danger to the community, and their lives might threatened by members of the community. Mhlongo insisted that in the previous court appearances members of the community, together with Tladi’s co-workers bayed for the suspects’ blood, and it would be in the interest of the accused and state to have them safe in custody. It was also revealed in court during cross-examination by the investigating officer that the murder weapon (firearm) used during the killing of Tladi has not being found, and the fingerprints lifted from the official car that the officer was driving at the time of his killing and stolen by the suspects did not match that of the suspects. The bail conditions have been extended and Zikhali and Tiyane are expected to report to the local police station three times in a week and are not suppose to leave the jurisdiction of Mogale City. The exterior shines in Banana Sunday. And according to Technology Manager Vusi Masinda, there is a maintenance plan and the crèche will be monitored. “We know that the crèche houses children and so we will use our maintenance plan to make sure the walls are clean and well monitored,” said Masinda. Jubilant owner Mokgwathi urged other crèches to regularly attend workshops that are held by government and public sectors to gain knowledge on how the can manage their centres. “I am so thankful to Plascon and I would like to urge other crèches to attend workshops run by government departments and public companies to get knowledge on how they can manage their centres,” said Mokgwathi. Kids benefit from grants-in-aid BY SIPHO NONE More than 50 learners from Thembile Public School in Kagiso on the West Rand received a Spring present when a local councillor presented them with full school uniforms. The learners – mainly from poor families were pampered to the fullest last week when Councillor Nomalanga Ntamane used her grants-in-aid funds to help needy and orphaned learners at her former school. Ntamane said with the help of the teachers and school governing body she was able to identify needy learners and see them through their academic lessons without any form of difficulties coming from the winter and spring season. “It is discouraging to see our learners going to school shabbily dressed. “This kind of situation is demoralising them in-and-outside the classroom, and their performance would also go down as well,” Ntamane said, handing over bags full of uniforms, ranging from pair of trousers, jerseys, socks and shirts. The uniforms, valued at R5 600, is part of the municipality’s annual grants-in-aid given to councillors to help needy communities or projects that require financial assistance. Tokoloshi will have listeners in a spin Norah ties the knot in quiet ceremony BY THABILE MANGE BY THABILE MANGE Does the name Bandile Masinda ring a bell? I don’t think so. Who is Masinda by the way? A new and unknown ruling party presidential candidate, perhaps? A new hip-hop or kwaito artist? Masinda is a jazz musician, and has been long in the field. He was once in the same band, called Badiri, as former Mogale City Executive Mayor Lentswe Mokgatle. The jazz singer has just released a 9-track CD titled Tokoloshi. The CD rocks. Don’t take my word for it, listen to it and draw your own conclusion. On the CD is a song about Zimbabwe. Political? You bet. The singer is a former exile. However, the song is not new. Masinda took it from his former band Badiri and revamped it. The same applies to Tokoloshi. My favourite song is Ma Africa, track number nine. Track two, Tokoloshi, also strike a chord. Tracks three and six, 2010 and bana basekolo are also beautiful. Masinda was born in 1959 in Munsieville. In the 1960’s, his family relocated to Kagiso. His music career started as early as 1970, playing as a drummer for various bands in the West Rand and Soweto. In 1977 the jazz musician joined Badiri, which was founded by Mokgatle and Shimi Malefo. The band members were politically involved and sang political songs. Due to the constant apartheid police harassment, the band went to exile under the auspices of Umkhonto we Sizwe. When he came back from exile, Masinda started his own band, Vula, which took part in voter education through entertainment. However, the band split up when he was intergrated to the SANDF. Masinda’s love for music led him to resign from the defense force to pursue his singing career. Tokoloshi is his first CD. I give it a six out of 10. Is he going to make it in this dog eats dog industry? Many have come and gone. We hope the jazz singer is here to stay – and will make Mogale proud. Viva Tokoloshi! ROCKING: Bandile Masinda Norah Ramorwa, Mogale City council’s social worker, quietly married Vincent Tsholetsane on Youth Day, June 16 2007. The wedding took place at the Faith Community Sanctuary and was conducted by charismatic Bishop Joe Mabuela, the senior pastor of the church. The traditional wedding was to be held on September 23, at the groom’s place in Kagiso. Dikgang tsa Mogale takse this opportunity to congradulate the newly weds. And may God bless the Tsholetsanes.
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