the mamelodi voice 2012

UNIVERSIT Y OF PRETORIA SUMMER 2012

Mamelodi Voice The

Ishmael Mohlabe

P rimary schools in Mamelodi

East increasingly focus on

sport to combat the threat of

drugs and alcohol.

According to France Mmatli,

head of sports at Pfunzo Ndi Tshedza

Primary School, the pupils‟ futures

are safe with sports.

“There is no doubt that if students

participate in sports, especially after

school hours, they avoid being ex-

posed to future-threatening substan-ces like alcohol and drugs,” he said.

Sport is not only seen as an alter-

native to drugs. Kabelo Maleka,

sports manager at Meetse-a-Bophelo

Primary School, believes students

who do well in sports stand a good

chance of improving academically. “I

have been getting feedback from

teachers that the sport programmes

we have are making a huge difference

in the learners‟ school tasks and that

the sports pupils are shining in their

results,” said Maleka.

Despite their lack of resources,

teachers and coaches are excited

about learners‟ involvement in sports.

“We could do with a helping hand.

Even though we have limited re-

sources we do our best to encourage

the children to participate in the vari-

ous sporting codes,” said Mmatli.

Some local students who are ex-

celling in their respective sports get

the opportunity to showcase their

talents on a bigger stage.

Legora Primary School has six

under-12 soccer players who are part

of the Mamelodi Sundowns Acade-

my. One of the players is 12-year-old

Kgothatso Mohale. “My dream is to

play for Sundowns and Bafana

Bafana. I would also like to play

overseas, preferably in the Spanish or

Portuguese league,” said the ambi-

tious footballer.

Mohale‟s coach, Nomsa Mavim-

bela, described the boy as a talented

player who is shy of the field but

exudes a no-nonsense, tough-tackling

approach when game time comes.

Meetse-a-Bophelo has a star of its

own in 12-year-old Philani Zwane.

The grade seven football player has

caught the attention of South Africa‟s

national women‟s under-17 squad.

She has been invited for open trials

with the junior team at the University

of Pretoria‟s High Performance

Centre. “I was very excited when they

called me and I am committed to

doing my level best to impress the

national coach,” said Zwane. She

hopes that this opportunity will give

her an advantage when Banyana

Banyana searches for fresh talent.

For many of the children in

Mamelodi‟s primary schools sport is

not only viewed as an extramural

activity but as a stepping stone to

achieving their dreams.

I n the darkness of their classroom,

forty children chant the alphabet

in rhythm with their teacher.

Their electricity supply has not been

activated today, and their only source

of light is fading behind the clouds.

More than 200 children receive

early-childhood learning here at the

Berakah Educational Foundation in

Lusaka. Without their own electricity

unit, Berakah is forced to continue to

do their teaching in half-light. Their

only power comes from an illegal

electricity connection.

Currently this power supply is

mainly used to run the kitchen‟s

fridge. There is no constructed power

unit on the property, and the organisa-

tion is forced to operate without the

use of an independent meter.

“We have a stand number and a

meter box number but we need the

money for the electricity box [unit],”

said Glenton Magalela, groundskeep-

er and caretaker. “We get our electric-

ity from the neighbours, [whom] we

pay,” he added.

Open wires can be seen running

from a plastered house on the adjoin-

ing property to the kitchen on

Berakah‟s grounds. “We pay the

neighbour R400 every month to use

her electricity but sometimes she

doesn‟t turn it on [until] late in the

day,” explained Magalela.

No person may sell electricity that

is supplied to their premises to any

other person for use on any other

sites. This is according to the City of

Tshwane Metropolitan Municipali-

ty‟s Standard Electricity Supply by-

laws. The by-laws also stipulate that

only one electricity service connec-

tion may be made available to a

stand.

According to Berakah Education-

al Foundation CEO, Bryan Hill, the

Berakah Trust owns the property on

which the centre is situated. The

Trust is still in the process of author-

izing the documents needed for a

legal electricity application. Hill said

the centre has all the equipment

needed to get the electricity running

but is waiting on authorization and

funding.

It is estimated that Berakah will

need R30 000 to construct a legiti-

mate electricity supply unit and es-

tablish a legal connection.

“We are currently putting togeth-

er a proposal for funding to submit to

the Community Impact Trust, our

sponsor, but I‟m not sure how long

this will take,” said Hill.

Caylene Marais

Learning without lights in Lusaka

Two under-11 players challenge each other for the ball before soccer practice at Pfunzo Ndi Tshedza Primary School.

Photo: PIETER VAN DER MERWE

Poetry

p. 14

Animal

health

p. 10, 11

Spotlight

on SOS

p. 6,7

Kids kick off

their futures

with sport

Sydney King

2 SUMMER 2012 The Mamelodi Voice

Alayna Magaseng, a Thuthukani volunteer, assists Tshepo Mgidi, one of the

children involved in the after-school homework sessions at Legora.

Photo: SYDNEY KING

Danielle Petterson

A new ministry organisation is

mobilising the people of

Mamelodi to make their

home a greener place to live. Mustard

Seeds puts emphasis on the environ-

ment and sustainable livelihoods.

On Mandela Day (18 July) this

year the organisation arranged a clean

-up in Mamelodi in partnership with

WastePlan. Approximately 100 peo-

ple volunteered to clean up the area

from the BP Garage on Solomon

Mahlangu Drive and Mamelodi Hos-

pital, to the railway bridge on Tsama-

ya Road. More than two truckloads of

waste was collected and transported

to a registered landfill site by

WastePlan. Absalom Boroto, a ward

councillor for the Tshwane Munici-

pality, helped mobilise the communi-

ty for the clean-up.

According to Vici Napier, founder

of Mustard Seeds, far more people

volunteered than anticipated and vari-

ous community members pitched in

throughout the day. “Given the short

timeframe to organise such an event

we did really well and the community

was really amazed and impressed,”

she said.

In celebration of Arbour Day,

Mustard Seeds planted ten trees at

Emasangweni Primary School with

volunteers, Bhubesi Fire Projects and

grade six educators and learners from

the school. The organisation also

taught learners how to plant succulent

slips into old food tins. These plants

will be used for a rockery project in

November. The school principal said

he would like to have a rockery with

succulent plants at one of the school‟s

entrances.

According to Napier, members of

the surrounding community came to

watch the activities. “The learners

thoroughly enjoyed themselves and

were appreciative of the trees and the

fact that outsiders had an interest in

them and their school,” she said.

Mustard Seeds hopes to imple-

ment several projects in the future.

These include waste and recycling at

schools, electricity generation using

bio-digesters and arts and crafts pro-

jects using recyclable and waste ma-

terials. The organisation also hopes

to implement rainwater harvesting at

local schools to provide water for

vegetable gardens, sports fields and

school properties.

Mustard Seeds welcomes volun-

teers. Participation is needed in the

following areas:

Professional/expert knowledge

and advice on projects.

Donation of resources (funds,

equipment and project compo-

nents).

Assisting in securing funding/

project partners to implement

projects.

Volunteering at projects.

Mustard Seeds helps Mamelodi go green

A grade six Emasangweni learner fills his tin with soil for a succulent slip to be

planted. Photo: HAROLD PRICE

Volunteers pick up litter at the Mandela Day clean-up.

Photo: THOMAS MALULEKE

Children put the finishing touches on the tree they planted at

Emasangweni Primary School. Photo: VANESSA PRICE

N thando Khorombi*, a grade

seven learner at Legora Pri-

mary School, sits at a desk

flying through his numeracy home-

work. Nthando is one of 66 pupils

who benefits from the Thuthukani

Youth Project.

The project is hosted at the Le-

gora Primary School in Mamelodi

East. This initiative was started in

2004 by social work students from the

University of Pretoria (UP). Thu-

thukani aims to prevent young learn-

ers from dropping out of school and

hopes to help them steer clear of teen-

age pregnancy and substance abuse.

This is according to UP lecturer

Martie Booyzen.

The programme offers an after-

school homework session run by vol-

unteers every Thursday afternoon.

Learners are encouraged to attend

these sessions because they receive a

meal. They also receive attendance

credits they can use to buy school

uniforms or stationery. Booyzen be-

lieves that incomplete uniforms and

stationery supplies contribute to a

poor self-esteem and unfinished

schoolwork. “The kids earn these

credits, budget and plan their purchas-

es, and are therefore not receiving a

„hand-out‟ but feel proud of their

purchases,” said Booyzen.

The 66 children currently in the

programme were selected because

they are orphans or pupils who strug-

gle academically.

A Thuthukani volunteer, Alayna

Magaseng, believes that Thuthukani

empowers those who are selected.

The programme teaches them the

importance of homework, which con-

tributes towards better marks. This is

proven by the school‟s overall in-

creased pass rate for English, which

rose from 10% to 45% since the pro-

ject was introduced in 2004.

Thuthukani also offers recreational

activities hosted by UP‟s social work

students. The children are taken on

quarterly outings and once a year they

go on an adventure camp. Legora

Principal, Mohlamme Mathebe ex-

pressed his gratitude for the camp.

“[It] exposes these children to a holi-

day. It connects the students to areas

outside Mamelodi.”

Mathebe appreciates the outside

assistance from tertiary learners who

helped start and volunteer in the pro-

ject. “What the students are learning

at university is filtering into Legora,”

he said. In previous years UP Educa-

tion students have been involved with

Thuthukani, assisting the learners

individually during the homework

sessions. Despite not being involved

this year, the education students will

return in 2013 to help the pupils.

Hanlie Dippenaar, an education

lecturer at UP, believes that

this programme is not only vital for

Legora pupils, but for university stu-

dents too. “Here our future teachers

are able to apply theory learned in the

lecture hall in a real life context.”

Annette Jooste, a third-year stu-

dent in Intermediate Phase education,

recalls her Legora experience, ex-

plaining it was not easy communi-

cating with children who cannot

speak, read or write fluently in Eng-

lish. She added that her learner tried

his best, making it a truly rewarding

experience. Jooste found the practical

involvement invaluable, saying, “I

learnt that there will be challenging

scenarios in my classroom, I just need

to be creative and open minded when

approaching them.”

Mathebe said he is pleased with

the positive results of the project. “I

hope that the Department [of Educa-

tion] will consider ensuring that pro-

jects such as Thuthukani will be seri-

ously implemented.” He also applaud-

ed the University for undertaking the

project without concerns of the finan-

cial aspects.

Magaseng believes, “Thuthukani

gives the spirit that everything is go-

ing to be okay. It is making a differ-

ence each and every day.”

*Nthando Khorombi is not the child‟s

real name. The Mamelodi Voice was asked to keep his name private.

To get involved contact Vici Na-

pier on 078 278 2898 or email her

at [email protected]

Volunteers make homework

fun for learners

Thuthukani gives the spirit

that everything is going to

be okay

mailto:[email protected]

The Mamelodi Voice SUMMER 2012 3

T he community of Mamelodi is

suffering from the damage

caused by a new drug called

Nyaope. Nyaope is becoming increas-

ingly popular amongst teenagers and

poses an imminent threat to the com-

munity. The leaders of Legora Primary

School have already noticed the effects

of this drug on their students and facili-

ties and are striving to prevent the drug

from further infiltrating the school.

A security guard at the school,

Dina Mokweti, said she has seen

young men staggering through the

streets, “obviously high on Nyaope”.

She describes their eyes as barely

open, and their mouths and hands

being black from smoking.

Nyaope is a relatively new drug

combining cheap heroin and dagga.

To enhance Nyaope‟s euphoric ef-

fect, rat poison is sometimes added.

Mokweti said that at night and

sometimes on weekends, the

“Nyaope boys” try to come

inside the school and steal cables.

Legora‟s Principal, Mohlamme

Mathebe, acknowledged that

Nyaope is creating problems within

the schools and community of Mam-

elodi. Legora has been directly af-

fected by the drug as it is alleged

that the young addicts break into the

school and steal property such as

electric cables and taps in order to

sustain their habit. The television

and some computer equipment has

been stolen from the school library.

“They are stealing almost every-

thing,” said Mathebe. He has report-

ed these cases to the police. “Even if

the police can catch these boys, they

are not going to solve the problem.

The problem they need to solve is to

get the people who are dealing

Nyaope, because, really, they are

killing our children.”

The police were unavailable for

comment.

The threat of Nyaope

Stephanie Van Der Plank

I n response to the increasing use

of the drug, Nyaope, Legora Pri-

mary School has introduced a

number of drug-related initiatives.

The teachers have decided that the

situation created by the drug calls for

serious attention. Substance abuse

workshops have been incorporated

into the Life Orientation curriculum

and a Drug Awareness Campaign was

held during the school holiday.

The Drug Awareness Campaign

is held in conjunction with the Mam-

elodi Police Station and the School

Based Support Team (SBST), headed

by Angie Manana. It will be available

to learners of all ages. The SBST has

been part of the school for many

years and assists learners with social

and learning challenges. It provides

support and guidance to orphans and

child-headed families.

These new changes and develop-

ments in the school are part of the

Love Life Games initiative, put into

place by the Departments of Educa-

tion, Sport and Health. Love Life

Games aims to deal with all issues

involved with the upbringing of a

child. Head of Department of Natural

Sciences at Legora, Modise Talane,

has been instrumental in these opera-

tions. He said the initiative is about

bringing people together to educate

and instruct their children in the con-

text of their community.

The current focus is on drugs and

substance abuse and Talane believes

it is going well.

Recently Principal Mohlamme

Papile Mathebe received a phone call

from a distressed parent of a past

pupil, who wishes to remain anony-

mous. The child was in Grade Seven

at Legora in 2010 and had just been

released from rehab after having been

addicted to “this dirty drug called

Nyaope,” the parent told Mathebe. He

recalls the mother saying, “I want

you, as the principal, to please contin-

ue informing the parents [about] this

problem of Nyaope.” Mathebe re-

membered the student as being a very

fine boy and said he would do every-

thing he could to educate the parents

and children in order to prevent a

similar phone call.

The Drug Awareness Campaign‟s

substance abuse workshops were the

first step towards this prevention.

Driving back dirty drugs from school grounds

Drug abuse warning signs

Significant changes in appetite or

eating habits, unexplained weight

loss or gain

Significant changes in sleep pat-

terns

Unexplained physical problems

including tremors, nausea, vomit-

ing, excessive sweating.

Change in overall attitude or per-

sonality with no other identifiable

cause

Drop in grades at school or per-

formance at work; regularly skips

school or is late for school

General lack of motivation, ener-

gy, self-esteem, an „I don't care‟

attitude

Excessive moodiness, irritability,

or nervousness

Unexplained need for money,

stealing money or items

Silliness or giddiness.

Paranoia

Harmful effects of drugs

General mental and physical

health effects include: respiratory

and heart problems, memory

loss, neurological damage and

mental health disorders such as

mood disorders

The abuse of a drug can lead to

addiction. Increased use of drugs

can lead to overdose and possibly

death

Drugs often alter a person‟s be-

haviour, negatively affecting

relationships

Many drug users resort to com-

mitting criminal acts to support

their drug habit

Using drugs while pregnant can

cause miscarriages, birth defects

and intellectual disabilities. Alco-

hol abuse during pregnancy ex-

poses the foetus to Foetal Alco-

hol Syndrome, which causes the

baby to be born dependent on

alcohol.

V irtual adoption acts as a rem-

edy for the increasing

amount of vulnerable house-

holds found in Mamelodi. One such

programme is run by the Viva Village

Foundation situated in the Alaska

informal settlement.

Abie Mokwena is alone, underage

and uneducated. He has lived in a

single room tin shack since the death

of his parents four years ago. He has

no birth certificate which means that

he cannot go to school or apply for an

identity document, making finding

work a struggle. Mokwena‟s best

friend, Sipho Nkosi, introduced him

to the Viva Village Foundation at the

end of 2011. He is now virtually

adopted here.

Viva‟s Virtual Adoption pro-

gramme started in December 2010

and acts as a sponsorship for Orphans

and Vulnerable Children (OVC) and

the families that care for them. The

goal of the programme is to strength-

en underprivileged families through

home-based care and provide accom-

modation to OVC in crisis. The pro-

gramme provides for the needs of the

whole family and not only for vulner-

able children within a household.

“If you assess two orphans stay-

ing with extended family, you can‟t

just give the orphans food and expect

the family to cook it for them and

watch them eat it,” explained Meleny

Kriel chairperson of Viva.

The Viva Foundation cares for

153 families of which only eight are

virtually adopted. Mokwena is grate-

ful to be one of the eight. “Viva is

[my] family,” he said with a smile.

Jared Burchell, Manager of the Virtu-

al Adoption programme at Viva, said,

“One cannot imagine that someone

living in his conditions and circum-

stances could still adopt and maintain

a positive outlook.”

Virtual adoption starts with a virtual

family, consisting of an individual, a

company or any number of friends

from anywhere in the world who

want to adopt a family in need.

An in-depth assessment of the

families determines their level of

vulnerability. This and the amount of

money that the virtual family is will-

ing to sponsor, determines which

family is adopted by whom. Child-

headed households, critically ill par-

ents caring for children and granny-

headed households are considered

most vulnerable.

According to Kriel, the average

cost of a family‟s needs ranges be-

tween R600 and R1200 per month.

R600 is used for smaller families,

such as a granny caring for small

children who is only receiving grant

money, while a family of ten would

use R1200 because of school fees,

food and other necessities.

“Through the sponsorship of vir-

tual families, the Viva Foundation is

able to provide the adopted families

with a service,” said Kriel. The ser-

vice includes a monthly food parcel,

weekly visits, medical care, school

fees and logistical support. She add-

ed that special volunteer days can

also be arranged for the virtual fami-

ly to help their adopted family repair

their house or simply to become

acquainted with one another.

In addition to this, Burchell pro-

vides the virtual families with a feed-

back report once a term that includes

pictures of the adopted families re-

ceiving their food parcels and news

of events in their lives.

Since his adoption at the begin-

ning of the year the Viva Foundation

has been able to enrol Mokwena into

the Reneliwe Adult Centre for learn-

ing. Mokwena clearly has big

dreams: “I want to be a pilot; to see

the United Kingdom and America,”

he said.

According to Kriel, education is a

priority for the foundation because it

provides OVC with an exit strategy

from the poverty and despair they

face. “It allows them to realise their

self-sustainability and dreams.”

The Foundation helps Mokwena

with food, clothes and transport

money for school through the

sponsorship. Ultimately Viva can

now take Mokwena to the hospital in

Venda where he was born 17 years

ago to get his proof of birth in order

to apply for a birth certificate.

Aimee Delagey

Virtual adoption brings hope

Stephanie Van Der Plank

To enhance Nyaope’s

euphoric effect, rat

poison is sometimes

added

Abie Mokwena at the Viva Village. Photo: NARINA NEL

You can’t just give

the orphans food and

expect the family to

cook it for them and

watch them eat it

Danielle Petterson


A tiny playground and a lack

of school supplies do not

stop the Berakah Educational

Foundation from playing a “big role”

in preschool children’s lives.

Berakah started in 1999 with one

volunteer and ten children. Today it

caters to 230 children aged six

months to six years and has ten staff

members. Facilities comprise five

classrooms, a kitchen, and separate

boys and girls bathrooms situated

around a small playground.

The playground - a patch of sand,

two swings and a jungle gym - is too

small for the children. Not everyone

gets to use it regularly which often

leads to fighting. The small, dark

kitchen with its broken sink tap and

knee high gas stove has no cupboards

or floor tiles.

“The kitchen is a disaster,“ said

Nomthandazo (Sophie) Mashego,

founder and staff manager.

Teachers constantly experience

frustration at the lack of stationery.

“We often have to borrow from other

classrooms,” explained Mashego.

Shortages include paper, pencils,

chalk and crayons. An insufficient

number of desks and chairs leave

many children sitting on the floor.

Mashego said that teachers have to

“make a plan”. This includes letting

two children use the opposite sides of

the same piece of paper or being

forced to work in groups which ham-

pers their learning.

According to Berakah CEO, Bry-

an Hill, the Foundation receives ap-

proximately R24 000 a month in par-

ents’ fees. This he says decreases to

R18 000 by September because par-

ents can’t afford the monthly pay-

ments. In July and December parents

do not pay or pay less because of

school holidays, resulting in a

R36 400 yearly shortfall. Parents can

volunteer at Berakah as payment if

they can’t afford the monthly fee.

Mashego said Berakah can’t

charge parents more because they

can’t afford it. According to Hill, fees

can only be raised by R10 to R20

rand every year. Because of this and

the lack of funding the completion of

a sixth classroom has been put on

hold indefinitely.

Berakah is paying staff very basic

salaries. Mashego said that the salary

she receives is not adequate, but she

stays at Berakah because she loves the

children. “I want to bring a change in

our community, I want to [build] a

strong foundation.”

Hill has had to cut staff in the past

due to monetary shortages and staff

is often back-paid when donations

are received.

Despite Berakah’s shortcomings,

Mashego claims that children do not

often repeat a year. Glenton Magalela,

Berakah’s centre manager, receives

feedback on children who have gradu-

ated from the Foundation to primary

schools. Feedback is positive and the

children go on to be very successful.

“Berakah plays a big role in chil-

dren’s lives; it helps them out a lot.

They are very [happy] to come here,”

said Mashego.

Always travel with the car doors

locked.

Keep all windows closed or, at

most, not open more than would

allow a hand to fit through.

Leave enough room between

your car and the one in front to

avoid being boxed in.

Call the attention of other motor-

ists or pedestrians if you think

you are in danger. Use the hoot-

er, flash your lights, put your

emergency lights on or shout.

Be aware of anybody who ap-

proaches your car or is loitering

near traffic lights, stop streets,

parking areas or your driveway.

Don't pick up hitchhikers or un-

known passengers.

If you suspect that you are being

followed, you should ideally

drive to the nearest police sta-

tion. If this is not possible, drive

to another safe place but don't go

home.

A view of Berakah’s facilities, including some classrooms and the playground. Photo: DANIELLE PETTERSON

Hijacking leaves students afraid

A student was hijacked outside

the Mamelodi campus of the

University of Pretoria (UP)

on Friday 17 August, only a few me-

tres away from the campus entrance.

The incident has sparked safety con-

cerns among the students as well as a

re-assessment of campus security.

According to the UP Director of

Security Services, Colin Fouché, the

student exited the main entrance of

the campus and before entering the

main street was confronted by two

armed men. The men forced her

from her car and sped away. A UP

security guard stationed at the cam-

pus entrance realised what was hap-

pening and rushed to her aid.

Abigail Smith, a first-year nutri-

tion and food science student at

Mamelodi campus said, “My friends

are very afraid of driving to and

from campus.” According to Fou-

ché, UP has a bus service available

from Hatfield campus to Mamelodi

campus and from the Mamelodi UP

residence, Tuks Naledi, to Hatfield

campus. Fouché strongly advises the

students who feel unsafe travelling

by car to make use of this service.

However, the busses only make

one round trip daily. They depart

early in the morning and return in the

late afternoon when most students

have finished class. Smith explained

that many students bring their cars so

that they can leave earlier during the

day if they want to.

Shodi Maeya, a first-year biologi-

cal science student takes the bus every

day. “The problem is when you travel

by car you attract attention,” she said.

Maeya added that the students are

also concerned about sharing the cam-

pus with the public. Community out-

reach facilities such as animal and

legal aid clinics and a science reading

room for school children means that

no swipe system can be implemented.

There is a constant influx of new visi-

tors, making scheduled appointments

impossible.

However, all community mem-

bers are registered after their first visit

to the campus.

Edwin Smith, Mamelodi campus

director, explained that a question-

naire has been prepared for all the

community programme staff to com-

plete. These will then be forwarded to

UP security services in order to re-

evaluate the balance of student aca-

demic programmes and the communi-

ty interaction on campus.

The UP Student Representative

Council (SRC) head of the external

campus portfolio, Claudette Veld-

huizen, reassured students that both

the SRC and the University are very

concerned about the safety of the

Mamelodi campus students: “The

safety of UP students is always im-

portant. Although the event technical-

ly occurred outside the boundaries of

the Mamelodi campus, the university

was prepared to engage with SAPS,”

said Veldhuizen.

Veldhuizen added that in a recent

meeting with the Vice Chancellor of

UP, Prof. Cheryl de la Rey, security re

-assessments such as proper accredita-

tion of security guards and a park-and

-ride initiative was put forward. Since

the incident, two new security guards

have been allocated to monitor the

situation in and around campus.

The campus director encourages

all students to make use of the bus

services available, and if anyone

needs to travel back earlier than the

bus is scheduled to leave, they can

make arrangements with him.

A security guard stands at his post outside the Mamelodi Campus of the University of Pretoria.

Photo: AMY-MAE CAMPBELL

Amy-Mae Campbell

Berakah beats

the odds

Safety tips to avoid hijacking

The men forced her

from her car and sped

away


The importance of Grade R

T he Grade R programme at

Legora Primary School is cur-

rently run by a single educator,

Miriam Tsholo. The programme,

which was introduced last year, con-

sists of 35 students.

This primary school caters for

learners from grade R through to

grade 7. The school has over 2000

learners which has led to a problem of

overcrowding due to the lack of class-

room space. To combat this the De-

partment of Education has supplied

the school with a number of contain-

ers. One of these containers, the

Green Container, has been allocated

to Miriam Tsholo and her 35 Grade R

students.

Despite the outer appearance of

the container, upon entering, you are

transported into a bright classroom.

Colourful posters cover the walls,

creative crafts and books stock the

shelves, and the vibrancy of the learn-

ers fills the class.

Tsholo is qualified with matric and

Level 4 in Early Child Development

(ECD). The passionate teacher says

that she finds the job immensely ful-

filling because the children listen to

her and show her respect, and because

she is responsible for providing them

with important life skills.

Corrinne Freeman is an Early

Childhood Development (ECD) Phase

teacher with over 20 years of experi-

ence and is the current Head of Grade

00 at Heronbridge College in Johan-

nesburg. Freeman said in the ECD

phase children need to develop cogni-

tively, socially and emotionally. She

also commented on Tsholo’s situa-

tion: “It is quite remarkable and an

enormous challenge for one teacher to

be responsible for the entire Grade R

group.” Freeman said the toughest

obstacles Tsholo would have to over-

come would be the absence of other

teachers to discuss ideas and solutions

with, as well as the emotional atten-

tion children require at such a funda-

mental development phase.

The Grade R learners at Legora

come from Zulu and Sepedi homes, so

the teaching medium is English to

cater for both groups. However,

Tsholo said that the language differ-

ences can cause some difficulties

which is why she wants separate clas-

ses. Tsholo feels that being taught in

their mother tongue would make

learning more effective and beneficial.

However, Freeman seemed confident

about the success of the Grade R pro-

gramme at Legora:“If handled proper-

ly, Miriam has the ability to teach all

of the children, regardless of their

home language,” she said.

Although Tsholo loves her job,

the grade R programme at Legora is

not exactly the way she would like it

to be. She would like to see the pro-

gramme grow and become more fo-

cused. This means there is a need for a

bigger budget. The budget they cur-

rently have barely covers the basic

costs of education and the materials

needed to make teaching and learning

most effective. Due to this lack of

funding, Tsholo believes that parental

involvement and support is vital. Par-

ents currently provide their children

with materials the school could pro-

vide if they had sufficient funds.

The programme has become pop-

ular and there is a waiting list of stu-

dents to be enrolled. “It is a positive

programme that fits well with the

school’s spirit of improvement,” said

Tsholo. The principle of the school,

Mohlamme Mathebe said, “Grade R is

a must in South African schools.” He

insists that in order to eradicate the

problem of illiteracy in South Africa

Grade R is vital in any school system.

Mathebe has great hopes for the future

of Legora. With the help of the gov-

ernment and the efforts of his lone

Grade R educator, he hopes to have

up to four Grade R classes by 2014.

Miriam Tsholo teaches her Grade R pupils at Legora Primary School.

Photo: NARINA NEL

Staff and students from The

University of Pretoria’s (UP)

Mamelodi Campus, offered

help to victims of the pipe burst in the

Phomolong settlement.

The pipe burst on 20 August, and

resulted in the death of three children.

The flood caused parts of Solomon

Mahlangu Drive to be temporarily

closed. Since the incident the burst

water pipe has been repaired but ap-

proximately 3 500 people have been

left displaced.

Christine Kraamwinkel, an assis-

tant lecturer at UP’s Mamelodi Cam-

pus, has been trying to provide relief

with the aid of students, friends and

UP personnel.

Kraamwinkel has created a Face-

book page called Mamelodi Disaster

Relief (20 August 2012). It raises

awareness and gives anyone wishing

to make a difference the chance to

join and connect with others who

seek to help.

Kraamwinkel visited the site after

the incident to offer the families af-

fected by the burst pipe donations.

She recalled the reaction of an elderly

woman on her first visit to the ruined

community. The woman expressed

disbelief and gratitude at the amount

of help the victims were receiving.

Since then more trips to families have

been organised, allowing UP Mame-

lodi Campus students to visit and

interact with the affected residents.

Unemployment in the area makes

it difficult for families to start over

again, said Kraamwinkel. She urges

people to go out and see the damages

for themselves.

Maxwell Kamlongera

K wenzeke ukugqekeza

okuningi Epfunzo Ndi

Tshedza Primary School,

Mamelodi East. Kwantsontsha

amakhebuli, futhi kwalimaza

izimpahla. Abafundisi bakholwa

ukuthi abathintandaba bebenza nje.

UNorman Sebudubudu, umgadi

omunye waseskolo, wathi ngesikhathi

abathintandaba bangena esikolweni,

babhuqa amabhulakubhodi

nezimpahla nefanisha namafasitela

namaphosta. Kwenzeka kaningi

ngamaholide waseskolo. Ngoba,

kwathi du esikolweni ngamaholide,

akekho lapho. Ukubhuqa

kwezimpahla zaseskolo kuvimbisa

abafundi nabafundisi ukusebenzisa

amakhompiyutha nezinto ezifanayo.

USebudubudu ucabanga ukuthi

ukulondeka kwesiskolo akwanele.

Ucabanga nje ngoba abazali

basebafundi basePfunzo Ndi Tshedza

abakhokheli imali. Imali yasekolo

itholwa ngezipho zomphakathi

nazohulumeni phela. USebudubudu

usho ukuthi azanele izipho lezi

ukulwa abathintandaba. Kanti laziswe

iCommittee Policing Forum (CPF)

ngolumeni ngoFebruwari umnyaka lo.

Leli Forum lidala umsebenzi

wabagadi abathathu elangeni

nabagadi ababili ebusuku.

USebudubudu usho ukuthi

ababambekile abathintandaba, emuva

balisebenzisele iCPF, kanti

bebelisebenzise ngesikashana phela.

USebudubudu uhlale ufise ukuthi

iCPF lizovimbisa abathintandaba

ngamaholide.

Translation: Jaco van Niekerk

Indaba enhle nanxa ukubhuqa

esikolweni Pieter van der Merwe.

University of

Pretoria aids pipe

burst victims

It is quite remarkable

and an enormous chal-

lenge for one teacher to

be responsible for

the entire Grade R group

Narina Nel

The area where the pipe burst. Everything was swept away with the flood. Days later there were still pools of water

and mud everywhere. Photo: CHRISTINE KRAAMWINKEL


Spotlight on SOS

Lizo Tom, public relations officer, stands outside the SOS Children’s Village. Photo: DANIELLE PETTERSON

T he SOS Villages have made a

remarkable difference in peo-

ple‟s lives over the past 30

years. This is traceable through the

inspirational stories of previous SOS

children and current employees of the

Mamelodi SOS Village.

Pinkie Sogayise Social worker

Pinkie Sogayise gets up every day to

do administrative work until the

children in the Village arrive home

from school. When the children ar-

rive they bring with them the prob-

lems one would find in any school or

home, but also the unique issues that

arise in a community like Mamelodi.

As a social worker in the village

Sogayise helps with the admission of

new children. This is only done by

court order. The social workers in-

side the village contact external so-

cial workers working directly with

the community and who refer chil-

dren to the Village based on specific

admission criteria.

Sogayise described her daily life

in the Village: “You speak to some

of [the children], attend counselling

sessions, group work sessions and I

also go to the houses to check how

[the children] are coping with the

parent that they have.” “When you

see children coming to you and ac-

knowledging that you are there, they

know that you are there for them– it

means a lot and it changes any nega-

tive issue you had,” she said.

Lizo Tom Public relations officer

“The village raised me up to be who

I am today,” explained Lizo Tom,

Public Relations and Corporate

Fundraiser of the Village. Tom was

born on 23 February 1985 in the

Livingston hospital in Port Eliza-

beth. He mysteriously arrived at the

SOS Village at the age of two and

stayed there until he was 19.

In 2005 he decided to look for his

biological parents to find the truth

about his life and how the SOS Vil-

lage has helped him achieve his

goals. He was shocked by what he

discovered. His mother was allegedly

drinking at a shebeen just before she

went into labour. At the hospital she

used a false identity and abandoned

him. Even though it is not clear how

he ended up at the Mamelodi Village,

Tom is very grateful that he did.

With the support of the village

Tom was able to learn English, finish

his schooling and study opera. He

found success singing at the World

Peace Concert in Japan and shared a

stage with well-known opera singer

Helmut Lotti in Sweden.

He now gives back to the village

working as the public relations officer

and acting as what he describes as a

big brother to the children in the Vil-

lage. Tom wishes to contribute to

every child‟s future just as the SOS

Children‟s Village contributed to his.

“I want the children to look beyond

me – I want doctors, lawyers and

extraordinary musicians.”

Victoria House mother

The Villages would not function

without the help of the house moth-

ers. Most of the SOS mothers have

their own families whom they leave

behind to care for those with more

30 Years of making a difference

T his year marks the 30th anni-

versary of the SOS Chil-

dren‟s villages in South Afri-

ca. SOS Children‟s villages have

been home to thousands of orphaned

and abandoned children since first

founded in 1982 in Ennerdale, Jo-

hannesburg.

One of the oldest villages was

established in 1985 in Mamelodi,

Pretoria. The Mamelodi SOS

village is currently home to 162

children.

These villages have made an

astounding difference in people‟s

lives by creating a healthy close-knit

family environment for orphans and

abandoned children to live and grow

up in. The families consist of eight to

ten children who live within a sup-

portive village environment with an

SOS-mother. Guided by four princi-

ples, these homes provide parental

care, family ties between brothers

and sisters, a safe, secure environ-

ment and an extended family bond

throughout the village.

The organisation enjoys a lot of

financial sponsorships, but they can

never raise enough awareness about

the challenges both the children and

SOS-mothers face. According to

public relations officer, Lizo Tom,

raising as much awareness as possi-

ble is one of the primary goals for

the celebration of the organisation‟s

30th anniversary in South Africa.

He said that it is important for

South Africans to know about what

the SOS Villages have achieved

over the past 30 years as they pre-

pare for a promising future.

A gala evening took place on

the 12th of October to celebrate the

village‟s 30th anniversary. Digni-

taries such as the Ambassador of

the Austrian Embassy attended the

dinner where Dr Masitha Hoeane,

University of Pretoria Arts Director

was the guest speaker.

A birthday cake was made for

the children to enjoy on the Satur-

day after the gala dinner.

History and celebrations Staff writers

The village raised me

up to be who I am

today


Gontse Majopela soaks up the sun in a tyre. Photo: JANKE TOLMAY

pressing needs.

Victoria* who has been working

as a mother in the Village for over a

decade, left her young daughter in the

Eastern Cape to care for ten orphaned

and abandoned children.

She only has the opportunity to go

home every two months. She cares for

her family by handling the financial

responsibilities.

Victoria feels that although the

children can be a handful they bring

happiness into her life on a daily basis

which makes all of the sacrifices she

makes worthwhile.

*Victoria did not want to give her

surname

Khumpulile Mhlanga Assistant mother

Assistant mother at the village and

single parent to a one-year-old son,

Khumpulile Mhlanga, said that SOS

gave her a future. Mhlangu‟s role

requires her to live in the village and

stand in for the house mothers when

they go home.

She described her life as full of

children, helping them get ready for

school, assisting them with their

homework and preparing their meals

for them.

Mhlangu came to the village from

Nelspruit in October 2008 to fulfil her

dream of working with children.

Like Victoria, she has had to sacri-

fice living with her child. Mhlangu

said it is worth it because working at

the village allows her to give her son a

better life.

“It takes a lot of work to be a

house mother and it is a lot of respon-

sibility. I enjoy it and I love what I do

and I would not trade it in for any-

thing,” she said.

Staff writers: Philip Stofberg,

Metha Viljoen, Janke Tolmay

& Zeenat Patel

House mother Thabile pleased with her children doing their school work.

Photo: LERATO KHUMALO

Enzo James on the jungle gym at the SOS Children’s Village. Photo: JANKE TOLMAY

Nompi James enjoys the outdoors.

Photo: JANKE TOLMAY Gladis Monyebodi prepares for supper while the children

are at school. Photo: ZEENAT PATEL

No father figure

leaves boys

unsure Tom Aussems The lack of a male role model

leaves orphan boys in the SOS

Children‟s Village unsure about

how to shape their adulthood.

Sixteen year old Andile, or

„Trance‟ as he likes to be called, is

one of the kids living at the SOS

Children‟s Village. For him, as well

as a number of his peers, the biggest

shortfall in their lives is the lack of a

father figure.

When they reach 18, the children

in the villages are considered ready

to start their adult lives. In Trance‟s

case, being one of the older kids in

the village, this reality is not far

away. However, the road to adult-

hood and taking care of themselves

is not always an easy one. “We‟re

trained to make our lives better but

without a father figure we [can‟t],”

Trance said. He would love to start a

family one day but he is not sure

how to act like a father, nor does he

know how to fix a car or treat a lady.

For Trance the solution was an

“initiation.”

An initiation is a traditional

inauguration into manhood. For

Trance and his peers it is a way of

compensating for the gap that their

fathers have left behind. In order to

become a man the children are

required to survive and, amongst

other things, fight with sticks. Ac-

cording to the Child and Youth

Development Coordinator at the

village, Victor Mbinga, boys often

feel the need to express their newly

acquired manliness which results in

dominant behaviour towards their

caregivers and peers.

Mbinga is one of five male

staff members at the village. Many

of the children - and boys in partic-

ular - treat him as a substitute fa-

ther. Boys often approach him with

pressing questions regarding cir-

cumcision, initiation and marriage.

“There seems to be a lack of under-

standing of how to establish [their]

own families. Boys do not feel

comfortable enough to address

these issues with their mothers,”

Mbinga said.

Social workers Tresia Mannao

and Pinkie Sogayise acknowledged

the lack of a father figure in the

boys‟ lives. According to them, the

boys become very affectionate and

often smother the male visitors

with questions. Mbinga stated that

the children inevitably start enquir-

ing about their biological parents.

Mbinga noted that uncertainty

about their parents and their forma-

tive years is a sensitive issue to

many of the older boys in the vil-

lage. “The father figure [problem]

kills our kids,” said Mbinga. Many

teenage boys become rebellious

when these issues remain unattend-

ed and this often results in them

disobeying and mistreating their

foster moms.

Mannao and Sogayise remain

hopeful about the boys‟ futures,

however, saying “Those who are

curious enough, teach themselves

[how to be an adult].”


Managing editor

Philip Stofberg

Editor

Danielle Petterson

Deputy editor

Maxwell Kamlongera

Advertising manager

Ishmael Mohlabe

News editor

Sydney King

Deputy news editor

Matthew Hakim

Photo editor

Narina Nel

Deputy photo editor

Sean Nurse

Chief layout artist

Annika Mouton

Chief copy editor

Stephanie van der Plank

Layout Artists

Anna Lourens

Chloé Holenstein

Hilton Thom

Ilana van Heerden

Ischke de Jager

Lerato Khumalo

Metha Viljoen

Nyasha Bosman

Pieter van der Merwe

Rochandré Kibido

Rochelle Jansen

Zenna Muller

Copy editors

Aimeé Delagey

Amy-Mae Campbell

Dunja Raschke

Liesl de Wet

Lidia Wilken

Margeaux Erasmus

Maxine Twaddle

Melissa Kemp

Neil Pretorius

Ntombi Shilubane

Taryn Richmond

Editorial Staff 2012

Danielle Petterson

Letter from the editor

Maxwell Kamlongera

Thanks to the community

Everything starts with a word of

thanks and I’d like the opportunity

to express such gratitude on behalf

of the entire newspaper staff to-

wards the institutions that accom-

modated the University of Pretoria’s

(UP) journalism students.

Arrangements were made as to

the regions we (the students) would

visit and from there it was left to

each student’s discretion as to where

to proceed.

With help and reference from

the individuals that make up the

community, we were given an en-

riching opportunity to learn more

about the district. Whether it was

coming to grips as to how serious

tick-bite fever is or better under-

standing the utilisation of Ubuntu

amongst the schools, we weren’t left

disappointed, while there were even

those amongst us that creatively

went the extra mile to find stories

that would even amaze the residents

of Mamelodi.

It would be long-winded to

point out each and every foundation

that played a role but essentially the

list is composed of the countless

people and organisations mentioned

in this paper. Their patience not

only started long before the journal-

ism students made their first visits

but it continued long after the stu-

dents left and instead it was now the

staff of the paper doing follow-ups

on individual beats.

Many thanks goes to these insti-

tutions and the individuals of the

community who made each article

and photo a possibility. I now look

to the future and hope that the col-

laboration between these establish-

ments and UP’s Journalism Pro-

gramme can continue and that more

initiatives between UP and Mamelo-

di can emerge.

Raising The Mamelodi Voice Three years ago the Journalism

students of the University of Preto-

ria (UP) began a reporting project in

Mamelodi. Most were new to the

area, and many said they felt lost.

This changed quickly when they

met the people of Mamelodi, who

opened up their hearts and poured

out their stories of goodwill, hope

and, yes, sometimes heartache.

Since 2010 we have made many

friends here. We love coming back

to visit the projects, schools and

clinics that do so much to uplift and

encourage this community.

The Mamelodi Voice is our

attempt at giving a voice to the

friends we have made along the

way. We want to be a place where

the efforts – and struggles– of these

community heroes can be visible to

everyone around them.

However, we are not in the

business of providing only free

publicity. We do real reporting and

photojournalism. Where there is

good news, we will tell it. Where

there are problems, we will report

on them as well.

Doing reporting in Mamelodi is

also a wonderful learning oppor-

tunity for our Journalism students.

They get the opportunity to get out

of the comfort zone of the class-

room and into real-life reporting

situations. While this might be un-

comfortable, it is the quickest way

to learn. We applaud the second

year Journalism class of 2012 for

their determination and innovation

during this reporting project.

To the staff of the Summer 2012

editon of The Mamelodi Voice: you

have put together an exceptional

publication. You can be proud of

the way you worked together as a

team. But you should be especially

proud of the way you managed to

make this a community newspaper.

For in the end The Mamelodi

Voice belongs to Mamelodi.

Marenet Jordaan (lecturer)

Prof. Pippa Green (head)

UP Journalism Programme

Before being tasked with reporting

in Mamelodi I had never even seen

the place. I never imagined myself

going to Mamelodi, especially not

right into the heart of it.

When first hearing our assign-

ment, many of the journalism stu-

dents were shocked – and some I

believe a little scared. We were

even more trepidatious after being

told not to focus on the negative but

find positive, uplifting stories –

where do you find a positive story

in Mamelodi, right?

Wrong. As you can see by

this paper, there are in fact

many stories to be found in

Mamelodi that don’t only fo-

cus on the negative. The sad

fact is, bad news sells, and that

is why the public is bombarded

with negative images of this

community. This paper has

been set up to serve the com-

munity, to show the real Mam-

elodi – a colourful, vibrant

place full of interesting people,

many of whom have devoted

their lives to helping others.

There are many worthy causes

in Mamelodi that need support. It

is my dream that future editions of

The Mamelodi Voice become a

champion for the people of this

community providing them with a

platform for their voices to be

heard. I hope that this edition high-

lights the fact that if you take the

time to look you will see the posi-

tive in any place and that for every

problem a solution can be found.

As myself and the rest of The

Mamelodi Voice team came to

realise, putting together a newspa-

per is no easy task – especially

when starting from scratch. In fact,

at the start I found myself wholly

unprepared for this daunting chal-

lenge. Although this is the third

edition of The Mamelodi Voice,

every edition is something com-

pletely new for the students who

tackle the task from a vantage

point of zero experience.

In the end I can honestly say

that I have learned a lot and I am

sure that the rest of the staff has

too. Despite much hard work and

many sleepless nights, putting

together this edition of The Mam-

elodi Voice has been a great and

invaluable experience. I would

like to thank the team members

who gave their best and helped

make this newspaper a reality.

I hope that you will enjoy

reading the interesting stories that

fill its pages.


Annakie Human and Rheece Moonjava, stand in front of one of their artworks at Viva Village in Lusaka. Lewele Joseph and Lucas Seleme sit in the sun and enjoy the art

around them.

David Aphane speeds past a colorfully painted house. Another house that was transformed into a work of art outside the Viva Village.

Moshumi Street in Lusaka, where the artists have painted colorful pictures on some of the

houses.

Colourful Mamelodi Some of the houses in the Lusaka settlement have been transformed from being just an-

other house in a row of so many to a work of art. Annakie Human and Rheece Moonjava,

volunteers at the Viva Village, have painted colourful works of art on nine houses in

Mamelodi. According to Annakie the idea behind this initiative is to create something out

of the ordinary that will attract tourists and benefit the community. The artists want tour-

ists to come and view the art and leave donations to the owners of the houses.

Photos: LIDIA WILKEN

Lungile Masheba stands at the entrance of her house in Viva Village.

T ick infestations are a big prob-

lem in Mamelodi. This is

because they are found in the

environment where residents live and

keep their pets, according to Dr Cher-

rie Liebenberg, head of the Mamelodi

Animal Health Clinic (MAHC).

Tick-bite fever is a blood-born

parasite that enters an animal‟s blood

stream when the animal is bitten by a

tick carrying this disease. The para-

site then uses the red blood cells to

grow, divide and multiply. It does

this by causing one red blood cell to

explode before moving on to others.

“So what you end up with is a dog

with no blood. It is a horrendous,

painful and horrible way to die, to put

it mildly,” said Liebenberg.

“Mamelodi is pretty much riddled

with ticks,” she said, but added that

there is no reason why dogs should

die from tick-bite fever. “It is com-

pletely preventable. All you have to

do is keep the ticks off your dog.”

The MAHC aids dog owners in

preventing diseases such as tick bite

fever by providing them with the

means to regularly dip their dogs at

the clinic. Dipping is a preventative

method that keeps ticks from jumping

onto the animals for approximately

seven to ten days. Liebenberg said,

“We are trying to keep the dip-tank

free [of charge]. There is just no rea-

son not to bring your dogs and have

them dipped.”

According to Liebenberg her four

main projects at the MAHC are tick-

bite fever, worms, parvovirus (parvo)

and distemper. She said that these

diseases are prevented through dip-

ping, vaccinations and de-worming.

“We should not be seeing these is-

sues,” she said, “and unfortunately

Mamelodi is full up on all of [these].”

Parvo is a highly contagious virus

that attacks dividing cells in the ani-

mal‟s body resulting in a lowered

immune system. Distemper is caused

by a virus that is similar to human

measles. It is also life-threatening and

easily preventable through vaccina-

tions. The MAHC provides vaccina-

tions for both of these diseases.

Rabies can be prevented by vac-

cinations offered by the MAHC. Dr

Quixi Sonntag from the University of

Pretoria‟s Department of Companion

Animal Clinical Studies, said that

rabies is by far the most fatal disease

that can be transmitted from animals

to humans. Rabies is transmitted by

the infected dog‟s saliva. Dogs with

rabies often behave unusually, typi-

cally becoming intensely aggressive.

“The dog dies within a few days

of showing symptoms, [but] for peo-

ple it is a slow and horrible death and

it can take months before people show

the symptoms of the disease after

having been bitten,” she added. If

people receive immediate treatment at

a hospital after being bitten by a rabid

dog there is a chance of survival. The

only way to diagnose the disease in

dogs is by way of a special test done

on the brain of the deceased dog.

Rabies is a controlled disease

which means all cases have to be

reported to the government through

the veterinary or medical state depart-

ments depending on whether the carri-

er is an animal or human.

To prevent rabies, owners need

to vaccinate their dogs when they are

approximately three months old and

again before a year of age. From then

on vaccinations every three years will

be sufficient. “A simple vaccination

can save the lives of people,”

Sonntag said. The dog vaccine is

cheap and often given free of charge

by state veterinarians. However, it is

more complicated and much more

expensive to vaccinate people. There-

fore the best way to prevent rabies is

to vaccinate dogs.

“That is one of the things we are

really trying to drive home: That pre-

vention is better than cure,”

Liebenberg said. “We are looking at

primary health care and these are

easily preventable diseases.”

Animal diseases need not be deadly

Margeaux Erasmus

Worms:

Parasites that infect the

canine intestines. The most

common types of worms

are Hookworms, Round-

worms, Tapeworms and

Whipworms. Owners

should de-worm their dogs

regularly. It is also good

practise to remove canine

faeces frequently from the

yard.

Distemper:

Very similar to the measles

virus that affects humans.

Distemper is a very serious

viral disease in dogs. The

distemper vaccine should

be administered every 3 to

4 weeks, from 6 to 16

weeks of age with subse-

quent annual boosters.

Parvovirus:

A virus that could attack

the intestines of any canine

species. Puppies are espe-

cially susceptible to the

disease and it can result in

death. Easily preventable

through vaccination. First

vaccination should be ad-

ministered at 6 weeks and

then at 9 and 12 weeks.

Annual booster shots are

then advised for general

pet health.

Rabies:

A fatal disease that affects

all warm-blooded animals.

It is spread through saliva

and may be prevented

through vaccinations at 3

to 6 months.

Hepatitis:

A highly contagious viral

infection which affects the

liver, kidneys, spleen,

lungs, and eyes in dogs.

Puppies under the age of a

year are vulnerable to this

and should receive a vac-

cination as early in its life

as possible. Annual revac-

cination is often recom-

mended.

Initial symptoms include

behaviour and personality

changes such as fearfulness,

anxiety, shyness and with-

drawal.

Symptoms progress to rest-

lessness, agitation and over-

reaction to sights and sounds.

These lead to full-blown

aggression, then disorienta-

tion followed by seizures.

Dogs may experience paraly-

sis in the head and neck area.

This causes inability to swal-

low, resulting in excess sali-

vation or foaming at the

mouth.

After this death soon follows.

Puppy Julius at Mamelodi Animal Health Clinic, diagnosed with a progressed form of tick-bite fever.

Photo: ANELDA MARX

Joe Masinga's pet dog, Bushka, who has ovarian cancer. Her ribs stick out

because of the disease.

Photo: MARGEAUX ERASMUS

The blood cells of puppy Julius show that he has tick-bite fever.

Photo: ANELDA MARX


Symptoms of

tick-bite fever

Symptoms of rabies

Dog diseases

Fever

Lameness

Loss of appetite

Vomiting and diarrhoea

Coughing

Excessive salivating

Sudden pain in your dog's

legs or body

Swelling in your dog's joints

Lethargy

Depression

P eople donating blood is a com-

mon occurrence. However,

blood donors can also be found

in the form of man‟s best friend - the

domestic dog. Like humans, animals

often need blood transfusions.

Canine blood transfusions are

needed in a variety of cases; most

often through loss of blood from inju-

ries in road accidents or dog fighting.

Other cases include instances of blood

poisoning and immune-mediated hae-

molytic anaemia where the immune

system attacks the red blood cells.

In this case, a constant flow of new

blood is needed to prevent fatal anae-

mia while treatment is at work.

The Mamelodi Animal Health

Clinic (MAHC) has become the pro-

vider of this much needed animal

healthcare to the pets of Mamelodi.

Most veterinarians rely on their

own resources in the procurement of

life-saving blood. Internet sites such

as dogblooddonors.com provide vets

with an online database of potential

canine blood donors. Registrations are

similar to those of the South African

National Blood Service (SANBS) in

human medicine, as dogs, like people,

become certified and frequent donors.

In the case of the MAHC, they

have a number of Greyhounds serving

as their frequent donors. The dogs

work on six week rotations and live

with the veterinary science students at

the University of Pretoria‟s Onder-

stepoort campus. They provide the

blood needed by the clinic‟s patients.

Greyhounds are ideally suited to the

work of blood donation as they have a

unique physiological trait in their

blood. They are the dog-equivalent of

the „universal‟ Type O blood type

found in humans. This blood type is

found within 70% of the Greyhound

species. Their blood has a higher red

blood cell count than other dogs have,

as well as a lower count of white

blood cells and platelets.

The blood is collected from both

sedated and non-sedated animals. Dr

Cherrie Liebenberg, a veterinarian at

MAHC, treats Greyhounds that have a

calm temperament, allowing for non-

sedated donation. Standard human

blood bags are used along with sy-

ringes containing anti-coagulant. A

normal donation is 450ml, the equiva-

lent of „One Canine Unit‟. This can

safely be obtained from a 25kg dog.

Smaller breeds may also contribute

smaller amounts if the need arises.

Larger breeds, such as the St Bernard

and Irish Wolfhound are able to con-

tribute three bags at a time.

Greyhounds are the preferred

breed, not only for racing, but also for

the task of donation. Humans are

regularly asked to provide this life-

saving service for their fellow man,

but sometimes the pet‟s need for

blood donations is forgotten.

If you would like to find out more

about the process or whether your dog

is an eligible donor, contact the

MAHC at 012 842 3451 or get in

touch with your nearest vet clinic.

A helping paw Hilton Thom

Feeding

An all round balanced diet

consists of six parts: protein,

carbohydrates, fat, vitamins,

minerals and water.

The dog food you buy should

be labelled „complete and

balanced‟.

Feed your dog twice a day.

Ensure your dog always has

fresh, clean water.

Vaccinations

Vaccinations and booster

shots will help keep your dog

safe and healthy.

Yearly vaccinations include

those for the more common

fatal diseases.

All-in-one shots will general-

ly protect your dog from

distemper, hepatitis, parain-

fluenza and parvovirus. De-

pending on local risks, pro-

tection from coronavirus,

leptospirosis and Lyme dis-

ease may also be included.

Ask your vet about heart-

worm testing and prevention

A rabies shot will be needed

every few years.

Sleeping arrangements

Your dog should have shelter

from sun, rain and wind.

Make sure your dog has a

warm place to sleep in winter

and a cool place in summer.

If you have a doghouse your

dog should be able to stand

up, turn around, and lie down

comfortably in it.

Bedding should be washed

weekly in hot water to re-

move odours and kill para-

sites such as fleas and their

eggs.

Dog-proofing your yard

Make sure you have a sturdy

fence around your yard with

no way for your dog to es-

cape.

Your dog shouldn‟t be able to

jump over it, dig under it or

squeeze through a hole.

Don‟t tie your dog up with

chains, wire or thick rope.

This can hurt your dog.

Grooming

Regularly brushing your

dog‟s hair keeps it from mat-

ting and keeps skin healthy

by stimulating blood flow

and distributing natural oils.

Trim your dog‟s nails and

often check your dog‟s paws

for cuts.

Dogs don‟t need to be bathed

regularly - only when they

become dirty or smelly. Use

dog shampoo or human baby

shampoo. If you want to

bathe your dog more than

once a month: use a soap-free

or moisturizing shampoo to

prevent the skin from becom-

ing dry.

Dog blood donation

Dogs, like humans, have

various blood groups. There

are eight blood types to

which donors and recipients

should ideally match.

The ideal donor should be a

friendly, healthy, clinically

normal animal that is not

pregnant nor has produced a

litter, if it is a female.

All donors must be vaccinat-

ed, but not within 10-14 days

of donation.

The dogs should be free of

infections, parasites and

blood- born diseases such as

tick-bite fever.

Greyhounds are the pre-

ferred breed, not only for

racing, but also for the

task of donation.

Dr Cherrie Liebenberg, a veterinarian, works at the Mamelodi Animal Health

Clinic.

Photo: NICOLENE OELOFSE

Puppy, Lucifer, recovers from diarrhoea, caused by unhealthy circumstanc-

es at home.

Photo: ANELDA MARX

Gareth Cronje, a first year BSc Natural and Biological Science student, exam-

ines one of the puppies for tick-bite fever.

Photo: ANELDA MARX

Joe Masinga shows off his chow puppy, Sam, after facial reconstructive

surgery.



How to care

for your dog

http://healthguide.howstuffworks.com/carbohydrates-dictionary.htm

http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/fat.htm

http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/vitamins.htm

http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/food6.htm

http://healthguide.howstuffworks.com/fleas-dictionary.htm

http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/human-biology/blood.htm


A client pays Noah Chaya for fried chicken legs.

Photo: ANNIKA MOUTON

The under-13 (red) and under-11 (blue) players enjoying a practice game at Pfunzo Ndi Tshedza

Primary School. Photo: SEAN NURSE

A boy finishes his lunch at the Viva Village day care centre. Photo: NATALIE THOMPSON

Student nurse Adelaide Se/okelo speaking

to Auntie Dina at the Frail Care wing of the

Mamelodi Society for Care of the Aged.

Photo: NEIL PRETORIUS

Jacquoline Senoamadi, a kitchen staff volunteer at Legora Primary

School, prepares to hand out oranges to pupils as they leave school.

Photo: SYDNEY KING

A group of schoolchildren crowd the windowpane from inside their grade four English classroom at

Legora Primary School. Photo: ILANA VAN HEERDEN

A local resident with his dog about to

receive treatment at the Mamelodi Animal

Health Clinic.


Tshepo Mahlanti and fellow students line up to receive their afternoon

snacks of oranges at Legora Primary School. Photo: TARYN RICHMOND

G reen areas planted for food

production or recreational

purposes are scarce in Mame-

lodi. This makes the existence of a

school garden in the Pfunzo Ndi

Tshedza Primary School quite re-

markable. Since 2006 food and me-

dicinal plants have been grown in the

area around the school building.

The lack of green areas in Mame-

lodi make planting and cultivating

quite challenging. “Overcrowding as

well as a hot and dry climate result in

water scarcity and lack of space,”

explained Jacob Mabe, the principal

of the school. Moreover, illegal waste

burning and garbage dumping abuses

many of the public green areas.

“Our school garden is open to

[the] neighbours and constitutes,

therefore, a service to the communi-

ty,” said Mabe. He said that the

school is somewhat dependent on the

engagement of neighbours for

maintenance.

The harvest provides for the

school kitchen as much as possible

and is also distributed amongst, or

sold to, the people within the com-

munity. This is important in light of

the widespread malnutrition of many

children in Mamelodi, resulting from

the poor socio-economic circum-

stances. Many children receive their

only meal of the day at school. Some

are orphans, and in an especially

precarious nutritional state.

Ben Mashele, the coordinator of

the school garden, said teaching the

children the skills necessary to grow

edible plants may positively affect

their overall nutrition.

Indigenous plants are preferable

to exotic plants. Mashele explains

that indigenous plants have an ad-

vantage because they require far less

water through their alignment with

the South African climate conditions.

They also require less maintenance.

Next to the garden of edible plants

a smaller section is reserved for

plants with medicinal usage. Many

families cannot afford medicine at

all, making access to medicinal plants

important to their overall health care.

On a walk through the school

garden, Mashele explained that the

„chips‟ and „kulufulu‟ plants are

grown because of their robustness

and vast usage against infections and

the flu.

Dried up plants, garbage in the

plant beds and ripe fruits that have

not been harvested, cause large parts

of the school garden to appear aban-

doned. Mabe pointed to issues with

personnel that have made keeping the

garden on track problematic.

He stated that they have voted for

a new garden committee with

Mashele as main coordinator, and is

positive they will work hard.

Currently a handful of gardeners,

consisting of occasional supporters

from the community and pupils of the

seventh grade, take care of the vast

school garden.

“Obviously, the school garden

cannot be prioritized over more sali-

ent issues, like [education] or infra-

structure,” admitted Mashele.

He said that they try to acquire

enough resources necessary to keep

the garden going with the help of

sponsors. Mabe agreed: “We won‟t

let the school garden down. Teaching

gardening skills is our contribution to

mitigate the impact of malnutrition

and rising food prices.”

A stroke survivor has found a

way to support his family by

growing spinach and making

furniture at Viva Village in the Alaska

informal settlement in Lusaka, Mame-

lodi East.

Stephen Lehoko was born in

Evaton, Vereeniging, where he grew

up and started a family of his own.

However, after suffering a stroke all

he could do to support his family was

to plant and tend to his own tomatoes

and spinach.

His circumstances changed in

January of this year when his brother,

Ishmael, a taxi- driver in Mamelodi,

discovered Viva Village.

According to missionary Leon

Kriel, CEO of Viva Foundation, Viva

follows the example of the Roman

Catholic missions. The centres behind

high walls looked like paradise; a

strategy that invited people in to

absorb and learn from their beauty.

Viva Village however, is not

behind high walls. It is a fenced-off

area, about the size of a soccer field,

with grass, trees and flowers that do

not otherwise appear amidst the

shacks of Alaska.

“A people are only informal until

they get themselves organised. Then

they become a community,” said

Kriel, citing Stephen and Ishmael as

good examples.

Kriel‟s wife Meleney, Chairper-

son and Fund Development Manager

of Viva Foundation, said that the

brothers showed up one day without

demands and ready to work. They

have each been given a spinach

garden to oversee.

The kitchen uses the spinach grown

for V-Food, a programme that feeds

Viva‟s Day Care children and orphan

families. Stephen and Ishmael can

eat or sell what is left over from the

garden. They also receive V-Food

meals – as does everybody who

works on the premises and is present

at mealtime.

Stephen and Ishmael are at Viva

Village every day. When they are not

tending the vegetable gardens, they

are in the carpentry workshop. Here

they learn woodwork skills and

business knowledge from Kriel as part

of Viva‟s Enterprise Development

Programme.

The brothers are encouraged to

take orders for furniture from the

community and begin selling while

they are still training.

Meleney Kriel hopes that this kind

of approach will cause the entire

community of Alaska to benefit. “The

more people in the neighbourhood

that earn money, [the more] the place

will come alive,” she concluded.

For Leon Kriel it is all about

standing back and letting the Viva

initiatives run on their own. He

hopes that through the training he

provides, Stephen and Ishmael

will learn the skills, safety proce-

dures and business knowledge

needed to become workshop man-

agers and factory owners.

Garden of hope

Cultivating plants empowers community

Grow your own vegetables at home

Stephen Lehoko tends the spinach garden at Viva Village in Lusaka.

Photo: BRONWYN CURRIN

Stephen Lehoko clears away weeds and dead plants in the spinach garden.

Photo: BRONWYN CURRIN

A people are only

informal until they

get themselves

organised. Then they

become a

community

Bronwyn Currin


Spring vegetables:

Beetroot

Baby Marrows

Carrots

Cucumbers

Potatoes

Lettuces

Peppers

Tomatoes

Peas

Summer vegetables:

Beetroot

Cabbage

Cauliflower

Carrots

Cucumber

Lettuces

Squash

Sweet corn

1. Find a spot that gets plenty of sunlight that isn‟t

near other plants and trees. If your veggies are

planted near other plants, they compete for nutri-

ents from the soil and water.

2. The area where you want to grow your veggies

should be a space of 5x4 metres. This is large

enough to grow a good variety of vegetables and

herbs.

3. Mark out where your walkways are going to be.

Lay a network of pathways that are about 1,2m

apart. This allows you to move around your gar-

den, without standing on your plants.

4. Prepare the soil for planting. Turn the soil between

the pathways with a garden fork to a depth of

25cm. Remove all stones, weeds and rubbish.

Make sure the soil is broken up, then add compost,

manure and slow release veggie fertiliser (optional)

to the turned soil.

5. Work the compost and manure into the ground.

You want soil consistency that is not too sandy,

but also not clumpy. Your veggie patch is now

ready for planting.

6. Head to your local garden shop to purchase seeds

for various herbs and vegetables. If you want to

save money you can plant a tomato into the ground

and tomatoes will grow.

Veggies like butter lettuce also keep growing

when it is in the soil. You can also remove the

seeds from peppers or chillies and plant it in your

garden.

Indigenous plants

are preferable to

exotic plants

Annika Kirbis


My Dream

I dream to be someone special,

someone kind,

someone that wants to bring happiness into the

world and make it a better place for everyone in it.

Some one strong,

Some one fearless,

Some one brave,

Some one who would happily risk her life to save another.

Some one who will be well known for her braveness and kindness.

I will help the poor,

I will give hope to those who don’t have any

left in them

I won’t be a goddess or a queen but

I will just be someone trying to make a difference.

I will be a normal person like you but with

the gift of making others happy.

That my dream!

Whats yours?

By Hobukhosi Ndlovu

Zakhele Primary School

1

My dream

When I dream is like a black and white paradise,

but when I wake-up the sky is so blue and so clear

When I sleep I see money in my hand,

but when I wake-up its gone.

When I sleep I see everybody being so nice,

but when I wake up everybody is shouting for no reason.

I dream about Mom and dad holding me,

but when I wake-up they are gone.

I dream flying like an angel,

but when I wake-up I have no wings.

My dream is my dream it can’t be anyone’s,

My dream is like a fairytale that never ended and never been told.

By Phoku Magdaline Popina

Legora Primary School

My dream

My dream, my dream

I always get this visions

of being a lawyer, I sometimes

get happy, sad there after

I don’t know where I will end up

being something special, but I know this is

what I want

My passion, my mission and vision

I know I am supportive I can be a lawyer

I know I am innocent I can be a lawyer

Changing lives in Africa

Changing things in my poverty stricken country

I will be there for my people

I will be there for my country, My dream, My dream!!

By Mande Mamatshele

Meetse-a-Bophelo Primary School

3

Poetry Competition Editor’s Note

The staff members of this edition of The Mamelodi Voice decided to hold a

poetry competition for the learners of various Mamelodi primary schools, after

the success of last year’s competition. Learners from Meetse-a-Bophelo,

Legora and Zakhele Primary Schools were invited to contemplate their futures

in a poem entitled “My Dream”. The poems were unique, creative works and

learners impressed the staff with their use of English. Out of the 76 poems that

were entered, a winner was selected from each school from which an overall

winner was chosen. All the winners received stationery hampers.

My Poem

My dog ate my homework.

That mischievous pup got hold of my

homework and ate it up.

My dog ate my homework.

its going to be late

I guess that the teacher

will just have to wait.

My dog ate my homework

He swallowed it whole

I shouldn’t have mixed it with his food in his bowl.

Lesego Koshane

Zakhele Primary School

Honorary Mention

2


Our Olympic and Paralympic heroes

Go For Gold

Poballo Kekana: “I play football and was inspired by the

Olympiads in that I dream to see myself going around the world

to represent the country I live in.”

Mandisa Ledwaba: “I watched athletics because I would like to

see myself representing South Africa around the world one day.

A South African athlete who I was inspired by watching is Caster

Semenya - she has a good pace.”

Mologadi Maluleke: “I watched athletics and I liked the way

Caster Semenya has been improving. I want to be like her and run

with the same pace she has – that is my dream. And I would like

to send a message to her that she should hold on, stand firm, and

keep it up.”

Lazarus Manyaka: “I liked the way South Africa performed,

more especially because they brought something home. They did

not just go there without having to return with a medal.”

Kgothatso Mohale: “What I learnt from athletics is that you do

not have to drink a lot of water before running. Also you do not

have to give up during the race.”

Also known as the Blade

Runner, Oscar Pistorius

was born on 22 November

1986 in Johannesburg. He

secured gold in the men’s

400m, setting a new

Paralympic record and was

part of the gold medal

winning 4x100m relay

team who set a new world

record. The runner went on

to win silver in the men’s

200m, setting a new world

record in the semi-final.

This year Oscar became

the first double leg

amputee to compete in the

Olympics when he entered

the men’s 400m race and

was part of the 4x400m

relay team.

Natalie du Toit was

born 29 January 1984

in Cape Town. Her left

leg was amputated at

the knee in 2001 after

she was hit by a car

while riding her

scooter. She won gold

in the women’s 200m

individual medley,

400m freestyle and

100m butterfly. The

swimmer also secured

a silver medal in the

100m freestyle.

Natalie became the

first ever amputee to

qualify for the

Olympics.

Achmat Hassiem was born on 6 May 1982 in Cape

Town. His right leg was severed by a four-and-a-half

meter long great white shark in 2006. He has since

been nicknamed Sharkboy. The swimmer won bronze

in the men’s 100m butterfly at the Paralympics.

Caster Semenya was born on 7 January 1991 in Polokwane. She won silver in the women’s 800m at the 2012 Olym-

pics in London.

Bridgette Hartley was born on 14 July 1983

and grew up in Johannesburg. Bridgette won a

bronze medal in the 500m women’s kayak

singles at the 2012 Olympics.

RIGHT:

Chad le Clos was born on 12 April

1992 in Durban. He won gold in the

men’s 200m butterfly, setting a new

South African record. The swimmer

also secured a silver medal in the men’s

100m butterfly.

LEFT:

Cameron van der Burgh was born on 25

May 1988 in Pretoria. Cameron won a

gold medal in the men’s 100m breast-

stroke at the 2012 Olympic Games. His

time of 58.83 seconds was a new

Olympic record.

Achmat Hassiem

Photo: HERMAN VERWEY (Foto24) Bridgitte Hartley

Photo: LISA HNATOWICZ (Foto24)

Caster Semenya Photo: LAUREN MULLIGAN(Foto24)

Natalie du Toit. Photo: HERMAN VERWEY (Foto24)

Cameron van der Burgh (left) and Chad le Clos.

Photo: FELIX DLANGAMANDLA (Foto24)

Oscar Pistorius Photo: HERMAN VERWEY (Foto24)

Children’s views on the Olympics


2 1 7 8 3

4 3 2 9

1 6

8 6 3 5

3 4

6 7 9 2

9 2

8 9 1 6

1 4 3 6 5

Across:

2. What World Cup did South Africa

host in 2010?

4. Name of a mountain near

Mamelodi.

5. Name the street where the

University of Pretoria's Mamelodi

campus is found.

8. What word means "Mother of

Melodies"?

9. Who is the science reading room

named after on Mamelodi campus?

14. Where can orphans be virtually

adopted in Mamelodi?

15. Tourists go to the Kruger

National Park to see these

animals.

18. In which province is Mamelodi

situated?

19. How many provinces are in

South Africa?

20. What type of competition did

this newspaper host?

21. South Africa's national soccer

team.

Down:

1. Where can you take your dogs or

cats if they are ill?

3. On what continent is Mamelodi?

6. Well-known soccer player from

Mamelodi.

7. What municipality is Mamelodi part

of?

10. How many official languages does

South Africa have?

11. This newspaper is called the

Mamelodi __________?

12. The administrative capital of South

Africa.

13. In what city is Table Mountain

found?

16. The South African currency.

17. Soccer team from Mamelodi

Note: If an answer is more than

one word leave an open block

between the words.

How to Play

Sudoku

A Sudoku puzzle

consists of a 9 × 9

square grid subdi-

vided into nine 3 × 3

boxes. Some of the

squares contain

numbers. The object

is to fill in the re-

maining squares so

that every row, eve-

ry column, and eve-

ry 3 × 3 box con-

tains each of the

numbers from 1 to 9

exactly once. Solv-

ing a Sudoku puzzle

involves pure logic.

No math skills or

guesswork are

needed.

Entertainment

By: Simon-Kai Garvie

The Kruger National Park is home to the greatest variety of wildlife species in Africa.

The Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in the world. The Grand Canyon in Ameri-

ca is the largest and the Fish River Canyon in Namibia is the second largest.

The only street in the world to be home to two Nobel Peace Prize winners is in Soweto. Nel-

son Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu both have houses on Vilakazi Street.

South Africa is the only country in the world to have hosted the Soccer, Cricket and Rugby

World Cup.

Three of the five fastest land animals live in South Africa: the cheetah (98km/h), the wilde-

beest (80km/h), and the lion (80km/h).

The oldest remains of modern humans were found in Klasies River Cave in the Eastern Cape.

They are over 100 000 years old.

The world’s first heart transplant was done in South Africa in 1967 by Dr Chris Barnard.

Did you know?

Q. What’s the difference between a new husband and a new dog?

A. After a year, the dog is still excited to see you.

Q. What’s blue and smells like red paint?

A. Blue paint.

Q. It is greater than God and more evil than the devil. The poor have it, the rich need it and if you

eat it you’ll die. What is it?

A. Nothing. Nothing is greater than God, nothing is more evil than the devil, the poor have noth-

ing, the rich need nothing and if you eat nothing you’ll die.

Q. Until I am measured I am not known, yet how you miss me when I have flown.

A. Time.

Jokes & riddles

Masego Ramathoka


Go fa thušo go ditšhuwana le bahloki

Erene Oberholzer

Bibliotekaris bou

leerlinge se toekoms

Prince Mavundla, bibliotekaris van die Mae Jemison-leeskamer.

Photo: DANIELLE PETTERSON

S tanza Bopape Community Cen-

tre e dira pharalogano ya bo-

phelo go bana bao ba hlokang.

E ba thuša kudu ka tša thuto, ga

mmogo le tša maphelo mo Mamelodi.

Bana bao ba hlokang, ke bao e

lego ditšhiwana le bao ba dulang ba

nnoši go sena batho ba bagolo go ba

hlokomela. Bontsi bja bona, ga bana

mangwalo a boitsibišo le a matswalo.

Ga ba kgone go hwetša thušo

mmušong ka mokgwa wa mphiwafela.

Ba bangwe ba bathuši ba bana

mo motseng ga ba kgone go ba

hlokomela ka mo golekaneng ka baka

la hlaelelo ya mašeleng. Bjale

mokgatlho o lemogile gore bana ga ba

na kgotlelelo ka diphaphošing, ebile

go na le go šalela morago dithutong

tša bona.

Lebo Ratlhagana ke o mongwe wa

baithaupi sekolong sa Pfunzo Ndi

Tshedza Primary School. Ratlhagana

o lemogile gore ba dirile phetogo e

kgolo maphelong a barutuana ba

bangwe.

Go ya ka Ratlhagana, bana ba be

ba sa tle gabotse dithutong tša

tlalaletšo e be bontša o ka re ke tša

bana bao ba dulago ka fase ga

bahlokomdi ebile bao ba hlokang fela

leba humanegi. Bjale barutwana ba,

ba fetogile ka morago ga gofiwa

tlhahlo ke mokgatlo, le baithaupi ba

go swana le Ratlhagana.

Bana ba, ba kgona go bopa

kgwerano le tshepo go mokgatlho.

Ba bangwe ba bana ba go swana le ba,

ke bao ba ka welago ga bonolo

dikotsing tša go swana le diokobatši le

madila.

Ditlamorago tsa dikotsi tsa go

swana le tseo di ka dira gore bana ba

be le maitshwaro a sa swanelago -

bjale ka go lwa, go utswa, go homola

kudu, go bolefa maoka le go hloka

taolo - ge ba le sekolong goba mo

motseng

Ratlhagana o ile a hlaloša a re,

Barupwana ba bala buka ko sekolong sa Pfunzo Ndi Tshedza Primary. Photo: JACQUES MYBURGH

“Barutiši ka batho ba tlwaetše go

bona maitswaro a bjale. Barutuwana

ba ga ba dire mošomo wa gae ebile ga

ba itapiše ka go fetša tšeo ba

laetšwego gore ba di dire gae.”

Mathata a go swana le a, a tlišwa

ke go hloka ga ba thuši gae. Baithaupi

ba thuša bana go dira mošomo wa gae

le go bafa dithuto tša tlaleletšo ka

nako ya manthapama. Ba raloka le

bona meralako ya go ba thabiša gore

ba kgone go theelefetša ka

phaphošing.

Bana ba ba fiwa dijo ka nako yeo.

Ratlhagana o lemogile gore ba

bangwe ba bona ke dijo tša go lalela.

Ka go dira bjalo Ratlhagana ore

baithaupi ba dira go tletše seatla ka

gobane bana ba fetogile ebile ba

humane legae le borutho sekolong.

Morutši sekolong sa Pfunzo Ndi

Tshedza LNJ Jiyane o hlatsetše se

sebotse seo se dirwago ke mokgatlho

mo sekolong. Jiyane o boletše gore

barutwana ba kaone kudu dithutong

tša bona. O leboga mokgatlo ka

gobane o dirile gore mošomo wa

bona o be bobebe kudu.

D ie Mae Jemison U.S Science

Reading Room is waar die

bibliotekaris, Prince Mavund-

la, gevind kan word. Met sy liefde vir

Mamelodi wat vanaf sy geboorte kom,

wil Mavundla homself nog ’n hele ruk

lank hier vestig.

Die leeskamer, geborg deur die

Amerikaanse ambassade is op die

Mamelodikampus van die Universiteit

van Pretoria. Dit akkomodeer 50 tot

150 kinders per dag met die doel om

leerlinge se vaardighede in wiskunde

en wetenskap te bevorder.

Hoërskoolleerlinge van Mamelodi

het die geleentheid om na die

leeskamer te gaan en van die fasiliteite

gebruik te maak. Daar is akademiese

programme wat Woensdae tot Vrydae

aangebied word.

Rekenaars met internet en ’n ka-

mer met allerhande wiskundige en

wetenskaplike speletjies is tot die

kinders se beskikking. “Ons wil

kinders die kans bied om ingenieurs,

dokters of rekenmeesters te word,” het

Mavundla gesê.

Die leeskamer het baie streng reëls

vir die kinders. Die rekenaars mag

slegs gebruik word vir akademiese

werk. Mavundla het gesê die leerlinge

moet werk en nie “in die hoekie

rondsit nie”. Dit gebeur dat die leer-

linge musiek van die internet wil

aflaai, of soms speletjies speel. Dit

word nie toegelaat nie. “Kinders is

hier om hulle opvoeding te verbeter en

ek is baie ernstig daaroor,” sê hy.

Mavundla het self nie op skool pres-

teer in wiskunde en wetenskap nie,

maar hy wil graag sien hoe kinders

met die vakke hul toekoms bou.“Ek

wil handig wees vir Mamelodi en vir

die kinders. Ek het die geleentheid

gekry om iets te doen met my lewe en

ek wil dieselfde vir die kinders hê.”

Mavundla geniet sy werk as bibli-

otekaris. “My persoonlike doelwit is

om eendag my eie biblioteek oop te

maak in Mamelodi,” sê hy. “Ek is lief

vir Mamelodi en ek geniet dit om met

kinders te werk.” Mavundla is ook

tans besig om Inligtingkunde aan

Unisa te studeer.

Met sy werk en sy studies, is

Mavundla se skedule baie vol. In die

oggende werk hy by Laerskool Meetse

-A-Bophelo se biblioteek, en smiddae

by die leeskamer. “Ek leer oor naweke

en in die aande. Ek is baie besig. Ek

het by my vriend gaan kuier, toe vra

hy my waar ek die laaste drie maande

was,” het Mavundla vertel oor sy

skedule.

Ten spyte van Mavundla se besige

program staan hy graag tyd af aan die

kinders. Hy speel Vrydae saam met

hulle basketbal.

Volgens Amy Canby, organi-

seerder van die leeskamer, is Mavund-

la ’n groot aanwins vir die leeskamer.

“Hy is baie goed met die kinders en

kom goed oor die weg met hulle.”

Mavundla wil graag sien hoe die

leeskamer oor tien jaar ontwikkel. “Ek

sal die plek wil sien as ’n dubbelver-

dieping met die hoop om sewe skole

se leerlinge te kan ontvang. Verbeel

jou ons kan al die kinders van Mame-

lodi akkomodeer.”

Ek het die

geleentheid gekry

om iets te doen met

my lewe en ek wil

dieselfde vir die

kinders hê


L egora Primary School is work-

ing with government, the Uni-

versity of Pretoria and non-

governmental organisations to im-

prove literacy levels amongst its

learners.

Principal of Legora, Mohlamme

Mathebe, said since the school’s es-

tablishment it has struggled to in-

crease the pass rates of learners. He

attributes the high failure rates direct-

ly to poor literacy skills amongst his

pupils which he feels reflects the

poverty that is seen in the communi-

ty. The biggest obstacle learners’

face, Mathebe believes, is the lack of

educational support they receive from

parents because the parents them-

selves are unable to read and write.

The school places an emphasis on

“developing in learners the ability to

handle information confidently and

correctly.” Numerous initiatives have

been introduced to address and im-

prove the inadequate literacy levels.

Quarterly reading competitions,

readathons, and Scrabble aim to im-

prove pronunciation comprehension

and confidence in the learners. The

Thuthukani Youth Project, Extra

School Support Programme and the

Stanza Bopape Health and Develop-

ment Centre are also playing a role in

combating the literacy problem.

Sarah Sibayoni, a grade three

teacher, identifies the language barri-

er as a fundamental problem to im-

proving literacy. While the school

teaches in both Zulu and Sepedi, the

learners speak many other languages

including foreign languages like Sho-

na and Portuguese. Sibayoni also

problematised an insufficient focus

on reading and writing in the govern-

ment given syllabus. “I do more my-

self because reading is little [in the

syllabus],” she said.

Lindiwe Masimula, a grade six

learner, spends her Fridays and other

free time in the library. She uses the

library books to do research for

homework and is eager to share her

passion for reading. Students like

Lindiwe show that success in improv-

ing literacy skills can be achieved.

Lifting literacy levels

Marina Gemeliaris

Community Corner

For more information, check us out

on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MJRRpretoria

Or email us at

[email protected]

The Mae Jemison U.S.

Science Reading Room is a FREE

math and science library for

Mamelodi-area

secondary students.

-Over 3,000 books, magazines, &

DVDs

-Internet computers

-Science programs on Wednesdays

-Games and interactive displays

-Over 1,000 members and growing!

Our programs include:

· Hands-on workshops in science,

math, and technology;

· Talks on careers in science by

local and

international experts;

· Tutoring and English language

programs

Solutions: Sudoku

6 2 9 1 7 8 4 3 5

8 4 5 3 6 2 7 9 1

1 3 7 5 9 4 8 2 6

2 7 8 6 4 3 5 1 9

3 9 1 2 8 5 6 7 4

4 5 6 7 1 9 2 8 3

9 6 3 8 5 7 1 4 2

5 8 4 9 2 1 3 6 7

7 1 2 4 3 6 9 5 8

Crossword Across:

2. Fifa

4. Rooiberg

5. Hinterland

8. Mamelodi

9. Dr Mae Jemison

14. Viva Village

15. The Big Five

18. Gauteng

19. Nine

20. Poetry

21. Bafana Bafana

Down:

1. Mamelodi Animal Health

Clinic

3. Africa

6. Themba Mguni

7. Tshwane

10. Eleven

11. Voice

12. Pretoria

13. Cape Town

16. Rand

17. Sundowns

Mamelodi Animal Health Clinic Mon-Fri: 9:00 - 14:30

Address: University of Pretoria Mamelodi Campus,

All welcome:

Vaccination against rabies at a small charge

Dip tank for ticks & rabies for free

Sterilisation & castration

Advice: all aspects of raising puppies & answers to

any questions/enquiries

Mamelodi Society for Care of the Aged Mon-Fri: 10:00 - 16:00

Tel: 012 7510 193

Volunteers wanted: cleaning / laundry / cooking / any

specific skills. Volunteers for 1 hour a week

Mamelodi Law Clinic Mon-Fri: 08:00 -16:00

Tel: 012 842 3631

Fax: 012 842 3763

Address: University of Pretoria Mamelodi Campus, Cnr

Solomon Mahlangu & Hinterland

Legal aid is given to clients over a broad spectrum of

matters including divorces, maintenance, evictions, debt

review, contractual and delictual disputes.

Clients need to qualify through a means test in order to

be assisted, and clients are not charged for services ren-

dered but qualifying clients are liable to pay for dis-

bursements such as sheriff fees.

Peter Mahlantu, Sam Mafude, Sipho Fesima and Busi Lehluwa learn

together in the library at Legora Primary School.

Photo: TARYN RICHHMOND

http://www.facebook.com/MJRRpretoria

mailto:[email protected]


Feeding scheme nourishes hungry children Sean Nurse

T he Stanza Bopape Community

Centre runs a feeding scheme

at several primary schools in

Mamelodi. The centre has many vol-

unteers whose aim is to feed or-

phaned and vulnerable children.

The community centre was

established in 1994 by community

members. It is located inside the

Stanza Bopape Clinic in Hector

Peterson Street, in section eight of

Mamelodi. The food given to the

children is provided by National

Social Services. Supermarket chains

such as Shoprite and Pick n Pay also

donate food. In addition to providing

food, the centre provides some

children with school uniforms.

The Pfunzo Ndi Tshedza Primary

School’s kitchen staff prepares food

brought to the school by Lebogang

Ralthagana and her fellow volunteers

from the centre. The centre calls its

work the “drop-in programme,”

which means its volunteers visit

various schools, deliver food and

assist with homework.

The feeding scheme occurs after

school hours and gives 53 children

sustenance. “Some of these children

are orphans and it is their only food

for the day,” said Ralthagana.

An orphaned child does not have

parents, but may have a guardian. A

vulnerable child is cared for by a

relative (who is not a guardian), or is

part of a child-headed household.

Children who do not receive social

grants may request assistance from

the centre. The centre helps them

apply for grants, often giving the

required references.

“The children are not the only

ones who benefit from this pro

gramme,” Ralthagana explained.

“Sometimes, when the community

centre has spare food parcels, we

send [them home] with the children.

Then the people at home can have

something to eat too.”

Pfunzo Ndi Tshedza Primary

School is one of three satellite

schools which the Community Centre

assists. The two other schools in

Mamelodi that benefit from the pro-

gramme are the Motheo Primary

School and the Legora Primary

School where 130 children receive

food on a daily basis.

Most meals contain a variety of

ingredients including maize meal,

bread, rice, meat (in the form of

chicken or mince) and vegetables

such as beetroot, cabbage and pump-

kin. Diluted drinks and milk accom-

pany these meals. An eight-year-old

child told The Mamelodi Voice, “I am

happy on Wednesday because we get

samp and beans.”

Children eat a lunch of pap, sweet potato and vegetables at the Viva Village Day Care Centre in Lusaka. Photo: NATALIE THOMPSON

Roasted garlic lemon

broccoli

Ingredients 2 heads broccoli (separated into

pieces)

2 teaspoons cooking oil

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 clove garlic (chopped up)

1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

Directions 1.Preheat the oven to 200 ºC.

2. In a large bowl, toss cut up broccoli

with the cooking oil, salt, pepper and

garlic. Spread the broccoli out in an

even layer on a baking sheet.

3. Bake in the preheated oven until

broccoli pieces are soft enough to

pierce the stems with a fork.

4. Time in the oven: 15 to 20 minutes.

5. When finished in the oven, remove

and place on serving platter.

Squeeze lemon juice over the broccoli

before serving for a refreshing, tangy

finish.

White cabbage and thyme

Ingredients 565ml chicken or vegetable stock

½ a handful of fresh thyme leaves

(herbs)

1 white cabbage. Remove outer

leaves, halve the cabbage and

slice very finely

2 blocks of butter

cooking oil

salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions 1. Place your stock and thyme in a pan

on the stove. Bring to the boil and

then sprinkle in your finely sliced

cabbage into the pot.

2. Mix it all up, put the lid on the pot

and boil well for 5 minutes.

3. Turn the heat down to a simmer and

continue to cook until the cabbage is a

pleasure to eat.

4. Top up the stock a little bit if you

feel it’s reducing too much (If you

want more liquid)

5. Add the butter, a little bit of cook-

ing oil, season with salt and pepper

and serve right away.

Whole baked cauliflower in

tomato sauce

Ingredients:

1 red onion, peeled and sliced

5 cloves of garlic, peeled and chopped

1 large head of cauliflower, outer

green leaves removed, stalk chopped

cooking oil

parsley, leaves roughly chopped,

stalks finely chopped

2 cans good-quality chopped plum

tomatoes

vinegar

Directions: 1. Find a pan in which the whole head

of cauliflower will fit. Ensure about

an inch of space around the cauliflow-

er.

2. Add the onion, garlic, chopped

cauliflower stalk and a little bit of oil

to the pan. Slowly fry for 10 minutes

until softened and with a little colour.

3. Add parsley stalks and fry for an-

other couple of minutes.

4. Add your tomatoes, then half-fill

one of the cans with water and add

that to the pan, with a litte bit of vine-

gar. Stir everything together breaking

the tomatoes down to make sure there

are no big lumps.

5. Bring to the boil.

6. Take your cauliflower and gently

push it down into the sauce. If you’ve

got the size of your pan right, half of

the cauliflower will be in the sauce,

half above it.

7. Drizzle with cooking oil, put the lid

on and let it sit on a low heat for 50

minutes.

Recipes

Some of these children

are orphans and it is their

only food for the day

Julius Sacerla prepares food at the feeding scheme for the students of

Pfunzo Ndi Tshedza Primary School. Photo: JAQUES MYBURGH

Mokgadi Makgopa, a kitchen staff member and Thuthukani volunteer, cleans the kitchen at Legora Primary School.

Photo: SYDNEY KING


Historically, “Mamelodi”,

meaning mother of melodies,

was the name given to Paul Kruger by the Africans for his ability

to whistle and imitate birds. It is in

this settlement, northeast of Pretoria,

that the Ma Lerato Centre for Hope

can be found; nestled between well-

built brick houses and shacks.

The founder of the centre, Lerato

Jacobs, is affectionately known by the

children in her care as „Ma Lerato‟. It

holds the special meaning, “mother of

love”, an appropriate name for the

woman whose centre has cared for the

elderly, destitute, sickly, abused and

orphaned since its commencement in

1990. Though slight in stature, she is

great in love “for all the children she

looks after.”

Gloria Mdluli said that “[Ma Lera-

to] takes the people in and looks after

them with her own money and lets

them stay in her own house.”

Ma Lerato never completed prima-

ry school, is illiterate, speaks Sotho

and only knows bits and pieces of

English. Despite this she obtained

certificates from the Department of

Social Development for HIV/Aids

Care, Counselling and Home–Based

Care and Child Care.

Today, the centre is operating out

of her four-bedroom home and is man-

aged by three people at a time. There

are currently 35 children residing

there, ranging from eight-month-olds

to 18 year-olds. On average, there are

about eight children per room with 11

chil-dren sleeping in the garage.

According to Ma Lerato‟s daugh-

ter, Mapule, the biggest challenge for

the centre is the lack of space. In addi-

tion to the overcrowding, there is not a

big enough area for the children to

play or enough bathrooms to accom-

modate all of their daily needs.

Ma Lerato says that they don‟t have

enough funds to expand the building:

“The government won‟t help us. They

say I must write a report, but I tell

them I can‟t write.” Since her husband

passed away in 2004 it has been diffi-

cult to cope with the burden of caring

for so many, as well as the huge finan-

cial load associated with managing the

demanding centre.

Despite these hardships, some

organisations and individuals have

come to the aid of the centre. A few

local churches have been generous

with their donations, which were used

to purchase new toys and stationery

for the children.

Private companies donated clothes

and blankets for the cold winter sea-

son and Woolworths and Pick „n Pay

often donate surplus food to the cen-

tre. Ma Lerato also makes sure that

every single child attends school, and

personally sees to it that they all keep

up with their grades. Some students

from the education faculty at the Uni-

versity of Pretoria stop by the centre

twice a week to help the children with

their homework.

As for the future, Ma Lerato‟s

request is simple; she wishes for her

legacy to live on through her daughter

and for the centre to be on-going.

This is a daunting task which

Mapule says she is willing to take on.

“When my mother dies, I will take her

place. I am already being groomed for

the position,” she said. Ma Lerato

strongly emphasised that the children

are always welcome at her centre for

hope and “must never go unless they

are ready to go.”

Mamelodi’s mother of love

Kayleigh Voges

“I t is a calling.”

That is how the CEO of the

Mamelodi Society for Care

of the Aged (MASCA), Ivy Mothiba,

describes her job.

MASCA is one of the only care

facilities of its kind in Mamelodi. The

organisation has 28 staff members

who provide care for 56 residents,

many of whom are frail and bedrid-

den. The facility is not understaffed

but Mothiba said that they struggle

with inadequate funding. In particular,

the facility has trouble covering medi-

cal expenses and monthly wages.

Mothiba said, “Many simply

dump their elders here and never

bother to visit them. Last Christmas

only five residents were visited by

their relatives.”

Also, community members are

not eager to volunteer at the home.

She blames this lack of community

involvement on cultural mispercep-

tions about the facility, saying that

many in the community view old age

homes as foreign to African culture.

She said that the elderly of MASCA‟s

loved ones often feel pressured to

extend financial support, making them

unwilling to visit. Financial support is

welcomed but not obligatory.

Mothiba said her time at North

West University, where she studied

social work, helped her discover her

passion for caring for the elderly.

“When the residents are first

committed many of them do not want

to be here, but after a while they say

they do not want to leave,” she said.

She believes the main elements

involved in the care and treatment of

the aged is making them retain their

dignity and social identity in a secure,

family environment.

Mothiba believes that a family

environment is what the elderly most

yearn for. In response she has devel-

oped several activities, such as discus-

sions, painting and board games,

which are aimed at the individual as

well as the group. “I feel that they are

happy here, although there will

always be one or two who constantly

complain. We put in all the love that

we can in everything we do for them

and that is how we make them feel at

home,” Mothiba said.

Family

for the

forgotten

A resident of MASCA in his wheelchair stares into the horizon. Photo: EUNICE SERFONTEIN

Neil Pretorius &

Rochandré Kibido

.

Ma Lerato, founder of the Hope Centre. Photo: NARINA NEL

Many simply dump

their elders here and

never bother to visit

them

The government

won’t help us. They

say I must write a

report, but I tell

them I can’t write

the mamelodi voice 2012

Documents

sports pupils

head of sports

sports manager

respective sports

bophelo primary school

legora primary school

school hours

learners school tasks