Author Archives: Ezimtoti News

Bahlabane ba Ntwa

By KOPANO MONAHENG
LOOKING at the impact Marumo Gallants have made last season at the Caf Confederation Cup tournament, one would expect the team to partate in the same tournament, very soon.
Although their main aim is to gain promotion to the DStv premiership next season, that dream cannot be ruled out as yet.
Marumo were eliminated from the top flight last season after finishing 16th on the DStv premiership table with 29 points from 30 games.
At a press conference held in Sandton, this week, Marumo made some announcements to their technical team, while they also brought in new players to the team and letting go of some players.
These major changes were made ahead of their 2023/2024 Motsepe Foundation Championship league season which will start next week.
The club also made it clear that their home matches will be played at Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium, formerly known as Seisa Ramabodu Stadium in Bloemfontein.
Although Petrus Molemela stadium is still under maintenance, the first few of their home matches will be played at Isak Steyl stadium at the Vaal University of Technology.
Gallants will travel to Casric Stars on 27 August and kickoff is at 3pm.
Club chairman, Dr Abram Sello, said the announcements provided clarity on various speculations regarding the club’s technical management team, season’s players list, home ground and other matters.
Former Richards Bay coach, Pitso Dladla has been confirmed as Gallants’ head coach and he will be assisted by Rodney Moroka with Stevanus Ekakala remaining as goalkeeper coach.
Amos Dhlomo will also stay on as Fitness Trainer and Masseur, with Rasikan Moodley joining the club as technical performance coach.
“The club further appointed seasoned football administrator Sinky Mnisi as CEO.
Mnisi has served executive and administrative roles for clubs in both the Motsepe Foundation Championship and Premier Soccer League (PSL) divisions.
They also unveiled new season’s kit, sponsored by international sports apparel brand, Umbro.
Sello said, “I would like to acknowledge and welcome the new members of Marumo Gallants FC family. Our new technical team led by head Coach Pitso Dladla. I have no doubt in my mind that you are ready.
“We continue to pride ourselves on our past achievements, and I believe we will survive many other storms. We thank our fans for the continued support and for having faith in us. We are resilient and live by our motto as Bahlabane ba Ntwa – let’s go out there and conquer!”

It’s time for Magwinya!!

Caption: Yvonne Shiburi makes a living from selling fat cakes.

By Kopano Monaheng

NO child wants to start their careers off the streets!

And Yvonne Shiburi is no different. Unfortunately, it is a sad reality many of us cannot run away from.

“Our lives were content until 2015 when my mother passed away,” said the 31-year-old Yvonne from Mabopane in Tshwane.

Her late mother used to sell fat cakes since 1999. Today Yvonne is making use of the very same spot her mother previously sold from. When she passed away, Yvonne had no other option but to take over from her mother so that she could put food on the table.

“As the eldest child in my family, I was responsible for ensuring everyone went to bed full,” said the youth who is running her eatery in Pretoria CBD.

She also has three children.

Upon being asked what she intends to buy on Black Friday, this is what she had to say:

“I am going to go buy more flour and cooking oil. These two items are too expensive and my business relies on them,” said Yvonne. “I will also buy shoes for my children and my siblings for Christmas.

So, I am prepared for any specials on these items I mentioned,” she said.

Her plan of studying teaching is still on, and she will probably do as such once she gets the opportunity to take the necessary steps. 

She said she will study part-time at the University of South Africa (Unisa).

Never stop learning

By Kopano Monaheng
LEARNING has not stopped at gogo Busisiwe’s home.
Even during the December holidays, her grandkids were kept very busy, reading books and learning new words were the order of the festive season.
“I did not want them to spend more time in the streets but to rather spend time doing something that will benefit them in the future,” said Busisiwe Mzizi.
The 63-year-old gogo said no child will find a decent job if they did not go to school. As a child, she grew up loving school, though she did not complete her grade 8 because of the unwelcoming situation that was taking place in those years in Mzansi.
“I loved reading and used to carry a dictionary everywhere I went. If there was a word that I didn’t understand, I would search for the definition of the word in the dictionary and that’s how I learned,” she said.
Mostly, gogo helps two of her grandkids with their school work, and as schools reopen tomorrow, she will be pushing them to do well in all the subjects they do at school.
She said the one who lacks the most is Simphiwe Nkosi (13). He still struggles with numeracy and literacy, despite the fact that he is in grade 6.
While the little one, Thandolwethu Mzizi (6) seems to be excelling in her studies.
She also borrows them her tablet if they want to search for something online.
Gogo and other eight grannies around Soweto were given some tablets last month after undergoing a Digital Literacy training which was organised by Vuma. The aim of the training was to empower gogos with digital knowledge so that they can help their grandkids with their school work and other things.

By KOPANO MONAHENG
MAINTAINING a healthy lifestyle with a good diet and regular exercise in the form of walking distances daily is key to living longer.
However, Nokofa Zimu (110), born and raised in Mashaeng Fouriesburg, in Free State, says it is a privilege to live more than 100 years.
She said respect is one of the most important things young people of today should have if they want to live longer.
And that’s what kept her going so strong and healthy through out her life.
“Fear God and then your life will be prolonged,” says gogo.
She celebrated her birthday in style this July when a businessman, Jimmy Shi from Free State Fujian Overseas Chinese Association paid her a visit along with the Free State government officials, led by premier Mxolisi Dukwana.
It was not just a normal surprise visit as they came along with lots of goodies for the living legend.
Ugogo got the following things: food hampers and winter clothes. It was all smiles around and it was the first as well as the biggest present she ever received from the people of her province. Gogo was born in the same month as the former statesman, Tata Nelson Mandela.

By KOPANO MONAHENG
ARE you a woman and want a place to just chill, have a drink and get served delicious meal?
If so, there’s such place built specifically for you in the heart of Soweto.
Brutal Fruit Spritzer launched a world-class SheBeen restaurant on 9 August in Molapo Soweto.
The Brutal Fruit Spritzer launched in partnership with SAB Sharp’s Responsible Trader Programme to ensure its compliance with the requirements needed to run a consumption outlet.
Some of the requirements include having sufficient lighting inside and outside the facility, having working CCTV cameras, and having a presence of visible personnel to maintain order and decorum.
In addition, these facilities must have visible and accessible communication material that promotes responsible drinking, should have clean basins for handwashing in the restrooms, have demarcated, fully functional, well lit, and clearly marked bathrooms for all users.
During the month of August, only women are allowed to visit this place to mingle with their female friends.
But it’s not for a lifetime as from September males will also be welcome in the restaurant as long as they are 18 years and above.
It will be opened from Thursday to Sunday every week from 5pm till midnight.
This SheBeen was refurbished and modernised to meet the standard of a restaurant. The place used to be called RockerFella but is now SheBeen.
Among others, the celebs that were at the launch included Khuli Chana and poet Lebo Mashile.
Candice van den Bosch, acting head of brand for Brutal Fruit Spritzer, said this is the first SheBeen ever launched in Mzansi but for now all women from around the country can mingle here.
“We are mindful of the importance of creating spaces where women can feel free to celebrate and have fun in an uninhibited way, and as such we have established a women-only pop-up venue here,” she said.
Zoleka Lisa, South African Breweries corporate affairs vice-president, said through their responsible trading programme audit, they audit 30 000 retailers every year against irresponsible trading practices.
“We have identified key elements which relate to creating safer spaces for women including sufficient lighting or visible security. Outlets which meet these criteria are deemed SheBeen compliant and will be rewarded by the brand.”
The SheBeen interim manager, Lerato Maphosa, said they are serving food, cocktail, alcohol and more. We have three security personnel, four waitress, chefs and more. We also have a backup generator in case of loadshedding.
For more info visit: http://www.brutalfruitshebeen.co.za

By KOPANO MONAHENG

WHETHER it comes from the public or private sectors, a donation of goodies make a big difference in the lives of those in need.

Mzansi is one of the countries in the world that is capable of providing any sort of assistance if needed.

As Mzansi celebrates Women’s Month, August, the Mahuma Group took it upon itself to celebrate this year’s month with the Mbokodos.

They went to different schools and communities around the country to provide a girl child with sanitary towels and branded soccer gear as part of their CSI projects.

Mahuma Group also provided meals for each occasion. 

One of the ladies’ soccer teams which has benefited from this drive was Tito Stars from Zola in Soweto.

Mito Matola, coach of the women’s team, said more needs to be done to improve the quality of women’s football in the country and he was happy for the donation of soccer gear from the sponsors.

Matome Rapetsoa, group chief executive for Mahuma Group and Matome Rapetsoa Foundation, said their Pad a Girl Child campaign does not mean they have money as a company but their focus was to ensure that a girl child can go to school or attend their day to day sport activities without worrying about their periods.

He urged every single business owners in the country to give back to the community that made them who they are today irrespective of how much the business generates a month.

WHETHER it comes from the public or private sectors, a donation of goodies make a big difference in the lives of those in need.

Mzansi is one of the countries in the world that is capable of providing any sort of assistance if needed.

As Mzansi celebrates Women’s Month, August, the Mahuma Group took it upon itself to celebrate this year’s month with the Mbokodos.

They went to different schools and communities around the country to provide a girl child with sanitary towels and branded soccer gear as part of their CSI projects.

Mahuma Group also provided meals for each occasion. 

One of the ladies’ soccer teams which has benefited from this drive was Tito Stars from Zola in Soweto.

Mito Matola, coach of the women’s team, said more needs to be done to improve the quality of women’s football in the country and he was happy for the donation of soccer gear from the sponsors.

Matome Rapetsoa, group chief executive for Mahuma Group and Matome Rapetsoa Foundation, said their Pad a Girl Child campaign does not mean they have money as a company but their focus was to ensure that a girl child can go to school or attend their day to day sport activities without worrying about their periods.

Mito Stars football club. Photo by Given Mashiloane