Young people urged to be agents of change
Young people have been urged to rise up and defend South Africa’s democracy, while also effecting change in their communities.
We, as the youth, need to rise up and defend democracy. We have a purpose to fulfil. We must decolonise our State, minds and live up to the democracy that was died for, said Zulaikha Patel on Sunday.
Patel, who fought against discriminatory hair policies at her school in August 2016, reminded the youth that many people died in the struggle for democracy that South Africans enjoy today.
Dressed in red and sporting her famous afro, Patel urged the youth to take up the baton of the youth of yesteryear. She said the likes of struggle hero Solomon Mahlangu did not die in vain.
He did not die for nothing, she said of the 23-year-old, who was executed in 1979.
Patel was speaking as the world today commemorates International Youth Day. The day is designated by the United Nations and draws attention to cultural and legal issues surrounding the youth.
She was at the inter-generational dialogue set up by the Department of Women, Charlotte Mannya-Maxeke Institute (CMMI) and the National Heritage Council (NHC) at Freedom Park in Pretoria.
The teenager called on the youth to address issues like racism and sexism.
We need to be the change to address sexism. We need to stop accepting [it] and start changing [it]. We need to rise up and command our space in society. We need to push our continent forward.
Patel called on South African youth to know and recognise their identity.
We have forgotten our identity, she said, urging youth to stop focusing on social media and instead roll up their sleeves and move the country forward.
Also speaking at the dialogues, Leroy Tau urged men to learn to own their emotions.
We need to learn to own our emotions and who we are. This is not a competition between men and women. We ought to learn to complement one another, he said.
Tau’s comments come following the funeral of Rhodes University student Khensani Maseko, who committed suicide after being raped.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Heritage Council (NHC) urged communities to retain the spirit of Ubuntu, referring to struggle heroine Charlotte Maxeke as an example of someone who embodied ubuntu.
Minister of Women Bathabile Dlamini was among those who attended Sunday’s session.
Source: South African Government News Agency
Kusile power plant fire under investigation
Eskom is investigating a fire that broke out at its Kusile Power Station.
Friday’s fire at the Mpumalanga based power station started at the Unit 3 fabric filter plant.
[The fire started] between 5:30pm and 6:30pm, said Eskom, adding that the fire was extinguished immediately.
The power utility said no injuries were reported as a result of the fire, adding that the incident is under investigation.
In December last year, fire was detected in an area around the two conveyer belts that supply coal to the Kendal power station, which is also located in Mpumalanga.
At the time, Eskom said the fire did not impact the supply of electricity.
Source: South African Government News Agency
Suspect sought for rape by the Delft FCS
If you recognise the suspect depicted in the attached identikit, kindly call Crime Stop on 08600 10111, as he is wanted on a charge of rape by the Delft FCS.
It is alleged that the suspect confronted the victim on 29 July 2018 at around 03:00 in N2 Gateway Delft when she returned from a local tavern. She was raped and robbed of personal effects.
Delft FCS can also be contacted on 0219183689.
Source: South African Police Service
SOUTH AFRICAN IN LUSAKA ON WORKING VISIT TO ZAMBIA
LUSAKA– South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Lusaka Thursday for a working visit during which he will hold talks focusing on political and economic development with his Zambian counterpart, President Edgar Lungu.
They will also engage on political developments, including security matters, within the southern Africa sub-region. Both countries are members of the 15-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) bloc.
President Ramaphosa’s visit to Zambia comes amidst political tensions in Zimbabwe, where opposition leader Tendai Biti faces charges of incitement to violence among other things. Biti was denied asylum by Zambia.
After meeting with President Lungu here on Thursday night, he will be heading to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for a meeting with President Joseph Kabila in a bid to persuade him to ensure a peaceful election coming up in December.
As the current chairperson of the SADC, Ramaphosa will table a report during the SADC summit in Namibia next week.
Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK
Up and coming match official Jelly Chavani jets off to Cairo
PSL and NFD up and coming match official, Jelly Chavani, jetted off to Egypt on Friday, 10 August for the upcoming none-international referee course which will take place from 11 to 16 August 2018.
The five-day seminar, which will take place in Egypt’s capital, Cairo, is set to equip young match officials who have the potential of becoming international referees in the coming year or two, with the required skillsets which will see them evolving into more astute match officials of the game.
The 22-year old Chavani said he felt honoured to have been chosen by the South African Football Association (SAFA) to go feature in this course, adding that this is another step into the right direction towards what he really wants to achieve in the coming years.
I want to see myself having officiated in two FIFA World Cups before I retire, Chavani said. That’s my dream. I’m only 22 years old now and I just need to continue working really hard. I believe it can be done. This opportunity serves as another step towards that direction. I’m going there to apply myself and learn as much as I can. I want to see myself with a FIFA badge before I turn 25. That’s my aim. This opportunity serves as a building block towards that.
At age 20, Chavani was already serving as a fourth official in the NFD. He only got to officiate a few matches then because he was brought in going into the second round of the 2015/16 campaign. In the 2016/17 season, the lad form Chavani Village which is 35.4Kms away from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo province, excelled and was later given the nod to officiate in PSL matches as well. Chavani adds that it was a dream come true when he was given the commanding role to officiate in the PSL’s five league games, however, also admits that experience had him craving for more going into this new season.
My target is to officiate in at least 13 league matches in top flight football this season, Chavani said. That would be a dream come true for me. There’s a lot that I still need to learn though. Guys like Victor Gomes, Victor Hlongwane and Zakhele Siwela are more experience than I, and I will always go to them for advise in order to help grow my game. They’ve been in the game long enough than I have. They all inspire me.
Source: South African Football Association
