Ityendyana laseDebe lizibalula ngokulima

  

UAnele Tsiko, onamashumi amabini anesihlanu (25), inzalelwane yaseDebe,kwilali yaseMnqaba James, ozibalula kwicandelo lezolimo. Elityendyana ukulima likuqale ngonyaka ka 2013, esenziwa luthando nemeko yentsokolo akhule phantsi kwayo, nenxaso awayeyifumana kwisikolo samabanga aphezulu iKhulile apho azibalule khona ewongwa ngezatifiketi kwezolimo (Agriculture).

UTsiko ubengumfundi kwi Yunivesiti yase Fort Hare,esenza izifundo ze Nzulu lwazi (BSc Khemistry), ngenxa yalombono nokutshutshumbiseka kwakhe, akazigqibanga izifundo zakhe, waqala ezolimo.

‘’Ekhaya babengaxolanga kwaphela ukuyeka kwam kwiYunivesiti yaseFort Hare, kodwa ndabona ukuba ezolimo zingakwazi ukundiphilisa, kwaye zincede nosapho lwam, nabanye abantu akuhlaleni’’ utshilo uTsiko

UTsiko uhambise wathi ‘’Ndabanesigqibo sokuba ndisishiye isikolo ngo 2013, ndakubuya ndigqibezele, ndiqale ukulima. Ndiqale ukulima kwiigadi zasekhaya, ndaboleka neegadi zabantu, nangoku ndisalima kwezogadi ndizibolekileyo’’

UTsiko uphume ngokuzama-zamana namatile-tile empumelelo, uthetha thethane neenkampani ezinkulu ukubalula uSpar, Shoprite noCheckers, efuna ukuzinxulumanisa nazo, baphendule ngelifuna amakhaphetshu ayi 7000 kuTsiko, noxa iigadi zika Anele zikhupha amakhaphetshu ayi 3000 ukuya ku5000 wabe uphulukana nesivumelwano,nangona ekwasebenzisana neeMakethe noSpar wase Dikeni kwaNtu Spar.

Emva kokufuna uncedo ekuhlaleni, uAnele ufumene uncedo kusapho lakwa Mngaza, ngokumboleka iifama ezimbini kwilali yase Cumakala.

‘’Enye yengxaki endidibana nazo kukungabina zithuthi, nezixhobo zokusebenza, ezaneleyo, nangona nditye ndibeka ndaqokelela imali ndathenga isithuthi sokuthutha lamakhaphetshu’’

Elityendyana liluncedo hayi kusapho lwalo kuphela kodwa nase kuhlaleni, kuluntu olungena misebenzi, uTsiko ubaqesha kwiifama neegadi zakhe, ukwaluncedo kwizikolo ezilapha ekuhlaleni ephisa ngamakhaphetshu kubafundi ukuze batye, ekwabafundisa ngezolimo, encedisa nakumakhaya abantu abadala kwilali yaseDebe, ngoku babonelela ngamakhaphetshu ebakhuthaza ebafundisa nokulima.

UTsiko uthe ‘’Uncedo kurhulumente usandula kulifumana kwiinyanga ezimbalwa ezidlulileyo ngoku ndibonelela ngeengxowa ezingamashumi amabini anesihlanu zeetapile, oko ndalima bendiqala ukufumana ukuncedwa’’

UAnele Tsiko ugqibe ngelo kuxhobisa uluntu esithi ‘’Amathuba okuphila akhona maninzi into isemntwini nganye, masivuke sizenzele singa soloko sijonge ukuxhomekeka, kwaye nokuba izinto azihambi kakuhle masincekelele singatyhafi, imxinwa indlela eya empumelelweni, wonke umntu unako’’.

DIKELETHU NEWS SUPPORTS 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN

NGO’s ARE A PREVAILING WEAPON TOWARDS 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM INITIATIVE

By LuviwePinda

As we approach the 16 days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, it is important that all non-government organisations take part in helping the victims, and give them support wherever they can. The campaign also includes the Universal Children’s Day and World Aids Day.

All churches across the country play a big role, and they’re regarded as the powerful weapon towards the initiative.

The campaign is supported by wearing a white ribbon, which symbolises peace, and commitment to never condone violence against women and children. Additionally, it helps us to realise how our own attitudes and actions could propagate sexism and violence. Rev Vukile Mngxuma of the John Wesley Methodist Church in Alice, under Aanshaw  Circuit, articulated on some of the circumstances they face such as this one, “In most instances, one or two people will come forward and request a session with the minister, due to reasons that they don’t want to come forward. They’ll rather hide it to themselves, and that becomes a major issue.”

Mngxuma also expressed that the most common concern, is the stigma that people have towards the victims, “The community will always have such comments, ‘she’s the girl that has been raped, what were we expecting, ‘she’s the woman that’s been abused by her husband!’

“The decisions, as a congregation, we mostly find difficult to take, is when a victim has been abused by a family member. We have to go on different straits when we approach for assistance within the communities, whether it could be the police, victim support centres or psychologists. There are often volunteers, who frequently assist with the victims.”

FULL STORY: NEHAWU PROTEST DISRUPTS PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES

BY AYABONGA NKALITSHANA

The National Education Health Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) parliamentary workers have vowed to continue to disrupt parliament proceedings as long as their demands are not met by the national assembly to ensure of proper working conditions, better pay and well deserved performance bonuses. This ensued after consultations between the workers task team and the parliamentary management came to halt with workers claiming that the settlement anticipated by parliament was too low.

“It will no longer be business as usual in parliament until our demands have been met”, said NEHAWU Chairperson Sthembiso Tembe. Today, they have disrupted all parliamentary services and have kept to their vow that all parliamentary services will be disrupted and not go as normal. Even the protection service staff are members of the union, and are on strike, meaning there will not be anyone to keep order in parliament, “We do not like what we are doing but we do not know what else to do”, said one protester, who wanted to remain anonymous as parliamentary disruptions continued.

These disruptions started with the portfolio committee that was to listen to the briefing on drought, afflicting areas of the country which was adjourned by its chairperson Machwene Semenya who said, “We are supposed to go for a sitting at 10am. I want to take this opportunity to adjourn this meeting, it is not because of what is happening.” This was followed by disruptions in the public gallery of the house when union workers stormed-in and started singing and dancing, drowning the voice of the chairperson of the house bringing parliamentary business into a standstill once more.

“If parliament knows what’s good for them, they will give us our performance bonuses today.  If Gengezile Mgidlana (secretary to parliament) knows what’s good for him he must come address us”. Some of the parliamentary members also showed disappointment with the way parliament was handling the matter, with police throwing stun grenades to peaceful marchers, “Parliament must not bring the police into this they must listen to the demands of the people”, said  Floyd Shivhambu of the Economic Freedom Fighters.

The picture the media is putting in my head:

BY: Misubukhosi Pienaar

Pray for France…? Is Anybody in France praying for Kenya?  

Don’t get me wrong, this is not a killing rate contest. But has anyone from France ever prayed for Kenya, Palestine, or Israel thousands of people were being killed by extremists groups with bombings, kidnappings and suicide bombs the world kept quiet like nothing happened.

Beirut, for instance, suffered a horrendous attack just 24 hours before incident in Paris; the ‘mainstream’ media completely ignored it.  However the coverage of Paris was so vast in support from seemingly all forms of mass media.

Has the media emphasised the later crucifixions of our fellow humans as much as they have with
France? Many African youth are speaking out on their views about the predicament as a “so what” expression. Many people in our continent are executed on a daily basis and a couple of hundred people die in France and the world come to stand still.

Here is a question for you. Have our girls returned while we pray for France? Or must they be of European decent to be acknowledged on a scale the French have been acknowledged on with an extremists attack. Either way, the threatening and attacking of human life is wrong and a unified effort to disclose all matters equally and taking of action to suspend such actions should apply to all of humanity.

Let’s hear your opinions.  

COURT APPLICATION AGAINST JUST ON COSMETICS  GRANTED BY EAST LONDON HIGH COURT

BY; AYABONGA NKALITSHANA

Court grants court application filed by Mark Nettleton, on behalf of Investec Bank  to secure Investec Security, in terms of a bond it held over Just On Cosmetics assets. The judgement was made at the East London High Court by Judge Lusindiso Pakade last week. Just On Cosmetics held a bond of R41.6 million which gave Investec control over moveable assets, should they default on the bond.  This follows after 500 employees were told to go home last month, following the closure of 43 stores across the country, with 35 of those stores being in the Eastern Cape.

Procurement manager Ricardo Calaca went on to say that the closure was as a result of their major suppliers who supplied 80% of the stock deciding to cut credit to these stores. He continued to say that they are now looking at possible blue chip buyers who are interested at buying a few of these stores or all of them. Just On fortunes changed when its founder Mike Naidoo died just four years ago.

One of the trustees in the Pocot trust which owns Just On cosmetics, Tony Cotterel poured R80 million a year ago in the once successful business which is now facing problems. Just On owes a number of service providers some money like the creditor Kobus Fourie, who owns Mapongu security which provided security services to Just On stores.

LOCAL MEDIA COMMUNITIES UNDER TERRORISATION

PICTURE: THAMI DICKSON

BY: Samkele Letese

The local community media is under threat. All forms of media, be it radio, TV or/and print. The ever looming threat is of course the competition they’re engaged with the larger commercial media, those huge corporations with vast resources in comparison to the community media.

The community media can’t compete with the resources of the larger commercial media houses. They lose a great deal of audiences to these media houses, and more importantly, they lose vital advertisement revenue.

There is, however, an important place community media in our societies, a very significant one. Community media offers information specific to the community it is designated to. These information pillars fill the void within the community the larger media houses miss. This is one of the reasons why the ECAC (Eastern Cape Aids Council) approached the local media houses to a workshop, to reach the gaps the larger media houses missed. The aim of the ECAC workshop was to reeducate the communities of the Eastern Cape about HIV and forming a strategy of how to reach the community at large.

There was workshop also served as a platform to educate media practitioners in the dos and don’ts when reporting HIV or Aids related stories or content. There was an extensive introspection for community media houses, especially with the way each sector reported on matters concerning the HIV and/or AIDS. The sharing of ideas with the esteemed and insightful SABC legend Thami Dickson was incredible.

The workshop, during the introspection phase of the workshop saw the challenges local/community media faced. It goes without saying that the community media have financial constraints, this is worsened when them (community media) losing advertisement revenue to commercial media. To delve into that, the vital advertisement revenue is one that doesn’t come from the private sector, but from government. There was mention of a power struggle between local media and government. Government knowing that these community media are in need of funding, and using that knowing to push their agenda, sometimes often the expense of the radio station, or TVs beliefs and mission statement. The paying stakeholder had the mentality that implied, ‘I am paying so things have to go my way’.

There was a question of how to get reliable information from government departments that was reliable. While looking through the possible answers for this question, another issue that posed a threat to community media arose. There was a degree of lack of respect some government departments had towards local media practitioners.

With so many challenges these local pillars face, they stand still, looking to grow and overcome adversity. During the ECAC workshop, the question ‘what can you do to reeducate the community about HIV?’ was asked, and each sector came up with ideas. Print sector shared ideas of relocating to cyber space were plenty, with space on the actual paper restricting creativity. Radio sector spoke of starting stories that would educate and inform the community about HIV. TV spoke of having local comedians set up a comic piece which would be broadcasted.

Top Cop Faces Hitch

By: Ayabonga Nkalitshana

Riyah Phiyega, another top cop on the way out with a lot baggage and business that is going within the South African Police Service (SAPS). She is the 3^rd top cop to be sacked for maladministration within a period of 15 years, and that has left, rather astringent taste about the police service in South Africa.  The biggest concern for me is the reliance and dependency of ordinary citizens to the police service for safety and security when the top bosses lack the capacity to show leadership skills and qualities that will ensure the trust between the SAPS, and its biggest stakeholder the citizen of the republic of South Africa.

For the past five years we only heard complaints and negative comments directed to the Police Department, due to its incompetence; the police killing people in Marikana, the death of Mido Macia and Andries Tatane through police brutality, almost R1.7 billion spent on unlawful leases by Bheki Cele, the arrest and conviction of Jackie Selebi for involvement with drug lord Glen Aglioti, coupled with crimes like racketeering, fraud and corruption.

With Phiyega suspended with full pay, there is acting national commissioner Khomotso Phahlane, whom we do not know whether his appoint was done following the proper procedures, and what crowded skeletons he has in his closet just yet…but akhonto ifihleka kude kuphele! 

Taxi Owners: Violence Won’t Clarify the Disputes

By: Luviwe Pinda

Why is it that when taxi owners have against the commuters in every city or town we are based at? Recently, one of the drivers insisted that the passengers should get into their taxi from Alice to Fort Beaufort. Furthermore, when they (passengers) refuse, they become rude and become violent for no reason.  There is no law that says that prohibits passengers from hitch- hiking. Simply, this is because they’re trying to save costs at the same time.

Taxi owners often feel intimidated, by attacking the drivers of the motor vehicles, and end up constraining violence for no particular reason and at the same time, innocent lives are lost.  Additionally, when they conduct strike, passengers are then forced to use other alternative transport to get to work and back home.

Another case in point, taxi owners fear that their routes which they usually control are often targeted by other taxi owners from other associations. The question we always ask ourselves as commuters, is how the Department of Transport trying to decrease this status quo from developing further, and what can be done to resolve some of the issues commuters have against the taxi owners?

Above Suspicion Victims Convicted for Erroneous Reasons

By: Luviwe Pinda and Yonela Makana

Innocent human beings are being convicted for several crimes, which they did not commit. In its place, the main culprits are on view, committing more illegal activities. The murder cases, exclusively, are investigated in such a manner that, the suspect is never given an opportunity to defend him/herself. Even those who have access to evidence that proves the accused not guilty, anticipate to be bribed, so that they set free the evidence. It is however an act of egocentricity to hold on to what could help the next person because you expect money in return.

     

An illustration from the novel Unyana Womntu, a chartered accountant married to a nurse, and their marriage gets in a quandary position, whereby, the wife is killed. The husband is on the other hand, considered to have committed the murder which he did not do. Even though he did have an alibi, stating that he had gone to visit his wife and attend a cricket match, the police detectives failed to investigate the crime and give conclusive evidence. Instead, they accused him of stabbing his spouse to death.

As much as we believe that South African Police Service (SAPS) works hand in hand with the community to catch the perpetrators, they fail to catch them, simply because they make friends with gangsters so they can put more food on the table for their families. The SAPS makes huge clanger, in such a way that innocent people are denounced as criminals, to such an extent, that their reputation has been ruined, due to errors being made. In most instances, the victims would be unaware of the errors, until criminal checks are made; they even find it difficult to get employed.

Political Parties Initiate with Blunt Conspiracies

By: Ayabonga Nkalitshana

South Africa has been embedded with a lot of civil society protest which seem to have become a norm in our democracy since its inception, and there are no exceptions of administration which is in charge in the government people have gotten used to the idea of protests if they want their grievances to be attended to. The only voice that speaks the loudest and seems to get the considerations of leaders about the needs of the people is protest Action coupled with violence.

Nelson Mandela once said “If the ANC does to you what the Apartheid government did to you, then you must do to the ANC what you did to the Apartheid government.” those are strong words spoken to defy the unruly actions of the ANC and defend the rights and privileges of civil society, and what the ANC government is doing to its people is what was blatantly defied by Chris Hani when he said the representatives of government should not work to acquire personal riches but work to uplift and empower ordinary citizens.

The citizens of South Africa should stop toy-toying and talk more with their votes and deliberately remove all politically unguided and selfish individuals with parasitic characteristics.  Maybe now we should look into a possibility of employing a one party system where the leadership of a person will judged by the content of their being, the leadership qualities be visible to all that whether bad or good the shortfalls of government will not be put upon a certain political party but the capabilities of individuals and when found guilty of maladministration be persecuted.

. 

Initiation schools- a death condemnation for teenage boys

By Ayabonga Nkalitshana

It’s that time of the year again where boys will be gearing up to become men, an unknown experience to them which has taken just under 120 initiates for the past two years. This has been a growing problem because even with the involvement of traditional leaders to try and resolve these botched circumcisions, but there are still a vast number of illegal initiation schools being set up around the Eastern Cape and teenage boys with prospects of becoming men, are still losing their lives through inexperienced and illegal initiates who target young boys who some are just under the required age to go to initiation schools.

The Eastern Cape Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs together with the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders, through the initiation monitoring intervention strategy will embark on a safe initiation week between the 10-13 of November this year, in an attempt to try and educate in-school initiates and out of school youth about the importance of ritual, and what is expected of them before and during initiation. This is to ensure that the initiation season this year goes smoothly and try to minimise the number of deaths and injuries from 119 deaths and 66 injuries respectively, with only eleven convictions.

During the fees must fall demonstrations we might have seen what we might like to forget but have we stopped to wonder about the pluck-cards held by these students, the message they carried and the meaning of those messages and what they could mean about the state of our country and the future of education and social life of ordinary citizens. Sometimes what we tend to not pay attention to is an important indicator that gives warning or even depicts the picture of the real situation, outlining the problem and its cost.

THREE THINGS THAT ACCELERATES THE RATE OF AGING

By YONELA MAKANA

According to science, there’s a difference between chronological age and biological age, which means you can be 50 years old and literally have a body of a 40 year old. I’m sure you’ve met someone that not only looks 10 years younger, but has boundless energy and stamina. That being said, I’m sure you’ve seen the exact opposite as well, someone that looks and acts much too OLD for their actual age.

So what’s the deal?  Is it genetics?  I know it sounds like the most reasonable answer.  But genetics have very little to do with how fast or slow you age.  Believe it or not, YOU have way more control over the aging process than you think.

Seriously, it’s not science fiction… you CAN slow your aging process, BUT only if you know what to do.

1. Cardio

Too much cardio can make you age FASTER

Too many people think that cardio is the answer to everything related to weight-loss and fat-loss.  And although cardio can be helpful (if done properly), it does nothing to slow the aging process.  In fact, it does the exact opposite!.  Doing long frequent cardio sessions will break down your muscles and increase the production of free radicals.  These free radicals are nasty little things that damage the cells in your body and accelerate aging.

2.  A Low-Fat Diet

Nutrition Facts Label - NOT eating fat makes you age faster

It’s hard to believe that “low-fat” is still a dietary recommendation because science has proven that fat is not the cause of weight gain or heart disease.  In fact, since the introduction of the fat-free diet, the world has gotten more fat and sick than it has ever been before.

Fat is not the enemy.  Fat does NOT make you fat.  In fact, fat is an absolute must if you want your body to look and feel younger!  Why?  Because healthy fats are an essential source of good cholesterol, which is KEY to producing the hormones that enhance your youthful qualities.  (Not all cholesterol is bad, by the way — good cholesterol is a crucial component of healthy skin tissue, making your skin more supple, glowing, and youthful).  If you’re following a low-fat diet, you’re depriving your body of the nutrients it needs to slow aging and keep your youth.

3. Yoga

Yoga is great for relaxation, but is NOT best for fat-loss

Yoga has been around for thousands of years and it’s still around after all this time because it’s very effective for things like improving your inner consciousness, mind-body connection and spiritual health.  However, it should NOT be considered an effective form of exercise.  Sure, some movements are difficult and physically challenging.  BUT strictly physiologically speaking, yoga lacks the necessary components to stimulate your body to build lean muscle, burn fat and most importantly… trigger your youth-enhancing hormones to help slow aging.  Yoga can improve your flexibility and calm your mind, but it will NOT stimulate your “youth” hormones.

FOOTBALL – THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

BY AYABONGA NKALITSHANA

As a game of sport you wouldn’t expect football to be as dramatic and shocking as it is, the most relevant about football is flair, passion, glamour and love for the game as it has been said, but like any other thing that is associated with glamour it is not entirely flawless.

There has been a lot of conspiracy theories about it over the years but what remains a mystery is whether one of them is true: let me refresh your memory by the 1998 world cup, Brazil vs France, Ronaldo apparently fell ill the night before the final but a certain sponsor could not afford to have Ronaldo not play, conspiracy theory you decide.

It’s very hard to deny the fact that it isn’t entirely full of drama with recent scandals surrounding the mother body of football around the world FIFA, which has been under scrutiny about certain donations made to benefit a few individuals to say the least to encourage them to just ‘make the right decision’…, but that’s not all with allegations of (Barcelona) having benefits on and off the field through a partnership with UNICEF.

 The same has been happening in south African football with recent reports claiming the withdrawals of a number of senior players in Bafana squad with “good” reasons was not a coincidence after all. Is this really what makes it the beautiful game? The sport played by gentleman…? Or does that also remain a conspiracy theory.

Drug smuggling on and off school premises

By: Luviwe Pinda

Drug smuggling and use has become a common practice by school children who often find themselves in situations, where they may be forced into smuggling drugs and alcohol into the school premises. Such incidents often happen during the course of the year, end of year farewells, mid-year and final exams. This is mostly because of the stereotype by teenagers that drug use makes you cool and accepted by your peers.

This result to criminal activities to some and most end up not paying attention to educational programs and that teenager get sexually assaulted; several crimes are committed immediately after using any type of drug and some become mentally ill. A worst case scenario, Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa Nqakula’s son, Chumani, was killed last week Saturday, and it appears that the accused admitted to constraining the murder.

According to the stats released by the Hospital Association of South Africa (HASA), show that there was an increasing number of young teenagers at young age than 20 being admitted to treatment centres. Approximately, the average age of Mandrax users, is just about 21, whereas, across the country, the age for dagga users ranges from 19 – 21.

NKONKOBE MUNICIPAL WORKERS GO ON STRIKE!

Looking right through leadership in Africa over the past twenty years

by Ayabonga Nkalitshana

Over the past twenty years leadership in Africa has been characterised by development and a transitional stage from stagnant economies to urgent economic growth and land reforms, also trying to implement newly developed policies to ensure there is proper alignment of equality with development.

The basic aims were to ensure that no one is left behind from the eras of oppression and racial segregation, and that empowerment, is for all to ensure equal opportunities. Adoption of foreign economic policies, the introduction of “aid” reliant alliances between the Northern economically empowered and Southern ‘third world’ states with the West enjoying continued influence over the rule of African states even though there is independence within the rule of law.

Even though we claim to enjoy freedom and democracy, the truth is as Africans we’re not independent and yet, we’re still are under the influence and control of Europe through the trade alliances and aid policies they have over African states.  Let’s look at one of the instances; the obligatory acceptance of gay laws by African states under the banner of human rights, but the African culture and social moral does not agree to take such consents as law or in practice, as it misrules African culture and tradition. 

The most powerful weapon global influence has to ensure that African leaders and their states stay in line and abide to their rules is vast number of sanctions.

After reading this, as an African citizen and a well learned individual what are the possible solutions to ensure that African states and its leaders enjoy total freedom and independence? And what role as citizens can we play to ensure equality and economic freedom is safe guarded for future generations.

Poverty, unemployment, social inequality and in law, corruption are the biggest challenges that Africa faces and continue to grow with the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer…

APPALLING CONDITIONS AT ALICE SPORTS GROUNDS

 picture: lack of proper playing ground

picture: change rooms and toilets

Police Lack Propensity of Protecting Crime Victims

By: Luviwe Pinda

Are the police doing enough in protecting our neighbourhoods and communities, especially when the crime rate has taken its toll? They seem to be lacking in the aptitude of assisting crime victims and being able to launch effective investigations to solve criminal cases that would actually assist in instilling assurance that the service of providing safety and security is being auspiciously rendered.

Several members of the community in Alice take matters into their own hands to resolve criminal insensitivities. Recently, one of the residents is currently suffering that delinquent position. She was robbed of her bag, with her important possessions.

 There is also the matter surrounding the Senzo Meyiwa case which has been reported to have an investigation team that is filled with conspiracy theories and inconsistencies.

The police, however, know who the perpetrators are, and where they originate from. 

What could be the possibility of delay that the police do not issue victims with a case number immediately after opening a case? Could it be possibly be that they are working together with the criminals, or they form part of the operation as syndicates? The worst scenario that has ever happened is when a crime has transpired, and by the time it has been reported, the case has not been investigated or drags on for a long time.is it safe for me to say criminality is not only a matter of stealing or carrying out robberies but also a matter of accountability.