May 2012.pdf - Gauteng Online

MAY 2012GDARD veterinarians combat rabiesFor three days, owners of dogs of different breeds responded from all corners of Klipgat village to a call by the Gauteng Department of Agriculture andRural Development’s veterinary services to vaccinate their animals. Panting from the scorching sun with tongues dangling in desperation for cool air,tails wagging – some between their legs – man’s best friends toddled to the vaccination point to be checked and vaccinated for rabies.MATLHODI MALOPESome pets; unimpressed by thewhimpers of those dogs thatwere already injected, opted to lielow under vehicles at the venue,probably hoping to go homewithout a jab. Struggle ensuedoccasionally as owners draggedunwilling participants to bevaccinated.Sixty-year-old Mme AnnaBaloyi started vaccinating hertwo dogs – Blackie and Bruno– in 2010. This year, the twowere accompanied by Blackie’soffspring, Mosima, on the road toa rabies-free dog life.Mme Baloyi said that shebelieved it was important to havehealthy pets.“It is good that the governmentthinks of the wellbeing of thepoor. I would not have my dogsvaccinated if it were not forthe free service brought to ourdoorstep,” she said.She then enquired how andwhere to get Bruno sterilized.“She stays in the house and Idon’t think I can deal with a litterof puppies inside my house,”she explained, pointing at theheavily pregnant mutt. GDARDveterinary officials provided herHELPING MAN’S BEST FRIEND ... These youngsters from Klipgat brought their best friends in for vaccination against animal diseases such as rabies.with information on where to gether basset hound sterilized.This was the secondvaccination drive in Klipgat thisyear.“Today we are providingbooster vaccinations to pets thatwere attended to in March. Thisis to ensure that the vaccinationbecomes effective for immunityto increase. We also welcome newarrivals,” said Dr Faculty Baloyi.Baloyi added that petvaccination was crucial to avoiddisease outbreaks.“Being proactive enables us toprotect communities as rabies iseasily passed on to humans.”Some pets received additionalintervention as they had otherailments. These interventionsincluded a 5-in-1 vaccination fordistemper,para influenza, hepatitis liverand parvo. Pets with woundswere treated with Necrospray,while those with scabs and hightick infestations are injected withIvomac.Matlhodi.malope@gauteng.gov.zaPhotograph: Matlhodi MalopeFind out more aboutpet care by callingthe GDARD stateveterinarians near you:Alex Hair gives youth an employmentopportunityTo many, going to a hair salon is just anexercise in maintaining beauty and creatinga lasting image. But for some, hair salonsare a source of livelihood keeping the wolfaway from the door.LERATO MAILOANESouth African businessmanand celebrity hairdresser, AlexMolokwane - the man behind thehair care industry in the 90s – ismaking it his mission to ensurethat the hair care industry makesa dent in the province’s longunemployment lines.Molokwane, through AlexHair Care and Unilever’sMotions Hair, is aiming toprovide opportunities that upskill,product-train and providementorship to young peoplewilling to make a success ofthemselves in the hair care sector.The partnership will enable5 000 young and aspirant hairstylists to enter the industry bythe end of the year.Through the Motions TrainingAcademy, situated at cornerSimmonds and Market Streets indowntown Johannesburg, youngpeople will be provided withtraining on the ins and outs of theindustry.“If you are interested in thehair industry and are betweenthe ages of 18 – 35 then you arethe perfect candidate to startour training as it will not onlyhelp you to start your business,but also to grow it through ourcontinuous workshops.“We have knowledgeabout hair and I would like toteach young people about thisbusiness,” Molokwane added.The Uniliver-backed initiativenot only looks at the developmentof hairstylists, but to also assistindividuals on the workings ofthe business.Molokwane said he wasproud to be behind this initiativeas it recognises the unique rolesperformed by the SMME sector.The hair care industry is adiverse sector which will assistTHE BUSINESS OF BEAUTY .... Motions Hair Academy in the Joburg CBD aims to train more young people on running successful hair salons.Photograph: Mandla Nkosigovernment with the creationof employment; it will alsocontribute to economic growth. Italso speaks to the government’scommitment to innovationand strengthens its strategicpositioning as the “smartprovince”.“As part of government’sefforts to revitalise the city andbring business back to the city Idecided to open up my businessin the CBD and bring it closer tothe public who don’t have to travelout of the city to receive excellentservice,” Molokwane said.Although the Motionsbrand is for relaxed hair, thehair salon also offers extensivestyles with weaves, braids andextensions.“We also cater for anatural look, with services fordreadlocks. Natural hair creates awhole other range of options andwomen can showcase their styleof choice,” Molokwane said.lerato.mailoane@gauteng.gov.za

NOT QUITE VALENTINES ... A fruit seller peddles his wares just before a taxi hits the road at a taxi rank in downtownJohannesburg.PAVEMENT SALON ... A young lady gets her hair done by hairdressers at a taxi rank near Soweto.FEEDING GAUTENG .... Many people arond Gauteng still rely on affordable food from vegetable hawkers.ALL EARS ... Premier Nomvula Mokonyane paid a surpise visit to the Premier’s Hotline recently.Mokonyane also took in some calls from residents.MAKING ENDS MEET ... A shoemaker is hard at work in Johannesburg fixing clients’ shoes.QUALITY HEALTHCARE FOR ALL ... Patients at the world-class Bertha Gxowa hopsital in Ekurhulenino longer stand in long queues when waiting for services.

MAY 2012‘I’m inspired by my learner’sachievements’ – MashininiMY PUBLIC SERVANT,MY HEROTouched by the plight of some of his learners from impoverished families,kind-hearted educator, Elliot Mashinini, decided to invest his time andresources in uplifting them.MELITAH MADIBAMashinini, an educator atMoletsane Secondary Schoolin Soweto told Gauteng Newsthat his passion for learner’sdevelopment is something that isvery close to his heart.“I am inspired by my learners’successes and seeing themprosper is what motivates me toassist them with everything I can.“It pains me a lot to see abright learner being inhibited bypoor family background fromachieving his or her dreams. I amof the belief that kids from poorfamily need us to assist them bybeing resourceful and coming upwith ideas to help them overcometheir hurdles,” Mashinini.A case in point was when twoof his former students struggledto further their studies aftercompleting their matric.Mashinini went out of his wayto assist them in securing fundingand today they are students at theVaal University of Technology.When Gauteng News visitedthe school, the humble butenergetic teacher was hard atwork together with his learnerstilling for a vegetable gardenabruptly called Food Garden ofChange.“With this vegetable gardenwe aim to link into the curriculumas most science students arestruggling with their studies. Thiswill give them a chance to havepractical examples,” Mashininisaid.Over and above assistinglearners with their practicalstudies, the garden will also assistkids from impoverished familieswith money to buy essentialsthrough selling the vegetables,Mashinini added.“This way they will belearning and gaining valuableentrepreneural skills,” he said.Mashinini is also involved invarious learner developmentalprogrammes that assist kids inimproving their life skills likepresentation skills.A BA in Educationgraduate from the former VistaUniversity’s Soweto Campus hasbeen teaching for more than adecade.One of his current studentsOmphemetse Sebogodi,17,said through Mashinini’sencouragement and support,their school was selectedto the regional finals of theOFFERING HOPE ... Moletsane Secondary School learners only have good things to dsay abouttheit teacher, Ellion Mashinini.2011 South African Institute ofInternational Affairs (SAIIA) 2011Environmental SustainabilityProject.“After participating in theproject, I made a decision to becomean environmental specialist. I lovethe environment and concernedabout the biodiversity species,like bees and rhinos because theyare about to be extinct. What willthe coming generation find in thisearth? Nothing but pictures thatthey once existed and for me thatis worrying factor,” Segobodi said.Mashinini also runs variouscampaigns in the community,including the Save WaterCampaign aimed at educatingcommunities about theimportance of saving water.His current and formerlearners attest to this anddescribed him as a dedicatedteacher who is alwaysencouraging them to reach forthe skies and not let anythingstand in their way of achievingtheir greatness.Melitha.madiba@gauteng.gov.zaChronicles of a former drug junkieIt all started with an experimental cigarette puff from time to time. Then it was dagga andeventually Thabang Chabangu found himself addicted to the lethal nyaope drug.SECOND CHANCE ... A drug rehabilitation programme for nyaope users, provided by the Community Safety department, has helped Thabang Changuand others kick the habit.MELITAH MADIBAThe 26-year-old Chabangu ofTemba in Hammanskraal said hestarted smoking cigarettes at atender age of 19 while still in highschool.He soon moved to a more‘harder one’, dagga, until a cousinintroduced him to nyaope, anaddictive mixture of dagga,rat poison and heroine – andsometimes ARVs.“I first experimented withnyaope one day on my way toschool. I didn’t feel anything aftersmoking it but while at assemblyI started feeling dizzy.“The teacher who noticed andcame to my rescue told me that Iwas actually swinging. I lied andattributed that to headache andthe fact that haven’t cleaned mystomach in a while,” he recalled.That experience gave himsuch a fright that since then hedared not touch the stuff again.Though he did not completelyquit smoking, experimentingwith the dagga from time to time,he was no longer taking nyaope.It was not until his familystarted to experience seriousfinancial problems which ledto him dropping out of theformer Temba Technical College,where he was upgrading hismathematics and science subjects,that he started taking the narcoticconcoction heavily.“My family’s financialproblems were too much to bearand being forced to drop out ofcollege was the final straw. Thatis when I took solace in nyaope -and heavily so,” he said, staringinto the distance as if trying toerase that painful era of his life.It was not long that hismother noticed some changes inhim and confronted him. But asit is always the case with mostaddicts, he denied taking anydrugs.His concerned mother, RoseChabangu, said though sheunderstood what Thabangwas going through, she neverapproved of him taking drugsto ease his frustrations.Asked how she came torealise that he might be ondrugs, she said she first noticedchanges in his moods andattitude and that whenever hecame home he did not eat butoften went straight to bed.“As a family we knew howmuch he loved his food. Thathe could just go to bed withouteating raised alarm bells for us.Not long after that things likeappliances started vanishing inthe house. It was easy for us toknow who the culprit was,” saidRose.Threats by family to call thepolice on him fell on deaf earsas all he cared about was gettinghis next fix.In a bid to finance hisexpensive habit, he startingcollecting scraps andvolunteering to do gardeningfor residents and even washingdustbins for them.Thabang, who has ambitionsof working in the mediaindustry, told Gauteng Newsthat his turning point was whenone day he looked himself inthe mirror and realised that hehad lost lots of weight and wasalways feeling sick and tired.“That is when I broke downand cried and started prayingto God to help me kick the habitthat was slowly destroying me.I regretted not listening to mymother when she warned meabout the drug and couldn’t faceher to ask for help,” he said withtears welling down in his eyes.Fortunately for him, a GoodSamaritan who knew about hisproblem through his mother,heard about Gauteng Departmentof Community Safety’s SubstanceAbuse Awareness campaign thathe volunteered to be booked intoa rehabilitation centre.“When I heard about theopportunity to go to rehab, I wasvery excited and proudly told mymom that I was going.“She was also relieved andwe knelt down and prayedtogether. It has not been an easyride but through my family’ssupport and rehab I managedto overcome my addiction.Today I’m proud to be amongthe 16 of the 100 who completedsuccessfully completed thecourse,” he said proudly.His bloodshot eyes are theonly evidence of a young manwho used to be high on nyaope.Rose encouraged otherparents never to lose hope ontheir addicted children and togive them the necessary supportto overcome their dependenceon drugs.“I would also like to appealto anyone who can help financeThabang’s studies as he wouldlike to go back to college. My fearis that being idle might lead tohim relapsing and going back todrugs,” she said.

MAY 2012Bigger, glitzier Gauteng Sports Awards this yearFollowing the resounding success of last year’s Gauteng Sport Awards, plans are afoot to make this year’s event an even bigger and more glamorous social affair.Hosted by the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation (SACR), in partnership with Telkom and Emperor’s Palace, the awards are aimed atinspiring sportswomen and men who have excelled in their respective fields.THEMBISA SHOLOGUIWINNER ...Mignon du Preez, last year’s Gauteng Female sportsperson of the year, says she will cherish winning the award all her life.This year’s awards have beenincreased by two more categoriesfrom the last year’s inaugural12, taking the total number ofcategories to 14. The two categoriesare targeted at emerging talent;most promising athlete of the yearas well as most promising team ofthe year.The Department’s MEC,Lebogang Maile, said:“The individual and teammust demonstrate the urgeand potential to do well at acompetitive level.”To popularize theprestigious award ceremonyto be held at Emperors Palaceon June 30, the SACR hasbeen conducting communityoutreach programmes, includinginitiatives to raise donations forsport equipment for differentcommunities.In the meantime, nominationsfor the upcoming event areunderway and the deadline isMay 22.Last year’s Gauteng FemaleSports person of the year winner,Mignon du Preez, said the awardsmotivated people to do betterand thrive to be the set in theirsporting careers.“Winning was just a humblingexperience for me. It was a bigthing that I will carry with mefor the rest of my life,” said the23-year-old Du Preez.She added that she got intothe sport by accident. Her fatherwas the then Bakers Coach, acricket development programmein which her brother playedparticipated.“They were one player shortand I happened to be there. Iwas four years old and am stillhooked,” exclaimed the currentSA Women Cricket captain.Thembisa.shologu@gauteng.gov.zaNhlapo going higher and higherCompeting in one’s home country has its perks. One has the support of friends and family andalso competes on a familiar terrain – increasing the chances of success. But for BMX star, SifisoNhlapo, being on foreign soil has not affected his career negatively. His recent home visit has seenhim win the South African National BMX Championship at Alexandra Park, Pietermaritzburgrecently.THEMBISA SHOLOGU“I usually compete abroad, butthis year there was space inmy calendar to compete here athome,” said Nhlapo.The 25-year-old professionalBMX rider said winning the SANational BMX Championshipwas a great accomplishment.He said this year his goal is toget into the upcoming Olympicsin London and be as healthy aspossible.“There are a lot of injuries inthis sport,” said ‘Skizo’, as he isaffectionately known.The BMX fanatic says moremunicipalities in Gautengshould build parks that arerider-friendly, especially forbeginners in the townships.“More needs to be done toget children interested in thesport because some do not evenknow you can build a career inriding.“There is no room forbeginners track; young peopleneed to be introduced to thesport and it would be a goodthing if BMX can also getinvolved,” he said.The Soweto-born lad said themove would help children builda career in cycle riding.Nhlapo started ridingprofessionally at the age ofeighteen in 2005 while doingmatric.“It was challenging, butI managed to win the WorldChampionships in Paris andwent on to pass my matric.“I sacrificed a lot. I was intraining for three months inwhich I was not in class but Ieventually accomplished what Iintended to,” said Skizo.However, riding has notbeen all rosy for him. In 2009 hebroke his neck while training. Ittook him nine months to recover.Skizo said: “It was careerthreateningbut I had to comeback and continue with mycareer.”He has represented SouthAfrica nine times at the WorldChampionships; won multipleSA Championships and GrandNational Championships and in2008 became a Beijing Olympicfinalist, to name just a few.He also highlighted theimportance of getting sponsorsas the cycling career isexpensive; from the gear to thebicycle, everything needs to bereplaced.“For a starting phase it isaffordable. But professionally,it is not. On the professionallevel one must have a bicyclespecifically built for racing,” headded.He concluded by sayingthose that have interest in thesport must: “have fun, enjoyriding and never give up onyour dreams. I am a breathingand living proof of that.”Thembisa.shologu@gauteng.gov.zaBIKER BOY ... Local BMX star, Sifiso Nhlapo, has his eyes firmly on the London Olympics in July.(Photograph: Kolesky/Nikon/Lexar)