The Rep 27 November 2020

6 Tel: (045) 839-4040 / editorial: mjekulal@therep.co.za / advertising: charodinev@therep.co.za 27 November 2020 THE R E P R ES E N TAT I V E
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graphic © liudmyla pushnova / 123RF.com
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Roads a danger to all
FOR SERVICE: Valerie Hatha (née van Heerden) was presented with an
inscribed mirror from the Crouch Memorial Congregational Church.
Valerie and her husband, John, both retired teachers turned
businesspeople, will retire to Johannesburg at the end of November. A
special sermon was dedicated to their role in serving the church and
community. Valerie is the last of seven children of the late Frank and
Christine van Heerden to leave after more than 80 years in
Queenstown. Joining her (seated) in accepting the gift are Chris and
Zelda van Heerden, Joseph van Heerden and Garth van
Heerden Picture: SUPPLIED
No Eyasekasi race but
massacre remembered
Last Tuesday, November 17, marked
the 35th commemoration of the
Mlungisi Massacre, when residents
were murdered by the apartheid
forces while getting feedback on the
consumer boycott.
Those people were in a church
building, but this did not deter the
evil act.
This massacre is c o m m e m o ra t e d
by the Lukhanji Athletics Club with
the Eyasekasi 6km and 12km races.
As the route meanders through
the township, runners reminisce
about Luvuyo Lerumo, who was
murdered at what was known as the
Battle of Breidbach, Nonzwakazi
Methodist Church, where the
massacre took place, Ashley
Wyngaard, Dumpy Adams, the
Mlungisi graveyard where the white
bones of our heroes and heroines lie,
the Mlungisi Stadium which was a
hive of sporting activities and the
I s ra e l i t e s ’ Church, whose members
fell in the Bulhoek Massaccre.
The race is usually held on the last
Saturday of November, but
unfortunately this year the race will
not be held due to the pandemic.
However, people should not
forget the rich history of Mlungisi,
which is not only based on politics,
but also on sport, music and other
cultural events.
Sabelo Bantwini Jayiya, Ko m a n i
SOCIETY SNIPPETS
From birthdays to anniversaries to achievements to notices ... Share your
information with us:
mjekulal@arena.africa or fax (045) 839-4059
Happy birthday wishes are extended to Leanne du Plessis (November 28),
The condition of the roads in Komani is
getting worse each day. The other day I
was going up Green Street, with Midas
on my left. The robot changed to red
and the vehicle in front of me stopped.
The holes were so deep that the left
back wheel went into the hole and
when the robot turned green the wheel
was so deep he did a wheelspin and
damaged the wheel.
The way people swerve to avoid
potholes, you are not sure if they are
turning off or not. And when they
swerve into your lane, you are very
close to a head-on collision.
FACE 2 FACE with /
Thembakazi Yiweni, director at Lihlumelo Media
QWhat do you do?
AI am a managing
director of Lihlumelo
Media, a company that deals
with events, visual and
performance arts. We are
also involved with a variety
of community projects.
What do you enjoy about
your job?
I like assisting people and
being hands-on. It is what I
love most about public
relations.
Briefly describe your
b a ck g ro u n d .
I was born and bred in
Queenstown, but originally
from Tarkastad. I studied
Information Technology and
computer engineering at
Ikhala TVet College and sales
and marketing at Buffalo City
Business College. I practised
radio journalism at Lukhanji
Community Radio for about
six years where I am now
head of news.
I also worked as a
marketing manager at
Themba Funeral Investment
I use different routes hoping that I
can miss the potholes, but there is no
difference in their condition.
There are more traffic lights out of
order than working.
Many people don’t take into
consideration that If robots are out of
action, it should be treated as a fourway
stop, but they do not do so.
They just drive the way they want to.
There are far fewer street name signs
than there should be. If you are looking
for a particular street, you can’t find it.
People are saying they are taken to
sell as scrap metal.
and I was also a sales
representative at Bayport
financial institution.
I am the spokesperson in
the Eastern Cape Information
Technology Initiative (ECITI).
I also script write for
Imbumba Yekhaya Cultural
Group.
What do you think makes a
successful entrepreneur?
Be passionate about what
you do and you will never go
wrong. The fact that I love
and I live what I do makes
me successful.
What do you value most?
Pe o p l e .
What motivates you to keep
going in life?
Looking at how driven other
young people are. I have
learnt that in life your
background does not
determine your future.
Who is your role model?
My role model is Yvonne
Chaka Chaka. She is
passionate about reaching
out to the community and
has done a lot without any
compensation.
What do you enjoy about
Ko m a n i ?
YO U R VOICE opinions on the street
Most of the streets don’t have
painted lines so people drive where
they want, park where they like and
don’t know if it is a stop street or not. As
things are so bad I take all as stop signs.
Many people park in Green Street
next to Weirs Toyota where there is a
yellow line and “no parking” boards but
they are just ignored.
The traffic cops should check and
collect high parking fines. It is
sometimes fully parked on both sides so
that only one vehicle can get through
and this causes traffic jams.
A n o ny m o u s
The local talent. We have a
lot of young people
showcasing their talent at the
moment, from owning
companies to having their
own brands.
What do you think about…
Tubby Milne and Nadene
Sieberhagen (December 2), Mike
Morgan (December 3), Dorian Heuer
(December 4), Banathi Makaula
(December 6), Peggy Greeff
(December 7), Tracey Heidemann
(December 9), Jocelyn Barber and
Bronique Scharnick (December 11)
Belated birthday wishes to
Kimberly Ranger, Grace Chinguwa
and Elissa Naude (all on November
16), Lorraine Hayes, Shanleigh
Sinclair and Francois Kuit (November
20), Kate Muller, Musa Hobololo,
Kirsty Benecke, Bridget Smith, Aidan
Janse van Rensburg and Rosendo van
Schalkwyk and Wayne Gilfillan
(November 21), Cynthia Schaefer
(November 22), Mikayla Boy, Errol
Hayes and Lesley Vincent (November
24), Verena Uhlig and Nkululeko
Ngcefe (November 25), Bruce van
der Meer, Caroline Kriel, Erin
Chellew, Justin Kuyler, Adre Bartis
and Lester Pike (November 26).
Leon Filmer is still in hospital in
Bloemfontein and it appears his
condition is unchanged. Roger
Carthew recently underwent spine
surgery and is making good progress.
He and Bridget seem to have settled
in their new, smaller home in Kentonon-Sea.
Ke l ly Godley and Kyle van Niekerk, a
farmer from the Bedford district, were
married at the farm recently. We wish
them much happiness. Rolando and
Adrienne Godley came from Port
Alfred to keep an eye on George
Godley while the family was away.
Condolences are extended to the
families and friends of Tracey de
Klerk, Rounell Stride, Phumla
Mdlankomo, Elizabeth Tabo,
Nomamfengu Mpangele, Qhajana
Faku, Zola Nontsele, Tyhilelwa Lena,
Lufefe Bavuma, Nokuzola Stemela,
Vakele Kiti and Monwabisi Soci.
DIANA
JACOBSON
On Wednesday the 16 Days
of Activism for no violence
against women and children
campaign started. The Rep
reporter, Ntsikelelo Qoyo,
went to ask women if they
thought the annual
campaign helped in the fight
against gender-based
violence.
Diana Jacobson
from Top Town
We need more of these
campaigns. The more
awareness there is, hopefully
CAROL
NICHOLAS
LIYEMA
MSHUPELA
the more sensible the people
who commit these crimes
will be.
Carol Nicholas
from Top Town
I think it is making a
difference. I think more and
more people are talking
about these things and they
are working.
Liyema Mshupela
from Ezibeleni
They do work because they
ELMARICA
MANUAL
voice what many women are
going through in South
Africa but do not have the
strength to speak about what
they are going through.
Elmarica Manual
from Aloevale
I think if we women stand
together we can achieve
anything we put our minds
to. I think women need to
become more empowered
so they can stand up for
themselves. Families also
need to support women in
NOMBULELO
R AW U T I N I
abusive relationships.
Nombulelo Rawutini
from Dongwe
Personally, I wish men
would step up in this fight
against abuse. They are
supposed to be the
protectors in our homes yet
they become the
perpetrators. We need men
to be role models and the
voices of change.
They must be at the
forefront of this fight and talk
to other men.