Jacob Zuma

Could Jacob Zuma be offered a deal which would see him exit the ANC presidential race in a “dignified” manner? Political analyst and author William Gumede thinks this could be the best way out for the ANC to circumvent another messy scrap at its national conference in December.

Such a deal would be complex. It could be a compromise scenario to split the ANC and state presidencies, would need to include immunity from prosecution for Zuma and protect his family and allies’ business interests, Gumede said.

Speaking at a business breakfast in Rosebank on Monday, he said an exit deal for Zuma would also have to entail incentives for his KwaZulu-Natal support base, which is determined to secure the president a second term.

While the country is fixated by the pre-Mangaung factional battles, the acclaimed author is projecting that if Zuma is re-elected as ANC president it could lead to a split in the party as the discord between various factions would worsen in the ideological and policy void.

“If Zuma is re-elected on the back of KZN, he could be ousted in the same way as (Thabo) Mbeki,” Gumede said.

A political deal may not be that far-fetched as early in his presidency, Zuma indicated that he only wished to serve a single term. He also initially seemed amenable to an arrangement which would see him retain the ANC presidency, while Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe became state president in 2014. However, pushed by his support base and cohorts who have benefitted from his presidency through political patronage, Zuma now appears determined to secure a second term.

But, Gumede said, the fact that Zuma’s camp has approached businessman and ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) Member Cyril Ramaphosa to stand on a joint ticket means his supporters are aware the president may not be able to win the election on his own and would need Ramaphosa to “balance out his weaknesses”.

The incentive being presented to Ramaphosa is that he would take over as state president in 2014 on condition that he gives Zuma a “Berlusconi-like” immunity from prosecution and protect his family’s business interests, Gumede said. He was referring to the legal protection given to former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to evade criminal prosecution.

The revival of the criminal case against Zuma, for which he was indicted several times before the National Prosecuting Authority withdrew charges, was a real fear for the president and was another reason he needed to retain the ANC presidency. Gumede said some people in the ANC were determined to “take Zuma down legally” and as long as he remained president, he could fight off such attempts.

He said Zuma’s main strategy now seems to be to prevent a fierce contest at Mangaung. However, the constituency which brought him to power had no ideological or policy commonality other than wanting Mbeki out.

“That constituency is now broken up and support for Zuma has been reconfigured. Zuma’s presidential style is to present himself as a leader with no specific policy to hold his constituency together,” Gumede said. This exposed “big weaknesses” in terms of governance.

An analysis of electoral patterns also shows that the ANC is losing support “in every constituency except KwaZulu-Natal”, said Gumede. The ruling party has drawn supporters from the IFP, which Gumede called “floating votes”, with support for “Zuma the personality” rather than the ANC.

The policy conference showed that Zuma had the full support of one province, KwaZulu-Natal, much of Mpumalanga and half of the Free State, said Gumede. All other provinces appeared to be opposed to him. Zuma’s presidency would be “in trouble” if he only had real backing in one province and did not have significant support in the NEC and cadres in the civil service.

Zuma also has divided support in the trade unions, and the decision by Cosatu not to support any individual in the succession battle “masks a bitter contest within”.

All these could build towards a split in the ANC if Zuma was re-elected, he said. Or it could mean that within two or three years, Zuma’s detractors in the party could push for him to be ousted from office.

Gumede said both Motlanthe and Ramaphosa are reluctant to contest the ANC presidency, preferring the position be delivered to them, either through the incumbent agreeing to step aside or through a compromise deal. Motlanthe was running his campaign within the ANC rules and wanted to secure his presidency on his own terms rather than those of the factions supporting him.

If Motlanthe decided he didn’t want “to be part of a dirty political game”, Tokyo Sexwale, the outside contender, would step forward to represent the “disappointed opponents to Zuma”, Gumede said.

“Tokyo seems prepared to fight tough, hard and dirty like Zuma, and he’s happy to stitch together his constituencies from people like the (ANC) Youth League and the unions,” he said.

All these leaders vying for the ANC presidency were “candidates of the centre”, who were on the middle ground of the party, Gumede said. While the radicals and populists were trying to influence the candidates, even issues such as nationalisation being advocated by the ANC Youth league were on the agenda for strategic compromises.

Speaking at the same breakfast, author and analyst Daniel Silke said there was a sense of “insecurity” in the ruling party as it was “fearful of electoral decline”. The ANC was also under threat by “changing dynamics of the black middle class with an urban Facebook young generation”. The party was trying to mutate and change to retain its support base and taking measures like bolstering the public sector to keep its supporters on the government payroll, Silke said.

As the ANC moves into a “volatile era” of incremental electoral decline, it would have to decide how to tackle this “at the polls or by gerrymandering with the Constitution”, Silke said. This would be a critical juncture for South Africa where the ruling party had never before been threatened at the polls.

If the analysts are on point, the ANC and South Africa are heading for stormy waters. Chartering this territory would require a leader with mettle, clear policy direction and minimum contestation in their core constituency—all of which the incumbent lacks.

Zuma could ignore the warning signs and go for broke, but he would run the risk of facing the same consequences his predecessor did. While Mbeki could still ride off into the sunset—or Sudan—and repair parts of his legacy, Zuma’s legal nightmares could return to haunt him. Or he could give in to a deal that would give him a gracious exit and pacify his constituency.

Time is fast running out for him to make that critical decision which will determine whether Mangaung will indeed be the ANC’s date with destiny. DM

By Tselane Moiloa

Yolanda Greyling with her working dog, Ivan who helps her get by

BLOEMFONTEIN – For over 25 years of her life, Yolanda Greyling was used to waking up to the sound of chirping birds and barking dogs on her parents farm in Bethlehem in the northern Free State. But all this changed when a brain tumour removal left her partially deaf, a disability she said most people do not understand.

“I am hard-of hearing which makes me partially deaf; and with my hearing aid I can hear when speaking face to face with people and over  the phone but I cannot hear the smallest things like my cellphone ringing, people calling my name or when someone is knocking at the door,” she said.

Because she did not want to depend on people to do basic things, she started her internet search for the best option suited to her as a hard-of-hearing person.

“There is this new technology which can indicate a ringing phone with a flickering light, but it costs R150 000 which is very expensive because I would need to get two for my home and at work,” she said.

The most inexpensive and realiable option she had was a service dog, often confused with guide dogs used by blind people.

“After a lengthy search on the internet, I found out about an organisation in the United States which breeds German-Sherperd dog’s and trains them for hard-of-hearing people. The South African Guide Dog Association does not invest much into this service, but I found a German-Sherperd dog breeder in Frankfort who said they could help me.

“When my phone is ringing and I do not see it vibrate, the dog brings it to me. When someone behind me is calling my name, the dog stops in front of me to alert me to that person or pull towards their direction,” Greyling, 33, explained.

While she is coping with her disability and tries to lead a normal life, the biggest challenge has been people who are discriminatory towards her and see the dog as a threat than as her aid.

On numerous occasions, Greyling was refused entry into retail shops because of her dog, which was described by one of the store managers as “fierce looking”.

“The staff at Foschini refused me entry even though I explained to them that I needed the dog. Some people said that I am not blind so I do not need a guide dog,” she explained.

“People don’t believe me when I tell them about my disability. There is this idea that one needs to be literally handicapped or even unappealing to be disabled, but that is not the case,” Greyling said.

However, a store manager at Foschini said they did not refuse Greyling entry.

“We told her she could enter the store, but the dog had to stay outside. [The staff] being 99 percent black people, they were frantic because the dog is huge. I even told her to leave the dog outside and I would assist her in the shop,” the manager who prefers anonymity said.

“I think she was offended. And one could not see that there’s a disability. It is still a difficult situation because it causes chaos,” she added.

Greyling used to be bothered by the treatment she and her dog, Ivar, received but has come to brush it aside.

“At the beginning I got angry at people, but that did not help. My husband sometimes does not want to move around with me because he gets angry at the taunts, but I have gotten used to it,” she said.

Before she had the dog which is trained by a live-in dog trainer just over a year ago, she was dependent on her mother and husband for a lot of things.

“This is why I have a service dog which helps me get by. My family was always supportive but I could not expect them to be there all the time.  But unfortunately, people do not understand why I have the dog around,” the bubbly woman said.

Greyling, on the other hand, said there are two kinds of people and attitudes relating to her dog.

“There are those who do not realise that it is working and pet it a lot, which diverts its attention from me. Then there are those who shout at the dog when they see it because they think it is harmful. So they are at two opposite ends – I don’t know which group is worse,” Greyling said with a chuckle.

Despite all the challenges and curios-but-sometimes scared stares from the public, Greyling’s life is as normal as the next person’s.

“I have started going out and being around people. The company I work at is also supporting – except when they see the dog. I started before the operation and they are still as accommodating.

“All I want is if someone could just educate people that it is not only the blind people who need dogs. There are other disabilities out there which need their services,” Greyling emphasised.

Government has been chastised for not doing enough to ensure inclusion of disabled people in various department projects or institutions, with the MEC for Social Development in Free State Sisi Ntombela saying at a recent non-governmental organisation dialogue admitting that “that we are not doing enough for the disabled people”.

Free State provincial coordinator of Disabled People’s of South Africa (DPSA) Mokati Moledi, said public awareness was still needed to educate people on challenges facing the disabled and how they can best accommodate the disabled.

“South Africa signed the United Convention on the rights of Disabled People, but still the inclusion of Disabled People is very slow. Again it also goes back to the community at large, the attitude of members of the community is also another challenge which leads to people with disability been sidelined,” Moledi said in an interview with Public Eye recently.

By Libuseng Nyaka

KROONSTAD – Nineteen-year-old Manhca Gabriel Domingo writhes in pain in his hospital bed at Boitumelo Hospital some 200 km away from Bloemfontein because of a swollen stomach caused due to Ascites.

His distended stomach was caused by an accumulation of fluid in his abdominal cavity forcing him to visit hospital several times to drain the excess fluid. The Ascitic fluid is caused by liver disease, cancers, congestive heart failure or kidney failure.

Domingo is a second-year Bio Medical Technology student at the Vaal University of Technogy and fears that if he is not cured soon, he might fail to achieve his dream of becoming a doctor due to irregular attendance of class.

Relating his ordeal to Public Eye on Friday, August 3 Domingo said: “It all started with Tubercolosis (TB) in 2008 while I was doing grade 10. I was put on treatment for nine months and not the normal TB treatment which takes six months. I suspect my illness is linked to the overdose of medication.”

However, Domingo said after several tests, doctors at Boitumelo discounted this notion because his liver was still healthy.

Dr Ramoroesi Victor Ramathesele told Public Eye that Domingo’s condition was rare and emphasised that more tests were necessary before a treatment plan could be mapped out.

Domingo was last week moved to Bloemfontein with the assistance of Acting Free State MEC for Health Mosebenzi Zwane for specialised treatment.

Domingo comes from a poor family – both his parents and elder sister are unemployed and depend on part-time work for survival.

His studies are sponsored by National Student Financial Aid Scheme of South Africa (NSFAS).

But his transfer to Bloemfontein could end some of his problems as Zwane promised to get government to meet his medical costs and ensure that he enrols with a university to continue his studies.

Zwane also promised to get Domingo to study medicine in Cuba under the on-going government-to-government programme.

MEC Zwane would not have known about Domingo’s situation were it not for his persistent sister Elina.

She met Premier Ace Magashule when he visited Boitumelo hospital earlier this month and told him about her brother’s condition.

“It was Premier Ace Magashule who referred me to MEC Zwane after I confronted him. I was afraid that I would lose my brother who was lying in pain without getting any attention from doctors at Boitumelo. I skipped the protocol and did everything I could to grab the premier’s attention.

“All I wanted was to save my brother’s life which was threatened by the diease. Fortunately, my brother’s story touched MEC Zwane’s heart,” she said.

Zwane chipped in: “We will do everything in our power to ensure that you get the help that you need. But you must have hope and faith and put God first.”

An overwhelmed Domingo said he had initially wanted to enrol for a medical degree soon after high school but his application was late forcing him to settle for the closest thing to medicine he could get.

“My quest to become a doctor was fuelled by young doctors who used to visit my school to give us career guidance. I would dream of wearing a white jacket and assisting sick people. My condition has strengthened that passion now that I know how it feels to be desperate for your life,” Domingo said.

He said Zwane’s intervention had rekindled his fading hope for survival, adding he believed that he would one day achieve his dream of earning a medical degree.

“My sister has always been my pillar of strength. I look up to her. She is my rock. When I am in pain she fills me with hope and encourages me to pray. I believe that I will get help in Bloemfontein,” he said.

But his parents who live in a rented four roomed house will now have to find money from somewhere to travel to Bloemfontein to check on him.

“While he was at university he was admitted at Sebokeng Hospital and later was transferred to Baragwanath Hospital. We could not go there to check on him because we did not have money for transport,” said Domingo’s mother.

But right now, the family is just grateful that Domingo is getting specialised help.

Clr Thabo Manyoni Executive Mayor: MANGAUNG Metropolitan Municipality

All elements of corruption would have to be rooted out within the local government system to ensure better audit results, Thabo Manyoni, executive mayor of the Mangaung metro municipality said at the opening of the 10th National Congress of the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) early this week.

Manyoni said the recent report of the auditor-general mainly characterised by the adverse audit opinion implying non-compliance of municipalities, was a matter of great concern that must be given high priority by the Samwu congress.

“(As) Much as the trade union movement remains vigilant in defending the working class against the onslaught of capitalism, we must also take a lead in ensuring the realisation of clean audit by 2014 as well as improved service delivery in pursuit of a better life for all.” Manyoni welcomed the delegates, especially the women in the audience during Women’s Month, from all municipal jurisdictions in the country and said they were the protagonists of the National Democratic Revolution (NDR) – build a united, non-racial, non-sexist and democratic society.

Manyoni said every municipality has played a significant role in the reconstruction and development effort of the country. “This union has made great strides in providing the local sphere of government with sound leadership– currently leading almost every municipality in our land.”

He said unity and cohesion of the progressive forces was inevitable to achieve a better life for all. Manyoni said as progressive partners in local governance, local government and Samwu consensually agreed that foregoing constitute an “ideal municipality”, contrary to the current state of municipalities. He said unity and cohesion of the progressive forces was inevitable to achieve a better life for all.

By Molefi  Sompane

Sisa Pangeni

SASOLBURG – A conman is on the prowl in the Sasolburg area demanding R500 from desperate jobseekers in exchange for positions with the Metsimaholo Local Municipality (MLM).

Police have launched a manhunt for Sisa Pangeni, 46, who they believe has masqueraded as a municipal manager and conned people of hard-earned cash, causing the municipality to dissociate itself from the scam.

Municipal Communication Manager Gino Alberts told Public Eye on Tuesday, August 7 that Pangeni who also calls himself Lucas, Jack or Andile was not connected to the council. “We know nothing about this matter … I think the police will deal with it and bring the culprit to answer for what he has done. But we will also investigate the matter,” he said. Alberts warned residents about unscrupulous people who conjured up tricks like the one allegedly used by Pangeni to make easy money.

“If there is a post available at the municipality we advertise it. We are not selling jobs here, there is a procedure we follow when we open posts and there are interviews conducted. We know that people are looking for jobs but you don’t have to commit a crime to get a job.”

Police spokesperson Sergeant Sellwane Mapamela said a lot of people had allegedly been conned by Pangeni.

“In April 2011, Mr Pangeni told his victims that he was working for Metsimaholo Municipality as municipal manager. He told them that he will offer them jobs at the municipality after they deposited money into his account.

“The complainants deposited money into his bank account hoping that they will be employed. The suspect then disappeared with their money without a trace,” she said

Complainants identified him by the car he was driving. “He is apparently driving around in white VW Polo with registration number NPP 488 GP. A warrant for his arrest has been issued by the Sasolburg Magistrate’s Court and his last known address was house number 43 Tielmatroos Street in Vanderbijlpark.”

One of his victims said: “He was so polite and convincing that I deposited money into his account. I waited for him as he had warned me not to call him but to wait for him to do so. I kept waiting and got tired, it is then I decided to find out more about him at the municipality but there was no one by that name there.”

Pangeni was arrested in 2004 for passing off as a lawyer but skipped bail.  Should anyone know where he is, they should contact Detective Constable Rethabile Chabangu of Sasolburg on: 016 973 2192 or 016 970 1031/2/3.

By Molefi Sompane

SASOLBURG – Extreme cold weather conditions which gripped the country early this week provoked mixed reactions from different sections of the community depending on how it impacted on their economic activities.

While some long distance motorists cursed the snow-laden weather conditions, learners at Isaac Mohlamme Primary school in Sasolburg took time out to play in the snow which locals said they had not experienced in ages.

On Tuesday, August 7 the whole of Sasolburg was covered by a blanket of snow, causing residents to bring out their long forgotten cameras while others simply whipped out mobile phones and took pictures for posting on social media network sites.

Mpho Dhlamini said: “It is cold but I am happy to see the snow here. I can’t remember when I last saw these conditions.”

Moses Maluleke added: “It is nice to experience these conditions again but these are serious conditions and one needs to take care of his life and of their loved ones.”

While many people were rejoicing in the snow, that was not comfort for the less fortunate who worried about keeping their children and homes warm.

Granny Motswadiba from France Section lamented that winter was not over yet: “I am still shocked. This weather is so cold and I have used my last pennies to buy my grandchildren paraffin for the heater.  I just pray for it to change.”

Most municipalities in the Free State issued warnings to residents to keep safe but were all quick to reassure people that they were ready to tackle any disasters that might occur because of the extreme weather.

Metsimaholo Local Municipality Communication Manager Gino Alberts said the municipality was aware of the extremely cold weather.

“We can see and hear from the weather bureau that things are not good but we trust that this will not impact badly on residents to demand our attention.  If this happens, however, we are ready for the challenge,” Alberts said.

The General Manager of the Communications and Intergovernmental Relations at the Mangaung metro Qondile Khedama said the municipality had all systems in place should something go wrong.

“We wish to advise all residents to be extra cautious during the next following days of extreme weather conditions. the MMM Disaster Management team is on standby and on full alert of any disaster incidents that may occur as a result of these bad weather conditions,” Khedama said at the peak of the cold conditions on Tuesday, August 7.

The City urged residents to ensure that any heating appliances, open fires or any other energy sources used for heating should be placed in such a way that they not in close proximity of any combustible materials like bedding, curtains and furniture.

“Radiation of heat is often the cause of a fire starting and can be prevented if special attention is given where and how these heating sources are being utilised. It is also important that these appliances not be left unattended when in use. Leaving such items unattended could be hazardous to any household. Parents are also advised/cautioned to ensure that children are not left alone/unattended with fires and/or heating appliances,” he said.

The adverse conditions had improved on Thursday, August 9 with the South African Weather Service saying that “temperatures will rapidly improve towards the weekend where maximum temperatures of 20 degrees can be expected”.

By Libuseng Nyaka

BLOEMFONTEIN – Families evicted from the disused Ramkraal Prison premises some five months ago to make way for construction of a new legislature are crammed in a bitterly cold public hall in Hostel One while government ponders its next move.

Although government moved swiftly to enforce a high court eviction order ostensibly to expedite construction work on the proposed legislature to begin, debris from the demolished buildings at the site in Batho Location still lies where it fell.

While officials insist that preparatory work is underway behind the scenes, speaker of the Free State provincial legislature Khotso Sesele told the house during his budget vote that more capital was needed before work could start in earnest on the R560 million project.

Sesele’s budget speech statement contradicted Public Works Department spokesperson Mlungisi Maqubela’s insistence in an interview with Public Eye on Tuesday, August 7 that everything was on course for workmen to move on site.

“Mme you must understand that things are done step by step; the eviction and demolition of the buildings was the first step. There are many other processes to follow.

“However, we cannot afford to keep on informing the media about every step we take although we believe our people need to know what is going on. There are many steps such as land surveys by engineers to follow,” he said. But these statements are cold comfort to 50 of the evicted former Ramkraal residents who have to queue in adverse weather conditions to use outdoor ablution facilities; and have had to partition the hall into private living quarters with curtains.

The residents’ plight has been worsened by the sharp drop in temperatures to freezing levels since the current cold front hit the country last weekend.

Forecasters said temperatures in Free State had on some days plummeted to below minus five degrees.

Rights activist Stephen Tswala said government was hasty in carrying out the evictions and demolitions, especially of former prison officers’ houses which the families had occupied, some for more than five years.

“Demolishing buildings which had been occupied by people could have come last after everything regarding the construction of the legislature had been arranged,” Tswala said.

On March 7, this year, bulldozers and workmen backed by armed police, poured into the grounds of the former prison for political detainees and forcibly removed 200 people from the houses before flattening them.

Some of the evicted families spent nights in the open before they were eventually moved to Hostel One.

Most of the former Ramkraal residents are of modest means and operated cottage industries from abandoned prison buildings during the day, turning their workplaces into sleeping quarters at night.

During a visit to Hostel One on Wednesday, August 8 Public Eye found men, women and children evicted from Ramkraal housed under one roof, making women and children open to abuse.

In an interview Lerato Lempe, a mother of two young children – aged two and ten – said living conditions in the hall during winter were dreary and unhealthy.

“We do not have privacy here. We cannot bath in a hall full of men and children. We have divided the hall with our clothes to have some privacy. “It is difficult to go out to look for a job because our door has no key and is left unlocked day and night. Besides these challenges residents here hate us and treat us like foreigners in our own country,” said Lempe who originally comes from Botshabelo.

Her sentiments were shared by Likeleli Seleteng, a mother of four.

“It so uncomfortable here; at least at Ramkraal we had privacy and we used to live in houses not halls. We were also able to generate income. It is so sad because we were evicted yet construction has not started. It is so sad to think that they hurriedly evicted us as if they were about to start using the place immediately. But it is now five months and nothing has been done since,” she said.

In a statement soon after the demolition, the MEC for Public Works Sisi Mabe said proper consultation had been done, adding the evictions could have been avoided had the residents been cooperative and left when asked to do so.

White Mohapi, a former political prisoner at Ramkraal concurred with the MEC that proper consultations were done.

“We had several meetings with Premier Ace Magashule about plans to demolish some of the buildings at Ramkraal to make way for the new legislature,” he said.

Mohapi said that the parties reached consensus on preserving the building which used to house political prisoners for historical purposes.

He said former political prisoners regarded the plan to build the legislature at the old prison as an honour to those who were incarcerated there.

“Discussion of laws and decisions that affect the future of this province will be made at Ramkraal,” he said. “That is an honour to all political prisoners who were held there.”

By Molefi Sompane

SASOLBURG – Many international pop stars begin their careers in church choirs.

But Andile Tau or Andy T got his education differently.

Andy T horned his craft by playing a home-made guitar made using old cooking oil containers. He later refined his skill when he joined an Acappela group.

He said: “I started everything in Kroonstad. I was young, in my teens. I started first by teaching myself to play the guitar. Then I met Paul Molapo with whom I formed a four-member group called Jipsy.

“We then auditioned for Radio Sesotho in the 80s and won but we failed to record our album with the radio’s help after missing the date of recording. It was hard because there were no mobile phones then,” he said.

Andy T later studied music at then then Arts College, FUBA. He recorded his first album in 1996 with his new group called Kwaito Blaster. The album got a warm reception from music lovers.

He still remembers that time: “It was just nice to sing. We didn’t sing for money we used to do things for free. I remember our album; Pump Up the Party which involved Kwaito and Ragga.”

The following year he met Thato Mampe and they were signed by Phil Hollis who used to own Gold Dust Records.

But the group split up a few years later, forcing him to look for work.

But Andy T also persisted as a solo artist and released an album called Lap One which had different genres. Later that year he released Lap 2.

“I can’t complain about how they have worked. I expected these sales.  Although that was not a lot, I managed to keep on releasing albums and this showed me that there was something I was doing right,” he said.

Andy T has turned down different recording companies: “I rejected them because I have succeeded on my own and there is nothing that’ll stop me from climbing the mountain.”

Andy T is a father of two, a boy Arthur and a girl Tshidi. He is looking forward to producing youngsters and has started training his son to follow in his footsteps.

“My daughter is still young but she is showing a love for music already but I am hoping her brother will become a musician one day.”

He is unhappy though that organisers of the annual Fezile Dabi Jazz Festival continue to overlook him: “It pains me to see how these people sideline us here. However, we are doing everything to convince them that we can perform.”

By Tselane Moiloa

BLOEMFONTEIN – Escalating deviant behaviour among teenagers and the debilitating consequences have prompted a group of youths in Heidadal Township to seek ways of keeping themselves busy.

Drug abuse, teenage pregnancies, a high dropout rate in schools and an increase in HIV infections are some reasons which motivated the youths to form an Arts consortium in the hope of sidestepping these pitfalls.

“Heidedal Live – Arts Consortium is all about grooming young people to become active and compliant citizens which in the end will bring about a sense of belonging to achieve certain goals within the community,” media officer Siobhan Canavan said.

The group has something for anyone with any interest in performing arts, ranging from singing, dancing to poetry and stand-up comedy.

These talents were put on show recently when Heidedal Live was launched in conjunction with the youth desk of the local Community Police Forum on Saturday, 28 July 2012 at the Norman Doubell Hall in Heidedal.

“The whole aim of this project is to create and establish an environment in which people from within the community can come together with their different skills and talents to bring about change.  Some of the reasons why young people go astray include lack of activities within the community, lack of life-skills training and also the platform which local artist do not receive in order to showcase their talents,”Canavan added.

Following the successful launch, the group is now working hard to ensure they make a mark on the Bloemfontein arts and entertainment scene, with other events planned for the future. In honour of Women’s Month, they will host the Diva Fashion Show later this month which will give upcoming female designers and aspiring models a stage to showcase their talents.

“[T]hrough arts and gigs we want to reach out to the youth and show that there are other ways of doing things…other ways of living your life to your full potential and that is through your God-given skills and talents,” media officer and singer in the group Cleevus Francis said.

By Molefi Sompane

The Mazwai sisters Nomsa and Ntsiki

HEILBRON – William Shakespeare once said: “The earth has music for those who listen”.

Kwaito group Gunshot from Heilbron is living the age-old adage by making music which has taken northern Free State by storm.

Bound by friendship, a common perception and a musical dream, Mzwakhe Maduna a.k.a Action, 23,  and  Teboho a.k.a Power  Sabesa, 23, collaborated in 2008 to craft “Gunshot”,  which appears to be destined for the skies.

The budding musicians goal was to achieve fame and to find an outlet for their “views, feelings and thoughts through art”.

Churning out a fusion of contemporary Hip-Hop and Kwaito, Gunshot has evolved into a mature group that continuously wows its growing fan base with its music.

Speaking in a recent interview the group’s manager Mohanoe Mokoena said: “We are proud to present the duo’s debut album titled ‘Thati’ iCover Tsotsi’ (Hide the Gangster).”

He added that: “In a bid to promote Thati Cover Tsotsi, we have live performances which are lifelines on which the success of both the album and the artists are based.”

The duo has been touring the country since its project was launched. The group has played in  Deedepoort (Pretoria) sharing the stage with Zinzi Mazwai, Club Deejays (Johannesburg), West End Theatre and shared the stage with Dj Clock in Heilbron (Free State).

The small-town group which has an under privileged background is a potential national chart-topper, said Maduna.

The vocalist and ccomposer added: “I would like to realise full potential within the industry. I owe a lot of my current circumstances to my father who was a jazz musician in the 90s.”

His  mother sings in a choir.  Action’s love for Kwaito began when he was at  high school when the genre was still in its infancy.

Sabesa who is also a vocalist and composer chipped in: “I also wish to realise my full potential within the industry. I draw my inspiration from within the Hip-hop industry.”

He is now focused on perfecting his musical creations which draw heavily from his life-long love – Hip-Hop.  Gunshot is pushing hard to market the album through live shows.  Like Berthold Auerbach once said: “Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life,” The pair has pulled all stops in cleansing our heavy souls.

By Tselane Moiloa

Nicky (Dieketseng Mnisi), Stephanus (Nic Beukes) and Popi (Diana Maseko) in a reconciliatory scene in Madonna of Excelsior.

BLOEMFONTEIN – The technical crew and actors who have adapted the historical novel Madonna of Excelsior into a play have received praise from the book’s author, Professor Zakes Mda, who admitted that while he prefers not to see his work brought to the stage, this adaptation brought something new to the table.

After years of putting it off, Kobus Moolman adapted the novel for the Performing Arts Centre of the Free State (Pacofs) and produced the play which was directed by Roel Kwijnstra.

The cast of nine professional and five student actors from the University of the Free State “forced” Mda to watch the first rehearsal where the various scenes were combined.

The play centres around Popi, played by Diana Maseko and her quest to who her father which leads her to discovering the infamous “Madonna of Excelsior” – a group of 19 women who were subjects of a sex scandal in 1971 in Excelsior. The women were having  affairs with white men, primarily for money. Popi was the daughter of one of the women, Nicky.

Popi goes from pillar to post asking for the truth but although everyone in the township seemed to know who her father was, no one seemed willing to tell her.

One of the themes which struck the chord was of sex and power elations between the two groups during apartheid, where Nicky’s husband comes home to find her pregnant with another man’s child.

In one of the scenes, Nicky tells of how she was raped by one of the men, yet this was brushed aside by the other women because it had been normalised. The sexual exchanges were mutually-beneficial, they argued.

“When the white men were heaving and squealing on top of us, we were in control. And when they had vomited inside of us, they were back in control,” she says with an emotional undertone that cannot be missed.

Mda, who was in Bloemfontein to speak at the Central University of Technology on Thursday, August 2, said he “did not cringe” throughout the show, which was a good sign.

“I hate watching my plays…I usually sit there and cringe a lot. In your case, and I am not saying this to buy your faces, I did not cringe at all. I sat there with no expectations, but as you progressed, I relaxed, which is a good thing.

“To adapt a novel into a play is very difficult,” Mda said, adding that “the people who adapted this novel made it work in such a way that it was new to me.”

In preparation for their roles, the cast visited Excelsior, a small quiet town 110 kilometres south of Bloemfontein in Mantsopa Local Municipality, where they met with some of the people the book is based on, while taking in a dose of life in the hidden town.

“We felt like we were opening a can of worms because most of the people still do not want to talk about it. About 10 minutes after our arrival at Viliki’s place, the neighbours had come out of their houses staring at us and the police suddenly arrived on the scene,” said Diana.

Maseko continued: “It was even more unnerving for me because of my coloured features. Going there and speaking to locals has given me the background I need to bring my character to life.”

Having received feedback from Mda, director Roel Twijnstra said they would now focus on perfecting the play before it opens on August 15.

“We will fix where we have to; but from now on it is not about being creative anymore but just hard work,” Twijnstra said.

“This is not just a play. It is history, and also shows how the town is still stuck in the past. Nothing has changed – it does not feel like the new South Africa there,” he added.

By Tselane Moiloa

BLOEMFONTEIN – Samuel Mzangwa has dreamt of being a medical immunologist since his high school days.

“Ever since I learnt about medical immunology, I have wanted to become a medical immunologist. There are a lot of viruses in our country and continent yet there are no cures which is a concern for me,” said the nineteen-year-old from semi rural Koppies.

Mzangwa, matriculated in 2011 with distinctions in Maths, Physical Science and Life Sciences from Kwakwatsi Senior Secondary School in Koppies, Fezile Dabi district, making him the highest achieving learner at his school which had an average of level two.

“There were obviously challenges, be it be from the school or at home. But I made it through despite it all,” he said.

However, Mzangwa’s dreams were deferred when his parents could not afford to send him to university to pursue a degree in medicine. However, he enrolled for a degree in biochemistry at the University of Free State (UFS). That was before he was approached by the Department of Education to apply for a space to study medicine in Cuba, a project initiated by the premier’s office.

Mzangwa is one of the 148 prospective doctors who will jet off to Cuba starting this month to start their six years of medical schooling and training.

Like many of his peers who were bade farewell by the provincial government on Monday, August 13, he comes from an extended family which is largely unemployed.

“The biggest thing for me is to come back at the end and change my family’s living conditions and make sure my siblings receive quality education,” the second-eldest child in a family of 10 said.

Mzwanga is one of the many learners from Free State who had dreams to become doctors yet could not because of the cost of university education.

Armed with a quality matric certificate from Relebohile Secondary School in Smithfied, 22-year-od Nosipho Motlohi obtained a study loan from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme of South Africa (NSFAS) and started pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology at UFS as well.

Motlohi was the top learner in her 2008 grade 12 class at a school where learners wanted to burn it down because a large percentage had failed their previous year.

“The opportunity is beyond amazing. I applied late for the Cuba scholarship and had actually given up. I did not expect the call which I received in June,” she said.

“I am mostly nervous about whether I will survive but I am determined. This is important for me – I live with my mom and six other people in an RDP house. No-one is employed, we used to survive on the small children’s social grants,” Motlohi said.

While their conditions were not the best for studying, she made it through and would also generate some money by doing needle work.

Although the students were looking forward to the long-nights and exploring the Cuban lifestyles, the partnership between the South African and Cuban health ministries has in the past been marred by claims that when the students return to the country, they seem to be almost clueless because of the different curriculum.

Before getting certificated as medical doctors, the students have to complete their studies at a South African higher education institution to make them compatible with the health system in the country.

The head in the department of health Dr Sipho Kabane admitted that there had been problems in the past, but said that there had not been cooperation between the department and the local university.

“In the past, the system here was not receptive of students from Cuba. Those who came and were supposed to be accommodated at the university found it very difficult, with the dual-language policy being a big challenge.

“There was this attitude that we were not good, but once they were placed at Medunsa they found it better. However, we are going to restart negotiations with the university and hopefully get them to cooperate with us. We also need to take some academics from the country to Cuba so that they can understand the curriculum and the health system that side. If we fail to provide a receptive environment for the students, we would have failed,” Kabane said.

The initiative to train medical students in Cuba is largely due to the shortage of doctors in the province, particularly in rural areas. The students are therefore bound to serve in these marginalised areas upon their return.

In order to prepare them for the lifestyle that awaits them, a product of the Cuban programme Dr Celinah Lesenyeho has been giving them orientation.

“They can make it if they are disciplined. But they have to study 10 times harder than the Cuban students, taking the language barrier into consideration,” the doctor serving at Dr J.S Moroka Hospital in Thaba Nchu said.

“Our disease profile in South Africa is way different to that in Cuba. There they have a preventive method, which is cheaper. In South Africa, we have the hospice-centric approach – which means we want our people to come to hospitals instead of going to them,” she said.

Dr Lesenyeho explained that the new curriculum has been suited to the South African context so that the students can be effective when they come back.

“During our time, we used to do everything that was done by the Cubans. But now, they will be taught how to handle trauma and assault cases, for example, and these situations rarely occur in Cuba. The diseases are also very well controlled, which differs from this side,” she explained.

The province will spend over R200 million on the project and there are plans to increase the number of students to 200.

An attempt by the police to disperse striking workers at Marikana’s troubled Lonmin mine has ended in a shootout between the two groups.

A Sapa reporter at the scene said he counted 18 bodies lying next to the nearby Wonderkop squatter camp. The shooting lasted about three minutes.

Police had tried to intercept a section of the strikers gathered on top of a hill.

The strikers were wielding pangas and chanting war songs. Police fired teargas and then used a water cannon to disperse the strikers, who retaliated by firing live ammunition at the police.

The area around the hill, which the strikers had turned into their base for the past few days, was cordoned off with barbed wire.

The strikers scattered towards the squatter camp and the nearby veld.

Police spokesperson Captain Dennis Adriao told journalists at the scene police had been “tactical” in their approach and that the situation was tense.

Police officers said talks with leaders of the radical Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) had broken down, leaving no option but to disperse them by force.

“Today is unfortunately D-day,” Adriao said.

Ten people, including two policemen, have died in nearly a week of fighting between rival worker factions at the mine, the latest platinum plant to be hit by fallout from an eight-month union turf war in the world’s main producer of the precious metal.

On Wednesday, up to 3 000 police officers, including members of an elite, camouflage-wearing riot control unit backed by helicopters and horses, confronted the striking rock-drill operators, but there were no clashes.

Before the police advance, Joseph Mathunjwa, president of Amcu, which has been on a big recruitment push in South Africa’s platinum mines, said there would be bloodshed if police moved in.

“We’re going nowhere,” he shouted through a loudhailer, to cheers from the crowd. “If need be, we’re prepared to die here.”

The unrest has forced Marikana’s London-headquartered owner to halt production at all its South African operations, which account for 12% of global platinum output.-sapa, reuters

ARUSHA – Mathabo Ngomod lost a lot of blood after the delivery of her son in the rural district of Xhariep.

To save her doctors used blood donated by one of her relatives.

Unfortunately the donated blood that was meant to save her life killed her four years later due to HIV/Aids related illnesses.

Before delivering her child Ngomod was forced to test for HIV in order to protect her unborn baby. She was negative.

Ngomod’s husband James who is HIV negative blames medical staff for the death of his wife.

But the nurse who assisted Ngomod to deliver said shehad used all available resources to save Ngomod and the child including asking donors with the same blood group. Unfortunately there was no laboratory to screen the blood.

“I followed the guidelines and was aware that blood had to be screened first but there were neither resources nor time to allow for screening. However, I managed to save a life though it was for a short time,” said Grace Tshabalala, the nurse who assisted Ngomod.

The case of Ngomod is common in many African districts including Free State. There are no laboratories and enough resources to attend to emergencies which results in the needless loss of lives.

Ngomod is one of 35,000 women who died due to maternal complications in 2010 with her unborn child being counted in the825, 000 infants who die annually in the 14 East Central and Southern Africa (ECSA) Health Community member states.

Obstetric haemorrhaging was the second most common cause of maternal death, accounting for 688 deaths or 14.1 percent of the total. This is considered to be an avoidable cause of death involving bleeding during and after a caesarean section procedure.

Findings in a report compiled by the Saving Mothers campaign shows that almost 5 000 women died while pregnant or within 42 days of giving birth among ECSA member states between 2008 and 2010.

The report has revealed that 86.5 percent of deaths were attributed to non-pregnancy related infections (NPRI).

Most of these NPRI conditions were diagnosed before birth. Pneumonias (lung infection) contributed to two-thirds (67percent) of the NPRI deaths, followed by meningitis (12.9 percent) and gastroenteritis (5.2 percent).

Researchers noted that brain infection complications caused by antiretroviral therapy, although fairly rare, increased significantly in 2010, over 2008 and 2009. Liver complications and Stevens-Johnson syndrome were the most common.

Commenting on rural health workers Dr Ahmed Hingora said: “It is unfair to blame nurses who worked tirelessly to save a life for the death of Ngomod.

The nurse was not negligent; she knew the guideline and had only one option; either to watch a patient die from loss of blood or use the donated unscreened blood. If the laboratories were there it would be reasonable to blame the nurse for such deaths,” Dr Ahmed Hingora said.

Instead he blamed governments for lack of political will to improve the situation.

“The resources such as laboratories must be placed in the rural areas where people are vulnerable and prone to sickness. It is difficult to travel to town because most of communities in rural areas are not employed. Their lives could only be saved if services are brought close to their doorstep,” he said.

In Xhariep district the government has built a hostel for pregnant women living in the rural areas in an effort to reduce maternal deaths. Pregnant women are accommodated in this hostel during later stages of their pregnancies so that they can be close to hospitals where they can be treated immediately if ever complications of delivery emerged.

In an effort to reduce maternal deaths in Free State, the department of health is working closely with community based support groups and village health workers to equip with skills on how to react during an emergency.

“Community health workers serve as coordinators between patient and health centres,they are there to refer patients to hospital. However they have been trained in the best health practices although they can only react to emergencies such as when a pregnant woman delivers on her way to hospital or it is too late to take her to the clinics,” said Professor Noma French-Mbombo.

“Delivery of quality health to patientsdoes not depend only on skills and professionalone, the attitudealso counts.

“While some nurses have skills and competence to do theirwork, bad attitude towards patients outshines their work. As a result many patients prefer to be treated at home where they are taken care of with love.

“Therefore there is a need to empower the local community who had already formed some support groups and joined hands to take care of their patients,” the Cape Townbased professor Mbombo said while addressing a health directors conferences held in Arusha, Tanzania under the slogan “Accelerating and scaling best health practice.”

By Tselane Moiloa

QWA QWA – Thirty volunteers in Ficksburg earned R20 000 in prize money at the recent Women in Water awards for cleaning up the Caledon River bed.

In 2010, Matshele Raletooane canvassed women around Ficksburg to start cleaning their streets. The idea to adopt a river they could take care of came after Raletooane saw the deputy minister of water affairs Rejoice Mabhudafasi talking about the project on a news bulletin.

“Initially there were just 10 of us but that grew to 30. After seeing the project on television, we decided to also give it a try. We used different community media to get people, especially women, to join us in our cleaning campaign,” she said.

“We did not know what to do exactly and how to clean a river until last year. We were just going there daily and taking things out of the river,” said Mapulneg Mothijoa, who joined the project.

“Even though we were not getting anything out of it, it was way better than sitting at home doing nothing. What kept us going was the idea that maybe after some time and through our efforts, the water from the river would be safe for consumption especially because of the water problems in Ficksburg,” she added.

The group started receiving training from the department and different institutions last year. The training included first-aid and how to handle snakes.

“We believe in the idea of starting work first, and the money will come in later,” Mothijoa said.

Ficksburg has serious water problems which were highlighted following a protest march to the Setsoto municipal offices last year which resulted in the death of community activist, Andries Tatane.

Tatane’s wife, Rose, also joined the project which came third position in the Adopt-A-River category at the national awards.

“I was a victim of lack of water, which led to me losing my husband. That is why I joined the project,” she said.

Another Free State project, the agricultural Ikaheng MaAfrika Project based in Odendaalsrus, won third position in the Water Conservation and Demand Management category. “We started planting vegetables so that we could feed our families, and only when we saw the demand for it and got more land did we sell to the public,” said Alice Mokotjo who initiated it.

The group consisting of eight women and four men started planting pumpkin, potatoes, tomatoes, green beans and cabbage in response to unemployment in their township.

“We got together and asked for land from the municipality. We started with one hectare but we are now on five hectares but we still need an extension of land because we cannot plant enough as required by the market,” Mokotjo added.

The recognition was due to the way in which the project uses water. Since a borehole they used to water their crops dried out, they have resorted to a water conserving process known as mulching. Through this process, they use two litre bottles and a bucket to direct the water directly to the plants.

“All we need right now is to buy our own tractor and that is where the prize money is going. We also cannot stay on communal land for much longer because we need to give emerging farmers a place to operate from as well,” Mokotjo said.

By Molefi Sompane

…As police appeal for public help to nab suspects

DANNEYSVILLE – Police have stepped up patrols in response to a spike in rape incidents that have scared women in Refengkgotso Township in Danneysville, north east of the Free State into staying indoors.

Women in the area are now afraid to walk alone even in broad daylight.

Police Detective, Warrant Officer Lindi Mashea of Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit said on Monday, August 13 that rape cases had risen 50 percent recently.

Police statistics released last year indicated a national drop in rape cases by 2 136, from 68 332 to 66 196 between 2009 and 2011.

The Free State recorded the second highest incidences of rape in the country after the Western Cape. The same report revealed that while five provinces recorded a decrease in sexual offences, Free State had an increase of 8.6 percent, which has been labelled a “cause for concern”.

Mashea said: “Refengkgotso has a high rate of rape. Most of the victims are attacked at night on their way home from taverns. The incidents happen at fortnight intervals when people get paid or at the end of the month. We receive six to eight cases every weekend each fortnight, mid of the month and at the end of it.”

In this small town of approximately 50 000 households, women are afraid to be left alone or to walk alone on the streets.

Last weekend, a woman claimed she was raped as she was coming from a local shebeen.

Police have confirmed the arrest of a 22-year-old suspect who appeared before a Heilbron magistrate on Monday, August 6 and was charged with rape and assault with the intention to cause grievously bodily harm. The case was postponed.

“The 24-year old victim alleges that she was walking in the street and came across the suspect who pushed her down and forced his finger into her and assaulted her,” Constable Peter Kareli said.

He confirmed that the suspect was apprehended by members of the community who later called the police.

“They saw what was happening and came to the victim’s rescue, chasing the suspect until they caught him and handed him over to the police.”

Meanwhile, a 27- year-old Refengkgotso woman had to be taken for trauma counselling after she was raped in her own house by an intruder who pretended to be her husband.

The incident happened at Themba Kubheka section where the victim told police that a stranger knocked on the door and pretended to be her husband. When she opened the door, the stranger armed with a knife, ordered her to undress and threatened to kill her.

“He then raped the victim and fled,” Kareli added.

Trauma counseling expert Dr Helen Marais told Public Eye that she receives five to seven victims or rape regularly.

“I receive a high volume of clients who mainly get raped by people who they know from parties, liquor stores and other places,” she said.

“The surprising problem is that most of the victims are between the age of 16 and 30 years of age,” Marais added.

While South Africa is still celebrating women’s month, on Sunday, August 5 the residents of Phomolong Location were shocked to hear a woman screaming for help.

Serame Lesia, a community member said he went out to investigate and realised that a woman was being assaulted.

“It was still early, I heard the screaming and my wife asked me to check on what was happening, and then I saw two people who looked like they are fighting.  I then called on other members for rescue of a lady. When I raised the alarm, the suspect fled and we chased after him until we caught him and called the cops,” he said.

Lesia said: “I suspect that culprit was under influence of marijuana or Nyaope. It was too early a time for thugs operate.”

Phomolong location was in the spot light last year when a nine years girl was found murdered by her stepfather. The incident had united the members of the community to fight crime against women and children.

Simon Mongali said the community was still mourning the death of the young girl. “Both of the culprits will rot in jail. These criminal acts are annoying us. We are calling our people to help the police with their investigations so we reduce the number of jackals among ourselves.”

Mashea appealed to the public to help them with information that could help them nab the suspect. Any person who might have heard anything or even seen anything is requested to call Mashea on 082 466 8121 or contact the local Police on 016 371 1110.

Meanwhile, Free State police said an orphaned girl was raped by her 20-year-old cousin while sleeping in one bed with two other small children. The man was arrested and appeared before a Ladybrand magistrate on Wednesday; August 15.The case was postponed to August 23 for a formal bail application.

…At recent Techno Exhibition

By Cathy Dlodlo

Minister for Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande

The Central University of Technology (CUT) in the Free State has won its court battle against Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande in the Bloemfontein High Court.

Nzimande’s decision to put the CUT under administration, appoint an administrator and dissolve the council of the institution was set aside with cost.

Judge Johan Daffue found that Nzimande did not have the power to dissolve the council and although he did follow procedure, he had acted on the report of the independent assessor, Julian Smith, which was not backed up by evidence.

He found that Nzimande had not taken he CUT council’s response to the assessor’s report into account and while the report mentioned “a culture of fear” it was something that could be addressed by the council and did not justify the minister’s interference.

The council of the CUT filed an urgent application to have the minister’s decision to put the institution under administration set aside.

Nzimande filed a counter application asking the court to uphold his decision.

The minister appointed an independent assessor in March this year to investigate allegations of power abuse and financial irregularities at CUT.

By Molefi Sompane

Thami Gorati

SASOLBURG – The Fezile Dabi District Municipality has fired Local Economic Development officer and renowned businessman Thami Gorati.

Gorati was served with his dismissal letter on Wednesday, August 15 after a hearing that was presided over by two officials from Moqhaka Local Municipality; B van Wyk a Labour Relations Officer  and Gert van Straaten who prosecuted.

Gorati told Public Eye: “Yes I am without a job and I trust that now people have to know the truth why I am fired.”

Gorati who is preparing to fight his dismissal in the labour court added that he was fired for refusing to have an affair with one of his senior colleagues.

The Municipality however accused him of threatening a female colleague and sending an offensive email to one of his bosses, Victoria Moloi advising her to go on a leadership course.

By Tselane Moiloa

Wild fires raged through the Free State province last weekend, causing huge loses to farmers estimated at over R300 million. | Pic credit: Suze Steyl

DEWETSDORP – Raging veld fires which swept through the Free State province last weekend devoured hundreds of thousands of hectares causing over R300 million worth of damage to property and killing an estimated 40o head of cattle.

At least six people were injured while six sheds, seven tractors and 20 cars in Ficksburg were also been burnt, Deputy-director for Forest and Veld Fire Oversight in Free State, Malcom Procter said on Thursday, August 16.

He said that 151 764 hectares of veld was reportedly scorched by the fires which have sent some farmers into a panic and on the brink of financial ruin. “The value of damages is calculated by multiplying the burnt hectares by 2400 and the cost of a hectare in the province which is R800, including other factors,” he said.

The fires which started on Saturday, August 11 caused chaos in various areas including Memel, Reitz, Viljoenskroon, Verkeerdevlei, Hobhouse and Rouxville.

Weary members of the Working of Fire team (WoF) which was battled the blaze in Dewetsdorp overnight with the help of farmers suspended operations in the early hours of Sunday, August 12, WoF base manager Johann Breytenbach said.

Chairperson of the Dewetsdorp Agriculture Union Willem Lombard said while there had been fires before, the recent ones were the worst he had seen in Dewetsdorp, some 70 km south-east of Bloemfontein.

Lombard said an estimated 90 000 hectares of grass between Dewetsdorp and Wepener had been burnt, while some desperate farmers were forced to destroy the scalded carcasses of their livestock.

Livestock farmer Chris Coetzee received the call that fire was spreading onto his property on Saturday afternoon while he was in Bloemfontein.

“The fire caught me at the worst of time. The grass was at its best and that is why it burned so quickly. Now we have to leave (the farm) for about a year for it to recover because we cannot do anything right now,” Coetzee said.

The grass was feed for his cattle. With most of the property burnt, Coetzee and other affected farmers have had to move their cattle to farms where they have been offered pastures.

“The greatest thing is that farmers from surrounding areas and districts have been calling us and offering help where they can. They have offered land for three months, after which we may have to rent elsewhere,” Coetzee said.

He explained that the rental cost of R200 per hectare would deplete his reserves over a length of time because he needs as much land as he owns to adequately tend his herd.

“In the morning, the cattle just stare at you because they are expecting feed and you have to make a plan for Lucerne. Once we start renting land it means we will be putting money into someone else’s pockets. At the same time, we have to pay our staff because we cannot let them go. I know they are dependent on me,” Coetzee said.

An emerging farmer Nelly Lehetlo who runs his farm jointly with nine other people and supplies milk to Dairy Belle said things were at a standstill. Their 634 hectares of land was burnt which means there is no feed for her approximately 100 cows.

“We are pleading for help anywhere we can get it. Our cattle have not died but if there is no feed for the livestock, they will eventually die,” Lehetlo said on Thursday, August 16.

While Jimmy Rooskool also had over 2000 of his 2800 hectares of land destroyed by the fire, the WoF team moved swiftly to halt the fire from advancing and causing more harm on his farm. He said the farmers were particularly impressed by 26 men and women who had just returned from a training session on Tuesday, August 7 and worked tirelessly to control the blaze.

“There was an area where we spent more than three hours trying to extinguish the fire and make sure it does not start again. It was an interesting first experience because all the things we were taught we were now doing practically,” Nthabiseng Motaung said.

Her colleague Molefi Khoele added: “We learnt that we have to rely on each other when we are on the field to survive.”

Lombard was concerned about the cost of the fires. “This will have a massive economic impact which we will only feel later on. Carcasses were destroyed while some farmers had to sell some hurt animals at a very cheap price.”

Free State Landbou’s Jack Armour said farmers had joined forces to give help to those who are in need for land, feed and basic necessities.

“We are receiving donations from both private donors and some farmers as well,” he said.

While most veld fires are started by humans, a spark from the power lines is suspected to have caused the fires over the weekend in Dewetsdorp.

“The wind was very strong to such an extent that the lines would touch each other which makes it easy for a spark to start. People need to understand the smallest flicker could cause a huge fire, like we have just seen. We know that Eskom does what it can to prevent it, but the wind is too much,” Coetzee said.

In 2011, the department of agriculture said there had been 84 fires in August, which had decreased from the previous year’s 112. Over 100 047 hectares had been burnt by August 2011, while 120 286 had been burnt by December.