Closing down the Season in Style

2016, has been a year of trials and triumph for me and my team. My team and i have battled so many challenges this year that we have even termed it "Year of Fall"
We have fallen and risen, fallen and risen so many times that each and everyone of us have lost count. B but one thing that kept us going was the spirit of togetherness and the fact that we always had each other's back, no matter what.

So coming to our closing in style of the season. The Head team Leader of Great Talk suggested that, we do what we call a retreat and surrender. This we will bow down on the eve of the 31st December 2016 and kiss the ground goodbye. So each of us will hold a chain prayer prior to the dawn of 2016, each will pray for at least 30 minutes and then buzz the other to take over and so it will go until the break of 31 st where we will all bow down wherever we are and kiss the ground of 2016 away. This we do to usher a new season, where we expect to break even, grow our series of Great Talk into a series of not just Articles on the Blog, but we aim to position this as a series of small to large intimate dialogues in TV  Q&As Show. But Great Talk will not be in studio like, instead we will take it to every community hall, Schools and Auditoriums. The Great Talk Team will assemble a team of Captains of Industry, Community Builders, Politicians, Youth Leaders and Leaders who's influence benefit society to an intimate Great Talk Q&As.


For this season, what we did as Great Talk was to launch the Series here on Blogspot.co.za to arose appetite and generate conversation. Now our beloved readers, I humbly request that you join me and my team on this exciting journey to discover and expose men and women who are doing their best to change lives. Stay with us Readers, i need you more than ever. I want to move and grow with you.

Great Talk is going big, so many changes will occur and i want you to be big part of this move.

2016 wasn't a great year for us at Great Talk and we hope the almighty bless and contain all of us, as we gear ourselves for the next season. Its going to be awesome, its going to be wonderful, dreams are going to come true and excitement will be ours again.


GOODBYE 2016:
HERE'S TO A NEW YEAR WILL ALL POSSIBILITIES!!!!!

Defeating HIV/AIDS

South Africa has the biggest and most high profile HIV/AIDS epidemic in the world. The virus is more prevalent in this country than anywhere in the world. And these statistics keep rising. It is estimated that the were more than 7Million adults and children die every year from it. The most vulnerable to catch or get infected are mostly young people (Youth), female pregnant and it is also noted that this trend keeps growing year in and year out. We are the only country in the world with the highest antiretroviral roll out, according to statistics obtained from the National Department of Health and the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC). This statistics has not shown any sign of decline ever since it was collected.

Government said, it spend close to R23Billion a year on HIV/AIDS alone. A large chunk of this capital goes to patient Antiretroviral treatment, while the remainder is dedicated to research and finding a better method for effective treatment and possibly a cure. As much as government is showing care and concern about all this, it is also clear that people, particularly young people are not showing any sign of protecting and concerned about their health.

Most youth who are promiscuous when it comes to their sexual health tend to blame others for their woes. But statistics has shown that is not the case. The prevalent of HIV/AIDS among young people high and caused by a number of factors. These include poverty, inequality and social instability, high levels of sexual transmitted infections, sexual violence, uneven access to quality medical care, etc. That’s according to Aids Foundation South Africa.

Now if we look very closely among ourselves, be it in township or rural (Village of Riba Cross, Driekop, etc.) one would spot one or more of this factors. These causes are human-made and it therefore will take a human like you to confront such, thus find a solution.

As a society it is high time that we confront the scourge of this virus eating away our young people. The time is now to deal with this illness and get rid of HIV/AIDS in our communities. But to do that effectively we don’t need certain dates in our calendars to remind us. We need real humans; we need the integrity, concern and togetherness to fight it. The solution lies in a united society that realise protecting its youth, is growing their own communities. For the fight against HIV/AIDS to be successful we need a whole sphere of society. We’ll need churches, Schools, stockvels, funeral societies, charities organizations, government and business, households, taverns and shebeens. In each of these places you’re bound to find a flock of young people, female and male. It will be simpler if massages of education, campaigns, guidance and mentorships about HIV/AIDS as well as other chronic illnesses are resumed and spread from there. We must vigorously challenge this epidemic and i believe together we can defeat HIV\AIDS.

Defeated and Deflated. Is this what Solomon Mahlangu Fought

“If they spill my blood, maybe it will give birth to other Solomon’s”

Still remember who spoke this lethal words and why did he say this words? Was the situation conducive enough for him to speak them..?

These words came to me when i was reminiscing about the continued scourge of poverty and inequality engulfing our country. The spilled blood of this astute freedom fighter who wrecked havoc to the previous apartheid regime clearly hasn’t birthed the right calibre of Solomon’s that he, Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu envisaged at his death.

South Africa continues to be a land of inequality and the spiralling of high of unemployment will put Solomon Mahlangu to shame if he was still alive. I doubt this is what he sacrificed his soul and caused his family agony for. Solomon Mahlangu did not fight and die for this country to be where it is now. He envisaged a prosperous country in which its citizen lived in peace, with equal access to opportunities, land and jobs.

I am using Solomon Mahlangu because his fighting consciousness was awaken and rose after he witnessed the 1976 Soweto uprising, where students from Soweto townships revolted against the apartheid government after its imposition of Afrikaans on them.

Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu was at the time, a young boy playing soccer at an open field near his four roomed house, according to his elder brother, Lucas Mahlangu. I doubt today Mahlangu would be excited to see the extend of violence against men, women and children so rife and perpetuated by the very same people he fought to liberate. Day after day we are bombarded with multiple deaths, rape, Assaults and kidnappings of partners by their partners, parents and trusted confidante. Our society has amassed victims and perpetrators of multiple acts of violence and abuse, yet we do nothing about the situation. We no longer have conscious society where a child is raised by the village. We claim to have attained freedom and think democracy is our beacon of hope when we witness violence on a daily base yet we remain silent and pretend it doesn’t exist.

Youngsters do not wish to emulate the likes of Solomon Mahlangu because society has relegated these freedom icons to mere celebratory dates on our calendas. They are at loggerheads with their schools, parents and governments because violence, and inequality continue to harbor over, this youngsters are exposed to high level of violence and intolerance which makes them believe its the way of life. As the government commemorates the 16 days of Activism for No violence against men, women and children, let us be reminded of the sacrifices that Solomon Mahlangu, Mondy Motloung and others made to all of us. It wasn’t sacrifices to see partners, parents, families and governments to continue abusing and violating others.

Let young people remember that, heros such as Mahlangu did not wish for things to be like this now, but be reminded as he (Mahlangu) puts it blindly before he was hanged “aluta continua”

The is no messiah who is still to come, the struggle to liberate the country has not ended and as we commemorate days of such nobleness as 16 days of Activism let us remember that you are the touch bearer, a light that shines in the dark and a compass that provides direction. Your fight is not yours alone and what you’re fighting for now is to benefit generations to come after you. Instigating violence and abuse is not a good fight if you’re the perpetrator or victim, but you can contribute to the fight to end it, just as Solomon Mahlangu fought to end apartheid.

Glorifying gangsters, violence, drugs and partying should not be your modus operandi; yours should be to crush it down from its head going down, breaking it into pieces and bury it beneath the soil.

“My blood will nourish the trees that will bear the fruits of freedom. Tell my people i love them and they must continue the fight. A luta continua” said Solomon Mahlangu.

Real Pastors, rise and defend the gospel

Congregants made to eat snake.

Is the gospel taken down to the wire, who among the few good remaining Christians can stand to reject the influx of this men and women masquerading as “Men of God”, who’s teachings and deeds continue to put the lives of our naive families in danger? May the real preachers of this gospel stand and denounce what these pastors of gloom are subjecting our society to? Where are the voices of our Pastors, Can they, real Pastors rise and defend the gospel?

These are many of the questions that arose concerning the true existence of preachers, because so much has happened which warranted their voices yet their silence continues to deafen our ears. We as a nation have bear witness to so-called pastors that are emerging in our society with all sorts of signs and wonders claiming to posses powers that can make or turn anything into everything at the command of their voices.

This pastors ‘signs and wonders come with mechanisms that expose our parents, sisters and cousins to dangerous acts of heroism. Christianity is one religion that has been exposed to too much abuse, this days, anyone who is everyone claim to be called into pastoral without the Christian community questioning this sudden calling.

We are seen lots of churches with names i can’t pronounce mushrooming at every corner, yet nobody dares to raise questions. I doubt the bible prevents us from questioning this things, i also doubt that the bible allows us to just follow whoever comes with miraculous signs in the name of the Lord. I remember explicitly that in Mathew 7:21kjv, the bible says, “Not all who calls me Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven”

This scripture by its own compels us to watch out for fake pastors who come calling Lord’s name.

 

pastor Lethebe Rabalago spray with congregant with doom..

In this country, we have recently seen troops of pastors appearing left and right bearing miracle signs that lure our vulnerable, sick and desparate parents, relatives and friends into their churches, thereby exposing them to indoctrinated elements. In Limpopo, we were woken to one particular pastor, Lethebe Rabalago. The pastor used an insect killer, doom to spray it in the face of a sick female congregant while at his church in Zebediela. He claimed the dangerous insecticide will heal this woman at the command of his words, not realising he is endangering the poor woman’s life.

It has emerged that, Rabalago’s stunts was a tip of an iceberg. He has done so many including throwing stones on people’s bodies, making them drink petrol among his other acts of heroism. But it was when he sprayed doom to the woman that the country and the probably the world caught a glimpse of him.

His acts prompted the provincial Department of Health to subject him to a mental evaluation, whether the results come back positive or negative, too much damage has been done to the already Christian denomination.

Just as we were still digesting the news of this pastor, another one emerged from slumber. I gues he didn’t want to be outdone and outshine by Lethebe Rabalago. This one is said to have commanded another desperate sick congregants to toch and walk on live electric wire, he too promising them healing.

The two pastors are a culmination of several “men, women and daughters of God” who came before.

One such being the Penuel Mnguni “AKA” Snakepastor. Remember Mnguni made people of Soshanguve to eat grass, snakes, rats and drink petrol. Yes, he’s the one who irked the EFF, who retaliated by setting his tent on fire.

This two are a by-product birthed by scrupulous pastors on a fishing expedition of lost souls, with soul intention of misleading and accumulating wealth at all costs.

We expected to hear the voices of real preachers and Pastors denouncing and condemning in strongest term what these fake preachers are doing, instead they are nowhere to be seen, heard and found. Some hide behind “I don’t want to judge “as if speaking up against wrong is ungodly. While they are silent, fake pastors are claiming innocent souls and taking them to hell.

 And their silence is diminishing the true existence of Christianity and renders the good work done by Christians before them cheap and vein.

 The continued silence of our trusted pastors hurts, because souls are yearning for good news and all they receive is dangerous miracles. Our society is lost, so many sheeps are without sheppards, yet those entrusted by God hide behind veiled curtains of biblical terms.

 

Congregants worshiping.

No wonder self-righteous, indoctrinating ratchet churches are flourishing, amassing so much earthly wealth at the expense of thirsty souls.

Lost sheeps will always follow any wolf, lion and hyena that wear the mask of a Sheppard.

We hope and pray that it will not be long before the right Sheppard emerge and denounce all this shenanigans. And we also hope on battered breath that, real pastors will soon rise and defend the gospel.

Will Tubatse ever grow up..?

I watch with sadness and dissarpointment at the latest developments coming out of Tubatse as a whole and i ask myself, will this area ever see growth and stability? When i say growth and stability, i mean growth and stability in all spheres; Economic, Socially, recreationally, etc. To a layman out there who doesn’t have a clue about this area called Tubatse, allow me to mesmerize you atleast.

Tubatse is an area situated in the eastern limb bushveld of the Drackensburg Mountains. I don’t know the origin of the name, but this area here boorst a gorgeous weather, natural resources to die for and a wonderful majesty nature reserves. The is approximately twenty (20) mines actively pursuing the depth of its soil, a wide spread of productive agricultural prescint sprawling on a vast amount of land, a land that is fresh and rich.

The municipality is called Greater Tubatse/Fetakgomo Local municipality, this came after the mergers of two municipalities namely, Greater Tubatse and Fetakgomo local municipalities. This municipality forms part of the Sekhukhune District also known as “Sekhukhune Land”. The merger happened immediately after the August 3 local government elections. Its sitting is in one of the fastest growing town Burgersfort. This town is the economic hub of Tubatse, of course we have another town Steelpoort about 20 kilometres from Burgersfort. Steelpoort is a small, mostly industrial town. It is mostly infested with warehouses, engineering workshops, a handful of restaurants, Supermarkets, liquor stores housed in a recently developed complex. All this is coupled with the mine’s residential complexes for most of their senior employees. But Burgersfort, oh boy, this town is the ultimate shopping centre of the rich and poor. The town has shown growth and potential future expansion. Currently Burgersfort has a state of the art Mall, Tubatse crossing, not far from it is another small beautifully encrafted mall, Burgersfort mall and several complexes with the potential to grow further. The is a total of 31 wards in Greater Tubatse/Fetakgomo Local Municipality, mostly under the African National Congress (ANC) Government.

This is where the state of better life ends, in Burgersfort. It is as if this is the only area that deserves attention when it comes to provision of infrastructure and other services. The state of Tubatse outside Burgersfort is disappointing, saddening, unstable and poor. No doubt, Tubatse is mostly rural, with villages under tribal authorities. However it doesn’t provide the powers that be to neglect it in this way. If one visits almost all the villages, you see the level of services provided is so disgraceful and leaves one with tears. Recently, an electrical contractor, who was suppose to electrify the remaining households downed tools and disappeared with municipal money leaving villages high and dry. The municipality was not aware, which shows the level of ineptitude in the municipality. They were surprised that the contractor they appointed and paraded infron’t of communities vanished without completing the project and with their money.

“As a municipality we were not aware that the contractor left without completing the project. We have already paid the contractor money to electrify the remaining villages, but now we are saddened to learn of his disappearance with council money. We will investigate and come back to report to the affected communities” was all Thabiso Mokoena, spokesperson of Greater Tubatse/Fetakgomo local Municipality could say when confronted with the situation.

“This has squashed all our hopes to celebrate Christmas season with some electricity in my house” said disappointed community member.

Tubatse is the richest most productive area when it comes to mineral deposits. The amount of precious stones embedded beneath the soils of Tubatse leaves me speechless. Yet communities above this deposits leave in squalor. You would assume with the hive of developmental activities happening, the fast pace with which minerals are extracted beneath, communities around them will be envied by far away communities but the opposite is actually the reality.

 The is approximately Twenty (20) fully fledged operating mines, daily extracting precious stones beneath but villages are a complete opposite shadow of this action.

 The is little to no contribution that this mines are doing towards making some of this villages better looking. Roads are in shambles, houses are falling apart, no lights, no water, no recreational facilities even a mere library or community hall is zilch. Big bosses of some of this mines pass by some of this villages when commuting to town and their residences on a daily basis, it’s not like they don’t see some of this challenges but none of them ever entertain the needs or lack of this villages. The only time you will get to meet them is when the youth have barricaded these roads, making delivery of goods, workers ‘busses and transportation of their commodities difficult to pass. They come pretend to listen, throw in a bit of bribe just to warde them off, then vanish leaving empty promises.

The situation in Tubatse is so dire and the consequences of such are catastrophic. Tubatse as a whole exist in contrast to what should have been better. With so much economic activity, communities shouldn’t be struggling, it is so sad and disappointing to live in an area so mega rich and blessed with natural resources, only for it’s suppose beneficiaries not to repeat the fruits. Who to blame when situation is like this, to who must the community go and shed a tear? When its government is the one failing them. Will Tubatse repeat the fruits of its God given natural resources? Will Tubatse ever grow..? Maybe with time, Only time will tell...

A Village burns because of a Mall..

All hell breaks loose when a misled developer attempts to build a R280 Million mall on a hotly contested land. This emerged during a consultation sitting which didn’t end as well as it was planned. The new mall was planned to be build at corner R37 and Steelpoort Road in Riba Cross, a dusty village near Burgersfort. The cost of the mall is estimated at around R280 Million, which the developer plans to plough into the infrastructure but because of the contention between the occupiers of the sports fields who call themselves, Kings Football Club, tribal council and the Councillors due to lack of consultation kings Football club are opposing it. Apparently the developer was misled into believing that all was sorted out and he can proceed but after Tuesday meeting, he was surprised to meet a community of youngsters at war. Kings Football Club demanded that the developer meet with them privately so that they can table their demands directly to him, but the tribal council and councillors refused to grand them that chance and asked them to submit their demands publicly which they unwillingly did. According to their demands as outlined by their leaders, Mr. Sebokwane Sekgogoba and Jerry Mabuza, Kings Football Club demands that the developer relocate their sports ground to an empty space across the R37 road, build them change rooms, develop the field according to SAFA standard, a lawn, a grandstand, lights, water, access bridge, maintenance of roads, Library and 35% employment for them only. Kings Football Club don’t just represent a Football Club, this group also represent the Matšianeng community but indirectly. Matšianeng is a section of Riba Cross, who have since identified themselves as the direct primary affected group and hence the demand for 35% employment which is strictly for them only.

The developer who is a company called Arlane lead by Matakanyane Sekhukhune didn’t oppose the group’s demands instead he agreed to fulfil some because he (Sekhukhune) believes that demands such as water, street lights, maintanace of roads are municipal responsibilities and there for should be taken up with the. He however made a mistake of mentioning that they plan to build “embankments” around the ground instead of a grandstand. This didn’t sit well with the leaders of Kings Football Club, they refused this “embankment” flatly and turned the meeting into a nasty exchange of words.

“No mall will be built on our field unless Matakanyane has met all our demands. We are not interested in his embankments, or explanations that some of our demands should be taken up with municipality, if its that way the he should go built some else. As for these Councillors it is clear that they are here to serve their interests “charged Sekgogoba as he continues to stroke fire.

Sekgogoba himself was also accused by the Tribal council of Ga-Riba of demanding about R1 Million from the developer so he could influence the Youngsters into giving away the ground, but he has flatly denied these accusations and in return accused the tribal council and councillors of trying to turn the tables over to him. Sekgogoba has further said that, those behind the mall are nothing but sell outs and selfish people.

“They are sell outs this tribal councils and the ward councillors. All they are interested in is disposing us of our ground to please this white man. And that will never happen here. We know that they have been given money to try to influence the outcome but we’ll make sure that this never happen” said Sekgogoba as he tries to make a point. He accused Kgoshigadi Riba of downplaying their demands and handing their ground to the developers on a silver platter.

In another meeting which took place on the very same Tuesday evening at around 21h30pm, in which a newly formed business Forum called Bakoni derdegeleid Business Forum attended, Kgoshigadi Riba went on an defence mode. She made it clear that this mall will be built, with or without the disgruntled group.

“Do you hear me, this mall is not going anywhere. Matakanayane, you will build the mall because this is an opportunity for this community to prosper and grow. To be held to ransom by some men who are interested in their own agendas over my dead body, you hear me this mall is going to be built right here at Ga-Riba. Sebokwane and his mob can go to hell”

By those words she signed the agreement allowing the building of the mall.

However as things stand currently the Kings Football Club and Matšianeng have mobilised their friends including the newly formed Business Forum and made it their mission to fight to bitter end, adamant that the mall will never take place on their ground without their demands being met. Things are tense that Matakanyene Sekhukhune and his investment partners are threatening to take this mall and build it elsewhere. No comment was obtained from the developer’s side as things became chaotic and they had to leave immediately.

South Africa is sinking

This country is sinking. It is sinking so fast and so deep into the waters of the sea that turning a blind eye is no longer an option to be exercised by anybody. Just for a moment pause and take a serious look at everything that is happening around us. Not so many things are working out for our country, few only dare to rise and those that do so are subsequently silenced. The use of force, use of state institutions to fight wrong wars has become the order of today. No longer do we feel that we can put our faith in certain organs of state because its clear that they are hell bent on serving only the select few over the majority in this country.

 

Ours is a sinking ship without a captain. Our captain is so embroiled in every part of the ship’s wreckage that he has lost the zeal and stamina to clear it. So many events that have unfolded and continue to unfold before us are clear proof that this country is heading down to the bottom of the sea.

First it was the debacle caused by “Nkandla” after the Investigation and release of the Nkandla report by the then Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela. This is one debacle that has left a deep wound in the hearts of many South Africans that its hard to heal it. The results of Nkandla epitomise what it means to abuse power and resources. It was only after the ruling of the highest court in the land that our suppose captain decided to heed the call and steer clear. Those who fell over on the wayside continue to master every defence and boldness amid calls for their heads to roll. This has not assisted them in anyway, instead the Captain has ran them over.

 

Then our captain came back to stun us yet again, when he fired the most competent and trusted servant amid flimsy excuses. After that the country’s status began to diminish with a blink of an eye. We lost so much value after that sacking of finance Minister Nene that till today we have not recovered. Captain further blundered by appointing a lowly backbench warmer to the finance ministry, this benchwarmer lasted only four days and he was re-packaged and shipped out when an uproar ensured. Then came Pravin Godharn, a man our captain brought to save the day. I’ve never in my life seen one man chased so high, at every angle with all might than this one. Mr. Pravin Godharn is highly sought after and persecuted at every angle that i can’t believe his still lives. But like Captain Zuma, he is a tactical survivor. The only difference is that Pravin has the whole country fighting for him. So far he has survived the onslaught but we are not sure for how long, because as things stand, he still has another investigation pending. The so-called “Rogue spy Unit “within SARS. So far the only thing we know about this is that the HAWKS have beefed up their squared around this investigation with the hope of nailing Godharn this time. Whether he survive this one as well is a matter of wait and see.

 

As if that was not enough, right up came the fees must fall protest, which has since turned into a movement. Another blunder by Captain Zuma and his side-kick to heed the call of our protesting students and respond appropriately. Instead of Zuma and Nzimande engaging the protesters, they sought to impose decisions on them and this only fuelled the protesters. Today the protest has engulfed the whole country, and has even frustrated learners who are currently writing matric with the hope of enrolling in the very same institutions. Right now most universities are shadows of former self. We have seen students and police confront each other in the most brutal violent manner. So many of those students are relinquishing in jails, while others are nursing injuries in hospitals, yet the protest is still raging on with furry.

 

A matric exam paper has since been leaked, while state capture interdicts are playing out in our courts, with the Captain at the helm. How pathetic and a laughing joke our beautiful country has become. This ship called South Africa is at the tip of collapse and our Captain with his entire swagger has no clue on how to save it. It needs every patriotic citizen to come forward and avail in the fight to save it from sinking deeper. I believe every Citizen should support the campaign to save South Africa. We can no longer afford to idle around at the distant and watch as we plunge down into the sea of vultures capturing every institution for selfish gains. We must rise up to claim this country back from the jaws of defeat. It cannot be business as usual and it cannot be that we are made to suffer at the hands of one man serving the interests of his handlers and backers. Enough is enough; every one of our country men must bear the brunt and carry his own cross. South Africa cannot sink under our watchful eyes.