Empucukweni Learners strike

The learners from Empucukweni High School, situated at extension 5 in kwa-Guqa embarked on a strike at around 7:45am yesterday causing the situation and or learning sessions to be interrupted  and uncontrollable as they were throwing stones at the school premises and property. When the police arrived at the scene  the number of approximately 400 learners ran away.

According to the school's headmaster; as they reported to the police officers, it was discovered that the learners were against the school"s code of conduct of wearing of school uniforms.

Some learners plait unwanted hairstyles (bonding, weaves, long braids, etc), which is something that is highly against the school orders. The situation was chaotic and some learners were advised to go to their homes and come back again today as normal teaching was disturbed.The principal requested  all teachers and school governing body to a meeting to come up with possible solutions.

The  case of malicious damage to property will be opened as the deputy principal's vehicle was damaged. No arrests have been made.

Ogies's first peaceful march

On a cold Friday morning (27 July 2015) when most people preferred to be in-doors and out of the cold, the youth of Phola/Ogies, Rietspruit and Kriel took to the streets; embarking on a peaceful march heading to the Ogies municipal offices to hand over their memorandum of demands to the municipality and various mining houses lead by convener Mike Masango.

 They (the youth) state in the memorandum that they feel that they were never given an opportunity to fully explore their ability in terms of growing the economy, developing sustainable business and employment to be capacitated in various skills.

They say that in this regard they demand that the surrounding mines, Eskom and other stakeholders engage directly and to form a forum which will include the mayor and both Regional managers of Ogies and Kriel.

The march was a success and all the private sectors and mayoral officers gave thanks to all members who attended the march and complimented the youth for good behaviour and respect; noting that it was the first time that Phola, Kriel and Rietspruit organize a successful and peaceful march like this. They also promised to respond to the memorandum before the due date.

EMALAHLENI CIVIC THEATRE HOLDS ARTS INDABA CONSULTATAIVE CONFRENCE

Nokuthula Hlongwane

1 July 2015

The Emalahleni civic theatre committee together with some of the artists from Emalahleni held an arts indaba consultative conference today to elect an interim committee in preparation for the arts indaba. The purpose of this event was to get inputs of the artists and issues that artists want to debate and address in the coming indaba.

Some of the grievances of the artists are that they need more development skills programmes, recognition at local festivals and one burning issue and complain was about an Arts Forum. They said that they did not know what or who the members of the forum are, they also want to know where they operate from and how they use funds allocated to them.