Raymond Chiloane is not only for soccer- but for life

Daveyton in Benoni has unearthed a myriad of sports players and personalities. Some have gone on to achieve immensely in their chosen fields, while some have faded into obscurity and notoriety while still in the prime of their disciplines. RAYMOND CHILOANE has observed how fertile this region is with talented sports men and women. So he runs Daveyton School of Soccer with a few other interested people. He told Thembi Masser of his ambitions, of how parents’ lack of interest in the upbringing of their kids irks him, of how the inane infighting among sports administrators hamper many sports dreams, and of the authorities’ apathy towards his school.

The School of Soccer is run as a non-profit-making (NPO) entity by Chiloane and four other personalities. While their noble idea would receive plaudits elsewhere in the world, this group runs it without aid from either the Ekurhuleni metropolitan authority or the provincial government.  He is tired of nagging them; he shrugs, because he has spent countless kilometers being sent from pillar to post in their offices without much avail.

These men who run the school with him; Jones Malesoena, an advocate, Peter Legodi, the coach, Abram Mohlamonyane, an entrepreneur and an Unilever employee Freddie Mohlala, use their own private finances to run the school. They do not have a corporate sponsor, even though they are in the region dubbed ‘the workshop of Africa’, because it houses so many manufacturing factories in one place. Ekurhuleni also boasts the biggest, busiest international airport, the OR Tambo. Gauteng is where Africa’s money is printed.

But they are lucky to have Raymond Chiloane, 38; he is a hustler.  He is nonchalant about their appalling lack of finances. “The school will survive,” he asserts. He notes that they have been operating from 2010 and more than 50 boys have gone through their programmes. “I don’t see us stopping with our mission.”

He is passionate about the objectives of the school even though so many obstacles stand steadfastly in their way. It costs the school in the region of R2 500 to fund one 13 year-old in a year. “The most disheartening thing has been the attitude of their parents. They have no interest in what their children are ambitious about; they do not inquire about their progress, they do not attend any meetings nor do they volunteer to help around or raise funds for us.’

The schools’ objectives, among others, are to shape their dreams and to hone the sporting prowess of these young people and, to develop their life skills. This is a problem as well, because the school has no qualified officers in this regard. Malesoena sometimes helps with advice from time to time, “but this is not enough and scientific. It is thumb suck. It is fun though to work with these young people, it is challenging. You need to understand what they are doing and hoping to achieve.”    

The kids are not consistent, however. They come and then disappear for long periods, Chiloane complains. “Parents do not make sure that kids keep attending throughout. These parents, when their children attend in previously whites-only schools, adhere to every word in a sentence in the rules and regulations instructions. But they give scant regard to black-led organisations that seek to improve the lives of their kids.” He is adamant that the school wants to see the lives of these kids take shape from as early as age 13. “These kids have dreams; they need role models, they want more. If people like us do not intervene these kids might end up as junkies or dropping out of school.” He says the situation is so bad in areas like Daveyton. Parents have given up parenting their children. “They just go through the motions of bringing their children up; they have given up on them.”

Chiloane, after leaving school, worked as a cleaner at hospitals. First at Sunshine and then Arwyp. Later he became a payroll administrator. He attended Abenego Manana High in Daveyton where his love for commercial subjects has come in handy when he is busy running the school of soccer.

He says his heart bleeds for the kids. “We have no training kit, not proper playing fields and our training equipment is ramshackle. Yet, the Benoni and Springs Education Department play dirty politics when we want their endorsement in arranging tournaments to honour past soccer legends in order to draw attention to our situation.” He says luminaries like Aaron ”Shaka” Nkosi, the former Benoni United mesmerising winger agreed to lend their names to these tournaments but these football dragging bodies are only interested in petty bickering.    

          

Apart from Nkosi, the region has produced the likes of Pollen Ndlanya who has played his soccer abroad, Isaac Shai who has won plenty at Mamelodi Sundowns and Innocent Mayoyo played for almost all the Premier Soccer League teams. The list is endless. On the other hand, talented players like Junior Khanye, Jabu Mahlangu and Skapie Mahlatsi also mesmerised audiences but fame dribbled their heads and before they could blossom they withered into obscurity.

“Fame, unwarranted publicity and the inability to handle money are a curse for players whose life skills are blunt.”      

And here is Raymond Chiloane

FINANCE. Money's no kid's stuff

Kabeli Lichaba 

The rich world, the Smart World, is always keen stop poverty, squalor, hunger and the seemingly reckless behaviours in handling scarce resources and commodities like money. There are efforts taken everyday, by the Smart World, to tackle irresponsible misuse of money by her people, officials, her state organs and allieds. On the other hand, there are populations that are forever poor and which show no remorse for their dilapidated situation. They simply refuse to employ profitable strategies to change their poverty-stricken status. They make no efforts to halt the absence of money, prosperity and happiness in their communities. They kill the world.

Somebody, some institution, must step up and save the dead-walking mankind from hara-kiri by providing financial education to the youth of today and parents of tomorrow and stop the rot.It is not clear whose responsibility it is to make sure that coins roll down generously down future generations without trickling down to nought: is it parents who must make sure they safe enough and educate their children about their finances; is it the responsibility of the government to introduce proper measures on handling finance profitably; or must it be left to financial institutions like banks to educate populations about the prosperous use of money? It is an intricate matter, this money business. 

Governments want continuously prosperous communities for wealthy, profitable investments. Banks want their clients to make use of the institution's money and parents and children want happiness and prosperity. That it is an intricate matter is borne by the fact that since money was introduced into bartering it has always been an elusive commodity to some members of communities. Some make a lot of success out of it while for some it is a source of misery. For the so-called Third World, money and its administration is a complex, debilitating matter. It is a wonder why they do not just ignore it and do business without it, while for West it is a show of power and happiness. 

In Africa there is always an endless, barren land waiting for developments either in agriculture or infrastucture,but her leaders are always involved in endless discussions on how to develop her without much success. This happens until new leaders are either elected in democratic countries or, elsewhere, new leaders simply take over a country by force. Therefore there is always not enough time and resources to tackle issues of teaching populations on how to use money meaningfully and putting some away for future generations. Simply put, there is always no money to use for financial education. 

But, not so in South Africa. There is enough sufficient facilities in Mzansi to educate learners, students and others on the useful employment of money. Financial institutions can do clients a world of good if they were to ignore, presently, the lure of profits and bank on teaching future employees the joy in banking wisely. Then, everybody, including those who put their money under mattresses, would make use of the banks.

FINANCE. Adhere to the agreed spending spree

Kabeli Lichaba

It is always important to emerging business people to stick to agreed targets and principles-just in the same way you stick to your guns when conducting business in your favour. It is also equally important to stay true to the business plan-it is the guiding light to your business. When analysts predict that many start-ups fail within the first three years they are not simply prophets of doom, they speak from research done over many years.  

I am sure that one of the reasons that some of these businesses fail it is because of an acute mismanagement of money accrued and money owed to second parties. It is an undeniable fact  that many young people want to shine and flaunt their newly acquired status as ‘successful’ entrepreneurs, so the first thing they will do after much hard work and earning their first profits would be to make a statement to the world that ‘We have arrived’.  This statement is always invariably accompanied by a reckless spending of company money.

It is always a temptation to spend almost all the first profits in their entirety, the owner declaring, “I am thanking myself for the hard work since the conception of this venture”. Absolutely, there is no query that they may take some form of respite from their hard work and reflect while they celebrate. But, the old grey hairs shake their heads in disbelief when they read this. For them the first money into the business means trouble-and the beginning of hard work. Money, wherever it is, is a big temptation to immediately stray from agreed use, and the beginning of reckless spending just because “I deserve it, it is mine”.

So take heed when they warn that businesses fail in the first hurdle, they are right. In order to stay afloat through the first turbulent years, stay true to the business plan- and review it every six months so as to match it to the demands of the hectic business world. It requires tons of discipline to do so, but it can be done. People like Richard Branson operated from dingy basements for long periods just to hold on to that precious pound until the next pound appeared on the horizon. There are other successful business people who did like-wise. Read their biographies and learn.

The business plan should not only be used to control the company finances, it should be used in every day operations. You will be surprised how easily you will be acquainted with consulting it as soon as the situation calls for it, instead of only using it when you visit the loans bank manger. This will rub off into your personal spending behaviour as well. You will feel good every time you look at the bank balances.

So do not rush off to parade your gains in the first five years of your business. If you don’t, observers will respect you and admire your maturity so early in your flight to top business horizons.

LIFE SKILLS. Thoughts 4 Action 4 PROACTIVE young people

Theophilus T. Aguda

AKWAABA!

 Dear friends

Today I wish to share a few thoughts with you. These thoughts are about my personal convictions on the capacity of man. I hope to expound on these elaborately on my subsequent WANcareerlife publications. We are going to be friends, forever, I hope. The people at WANcareerlife believe in life skills development programmes, particularly when it comes to the youth. If, for instance, your life skills are not fully developed then it is not easy for individuals to prosper adequately in their lives. This affects their life styles, the quality of life and of the economies of where they live. 

I believe in the latent power of God in man. This power is the capacity and ability to CHOOSE, THINK, CREATE and ACCOMPLISH a THOUGHT. It’s worth nothing that every thought has embedded in it all the necessary tools of accomplishment, and that man is the only creature with an innate capacity to discover and accomplish it.

Firstly, let us look at the element of CHOOSING. In CHOOSING, man is able to use the capacity of critical thinking to analyse and even predict the resulting outcome or outcomes of the options available to him. With proper use of this capacity, man is able to make the conscious and deliberate act of picking the option or options that would best and most likely guarantee the end result he seeks or desires. After CHOOSING, THINKING becomes the necessary next step in our quest to ACCOMPLISHING a THOUGHT.

When it comes to THINKING, we use all the faculties of the mind to carefully consider the processes, methods and tools necessary for the choice we have made, or are about to make. By using these steps to strategise, we plan and work out our choices into a plan of action. With an action plan or a to-do plan in hands, our creative juices spring into an effortless alignment to CREATE.

To CREATE man focuses on the to-do or action plan to bring a THOUGHT to life. It is at this stage that his resolve and determination to complete his chosen options, and to see or experience his desired results are realised. It is worth noting that in the two preceding steps before CREATE, CHOOSING and THINKING are done on paper and the THOUGHT remains abstract at this stage. Here we get our hands dirty and the THOUGHT begins to take sharp until it’s fully formed and functional. Man’s reward after the completion of the creative process is an ACCOMPLISHED THOUGHT.

Finally, in ACCOMPLISHING THOUGHT the abstract idea that seems vague and transient becomes tangible and useable. Then man is rewarded with income as people see the usefulness and need for the ACCOMPLISHED THOUHGHT.

REMEMBER, in CHOOSING, we think, in THINKING we create, in CREATING we ACCOMPLISH THOUGHT!”

These are the things that make man functional and empower him to be man.

Thanks for the attention.

My dear friends, next month we will look more closely at the process of CHOOSING, with theme: “CHOICE AND CONSEQUENCES”.

BYE-BYE Have an ACCOMPLISHED month!

The writer is the CEO and founder of POTENTIAL ABILITY INTERNATIONAL NGO (P.A.I.NGO)

He is a graduate in B.Sc. Psychology and Linguists from the University of Ghana

Connect with him at:

Facebook: Theo Aguda

Facebook Group page: Potential Ability International ngo

Website: www.paiablengo.yolasite.com

Aguda is also a pastor, teacher, writer, personality coach, motivational speaker and a counsellor.

ARTISTIC WORKS. Amanda surrenders her soul to the stage

Stylish Amnda 

Speaking face to face to AMANDA TOBO is a test in character; she is so charismatic, captivating to look at, so eloquent! Amanda is an artist, an accomplished actress. When she speaks to you, her passion for her craft stares at you incessantly. Her achievements are so vast that the only destination for her is the North Star. But before she gets there, her ambition is to instil education to the learners through theatre. The charismatic actress tells Thembi Masser why she is not accomplished yet; why she wants to be an astute business woman and why she is not keen on awards.  

Growing up in Bizana, where she was born, Amanda, 27, wanted to one of the beautiful presenters she admired on the box. She was always captivated by the beautiful people on the telly who appeared to be enjoying their lives and having a glamorous ‘occupation’. In fact, Amanda was already in the beauty stakes right at the start of her schooling career. Since then she has been in the lime light at every educational institution she has studied at. It started at the Bizana Primary where she was Ms Bizana primary and then at high school when she won the Ms Bizana High School crown. She went on to become Ms Unisa and Ms Durban University of Technology. She has also been Ms lovelife and Ms Bizana.

But after matriculating she did not pursue modelling, but went to study for a diploma in child and youth diploma with Unisa. After just one year at Unisa and a crown as Ms Unisa she packed her bags and headed for Durban, where she continued with her studies in youth development studies. “This is where the love of acting was nurtured,” she points out. The drama department was adjacent to the youth development lecture room and her ear was always in the goings on in what was going on there instead of in class. This prompted her friends to urge her to cross over. “After my diploma studies I again packed my bags and headed to Benoni’s Sibikwa Arts Centre to take lessons in acting.”   

Today, sitting face to face with the vivacious lady, it is evident why she mesmerised so many judges in winning her beauty crowns. She has just got off the stage after taking part in the play You Decide, a South African Brewery’s (SAB) initiative to curb the scourge of under age drinking.  

    

In 2010 she took part in her first ever theatrical play, Surrender in Time. “It was the highlight of my career,” she says. “I always wanted to be on stage, and there I was, speaking and encouraging people in that way.” But her parents where not impresses. They wanted her to do something solid, something normal. “Modelling was first love, but along the way I asked myself questions. I developed the urge to do something challenging, something stronger, something personal.” Modelling fuelled that urge.

She has been in many other productions since then. She has been in Black Child, Lumambo which was on Mzansi magic, Photo Shoot on etv and in many other since.“I am not acting for financial gain or to win awards.  There is more to what I do on stage or on film. I am more into educational acting.”

While she is on the process of registering her business company, Amanda goes home to Bizana from time to time to conduct workshops on acting. “These workshops have been so influential that they have encouraged learners to reach for the stars. One of them, Donald, is in his second year medical studies as we speak.” She is also active in Durban with K-Cap and the Playhouse, organising acting lessons for learners, students and the youth. “In Kwa-Mashu I am lucky to be sponsored by Duma Ndlovu of Generations and Muvhango fame in pursuing my ambitions. I want the lids to do it on their doorstep rather than going to Johannesburg where they end up sleeping on the streets chasing their dreams.”

For Amanda it is work in progress, she asserts, sighing. “Work comes first. I do all my research thoroughly. I am disciplined and I try to emphasise the results of being disciplined in my students. Talent is not enough, they always say, and that is the truth.” She says you will always under achieve if you have no direction in whatever you are doing. She has seen talented, dedicated actors fall by the way side because they relied on drugs to stimulate themselves. “Such a pity, because I looked up to some of them for inspiration. I don’t do drugs, and hope I will never be tempted to.” She says it is all because of pressure. “There is too much pressure in the industry but if your life skills are not developed then you will end up taking stimulants and heading quickly to the scrap heap and your sell-by date. Junkies don’t last.”

She won her first and only award so far in her first year of study at Sibikwa when she won ‘Best Actor’ in the Shashalaza Awards which were organised by the Gauteng provincial’s department of arts and culture. That ward propelled her to dizzy heights.

Amnda, the look of yester year 

Now she has set her sights on becoming a business woman of note.  “I am always looking for excellence.” It is the urge to do somethi9ng challenging, something stronger, something personal, that drives her to the North Star. It is this desire to ascend the milestones that she has no inclination to put brakes on her shining star.  

Amanda..!

Beauty , body massage. Her handiwork sends you to cloud nine

Not so many black African learners inquire about somatology, but expectations are that in few years’ time it is going to be the hit career path. PHASIKA NDABA, hand-in-hand with her daughter, BAVELILE NATASHA, has honed her skill in the discipline and has crafted a business that steadily brings money into her bank account and leaves her clients dizzy with youthful ecstasy. While somatology could be regarded as art, it is not as popular as other beauty treatments known to man. Thembi Masser allowed herself to be eased into the fantastic world of waxing, facials and manicures..

Somatology is defined as the combination of all clinical treatments that result in a beautiful you, the art of massaging bodies thrown in, as well as the skill to improve and maintain the wellness of the body.  Phasika, owner of Isidingo Beauty Salon, is a somatologist. Her business is in Lake Field, Benoni.

To be a somatologist you do not need maths and science in your matric.

Beauty care, skin care, reflexology and massages can be done in a beauty salon, a beauty clinic or a beauty spa. Treatment in a salon, clinic or spa includes skin care, skin facial for men and women, children, young and old, waxing, pedicure and manicure, facials and so on. Reflexology is ‘knowing about your body’, she explains. They also do a full body scrub with a wrap-the body is wrapped with a detoxing mask. “To be healed completely, a client has to free to be touched.”  Isidingo offers a Swedish massage as well, aromatherapy and hot stone massages.

Waxing, for instance, is not only for women, but for men and kids as well. “It is for anyone who can handle pain,” she says. “We have a lotion that numbs sensitive areas.”  Phasika says male participants in the Warriors shows in Midrand, north of Johannesburg, are regular clients. “They come in to be waxed all over their lithe, muscular, bodies. They come in for full arm, full leg, full back and full chest waxing. Female models are another breed that need smooth bodies in order to do justice to their profession. They have to be careful not to rip their skin open because their skin tone has to be uniform all over.  “It is mainly men who have own businesses who come in for beauty treatment. Sales men who sell new and expensive cars, people who regularly buy merchandise in Dubai, boutique owners, doctors, male models.”

Men come in for facials as well. Most probably because facials include a body, head and neck massage. The nicest treat that excites clients is that when they are doing facials they have hands all over them. Phasika says all three ladies take part in pampering the client. So it is all six hands at the same time on the body of a client for a whole TWO hours.  

       

She has been in the business for more than 12 years and for four of those years she has owned her own salon.

When she started she worked for her mentor, Audrey Hattingh. Hattingh took her away from her domestic work and gave her a job as a receptionist and cleaner. Then she was promoted to the beauty section where she made people feel younger and well-rounded. “I was a domestic worker from when I was in grade 8,” she remembers. “I helped my mother in her chores and later found my own domestic employment.” She did domestic work right through matric and still when she was at Isidingo Technical in Daveyton.

“I am from a strong family; my grandmother was very strong. It is in the system, this workaholic ethic. My mother comes from a family of 12 children, but as for me, I do not know my own father. The only thing I know about him is that he was an Indian guy. So I want the best for me and my children: Bavelile and Sello.  Two is enough for me.”

Phasika works closely with her daughter, hand in hand, side by side. Bavelile, 22, attended the Hydro International College in Edenvale, doing beauty courses.  She boasts, “I do the best manicures and body massages. My skinny body builds allures in the minds of many clients,” she laughs. “My skinny hands give strong, fulfilling massages.”

Isidingo Beauty Salon is situated in an Indian area, and Phasika’s clients are therefore mainly from Indian families. She is happy with the surroundings, with her clientele, with the money and with herself. “I will not go to the northern suburbs of Johannesburg, where most people says I should (they say the money is good there, hey). I make enough money here.” To be successful in business, she cautions, you have to know your market. A somatologist gives people confidence in how they look and feel. They want to be beautiful, have verve and a spring in their step and of course, they want to look and feel young.” So her market is in at Lake Field where she is at home with the locals. “Going elsewhere means starting from scratch to know the people and their culture and to be familiar with their local way of doing things.”       

When a client arrives for a consultation, Phasika gently massages their palms or feet to diagnose problems in their bodies and to know what treatment to give them. A full, whole treatment takes two hours. Men, as tradition dictates, are never given a frontal massage except for only their limbs (at this she laughs uncontrollably).

Her stint at the technical college has helped a lot so far. While she did not go to any college to study somatology (it is not offered at any college as a course), she did business courses at Isidingo Tech College. Her business English and business skill courses ensured she runs her business on a sound footing. The business is in good hands, so to say. “I do my own books. And because of the experience I have gathered in the business, I have no partners. It is easy to be tripped and loose your business if you are not careful.”

She has no celebrity clients, except for one woman who is Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s companion. Another celebrity is the author of High Heeled Healer, whose name she forgets. In the four or five years she has been in her own business, only about five black Africans have come in for treatment. And they were all women. “Black men want to pay cheaply for a good course,” she complains.  Her very first client, a white man, was nearly an ordeal.  “I was shaking, I was trembling. It was during apartheid. But I pulled it through. Massaging is an art and an exercise in itself. Your arms get so much exercise as do your legs and upper body.”

Do we have funny requests in here?  “No ways,” Phasika laughs. “We make sure that there are always more of us in the offices when one of us is busy with a client. Fortunately for me, my male clients, even ladies, have never asked for a happy ending (again a big, knowing laughter fills the room). However, my friend tells me at her salon some women have turned up dirty and unhygienic.”   

This September Phasika and her team are expected to give beauty treatments to about 1000 people who will attend the Saybor’s family wedding at the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park.

QUICK FACTS

Phasika Princess Ndaba

Age 41

Born in Sweetwaters, Pietermaritzburg.

 Maria Memorial Primary

HB Nyathi High in Daveyton

Subjects: English, Zulu, Afrikaans, biology, history, geography

Tertiary: Isidingo Technical in Daveyton

Business courses

Divorced (happily, her daughter adds)

Top right: Phasika with Bavelile, centre, and colleague Wilhemina
Centre: Client having a make-over and
bottom, manicures, make up, pedicures; all the things that make you beautiful

ARTISTIC WORKS. Siyabonga keen to go nude on stage

By: Tebogo Molefe

                                         

SIYABONGA MAKHUBO is famous for producing tears on a stage at the drop of a hat, and is very keen to do a nude scene on stage. Siyabonga is so versatile on stage that he has even produced a few dramas and is mentor for a few aspirant actors. This Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) student is a member of Lekamoso Theatre from Etwatwa, Daveyton, Benoni. He is involved in all of it: drama, music, poetry, dance and many more.

From a very young age he knew what he wanted to be, though he did not know how he was going to go about it. It took him a long time to belong to any theatrical group.  But, one day while sitting at church he was asked to an impromptu performance. Sicelo Ngubane, one of the elders at the church the Healing Centre Family, asked him to stand I for an absent artist, “the guy who was supposed to play the part was no where to be found. I agreed and I perfected the play like I rehearsed, and from there I never looked back.’’

Siyabonga, popularly known as Scwai, is passionate, and talented, and wants to bring adventurous changes in the South African Theatre. He is of the opinion that South African writers are lazy, and is against foreign artists playing South Africans in films about local icons, like in the recent Nelson Mandela autobiographic film, Long Walk to Freedom.  “I get so emotional about it because we have good artists in South Africa who would have done a better job.”

He is currently writing a play called Secrets Behind Exile. He says the p ay is about a guy who is forced to go to exile by his mother because the mother is having an affair with the police chief, and the latter obsession that the lady’s son should go into exile without a valid political reason. The police chief is just a cruel guy who gets his kicks from other peoples’ suffering and in this case, he just wants the son to suffer and his mother to suffer emotionally.

Siyabonga loves Asinamali by Mbongeni Ngema because he thinks it is a beautiful stage play. He does not like plays that have a lot of artists, because that’s “limit the acting abilities of artists. A play of six people can be done by two people so that they can be creative, and they re able to show their talents more.’’ He says he does not like directing though he has directed before, he wants to be “on stages of the world.”  But he wants to start on the small stages here at home. ‘’I am not money driven, I love what I do, and yes, I would dance nude on stage because I am an instrument of the what the director want on stage. The director can use my body in any way he wants. I am not ashamed of it. Even if I’m not paid for it, I will still do it.”

His role model, locally, is Mcedisi Shabangu, and overseas it is the impressive and award-winning Samuel L. Jackson.

Right now he is focusing on finishing his masters’ degree and, at only 19, has ample time to reach his ambitions, like winning an Oscar one day, because “that will show that people love and appreciate what I do.” However, Siyabonga loves the stage more than being on TV. “I would love to play a pimp because I think that would challenge me, and I love challenges.”

He was born in KwaZulu Natal, and came to Johannesburg in 1999. Part of his family is still there, and his father passed away in 2001. “My siblings and I were raised by my mother and grandparents, though my grandmother past away last year. My mother, who is employed as a general worker, is very supportive of my career choice.”

Siyabonga went to Tshipi Noto Primary School in Maphupheni, and later went to Phandimfundo Secondary School where he completed his matric in 2003. His subjects were Tourism, Economics, Life Sciences, Maths Literacy, English and Isizulu, and his favourite subject was Economics, and his favourite teacher was one R M Makhubela, “because she was a straight forward talker.”

He won best actor twice in 2009 and in again in 2010. In 2013 he won an award for best poet in the local achievements awards. He looks forward to garnering more awards in the future. 

Siyabonga during a performance at the SAAYC festival in Etwatwa, Benoni            

pics courtesy SAAYC

ARTISTIC WORKS I want to be like Chommie

By: Tebogo Molefe     

                                                                    

Life is really hectic for BUSISIWE NKOSI, an energetic, budding actress from Barcelona, in Etwatwa, Daveyton.  She has to fend for herself. She has to find her niche in life. And she has no anchor, in life, where she can lean on and find her strength. At one time, at the age of 13, she found herself walking at night to the station to sleep because her stepmother beat her up. So she had to find a place to spend the night. But now she is slowly finding her place in the sun.

Her ultimate dream, she says with a lot of shine on her face, is to be like Chommie, the esteemed queen of dance from Arthur Mafokate’s 999 music management.  She loves drama with all her being. But that is not all. She is also in drama, poetry, dance, and music, and is very good in all of them, but her first love is dancing. Incidentally, the whole dance thing started in 2011as a joke for her.  ‘’I was bored, so I decided to join a group to keep myself busy.” So she joined the Lekamoso Theatre, where acting took first place. “Acting was something that I did not love. But, when, she joined the group, she had to do all four.  “But now acting is part of all things she loves. And she loves playing the lonely, money-laden prostitute.” Her neighbours are prostitutes.  She sees them all the time in their fancy dresses and a lot of money they carry. If she were to land the part of a prostitute one day she thinks it would be easy to portray it. ‘’I have done a lot of research about prostitution because my neighbours are doing it.’’ And they say all these things in front of her.

Busisiwe, 19, wants to burn dance floors. ‘’I dream it all the time. I want to be a dancer, and do choreography. I want to be the next Chommie, and beat her at her own craft. She dances isibhujwa, kofifi, traditional Zulu dancing, contemporary dance and is’pantsula.’’

Away from the dance floors she would like to be a news reader, on radio though, because ‘’ I’m a jean and tekkie type of girl, and I don’t see myself wearing those formal clothes. So on radio no one can see what I’m wearing.  I just love to be comfortable, and I love to read and write. I used to be very good in writing at school.’’ 

One thing is a no-no, though. She would never dance nude no matter how much she gets paid because, she says, some of the things depend on where you come from, “So, no matter how much you pay me, I won’t do it.  “But” she giggles, “I will kiss on stage, if the man is attractive.’’   She thinks artists are not paid enough for the troubles they get themselves in.   “I do think we should get paid enormously because all of us come from different homes and backgrounds, and some of us need money more than others. It would be nice to come home with something sometimes.’’

Busisiwe was in grade 12 last year, and now she is working as a volunteer at Ke Moja where she receives training on how to council individuals and groups. She counsels youths on the use and abuse of drugs and alcohol and, after counselling them, refers them to the South African Narcotics and C Association (SANCA) which works hand in hand with Ke Moja. In the meantime, however, but she plans to go back to school soon to study tourism because she wants to travel the world.  She has also volunteered the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA).

She has entered a lot of dancing competitions, and has played on a lot of stages around Ekurhuleni. Last year she won a ZTE phone from the ZTE company in Braakpan, she also won an award for best female dancer at the Soweto Arts Festival just to name quiet a few of the prizes she has won so far.

Busisiswe never knew her father until she was in grade seven. ‘’My father stayed in Wattville, and after meeting him I used to go and visit him but my stepmother abused me.  “My step- mother beat me up one day so badly I could not take it anymore, so I ran away. It was in the dead of night, and I walked to the taxi station to spend the night because I had no where else to go. Luckily the taxi drivers did not see me and so I was safe.’’

She was raised by her unemployed aunt, Puleng, and life was tough. There was not only me but Mpumi and Nomsa who she had to take care of as well.  ‘’But my aunt made sure that we were taken care of, and I thank her for that. Her mother stayed in Barcelona at the time, and could not help her aunt because she was also unemployed, but she supported us with my grant money.”

Busisiwe went to Gugulesizwe Primary School, and later went to Lekamoso Secondary in 2008 when she moved in with her mother in Barcelona, where she completed grade 12. Her subjects were Tourism, Life Sciences, History, Maths Literacy, English and IsiZulu.

The only thing she is looking forward to is achieving her goals, and living her dreams. ‘’All I want is to have a better life, for me, and my family.’’


Busisiwe on satge, right and below and, bottom,  with a group certificate for performing at the SAAYC arts festival in Etwatwa, Benoni 

pics courtesy SAAYC

MUSIC. School sucked, budding artist attest

By: Tebogo Molefe

HAROLD SIBUYI is a workaholic. He is an administrator, an actor, musician, health promoter, and many other things under the sun. It is no wonder he is known as “Super” by many of his friends. Super comes from the dust-beaten settlement of Etwatwa, Daveyton in Benoni. He is arguably a man of many talents. This activist is in love with this sleepy township, and his wish is to establish an acting academy to put it on the map.

When he is not on stage he plays drums, drama, African music, hip hop, dance and dramatised poetry. At home he paints, and does a lot more other things. Away from home, and away from the office, and away from the stage he is a basketball coach. On top of it all, he organises events. After all that, he works for Ekurhuleni Health Department as a volunteer, where he gives health talk about HIV/AIDS, and circumcision to residents.

Harold started doing art in 1997, at Tshepo Themba Multi-purpose Centre but, of ‘politics’ there and overbooking, he and three others decided to start their own thing. Percussion Art Theatre was born in 2009. He co-owns Percussion Art Theatre with Troy Kgomotso Mdlalose and two other people.

After dropping out in grade 11, he went to the Sibikwa Arts Centre in Benoni and attended Saturday classes in arts from 1998 to 2000. ‘’After that I decided do it on my own because I knew I could do it. If Sibikwa could make a lot of money, using me, then why couldn’t I do it on my own?” Harold opines. “We used to perform on big stages, where we would open for a prominent artist who we knew was paid a big sum of money.  Sibikwa would get this big fat cheque, and would give us money for transport, which was, say, a paltry R20 or R40.So I thought, I can also do this. But I was not complaining because they gave me experience. I learned a lot there, and I’m very grateful.’’

Harold has already rubbed shoulders with renowned personalities and celebrities. He was directed by Sello Maake KaNcube for a play called Harilla, which was staged at the Pretoria State Theatre. But he nearly caused the great man to burst a vein.  “One day I irked him not only once, but twice. I arrived late for rehearsals, and I did not switch my phone off, and it rang while we were busy. Sello was so angry he lost his cool. He shouted and ranted, telling me ‘this is not the township’. I was so hurt and embarrassed that day.’’

His role model is Zulu Boy because I love the way he is, his character. The way he speaks fascinates him, to him he is so original, and doesn’t change so much in the things he does. Harold is not into drugs, and agrees that most artists use drugs to deal with stage fright, but he feels that if you are talented you will perform to your optimum no matter how many people are watching you.   If it is your talent, and you have passion, then you won’t need drugs to do it.

However, he still goes to Sibikwa with his group to perform at their festivals. There is no love lost there.  They perform at the Masakhane Festival in Soweto every year. They do corporate theatre for, among others, the Ekurhuleni Health Department, and for the South African Police Service. “Percussion wants to have a theatre in Etwatwa but the only problem is finding the right place on which to build our premises.

His family did not support him in his preferred career at first; they thought it was a waste of time and money. But when he started bringing home some money their faces beamed, and they became supportive.  He grew up in Pretoria until the age of seven, and then moved to Etwatwa to stay with his grandmother and his three siblings.  “My grandmother raised us all by herself. She was my role model, my friend, my everything.  Sadly, she passed away last year in July. My mother only moved in with us when my grandmother was very sick, and she has been staying with us since.”

He went to J. J Mpengesi Primary then went to Dr Harry Gwala Comprehensive School where he dropped out in grade 11.  “I dropped out because that school was boring. When I registered they told me that I had to hand in my hand work every quarter, but I failed to do so. Fair enough, they have a workshop where we could do hand work.  We had resources to do science and electrical projects, but we did not use them because the teachers were lazy. I was very disappointed with that school. I mean, I love working with my hands, and I can do anything you tell me to do with my hands, but that school sucked.’’

His subjects were Tsonga, Electricity, Business Economics, Physical Science, Mathematics, Technical Drawing, and English, and his favourite subject was Technical Drawing.

LIBRARY. She provides chances to read

There are so many occupations that give practitioners a lot of joy and contentment. Often, these occupations are perceived as boring. Take librarianship for instance. Not many learners aspire to be one, let alone be aware of this exciting occupation. But according to LOUISE VOS, a librarian of somegood standing, this is a career to die for. She has been a book worm forever in her lifetime, and she relishes everything about it. Here she speaks to Thembi Masser about her love for reading and her passion to foster a reading culture into the hearts of the communities that live near the libraries she supervises in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Council.

Vos (nee Du Plooy) says librarians build people, build careers, communities and nations.  Librarians are public servants that are at the centre of knowledge. They make sure that publications with the correct and right information are available at any given time in the library. Therefore, they not only dispense books and issue fines when books are returned late, but they promote reading and organises out reach programmes. They are also good in dealing with difficult customers.

She is a coordinator of libraries in the west of Ekurhuleni region: these libraries are in Eden Park, Thokoza, Palmridge, Zonkezizwe, Bracken, Alberton, Germiston and Leondale. She makes sure that budgets are adhered to and that enough books are stocked and the libraries are well-run. But she has been a librarian for most of her life. She was at the Boksburg library for most of the 20 years and, in fact, helped plan its foundations after being hauled out her maternity break.

She is well-experienced librarian; she has done no other job since leaving the campus of the University of the Orange Free State, where she did her B.Bibl. for four years at that time. It is a four year course at universities across South Africa. In the fourth year students are required to do practical work at libraries to prepare them for their arduous but enjoyable work to nurture communities, she says. When they have qualified then they can work as librarians of , teachers, IT specialists and lecturers. They can also work at centres of knowledge.

 Vos, who is now 56, says this is the nicest occupation in the world. No other day is the replica of the other. “You are challenged in this job,” she remarks. “You can never rest on your laurels because readers have different demands and as such, you must always be willing to help them out and solve their perceived concerns.” If you though librarians are desk bound, then think again. “There you are wrong. They must have their fingers on the pulses of the readers and the communities they serve. You must understand their culture so that when you plan out reach programmes and awareness campaigns then you speak to their emotions.” Librarians have a huge task to teach communities how to use books and libraries. “If you don’t like people then well, don’t be a librarian.”

In addition, librarians organises book exhibitions apart from making books and publications accessible. “One of the most rewarding experiences is that of going out to encourage teenagers to read. You know how that lot is during that period. It is a pity, she points out, that libraries and the education sector have no SLA- standard level agreement-  with schools. “That is really unfortunate because school media centres are depleted; they have no books at all. We really would like to work with media centres and schools.”

Librarians work in municipal libraries,  but they can also work at museums, specialised libraries and at universities and school libraries. Specialised libraries are those found at private companies like , the CSSIR  and other big companies, like the one Harry Oppenheimer has  . South Africa has four national libraries. they  are holding libraries. These are in Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Cape Town and Pietermaritzburg. Everything that is printed in the country is kept at these libraries.

She went to be a Kovsie after matriculating at Orange Meisie Skool in Bloemfontein. Even before she arrived at school to do sub A she always loved reading, staring at books whenever she was within reach of them. She remembers that her father, a teacher, wanted to be the only one to teach her to read before she went to school. But she was in a hurry and asked for the services of the illiterate domestic help, Masnuque, to guide her. When a book salesman passed bytheir farm selling an eight volume encyclopaedia called  Children of the World, she ordered it on the spot,  her father bought  it for her and she has since read every word in the 8 volumes before she was in grade 5

Mmakgosi, as she is known in the district of Theunissen and Brandfort in the Free State where she was born and bred, is driven up to this age by the words of her former principal at Orange Meisie Skool, where she used her maiden name, Du Plooy. The late Ms Spies taugh her to always reach higher than she thought was possible. Ms spies said:  ‘Reach for the stars, you might  reach the tree tops’.     

NEWS. SAAYC in war against under-age drinking

Thembi Masser

The South African Association of Youth Clubs (SAAYC) recently held a campaign to warn under age kids on the dangers of drinking alcohol. The campaign was held in conjunction with the South African Breweries in the ‘You Decide’ workshops.

Skhumbuso Ngobese, project coordinator at SAAYC, praised the kids who came in to take part in the campaign. He explained the purpose of their partnership with SAB. “We see it as a great opportunity to partner with the SAB in this regard.” He said the campaign is relevant in that it highlights the problems that communalities deal with daily.

This was the second workshop they have co-hosted with the beer brewer. “The ‘You Decide’ workshops started in December 2012 in an effort to warn communities about the dangers of under age drinking. Studies have shown that the youth, especially those that are under-age, consume too much alcohol.”

There is an overall concern about this development and Sgt.Timothy Masilela from the Etwatwa police voiced the SAPS’s concern on the matter. “This is a problem not only for the communities but for the department as well. We need to nip it in the bud,” he said. “Frankly, there is too much youth unemployment in the area but kids have money for drugs and liquor. It is mind-boggling.”   

Mary Ndlovu, of Mary’s Place, a local tavern, praised the workshop. It teaches kids and adults alike and hopes it works well going forward, she said. “Under-age drinking is a problem. But, well, at my place I serve only the over 35’s. No kids.”

In a nutshell

Millicent Maroga, SAB's corporative affairs manager, says the You Decide workshops expose the community to the problem and dangers involved in underage drinking. Teen and parent guides are distributed to assist the community and these guides are unpacked in the actual community workshop. Community members are allowed to ask questions and a SAB representative attends to assist with answers. The SADAG counsellor is also given a slot to help with any questions. The You Decide roadshow is also presented to the community members- this is the actual roadshow that is presented in schools. Prizes are also given away with a win-and-spin competition, which includes questions linked to the subject matter. Each workshop is aimed at a minimum 200 community members.

      

 To offer an open platform for the community to voice their issues and suggestions for change

To promote the support structure strand availability of the You Decide helpline

To provide a platform for community organisations to get involved

Tavern owners, parents, support groups (SAPS), and in some instances youth are also invited (as with Etwatwa)

SADAG is involved in each workshop and SAB mobilise SAPS where possible. In Etwata the workshop partnered with SAAYC (South African Association of Youth Clubs). The NYDA and the DTI have in been support of the You Decide programme.

In total, since the inception of the campaign in 2012, You Decide has completed 23 community workshops, targeting over 3,500 community members.

Edwin Makua testified that she lost a well-paying job because he failed to control her drinking. But at present, after rehabilitation, he has been ‘clean and dry’ for over a year now. “I lost my job as a quality controller, earning about R7 800 a month. Now I am unemployed.” 

LIBRARY. South Africans don’t dig deep for information

Thembi Masser

Making decisions about careers and which field of occupation to follow is not an easy matter. Especially in South Africa where the majority of black Africans have no guiding light to shine in their way, either at schools or at home. But Glad Khoza, an information scientist graduate, was lucky. Her lecturer gave her valuable advice when all was gloom and dark for her. But now it is, like they say in the movies, mission accomplished.

There was not much advice Glad received from her high school in Mkhuhlu, Hobo Secondary, so she went to the University of Limpopo, Turfloop campus very much in the dark about the law degree she so much wanted to do. Even at school, the subjects she chose where no where related to the law studies she envisaged to delve in later in her life. She liked life orientation out of curiosity, it was interesting. And her teacher made easy to understand, he was not complicated. Her other subjects included history, agriculture, life sciences, mathematical literature and languages, English and Xitonga.

  

After her matric Glad, 22 now, went to the university to apply to study law but to her horror, applications for the law faculty were already closed. “I stood there with my hands on head,” she recalls. All the spaces available for law students were already filled up. So she settled for the smallest class she could find, information science. “But now I am not bitter about the switch, I love information science.”

She says you study information science to be information professional.  It is four years of study. She is now in her fourth year and is doing research at public libraries across the country. She will also do further practical work at her campus library.

“This year our class is the smallest ever, probably in all the universities in South Africa,” she laughs. There is only 76 of us, and the authorities always remind us that it is the biggest ever.”  One of their lecturers, Rachel Mahlatji, offered advice in their first when they still rookies. She was aware that they were disillusioned, hijacked into a class because there was plenty of space available for registration. But her students had no clue what information science was, only glad to be university students. She said, “Do your level best in this profession, you will not be sorry.” So they put their shoulders to the wheel and soldiered on.”  Ms Mahlatji said at the time the country needed cataloger and classifiers, and if we did well, there will not be unemployed, never.”

A cataloger is a person who catalogues library materials and a classifier classifies library material as well.  But you can work anywhere with this degree. Her studies have opened her eyes to very disturbing information- South Africans do not consume information at all. “What is happening is not even the tip of an iceberg. People do not dig deep to find information and to explore it. We stick with what we know and we do not examine and too much issues that confront us.”

Glad is happy at the moment, a far cry from the beginning of her studies at university. She started her education at the Saringwa primary then proceeded to Hobo Senior in Mkhuhlu, Mpumalanga.   

EXPORTS CONTROLLER. Dasheka aims beyond the skies

By Gcobisa Siga 
Dasheka is now an Exports Controller for one of the most dominating transport companies in Johannesburg called Marine Transport Services.When asked why she changed occupations she said that she felt the need for growth both professionally and financially. “There was no growth where I was and I needed new challenges in different aspects including money because as you grow you have more responsibilities.” This change has also improved her mental state as she is no longer narrow minded and is now flexible and open to new ideas. 

As an exports controller, Dasheka follows up with clients once she receives containers that carry the goods they transport to the Johannesburg depot and gets vessel/ship details from the client. She makes sure that the containers are moved from Johannesburg to the Durban terminal and are stacked into a vessel within the time given. 

She must also make sure that the drivers are at the correct terminals and that the container locks correspond and if the container is stacked under the correct bookings. When all that is cleared, the containers move to the other side of the world. Sometimes one vessel/ship she has to stack has about 70 containers, she must check every single container that is stacked and she doesn’t deal with just one vessel a day. This is what makes her job challenging.l a day. This is what makes her job challenging.

ARTISTIC WORKS. Money, or no money, the show goes on

DUMISANI MHLANGA is not interested in the money made else than on stage, even if it is only to put bread on the table for his wife and kids. He is an artist. In fact, he is a musician; he acts in dram, a choreographer and anything else on stage. He has travelled extensively in Europe, more than he has in South Africa and is unhappy that he spent only day in France. Thembi Masser visited him at the Rhoo Hlatswayo Arts Centre (R.H.A.C) to hear about his incredible journey so far and to know where he intends to be in the next 35 years.

For Dumisani the road to the stage started oddly; he attended an audition he did not pas nor fail. In fact, all those who attended were told that they have all passed. Then Gilbert Mashite, the convener of the workshop, told them to go home. Those who have passion will come back, he told them. Dumisani was one of those who had passion. He went back to the workshops.

Gilbert was from Soweto then, where he established Collaboration Dance Theatre, in 2000 to 2003. In late 2003 he organised auditions in Daveyton where he met Dumisani. That meeting never ended, they are still together till present time. “He knew nothing about dance,” Gilbert says of Dumisani. “He was strong in music, and physically strong,” he adds to uproarious laughter from both.

Today Dumisani says he has been and has travelled, more in Europe than he has here at home. He has graced stages in Durban and Cape Town.  “But I have been all over Europe. I have eaten chocolate and mesmerised audiences in Switzerland, eaten pizza in Italy, been to the country that produces vehicles for the world, Germany, Holland, and Luxemburg.” He boasts that he has clothes from all these countries that he bought for his wife, friends and kids. “I have also made a lot of money there.” The only regret, he remarks, is that he spent only one day in France. “We arrived in the morning, performed and then headed back into Germany.”

At the time Dumisani was contracted to a German company, Schlote Productions. This company was interested in African musicals which it then took to Europe to show case South African talent. These musicals include In the Ghetto and Power of Africa.

While he is acclaimed at happy, it nearly did not happen.  His love for the theatre was ignited at Hulwazi High in Daveyton. When learners were told to chose which extramural activity they will partake in, he did not choose soccer. He chose the arts. His parents were dead against the arts, noting that many artists are penniless. He eventually convinced them that it was his life and finally they let him be, but he has struggled to put bread on the table at times for his wife and kids. And he had to do some part time jobs to keep afloat. His uncle found him some job to do at a hard ware store but Dumisani ran away to prepare for a musical. He had a promising merchandising job at Checkers Stores but again he ran away to prepare for the Grahamstown Arts Festival. But his wife, also a dancer, is employed gainfully and she understands. This gives Dumisani the chance to teach youngsters about dance.

“We teach them for free,” he says. The problem, well, is that we have to pay rental here at R.H.A.C., but we soldier on.”  Credit must go to Gilbert, he acknowledges. “He coached me and became my mentor. In fact, he taught me a certain kind of dancing technique that has never been executed anywhere else except by him and me. It is a kind of unique technique that tells a story through dance.”  They formed GMDT-Gilbert Mashite Dance Theatre- which was made up of not less than forty dancers. “We have been very successful, going to Grahamstown, twice; we have performed with Mbongeni Ngema. We have taken part in the Dance Umbrella (which we won in 2004 and 2005), Arts Alive, Dance Manyano and many other events.            

He has rubbed shoulders with choreographers of note. Sifiso Kwenyama, Lucky Ratlhagane, Portia Mashego(one of the best female choreographers, Dumisani says), the Russian Alex Fuetisky, Thabo Rapoo and Greg Maqoma.

“The arts are what I wanted to do all my life,” he asserts. “Of course, there is no real money in the arts that I acknowledge. But there is when you really work hard. Money is not my drive, passion is. I want the arts to grow and enjoy recognition. At the moment sports, particularly soccer, enjoy the limelight immensely.”

Dumisani says passion is the drive for the arts to grow. For this to happen, there are rules that apply. “These rules, which apply in life and at home, were taught to me by Mbongeni. He said, ‘An actor prepares’. You have to prepare for life; on stage, in the field, at home, and in business. If you have no discipline, then you will not be able to harness your passion, then you are finished. You have to prepare for life.”

He says there are still 35 more years for him in the arts. Although there are ups and downs in this business, he says, its fun. “At least I am happy and I am able to put bread on the table for my family.”

The two will hold more workshops on 26 July at the R.H.A.C.                     

GEMSTONES. The jewel of beauties

Gem stones are the world’s most precious commodities. But just imagine being surrounded by them everyday of your working life. To work with them, touch them, caress them and mould them must be an ultimate wish we would die for. But just imagine being a jewel among these stones yourself. MOTSHEDISI MASHAPHA is Lichaba Creations’ most precious jewel. She has developed a line of products that have taken the company up with the best in the country. She speaks to Thembi Masser about her diamonds in the skies occupation.

Motshedisi, 27, is the creative beads and jewellery designer. The company (www.lichabajewellryhub.co.za), based in central Johannesburg, has branches elsewhere in the country and is owned by the renowned self-made entrepreneur, Max Moeketsi Lichaba. They were recently in the news. His company revamped the old Gauteng Sports Awards trophy this year.    

“I design for queens and kings,” Motshedisi enthuses. Indeed, she is held in high esteem at Lichaba Creations. She established an exciting bead work range for kids, teenagers and young adults. This brought a smile to her manager, Judy Raikane. “This allows us to fight in the most lucrative market any one who has their marbles would like to dabble in, the youth section. That is where the smart money is,” Raikane remarks. “Motshedisi has beads in her feet.”

Motshedisi has been stead fast about her occupation straight from school. She enrolled for a jewellery making course soon after her matric. She spent six months at the Harmony Jewellery School honing her creative skills. She says there is not so much theory at the school. “We use our creative minds and hands there,” she says. “We did not play much there.”

She is proud that she creates adornments that enhance human beauty. “I feel pride in my heart when I see customers ogling my creations in our display cabinets. When they ask, ‘Who made this?’, my heart trembles with joy and when they finally walk out with my creation in their bags or dangling from their hands or necks I pat my own back in joy.”     

The beads for kids, teenagers and the youth market have proved to be a popular range as well. “This range is going to take the market by storm once it is rolled out in the near future” Raikane predicts. “When Motshedisi came with the idea we knew it was going very hard to say no to her. She is stubbornly insistent but joy to work with. She thinks out of the box.” When Raikane arrived at Lichaba Motshedisi was in another section, called the incubator. But Raikane felt Motshedisi was wasting her tremendous talents nurturing products: she was excellent in creating them. “So I moved her .She has a gift in designing and conceptualising products, and strong in bead work.”

Motshedisi went to Harmony primary before finishing her studies at the Harmony high school where she was not strong in literature. “I am not great in that department, but working with my hands fascinates me and gives me joy.”  At school she was comfortable with chemistry, accounting, maths and English. The first three gave me the chance to create, explore and try different methods in doing things, she explains. “I don’t intend to stop here at Lichaba Creations. I need to go over to New York, Paris and elsewhere to display my handiwork.” She says she is passionate in creating bangles and male rings. “I love male fingers,” she says, laughing out loud. “Especially when they are manly.”

Thabo Lichaba, the human resources manager, is full of admiration for Motshedisi. He says Motshedisi likes what she is doing. “She is utterly competent. She is full of ideas, she is loyal and she is an important asset.’ He says they have been buoyed by the beautiful designs she has come up with and customers like her solid bead work. 

Here is some of Motshedisi's brilliant handiwork. Stunning, isn't it?

Contemplation...deep in thought as she creates yet another masterpiece