SCHOEMANSDAL – The national casual day, which is celebrated annually in September in recognition and in support of the disabled, was celebrated in style in the Schoemansdal police station.

This day allows workers from various departments, whether in the private sector or governmental sector, to wear their own casual clothes.

But there are conditions involved, namely, to wear casual you have to buy a certain ribbon or selected stickers and the funds are donated to charity.

KAMHLUSHWA – What was supposed to be a memorable Summer Music Festival in Nkomazi turned to be a big flop.

KaMhlushwa Township came under the spotlight over the weekend where the supposed music festival was due to take place but the night saw only one artist performing.

The festival that never took place highlighted a few sparks and brawls following a no show of the initial advertised top kwaito artists. There were fewer than fifty people inside the stadium and a bunch of security guards who entertained themselves with the music played by the not so professional DJs on a small stage. Surprisingly, the promoter demanded that even the local musicians had to pay an entrance fee and for performing and even the media were not allowed in.

More than 1000 people who eventually came to the festival went back home very disappointed and angry. Some of the revelers bayed for the self-proclaimed music promoter better known as Dollar$maker, who was rescued by security personnel.

Dollar$maker created more problems for himself as he got into a fight with Mgarimbe, one of the Kwaito artists who refused to perform for only a few people. The local music and show promoter, Dollar$maker later apologized for his fight with the ‘Sister Betina’ star, Mgarimbe.

Many people who came for the festival stood outside the stadium and toasted meat while playing music from their cars. Two of the people who paid for the festival, spoke to this paper and said they would be lodging their complaints with the festival’s promoter, Dollar$maker.

“We only want our money back, because we were duped. We were made to believe that top artists would perform but only Msawawa did a few tracks,” said the reveler.

“Yes, I am also going to demand my money back because I paid for nothing, I didn’t see even a single artist, because I left at midnight with still no artists on the stage,” said the other disgruntled ticket holder.

Schoemansdal – Hundreds of years ago Sir Robert Baden-Powell conceptualized the idea of Scouts. He then tried it in a camp with 20 boys on the Brownsea Island. Since then scouting has grown rapidly all over the world. South Africa has not been left behind as scouting bands have attended world jamborees since 1920.

The first South African jamboree took place in 1936 but Mpumalanga had to wait until June 1997 with a membership of only 200 Cubs and Scouts.

Recently Scouts were celebrated 100 years of existence worldwide whilst Mpumalanga notched up her 10 years.

In celebrating a decade of existence Nkomazi Scout members, Mancoba Tsabetse, Magic Sibiya, Isaac Gumedze and Chris Mthembu donated bed linen and food parcels to some of the sub-region’s Home Base Care organizations. Chris Mthembu adds that they will be giving mattresses to other Home Base Care organizations and he also mentioned that people must be encouraged to join Scouts as there are many things that one can learn. He mentioned things like leadership and communication skills.

Scouts are divided into three stages. Cubs are made up of members between seven and a half years to eleven and a half years. Those between eleven and a half years to eighteen are Rovers.

(Additional information sourced from Scouts Literature)

SCHOEMANSDAL- The Executive Mayor of Nkomazi Municipality, Cllr Johan Mavuso, has assured citizens of the municipality that he has a team strong enough to deliver services to every village. Speaking during the relaunch of the Khulangwane branch of the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) last Friday, Mavuso said: “I must mention that we are pushing a huge, slow and sometimes stubborn elephant but with the creative minds I work with and the support of all of you, I am confident that we will turn the corner.” He alluded to the purchase of state-of-the-art machinery, which has since received extensive coverage by local media.

Schools, educators and learners have been singled out for a major windfall in the form of Mayoral Funda Awards, which, once incepted, will encourage excellence in the educational domain.

The mayor has conceded to Nkomazi’s decline in stature when he called on all to “join in this concerted campaign to return Nkomazi to its former glory.” He challenged schools to pay for municipal services and charged SADTU to lead the campaign towards realizing that end.

Meanwhile, the elective Branch Biennial Meeting of the Khulangwane branch has shocked many when new members replaced all members of the former executive committee. Notable among the new entrances are David Mnguni (Secretary) and Mbongeni Ngubane (chairperson). Both of them have served in previous tenures and are familiar with the culture of the organization.