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Read full article in our latest issue
Uplifting Volume 5 Edition 23 Star 8 September 2014 R2 Hamba Vangeli MAESTRO P2 OF BEE AT YOUR SERVICE “YOU ARE NOT GOD” ... says defiant Shivambu to Mbete FLOYD SHIVAMBU F SOCIALS BEAUTIFUL: Nandi Mngoma at the wedding of Malusi Gigaba and Nomachule at the Durban Botanical gardens. P4&5 resh from disrupting parliamentary proceedings, Economic Freedom Fighters were at it again – this time EFF chief whip Floyd Shivambu defiantly challenging the Speaker of the National Assembly, saying unlike God, she was fallible. The comment came after Baleka Mbete had given a stern warning to EFF MPs when she opened Tuesday’s sitting by addressing the chaos that erupted almost two weeks ago when EFF MPs demanded that President Jacob Zuma pay back money for Nkandla. This led to cancellation of parliamentary proceedings for that day. “As Members (of Parliament) will remember, the refusal of the members of the EFF to abide by the directions and rulings of the chair led to the early adjournment of proceedings and the question session was not BALEKA MBETE By SIBUSISO BANDA [email protected] completed,” said Mbete. She added: “At the time, I opted for a lessor sanction which was to order the members to leave the House. I cannot but strongly condemn the disruption of the proceedings in the chamber,” she said after confirming that she would not call on the House to suspend the EFF MPs from parliament. Mbete said she will leave the matter to Parliament’s Powers and Privileges Committee to investigate further. Despite being told they were off the hook for now, as soon as Mbete completed her statement, the defiant Shivambu rose to object, ignoring Mbete’s protestations that she had not intended to open the matter for debate. “How is the committee going to investigate when you are making conclusive remarks in this house?” he asked. “You are not God you can’t say things and say it’s final. You’re a speaker who must be questioned when you’re making wrong statements here. We don’t agree with all those observations that you have made here. The majority are wrong.” Shivambu indicated to the House that in the past weeks EFF MPs had received letters of intent of suspension of which informed them that the matter was now under investigation. Mbete’s change of mind of not going ahead with the suspension came after the party threatened to launch a legal challenge in the high court after she requested individuals EFF MPs to give reasons why they should not be suspended. EMPOWERING CITIZENS THROUGH EDUCATION - P7 Edition 23.indd 1 10/24/2014 7:51:54 AM 2 Uplifting Star Volume 5 Edition 23 PASTOR THEMBA DUMISANI Matibela’s case postponed WISDOM: Arch Bishop Shadrack Makhamba preaching at his congregation during Church service on in Philippi Cape Town. Photo by Lulekwa MMbadamane by NOMBULELO DAMBA [email protected] A case of a 36-year-old Khayelitsha pastor accused of rape has been postponed to October 31. Pastor Themba Dumisani Matibela, also known as Pastor T.D Matibela, is facing six counts of rape. His arrest came after allegations of rape were levelled against him. His accusers include women aged18 and 23, who are members of the choir of Matibela’s church, the Living Word Tabernacle Church. Both girls claims Matibela used to provide for their poor families in exchange for sleeping with them. It was revealed in court that the 23-year-old got pregnant and Matibela forced her to give the child up for adoption. Matibela is currently out on a R5 000 bail. Only few members of his church came out to support him. It was mostly young girls, who kept shouting “all is well” and swearing at those they perceived to be against their pastor. He appeared briefly before Magistrate Gary Haremse and the case was postponed. Haremse told the court that Matibela was facing very serious allegations, and that it would be fair to give the State time to collect all the evidence it could get. Defence lawyer Sabelo Noxaka asked the case to be postponed for the last time but Haremse refused. Matibela’s wife Unathi, who has been supporting her husband since the trial began, showed her support again on Friday. She tried to prevent journalists from taking pictures of her husband. In the meantime, Matibela has opened another church on an open space in Eesterivier. He said former church members were behind the allegations. He claimed they were using the two girls to kick him out of his church. BLACK EMPOWERMENT MAESTRO AT YOUR SERVICE N elson Sebati is a by THANDISIZWE MGUDLWA Broad-Based Black [email protected] Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) guru. Management, Business DevelHe also boasts 10 years of exopment, Training Coordination, perience in recruitment, talent People Management, Business acquisition, career transitioning Transaction/Joint-Venture Broand on-boarding, with a specific kering, New Venture Creation/ focus on Information TechnoloDevelopment Advisory and gy (IT) and Executive skills. (B-BBEE). More recently, he worked “I am as sharp as a tack, for a market leading proenthusiastic as hell and an vider of Enterprise and authority on Enterprise Supplier Development Development + Supplier (ESD) solutions across Development (ESD). Africa, Raizcorp. I can help your company Currently, he operconfirm its position as a ates as an Entrepreneur, socially and economically Professional Empowresponsible corporate ered Advisor (Pr citizen through a EAd), Certified seamless solution Recruitment to Enterprise Practitioner Development + and EnterSupplier Developprise Develment (ESD) that opment and will not only Supplier feed into your Developbusiness stratment (ESD) egy & provide Specialist the requisite with over B-BBEE 10 years points, but extensive will meaningexperience in fully contribute specialist ICT Retowards sustainNELSON SEBATI cruitment, Resource able and impactful ment (ESD) is a strategic move socio-economic change in the by government to facilitate and communities that it operates support National Development and the country at large.” Goals. BBBEE CHAMPION “The overall objective is to Sebati is a also qualified strengthen the capacity and career strategist and job search capabilities of black-owned coach. He is also a certified enterprises in order for them to BBBEE Champion and BBBEE Master. be integrated into the mainHe studied Entrepreneurstream supply chain of larger ship at Wits corporates and Business ensure symbiSchool, Law at otic relations. UNISA, BBBEE The end at School result is the of Business creation of Leadership effective The overall objective is more among other black-owned numerous enterprises to strengthen the caqualifications. that strengthen pacity and capabilities local procureHe is currently a member and a of black-owned enter- ment of the YBSA, more inclusive BMF, REC-UK, prises. and represenAPSO, CSSA, tative South ASA-USA, and IoDSA. African economy,” says Sebati. In recent times, Sebati On his work at the Black explained that, “In terms of Management Forum (BMF), Broad-Based Black Economic Sebati comments, “My role is Empowerment (B-BBEE) the to co-ordinate training and consolidation of the Preferdevelopment opportunities for ential Procurement (PP) and individual members and corpoEnterprise Development (ED) rate member representatives via elements of the scorecard to educational service providers create a single element called such as business schools and Enterprise Supplier Developother professional institutions.” “ SEND US YOUR STORIES: [email protected] Uplifting Star Hamba Vangeli Edition 23.indd 2 The Uplifting Star is Published by Uplifting Star (PTY) LTD Address: 28A Bluemountain Bay, Radar Road, West Beach 7441 Cell: 082 795 4389, Tel: 021 554 0476 Advertising: [email protected] Printed by CTP www.upliftingstar.com PRESS COUNCIL Uplifting Star subscribes to the Southern African Press Code that subscribes to news that is truthful, accurate, fair and balanced. If we do not live upto the code, please contact the press OMBUDSMAN on (011) 484-3612/8 or visit the website:www.pressCouncil.org.za 10/24/2014 7:49:13 AM Uplifting Star Volume 5 Edition 23 Rich Motsepes give out moola to Khayelitsha I by NOMBULELO DAMBA [email protected] t was all ululations and clapping of hands in Khayelitsha on Wednesday when the chairperson of Motsepe Foundation, Patrice Motsepe and his wife Precious Moloi-Motsepe graced the township to see how the R6 million they donated to the area was spent. Just minutes after he arrived, residents started to lodge complaints and also accused the Motsepe Foundation Committee, chaired by Derick Mtsolo, of not being available and visible. Residents said it was hard to get hold of the committee. Motsepe understand is that we have no donated R12 million to Khayelitpower over who gets the money, sha and Mitchell’s Plain, each we only deal with administratownship received R6 million tion,” he said. in an attempt He said to get rid of there were poverty and un12 students employment. who received The money bursaries from was donated the Motsepe in June last Foundation year and it was At least R73 500 was and there were expected to be people who going to be spent on spent in one were still going year. Howevto be funded four students. er, a number by the Motsepe of residents Foundation. “I who applied claimed they never think it is time we stopped these received any money. Mtsolo allegations. You are all welcome said they were used to such to ask Motsepe and he will tell allegations. “What people don’t you that we don’t have access to “ SIGNING: Patrice Motsepe and his wife Precious Moloi-Motsepe. the money,” he added. Motsepe said at least R73 500 was going to be spent on four students, who excelled academically, this year. Motsepe appealed to residents to be patient. He said they would be challenges but people needed to work together. “You know I’m so proud and honoured to see some of these students,” he said. Motsepe urged people must continue applying. He pledged to donate more money. But not all residents were convinced. A woman who only identified herself as MaDlamini, said lots needed to be clarified. “We want to know where the money went to. I’m sure these students didn’t take all the six million,” she said. 3 Woman gives birth on road Johannesburg – A 25-year-old woman is recovering in hospital after giving birth to a baby girl on the side of the road in Randburg after allegedly being turned away from a clinic on Thursday. Business director Ryan Frey told News24 he was driving from his office at about 09:30 on Thursday when he saw the woman, named Phindile, on the pavement on her knees. “When I stopped to inspect what was going on, to my shock the woman was in labour,” said Frey. Phindile, a domestic worker in Randburg, claimed that clinic employees told her that they did not deal with births and told her to go to a hospital. The woman gave birth to a baby girl who was one month premature. “The little girl was covered in dirt and grass, she was not crying but was breathing and her little fingers were moving,” Frey said. Frey said he contacted one of his employees who brought a first-aid kit. Others who had also seen what was happening stopped to help. If News24 users would like to make donations for Phindile and her baby, named Chantal, they can contact Frey’s business, TT3 Repairs at 011 792 5293. WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP Women take centre stage Women in Leadership (WIL) is the brainchild of the women’s ministry at Rapha Fellowship Centre. Lady Bishop Nosandi Dlamini is the president of this ministry. She has a heart to develop, train, motivate and teach women who are in leadership, the art to lead men or to lead alongside with them. This is an annual event which started in 2012. Edition 23.indd 3 In these seminars, the Lady Bishop covers topics such as character development, servant-hood and innovative leadership. The target is women leaders from the corporate, business, church and those who have their own organisations. The 2014 WIL seminar was held at Rapha Fellowship Centre in Makhaza at the old score building. 10/24/2014 7:49:35 AM Star scene 4 Uplifting Star STYLE: Lindiwe Zulu at the wedding of Malusi Gigaba and Nomachule in Durban. Volume 5 Edition 23 TRADITION: The traditional wedding of Malusi Gigaba and Nomachule Mngoma in Mandeni. STYLING: Basetsana Kumalo, Minnie Dlamini and Johanna Mokoki at the wedding of Malusi Gigaba and Nomachule in Durban US-AFRICA LEADERS SUMMIT: Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma arrive at the White House for a group dinner hosted by US President Barack Obama. Photographs by GCIS BEAUTIFUL: Nandi Mngoma at the wedding of Malusi Gigaba and Nomachule at the Durban Botanical gardens. MATRIMONY: The wedding of Malusi Gigaba and Nomachule at the Durban Botanical gardens COUPLE: Zizi Kodwa and his wife Edition 23.indd 4 MATRIMONY: David Tlale at the wedding of Malusi Gigaba and Nomachule at the Durban Botanical gardens. 10/24/2014 7:49:46 AM Star scene Volume 5 Edition 23 5 Uplifting Star Send us pictures of your corporate events, end of year functions, private events, engagement parties, weddings, birthday parties, anniversary parties, sports events and launch parties to [email protected] MTV AWARDS: Wiz Khalifa and Amber Rose pose at the 2014 MTV Music Video Awards. SINGING IN UNION: Oomakoti beVangeli come out blazing singing for their leader Pastor Vuyisa Mlotywa in Philippi on Saturday. Photo by Zuiksa Jika Jaka MTV AWARDS: Singer Nicki Minaj arrives at the 2014 MTV Music Video Awards in Inglewood, California. WOMEN OF GOD: Pastor’s wife Ninih Zondi and Nontutuzelo Luphuwana of the Langa Baptist Church. MTV AWARDS: Singers Jordin Sparks and Jason Derulo arrive at the 2014 MTV Music Video Awards in Inglewood, California. Edition 23.indd 5 GIRLS IN ACTION: Ruth Totwana, Thula Nomnganga, Mpho Motlhamme and Andiswa Mbontsi at the Women’s celebration event in Langa. 10/24/2014 7:50:04 AM 6 Uplifting Star Tutu defends Madonsela Parliament - The House of Chaos As I sat quietly in the National Assembly media section, I watched in disbelief as the chaotic scenes unfolded right in front of me. The words “Pay back the money” vibrated throughout the assembly. EFF MPs were expressing their dissatisfaction with President Jacob Zuma’s reply to the Nkandla issue. Julius led the charge as the decorum of the House flew out of the window. Speaker Baleka Mbete’s warning fell on deaf ears as EFF MPs openly defied her. EFF MPs were aided and abetted by their supporters in the public gallery. As the chaos ensued, the President was safely escorted out of House. The public gallery was cleared, but EFF supporters remained stubborn and refused to leave. So did EFF MPs. Even journalists were ordered to leave. Parliament’s protocol officers, police and even some parliamentary staff tried to chase journalists out of the assembly but journos stood their ground. Reporters said they were not going anywhere as they were there to report in the name of public interest. Eventually, the media was not chased out but allowed to report and tell it like is. The provincial police commissioner tried and failed to negotiate with EFF MPs, who blatantly refused to leave the chamber. Then the public order police were seen entering the by SIBUSISO BANDA [email protected] building, with some people anticipating more drama. Parliament had turned into something of a Hollywood movie, I tell you. Unfortunately or fortunately, no dramatic scenes between EFF MPs and riot police were forthcoming. After a long period of chaos, some sanity prevailed as calm was restored. An announcement was made that MPs must go back inside. The school-like alarm, which informs MPs that it’s time to go back to the assembly, rang. Security was tight as they checked MPs’ access cards before they got back in. Police officers were now stationed at all entrances. I decided to go back to the House and see if they were going to continue. I got back to my seat. I noticed the House was no longer full like before and the President seemed to be missing in action. The Speaker announced Number One had left and the House would adjourn for the day. I quickly went out and followed EFF members outside as they made their way to their offices. Floyd Shivambu, Malema, Andile Mngxitama and Mbuyiseni Ndlozi led the way with a song and dance. Victory was theirs… they had brought the House down with their chaos! Parliamentary committee demands answers from Fifa Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Sports wants the international soccer body Fifa to brief them on their investigation into match-fixing, a global scandal which implicates South Africa. This follows Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula briefing the committee on the matter. Mbalula told the Committee that government was still waiting to hear from FIFA regarding the probe. South Africa was fingered in the global match-fixing scandal because of a damning allegation that the Bafana BafanaWorld Cup warm-up games were fixed. Mbalula said that there was also no time frame indicating as to when the investigation will conclude. “I won’t lie before the Committee and say I did get some brief from Fifa and say there are timeframes. There are none. It’s an open-ended process.” The minister told the committee that the matter is entirely in the hands of Fifa and there was nothing that government could do to speed up the process because any government intervention could be construed as interference. “The process is in the hands of FIFA to conclude and it’s only on the basis Edition 23.indd 6 Volume 5 Edition 23 by SIBUSISO BANDA [email protected] of that conclusion we’ll make a determination,” said Mbalula. The committee’s chairman Beauty Dlulane said they would ask the National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete to grant them permission to ask Fifa to appear before the committee. “We’ll write to the speaker requesting to compel FIFA to come report back to us,” she added. The match-fixing allegations, which first surfaced in 2011, led to the suspension of several SAFA officials, including its former president Kirsten Nematandani. The suspensions were later lifted. Mbalula said Fifa had written a letter that notified the government of their intention of instituting a match-fixing probe two years ago. President Jacob Zuma had given them a go-ahead. Bafana fixtures against Colombia, Guatemala, Thailand and Bulgaria were all placed under investigation following the revelation that a company linked to the infamous match-fixer Wilson Raj Perumal, Football4U, was contracted to appoint match officials for those games. Maligning the public protector besmirches not only the ruling party, but the entire country. So says Nobel Peace Award laureate Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. “We are proud that South Africa has an Office of the Public Protector,” Tutu and his daughter said in a joint statement. “The contempt being shown to the public protector by the ruling party underlines the slippery moral slope South Africa has descended since the days of hope and promise under President Nelson Mandela.” Madonsela and the African National Congress have been locked in a war of words following the leaking of a letter she had written to President Jacob Zuma over his response to her report on the upgrades to his Nkandla home. In her scathing letter, she reportedly cautioned him that he was second-guessing her recommendations that he repay part by STAFF REPORTER [email protected] of the money spent on features unrelated to security, such as a swimming pool, cattle kraal, amphitheatre, and visitors’ centre. In his reply to Madonsela’s report on Nkandla, Zuma indicated that Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko should determine if he should repay any of the money. The Tutus said the creation of a public protector in the new South Africa reflected the country’s evolutionary progress as a nation. South Africa now had a public protector whose job it was to investigate any conduct in state affairs or the public administration where impropriety or prejudice was suspected or alleged. “Accountability is not just a word. It is a foundation stone for good leadership, responsibility, trust, justice and respect,” they said. When Mandela was called to appear before the Pretoria High Court to defend a decision to investigate alleged graft and racism in South African rugby, many people thought he would fend off the summons on technical grounds. “But he chose to appear in court to demonstrate his accountability to the rule of law and administration of justice. If the ruling party has issues with the process the public protector has followed in respect of the investigation into the hideous public spending on improvements to President Zuma’s accommodation in Nkandla, or with the findings, its obligation is to approach the courts for a remedy,” they said. The pair applauded Madonsela’s courage and called her a woman of integrity who served her country without fear or favour. “We, humbly, suggest that all South Africans take pride in a job well done, and let Thuli Madonsela get on.” SA not cutting ties with Israel – Ramaphosa D eputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has reiterated that the country has no intention to suspend its diplomatic relations with Israel, which has been heavily criticised for its use of “disproportionate force” in Gaza. Ramaphosa, answering questions in the National Council of Provinces, told MPs that “maintaining diplomatic relations with Israel allows our country to continue to engage with Israel on issues of mutual interest, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”. He added: “The government of South Africa has communicated its unequivocal and strongest condemnation of by SIBUSISO BANDA [email protected] Israeli against Palestinians in Gaza to the government of the State of Israel. We have done this through a number of measures,” he said. A number of local organisations have been calling on South Africa to cut all ties with Israel. But the Deputy President said the country would lose its leverage to mediate in the Middle East if it heeded calls to cut ties. He explained that the ties enabled President Jacob Zuma to deploy two special envoys, led by former minister Zola Skweyiya and deputy minister Aziz Pahad, to the Middle East for talks with both sides to the Israel-Hamas conflict. A long-term ceasefire has been reached between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. The truce, ending a catastrophic seven weeks of fighting that has Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa. Photo by Siyabulela Duda “ South Africa wanted to see a permanent settlement coming out of Gaza. left more than 2,200 people mostly Palestinians - dead, was brokered by Egypt. There have been various pro-Palestine protests and calls for the end of Gaza conflict, expulsion of Israel’s ambassador to South Africa and a boycotting of pro-Israeli stores in the country. Ramaphosa said government believed that violence would not bring a solution and that a ceasefire agreement reached would pave the way for talks. “It is our conviction that there will be no military solution to the current challenges facing Israel and Palestine. Only a negotiated settlement will bring about a lasting endurable solution to the problems facing the Middle East’ He said South Africa wanted to see a permanent settlement coming out of Gaza.He stated that out country’s1994 democratic negotiated settlement could be used as a case in point to see the power that negotiations have. “South Africa has developed a particular DNA when it comes to settling conflicts, and that DNA is conflicts are settled through negotiation; by people sitting around one table to find a solution. This is what has brought us where we are” he added 10/24/2014 7:50:06 AM Uplifting Star Volume 5 Edition 23 EMPOWERING CITIZENS THROUGH EDUCATION T oday I will be writing about the importance of education and the critical role it plays in empowering citizens to better their lives. There are millions of people living in poverty in the country. This is largely because unemployment is so high. Currently 5.2 million in South Africa do not have a job. The Western Cape Government is committed to reducing unemployment in the province. This is because we know one of the best indicators of opportunity is whether people are able to access jobs. But we also know that providing quality education is one of the most important steps to be able to access a job. Our provincial government will be spending just over R52 billion over the next three years on education. We have, and will continue to concentrate on improving academic performance in language and mathematics and the National Senior Certificate (NSC), as well as to reduce the number of underperforming schools in the province. We have made progress in all these areas over the past five years. In 2013, we had a record number of 40 558 learners passing the NSC and 19 477 learners who qualified for Bachelor Degree study. This year, the Western Cape Government has set a target of 43 000 passes out of the 49 165 full time learners who have registered for their matric exams. We also aim to increase the number of learners with bachelor passes because we know that. Tertiary education provides young people with a greater chance of finding a decent job. However, one of our biggest concerns is still the high number of learners dropping out of school. This often happens between grades 10 and 12 when learners find that their school work becomes more difficult. Even more worrying is that some schools encourage weaker learners to drop out before they reach matric because this positively improves the school’s pass rate. The result is that thousands of young people are left without a proper education and no prospect of finding a job and improving their lives. We do not 7 allow this practice in the Western In addition to providing Cape, instead we are committed academic assistance these to keeping our learners in school programmes also deal with for 12 year in order to ensure other important issues such as that every child is provided with reducing drug and alcohol abuse, a quality education and matricuHIV/Aids infections, sexual lates with good marks. abuse and teenage pregnancy and We have introduced a range provides workshops on dealing of interventions to achieve this with conflict and, peer pressure including holiday programmes as well as courses on leadership to help prepare learners for their and debating. exams. TEACHER DEVELOPWe have also focused on proMENT AND TRAINING viding training programmes to Teachers also have an opteachers in order to improve their portunity to improve on their subject knowledge and teaching skills through the Cape Teaching methods. and Leadership Institute proSome of these programmes grammes. include: Some of the seminars that have THE GRADE 12 HOLIDAY already been provided and will PROGRAMME continue to take place –include This programme will provide “Reading and Writing” Conferadditional support for our Grade ences which assists teachers in 12 learners improving their particularly in teaching methschools where ods in these learners are fields. struggling in While our specific subgovernment is jects. doing everyLearners must also These subthing we can jects include to improve edmake use of every Mathematucation in the resource made available province, we ics, Physical Science, do this to them and must work cannot Geography, on our own. Life Sciences, Everyone hard. Accounting and must play their Economics. part, most SAFE SCHOOLS HOLIDAY importantly parents must take responsibility for the safety and PROGRAMME development of their children. It is important that we keep They must provide the necesour children, safe and off the sary support to their children at streets during the school holiday home and ensure they have a safe period. and quiet environment to study. A number of other government Learners must also make use of institutions and organisations every resource made available to have partnered with the Western them and must work hard. Cape Government to provide a Ensuring our children are range of holiday programmes. provided with a quality education These include: The City of Cape and excel at a school level must Town, the Cape Town Metro be everyone’s top priority. Police, the South African Police This is the only way we will Service, the Goliath Dance Acadgrow the economy, create jobs emy, Brainwave Projects and the and reduce poverty in the provFynbos Consultancy, amongst ince. others. I wish the matric class of 2014 all of the very best for the upcoming exams. God Bless you, Helen Zille Premier of the Western Cape “ MY OPINION Premier Helen Zille No Ebola cases reported in SA Johannesburg – There are no Ebola cases reported or confirmed in South Africa, the health department said on Friday. The total number of cases in the current outbreak of Ebola in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone has risen to 3 069 probable and confirmed cases, while there have been 1 552 deaths. “The outbreak continues to accelerate. More than 40% of the total number of cases have occurred within the past 21 days,” health department spokesperson Popo Maja said. “However, most cases are concentrated in only a few localities. The Edition 23.indd 7 overall death rate is 52%. It ranges from 42% in Sierra Leone to 66% in Guinea.” A separate Ebola outbreak, not related to the one in West Africa, was laboratory confirmed on Tuesday by the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was also detailed in a separate edition of the Disease Outbreak News of the World Health Organisation (WHO). “A detailed analysis by (the) WHO of exactly where transmission is occurring – by district level – and of time trends is ongoing,” Maja said. He added: “Preliminary results show that cases are still concentrated - 62% of all reported cases since the beginning of the outbreak - in the epicentre of the outbreak in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, where cases continue to rise.” The WHO and its partner organisations were on the ground establishing Ebola treatment centres, and strengthening capacity for laboratory testing, contact tracing, social mobilisation, safe burials, and non-Ebola healthcare. “The WHO continues to monitor for reports of rumoured or suspected cases from countries around the world and systematic verification of these cases is ongoing,” Maja said. 10/24/2014 7:50:16 AM Uplifting Star Hamba Vangeli Volume 5 Edition 23 For more information contact us on 082 795 4389 or email [email protected] 8 September 2014 KwaMashu Praises Jesus launches debut album N ew in the Gospel scene, KwaMashu Praises Jesus “KPJ” is a force to be reckoned with. The 13-member group, from KwaMashu was formed in KwaMashu township, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal in 2012. Several months later, the members met and are now celebrating their first offering, titled “Prayer for Our nation”. Edition 23.indd 8 by KWATHOLE PR [email protected] The members were handpicked by a number of Key Gospel Music giants from South Africa. This resulted into a mixture of vocalists from various sets of experiences and some choir members have performed internationally. According to the founder, Bheki Ntshingila, this recording was a life-changing experience. KPJ comprises singers from different backgrounds and they have cumulatively, more than 10 years as professional singers. MIXTURE Their music is a mixture of traditional, contemporary and modern Gospel Music and appeals to all ages. Songs like Nguwe “It is You” and uJes’uyangenelela (Jesus will always intervene) talks about the Power of God and His Miracles. Gospel fanatics can jam and dance to the Afro-RnB tune “Ebenezer”, another praise and thanks giving song. The album is released under Kingdom Victory (PTY) LTD. The album will be available in music stores nationwide soon. The choir’s executive producer Bheki Ntshingila has been bless- ed to work with numerous gospel giants on the album including producers and composers such as Sipho Mbhele, Angel Dateh Zondo, James Langa of Avante, Wake Mahlobo, Ntokozo Ngongoma and Zamo Cele. “The idea is to bring change in the community, nurturing talent through music. This project will be a springboard for similar projects in all provinces.” 10/24/2014 7:50:31 AM