300 new jobs for Thabazimbi community

ERNEST MABASA

Sishen Iron Ore Company Proprietary Limited (SIOC) to transfer Thabazimbi mine to ArcelorMittal South Africa Limited (AMSA) was a move to create jobs as a company that offers 1,5 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) to the country, company Corporate Communication manager Themba Sepotokele has said.

On Thursday SIOC, a subsidiary of Kumba Iron Ore Limited announced that they have entered into an agreement to transfer Thabazimbi mine to ArcelorMittal South Africa Limited (AMSA) on an undisclosed amount of money.

Thabazimbi mine is located in Waterberg district, Limpopo province, until 2014 Thabazimbi was a captive mine owned and run by SIOC, but supplying ore exclusively to and funded by AMSA. As a result, AMSA is accountable for 96% of the Mine’s current rehabilitation liability, with SIOC responsible for the site’s management and the remaining liability. The transfer would simplify this arrangement by making AMSA solely responsible for Thabazimbi’s closure and rehabilitation.

According to Sepotokele, “Mining operations at Thabazimbi ceased on 1 September 2016. The identified assets and liabilities of the Mine will be transferred at a purchase consideration of R1 plus the assumed liabilities.

"The remaining 63 SIOC employees currently engaged in mine rehabilitation and the preparation and finalisation of the Mine closure plan will transfer to AMSA on comparable terms, conditions and benefits,” he said.   

Sepotokele also said that the company will employ around 300 people who are may be coming from local communities. He said this will benefit the country and the province as the fight against unemployment intensifies.   

“The needs of the Thabazimbi community were identified and have been incorporated into the Mine’s social closure plan. AMSA, as part of its current financial obligation, will take over the entire social closure plan and will be responsible for the execution, implementation and funding of these identified projects while SIOC will retain a right of oversight," he said. 

However, the transfer is said to dependent on certain conditions to be met, most notably: competition authority approval, cession of the Thabazimbi mining rights in terms of section 11 of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (“MPRDA”), and a satisfactory due diligence investigation by AMSA. On fulfilment of these conditions, the employees, assets and liabilities will transfer to AMSA. If the conditions are not satisfied by 28 April 2017 (or a later date agreed to by the companies), the agreement will lapse and SIOC will proceed with the closure of the Mine. 

“In line with our strategy to manage our costs more efficiently in what is a particularly difficult time for the local steel industry, this agreement allows us to take full management control of the processes and costs related to the rehabilitation liability at the Thabazimbi mine.  In addition, we will investigate the feasibility of different options to possibly restart operations at the mine in order to supplement the company’s sources of iron ore and with the potential of job creation,” ArcelorMittal South Africa CEO Wim De Klerk said.

EFF Deputy President Floyd Shivambu hands over learning material to his former scchools

picture supplied

ERNEST MABASA

Economic Freedom Fighters Deputy President Floyd Shivambu has handed over learning support material and rewards to his former schools-George Sonto and Mphambo High in Malamulele on Monday.

Shivambu, who was started his schooling at Mahonisi village and passed matric at Mphambo village, has rewarded top learners and supplied them with study guides, DVD lessons and other learning material for 2017 academic year. Limpopo department of education has faced criticism after they failed to deliver textbooks to most of the schools in time. Neighbouring schools (Jim Yingwani High and Xigamani high schools) have not yet received textbooks.

Project manager Goodman Chauke says this project started last year and the reason they started with the two schools was because Shivambu schooled at both of them.

“Mathematics, physical science, English and Accounting study guides and video and audio contents of the same subjects. 2016 top five matriculants received laptops in both schools. Top five performers from Mphambo and top five performers from Mahonisi received laptops.

“It is encouraging because the results are improving. If you check Mphambo High, it improved from 70 to 90 per cent pass rate and George Sonto from 60 to 80 percent,” Chauke said.

Chauke said among reasons schools do bad in the area is that government does not deliver books in time. He said it is important to deliver books to schools before academic year even start.

“School like Phontani high in (Mulamula village) is doing very badly because they receive books very late. They should have delivered the books in December actually. The two are fortunate because Floyd went to those schools.  That is very disappointing if government does not deliver the books on time,” he said.

Vuwani, Malamulele ready for matric exams, says MEC

Ernest Mabasa

Limpopo MEC for Department of Education Ishmael Kgetjepe is confident that Vhembe district will continue to produce great results. This is despite the sporadic ruction in Vuwani and Malamulele and the education service shutdown that topped South African news over the year.

Kgetjepe was addressing youth at an Imbizo at Mudavula Stadium on Friday, confirming examinations that are to start later this month and encouraging learners to revise and do their best to be ready. The Umalusi assessed national final examinations will start in two weeks. 

“In this area we always get the best results. We should be able to get the best results. “Security is set already It takes account of what the community does to look after its own children and infrastructure and so on. “We look after what we have, we protect our children because education is their future. We want them to proceed with teaching and learning.We do not want to lose this year. You will know that matric examinations are very important for the country,” said Kgetjepe. 

He added: ”I think there is a relative stability in Vuwani around the area in terms of education. I know there might be a lot of outstanding issues, but we seem to agree with stakeholders that we must create an environment where children must be able to write exams.” Kgetjepe wants learners to believe in themselves and burn the midnight oil studying for their future. 

He even went as far as to say learners in Vhembe District can be like AndrewTucker, the 2015 SA top matriculate, who was diagnosed with Guillainbarre’ syndrome and still made it to the top. ”The last top matriculate was sick and spent four months in hospital and he became the top student in the country. So anything is possible. Of course we are gifted differently and cope with difficulties differently.“What is left is for the children to revise. We are doing radio and television lessons and schools are doing revision. And from there on I think it is for learners to get ready. We will be able to see in January how much this area was affected,” he said.

 He added: “I launched the countdown to examination in Vuwani and all stakeholders were there- from traditional leaders, parents to school governing bodies- to place their commitment to ensure that we make our contribution for the learners to be able to write their exams. “We have done our best in terms of catch up to make sure when learners start writing their final exams, learners in Vuwani and surrounding areas are at par with the rest in the country,” Kgetjepe said.Ernest Mabasa works for African Times and all rights are reserved to the company not Times Online

32 or 48 teams, Africa remains ill treated

picture/ibtimes 

Ernest Mabasa

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has made the first and big stride since he took the helm of the Association from Argentina Sepp Blatter .  FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) has announced today (Tuesday) that from 2026 world cup competition, teams will expand from 32 to 48.

The additional 16 teams mean that the tournament will then increase games from 64 to 80. last time the tournament expanded was in 1998 under Blatter.  

Here is an interesting expanding statistics from SAFA:

·         In 1982 there was an increase from16 to 24 = 8 teams

·         In 1998 there was an increase from 24 to 32 = 8 teams

·         In 2026 there will be an increase from 32 to 48 = 16 teams

Total percentage of membership participating in World Cup:

·         16 out of 70 members = 14,8% (1966)

·         24 out of 109 members = 22,4% (1982)

·         32 out of 174 members = 18,3.% (1998)

·         48 out of 211 members = 22,4% (2026)

Jordaan – With self-confidence, Bafana can beat Senegal

ERNEST MABASA

South African Football Association (SAFA) president Danny Jordan says Senegal are a tough side but Bafana Bafana can beat them if the Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba’s boys have self-confidence.

Jordaan says the national soccer team has a duty to make the country proud by snatching three points from a quality team like the Lions of Teranga.

Bafana face Senegal in a 2018 World Cup qualifier at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane tomorrow.

“They must believe they can beat Senegal and give us a result. Between the two countries, it has always been a margin of one goal either side,” Jordaan said. “It is going to be tough. It is going to be difficult. It is unpredictable. It can either be a scorcher or slippery wet pitch. Ultimately it depends on our players and what they want and what they believe. They must believe in themselves”

Jordaan was at Peter Mokaba to motivate Mashaba’s boys ahead of the crunch match against Senegal.

CONFIDENT: Bafana Bafana players during training before their 2018 Soccer World Cup qualifier against Senegal in Polokwane. picture :Lebogang Makwela / Visual Buzz SA

He said it was important for Bafana to win the game if they were to boost their chances of getting a booking a spot in the global showpiece in two years-time.

”In African football, there is nothing important than to qualify for the World Cup. Senegal has been there in 2002. They went to the quarter finals. They had a wonderful team then but since then for some reasons wheels came off. They have reassembled a very good team but the team has nothing to show,” the SAFA chief added.

He said playing World Cup qualifying games was a tough encounter in itself.

Apart from the forced withdrawals of Mamelodi Sundowns defender Tebogo Langerman due to a hamstring tear, and SuperSport United midfielder Dean Furman because of a fractured rib, Bafana’s preparations continued smoothly.

Mashaba has replaced the injured duo with Mamelodi Sundowns’ Tiyani Mabunda and Maritzburg United Deolin Mekoa.

Jordaan said the campaign would be tough, but Bafana would do themselves a favour by collecting maximum points at home.

”History will show that we have always performed against Senegal. In African Cup of Nations in 2015 in Equatorial Guinea we played them off the park, took the lead and we were dominant until we made a few blunders. There is no margin for error in these matches,” he said.

“It is World Cup qualifiers; there are 54 countries on the continent. Everyone wants to go to the World cup. Every country is going to fight to be there. So it depends on what our team is going to do tomorrow. They must just keep in mind that if they a get a result tomorrow, we are in the driving seat to Russia. That is important for us.”

Kick-off for the match is at 3pm.

 Ernest Mabasa works for African Times and all rights are reserved to the company not Times Online

Jordaan-with self-confidence Bafana can beat Senegal

Inter-cultural marriages

By Ernest Mabasa

Yes, this response to the question as to whether yes or no on a big topic “Inter-cultural marriages” is motivated by many values and knowledge across the world that I have garnered. My reasons for my reaction to the question are motivated by my knowledge on the current cultural differences, past experience, financial background, cosmopolitan culture and new culture that can be created through the mixed marriages and need for harmony.

Even to this date some people think other’s cultural norms, customs and traditions are not very important to their lives and this lead to hatred. Hatred that is very weakly motivated. People should start try to broach these kinds of topics on radio, television and social networks so we can all understand one another. The fact that I do not know much about how English, Indians, Zulus and Vendas do things might make me feel offended when they do something that my culture does not approve because I have not given myself enough time to learn about these people.

This will eventual lead to hatred towards those people for no reason or valid reason if a may say. We need to learn about other people and their cultures and drop the bad habits because it is self evident that it is not working but killing the country. Inter-cultural marriages open a way into making people realize that life would be much better without any strings that put have now. Let us first know or understand the current difference and answer this question “why do we have these differences and how we can understand these differences?”

Past experience has big role to play since everyone has background that may differ from one to the other. For example English and Afrikaans people came here “African continent” with what I believe to be unfounded perceptions and attitudes. If we cannot get the reasons as to why they behaved like that, we are not going anywhere. We need to find out what led to Afrikaans people (National Party led by F Malan) introduce prohibition of mixed marriages if not we are likely not going to forgive them. We need to learn their past and make an informed decision as to whether one wants to live happily life without grudges and forgive them. Maybe he or she may even have time to marry either of the mentioned groups.

Since I am pro Inter-cultural marriages, I think it would help all people in terms of wealth accumulations because many people in our black race still do not know what wealth is and how to accumulate it. We need English and Afrikaans people to marry Tsongas, Pedi, Sothos and Xhosas etc to add knowledge on how to accumulate wealth.

Black illusion of wealth is big cars and wearing expensive clothes while on the other groups is investment where it is necessary, for example a car, house and education just to mention a few. Inter cultural marriage is the way to go these nowadays because everyone has been marrying within their own cultures and tribes.

It is not even attractive it is very boring now. Let’s go for it, it would bring more investors who would help strengthen the economy of the country and job opportunities would expand or increase.

 Cosmopolitan culture is when city/place or country or person that embraces its multicultural demographics. Cosmopolitanism is the ideology that all human ethnic groups belong to a single community based on a shared morality. A person who adheres to the idea of cosmopolitanism in any of its forms is called a cosmopolitan or cosmopolitanism. A cosmopolitan community might be based on an inclusive morality, a shared economic relationship, or a political structure that encompasses different nations.

People should copy how Americans live and do things because I find them to be relevant to this world, unlike people who do not want to do things in an advanced and changed way. We need to copy what is important and helpful to us every time.

New culture, which would be characterized by harmony, would be formed. Now people are even afraid to look at one another in the streets because people have some things in their hearts that they do not see that are not vital any more. I am number one..