Away With Greed, Allow Love to Lead Us - Tsholo Kokwe ( Bench Marks Monitor 2011)

There is a huge gap between the rich and the poor in our country

Yes , some of the rich people give some aid to the poorest of the poor

But most of the celebrities wont rescue the destitute without media coverage.

I salute our local business people who create jobs for the community

An often help the unemployed With or without media covering them.

When it comes to giving to the needy we must do away greed and allow love to lead us.

If you are really touched by a hungry person , its waste of time to call the media

Before you give them food

Hunger isn't a laughing matter

tis real and needs to be addressed as soon as poosible.

People must stop using the poor for publicity

When our stomachs are full and we are baout to dump the left overs

We must remember that someone , somewhere doesnt have food to survive another day.

Hunger is a laughing matter.

Sex Workers are People – Interview 2 by Rasta

Q: How does it feel like to live, I mean charging men for Pleasure?

A: Nothing bothers me, as i don’t steal from no one. Even i don’t put up a board like a tuck-shop. So who ever comes here is with a purpose.

Q: Do you charge cash or credit or are some boyfriends?

A: Listen there is nothing for mahala when you just look Baba. And i am not a cash loan. If you don’t have cash, step out. And I don’t want to waste time with boyfriends. I’ve been playing that game and it’s enough. Now it’s strictly business. I have had enough of being lied about being lived. Love and no love will hurt me no more

Q: Do you consider yourself a Prostitute

A: You know what, I don’t care what people call me, but they don’t support me. I am paying my rent and everything.

Q: Actually what perpetuated you to do what you do?

A: Seems i don’t understand you. You ask if I have boyfriends, and I tell you that I don’t use boyfriends. I have been hurt many time by this you call boyfriends. I am tired of being controlled, even my mother don’t control me.

Q: What about to find a real job, have you tried in the mines, farms or the Spar.

A: You know what, , now days it’s not easy to work in the mines. I am not educated. Some times its boring to wake up early to go to a job, sometimes there is no job and to work n the farm is the last thing I can do. I mean look at me, at least at Spar Supermarket it is better, you get to see new faces and it’s a nice place.

Q: Do you ever do a test for HIV and Aids?

A: Yes and i was negative. You think that i sleep with men without a condom. No ways Baba. You know even thought i booze you can’t just rob me easily.

And sometime you must try it instead of looking at our lives from far. I even go cheap since we are neighbours. Do you ever hear me ask too many questions about your shit? That’s enough now.

Sex Workers are People - Interview 1 by Rasta

Q: How come you became the person you are today? After all you where just "good girls"

A: I think you heard about the rumors that i have no parents , my grandmother was the one who took care of me. I even don't know my mother and father. So nothing was easy for me.

Q: How I don't understand

A: Even in my day of school no seems to care whether i or or not and my grandmother was too old to persuade me to school. And suddenly my uncle comes to live with us but that did not help as we're both depending on her pension.

Q. What make you to decide to live alone?

A: I was tired of begging and suffering peacefully. After all that guys put me through. I had a boy friend who i love dearly, but he dump me like a hot potato. That's what caused me to stay a lone in my shack but this is my uncle's yard after my grand mother passed away so i don't stress about paying rent.

Q: Are you in business, if i may ask. Do you sell yourself?

A: How, is it obvious? What are you guys seeing and saying about me, you called slut, whore, prostitute. Ja i am in business and that is nobody's business and I don't call no one. They come here by themselves. And if they ask for it , they have to pay for it .I am not here to play.

Q: Tell me do you encourage them to use condoms, or do you use it?

A: What's that bullshit. I am not a nurse ne, And i don't care whether you use it or not . Its up to you. But you will pay extra cash for penetrating me with out a condom.

Q: Have you done HIV and Aids test , lately or long ago?

A: That has nothing to do with me, I don't have time for that shit. For I don't to live my life in stress.

Q: Don't you scared of being infected or infecting others as you said some use it and other's don't'

A: You know what , wena, I don't give a damn what will happen to me or to them. I said i did not call no one , you see i don't even have a cell phone.I just don't like it. And I don't want. And whether they infect me, or already did, its not for me to find out.Everyone do favour for themselves by checking for them. And please no more questions as i am getting irritated. Please you free to leave, you are wasting my time. If you want to prove why don't you have a piece of experience and talk about what you did.

Who brought about the bucket toilets system in Ikemeleng

It was in 2006 when the residents from one section of Ikemeleng heard about their removal in making way for the expansion of the open cast mining. Aquarius platinum mining was visibly at the fore in pursuing the residents move . Plenty of the promises where made but never accomplished A .Mr. Neils Fourie for the mines was the the chief negotiator during the process. Some of the promises being made was amongst other was,temporary toilets that will be used for the period of six months according to the agreement reached during that meeting with the communiuty. Soon the people where told that houses will follow with water and sanitation. People where very happy thinking that soon after their removal things will be as was said to them. At first the toilets services where better than the contractor of this present day. This system was rund by Talisman during the reign of mr fourie,but when Mrs Moraka took over from fourie ,she brought in Santshu to take over from Talisman as she complained that Talisman was very expensive.

Thats how the bucket system was introduced in ikemeleng.

Ho2 still a major problem in ikemeleng.

THE residents of Ikemleng has suffered a lot, even in the government of what they the call democracy today. To the the residents of this place nothing has been changed in their vicinity.Democracy to the them was the sudden change of evil life that they live for better,but that's not the case with our people,rather things get worse. We used to depend on the bore hole for water ,but that changed,instead we queue for the water which we either buy or collect from the tanks.The Rustenburg municipality has been wasting money in paying for the people who tender for bringing this water to the residents.

They started to lay pipes for bulk water. But this construction project for bulk water supply does no appear to be finishing. The the project started around the month of August 2008 but even today the projects are not yet been completed.The project was used to lobby the 2009 national election by the this cowards politician. People have been promised so much that they cant even know who to believe in. Today the new contractor has been given his piece of share to fill their pockets but unable to complete the job.Even tho the place has been formalized in 2009 in 3rd November,nothing has been change to make residents believe in stories.Then the question still remain ,when are the people of Ikemleng will drink the water from their taps.Its either municipality or the mining around can provide the answer..cause we are waiting to quench our thirsty before moo fire a go burn.