TEL: 053 ­ 831­2331 WEDNESDAY 2 APRIL 2014 WWW.EXPRESS­NEWS.CO.ZA WWW.EXPRESSPAPER.MOBI FREE

Northern Cape

} Boipelo Mere

CHANCES are good that theNorthern Cape might have itsown Usasa and Icasa office.This was announced by the

deputy minister of Communica-tions, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams,in Kimberley when she highlight-ed that people were currentlyforced to travel to Bloemfonteinto access services from thementioned offices.She spoke during the Northern

Cape Provincial ConsultativeConference on the NationalIntegrated ICT Policy GreenPaper review organised by theDepartment of Communicationsand the Sol Plaatje Municipality.Touching on the non-presence

of Usasa and Icasa offices in theNorthern Cape, Ndabeni-Abra-hams said her department haddone a review and realised thatall citizens needed to have access

to the information that thedepartment offered.“We have looked into the issue

of the lack of presence of theoffices in the Northern Cape thatwas due to a lack of resources,and led to clustered provinces.How will you access the office ifit is based in the Free State ifyou don’t have money to travel?”She added that relevant depart-

ments like gcis, the premier’soffice, mayors and local munici-palities had to have an integratedapproach whereby the Usasa andIcasa office could be one office inorder to be able to respond to thechallenges that were raised by thecommunities.She also encouraged the

community of Platfontein tomobilise themselves in order fortheir language to be recognised asan official language and be airedon radio and TV stations.The community raised concerns

about the recognition of theirXhu! and Khwe language.“Remember that in this South

Africa majority rule works and itis everyone’s role to mobilise andmake government realise why itis important for your language tobe recognised,” advised thedeputy minister.It was also during this event

that Ndabeni-Abrahams an-nounced that her department hadpartnered with the Department ofBasic Education and Telkom tolaunch the “basic educationcloud” whereby 101 high schoolsin the province would benefit.The project, which will be

launched between now and 2015,will see learners access theirschool programmes on a full-timebasis through the internet forfree.“We have developed this

programme so that learners willbe able to access their curriculum

wherever it is free of charge.“This seeks to help schools

improve ICT in their learningareas, including the training ofteachers,” said the deputyminister.

NCmight get own officeAll citizens need to have access to information offered

STAKEHOLDERS during the National Integrated ICT Policy Green Paper review at the Mitah Seperepere Convention Centre. Photos: Boipelo Mere

THE deputyminister of Communi­cations, Stella Ndabeni­Abra­hams.

‘Remember that inthis South Africa ma­jority ruleworks and itis everyone’s role tomobilise and makegovernment realisewhy it is important foryour language to berecognised.’ – StellaNdabeni­Abrahams

2 EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 2 APRIL 2014

NEWS

} Boipelo Mere

AS in other provinces, the Northern Capealso launched its provincial code of conductsigning 42 days before the election date.According to the IEC chairperson, Adv.

Pansy Tlakula, they have worked on theirweaknesses by reviving their organogramand strengthening their district structures bytraining additional staff.The IEC are also pleased with meeting

their targeted 80% registrations nationwide.Altogether 53% of the registered voters in

the province represents females and 47%males, while 29 political parties are reportedto be registered nationally, whereby only 16will contest in the Northern Cape.The chief election officer, Mosotho Moepya,

stated that the maturity of the institutionswas one of the criterias that would ensurethat these elections became a celebration atthe end of the day.Tlakula advised political parties to assist

in ensuring a suitable environment for thevoters by being aware of their utterancesduring election campaigns.“Your maturity is put to the test. You can

either destroy or build your country duringthese elections,” warned Tlakula. However,Tlakula added that a spirit of tolerance wasbeing seen at PLC meetings, even though shewarned that respect for the law and minimal

violence were still expected and would bemonitored during the next few weeks ofrobust campaigning. “Losers must have thewillingness to accept defeat and competewithin the limits of the law.”) To see who signed the code and is repre-senting which party in the Northern Cape goto www.express-news.co.za.

Parties sign IEC code

THE IEC chairperson, Adv. Pansy Tlakula.

SMALLHOLDER FARMERS shouldwork together to graduate into becomingcommercial and create job opportunitiesfor their communities, said the North-ern Cape MEC for Agriculture, LandReform and Rural Development, NormanShushu, during the recent handover of asheep shearing shed to the SwartOpkomende Landbouforum (Solf) inLoxton.The handover is part of the support

that the department is giving to farmersaimed at enabling them to farm optimal-ly and sustainably, which will translateinto the improvement of the livelihoodsof the farmers.Emphasising the potential that

agriculture has to grow and boost thelocal economy of any area, Shushuencouraged the beneficiaries to roll uptheir sleeves for the success of theproject. He promised them that thegovernment would continue to supportthem.The Solf project wool shearing shed

was constructed to help in improvingthe quality of wool of the smallholderfarmers that the municipality shears.It serves about 31 smallholder farmers

who farm with merino sheep. The woolis sheared, classed accordingly and thentransported to the Eastern Cape marketswhere it fetches a better price for theproduct.The Department of Agriculture, Land

Reform and Rural Development has beenengaged with the rolling-out of infra-

structural development, the purchasingof implements and machinery, produc-tion inputs and farmer support forsmallholder farmers in the province.

‘Farmers shouldwork together’

THE MEC for Agriculture, Land Reformand Rural Development, NormanShushu. Photo: Supplied

THE sheep shearing shed that was handed over in Loxton.

THE Energy Department has announced thatthe price of a litre of 93 octane petrol willincrease by 5 cents a litre while that of 95octane petrol will increase by 7 cents a litrein Gauteng today.The department said motorists in Gauteng

will see an 8,8 cents a litre decrease in theprice of diesel (0,05% sulphur) and a 7,8 centsdecrease in the cost of diesel (0,005%sulphur) per litre. The difference in pricingfor 93 octane and 95 octane were informed bythe cost of production as well as by local andinternational factors.Consumers will also start benefiting from

the scrapping of the transport levy. Thisfollows the commissioning of the NewMulti-Product Pipeline (NMPP) whichenables the pipeline to carry all grades ofpetrol, diesel and jet fuel, making it a fullmulti-product facility.The price of illuminating paraffin (whole-

sale) will decrease by 34,5 cents a litre andilluminating paraffin (SMNRP) will decreaseby 49 cents a litre. The price of liquefiedpetroleum gas (maximum retail price) willdecrease by 22 cents a kilogram.In other fuel pricing zones, the prices will

be different due to the adjustment to thetransportation costs. – SAnews.gov.za

Fuel prices adjusted

EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE , WEDNESDAY 2 APRIL 2014 3

} Boipelo Mere

ELRICARDOMANUELS (26)was concernedthat he wouldmiss the oppor-tunity of alifetime to hearPres. JacobZuma speak tohim face to face.It was a dream

come true formany Roodepanresidents whoalso scored freeANC T-shirts.That is after he had been locked

outside the Roodepan Multipur-pose Centre last week when thepresident addressed the massesinside the hall.Almost the same number of

people were stranded outsidewhen the president addressed themasses inside.A stampede occurred outside at

the time it was announced thatthe president was about to speak.The security officers and police

who were posted at the backentrance managed to calm thesituation before it got out of hand.Although the crowd tried to

calm down after it was announcedthat the hall was full, anxietykicked in when they heard thepresident take the stand.Everyone wanted to get through

the slightly opened gate whensecurity opened it for other mediahouses.Manuels looked shattered and

regretted not following instruc-

tions when theywere warned notto leave the hallas it would soonbe closed.“Even though

he did not shakemy hand oranything, I stillfeel honoured thathe came to stepon this (Roode-pan) ground.“I was inside

before thepresident arrived,but I felt over-

whelmed and needed some air.”To everyone’s amazement,

dreams were not shattered. Zumatook a moment to address themasses from a truck outside thebuilding before he left.“I am so happy, I cannot

describe how I feel after seeingmy president. I feel like he wasspeaking to me when he ad-dressed us. It was much differentthan on TV. He also looks muchyounger and lighter in complex-ion.“I am proud to tell everyone

that I was there when a presidentcame to Roodepan for the firsttime in history.”According to him, they (col-

oureds) have always felt marginal-ised and as if the ANC onlywanted their vote.“He came personally to ask for

our votes this time,” he concludedproudly.Stephen Mokwena also said he

was amongst the coloureds thatwould give his vote to the ANC.

Zuma charmsmasses in Kby

AMANDLA TO THE NEXT ANC LEADER: Stephen Mokwena, who regards himself as the next ANC leader,could not resist jumping on stage right after President Jacob Zuma had stepped off. Photo: Boipelo Mere

NEWS

‘I am proud to telleveryone that Iwas there when apresident came toRoodepan for thefirst time in histo­ry.’ – E l r i ca rdoManuels

4 EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 2 APRIL 2014

} Boipelo Mere

“SMALL parties won’t win theelections; voting ANC is equal tovoting for the future,” said Pres.Jacob Zuma during his visit toKimberley last week.He repeated the same state-

ments when he encourageddifferent audiences, whether theywere the youth, from the businesssector or the coloured communi-ty, to cast the right vote (for theANC) in an effort to collect morevotes.Zuma emphasised that the ANC

would take more than 70% of thevotes in the Northern Cape.“We’ll get an overwhelming

majority and we will be greatlyhonoured in this historic prov-ince,” he added with confidence.During his address to the

business sector at MitahSepereperre, he reminded themthat they (businesses) played abig role in the development of thecountry, therefore they had tomake the right investment.“A vote is an investment; if you

invest wrongly, then the countrygoes under. If a party promisesyou to nationalise something,then you have to think wisely,”said the president.

Zuma warned the audience tobe wary of parties that madeempty promises and then accusedthe ANC of doing the same.“They are not in government

and they know that they won’twin the elections. Other partiesdo not talk about themselves, butabout the ANC, then they makeempty promises,” he said laugh-ing.He did, however, admit to the

youth that the ANC was notperfect, stating that the party wasstill dealing with the damagescaused by the apartheid regime.“So being perfect will still take

time. We all need to rebuild theSouth Africa that was destroyedby colonialists. We are stillbuilding our blocks to the roof,and we are getting closer to thetop.”Referring to this statement,

Zuma elaborated that this electionmanifesto was different from theother ones as it was built on the20 years of accumulation ofexperience.According to the president, this

was not the first obituary thatwas read about the ANC. Inresponse to whether they wereconcerned about certain state-ments made that the ANC was

going to lose more members inthe upcoming 7 May elections, heelaborated on how the party hadbeen showing rapid growth overmany years and elections.“The choice is yours as to who

you vote for. Is it to help someother individuals to becomehonourable members and make anoise as usual in Parliament,” heasked the laughing audience.“Would you want to allow your

party to win a small share ofseats in Parliament? Think hardwhether you would want yourvote to go to the basket or tosome small honourable mem-bers.”The president reminded the

audience that if they wereinnocent, they were likely tomake a difference as they wouldbe playing important roles inmaking lives better “for ourpeople”.Like the DA leader Andrew

Louw during one of their commu-nity meetings last month, Zumatold the audience in Roodepan totake everything that was beinggiven to them in an attempt tobuy their votes.“If they buy your vote by

giving you food, take it,” heemphasised.

He kept on reminding them tocast the right vote in an effort toensure a brighter future for theirchildren and that the ANC wasgoing to be around for a longtime.Encouraging the community of

Roodepan to fight drug abusewithin their location, Zuma didnot forget to further encouragethem to become volunteers on 7

May by assisting their neighboursto reach the voting stations.“You can even assist those who

have difficulty to decide and tellthem which party they must votefor,” he told the cheering crowdin Roodepan.The president continued telling

the masses to use their positionseverywhere, including in church,to address their daily challenges.

ALMOST the same number of people as inside the hall were waiting outside the Roodepan Multi­purposeCentre when the president delivered his address. Photo: Boipelo Mere

THE masses inside the hall cheerfully sang along with the president. Photo: Boipelo Mere

DREAMS were not shattered as the president went to address the peo­ple outside the Multi­purpose Centre before he left. He was flanked byANC Provincial Secretary Zamani Saul, Premier Sylvia Lucas, ANC Pro­vincial Chairperson John Block and more PEC members.Photo: Boipelo Mere

JACOBZUMA took some time to be interviewed by presenter Jerry Kale(right) of Radio Teemaneng (RTS). With him is the provincial ANC com­munication team member Lesego Pule. Photo: Emile Hendricks/PHOTO24

Zuma urges Kbyresidents to vote

NEWS

EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE , WEDNESDAY 2 APRIL 2014 5

KIMBERLEY’S people are a very specialbreed – this is what initiated Lester Bur-row’s idea to hold a reunion in Kimberley.Burrow, who now lives in Cape Town, says

a couple of years ago at a Kimberley Boys’High reunion, he noticed several people whowere at other schools in Kimberley alsovisited Kimberley, just to see old friends.

“This made such a huge impression uponme that I vowed to start organising aKimberley reunion in Kimberley.”After the success of a Kimberley reunion

in Cape Town in February Burrow says he is

convinced that Kimberley will be floodedwith former Kimberlites who will return torenew old friendships.Burrow says there will be a bike squad

riding from Durban, a bus from Cape Town,

and a chartered Learjet from Johannesburg.The weekend promises to be exciting with

live music by Larry Amos as well asBurrow, the rock band Gage and Leandreand others.Contact Burrow at ljb@telkomsa.net or ask

to join the event Kimberley re union.9 to 11May 2014. on Facebook.

Reunion for Kimberlites

6 EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 2 APRIL 2014

THE police in Kathu have madea breakthrough in housebreakingcases where two suspects werearrested.The intruders allegedly entered

a Bestwood house during theearly hours of the morning whilethe owner was asleep.A TV set, a laptop, personal

documents and a cellphone wastaken after entry had been gainedthrough an unlocked door.The police followed up on

information which led them to ahouse in Mapoteng.Four TV sets, three laptops,

two video cameras, an ipod, 73Mandrax tablets, two cameras, 16sealed bags of tik crystals, sevencellphones and a packet contain-ing what is suspected to becocaine was confiscated from thishouse.Lloyd Baartman (35) and Johan

Holtzhausen (32) were arrested inKathu and they were bothcharged with housebreaking andtheft. Both suspects appeared inthe Kathu Magistrate’s Court onMonday and were denied bail.They will appear in court againon 14 April.The police are appealing to the

public to contact them to identifythe recovered items. DetectiveSergeant Karlin Grobler of theSAPS Kathu may be contacted on083-602-8607. They are alsowarning the public not to buystolen items from suspectedcriminals. If found in possessionof stolen property, they will becharged and their propertyconfiscated. Instead the police isappealing to the public to reportcriminal behaviour to them.

Two arrested for theft

RECOVERED: These items were found in a raided house in Mapoteng.

DRUGS were also found at the house. Photo: SAPS

THE Kimberley Hospital is stilllooking for the family of SemolaiJanuary who is a patient at thehospital.The Northern Cape Department

of Health is appealing to hisfamily to fetch him from theKimberley Hospital.According to the hospital,

January,estimated to be 46 yearsold, had been roaming thestreets before he was broughtto the hospital by police on16 March.According to the patient he

originally comes from Parys inthe Free State and also mentionsa place named White City.The patient is Setswana

speaking and had dreadlockswhen he was admitted to theward.He is still very confused.“Attempts to locate his family

have not been successful.“We are therefore appealing to

the members of the public whomay know him to contact Maxiede Kock on 053-802-2203 at the

Kimberley Hospital as soon aspossible,” says Lulu Mxekexo,spokesperson for the HealthDepartment.

Relatives urgedto come forward

SEMOLAI JANUARY

} Dimakatso Lechwenyo

THE scripture reads: When Iwas a child, I thought like achild, I spoke like a child and Ireasoned like a child.Right now the margins

between children and adults arefading away.Children are concerned with

matters too mature for theirown ability.Parents take lightly the norm

of parenting and emotionalintelligence is thrown out thewindow.Girls speak like bored men

who caution about what comesfrom the doors of their mouth.We have regressed to a pointwhere we can no longer identifywho is the child and who is theparent.

Young men struggle to bemenFathers are no longer present

to discipline their sons.Young men think that being a

man is all about sagging pantsand going against what is rightand being proud of it.These young men think that

speaking a language that onlygood-for-nothings can under-stand makes them seempowerful and dangerous whenas a matter of fact they are justlosers who know nothing aboutwhat it really means to workand earn respect by beingdecent and by loving yourselfenough to want only what isbest, to work only for what isbest and to positively be thebest.

Parents are failing as rolemodelsMaybe the problem is that

family roles are no longerclearly defined.Maybe the problem is that

women run homes and that theyno longer build families.Fathers provide finances, yet

they do not serve as visualrepresentations of what the role

of a man is.

Girls are morally decliningYoung girls are allowed by their

parents to dress to a point close tonudity and boys simply solve alltheir problems by throwing theirtoys out of the cot.Maybe the problem is that

15-year-olds are bringing boyfriendshome and 13-year-olds can decidewhich parties they will attend,while they say “No, can’t do” whenasked to attend positive youthorganisations.Maybe the problem is that

mothers go to church and leavetheir husbands and children athome.Maybe the problem is that

19-year-olds are having childrenthat their mothers must take careof while they gallivant and act cool,forgetting they decided that theywere ready for motherhood.

A failing generationMothers fail to be accountable

for their children and fathersdeny responsibility.We deny who we really are

and we stand for everythingthat means nothing.Our generation is spoilt,

irresponsible and noisy.We have traded what is right

for what is acceptable withinour broken society.

Not all hope lostLet me applaud those who are

laughed at and gossiped aboutbecause they admitted that theywere wrong.Let me applaud those who

have walked away from all theyknew would only cause otherspain. Let me applaud those whoown up and take responsibility.Stand firm, not everyone is as

brave . . .

Our broken society

DIMAKATSO LECHWENYO, aka DK. Photo: Boipelo Mere

} Boipelo Mere

THE Northern Cape policeparticipated in the recentnational simultaneous prayerservice of the South AfricanPolice Service (SAPS).The service was rendered

under the 2014 national themeMoving forward in 2014 as oneteam by seeking God’s facethrough praise and worship.The day kicked off with

police sirens and flashing bluelights as the SAPS marchedthrough Kimberley. The soundsof the SAPS’ Brass Band andthe Police Drill Platoon gracedthe streets of the Diamond Cityat approximately 09:00.Police members from Kim-

berley, Galeshewe, Hartswaterand Hopetown Clusters allmarched from the Office of theProvincial Commissioner to theMethodist Trinity Church inChapel Street to listen to thekeynote address by the deputyprovincial commissioner forHuman Resource Management,Major General Henriëtte deWaal.The aim of the prayer was to

rectify the malice of immorali-ty in support of moral restora-tion and ethical policing, andto show the police appreciation.“The SAPS National Prayer

Day is a very important andmeaningful day in the annualcalendar. Today we pray forrenewal, for healing andharmony. I wish to supportwhat our national commission-er said: ‘Through prayer wecan achieve a lot and when wepray together, we can accom-

plish even more.’ I believewhen we truly seek God andhis guidance, we will be able tocarry out our mandate success-fully.”De Waal highlighted that the

fundamental role and the roleas the custodians of law and asprotectors of the people shouldnever be underestimated.De Waal mentioned how it

was imperative for SAPSmembers to conduct themselvesin line with their Code ofConduct, that they displayeddiscipline and respect towardsthe communities and towardsone another at all times.She highlighted the signifi-

cance of uniting as differentdenominations, cultures, statusand creed.“We must stand resilient and

recommit ourselves to carryout our duties professionally.This is an important day for usas we are presented theopportunity and the time toreflect on who we are and whatexactly we stand for. This isthe time to review the sacrific-es that our men and women inblue have made and continueto make.”She said she was confident

that they had survived chal-lenges of facing differentadversities with remarkableendurance because they were adetermined organisation thathad seen and witnessed manychanges.“We reign victorious in our

endeavours, not only throughloyalty and commitment, butby our faith and trust in theAlmighty,“ she added.

Police attend prayer

SEATED, front row,watching theKimberleySAPSChoir praise andworship is the provincial human resource manager, Lt Tumi Sele­ke, deputy provincial commissioner for HumanResourceManage­ment, Major General Henriëtte de Waal, provincial commanderof the Employee Health and Wellness Unit, Col and Rev. Selotle­gengColane, and provincial head of PersonnelManagement, Brig.Paulus Lukhwareni. Photo: Supplied

NEWS

EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE , WEDNESDAY 2 APRIL 2014 7

AVB EXPRESS NC 1

Life may well be aboutthe journey...

...but it’s also how you finish.With almost 100 years’ experience in funeralinsurance and burial services, AVBOB ensuresthat you and your loved ones are well looked after.

GET UP TO R4000 DISCOUNT OFFA FUNERAL

All lives insured under an AVBOB policy qualify for freetransportation of the deceased within South Africa and up toR4000 discount off the funeral, provided the funeral isconducted by AVBOB Funeral Service.

Terms and Conditions apply.AVBOB Mutual Assurance Society is an authorised service provider.

For more information please visit our nearest branch or contactus at

Kimberley Branch32 Dunell StreetKimberleyTel: (053) 832 7254

Hartswater Branch85 Jan Smuts AvenueHartswaterTel: (053) 474 0852

Postmasburg Branch31 Tuin StreetPostmasburgTel: (053) 313 1362

NEWS

} Boipelo Mere

VOTING for the DA or the ANC is no morea solution to the First Nation LiberationAlliance (Finla).This was the opinion of the national leader

of Finla, Rev. Larrie Varrie, during hisrecent visit to the province.Finla, standing for Khoi San coloureds,

still feel like their struggle is not addressedby the government, and that they are stillregarded as foreigners in their own country.The party was amongst the 16 parties who

who took the pledge of the IEC code ofconduct for the elections.They have been in existence for three

years and will be competing nationally in theWestern Cape and the Northern Cape in the7 May elections.During the event Varrie, who promises

more visibility of his party in the next fewweeks, raised the concern that smallerparties like themselves are being trampledon during election campaigns by the IEC.According to Varrie, the coloured people’s

vote for the DA is just a punishment for theANC for disappointing them.“But now we realise that the DA has just

as well abused their support, just like theANC did.“They accuse the IEC of being instrumen-

tal to oppression and of violating their rightsby including discriminatory and violatingmerits like requesting huge deposit amountsfor election registration.”He highlighted that most parties could not

afford to raise that money in time.According to the leader, they are still

fighting for recognition as they are currentlyrecognised as “second-class black” frombeing “second-class white”.

“We need the brown vote as we aremarginalised and our vote is currently beingused against us.“We are being abused for the past 20 years.

These parties do not care about us but ourvotes. If we vote for them, they will contin-ue to abuse us,” emphasised Varrie.He continued to blame the media for

giving unnecessary publicity to biggerparties while they (Finla) also have the rightto define their own territory.“We have more claim than the blacks over

land in their country, even though we neverdiscriminated against them.“It is the coloured under Allan Boesak that

homed the UDF and found a struggle andpropaganda machinery like any otherrevolutionary could do in the history ofSouth Africa,” emphasised Varrie.He says they literally shocked the world

with the support they gave to the UDF,which gave them the authority to force DeKlerk to release the late Nelson Mandela.“When South Africa needed us, we were

there, but now they do not show anyappreciation to coloured people, especially inthe Western Cape,” he added.“Now in the Western Cape the DA is

abusing our vote in order to win the blackvote and to spite the ANC.“I am not discriminating, but what is

happening in the Western Cape is that theDA is flooding blacks in the province inorder to create the picture that they care forthem,” Varrie said.

) Share your view: Do you feel like thecoloured people are being discriminatedagainst in any way? Do you feel like Finlawill succeed in addressing any of theirtarget audience’s challenges? Send yourview to our website: www.express-news.co.za.

Finla pleadsfor brown vote

FINLA MEMBERS during their recent visit to Kimberley. Pictured are from the left, front:NECmembers Elsabe Larhein and DavidWilliam; back: Anthony Dedericks, Daniel Larhein,Rev. Larrie Varrie (national leader), Hadassa Varrie (daughter), Stellouise Varrie and Daleenvan der Weshuizen (additional members). Photo: Boipelo Mere

8 EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 2 APRIL 2014

} Boipelo Mere

THE Roodepan Primary School fromKimberley are the official winners of theDanone Nations Cup in the Northern Cape.They were declared the provincial

finalists during the tournament of the u.12Danone Nations Cup at their school.According to the team manager, Enricho

Chapman, they set the goal of winningyears back and it has finally beenachieved.“The Danone Nations Cup is about

‘believing in your dreams’ and playing inthe national finals has been a dream ofours for a while now,” says Chapman.“The games were pretty tough and

intense. We won because we worked veryhard in training and I believe that theschool deserved to win. This year is ouryear.”Chapman identifies the Brecher Primary

School as their toughest competitionduring the finals.“We played against them twice. In the

first game they beat us 1-0. Our defencewas strong in the second game and wedidn’t give them a chance to score goals.”He is upbeat about their chances in the

national finals.“Without a doubt, we have a chance of

winning the national title after our greatperformance. We have a special crop ofboys that have that fighting spirit. Win-ning the provincial title is a morale

booster and the team is geared up for thenationals.”He admits that having no experience of

playing in the national finals is a disad-vantage, but the boys will definitely not go

down without a fight.Chapman identifies defender Toufiq Olyn

as a key player in the team.Olyn says meeting other schools and

playing against them was fun.

“I really enjoyed playing againstFerdinand Brecher because they beat usfirst and we beat them in our final match.“The ultimate was when we won the

title. Winning the provincial title showedwe can achieve anything we want to, nomatter the circumstances.”The next step for this young team is to

travel to Gauteng to compete in thenational finals on 23 June.“We have never travelled outside of the

Northern Cape and we are going to workhard to win the trip to Brazil,” says Olyn.He believes that Brazil is the best countrywhen it comes to soccer.“I saw their national team play against

our national team and I have to admit thatthey are the best.“I admire their style and technique and I

wish that I could go abroad and learn toplay like them.”

Goal to win set years ago

ROODEPAN PRIMARY from Kimberley. Photo: Supplied

‘ We won b e c a u s e weworked very hard in train­ing and I believe that theschooldeserved towin. Thisyear is our year.’– Enrico Chapman, teammanager

For more news andphotos visit

www.express-news.co.za

GWK GRIQUAS promises to outperform andpitch a strong team on their home turfagainst the Golden Lions in this Saturday’sgame.At 14:00, they will clash with the defending

champions in the North section of theVodacom Cup series at GWK Park inKimberley.“There is always a big rivalry between us

and the Lions and this game against them isvital for us as it will determine where weend up in the log,” says GWK Griquas headcoach, Peter Engledow.According to Engledow, he has faith in his

13 new players in the squad this season, withsome very strong players like Luxolo Koza,Jacquin Jansen and Hillford Clarke.“Koza is a talented loose-head prop who is

only 18 years old and I believe he can go far.Jansen and Clarke are our two top-scorersand have both been impressive on the field.”Clarke hails from Paternoster on the West

Coast and was spotted playing rugby by theheadmaster of the Hoërskool Noord-Kaap

while he was on holiday there. The schooloffered him a sports bursary and he went onto complete his schooling in Kimberley.“I love playing rugby and I’d like to go far.

Playing for the GWK Griquas in the Voda-com Cup series means a lot to me as it is myfirst year of professional rugby and it is achance to play at this senior level andimprove myself,” says Clarke.

Clarke has just been selected to be a partof the extended training group of 70 of thecountry’s most promising u.20 players.This squad will be reduced to approximate-

ly 40 players who will then continue withpreparations for the 2014 IRB Junior WorldChampionships held in New Zealand thisJune.The Vodacom Cup series is South Africa’s

leading rugby development tournament witha mandate of unearthing the future stars ofSouth African rugby.“The Vodacom Cup series is a good

competition that is very important for us asit is the perfect preparation for the AbsaCurrie Cup series. There is so much talentand depth in the country and it is great tobring in players, give them a chance andbuild their confidence,” adds Engledow.“We definitely want a good result against

the Lions at home and we ask all our fans tocome support us in Kimberley as we get inshape for the Absa Currie Cup play-offsstarting in June.”

Griquas aim for a win‘There is always a big rivalrybetween us and the Lionsand this game against themis vital for us . . .’– Peter Engledow, GWKGriquas head coach