“Batho Pele is just a paper which offers nothing”

The Limpopo Arts and Culture Youth Forum (LACYF) and the Malamulele youth engaged in a social cohesion dialogue to celebrate 20 years of democracy and freedom in the country. The event was held at Chabalala Hall on Saturday.

The youth recited poetry, staged dramatical performances and performed music as part of showcasing their talent.

Participants were encouraged to express their opinions. “We need to hear the problems affecting the youth in Malamulele and Vhembe district, so that we may address the higher offices in the province about those problems,” said LACYF chairperson Mr Romeo Ramauda. “We will then come back and make sure the youth get what they want.”

Ramauda said that there were instances where shifting the blame to the government for one's misfortune did not work. “What are you doing now which can make other people see that you are standing on your two feet?” he said. “Who is the government? Government is you and I! For example, if you have a problem and you go to burn your libraries and destroy tennis courts, do you think you are solving the problem?”

Ramauda was referring to the incident where the situation became volatile in Malamulele, when residents destroyed and damaged infrastructure and businesses while demanding their own municipality in August last year.

Seputla Sebogodi (40), who became popular as Kenneth Mashaba in the SABC soapie Generations, promised that an Olympic-size swimming pool and tennis court would be built for the youths of Malamulele before June next year.

“I see kids and adults in the streets of Jozi sniffing glue and they say they are from the rural areas,” said Sebogodi. “They had come to Gauteng because they wanted to become actors, soccer stars, musicians and many more, but they ended up in the streets. We need to kill this mentality and start creating centres of information and adequate amenities which the youth can access in the rural areas.”

Phanuel Dhlamini, a local youth, warned Sebogodi and his team to fulfil their promises. “Bra Seputla, if I were to take you to the tennis court and old college of education which have become white elephants, you will be filled with anger just like me now,” Dhlamini said.

“The government is not funding our projects and all these old buildings need to be renovated for our use. Please, don't make promises saying you'll come back, Bra Seputla; that's what our corrupt government officials say whenever they visit our area. The Batho Pele White Paper is just a paper on the wall – and it offers nothing more.”

Sister Maria Isabel Vieira, principal at Holy Rosary School in Malamulele, and another youth developer and educator, Mr Michael Dean-Jackson, echoed Dhlamini's statement. “We are willing to work with you (LACYF) if the project will benefit our children,” Sr Vieira said.

Sebogodi answered: “These are not empty promises. Meet me next year. Yes, it's easy to blame, but I always say let's take the first step. We – I say 'we' – let's make things happen.”

Date:20 March 2014

By: Tshifhiwa Mukwevho

Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho was born in 1984 in Madombidzha village, not far from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province. After submitting articles for roughly a year for Limpopo Mirror's youth supplement, Makoya, he started writing for the main newspaper. He is a prolific writer who published his first book, titled A Traumatic Revenge in 2011. It focusses on life on the street and how to survive amidst poverty. His second book titled The Violent Gestures of Life was published in 2014.

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