Sowetan Entertainers Doing it for the Love

Sthembiso Sithole

Sowetan, Bonginkosi Madondo, says he is driven by the love of art, African culture and traditions and as a result has participated in various theatre productions such as Amasiko and Devil Protest. He started performing at the Positive Art Society in Phiri Hall in the township in 2003. Through the legacy of the late Thembinkosi Nkabinde who was the founder of the group, Bonginkosi has taken over the initiative.

“Art is something for us performers to tell those untold stories. It heals spiritually,” says Bonginkosi.

The 29 year old who is also gumboot dancer and choreographer believes that one can make a living out of art.

Give Us Free Clothes & We'll Do Mandela Day For You!

Mandela Day is a call to action for people to take responsibility for making the world a better place, one small step at a time, just as Nelson Mandela did.


In November 2009 the United Nations declared 18 July as Nelson Mandela International Day and for the last two years has been marked with acts of goodwill in communities throughout the world.

In the Pretoria area, Journ’Tau is teaming up with the biggest campus radio station, TUT 99,2FM, for Mandela Day. You can participate in the 67 minutes for Mandela day by donating clothes and blankets at the station in Soshanguve TUT south campus. We will then take all the donations to the HOPE CHILDREN’S  CENTRE in Soshanguve.

Chiawelo Residents Meet to Demand the Release of those Arrested

Sthembiso Sithole

Chiawelo residents are demanding the release of those arrested for the burning down of a former councillor’s house and the attack of the new councillor’s car and on Friday they protested outside court where those arrested earlier in the week were appearing. They say the case should not have been postponed.


On Wednesday evening there was an emergency meeting in the township where their way forward was discussed.

Chiawelo Residents Not Backing Down

Sthembiso Sithole

Chiawelo residents are still refusing to back down from their demands of cheaper electricity tariffs despite five community members including two minors over the burning down of the former councillor’s house earlier this week.

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa lambasted the community when he visited with Police Commissioner Bheki Cele. As they arrived in their lavish cars, journalists and residents were waiting on Nefefe Street outside the house of ward 12 councillor Johannes Nemaungani.

Scorpions Showboating Sees Them Represent SA in International Street Football Tournament

The Scorpions from Soweto have won the five-a-side football competition known as the Kia Champ into the Arena Tournament and will be representing South Africa in the international street football competition to take place between 22 and 25 July in Argentina. The team with much showboating skill beat last year’s winners and South African representatives, Randburg Spurs, 5-1.

The margin between the two sides was only a goal difference at half time but the Scorpions proved too strong for Randburg during the second half. The match between the two sides showed much skill and shibobo that South African street football is known for despite being a one-sided affair.

Kids & Parents Entertained at Baba Indaba

Sthembiso Sithole

SABC Baba Indaba held a three day exhibition aimed at exposing young families to early childhood development project and to raise breastfeeding as awareness. Despite the weather being cold, expecting parents, parents, nannies and grandparents came out in large numbers to witness the exhibition at the Expo Centre Nasrec near Soweto.

Organiser and show director Natalie Naude says this year breastfeeding was a hug part of the exhibition. “We decided to have breastfeeding as part of the show because we wanted to spell the myth about breastfeeding,” explains Naude.

We Still Continue to Blame Foreigners For Stealing Jobs We Refuse To Do

Gift Ngobeni

Between 2000 and March 2008 at least 67 people died in what was identified as xenophobic attacks. In May 2008 a series of riots left 62 people dead - although 21 of those killed were South African citizens some of whom who had been mistaken for foreigners. One dictionary definition of xenophobia is an unreasonable fear, distrust, or hatred of strangers, foreigners, or anything perceived as foreign or different.

Leaders of the country fought for a free South Africa, former president of the country Nelson Mandela said South Africa belongs to everyone who lives in it. During the anti-apartheid struggle, the very same leaders went to exile in neighboring countries most of which the attacked foreigners come from. Most South Africans went to countries like Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Angola to name a few. Clearly most attackers have forgotten about this.