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APRIL 16, 2021 FREE

PREMIER VISITS PHOLA VILLAGE DO MEN SUFFER SPORTS: BANELE GRIEVING FAMILY IS NOT COOL FROM BREAST GETS DOUBLE She paid It runs out of CANCER? GOLD! condolences water for up to Read more on Clinched 100m through prayer 3 weeks life experience and 200m gold

INSIDE medals 3 5 6 8 FARM DWELLERS DISTRAUGHT TWO BROTHERS KILLED BY FARMER BONGANI HLATSHWAYO succeeded in saving that soul.” The farming community were MABOLA - ZakheleCoka was left in summoned to the scene and the police disbelief and shock when a farm owner were informed and they arrived at Pampoenkraal Farm allegedly promptly to collect the bodies,” related shot at point blank range his brother, Zakhele. ZenzeleCoka on the head at close The mother of the two deceased range. men,Julia Coka said: “I just want The farm owner had earlier allegedly Greyling to come and bury the children shot at his younger brother, Amos because as a family, we don’t have Coka who lay sprawled dead on the money to bury them because he killed ground in front of them. As the second them. He must bury and eat them. shot rung that killed Zenzele, Zakhele Zenzele has been working there until he called out at the top of his voice: “Kill decided to lay them off and employed me, too, now that you’ve killed my seasonal workers from neighbouring brothers!!” farms. He didn’t care about their By the grace of God, the Almighty, welfare nor of their families, he must he did not budge when the farm owner eat them.” and his friends, allegedly armed to the Her sister, Maria Vilakazi said: teeth, tried to threaten him to leave. “The sad part about this whole thing, “I noticed that they were trying to is that this farmer has robbed us of a push me away because there was breadwinner in Amos, as he was the a gun next to the already dead only one working in and Amos - my suspicion was that they was a provider for the family. He had wanted to pin the gun on him in come to check on his sickly mother the pretext that he had attacked whom he was transporting to and them. We happened to remove it from the clinic. His only sin was trying from that proximity. to avert the ugly squabble between “We quickly then demanded Greyling and the farm dwellers. to see the kidnapped “Besides this gruesome incident, it’s neighbour, who had been not the first time we’re experiencing locked up and assaulted in this kind of treatment from him as a one of the sheds at his farm. community. He’s been harassing us My two brothers were since he took over the farm from 2010.” already dead and Farm Dwellers Association’s I needed to save representative, Henry Bongani this soul as a Hlatshwayo said: “We’ve organized matter of ourselves seeing the atrocities being urgency, which I CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Left: Grieving mom of deceased farm dwellers, Julia Coka. 2 News Mirror / April 16, 2021 ALL POLITICAL STRUCTURES FORMED A UNITED CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 meted out against our folk all these years, especially Greyling and his friends who are an organized commando that are armed heavily. “Our appeal to the judiciary is to oppose bail because they are a danger to society. They have been marauding this community for many years, we’re worried that the police and the judiciary are not assisting us in this manner because an incident occurs, we report, but we see the perpetrators walking freely and going about their business as usual, hence our unity. “Whilst the rest of the citizens are enjoying the fruits of democracy after 27 years, farm dwellers face the worst wrath of racism. Something must be done because we reported the innocent shooting of two farm dwellers whose vehicle broke down at the very spot where the Coka brothers were killed. Nothing happened. Cattle were poisoned, these farmers were the primes suspects, nothing happened. Who are eventually our saviours because even local government doesn’t UNITED ACTION BY POLITICAL STRUCTURES AT MKHONDO look after us as we don’t have clean water here on the farms; we are not United front was formed by all political structures during the picketing at the Piet Retief Magistrate’s Court on Monday for allowed to build permanent cement the bail application procedure for the four accused for the Kampoen Farm killing of two brothers and gruesome injury of structures; we’re not considered even one of their fellow farm dwellers. The ANC, EFF, SACP, Cosatu and other community structures, including the Mkhondo for RDP houses,” he said. Farm Dwellers Association were in solidarity in their effort to oppose bail for the accused. Photo by Bongani Hlatshwayo Four suspects, Daniel Malan, Cornelius Greyling, OthardKlingberg and Michael Sternberg are accused of allegedly shooting at a group of job “Their court appearance spirals from “This ruthless act does not only seekers at Pampoenkraal farm last an incident in which, the suspects are undermine the ANC’s efforts of building Friday and have appeared at the Piet said to have gone to the farm owner to a non-racial and united , Retief Magistrate’s Court on Monday seek employment as seasonal workers. but also opens old wounds and 12 April 2021 for a bail application It is said that the farm owner informed reminds our people that this country process which was postponed to these men that they are not welcome comes from a very painful past where Monday 19 April 2021 after lengthy on his premises. It is said that those many people lost their lives and legal arguments between the who came to ask for employment then families were robbed of their loved prosecution and the defence team legal decided to leave the farm, but later ones, by the racist apartheid system. team. They are also charged for assault realised that one of them was left “People who still commit such acts with intent to cause grievous bodily behind. which are informed by racial hatred, harm to another man. “They then went back only to find do not belong in the democratic South EDITOR: It transpired that the accused that he was kept at the farm by the Africa we are building. We call on all were pleading not to be placed at suspects.It is said that as the men our structures and justice loving South the correctional services, but at the demanded that they let him go, a Africans to go and picket outside the Bongani Hlatshwayo local police station cells. At the latter, scuffle broke out where two men were Piet Retief Magistrate’s Court when Cell: 0700691092 they can’t be together and could face reportedly shot and died at the scene. these barbarians appear. We also call Email: [email protected] intimidation, apart from one of them Three other men are said to have also on the judiciary to deny them bail as [email protected] being sickly. sustained serious injuries. they pose a serious threat to the lives “Police were informed about the of innocent farm dwellers. NEWS EDITOR: MEC FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY, incident and upon arrival, they found ANC Mpumalanga Caucus condemns SECURITY AND LIAISON, VUSI the two groups and two lifeless the Killing of peaceful protesters at Yoliswa Hlatshwayo SHONGWE SAID bodies. They (police) opened a case Bampoen Farm, Piet Retief and call for Cell: 0820907341 accordingly and immediately began No bail for the Racist Perpetrators. Email: [email protected] “As a department, we have consulted their investigation where the four Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature [email protected] with the provincial leadership of the suspects were arrested. Two firearms Chief Whip Cde Fidel Mlombo on SAPS to give this case and previous were also confiscated and they will behalf of the Mpumalanga Caucushas SPORTS EDITOR & DIGITAL other cases of this magnitude, the form part of the investigation. expressed outrage at the killing of two MANAGER: highest priority and leave no stone “The police management in the Africans who were protesting against ill unturned in their efforts to resolving province has strongly condemned the treatment of farm dwellers at Bampoen Jabulane Khumalo these issues at hand. incident and has since called for calm. Farm at Mkhondo. The farm owner Email: [email protected] “I’ve personally instructed the acting “A team of experts has already been and his racist accomplices appeared provincial commissioner to ensure established to investigate the case. at the Piet Retief Magistrate’s Court PHYSICAL ADDRESS: that the investigating team in this Police has also asked members of the on Monday the 12th of April 2021. This case and other similar cases, should community to allow space for the law farmer’s disdain against black farm to take its course,” said Mdluli. dwellers is well documented, as he is Sunrise Heights 27 be allocated the most senior teams at head office. That way, we will foresee the same farmer who is alleged to have 15 Koraalboom Avenue positive results. ANC RESPONSE poisoned 14 cows belonging to black West Acres, 1200 “We’re quite aware of several farm dwellers in June 2020. unresolved racist related cases within “The ANC welcomes the swift arrest of “We condemn this obnoxious act this farming community. Our call is the barbarian and his ilk, and calls on as it flies against a new Land Audit for all these cases to be revisited and the South African Police Service and report release on the same day of the let justice prevail. We also appeal to the Department of Justice to speedily murder that shows land injustices in the judiciary to also play its part in conclude the case against these racists South Africa against black Africans scrutinizing such racist cases and let and human rights violators. who continue to live a life of squalor justice prevail.” “We take serious offence to this conditions; treated like slaves in farms barbaric act, which symbolises the and their livestock poisoned and killed SAPS VERSION continued treatment of black people by racist farmers, whilst whites occupy as sub-human or second-class 72% of Private land in South Africa. According to police spokesperson, citizens in South Africa, as it was done “We implore the ANC-led government Colonel Amos Mdluli: “The men are with impunity under the apartheid to move faster and with determination facing two counts of murder after two government. to conclude the processes towards men were reportedly shot and killed at “As an organization that is committed Land Expropriation Without a certain farm in Dirkieskop on 9 April to building a non-racial and united Compensation so that the People 2021. The suspects are alleged to have society, we are of the firm belief that of Mkhondo who have suffered land also assaulted another man, hence a justice for the murdered and their evictions; labour subjugations in farms third count of assault with intent to families will only be served if these and been daily evicted in their rightful inflict grievous bodily harm has been barbarians are successfully convicted land, could be freed from these brutal added against them. and permanently removed from society. and racist farmers. Mpumalanga Mirror / April 16, 2021 News 3 FRONT AT THE MARCH “As the Provincial Caucus of the white racists, especially here in ANC, working together with the GertSibande District. It’s not the community of Mkhondo, in Piet very first time this is happening. Retief, we will be campaigning The Station Commander and the that the arrested racist murderers police that have not been doing must not be given bail, the police their work, must be removed.” must further arrest all the other accomplices to the murder. We DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE MEC for Social Development, and Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane also wish to state categorically consoling the Coka family. that we demand all cases of racist Irene Brussow, a DA Councillor at evictions, labour exploitations and Mkhondo Local Municipality said: brutalities against black people “Good morning, the Democratic Premier empathetic towards the victims’ family in the area of Mkhondo to be Alliance wishes to extend its KAMPOENSKRAAL converged there in support of thoroughly investigated and all heartfelt condolences to the family FARM – Whilst other the Coka family. perpetrators be brought to book. and friends of the unfortunate political structures were “As the provincial “In the same vein we call upon death of the brothers who were picketing at the Piet government, we’re very the Department of Labour to allegedly killed on the Kampoen Retief Magistrate’s Court, saddened and hurt by the henceforth investigate all labour Farm in the Mkhondo area. Premier Refilwe Mtshweni- unfortunate incident which related matters surrounding the “According to the reports, an Tsipane and her entourage befell your family and we circumstances of this murder and owner of the farm made the shots, which included MEC are also in sympathy with other related cases and make sure but there’s always a different story for community safety, the entire farm dwelling they are promptly resolved.” to this issue. security and liaison, Vusi communities for the situation ‘The DA believes that the Shongwe and the MEC they constantly have been ECONOMIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS communities should stay calm and Community leader Henry for Social Development, Bongani Hlatshwayo. finding themselves under the (EFF) give the law and state agencies LindiweNtshalintshali, ruthless behaviour of their and justice system enough paid a courtesy visit to the stricken Coka family by employer over the years. Collen Sedibe,provincial time and space to do proper Coka family, in true African declaring that the provincial “We’re saying as the chairperson said: ‘As the EFF we investigations. The DA is also a tradition, to pay their last government would bury the government of the people: are very sad about what happened party that upholds the rule of law respects and passed on their deceased brothers, Amos Enough is enough. We’re and we’re saying, enough is and have confidence in the justice condolences to the family and Zenzele. All their wishes putting a stop to all their enough we are tired of the barbaric system and hope that justice will for the loss of their sons, were presented to MEC ruthless acts of barbarism. and brutal killing of our people by prevail. Amos and Zenzele who were Shongwe whose department I’ve instructed MEC allegedly gunned down by will be directly responsible Shongwe to do all in his a group of white farmers, for the funeral arrangements power that such dastardly including the owners. which will be held on acts do not occur in our They will also receive Saturday 17April communities and that all psycho-therapy from the Entering the mourning outstanding racial cases are Department of Social mud and stick hut, dealt with by bringing all Development who will send Mtshweni-Tsipane, perpetrators to book. social workers to provide all Ntshalintshali and Shongwe “We will, as the provincial the necessary treatment in led a hymn and the premier government, put our heads order for them to heal. prayed before addressing the together and ensure that your Mtshweni-Tsipane and mother, Julia Coka, family loving sons receive dignified her colleagues, came to members and the community funerals. May their souls rest the rescue of the poverty- of women who had in peace,” she concluded.

Anger and frustration written all over the picketing farm dwellers outside the Piet Retief Magistrate’s Court. Photo by Bongani Hlatshwayo

Kampoenkraal Farm.

Zakhele Coka. Maria Vilakazi. 4 Mpumalanga Mirror / April 16, 2021 Mpumalanga Mirror / April 16, 2021 News 5

IT’S NOT THAT VERY COOL IN PHOLA VILLAGE - THERE’S CONSTANT WATER SHORTAGE YOLISWA HLATSHWAYO AND JABULANEKHUMALO PHOLA TRUST- Residents are fed up over the looming water crisis, including not having access to clean water in surrounding areas. They claim they haven’t been receiving enough water for the past months, but what makes the situation worse are the dirt particles inside when it’s available. Speaking to CavenManzini, he pointed out that the issue lies with the water tankers that supply the community with water. The water tankers are contracted to supply communities with water. Manzini took Mpumalanga Mirror to Weltevreden Water Treatment Plant in journalists around areas where communal the Dr JS Moroka Local Municipality, as taps were installed. However, well as the acceleration of the Regional there was no water except Bulk Water Supply from the Loskop Dam for empty barrels and to the communities of Thembisile Hani buckets left by some Local Municipality. residents in case She further said there is progress from the water tankers the Department of Water and Sanitation came around. regarding the identified site for the “This is what construction of the City of Mbombela Dam we go through as announced in her previous address. on a daily basis. Another resident in Mshadza, Moses We’ve tried Mabuza shared Manzini’s sentiments reporting to the revealing that they’ve gotten used to being municipality about without water as long as three weeks. these water tankers “As much as we tolerate what the giving us dirty water, municipality is doing, we are also tired but we have not received of empty promises. Is giving clean water any response. Must there be to people too much to ask for? Our roads protests for us to be heard?We demand are also not in a good condition, but water clean water because it is our basic right,” should be a priority,” he said. said Manzini. Spokesperson for Mbombela Local He mentioned, despite interventions Municipality, Joseph Ngala explained made previously such as the Hoxani that in the Phola area, there two water Regional Bulk Water Scheme, it has tanks that were allocated and that there is never benefitted any of the communities. a package plant and the regional scheme That is the very same water scheme the from Nyongane pump station that supplies premier mentioned during the State Of the water to areas through schedules. Province Address. She said it is now being “The Hoxane scheme is completed shared between the City of Mbombela and the municipality is in talks with and Bushbuckridge Local Municipalities, Bushbuckridge Local Municipality in while further interventions are envisaged relation to the operating rights and assets through the RBIG support to augment ownership since the scheme is shared by water supply from the Rus De Winter Dam the two entities,” responded Ngala. 6 community Mpumalanga Mirror / April 16, 2021 EVER THOUGHT BREAST CANCER AFFECTED WOMEN ONLY? Find out how Nersan is wrong with you, that men “don’t have Govender survived his breasts”, but that’s where they’re wrong, everybody has breasts. journey of suffering from “But in certain communities it is breast cancer still a taboo, like it does not exist.This was before I joined my support group Nersan Govender shares his remarkable as a volunteer and later took over the journey with breast cancer thus: organisation, that’s when I realized that “It is astonishing, just how drastically a there are other men in the world going person’s life can change in 30 seconds. In through it. But the survival rate is very June 2013, a mere 30-second phone call low, that’s the reason why you don’t find blew everything I knew about life out of many men talking about surviving breast the water and altered the course of my life cancer. forever. “One of the biggest challenges for me ‘It is said that male breast cancer during this journey was realising just how accounts for only 1% of all breast cancers, little knowledge and information there and that it is a 100 times more common was out there for people in my position. in women than in men, (CANSA, 2020). “I knew that not doing anything out of And in just 30 seconds, I became a part of embarrassment would be a disservice to that 1%. my journey but also a wasted opportunity “I had been studying in Sweden at at helping someone else. One thing to the time and while I was there, around always keep in mind is that irrespective MEC Majuba’s visit at Shongwe April/May, I discovered a pimple on of where you are on your cancer journey, my body and it just wouldn’t go away. it is prudent to empower yourself with My assumption was that it was a boil, professionals and partners that have the Boarding School was successful so I treated it with an over-the-counter knowledge to assist and experience to ointment. support you. DRIEKOPIESBAT - obtained 93.6% pass “It still wouldn’t go away, so upon my “This is why when Momentum MEC for Education, rate. return to South Africa, on June 17, I had approached me and requested that I be Mr Majuba was it checked out at the Linksfield hospital part of their Momentum Force, it was a visited Shongwe encouraged by the despite not feeling ill or being in pain. The no brainer. Access to relevant and reliable Boarding School overall performance of doctor took one look at it and said this information could easily be the difference in Nkomazi Local the school apart from doesn’t look very good. between life and death. Municipality as part of day to day challenges “And so, we did a biopsy on the 19th, While they may not claim to have the his school support visit they experience from it was at this time, that the doctor asked cure for Cancer, through their Whatsapp programme. time to time. me if I had my paperwork in order and Bot they’re able to reach far more Shongwe Boarding “I am pleased whether I had a good support people in far reaching spaces – School was established with the way the system in place. And that’s providing support to even the in 2012 and has an boarding school is when I knew something remotest of places. enrolment of 812 being managed. The wasn’t right. “When I was going learners, most of learner performance “So, on the 21st of through my journey, whom are from eight of the school is a June 2013 at 10am, in a the one thing I had that neighbouring farms. true reflection of the 30-second phone call, changed the trajectory The boarding school leadership qualities Nersan the doctor confirmed of my illness was the caters for grade R to of this institution.The Govender. that it was breast cancer. support I got from my 12. Department will look I was dumbfounded and friends and family. Even Boarding schools into the infrastructural shocked into silence. in our support group, we were conceptualized challenges presented Just like that, I began the have WhatsApp groups, to guarantee the by the school hardest 10-month journey of social media, email, as well provision of quality management in my life. as telephone platforms for education and to order to improve “Over the 10 months, I had people to reach out to us and for us reduce the drop-out and assist with the surgery to remove the tumour followed to reach back to them. rate for learners from efficient and effective by radiotherapy and then chemotherapy. “Creating the bot creates a presence farm areas.The grade administration and In a very short space of time, I had to sort that an organisation or a company like 12 performance for management of the out my insurance, make sure that I had Momentum recognises and commits the past four years whole institution. a file put together with all my financial itself to education and advocacy in saving has been above 90% To this end, I will in information, and had made arrangements people’s lives. If you can detect your at Shongwe boarding due course deliver a should I pass away, all while grappling cancer early, especially breast cancer, your school. detailed report in this with this sudden change in my life. But I chances of survival are very, very high. In 2020, the school regard,”said Majuba. actually wasn’t thinking about myself so “Momentum is a big brand and if much as my sons and my wife and how you’ve got that kind of brand muscle this would affect them. behind the work that you are trying to “Needless to say, they took the news do, it makes it that much easier for the Mpumalanga International Fresh very badly and the effects of it are still felt messages to go through.I am now in today, 8 years later. This is how it is; it remission for 8 years and am so grateful impacts on the family in a big way. for the support I received from my family, Produce Market 30% complete What made things even tougher, was colleagues and my support group, Wings that male breast cancer is so rare, that my of Hope Cancer Support which supported MBOMBELA – It’s read a statement from his “The roof of the Agro- oncologist and her colleagues weren’t sure me. been ascertained that the department. Processing Building is what the best course of treatment would “As I recovered, I joined them as Mpumalanga International He first received a complete, whilst workers be. a volunteer and I now head up the Fresh Produce Market detailed briefing from are currently busy putting ‘My tumour was then sent to California organisation. Since taking over, we’ve is almost 30 percent to the Department of Public roof sheets on the 30 000 where further tests would be done so opened up a footprint in Cape Town and completion. Works, Roads and square metre Main Market that they could determine whether in Durban, but we support anywhere. This surfaced during Transport, which is the Building. Overall, the chemotherapy would be beneficial to me. ‘I have dedicated my time to educating a recent visit by the implementing agent for MIFPM is almost 30% In the meantime, the cancer had grown communities, societies, and other groups newly-installed MEC the project, on behalf complete. quite rapidly and my chances of survival on not only general cancers, but especially for Finance, Economic of the Department of “Once completed, the were not very high. male breast cancers, that this is real. Development and Economic Development MIFPM will consist of “Fortunately, the team in California “I now celebrate two birthdays; my Tourism, and Tourism. 17 buildings. The Fresh established that chemo would work for biological birthday in July, and then my on 19 March, specifically. “The project started in Market will provide access me, and I began the fight of my life. second life birthday on 21 June. I feel like It also comes after the July 2018 and is targeted to a world-class facility I fought hard despite the fact that my I’ve been given a second chance in life purported construction has to be completed in January to both commercial and prognosis wasn’t very good and while I and that’s why I tell people, to live their been marred by labour- 2022. Considerable small farmers in the went into it prepared to fight a physical best lives. related issues with the progress on the Province, for the trading fight for my body, I soon realised that the “You cannot give up; you have to have construction workers construction of the Market of their fresh produce real fight was a mental one, that’s where hope. My life changed in 30 seconds, during the past few years. has been recorded to-date, to local, regional and you have to win this battle. and it changed forever. Now that I’ve Mkhathwa, emerged with two main buildings international markets,” ‘In the beginning, I didn’t want to overcome the treatment, my message to from that construction – the Main Market and further read the statement. speak about it openly because of the everybody is to always live your best life site visit, “impressed the Agro-Processing Mkhatshwais reported stigma attached to it. It is deemed to every day, just live your best life. Don’t by the progress made Buildings, which are to have further encouraged be a “woman’s disease”, so you try to put off things because you just never at the construction site the heart of the Fresh the constructor, enza pretend that you don’t have it and you know. Live your best life everyday with of the much-anticipated Produce Market, at almost Construction, to try and operate at an undercover level. You also no regret,” he concluded. Mpumalanga International 38% and 50% complete, work within the allocated get challenged by people wondering what Fresh Produce Market,” respectively. budget. Mpumalanga Mirror / April 16, 2021 Community 7 CROWNING MISS MPUMALANGA 2021 TOP 12 FINALISTS

Lutrecia Raner Mbali Mkhwabane Mmamokopi Mashabela Nkululeko Mngomezulu Age: 22, Local Municipality: Mbombela Age: 22, Local Municipality: Thembisile Age: 23, Local Municipality: Age: 22, Local Municipality: (Pienaar) Hani (Vlaklaagte) Bushbuckridge (Acornhoek) PixleyKaSeme (Volksrust)

Cindy Mnisi Nomhle Mathabela Bokamoso Machika Phiona Khoza Age: 23, Local Municipality: Steve Age: 20, Local Municipality: Nkomazi Age: 20, Local Municipality: Thembisile Age: 26, Local Municipality: Thaba Tshwete (Hendrina) Hani (Kwa Mhlanga) Chweu (Pilgrims Rest)

Fezeka Malinga Nondumiso Mapaila Age: 21, Local Municipality: Lekwa Age: 21, Local Municipality: Mbombela () (White River)

Claude Mashego KamokgeloMaimela Age: 22, Local Municipality: Age: 19, Local Municipality: Emalahleni Bushbuckridge (Acornhoek) () For all your sporting news, news tips and advertising, contact mpumalanga Mirror Jabulane Khumalo on 0748194977 or email to: jabulane@ mpmirroronline.co.za SPORT Ehlanzeni Netball League kicks off on a high note JABULANE KHUMALO Teams in all corners of Ehlanzeni brought their game to the courts for the Ehlanzeni Netball League at the University of Mpumalanga. 32 teams participated in the first leg of the league. All teams participated in three parts of the league. Fasa scooped most points in A-league with 25 points against ClauClau Dreamers. Meanwhile, Kabokweni Males thrashed most teams in B-league with 15 points against Blue Melodies. Sunshine Girls walked away with 15 points closely followed by BBR Jaguars with 12 points in the C-league. The league’s President, Bongi Maseko said the games were a marvel to watch and that players were thrilled to be back in the courts. “The games were just a marvel to watch. The players were very excited to be back after they were unable to play the whole of 2020 due to COVID-19. The introduction of the Twizza Netball Challenge has seen many teams registering in the A-League which is currently highly competitive. There is good talent in Ehlanzeni and we look forward to harnessing it to its full potential,” she said. BANELE SHABANGU BAGS GOLD SEE LEAGUE TABLES ON OUR WEBSITE MEDALS IN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

JABULANE KHUMALO one home.” for the Junior World Championships in The sprinter is jetting off to Tokyo Kenya for the 100m and 200m relay. Barberton-born, Banele Shabangu in July for the Summer Olympics Both competitions are four days apart sprinted for top honours at the TWIZZA scheduled to take place from July 23 and she will fly out to Nairobi after Athletics South Africa U16-U20 to August 8, 2021. She also qualified landing in the country. Championships at the Dal Josaphat Athletics Stadium in Paarl on April 10. Shabangu put the province on the map by scooping gold medals for the 100m and 200m, respectively. She described her achievement to be fulfilling and that her future is bright in athletics. “For the first time ever, I feel amazing. It was such a great experience, especially coming back with two gold medals. I was quite nervous on the track because I’m not used to the fact that I compete with top athletes. ‘For the first time ever, I feel amazing. It was such a great experience, especially coming back with two gold medals’

“At the same time, when I stepped on the track, I told myself that this is the time for me to get what I deserve. This solidified that I’m on the right track and that hard work will take me to places I’ve never been to,” she said. Shabangu shared that she thinks that her family is much happier about her achievement than she is. “The way they celebrated was overwhelming. It seemed as though they’ve been happy for me to bring this