Ho tjena - News Features and Documentaries

25/06/2024

Take a relook at yourself, urges the new book

From Vrede in Phumelela Local Municipality in the Eastern Free State, Mafihla Maleka, is the author of this new book.

For those who want to take a relook at themselves, realign their vision and purpose, press forward and be achievers as well as those who want to challenge themselves and start changing their lives for better, Look no further than Within is a well-timed stimulus to inspire them and fan their flames.

The book is set to ignite the spark of faith and an ambition for success in the midst of hopelessness, self-degradation, state of confusion, diminished self-confidence, loss of passion and dreams that are about to die.

Maleka is making use of examples from his own story of success despite the odds to inspire those with an ambition to move their lives out of an abyss of despair to greater heights.

Born in the lowly Free State township of Thembalihle in Vrede in the Phumelela Local Municipality, Maleka defied the odds to pursue education and to climb corporate ladder.

Armed with a Master of Arts degree and various qualifications, Maleka is currently occupying the position of deputy director at one of the leading South African universities.

In Look no further than Within, he explores an array of subjects such as, among others, self-awareness, self-consciousness, the role of prayer in self-discovery, self-motivation and faith.

The book awakens the reader to a realisation of the greatness and the unleashing potential that lies within each individual. It put emphasis on discovering one’s abilities, talents, potential and willpower. It tells the reader that “you too can”.

Maleka states that his book is for people who are on a mission to discover who they are and to make a difference in their own lives.
“The book will be helpful to you regardless of whether you are religious person. It will help you make sense of the facts that we confront daily,” adds the author.

Among the various persons to whom Maleka dedicates his debut work are the young people of his very hometown of Thembalihle.

“Most of these youngsters have inadvertently wanted opportunities to complete their education and their lives have been decorated by alcohol and nyaope (an addictive substance). In this book, I attempt to convey to them that regardless of the circumstances in which they find themselves, there is still hope for them,” says this budding author.

Maleka further says the purpose of his book is to provide a reader with a fresh viewpoint of who he/she is. “You have been waiting for this time, the moment to delve inside yourself to discover the strength, courage and hope you have been searching for,” he says.

Not only does Look No Further than Within intend to inspire and motivate, but it is also a thought provoking material that challenges the mind, searches the heart and digs deep in the inside. It also calls for a reader to take steps that will alter his/her life on the road to self-awareness and self-discovery.

The steps that the reader is encouraged to take, among others, such as praying, fasting, confession and giving albeit these are subjects well understood and accustomed among believers. But for Maleka, these are not far-fetched even to the non-believers as some of them are one way or the other still engage in some of them, such as praying and fasting.

The author further adds faith and hope as important aspects in the road of self-discovery and believing God for great things in their lives.

“When all is said and done, it is your call to look no further than within,” the book concludes.

For enquiries kindly call Mafihla Maleka on 083 645 5146.

To order the book, follow this link: https://pentzbooks.co.za/products/look-no-further-than-within-by-mafihla-maleka?_pos=1&_sid=79aca6520&_ss=r

By Matefu Mokoena

18/06/2024

King Charlie – The Crusader of hope to the hopeless

In a country faced with a myriad of challenges such as poverty, starvation, unemployment, inequality and injustice, non-governmental organisations and humanitarians are playing a key role in providing a helping hand and reaching out to communities in many ways.

These organisations and humanitarians are involved in various community development programmes and projects, such as early childhood development, donations of many kinds, human rights advocacy, advisory services, skills development, health awareness, home-based care and many other activities.

According to the Department of Social Development as of February last year, 270 313 NGOs were registered with the NPO Directorate in the department, up from 221,000 registered organisations in October 2019. As of March 2021, nearly 25,700 public benefit organizations (PBOs) were listed on the South African Revenue Service website, representing an increase of just over 1,500 organisations since March 2020.

These organisations and individual humanitarians’ acts of charity make them recognisable and known in their communities. Some do so without any form of funding while others are lucky to receive funding from various sources including the government.

One such notable humanitarian in the town of Harrismith in the Eastern Free State in the Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality is Collen Tshediso Charlie.

Not only is he a social activist, but also a church leader. He is the Leader of his local church, Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa, in Intabazwe and the Eastern Free State Regional Leader of Men’s Forum of the very same church.

For some time now, Charlie has been involved bring a smile to many destitute families in Harrismith and the whole area of Maluti-a-Phofung. And for his humanitarian effforts, Charlie has received accolades and his organisation was named the best non-profit organisation in the Community Development Awards in Maluti-a-Phofung.

Struck by the gravity of poverty in his own locality, Charlie could not just fold his arm and watch his community sink in the abyss of hopelessness. He started Masbonisaneni Sonke Project in 2018 in Harrismith.

Since then his project has played a pivotal role in providing food, job creation opportunities, school uniforms, school shoes, counselling and assisting youth struggling with drugs.

“I have been driven by the pain of seeing people suffering. It is hard to bear. I have seen most of these sufferings in Intabazwe, Makholokoeng and Khalanyoni just on the doorstep of Harrismith town. It is heartbreaking.

“We have also been to several schools in the Maluti-a-Phofung where we assisted learners with shoes and uniforms,” said an emotional Charlie.

Among other things that his organisation managed to do, Charlie mentioned the time when they helped a school learner, who had been without shoes for a long time, and also an elderly lady, who was without an identity document.

He said the vision of his organisation is “helping to change more lives for the better.”

He also mentioned how his organisation also helped rehabilitate two drug addicts, who are now completely out of drugs.

Masbonisaneni receives no funding. It survives through the help of businesses and individuals in Maluti-a-Phofung.

“We will be more than happy to welcome a good Samaritan in the form of funding. We cannot wait! In fact we desperately need funding,” emphasised Charlie.

By Matefu Mokoena

16/06/2024

Greetings to you all dear friends. WELCOME

Ho tjena (Thus and So) is a News Features and Documentary page that takes an in-depth look and understanding of unique places and people, hidden voices and peculiar community stories in the Eastern Free State in the languages of Sesotho and English.

Ho tjena is a Sesotho phrase meaning Thus and So or It's Like This.

Sena ke setsi sa tsebo. Follow us, read more, learn more.

12/06/2024

Buka e ntjha ya padi ya Sesotho e ama maikutlo

Lebitso la Buka ena ke Sello sa Moya.

Buka e nngwe le e nngwe ya padi kapa pale (novel) e nka mmadi e mo kenya leetong leo a le nkang ho utlwisisa qalo le qetello ya baphethwa ba padi.

Ebe ha mmadi a ntse a le leetong jwalo diketsahalo tsa padi di mo tsosetsa maikutlong a itseng ekaba kgalefo, thabo, pososelo, masisapelo kapa hona ho sithabala ha maikutlo.

Athe e nngwe padi e siya mmadi a ena le dipotso tse ngata ho e na le dikarabo. Ho jwalo le ka buka e ntjha e sa tswa hatiswa e leng Sello sa Moya e ngotsweng ke Lekhotla Mokoena.

Ena buka e siya mmadi maikutlo a sithabetse a bile a ipotsa dipotso tse ngata ka mophethwa wa sehloho h**e ana ebe o ne a jewa keng hakanakana e ileng ya mo fetola motwaitwai le mohlahlathehi ya ileng a hlahlathela hara thota a lebile ha pelo nkise, maoto mpepe. Ebe ke kgatello ya maikutlo? Ebe ke tlhokeho ya phomolo moyeng? Ke sa eng sello se se kanakana? O felletse kae?

Mophethwa enwa wa sehlooho ke Morumi, eo ho tloha bonyaneng a kgathaditsweng ke pherekano le ngongoreho ya maikutlo, tse neng di hlorisa moya hae.

E ne e ka moya wa hae o ditlamong o lwana ntwa eo a sa tsebeng le sesosa sa yona. Mme ha tsena di etsahala, kahare ho yena o ne a fihlelwa ke ho hlora, ho tetebela ha maikutlo le bodutu bo boholo e ka o sa tswa utlwa taba tse bohloko.

O lekile ka makgetlo ho iphananya maikutlo a na ka kgopolo ya h**e mohlomong a tla kgutsa kapa ho nyamela, empa ha se be jwalo.

H**e bophelo bo tswelepele o ile a tlameha ho iphapanya le ho bipetsa tsena tsohle tse etsahalang kahare ho yena, mme bonngweng ba hae a lwana ntwa ena ntle le motho ya elellwang.

Qetellong eka ntwa ena ya Sello sa Moya wa hae e ile ya mo hlola, a furalla tsohle tseo a neng a se a di finyelletse bophelong, a nyamella hara naha, mohlomong ho ya arabela sellong sena sa moya.

“Ho fihlela nakong ena ha ho motho ya tsebang se etsahetseng ka Morumi le h**e o ho kae, le h**e ana e be o ntse a phela na? Se setseng ke mehopolo le menahano ka ena.” Ona ke mola o bulang kgaolo ya ho qetela ya Sello sa Moya.

Mongodi wa Sello sa Moya, Lekhotla Mokoena, o na le tsebo le boiphihlelo ba dilemo tse fetang tse leshome jwaloka mohlahisi, mohatisi le moqolotsi wa ditaba.

09/06/2024

Museum that aims to tell story of Qwaqwa and Basotho nation

He is on a mission to tell the history of Qwaqwa and the rich heritage of Basotho. As if that is the end, he goes on to recount South Africa’s perilous journey to democracy and role played by many selfless and courageous freedom fighters of this country.

This is none other than Mpho Letula, who was born and bred in Qwaqwa. He has started an initiative called Bofihla Museum, through which sets up exhibitions telling the stories of this former homeland of Qwaqwa and South Africa’s liberation struggle.

On display at these exhibitions is the history of Qwaqwa from the time of the ancient citizens of the place, who are the Khoisans, to the period of Bantustan. Not leaving behind the struggle against apartheid.

Patrons at these exhibitions learn about various moments towards the formation of Qwaqwa and at the time it was called Witsieshoek while at the same time they exposed to various Basotho artefacts such as blankets called Seanamarena, brooms and hats called from the grass called Modianyewe.

They also learn about the battle of Namoha, which was a fight over of the traditional farming practices of Basotho.

Also to learn is the chieftaincy of Basotho as well as the formation of Qwaqwa government under T.K. Mopeli.

Letula said this idea was inspired his love of art and culture, which urged him read and do more research on these aspects.

He also felt the urge of preserving this rich history of Basotho and their language.

“Bofihla Museum in a process of getting permanent structure, where we can set up a full-fledged museum. We still looking for funding to keep this dream alive.

“This just the 10% of the work we have shown the people. There’s still more to show hence we need a permanent building”, said Letula.

Bofihla Museum exhibition annually in Qwaqwa, and currently Letula is hard at work to mobilise funding and support to set up this year's exhibition in due course

07/05/2024

Solitary moment on the hill near Platberg Mountain in the Platberg Nature Reserve in Harrismith in the Eastern Free State

13/04/2024

The Big Hole adventure

01/04/2024

The Big Hole, Kimberley

16/02/2024

Up...up...up.... Platberg Mountain in Harrismith in the Eastern Free State

28/12/2023

The karting race track....

13/12/2023

The rich history of Qwaqwa and Basotho heritage is on display in Mabolela at Sentinel Primary School in a Museum set up by Bofihla Museum. Led by Mpho Letula

05/12/2023

1st Annual Cornelia Leaders Awards in Ntswanatsatsi, Cornelia. What a privilege to present one of the awards..Marvellous👌👌👌

30/10/2023

Snow fall...

30/10/2023

The week starting with snow in Harrismith

01/10/2023

27/09/2023

By Puisano News Reporter Today, the 27th September is the World Tourism Day. To celebrate this day, we highlight a few tourist attractions in the Free State Province. First is the Koppies Dam Nature Reserve, which is situated on the outskirts of the town of Koppies in the Northern part of the Free S...

14/09/2023

At the table....Men sharing a good meal

24/08/2023

As the morning sun rays hit the sea

24/08/2023

Moses Mabhida Stadium

04/01/2023

Beauty of the place. Lala Nathi....Awesomeness 👌🏿👌🏿👌🏿...

30/08/2022

Emu is the second largest bird in the world after the ostrich.
The emu makes booming, drumming, and grunting pig-like noises by vibrating a 30cm long tracheal pouch, which is part of its windpipe.

19/07/2022

Putting kids in touch with the nature....On the back of the horse.....Exhilarating for Kamohelo and Oupa

19/06/2022

The 3rd largest dam in South Africa.....Sterkfontein Dam, outside Harrismith.

27/05/2022

At the cave....@ Lekgalong la Mantsopa

26/05/2022

Inside the cave ... la Mantsopa