Matsulu: Members of the community burning tires in protest. Picture by: Creo Nthali

By: Creo Nthali
Members of the Matsulu community started another story for the media, as they have embarked on protests over service delivery.
The Mpumalanga province shows to be having more strikes coming its way. As if it was not enough with the Mashishing protests, which shook the province and got the media running.
This protests fall under the 2010 world cup host region, Mbombela, as Matsulu is a community located East of Nelspruit some thirty-five kilometers from the city. If the region is yet to see more of this as not only Matsulu cries of the lack of service delivery, it may prove the host region to be under a threat, especially if nothing will be done soon.
The members of the Matsulu community have run out of patients, as they claim that all they have been receiving from their councilors is empty promises. This protests started on Thursday at the community’s civic center, with not more than thirty people entertaining it. But the number that was there surely did disrupt the scheduled meeting for councilors and the



community’s’ small organizations, including the ANC youth league. They entered the council’s chamber shouting remove or kill useless councilors.
Perceiving that they were not heard on Thursday, Friday morning they mobilized other community members to part in the protest, increasing the number of protesters. Burning tires at the one way entrance and exit of the community, brought the community to a stand still, and that was after closing down the community’s civic center. For more than four hours nothing was allowed into the community and out of the community, living workers and other community members with no options but to return home.
The protest embarked on by the public was unauthorized and illegal, but the community’s police officers proved to be as useless as the councilors are said to be, as they stayed away from the seen. Maybe that was small waters, but on Thursday it was even smaller, and that means we might still see more of protesting in the community if nothing is done.

A Platform for both established and emerging South African artist
Time for the young talent to go national and nationals, collaborate with internationals

Grahams town, host of the National Arts Festival, sets the stage for all genres of performing arts, and for the young to rub shoulders with the legends.
A press release by The National Arts Festival CEO Tony Lankester, published today, states that ‘the Festival’s aims are to encourage innovation and development in the arts by providing a platform for both established and emerging South African artists; create opportunities for collaboration with international artists’.
The National Arts Festival commonly known as the Grahams town Festival is the second largest arts festival in the world after the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland. It began as a small English literature Festival in1974, and now runs shows from drama, dance, opera, music, visual art, lectures, stand-up comics and tours, which comes up to 433 productions, and 3840 performances for the Fringe program, and 210 productions, 406 performances for the main program.
The Festival grows with continuers support from South Africans and the media, getting the town itself to grow largely, in times like this of poor financial standings the Festival brings in approximately fifty million to the region each year, stated Lankester on the press release.
”A marginal growth in overall attendance with 147 574 attendees at the various shows on offer…..with many residents of Grahams town entirely dependent on revenues brought in during the Festival” said Lankester, figures from previous years show an extensive growth in the Festival as during 2007 143 403 people attended.
Grahams town’s population almost doubles, “Every hall or large room becomes a theatre, parks and sport fields become flea markets, and every available bed in the city is booked” said Gilly Hemphill the manager of The Famous Idea Trading CC, which serves as the media office of the Festival.
The National Arts Festival is proudly South African as most shows are dominated by South African Artists, “we have few international shows nearly all the shows are local from all the provinces” said Gilly. It is a rising opportunity, especially for the emerging artist, yet it is up to them if they want the spot light to shine even after the festival. One thing that can be confirmed is that the emerging artist, are excited about being part of the biggest festival in South Africa. Supported by SK Semakaleng a student at the Tshwane University of Technology, part-taking in the school’s drama society which will be performing at the Festival, “ Its high experience unveiled, with lots of opportunities at hand……. I cannot wait”.
While emerging artists are joyful to be a part, the youth of Grahams town feels the Festival contributes to development of local people’s lifes. “All it does is creating jobs for the duration of the festival” said a Rhode University student, Zintle Vambe who is from Joza, Grahams town. It might not be much but it helps one way or the other.
The cost of tickets appeared to be high, yet even unemployed people feel the cost of tickets is worth it, “they are not cheap, I can tell you that. But whatever they are charging is worth it” Said Zintle.
From the second of July until the eleventh comes to rescue, artists will be displaying their work for the world. “Next year the Festival runs for 15 days during the World Cup, from twenty June to four July. We hope to draw audiences then” said Gilly, would you miss it again?
.

Site under construction

PDC Brings you, Present Day News House with student journalist Creo Nthali. This site will soon be updating you on the latest news daily, top stories, and inverstigative news conducted by Creo.
Don't forget the address you will need the updates soon.