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Our Rising Star no: 209 is another talented young producer who will never stop till his work reaches out to the world. Simango Malesela Jack (23) is a music producer all the way from Ga Makanye, Polokwane, Limpopo Province in South Africa. Dj Annual SA, as popularly known by his fans, was influenced by Dj Tux in 2012, while doing grade 5. He is a hardworking producer who believes that his music will trend all over the globe. We visited his studio, and all  we can do was to tap and nod our heads to his massive hits. “Music is my first love and I can make any beat you like. There are lots of challenges I face in the music industry. Sometimes it is difficult to promote and market my music. Unprofessionalism from artist in terms of collaboration, they keep you waiting and end up being disappointed. So, it’s always best to work with dedicated artists who respect their profession”, he said. Like any other producer, Dj Annual’s dream is to assist aspiring producers and become their role model. “My message to all music producers out there is to keep pushing, never give up on your dreams, anything can happen in seconds if you work hard and respect your hustle. Believe in yourself and be strong”, he added. Rise Africans Newspaper is glad to see an African child fighting harder to reach to the top. We wish Dj Annual SA all the best and hope to see his music making a history in his township. Bookings can be done: Whatsapp (0765523944) / Facebook : Annual Simango RSA

About 7,000 young people from all corners of KwaZulu-Natal and further afield attended the KwaSizabantu Youth Conference from 7 – 14 December at the mission station.  On Sunday,10 December, the 10,000-seater auditorium was packed with locals who also attended the service. The theme, 'Be strong for the Lord' (Qinani Kwensi), is appropriate to the youth's many daily challenges. This was the 49th time the Mission hosted a conference for the youth at its premises. Spearheaded by Lidia Dube, one of the seniors at the Mission, this KwaSizabantu Youth Conference, twice a year, is an effective means to engage young people, giving them a positive sense of self, teaching them self-control and decision-making skills, providing them with pro-social connections, and enriching them with a moral system of belief while sharing the gospel with them. Over the years, the conferences have been a source of great blessings and provided hope to thousands of young people who attended and changed their lives for the better after giving their hearts to the Lord. This time was not different, and many youngsters gave their hearts to the Lord and shared heartwarming testimonies with the audience. The collaboration between various denominations, churches, schools, and other organisations backs the KwaSizabantu Youth Conference. Services are broadcast in isiZulu, English, German, French, Sesotho, and Portuguese. Daily service times are 10:00, 15:00, and 7:00 p.m., excluding Sunday (December 9), when the morning service will start at 11:00 a.m. Those unable to attend the conference could tune into the Mission’s community radio station, Radio Khwezi, or use the streaming platform on the website where all the daily services were broadcast. Radio Khwezi has over 12,000 official listeners. The daily services saw a variety of preachers and Christian leaders sharing the gospel with the youth. Dr Peter Hammond from Frontline Fellowship regularly speaks at KwaSizabantu’s youth conferences. His message that bitterness can be another stronghold of Satan resonated with many.  He said, “If you have not forgiven someone, then you will likely harbour an unforgiving spirit and a resentment that will deepen into bitterness.  Ask God to reveal to you the people against whom you are holding feelings of bitterness and resentment.  Be aware that you could also harbour bitterness against God.” Dr Hammond also gave practical advice on how to deal with bitterness. He advised them to “…make a list of the names God reveals to you.  Start at the bottom of the list, with those people who are easier to forgive, and work your way up to the more difficult cases.  Repent of the sin of unforgiveness.  Forgive each person from the heart.  Ask God to take back the ground you have given Satan through unforgiveness.” Apart from the soul-enriching speakers who use the three services daily to bring the young people closer to the Lord, the Mission also holds a sports day. The sports activities are designed so everyone can participate, even those with no specific sports talent. The combined fun and faith make the strategy of this conference uniquely positioned to draw young people who have never heard about the Lord before. At the conference, they are introduced to sound Christian teachings in a relevant and impactful way. (Information provided by Devoted magazine. Read inspiring articles from young people who have given their lives for the Lord on the websites: https://www.devotedmag.co.za and www.ksb.org.za. Follow: https://www.facebook.com/DeVinePublishers)

Our Community Builder Lydia Nemafhohoni shared a nice pics with us regarding PDARD Summit which took place at Bolivia Lodge in Polokwane, Limpopo Province in South Africa PDARD (Persons with Disabilities in Agriculture and Rural Development) summit is taking place every year but in different styles because some years the focus is only on PDARD recognition awards where the prices are given in different categories. "We had so much fun with my director of the province of Limpopo, Mr Mashele in the special program from the Department of Agriculture, my colleague who is a district coordinator and PDARD members from all provincial five district ,Vhembe district, Mopani district, Capricorn district, Sekhukhune district and Waterberg district" - she said. The successful event was attended by companies such as ESKOM, LEDA ,FNB,ABSA, Land Bank, UIF ,COIDA from labour ,SARS, and AgriSA. (see pics ) We are proud to see our people making different no matter the circumstances

The popular KwaSizabantu Youth Conference where young people can learn, grow and have uplifting experiences is scheduled to unfold from 7 – 14 December at the Mission Station. This Christian-based conference introduces youngsters to the Word of God and helps them to connect with other like-minded youngsters. The theme for this upcoming conference is 'Be strong for the Lord' (Qinani Kwensi). Past conferences witnessed over 6,000 participants, and many were inspired to become a light in an ever-increasing dark world. Even more youngsters are expected for this conference. Attendance is free, including all meals and accommodation. All details of how to attend and what to bring along are on the official website, www.ksb.org.za Spearheaded by Lidia Dube, one of the senior managers at the Mission, this annual KwaSizabantu Youth Conference is an effective means to engage young people, giving them a positive sense of self, teaching them self-control and decision-making skills, providing them with pro-social connections, and enriching them with a moral system of belief while sharing the gospel with them. . Over the years the conferences have been a source of great blessings and provided hope to thousands of young people who attended and changed their lives for the better after giving their hearts to the Lord. The KwaSizabantu Youth Conference is backed by the collaboration between various denominations, churches, schools, and other organisations. Those who are unable to attend the conference can tune into Radio Kwezi or make use of the streaming platform on our website where all the daily services will be broadcast. Services are broadcast in isiZulu, English, German, French, Sesotho, and Portuguese. Daily service times are at 10:00; 15:00; and 7:00 p.m., excluding Sunday (December 9) when the morning service will start at 11:00 a.m. On Sundays, the local young people join the conference in large numbers - and in the past, there have been more than 10,000 who have attended. The KwaSizabantu Mission is a non-denominational Christian mission station that reaches out to people of all racial and cultural groups. KwaSizabantu brings spiritual guidance, support, and counselling to anyone who needs it. Since the mission began, it has opened its doors to the youth – for them to hear more from the Lord, offer them hope, learn skills, and lift them. We have faced various challenges to help the youth. Christian leaders and preachers from all over the world are invited to preach the gospel to the young people. In the past, and during these conferences, many of the young people who attended, decided to change their lives for the better and accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior. Many of these inspiring and life-changing stories can be read on the Mission's official website. (Information provided by Devoted magazine. Read inspiring articles from young people who have given their lives for the Lord on the website: www.devotedmag.co.za. Follow on Facebook: Devine Publishers/Devoted)

Our Rising Star no: 208 today is arguably number one local football fan. We talk about someone who eat, dream and sleep soccer. John Tahlo (38) is originally from Bloemfontein, Free State province in South Africa, but currently based in Montclair, Durban due to work. He attended Commtech Comprehensive school and joined Transnet Engineering School. “My love for soccer started long time ago back at home and all was inspired by Bloemfontein Celtic supporters (Siwelele sa masele). I started as a soccer player but could not make it due to injury. In 2012, I attended ABC Motsepe League games and did not miss any game. I left Bloemfontein in 2017 after the company I work for decided to relocate to Durban in KwaZulu Natal Province”, he said. Tahlo Jembe Drum, as popularly known, is famous with his “Djembe drum”, most of his followers are still surprised by the way he sings and play the drum to create mood at the stadium. “Back at home, my friend bought Djembe drum but could not play it, so I jumped and assisted him. I did not go to school to learn how to play it, but I fell in love with it. I noticed that Djembe drum can connect supporters to sing and enjoy at the stadium”, he said laughing. There is a supporters organisation named “Simunye We Are One Football Supporters”, catering for different supporters like AmaZulu FC, Golden Arrows FC, Richards Bay FC, Royal AM, Durban Ladies FC and teams from ABC Motsepe. “The aim of the organisation is to motivate people to come to stadium to sing and enjoy themselves, but we lack resources to do roadshows and attend interviews. Fortunately, we have a small committee member who helps us a lot when we travel to each game, but we are still struggling. People see us singing together at the stadium, but they do not know our struggle”, he added. Nothing can really stop you from what you love, Tahlo Djembe Drum’s love for football is unconditional, he attends almost everyday at Durban. He can take a leave to attend a game during a week and free to make people happy at the stadium with him drum on weekends. “I would like to thank the committee of Simunye We Are One Football Supporters for trusting me, Dumakude, Lozolo, Kufa, Matshidiso, Amanda, Macalepipi, I love you guys. Thanks a lot Rise Africans Newspaper, please keep blessing people with wonderful interviews, I feel honoured”, he concluded. Anyone who want to assist the organisation to reach its goals can contact John: +27 63 127 1502 | Facebook: Tahlo Djembe Drum or Simunye we are 1 football supporters | Twitter: Simunye we are 1 football supporters | Instagram : Simunye we are 1 football supporters

On the 10 August 2023, Rise Africans Newspaper had a chance to sit down with youngest coach, Ngcebo Muthwa (26), who is popularly known as, Coach Justice by most of his fans. Phuti Ramaphakela caught up with him to talk about his progress since our last chat. “My brother thank you so much for having me back to Rise African Newspaper it's really a pleasure to once again connect with you. Well a lot has happened indeed, I got an opportunity to be one of the coaches of  KZN ABC Motsepe League Tier, Ethekwini Coastal FC. Ever since I arrived, we have played two games and we won both. I am happy for this achievement because it will give me more experience and exposure. Thanks to KZN Future Stars Academy for grooming me and putting me on the map so that big teams can be able to acknowledge me”, he said. Ethekwini Coastal FC, chairman saw a potential and gave Coach Justice an opportunity to come and join the technical team. This was one of the most important call to him and he could not hesitate to grab such a wonderful opportunity. “This is exactly what I was waiting for, first thing is to assist the club to move away from a relegation zone and if possible, I want to see the club challenging for a league title. I am so glad now that my coaching skills will improve, I will gain much experience because the league is very competitive and there is a lot of exposure”, added coach Justice. This opportunity would not happen if it was not the support from his fans across the continent. He once told us that he will remain humble even if he can be Bafana Bafana coach. We are still humbled to have him, and know he will do his best at Ethekwini Coastal FC. “To all my fans around the world, I would like to thank you for the amazing support, I know there will be good and bad times as my career grows but please don't lose hope on me, keep on supporting me and I will make you proud. Thank you”, he concluded.

According to the National Center for Justice and The Rule of Law, approximately 38,000 children are currently being prostituted in South Africa. Victims are often recruited from rural areas or informal centres and then transported to urban centres and cities. Boys under the age of 18 are also increasingly lured into sexual exploitation and used for pornography. When I met Thabisile, it was barely two weeks since she was rescued from the streets. She was clearly still struggling with drug withdrawal symptoms and while we were walking, we sometimes had to stop so she could catch her breath. When she was rescued, she left with only the clothes on her body, which wasn't much. I was eager to help make things a little more bearable for her and asked what she needed. Her answer caught me completely off guard and I had to swallow the tears so she wouldn't see how my heart was breaking for her. “If you can get me some Vaseline, ma’am, please. I will be grateful. When they chase us, we have to run and then we lose our shoes. My heels are severely cracked as a result of that and it is painful. During the winter I had to walk barefoot as I had lost so many shoes.” Never before has a young person asked me for something as small as a bottle of Vaseline and received it with such gratitude, instead of expensive gadgets. The moment was almost too much for me. In July this year, the Doctors for Life International (DFL) team reached out and took Thabisile off the street. For more than 15 years, her hard-earned money came from working on the street. All these years she was earning money in the most degrading ways just to pay for her drugs. There were no other benefits for her. Thankfully, she never suffered abuse at home, but unfortunately, she did crave the shiny things in life, and that was the beginning of her downfall. She was drawn into the world of prostitution through a drug smuggler’s promises of mobile phones and other earthly possessions. And although the drug smuggler initially bought her a mobile phone, she had to sell drugs for it. He took it back after she became addicted to drugs, and he also did not keep his promises to give her shiny and material things. Drugs are the first step to the hell of prostitution. Thabisile’s experience was not much different, she explained, “My street name was Andile and I was already addicted to cocaine at the age of 13. It helped me to forget about home and family and to do what was necessary to survive. My normal feelings came to an end at the age of 13. It wasn't long before the cocaine stopped doing its job, and I had to use stronger drugs. I then moved on to crystal meth, but craved more and more over time.” I wish I could forget some of the gruesome stories she told me about what she went through as a young child on the streets. I don’t believe it will be helpful to repeat them. But as I struggled in my bed and repeated the stories over and over in my head that night after speaking to Thabisile, I wondered how and if she would ever be able to escape from the memories of street work. Penny, a rehabilitated drug user and prostitute herself, has been around life’s mills a few times. She is now part of the DFL team, helping them to rescue prostitutes who ask them to help. The team goes out on Friday nights to look for and help girls in the Durban area. According to Penny, they currently have a waiting list of girls who need help. When a girl is tracked down, she will never be forced to go with the DFL team. She has to be ready and willing to say goodbye to the life of street work and drugs. How can I warn the young Thabisiles of the world that the promises of mobile phones and modelling sessions are just a smoke screen to draw them into the world of prostitution and drugs? All I can hope for is that a real-life story about the life of a prostitute can maybe save or inspire someone else to look at prostitution differently. If it weren’t for organizations like DFL, the desperate and broken in the world would have no hope or chance of survival. Special note: Visit www.doctorsforlife.co.za and www.ksb.org.za for more information and incredible testimonies like these. Follow the link to read the full story of Thabisile written by Gerda Potgieter:  https://online.pubhtml5.com/asxvv/pgnm/

IAWA  (International African Writers Association), South Africa branch will be having a first annual children and literature festival in Monyemathula Primary School,Ga Madikane Village, Limpopo Province (South Africa) on the 15th and 16th December 2023. IAWA is a Non-Government Organization (NGO) led by Global Female, Mrs Munyal Markus Salami, its headquarters are situated in Abuja, Nigeria and it consists of 26 sub-branches in Africa and one in USA. “We are an organization that believes in changing the narratives more especially for those who inspire to become writers, working with the ones who already made their name in creative writing. The purpose of this festival is to create a reading culture, connect children writers with publishers, promote children literature, create an awareness of the importance of reading since the majority of children in this specific village cannot read”, said Mrs Lendy Thobejane, one of IAWA branch leader and festival director in South Africa. The festival is partnered with Mohodi Ga Manthata  Children Literature, Lilly and Laiah Publishing House, Rise Africans Newspaper and Vhutsila Bookshop in Thohoyandou (Limpopo Province). Children will have an opportunity to access books, engage in meaning discussions, meet different authors and create a healthy relationship with some members of the community. “We strongly believe that children are the future. Therefore, they ought to be given a platform where they can showcase their natural God-given talents. This will enable them to find the voice and take the stand against many social ills that are facing our society. We believe that this annual event will inspire and motivate kids, at the same time, showing them direction in a form of career guidance”, added Mrs Thobejane. Festival assistant marketing managers and writers, Sewela and Phalandwa Matlou are pleading for a sponsor to assist with food for children and children books donation. Members of the community and potential sponsorship are requested to come on board to ensure it becomes a success for the benefit of the children. Information about festival can be directed via email to: iawasabranch@gmail.com

We love sharing inspiring stories of people who turned their lives around for good with our readers. To inspire and uplift you, we took hands with Devoted magazine and the Concerned Young People of South Africa (CYPSA) to celebrate restored lives. We share with you the restoration story of Msizi Ndlela Peer pressure is a direct or indirect influence on peers and can be negative or positive. Peer pressure affects an individual’s beliefs, values, and behaviour. In Msizi Ndlela’s case, he gave in to the wrong peer group and got involved in drug abuse, but thankfully, he received a second chance to restore his life. Now 38 years old, he was born and raised in Ntuzuma Township in Durban. He is from a Christian family and was raised by his mom, who was a single parent. As a youngster, he attended church and Sunday school, which made him believe all was well with him. But when he began high school, things started to get off track. When Msizi became involved with the wrong group, his motivation was to fit in and prove that he was one of the group, but that is where things started to go wrong in his life. He started smoking cigarettes and then dagga. As time went on, he started using heroin and drinking alcohol. To fund his drug abuse, he would rob people and break into homes, thinking it would prove he was a real man. Soon, he ended up in prison, which troubled his mother, and she put him on medication for depression. At that time, he heard about the CYPSA restoration program at the KwaSizabantu Mission. In July 2019, he joined CYPSA’s programme, and his restoration began. He attended the services and spoke with a counsellor, who was made available to guide him on his journey. Msizi felt a deep need to confess his sins, made his life right with God and sprang into action. From there on, everything started to change positively for him, and he was freed from drug addiction. He has also been blessed with a job at the aQuellé factory and can now care for his mother and family. Msizi took control of his life and completed a one-year course in Stores and Warehouse Management. He says, “I am thankful for a second chance in life and am making the best of it.” NOTE: Follow the Facebook page for more stories like the ones below and share them with your friends and family: https://www.facebook.com/DeVinePublishers.

Rise Africans Newspaper is here to ensure that an African child gets recognised for his/her wonderful work. Our Community Builder award winner of the month of October 2023, Lindokuhle Inocentia Masango, is another proof that we can achieve much as a community if we can be together and hold hands. Inocentia (27) is from Kwandele, Siyabuswa, Mpumalanga Province in South Africa, she is currently studying for BED in teaching with University of South Africa and busy with art practice in her community. “ I am involved in Youth Development where we teach arts and running a wellbeing programmes such as Youth Seminars, Drug Free generations, Heritage and Youth discussions Fridays. We also make donations to the needy kids by using our own money and some assistance from the businesses”, she said. There are lot of challenges when one dealing with the community, Inocentia added that a big one is finance and ability to change a mindset of community members because some come to support only when there is money involved, some do not have believe in the organisation that fights hard against teenage pregnancy and substance abuse. When asking her about the love for poetry, she said: “during my time at high school, we were selected to represent our school in Literature competitions, in 2014 me and Kgaugelo (organisation co-founder), got selected and that is where my love for poem started”. One can tell how happy she was after being selected as a Community Builder Award by Rise Africans Newspaper. “An award is a symbol of encouragement and hardwork. My message to anyone who want to be involved in a community is to surround themselves with positive people, network with people who supports progress, stay humble and have confidence”, she concluded. We are proud of Inocentia and her team, the world would be different if we can have more young people who makes a different to our communities.

Raffiq Ismail said that he turned his life around with the help of the KwaSizabantu Mission in KwaZulu-Natal. He shared his experience with us and wanted our readers to know the truth about the Mission’s role in his life. We trust his story will mean as much to you as it did to us. “Confessing our sins helps us to come to terms with the wrongs we did, and – at the same time – it reminds us of our weakness and God’s wonderful grace,” Raffiq told us. “That is one of the reasons why people, once they accepted Jesus into their lives, not only want to confess sins but make it right with those they have harmed and restore that which he took violently from others, called restitution.” Raffiq was born a Muslim, but he eventually came to understand and experience the value of confession and restitution. As a child, he attended secular school in the mornings and Islamic school in the afternoons, where he learned from the Quran. This was his daily routine. Little did his family know the state of his inner self. His heart yearned and longed to be a rebel like the other boys and girls at school and in his community. In high school, he performed well enough and maintained a relatively good image. But as the years passed, he decided to rebel and joined a group of bad friends with whom he experimented with drugs and alcohol. Miraculously, he finished matric with excellent results that could have gotten him into any university in the country. However, not having a clear direction in life led to him sitting at home watching movies and listening to music the whole day while his family went to work. “Boredom set in, and soon I found myself hanging around with friends, smoking cigarettes and dagga, and going to nightclubs where I would take Ecstasy and drink alcohol. As time went on, I was introduced to smoking ‘Whoonga’ (low-grade heroin). I became dependent on Whoonga to get me through the day as I would suffer from withdrawal symptoms as soon as I opened my eyes in the morning,” Raffiq recalled. Jobs never lasted, and he started selling his possessions for the next fix. He ended up living on the streets, eating from dustbins, and sleeping under bridges and on top of park benches. For almost a year, he slept next to the tombs in a cemetery. He was regularly beaten up because he stole from people and places and was often caught. Prison became the norm for him, as he was arrested multiple times. Booking into rehabs also didn’t work because he relapsed minutes after setting foot outside the premises. This went on for nine years… When Raffiq turned 27, his life was a complete mess! But somehow, he staggered and stumbled his way to the gates of CYPSA at KwaSizabantu Mission in March 2015. That was the turning point in his life. He signed in with CYPSA and attended regular church services where they preached about Jesus Christ and the forgiveness of sins. As he attended the services and listened to the Word of God being preached in truth, God started working in his life. He began confessing his sins, and the burdens he carried on his shoulders rolled away. Not long after that, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour and gave his heart to Him. Since surrendering to Jesus, Raffiq’s life has completely turned around for good. He recently completed a BEd degree in teaching through North-West University, even graduating Cum Laude (with distinction)! He concluded, “The grace the Lord has shown me is miraculous. Not only has He changed my heart, but He has preserved my brain from harm through all the years of drug abuse. I was able to make restitution with my family and community. I even presented myself to the police, who cleared me of all my outstanding charges!” NOTE: Follow the Facebook page for more stories like the ones below and share them with your friends and family for inspiration: https://www.facebook.com/DeVinePublishers.