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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 .

Moving on with one of our favourite feature called “Rising Stars”, we went all the way to a beautiful country in Africa called Zambia. We are still proud to see an African child rising to the top! Our Rising Star no: 207 is Matthews Mpoya (23), a content creator and comedian who is famous with mixing education and comedy video clips to teach words in different African languages. He completed his secondary in 2017 and ready to further his studies in 2024! “Thanks a lot for noticing my talent! I have done many types of content but the one that still stand out is “Words in different African Languages”, I started making simple comedy by expressing funny words in my mother tongue ( Kaonde ) and lot of people found it funny, I have never stopped since then. My aim is to educate and entertain lot of people through my videos, human mind hates boredom, and we need a bit of laughter for stress relief”, he said. Mac Matthews zm, as popularly known on social media platforms , believes that content creators can make a living out of social media. “Look at people like “ Khaby Lame ”, he is now far and working with lots of big companies, its also easy to make money on social media if you can monetize your content”, he added. Like many industries, finance is another issue, it is not easy to make a content and it becomes easy when you have finance which can be used to make a source of income. “Upcoming content creators must be determined and consistent, it is not easy road, nevermind where I am now, the road is still long. Never loose hope and nothing beats hope. God has blessed us with skills and talents to shine like stars, its us to discover our gifts and sharpen them like a sword. Education can get you a nice job but your gifts and talents can make you dine with Kings and Queens”, concluded Mat. His last message to his fans is to keep smiling and spread the word of love across African continent and the globe. We are proud of him and cannot wait to see his work reaching out to massive audience. His work can be found Facebook, Youtube and Tiktok (Mac Matthew Zm) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNYsHl4GLrs

ADVERT! 🔊 Joy Mercy & Wellness presents " Welcome Summer Party " 🏝🏝 DATE : 16 December 2023 VENUE : Manea Entertainment Center (Kotishing close to Makotopong) 16Km from Mall of the North, Polokwane, in Limpopo Province, South Africa. TIME : 13H00 till late..... THEME : Denim Shorts and Shades LINE UP - Villager SA, Slender Maitobetsa, CYK Motonetro, Lady J, JR Beyonce 3, Dj Nduzo, Dj Charles, Queen of Voice, Dj Skhaloboy, Master Nico & Ntina MC TICKETS: (Available at Manea Entertainment Center and Computicket (Shoprite & Checkers) Kids : R 60,00 Early bird : R 100,00 General : R 150,00 VIP: R 250, 00 (including snacks) Cooler box : R 50,00 MORE INFORMATION : 079 210 6439 / 072 842 6518 / 078 113 8900 Foods will be sold at the venue, bring your camping chairs and costumes. It gonna be more fun!

Completing your studies is a really special achievement. It is the culmination of all the time, energy, and hard work a student has put into gaining a qualification. Recently, the Cedar International Academy in KwaZulu-Natal allowed its students, workers, and residents to celebrate all they have achieved in previous years since celebrations were interrupted by the pandemic and other unforeseen circumstances. On 26 October, the Private Higher Education Institution brought together students for an outstanding celebration event. The special event allowed them to celebrate with other achievers after the finalisation of their successful studies. Those who could not attend in person attended via live streaming. Graduation day is a truly memorable occasion, and it should be celebrated with a special ceremony like the unique event at Cedar. For many of the students, this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to dress up in a cap and gown and attend a ceremony celebrating the milestone of receiving a degree surrounded by their friends and loved ones. The academic procession is symbolic of a long and rich history which dates back many years. It is a time of joy, celebrations, and strengthening bonds with family, friends, and those who shared the journey with the students. The students’ achievements varied from a Diploma in Teaching to a Doctorate in Education and some of the students graduated Cum Laude. What made this event even more outstanding was the cultural diversity and age of the successful students! The almost 79-year-old Dr Elsa Bosman was one of the oldest students there, receiving the Doctorate in Education she completed during the pandemic (see picture). In essence, her research was about relationship-centred strategies for improving discipline in rural secondary schools. It is called the PALAR approach (Participatory Action Learning and Action Research). Ilsa Vermaak, the CEO of Cedar initiated this outstanding event: “It is not only at Cedar where people are studying; many other young people at the KwaSizabantu Mission - at various other departments and businesses - are also upgrading their qualifications. We would like to recognise it and also encourage others to better their qualifications.” The history of Cedar International Academy Situated at the KwaSizabantu Mission, Cedar began in 1994 when Kay Stegen, wife of the late Rev Erlo Stegen, established the Cedar Training College (CTC). At the time, it was an off-campus training facility for teachers affiliated with the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University (NWU), formerly the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education. CTC was soon upgraded to Cedar College of Education (CCE). Due to the changing governmental legislation, Cedar chose to go private, and the name changed to Cedar International Academy NPC. It was registered as a Private Higher Education Institution in 2021. Cedar has an excellent track record of successes and milestones since it was established. Their mission statement clarifies their pursuit of knowledge, innovation, and excellence. Cedar was founded to create a multicultural setting committed to engaging with scientific practice and scholarship in a diverse society, preparing students to be effective in current times. Their strategy is to equip graduates to be role models in their communities, demonstrating integrity, honesty, respect, and responsibility while taking on leadership roles within a changed society. Cedar’s goal is to develop a commitment to what is true, honourable, and consistent with the highest values of the Word of God in their students. Their foundation is, therefore, based on the truths and values of God’s Word. Cedar is provisionally registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training until 31 December 2024 as a Private Higher Education Institution under the Act and is also an approved Public Benefit Organisation (PBO). (Watch the video to learn more about Cedar International Academy: https://youtu.be/_qvX19Pf2d8?si=qmWBo76MUPYMUuA3 )

Rise Africans Newspaper is proud to see young Africans trying harder to make different to our communities. We had a chance to have fun with one member of Dikgale Foundation, a foundation based at Ga Dikgale, Polokwane, Limpopo Province in South Africa. Dimakatso Judy Ramoadi (20) told us a bit about foundation struggles. “Thank you very much, the organisation was founded in 2021 by Bali Mafumo, Mogomotsi Mogale, Hope Dikgale, Kabelo Dikgale, I was recruited along the way and happy to be part of a team. Our motive is generally to improve quality of life for others at a community, local, state, national, or even global level”, said "Miss President ", a popularly known . Dikgale Foundation will be hosting “Dikgale Foundation Marathon” event on the 09 December 2023, there will be lots of prices and everyone is invited to participate. The main purpose of the event is to raise funds to buy school shoes. A plead here to all sponsors is to come on board and make the event a success. “It is hard to run an organisation, the struggle to get sponsors, running out of funds, you can mention them all. Starting an organisation requires lot of energy and patience, one must be ready to handle a pressure and have love for your work. We are losing our youth everyday because of drugs and nyaope and it is our task to protect their future. It is hard to discipline a child you did not gave birth to and worse if she or he is not willing to change”, added Miss President. Dikgale Foundation is proud to have hardworking additional members (Mosa Dikgale, Fortunate Ngobeni, Mogalegadi, Alinah, Molele Kgwetsi and Mathadika), who assist a lot when preparing events. “I will be glad to see Dikgale Foundation growing to another level, having its offices and assisting kids with schoolwork. We also want to host more events aimed at bringing back to the community because we are nothing without their support”, she concluded. Sponsors can contact Judy: 079 732 1994 (calls or whatsapp) | Kabelo Dikgale on 076 115 6828 | Facebook Judy Ramoadi & Kabelo Dikgale on Facebook and Dikgale Foundation on Instagram

Moving on with Rising Star no: 206, this time we turn the tables and look at dusty soccer! We had a nice chat with talented soccer commentators from Nkomazi, Mpumalanga Province in South Africa. Evence Mabunda (24) and Nhlanhla Lusu (24) are not ready to give up their dreams, no matter the circumstances, the world must watch out! “We started with commentary back in 2013 at school while doing Grade 8, commentating at local tournaments in different places around Nkomazi and got a luck to be appointed as part of Selati Cup. We grew up in a disadvantage background with no television at home, we use to listen to Bheki Letsoalo and the late Zero Man Phangisa on Ligwalagwala FM and were impressed about the way they narrate the game”, said Evence Zong B Siswati commentators, as popularly known , have shared their skills at local tournaments at Langeloop, Kamhlushwa, Driekoppies, Mangweni, Boschfontein, Kamdladla and other places. They are currently adding some experience at an online local radio station called “Intsetse” and busy commentating at Mpumalanga ABC Motsepe league. “We love football with all our hearts, our challenge now is a finance to buy equipment, pay for transport and food. It is hard to get an exposure from a village called “Langeloop”. We call all the sponsors to come on board. Our best highlight so far will be a game between Mlambo Royals and Secunda M Stars at Mbombela Stadium, it was a great experience considering that the game was at one of the biggest stadium which hosted 2010 World Cup” added Evence. The talented lad appreciates the love they get from community at large. They can be found: Facebook page "Zong B Swati commentators" | whatsap or call 0722813510/ 0790274088 | They are available to narrate soccer match at any place.