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Kgoboko Monyepao is arguably one of the best Sione gospel music solo artists in Limpopo currently and his fans are in for a treat with the music he is still going to shower them with. “As a teenager, I joined a Male Choir in Moria (Z.C.C Headquarters), and in my early twenties, I became one of the lead singers where this talent attracted the likes of Winnie Mashaba, Tau Diarora, and Tebogo Motaung and I became their back up artist on some of their songs.” The 37 years old singer from Mentz Badimong, Limpopo Province in South Africa released his third album (Go bolela ka Jesu) early last year. In his first two albums, the talented singer was the lone singer in all his songs where he sang as both the Lead singer and back up artist until he met a group called Melodious Singers. This year in April Monypao hosted a successful show in Polokwane at Library Gardens where he invited prominent Sione gospel artists like Ronee Sathekge, Tau Diarora, City Modiba, Mpho Rams, Maureen Nhlane, and others who also blessed the people with their voices. Now he is nominated for the ‘Best Mkhukhu Album’ category at the Ingoma Awards. Speaking to Rise Africans Newspaper, Tau, as affectionately called by his fans and those he grew up with took a journey down memory lane about his love for singing. “As a teenager, I joined a Male Choir in Moria (Z.C.C Headquarters), and in my early twenties, I became one of the lead singers where this talent attracted the likes of Winnie Mashaba, Tau Diarora, and Tebogo Motaung and I became their back up artist on some of their songs.” “Following a myriad of testimonies from people that my voice healed their souls every time they saw me performing at church, I realised that this is actually what I was born for, that’s when I released my first album in 2012,” he said. Kgoboko said he will be releasing a single soon within which he collaborated with Ronee Sathekge and promised his fans that it will be a hit and people will love it. He added that although he will still be working with other renowned Sione gospel artists, he also prefers working with upcoming artists to pave the way for them to grow bigger in the music industry. Monyepao said that he will not stop singing and healing people with his music since it is a God-given talent that he has. “My fans must expect more music from me for many years to come because I intend on doing so until I leave this world”. He said.

I use my mouth to hold a pencil and enjoy making good work. Moving on with Rising Star no: 174, we have travelled all the way to Tzaneen, Bokgaga Village close to Maake clinic, Limpopo Province in South Africa. We were welcomed by an ever smiling 18-year-old, Kamogelo Mokwena who is popularly known as Kamow K Creative art with mouth! The young lad is a talented artist who make drawing on his wheelchair by using his mouth because of his disability. “I am so excited to get this type of opportunity to showcase my talent. I am extremely considered myself lucky because this is a very rare opportunity. I do my artwork with my mouth because I am living with disability, my hands are not working well so I cannot hold a pencil with my hands, instead I use my mouth to hold a pencil and enjoy making good work. I started doing this in 2015 and never looked back”, he said. We could not believe after watching Kamo‘s demonstrations of his artworks. He is using his tongue to type both on a phone and laptop and he is fast. His confidence is out of this world and does not need anyone to assist him. “My mother plays a most important role in my life, she used to watch me doing artwork and motivated me to keep it up. Most of the time I ask myself too many questions about my talent because I never went to school due to my disability. I continue with this talent and want to see myself on a highest level”, added Kamo. Like many businesses, Kamo said his clients are challenging because others fail to make payments on time. “Most people request drawings but fail to pay at all, they forget that I use my mouth and its painful”, he continued. His charges range between R 650,00 and R 3400,00 including frames with different sizes. His message to all artists is to keep on pushing, be patient and be strong. He believes that smile is greatest weapon of all the obstacles. His big dream is to see his work all over and appear on TV. Anyone who want to give support to his artwork can call or whatsapp him: 076 571 8263 |Facebook: Kamow K Creative art with mouth | Kamow Kamogelow Mokwena

“I have plans of writing plenty of books because one of my goals is to fill libraries in the country with my books. I wish to collaborate with both the Department of Basic and Higher Education so that some of my books can be used to advance their education system”. The sky is the limit for the young and talented Author Nthabiseng Maponya(26) who hails from Mentz Ga-Shiloane. She is the author of a book called The Discovery, which contains a plethora of poems she started writing when she was still in high school up to the year 2021 at the time of publishing. The collections of poems in her book are educative, motivational, and melancholic. Some of them are poems of commemoration and others are about her life which she believes the experiences she has been through could be of great significance to the readers to manoeuvre their life journeys. She is not only a writer of poems but also Stage Plays, and drama and is currently working on publishing a Novel. Nthabiseng’s writing skills scored her a collaboration gig with the company that published her book as a proofreader and Editor of manuscripts albeit she is a Coordinator for Filmmaking Projects at Umtonje Voyage. In the same year, she was honored for being one of the African Writers by the Annual African Honourees Awards in Sandton. Last week Saturday she was honored as one of the 40 African Future Leaders in Pretoria. A few months after her book was published, she hosted a book launch in Rosebank where more than 60 people were in attendance. The young wordsmith started developing a love for writing when she wrote a newsletter in Grade 7 which became number 1 amongst all her competitors. However, She was in Grade 9 when she realised she had actually found her niche in writing when she began writing a series of poems. Ms. Maponya highlighted that the book she wrote was the first of many to come. She said that “I have plans of writing plenty of books because one of my goals is to fill libraries in the country with my books. I wish to collaborate with both the Department of Basic and Higher Education so that some of my books can be used to advance their education system”. Nthabiseng plans to establish an Art school under her name to assist young aspiring writers to start their careers in the early stages of their lives and spare them from delays. “My art school will focus more on assisting them to expand on the knowledge they have and advance their writing skills.” Added Nthabiseng.

"it all started at Doasho High School while playing 5 aside and this other guy named Moses Ramadumo (former Dynamos player known as Nyandoro) called me. By that time, I knew nothing about football and was just playing for fun" Our Rising Star no: 176 made a history by becoming the first star to be interviewed under a new name “Rise Africans Newspaper”. This youngster is one of the talented players the world is waiting for. We had a luck to chat with Turfloop FC (a soccer club around Mankweng area), Elvis “Gattuso” Mothapo who is currently residing at Turfloop, Mankweng. We watched him playing in some big tournaments and was surprised with his ball control and amazing passes. “I am so humbled for this wonderful opportunity, it all started at Doasho High School while playing 5 aside and this other guy named Moses Ramadumo (former Dynamos player known as Nyandoro) called me. By that time, I knew nothing about football and was just playing for fun. He said I should start training with him, came to my place and asked for a permission then the agreement was reached. The next thing, Pule Malahlela (Chairman of Turfloop FC) approached me and found myself as part of Turfloop FC”, he said. Gattuso, as popularly known, appreciates the support he gets from his family and Turfloop FC President, because they still make sure that he gets everything. He once played for Orlando Pirates reserves and been with Polokwane City Rovers for a period of 4 months, but things did not go accordingly. “It is always tough to make a breakthrough to highest level my brother, I remember my first time moving to Jozi (Gauteng Province), I saw Bidvest Wits FC players training and told this other brother of mine that those boys are not that good but hey! We played against them over the weekend and it was very tough, ha.ha.ha (he laughed). Football requires a lot of hard work, discipline, determination, and dedication. You do not just get to do as you wish because young boys look up to you, the minute you start misbehaving on social media then you are out, people always judge you based on how you post”, added Gattuso. The talented youngster is proud to share a pitch with the likes of Thabiso Kutumela (current Mamelodi Sundowns player). He still believes in lot of practicing and is that player who comes early and leave late at training. His favourite players are Andile Jali (South African player) and Marco Verrati (Italian Footballer). “My message to all youngsters who are talented and want to become successful is to focus on their studies, balance their talents with school, they must not be big headed, respect the game and work harder”, he concluded. We are so proud of Gattuso and wish him all the best!

Umama Pat Nkonyeni wase Mbizana phantsi ko Maspala iWinnie Madikizela Mandela, imvumi eyaziwayo edume ngomculo wezenkolo neyathi yawelwa ngumqa esandleni ngokuthweswa imbasa ye Award as the best song writer e Carletonville kunyaka ophelileyo 04/12/2022 “ithemba lokubuya nezinye iAwards unalo kuba uThixo awuceli sonka kuye akunike ilitye” Umama Pat Nkonyeni wase Mbizana phantsi ko Maspala iWinnie Madikizela Mandela, imvumi eyaziwayo edume ngomculo wezenkolo neyathi yawelwa ngumqa esandleni ngokuthweswa imbasa ye Award as the best song writer e Carletonville kunyaka ophelileyo 04/12/2022 nethe yachongwa ukuvakashelwa kwingingqi yayo eNyaka eBizana ngabaphathi bama Award ase Carletonville uthi ke lo mama " it was her first time to be nominated kuma Awards nanjengoba esanda kuqala ukucula, kumvuyisa kakhulu ukufika kwe ndwendwe eBizana apho azalwa nakhulele khona". Ama artist ase Bizana sele ebhinqele phezulu alinde olosuku lukhulu ukanti nawase Carletonville akazibekanga phantsi ayeza ukuzovuyisana no mama Pat abambiza Mother or President e Gauteng. Umnumzana Kidwell Dingiso kwi Executive yama Awards uthi umama Pat Nkonyeni ufanelwe oku ngendlela asebenza ngayo as a Gospel artist ukanti selemdala, uthi banovuyo olukhulu ukusebenzisana nesiquququ esinjengo mama Pat iAward yakhe uyifumane ngenxa yokusebenza nzima ukuqamba engalali waphuma phambili as the best song writer isiphiwo esinqabileyo ikakhulu kubantu abadala kwanabatsha. Uthi ufumana umama Pat encedisa kakhulu kuma artist amatsha emculweni ewazama ukuba aphumelele kwizakhono zawo nto leyo ibalulekileyo kulutsha ukuphuhlisa amakhono alo. I Winnie Madikizela Mandela Municipality izamkele indwendwe ukuba zikhululeke kulo msitho ibonga kanjalo nge gxathu lika mama Pat Nkonyeni ngokuba sisibonelo kulutsha ikakhulu oseluphelelwe lithemba, oluzinikela kwiziyobisi, kulutsha olumitha luseluncane nakubu ndlobongela. Kwakhona umama Pat Nkonyeni ubuye wazigqatsa nakulo nyaka kwi KZN Namuhla Awards akwa Zulu Natal ne Annual National Amaciko,Ngoma Music Awards ase Carletonville wahlanganisa iProvince ezintathu emnye. Sithetha naye umama Pat Nkonyeni uthi “ithemba lokubuya nezinye iAwards unalo kuba uThixo awuceli sonka kuye akunike ilitye”. Ithemba lakhe linye ngumthandazo nezethembiso zika Bawo amkhonzayo.

Continuing with our Rising Star no: 171, today we have one of the most inspirational story from a young lady from a village called Moletjie, Ga Matamanyane, outside Polokwane, Limpopo Province in South Africa. “I am a breadwinner, and my mom is my inspiration, she worked as a domestic worker for her whole life, cleaning people’s yards even today at her mid 50’s, she is still doing that to provide her family. I use every opportunity I get to market my business, I also sell few products such as cockroach killer, Yakgona multi, rat poison and pot shiner soap, whenever I do door to door, I always ensure that people are aware of my services”, she added. Continuing with our Rising Star no: 171, today we have one of the most inspirational story from a young lady from a village called Moletjie, Ga Matamanyane, outside Polokwane, Limpopo Province in South Africa. This is one of the best interview we have ever had more especially in terms of women empowerment. “Thanks a lot for this wonderful opportunity, my name is Makwena Christina Semenya and am 26 years of age. I am a student at Seshego Capricorn College for TVET, studying for Electrical Engineering (Heavy Current) and also a Trade – tested Electrical Artisan. I am a founder and CEO of KW Business Enterprise specialising with cleaning services, laundry and shoe cleaning”, she said. Makwena, popularly knowns by her clients as “Makwena wa go kolomaka le go hlatswa (Makwena who do cleaning and laundry) registered her business after having no luck of getting a job as an Artisan. She got a job as Teacher Assistant and thought of what is gonna happen after since it was just a contract. In short, KW Business Enterprise was started as a way of hustling and thinking about her future. “I am a breadwinner, and my mom is my inspiration, she worked as a domestic worker for her whole life, cleaning people’s yards even today at her mid 50’s, she is still doing that to provide her family. I use every opportunity I get to market my business, I also sell few products such as cockroach killer, Yakgona multi, rat poison and pot shiner soap, whenever I do door to door, I always ensure that people are aware of my services”, she added. The young and intelligent lady charges laundry per basket, prices depend on whether it is washing machine or hand washing. Blankets and curtains are charged per item, drop offs are allowed, house calls are charged per distance and she uses her own washing powder and fabric softener. “I come across lots of challenges in this business, men use business for different motives (looking for relationships), being harassed on duty, bad payers (someone will call you and make excuses when coming to make payments), being mugged by the same clients who hired you (sending their boyfriend to you after payments), sometimes months pass without having a customer and failure to offer services due to lack of finance, transport, equipment etc”, said Makwena. Besides all the struggles, she expressed that the most important thing to keep up with the business is to understand why she is in this type of business. She said her family comes first and appreciate their efforts to assist her when she is overloaded with work. “My last message to all youth out there is that they must not care about what people are saying, at the end of the day they cannot feed you with a loaf of bread. Youth must also learn to take responsibility and be independent”, she concluded. We can tell lot about this young lady, we hope lot of young people will be inspired. More information can be found Email: kwbusinessenterprice@gmail.com | Facebook: KW Business Enterprise | Whatsapp: 076 324 0355

ABOUT AQUELLE KHULA Khula means ‘grow’ in Zulu and this exciting range of sparkling soft drinks by aQuellé is growing in popularity with South Africans. Available in 4 delicious flavours in 500 ml and 1.5 L, every Khula soft drink delivers a burst of flavour! aQuellé also produces an energy drink, ViV. It is time that the communities in our country take the responsibility to clean up their areas and they can do it in collaboration with other like-minded South African. This is what the KHULA clean-up team is doing. No distance is too far for the KHULA Clean Up team from aQuellé to assist with cleaning up the country. The team recently joined the Matjhabeng Municipality to clean up the Saaiplaas area in the Free State. Almost 200 volunteers from the community took to the streets on 10 June, joined by members of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and local organisations and companies including DW Attorneys, Remax, The Daily Bakery and Dierpfontein Christian School. They collected hundreds of bags filled with rubbish from the roadsides. S’khu, the friendly aQuellé Khula mascot, spent the day bringing joy to everyone involved and offering refreshing Khula soft drinks to keep hydrated along the way. aQuellé Khula has joined more than 50 community clean-ups over the past two years throughout South Africa. In many of these towns and cities, local schools, municipalities and environmental agencies volunteered to join in, with over 6500 volunteers who have participated to date. The brand is passionate about the project and the positive impact it is making in communities. “We are excited to be part of a clean-up campaign that encourages people to look after their environment. It’s been great to see large teams of enthusiastic volunteers from the local communities joining us to clean up their areas and promote recycling. All aQuelle bottles are made from PET, which is 100% recyclable, and we can beat plastic pollution together. We have been on a wonderful journey and are thankful to everyone who has assisted,” says Gladson Songelwa of aQuellé. “It is a privilege to work with local communities in creating a happier, healthier space.” Ward Councillor, Ms Veronica Mathenjwa, said that the clean-up was a great success and encouraged the community to continue to keep their environment clean. “Thank you to aQuelle for bringing various stakeholders together – please continue to do so in other areas too,” she added.

Free State's Tseko Monyamane, an art loving person, creates amazing decoration creations with empty bottles. "l recall in 2018, going through Youtube art videos, when l came across quite adorable items made up of wool and bottles. l saved the videos and told myself that l am going to make them. I went out to buy wool, gather some bottles and started making the items while navigated by the videos", said Tseko, who serves as an assistant library at UWU library. Free State's Tseko Monyamane, an art loving person, creates amazing decoration creations with empty bottles. Tseko, who moved to Vaal for employment in 2004, told RISE AFRICANS that he started drawing and creating funny and cute toys out of waste whilst at school. He said he visited Youtube to read up to better his creative skills, adding, that is when it registered in him that there is no such thing as waste. "l recall in 2018, going through Youtube art videos, when l came across quite adorable items made up of wool and bottles. l saved the videos and told myself that l am going to make them. I went out to buy wool, gather some bottles and started making the items while navigated by the videos", said Tseko, who serves as an assistant library at UWU library. He said converting theory into practical wasn't easy but with passion for art, he kept trying for roughly a year. He then realised he was getting good better best after receiving first customer. "lt took me ages to discover the hot colors", he said, pointing out he learnt a lot from dealing with different customers and also checking on how Dr Mahlangu mix her colors. When duty calls he collects empty bottles by himself at damp sites, some bring them to him after party and sometimes he buys them from recyclers. He concluded that his business is growing and doing good. "At the moment, l promote my business on Facebook and Twitter. Sometimes I choose to display my products at flea markets", he said. Tseko Monyamane can be reached at +27 760 219 040.

Jacob Magoro(26) and Engenas Mamabolo (27) from Mentz, Ga Shiloane, Limpopo, South Africa, have established a farming project called Forever Green in 2020. This after they had noticed the unabated rising of the unemployment rate in the country of which the most affected is the youth. “We started by farming spinach and as time went by, we added tomatoes beetroots and cabbage and the project grew, The University of Limpopo started sending 3rd year students that were doing Agricultural Economics and Animal Production to our farm to do practical studies” Jacob Magoro(26) and Engenas Mamabolo (27) from Mentz, Ga Shiloane, Limpopo, South Africa, have established a farming project called Forever Green in 2020. This after they had noticed the unabated rising of the unemployment rate in the country of which the most affected is the youth. They cited the outbreak of Covid-19 as another aspect that worsened things for them to get job opportunities since companies were retrenching and many people were losing their jobs. That is when they decided to create job opportunities instead of looking for them by starting this beautiful farming project. Both Engenas and Jacob hold the National Diploma in plant production which they obtained from Dzunde Farming Corporate which was under Agri-SITA. The duo is using the backyard that belongs to Jacob’s grandmother which is about 0,235 hectors. “We started by farming spinach and as time went by, we added tomatoes beetroots and cabbage and the project grew, The University of Limpopo started sending 3rd year students that were doing Agricultural Economics and Animal Production to our farm to do practical studies,” Jacob said. Late last year Magoro was awarded the Best Farmer of the year Certificate at the Limpopo SMME’s Awards held at the University of Limpopo. They sell their fresh vegetables to individuals, local pre-schools, and local events such as weddings and funerals. At times when the demand exceeds supply they are propelled to hire seasonal workers to assist during harvesting and distributing times. Just like any other business, Forever Green is not immune to challenges. Jacob said that “Finance is a serious problem since we do not have sponsors or funding. We used stipends that we got from AGRI-SITA to start this project and to sustain it. At times we are unable to afford Pesticides”. The pair highlighted that lack of water negatively affects their plants. They rely on water which is supplied by the municipal trucks which is not enough for irrigating crops on a regular basis. Jacob said that “The municipal truck comes once or twice in a week and each household is only allowed to come with two 210 drums and inconsistent water supply leads to crop damage.”

Two Tavern owners team up to provide longevity and sustenance of a Masters Soccer league, which started as a tournament for three teams. “The league started growing and attracted more youth to the extent that they would even fake their age so they could also play in the masters’ league. We felt the need to start a league for them as well with Japhter as the sole sponsor.” Two Tavern owners team up to provide longevity and sustenance of a Masters Soccer league, which started as a tournament for three teams. After the tournament attracted more teams, Japhter Motsepe saw the need to start pumping in some money to ensure the smooth running of the league. Warrick Malatjie from Ga- Kama, Turfloop, Polokwane, joined four seasons later and the games started rotating weekly. The league is now playing in its fifth season, and it consists of 10 teams from Turfloop and Segoreng in Mentz. A Committee and additional members were appointed for the administration of the league. After being approached by Mentz youth to establish another league that would suit them, Japhter Motsepe did not hesitate to have it kick-started and the games play on Saturdays while the Masters play on Sundays. The league is prolonged by playing each team four legs every season unlike professional soccer leagues, which play two legs. This is to avoid a long break before another season resumes, eventually leaving participants in boredom while waiting for another season. The league’s Media Liaisons Officer Tshepo Magoele affectionately known as King Sapa, said that they started the league on the basis that men over 30 years of age were considered old to participate in Soccer tournaments for boys younger than the said age. As a result, they started this league to accommodate them. Magoele cited that consistent participation in the league spares them from contracting diseases such as high blood, and diabetes and helps them to keep fit. He highlighted that the league has contributed to the reduction of extravagant expenditure on alcohol and alcohol consumption from the players. “The league started growing and attracted more youth to the extent that they would even fake their age so they could also play in the masters’ league. We felt the need to start a league for them as well with Japhter as the sole sponsor”’ Magoele said. Teams in these two leagues battle it out for trophies, Soccer kits, as well as awards for individuals such as top goal Scorer, Player of the season, and best referee. “It is in the current season that we are now having a Q-innovation system for all the four quarters of the leagues”, said Magoele. The leagues’ weekly updates are found on King Sapa’s Facebook page.