Homo Naledi's age revealed

He has be around at about 335 000 and 236 000 

Homo naledi from the Dinaledi chamber has been revealed to be startlingly youngster who shows that he was alive sometimes between 335 000 and 236 000 years.

The research published in three papers in the journal eLife was done by a large team of researchers from the University of Witwatersrand (Wits), James Cool University, Australia, the University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA and more than 30 international institutions. The dating of Homo naledi is the conclusion of the multi-authored papers entitled The age of Homo naledi and associated sediments in the rising star Cave. Professor Paul Dirks of the James Cook University said the surprisingly young age of Homo naledi opens up more questions on where the origin of man is really from. “Dating of Naledi was extremely challenging," said Dirks, who worked with 19 scientists from different laboratories and institutions around the world. “Eventually, six independent dating methods allowed us to constrain the age of this population of Homo naledi to a period known as the late middle Pleistocene," he added.

 According to the information from the researchers the direct dating of the teeth of Homo Naledi, was done using Uranium series (U) dating and electron spin resonance (ESR) dating. “Of course we were surprised at the young age, but as we realised that all the geological formation in the chamber were young, the        U-series and ESR results were perhaps less of surprise in the end," said professor Eric Roberts from James cook university and Wits who is one of the few geologist to have entered the Dinaledi chamber, due to the tight 18cm wide constraints of the entrance chute.

Some scientists believe the age of Homo naledi will open a wide and broader discussion about the human evolution. "I think some scientists assume they knew how human evolution happened, but these new fossil discoveries, plus what we now know from genetics tells us that the Southern half of Africa was home to a diversity that we have never seen anywhere else," concluded professor John Hawks of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

My First time Soweto Experience

For the first time I put my feet to the biggest and well-known revolutionary township in the country. Look, that was a dream come to true to me. There by the road a sign written Well Come to Soweto, yes I could fell the warm welcome by the spirit of Ubuntu and the spirit of the freedom fighters whose blood was shed in that area.

Its more than forty decade since the 16 June Bloodbath happened but when I look to the bullet holes at the Regina Mundi Catholic church building, my heart beat was a bit faster. The Church which can accommodate to up to 2000 people seated tells the all the stories that happened in the township through its paintings. Starting from its broken marble alter the broken windows as well as the bullet holes around the wall one can tell that people from around the area have a story to tell.

soweto

Though I must admit, that for a moment I felt angry after seeing and learning about the struggles black people encountered in SOWETO, But to my comfort I couldn’t believe when Deny Dube, the tour guide in the monument church told me I was standing exactly on the foot print of the late first democratic president of the Country Dr Nelson Mandela. That alone was a massive experience I have ever had but on top of that my signature in the visitors role in the church will be the one of my highlights for the Soweto visit.

Apart from that, the stadiums, the hostels, Soweto Towers, the Nelson Mandela Museum and the clustered location houses made me feel that indeed I was in the historic township of the country.  

 

  

life is still tough for some People

After 21 years of Democracy you cant believe that there are still people living under oppression in this beautiful Republic Of South Africa. A family is living in a hall in Piet Retief after they were evicted by the owner of the farm.
More than 20 people both adults and children are living in the community hall with no privacy. According to one of the family members staying in the hall says life is not easy in that hall they don't have privacy they are forced to bath in front of children and their in laws which is something that deprive them their dignity as Africans. To make things worse is the fact that now the municipality have decided to switch both electricity and water.

Meanwhile the Mkhondo municipality says they offered the family the hall as an alternative place for this family however there is nothing more they can do fro them sine the family is failing to cooperate with the municipality.

It is now a fourth year since the family is staying on that hall of shame. But is government really thinking for the citizen or they are important only during election time?

POOR INFRASTRUCTURE IN TSEBE VILLAGE-MABOPANE

No bridge, no road

Residents of Tsebe ward 22 in Mabopane are in need of a bridge that will help them cross over a waterlogged area caused by an overflowing river. 

 Cars cannot get across the river because it prohibits them from reaching their homesteads.    

Proper infrastructure development has been a dream of people living in the area, who travel more than four kilometres before they reach a tarred road.

 Residents’ main concern was that cars could not get cross the flooded area. School children were travelling to and from school use a narrow path, walking over a wall that was built to stop water from flowing onto the road.

Khensani Mmoko, a resident said, they felt neglected in their area. “Every time when there are upcoming elections, campaigners come here and make empty promises. After that they go and we will not see them again. We are living miserable lives here. Three people have died because of this dam last year.”

Mmoko said that they cannot get help when there is an emergency in and residents cannot get to a hospital. Not even ambulances can cross the flooded area.

Another resident, Semakaleng Molebatsi said crossing alone the dam was not safe. “Thieves are becoming a problem. Many people have been robbed of their belongings while trying to cross here,” she said.

Councillor Jacob Ridge Petersen of the Democratic Alliance had assured residents that he was fully aware of the problems faced by Tsebe residents.

“We reported this matter to the council but still there was no action taken, but we will continue until the needs of the people are met. The problem is that we are not the ruling party and we do not have the powers to change the situation,” said Petersen.

                           

                            

 

Kaiser Chiefs managed to be the 2012/13 league champions

The Glamour Boys, Kaizer Chiefs, have managed to win the ABSA Premiership League title after a period of 8 years.

 The club achieved that by bringing coach Stuart Baxter  on board along with signing an array of good players like Eric Mathoho, Kingston Nkhatha to mention a few.

The club secured the league title by getting a point they needed in the 1-all draw with Supersport United in Polokwane. The newly crowned champs were awarded the trophy after the 1-nil loss to University of Pretoria in Mbombela. With their closest rivals, Platinum Stars and Orlando Pirates, blowing hot and cold Amakhosi enjoyed the whole season being at the summit of the log standings.

RELATED LINKS

http://www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/article/south-africa/chiefs-trophy-parade-route/133580
http://www.supersport.com/football/absa-premiershi
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Soshanguve community Radio station crowned on the MTN Radio Award Best music show

Excitement is written on the faces of all the employees of Sosha fm after being awarded with the best music show among all community

radio station countrywide on the 2013 MTN Radio Awards that we held on the 15 of April at Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

The first time nominated for MTN Radio Awards, the station was crowned with the best music show on the category of community radio stations. Ingcwenga Yokholo is the name of the gospel show that made them winners; it is presented by Wendy Dlamini. According to Dlamini she said it was a tough competition, considering the fact that it was their first time nominated and there were so many radio stations they were competing with. Dlamini said, “W e were happy that we were nominated but we could not believe that we can be the winners. Then when the announced the best music show under community radio station Ingcwenga Yokholo, I was so over excited I even do not know what to do because of excitement,” she said.  Her secret on presenting the show as fantastic one she said “I always say God stay in the station, every time before began the show we just invite the Almighty God. Also passion and involving our listeners is what make us to win the award.” 

The station manager Nolulama Sithole said “We feel great honoured as new management of the station after taking since from last year now we have something to be proud of, it is so amazing our happiness cannot be measured. This award we dedicate it to our listeners, we are proud of them, they are the one that make the programme to be the best through their contribution,” she said. Sithole added that their main focus this year is to help people living with disability to feel part of the community,” We have already started with our mission, we have donate 17 wheelchairs to people and very soon we will be donating with blankets. Our aim is to make disable people not isolated”

As one of the minor radio station in the country, Soshanguve community radio station is also facing some challenges. One of them is losing their qualified presenters to public radio stations. “ Even though we are proud of themselves where ever they go, but the fact is we are affected because we then have to start training new presenters and by that way our listeners have to start adapting as a result our listeners drop. Also funding is a problem, we do not have funders that is why we always relaying on volunteers since we cannot hire permanent presenters,” she added

SAY NO TO ABUSE OF ELDER PEOPLE

Safety awareness against crime for senior citizens

The community policing forum of Mabopane have organised a meeting for elder people around Mabopane, Ga-Rankua and Winterveld to raise a safety awareness campaign against crime for elders.  

The meeting was held in Mabopane sports centre where more than one hundred elders were present. Other stake holders that were present includes; South African Police Services, church organisation and youth organisation around Mabopane.

According to Rose Rasuge the deputy chairperson of Mabopane policing forum said they have organised the meeting so that they raised safety awareness against crime. “Our main aim with this meeting is to give elders tips on how they can protect themselves against abuse and crime. We have seen that elders are the most victims of crime; they raped, killed and robbed their money. We want to make sure that such come to an end,” she said.

Captain Makhanya of Mabopane police station said community must work hand in hand with the police to ensure that elder people are safe. “Alone as polices we cannot succeed in protecting elders, we need help of community members to ensure that lives of the elders are safe and protected,” said.

Makhanya said there are police cars that are patrolling the communities. “We are urging old people to report any kind of abuse they are facing to the police so that they will get help,” she added.