MAN QUITS JOB AS ENGINEER TO DIG GRAVES AND RAKES IN THE CASH

Monday 1st February
                                           2021, 0145

Real News. Scrolla.Africa

MAN QUITS JOB AS ENGINEER TO DIG
GRAVES AND RAKES IN THE CASH
Mkhuseli Sizani

                  In 2016 Sinethemba Marali from KwaNoxolo
                  Township in Port Elizabeth quit his job as an
                  electrical engineer to become a gravedigger.
He soon earned a lot more.
But since Covid attacked the nation, Sinethemba has been
really raking in the money!
Scrolla.Africa caught up with him at the Bloemendal Cemetery
on Friday where he was digging graves.
“I worked four years as an electrical engineer for a Durban
company and I was earning R10,000 a month,” he says.
His father, Apostle Mike Mbewu of the United Old Apostolic
Church, owns Mbewu Funeral Parlour.
He looked at the business and says he saw how workers digging
graves earned R650 a grave. "They made a lot of money just
from Wednesday to Saturday morning," he says.

So he ignored his family's advice - in 2016 he quit his job and
started digging graves for his father's company.
In 2017 he joined up with his ex-convict brother and started a
grave digging company that got contracts with the big funeral
parlours.
"Since then we never looked back,” he says.
The 38-year-old father of two says that since Covid demand has
soared and they've employed four workers.
They've recently been digging at least 30 graves a week.
“I have even bought myself a R12,000 cellphone but when I was
an engineer I made no more than R10,000 a month,”
Sinethemba says.
His brother, Ayanda Tshakweni, is a father of seven and also an
apostle. He went to prison when he was 34, became a born-
again Christian and joined the 28 gang.
Before he teamed up with his brother in the grave digging
business, he says he earned R1,500 buying and selling empties.
He was also a mashonisa. "But now I earn R10,000 a week
when it is very busy and R7,000 a week on normal days. I have
bought myself a house for R120,000 - cash.”

Picture source: Mkhuseli Sizani

LOVED AND LOST: MOHLATLEGO
MATHEKGA (1988-2021)

She died serving on the frontlines
Kamogelo Muvhenzhe

Growing up, Mohlatlego Mathekga always wanted to be a
nurse.
“She never wanted anything else,” said her brother Moyahabo
Mabeba. “She had a passion for people and compassion for the
sick.”
Moyahabo told Scrolla.Africa that the nurse from Botlokwa,
Matseke in Limpopo was affectionately known as "Nhlatli" in
their family circles.
"She was a kind and gentle soul. Everybody wanted the best for
her,” he said.
“She was dedicated to her job and loved assisting the sick,” he
said. “My baby sister was one of the frontline servants as a
nurse whose duty was to save lives.”
So when the numbers of infections were skyrocketing, the
family was worried about her safety but Mohlatlego only
thought about herself.

All she wanted was to save lives and help the sick.
Mohlatlego tested positive for Covid-19 at the end of last year
and died seven days later on 5 January.
“Losing her was a big blow for us," said Moyahabo. “I knew she
was at risk, but I am still unable to come to terms with her
untimely departure.
“Now that she’s gone, I’m shattered.”
Mohlatlego leaves behind two children.

Sjava is BACK - recording with his
“brother” Big Zulu
Nyanakancesh Nongauza

In an exclusive interview with Scrolla.Africa, Sjava, real name
Jabulani Hedebe, has opened up about a few projects that he is
allowed to work on now that he has been acquitted of rape.
Sjava revealed that throughout the lockdown he has been
secretly recording new music with Big Zulu.
When asked what has prompted his collaboration with Big Zulu,
Sjava said:
“Big Zulu and I have known each other for many years. We
were close brothers and friends even before we were artists,

but we just never made music together. So, besides good
timing, I would say there is not a specific thing that inspired our
decision to work together.”
Sjava said for now he and Big Zulu are just trying to produce
good music.
“We will decide later about logistical things whether it will be a
full album or a few songs or which record label it will be
released under will only be decided later. Our focus now is to
give our audience good music,” he said.
The Bergville-born artist thanked his loyal fans for the support
throughout his past legal challenges.
“I know and appreciate those who love and support my music,”
he said.
“The album will come but I don’t want to put myself under
pressure by announcing an estimated date. One thing that I will
promise them though, they will be very happy with the end
product once it is out.”
While reflecting on his return to acting, Sjava said the pain of
being kicked out of Uzalo was not one of the things he thought
of when he accepted his acting role on eHostela.
“Contrary to what some people might assume, my decision to
accept the role on eHostela was not difficult at all. The long
unfortunate story of what happened at the other TV show
never affected me the way some people thought it did,” said
Sjava.

Picture source: @Sjava_atm

Oscar Mbo - defying a clubless world
Arthur Greene

Oscar Mbongeni Ndlovu, better known as Oscar
Mbo, is a veteran of the deep house sub genre.
The 33-year-old DJ has been producing mixes for
well over a decade, but 2021 looks set to be his
breakthrough year.
Until recently, Mbo’s soft electronic grooves have been beloved
for years by a loyal but small fanbase. His refined sound has
long been a favourite among house enthusiasts.
However, his profile has soared since his international tour in
2019, which took him to Paris and Lisbon among other
European destinations.
Last year’s release of his sophomore album, For the Groovists,
has also done much to place him firmly on the map of South
Africa’s bustling electronic scene.

The Johannesburg-based DJ’s accomplished project is brimming
with many of the country’s most celebrated acts within the
genre.
Among Groovists featured artists is Kabza De Small, who joined
up with Mbo for the dance track “Genesis”.
Rising house stars Kelvin Momo and China Charmeleon also
feature on the album’s credits.
Despite his rhythmic and soulful music being most at home in
one of Johannesburg’s nightclubs, Mbo has always had a skill
for reaching listeners in the comfort of their own homes.
This has made him the perfect DJ for the pandemic era.
His monthly podcast, The Ashamed Hour, showcases Mbo’s
penchant for mixes, whilst also exposing its listeners to talents
from a range of different creative backgrounds.
Those who tune in to the show, which has been going since
2011, can expect to hear up to four of Mbo’s own mixes, before
he invites a guest or two to perform.
He was raised in Kriel, a small mining town out in Mpumalanga,
and found his passion for music there.
His vast knowledge of the genre has caught the eyes of many
radio and TV shows over the years, including Metro FM,
TransAfrica Radio and DJ Strategy’s TV show Hit Refresh.
Surprisingly, clips of his charismatic and oddly impressive dance
moves have also found popularity on social media.

As the world gets to grips with the prospect of another year
spent in isolation, expect the sounds of Oscar Mbo to keep us
company.

Video source: Beauty In Everything (Youtube)
Picture source: Facebook

Malawian sex workers want business as
usual
Everson Luhanga

                  Sex workers in Lilongwe say they will protest
                  every day against government’s newly gazetted
                  curfew regulations that prohibit anyone moving
                  on the streets beyond 9 o’clock at night.
On Thursday, sex workers in different parts of the country took
to the streets demanding that government lets them return to
business as usual.
Escorted by police, a group of people, mainly women, were
seen in the streets of Malawi’s capital singing and chanting. The
group took a memorandum of grievances to the District
Commissioner of Lilongwe to sign.
But the government is not taking any chances in the fight
against Covid-19, so is unlikely to back down.

In Malawi, prostitution is legal. But because of Covid-19, the
government has shut down places where sex workers hunt for
customers.
Dr Mudula Tembo, who works in Mangochi district as a dentist
said it was the first time this kind of protest has been seen in
the country.
“Mangochi is a district that attracts tourists and there are high
levels of prostitution,” he said.
Mudula said bars, nightclubs and other areas which are usually
loaded with tourists, have dried out due to the regulations put
in place – and thousands of sex workers are devastated and left
hungry.
The new regulations demand that nightclubs and bars be closed
before 8pm but sex workers say the curfew hits their business
very hard as their business only starts around that time.
“We want to be allowed to operate from 8pm to midnight as
from this weekend,” Secretary-General of the sex workers
association told journalists during the protest.
“We want to be business as usual and be open for business
until the next morning.”

Gogo haunted by the screams of her
granddaughter swept away by river
Lungani Zungu

                Heartbroken Gogo Khonzephi Makhoba watched
                helplessly as her granddaughter was swept away
                by the overflowing Umfolozi River.
She told Scrolla.Africa she is still haunted by the screams of the
three-year-old Asanda who drowned. The gogo from Ceza,
northern KZN said she is unable to sleep at night.
“I blame myself for what happened. I can’t sleep at night. I hear
my granddaughter crying for her help as I lose grip on her tiny
wrist. I will never forgive myself for this,” said the gogo.
She said she had her granddaughter on her chest when she
entered the river to go to a village on the other side.
Waist-deep, she staggered and slipped mid-river, and plunged
under the water.
“I held on to her wrist. But it was slippery and the current got
bigger and more powerful,” she said.
“I couldn’t hold her any more, and she slipped out of my hands.
I can still see her face and hear her screams.”

Gogo fought her way out of the raging river and called for help
but it was too late.
She said residents are used to crossing the river when it is
overflowing.
“It would’ve been better if both of us were swept away. The
pain of losing my granddaughter is unbearable.”
Three days of searching have yielded no results, and now
Makhoba’s hopes of finding her granddaughter alive were
dashed.
“My grandchild must be dead by now. No one can survive in the
water for so many days,” she said.
Asanda’s aunt, Nomzamo Makhoba, said everyone in the house
and the village loved playing with her niece.
“It is painful for the family,” she said.
“We want the body to be retrieved so we can bury her with
dignity. We can’t move on with our lives without finding the
body.”
Provincial police confirmed the incident, saying the search for
the missing child was underway.

Madisha family had to resort
              to private lab to confirm son’s
              remains
              Sphiwe Masilela

A private laboratory service has come to the rescue of the late
Motjeka Madisha’s family to save them from despair.
The family of the former Mamelodi Sundowns defender had to
wait for more than a month to get the DNA results of their son
who was involved in a horrific car crash in December in
Kempton Park. The DNA results were finally confirmed on
Saturday.
Scrolla.Africa has been reliably informed by a source close to
the family that the Madishas went to Lancet Laboratories after
realising that the government lab results in Pretoria were not
forthcoming.
“Three weeks ago, the family approached a private laboratory
and their pathologists, namely Lancet. At least with them, the
results were released in less than three weeks after conducting
the tests,” said the source.
“There is still the confusion as to why the government
pathologists have not yet released their DNA findings.”
According to the family spokesperson, Fanie Tsela, the family
are relieved to have closure.

“We were disappointed by Saps and the government
pathologists and that’s no secret,” said Tsela.
“Their service was poor. You can imagine how many families
are out there who are waiting for the results of their loved
ones. Some could wait for three or four months. Their suffering
must be unbearable.”
Madisha’s remains will be buried on Saturday morning in Ga-
Madisha, Leole Village in Zebediela.

Picture source: @ViralFeedZA

Gritty Bulls sink Sharks in last minute of
extra time
Lucky Mdluli

               American grid-iron matches are played over four
               fifteen minute periods – and usually drag on for
               well-over three hours.
The Currie Cup final between the Cell C Sharks and the
Vodacom Blue Bulls started at 3pm and finished at about
5.45pm, making one virtual spectator comment: “Thank
heavens it ended before curfew.”
That is not entirely fair, though. While the world-authorities will
have to admit that attempts to speed up the game have had

the opposite effect, leading to more and more interest-sapping
delays, yesterday’s final also included an unavoidable break of
15 minutes when lightning approached the stadium.
In a match that produced very few highlights (although all three
tries were gems for different reasons), it could be argued that
the weather played a significant role.
Is it a coincidence that both Curwin Bosch and Morne Steyn,
two of the most reliable kickers in the game at any level, had
bad days? Bosch missed no fewer than five kicks at goal and his
three futile attempts at drop-goals may simply be the
consequence of an uncontained boyish ego.
However, while the bad kicking by both teams may be a
coincidence, perhaps the weather made the ball more difficult
to kick and the flight seemed erratic in the heavy air.
While it never rained, the field was sodden and how much that,
and the lack of oxygen on the Highveld, may have drained the
energy from the Sharks players, nobody knows.
The numbers, however, show that in the second half the Sharks
had a ten point lead that they surrendered without reply and at
full-time the score was 19-19. The Bulls’ try in the final minute
of extra time, with only token resistance from the Sharks,
seemed somehow, inevitable. All in all, the final score of 26-19
is probably a fair reflection of the game.

Picture source: @BlueBullsRugby

Poor defence sinks Chiefs in Soweto
derby
Menzi Magubane

Orlando Pirates continued their good run of form
against their Soweto neighbours Kaizer Chiefs,
beating the Amakhosi 2-1 in the DStv
Premiership at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
Bucs attacker Thembinkosi Lorch, who was the man of the
match, said they knew Chiefs ' defence was slow.
“We played the ball behind them. My goal came from hard
work at training. It motivates me to do well in the coming
matches," said Lorch.
Lorch gave Pirates the lead just before the break and Siphesihle
Ndlovu scored the winner coming from the bench. Daniel
Cardoso gave Chiefs the consolation goal late in the match.
Bucs coach Josef Zinnbauer said the win was important for
them to continue putting pressure on the leading pack. Before
this match they reported saying Zinnbauer's job was on the line
and a defeat in the derby would see him leave the club.

"I wanted this win. In the first half we had opportunities but it
was in the final third of the match that we had problems with
the shots on goal," said Zinnbauer.
“In the second half we did what we had to do to get the goals.”
He said they were denied a clear penalty in the second half.
Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt said his team should have won their
game if they had taken their chances.
"What more can I say?” said Hunt.
"I don't know how many we cleared off the line, so we did well.
I can't fault the players.”
"That's pretty basic in football to take chances but you also
have to defend better. I thought the second goal was poor from
our side."
The three points leaves Bucs five points behind Sundowns who
are on top. Chiefs remain in eighth position despite the defeat.
Other Premiership fixtures
Black Leopards 0-3 TS Galaxy; SuperSport United 1-1 Swallows;
AmaZulu 2-1 Stellenbosch; Bloemfontein Celtic 1-0 Tshakhuma;
Golden Arrows 2-1 Maritzburg United.

Picture source: @thamisoccer

A draw with Arsenal leaves Man United
further behind Man City
Menzi Magubane

           Both Arsenal and Manchester United coaches have
           focused on the positives in their English Premier
           League match that ended in a goalless draw at
           Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
The Gunners failed to complete the double over United after
they beat them 1-0 at Old Trafford in November.
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta said his team missed a fair number
of scoring chances.
"I thought it was a fair result. Both managers probably think
they should have won. It was a big game. We played face-to-
face," Arteta said.
"The fact that we had three of our best players out probably
had an impact on the game. I’m really happy with the players
that played today and how the game developed at the end. In
the second half we were so dominant and had some big
chances."

Arsenal played their third consecutive game without their
captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who is still absent due to
family matters.
The draw saw Arsenal jump to ninth place but they could drop
to tenth if Chelsea win their match.
United's draw was expensive. They are now four points behind
leaders Manchester City who have a game in hand.
The Red Devils' second place is under threat. They could swap
places with third place Leicester City who are playing on
Sunday.
United's coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said he couldn’t fault his
players.
“I was delighted with the lads,” he said.
"We had big chances to win the game but unfortunately we
didn't take them. I think we dominated the first half and
Marcus Rashford missed a glorious chance to put us ahead. But
I can't fault my players, they played well," said Solskjaer.
Both teams are back in action on Tuesday. Arsenal will visit
Wolves while United host Southampton.
Other EPL results
Southampton 0-1 Aston Villa; West Brom 2-2 Fulham;
Manchester City 1-0 Sheffield United; Crystal Palace 1-0
Wolves; Everton 0-2 Newcastle United.

Picture source: @arsenal