AFRICAN BEADS STORIES

As unfit as I am, yesterday I found myself in the midst of those people who take their body fitness seriously. Yes, the ones that spend hours and hours at the gym inflicting pain on their bodies. Exactly the ones that will tell you that they are trying to shed off either fat or preparing for a tournament by torturing each and every muscle in their bodies. Yep, I was among those bunch of health fanatics from Ultimate MMA Fitness in Kyalami on main. Soon after I had enjoyed my amagwinya with a slice of palony, snoek fish and atchaar. While they were busy squatting and doing all those painful exercises under the instruction of a friend and former EFC bantamweight champion Demarte Pena, I wasn't bothered at all. Pena,29 is the undefeated multiple division champion who also goes by the ring name, The Wolf but to me it ends there shame. I'm still ok with loosing weight through fasting... Lets just say, I enjoy spiritual pain than a physical pain and God knows why. But this you...

They are probably one of the many unsung heroes of the black community. But for decades now, twin brothers -Thabo and Mpho Putu- had been grooming and supporting many gifted children from the previously disadvantage communities to excel and and make a impact on others. Their aim, is to see these kids grow up to become leaders in various fields including art, politics, sports and other areas that will later benefit South Africa. Through their early 90s programme, Gifted Child Development Programme (GCP) they have produced the likes of Kwaito kingpin Kabelo Mabelane who became one of the members of music group TKZee, SABC3 Isidingo's new director and actor Motlatsi Mafatshe and the current Democratic Alliance (DA) leader, Mmusi Maimane. It is no surprise that in some households they are called deputy fathers as they provide the father figure and guidance to many youth especially those from single parenting homes. I too have felt their extended fatherly love in the 90s. When ...