Co n tr ib u to rs : R on ald

Mach e te| Dike le di Mo h ale|

Damar is Mog od i| Alex
S ekg o ta| Mxo lisi S ib an yo ni|Xo lan i
Kub h ay i|S elin a Ser one |Mab jalw a
R abop ape| Ke dibo ne Masie

THE STARS OF
BOLOBEDU
a Rabopape

We are more than conquerors

From Humble
Beginnings(Lerato) pg.2
Heart Breaking Story
(Foster) pg.3-4Words
An Open Letter(Karabo)

Real life stories|Profiles|Poerty|words of encouragement.

Subeditors: Lerato Rasebopela, Lebo Mashile, Lebo

Kgatla, Kagiso Mohlaloganyi, Frederica Mogadime,
Mkateko Mkhari, Foster Mataga, Mahlatse Leshiba.

Pg.5f |
Edited by Karabo
Sekgale
29May2016

1|P ag e

By Karabo Sekgale|20 May

2016

From humble beginnings, Lerato Rasebopela is a God-fearing young

lady, not forgetting humble. Born in 1993 from Ga-kgapane in Mandela
Park a village named after the late black former president Nelson
Mandela, no wonder the young lady is a living embodiment of the highest
values of the great-minded leader. A life and journey worth each and
every child, teenager and a young person from disadvantaged
communities such as that of Leratos, to peruse over.

2|P ag e
nothing but a dream and indeed she
conquered her dream of graduating and
hopes to be a crime analyst or perhaps a
detective. Detective Rasebopela, it has a
nice ring to it [laughs] said the optimistic
graduate. Ntate nthekele seanamerela
(Father buy me a gown) a famous
graduation song to which Lerato sang with
joy and pride. A gown was bought and a
gown was worn. Her academic success will
make those who lack respect for others gain
it back. Like a flower that blossoms from a
crack of a concrete and survives, so is
Lerato Rasebopela. A breath taking story of
a young lady from Limpopo in Bolobedu that
will make a drop out go back to school and
a 50 year old dust off his law books.

Question and answer with Lerato.

The intellectual challenge of studying at
university is stimulating and enjoyable. You
will learn the subject matter that interests
you from leading researchers and experts in
the field said the young honours graduate.
Like many other young people from the

Q. How did you overcome the challenges

you faced as a student?
A. I learned to adjust to new teaching
methods and learning to study
independently not forgetting dealing with the
volume and pace of the workload.
Q. any advice for young people out there?

village, Lerato has faced a lot of challenges

as multifaceted as she is today.

One of those challenges being coming from

a disadvantaged family, to name but a few.
Surprisingly enough none of those
challenges stopped the young Lerato from
going to the University of Limpopo with

A. I would tell them not to let their

backgrounds hinder their progress in life
and for them to get an education and plough
back to the community that raised them as
the saying goes it takes the community to
raise a child.

3|P ag e

A heart breaking story that would

possibly make God take notice and the
world to pay attention by Foster Mataga.

My name is Foster Mataga

I was born on the 31st of July 1994 in Me
Meloding (Ga-Kgapane). I grew up as
an orphan. I started school at the age of

[Pictured: Foster Limer Mataga]

7. On my primary level I attended two

different schools which are Sefahone
and Medingen Primary School.

My life changed after 2013, rejection by

friends and family being some of those
changes. It all began in 2014 where I

I left Meloding to Medingen Village to

stay with my grandparents as my
guardians. I had to study hard in order
for me to pass my classes so that I can
become a better person in the near
future. After passing my grade 7 I went
to high school at the age of 13 which
was Magoletsa High School where I did

had to stand on my own two feet as a

young man who wanted nothing but to
achieve his goals. It takes time to get
what you want when you working hard
as a teenager without any moral
support. That is when I realized that
growing up without parents is like going
to a new world empty handed.

my grade 8 to grade 11, thereafter I

went to Modubatse Secondary School at
the age of 18 to finish my matric during
the year 2013.

The year 2014 taught me how to be

patient, how to stand on my own to
become what I want out of life. Later on
after 2014 I experienced one of the

The year 2013 was the year people

started taking me as nothing since I
struggled to pass my matric hence the
same people are the ones who were
once my friends.

worst pains that most young men would

not come out of it alive. Early 2015 on
the 4th January I was involved in a very
terrible car accident that sent me to

4|P ag e

hospital the whole year. I have travelled

support. When people turn their back on

different hospitals so that I can become

you, do not follow them, let their doings

the man I am today. The accident that I

motivates you and make you realize

was involved in took my life from where

what you would have achieved without

it was to back where it began; practically

them. It was not only friends who

I had to start from the scratch.

showed me their true colors but also

some family members whom I trusted

The scars that I have on my body that

with my life.

caused by different operations from

different hospitals by different doctors

They are now an object that motivates

motivates me to become a better person

me in my eyes, I know what I have to do

in life.

just to become a better person without

them. Believe in yourself and God, like

You do not need friends nor family

they say God works in a mysterious

members to be strong in order for you to

ways, now here I am still looking

achieve your goals, believe me I went

forward to have my matric certificate

through a lot of pain alone, from growing

and get my degree. It does not matter

up without parents, not getting my

how long it will take me, what matters

matric certificate, struggling to go to

now is to carry on believing on myself

school and also been involved in a car

and let other people who do great things

accident. All those things I went through

motivate me.

them on my own without anyone to my

rescue.

#Limer

All you need is God and yourself to

believe in, being positive with the things

you do will take you far to where you
never thought you can possibly be. I had
friends that I always trusted, but the time

Personally as the editor of The

Stars of Bolobedu, the story of
Foster Limer Mataga humbled
me.

I was in hospitals they turned their back

on me, only a few of them gave m

By Karabo Sekgale

5|P ag e

I have knocked on many doors with

other graduates with no luck of being
employed. Education is the key to
success so they say, but we as
graduates feel like education has been a
key to poverty for us as our CVs are
thrown away by those who should be
assisting us .Is our struggle been
removed at all from that of our
predecessors? So I ask.

All we want is to put our qualification to

a better use instead of them gathering
dust. We want to go out there and
contribute to the betterment of this
[Pictured: Karabo Junior Sekgale]

country but how will we do that if our

own people do not have faith in us we

An open letter to the government,

want people with experience thats

organizations and local business

what they all say but the question is how

owners in South Africa.

are we going to get such experience if

we are not given opportunities.

My name is Karabo Junior Sekgale, a

BA Communication Studies graduate

It is painful that we came from nothing

from University of Limpopo and future

and feel like we have amounted to

postgraduate student. I reside in

nothing after those years of studying

Madumeleng Village Ga-Modjadji in

hard. As long as poverty, injustice and

Limpopo. I write this letter with pain that

gross inequality still persist in our world,

is constantly felt in my heart. This is not

none of us can truly rest Nelson

only a matter that concerns me alone

Mandela

but millions of graduates in South Africa

who are currently unemployed.

By Karabo Sekgale

6|P ag e

Ronald machete aged 18 from Sehlakong

Ga-Modjadji in Limpopo is a true definition
of the word survivor, for he survived the
death of his both parents, may their souls
rest in peace. That is not the only thing that
the young led survived I survived rejection
from friends and family, I could have given
up in life, but I chose not to, I carried on with
my journey which was not easy with no
hope to hold on to.
Ronald Machete schooling at Mandela
Barloworld Agricultural High School is very
optimistic about the future and he would not
let any circumstances derail him. What a
courageous young man that is Ronald. He
may seem to be alone but he is never alone
for he believes that God is in him and with
him all the time. God-fearing as he is, and
like the Victoria Falls Ronald will continue
being admirable and looking forward to what
life will throw at him.

Mkateko Mkhari AkA Fohlolicious from

Mohlakong Village believes she has
unforeseen forces in her life that are making
her life miserable and hard to cope with
daily challenges that she faces in her life.
One would see Mkateko as an African
Drum, mama Africa and a person
comfortable in her own skin, but that is far
from how the young Tsonga lady views
herself. I feel like people do not appreciate
me nor love me because of my weight, as a
result I find myself depressed because of
other peoples actions and most importantly
I am disappointed in myself.
Young women such as Miss Mkhari should
not be looked down on and judged, for God
created them with love and for a purpose. It
is never about the body weight of a person
but a persons character, for Mkateko is a
down to earth young lady who believes in
unity.
By Karabo Sekgale 29 May 2016

7|P ag e
Outgoing and active as she might look
Lebogang Kgatla Is a very soft and shy girl
if you get to know her not forgetting modest
as her whatsapp status reads if it was up to
me I was going to spend this day sleeping
referring to her birthday. As some would
love to hate her she is also adored by many
of her close friends and family Happy
birthday to my besti, my bae, my young
sister. Ur wished a day filled with joy, de
same kind of joy u bring to me all year
along said Nomsa Kobela one of the
birthday girls friends. Happy 19th birthday to
Lebogang Shanice Kgatla.

[Pictured: Lebogang Shanice Kgatla]

birthday celebration of Lebogang

Shanice Kgatla born on the 28 th
May 1997. Lebogang has just
turned 19 years old, a milestone
each teen would love to reach.
Affectionately known to her friends and
family as simply Lebo, the young girl is not
just a pretty face, but a smart and
determined young girl who would not let
circumstances pull her down not even the
fact that she was raised by a single parent
who happens to be her lovely and
supportive mother, who always makes the
best out of nothing to ensure her childrens
survival and a better future.
My mother is the reason I study hard as
she works hard to make sure that I become
somebody one day and go to university
said the young vibrant Lebogang staying in
Modubong Village just outside Ga-Kgapane.

[Pictured: Lebogang Shanice Kgatla]

8|P ag e

[Pictured: Mxolisi Forgivenes Sibanyoni]

[Pictured: Selina Mapula Serone]
Selina Mapula Serone aged 24 from
Seshego in Polokwane is a BA
Communication Studies graduate from
University of Limpopo. Her dream is to work
as a communication specialist.

Mxolisi Sibanyoni aged 23 is from pienaar in

Mpumalanga. As young as he is Mxolisi
holds a BA degree in Communication
Studies and currently pursuing his honours
studies.

[Pictured: Kedibone Patricia Masie]

[Pictured: Xolani Yollanda Khubhayi]

Kedibone Patricia Masie aged 23 from a

Village by the name Mokgoloboto, just
outside Tzaneen. The young graduate holds
a BA degree in media studies from
University of Limpopo. She hopes to one
day work as a media manager.

Residing in Mpumalanga[Mzinti] Xolani

Yollanda Khubhayi aged 23, holds a BA
degree in Communication Studies from
University of Limpopo. Miss Khubhayi
hopes to be a communication practitioner.
By Karabo Sekgale

9|P ag e
Terror and fear started filling my heart.
I looked astray..
Behind me and aside me..
There he was.. Standing
With the skin of an ambassador, dark like
a milked coffee
THERE HE WAS!!!

Now who am I talking about?

I am talking about the one special
moment
Once in a blue moon.
[Pictured: Lebogang Mashile]

Surely his eyes are more like pearls and

the perfume that penetrates the air.

A poem by Lebogang Mashile titled Special

Moments.

There he was The one and only

There he was!!!

Special Moments.
Written by: Lebogang the poet
It was in the noon when the sun was getting
dark,
The stars sparkling and the wind starting to
blow
The clouds changing and I could feel the cold
breeze from deep inside

I looked over and over

I was the only one standing
Now the bright light from the heavens
and the oceans above started to scare me,
With my little-tiny eyes and with the
body of a well shaped lady.

By Karabo Sekgale

10 | P a g e
its not.
See last year
I was ill on a lady with no heart to give
No roots for a heart to flourish
No fire to keep me warm when she wrapped
me in her bitter winter.
She was so cold you would swear her heart
was made of an iceberg.

She crashed my ribs and broke my heart

Lengthened my nights, shortened my days
with lies, false alibis
[Pictured: Kagiso Clinton Mohlaloganyi]

Those that stained my pillow with silent

cries.

A poem by Kagiso Clinton Mohlaloganyi titled

They say a man dont cry but thats a damn

When a real woman comes along-.

lie

When a real woman comes along-

She chained the man inside me,

Who needed to be free like a caged bird

Honestly I disagree love is never blind,

Just that our eyes decline to see.
We
blacken the bigger picture and the braille

Who didnt need an euphoria but a lifetime

thing
But I was just hanging on in vain of Calvary
that never came

and injure the retinas

Then she came Thee Right Woman
Ladies and gents lets face it

The thin line between her pink lips parted

so revelation cant stare us dead in the face.

And she spoke with conviction

We chose our own grapes, then make our

own wine
Too sour to sip from a bottomless glass we
select
Thinking its real crystal, when its crystal
clear,

Said.
Place your 2nd hand on the shelf,
And let me clue it with my blood
burn for me,
blaze hard
moan harder,
breathe easier

11 | P a g e
I paid attention like the in laws negotiating

She showed me through strength of actions

lobola as she continued

that orbited around this womans words

and I sunk my trust in the croock of her

I will be your light and lead you out of the

neck.

darkness you in

I let the contentment of what I always

Forget every Woman and moment that

needed

made you

open my heart.

slaughter a memory because it wasnt

grand or loyal enough,

Written by Kagiso Mohlaloganyi

to live in your beautiful mind.

DakwestaDUP2016 (all rights reserved)

Come to me Im not on my knees though

Let me show you what trust looks like when
its
Dressed with commitment.

I can give your face a permanent smile with

a shine
so radiant, its intensity would embarrass
the sun.
Im going to place a love song between your
thighs
and with every step you take, your sway
becomes melody in motion.

[Pictured: Mkateko Mkhari]

A poem written by Mkateko Mkhari, titled A
young girl in me
A young girl in me

Let me soothe any and all your pain before

it ever has a chance to reach maturity.

You so special, beautiful and unique

You are the one that is able to change your own

I promise you, every punch life throws and

future.

every

You have the power to change your tomorrow.

fall you take

All those old men are just here to ruin your life,

Will go unnoticed as long as Im standing by

All those fleshy clothes expensive gifts are not

your side.

worth it. Be strong and hung in there!!!

Let me love you in ways that knows no

boundaries.

Written by Mkateko Mkhari

By Karabo Sekgale

12 | P a g e

[Pictured: Mogadime Makubu Frederica]

[Pictured: Kagiso Clinton Mohlaloganyi]

Fre as she is popularly known to her peers

Da-kwesta as he is known by his

aged 20 from Polokwane advices the youth.

thousands facebook friends from

Thibeng Village in Bolobedu had this to

ife is painful and messed
up. It gets complicated at
the worst of times, and
sometimes you have no

idea where to go or what to do. Lots of

times people just let themselves get lost,
dropping into a wide open, huge abyss.
But that is why we have to keep trying.
We have to push through all that hurts
us, work past all our memories that are
haunting us. Sometimes the things that
make us strong. A life without

say.

eware of fake
friends and energy
drainers, people
who do not want to
do anything. People

who wake up every day and try to talk

you out of your dreams. Like a pregnant
woman in labor, keep on pushing till
something comes out of it. Never abort
your plans or hustle, the best is yet to
come.

experience, in my opinion, is no life at

all. That is why I tell everyone that even
when it hurts, never stop yourself from
living.

By Karabo Sekgale

13 | P a g e

The rising stars of Bolobedu

May they keep on rising.

[Pictured: Sekgota Alex]

[Pictured: Dikeledi Millicent Mohale]

Alex Sekgota is a 2nd year student in

The forever active Deekay from Mohlakong

LLB from University of Limpopo aged 21

from Bolobedu [Motsinoni Village]. He
hopes to be an advocate and help
disadvantaged communities as a way of
giving back to the society.

[Pictured: MabjalwaCharlotte Rabopape]

The BSc student in Animal Production

Village just at the outskirt of Ga-Kgapane

aged 18, currently upgrading at Wits Star
School want to enroll at Vaal University of
Technology in Safety Management. My
dream is to pursue all my goals, with God
everything is possible said Dikeledi.

[Pictured: Makosha Damaris Mogodi]

Beauty with brains that is the 17 year old
Damaris from Ga-Kgapane Parktown.

by the name of Mabjalwa Rabopape age

Currently doing her 1st year in BA

20, is from Koope Village in Bolobedu.

criminology and psychology in University of

Her desired dream being animal health

Limpopo, Damaris hopes to be a

specialist.

psychologist.

By Karabo Sekgale

14 | P a g e

through my ever beloved family and

friends.

Thank you for all the experience of this

past year; for times of success which
will always be happy memories , for
times of failure which reminded me of
my own weaknesses and of my need for
you. For times of joy when the sun was
shining, for times of sadness which
drove me to you. Forgive me for hours I
wasted, for the chances I failed to take,
for the opportunities I missed this past
[Pictured: Lebogang Shanice Kgatla]

All that is well ends well, with God by

our side, which is why Lebogang
Shanice Kgatla took it upon herself to
thank the Almighty.

thank You God, for making

me see another year; thanks
for the gift of life, I am
eternally grateful for all the
blessings that you have given

me that makes me appreciate a good

life. For the struggles you casted on me
which made me stronger and helped me
realize the ideas of lifes bitter sweet

year.

Help me in these days ahead to make

this the best year and through it to bring
good credit to myself, happiness and
pride to my loved ones. For all that you
gave me in the past years I am grateful.
Thank You for the sunshiny days and for
the sad and cloudy ones; for the calm
afternoons and the dark nights; for the
love and for all beautiful and sweet
things; for the flowers and the stars.
Thank You the good health, sicknesses,
sorrows and joy. Thank You for all that
You gave me and all that You asked of
me.

reality and most of all, for the love which

is supported by guidance and
protection, which He conditionally gives

By Karabo Sekgale

15 | P a g e

back, so it is not a surprise. I do not

know lullabies and bedtime stories. I
went to school with friends who wanted
nothing to do with school.

Some did quit, a few of us made it to

varsity. I was never troubled as a teen
and adolescent was never an issue for
me. I was always on the phone not
socializing but reading about something
[Pictured: Mahlatse Leshiba]

Family is what defines the young

undergraduate student, Mahlatse
Leshiba, who sometimes struggles to
survive but survives nonetheless.

uccess is not a critical

new every day.

Doing IT put a lot of perspective to what

I want, where I want to go and how. I
want to do things that were never done
before. Equipped with computer skills I
can already type my future if you know
what I mean

step into riches. It is

one giant step in
which you have all
your life to execute. I

grew up in a very dusty place where

many things DO NOT happen, just like
any rural area in South Africa. The
government did not pay much attention
to us, that is a story for another day....or
two. In a family of six wisdom came from
all angels, four sisters and one brother.
Mom and dad go out every day to fill our
stomachs, sometimes they never come

By Karabo Sekgale

16 | P a g e

[Pictured: Karabo Junior Sekgale]

Creator and editor of THE STARS OF
BOLOBEDUs first edition May 2016. A
BA Communication Studies graduate
from University of Limpopo, a future
postgraduate. Founder and manager of
Karabo Sekgales the stars of bolobedu
project which aims to improve the lives
of disadvantaged young people from
different villages in Bolobedu with
funding for their studies and motivational
work. A poet and Marketer for Letaba
Herald newspapers online publication.

st

THE STARS OF BOLOBEDU 1 edition May

2016 All rights reserved