Achiever

KAREN VENTER
Junior black belt karate whizzes, Morwakoma Moswane and William Mashela Jr, both 17 years old are on their way to the top when it comes to martial arts.
Both youngsters will be competing for their senior black belts in April. Moswane has been training under Grandmaster Henri Eksteen at Eksteen’s Martial Arts Rainbow Nation in Polokwane for 10 years while Mashela Jr has been with him for 11 years.

HERBERT RACHUENE
Lemo Makhongela reckons he has what it takes to make it in the professional ranks. The 17-year-old aspiring Dynamic FC footballer, who won his club’s Player of Year and Chairman’s awards last Saturday, believes he is on the right track to achieve his childhood dream.
In 2006 the midfield expert was invited to a two week training camp with the Orlando Pirates juniors. After impressing at Orlando Pirates he was included in the Limpopo provincial u.17 team which participated in the National Championships in Durban.

LESETJA MALOPE
Ms Grace Maine, Manager of the Department of Education’s Pietersburg Circuit is about to end a much loved career of more than 30 years.
Maine, credited with making the circuit a powerhouse in the province in terms of matric results, has officially resigned from the department to pursue other interests but not before offering Polokwane Observer an opportunity to get insight into her world as a celebrated administrator.

Lesetja Malope
When Education MEC Dickson Masemola announced Mbilwi Secondary School matriculant, Mukhethwa Murodovha to be the best learner in the province, he seemed more humbled by the standing ovation from the many dignitaries in the packed venue than surprised by the accolade.

Mahlatse Modila
Newly crowned Miss Limpopo 2011 Katryn Barwise is an old hand when it comes to beauty pageants and musical perfomances.
From entering the Little Miss Letaba Show at age 9 to being crowned Miss Limpopo Teen 2008 at 18, Barwise is a true example of hard work and dedication. She is today involved in various charity projects in all corners of the province, runs her own website, has three albums out and runs her own modelling agency called Limpopo Beauty and Modelling Academy.

Karen Venter
The driving force behind the Limpopo Police, Lt Gen Simon Mpembe is a man who does not mince his words and has zero tolerance towards crimes or those who commit them.
Mpembe, who has been going through the province like a whirlwind meeting with all role players in the fight against crime including his own members, both senior and junior, businesses and communities.

Mariette Snyder
Met die eerste oogopslag lyk Lelanie van Heerden soos ‘n tienermeisie wat haar tyd by ‘n koffiewinkel tussen inkopies verwyl.
Agter dit skuil egter baie vasberadenheid en groot deursettingsvermoë. Die aanvanklike teleurstelling om nie vir medies gekeur te word nie het sy omgesit in prestasie en uitmuntendheid.
Die 24-jarige slimkop kan na ses jaar dokter voor haar naam skryf en het verlede week die eed van Hippokrates afgelê waartydens sy onderneem het om altyd die hoogste etiese norme teenoor haar pasiënte na te kom.

LESETJA MALOPE
Public Works Head of Department Christopher Chamano is a man who is not shy to credit his humble rural upbringing for what he has become.
Polokwane Observer finally managed to interview the man widely considered to be media-shy as no other publication has managed to get such an opportunity with him thus far.

RC Myburgh
Drie skuts van die plaaslike Palmietfontein Kleiduifskietklub neem aan die einde van die maand aan die Chairman’s Cup uitnodigingstoernooi in KwaZulu-Natal deel.
Hardus Saaiman, sy seun André Saaiman en Frans Pieterse is drie van die twaalf skuts wat Limpopo tydens die toernooi sal verteenwoordig.

KAREN VENTER
When picturing those who participate in mixed martial arts (MMA) and cage fighting rough, tough, tattooed men come to mind.
But in Polokwane at Henri Eksteen’s Martial Arts Rainbow Nation this is definitely not the case as the Visser trio has proved. Sunet, 51, Angelique, 26, and Zuleike, 7 represent three generations of their family who are into MMA in a serious way.
The trio does not participate in MMA to fight but rather to keep fit and improve their self-defence skills. Both adults agree it has also improved their self-confidence.