Monday 7 January was our very first day at the office for the year 2019.
Oops! I first typed in “2018”, and this should affect all of us before we get used to the fact that we are in 2019.
Having spent the holidays not doing any serious writing, I feel rusty and ask you to bear with me as I try to re-adjust.
A few days before the re-opening of the offices, I found it in order to call the reporters and say to them: folks, newspaper business does not start on Monday 7 January 2019.
There I go again with the year “2018”! It is going to take a few months to adjust, that I am certain of.
But I digress. I said to the reporters before the day of re-opening that work needed to start long before the Monday.
The reason being that editors do not take kindly to reporters saying they still have to scramble around for the week’s diary.
In all normal newsroom circumstances, such a response is tantamount to knocking at the door of a disciplinary hearing.
Fortunately for me, I have a team that I can confidently count on.
I first touched base with Mzamane Ringane, who came across up and running, checking on things such as matric results and the often severe thunderstorms.
The young man has also committed to assist in finding out from regional leaders across the spectrum, as to what went wrong with the home province coming out at the tail-end of the national
matric results.
To the contrary, TK Mashaba has said he has found out that the percentage for the Waterberg in terms of matric results had improved. Congratulations, boys and girls.
Lizzy Bapela was also up and running, checking on issues of the various political parties candidates’ lists.
With due respect to parties such as the DA and Economic Freedom Fighters, the candidates’ list for the ANC should always be more newsworthy, because of the often violent contestation on that
front.
Against the backdrop of the sporadic extreme weather patterns, I suppose it is only proper for a family newspaper to keep readers informed about conditions into the weekend.
On the sports front we should be monitoring developments at various levels, such as the progress of Bela-Bela Soccer Academy wunderkind, Itumeleng Mangwane, who has signed on the dotted line for the mighty Kaizer Chiefs Football Club.
Nearer home, Waterberg SAB Regional League pacesetters, Modmolle Terrors FC, went into the holiday recess running away with the league title.
Mzamane and TK promised they would be observing the situation closely.
I have personally noticed growing interest with regards to the fortunes of Limpopo’s Absa Premiership campaigners, Baroka FC, Thohoyandou Black Leopards FC and Polokwane City FC.
There has also been passing mention with regards to the fortunes of National First Division campaigners, Vhembe’s Tshakuma Tsha Maddzivhandila FC.
Wishing you a fabulous 20 … what? Oh, it is 2019, my foot!
— The BEAT
