Father's Day

Franchesca May

Father's Day, an idea that is daunting for so many.

People wake up on the third Sunday of June, all to different situations. Some overjoyed by the fact that they have their fathers in their lives, and many saddened by the fact that the idea of a father is non-existent.

See, so many of us wake up to different realities surrounding fathers, yet there is one reality that all of us need to face: WE ALL NEED OUR FATHERS.

Many of us may be convinced that we're doing "perfectly fine" without our fathers in our lives, but we need to acknowledge that every figure in our lives plays a key role. That role can be fulfilled by a specific person only. Similarly with fathers. There is a role that only he can fill. We may form father-like relationships with other people, but that biological gap will always be there.

Many may not have close relationships with their fathers and may yearn for it, but the truth is it's not the end of the world. It becomes your role as a man to be the father you never had when you grow up, and it is your role as a woman to allow your child's father to be involved when you be come a mom.

Life is all about fixing mindsets, let it begin with us.

[Franchesca May - Junior Mayor of Matjhabeng]

Father's day!! Father's day!! Father's day!!

Alex Manise

It is that time of the year where every child is saying thanks to their fathers for being part of their lives. We as the children of this whole world would like to thank every single man out there who has played a role in one's life. This also includes uncles, brothers and even teachers! There is a huge difference between a 'Father' and a 'Dad'. A father is someone who has played a part in a child's birth only and a Dad is someone who might not have played a part in the birth of a child but is always available and supportive towards his child more than the father.

Many children out there neither have fathers nor dads, but they have single mothers - Mothers who play the role of both a mother and a father in her child's life. These women deserve to be treated like Queens and Kings at the same time and they deserve to be celebrated on this day as well! Instead of wasting time on crying over spilt milk when their husbands have run away or passed away, they stand up firm for themselves and their children. These are our pillars of strength.

We give thanks to single fathers as well, fathers that make sure that their children go to bed with something in their stomachs. Fathers that make sure that they grow young men to be leaders and role models of this country. The society has been ruined, the youth has changed, and days have been numbered for those who are ill-disciplined. We thank those fathers that discipline their children. That teach their children what it means to respect an elder. God says to us that "Respect your mother and father for your days to be longer on this earth", every child deserves a parent that they will respect and honour everyday.

Being a parent is a gift, but being part of any child's life on this earth is a blessing.
Fathers! Stand up when the time is still on your side, and take charge of your responsibility. Your child/ren need you. Fulfil your role and obligation when you still can.

[Alex Manise - Deputy Junior Mayor of Matjhabeng]

Mother's Day 2020

Mother's day ...

Mother's day!!

Who doesn't know Mother's day?

It's fine. I'll tell you about mother's day. Mother's day is a day that I love. A day that is celebrated to all mothers out there. To every single women who plays a part in making sure that a child is guided, happy, safe and taken care of. It's a day that is dedicated to all those women who would die to make sure that a child has eaten at night, irrespective whether it's their own or not. A woman. A leader. A wife. A life companion. A parent. A God sent.

I want to thank all those women that make sure that they offer their talents to help children everywhere and every-how they can ... I dedicate this day in appreciating all the women in my life, my teachers, my mentor, coaches and most of all, my single mother. The one woman that makes sure that I'm disciplined, I take responsibility and accountability for my actions, that makes sure that I have a meal every night. To all those women who does the same to other children as well, I thank you for all your struggles. We have to know where we come from, in order for us to know where we're going. We may not know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future.
We're forever indebted to you

[Alex Manise 9 May 2020]