By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za
Bonolo Moahludi (12) was recently invited by the SABC to present Kids News show with Akhona talking about peer pressure. And she surprised her peers with great perfection .
“Hosting the show was a privilege and an honour. It was a very nice feeling to be in front of the camera hosting a show that involves kids and all the issues that they face, especially for the first time hosting on TV.
“I would love to see myself on that show especially because it’s about kids. It will be different from the radio,” said an Alexandra kid.
“I’ve learnt that peer pressure can either be positive or negative.”
Bonolo, a sixth-year learner at Dr Knak primary School, lives at tenth Roosevelt with her mother, Tebogo Moahludi (55).
She is a presenter and runs soup kitchen. Prior to joining Alex FM as the host of Bigger Than Life on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., she led the morning and evening prayers on YD FM.
Bonolo tells me immediately that she, with the help of her mother, began a soup kitchen in 2016. And in 2018, her non-profit organization named “Caring Sisters” was registered.
With the allowance her mother gives her, she is able to save so that she can use it to buy hot dogs and feed disadvantaged children in the area.
“I started Soup Kitchen, which is currently closed. But I’m opening it again because of the popular demands,” she says.
In addition to helping her peers do their homework, her non-profit organization offers programs like Read & Spelling, Child Trafficking, among others.
Bonolo, who recently joined Save The Children South Africa, and is the youngest, she has been very loud against bullying in local schools.
Her voice was triggered by the stabbing of a 15-year-old boy who was the victim of bullying at an elementary school in Alexandra. The boy succumbed to the injuries.
Following the incident, she recorded a video which was to be sent to the former Gauteng MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi.
She says in the video, her intention was to ask the MEC to increase security in the schools.
“Children need to be searched from head to toe. Literally, even in their shoes because you’ll never know what kind of weaponry they might be hiding. There must be tighter security,” she emphasized.
When asked what, in her opinion, causes bullying, she says, “I think it’s anger at home due to poor communication.
“There should be weekly bullying sessions to make sure that bullying is unacceptable. It doesn’t bother me to do the sessions myself because I’ve done it before.”
Bonolo, big fan of the international singer Lady Gaga, loves pets. During her recent visit to the Denmark Embassy in Pretoria, led by Save the Children South Africa, she was seen jovial while posing with a puppy.
She wants to become a veterinary surgeon.“But I’m not sure I’m ready because I’m scared of birds, especially when they’re paralyzed.”
She said that children were entitled to choose the career they wanted, adding that it was also wise to listen to parents. “Even if your parents press you to pursue a dream that you don’t have, pursue it and see how it goes.
“The dream that your parents want you to pursue, just put it as an option, just in case your dream doesn’t go according to your plan.
“Because, another option always comes in handy. Be yourself. And if you’re a young girl, don’t forget about the 7Bs our parents taught us: Books Before Boys Because Boys Bring Babies.”
According to her mother, parents have a vital role to play in the lives of their children. She stresses that there are many children like Bonolo, but because of the lack of support they cannot be recognized.
“It’s not about how clever a child is; it’s about the attention you pay to them. When the child returns from school, sit with them, check their homework, see where they are missing and be able to guide them.
“There are many children that are like Bonolo, but they cannot be identified due to the situation in their home. I would like to encourage women to love their children.
“Let us treasure and nurture our children. Kids can adopt their parents’ love in school. But if violence happens in the home, a child will start bullying,” Tebogo said.
Tebogo wishes that her daughter can be given a permanent opportunity.
“I wish that they can take her at kids news. She was confident about the way she handled the show.”