Mahalapye are BOTA drama champs

MPHO MOKWAPE
Correspondent | Monday August 13, 2012 00:00

 

The theme for this year's competitions, which were open to all vocational and tertiary institutions was, 'Youth against HIV Stigma & Discrimination, Take Responsibility, Take Action'', aimed at fighting stigma and discrimination against people living and affected by HIV/AIDS. All the groups that took part throughout the competitions were given a task to create a play that can send a clear message across for people to love and embrace those living with the HIV and not discriminate and shun them.Through peer education and entertainment the drama groups played traumatic and disturbing same life experiences that HIV and AIDS patients are subjected to on a daily basis. 

The brilliantly made characters that kept the crowd going with laughter throughout opened the audience's eyes to the painful and the aftermath that  are often brought about by discrimination against victims of HIV AIDS. It was evident that the common message that ran through all the four group's play was that discrimination and Stigma creates family conflicts and division, resentment  and abuse, resulting in people living with HIV/AIDS sometimes taking their own lives or drowning themselves in substance and alcohol abuse. 

Though Mahalapye were the overall winners, Motse wa Badiri seemed to be dominant in individual awards with Joseph Lekgoanyana taking home best director award and Tebogo Leburu and Onneetse Monamodi both winning best actor and actress award respectively walking away with P5,000 each. Innocent Motlhasedi from Mahalapye and Ruth Mosweu from B.W.T.I took P2,500 for best supporting actor and actress.The audience was treated to some entertainment between breaks by Ba-Kgafela Traditional Troupe from Mochudi and President Day competitions poetry winner, Onkgolotse Manuel.