DelfSTAR October 2019

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The 4th

20 Sipres Street, Delft, ZA

October 2019

Industrial Revolution made it’s mark in DELFT! “Read more on ”

PAGE 2

A state-of-the-art, fully electronic school will open its doors to 1,480 high school learners in January 2020 in The Hague. This will be the biggest school in the Western Cape.

2 DelfSTAR NEWS

The 4th The 4th Industrial Revolution made its mark in Delft!

by Denzil Africa A state-of-the-art, fully electronic school will open its doors to 1,480 high school learners in January 2020 in The Hague. This will be the biggest school in the Western Cape.

The school boasts six additional specialist classrooms and a fully equipped Computer Application Technology (CAT)

October 2019

INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

in our backyard

lab. The school has its own server, which will ensure that all classrooms will be electronically connected. The school also has a multi-media centre where learners will be able to do research. It has two science labs and two specialist multipurpose classrooms for civil technology and arts &

culture.

A netball and physical education court and a grassed sports field, which will be used for soccer, rugby and hockey adorn part of the school grounds. It has a huge double-volume hall that can be used for most indoor sporting events or

concerts.

It is one of the first schools which is wheelchair friendly. Each quad has its own wheelchair ramp and toilets that accommodate paraplegic learners and teachers. The school has its own borehole, catchment infrastructure to collect rainwater and underground storage tanks where rainwater will be stored. The water will be used to irrigate the gardens, sport and other parts of the school grounds. It has its own water restrictor system, which detects leaks to reduce water wastage. On top of all these high tech facilities, a 6.38mm laminated intruder-proof glass, will keep the school cool during summer and warm during winter. Solar panel collectors will help to conserve electricity usage.

“The aim of the school’s high-tech design and infrastructure is to motivate learners to attend school and to be eager to learn,” says The Hague counsellor, Ms Michelle Adonis, “Our learners deserve the best! This is part of a rippling effect of great things that is going to happen in Delft,” she beamed with elation.

The City of Cape Town, through its Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), ploughed R18million into the community. This investment ensured that unemployed residents from Delft got opportunities to learn skills, while earning a salary.

Parents can enrol their children at the Western Cape Education Department’s district office in Timmerman Street, Parow. Parents are advised to do so early to avoid the disappointment of not finding a place for their child(ren) at the school. For further details contact the Western Cape Education Department on 021 938 3000 or visit them online at https://wcedonline.westerncape.gov.za/.

This state of the art school boasts with 6 state of the art specialist classrooms

3 DelfSTAR NEWS

October 2019

NO to XENOPHOBIA

Safety Perceptions, identity and space in South Africa

Since South Africa’s first democratic elections 24 years ago, the country’s social and political landscape has changed in important ways. It now has an internationally acclaimed Constitution hailed as the most progressive in the world and various systems and institutions that protect and promote human rights have been established. Yet despite these positives, high levels of violence continue to plague communities and inter-personal relationships are informed and shaped by mistrust and fear. In addition to this this fledgling democracy has given rise to new forms of conflict that include xenophobic violence against foreign nationals, service delivery protests embedded within socio-economic struggles and communities taking justice into their own hands in the form of vigilantism.

Outcome number 3 of the South African National Action Plan (NDP) 2030, launched in 2012, envisions a South Africa where all people in South Africa are and feel safe. The outcome in particular envisions that by 2030 “… people living in South Africa feel safe at home, at school and at work, and they enjoy a community life free of fear. Women walk freely in the street and children play safely outside…”.

The NDP outlines the constraints to achieving such a society, highlighting that “…[u]nacceptably high levels of crime, especially serious and violent crime, result in people in South Africa, especially vulnerable groups such as women, children, older persons and people with disabilities,

living in fear and feeling unsafe. It also impacts negatively on the country’s economic development and undermines the wellbeing of people in the country and hinders their ability to achieve their potential.”

Violence and insecurity threaten South Africa’s young democracy and informs perceptions of safety. Focusing on findings from the 2017 South African Reconciliation Barometer (SARB) relating to perceptions of safety, and considering key crime statistics released in 2017, this papers explores how perceptions of safety has shifted, whether safety is perceived to have changed since 1994 and how perceptions of safety impacts on reconciliation and social cohesion. Six years since the launch of the NDP, and with 12 years to go until we reach 2030, this paper also aims to establish how far we are to achieving the NDP’s Outcome 3.

between different social groups (e.g. race/class) hinders progress towards reconciliation. More just and equitable power relations would create a more fertile environment for reconciliation. Although race still dominates South African inter-personal relations, other identity markers like gender, class and age are also influenced by space. Identity then becomes an important lens through which to understand experiences and perceptions of safety. Limited to perceptual data, SARB measures how unjust power relations informs safety perceptions by asking about access to economic, social, cultural and spatial resources within society.

Identity, power and perceptions of safety in public and private spaces An apartheid legacy that has continued to inform social relations is the socio-spatial division of the geographic landscape. Racialized borders within and between communities become barriers for exchange, reifying racial categories, which limits in deeply problematic ways, meaningful interactions necessary for promoting social cohesion. This is because space determines access to resources, patterns of inclusion and exclusion and relationships of power. Unjust/unequal power relations

RIP TO OUR FALLEN DELFSTAR CONSTABLE LE FINGER what is Victim Support?

Crime usually has a devastating effect on the victims who suffer emotionally, physically and financially. Victims require assistance to deal with the trauma to be able to participate effectively in the criminal justice process and to resume their lives as healthy members of society. The public at large is unaware of the plight of victims and of the services that are available to them. Therefore, they have to go without support, remain traumatized, become victims again and sometimes even turn to crime themselves.

The definition of a victim in terms of the Victim Empowerment model are persons who, individually or collectively, have suffered harm, including physical or mental injury, emotional suffering, economic loss or substantial impairment of their fundamental rights, through acts or omissions that are in violation of criminal laws. A person is regarded as a victim, regardless of whether the perpetrator has been identified, apprehended, prosecuted or convicted and regardless of the familial relationship between the perpetrator and the victim. It also includes the immediate family of the person who suffered harm in intervening to assist the victims or to prevent further victimization.

In short all people confronted with any crime, are victims of crime for example people who experience burglaries, house robberies, carjackings, hijackings, business robberies, assaults, attempted murders or family members of a person that had been murdered. Victimization is a subjective experience and not directly related to the seriousness of the crime. For example, victims of burglary experience an invasion of their personal space and privacy, although they might not have been physically harmed in the incident. They need to be reassured that their feelings after a burglary are normal and that help is available if needed.

A Victim Friendly Room is the venue at a police station that are made available to volunteers who assist the police to render a victim-friendly service. The services rendered in this room is an extension of the services rendered by the

police. It must be emphasized that the volunteers are not Social Workers but are trained to rendered the first line service to victims of crime and then to refer the victim to the trained social workers or other appropriate agencies or organisations. The volunteers provide assistance to victims of crime.

The Victim Friendly Room is for all victims of crime and their services are free of charge. The volunteers must keep records related to their services with due regard to the victim’s right to privacy and confidentiality.

The responsibilities of Saps and the Volunteers in the Victim Friendly Room includes: • • • • • •

Rendering professional and sensitive treatment when the crime is reported and during the investigation; Providing information on procedures of the criminal justice system that effects the victim; Provide advice on the prevention of further crime; Referring of victims to other services like counselling, health services and legal advice; Informing the victim of their rights and Ensuring privacy and confidentiality.

The rights of victims as contains in the service charter includes the following: • The right to be treated with respect and dignity; • The right to offer information; • The right to receive information; • The right to protection; • The right to assistance; • The right to seek legal advice; • The right to seek redress

Captain John J Bartlett Corporate Communication Principal SAPS Delft 082 302 8192 021 954 9085

4 DelfSTAR NEWS

Bridge of

HORRORS

by Denzil Africa

Walking to the day hospital in Delft can be a life or death battle for the residents of Wesbank.

The walk across this bridge connects Wesbank to Delft. To many, it is known as “the bridge of horrors”. Police presence is very poor though the threat of robbery and harmful acts of violence is present every day.

Wesbank was established more than twenty years ago, but there is still no proper infrastructure, such as health care facilities, library, proper recreation facilities/centres or police station. The community is angry and wants to know why the government has not done anything to develop the area?

“Having a hospital and police station in Wesbank would make things so much easier and safer,” says Mr Petrus Gelderbloem, “Knowing that I would not have to cross that bridge where so much crime occurs, would put my heart at rest,” he says earnestly. Another resident who want to be anonymous said, “We are tired of living in constant fear.

Whether it is walking around the corner to the spaza (tuck)

shop, or to take your child to school, we are in constant fear of getting hurt by gangsters. When is government going to build a day hospital and police station for the residents of Wesbank,” she almost begged. Some of the residents say that they don’t always have air time to report serious criminal activities, rape and child abuse. They argue that if Wesbank had a police station, they could just walk a short distance to report crimes or to lay a charge.

The group of residents we spoke to was adamant, and enquired why the City built three clinics in Delft, but there is no proper healthcare facilities in Wesbank. “I was robbed by two men one day on that bridge, on my way to Delft day hospital,” another woman fumed. A police officer was killed in Diepwater, Wesbank recently. Another officer was critically injured. Many of these crimes take place on a daily basis.

Residents feel that they will feel safer if there was a police station in Wesbank. The group agreed that if there was a clinic in Wesbank they will not be subjected to crime. Their plea to the City of Cape Town is to build a police station and clinic as soon as possible in their community.

We bring

October 2019

HEALTHCARE to your Home

by Denzil Africa

Touching Nations in collaboration with the Department of Health hosted the Community Orientated Primary Care (COPC) stakeholder engagement meeting on 9 September 2019 at Delft Community Centre. Home Community Based Services (HCBS) and Delft Primary Health Care facility staffing and services and other civic organisations were also present. Councillor Courtney van Wyk briefed the meeting before he had to leave early to attend to other obligations.

The COPC stakeholder engagement is a discussion and plenary between local government and various civic organisation about the future of medical services at state

healthcare facilities in Delft.

It is “the merging of front-line clinical medicine in public health”. The aim is to improve the standard of healthcare services to be on par with private healthcare medical services. It is envisaged that patients won’t have to spend hours at a facility and wait in long queues. More healthcare services will be available under one roof, i.e. a dietician, psychologist, caregiver volunteers, and general medical staff.

Points of discussion and planning were the aims, challenges, and opportunities of this initiative.

A new Application (App), Hello Doctor, will be launched and patients will be able to access healthcare information at the click of their fingers. “Health care will be made more accessible for residents,” says Mr Mark Le Fleur, CEO of Touching Nations.

5 DelfSTAR NEWS

October 2019

of the MONTH

“We love to see the beauty of sharing.”

By Godfrey Luyt For years she saw the dire need in her community.

One day she decided she cannot look on and see how people go hungry any longer- especially children. It broke her heart to see children in the street, not knowing when last they had anything to eat.

She was unemployed and didn’t have enough for herself. But Rayhana Gumbi could not stand by and just look on any longer. Then, during 2015 she started to feed the children in the community. Two other women, Imaan and Aisha came on board and helped. That was the birth of the group, Tapelo Sisters. Miss Rayhana Gumbi (46) started the feeding scheme when she moved from TR 5 informal settlement to N2 Gateway.

They are a group of women from different backgrounds, but they decided to call themselves “sisters”.

They see themselves as sisters “…because we are all one,” says Sister Rayhana, as she likes to be called. “[I decided on the name] Tapelo because it is a Sotho word that means prayer,” says Gumbi, herself a Xhosa woman. The other “sisters” working with her are Mrs Shameema Rafferty (50), Mrs Jameelah Kota (33) and Ms Mariam from Malawi. What all these women have in common is their love for community.

Children in particular, hold the most special place in hearts.

Miss Gumbi says she started by teaching children dancing lessons to keep them off the streets. She added Madrassa (Islamic) lessons as one the skills she wanted to impart to children.

She realised the children came hungry to classes. She bought pap (maize meal), mnqushu (samp), beans and other non-perishable food to feed the children. “A child cannot learn on an empty stomach,” she says.

Later she opened an aftercare.

Her (blood) sister uses recycled plastic to crochet carpets, which they sell to buy food and utensils they need to feed the community.

Shameema Rafferty says she saw the good work sister Gumbi was doing and in 2016 asked her if she can join helping the community. Jameelah Kota says she was introduced by one of her friends who were part of the group. “I see the children suffering and I cannot endure seeing children going hungry. I also have a child,” Rafferty says emotionally. “I was unemployed with a lot of time on my hands and I decided to join because I love children,” says Kota with noticeable passion in her voice.

Unfortunately, the saintly deed they are doing for the people in the community is sometimes- in the words of Gumbi- an “on-and-off” activity. “We struggle because we do not have people or businesses whom sponsor us [on a regular basis],” Gumbi says. All three women are unemployed. They are all living in single rooms with either family or other people. They do not have much, yet with the little they have they feed people in the community who have nothing or too little to survive on a daily basis. “Look there,” Gumbi indicates towards a small pot, “We have to use that small pot and cook for hundreds of children and adults. We only have a 5kg gas burner.” Sometimes the gas does not last. When it rains they have to feed people in the rain, said Miss Gumbi. There are many times the food is too little and they have to feed the most needy out of this community where almost everyone is in need. They are concerned about the elderly and children and those living on the street and try to feed them first. “It is sad to see people go hungry,” says Rafferty. “What we want for our children we want for other

children,” Kota states. Gumbi says when she sees someone scratch in the bins for food she calls them and feed them.

There are so many people in the community that go hungry every day. They cannot feed everyone and it is heart-breaking to see another human being going hungry. “It is so sad to know there are people [and businesses] who throw food away,” says Gumbi.

In the face of their own struggles with a place to live, being unemployed and many times not having for themselves, they get up every morning with one aim in their hearts: To find a way to help their fellow. They have been to various and different government departments for assistance, to no avail. They are in desperate need of premises (where children can be safe be busy with activities during the day). They need a stove- preferably one that works with gas. Other needs are cooking utensils, a fridge and freezer, crockery and cutlery, cleaning consumables, clothes, toiletries, blankets, books and stationery for the children, and Qurans and Bibles. There is a piece of property they can use, but they need containers or wooden structures to be erected that can feed the people and to have activities for children and youth. “If there are people or businesses that can assist us with anything, we will appreciate it,” says Rafferty.

“We feed and try to help everyone,” Gumbi says, “We are not concerned whether you are Christian, Muslim, your race, your beliefs…” Kota adds, “Even the people who use drugs…they do this because of their circumstances…we feed them too. It is difficult for us to eat and know there are others who are hungry.”

Despite their own struggles, these angel “sisters” they go beyond their human duty to be of service to others who find themselves in the very situation they are in. They say when they feed people, when they see the children eat, they forget about their own circumstances. They feel relieved.

They are living the words of a graffiti artist’s I saw on a wall many years ago: “If everyone helps their neighbour, then who needs help?”

“We love to see the beauty of sharing,” they say.

We appeal to you, if you have read this article and are able to assist these women in any way to please contact Rayhana Gumbi on 073 284 1460 or the editor of DelfStar on (021) 955 7017, 074 521 3961 or godfrey@hitimemedia.co.za.

Editorial It is Spring: a time for smiles, sun, sea, shorts, tees, flowers!

In our third edition we continue to celebrate our heritage and the people and things in Delft. We show you that we are more than what mainstream media tries to portray about Delft and the people who live here.

I want to use this opportunity to say thank you to you, the community and businesses in Delft for the support you are showing for our newspaper. Our staff would like to give heartfelt gratitude. We salute you! We cannot do it alone.

Our community has been painted dark during the past couple of months. But we want you to focus on the good there is in our community and the everyone that live here- irrespective of their race, country or creed. During the past three months we have shared many successes and good news about children, youth and people and organisations who make immeasurable contributions to Delft. They have shown us that there is so much positive things and beauty in our midst. Let us keep focusing on that. Let us always respect one another and celebrate our differences and embrace each other.

If I may use the lyrics of a hymn: Let there be love amongst us.

Always remember that you are beautiful, you are powerful, you can do anything you put your mind to and work hard towards. And… you have the ability to change your life at any moment!

Peace and love, Godfrey Luyt

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6 DelfSTAR NEWS

October 2019

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8 DelfSTAR NEWS

People in

ar

e

DELFT

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FRIENDLY!

October 2019

By Godfrey Luyt

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KENILWORTH CENTRE • VANGATE MALL • BLUE ROUTE MALL • ACCESS PARK KUILSRIVER • LIBERTY PROMENADE MALL 021 224 0802 021 683 9446 021 633 3101 021 712 2664 021 903 4881

Kaskile Eric Oredi is a young man who was forced to flee war-torn Congo DRC in 2018. He didn’t want to leave his home country. Mamai Rebels go around and take men and even children forcefully to fight in their war against rival militia groups. If they refuse they simply get killed.

According to the Borgen Project the civil war in DRC Congo, was sparked by Rwandan refugees that fled to the country due to the genocide in Rwanda. Rwandan military forces terrorized citizens by the Rwandan special forces, which led to the outbreak of the first civil war in 1998. The government was eventually toppled. President Mobuto Sésé Soko was overthrown and Laurent-Désiré Kabila became president. He changed the country’s name from Zaire to Congo. Even though there was a peace agreement in 2003 there has never been peace in the DRC. Rebels are terrorising the country. The war is still raging and more than 15% of the country’s population has been killed since 1998.

For Oredi it was either he stayed in Congo to die or flee. He fled.

He could have fled anywhere in the world. “I came to South Africa,” he says, “I could have gone to America or any other European country, but I wanted to be in Africa. If I was in South Africa I would still be in Africa.”

When he arrived in Cape Town last year he made contact with a fellow countryman who found refuge in Messina. His friend came to Cape Town and they came to Delft.

He says the recent violence towards fellow Africans from neighbouring countries hurts him. It is painful for him to see and hear about it. “[But still] I love South Africa,” he says. “I have never experienced xenophobia by anyone in Delft. The people in Delft are friendly and kind.” He says life in South Africa has not been easy. “It is not easy to find a job. When he looks for work he is told flatly, “No!”. Or he is just told, “Sorry, we can’t!” He can’t be employed because he is a refugee and does not have a work permit. It is not easy for asylum seekers and refugee to get a work permit. “My brothers helped me to find a job at one of their businesses,” Oredi says. He is now working as a barber at a brother’s barber shop. He says he would not go back even if the war in Congo is over and there is peace. “I love South Africa. I don’t want to go back.”

9 DelfSTAR NEWS

October 2019

Delft SAPS celebrates HERITAGE DAY

By Godfrey Luyt

On 23 September Delft SAPS celebrated Heritage day. The event was organized by Captain Siphokazi Gayika and Captain Makuthweni Bodlo. Gayika is the chairperson of the Women’s Network and Bodlo is the chairperson of the Men for Change Champions in support of staff at the Station.

The event wasn’t just organized to celebrate Heritage day. Delft has been getting a lot of negative publication from mainstream media. The gang violence has been putting a lot of strain on the staff at the Station. “This day is also so that staff can distress, to boost the staff’s morale and it is also a part of team-building,” says Capt. Gayika, “Our staff are working under immense stress because of what is happening in Delft. We hear about police officers going home and killing their families. We want staff to relax and have a little fund.”

“We also wanted to incorporate the event by celebrating women and children,” added Captain Bodlo.

There have been widespread calls to celebrate women every

day and not just during women’s month. By incorporating the celebration of women and children, Delft SAPS is doing just that! As is tradition on heritage day, they wanted to showcase the different cultures and traditions of the staff at the police station. “We have different races on our staff. As you can see here today, there are Xhosas, Whites, “Coloureds”, Zulus…

We are celebrating our diversity [at the station].”

The community- through various civic organisations

and the Community Police Forum- were also invited.

The Family & Child Support Unit (FCS) who dealt with domestic violence and rape was also present to enjoy the festive event.

Our policing staff often get disparaged, sometimes unfairly. They work under severe stress and sometimes in life threatening situation. They rarely get acknowledged or recognised for the important, yet challenging work they are doing in trying to keep our community and the people of Delft safe. It was only fitting that they could enjoy this day with braaivleis and showing off their traditions, while music reverberated through the air. Joyful smiles, laughter and light conversation and jokes were filling the air as smoke billowed up into the sky. Staff, family and community members in rainbow coloured traditional wear paraded around braai spots where delectable looking meats were shimmering on large rosters.

The day offered our protection services staff a well-deserved break. Delft SAPS, we salute you!

A Rainbow of smiles on HERITAGE DAY

by Denzil Africa

The atmosphere was filled with joy and excitement as youth celebrated Heritage day on Tuesday, 24 September.

“We want to encourage a healthy lifestyle through mass participation in sport,” Sanele Duneko, community organising officer of UWC sports department said. She encouraged parents and teachers to get involved in sporting activities. She told the audience that participation in sport is not just about winning, it is also about having fun.

Bambini Dream Foundation and Indlu Yokhanya (Beacon of Hope) collaborated with UWC sport department to host this event in Thubelitsha (Section 33). Counsellor Xolani Ndongeni enjoyed himself amongst the youth. “I am extremely happy and proud seeing our young people together. These programmes must not just be a once-off event, but must be an ongoing venture with the aim of uniting our youth,” he said.

Some of the activities on the day, included face painting, games and sports. Stalls sold chips, sweets and soft-drinks and more. With the braai vleis (meat/ tsisa-nyama), pap (maize meal) and chakalaka, which is a South African tradition, the event was hosted in a typical ikasi (township) style.

The common denominator of the day was the celebration of Delft’s diverse people and embracing each other as an important part of the community. The beauty of our people as a rainbow nation reflected in the smiles and laughter of children and youth from different races. The message of unity and respect for all was a fitting departure to celebrate the melting pot of people of Delft.

The youth had positive feedback about the event. “This [event] is a great experience for the youth of Delft; such events will keep young people from using drugs or to get involved in gang activities,” said Anuska Adams.

The joy that was evident on the faces of children and youth at this occasion, gave the community a glimmer of hope of a better tomorrow for the people of Delft.

Welwitchia Primary School Grade 7 PROM 2019

Excelsior SS in Belhar Matric Ball

19 Sept 2019

24 Sept 2019

Venue: Paarl Skoongesig

Venue: Stellenbosch Hall

Cheswin Mashen- 13 years old Nigel Thomas Nel -19 years old

10 DelfSTAR NEWS

Beware of FAKE

by Denzil Africa

According to Delft neighbourhood watch (NHW) sectors and the CPF, lately criminals are more relentless in their pursuit to commit various crimes undetected.

Criminals have become even more unscrupulous in their efforts to rob residents. Their latest antics are dressing up in fake neighbourhood watch patrol bibs and then pretending to be patrolling the neighbourhood.

Unsuspecting victims have fallen prey to these latest tricks.

One neighbourhood watch member, Sandra*, said that they could hear screaming during the early hours of every morning. “But since we started patrolling the screaming has stopped,” she said. Even though the presence of real patrols has made a huge difference, many volunteers grew weary and have lost their enthusiasm to patrol.

Boasting the fact that they can’t be caught, these impersonators make threats toward the real patrols saying, “Don’t mess with our work; we will kill you!” Sandra said that residents don’t know whom to trust anymore.

Complaints have been laid at Delft police station about “fake patrols”, but not much has been done to assist the NWH patrollers. With limited, or no proper equipment, these men and women risk their lives to ensure that the community sleep peacefully at night. “We fear for our lives and that of our families because we are receive death threats every day.

October 2019

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH PATROLS

We are told that our names are on hit lists. We are told that our houses will be bombed. Still, we continue to serve our community” says one of the NHW captains, “Where is SAPS to protect us in these situations,” he asked. According to the neighbourhood watch patrollers, SAPS have failed them.

These hero’s face real dangers while trying to make Delft a safer place for everybody who visits, works and live in the community. “My heart is really bleeding for you because of what you have to deal with, but stay united as Delft Neighbourhood Watch,” chairman of Delft Community Police Forum, Pastor George, pleaded with members, “The issue with ‘fake patrollers’ has to be resolved because [the community] are facing great dangers when being approached by someone wearing a reflector bib and posing as a neighbourhood watch patroller. He said that they know there are hotspots throughout Delft as these “fake patrols” are growing in numbers every day. He expressed his concerns that no arrests have been made. *Names have been changed to protect the identity of individuals.

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Wheelchair bound resident

TRAPPED IN HOUSE

By Godfrey Luyt Fifty-seven-year old Michael Piet finds himself trapped in his house in The Hague.

Mr Piet lived in Blikkiesdorp before he moved into his house in The Hague three years ago. His left leg was amputated after he applied for a house. It was only after he had moved in, during November 2016 when an Aecom inspector saw that Mr Piet’s leg was amputated and that he was in a wheelchair. Hence his house isn’t wheelchair friendly.

At the time of the inspector’s visit he promised Mr Piet that they will build a ramp at the front and backdoor. The same inspector came to visit again December last year to follow up. It is almost three years since the inspector’s first visit and the ramp has still not been build. Mr Piet said he was told that they will extend the front porch so that he can move comfortably on the ramp in and out of the house from his front and back door. “I went to see Lee-Roy, who used to be the project manager at the housing office here in Delft. I went again on the 29 August this year and was that Lee-Roy was “fired”. I was told to re-apply,” says Mr Piet.

“I have fallen from these steps so many times and hurt myself badly. This wound took months before it healed,” he points to a round scar on his right shin.

He has to use a crutch to go down the steps, which is too high to traverse for someone on crutches. To make matters worse, Mr Piet only has one crutch. “Look how high these steps are,” he exclaims pleadingly. How can he be expected to go out and come into his house with these high steps and little support, he wants to know. There is only about half a metre space from his front door to the street’s edge.

“Sometimes I still forget that I don’t have two legs anymore. There are times when I just get up fast, forgetting that I only have one leg! Then I fall to the ground,” says Piet. He says [due to the fact that there is no ramp], he rarely goes out. When he does go out to do business or to the clinic, he usually gets first privilege. “There are the odd person here and there who are difficult or complains when he gets assisted before others, but people are usually accommodating because I am in a wheelchair.”

The neighbour, Ms Lorraine April, says she built her own ramp for the blind woman who lives with her. “I decided to have the ramp built because it is always a struggle with the City of Cape Town,” she says.

Mr Piet also complained about a vandalised house in front of his residence. He says gangsters come and smoke drugs, ladies get raped and other horrible things happen at the dilapidated property in front of his house. People dump waste and dirt in the house. “Look how full of flies my house is,” he indicates to the swarming flies in his open-plan lounge-kitchen. “Even this house is falling apart,” he points to cracks in the walls with great concern.

Michael Piet is a single father who lives with his four teenage and young adult children in the two-bedroom house.

If anyone or any business would like to assist Mr Piet with a ramp at his front and backdoors, please contact the DelfStar on (021) 955 7017 or the editor, Godfrey Luyt on 074 521 39 61 or via email at godfrey@hitimemedia.co.za.

11 DelfSTAR NEWS

October 2019

KARATE MAESTROS

going abroad for the first time, he had this to say, “I am excited, but anxious at the same time!” He says his goal is to be a master and to have his own club one day.

Kyle Williams (22) took up karate lessons when he was a mere five-year-old. Like Darryl, karate movies were also the inspiration behind his reason for taking up karate. “I used to watch karate movies with Bruce Lee acting in it. After the movie I would try the moves, using my pillow [as my ‘challenger’],” he says with a broad smile.

After a while his father got tired of him “fighting” with the pillows and signed him up in the karate club. Seventeen years later and he is a Sensei and proud to represent South Africa at this year’s Goju Ruy World Championships. He says the challenges for young people about the sport is that they get bored or impatient quickly. It takes time to perfect the moves, hence it takes a lot of practice over and over and over again.. Some give up after a while because they do not have patients, he said. “They expect they should practice the moves only a few times and then move on to the next level. It takes a lot of practice before a move can be perfected,” he reiterated. One of the skills karate teaches, is patience. He shares the common goal to open his own club one day. Perhaps these champions should start a club together one day?

Goju Ruy karate is a soft and hard, semi-contact karate style taught at the Kuo Sei Karate Club in Delft. “The club has been in Delft for 30 years,” said club manager and coach, Nico de Bruyn. He has been in charge of the club for 3 years after the previous club manager and coach retired due to health issues. “I was the highest ranked person that time that is why they selected me,” he said. “I wanted to become a leader to make a difference in children and young

to WORLD GOJU RAY

Karate Championships

By Godfrey Luyt

Maestros mother-and-son Charmaine and Darryn Martin, Kyle Williams and club manager and karate coach Nico de Bruyn jetted abroad on [day] September to represent South Africa in the World Goju Ruy Karate Championships in Malaysia. The four are students at the Kuo Sei Karate Club in Delft.

Forty-nine-year-old Mrs Charmaine Martin said she is excited and looked forward to meeting people from other countries and to learn from them. “I love learning new things,” she said. Her mother enrolled her brother and herself up for karate classes when she was 13 years old.

She said she lost interest and stopped after a while. It was after she signed her son, Darryl, at the age of 8 up for classes that the karate fever took hold of her again one day.

“Sometimes I would go watch him practice. And one day I decided I to take up the sport again.” She was 41 at the time. Eight years later and she and her son is away to Malaysia to represent South Africa in the World Goju RuyChampionship.

“I decided to join the club to encourage Darryl to stay with the sport and not to give up,” she said. She says there

are many benefits to the sport. “It taught me to cope with stress and to respect others. As women we need to protect ourselves. We never know when we may find ourselves in a threatening situation…” By taking up karate lessons, women are able to protect themselves should they find themselves in a dangerous situation, she said. She is a working, married woman with children, but makes time for the sport she said.

“Sometimes I go straight from work to karate classes,” she beamed.

Her dream is to open a small club for children in the community. Besides self-defence, one of the many other benefits of karate is that it also teaches you social skills.

Children don’t respect their elders anymore and she would like to use karate as a social tool to teach children to respect others. She says karate is an expensive sport. The majority of people in Delft live in extreme poverty. For this reason, she would not charge a fee during the first two years of starting her club.

Darryn Martin (16) says karate movies and film star, Jacky Chan, inspired him to take up Karate lessons. “I liked the moves and the [fighting] styles!” For a young person

Lwazi Mathanga was 17 years old when he completed his matric with maths and science. He was young and full of dreams of a bright future. After matric he started looking for work vigorously almost everywhere he could. His enthusiastic endeavours brought no success of finding a job.

After three years of trying, “I became frustrated,” he said. He desperately needed money to support himself. As is tradition in our communities, he wanted to help his family. He became discouraged and felt hopeless. “I started hanging around bad people [gangsters] and started using drugs.”

Mathanga says.

It was three years after finish high school that Lwazi entered the perilous turf of gangsterism. “I was recruited to sell drugs,” says Mathanga. He was now making good money. Lwaza grew up with both parents in a loving home.

He and his brother was raised with Christian principles.

“They went to church every Sunday,” says his mother, Mrs Thembisa Mathanga, “He was a good child. He was quiet and respectful. He never back-chatted when he was reprimanded. He was a quiet boy,” Mrs Mathanga says. She couldn’t understand when he suddenly started disappearing from the house and running away- staying away from home for days, weeks, and sometimes up to three months. “I am his mother. I love him very much,” she says. But she wasn’t going to let her son waste his life by being a gangster. “I went to the place where he was selling drugs. I shouted in front of that house and told them I want my son,” she says.

“He is my son; I couldn’t let the gangs take my son,” she adds. She was defiant and unafraid.

The fighting between rival gangs became more violent. Gang members got shot and killed. Lwazi was two

years in the gang when he decided that he didn’t want to be a member of the gang any longer. But getting out wasn’t that easy. “You cannot just leave a gang like that. You cannot just walk away. You will always be hunted,” he says. But his mother didn’t give up on her son. Mrs Mathanga was fighting her own personal war, trying to get her son out of the gang.

With the love and support of his mother he eventually left the gang.

He tried finding a job, but he couldn’t because he had a criminal record. In 2014 he re-joined the gang again.

During that same year he was shot point blank by someone from a rival gang whom he knew well. “He shot me twice in the head; three times in each leg and once in the right arm,” he relives the horrible experience. It is clear that their modus operandi were to kill him. The shooting paralysed him and he spent almost two months in hospital. “The doctor told me I will never walk again. But my mother didn’t want to hear any of that,” he says. He was given an application to complete for a wheelchair. “My mother refused. She said that I will walk again.” His late brother also encouraged him to exercise and try to move his legs. It was while he was laying paralysed in the hospital for six weeks that he decided “…to accept Jesus and change my life.”

“There are gang members who got shot that are in wheelchairs, but they are still gang members who sell drugs,” he explains. He was approached by other gangs to sell drugs. But for him that almost fatal experience changed his life. He was done with gangs and criminal activities.

While his father was at work, his mother and brother were always there to support him. “My mother and brother did everything for me,” he says, “My brother would carry me outside that I could sit and enjoy the sun.” One day, by sheer will, he got up, and made his way to the toilet. “I couldn’t find my brother and I wanted to go to the toilet. I just lifted my one leg off the couch. Then the other. I stood up. My legs were wobbly. Before I knew I was in the kitchen, leaning against the wall. I saw the toilet door and told myself, ‘I can make it till there!’,” he recalls that day, “I moved slowly with my upper body supporting me against the wall. That day I believed that I can walk again,” he exclaimed. He started going for physio therapy and slowly regained control of his legs and left side of his body again. His right side is hemiplegic. Ninety percent of his right side does not function properly. Due to the shots to his head he also suffers from epilepsy. He learned to write and do things with his left hand.

He became active in church to keep himself occupied.

After that he joined the Youth Acceleration Programme (YAP) offered by local government. He started speaking to youth and gangsters about his experience and the dangers of being in a gang. He started teaching leadership skills to the youth while looking for other opportunities. Because he had maths and science in matric he was selected to do an Electrical Engineering leanership. Alas due to him getting epileptic fits almost everyday day he had to stop the learnership. Lwazi refused to give up and joined Hub Employment Eco-systems for People with Disabilities (HEEPD) where he did a course in training and recruitment.

A lady friend in a wheelchair who do ballroom dancing told

people’s lives,’ he said. His role at the club is to teach karate, organise classes and tournaments and the general management of the club. “One of the most important parts of being the club leader, is to always set an example, to impact positively on children and young people’s lives.

At the club they teach self-defence and anti-bullying awareness. They also teach students to be aware of their surroundings and to not put themselves in harm’s way unnecessarily- and to trust their instincts. This is the third time students at the club came out tops in South Africa and is going to represent the country- and Delft. The event happens every two years and the club participated in the World Championship in 2013, 2017.

Compared to other karate club’s across the Cape, the club’s fees are the lowest because our people cannot always afford it De Bruyn said. “We accommodate parents. If they cannot pay, we allow them to pay when they can. Students range from age 6 and older. The oldest student is who is an 80-year old woman.

De Bruyn said that one of the club’s goals is to have children and youth from Delft take part in World Championships where they can represent Delft and South Africa. “We would like a safe environment for people [and children and youth] to be able to defend themselves. We want to teach children and young people discipline. Discipline is to show up and to be on time, set goals, to work hard, do your homework… To be disciplined in school as well as in work [and in your personal] lives.”

De Bruyn says the sport afford students many opportunities for future careers. “Four of our students are in the police service, particularly because they are karate students; another is a bodyguard for a minister and another is a coach.

His words of advice to the youth is to “Befriend someone who can inspire you!”

Surfing the waves of SUCCESS

By Godfrey Luyt

him about an organisation who teach disabled people to surf. He called them and subsequently joined the SA Adaptive Surfing (SAAS) organisation in Muizenberg.

Disabled surfers are taught by international surfers at no cost. They also get surfing boards without having to pay for them.

During the 2016/’17 participation programme of the SA Adaptive Surfing he saw that there are disabled surfers who are going overseas. “I wanted to go overseas, I told myself,” he recalled. His eagerness inspired him to train even harder.

Despite financial struggles for travel to go to training and for surfing gear, Lwazi was placed third in the Provincial Championships that year. Earlier this year, during May, Lwazi participated in the national SA Adaptive Surfing Championship again and he won the silver medal.

Lwazi, now 31, is the second best disabled swimmer in the country. But he is not stopping here. His goal is to claim first place at the next championship that he participate

in the World Adaptive Surfing Championship in California.

“They say the sky is the limit. But the first time I was sitting in an airplane while flying high above in the sky, I realised there is no limit,” Lwazi says with shining eyes, “We were taught to think in a limited way, but there is more to life than what we know.” He advises young people and people living with disabilities to go out and be active. “There are many things to do. Step out of your comfort zone. Explore and grab opportunities! Learn new things. Find a herosomeone who you can look up to- and learn from them. Look for different heroes. Stay true to yourself. Don’t be afraid to try new things!”

About Lwazi’s great achievements his mother says, “Wow, I don’t have words to tell you! Sometimes God puts you through a dark tunnel so that you can get out on the other side where there is light,” she revelled. Lwazi is also guardian to his late brother’s son who is six years old. “My son is my angel,” Mrs Mathanga concluded proudly.

Photo’s by: Dave Nisbet

12 DelfSTAR NEWS

October 2019

SPORT

Gear Up for your Next Game - SAFETY IN SPORTS

For many years, sport has been one of the many social institutions that have provided people with the opportunity to pursue their physical talents, enhance their well-being and most of all, enjoy what they love. Whether we are striving towards ticking our life bucket list or fulfilling our passions, it may come with potential risks and at times, safety hazards.

Mouth guards Mouth guards can protect one’s mouth, teeth, and tongue. It should be worn if a contact sport is being played or other sports where head injuries are at risk, such as rugby, basketball, and especially combat sports such as martial arts, boxing, or wrestling.

Footwear The type of shoe one wears during certain sports should also be added to the safety equipment list, as incorrect footwear or orthotics are also a risk factor for lower-limb pain and/or injuries. Sports cleats (or studs) are important during field sports, such as cricket rugby, baseball, and soccer. The right running shoes can decrease one’s risk of overuse injuries and special cycling shoes can reduce foot pain and increase pedaling efficiency.

Eye Protection Eye protection also is a must for many sports.

Goggles are often worn for soccer, basketball, racquet sports, street hockey, as well as baseball and softball when fielding. It is essential not to wear regular glasses when participating on the court or sports field. All eye protection should fit securely and have cushions above the eyebrows and over the nose.

Padding Padding or pads are essential for certain sports, especially where there is contact. These pads can range from shin, knee, elbow, wrist, chest, shoulder, hip, and thigh pads, amongst other forms. For example: elbow and wrist guards can prevent arm and wrist fractures, and knee guards can protect one’s knees from cuts, breaks or ligament tears.

Helmets A tragic and sad incident had taken place in November 2014 where Australian cricketer, Phillip Hughes died, after the ball was delivered and hit on his neck, causing a hemorrhage to the brain. Not too long after such incidents, it propagated the sports industry (especially cricket) to produce sports helmets that may attempt to even cover the neck area of an athlete.

As such, this warrants for a gray area with rugby, where no players wear protective headgear, with the exception to some players in the team who wear a scrumcap or apply head taping.

Protective cups (boxes) Some athletes may also need to wear a protective cup, otherwise known as a “box” (to protect the testicles and genital area). This is most commonly used during cricket, hockey, basketball, baseball, soccer, and other contact sports.

For non-contact sports that involve running or cycling, it is important to wear an athletic supporter.

Way forward In summary, it is crucial for both recreational players and athletes to take considerate care of wearing the necessary sports equipment to prevent any potential harm or injury. Although conditioning, adequate techniques and optimal preparation in sports are key to preventing injuries, one should not forget that protective equipment in sport also plays a key role in ensuring player safety, well-being and preventing injuries.

Sport HERITAGE DAY Bambini Dream Foundation and Indlu Yokhanya (Beacon of Hope) collaborated with UWC sport department to host this event in Thubelitsha (Section 33). Counsellor Xolani Ndongeni enjoyed himself amongst the youth. “I am extremely happy and proud seeing our young people together. These programmes must not just be a once-off event, but must be an ongoing venture with the aim of uniting our youth,” he said.

Some of the activities on the day, included face painting, games and sports. The beauty of our people as a rainbow nation reflected in the smiles and laughter of children and youth from different races.

The youth had positive feedback about the event. “This [event] is a great experience for the youth of Delft; such events will keep young people from using drugs or to get involved in gang activities,” said Anuska Adams.

The joy that was evident on the faces of children and youth at this occasion, gave the community a glimmer of hope of a better tomorrow for the people of Delft.