Inner City Gazette by Inner City Gazette

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Est 2009 Tel : 011 023-7588 / 011 402 - 1977 Inner-City Gazette

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Issue 27 - 2019

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11 - 18 July 2019

Website : www.inner-city-gazette.com

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Inner City Gazette

Distributed free to households, churches, schools, clinics, government departments, police stations, libraries and businesses in Bellevue • Berea • Bertrams • Braamfontein • City and Suburban • City West • Crown Gardens • Doornfontein • Fairview • Fordsburg • Hillbrow • Jeppestown • Jules • Johannesburg Inner City • Kensington • Lorentzville • Malvern • Marshallstown • New Doornfontein • Newtown • North Doornfontein • Park Meadows • Rosettenville • Selby • Troyeville • Turffontein • Village Main and Yeoville

Timol’s nephew opposes apartheid cop’s bid

Ahmed Timol’s nephew Imtiaz Cajee

Johannesburg - A nephew of antiapartheid activist Ahmed Timol, Imtiaz Cajee, has joined the National Prosecuting Authority and other departments in opposing leave to appeal application of ex-apartheid policeman Joao Roderigues. Last month, the High Court in Johannesburg dismissed Roderigues’ application for a permanent stay of pros-

ecution, but he filed an application for leave to appeal. His legal team listed 11 reasons why they believe the High Court misdirected itself. Roderigues is accused of involvement in Timol’s murder in 1971. Timol died in custody at John Vorster Square, now the Johannesburg Central police station. Officers who included Roderigues, claimed that Timol threw

himself out of a window from the 10th floor of the police station building. A 1972 inquest found that Timol had committed suicide. It was however reopened in 2017, after the family disputed this, and it was found that he had been murdered. Timol’s family also called for justice for many other activists who died at the hands of apartheid-era police officers.

Timol’s younger brother, Mohammed Timol, earlier said his family had been vindicated, and did not want Roderigues jailed but want him to disclose the truth about what happened. The Imam Haron Foundation has also appealed to Justice Minister Ronald Lamola and related structures that they reopen all other apartheid-managed inquests and all unresolved cases.

Inner-city Gazette

News

11 - 18 July 2019

New features to counter Instagram bullying

For further information contact Boston on 011 551 2000 Email: info@boston.co.za Visit www.boston.co.za, or Facebook

Tourism

jobs grow despite sluggish economy

Boston City Campus & Business College offers an enhanced Tourism learning experience to students wanting to enter a career within Travel and Tourism. The Higher Certificate in Tourism and Travel Management Practice is accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE). Boston also carries institutional accreditation with the British Accreditation Council (BAC), making your choice to study at Boston both locally relevant and internationally recognisable. Dr Linda Louise Geldenhuys, Academic & Quality Manager at Boston, says, “The tourism industry is continuously increasing and expanding, and as a result has contributed immensely to the national economy. Boston recognises the need for trained and qualified travel and tourism operators in various fields of the industry. As such, this qualification allows students to gather knowledge about the industry, as well as the necessary skills to apply this knowledge in the working environment successfully.” With concerns over job losses in major industries, the tourism sector has shown some resilience in the face of a tough economic climate. In 2017, the sector had its most successful year of job creation in recent times. Stats SA published data in 2018 showing that one in every 22 working South Africans are employed in the tourism sector. Interestingly, tourism jobs are mostly concentrated in three industries, one of which is road transport. According to the data, road

passenger transport is the single largest expenditure item for local tourists, taking up 27% of domestic tourism spend in 2017. The United Nations World Tourism Organisation estimates that tourist arrivals in Africa are expected to reach 130 million by 2030. This is more than double the 50 million arrivals we are currently receiving. “We are a massive continent. We have the most amazing natural splendour. Our landscapes and biodiversity are unmatched in the world, and we have world heritage sites that reveal the earth’s secrets and relate the story of humanity.” What we need however are trained people who will welcome tourists warmly, catering for their needs professionally, and sharing our culture in memorable ways. Dr Geldenhuys says that this is an opportune time for those that are interested in tourism and related fields of work such as hospitality, catering and hotelkeeping. “It is clear that well trained, friendly people are the backbone of the tourism and hospitality industries,” she comments. “And considering the world projections that tourism in Africa is eventually going to double in size, it means that there will be job opportunities for those that have the necessary qualifications. Invest in training that gives you a good chance at getting such jobs.” Seeing that tourism requires a variety of different skills, Geldenhuys recommends that prospective students speak to a career advisor. Boston has various hospitality courses that open doors to careers in the tourism industry. The Higher Certificate in Tourism

is a unique qualification opening doors to careers in this exciting and developing industry with a staggering 1 in 22 individuals employed in the tourism sector. South Africa needs you to nurture and sustain its economic growth. Dr Hendrik Botha, Academic Head for Boston City Campus & Business Colleges, says, “The Higher Certificate in Tourism and Travel Management Practice offers a considered and thoughtful entry-level higher education qualification with a strong industry/ vocational focus. The design of this qualification ensures that graduates can contribute to the transformation of the South African economy, while also being able to operate successfully in the global context.” To find out more about the qualifications offered by Boston, or to schedule an appointment with a career advisor, call 011 551-9000, email info@boston.co.za, or visit www.boston.co.za Side bar: Industry trends Investment in tourism across Africa is making tourism a key economic driver. Research shows that more tourists want to meet real people in their homes and communities. They want a taste of local traditions and customs. This provides opportunities for many more people from indigenous communities to become involved in tourism. Mobile bookings are on the rise in Africa. About 15% of room nights are now booked on a mobile phone. This allows product owners to attract many more customers at a far lower cost.

Instagram head Adam Mosseri

nstagram will introduce new features aimed at curbing online bullying, the Facebook-owned platform announced on Monday, as social media giants face increased scrutiny over the harassment faced by many users. There have been growing calls around the world for greater oversight of platforms like Facebook and Twitter, amid widespread criticism over bullying, as well as the spread of hate speech and fake news. Instagram, which has more than a billion users worldwide, is a platform focused on images, allowing users to post photos and videos, which can then be commented on by other users. The company said it has used artificial intelligence to monitor bullying and harmful content for years, and will now use the technology to detect when a user is about to post something offensive and issue a warning. In a statement head of Instagram Adam Mosseri said it is their responsibility to create a safe environment on Instagram. “This intervention gives people a chance to reflect and undo their comment. From early tests of the feature, we have found that it encourages some people to undo their

There have been growing calls for regulation over the spread of hate speech and fake news comment and share something less hurtful once they have had a chance to reflect.” The other new feature “Restrict” is aimed at limiting abusive comments on a user’s feed. “We’ve heard from young people in our community that they’re reluctant to block, unfollow, or report their bully because it could escalate the situation, especially if they interact with their bully in real life,” Mosseri said. Now they will be able to make posts from an offending person visible only to that person. “Restricted people won’t be able to see when you’re active on Instagram or when you’ve read their direct messages,” Mosseri added. Instagram’s move is the latest in a series of steps taken by social networks to protect users, especially from younger segments of society. Bullying is just one of the many fronts on which social media titans have faced scrutiny in recent years. There are calls for regulation of such platforms over the spread of hate speech and fake news. That has also included allegations of states using social media platforms to try and influence elections in rival countries; as well as more oversight of how they collect and use customer data. AFP

11 - 18 July 2019

Inner-city Gazette

News

Zamazamas hard at work underground

Mayor Herman Mashaba with Transport MMC Nonhlanhla Makhuba (left) and JRA infrastructure head Siyabonga Genu during the event Pic: Thobile Mbhele

JRA evaluates M1 bridge rehabilitation progress Thobile Mbhele

n Wednesday the Johannesburg Road Agency (JRA) conducted an evaluation for progress on construction of the M1 highway doubledecker bridge, in an event that was also attended by Mayor Herman Mashaba together with Transport MMC Nonhlanhla Makhuba. Following inadequate storm water infrastructure and vandalism of the bridge, JRA took a step on rehabilitating the damaged sections of the bridge, according to JRA. The key elements of the project is to work on resurfacing placements of the bridge joints, upgrading of bridge parapets and bearings, drainage system, and

also replacing roads signs, JRA said. The project started in February 2018, a 22 months project to be completed by December 2019, at a total cost of R130 million. The project has engaged about 10 emerging local contractors and R15 million spent on their payment. “Most of the work has to be done at night to minimize the impact on traffic congestion since the M2 is closed, however, most of the work has been done,” said Siyabonga Genu, JRA Head of Infrastructure. More work is to be done to maximise the lifespan of the M1 bridge, and the team has promised that the work will be completed sooner than expected, Genu added.

“When I took over I made sure that audits were made to understand what had to be done with the infrastructure issue. Six percent of our bridges are in good condition, mainly the new ones. Later we were forced to close part of the M2 and a few months later closed the M2,” said Mayor Herman Mashaba. Transport MMC Nonhlanhla Makhuba said safety is very important. “It is actually the first point to be looked at when it comes to encountering transparency of the transport system. For the bridge to undergo rehabilitation it’s because of the drainage system that was not in good condition, mainly the vandalism of bearings,” she said.

Joburg residents contain

‘high levels of uranium’ Tom Head

study by the North West University has concluded that a large number of Joburg residents have been affected by uranium poisoning. Though not directly life-threatening, the toxic substance is likely to impact on the health of those who end up with it in their system. Professor Frank Winde research collected hair samples from barbers in two regions just outside of Joburg. The readings show that ordinary citizens have the same level of uranium in their bodies as nuclear miners in Europe do, an astounding discovery that could have severe implications for local industries. “The mining trade has somewhat contributed to this issue. Dumping the by-products

of mining ventures, such as heavy metals and even arsenic, has the potential to pollute both the soil and the water supply in the region. The food and drink consumed in Gauteng is likely to contain small traces of uranium as a result,” Winde said. Calls to regulate the industry are growing. Illegal miners operate in close proximity to Joburg’s underground infrastructure, including electricity and gas pipelines. The operations have been detonating explosives with little regard for dangers of damaging surrounding gas pipelines. It is understood that an uncontrolled explosion that sets off a gas pipe could “incinerate” anything within a 300-metre radius. The waste produced by these operations also contributes to the radiation levels.

Inner-city Gazette

News

11 - 18 July 2019

No shelters for Joburg’s homeless

‘I fear going home now and being seen as a failure. I am just thankful I have not found myself hooked on any drug. I see how they damage many people’s lives in front of me’ Chris Gilili

A group of homeless men in Rissik Street

Pic: Chris Gilili / GroundUp

Johannesburg - Rissik Street is home to Sihle Sikhakhane, who came to the city from Aliwal North in the Eastern Cape, after his father passed away. A family friend told him that a construction company in Joburg was looking for general workers and gave him an address. “Coming to Joburg I discovered that there was no such job, or even a company. I only wish I can get the job I came for. If I can work, I can maybe find a way to go back home. I can’t go back like this,” he says. Sikhakhane washes himself at public toilets and survives as a car guard. He sleeps in a small park next to COSATU house in Braamfontein, joining thousands of homeless people in the city. Thamsanqa Langa from Pietermaritzburg used to work for a construction company. When his contract ended he found himself on the streets since January 2017. He sleeps at the Bree Taxi Rank, along with several other homeless people. “It was a seven-month contract. When this ended, I didn’t have anywhere else to go. I found refuge in smoking and drinking. Since I could not afford to pay rent, I had to stay on the streets,” says Langa.

He adds that he is hooked on nyaope now, but trying to quit. He dreams of getting a job and rebuilding his life. “I do not want to go back to Pietermaritzburg as a failure. I came here to start a life and to be something.” Nosipho Buthelezi, who also came from KwaZulu-Natal, also sleeps at the taxi rank; living on the streets since 2010. “I have been raped, beaten and succumb to any form of ill-treatment the streets offer me. I get sick and get better again. I don’t even have an identity document,” she said. Sthembiso Mdluli moved from Springs after his mother died. The shelter he stayed in, Turning Point in Brixton, closed in 2014. “I fear going home now and being seen as a failure. I am just thankful I have not found myself hooked on any drug. I see how they damage many people’s lives in front of me,” says Mdluli. He survives on piece jobs and eats at a soup kitchen in Braamfontein. Kebonye Senna of the City of Joburg’s Displaced Persons Unit said in September 2018 the city had around 10,000 homeless people. “In 2015 there were 6,600 homeless, this number surely keeps rising every day. The only shelter we have is the Kotze Street shelter in

Hillbrow. It accommodates both males and females from 20 years of age upwards,” Senna says. The shelter takes about 180 people and asks for R8 a night. “We are still building two more shelters in Windsor West and in Florida. Unfortunately, at the moment we don’t provide any financial support to NPO-owned shelters dealing with the homeless people,” said Senna. Gauteng Social Development spokesperson Busi Kheswa said the department does provide shelters, however, linked to categories. “We have shelters for victims of genderbased violence and for children. We have no shelters for adults outside the categories we service.” There are shelters in the city run by civil society organisations, but many of them do not cater for homeless adults. Pastor Bongani Fatyi of the Salvation Army in Braamfontein said: “We offer a soup kitchen, which is open to every homeless person. In terms of shelter, for now we accommodate vulnerable children only. This is still a big challenge, because many homeless in Joburg came here looking for ways to better their lives. However, when things don’t work out they end up sleeping anywhere they can.” GroundUp

11 - 18 July 2019

Inner-city Gazette

Model clinches Miss Joburg title

Miss Johannesburg Javani Rajoo

Carnival City - The Role Models Foundation hosted the Miss Johannesburg pageant at Carnival City Casino recently, won by 22-year-old model Javani Rajoo. She also won the Public Choice and Philanthropic Achievement award. “Entering Miss Johannesburg pageant gave me the platform to make my voice heard, and I was able to create awareness about issues we face in society.” Rajoo said the pageant is philanthropic and hosted by an NPO that hosts some philanthropic pageants with the aim of improving lives. “We spent months preparing for our main gala evening by approaching business houses to sponsor our various charity projects as well as a fundraising drive to collect food, clothes, stationery and toys to donate to these charities,” she said. There were two segments, one themed costumes where participants had to represent a country, and the other being evening wear. “I represented my motherland India as it represents who I am, colourful, vibrant and spicy. I will use my title to help others. I can be the change we need in the world, and I am excited to start assisting my charity projects,” she said.

Cops to escort EMS crews Johannesburg - Police will now escort ambulances and fire engines on night calls following a surge of attacks on emergency workers, city officials have announced. JMPD chief David Tembe said authorities were concerned with a spike in attacks on crews when responding to emergency calls, so police will escort emergency vehicles between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am in areas identified as hotspots. “These are interim measures, we can’t wait until all the bureaucratic hurdles have been dealt with while

Captain Kay Makhubele

to restore public confidence. “Crime could be reported anonymously if need be, by visiting a nearby police station or calling the Crime Stop Number 08600-10111,” Makhubele said.

Men found dead in bullet-riddled car Protea Glen - Two men were shot dead and another wounded in a car on Saturday morning, paramedics said. ER spokesman Russel Meiring said ER24 paramedics found the car parked on the side of the road and riddled with bullet holes. “Three men were found inside the vehicle. Medics assessed them and found that two had sustained numerous gunshot wounds and

Emergency services personnel have been attacked by criminals in several instances recently.

Suspects found with lion, snake and crocodile skins Faraday - Two people were arrested at Faraday last Friday after they were found in possession of various illegal animal skins, according to police. Police spokesperson Captain Kay Makhubele said Environmental Affairs officials are working with police to protect animals from criminals. “Police followed up on information from community members about animal skins being sold in Faraday on Friday, and that the suspects kill animals and sell the skins at Faraday. Police recovered various animal skins, including that of lions, tigers, snakes, and crocodiles. Two suspects were arrested for possession of illegal animal skins. One of the suspects was also found in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, Makhubele said. Makhubele added that Gauteng SAPS management had urged members of the public to continue coming forward to report crime as police continue to work hard

News

showed no signs of life. Nothing could be done for them and they were declared dead. The third man, the driver, had sustained moderate injuries. He was treated for his injuries and transported to a nearby hospital by the provincial services,” Meiring said. Details surrounding the incident were not yet known, but local authorities were on the scene for further investigations, Meiring said.

people are dying,” Tembe said. Three attacks were recorded last week, and 10 since the beginning of the year. Emergency services workers have been targets of violence and robbery in crime-ridden neighbourhoods, including the CBD and Alexandra. Tembe said two recent incidents took place in Cosmo City Extension 2, in Roodepoort and in Dobsonville, Soweto. “On June 27 EMS responded to a domestic incident in Dobsonville. While the medics were busy

treating the patient inside the ambulance, two gunmen opened the ambulance doors and robbed the crew off their belongings. On June 29 an ambulance was dispatched to an assault case in Cosmo City Extension 2, where medics found an adult male who had apparently been assaulted. Community members assaulted the crew and the patient.” Officials said they have identified areas to which police would escort medical staff; Alexandra, Joburg CBD, Cosmo City, Matholeville, Orange Farm and Doornfontein.

Inner-city Gazette

11 - 18 July 2019

Inner-city Gazette

The Arts

UJ hosts gender and identity arts expo

Bolero returns to

Joburg Theatre

Generalis delineates the gallery space into three areas of visual communication and employs terms used to describe sacred ritual spaces

Siyandiswa Dokoda

Lakin Morgan-Baatjies

UJ Arts & Culture presents the opening of Yannis Generalis’ exhibition Hybrid Vigour: Ecce Homo at the UJ Art Gallery, Kingsway Campus, from 10 July. Born in Africa to Greek immigrant parents, Generalis grew up between Zimbabwe, Botswana, Greece and South Africa. A witness to profound socio-political events in these four countries during his formative years, and exposure to a richness of cultural diversity has brought a multi-layered perspective to his work, while his early studies in the field of psychology, and international relations has influenced his storytelling. Generalis delineates the gallery space into three distinct areas of visual communication and employs terms used to describe sacred ritual spaces, such as ancient Greek temples (The Narthex, Naos and Sanctum). These spaces are presented as a visual timeline of ritual poiesis (creation) with each area showcasing different hybrid processes of art-making. He, thus, explores the relationship between artist, artwork and space as a performative expression of a queer creative self. This body of work is an exploration of the Self, in the process of creation, as enacted under the tyranny of a heteronormative landscape. He strategises and overlaps, a multitude of sociocultural influences that have informed this body of work. In

uyani Dance Theatre’s Cion: Requiem of Ravel’s Bolero returns to Joburg in a 10-day season at The Mandela at Joburg Theatre from 5 to 15 September this year. Accompanied by the Soweto Gospel Choir, this season forms part of the group’s 20th anniversary. With his contemporary African dance company, Vuyani Dance Theatre artistic director Gregory Maqoma shares an innovative, visually stunning full-length work that brings literature to life. For this gala season at The Mandela at Joburg Theatre, the production will see 20 dancers and 16 musicians on stage in an amplified production. In Cion: Requiem of Ravel’s Boléro, Maqoma draws inspiration from creations by two artists: the character Toloki in South African author Zakes Mda’s novel Cion, and music from French composer Maurice Ravel’s Boléro. In a review of Cion: Requiem of Ravel’s Bolero at the Marseille Festival, Helmet Vogt writes: “The dance is powerful and generous. The sets offer pulsations like cries in a ceaseless march, on the spot, which seems to cross Africa. Exile and colonization present themselves to us in the dance gestures, like two combatants duelling. The excellent

Artistic director Gregory Maqoma

dancers, from different generations and different bodies form a homogeneity which often appears to support hip-hop colour solos where the body is jerky, riddled with stories. The steps are back or front offering hip agility bluffing. The allegories are numerous in this show with very classic form. Slavery, dictatorship, the oppression of Africans, everything is symbolized by a voracious dance that sometimes lets the upper body move on supports screwed to the ground. The torsos extended by the arms undulate in a physical reference to the theme of the Bolero.” The music is delivered in stirring fashion by an isicathamiya troupe and the percussive voices of Vuyani dancers, under the direction of Xolisile Bongwana and Nhlanhla Mahlangu. After gracing the stages of numerous European festivals, Cion: Requiem of Ravel’s Bolero returns to Joburg audiences for a 10 day season. For more call 011 838 7666.

this way he makes visible his own fluid identity in the process of art-making. These complex layers of meaning and signification are the drivers of what he calls hybrid vigour. Friedrich Nietzsche, believed that artists become vessels for communicating the Self by making art. The words he used, in the title of his last published book, Ecce Homo (Behold the Man): How One Becomes What One Is, were purportedly the words used by Pontius Pilate when he presented Jesus of Nazareth to the crowd that condemned him to the cross. Nietzsche’s use of these words (ecce homo) strips them of their shackles of divinity, appropriating them into his own worldly background. He challenges his readers to reconsider the original intention of dogmatic truth implied within Christ’s martyrdom. Truth, Nietzsche suggests, needn’t require dying on the cross. In doing so, he achieves a different kind of transcendence, one that is firmly present in becoming who you are, by beholding this man (homo). “Yannis Generalis has presented a solo show and participated extensively in group exhibitions at the UJ Art Gallery over the past few years and has also become a pivotal promoter of arts in this city. His exhibition focuses on aspects of gender and identity politics.” The exhibition runs from 10 to 31 July. For more information contact UJ Arts & Culture on 011 559 2690.

Artist Yannis Generalis

112 Kerk Street & Mooi, 7th Floor Executive House, Jhb CBD, Close to MTN Rank)

Health Caregivers Course (Homebased Care) Child Minding Course HWSETA Accredited

Entry Level Requirements: Grade 9 - 12 or equivalent

Fresh talent for Banyana in Cosafa Cup Sports Reporter

anyana coach Desiree Ellis has said she will include fresh talent in the Cosafa Women’s Championship to improve performance for the coming Olympics qualifiers. Banyana have won five of six Cosafa Cup finals since the tournament began, and aim to retain the title. “We have Olympics qualifiers coming up a week after the Cosafa tournament. We must start now to give new players enough game time. In the 2017 edition we had 10 players making their debuts, and last year we gave a few players international caps.” Her plan of including as many youngsters in the squad won’t be as effective as she would have liked, with the introduction of the Under-20 tournament in the Cosafa

Banyana players and officials celebrate after winning the previous edition of the Cosafa Cup

tournament. “Bearing in mind that Basetsana are also playing at this year’s Cosafa Cup, it will be difficult to call as many youngsters as we would have wished.” Ellis said she and Basetsana coach Maud Khumalo will decide which players to be included in the Banyana team. “We do not want to un-

der-value the U-20 team, bearing in mind that they will also be playing the Africa Games soon,” she said. The Cosafa Women’s Championship will be played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality from July 31 to August 11. Banyana have been drawn against Malawi, Comoros and Madagascar

in the group stages, and start on July 21 against Comoros before facing Malawi on August 2 and Madagascar on August 5. Botswana, Mauritius, Namibia and Zambia face each other in Group B; while Angola, ESwatini, Mozambique and Zimbabwe compete in Group C of the Cosafa Cup tourney.