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,KASI 29 January 2016 | Boland
VISION Zwelethemba Tel: 023 347 0968 | breedekasi@media24.com
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R60 pm Contact office for more information: Multi Purpose Centre Office 4, Zwelentemba 37 Le Sueur Street, Worcester, T: 023 347 2233 AAAAAA-K2290116
Construction of the school hall.
MEETING A HEIGHTENED DEMAND
One of the senior phase classrooms being built.
New secondary school taking shape
I
f all goes to plan, a brand-new local school boasting more than 30 classrooms will be finished by the end of this year. Construction of the new secondary school in Zwelethemba is well under way. This R57 million project was commissioned by the Department of Transport and Public Works on behalf of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), and the school is envisioned to alleviate overcrowdedness at Visisizwe Secondary School. Vusisizwe currently has just over 1 500 learners, which is well over the WCED limit of 1 200. The new school will have a capacity of 1 250 learners. Most of the school buildings will comprise a framed concrete structure and a mixture of facebrick and painted infill walls. Teaching facilities will comprise 33 standard classrooms, five specialist rooms and one multi-media room with a library. The complex will also have a hall with toilet facilities, an administrative building and caretaker’s facilities. All classrooms will enjoy a lot of natural light and be adequately ventilated. The site will be landscaped with a combination of grass and perennial flowering plants, including planters in the courtyard. Trees will be planted in and around the school to provide shade. The public works department is committed to creating Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) work opportunities through the project, including the vital skills training component. A total of R7 million is expected to go towards targeted contractor businesses, R2 million to suppliers and manufacturers and R4 million to targeted local labour. Construction began in July 2015 and the building is expected to be completed towards the end of 2016.
The administration building under construction.
,KASIVISION | Zwelethemba
News
2 29 January 2016
Saving water has been a way of life before the drought A shortage of water and low dam levels across the country have led to the implementation of water restrictions by the City of Cape Town from Thursday 1 Jan-
uary. Residents have been forced to devise plans to save water. Kasi Vision took to the streets to poll readers on the measures they have put in place.
Khotso Mokoena: “I try not to bath twice a day and make sure there are no leaks at home. We have a bucket where we get water from, instead of using the tap. We wash hands at a basin. I have always saved water and used it sparingly, even before the drought. My sister works at the Department of Water and Sanitation, so she always asks us to use water wisely.”
Zanele Mkrakraza: “We pour water from the tap into two 20 F buckets and use the water from the buckets; that way we won’t waste water as we pay attention to the amount of water we use when brushing teeth or washing hands. We have changed the water pressure on our toilet tap to save water when flushing and we only flush when necessary. We have been doing this before the water restrictions.”
Jackson Doncabe: “We don’t use the tap; we use water from the bucket at home. I try to not use too much water when cooking, brushing teeth and washing. I report leaking taps and pipes around the house. I drink juice instead of water and eat veggies and fruit which contain water. I saved water before the water restrictions.”
Lulama Ntulini: “I make sure I close the tap after using it and have placed a bowl for hand washing at home. We usually use hand sanitiser to wash our hands. I always encourage my children to save water. This drought is really affecting people in South Africa. To be honest, we didn’t save water before, but we have been doing so since this crisis. I encourage others to do so too.”
Sakhile Sophazi: “My brother and I use the same bath water to save water. I don’t drink tea and I don’t use running water when I brush my teeth or wash my hands. We also have a tank at the house which captures rain water. We saved water before the drought, as my mom – a teacher – has always encouraged us to do so.”
Phumlani Mkhiva: “When I brush my teeth, I use a mug filled with water, as that doesn’t waste too much water. I make sure there are no leaking pipes or taps, and I flush only when necessary. I live alone and don’t waste too much water. At school, we were taught ways of saving water and I have always saved water.”
AT THE HELM OF KASI VISION Mzwanele Mkalipi has been appointed editor of Kasi Vision. He brings with him a wealth of journalistic experience, having plied his trade at Independent Newspapers for a year and, most recently, the Daily Sun for six years. Kasi Vision publisher Theresa Olivier is excited about the prospects Mzwanele brings to the Media24 stable of Boland, Overberg and West Coast community newspapers. “Having Mzwanele as part of the team will allow for the publications to be true to its readers,” she said. “He is an asset to the publication and we look forward to seeing Kasi Vision grow under his editorship.” Mzwanele holds a National Diploma in Journalism from Cape Peninsula University of Technology. He is excited to be bringing out the first Kasi Vision edition for 2016. He said: “I am looking forward to growing personally and professionally in my new role at Kasi Vision. I look forward to tackling issues affecting the community head-on as well as engaging with stakeholders in the various townships. It is my mission to ensure the avid readers of Kasi Vision are able to identify themselves with the publication.” Readers are encouraged to share their news with Mzwanele by contacting him on 021 853 0211 or mzwanele.mkalipi@media24.com. PHOTO: JAMEY GORDON
Goodbye January blues LETTERS AND COMMENTS Mandarin: paving the till next year then This coming Sunday we bid farewell to the longest month ever, and yours truly can already hear all those ululations and stomping of feet going on all around Visionland. Phew, what a stretch! No wonder some of us always hold celebrations whenever the sun sets, come month end. Man, January can be so troublesome; let’s start with the Pravin Gordhan (financial) side of things. I mean, just the other Lunga day some guys broke into my Adam house while I was fast asleep, woke me and demanded money. I had no choice but to get up off the bed and help them look for it. Almost every year this is the month that sees grown men crying because of its “two-months-in-one” effect. You are even wary of coming across kids in the street because they will ask for spare change to buy chips and you do not wanna be exposed. One feels rather useless. People are so poor during the month of Jan that they cannot afford even to smile. Or pay attention. And you know what happens when people don’t smile. They snap at others at the slightest irritation. You step on their shoes and they give you a funny look, as if to say you have committed the biggest of crimes. So you have to apologise for stamping on the shoe and also for looking funny at someone. You comment on a person’s favourite team’s result during this month at your own peril, for it is easy for them to make a meal of it. All this because of the first month of the year, January. Poor Jan. I’m sure if months were able to talk, Janu-worry would be the most frustrated of the lot. It would be taunted by its peers – especially December – for causing a great deal of distress on society. January would have to spend hours and hours trying to think what it is that it has to do to bring a bit more cheer among penniless
folk. I also think this month, which ends on Sunday, is a case of perfect timing, for it means for those who work there will be a noticeable change in their lunchboxes. Come to think of it, during Jan you will find people feasting on the most inconvenient of meals, ranging from umbeko (leftover food) to umphokoqo, samp without beans, bread and tea, intyorontyoro, and so on. A large majority of those who partake of the juice of the vine will also be coming out of their self-imposed exile. This after telling all and sundry at the beginning of the year: “Ndibuyekile.” These fellas have you fooled for real. They will go nowhere near the drinking holes and on the odd occasion you will even find them clutching a bible, on their way to the local church. Umjita has suddenly seen the light, or so it seems. Until February comes along, and some sense is knocked into all of us – showing it was all an act! Said bloke was broke. All the while the fishers of men at the local church are left asking about his whereabouts until he reappears next Jan. I also know of those who would unashamedly and proudly proclaim: “Ayikho grand iweyi yokunkintsha ever naskhathi bafethu. Ndisa quit-ile.” See what this month makes people do and say? The funny thing is that this is the case year after year; we don’t learn from past mistakes, nor do we plan ahead for this monster of a month. It’s like going to fight Floyd Mayweather without the necessary preparation. Talk about shooting oneself in the foot! My only advice on how to beat the January blues is X find yourself a sugar mama for just this month. Why not? I’m told they fund lifestyles. Well, as long as you follow instructions when the lights are switched off, anyway.
way for new colonisation A departmental circular – “Circular S10 of 2015: incremental implementation of Mandarin as a non-official language from 20162018” – has been distributed. According to this circular “The roll-out of Mandarin will be incrementally implemented in schools as follows: Grades 4-9 and 10 will be implemented in January 2016, followed by Grade 11 in 2017 and Grade 12 in 2018.” Signed by Paddy Padayachee, acting director of the Department of Basic Education (DBE). The two-page document ends by appealing to the recipients to publicise the message: “You are kindly requested to bring the contents of circular S10 of 2015 to the attention of all provincial and district officials, and principals and teachers of both public and independent schools.” We wish to inform you and warn you about the current unrest at grassroots. Parents, teachers and teacher unions, such as SADTU, have become increasingly volatile and agitated about the way a foreign language is being “forced” on our local people whilst neglecting African languages. The deep anger and frustration about Circular S10 rises from our history of oppression through colonisation and apartheid in South Africa. Old apartheid wounds have been re-opened, especially the old oppressive policy of forcing Afrikaans onto other culture groups, which
triggered the 1976 Soweto uprising. During 2014, the DBE unveiled a policy to prioritise and improve African languages like Xhosa, Zulu, Sesotho and Tswana. This policy, however, was delayed due to an additional 30 minutes of school day “which would be too tiring for school children.” Surely this decision to downgrade indigenous languages in order to teach Mandarin, which contains 500 characters (letter types), is not the request of parents. We ask whether the S10 circular has been based on empirically sound language-ineducation policy research before being placed among other world languages in the polyglot repertoire. Why this obsession with Mandarin? When visiting, working or studying in other countries, such as France, Germany or Poland, people study that country’s language. Does President Jacob Zuma’s agreement with China also include the learning of Xhosa, Zulu, Sotho or Venda on Chinese home soil? Or rather, has he sold us wholesale to a foreign nation and their language? South Africa’s democratic society is demanding answers. The people of South Africa need to know what Mr Zuma has agreed to with China regarding us, our children, our resources and our future. – N Nhlabathi, Chairperson: Concerned Young People of South Africa (CYPSA)
,KASIVISION | Zwelethemba
News
29 January 2016 3
Brace yourself for major Election preparations voter registration drive on a roll RICK MARAIS
This year, 2016, is an election year, and the Electoral Commission says it will keep up an extensive communications campaign, especially to get first-time, young voters to the voting stations. Of the approximately 9 million South Africans eligible to vote but are unregistered, 80% are under the age of 35. All voting stations will be open from 08:00 to 17:00 on Saturday 5 March and Sunday 6 March for new voters to register and for existing voters to update and check their registration details. The date for the election itself will only be known later this year when it is proclaimed by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. In a press release to announce the official launch earlier this month of the 2016 municipal elections, the Electoral Commission said that the election date will be between 18 May and 16 August. Because voting in a municipal election is allowed only at the voting district in which you are registered, voters should ensure they are registered in the district where they reside. To find your voting district: ) Call 0800 11 8000 between 07:00 and 09:00 weekdays. Contact centre agents can also assist voters through webchat
(www.elections.org.za), Twitter (@IECSouthAfrica), Facebook (IECSouthAfrica) and email (info@elections.org.za). ) Use the voting station finder app on the IEC website at www.elections.org.za. ) Dial *120*IEC# (*120*432#). Voters who are already registered can SMS their ID number to 32810 (cost R1) to receive confirmation of their voter registration details including the name of their voting station. A total of 1 700 education fieldworkers have been deployed across the country to engage in voter education initiatives as well as 50 000 temporary registration officials to staff voting stations for the registration weekend. Officials are local so they have the geographical knowledge to make sure voters are registered in the correct district. Registration officials must apprise themselves of the precise location of an applicant’s residence. Voters do not need to provide proof of address when registering, but must provide sufficient details of their address to show they are in the correct voting district. Where no address is available, registering voters will be required to sign a confirmation of their exact location of residence.
tract basis. “The process filters Arrangements to let 2016’s down further, and we have municipal elections run to employ area managers smoothly in the Breede Valfor each voting station and ley, are well under way. a presiding officer and depCourtney Sampson, uty presiding officer to spokesperson for the Electmake sure that things flow oral Commission (IEC) in smoothly at the voting stathe Western Cape, told the tions,” Sampson says. Standard during a planning “To ensure that the ensession this week at Gouditire process is transparent ni Spa, that everything is beand as open as possible, we ing prepared to the smallest send each and every one of detail. Courtney Sampson, spokesperson for these representatives’ “The Breede Valley is an the IEC in the Western Cape shed some names to the political parinteresting area with differ- light this week on the preparations for ties to make sure that the ent challenges and an esti- the 2016 municipal elections. person doesn’t have a high mated 73 000 voters who PHOTO: RICK MARAIS political profile or holds an will cast their votes in the executive office in a politilocal elections,” he says. cal party. Then we will take that person off the He says the IEC has already appointed an list, because it’s important to remember that electoral project coordinator and a regional su- they represent South Africa (not a political parpervisor for each municipality. “We don’t have ty).” enough people from our side to run the registraSampson adds that the IEC focuses on unemtion and voting process, so we have to employ ployed people to assist with registration and to people from the community. We call them ex- manage crowds, but this holds a unique chalpansion staff and they will assist the electoral lenge of its own as many unemployed people coordinator in every region.” don’t have bank accounts. Sampson says to inform the rest of the commu“They live in a cash economy where cash is nity about the process and how it works, a mu- king because the money that they have today nicipal outreach coordinator is employed as will feed their family,” he points out. “They don’t well as a demographic educational facilitator. believe in bank accounts so we have to urge them Both these officers work on a short-term con- to open accounts.”
Candidate wants to see Ward 16 service delivery quality heightened With 2016 Local Government Elections around the corner, Zwelethemba residents have been staging protests throughout 2015. These residents are complaining they are not getting basic municipal services such as water, sanitation and electricity. Ward 16 is one of most under-serviced areas in Zwelethemba, with no access to basic municipal services. To address their needs in this ward, Democratic Alliance member Palesa Ramokhabi (32) is putting her head on the block as a candidate for this year’s Municipal Elections in this ward. Ramokhabi and her campaign team have already started with their Door-to-Door campaign around this ward. Ward 16 covers the whole new Mandela Square, an area with lots of shacks and only few built proper houses. This ward has been under an ANC Councillor and thus far nothing much has improved in terms of service delivery. As a resident herself in this ward, Ramokhabi sees her availability to stand as a calling to serve her people, which according to her she does on daily basis as an employee in the Speaker’s Office at Breede Valley Municipality. In an interview with Kasi Vision she reassured Ward 16 residents her campaign is not based on empty promises or food parcel distribution for votes, but it is centred on service delivery. “Today our door-to-door campaign gets under way in full force as we move towards achieving our electoral objective,” Ramokhabi explained, “which is to win this ward and serve everyone no matter what party they’re affiliated to.” The candidate encouraged young people to get involved in the development of Ward 16. She urged them to challenge leaders and to push the agenda of improved service delivery forward. “My role also entails improving chances youth have to get jobs, and not just to rely on government. We need to assist them in establishing profitable small businesses to boost our economy and enable them to create jobs for others.”
Democrat ic Alliance (DA) member Palesa Ramokhabi wants to follow in t he footsteps of DA Leader Mmusi Maimane and make a posit ive change in her community.
4 29 January 2016
,KASIVISION | Zwelethemba
News
Reggae artist shows his heart is where it should be Nkululeko Zungula, affectionally known by many with his stage name Blak Kalamawi, is a local reggae talent from Zwelethemba, who is using his name to help those in need. Kalamawi started his musical journey at the age of 10 as a lead vocalist for a gospel group called Worshippers of God. With more than a decade in the music industry, Zungula is soon to be a force to be reckoned with. Last year ended on a high note for him as he managed to release his debut five-track E.P and a collection of his latest videos. He’s performed on some of the biggest stages around the country, in festivals, commemorations, and has toured with other Reggae sensations like Nathi B, Bongani Belu and others. Expecting him to share his latest career offerings, the singer mentions instead that he is working on a new community initiative called the Blak Kalamawi Legacy Project. It aims to collect old clothes discarded by the community into a “clothes bank” which preserves and distributes clothes to those in need. This comes after many shack dwellers around Cape Town and other surrounding areas suffered through fire outbursts during the festive season. The project has partnered with the Department of Social Development, through which Zungula and his team plan to distribute the
clothes via its database. In this way, trauma centres, orphanages homes, and community youth centres stand to benefit. “I believe that through our efforts with this outreach campaign, we will be able to protect and provide for those needy families affected,” Kalamawi declared, “and that’s why we invite everyone to get involved and donate. “We are also in need of volunteers to assist with collection and distribution. In Xhosa we say Umntu ngumntu ngabantu, an expression that underscores Ubuntu [as a virtue], so let’s all get involved.” In a telephonic interview, project manager Lerato Ramasesane explained it may well seem to be Kalamawi’s solo project, but it is really a community-based initiative, driven by the community for the benefit of the community. According to Ramasesane, its intention is to collect clothes that are still in good condition, which can still be worn by others. “Our target is not only to distribute these clothes in our community, but to deliver it to other affected areas identified by the Department and our other distribution partners,” concludes Ramasesane.
Reggae artist Nkululeko Zungula spearheads a community initiative to collect clothes and donate them to people in need.
Entertainment planned for Easter Monday
The Gospel Reconciliation Concert that took place on 16 December had local gospel fans on their feet
Annual gospel concert huge success Every year the community of Zwelethemba commemorates Reconciliation Day, and 2015 wasn’t a disappointment as organisers treated gospel lovers from across the district to an exciting and uplifting debut launch of the Gospel Reconciliation Concert. An annual event which features prominent gospel artists combined with local upcoming artists to celebrate and educate others about the meaning of this day. This event was a collaboration between the Breede Valley Municipality [BVM], Brand Media House and Cape Winelands District Municipality [CWDM]. Based on the recent xenophobic attacks a few months ago in the community, for the organisers it was vital to align this event under the national theme, ‘Bridging the division: Building a Common South African Nationhood’. A message set to remind everyone to strengthen relations with fellow South Africans and foreign internationals in order to build a future where we all live together in harmony. Event organiser and founder, Mr. Lawrence Ndzima, described the concert as a tool to encourage everyone to become powerful instruments and active citizens in order to develop a cohesive society. “The objective of this event is not only enter-
tainment-focused, but is to create one banner that promotes the universal principles of peace, freedom and social transformation around the country”, he added. The audience was given a rare opportunity to indulge in a unique combination of gospel musical choices. Those billed to perform included multi award-winning trio gospel stalwarts, Veliswa Skeyi, Lundi Ndyamara and Pastor Malibongwe Gcwabe. Although Ndyamara pulled a noshow, the show continued successfully as both Malibongwe and Veliswa left the crowd craving for more. Thembile Jacobs, a disappointed fan said; “It’s better for event organisers to let us know in time when an artist is not coming. Ndyamara disappoints on many occasions when it comes to his shows this side”. Promoting their debut albums, Lawrence Ndzima and Pastor Mdoda got the house on fire with their killer dance moves and their new musical material. In a postevent interview, Pastor Imminent Mdoda confirmed that he has been working very hard for the past few weeks in preparation for this concert. “I’ve been working tirelessly to take my fans to another level and I strongly believe I have achieved that based on my performance”.
An exciting entertainment line-up is planned for Easter Monday, combining Human Rights Day and Easter Bazaar celebrations for the community of Zwelethemba. The event will be presented by Khwezi Youth Developers in association with Monwatainment Productions, reggae artist Kalamawi, as well as local hip hop artists and poets. They aim to give local entrepreneurs the chance to showcase their businesses to the community, but also to educate young people on human rights and social issues such as substance abuse and teen pregnancies. According to Monwabisi (Madida) Stuurman of Khwezi Youth Developers, the idea has emerged from seeing youth in Zwelethemba struggling to become entrepreneurs, due to a lack of skills. “Our survey that we conducted with the local business forum recently, shows that our youth in Zwelethemba are not interest-
ed in starting their own business, compared to other racial groups. It is our duty as community organisation to empower youth from our community,” Khwezi Youth Developers explains in a statement to potential supporters. Stuurman says solutions to be pursued include getting young people involved in having stalls to sell their own goods at the event, and educating them on the importance of celebrating public holidays and not spending the day on drugs and alcohol abuse. The event is planned for Monday 28 March at 10:00 in Ndzishe Street. Although not finalised yet, the planned programme includes various local artists, but also speakers from the local municipality, police, business forum, rehabilitation centre and loveLife. Anyone who wants to support the initiative through a donation or participation, can phone 083 675 2740 or 078 753 7849.
Don’t miss auditions Are you an upcoming performing artist looking for opportunities to be in the spotlight? Then be sure not to miss the auditions to bring together a new group in Zwelethemba, with the sole purpose of performing at events organised by Kidz of Education. Kidz of Education is a community-based foundation, aimed at helping school-going children of Zwelethemba learn while having fun. According to Monwabisi (Madida) Stuurman, founder of Kidz of Education, the artists who performed for the foundation last year, will be this year’s judges: the well-known local songwriter and reggae artist Nkululeko Kalamawi Zungula, Gail Tungani, Faniswa Lamanyana and Athandile Sali. “We’ve developed some of these artists last year; now we utilise them,” Stuurman says, hoping to continue the cycle of developing new talent. The auditions will be held on 13 and 14 February, and again on 20 and 21 February, at the Thusong Service Centre (multipurpose centre). They are open to local artists of any age. Some of the events planned by Kidz of Education this year, are: ) A sports day on 29 April, at the Zwelethemba Stadium, aimed at motivating children to
participate in sport. ) A gospel concert on 28 May at the Zwelethemba Community Hall, aimed at motivating young people struggling with social issues, at empowering the youth and to remove curses believed to rest on the children of Zwelethemba. ) A baking and quiz competition for primary school pupils, at the Thusong Centre on 16 July, to keep children occupied during the school holidays. ) A gala dinner on 17 September where locals who have played a role in developing the community, will be honoured and told that the work they do in the community is appreciated. Certificates and trophies will be handed over at this event in the Zwelethemba Community Hall. ) The Emasakeni Festival from 24 to 26 December at Zwelethemba Park, which will offer three days of entertainment and educational items, to celebrate Zwelethemba residents’ Emasakeni roots. Well-known artists, although not confirmed yet, are expected to perform at the festival. ) A number of field trips to destinations such as Robben Island and the Iziko Museum in Cape Town.
,KASIVISION | Zwelethemba
Social
29 January 2016 5
Jail term for wasting water JOHN BULANI The Breede Valley Municipality (BVM) has warned that those who do not comply with water restrictions, can expect to be fined up to R2 000 or six months in prison! This stern warning comes as the country is grappling with water scarcity and a drought that has heavily affected farming communities in some parts of the country. This concerning trend from Mother Nature has also left Zwelethemba residents in Worcester concerned. “We might not yet be declared a disaster area as a municipality, but that could be a reality any time soon. If we’re not working together to save water we can find ourselves faced with that problem as well,” said a Zwelethemba resident, Dalubuhle Mekuto [57]. Though some local residents showed concern about the national issue of water scarcity and drought, to others this seemed to be a foreign concept. The Breede Valley Municipality has once again called on residents to use water sparingly, as the municipality has implemented water restrictions (Phase 1) on Monday 18 January. This will enable the municipality to plan ahead to ensure that water resources last. According to Johan Botha, the municipali-
ty’s public relations and communications officer, both the Roode-Elsberg and Stettynskloof Dams, which are the main sources of drinking water for Worcester and De Doorns, have not recovered in level as expected by this time of the year. “As a municipality we urge residents to adhere to these restrictions. Water should not only be treated as a scarce resource in time of drought, but always,” he said. The municipality has released the following water restrictions that residents need to follow: ) Properties with even street numbers may only be watered on even numbered calendar days, but not between 10:00 and 16:00. ) Properties with uneven/odd street numbers may only be watered on uneven/odd numbered calendar days, but not between 10:00 and 16:00. ) Any property without a clearly defined street number should revert to watering on even numbered calendar days, but not between 10:00 and 16:00. ) The use of hose pipes for the purpose of washing or rinsing buildings, structures, paths, pavements and paved areas is totally prohibited. Irrigation water is restricted to one turn per household per week.
Residents are warned to use water sparingly as restrictions are in place and the rest of the country is grappling with severe drought.
Mediclinic warns of job scam
Community Work Programme will work closer with NGOs in Zwelethemba to turn it into a prospering community
CWP to provide safety net for NGO workers Zwelethemba-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society organisations (CSOs) can now say ‘Thank You’ to government’s Community Work Programme (CWP), a state initiative designed to provide an employment safety net to eligible participants by offering them a minimum wage every month. When it started a few years ago, most mistook it for the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) but it turned out CWP is actually a component of the EPWP. Most of the community-based non-governmental organisations are doing much in terms of fighting poverty, raising awareness of HIV/AIDS, youth development, etc. But one of the main obstacles is funding and its availability to carry out operational expenses and paying volunteers. This is a reality for local organisations like Inkwenkwezi Community Garden Project, Mzamomhle Orphans Project and Siyabenza Community Project, to mention a few. CWP has committed itself to partner and subsidise volunteers from these organisations
with a minimum wage rate aligned to the EPWP. In order to get paid, CWP expects these volunteers to work 8 days per month and an overall of 100 days per year. This actually means volunteers have to work 2 days per week for 8 hours per day. On weekly basis each organisation has to sign and submit to CWP a register highlighting activeness of each organisation and its volunteers. Sharing about this partnership with these organisations was Khuselwa Majodina, one of the supervisors based in the community. She explained their commitment as an on-going relationship, but it can only be terminated if organisations are guilty of misconduct and/or fraud. According to her, more partnerships will be formed with other active community organisations that fall within their criteria. Majodina added, “By now we have to admit government is doing something to alleviate poverty in our communities. It might not be much but at least anything is better than nothing.”
Job seekers are warned not to fall for false advertisements seeking applications for positions at Mediclinic. The private hospital group has issued a press release to warn job seekers to be vigilant. “It has come to our attention that Mediclinic is being falsely indicated in current social media job scams, allegedly seeking to employ various staff members through a number of social media platforms.” Positions that are advertised include enrolled nurses, learnerships and other training opportunities. “The modus operandi of such scams includes the solicitation of money through informal channels such as money market counters to cellular telephone numbers as part of the application or training process,” the statement reads. “It is important to note that Mediclinic would never require an applicant to make a payment as part of the application process. We seek to distance ourselves from these
scams and request individuals interested in seeking employment within Mediclinic to visit our careers page on www.mediclinic.co.za for valid employment opportunities.” Mediclinic points out the following elements that may indicate the advertised post could be a scam: ) A request for upfront payment or banking details as part of the application. ) Contact numbers are cellular numbers as landlines are “out of order”. ) Lack of an interview as part of the application process. ) Legitimate sounding names that resemble the company name, such as MediClinic. Therefore, check for correct spelling. ) The use of several company logos on official looking letterheads. If an applicant is unsure of the validity of an advertised position, they are urged to contact the Mediclinic Careers Centre at 021 943 6111.
Five apprehended after armed robbery Five suspects have been apprehended after an armed robbery in Zwelethemba earlier this month. According to Lt Lindikhaya Mkhontwana, local police spokesperson, five men armed with knives had allegedly stormed into a house in Matsila Street at about 05:00 on 15 January. They had demanded all valuable items that could be easily carried, after which they had run away with an undisclosed amount of cash and
two cell phones. The suspects, between the ages of 24 and 26, have since been arrested, and appeared in the Worcester Magistrate’s Court on Monday 18 January. The case, of robbery, is still being investigated by the police. Says Mkhontwana: “We thank the members of the public who supplied the information that lead to the arrest of these suspects.”
6 29 January 2016
,KASIVISION | Zwelethemba
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Doing something to meet challenges JOHN BULANI Siya Dyati is not a stranger to anyone in Zwelethemba. He’s well-known, enthusiastic resident known by many for his community uplifting initiatives, including the community’s largest recycling drive and other youth projects. To add to his long list of initiatives, Dyati has established a food garden project called Siyabenza Organic Food Project for the benefit of the community at large. This is a registered non profitmaking organisation with community members involved as custodians. Siyasebenza is a Xhosa word meaning “We are working”. Speaking to Kasi Vision, Dyati said: “Time for us as youth to sit back and wait for things to happen on our behalf ended a long time ago. “This is the reason why I decided to get up and start doing something about the lack of food gardens, job creation initiatives and high unemployment rate which is sky-rocketing in Zwelethemba.” According to Dyati more still needs to be done in turning this
initiative into a success and living up to its planned outcomes and milestones. “We need more support, especially financial and non-financial assistance from relevant role-players,” he said. When Dyati and his team came knocking on the door of Lizo Paul, Centre Manager of Unobuntu Thusong Service Centre, for assistance a few months ago, he welcomed this community initiative with open arms. He contributed with a free piece of land to plant and donated a fence to demarcate their garden. “The centre is always looking for projects targeted to benefit the community. For us to partner with this initiative is part of our strategic plan to give unbiased access to community members for using our facilities and resources for uplifting this community,” he said. Dyati intends to supply fresh organic vegetables to soup kitchens, schools, and old aged homes around the community. Anyone interested in joining or assisting Dayati and his team, please visit the Unobuntu Thusong Service Centre in the area.
Siya Dyati is well known for his community involvement in Zwelethemba, Worcester.
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The development of entrepreneurial skills in the Western Cape is to kick off 2016 on a high note. Free workshops for business owners will be presented at several venues throughout province to further the Western Cape’s goal of job creation for economic growth. This follows collaboration between the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism and the Centre for Applied Entrepreneurship at USB Executive Development (USB-ED), the public company of Stellenbosch University. The initiative was to take place at the end of last year, but was moved to early this year in order to make the workshop available to more business owners. The two-day business development workshops will be offered at six venues. The Worcester leg of the workshop is scheduled from 4 to 5 February. This stems from business owners often getting so absorbed by day-to-day challenges that they neglect to plan for the future needs of their customers, according to a press release by the organisers. The workshops are aimed at helping business owners to prepare for the next life cycles of their businesses and to overcome the vulnerable phases. Participants will be introduced to instruments and methodologies that will help them identify potential indicators of change and to assess the impact and opportunities that these changes represent. They will also be guided to design their business models around value-creating strategies. A total of 150 participants across all six workshops will be accepted to take part. After the initial training, 20 participants will be selected from the total group for
further training and mentoring in March. Requirements for attending a workshop are: ) Operating in business for at least two years. ) Business must be based in the Western Cape. ) Possession of valid tax clearance certificates. Director of the USB-ED Centre for Applied Entrepreneurship, De Wet Schoeman, said: “The project will provide us with the opportunity to reach out to a number of business owners in the Western Cape. “We believe that the initiative will be an important boost for the development of successful smaller businesses.” Provincial Minister of Economic Opportunities, Alan Winde said: “In this province, our number one goal is the creation of opportunities for economic growth and jobs. “We know that small businesses are important job creators, employing around 500 000 people in the Western Cape. “Over the past five years, we have given over 20 000 entrepreneurs the support they need to grow. It is our role to create the right environment for small businesses to thrive. “To do so, we work to reduce red tape, facilitate access to funding and prioritise the roll-out of economic infrastructure, such as broadband. These workshops will take skills development to entrepreneurs and I want to encourage small businesses to take advantage of this opportunity,” Winde said. For more information contact Doris Viljoen at doris.viljoen@usb-ed.com or 082 965 7007.
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Website to help on NSC supplementary exams Staff Reporter The more than 3 000 candidates that have enrolled to write supplementary examinations for the National Senior Certificate, from February 16 to March 24 have been encouraged to put their best effort into the examinations. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has created a special website to help candidates prepare for their examinations. Western Cape Education MEC, Debbie Schäfer said her department is also broadcasting lessons via satellite on selected subjects and topics to 132 schools across the province. “The broadcasts form part of the Telematics programme, in collaboration with Stellenbosch University. The website includes the timetable for the supplementary examinations, exemplar papers, past papers and marking memos, study guides, order forms for recordings of Telematics lessons, and links to online videos on selected subjects,” she said. “The website includes a schedule for the Telematics broadcasts and a list of the schools concerned, and their contact details. Candidates will find the website under tag ‘Supplementary Examinations’ on the WCED’s website at wced.school.za. Candidates can also
search for resources on the WCED’s ePortal, that includes links to digital resources for all grades,” said Schäfer. She said the WCED’s telematics centres will provide lessons for supplementary candidates in February and March. Schäfer said the lessons will cover selected topics in seven subjects, alternating between English and Afrikaans. The subjects are Business Studies, Geography, History, Mathematics, Accounting, Life Sciences and Physical Sciences. She said the WCED is printing additional copies of its popular “Matric Countdown” guide, which provides study tips and exemplar examination papers for seven subjects. They are available at district offices. “We believe that these support measures and resources can assist our candidates in tackling the areas in which they failed and help improve their results. I strongly encourage these candidates to make use of this opportunity and put in their best effort to pass the supplementary exam. I wish them all the very best of luck for their studies and preparations over the next couple of weeks,” said Schäfer. Here is the website - http://wced.school.za/ documents/NSC-results/NSC-Results-index.html
Learners, teachers and parents ready for school JOHN BULANI As schools in the area opened their doors for the new year, Kasi Vision visited Alfred Stamper Primary School on 13 January. The many parents with their children at the school, and the readiness of the top management and teachers, was heartwarming to see. Parents were in the administration building, sorting out the last enrolment issues for their chil- Youngsters ready for their first year of school at Alfred Stamper dren, while on the other Primary School. side of the school, more PHOTO: JOHN BULANI pupils were coming through the gates for late enrolment. tial and dreams in life. This day, to us as Axola Eric, a Grade 1 pupil said: “I am teachers, marks a beginning of that calling so excited and nervous at the same time each year.” and can’t wait to see who is going to be my “As a proud parent, I’m here on this speclass teacher this year.” cial day to see my little one as he starts One of the teachers, Junior Jayiya, ex- his 12-year journey before he goes to varsiplained: “Our job as teachers does not end ty. I think this day means as much to him in a classroom, but we are called to help as it does to me,” concluded Mildred Ackethese young minds to realise their poten- na.
On Thursday 14 January the top learners from all the schools in the Cape Winelands education district received awards from the Cape Winelands District Municipality. Vusisizwe Secondary School was represented by Vusumzi Malgas, top Grade 12 learner of 2015 with an average of 72,7% and 93% in mathematics. He will be studying Mathematics and Applied Mathematics at the University of Cape Town this year. With him is Mr Reggie Ceasar, acting principal and Grade 12 mathematics teacher.
On 19 January the PJB choir took centre-stage as they paid tribute through music and poems to their beloved teacher Ntombekhaya PhanyaMbombo who passed away on 11 January. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
School greets beloved teacher Staff and pupils at PJB Cona started their year on a sad note after receiving the news of the death of their Grade R teacher, Ntombekhaya Phanya-Mbombo. She passed away on 11 January. On 19 January the Zwelethemba Community Hall was filled to capacity as hundreds of community members, teachers, learners and religious leaders came to pay their last respect to Mbombo. As organisers of this memorial service, PJB Cona top management and staff wore black colours with a blue flower as it represents their corporate colours. Before all the event formalities, PJB choir took centre-stage as they paid tribute to their beloved teacher through music and poems. In his short and brief sermon, Pastor Gqalaqha encouraged Mbombo’s family, friends and colleagues to not accept the situation but try by all means to find a solution to dealing with their loss. When fellow Grade R teachers paid tribute to Mbombo, Zodwa Bentele described her as a stylish and confident teacher who was always dedicated to her job. “I’m glad that all my colleagues are wearing their high-heels, make-
up and shades because Nosakhele always emphasised that beauty comes first,” she reflects. Also speaking at the service was the Principal of PJB Cona, Nontuthuzelo Matross, and she handed over a book of condolences and a large portrait with messages from each staff member. She urged her 3 children, namely Sakhile, Sgantsi, and Mantombi to familiarise themselves with these messages every time they feel left out, sad or bored in life. “I want you to know and keep this in your minds, Mbombo was an all-rounder, she gave her best in everything, whether it was in church or in class. Excellence was her middle-name, your loss is ours too,” she added. Before ending off the service all teachers present at the hall recited the Teachers Prayer with their candles as a sign of renewing their vows. As Kasi Vision, we say may your soul rest in eternal peace and rise in His glory. You have played your part in shaping your learners (our future generation of leaders) and for all you have done, we are grateful. Lala Ngoxolo Zotsho!!
Education Department loses millions on vandalism! The Department of Education in the Western Cape spends about R10 million on emergency repairs for damage resulting from major incidents of vandalism. Just over the 2015 festive period, the Department is to fork out about R800 000 for repairs over half of the schools that have been broken into over this period. The Western Cape Education Department is now busy completing a cost analysis of the overall damage. Western Cape MEC of Education, Debbie Schäfer, said they were pleased to see that “the number of incidents has dropped significantly once again, this time by 34,4%from last year”. “This suggests that local communities are actively looking after schools, in addition to our security measures. We have found that the safest schools are those where local citizens help to look after the properties. Unfortunately, despite measures taken by the WCED, as well as school communities, some of our schools still fell victim to vandalism and burglaries during the school holiday,” she said. “Of the 21 incidents reported, the Metro Central Education District reported the highest number of incidents in the province, with eight incidents of burglary and vandalism. Only one case has been classified as ‘major’, and 20 cases have been classified as ‘minor’. It is disheartening to hear that one of our excellent schools of skill was burgled and vandalised during the holidays. This school is one of 18 in the province that provides skills training for our learners who cannot or do not wish to follow a purely academic educational pathway,” said Schäfer.
She said, in most cases, perpetrators broke into the school classrooms and vandalised the interior, breaking windows and doors, yet stealing nothing! Schäfer said perpetrators also stole copper wiring and pipes from schools. “They also stole water pipes and vandalised the ablution block at a school in Mossel Bay. School could not start on time there yesterday (January 13) as a result. The cost to repair and replace the damaged and stolen goods is extensive. This comes at a huge cost to the WCED and a school serving one of our poorer communities. What has angered me the most is that the perpetrators again targeted a kitchen that forms part of our feeding scheme. They stole gas cylinders, heaters, a kettle, as well as pots and pans. Perpetrators also broke into a school library, destroying the facility and stealing computer wires, books and stationary,” said an unhappy Schäfer. She believed her department and schools could better spend the funds on improving the quality of education in schools. “At the end of the day, vandalism represents theft from our learners. At the start of every school year, one of my main concerns is that teachers and learners will arrive at a school that has been badly vandalised or burgled during the December school holiday. For this reason, during the December 2015/ January 2016 school holiday period, the WCED deployed additional security to schools that were identified as high risk. The WCED arranged additional security at 413 schools during the December/January holiday. These measures included patrols at specific schools and clusters of schools,” she said.
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Cricketer in the making
Two locals in Zwelethemba, PJB Cona and Alfred Stamper Primary School went head to head on Athletics last Friday. PHOTO: JOHN BULANI
JOHN BULANI
Alfred Stamper athletes triumphed over PJB Cona JOHN BULANI Two local schools in Zwelethemba last week Friday held a Mini-Olympics at the Zwelethemba Community Stadium. PJB Cona and Alfred Stamper were competing against one another. Despite the fact that there were no medals and trophies handed over to top achievers, it was still an interesting rivalry to watch between these two schools. This event attracted not just learners from these two schools and community members, but private partners like the Nedbank and African Bank also joined hands in nurturing young athletes.
This event formed part of the preparations for both schools for the upcoming major event this weekend. The Zone B Athletics tournament is one of the key events on the regional sports calendar; it will be hosted at Boland Park on Saturday. The Phenius James Bhatyi [PJB] Cona started the year 2016 on a low note as they suffered their first defeat to Alfred Stamper. The school [PJB] recorded 241 on the judges’ board, and Alfred Stamper scored a whopping 253 that led to their victory. A victory which Alfred Stamper’s Sports Coordinator, Junior Jayiya, refers to as a confident booster for his troops as they are heading
to this weekend’s tournament. “Although today’s event was to prepare our teams on both sides, these outcomes might swing favour to our side this weekend. Only our top athletes will be taking part on Saturday and winning is the only goal on our drawing board, nothing else,” said Jayiya. PJB Cona’s team manager, Sinethemba Chole, says she was so impressed with her team’s performance and hoped these results won’t negatively affect these young athletes. “I have spotted so much raw talent on this event and in the future we might produce our very own Caster Semenya straight from PJB Cona,” she said with a smile.
An award-winning young cricketer, Neliswa Klaaste, is one of the brightest stars to ever come out of Alfred Stamper Primary School. She is only 14 years of age, award-winning but Neliswa is An already a force young cricketer, Nelisto be reckoned wa Klaaste, wants to with among see herself one day donning the green and her peers. This former gold jersey representAlfred Stamp- ing South Africa. er Primary PHOTO: JOHN BULANI school student is planning to drive herself to achieve excellence in her cricket career, and in her studies as well Born and bred in Zwelethemba, Worcerster, Neliswa is the fourth of six children of Herdman and Vanessa Klaaste. In cricket she’s well-known for her batting and bowling skills. Those are coupled with her excellent leadership and interpersonal skills in both the classroom and on the cricket pitch. “I live, breathe and eat cricket,” she said with a wide smile. In 2014, Neliswa was selected as the first captain of the female cricket side of Alfred Stamper for two seasons. “Under her captaincy, the team has won most of its games and it’s unfortunate to lose a player of her calibre. Our role now as the school is to produce more female players like Neliswa,” said Neliswa’s former coach and sports coordinator at Alfred Stamper, Junior Jayiya. Two years in a row, Neliswa was crowned the Best Female Cricket Player of Alfred Stamper. “Neliswa on the pitch is something else than my little sweet daughter I know at my house. We are proud as her parents and family to see her reaching her potential and doing what makes her happy. In the years to come we might see her wearing the national colours, who knows? ” said her father. Neliswa was selected as one of the two black players from Alfred Stamper to join the Boland cricket team, which is a regional squad formed with players from various schools in the district, under Vanessa Kleinbooi’s leadership as the coach. This team participated for the first time in a national cricket tournament hosted in Johannesburg and Neliswa was one of the players making their debut on this level. “If it wasn’t for my school I wouldn’t be able to go to these regional and national tournaments. Thanks to my coach, teammates, and family for rallying behind me all the way until this far,” said Klaaste. After ending the 2014-15 season on a high note with sterling performances, this young cricketer found her spot in the Boland cricket team once again this year, to participate in the national cricket tournament to be hosted in Pretoria from 04 – 11 December 2016.