4
3
Cheaper gas on the way
JULY 2012
In Brief
6
20 000 Beautiful babies
delivered each year
EDUCATION
Malele
brightens the
lives of his
community
8
HOUSING
Dedicated coach wants results
FEATURES
Gauteng transport is tops
Help build 67 houses for
Mandela Day
Habitat for Humanity South Africa
is urging South Africans to get involved in
their initiative to build 67 houses during
their “International Nelson Mandela Build
Week” from 16 to 20 July.
The houses will be built in Orange
Farm in Gauteng, Mfuleni in the Western
Cape and Umgababa in KwaZulu-Natal.
SOWETO OASIS
A vast piece of arid land opposite a
wetland in Rockville, Soweto, has been
earmarked for a R1.2-billion development
comprising offices, townhouses, flats and
duplexes, a signature bridge over a Rea Vaya
station and retail facilities.
Called Oasis in Soweto, properties
on Khumalo Street, a stone’s throw away
from Regina Mundi Church, will also be
upgraded. The development will take up a
chunk of about 132 800 square metres of
land, stretching from Moroka Police Station
in the west right down to Klipvalley Road
in the east.
gravesite to be declared
national heritage site
Oliver and Adelaide Tambo’s gravesite
in Wattville has been nominated as a
National Heritage Site and the City
of Ekurhuleni is excitedly awaiting the
outcome of the nomination. The exhilarating news was shared at a
recent workshop which took place at the
Benoni City Hall, where Provincial Heritage
Resources Authority in Gauteng (PHRA-G)
taught residents the basics of the National
Heritage Resources Act No. 25 of 1999.
The Tambos’ grave site is one of many
sites in the region that have been nominated
to be protected by the National Heritage
Resources Act.
MEC Maile urges youth to
take lead in sports
The Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts,
Culture and Recreation has called on the
public especially young people to take part
in the province’s upcoming sport challenge .
Gauteng MEC Lebogang Maile urged
the youth to embrace sport and use it
as a means to bring society together and
showcase and unearth talent.
Maile’s call comes ahead of the two month
long Gauteng Sport Challenge which will
kick-off in July and ends in September.
SPORT
SATISFIED COMMUTERS... Gauteng residents are happy with public transport
A majority of Gauteng residents are satisfied with the province’s transport services but
affordability of public transport remains a concern for most and so is the attitude of taxi
operators. Tshwane and Johannesburg are leading in terms of better transport coordination.
Thokozani Mtshali
This is according to a recent
survey involving about 17
000 people conducted by the
Gauteng City-Region Observatory
(GCRO), a research organisation
working with the universities of
Witwatersrand and Johannesburg
as well as the Gauteng
Government.
This was a large sample survey
in which respondents were asked
how satisfied or dissatisfied they
were with the transport they used
frequently.
According to the survey
findings,
three-quarters
of
respondents were either ‘satisfied’
or ‘very satisfied’ with transport.
“The
main
reason
for
dissatisfaction
among
car
users was unreliability due to
congested roads. Minibus-taxi
users highlighted high fares as
their main concern, with about
one in five regular taxi users
complaining that taxis are too
expensive,” it says.
The attitude of taxi operators
especially drivers was also
flagged as part of concerns by
public and private transport
users who “complained about
rude or reckless drivers and
unroadworthy taxi vehicles”.
The
17,000
respondents
involved in the Quality of Life
Survey which is due to be released
later this month, were sourced
from across Gauteng and parts of
adjacent provinces. Respondents
were asked a host of questions
on their perceived quality of life,
satisfaction with government, and
social attitudes.
“Among
the
metros,
satisfaction is higher in Tshwane
and Johannesburg than in
Ekurhuleni,” said Christo Venter,
Associate Professor of Transport
Engineering at the University
of Pretoria, who analysed the
transport questions for GCRO.
“We think this is related to the
spread-out nature of Ekurhuleni,
where many people travel longer
distances on poorly integrated
trains, buses and taxis. But
expectations are also different
in different parts of Gauteng.
Satisfaction was higher in some
more rural parts of the Province,
such as Midvaal, Merafong, and
Randfontein
Municipalities,
despite these areas having below
average public transport coverage
and higher travel times,” added
Professor Venter.
Overall, three out of every
four households live within a
ten minute walk from some form
of public transport, while 95%
live within a 30-minute walk,
according to the survey findings.
“This shows the importance
of taxis as a means of mobility for
people,” said Venter. “Taxis are a
key part of poor workers’ striving
for a better life. But it also shows
the difficulty of improving public
transport,” noted Venter.
“To really affect people’s lives,
government and taxi operators
need to find ways of improving
the quality of taxi services
without making it more expensive
to use. What this really means is
government subsidies and, in
many cases, integration of taxi
routes with more cost-effective
services like Bus Rapid Transit.”
[email protected]
Unity and non-racialism must be achieved
South Africans need to promote unity and non-racialism in the
country. This is according to Gauteng MEC for Sports, Arts,
Culture and Recreation Lebogang Maile speaking at the Social
Cohesion Summit recently held in Kliptown, Soweto.
MelitaH Madiba
Maile said: “While we
acknowledge our great successes
and progress, we should not be
afraid to identify weaknesses,
highlight our concerns and
express our aspirations for the
future.”
“We believe that this
event which brings together
Government,
civil
society,
religious groups, and business
leaders will be able to provide us
with the answers on how people
in our society can live up to the
theme of this Summit by “working
together to create a caring and
proud society,” Maile said.
“Today, South Africa is a
democracy anchored on a solid
Constitution which is regarded
by many people in the world
as the best Constitution for its
comprehensive protection of the
rights of all people,” he added.
“We all have to take to heart,
that it is not how progressive our
constitution is that determines
how deep the process of social
cohesion and nation-building
can go, but rather by how much
effort we put toward finding
our common destiny within our
differences and diversity,” he
said. Maile added that with July
being former President Nelson
Mandela’s birthday, his life and
convictions “should teach all of us
that we should always be selfless,
stand for the truth and seek to do
for our country everything that
will benefit all people and future
generations.”
Melitah.Madiba@
gauteng.gov.za
Learners find solutions at Summit
Everyday should be a
Mandela Day!
Former President Nelson
Mandela’s belief that every
problem has a solution which
can be established through
dialogue should motivate
each person living in South
Africa and even beyond our
borders.
Similarly we should not only
ask during this month of July
what we can do to improve
the lives of our neighbours
or others in less fortunate
communities, it should be
uppermost in our minds
throughout the year.
Silver Malele who we feature
in this edition of Gauteng
News certainly embodies this
spirit of giving and asking
how can I serve? In addition to
starting and running a hockey
club he volunteers as a health
promoter and HIV/Aids focus
group leader; assists with
home based care and rolls
out several health awareness
campaigns in his community.
We also meet paramedic,
Thandiswa Dube who despite
only being 28-years old and
petite in stature carries the
health and lives of her patient
on her shoulders.
Broken bones; blood and gore
are things most of us wish we
never have to witness. Dube
witnesses these scenes on a
daily basis but still conducts
her duties with distinction
and dedication, because she
believes the public deserves
the best.
We also pay a visit to the Chris
Hani Academic Hospital’s
Mother Child and Pediatrics
Unit’s labour ward. Here
the Gauteng News team
witnessed how tiny Gauteng
residents and their mothers
are cared for with dignity
and the top notch medical
resources.
Nurses and doctors despite
challenges like the ever
growing community they
serve and an increase in high
risk pregnancies due to HIV/
AIDS infection rates and
hypertension, deliver more
than 20 000 healthy babies
each year.
We also bring you the glitz
and glamour of the Gauteng
Sport Awards which took
place recently.
Veteran soccer administrator
Dr Leepile Taunyane was
honoured for his sterling
contribution
to
sport
development in the country.
The Gauteng News team
hopes this edition of our
monthly offering will inspire
and challenge you to be the
best Gauteng citizen you can
be because a better province
and country begins with you,
our readers.
You can send your letters by
fax: 011 355 6245 or e-mail:
[email protected]
SERIOUS ABOUT SUCCESS...Learners shared their views on how to improve education in Gauteng at the Soweto Learner Summit held recently.
Photograph: Photograph: Andronica Nedzamba
Irresponsible teachers who constantly missed classes and arrived at schools late and learners
who abuse drugs and alcohol are the key obstacles in the road to success for Soweto schools.
Melitah Madiba
Schools, which continued
to under-spend their allocated
budgets while learners struggled
with basic school necessities
like learning materials and
resources,
also
contributed
to low levels of academic
performance
by
learners.
These were the views expressed
by
learner
representative
Hlalanathi Dlamini of Jabulani
Technical Secondary School in
Soweto. Dlamini raised these
issues during the Soweto Learner
Summit held at the University of
Johannesburg’s Soweto Campus
earlier this month.
The summit which was hosted
by the Gauteng Department of
Education and included various
stakeholders such as educator
unions, political organisations,
faith-based organisations, youth
structures, and School Governing
Bodies, was a follow-up to the
Soweto Education Summit which
was held in April last year.
Last year’s summit had
resolved and adopted a declaration
to protect the education of the
African child in the township.
Dlamini said that as learners
they were grateful to be given
the platform and opportunity
to be involved in the process
of bettering their education
standards.
“As learners we know our
needs and challenges better than
anyone and we would like to
commit to working with all the
stakeholders in building the best
foundation for our education.
“We need to work even
harder in making sure that
Gauteng ‘s vision 2055 is
achieved,”
Dlamini
said.
He said as learners they needed
to break the cycle of poverty
by studying hard and making
sure they participate actively in
the department’s intervention
programmes.
Mercy Kok, a representative
from faith based organisations,
echoed Dlamini’s sentiments and
urged parents and learners to go
the extra mile in making sure
that learners reach their potential.
“I urge you to also seek
the blesser before seeking the
blessings. You can’t expect to pass
if you don’t learn or study hard,”
Kok said.
Addressing
the
summit,
Gauteng MEC for Education
Barbara Creecy said that although
there has been improvement
in this year’s School Secondary
Improvement
Programme
(SSIP) turn-out, the department
remained concerned about the
number of learners who need the
programme but failed to attend.
“I would therefore like to urge
you to mobilise and encourage
each other as learners to attend.
“Education is meant to give
learners an opportunity to be able
to use what they have learned to
better their future.
The MEC further said
that the Soweto Education
Summit held last year was a
major success and some of the
decisions taken have borne fruit.
“The
situation
in
Soweto
schools has vastly improved,
with
more
stability
and
less
school
disruptions
taking
place.”
MEC
said.
Home stretch for construction of two new schools
The construction of the Lotus Gardens (left) and Olievenhoutbosch (right) primary schools through the use of the
Alternative Construction Method (ACM) is in its final stages . The overall percentage of construction completed at
Lotus Gardens Primary School is 60%, while Olievenhoutbosch Primary School it is at 70%. The Olivenhoutbosch
and Lotus Gardens Primary schools form part of Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development’s educational
infrastructure programme. The finished schools will ultimately have 24 new classrooms, which will house Grade R,
the foundation phase, intermediary phase and senior grade 7 classrooms, an administration block with the library
and computer room, sport facilities, guard house, paved parking and grounds, security fencing and landscaping.
JULY 2012
Gauteng and Chinese province
join forces
The
Memorandum
of
Understanding (MoU) signed
between Gauteng Premier
Nomvula Mokonyane and
her counterpart in China’s
Chongqing province will
pave the way for a number of
trade ventures.
The Gauteng Provincial Government has spent about
R51,904,636 during the month of June 2012 on youth owned
companies.
Thembisa Shologu
Nozipho Dlamini
In the MoU, both parties
have agreed to encourage
cooperation in areas such as
trade and investment, tourism
infrastructure,
manufacturing
automotive
and
motorcycle,
education, arts and culture.
The agreement would also
facilitate trade ventures in
agriculture, infrastructure, freight
and logistics, transportation,
resources
exploration
and
development.
The
electronics
and
information technology, civil
aviation and aerospace sectors in
which China is also a respected
player would also form part of the
areas in which the two countries
would
establish
business
relations.
The signing of the MoU
commits
Gauteng
and
the
Chongqing
provincial
administration to a number of
strategic objectives, among them
their ambition to strengthen
investment.
This will allow Chinese
YOUTH-OWNED COMPANIES
GET A MAJOR BOOST
PRODUCTIVE PARTNERSHIP.... China’s Chongqing Province and Gauteng have signed an
agreement paving the way for joint ventures in many industries including the automative sector.
business to invest in Gauteng
while giving Gauteng businesses
an equal opportunity to explore
new opportunities in China.
Premier Mokonyane said the
MoU would promote mutual
bilateral relations and also
enhance friendly exchanges and
cooperation between Gauteng
and Chongqing.
“We want to commit to have
a functional relationship. The
MEC for Economic Development
Qedani Mahlangu, working
together with your municipality,
will make this MoU a living
document,” said Mokonyane
while visiting Chongqing earlier
this month.
The Premier and the Mayor of
Chongqing will meet once a year
either in Gauteng or Chongqing to
exercise oversight on progress in
order to keep the MoU active and
this will be reviewed after three
years.
Chongqing Mayor, Huang
Qifan said he welcomed South
African companies who wanted
to do business in his city as there
were plenty of opportunities.
[email protected]
This move comes after the
Executive Council (EXCO) agreed
that all Provincial Government
Departments should promote
the procurement of goods and
services
from
youth-owned
companies as part of marking the
Youth Month.
Among the youth companies
getting government business is
the Fundudzi Forensic Services
(Pty) Ltd, a 100 percent black
youth owned entity specialising
on forensic investigations and
preventing fraud and corruption.
The company is also 30% women
owned. They were selected as
service providers for government
in June.
According
to
Fundudzi
CASHING IN... Fundudzi Managing Director,
Ernest Nekhavhambe is pleased to have
secured business from the Gauteng Provincial
Government.
Photograph:Andronica
Nedzamba
Managing
Director,
Ernest
Nekhavhambe the company was
formed in 2009 and has had its fair
share of successes.
“Our common goal is to see
to it that fraud and corruption
engulfing our country is reduced.
We want to make a difference,”
said Nekhavhambe.
He said that seeing happy
clients gave them satisfaction and
they believe they have made a
difference.
“There are very few black
owned companies and that is a
challenge for us,” he explained.
Nekhavhambe said they were
a team with vast experience and
were capable of being at the top of
their industry.
He added that ever since the
company was formed, they had
never looked back despite having
initially struggled to secure
funding.
“We started on our own but we
told ourselves that we were going
to do this. The passion we have is
leading to results,” he noted.
FFS’s client base includes
several
Gauteng
Provincial
Government (GPG) departments .
“We are very happy that the
provincial government has given
us this opportunity, with these
projects under our belt we can do
so much more ,” he concluded.
[email protected]
Affordable GP ‘green taxis’ helps preserve environment
Going green doesn’t only help preserve the environment. It
can also save one a pretty penny too!
Vuyo Sabani
That’s according to David
Ngobeni, a Pretoria taxi driver
who has converted two of his taxis
to operate on dual fuel, petrol and
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
To fill-up his 50-litre Toyota
Quantum with petrol, Ngobeni
spends around R760. However,
this is slashed to around R426
when filling up with LPG, saving
him R334.
His sentiments were echoed
by Jeffrey Matjila, a fellow taxi
driver at Pretoria’s Bloed Street
Taxi Rank, who said in addition
to the cost-effectiveness of LPG; it
was also quite safer to use.
Ngobeni and Matjila are the
beneficiaries of the Gauteng
Provincial Government’s Green
Economy Programme, which aims
to drastically reduce the carbon
footprint and gas emissions in the
province.
During her Political Report in
June, Gauteng Premier Nomvula
Mokonyane said the provincial
government had also identified
260 taxis for conversion into gas
use and trained 12 technicians.
The programme is a joint
venture with the taxi industry,
the
Automotive
Industry
Development Centre (AIDC) and
the Sasol Petroleum Company.
AIDC’s
CEO
Barlow
Manilal, said to make the taxi
conversion a success, they had
“consultations with the South
African Taxi Council (SANTACO),
and numerous taxi routes were
identified. These associations
were engaged and through
numerous interactions, a selection
of routes was agreed to.
“The AIDC had to also engage
with the private petroleum
sector (Sasol) to agree to fund
and establish refuelling stations
to support converted fleet. This
resulted in four new refuelling
stations being erected along the
chosen routes with a further four
currently being planned for rollout during the current financial
year,” said Manilal.
The early phase of the
programme is being piloted
in Pretoria, Mamelodi and
Hammanskraal.
Manilal said the conversions
to LPG had made the cost of
running taxi business more lesser
as the running costs are reduced
by 12 percent per annum due to
the lower cost of LPG compared
to petrol.
“[This] whilst reducing the
carbon dioxide emissions by 11%
and carbon monoxide by 30% per
taxi. This is the largest and most
successful LPG pilot study in the
country.
“Gauteng is now leading
in South Africa in terms of the
number of public transport
vehicles
operating
on
an
alternative and greener fuel
source. This has led to many calls
to expand the programme to
SHARP SAVINGS... David Ngubeni is saving more than R300 on fuel since he started using
Liquefied Petroleum Gas
Photograph: Mandla Nkosi
convert the provinces entire minibus taxi fleet,” said Manilal.
Ngobeni
praised
the
government for the programme
saying he now spends less money
filling-up his cab, which means
more money going to his child’s
education. He said maybe when
the programme was rolled out
on a full scale provincially, taxi
fares could decrease. vuyo.sabani@
gauteng.gov.za
Bara staff give mothers and babies the best
DEDICATED AND DILIGENT... Despite challanges nurses at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic
Hospital’s Mother Child and Pediatrics Unit’s labour ward provide the best possible care.
Photograph: Mandla Nkosi
After nearly 30 years of nursing Nomusa Sibiya still gets a bright
smile on her face and bursts into the familiar Happy Birthday tune
each time a new life begins at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic
Hospital’s labour ward.
TERRI-LIZA FORTEIN
Each year 200 000 healthy
babies are delivered across
Gauteng close to 22000 of these
babies are delivered at the Chris
Hani Baragwanath Academic
Hospital.
According to Sibiya, the unit ‘s
manager, it offers the community
they serve “everything they have
in the expensive private hospitals”
but the challenges the nurses,
gynaecologists and paediatricians
face at this hospital are different.
The Hospital has to contend
with high health professional to
patient ratios since the community
they serve is ever growing and
it is difficult to retain staff in the
public health sector.
“In the last 20 years the
hospital hasn’t changed much but
our community has grown,” she
explained.
On average the unit admits
about 90 mothers each day some
are high risk patients who have
hyper tension; others are living
with HIV/AIDS.
“We usually assess patients,
discharge some of them and
deliver about 60 babies each day
and provide them with their
vaccinations. Most babies are well
babies who can be cared for by
their mothers. While sick babies
are cared for by the nurses and
are under 24 hour supervision by
the paediatrician on duty.”
19 Year-Old Mayroohnisa
Abdul recently delivered her
first child, Layla Chaytoo at
the hospital and said she was
surprised to find caring staff.
“People always have so many
negative things to say about Bara
so I really expected the worst.
But the nurses here were kind
and caring. I was surprised by
the good experience I had. They
even went beyond their job and
supported me on a personal
level,” she said.
Sibiya explains that this
perception of uncaring nurses
who have become hardened by
witnessing death many times and
who don’t respect patients is not
an accurate and true reflection
It’s a pity that people always
get to hear about the negatives
and not the positives.
In February last year two sets
of triplets were delivered without
a hitch in less than a week.
Matshidiso Meletsa
and
Thandi Nxumalo each were
provided with antenatal care and
despite their pregnancies being
very high risk, through close
monitoring and good quality
healthcare they delivered six
healthy babies.
Gauteng is also one of the
leading provinces when it comes to
significantly decreasing the rates
of mother to child transmission
(MTCT) of HIV. In 2009 about 35%
of mothers were transmitting the
virus to their babies and in 2012
that under number has decreased
to less than 24 %.
The Province is also working
towards bringing the maternal
mortality ratio from 145 per 100
000 for the previous triennium
2008 to 2010 to 100 per 100 000
live births by 2015, through the
Prenatal Problem Identification
Programme (PPIP) and offering
pre natal care at clinics every day.
These efforts are bringing the
outcome of a better health for
all to life but programmes are
nothing without dedicated people
implementing them.
Sibiya says there are many
dedicated and hard working
health workers in the public
service.
Sibiya said herself and her
colleagues gave their patients the
best possible care and are always
affected when they lose any
patient. Complaints are also taken
very seriously and every single
patient should leave satisfied and
knowing we gave them our best.
[email protected]
Side effects no setback for determined Hope
‘There comes a time in life when you must
either fight or submit’ and I chose the former,
I chose to live.
MELITAH MADIBA
“This HIV will never do
anything to my soul, it is just
a bacterium which lives in me
therefore it has to be my servant
and listen to me. I will never
allow it to eat away my happiness,
my dreams and my hopes for the
future”, said Hope* the woman
who tested HIV positive at the
tender age of 24.
We meet with Hope two
days after she was released from
Charlotte Maxeke Hospital where
she recently underwent a bilateral
breast reduction operation.
She is currently reading The
Master’s Voice by Sandile Memela
and she is quick to explain that
this is where she borrowed the
opening quote from.
The
29-year-old
orphan
from Ekurhuleni was diagnosed
HIV positive in 2006 and was
immediately placed on ARV
medication as her CD4 count was
very low.
“I was very ill and went in and
out of hospital until one of the
nurses suggested that I get tested
for HIV.
“When the results came back
positive, I went through a state of
shock, anger and disappointment.
I cried all the way home that day,”
she said.
With time she eventually
learned to accept and live with
her situation.
“But unfortunately two years
later after starting the ARV
medication, I started experiencing
ARV-related side effects and my
feet became swollen and my breast
started growing abnormally.
“I couldn’t walk and the pain
was unbearable. My breasts were
so heavy sleeping also became a
challenge and I also had difficulty
breathing at times,” she said.
Fortunately for Hope, her
breasts were operated on.
“I was over the moon when
I was told I would finally be
operated. I was scared but at the
same time looking forward to
being rid of the pain that has been
nagging me for years,” she said
pleasantly. A jubilant Hope said
that all she wants now is to start
afresh, get a job and start working
towards her dreams of becoming
PURSUING HER DREAMS... a breast reduction has given Hope a new lease on life.
Photograph: Andronica Nedzamba
a marketing manager.
She said her other immediate
course of action will be to go out
there and start teaching others
about the importance of testing
for HIV.
“I want to demystify the myth
and attitudes towards HIV and
people living and affected by
the disease. We will never win
the fight against HIV if we keep
hiding and running away from it
instead of facing it head on,” she
said. **Hope is not her real name.
JULY 2012
Award winning residential units for hostel dwellers
He lives in Gauteng, while his family lives
more than 430 kilometres away in KwazuluNatal. The only time he sees them, is when
he can get time off work to visit them over
holidays like Christmas and Easter.
Vuyo Sabani
They would like to visit him,
but because he stays in a men’s
hostel where there are strict rules
prohibiting female visitors this
will not be possible.
This was the unfortunate
quandary Thulani Sithole (25) of
Rathanda Hostel in Heidelberg
found himself in.
But this dilemma will no
longer be part of his reality.
Sithole and other hostel
dwellers will be moving into new
rental residential units opposite
the old hostel which will not be
governed by the same rules as the
old mens hostel.
The new units have been
constructed by the Gauteng
Department of Local Government
and Housing in partnership with
Lesedi Local Municipality as
part of the programme to build
sustainable human settlements.
Even before tenants have
moved in, the units have been
applauded for good quality
standards.
The project scooped the award
for Best Rental Residential Units
project at the National Department
of Human Settlements Awards in
May.
The awards honour excellence
in building and construction of
human settlements around the
country.
Sithole
from
Estcourt,
Kwazulu-Natal who came to
Gauteng six-years ago in search of
work feels just as happy about his
circumstances changing as if he
scooped an award himself.
He says the new residential
apartments will improve his
quality of life.
“Because am staying in men’s
hostel I can’t have my wife and
sisters visit me. I only see them
when I go home on holidays.
The new units, you can see from
outside are nice, they’re built with
face brick and they have tiles,
what more can you ask for,” he
said rhetorically.
The project consists of four
double storey buildings with
six units each. The construction
started last year June and was
completed earlier this year.
On winning the Govan Mbeki
award, the developer KhathaKhatha Enterprise executive
Takalani Tshivhenga said: “The
Award is a great achievement for
us as the developer. The standard
we set on the project was so high..
“To other contractors I would
like to say, build that house
like you are building it for your
mother in-law, and that one day
you can proudly tell her you built
QUALITY HOUSING...these units scooped the best Rental Residential Units project at the National Department of Human Settlements Awards
in May
Photograph: Thomas Chauke
it yourself,” said Tshivhenga.
MEC for Local Government
and
Housing
Humphrey
Mmemezi emphasised that “the
awards are of vital importance, as
they celebrate the hard work and
dedication within the housing
development sector. They also
encourage healthy competition
among developers and provinces
at large.”
The Lesedi Council said it
hopes occupation would take
place around August 2012 after
electricity reticulation has been
installed.
“At the moment rates are
subject to discussion with two
proposals on the table where the
Council is proposing the rental
of R450.00 excluding water and
electrical consumption while
the residents are recommending
a flat rate of R400.00 including
consumption,” said
Lesedi
Councillor,” Tshepo Malekane.
Quick housing facts
•
•
•
•
•
•
Mixed housing developments are the solution to the
challenges facing our historically divided societies. To date,
26 mixed housing developments have been identified across
the province. Seventeen are under planning and 9 under
implementation and in various stages of development.
Cosmo City, Pennyville, Olievenhoutbosh Ext 27 and the
Alexandra Ext 10 mixed housing projects have also been
completed.
21 496 families have been provided with houses in the
previous financial year and 15 803 stands were secured
during the same period.
During the 2012/2013 financial year about 20 959 stands will
be acquired and about 29 884 new houses will be built.
The Gauteng Provincial Government is increasing the rate of
affordable rental units through Social Housing Institutions,
small-scale backyard rental programme and the construction
of Community Residential Units.
The Department of Local Government and Housing in
Gauteng plans to deliver 2 450 rental units and 2 875
community rental units.
Multi-million rand hostel revamp to return residents’ dignity
After more than a decade of living in squalid conditions –
sometimes with animals such as pigs and goats – residents
of the dilapidated Kwa-Masiza hostel near Sebokeng are
now looking forward to living in decent housing with their
families.
KHUITSEMANG DISEKO
DECENT HOUSING IN THE MAKING... Kwa-Masiza residents will soon enjoy the benefits of
revamped accomodation
Photograph: Khuitsemang Diseko
“
This comes after
Iskor and the
When the
the announcement that
money
would
management be
the Gauteng Provincial
deducted
of Iskor stopped monthly from
Government
(GPG)
is
investing
more
managing these their accounts,”
than
R46-million
Makume
tells
premises, people Gauteng News.
to
re-develop
the
started invading
30-year-old property
“At
that
– which housed male
time
it
was
only
the property
employees of former
men that were
and lived there living at these
steel-maker, Iskor.
without paying premises and
“We are using the
funds to fix the water
no women were
for services.”
and sewer connections
allowed. As time
first,” says Gift Makume, the went by there was an influx in
Emfuleni Local Municipality’s the people that were coming into
administration officer responsible the hostel to get accommodation.
for housing.
Wives, children and others started
Makume says the water and to flow in and that is where the
sewer connection project will problem began,” Paseka Rakosa,
finish September 2012. Thereafter the
Emfuleni
municipality
the work will shift towards fixing spokesperson says.
parts of the building structure – a
“When the management of
process which will be completed Iskor stopped managing these
in 2014.
premises, people started invading
“I was one of the first people the property and lived there
to stay here,” Makume says. The without paying for services,”
premises consist of 42 buildings Rakosa adds. In 2002 the property
with 16 units each, totalling to 672 was sold to a private citizen, who
units, with two or three bedrooms, did not pay for services. The
kitchen, bathroom and a lounge.
municipality then decided to cut
“People used to pay rent to off all services. Following that
action, local political structures
and community leaders at
the hostel approached the
municipality to intervene.
“It was then that the Gauteng
Provincial Department of Local
Government
and
Housing
was initiated the Community
Residential Units (CRU) project.
The department assisted with
funding and the premises were
then transferred to the Emfuleni
municipality early in 2011. The
Region budgeted for the project,
and engineers were appointed to
assess the damages and evaluate
the refurbishment that needed
to be done in order to bring this
facility to an acceptable habitable
condition. A building contractor
was also appointed late last year
and the works began in February
2012,” Rakosa says.
Rakosa was, however, quick
to add that the property was to
cater for people who “would not
normally qualify for RDP houses.”
Occupants of the hostel are
expected to be relocated in the
coming months in order to allow
for the revamp to be concluded.
[email protected]
Doing it for the love of the people
Former president Nelson Mandela’s efforts,
and sacrifices continue to inspire many. His
willingness to selflessly serve and change the
lives of many is one thing he has in common
with Silver Malele. The silver lining in the
dark cloud of the youth, the hungry and the
sick in Diepsloot.
ADZILIWI NEMATANDANI
This man with many hats
started and is running a hockey
club; volunteers as a health
promoter and HIV/Aids focus
group leader; assists with home
based care and rolls out several
health awareness campaigns in
his community.
Malele
who
has
been
unemployed for years, started
a hockey development club,
Diepsloot Silver Stars in a dusty,
rocky ground in 2001.
“I wanted to give the children,
something different from football
and keep them away from drugs
and alcohol,” Malele said.
Malele,
was
born
in
Witkoppen, Fourways where
he completed primary school
and started his Hockey career
in 1979. However, despite all the
efforts that saw him playing in
the former Transvaal Squad that
toured Mpumalanga, Durban and
Cape Town, Malele’s career choice
never earned him a decent living.
He was also selected to train
with the National Hockey team
but never got an opportunity
to represent the country due to
apartheid policies.
However, his experience
didn’t go to a waste. For more
than a decade Malele has been
unearthing hockey talent
in
Diepsloot.
“Since 2001 we’ve been
training without regular match
practice but we never gave up hope
until 2007 when the University
of Johannesburg (UJ) spotted us
and roped us into Mini Hockey
development tournaments. Ever
since then our team has grown
to have many divisions starting
from under-6 up until under-17,”
said Malele.
Mpho Makopo (18) is one of
Malele’s shining stars that have
represented Gauteng Provincial
Junior Hockey side on several
occasions. Makopo could not
hide her sense of gratitude for all
Malele has done for her.
“Silver is like a father to us.
He is a coach with both talent
identification and management
skills. There are so many of us but
he can still juggle his work at the
clinic and us at Silver Stars. I am
grateful for what he is doing for
our community,” said Makopo.
Malele’s work does not begin
and end with Silver Stars. During
the day he volunteers at a local
clinic as a health promoter and
HIV/Aids focus group leader.
Here, he also runs healthy living
campaigns in the clinics, schools
and the community.
“We help people that are on
MAN OF MANY
TALENTS... Silver
Malele plays an active
role in developing
his Community
through volunteerism.
Photograph:
Andronica Nedzamba
long-term treatment with food
parcels and vegetables from our
food garden at the clinic. We
also refer those that need home
based care to the community
organisations responsible,” said
Malele.
Malele’s
dedication
in
uplifting the community has
touched those that he serves and
those that he works with.
Diepsloot
South
Clinic
Operations Manager, Charlene
Meiring said she couldn’t do
without Malele’s help.
“Silver is an integral part of
this clinic and we can’t afford to
lose him,” said Meiring.
Last year Malele won the
National Department of Sport
and Recreation Volunteer of the
Year Award, but it is not the bright
lights and the recognition that
motivates him.
“I do all these things because
I love my community, that is
what motivates me.” Adziliwi.
[email protected]
Open hearts and wallets to make Mandela’s Children’s Hospital a reality
South Africans will this July 18 celebratethe 94th birthday of
one of the world’s greatest living statesmen, Nelson Rolihlahla
Mandela. This year Mandela Day will be celebrated under
the call ‘Take Action and Inspire Change’. While many will be
focusing on doing their good deeds to immediately improve
the lives of children in their communities – something which
is very close to Madiba’s heart – others have set their sights
on a project which will carry Mandela’s legacy indefinitely.
KHUITSEMANG DISEKO
One such project is the planned
construction of the R1-billion, hightech 246-bed Nelson Mandela
Children’s Hospital (NMCH), which
is set to begin at the Wits College
of Education campus in Parktown
before the end of 2012.
“Much work has already gone into
the planning, design and fundraising
of this project in the past four
years,” Vuyo Lutseke, the NMCH’s
spokesperson told Gauteng News
recently.
“The desire to establish a children’s
hospital is about entrenching Mr
Mandela’s values in our society,
particularly his value for the care of
children, and his love and compassion
for children. It helps to address a very
real need in the Southern African
region,” Lutseke added.
Research by the NMCH indicates
that there is a dearth of dedicated
paediatric facilities in Africa, with
only four such facilities on the
continent.
“Two (of those are) in Cairo, one
in Nairobi and one in Cape Town.
This compares dismally to the 23
children’s hospitals in Canada, 19 in
Australia, 20 in Germany and 157
in the United States. Mindful of the
role that a children’s hospital can
play in providing specialist care in
the region, admissions will be open
to children from the SADC region,
who most need specialised care,”
said Lutseke.
The hospital will initially have
246 beds – 196 inpatient and 50
outpatient – but its capacity may be
increased to 300 inpatient beds.
According
to
the
NMCH
documents, “the hospital requires
approximately R1 billion for the
first phase (246-bed facility), with
operating expenses calculated at
approximately R530 million per
year. The operational costs will
be covered by the National and
Provincial Departments of Health
through its unique partnership with
the NMCH.”
“We have already raised about
R250-million of the required R1billion. We need more donors to
come to the table,” Lutseke said.
Gauteng
Premier,
Nomvula
Mokonyane, has called on business
and individuals in the province and
beyond to heed this call and make
Madiba’s dream a reality.
“We humbly echo the Mandela
Children’s Fund’s call to all South
Africans to open their hearts and
wallets to ensure this project
becomes real,” she said.
The NMCH is not only expected to
help radicalise the way children are
treated at South African hospitals.
The hospital will complement and
consolidate specialist paediatric
care by operating as a public benefit
organisation that provides services
to children referred from both the
private and public sectors.
ARTIST’S IMPRESSION... This is what the completed Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital will
look like.
JULY 2012
Achmat Donger the CEO of the
is about a South African who
lives abroad and travels abroad
but never forgets his South
Africaness.
Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory
during this special month where
we celebrate the Birthday of
International Icon and our Former
State President Nelson
Mandela tells Terri-Liza
Fortein what makes him
tick and what keeps him
inspired.
Where were you born and
how did you end up living and
working in Gauteng ?
I was born in Newclare in
Gauteng and although I have
lived in many parts of the
country; studied at Rhodes
University in Grahams Town;
lived and worked in New York
and Geneva.I always ended up
back in Gauteng
What are your favourite things
about living in Gauteng?
We can charectirise it with
one word, the warmth of the
people and the weather. The
people no matter how many
challenges they face, they find
something to laugh about. That
Gauteng humour is our saving
grace. With the weather it is the
place where you can find more
sunshine and of course the rain
when we need it.
What drew you to
your career and briefly explain
your journey to becoming the
CEO of the Nelson Mandela
Centre of Memory?
It started way back in 1986 when
I was working with NGOS
and I was also an activist. As a
consequence I suffered under
the security laws. Subsequently
I got a job with an American
company. I also worked with
the Kagiso Trust and then the
Nelson Mandela Children’s
Fund which led me to my
current position.
What makes up your
typical
day
as
the CEO of the
Nelson Mandela
Centre of Memory?
The
only
typical is that
no idea what
coming across
thing
I have
will be
my desk
What
is
your
greatest
aspiration in life
By vocation I am a writer, I
would like to write full time , I
already have 5 novels published.
But I also want to contribute to
the fulfilment of other peoples
lives .
Who are your role models or
people you admire?
I think it’s a range of people
obviously Nelson Mandela, as a
student, I knew Steve Biko. He
took disadvantages and turned
them into advantages. There
are also writers that I admire.
Nadine Gordimer, Noble Peace
Prize Lauriot she was an activist
beside us,
people like that
inspire me.
each day. Sometimes you do
get crazy requests but what
is gratifying is that we are
always doing things that
attempt to resolve problems
and when you do it in
Nelson Mandela’s name
its much easier. It is
easy for people to focus
on problems and
Nelson Mandela has
taught us there is a solution to
every problem that’s what I use
to inspire me.
What are you currently reading
and what are your favourite
books – that are in some way
related to volunteerism or the
spirit of Mandela Day?
I am currently reading, David
Galgut’s, ‘In a strange room’. It
Paramedic not just a job but a life saving profession
Sirens, speed, blood, broken bones and sometimes death are all scenes experienced by
paramedics on a daily basis. This is not a job for the fainthearted, but the bold headed like
Thandiswa Dube, a 28-year-old paramedic from Freedom Park Johannesburg.
LIFESAVER...Thandiswa Dube is a paramedic
in Johannesburg Photograph: Mandla Nkosi
THEMBISA SHOLOGU
Although Dube’s job requires giant allegedly threw himself from a bridge
shoulders, she carries out her duties on the highway and was injured.
with ease and diligence despite her “’That was not the worst though,
body mass. She is proof that dynamite I once attended a very horrifying
bike accident where the rider had all
comes in small packages.
The petite Dube’s day-to-day his limbs broken and head injuries,
responsibilities
include
driving unfortunately he died,” she relays.
Despite all these
the sick from clinics
challenges she faces
to hospitals around
I really enjoy
on a daily basis,
Johannesburg.
what I do
she says the part
She says although her
and would like
she enjoys most is
shift starts at Seven in
saving people’s lives
the morning, she wakes
to encourage
and seeing them get
up at 4am to prepare
everyone out there better.
little
Endinako,
her
to follow their
She also says she
daughter for crèche.
Even though she does dreams, no matter fears for her life
sometimes
as
not often respond to
what the obstacles their lives too get
accidents scenes she
says she has seen pretty are, push through threatened, “after
hearing of the two
horrific accidents in the
and eventually
female paramedics
line of duty.
one door will open who
were
“On my way to this
wide,” she said
sexually assaulted
interview we got stopped
responding to an
by the police after a man
smiling. “
“
emergency call, I really feared for my
life. But life has to go on.”
The shy and soft-spoken Dube says
when growing up she wanted to be
a nurse because of her love for the
health profession, but she ended up
being a paramedic instead.
“At first it was not easy, seeing
patients in pain, but I have since
gotten over my fears.”
Dube started working as a paramedic
in 2009 but started working for
the Hillbrow Clinic where she is
now based since September 2011.
She explains that in order to be
paramedic one only requires a matric
certificate, Code 10 drivers licence
coupled with a Public Driving Permit
(PDP) and formal training.
“I really enjoy what I do and would
like to encourage everyone out
there to follow her dreams, no
matter what the obstacles are, push
through and eventually one door will
open wide,” she says smiling.
If you were Gauteng Premier
for a day, what would you do to
make the province better ?
And if you had a billion rand to
spend on improving Gauteng,
what would be your top three
priorities?
I would take a longer term
view and take the billion rand
and invest it in community
projects run by women. If you
empower women, you empower
communities. I would invest
some funds in their ability to
create things. If we invest in cooperatives or other formations
undertaking small jobs. I think
we can start a new revolution. We
also need to allow them to trade
openly with fewer restrictions
JULY 2012
Bafana’s new coach
faces an uphill battle
At long last, Gordon Igesund
becomes Bafana Bafana coach,
a moment he’s waited for all his
life. Although this was an anxious
moment for the South Africa’s
soccer lovers, it was obvious that
the post had Igesund’s name
written all over it.
ADZILIWI NEMATANDANI
Igesund has arguably achieved
almost everything that there is to
acheive in the domestic league.
He has won the Premier Soccer
League (PSL) title four times with
four different teams including
the then low ranked Maning
Rangers and Santos. His latest
achievement was to save Moroka
Swallows, the league title runnerups, from possible relegation.
According to the South African
Football
Association(SAFA),
Igesund’s two-year contract has
a mandate to reach at least the
semi-final in the 2013 Africa Cup
of Nation (AFCON) which South
Africa will host, and South Africa
must qualify for the 2014 FIFA
World Cup in Brazil.
He becomes the 17th Bafana
coach in 20 years. However, the
questions still remains whether
his
mandate
is
achievable?
Bafana Bafana has already started
their 2014 world cup qualifying
mission off on the wrong foot.
Drawing their first game against
Ethiopia here at home under
Results-driven coach aims to produce future football stars
‘Check the line! Good cover Matome! Well done boys! The
young man shouts to the players on the pitch as he paces up
and down the touchlines.
Melitah Madiba
The
players,
while
concentrating on the game, nod
in agreement from time to time
as the coach gives them endless
instructions.
He frequently reminds them
this is a do-or-die game that
stands between them and the next
round of the Castle League playoffs.
The expression on his face
every time a player stumbles
shows that of a man who doesn’t
settle for mediocrity.
He expects the best and his
charges know this too well.
After a long day of entertaining
football, we finally settle down to
chat with the no-nonsense coach.
He is now composed and
athecomplete opposite of the tiger
we saw earlier during the game as
he takes us through his football
career.
“I love them and would like
to see these kids reach greater
heights and for them to do that,
they need some tough love,” he
laughs off shyly when we tell him
that he seems like a bull on the
field.
The 26-year-old Lucas Seemise
tells us that he has been coaching
Eersterus Downs Football Team
for the past three years.
“Honestly I did not plan to be
a coach. It was sheer coincidence
that I ended up coaching.
“I started playing soccer at
the tender age of eight-yearsold and was scouted by the
Arcadia Sheppard’s Development
Academy in Pretoria when I was
13,” he explained.
Whilst there, the Eersterusborn footie caught the eye of the
Wits University talent scouts.
“I was over the moon when
I was selected to join the Wits
Football Club. But my joy was
short-lived as I struggled with an
ankle injury that saw me sit on
the sidelines for most of my stay
at Wits.
“The injury took a long time
to heal and the deal fell through
and I had to unfortunately
pack my bags and go home,”
Seemise recalls with a tinge of
disappointment in his voice.
But he soon lightens up
when he explains to us that his
mother, seeing the sadness in
him, encouraged him to rejoin
his old club and assist the football
youngsters as a coach.
Soon after rejoining the team,
Seemise made sure that the team
affiliated with the local soccer
association, the Hammanskraal
Local Football Association which
operates under South African
Football Association the (SAFA)
in Tshwane.
One of his lethal midfielder’s
21-year-old
Robert
Makena,
FUTURE STARS... Soccer coach Lucas Seemise encourages his players to do their best
Photograph: Andronica Nedzamba
described Seemise as a disciplined
and assertive man who always
wants the best for them.
“Though we do not have
any sponsorship at the moment,
he always sacrifices a lot for
us making sure we have basic
necessities from his own pocket,”
Makena said.
Another youngster who told
Gauteng News that he owes his
success to Seemise is Robert’s
younger brother Kabelo.
“Today I play for Orlando
Pirates developmental team and it
is all thanks to his motivation and
tough love. He always pushed me
to do my best, though at times I
felt he was harsh but I’m thankful
because he shaped me into the
tough and disciplined footballer I
am today,” he said.
Pitso Mosimane and another
draw away to Botswana under
Mosimane’s predecessor, Steve
Komphela. Given all this, Igesund
seems to have a mountain to
climb.
But the new head coach has a
plan in place to navigate his path
to the 2014 World Cup. Igesund
wants to bring in his assistants
and speculation is rife that he
might rope in the former Bafana
players
such
as
goalkeeper,
Andre Arendse and, Fani Madida.
Igesund’s debut match will be a
friendly away in Sao Paulo against
Brazil in September and another
one in which South Africa will
play Poland.
* Please note that the views
expressed
are
Adziliwi
Nematandani’s personal views
and not those of the Gauteng
Provincial Government.
Gauteng honours soccer veteran Dr Leepile Taunyane
Veteran soccer administrator
Dr Leepile Taunyane has
been
honoured
for
his
sterling contribution to sport
development in the country.
A teacher by profession,
Taunyane
was
also
the
chairman of the former
Transvaal United Teachers
Association (Tuata) and served
as chairman of National Soccer
League (NSL) and of the PSL.
Lerato Mailoane
HONOURED... Dr Leepile Taunyane received
the lifetime achievement Award at the Gauteng
Sports Awards.
Gauteng Premier Nomvula
Mokonyane honoured Taunyane,
one of the most prominent soccer
administrators in Premier Soccer
League (PSL) for which he is also
Life President.
Taunyane who hails from
Alexandra
township
was
bestowed with the Lifetime
Achievement Award at the
glittering Gauteng Sports Awards
held at the Emperors Palace on
July 2. Kaizer Chiefs boss Kaizer
Motaung was also conferred with
the same award. The event was attended by
the whose who of South Africa’s
sporting fraternity including
soccers stars like Siphiwe
Tshabalala, Lehlohonolo Majoro
of Kaizer Chiefs.
There were also other
socialites such as musician and TV
personality Thembi Seete, Bonang
Matheba and Minnie Dlamini.
Taunyane
was
also
recently awarded honourary
membership of the South African
Football Association (SAFA).
The born soccer lover said he first
wore the number six and then
the number two jersey during his
days as a soccer player. He was
involved in soccer administration
from early days.
“All my life I have loved the
game - and have always wanted to
make a contribution to the game,”
Taunyane said.
In accepting the award
Taunyane said he was grateful
this came while he was still alive.
Taunyane also commended the
Gauteng Department of Sport,
Arts, Culture and Recreation for
honouring all the sports men and
women who contributed daily to
sport.
Speaking at the event,
Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts,
Culture and Recreation Lebogang
Maile praised the winners for
their sterling contribution to sport
in the province and South Africa.
“It is through their hard work
and dedication that we are able
to nurture and inspire the future
generation of champions. These
winners have managed to succeed
in their respective fields despite
countless challenges,” said Maile.
[email protected]