A better life for child headed home

It is often said that it takes a village to raise a child and that no-one can be deemed an orphan while elders in the community exists. Sedibeng District Municipality (SDM) took it up-on themselves to live up to expectation when they took a stand by handing over a house to a child headed family on Mandela day.

Selwane Leburu passed away over a decade ago and in 2010 the father also passed on.
Leburu's family which lived in a shack in Evaton was discovered after the parents passed away and the children were left in vulnerable, destitute and very unhealthy conditions.

The SDM requested the MEC for Gauteng Department of Local Government and Housing to assist in addressing this matter and do whatever it takes to provide these children with a better place to live.

SDM Executive Mayor, Cllr. Mahole Mofokeng in his speech on Mandela day last year he said "Taking into account the condition under which these children live, we have decided that an alternative accommodation be arranged for them. When dealing with this kind of case as a government we must always adhere to existing normal procedures and processes on service delivery. It will always be advisable not to create precedence which will in the long run compromise the good intention of providing human settlement equally deserving citizens of South Africa."

Meanwhile a networking session where good work done by community members was acknowledged which took place at the Emerald Casino and Resort. Masoheng Old Age Home was one of the recipients where partners were lobbied to commit financially and probably assist the centres further.

Make everyday a Mandela day

On a day that South Africa’s icon Nelson turned 94, one elder felt how it is like to be remembered and loved. Emfuleni Local Municipality answered a call to do something positive for the less destitute, when they painted her house as well as donating food.

108-year-old Lettia Mthimkhulu who received an RDP house in Tshepiso North Extension 1, Sharpeville from the municipality last year; after her plea in the media to own a house before she dies couldn’t contain her excitement when she received a visit from the first lady.

ELM, Executive Mayor, Cllr. Greta Hlongwane took some time to dedicate her 67 minutes together with her staff in bettering the lives of those who are in need.
In her speech last year when she handed gogo the keys to her house, the mayor said “This is an unfortunate incident where we had to learn about gogo’s plight through the media; we have councillors and would like the community to liaise with them should something of this nature occur. An audit will be conducted to find out how many others can receive help, complete and empty houses will be allocated to the elderly and we acknowledge that this cannot be done in 67 minutes. It is our mission to eradicate shacks but make no mistake as these houses are not for family and friends. We also won’t tolerate people flocking into our area in a sense that they will get houses”.

On this day Eskom workers were visible in the area as they were busy installing electricity and soon “darkness” in this place will be the thing of the past.

Happy birthday Madiba so sang the world and it was jubilation across the Emfuleni region as the world icon was celebrated, and for one destitute grandfather, a ray of hope shone on him. Faith Gospel Ministries under the leadership of Bishop Vuyisile Ndlebende donated over a hundred blankets to keep the cold at bay to the destitute elderly people and further furnished his house.

However all this will be in vain as the old man has been deprived of enjoying his ageing for quite some time. Johannes Mokoena who is believed to be eighty-three years, suffers from a hearing problem and has been living alone at a dilapidated house without electricity, the only relatives he has are said to be living in a dump and come home seldom. To make matters worse, he has no identity document. On that day elderly citizens converged at his home in Zone 7 to spend their sixty seven minutes with him.

One volunteer said “we have been sent from pillar to post by the authorities as they have done little to remedy the situation. It takes a week if not a month for Illegal immigrants to get legal documents yet an old man who has been in the country for over three decade is struggling”.

A frail-looking Mokoena pleaded “All I ask is a chance to be granted an identity document which I believe I am entitled to, so that, I too, can live like other elders. How long must I suffer?” he asked.

#No response was forthcoming at time of going to blog from the authorities.

Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Cares

Music is a soothing sound to one’s soul and this is irrespective of age, ethnic, nationality or gender. A fantasy was realised when Standard Bank Joy of Jazz in association with Emfuleni Local Municipality and Gauteng Tourism hosted a community outreach programme.

The programme which was held at the Vaal Showgrounds aimed at giving audiences who wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to experience top musical events, an estimated 350 pensioners, partially-abled were selected from all regions of Gauteng.
Loveman Jongola, a Care-giver at Vukuzenzele Old Age Home couldn’t contain his excitement about the event, “I am so happy to be here today together with the pensioners. At least this event will take their minds off the struggle they encounter especially their illness, it is a great feeling to see them smiling and dancing to the music. I so wish this could be continuous as it had a significant impact on us” he said.

“I always believe the moment one does a show he is giving back to the community and that people are entitled to being entertained. With this programme we have received positive feedback as we work with communities and municipalities as well. I derive my inspiration from the fact that I am passionate about what I do hence there are those who are emulating me, said the legendary Peter Tladi, founder of T-Musicman and Executive Producer of Standard Bank Joy of Jazz.

Meanwhile jazz lovers in the region can brace themselves to know that the renowned annual “Jazz by the River” is back and the line-up will include international artists whom Tladi blatantly refused to divulge their names.

Cherish the little that you have

There was jubilation in the dusty streets of Orange Farm Extension 10 on Friday as the community attended a ceremony to hand over 25 new houses. In a bid to mark Nelson Mandela month, 14 businesses came together to build houses for the community.
Human settlements minister Tokyo Sexwale and the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory joined non-profit organisation Habitat for Humanity steered the project.

Sexwale praised the initiative, saying it emphasised the vision of former president Nelson Mandela. “Doing this in the spirit of Madiba truly makes me proud,” he said. Sexwale also spoke out about corrupt government housing officials. “Let’s condemn any government people who steal people’s money, away with corruption”.

He also had a message for the 25 new home owners. “People sacrificed themselves to give you these homes. Take care of them. Do not sell them,” Sexwale said.
One new home owner, Alina Mokoena, a street vendor and mother of two, was overjoyed when she received the keys to her new home. “I am surprised, so happy; I can’t believe this is happening to me,” she said.

The 14 companies brought in their employees to contribute to the initiative. Habitat for Humanity spokesperson, Adrianne Burke, said this was just one of her organisation’s many projects aimed at bettering the country. “We intend to build 67 houses in each of the provinces by next year. We continue to call on South Africans to support us,”

The (ware)house is on fire

An ordinary morning turned into a rush of a heart beat for workers and by-passers when a building caught fire on Thursday. Pelican building situated in Orlando West, Soweto is a run-down warehouse which house mechanic workshop.

The building caught fore unexpectedly sending workers into frenzy. The police responded abruptly and within minutes were joined by the fire brigades.

Teboho Phadi a worker at the building said “I was on my way from a nightshift when I decided to pass-by at a friend’s place, on my return I noticed smoke coming out of the building and alerted my colleagues who were fast asleep. As the door was locked we had to use spanner to gain entry, I believe the pile-up of plugs resulted in the fire”.

An estimated cost in damage is believed to be around R10 000 and no casualties were reported.

Will the real man stand-up

What does it mean to be a man… this is a question that was posed at a men’s forum held recently at the Orlando Police Station. Sonke Gender Justice under their programme Brother for life led the proceedings which included the men in blue. A host of matters affecting men which are not talked about as they are considered a taboo were discussed, and this seemed to have a positive feedback judging by the attendee’s response.

“A leader, protector and pillar are some of the words that define a man, and we are made to believe that men are not supposed to show emotions as this is seen as a sign of weakness. The reality is that we are human, take a second and ask yourself why there are an escalating number of suicides by cops; we die unnecessary because we bottle things up and for each and every time they report for duty they are dealing with the prospect of death. It is a necessity to find someone whom you can confide in” said Mbuyiselo Botha.

Captain Joseph Mpuru said “We appreciate this initiative as it was a first of its kind at our station but we deeply need to look at the real course of people (in
this stance police) acting in this manner. We are slowly but surely deviating from our roots and have adopted the western culture hence we don’t know how to deal with matters affecting us let alone following the proper channel.

Declaration and Programme of Action of the National Social Cohesion and Nation Building Summit held at Kliptown, Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication, 4-5 July

Preamble

At this Summit we are reminded of the symbolism of our National Coat of Arms and the Flag:

“It is both South African and African, it is both African and Universal. It serves to invoke our distant past, our living present and our future as it unfolds before us. It represents the permanent yet evolving identity of the South African people as it shapes itself through time and space. Through this new Coat of Arms we pay homage to our past. We seek to embrace the indigenous belief systems of our people, by demonstrating our respect for the relationship between people and nature, which for millions of years have been fundamental to our self-understanding of our African condition”.

Declaration

We, representatives from all sectors of our society, gathered at the Walter Sisulu square of dedication, Kliptown, Soweto, on 4 and 5 July 2012 to participate in the National Summit on Social Cohesion and Nation Building, under the theme “Working together to create a Caring and Proud society.”

We came here representing the diversity of our nation, black and white, women and men, rich and poor, young and old, urban and rural, speaking different languages, with a diversity of beliefs, coming from many different places, seeking to fulfil the injunction of our Constitution “diverse people’s unite.”

We came together to renew our commitment, mobilise and unify society in our on-going national movement of healing the divisions of our painful past and establishing a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights.

Informed by the deliberation of the Summit and inspired by our forebears, who assembled at this Freedom Square 57 years ago to adopt the Freedom Charter, we hereby declare:


1. That our discussions were informed by our common commitment to the injunction in the Constitution of the Republic South Africa, adopted in 1996, that “South Africa belongs to all who live in it, both black and white, united in our diversity.”

2. That South Africa is a unitary and sovereign state based on democracy, the rule of law, pursuit of equal human rights, non-racialism, non-sexism and the equality of all persons.

3. That our past was based on racial and ethnic divisions devised to systematically exclude the majority of South Africans from full and unhindered participation in all aspects of national life and left deep and persistent social, cultural and economic divisions and inequalities in society.

4. That advances have been made to entrench and consolidate human rights and restore the human dignity of all South Africans.

5. That the task of uniting diverse peoples to work together to build a caring and proud society is complex and challenging:
Slow economic growth and transformation result in wide-spread unemployment, poverty and inequality and exclusion based on race, age and gender.
Landlessness and homelessness among many South Africans and the persistence of apartheid spatial divisions, perpetuate patterns of disproportionate land-ownership and segregation.
The burden of disease in particular HIV/Aids and tuberculosis exacts a heavy toll on communities and society at large.
Uneven access to quality education and training which deprives young people the knowledge and skills needed for social and economic development.
High levels of crime, the abuse of the elderly, women and children, affect communities and threaten safety and security.
Gender inequalities in households, the workplace and society hinder the advancement of women and gender mainstreaming.
Racism and xenophobia perpetuates divisions and conflict in communities.
Service delivery failures in local communities lead to social instability, disintegration and conflict.
Perceived and actual corruption in the public and private sectors erode confidence and trust.
This summit recognises that social cohesion depends to a large measure on our ability, as society, to address these challenges. On the other hand, we need as society to cohere around a vision of a better South Africa, the attainment of which would not be possible if we do not work together. Consequently to effectively address these challenges, we the delegates resolve:
To mobilise society in its entirety to work together to build a caring and proud society based on shared values and a vision informed by the following principles:
Constitutional democracy
Ubuntu
Human rights and equality
Non-racialism, non-tribalism and non-sexism
Inclusivity and social justice
Redress and transformation
Intercultural and community cooperation
Social solidarity
Empowered, fair, inclusive and active citizenship
Civic responsibility
Unity in diversity
National consciousness and identity.

2. To work towards the implementation of the recommendations of the 2030 National Development Plan as a long term vision which should serve as a basis for partnerships across society to attain the South Africa of our dreams, eloquently articulated in the constitution.

3. To ensure that social cohesion and nation building underpins all national, provincial and local government strategic priorities, inclusive of integrated economic and social development, education, health, human settlement, land and rural development, safety and security, immigration policies and programmes, arts, culture, language and heritage development and preservation, technological innovation, research and development.

4. To promote and preserve all indigenous cultures and knowledge.

5 To accelerate change in improving the quality of life of all people, with special attention to the needs of the youth, women and people with disability.

6. That the state must continue to build capacity to drive the socio economic agenda in the country, including absorbing young people and women into economic activity, employing professionals, investing in skills required by the economy, and investing in research and development to respond to the demands of the knowledge economy

7. To continue to fight any forms of discriminations, which are threats to social cohesion and nation building.

8. To respect human dignity and equality; promote freedom, the rule of Law and Democracy; improve material well-being and economic justice; enhance sound family and community values; uphold honest, integrity and loyalty; ensure harmony in culture, belief and conscience; show respect and concern for all people; strive for justice, fairness and peaceful co-existence; and protect the environment as contained in the Charter of Positive Values adopted by the Moral Regeneration Movement in 2008.

9. To expand existing national, heritage and other honours and awards to recognise individuals, organisations and communities who have contributed significantly to social cohesion and nation building.

10. To develop a Nation-Building Project Management Manual and Toolkit for application by practitioners at all levels and to convene social cohesion and nation building summits at provincial, local and community level within the next twelve months.

11. To convene a National Social Cohesion Report Back and Monitoring Summit in 2014, as we celebrate 20 years of our freedom and democracy, and thereafter at five year intervals, to report on progress.

12. To develop a detailed plan arising from the proposals made during this summit, to be presented to the President and Cabinet on our behalf, by a group of eminent South Africans.

In pursuit of these objectives, we wish to commit ourselves, and all sectors of society represented at this summit, to work together to realise the ideals enshrined in our constitution, and to assert that each of our organisations and institutions will strive to contribute all we can to realise our common national objective to attain a decent and improving quality for all, in a society united in its diversity.

We depart from this historic venue united in our commitment to building a nation that is caring, dignified and with a great sense of humility and mutual respect for one another.

Conclusion

As set out in the 1994 Reconstruction and Development Programme:

No political democracy can survive and flourish if the mass of our people remain in poverty, without land, without tangible prospects for a better life. Attacking poverty and deprivation must therefore be the first priority of a democratic government.

As representatives from all walks of society we are determined to fulfil the vision of the 2030 National Development Plan:

We have created a home where everybody feels free yet bounded to others; where everyone embraces their full potential. We are proud to be a community that cares.

SOURCE: www.dac.gov.za