{ "version": "https://jsonfeed.org/version/1.1", "user_comment": "This feed allows you to read the posts from this site in any feed reader that supports the JSON Feed format. To add this feed to your reader, copy the following URL -- https://elitshanews.org.za/en/feed/json -- and add it your reader.", "next_url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/en/feed/json?paged=2", "home_page_url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/en", "feed_url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/en/feed/json", "language": "en-ZA", "title": "Elitsha", "description": "Ubomi bethu, amabali ethu", "icon": "https://i0.wp.com/elitshanews.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/favicon.png?fit=256%2C256&ssl=1", "items": [ { "id": "https://elitshanews.org.za/?p=23235", "url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/2024/03/14/brewing-nationwide-bus-strike/", "title": "Brewing nationwide bus strike", "content_html": "\n
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) vows to mobilise for a complete national shutdown of the passenger bus industry. This comes after the attempt for unions and employers to overcome an impasse in ongoing wage talks was unsuccessful.
\n\n\n\nA meeting between Numsa and employer associations \u2013 South African Bus Employers Association and Commuter Bus Employers Association (Cabea) \u2013 took place yesterday, 12 March. According to a statement released by Numsa, the employers were only willing to offer a wage increase of 4% and ignored the rest of their demands. The union accuses the employers of being greedy and stingy with the subsidies they receive from government, at the expense of the workers.
\n\n\n\nWage talks began from the 5th of February until the 9th. By Monday, the 4th of March, Numsa and other unions, including the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu), met with employers as part of the conciliation process facilitated by the South African Road Passenger Bargaining Council (Sarpbac). One of the offers that the employer made was for the establishment of a two-tier labour regime; according to the union, the proposal is for newly employed workers not to benefit from a main collective agreement that they reach.
\n\n\n\nIn an interview with Elitsha, union spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said that the three core demands that the union brought forward have been on the table for years and all contribute toward providing a safer working environment for the sector.
\n\n\n\n\u201cThere have been numerous incidents of workers being attacked and shot, especially when caught in the crossfire of protests. Drivers are unable to make ends meet because of the low salaries, and the slave-like conditions of double drivers who are not paid for their time. Our demands address these conditions.\u201d
\n\n\n\nThe three core demands that Numsa has are:
\n\n\n\nDouble drivers refers to the drivers in place as support to the \u201cmain driver\u201d on long distance trips. Hlubi-Majola explained that on average, drivers do 18 trips per month; the current allowance represents about R25 per trip.
\n\n\n\nThe 8% demand is a compromise, says Numsa, as it is down from 15% at the start of negotiations. Numsa met with shop stewards in the bus passenger sector this past weekend leading up to a national shop steward council meeting on Monday, 11 March, to consider proposals and make a decision on the way forward.
\n\n\n\nThe extended conciliation meeting between unions and employers was scheduled for Tuesday 12 March, to hear the unions’ response to the employers’ proposals. The parties failed to come to an agreement. By the end of the meeting, the commissioner issued a certificate of non-resolution allowing workers to strike.
\n\n\n\n\u201cThe strike is most likely planned for the end of March,\u201d said Hlubi-Majola.
\n", "content_text": "The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) vows to mobilise for a complete national shutdown of the passenger bus industry. This comes after the attempt for unions and employers to overcome an impasse in ongoing wage talks was unsuccessful.\n\n\n\nA meeting between Numsa and employer associations \u2013 South African Bus Employers Association and Commuter Bus Employers Association (Cabea) \u2013 took place yesterday, 12 March. According to a statement released by Numsa, the employers were only willing to offer a wage increase of 4% and ignored the rest of their demands. The union accuses the employers of being greedy and stingy with the subsidies they receive from government, at the expense of the workers.\n\n\n\nWhere it all started\n\n\n\nWage talks began from the 5th of February until the 9th. By Monday, the 4th of March, Numsa and other unions, including the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu), met with employers as part of the conciliation process facilitated by the South African Road Passenger Bargaining Council (Sarpbac). One of the offers that the employer made was for the establishment of a two-tier labour regime; according to the union, the proposal is for newly employed workers not to benefit from a main collective agreement that they reach.\n\n\n\nIn an interview with Elitsha, union spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said that the three core demands that the union brought forward have been on the table for years and all contribute toward providing a safer working environment for the sector.\n\n\n\n\u201cThere have been numerous incidents of workers being attacked and shot, especially when caught in the crossfire of protests. Drivers are unable to make ends meet because of the low salaries, and the slave-like conditions of double drivers who are not paid for their time. Our demands address these conditions.\u201d\n\n\n\nThe three core demands that Numsa has are:\n\n\n\n\nPrimary healthcare coverage or insurance for all workers in the industry where the employer and worker each contribute 50%.\n\n\n\nAn increase in the allowance for the double driver from R450 to R700.\n\n\n\n8% increase across the board.\n\n\n\n\nDouble drivers refers to the drivers in place as support to the \u201cmain driver\u201d on long distance trips. Hlubi-Majola explained that on average, drivers do 18 trips per month; the current allowance represents about R25 per trip.\n\n\n\nThe 8% demand is a compromise, says Numsa, as it is down from 15% at the start of negotiations. Numsa met with shop stewards in the bus passenger sector this past weekend leading up to a national shop steward council meeting on Monday, 11 March, to consider proposals and make a decision on the way forward.\n\n\n\nBrewing strike action\n\n\n\nThe extended conciliation meeting between unions and employers was scheduled for Tuesday 12 March, to hear the unions’ response to the employers’ proposals. The parties failed to come to an agreement. By the end of the meeting, the commissioner issued a certificate of non-resolution allowing workers to strike.\n\n\n\n\u201cThe strike is most likely planned for the end of March,\u201d said Hlubi-Majola.", "date_published": "2024-03-14T22:47:50+02:00", "date_modified": "2024-03-15T09:38:01+02:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Lilita Gcwabe", "url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/en/author/lilita-gcwabe/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/2facb864819707381e5c609b4c9917cd?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Lilita Gcwabe", "url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/en/author/lilita-gcwabe/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/2facb864819707381e5c609b4c9917cd?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/elitshanews.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Numsa-strike-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1440&ssl=1", "tags": [ "Bus Passenger Industry", "Bus strike", "Commuters Bus Employers Association (COBEA)", "NUMSA", "Phakamile Hlubi-Majola", "South African Bus Employers Association (SABEA", "South African Road Passenger Bargaining Council (SARPBAC)", "Economy", "Featured", "Labour", "Public transport" ], "summary": "Numsa says a strike in the passenger bus sector is likely at the end of March." }, { "id": "https://elitshanews.org.za/?p=23229", "url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/2024/03/14/prasa-promises-trains-for-khayelitsha-and-mitchells-plain-by-year-end/", "title": "Prasa promises trains for Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain by year-end", "content_html": "\nRaymond Maseko, regional manager of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) announced that trains would be running along the central line by the end of the year. Maseko was briefing civic organisations and the media on progress that Prasa has made in rehabilitating the central line .
\n\n\n\n\u201cWe are hard at work to recover just the line between Philippi [Station] and Nolungile [Station] within the first quarter of our financial year. By June, people in that section should be able to see a train,” he said. \u201cAs a commitment from Prasa, the central line community will see a train by the end of the calendar year at all train stations that we have within the central corridor.\u201d Prasa has recovered 101 train stations \u201cthrough collaboration with communities,\u201d and is now recovering 11 stations, he said.
\n\n\n\nThe central line was suspended in November 2019 following a spate of vandalism on the train tracks and has not resumed since. According to Prasa, the central line, which serves Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain, used to transport 420,000 commuters daily.
\n\n\n\nAs landless people lost sources of income as a result of the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020 and 2021, they occupied vacant land around Cape Town including along the railway tracks. Over 1,000 families currently live on the Langa line.
\n\n\n\nHundreds of families have been relocated from the Philippi train tracks while thousands still need to be moved to make way for the re-opening of Cape Town’s busiest train line. GroundUp has reported that there is currently a dispute between Prasa and the City of Cape Town over the relocations as the city claims that Prasa conducted the relocations illegally even though the city was involved in the discussions. GroundUp also reported that residents of the newly relocated area were protesting last month for water, electricity and toilets.
\n\n\n\nPrasa has been campaigning for the relocation of the families who built shacks alongside the rail tracks. #OperationBhekela (Move back) is said to be the reason for the murder of Loyiso Nkohla.
\n\n\n\nNdumiso Mkwanazi, provincial manager of the Housing Development Agency, said the agency had to get land where the relocated families would be close to community facilities such as schools. Suitable land was found in Siqalo, and has already been paid for. Mkwanazi said Prasa has now to go through a statutory process, which involves public participation and rezoning of the land through city by-laws. The statutory process may take between 8 to 24 months as the agency received objections to the plan. \u201cWe received over 900 objections, but that doesn\u2019t stop the project.\u00a0 If they raise genuine concerns, we amend our plans.\u201d The agency has responded to all the objections, and the next step is land preparation, he said.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe relocation of communities that built houses along the railway line is at the centre of a political tug of war between local and national government. File photo by Mzi Velapi
\n\n\n\nDeputy Director General Ngwako Makaepea, who chairs a project management committee, said the central line recovery project involves relocation, provision of basic services and identification of land for phase two. \u201cWe have responded to the issue of toilets and water. Now we are working on identification of land for phase two,\u201d he said. \u201cThe purpose of the project is to allow the restoration of the train services. We know we have not delivered on timelines, but progress has been made.\u201d
\n\n\n\nMbulelo Ncedana, stakeholder engagement manager at the National Department of Human Settlements, said the absence of trains affects residents negatively. \u201cPeople who used to travel by trains to do chores stopped working because they could not afford fares for other modes of transport,\u201d he said.
\n\n\n\nNcedana, who played the role of a programme director at the meeting, said: \u201cPeople who sold their wares at train stations and inside trains [while trains were running] could not do so.\u201d
\n\n\n\nPamela Booysen, a member of Gugulethu Development Forum, said: \u201cContractors train us but tell us to bring our own protective wear. We wear takkies when we work. Why don\u2019t they supply us with protective wear?\u201d she asked.
\n\n\n\nMaseko responded: \u201cPeople who hire you must give you PPE [personal protective equipment] and buy you uniforms.\u00a0We will stress that to the contractors.\u201d
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nZanele Ngcobondwana, one of the shack dwellers who was relocated from Philippi, said shack dwellers struggle to get water as the water tanker comes occasionally.
\n\n\n\nFuneka Mpetha, a member of the provincial executive committee of Sanco [South African National Civic Organisation], said the absence of trains forces residents to pay exorbitant taxi fares. \u201cWe can\u2019t afford taxi fares. We now pay R50 to travel to Cape Town, but we would have used less money if we travelling by train,\u201d she said. \u201cWe pay taxi fares with money that we could have spent on food. Some kids have even dropped out of school because they can\u2019t afford transport to their schools.\u201d
\n\n\n\nAlexio Papadopulo, acting Head of Security for Prasa,\u00a0said service providers were recovering the central line and deadlines and targets were met,\u00a0but not without costs. Thugs “with AK47s shot them\u201d and left some of them paralysed. \u201cIt became dangerous for guards to work along the central line,\u201d he said. Prasa has formulated a new plan called Moving Forward, he said, which looks to involve community members as watchers and spotters to protect the guards working along the central line.
\n\n\n\nThe ‘construction mafia’ also has Prasa fearing for their security. An anonymous senior Prasa official dared not talk about the construction mafia: \u201dPlease don\u2019t allow me to talk about the construction mafia because people\u2019s lives are at stake\u201d.
\n", "content_text": "Raymond Maseko, regional manager of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) announced that trains would be running along the central line by the end of the year. Maseko was briefing civic organisations and the media on progress that Prasa has made in rehabilitating the central line .\n\n\n\n\u201cWe are hard at work to recover just the line between Philippi [Station] and Nolungile [Station] within the first quarter of our financial year. By June, people in that section should be able to see a train,” he said. \u201cAs a commitment from Prasa, the central line community will see a train by the end of the calendar year at all train stations that we have within the central corridor.\u201d Prasa has recovered 101 train stations \u201cthrough collaboration with communities,\u201d and is now recovering 11 stations, he said.\n\n\n\nThe central line was suspended in November 2019 following a spate of vandalism on the train tracks and has not resumed since. According to Prasa, the central line, which serves Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain, used to transport 420,000 commuters daily.\n\n\n\nAs landless people lost sources of income as a result of the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020 and 2021, they occupied vacant land around Cape Town including along the railway tracks. Over 1,000 families currently live on the Langa line. \n\n\n\nHundreds of families have been relocated from the Philippi train tracks while thousands still need to be moved to make way for the re-opening of Cape Town’s busiest train line. GroundUp has reported that there is currently a dispute between Prasa and the City of Cape Town over the relocations as the city claims that Prasa conducted the relocations illegally even though the city was involved in the discussions. GroundUp also reported that residents of the newly relocated area were protesting last month for water, electricity and toilets.\n\n\n\nPrasa has been campaigning for the relocation of the families who built shacks alongside the rail tracks. #OperationBhekela (Move back) is said to be the reason for the murder of Loyiso Nkohla. \n\n\n\nRelocation of families \n\n\n\nNdumiso Mkwanazi, provincial manager of the Housing Development Agency, said the agency had to get land where the relocated families would be close to community facilities such as schools. Suitable land was found in Siqalo, and has already been paid for. Mkwanazi said Prasa has now to go through a statutory process, which involves public participation and rezoning of the land through city by-laws. The statutory process may take between 8 to 24 months as the agency received objections to the plan. \u201cWe received over 900 objections, but that doesn\u2019t stop the project.\u00a0 If they raise genuine concerns, we amend our plans.\u201d The agency has responded to all the objections, and the next step is land preparation, he said.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe relocation of communities that built houses along the railway line is at the centre of a political tug of war between local and national government. File photo by Mzi Velapi\n\n\n\nDeputy Director General Ngwako Makaepea, who chairs a project management committee, said the central line recovery project involves relocation, provision of basic services and identification of land for phase two. \u201cWe have responded to the issue of toilets and water. Now we are working on identification of land for phase two,\u201d he said. \u201cThe purpose of the project is to allow the restoration of the train services. We know we have not delivered on timelines, but progress has been made.\u201d\n\n\n\nMbulelo Ncedana, stakeholder engagement manager at the National Department of Human Settlements, said the absence of trains affects residents negatively. \u201cPeople who used to travel by trains to do chores stopped working because they could not afford fares for other modes of transport,\u201d he said.\n\n\n\nNcedana, who played the role of a programme director at the meeting, said: \u201cPeople who sold their wares at train stations and inside trains [while trains were running] could not do so.\u201d\n\n\n\nCommunity feedback\n\n\n\nPamela Booysen, a member of Gugulethu Development Forum, said: \u201cContractors train us but tell us to bring our own protective wear. We wear takkies when we work. Why don\u2019t they supply us with protective wear?\u201d she asked.\n\n\n\nMaseko responded: \u201cPeople who hire you must give you PPE [personal protective equipment] and buy you uniforms.\u00a0We will stress that to the contractors.\u201d\n\n\n\nThere are thousands of families that still need to be relocated from the central line. File Photo by Mzi Velapi\n\n\n\nZanele Ngcobondwana, one of the shack dwellers who was relocated from Philippi, said shack dwellers struggle to get water as the water tanker comes occasionally.\n\n\n\nFuneka Mpetha, a member of the provincial executive committee of Sanco [South African National Civic Organisation], said the absence of trains forces residents to pay exorbitant taxi fares. \u201cWe can\u2019t afford taxi fares. We now pay R50 to travel to Cape Town, but we would have used less money if we travelling by train,\u201d she said. \u201cWe pay taxi fares with money that we could have spent on food. Some kids have even dropped out of school because they can\u2019t afford transport to their schools.\u201d\n\n\n\nUnsafe conditions for guards and construction mafia \n\n\n\nAlexio Papadopulo, acting Head of Security for Prasa,\u00a0said service providers were recovering the central line and deadlines and targets were met,\u00a0but not without costs. Thugs “with AK47s shot them\u201d and left some of them paralysed. \u201cIt became dangerous for guards to work along the central line,\u201d he said. Prasa has formulated a new plan called Moving Forward, he said, which looks to involve community members as watchers and spotters to protect the guards working along the central line.\n\n\n\nThe ‘construction mafia’ also has Prasa fearing for their security. An anonymous senior Prasa official dared not talk about the construction mafia: \u201dPlease don\u2019t allow me to talk about the construction mafia because people\u2019s lives are at stake\u201d.", "date_published": "2024-03-14T21:13:05+02:00", "date_modified": "2024-03-14T21:13:08+02:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Vincent Lali", "url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/en/author/vincent-lali/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/82fb18cc25405165d03f12699a1cf78b?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Vincent Lali", "url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/en/author/vincent-lali/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/82fb18cc25405165d03f12699a1cf78b?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/elitshanews.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_0439-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1920&ssl=1", "tags": [ "Alexio Papadopulo", "Central line", "Construction Mafia", "PRASA", "Re-opening of Central line", "Relocation of railway line residents", "Cape Town", "Crime", "Economy", "Featured", "Housing", "Informal settlement", "Landless", "Public transport" ], "summary": "Prasa promises trains to be running on Cape Town's busiest line by the end of the year but has yet to relocate hundreds of families who built homes along the railway during the Covid lockdown." }, { "id": "https://elitshanews.org.za/?p=23219", "url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/2024/03/13/palestinian-leader-calls-for-an-organised-international-campaign-to-isolate-israel/", "title": "Palestinian leader calls for an organised international campaign to isolate Israel", "content_html": "\nPalestinian politician and physician, Dr Mustafa Barghouti has called on South Africans to lead the isolation of Israel by supporting the consumer boycott of Israeli goods and services and the expulsion of Israel from the international football federation, and by expelling the its ambassador.
\n\n\n\nBarghouti, who is a former Minister of Information in the Palestinian Unity Government and currently the secretary general of the Palestine National Initiative, was speaking to the media earlier today about the latest developments in Palestine. He is visiting the country and has had meetings with government officials and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Naledi Pandor, and with the deputy speaker of parliament. He expressed appreciation of the solidarity that Palestinians have been getting from the South African government, South Africans and from around the world but called for an organised, united voice and strategy.
\n\n\n\nSouth Africa, he argued, is key to the struggle for a free Palestine since it went through the same fight against apartheid. “We are so encouraged and so appreciative of the world reaction to when we see demonstrations all over the world demanding the end of terrible aggression to Palestinians but also demanding justice for Palestinians. And I say that this anger that we see in the world would not be effective if it does not get organised and that is why we believe that the best thing that can be done now is to combine Palestinian resistance and struggle with Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions campaign worldwide (BDS) like you did in South Africa,” he said.
\n\n\n\n“We ask South Africa and thank South Africa for all that they have done and for proceeding to ICJ again demanding cessation of all military activities in Gaza, but we also ask South Africa for three other things. The first thing is immediate economic boycott of Israel including boycotting of all commercial relations with Israel. South Africa can become an avant garde country. Secondly, we are asking for civil society to campaign in a strong way to kick out Israel from FIFA as it was done to the rugby team here during apartheid. Finally, we call on the expulsion of Israeli ambassador and to cut the relationship with them as long as they continue with the system of apartheid and discrimination against Palestinian people,” he said.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe sports boycott of apartheid South Africa was instrumental to isolating the apartheid regime and a precedent that the international football governing body, FIFA (the Federation Internationale de Football Association) has already followed \u2013 in the case of Russia, a hypocrisy the Palestine Solidarity Campaign has called out. \u201cThe actrocities inflicted on the Palestinians by Israel far exceeds the human cost of the war between Russia and Ukraine. Yet UEFA and FIFA suspended Russia in 2022 from all football competitions while Israel still participates in football matches,\u201d the PSC said, then accused FIFA of condoning Israeli racism while claiming to fight racism in football. Unlike other countries in the region, Israel is part of UEFA (Union of European Football Associations), instead of the Asian Football Confederation like other Middle Eastern and Asian countries, including Palestine.
\n\n\n\nIn November last year, 44 days after October 7, the Israel government recalled its ambassador in South Africa “for consultations”. The recall followed a motion that was passed in parliament recommending the Israeli embassy’s closure until there is a ceasefire and a commitment to negotiations.
\n\n\n\nBarghouti, who is also the president of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society, painted a picture of the catastrophic state of healthcare in Palestine. The destruction of infrastructure has led to the outbreak of diseases that cannot be treated for lack of medication, shortage of medical personnel and attacks on hospitals.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n", "content_text": "Palestinian politician and physician, Dr Mustafa Barghouti has called on South Africans to lead the isolation of Israel by supporting the consumer boycott of Israeli goods and services and the expulsion of Israel from the international football federation, and by expelling the its ambassador.\n\n\n\nBarghouti, who is a former Minister of Information in the Palestinian Unity Government and currently the secretary general of the Palestine National Initiative, was speaking to the media earlier today about the latest developments in Palestine. He is visiting the country and has had meetings with government officials and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Naledi Pandor, and with the deputy speaker of parliament. He expressed appreciation of the solidarity that Palestinians have been getting from the South African government, South Africans and from around the world but called for an organised, united voice and strategy.\n\n\n\nSouth Africa, he argued, is key to the struggle for a free Palestine since it went through the same fight against apartheid. “We are so encouraged and so appreciative of the world reaction to when we see demonstrations all over the world demanding the end of terrible aggression to Palestinians but also demanding justice for Palestinians. And I say that this anger that we see in the world would not be effective if it does not get organised and that is why we believe that the best thing that can be done now is to combine Palestinian resistance and struggle with Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions campaign worldwide (BDS) like you did in South Africa,” he said. \n\n\n\n“We ask South Africa and thank South Africa for all that they have done and for proceeding to ICJ again demanding cessation of all military activities in Gaza, but we also ask South Africa for three other things. The first thing is immediate economic boycott of Israel including boycotting of all commercial relations with Israel. South Africa can become an avant garde country. Secondly, we are asking for civil society to campaign in a strong way to kick out Israel from FIFA as it was done to the rugby team here during apartheid. Finally, we call on the expulsion of Israeli ambassador and to cut the relationship with them as long as they continue with the system of apartheid and discrimination against Palestinian people,” he said.\n\n\n\nThe Palestine Solidarity Campaign has called for Israel to be kicked out of FIFA. Photo by Sharon McKinnon\n\n\n\nKicking Israel out of Fifa\n\n\n\nThe sports boycott of apartheid South Africa was instrumental to isolating the apartheid regime and a precedent that the international football governing body, FIFA (the Federation Internationale de Football Association) has already followed \u2013 in the case of Russia, a hypocrisy the Palestine Solidarity Campaign has called out. \u201cThe actrocities inflicted on the Palestinians by Israel far exceeds the human cost of the war between Russia and Ukraine. Yet UEFA and FIFA suspended Russia in 2022 from all football competitions while Israel still participates in football matches,\u201d the PSC said, then accused FIFA of condoning Israeli racism while claiming to fight racism in football. Unlike other countries in the region, Israel is part of UEFA (Union of European Football Associations), instead of the Asian Football Confederation like other Middle Eastern and Asian countries, including Palestine. \n\n\n\nIn November last year, 44 days after October 7, the Israel government recalled its ambassador in South Africa “for consultations”. The recall followed a motion that was passed in parliament recommending the Israeli embassy’s closure until there is a ceasefire and a commitment to negotiations.\n\n\n\nHealth crisis in Palestine\n\n\n\nBarghouti, who is also the president of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society, painted a picture of the catastrophic state of healthcare in Palestine. The destruction of infrastructure has led to the outbreak of diseases that cannot be treated for lack of medication, shortage of medical personnel and attacks on hospitals.\n\n\n\n\n\nDr Mustafa Barghouti talking about the health crisis in Palestine. Video edited by Sindile Gulwa", "date_published": "2024-03-13T23:17:10+02:00", "date_modified": "2024-03-13T23:17:10+02:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Mzi Velapi", "url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/en/author/mzi/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/08ab54eee21abdd69f223eb42319c3e9?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Mzi Velapi", "url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/en/author/mzi/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/08ab54eee21abdd69f223eb42319c3e9?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/elitshanews.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Palestine-4.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=1", "tags": [ "Apartheid Israel", "Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS)", "Dr Mustafa Barghouti", "Israel ambassador in South Africa", "Palestine", "Palestine Solidarity Campaign", "Cape Town", "Featured", "International" ], "summary": "Dr Mustafa Barghouti emphasised that practical steps must be taken to isolate Apartheid Israel." }, { "id": "https://elitshanews.org.za/?p=23207", "url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/2024/03/11/violated-abused-and-judged-report-reveals-cruel-treatment-of-queer-people-in-sa-clinics/", "title": "Violated, abused and judged, report reveals cruel treatment of queer people in SA clinics", "content_html": "\nA lot of queer or transgender people, drug addicts or sex workers are victims of inhumane and ill treatment when they visit public healthcare facilities. In the worst cases, some are denied health services and chased away from clinics.\u00a0
\n\n\n\nThis scathing finding is revealed in a report that was launched by Ritshidze recently. It is the third and the largest, national report conducted by Ritshidze looking at key population groups.\u00a0Ritshidze, which means \u201chelp us\u201d is a community-led health monitoring system developed by organisations representing people living with HIV, including the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), the National Association of People Living with HIV, and partners.
\n\n\n\nThe report is part of a clinic monitoring project to improve the quality of healthcare services in the public sector. The data was collected in seven provinces around South Africa, across 24 districts. 13,832 queer or transgender people, sex workers and drug users were interviewed.\u00a0
\n\n\n\nAccording to the new report, only 35% of transgender people, 33% of gay people, bisexual people and men who have sex with other men (GBMSM), 26% of sex workers, and as few as 17% of people who use drugs said staff were always friendly at the public healthcare facilities they visited. “Clinical staff were the most commonly reported as being unfriendly, followed by security guards. Confidentiality violations are abundant at the facility and privacy violations are alarmingly common. 57% of GBMSM, 61% of trans people, 65% of sex workers, and 74% of people who use drugs did not think privacy was well respected,\u201d the report exposes.\u00a0
\n\n\n\nPeople often feel unsafe and\u00a0uncomfortable in health facilities. \u201cThe implications of poor treatment, abuse, and violations of confidentiality are that only 7% of GBMSM, 7% of trans people, 5% of sex workers, and 4% of people who use drugs felt very safe at the facility. Similarly only 8% of GBMSM, 7% of trans people, 5% of sex workers, and 3% of people who use drugs felt very comfortable at the facility,\u201d the survey found.\u00a0It’s common for them to face uncaring, disrespectful, cruel, and even abusive treatment at public health facilities.\u00a0\u201cFrequently, people are laughed at and judged, and at worst denied services or chased away. It can be unbearable and leave deep scars. Ultimately, it forces some people to stop going to the clinic entirely,\u201d says the report.\u00a0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe investigation by Ritshidze found that disgraceful confidentiality violations remain common.
\n\n\n\nNarrating her own ordeal when trying to access public healthcare, a sex worker who uses the Gompo Clinic in Duncan Village, said, \u201cDue to the continued discrimination at the clinic, I tried to get a transfer letter so I could have a fresh start at another clinic. A nurse who knew that I was a sex worker disclosed to the other nurses what my job was. They refused to give me the transfer letter. I reported to the facility manager and he said he would speak to the staff but the abuse continues.\u201d
\n\n\n\nThe report says that 8% of GBMSM, 10% of trans people, 11% of sex workers, and as many as 31% of people who use drugs had been denied services in the last year because of prejudice.\u00a0
\n\n\n\n\u201c10% of people who use drugs also reported having been denied access to their HIV treatment in the last year. This is a violation of people\u2019s constitutional right to health,” states the report. The less formal health services like drop-in centres and mobile clinics, were notably found to be safer and more friendly than public healthcare facilities.\u00a0
\n\n\n\nThe report notes that nearly two-thirds of GBMSM, trans people, and sex workers, and 74% of people who use drugs, did not think privacy was respected, “resulting in only a handful of people feeling truly safe and comfortable when trying to access healthcare.”
\n\n\n\nThose who are not deterred by these indignities and turn to public healthcare, may still find the services they need unavailable. Approximately 40% of new HIV infections in South Africa are among the key populations sampled in the report and their partners. “Yet basic HIV prevention tools are not always available.\u201d
\n\n\n\nA visit to the clinic can be an ordeal for trans and gender diverse people. “Health services are not often gender affirming… Only 32% of trans and gender diverse people told us that facility staff were always respectful of their gender identity. 39% of trans women had even gone through the indignity of being told to use a service point just catering to men,” reads the report.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTamara, from Kraaifontein in Western Cape, identifies herself as transgender. She suffered abuse at the hands of healthcare workers while visiting a government clinic.\u00a0\u201cI once went to a clinic to seek help after I contracted an infection through intercourse. The security officers started by mocking me, because I am\u00a0 transgender. I went inside to open a folder, as I walked in the nurses insulted me, whispering, \u201cDoes he think he will eventually become a woman?\u201d I felt hurt, because nurses should be educating the public about these things, and not judging us,\u201d Tamara told Elitsha.\u00a0
\n\n\n\nDoctors also didn’t know what was wrong with her and just gave her painkillers. Following a friend’s advice, she turned to a private clinic in Observatory where she found help. \u201cDoctors there diagnosed me well, and treatment was properly given to me. I will never go to a government clinic ever again. I have had awful experiences there. I have been embarrassed, disrespected and felt very unsafe. I think the government should start doing something about this,\u201d she said.\u00a0
\n\n\n\nAccording to Ritshidze, harm reduction services are life saving but are almost entirely unavailable in most public health facilities.\u00a0\u201cEven getting information can be a challenge. Only 9% of people who use drugs told us they could get information on where to get new needles despite the benefits on HIV and hepatitis transmission and reducing the risk of wounds and endocarditis. Not to mention the reduction in syringe litter in public places when people can safely dispose of used injecting equipment,\u201d says the report.\u00a0
\n\n\n\nNot everyone reported being able to access the contraceptives they wanted: 32% were denied them because they were sex workers, 34% because they are trans, and 46% because they use drugs. \u201cSafe and caring post violence services are essential, especially in the context of an epidemic of gender-based violence, abuse faced by sex workers, and attacks on queer and trans,\u201d says the report.
Civil society organisations under the umbrella of the Civil Society Working Group (CSWG) have issued a response to the Zondo Commission report on state capture that calls for various reforms to address shortcomings in the recommendations by the commission.
\n\n\n\nOver 20 organisations participating in the CSWG \u2013 including Black Sash, Legal Resources Centre (LRC), Organisation for Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), My Vote Counts (MVC), and the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) \u2013 agree that the findings in the state capture report point to various risks that make South Africa vulnerable to the threat of deep corruption and looting in government in the future. This, according to the CSWG, means that they have to remain vigilant against the threat of the return of state capture.
\n\n\n\nWith six volumes, the state capture report was released in June 2022 after a four-year long investigation of corruption crimes in the state.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOne of the highlights of the Zondo Commission’s report is the implication of known politicians, companies in the private sector, individuals, and state-owned entities that either benefitted from, or enabled, crimes that eventually led to absolute state capture. Photo from government website
\n\n\n\nNicky Prins, who was the civil society liaison in the Zondo Commission, said that the lack of visible consequences through convictions and sentencing of those involved leaves a fertile ground to enable more corrupt acts by government entities in the future. \u201cThere are civil cases that are being brought to individuals who are implicated in the report that are more advanced and while a number of them have been criminally charged, they also face many consequences such as being fired, losing positions and their reputation. But the fact that there have not been convictions and sentences is a big problem,\u201d said Prins.
\n\n\n\nThe CSWG response states that the main weakness of the commission was its unevenness. \u201cThe attention paid to different facets of state capture was uneven and certain areas were under-served. This was worsened by the lack of communication to the public on what the logic behind the Commission deciding to investigate or exclude certain matters from the investigation was,\u201d reads the report.
\n\n\n\nIn addition to this, the report by civil society observes that the Commission took a lengthy period of time to conclude the inquiry. The report indicates that there were multiple delays in the process, some of which were a result of inefficient internal processes.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe collective response also highlights the failure of the Zondo Commission to consider the ways in which state capture affected the daily lives of people in the country, especially those who are living in poverty. Civil society says that the true impact and cost of state capture on society is not reflected in the commission report. \u201cIt failed to show that state capture crimes resulted in economic instability, austerity measures, the fallout from loadshedding, increase in government debt, and had significant impacts on the poor,\u201d reads the report.
\n\n\n\nSpeaking at a media briefing, Mohlatse Komote from Corruption Watch added that there are gaps around transparency in the public procurement system in South Africa, which she said relates to the fact that there is a lot of power that is centralised and can be linked to the \u201cabuse\u201d and \u201cpoor oversight\u201d of the system as a result.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe state capture report details the levels of corruption of state institutions by private individuals and public officials who are entrusted with running government.\u00a0
\n\n\n\nMoving foward, the CSWG proposes comprehensive measures that would respond systemically to the levels of corruption which include a strong anti-corruption body, stronger procurement rules, accountability mechanisms, and law enforcement operations that are well capacitated and independent from political interference.\u00a0\u201cCivil society organisations need to remain organised and coordinated to push for a cause that aims to hold the government accountable, monitoring what is going on, and challenging what is happening in institutions. It is important to shine the light on these things so that citizens can see and take action,\u201d said Prins in closing.
\n", "content_text": "Civil society organisations under the umbrella of the Civil Society Working Group (CSWG) have issued a response to the Zondo Commission report on state capture that calls for various reforms to address shortcomings in the recommendations by the commission. \n\n\n\nOver 20 organisations participating in the CSWG \u2013 including Black Sash, Legal Resources Centre (LRC), Organisation for Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), My Vote Counts (MVC), and the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) \u2013 agree that the findings in the state capture report point to various risks that make South Africa vulnerable to the threat of deep corruption and looting in government in the future. This, according to the CSWG, means that they have to remain vigilant against the threat of the return of state capture.\n\n\n\nWith six volumes, the state capture report was released in June 2022 after a four-year long investigation of corruption crimes in the state.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOne of the highlights of the Zondo Commission’s report is the implication of known politicians, companies in the private sector, individuals, and state-owned entities that either benefitted from, or enabled, crimes that eventually led to absolute state capture. Photo from government website\n\n\n\nNicky Prins, who was the civil society liaison in the Zondo Commission, said that the lack of visible consequences through convictions and sentencing of those involved leaves a fertile ground to enable more corrupt acts by government entities in the future. \u201cThere are civil cases that are being brought to individuals who are implicated in the report that are more advanced and while a number of them have been criminally charged, they also face many consequences such as being fired, losing positions and their reputation. But the fact that there have not been convictions and sentences is a big problem,\u201d said Prins.\n\n\n\nThe CSWG response states that the main weakness of the commission was its unevenness. \u201cThe attention paid to different facets of state capture was uneven and certain areas were under-served. This was worsened by the lack of communication to the public on what the logic behind the Commission deciding to investigate or exclude certain matters from the investigation was,\u201d reads the report.\n\n\n\nIn addition to this, the report by civil society observes that the Commission took a lengthy period of time to conclude the inquiry. The report indicates that there were multiple delays in the process, some of which were a result of inefficient internal processes.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe collective response also highlights the failure of the Zondo Commission to consider the ways in which state capture affected the daily lives of people in the country, especially those who are living in poverty. Civil society says that the true impact and cost of state capture on society is not reflected in the commission report. \u201cIt failed to show that state capture crimes resulted in economic instability, austerity measures, the fallout from loadshedding, increase in government debt, and had significant impacts on the poor,\u201d reads the report.\n\n\n\nSpeaking at a media briefing, Mohlatse Komote from Corruption Watch added that there are gaps around transparency in the public procurement system in South Africa, which she said relates to the fact that there is a lot of power that is centralised and can be linked to the \u201cabuse\u201d and \u201cpoor oversight\u201d of the system as a result.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe state capture report details the levels of corruption of state institutions by private individuals and public officials who are entrusted with running government.\u00a0\n\n\n\nMoving foward, the CSWG proposes comprehensive measures that would respond systemically to the levels of corruption which include a strong anti-corruption body, stronger procurement rules, accountability mechanisms, and law enforcement operations that are well capacitated and independent from political interference.\u00a0\u201cCivil society organisations need to remain organised and coordinated to push for a cause that aims to hold the government accountable, monitoring what is going on, and challenging what is happening in institutions. It is important to shine the light on these things so that citizens can see and take action,\u201d said Prins in closing.", "date_published": "2024-03-08T21:10:03+02:00", "date_modified": "2024-03-08T21:10:07+02:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Lilita Gcwabe", "url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/en/author/lilita-gcwabe/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/2facb864819707381e5c609b4c9917cd?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Lilita Gcwabe", "url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/en/author/lilita-gcwabe/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/2facb864819707381e5c609b4c9917cd?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/elitshanews.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/until-2019.webp?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1", "tags": [ "Civil Society Working Group", "Corruption in government in SA", "Justice Raymond Zondo", "LRC", "MVC", "OUTA", "PARI", "State capture", "State Capture report", "Zondo Commission Report", "Corruption", "Crime", "Featured", "Johannesburg" ], "summary": "Civil society organisations have collectively responded to the Zondo Commission report on state capture." }, { "id": "https://elitshanews.org.za/?p=23186", "url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/2024/03/04/toilet-cleaners-strike-over-non-payment/", "title": "Toilet cleaners strike over non-payment", "content_html": "\nScores of angry cleaners gathered at Khayelitsha Training Centre to demand that Mbolompo Property Specialists pay them their salaries by Friday. The cleaners told Elitsha that they started to work in wards 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 and 99 in January but have not yet been paid. The company is contracted by the City of Cape Town for toilet cleaning under the Extended Public Works Programme.
\n\n\n\nLinomtha Mboza said the workers had decided to down tools and confront sub-council 10 manager, Mandlenkosi Sithonga, about their salaries. \u201cWe decided to stop working after we noticed that the cleaning company has not deposited our salaries into our bank accounts,\u201d she said. Mboza said Sabelo Mbolompo, manager of Mbolompo Property Specialists, told her and other cleaners that they would be paid on February 15. \u201cOn February 10 he said invoices are sent to the City of Cape Town after the fifteenth of each month, so he would be able to pay us on February 29,\u201d she said.
\n\n\n\nMbolompo met the cleaners at Desmond Tutu Hall in Makhaza on February 26 and told them that they would be paid half salaries on 29 February. \u201cNow we no longer want half salaries. We want full salaries. He should have told us from the start if we are volunteering,\u201d Mboza said. The cleaners struggle to survive because of Mbolompo\u2019s failure to pay them. \u201cWe have no money to buy food. Our cupboards are empty. I can\u2019t send my kid money for transport to school and for food in the Eastern Cape, where she studies. I have borrowed money from a mashonisa [loanshark]. Now the interests are growing,\u201d she said.
\n\n\n\nSithonga told the cleaners that he had alerted the City of Cape Town about the unpaid salaries. \u201cI have phoned Kinana to whom Mbolompo reports. He confirmed that the city has not paid Mbolompo,\u201d he said. Last week, Mbolompo told the cleaners at the same venue that the city had not paid him because his invoice doesn\u2019t meet its requirements, a claim confirmed by Kinana who informed Sithonga that the city won\u2019t bend the rules. “Kinana says he is writing a letter informing him that he is staining the city\u2019s name because the workers know the city employed him,\u201d Sithonga said.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe cleaners staged a sit-in at the City of Cape Town’s offices in Khayelitsha demanding answers and payment.
\n\n\n\nNdithini Tyhido, chairperson of Khayelitsha Development Forum, said the cleaners\u2019 strike affected rubbish collection in Khayelitsha. \u201cI make objection to the non-payment of the workers. The municipality itself must pay them while sorting out the invoice,\u201d he said.
\n\n\n\nThe cleaners resolved to write a letter demanding that they be paid within a few days. It was not the first time that the cleaners stopped working. In November, Elitsha reported on how a toilet cleaning company was a victim of extortion gangs in Khayelitsha.
\n\n\n\nOn 22 February, the cleaners toyi-toyied outside sub-council 10 offices and demanded that Mbolompo reinstate 59 retrenched cleaners and give all cleaners their salaries. Yonela Mtyhobile said: \u201cWe have scattered rubbish in the streets and demonstrated in our ward, but our ward councillor and our managers didn\u2019t come to ask us about our complaints, so we are here to speak to the sub-council chair,\u201d she said. \u201cWe want the cleaning company to hire all of us and return to work all the cleaners who have been retrenched. Moreover, we want it to give us our salaries.\u201d
\n\n\n\nThe cleaners are currently on month-to-month contracts but want the company to give them longer contracts, Mtyhobile said. Mbolompo told Elitsha: \u201cThe city tells me how many people I must hire. I can\u2019t exceed the number. There are too many people. I can\u2019t hire all of them.\u201d Mbolompo met the cleaners and told them that he could not give them their salaries because the city had not yet processed his invoice.
\n\n\n\nThe City of Cape Town said they are investigating the matter.
\n", "content_text": "Scores of angry cleaners gathered at Khayelitsha Training Centre to demand that Mbolompo Property Specialists pay them their salaries by Friday. The cleaners told Elitsha that they started to work in wards 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 and 99 in January but have not yet been paid. The company is contracted by the City of Cape Town for toilet cleaning under the Extended Public Works Programme.\n\n\n\nLinomtha Mboza said the workers had decided to down tools and confront sub-council 10 manager, Mandlenkosi Sithonga, about their salaries. \u201cWe decided to stop working after we noticed that the cleaning company has not deposited our salaries into our bank accounts,\u201d she said. Mboza said Sabelo Mbolompo, manager of Mbolompo Property Specialists, told her and other cleaners that they would be paid on February 15. \u201cOn February 10 he said invoices are sent to the City of Cape Town after the fifteenth of each month, so he would be able to pay us on February 29,\u201d she said.\n\n\n\nMbolompo met the cleaners at Desmond Tutu Hall in Makhaza on February 26 and told them that they would be paid half salaries on 29 February. \u201cNow we no longer want half salaries. We want full salaries. He should have told us from the start if we are volunteering,\u201d Mboza said. The cleaners struggle to survive because of Mbolompo\u2019s failure to pay them. \u201cWe have no money to buy food. Our cupboards are empty. I can\u2019t send my kid money for transport to school and for food in the Eastern Cape, where she studies. I have borrowed money from a mashonisa [loanshark]. Now the interests are growing,\u201d she said.\n\n\n\nSithonga told the cleaners that he had alerted the City of Cape Town about the unpaid salaries. \u201cI have phoned Kinana to whom Mbolompo reports. He confirmed that the city has not paid Mbolompo,\u201d he said. Last week, Mbolompo told the cleaners at the same venue that the city had not paid him because his invoice doesn\u2019t meet its requirements, a claim confirmed by Kinana who informed Sithonga that the city won\u2019t bend the rules. “Kinana says he is writing a letter informing him that he is staining the city\u2019s name because the workers know the city employed him,\u201d Sithonga said.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe cleaners staged a sit-in at the City of Cape Town’s offices in Khayelitsha demanding answers and payment.\n\n\n\nNdithini Tyhido, chairperson of Khayelitsha Development Forum, said the cleaners\u2019 strike affected rubbish collection in Khayelitsha. \u201cI make objection to the non-payment of the workers. The municipality itself must pay them while sorting out the invoice,\u201d he said.\n\n\n\nThe cleaners resolved to write a letter demanding that they be paid within a few days. It was not the first time that the cleaners stopped working. In November, Elitsha reported on how a toilet cleaning company was a victim of extortion gangs in Khayelitsha.\n\n\n\nNot the first strike\n\n\n\nOn 22 February, the cleaners toyi-toyied outside sub-council 10 offices and demanded that Mbolompo reinstate 59 retrenched cleaners and give all cleaners their salaries. Yonela Mtyhobile said: \u201cWe have scattered rubbish in the streets and demonstrated in our ward, but our ward councillor and our managers didn\u2019t come to ask us about our complaints, so we are here to speak to the sub-council chair,\u201d she said. \u201cWe want the cleaning company to hire all of us and return to work all the cleaners who have been retrenched. Moreover, we want it to give us our salaries.\u201d\n\n\n\nThe cleaners are currently on month-to-month contracts but want the company to give them longer contracts, Mtyhobile said. Mbolompo told Elitsha: \u201cThe city tells me how many people I must hire. I can\u2019t exceed the number. There are too many people. I can\u2019t hire all of them.\u201d Mbolompo met the cleaners and told them that he could not give them their salaries because the city had not yet processed his invoice.\n\n\n\nThe City of Cape Town said they are investigating the matter.", "date_published": "2024-03-04T20:33:33+02:00", "date_modified": "2024-03-04T20:33:38+02:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Vincent Lali", "url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/en/author/vincent-lali/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/82fb18cc25405165d03f12699a1cf78b?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Vincent Lali", "url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/en/author/vincent-lali/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/82fb18cc25405165d03f12699a1cf78b?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/elitshanews.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_0269-scaled-e1709577190648.jpg?fit=2432%2C1324&ssl=1", "tags": [ "Access to sanitation services in informal settlements", "City of Cape Town sanitation", "Informal settlements in Cape Town", "Poor services in informal settlements", "Poor working conditions", "Toilet cleaners", "Cape Town", "Environment", "Featured", "Labour", "Marginalised workers", "Service delivery" ], "summary": "The workers have resorted to strike action to get the cleaning company and the City of Cape Town to pay what is due to them." }, { "id": "https://elitshanews.org.za/?p=23176", "url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/2024/03/01/civil-society-groups-vow-to-intensify-support-for-palestine/", "title": "Civil society groups vow to intensify support for Palestine\u00a0", "content_html": "\nOn Thursday, over 150 students, academics, and activists gathered at the Tshisimani Centre for Activist Education in Cape Town to reflect on South Africa’s role in supporting the people of Palestine.\u00a0The multi-faceted discussion was organised under the theme, ‘From Crisis to Activism: Palestine and the Awakening of South African Consciousness’.
\n\n\n\nOn the same day, Al Jazeera reported that at least 117 people were killed and more than 760 injured as they crowded around aid trucks. The news network quoted the minister of health in Palestine saying that the attacks on Thursday took the total death toll to more than 30,000 since the beginning of Israel\u2019s war on Gaza nearly five months ago.
\n\n\n\nThere have been numerous protests held in solidarity with Palestine since Israel started their assault on the Gaza Strip. The thousands of Gazans being killed has, according to activists, ignited a burning urge in South Africa for solidarity with the people of Palestine. The recent exhibition soccer match between Palestine and the South African invitation XI was an expression of this new fervour.
\n\n\n\n\u201cSince the genocide in Palestine began in October, we have seen an influx of energy and of organising, throughout South Africa from different sectors. Youth, arts, media, academics and labour, we have never seen such in the last decade or two. There’s never been this kind of organising for a specific issue; maybe the last time would be when the TAC advocated against HIV and AIDS. We wanted to give students a sense of what we have been doing and also hoping they get involved, get in contact with these activists\u00a0 and also start organising themselves,\u201d said Mohammed Jameel Abdulla, programmes manager at Tshisimani.
\n\n\n\n\u201cWith every new activism moment, a new cohort of activists emerges. Some people have become politicised because of the genocide in Palestine, but we don’t want it to end there. People must fight for housing, for education, against capitalism and also their basic rights. This is a good space to harness, especially for students because they are a very radical cohort. What this Palestine issue has shown us,\u00a0 is that we are capable of more as South Africans,\u201d he said.\u00a0
\n\n\n\nHousing Assembly chairperson, Kashiefa Achmat, said, \u201cOur issues and those of the people of Palestine are the same. The Western Cape has a serious housing backlog and they are failing to address it. People were uprooted to Blikkiesdorp as a temporary relocation area (TRA) since 2009 before the\u00a0 2010 World Cup, but until today they are still waiting for decent housing. People were taken from District Six and displaced to the outskirts of Cape Town. As an organisation we will continue fighting until the right for decent housing is realised,\u201d said Achmat.\u00a0
\n\n\n\nInternational prison abolitionist and activist Ruth Wilson-Gilmore told the audience that what South Africa has done for Palestine is a clear reminder that, whatever socioeconomic conditions the country is in, \u201cthere will always be a spark of revolutionary energy\u201d.\u00a0
\n\n\n\n\u201cThe International Court of Justice (ICJ) case that was brought by South Africa against Israel was astonishing. In part, it is a reminder that even the apartheid regime, whatever they thought they were doing by putting the University of the Western Cape here, produced conditions that enabled their downfall. My key message is that, as activists, always remember that capitalism will never free us. In fighting racial capitalism, fight it all in order to realise human emancipation,\u201d said Wilson-Gilmore.\u00a0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGeneral Industrial Workers Union of South Africa (Giwusa) provincial secretary and Palestine Justice Campaign (PJC)\u00a0member, Abeedah Adams, criticised the Palestine solidarity protests for being too timid.\u00a0\u201cDespite our country supporting Palestine, South Africa has not totally cut ties with Israel. Even in the Western Cape specifically, the support for Palestine is mostly middle class, Muslim dominated. We know the DA led government is only supporting protests because they don’t want to lose the Muslim votes during elections,\u201d said Adams.
\n\n\n\nShe said they were also calling for the divestment of Israeli-led consortium, Milco SA, from Clover. \u201cThe divestment campaign needs time and resources and we don’t have those things. Workers at Clover are still complaining about harsh and bad working conditions. Since 2022, we have been fighting for these workers rights. We believe that struggle is not over,\u201d she said.\u00a0
\n", "content_text": "On Thursday, over 150 students, academics, and activists gathered at the Tshisimani Centre for Activist Education in Cape Town to reflect on South Africa’s role in supporting the people of Palestine.\u00a0The multi-faceted discussion was organised under the theme, ‘From Crisis to Activism: Palestine and the Awakening of South African Consciousness’.\n\n\n\nOn the same day, Al Jazeera reported that at least 117 people were killed and more than 760 injured as they crowded around aid trucks. The news network quoted the minister of health in Palestine saying that the attacks on Thursday took the total death toll to more than 30,000 since the beginning of Israel\u2019s war on Gaza nearly five months ago.\n\n\n\nThere have been numerous protests held in solidarity with Palestine since Israel started their assault on the Gaza Strip. The thousands of Gazans being killed has, according to activists, ignited a burning urge in South Africa for solidarity with the people of Palestine. The recent exhibition soccer match between Palestine and the South African invitation XI was an expression of this new fervour. \n\n\n\nActivism is on the rise\n\n\n\n\u201cSince the genocide in Palestine began in October, we have seen an influx of energy and of organising, throughout South Africa from different sectors. Youth, arts, media, academics and labour, we have never seen such in the last decade or two. There’s never been this kind of organising for a specific issue; maybe the last time would be when the TAC advocated against HIV and AIDS. We wanted to give students a sense of what we have been doing and also hoping they get involved, get in contact with these activists\u00a0 and also start organising themselves,\u201d said Mohammed Jameel Abdulla, programmes manager at Tshisimani.\n\n\n\n\u201cWith every new activism moment, a new cohort of activists emerges. Some people have become politicised because of the genocide in Palestine, but we don’t want it to end there. People must fight for housing, for education, against capitalism and also their basic rights. This is a good space to harness, especially for students because they are a very radical cohort. What this Palestine issue has shown us,\u00a0 is that we are capable of more as South Africans,\u201d he said.\u00a0\n\n\n\nHousing Assembly chairperson, Kashiefa Achmat, said, \u201cOur issues and those of the people of Palestine are the same. The Western Cape has a serious housing backlog and they are failing to address it. People were uprooted to Blikkiesdorp as a temporary relocation area (TRA) since 2009 before the\u00a0 2010 World Cup, but until today they are still waiting for decent housing. People were taken from District Six and displaced to the outskirts of Cape Town. As an organisation we will continue fighting until the right for decent housing is realised,\u201d said Achmat.\u00a0\n\n\n\nInternational prison abolitionist and activist Ruth Wilson-Gilmore told the audience that what South Africa has done for Palestine is a clear reminder that, whatever socioeconomic conditions the country is in, \u201cthere will always be a spark of revolutionary energy\u201d.\u00a0\n\n\n\n\u201cThe International Court of Justice (ICJ) case that was brought by South Africa against Israel was astonishing. In part, it is a reminder that even the apartheid regime, whatever they thought they were doing by putting the University of the Western Cape here, produced conditions that enabled their downfall. My key message is that, as activists, always remember that capitalism will never free us. In fighting racial capitalism, fight it all in order to realise human emancipation,\u201d said Wilson-Gilmore.\u00a0\n\n\n\nThousands of Cape Townians came out in support of the Palestinian people for the two games at Athlone Stadium last month. File Photo by Sharon McKinnon \n\n\n\nGeneral Industrial Workers Union of South Africa (Giwusa) provincial secretary and Palestine Justice Campaign (PJC)\u00a0member, Abeedah Adams, criticised the Palestine solidarity protests for being too timid.\u00a0\u201cDespite our country supporting Palestine, South Africa has not totally cut ties with Israel. Even in the Western Cape specifically, the support for Palestine is mostly middle class, Muslim dominated. We know the DA led government is only supporting protests because they don’t want to lose the Muslim votes during elections,\u201d said Adams.\n\n\n\nShe said they were also calling for the divestment of Israeli-led consortium, Milco SA, from Clover. \u201cThe divestment campaign needs time and resources and we don’t have those things. Workers at Clover are still complaining about harsh and bad working conditions. Since 2022, we have been fighting for these workers rights. We believe that struggle is not over,\u201d she said.\u00a0", "date_published": "2024-03-01T23:56:17+02:00", "date_modified": "2024-03-01T23:56:25+02:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Chris Gilili", "url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/en/author/chris/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/cb99d1d771f8b1d6cabc6e7247773348?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Chris Gilili", "url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/en/author/chris/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/cb99d1d771f8b1d6cabc6e7247773348?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/elitshanews.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_9027-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1", "tags": [ "Apartheid Israel", "Genocide in Gaza", "Palestine Solidarity Campaign", "Solidarity with the people of Palestine", "Tshisimani Centre", "Cape Town", "Featured", "International" ], "summary": "The genocide underway in Gaza has ignited a solidarity movement in South Africa that brings together different classes and communities." }, { "id": "https://elitshanews.org.za/?p=23121", "url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/2024/02/27/lwandisa-school-community-lose-hope-government-will-fix-their-school/", "title": "Lwandisa school community lose hope government will fix their school", "content_html": "\nThe Lwandisa Primary School is still missing a roof over several classrooms since gale-force winds tore it off early last year. The learners, parents, teachers and SGB say they do not know when the roof will be fixed as numerous promises were made but never fulfilled by the education department in the province. Speaking during a briefing organised by the education district office around September last year, the principal said that there is money to fix the school but did not know what was causing the delay. Nokuzola Mbham, the secretary of the school governing body (SGB) said the department had promised to fix the roof and fence during the September school holidays but that did not happen.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIt is not the first time the school has experienced severe storm damage: the roofing and fencing of the school was blown away by gales in 2019 and learners were forced to attend school without a roof over their heads. Mbham told Elitsha that the school’s roof has been blown off thrice in the past five years. \u201cWe go to DOE district offices at Rubusana and speak to authorities who in turn promise that they will call the MEC offices at Zwelitsha,\u201d she said. The SGB visited Eastern Cape Department of Education’s (ECDOE) provincial headquarters in Zwelitsha but nothing helpful transpired.
\n\n\n\nThe SGB has resorted to sharing the story of the dilapidated school with the SABC1 investigative programme, Cutting Edge. \u201cAs you see our school is in bad shape; there is no improvement while DOE is sending us from pillar to post. DOE is just removing us in front of their eyes. There is no fence; amaphara (drugged thugs) come in and out. There is dire shortage of classrooms; as you can see, we have added three bungalows and the DOE has not responded positively to our request for prefabs,\u201d said an angry Nokuzola.
\n\n\n\nQhayiya Yila, a grade 7 learner said, \u201cAlmost every year the roof collapses when there are strong winds. The school paint is also fading and needs to be renovated. We are not comfortable in our classrooms because sometimes we are four at these desks that are meant for 2 learners.”
\n\n\n\n\u201cThe toilets are also not in good condition since the sewerage pipes are leaking, not enough sinks and urinals and the whole area surrounding the toilets is damp,” said Akum Kuhle, a grade 7 learner.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBhongolwethu Qongqo, also in grade 7 and who stays in Newlands just outside Mdantsane, said, \u201cOur classes are overcrowded; we are about 87 learners in our class. Our classes are extremely cold. The entire roofs of three classrooms have been blown out by strong winds longtime ago. The roofs of the remaining rooms are also not stable, as you can see, they could collapse at any given time.\u201d
\n\n\n\nFundiswa Misile, a parent who resides in front of the school, said that Lwandisa\u2019s condition is unacceptable, and the school desperately needs help. \u201cOur school lacks basic level amenities and services that every school should have to function smoothly. The school is outdated, overcrowded and unsafe, and DOE has so far shown no willingness to urgently fix Lwandisa School\u201d said Fundiswa.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLwandisa is not the only school damaged by storms; there are 29 schools in the Buffalo City Municipality in urgent need of repair and rebuilding. According to ECDOE, procurement has been completed for all these schools including Lwandisa Primary School. \u201cWe urge our communities to be patient with the department as this project is at an advanced stage,\u201d the ECDOE spokesperson said.
\n", "content_text": "The Lwandisa Primary School is still missing a roof over several classrooms since gale-force winds tore it off early last year. The learners, parents, teachers and SGB say they do not know when the roof will be fixed as numerous promises were made but never fulfilled by the education department in the province. Speaking during a briefing organised by the education district office around September last year, the principal said that there is money to fix the school but did not know what was causing the delay. Nokuzola Mbham, the secretary of the school governing body (SGB) said the department had promised to fix the roof and fence during the September school holidays but that did not happen. \n\n\n\nLearners were forced to attend school without a roof over their heads\n\n\n\nIt is not the first time the school has experienced severe storm damage: the roofing and fencing of the school was blown away by gales in 2019 and learners were forced to attend school without a roof over their heads. Mbham told Elitsha that the school’s roof has been blown off thrice in the past five years. \u201cWe go to DOE district offices at Rubusana and speak to authorities who in turn promise that they will call the MEC offices at Zwelitsha,\u201d she said. The SGB visited Eastern Cape Department of Education’s (ECDOE) provincial headquarters in Zwelitsha but nothing helpful transpired.\n\n\n\nThe SGB has resorted to sharing the story of the dilapidated school with the SABC1 investigative programme, Cutting Edge. \u201cAs you see our school is in bad shape; there is no improvement while DOE is sending us from pillar to post. DOE is just removing us in front of their eyes. There is no fence; amaphara (drugged thugs) come in and out. There is dire shortage of classrooms; as you can see, we have added three bungalows and the DOE has not responded positively to our request for prefabs,\u201d said an angry Nokuzola.\n\n\n\nQhayiya Yila, a grade 7 learner said, \u201cAlmost every year the roof collapses when there are strong winds. The school paint is also fading and needs to be renovated. We are not comfortable in our classrooms because sometimes we are four at these desks that are meant for 2 learners.”\n\n\n\n\u201cThe toilets are also not in good condition since the sewerage pipes are leaking, not enough sinks and urinals and the whole area surrounding the toilets is damp,” said Akum Kuhle, a grade 7 learner.\n\n\n\n“The roofs of the remaining rooms are also not stable, as you can see, they could collapse at any given time.\u201d\n\n\n\nBhongolwethu Qongqo, also in grade 7 and who stays in Newlands just outside Mdantsane, said, \u201cOur classes are overcrowded; we are about 87 learners in our class. Our classes are extremely cold. The entire roofs of three classrooms have been blown out by strong winds longtime ago. The roofs of the remaining rooms are also not stable, as you can see, they could collapse at any given time.\u201d\n\n\n\nFundiswa Misile, a parent who resides in front of the school, said that Lwandisa\u2019s condition is unacceptable, and the school desperately needs help. \u201cOur school lacks basic level amenities and services that every school should have to function smoothly. The school is outdated, overcrowded and unsafe, and DOE has so far shown no willingness to urgently fix Lwandisa School\u201d said Fundiswa.\n\n\n\n29 schools in the Buffalo City Municipality in urgent need of repair\n\n\n\nLwandisa is not the only school damaged by storms; there are 29 schools in the Buffalo City Municipality in urgent need of repair and rebuilding. According to ECDOE, procurement has been completed for all these schools including Lwandisa Primary School. \u201cWe urge our communities to be patient with the department as this project is at an advanced stage,\u201d the ECDOE spokesperson said. ", "date_published": "2024-02-27T21:24:54+02:00", "date_modified": "2024-02-27T23:06:08+02:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Anele Mbi", "url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/en/author/anele/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/986cebfdc7b886635dcb2d07e95a3bf7?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Anele Mbi", "url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/en/author/anele/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/986cebfdc7b886635dcb2d07e95a3bf7?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/elitshanews.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/20240213_120528-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1920&ssl=1", "tags": [ "Eastern Cape Education Department", "Lack of quality education", "Lwandisa Primary School", "School Governing Bodies", "school infrastructure delays in the Eastern Cape", "East London", "Education", "Featured" ], "summary": "Learners at Lwandisa complain that classes have been combined in the classrooms that are still usable, leading to overcrowding." }, { "id": "https://elitshanews.org.za/?p=23154", "url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/2024/02/24/enyobeni-owners-fined-for-selling-alcohol-to-a-minor/", "title": "Enyobeni owners fined for selling alcohol to a minor", "content_html": "\nThe parents of the 21 Enyobeni victims said they are disappointed by the court\u2019s decision to only fine the tavern owners. Siyakhangela and his wife, Vuyokazi Ndevu were found guilty on Wednesday of selling or supplying intoxicating liquor to a minor.
\n\n\n\nThe court found that the state had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, that the couple were responsible for the sale of alcohol to underage children, and held them liable for the crime. They were sentenced on Friday to a R5,000 fine each or 100 days in prison.
\n\n\n\nThe couple had pleaded not guilty, testifying in their defence and had applied for the withdrawal of the charges. However, the court agreed with state prosecutor, Thango Pangalela’s submission that there was no age restriction considered for access at Enyobeni. During the trial, the state had led evidence from nine witnesses including a neighbour of the Ndevu couple, a Liquor Board official and CCTV footage taken during the fateful night.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe parents of the 21 young people including minors who died, said they were expecting a maximum sentence. One mother, Ntombizonke Mgangala said, \u201cTo be honest, we are truly disappointed by the court\u2019s decision. This is not about us, it is about the society, the underage children who are permitted to buy alcohol and those tavern owners who are selling alcohol to them. We were hoping the court would send a strong message that it is a serious crime to do so.” She said they understand that the case is not about probing who should be held responsible for the deaths but they expected the court to consider the merits and the tragic consequences of breaking even minor laws.
\n\n\n\n\u201cEmotions are very high at this point. We, however won\u2019t let this lay us down; we will meet as parents and deliberate on a way forward; we will seek legal advice as to see what options we have,\u201d she said. Mgangala said she was also not happy about the delays of the inquest.
\n\n\n\nKhululekile Ncandana, whose son Bongo died in the tavern, said he had also hoped the court would impose the maximum sentence while anticipating a fine would be handed down. \u201cBecause there was no evidence that the children were all sold alcohol and drank it at the tavern on that day, the magistrate during his judgement on Wednesday considered a case of one child who was evidently sold alcohol and drank it. For that reason I knew he was going to fine them.
\n\n\n\n\u201cThe state prosecutor tried his best to present to court that there is no other way the case can be viewed other than in light of the serious consequences, but the magistrate considered other factors. We will not go beyond what the court has decided on,\u201d Ncandana said.
\n\n\n\nThe Liquor Board acknowledged the sentence. The boards\u2019 spokesperson, Dr Mgwebi Msiya said, \u201cWhilst Eastern Cape Liquor Board would have hoped for a tougher sentence to be handed over to the Ndevu couple, it does accept the sentence as it is in line with the provisions of the Eastern Cape Liquor Act.\u201d
\n\n\n\nNational Prosecution Authority regional spokesperson, Luxolo Tyali said they welcome with disappointment the sentence. \u201cWe had submitted in court that the two are not remorseful, and they have total disregard of the law. However, because the act provides for the magistrate to impose a fine, we do accept with hopes that the upcoming inquest will be able to tell who should be held liable for the deaths of the 21 children,\u201d said Tyali.
\n\n\n\nThe inquest is yet to resume on 29 February, after it was postponed to afford the state time to appoint a structural engineer and an expert to evaluate the postmortem results and toxicology report.
\n", "content_text": "The parents of the 21 Enyobeni victims said they are disappointed by the court\u2019s decision to only fine the tavern owners. Siyakhangela and his wife, Vuyokazi Ndevu were found guilty on Wednesday of selling or supplying intoxicating liquor to a minor.\n\n\n\nThe court found that the state had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, that the couple were responsible for the sale of alcohol to underage children, and held them liable for the crime. They were sentenced on Friday to a R5,000 fine each or 100 days in prison.\n\n\n\nThe couple had pleaded not guilty, testifying in their defence and had applied for the withdrawal of the charges. However, the court agreed with state prosecutor, Thango Pangalela’s submission that there was no age restriction considered for access at Enyobeni. During the trial, the state had led evidence from nine witnesses including a neighbour of the Ndevu couple, a Liquor Board official and CCTV footage taken during the fateful night.\n\n\n\nWe understand that the case is not about who is responsible for the deaths but the court should have considered the tragic consequences of their law breaking.\n\n\n\nThe parents of the 21 young people including minors who died, said they were expecting a maximum sentence. One mother, Ntombizonke Mgangala said, \u201cTo be honest, we are truly disappointed by the court\u2019s decision. This is not about us, it is about the society, the underage children who are permitted to buy alcohol and those tavern owners who are selling alcohol to them. We were hoping the court would send a strong message that it is a serious crime to do so.” She said they understand that the case is not about probing who should be held responsible for the deaths but they expected the court to consider the merits and the tragic consequences of breaking even minor laws.\n\n\n\n\u201cEmotions are very high at this point. We, however won\u2019t let this lay us down; we will meet as parents and deliberate on a way forward; we will seek legal advice as to see what options we have,\u201d she said. Mgangala said she was also not happy about the delays of the inquest.\n\n\n\nKhululekile Ncandana, whose son Bongo died in the tavern, said he had also hoped the court would impose the maximum sentence while anticipating a fine would be handed down. \u201cBecause there was no evidence that the children were all sold alcohol and drank it at the tavern on that day, the magistrate during his judgement on Wednesday considered a case of one child who was evidently sold alcohol and drank it. For that reason I knew he was going to fine them.\n\n\n\n\u201cThe state prosecutor tried his best to present to court that there is no other way the case can be viewed other than in light of the serious consequences, but the magistrate considered other factors. We will not go beyond what the court has decided on,\u201d Ncandana said.\n\n\n\nThe Liquor Board acknowledged the sentence. The boards\u2019 spokesperson, Dr Mgwebi Msiya said, \u201cWhilst Eastern Cape Liquor Board would have hoped for a tougher sentence to be handed over to the Ndevu couple, it does accept the sentence as it is in line with the provisions of the Eastern Cape Liquor Act.\u201d\n\n\n\nNational Prosecution Authority regional spokesperson, Luxolo Tyali said they welcome with disappointment the sentence. \u201cWe had submitted in court that the two are not remorseful, and they have total disregard of the law. However, because the act provides for the magistrate to impose a fine, we do accept with hopes that the upcoming inquest will be able to tell who should be held liable for the deaths of the 21 children,\u201d said Tyali.\n\n\n\nThe inquest is yet to resume on 29 February, after it was postponed to afford the state time to appoint a structural engineer and an expert to evaluate the postmortem results and toxicology report.", "date_published": "2024-02-24T17:37:23+02:00", "date_modified": "2024-02-24T17:37:26+02:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Chwayita Dinginto", "url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/en/author/chwayita-dinginto/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/6ce372df48e55173ad03a1e788add3c9?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Chwayita Dinginto", "url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/en/author/chwayita-dinginto/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/6ce372df48e55173ad03a1e788add3c9?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/elitshanews.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Ndevus-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1", "tags": [ "Enyobeni Inquest", "Enyobeni tragedy", "Siyakhangela Ndevu", "Underage drinking", "Vuyokazi Ndevu", "Crime", "East London", "Featured", "Youth" ], "summary": "The inquest into who is responsible for the deaths in June 2022 of 21 young people in Enyobeni Tavern, resumes on 29 February. " }, { "id": "https://elitshanews.org.za/?p=23115", "url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/2024/02/22/clinic-built-by-lonmin-may-collapse-because-of-samancor-mine/", "title": "Clinic built by Lonmin may collapse because of Samancor mine", "content_html": "\nThe Bapong community in Rustenburg, North West, is worried that the continued operation of open cast mining by Samancor in their area will result in their environment, lives and properties being destroyed. They say a few years back when the previous company closed the mine and left a dump, Samancor, another mining company then decided to take over and turned it into an open cast mine in the belief there was still a lot of chrome to dig up.
\n\n\n\nTheir only health facility, Bapong Community Health Centre, is on the verge of collapse as underground water from the mine has turned the surface of the clinic into something which looks like a wetland. They say this is weakening the foundation of the clinic. The catchment area of the clinic extends to the wider Greater Sibanye Community (GSC) which includes the towns of Maditlhokwa, Wonderkop, Majakaneng and Marikana. The clinic was built by Lonmin as part of their Social Labour Plan (SLP) more than 10 years ago. It provides the community with key primary healthcare services such chronic illness treatment and maternity services.
\n\n\n\n\u201cThe surface is never dry because of the water underneath. We fear soon the clinic will cave in and submerge. Walls are already cracking. This is very scary,\u201d says one of the concerned residents, Barbara Modiselle. \u00a0
\n\n\n\nOne of the local contractors, Paul Moatshe who recently worked on the clinic installing septic tanks confirms the clinic is under threat. He says the underground water was never a problem before when the mine dump was still unused. “This started sometime last year when Samancor started working on the dump site. I could not dig more than 2 meters. The water would come out forcefully. Every two hours I had to make a plan and drain it. It was very difficult to complete the project,\u201d he says.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBarbara Modiselle explaining that the ground near the clinic has turned into a wetland.
\n\n\n\n\u201cOn top of that is environment and the people\u2019s health that is at risk. You can see with your naked eye that this is not natural water. It is too toxic with chemicals. The soil and the plantation around here is at risk. Sometime there would be heavy funny smell coming out,\u201d says Christinah Mudau from the Defenders for the Environment and Human Rights Violation in Africa (DEHRVA).
\n\n\n\nAnother activist in the community of Bapong, Moipone Tabi says they are failed by their leader: “They\u2019ve got chiefs around, councillors and even department of minerals resources and energy while this problem persists. Now the community is left on their own to hold mining companies accountable.” She says the legislation is very clear on environmental assessments, rehabilitation and SLP obligations but most of the time companies don\u2019t comply or simply refuse to.
\n\n\n\n\u201cMost painful is the local youngsters who are languishing on the streets as companies employ people from outside. Also when you see them building a road you must know that is only to enhance their operation. We also need to make this very clear: integrated development plans from municipalities cannot be used interchangeably with SLPs to absolve companies on their SLP obligations,\u201d she said.
\n\n\n\nDeputy chairperson of the clinic health committee at Bapong Community Health Centre, Thato Thabane says it has been less than a year since their election and for them to be talking openly on this matter shows its seriousness and the need for urgent intervention. He says he recently tried to reach out to one of the managers at Samancor but was rebuffed. \u201cWe are not going to stop there. I\u2019ll go there physically to raise this matter again.\u201d He says even the maintenance of the clinic is a serious challenge. At the moment there is only one groundsman looking after the entire clinic. Cutting knee-length grass is not going to be easy.
\n\n\n\nThe area councillor of ward 25 says the problem at the clinic is not the underground water from the mine but the sewage system of the clinic which is faulty. \u201cThe mine has since stopped the operation, so I don\u2019t think that\u2019s the cause,\u201d she says, declining to comment further and deferring to the municipal spokesperson whom we could not reach at the time of going to press. \u00a0\u00a0
\n\n\n\nElitsha reached out to Samancor but they had not responded by the time of publication.
\n", "content_text": "The Bapong community in Rustenburg, North West, is worried that the continued operation of open cast mining by Samancor in their area will result in their environment, lives and properties being destroyed. They say a few years back when the previous company closed the mine and left a dump, Samancor, another mining company then decided to take over and turned it into an open cast mine in the belief there was still a lot of chrome to dig up.\n\n\n\nTheir only health facility, Bapong Community Health Centre, is on the verge of collapse as underground water from the mine has turned the surface of the clinic into something which looks like a wetland. They say this is weakening the foundation of the clinic. The catchment area of the clinic extends to the wider Greater Sibanye Community (GSC) which includes the towns of Maditlhokwa, Wonderkop, Majakaneng and Marikana. The clinic was built by Lonmin as part of their Social Labour Plan (SLP) more than 10 years ago. It provides the community with key primary healthcare services such chronic illness treatment and maternity services.\n\n\n\n\u201cThe surface is never dry because of the water underneath. We fear soon the clinic will cave in and submerge. Walls are already cracking. This is very scary,\u201d says one of the concerned residents, Barbara Modiselle. \u00a0\n\n\n\nOne of the local contractors, Paul Moatshe who recently worked on the clinic installing septic tanks confirms the clinic is under threat. He says the underground water was never a problem before when the mine dump was still unused. “This started sometime last year when Samancor started working on the dump site. I could not dig more than 2 meters. The water would come out forcefully. Every two hours I had to make a plan and drain it. It was very difficult to complete the project,\u201d he says.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBarbara Modiselle explaining that the ground near the clinic has turned into a wetland. \n\n\n\n\u201cOn top of that is environment and the people\u2019s health that is at risk. You can see with your naked eye that this is not natural water. It is too toxic with chemicals. The soil and the plantation around here is at risk. Sometime there would be heavy funny smell coming out,\u201d says Christinah Mudau from the Defenders for the Environment and Human Rights Violation in Africa (DEHRVA).\n\n\n\nAnother activist in the community of Bapong, Moipone Tabi says they are failed by their leader: “They\u2019ve got chiefs around, councillors and even department of minerals resources and energy while this problem persists. Now the community is left on their own to hold mining companies accountable.” She says the legislation is very clear on environmental assessments, rehabilitation and SLP obligations but most of the time companies don\u2019t comply or simply refuse to. \n\n\n\n\u201cMost painful is the local youngsters who are languishing on the streets as companies employ people from outside. Also when you see them building a road you must know that is only to enhance their operation. We also need to make this very clear: integrated development plans from municipalities cannot be used interchangeably with SLPs to absolve companies on their SLP obligations,\u201d she said.\n\n\n\nDeputy chairperson of the clinic health committee at Bapong Community Health Centre, Thato Thabane says it has been less than a year since their election and for them to be talking openly on this matter shows its seriousness and the need for urgent intervention. He says he recently tried to reach out to one of the managers at Samancor but was rebuffed. \u201cWe are not going to stop there. I\u2019ll go there physically to raise this matter again.\u201d He says even the maintenance of the clinic is a serious challenge. At the moment there is only one groundsman looking after the entire clinic. Cutting knee-length grass is not going to be easy.\n\n\n\nThe area councillor of ward 25 says the problem at the clinic is not the underground water from the mine but the sewage system of the clinic which is faulty. \u201cThe mine has since stopped the operation, so I don\u2019t think that\u2019s the cause,\u201d she says, declining to comment further and deferring to the municipal spokesperson whom we could not reach at the time of going to press. \u00a0\u00a0\n\n\n\nElitsha reached out to Samancor but they had not responded by the time of publication.", "date_published": "2024-02-22T22:08:15+02:00", "date_modified": "2024-02-22T22:08:19+02:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Ramatamo Sehoai", "url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/en/author/ramatamo-s/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/6aa923d6a142ebc0b08034b26c79c881?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Ramatamo Sehoai", "url": "https://elitshanews.org.za/en/author/ramatamo-s/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/6aa923d6a142ebc0b08034b26c79c881?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/elitshanews.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/dump-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1152&ssl=1", "tags": [ "Bapong Village", "Lonmin", "Marikana", "mining affected community", "Open Cast Mining", "Platinum belt", "Right to Say No to Mining", "Samancor", "Environment", "Featured", "Health", "North West" ], "summary": "The mining-affected community of Bapong village blames mining companies for the environmental deterioration of the area." } ] }