Pregnant women have the responsibility to not drink because alcohol can cause a condition that affects a baby’s development.

This is according to the Deputy Minister of Social Development, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, who recently launched the 9-9-9 Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) advocacy programme.

The aim of the initiative is to encourage communities to help protect unborn babies by educating people, especially women of childbearing age, about the dangers of drinking alcohol while pregnant or breastfeeding. 

“It is important for all women who are pregnant and those who wish to give birth to healthy babies to avoid alcohol. The damage caused by FASD is permanent and irreversible, and children born with this condition have physical and intellectual problems,” said Deputy Minister Bogopane-Zulu at the launch.

She added that South Africa is known to have a drinking problem, with the country ranking among the worst in the world for its levels of alcohol consumption.

Deputy Minister Bogopane-Zulu recently visited different parts of the country, educating women about the dangers of drinking alcohol while pregnant as part of the 9-9-9 FASD campaign.

When she was in Boitekong in Rustenburg in the North West, she told residents that the levels of alcohol abuse in the township are alarming.

A four-month pregnant woman and resident of Boitekong, Basetsana Tlalang (28), who attended one of the campaigns, said she stopped drinking alcohol entirely after learning she was pregnant and said she is attending antenatal and information sessions at the clinic. She urged other pregnant women to immediately stop drinking alcohol and doing drugs.

The Deputy Minister warned that there is no specific treatment for alcohol-related disorders – the only way to prevent them is to avoid alcoholic beverages during pregnancy. She encouraged pregnant women who struggle with not being able to stop drinking to visit their nearest clinic to receive assistance. – SAnews.gov.za

 

Written by Owen Mngadi

A Limpopo cobbler is fixing school shoes for free to help less privileged learners stand tall.

Denice Maphanga (27) learnt the art of cobbling from his grandfather and used these skills to start an informal roadside shoe repair business in his community of Steelpoort. He repairs and resoles all types of shoes and promotes his business through his popular Facebook account and via word of mouth.

In 2020, Maphanga added a barbershop that is managed by his brother. He says this complements his shoe repair business because customers can have their hair cut while waiting for their shoes to be repaired.

Maphanga says his business has been running for over five years and attributes its success to his supportive community. He is now repaying this loyalty by fixing the shoes of schoolchildren whose parents cannot afford to repair or buy them new shoes – for free!

“I know what it feels like to not have shoes to wear at school,” he says.

Maphanga says he is thankful he learnt how to repair shoes from his grandfather and is happy that he can use this knowledge to help his community. “While I am not where I want to be at this point, it makes me happy to make an impact on other people through my business.”

Mining company Glencore – which operates in the area – recently chose Maphanga as one of two winners in its Youth Month 2022 competition, which aimed to reward people making positive impacts in their community. He received a cash prize, which he says he will reinvest into the business. “

While he has worked in retail shops, Maphanga’s vision has always been to own his business. He says he would like to grow the business to create job opportunities for others. At the moment, he employs two people on a casual basis when he needs help.

In his blog published on Youth Zones in September, he shared this advice with the youth of South Africa: “Don’t use laziness as an excuse. Don’t worry about what others think. Don’t procrastinate. Be unique and responsible. Prioritise yourself. “

Written by Nosihle Shelembe

When Nwabisa Maphumulo (25) from Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape received her matric results, she was unhappy with her grades for maths and science. 

This spurred her to search for institutions that could assist her to improve her results but they demanded money that she did not have.

Left with no options, she applied to a university to pursue a course she was not passionate about, only to find that the programme had reached its intake capacity for that year. 

As luck would have it, Maphumulo met a beneficiary of the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) Maths and Science Programme (MSP) who encouraged her to apply for the programme as it could assist her to improve her matric results.

The Coega MSP is a flagship corporate social investment programme, contributing to communities in terms of education and skills development.

Since its inception in 2013, the programme has successfully contributed to an increasing number of learners undertaking studies in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by giving them the opportunity to improve their matric results for mathematics and physical science.

Maphumulo, who is now a qualified pharmacist and employed as a pharmacy assistant in Cape Town, said participating in the programme gave her a variety of options to choose from for her career.

 “Without the Coega programme, I would not be where I am today. I managed to find a job in my field of study,” Maphumulo said.

Twenty-four-year-old Sisipho Makwetu from Gqeberha graduated with her degree in industrial engineering last year and is currently working for a tyre manufacturing company.

”I had always dreamt of becoming successful. When I received my matric results, all the courses that I qualified for with the marks I had were full. That is when I decided to upgrade my results instead.

“The Coega programme came highly recommended, so I applied. The programme helped me structure my life and my goals,” Makwetu said.

Aphelele Sithole (22) has encouraged matriculants who are not satisfied with their marks to apply to participate in the programme.

“This programme is free, and the facilitators are skilled individuals who were able to help me improve my marks in maths and physical science,” he said.

Sithole is currently pursuing his third year of study in analytical chemistry at Nelson Mandela University.

“The long-term objective of the organisation’s participation in empowering young minds, specifically through education, training and skills development, is to increase the quality and quantity of young professionals who can become the next generation of specialists in different strategic fields within the Eastern Cape and across the country,” Coega Mathematics and Physical Science Facilitator Eldon September said.

The CDC will announce their enrolment for 2023 early next year.

For more information: https://www.coega.co.za/Feedback.aspx?objID=117

While many people enjoy a bit of gambling – be it betting on their favourite sports team or playing the slot machines at a casino – some people can become addicted to it and end up taking their own life.

This is according to the National Gambling Board (NGB), which says the link between problem gambling and suicide is often overlooked.

Various research studies, including one conducted by the NGB, indicate that gambling can cause various emotional and behavioural issues, including anxiety and depression caused by losing money and finding oneself in debt.

Research also indicates that gambling is fast becoming a public health concern in many countries, and often occurs with other behavioural and psychological disorders, such as mental health problems and substance abuse.

Do you have a gambling addiction?

The Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) – used by mental healthcare professionals to identify if an individual is at risk of developing a gambling addiction – uses a set of questions to determine people’s gambling habits.

While not a clinical diagnosis of having a gambling addiction, the PGSI enables gamblers to start thinking about their behaviour objectively and to reach out for professional help if they need to.

According to the PGSI, you may have a gambling addiction if you have ever:

• Bet more than you can afford to lose.
• Needed to gamble with larger amounts of money to get the same feeling of excitement.
• Returned to where you gambled to try and win your money back.
• Borrowed money or sold something to gamble.
• Felt you might have a gambling problem.
• Been criticised for your betting or told you had a gambling problem.
• Felt guilty about the way you gamble or what happens when you gamble.
• Had health problems, including stress or anxiety, as a result of gambling.
• Had financial problems caused by gambling.

Information supplied by the NGB.

Get the help you need

If you think you may have a gambling addiction, call the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation, which runs the National Responsible Gambling Programme, at 0800 006 008 toll-free.

The helpline is available 24/7. Counselling services are provided over the phone or through referrals for face-to-face treatment through a national network of professionals.

Written by Kgaogelo Letsebe

A North West chicken farmer has entered the poultry value chain. She is raising, slaughtering and selling her chickens on her online shop and to other markets. 

Pumla Mahuma may have unintentionally landed up in the agricultural sector, but her success has not been accidental. Using her business insights, she transformed her in-laws’ Brits farm into a full-service business called Grandchicks.

The business has three divisions. It sells live chickens, mainly to households and hawkers; has a medium-scale abattoir for small farmers and for processing its own chickens; and, finally, sells chicken pieces, ready-to-cook whole chickens and offal to restaurants, caterers and households.

The family business has seven chicken houses that can house up to 16500 chicks combined and sells its products online, via its website, or from its Brits premises.

Mahuma, a dietician by profession, has a Master of Business Administration from Thames Valley University, London through Milpark Business School. She says her journey into the agricultural sector was accidental but is proving to be very rewarding.

“My in-laws owned the farm from where the chickens are raised. They were more cattle farmers and had only a few chickens. In 2014 when my father-in-law passed away, we had to take over the business,” she says.

In 2016, she decided to focus on poultry farming and registered the newly-hatched business. Mahuma says she quickly realised that Grandchicks needed to grow from just chicken farming to value-added services, such as the slaughtering, market preparation and sale of chickens.

Initially, outside abattoirs were used.

However, Mahuma says it became difficult to find reliable, third-party abattoirs. In 2018, after lots of hard work and saving, Grandchicks bought R50 000 worth of second-hand machinery and set up its abattoir operations.

“We had our first trial slaughter in November 2019. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic happened, but luckily we had set up the online store and, as an essential service, we were able to continue operations.”

The business employs 15 people, mostly black women from around the Brits area. ”It was not intentional or a strategic move to hire mostly women. In future, I will be adding more men to balance the employment scale.”

Food safety is a priority 

Grandchicks’ abattoir can process 2 000 chickens a day. Providing high-quality and safe food is of utmost importance, says Mahuma.

“We are registered with the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development as an accredited chicken abattoir and are also Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point-certified.”

Grandchicks chicken are grain-fed, do not receive growth hormones and are not injected with brine after they are slaughtered. “By providing safe food we can grow a healthier nation,” she says.

Speaking on the challenges of running a business, Mahuma says   ”you have to make it happen. Go out there and look for clients. For a small business like ours, the major challenge is market access. Our niche is that we provide an added service in the form of an abattoir, but it is still hard.”

Plans include upgrading and automating some of the machinery, while expanding into new areas and markets. “We plan to provide an end-to-end value chain service to our clientele. This means having our hatchery, feed mill, a large-scale abattoir and an eatery for the end-user because that is where the money lies.”

For more information about Grandchicks, visit www.grandchicks.com or e-mail: pumla@grandchicks.com

Written by Kgaogelo Letsebe

Itumeleng Sekhu-Pedi (34) from Soshanguve outside of Pretoria has defied the odds as a person living with a disability. When she was just 11 months old, she suffered third-degree burns after a candle fell over and created a 70 degrees Celsius fire. As a result, she lost her right arm, four fingers on the left hand and has extensive scarring on her face and the right side of her body.

Despite this, Sekhu-Pedi lives a rich life. She is a philanthropist, internationally accredited speaker, author, business owner, wife and mother.

She says she attended a school for the physically disabled in Westcliff from 1994 and then completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Audiovisual Communications at the University of Johannesburg.

After qualifying, she worked in the media industry for a few years before landing a job as a content producer for Sbusiso Leope, who is commonly known as DJ Sbu, on Metro FM. He encouraged her to tell her story, which led to her book, What do you see?, being published.

“When I launched my book and saw the impact it had around the country, the entrepreneurship bug bit me and I’ve never looked back,” she says in explaining how she became a motivational speaker and businessperson.

Entrepreneurial spirit

While working as a motivational speaker and a Dove Unilever ambassador, she realised that she wanted to have an even bigger impact on the lives of vulnerable people. This motivated her to establish the Itumeleng Sekhu Foundation, a non-governmental organisation that aims to bring hope and heal people.

Despite – or because of – the harm she suffered in the candle fire, she launched a brand of luxury candles called IS Candles. “My story and motivational talks birthed the candles,” she says, explaining that she decided to get over her phobia of candles by confronting her fear and making her own. Even though she has only one hand and one finger, she manages to manufacture the candles herself.

She recently launched a wine brand called IS Wines, which produces a rosé and a pinotage. These are currently available at the City Lodge Group. “The slogan for the wines is ‘Define what life is’ – life happens to everyone, hence we all have a story to tell. However, it is how you redefine your life that matters.”

She encourages people who face adversity to forge forward and accomplish their dreams. “Don’t feel sorry for yourself. The fact that you are still alive means God has a purpose for your life. Seek what your purpose is and start living it. There is a power that lies within you and once you tap into your power and purpose, you become unstoppable. “

For more information on the Itumeleng Sekhu Foundation, visit www.itumelengsekhu.co.za

Written by Kgaogelo Letsebe

A sudden retrenchment in 2020 inspired Mathabo Ntshiqa (33) to start a laundrette that services the community of Langa in Cape Town.

ULibo Laundry Services, says Ntshiqa, was established at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic after she lost her job in the hospitality industry. She says she applied for other jobs but because she had always wanted to open her own businesses, she also looked for entrepreneurial opportunities.

She realised that the pandemic had placed immense pressure on parents because they had to cope with working remotely, helping home school their children and running their households.

Knowing how much time it takes to do laundry, she decided to open a laundrette in the hope that these overburdened parents would become her clients.

With the little savings that she had, Ntshiqa bought second-hand machinery and started operating from a rented shop at the Shoprite Centre in Langa. Although the first few months of operation were tough, she managed to keep the business alive.

“I started from nothing, with no back-up funds and no back-up options,” she says.

Another challenge was the lack of a business hub in the area, she says, which meant that there was little support for start-up businesses.

Ntshiqa overcame these challenges by reaching out to the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) for a business grant and business management training. She applied through the agency’s online application system in March 2021 and was given a R42 000 business grant in July 2022.

“The NYDA has made it easier for us to apply as it has now an online application system. This means we don’t have to travel to town. I requested the account registration link and it was emailed to me. I then created an account and did a screening test.”

Following her successful application, she purchased machinery, detergents, a scale and a packaging sealer.

Ntshiqa says the service industry is a good fit for young people because it offers business opportunities that do not require much start-up money. Entrepreneurs can usually work from a garage or Wendy house.

For more information on the NYDA, visit their website at http://www.nyda.gov.za/ or contact them on 087 158 6345/5738. Alternatively, you can send an email to info@nyda.gov.za

Written by More Matshediso

Young people in Umlazi in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) who started a community radio station to give youth a voice on critical issues such as HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence, social cohesion and rising unemployment, are riding the airwaves with pride.

Intokozo FM 101.2 MHz was established by Umlazi youth in 2013 and has an estimated 100 000 listeners. The name Intokozo means happiness or joy in IsiZulu.

However, they lost some of their joy in July last year when they suffered extensive equipment losses in the civil unrest and looting that rocked KZN. Intokozo FM was one of five community radio stations affected.

Recently, the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA), led by Deputy Minister in the Presidency Thembi Siweya, unveiled new state-of-the-art broadcast studios at Intokozo FM.

Deputy Minister Siweya says the MDDA seeks to enable everyone in South Africa to have a voice and express themselves in their own language and through their cultural heritage.

“This is done by promoting media diversity, by encouraging and assisting the growth of local newspapers, community radio stations and even community television,” she says.

She adds that by giving a voice to communities through these platforms, government hopes to assist citizens highlight issues that affect them, so that they can be addressed and resolved.

Several community radio stations around the country have received new studios from the MDDA over the past months.

Intokozo FM broadcasts 24 hours, seven days a week. The broadcast format is 55% talk and 45% music. The broadcast languages are 60% isiZulu, 35% English and 5% isiXhosa.

Station Manager Mxolisi Ntanzi says the future of South Africa is in young people’s hands. Intokozo FM’s payoff line is ‘Young people’s choice’.

“We tackle social issues by inviting different people to come and speak on air about ways to combat them. We also invite graduates and experts who can advise young people on the paths to follow to get into fields such as entrepreneurship, agriculture, etc,” he says.

Ntanzi adds that the station has had highly successful road campaigns in Umlazi, which provide the youth with access to people who can assist them.

To find out more about getting funding from MDDA, call 011 643 1100 or email info@mdda.org.za

Tiger Brands is recalling Purity Essentials Baby Powder products as a safety measure after trace levels of asbestos were detected in test samples.

The test samples were from a batch of pharmaceutical-grade talc powder used as raw material in the production of finished powder products.

The batch of raw material with the detected trace levels of asbestos does not meet the company’s strict quality and safety standards.

Products forming part of the recall include the 100g, 200g and 400g pack sizes of Purity Essentials Baby Powder.

In a statement on recently, the company said the recall does not affect Purity Essentials Baby Cornstarch Powder or any other Baby Care products under the Purity brand.

“We encourage you to return your Purity Essentials Baby Powder products to your nearest supermarket, wholesaler or pharmacy outlet that stocks the product for a cash refund or coupon from 8 September 2022,”
said the company. – SAnews.gov.za

Visit https://www.purity.co.za/Global/Articles/Tiger-Brands---Purity-Essentia… for more information.

Written by Dikeledi Molobela

President Cyril Ramaphosa has lauded the opening of the R7.7 billion Sappi Saiccor Mill upgrade and expansion project in Umkomaas, KwaZulu-Natal. 

The Sappi Saiccor upgrade and expansion project is aimed at increasing the capacity and global competitiveness of Sappi Saiccor Mill, while also creating employment opportunities in the short- and long-term.

The project marks the fulfilment of a commitment the company made at the first South Africa Investment Conference in 2018, when President Ramaphosa called for investments into the South African economy.

The first Investment Conference was convened with the aim of raising R1.2 trillion in new investments over five years and four years later, more than R1.1 trillion worth of investment commitments have been achieved.

President Ramaphosa said the opening of this project demonstrates just what the commitments made at the Investment Conference mean in reality.

“Today, we are witnessing far more than a financial investment. We are witnessing an investment in infrastructure, people, innovation, technology and sustainability. It is an investment in community development, in the local economy, in our export capacity and in the industrialisation of our economy,” the President said.

The Sappi Saiccor Mill is a major role player in KwaZulu-Natal, contributing over R6.7 billion annually to the local economy. The mill employs more than 1 200 staff and 700 contractors.

The President said this project and many others are an example of the impact of the investment drive. He said these projects show that South Africa’s economy is on the road to recovery.

“These investments have been made possible, thanks to the partnership between government and business to drive growth and industrial development.

“The opening of this expansion project is the result of hard work, persistence, corporate vision and above all, is a testament to the enduring commitment of companies like Sappi to South Africa and its people,” he said.

President Ramaphosa said the project supports a number of the country’s national economic priorities.

 “This mill is producing employment, developing skills and adding economic value,” the President said.

The President added that the realisation of Sappi’s investment in Umkomaas sends the strongest signal that “our home-grown multinationals are taking the lead in investing in our economy.”

He said this demonstrates confidence to other potential investors that South Africa is indeed a favourable place to invest in and to do business.

Written by Nosihle Shelembe

As part of efforts to remove barriers that prevent persons in the deaf community from communicating effectively, the country has developed the first bilingual South African Sign Language (SASL) Dictionary.

The bilingual English/ SASL video dictionary is available as an app on smartphones to provide standardised SASL terminology. Users can search for words by handshape and body location. The signs were collected from deaf communities across South Africa.

“This will close [the] communication gap drastically, which affect many facets of a deaf person’s life, including education [and the] limited ability to be understood by most of the South African population,” Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa said.

In his address at the launch of the dictionary in Cape Town, the Minister said it would further enhance the curriculum for learning SASL and strengthen cognitive function and communication skills.

As part of continued efforts to develop SASL, the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) has been working closely with the National Institute for the Deaf (NID) to standardise and authenticate the
dictionary.

The NID is a registered non-profit organisation which has conducted extensive research in SASL and develops content targeted at the deaf and hearing communities to bridge the communication gap that exists between the two.

The dictionary, which was developed by the NID, contains 3 000 signs and 2 500 English words which will facilitate teaching and learning between the two languages.

“This launch of the first edition dictionary will discourage disjointed language, where each fragment had its own accents in the gestures signed, which affect the language. This dictionary will further unify the deaf community as a fundamental tool for language learning, allowing the learner to look up unfamiliar words,” the Minister said.

NID Chief Executive Officer Cobus van Deventer said the organisation believes in shifting the focus off the disability and onto the barriers, which prevent the persons living with the disability from reaching their full potential.

“A well-researched SASL video dictionary is an important step in affording SASL the status of an official language in South Africa. This status will go a long way in making it possible for persons relying on SASL for their primary communication to access services and opportunities that will enhance their participation in life.

“We are sincerely grateful to PanSALB for authenticating this SASL video dictionary and driving the development and recognition of SASL as an official language,” van Deventer said.

For more information about the dictionary, visit: https://www.learnsasl.com/#/.

Written by Ursula Graaff

A Gauteng  paramedic, who has seen countless road traumas, says people must take more care when driving. 

Shakeel Dawson, who is an advanced life support paramedic for the Gauteng Department of Health, has witnessed people being injured and losing their lives due to recklessness on the roads and drinking while driving.

“Respecting the rules of the roads is common sense because it has dire consequences."

Dawson added that some of the negative impacts of reckless driving result in death and trauma.

Dawson, from Benoni in Gauteng, has been in the Emergency Medical Services field for over 28 years.

He says that it is not only the accident scenes and the fatalities that paramedics deal with that are upsetting, but also the after-effects of the consequences of reckless driving.

“It’s also the patient’s family that we need to deal with; by having to explain how the patient lost their life,” says Dawson.

He adds that reckless driving affects so many people.

“Sometimes a driver who caused the accident survives the crash, but goes through a lot mentally.

Dawson said that it not just an accident scene, but an alteration to another human’s life.

He pleaded with motorists to wear their seatbelts and make sure their vehicles are roadworthy.

Pedestrians on the other hand, must wear bright colour clothes or a reflective jacket and limit walking on the highway instead make use of bridges. 

A rewarding profession

If you would like to be a paramedic, Dawson advices that you must be physically and mentally fit.

He said paramedics are trained to perform medical rescue and to take care of the patients in the ambulance, while they are transferred to or between hospitals.

Dawson says being an emergency worker is rewarding, but it can take a toll on one’s mental strength, because of the tragedy that is witnessed.

He however, added that they do debrief after being at the accident scene and talk about what they have witnessed.

He explains that there are three types of paramedics in South Africa.

Basic life support paramedics are trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which is commonly known as CPR. This is an emergency lifesaving technique performed when the heart stops beating. They also are trained to stop heavy bleeding and can deliver babies.

Intermediate life support paramedics can administer all the elements of basic life support, can insert a drip, provide shock treatment and do chest decompressions when a patient is struggling to breathe.

The duties of an advanced life support paramedic such as Dawson,  include basic and intermediate life support. Furthermore, they can assist people who have heart conditions and are authorised to administer medication and injections.

Written by Phakama Mbonambi

In recent years, people living with albinism on the African continent have had to face challenges, ranging from social and economic exclusion to attacks and killings that are fuelled by superstitious beliefs.

In addition, they face another, less obvious challenge – skin cancer.

Albinism is a genetic disease characterised by a lack of melanin, which gives colour to the skin, hair and eyes. People with albinism are extremely sensitive to sun exposure because melanin protects against ultraviolet rays. They thus have an increased risk of developing skin cancer and other skin disorders.

If you have darker skin, do not think you cannot get skin cancer, however. It can affect anyone and is one of the most common diseases that dermatologists deal with daily.n

Dr Mohlominyane Jeffrey Mokheseng, a senior dermatologist at Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Tshwane, says that early detection and awareness could help prevent serious skin cancer from developing.

“The overall rate of skin cancer occurrence in black South African patients with albinism is estimated to be 23% and the risk increases with age,” Mokheseng says.

Symptoms of skin cancer in people with albinism

Skin cancer among people with albinism shows as lesions on the skin that is most exposed to the sun. The lesions are initially red and crusty (pre-cancerous lesions) but may turn into non-healing ulcers and eventually tumours, which can cause disfigurement, he says.

He adds that the lesions are most commonly found on sun-exposed areas, especially the head and neck (56%), then the trunk (30%) and limbs (15%), as reported in a Tanzanian study.

If left untreated or discovered too late, the lesions spread throughout the body with horrible consequences that can lead to a painful death.

How to avoid skin cancer

While sunlight may be a vital source of life on Earth, it’s a threat to people with albinism because its UV radiation penetrates deep into the skin. “Avoidance of unnecessary sun exposure is encouraged,” Mokheseng advises. This can be done by seeking shade during the hottest part of the day, which is from 11am to 3pm; wearing long-sleeved clothing and wide-brimmed hats. “Synthetic material should be chosen over natural fibres,” Mokheseng says.

If you are a person with albinism and absolutely must be in the sun whether working, playing or swimming you must apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before you go into the sun. Choose a lotion with SPF30+ or higher and reapply it every two hours.

You should also consider wearing sunglasses. Look for glasses that block 99–100% of radiation rays. Darker glasses don’t necessarily offer more protection against UV rays; they could simply be a fashion statement. Choose wraparound glasses or, if you use prescription glasses, make sure you add UV-protective to the lenses. Talk to your optometrist or doctor if you are unsure about the glasses that suit your needs.

What institutions can do to help

Mokheseng believes that awareness campaigns about skin cancer will encourage people with albinism to get medical help in time. He would also like to see the public and private health sectors playing a bigger role in finding solutions to the problem. “An average medical doctor must be able to spot premalignant skin conditions and refer the patient to a dermatologist,” he says.

He explains that if the lesion can be removed, this will be done by a plastic surgeon. The patient will then be sent to an oncologist for additional treatment, if needed. These specialists are available in the private and public health sectors.

Premalignant refers to tumours that have cells that are not yet cancerous, but can potentially become malignant. It’s common for people with albinism to have premalignant lesions. For this reason, Mokheseng advises people with albinism to visit a dermatologist for screening at least once a year, unless told to go more often.

How society can help

If we are to create a more caring and inclusive society, we all need to play our part to support people with albinism in tackling skin cancer and all other ills. Mokheseng believes the harmful myths about people with albinism, which so often lead to their ill-treatment and injury, need to be tackled head-on. “Health education, using platforms like newspapers, digital media and so on, can help in reducing these incidents,” he says.

 

Written by Owen Mngadi

Mduduzi Jijana is the owner of the Disability Empowerment Movement, which is one of the companies that is currently benefiting from the R26 billion upgrade of the N3 highway between Pietermaritzburg and Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.

The project, which is being spearheaded by the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (Sanral), is ensuring that entrepreneurs such as Jijana not only benefit but in turn create employment for others.

Jijana, who lives with a disability, says his company installs road signs between Hilton and Pietermaritzburg. 

He employs 13 people and says the project has changed their lives. “As people living with a disability, we have shown that we are capable. We no longer rely on grants. We do the actual work,” says Jijana. 

Sanral N3 Programme Manager Tsepo Matekane says his company ensured that 30% of the work was assigned to local companies with the ability to provide various services. This created many opportunities for small businesses owned by youth, previously disadvantaged people and women.

“There are 108 small, medium and micro enterprises currently working on the various projects,” he says.

 

 

Nokuthula Zondi of Ingqalabutho Yamalinda Multipurpose Trading was awarded a contract to supply soil and install water drainage pipes.

She says her company employed eight skilled workers, including drivers. Zondi adds that women are as capable as men and her company has a good service track record.

“We understand the importance of time and meet all our targets to ensure the project runs accordingly. We appreciate the opportunity and we hope more will come so that our company can grow according to construction levels,” she adds.

National government’s key projects

Matekane says the Durban-Free State-Gauteng Logistics and Industrial Corridor development has an estimated budget of R26 billion and is one of national government’s key strategic integrated projects. It is known as SIP2.

The project will widen the N3 with more lanes in each direction. It also includes changing some of the major interchanges to improve traffic flow.

The affected section of the N3 has over the years experienced traffic congestion, particularly during peak hours because the majority of cargo trucks from the Durban harbour use the highway to Gauteng and other inland provinces. Some of the cargo truck drivers have caused accidents by not taking care on sharp curves.

“Apart from resolving chronic traffic by creating greater mobility through the construction of additional traffic lanes, the upgrading of the N3 will result in increased safety. Dangerous curves will be ironed out. Unsafe intersections will be redesigned,” Maketane says.

Sanral awarded three contracts in the last quarter of 2021, and construction work began between January and April. The sections currently being upgraded are the 19 kilometre (km) stretch from Cato Ridge to Dardanelles, commonly known as Umlaas Road; the 26.6 km section from the Dardanelles Interchange to Lynnfield Park; and the 30 km stretch from Lynnfield Park to the Ashburton Interchange. 

Matekane explains that SIP2 will strengthen the logistics and transport corridor between South Africa’s main industrial hubs, improve access to Durban’s export and import facilities and raise efficiency along the corridor. 

He adds that the project is part of the National Development Plan 2030 and National Transport Master Plan 2050 and supports government’s Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan.

To this end, government intends to develop a transport system that is consistent with the real needs of the people living in South Africa and caters for people with less money to spend on travel.

Maketane says the upgrades will take between eight and 10 years to complete and road closures will be kept to the minimum. He adds that motorists will be kept informed of traffic delays and the KwaZulu-Natal traffic authorities will help maintain traffic control.

Sanral appeals to motorists to heed all warning signs, reduce their speed when approaching a construction site and to have consideration for other road users.

From The Union Buildings

On 12 September 1977, Stephen Bantu Biko died in police custody in Pretoria Central Prison.

Human dignity, the principle at the heart of his black consciousness activism, was denied to him. In the words of the family lawyer Sir Sydney Kentridge, his was “a miserable and lonely death on a mat on a stone floor in a prison cell”.

It remains a source of great sorrow all these years later to recall that Steve Biko was just 30 years old when he died. He was cut down in his prime by those who feared the power and resonance of his ideas of self-liberation and his efforts to infuse black men and women with pride and dignity.

He never got to see in his lifetime what he called ‘the glittering prize’, the realisation of a true humanity. Writing about this ideal, he famously said: “In time we shall be in a position to bestow upon South Africa the greatest gift possible – a more human face.”

When we won our freedom in 1994, we understood that the right to vote was just one part of our struggle for human dignity. 

Twenty-eight years into our democracy, we are confronted with many challenges, such as poverty, unemployment and inequality. As a result, we often lose sight of how far we have come in giving effect to the principles on which our Constitution is founded and that anchored Steve Biko’s thought and teachings.

In 1977 a heartless regime killed one of our country’s most promising leaders by depriving him of the food, water and medical treatment he urgently needed as a result of brutal beatings by the apartheid police.

Twenty years later, in a 1997 judgment, the Constitutional Court said that fulfilling the fundamental rights of every citizen and striving to achieve their socio-economic rights is the hallmark of a democratic society aiming to salvage lost dignity.

In South Africa today, we continue to work to fulfil the basic rights of every South African so that they may lead quality lives free of disease, hunger and deprivation.

Successive democratic administrations have implemented policies to salvage the lost dignity of this country’s majority by providing education, health care, housing and basic services.

In South Africa today, a decent education is a fundamental right. The State invests in early childhood development, in supporting learning outcomes for our youngest citizens, and provides social relief through school feeding programmes to ensure young learners achieve the best outcomes possible.

Through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme and various other forms of state support, thousands of young South Africans from poor backgrounds have been able to become doctors, lawyers, teachers, scientists, artisans and entrepreneurs.

Government supports poor and vulnerable citizens through an extensive social safety net and provides work opportunities through mass public employment programmes.

In the repressive South Africa in which Steve Biko died, freedom of speech was curtailed and political activism attracted detention or worse.

In South Africa today, young people of the same age as Steve Biko was and even younger are at the forefront of activism for causes closest to them, and they are able to organise free of harassment or banishment. Freedom of speech and association, the right to protest and the right to equality before the law is upheld for all.

As a country, we have come a long way towards the fulfilment of human dignity, the principle that Steve Biko so cherished. Yet, we still have so much further to go.

Without a job, without a house, electricity or running water, without land, without skills or opportunities, millions of South Africans are still deprived of the lives they seek and deserve. That is why government is working with social partners to build an inclusive economy, create employment, enable businesses to thrive and tackle poverty and hunger.

In considering the relevance of Steve Biko’s life and legacy, we recall his powerful call to the people to be architects of their own liberation. This call is as important now as it was back then.

We must be focused on addressing our challenges to achieve a truly free and equal society. We each need to play our part by using the foundational rights in our Constitution to build a South Africa free of poverty and hunger, underdevelopment, crime and violence.

As Steve Biko urged, let us march forth with courage and determination on our common quest for true humanity.

 

Written by Owen Mngadi

When Smangele Zuma’s former employer in the beauty and spa industry took a knock due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she made the brave decision in 2020 to resign and set up her own business, Intombiyomzulu Aesthetic Spa.

Zuma (31), who holds a Bachelor of Technology degree in Somatology from the Durban University of Technology, has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry.

Despite the negative impact the pandemic was having on businesses, she was optimistic her business would blossom and was determined to find new ways to reach customers. “I travelled everywhere in the country, making house calls, visiting hotels and corporates. Through strong social media marketing, the business has grown to the point that I have worked outside of the country, in Lesotho,” she says.

Apart from her intensive marketing campaign, Zuma says maintaining quality standards was key to the business’ growth.  “I strive to give each of my customers an experience to remember, so that they will call me again. Also, it is not just business to me, it is my passion,” she says.

Her hard work paid off when Zuma was recently nominated in the Emerging Entrepreneur category of the Sebenza Women Awards, hosted by the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government. Although she did not win, the nomination showed her hard work was being noticed.

Massages and more

Intombiyomzulu Aesthetic Spa’s range of massages includes full-body aromatherapy massages, beauty services, sports massages and lymphatic drainage, among others. Packages to celebrate birthdays – including a Disney-themed package for children, and specials for couples are also offered.

“Athletes and artists are becoming my biggest clients,” Zuma says. Sports massages can enhance performance and help athletes recover after a high-intensity event, she explains, while artists such as musicians mainly come to her for beauty enhancement treatments. 

Zuma was recently contracted by one of the big teams in the Premier Soccer League to do pre-match treatments for the players.

Intombiyomzulu Aesthetic Spa has created employment for three other somatologists, who take charge of the spa, which is based in Umbilo, while Zuma does house calls.

If you are interested in studying to be a somatologist, you need to take life sciences and either maths or maths literacy in matric, and must do well in English. Various public institutions offer this field of study.

Written by Phakama Mbonambi

Currently, there are hundreds of thousands of children in South Africa who are orphaned and vulnerable due to abandonment, abuse, neglect and exploitation. Each one of them would dearly like to have a loving home to grow up in. 

At the same time, there are many would-be parents who yearn to have children they can raise as their own, even if they are not their biological offspring.

The answer to this great challenge is adoption, an act of parenting someone else’s biological children and raising them as your own.

According to the Department of Social Development (DSD), many South African children find themselves vulnerable and in foster homes due to a variety of socio-economic challenges.

The department says the challenges may be attributed to the high level of poverty, unemployment, teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence and the death of parents or caregivers. As a result, some of the child care and protection services are overburdened by the high number of children who become wards of the State.

As South Africa celebrates the annual Social Development Month in October – to mark our nation’s commitment to caring for the most vulnerable in society – the spotlight falls on the thousands of children in various orphanages who face dismal prospects in life.

The process of adopting a child

No matter how well-meaning you are, there’s a process you need to follow if you wish to adopt a child. Every legal step must be followed.

Adoption is open to married or unmarried couples; single individuals such as widowers, widows, divorced or unmarried persons; foster parents; people whose permanent domestic life partner is the parent of the child; the biological father of a child born out of marriage and people in a same-sex relationship.

A person may not be disqualified from adopting a child by virtue of his or her financial status.

If you want to adopt a child, start with a registered adoption agency or visit your local DSD office. You will be screened and if you meet the requirements for adoption, you will be put on the Register of Adoptable Children and Adoptive Parents.

The period of the adoption process differs from case to case depending on the type of adoption and the circumstances of the child, his or her biological parents, as well as the prospective adoptive parent/s.

For consented and family related adoptions the process may take a period of six months or less as compared to unrelated adoptions, particularly cases of child abandonment where the child’s family must first be traced before a child may be found to be adoptable.

If a suitable child becomes available, a meeting will be set up between you and the child. If you want the adoption to proceed, and the DSD or agency is satisfied that everything is in order, your report will be sent to the Children’s Court to finalise the adoption and issue an adoption order.

The length of each adoption case varies, so expect to be on a waiting list if a child not suited to you is not available or if other glitches are being sorted out.

Benefits of adopting a child

There’s no substitute for offering love and solid nurturing to a needy child. The department says adoption is the most cost-effective long-term option for caring for children who cannot be returned to their families or have been deprived of parental and family care. It also improves their stages of development and provides them with a sense of belonging and security, which brings stability and love to their lives.

The Children’s Act 2005 in Regulation 107 prescribes fees payable to accredited child protection organisations or adoption social workers in private practice. The number of hours involved in each case determines the cost, but there are no fees involved when adoption services are provided by government social workers.

A crisis that can be averted

The DSD says there is an insufficient number of prospective adoptive parents coming forward. In partnership with accredited adoption service providers and stakeholders, the department is promoting adoption services through media and community awareness campaigns to educate people about adoption and to encourage and recruit prospective adoptive parents.

However, be careful of scams. The department says people who are interested in adopting children should avoid using websites and social media platforms because many are illegal and could be involved in child trafficking.

Prospective adoptive parents should rather contact the department ‘so they can be assisted with the adoption process for free or they can use other adoption service providers accredited by the department’.

Did you know?

There are no fees involved when adoption services are provided by government social workers.

Written by Owen Mngadi

Mogammad Jacobs from Mitchells Plain in the Western Cape is the owner of Inline Kitchen, an interior design and joinery business. 

He received training from the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) artisan development programme that was giving unemployed youth woodworking skills they needed to start their own businesses.

He says that post-training, he managed to formalise the business that he inherited from his father in 2016, through the design of a corporate identity, promotional material and continuous business development support that he received from SEDA.

“I have been servicing my area only, but now I serve a wider range of customers. I get customers from corporates and subcontract work in big construction projects because of how my business has been formalised. I have managed to employ two more people,” he says.

Jacobs’ plan is to grow the business and create job opportunities for other people in Mitchells Plain and surrounding areas.

SEDA, an agency of the Department of Small Business Development, initiated the programme in 2020. The agency’s Western Cape Provincial Manager, Alex Qunta, says they recruited 20 young people from different townships.

Apart from theoretical and practical woodworking skills, the beneficiaries were taught to make furniture and about safety in the workplace. The eight-week training was provided by the Nyanga East campus of Furntech, a Seda incubator that is accredited by the Fibre Processing and Manufacturing Sector Education and Training Authority.

“Artisans are the core of any building structure, be it a home, an office or an industrial [space]. With the high unemployment rate, we identified artisans as a solution, and there is a great business opportunity for them. There are many developments by the government and private sector that need artisans,” Qunta says.

To increase the training of artisans to meet demand and create jobs, the National Development Plan 2030 proposed expanding the role of state-owned enterprises in training artisans and technical professionals. The target is to produce
30 000 qualified artisans per year.

For more information, contact the SEDA on 0860 663 7867 (toll-free) or visit www.seda.org.za

Written by Ursula Graaff

Creating safer roads from a young age is the goal of Siphesihle Mbali Mavundla (29), author of Kids on the Road, a driving manual for grade R to 7 learners. 

“The ‘K53 Junior’ is about solving a bigger problem in the country – unsafe roads,” says Mavundla. 

Mavundla is from KwaZulu-Natal and did her Diploma in Journalism at the Tshwane University of Technology. In her final year, she did her internship at the same university, writing for internal staff newsletters and the student magazine.

The idea for the manual came while Mavundla was working in a car service workshop and she was asked by her employer to assist high school learners to obtain their driver’s licences. Naturally, she first did as much research as she could.

Soon, Mavundla knew everything that young drivers needed to know and decided to combine this knowledge with her writing skills to produce a road safety book.

She understood that some students face language barriers and battle to grasp certain concepts and she was determined to keep the manual simple.

Mavundla hopes to have the book accredited by the Department of Basic Education so that it can be introduced to schools as part of the curriculum.

“As it stands, there is no formal education for motorists, so this book closes a gap in that area,” says Mavundla.

She believes that if youngsters learn the rules of the road at an early age, they will be better motorists when they grow up, which will lead to safer roads for all. It would also make it easier for them to get their learner and driver’s licences.

Mavundla's book which was published by The Flow Publishing House is filled with road rules and road signs. It also has a careers section to teach children about the various careers that exist in the motor industry. She says that had she known about these options at an early age, she might not have chosen to study journalism.

“The more I grow up, the more I realise that I have an unexplored curiosity and love for mechanics.”

Mavundla’s message to motorists this Transport Month is that when they are behind the wheel, they are responsible not only for their life, but for the lives of their passengers and fellow road users too. “My plea is for motorists to think beyond themselves when behind the wheel. “

Get hold of Mbali Mavundla on 072 675 4093 or visit https://paystack.shop/kids-on-the-road to order the K53 junior. The book is R250 and will be delivered to your nearest PEP. Delivery charges apply. Facebook: Kids on the Road