St. Nelson’s Legacy; Neo-Apartheid and the South African Miners Massacre

Thomas C Mountain

As the legendary life of South African leader Nelson Mandela draws to a close his legacy to his people has been brutally splashed across television screens worldwide showing neo-Apartheid police firing automatic weapons into crowds of striking African miners, killing two score or more and wounding nearly a hundred.

Every day crushed, broken and lifeless bodies of Africans are dragged from hellholes under the earth, joining a list of untold thousands who gave their lives enriching the bank accounts of western “shareholders” of gold, platinum and diamond mines in South Africa.

Working up to a mile underground, 10, 12 or more hours a day, where the very stones they bring crashing down are almost to hot to touch, and all for a dollar or two an hour.

With platinum in oversupply and prices steadily falling a British boardroom tightened the screws with safety slashed and workers, neo-Apartheid slaves really, pushed past their limit.

Last week the inevitable happened and Africans stood tall, downed tools and marched in the open air demanding to be treated as humans. Why risk our lives everyday yet not be able to provide a future for our children, to even afford to pay for their school fees they cried out.

And the answer given to them by their neo-Apartheid masters was no different than that received by their forefathers this century or more past, bullets shedding more African blood.

Only this time it was an African supposedly in command, with Africans standing side by side with Boers and Englishmen that fired weapons that massacred their erstwhile brothers.

While for the Africans slaving away everyday in the western owned mines life since the worst days of the Apartheid state has seen only small improvements, for the new, black, South African elite life has never been better.

Living in white neighborhoods, sending their children to white schools, sitting side by side at the tables of power with those they previously addressed as “baas”, the legacy of St. Nelson has been a true golden reward for some.

Today the servility of the neo-Apartheid African elite on behalf of their western masters has gone beyond all discretion.

It was the South African UN Ambassador, a black man, who cast the crucial vote allowing NATO to institute a “no fly zone” over Libya that saw the massacre by western air forces of 80,000 Libyans, or more.

It is a dark hued South African woman who sits as UN Commissioner of Human Rights who keeps under lock and key a report on the western funded genocide in the Ogaden, under the direct orders of Gayle Smith, a white woman in the White House, USA.

It is a black South African, former wife of the current President, who so proudly presides over the African Union soldiers enforcing their marching orders from Pax Americana, carrying out the occupation and slaughter of Somalis in Mogadishu.

While on her way to her AU installation ceremony in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Ms. Zuma must have made sure not to look out of the tinted, bullet proof windows of her limo so as not to catch sight of the hundreds of thousands of her fellow Africans in the streets surrounding the AU headquarters, protesting the high crimes and genocide of her by then comatose host, Meles Zenawi.

This past thursday saw black South African blood spilled once again but at least this time it was spilled by Africans standing up as men, in the open air, not dying an ignoble death deep in the bowels of the earth. Fighting for a future for their children, fighting against the racially mixed agents of violent enforcement of the neo-Apartheid legacy of St. Nelson, former President Mandela, the first black president of a “free, democratic” South Africa.

Thomas C. Mountain was active in the anti-Apartheid movement and represented the USA at the 1st Asia-Oceania Anti-Apartheid, Anti-Racist Conference in Tokyo, Japan in 1988. Today he is the most widely distributed independent journalist in Africa, living and reporting from Eritrea since 2006. He can be reached at thomascmountain at yahoo dot com.

MAD campaign ends

Fifty two people, three community organizations and a local school benefitted from the last Pick ‘n Pay Ramadan Make A Difference Campaign (MAD), which ended off on a high note at PNP Ottery on Friday afternoon. The grand finale saw a total of 62 people from various organizations and the Muslim community receive a small boost from the fifth campaign held over the last four weeks of Ramadan. Among the organisations were Little Fighters Cancer Trust and Vision Child and Youth Centre.

Mariam Barnes, who runs a feeding scheme in Mitchell's Plain, participated in a trolley dash held in store. Barnes was nominated by Koelthoem Khan who told VOC that Barnes and her children sell newspapers every Sunday come rain or shine and use the profit they make to buy ingredients for soup or food. The feeding scheme is run in Montrose Park. They then hand this out to those in need in their community, said Khan, adding that they do not have sufficient equipment and at times they borrow what they need from local businesses in the area.

The initiative which is mainly run by her children has been in operation since July last year and they also donate three pots of food to the Monteclar Place in Mitchells Plain. “This is not really my initiative but rather that of my children who are aged 11 and 12 and I am only supporting them. This allows them to see that not everyone is privileged enough to just open a fridge or pour them a glass of water,” said Barnes.

Barnes added that they are not registered as an NGO and that Mustadafin is already working in the area which means they do not have any sponsors. “When I was working I used to contribute towards the kitty from my own pocket. If we do not have money to buy gas or electricity we cook food on an open fire,” explained Barnes.

The groceries donated by PNP on Friday will be used to cook a meal for the community after Eid ul Fitr. Another recipient of PNP’s goodwill during this month was Grassdale High School who offers Hospitality as a subject. They were given a fridge to the value of approximately R4,000. The Acting Principal of the high school, Alperius Ellis said the fridge which they are currently using is 30 years old.

Sadie Ellie, who teaches the subject, said that the new fridge will go a long way in helping the learners improve on their current grades. “The fridge that we currently use is nearly 30 years old and ices up completely. This means that the food which needs to be refrigerated does not always last. We need a fridge to store the fresh produce and this will help the learners to improve their culinary skills,” said Ellie.

Mark Jennings, PNP marketing manager, told VOC the MAD campaign is in its seventh year. “The campaign was started seven years ago by Jonathan Ackerman and has been running ever since. The month of Ramadan is a very holy time of introspection and spiritual renewal. We wanted to make a difference in the lives of the needy with the help of Voice of the Cape listeners,” said Jennings.

Every week gift vouchers to the value of R10,000 is given away to individuals in the community nominated by loyal VOC listeners. “R40,000 of gift vouchers and other items are given away over a period of four weeks, but this year it was decided to double that amount to R80,000.” According to Jennings, this campaign forms of part of their corporate social responsibility programmes. “There is a great need out there and social responsibility is part of Pick n Pay’s DNA," he said.

In addition to the trolley dashes and fridge which was handed over, 40 food hampers were also distributed to those nominated by VOC listeners during the MAD campaign. While R80,000 was spent on goodwill this Ramadan, Jennings said they are not able to help everyone in need. “There is a great need in the community and during this campaign we have not been able to help everybody who was nominated during this year’s campaign,” said Jennings. VOC (Dorianne Arendse)

Cosatu holds press conference on strike action

The planned protest action by the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) in the Western Cape on Wednesday has been suspended for now. The announcement was made by trade union Cosatu at a media briefing held on Tuesday at Community House in Salt River. I spoke to the provincial secretary for Cosatu in the Western Cape, Tony Ehrenreich about the decision to call off the protest action on Wednesday...

**This was first broadcast on Voice of the Cape's Breakfast show**

ANCYL protest suspended

The planned protest action by the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) in the Western Cape on Wednesday has been suspended for now. The announcement was made by trade union Cosatu at a media briefing held on Tuesday at Community House in Salt River. The provincial secretary of Cosatu in the Western Cape, Tony Ehrenreich said the suspension of the protest action came after the trade union met with the ANCYL. Last week the ANCYL marched on the office of the Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille and handed over a memorandum highlighting their demands for better service delivery.

“Cosatu urged youth league to suspend any action until the parties have engaged, and the DA should provide feedback to the ANC youth League by the end of this week to ensure that dialogue is given a chance ahead of conflict and further protest. ”Ehrenreich said instead they will be engaging with the City of Cape Town on the pace of service delivery in the province. Recently Cape Town has experienced a flood of service delivery protests, with the most recent one taking place in Khayelitsha last week.

According to media reports last week, the youth league had also threatened to render the province ungovernable should their demands not be met by Tuesday. This prompted Zille as well as the Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Patricia De Lille to lay criminal charges against the ANCYL as well as Cosatu. “The failure of the DA to engage with communities on their desperate circumstances is a matter of grave concern and this arrogance is not the kind of leadership we require in these difficult times.”

Ehrenreich said Cosatu will not be involved in any protest action and that they were not party to the memorandum handed over to provincial government last week. “It is completely misplaced of the DA to site Cosatu as a respondent in any claims that they may have made. We believe that this an attempt to further divide and also an attempt to undermine a legitimate attempt right to protest that many organizations have,” added Ehrenreich.
Solutions

Ehrenreich told VOC News that solutions can easily be found to the service delivery protests. He maintains that the main reason for the lack of service delivery is a lack of political will. The unwillingness of the Democractic Alliance (DA) to engage with community organizations and sections of the community that they see as being historically ANC based organizations is one of the stumbling blocks to effective service delivery.

“They have got to get away from this prejudice and this bias. Leadership brings with the responsibility of engaging with even those whom you disagree upon. We want to urge political maturity so that we find solutions in the best interest of the community.” Ehrenreich added that on numerous occasions they have told the City that there are other sites of public land that is available that can be used to relocate residents living in informal settlements.

During winter in Cape Town, informal dwellings are often left water clogged or burnt down as residents try to keep warm or cook food. “Many of these sites are in wealthier, mainly white areas and the DA and the City of Cape Town refuses to move poor communities into what has been a historically white area, so it is that prejudice that stops us from finding long term solutions,” he said.
Threats

Meanwhile, De Lille on Tuesday said they would not be deterred by threats to disrupt a public meeting scheduled to take place in Khayelitsha in the evening. “I have received credible information from security services that there are plans in place to disrupt an Integrated Development Plan (IDP) report back session to be held in Khayelitsha. I wish to make it very clear that the City of Cape Town will not be deterred by such threats and that we will not allow any part of the City to be turned into a no-go zone,” said De Lille in a statement.

She was adamant that the public meeting will go ahead, but added that the threats cannot be viewed in isolation from the calls made by the ANCYL to make the City and Province ungovernable through disrupting transport routes and other forms of civil disobedience. “I would like to appeal to the leadership of the ANC as well as all other community organisations in the area to help ensure that tonight’s meeting goes ahead free of any form of disruption,” said the Mayor.

The meeting in Khayelitsha will be the last in a series of public meetings held by the Mayor and the Mayoral Committee across the City over the last month. Similar meetings have already been held in Mitchells Plain, Grassy Park, Strand, Atlantis and Kraaifontein. De Lille explained that the purpose of the meetings is for the political leadership of the City to report back to communities on how the extensive input into the IDP has been carefully considered used to ensure optimal service delivery in the metro.
Funding

De Lille said the following service delivery targets will be unveiled at the meeting in Khayelitisha:

- Each ward in Khayelitsha will receive R700 000 for funding of local projects such as the upgrading of community facilities.
- Wards in Khayelitsha will receive part of the R10,000,000 additional allocation as per the Mayoral Redress Program.
- The provision of free call lines to report service delivery complaints.
- The extensive provision of free basic services to the indigent.
- R20 million job creation project through area cleaning.
- R9,000,000 allocated to improve health facilities, including a new clinic in Town 2 and the expansion of the Luvuyo clinic.
- R3,275,196 allocated to enhance the provision of Anti-Retroviral medication.
- R7,500,000 for an upgrade to the Vuyani Market.
- R1,000,000 for an upgrade to the Site C Meat Market.
- R2,000,000 allocation for the Monwabisi Chalet Development.
- Over R500,000 set aside for traffic calming measures.
- R8,000,000 for the revamping of Solomon Mahlangu Hall
- R2,500,000 for an upgrade to the Khayelitsha Wetlands.
- R300,000 for a new swimming pool in Site B.
- R22,000,000 for a new regional library in Kuyasa.
- R8,818m048 for the construction of the Harare Square Business Hub.
- Upgrades of the sewer network and water supply at a cost of over R10,000,000.
- Updates on electrification in RR Section, DT Section, Enkanini, QQ Section and Site C.
- A comprehensive update on all forms of housing projects currently under construction and being planned for Khayelitsha. VOC (Dorianne Arendse)

Protests cost city millions

The City of Cape Town has spent R2.6 million over the last few weeks to repair infrastructure that has been vandalized during service delivery protests. Last week, residents of Phumlani Village, vandalized twelve traffic lights in the area, which will cost the R600,000 to replace. According to Mayoral spokesperson Solly Malatsi, this money could have been used to improve services in the areas where the traffic lights have been vandalized. He said the service delivery protests seem to be orchestrated by organizations that have political ambitions.

“Certain organizations have indicated that they will de-stabilize the Western Cape. Of course we try to engage with as many communities as possible. But in some cases those interactions are not at the level where it could be,” Malatsi told VOC’s In the Fast Lane. While Mayor Patricia De Lille is open to engaging with communities and community leaders on service delivery issues, they often find that residents are not always able to get hold of the councillor in the area.

“Sometimes you find that communities are unable to get through to their proportional representative or ward councillor and that breakdown in communication unfortunately leads to service delivery protests,” he explained. He added that at times many of the service delivery protests tend to turn violent and that violence then translates to the vandalism of public property and services.
Protest action continues

Meanwhile, angry protestors again wrecked havoc in certain areas on the Cape Flats on Monday, burning tyres, throwing bricks and petrol bombs at passers-by. By late Monday afternoon, roads remained closed to vehicles travelling in peak hour traffic, given the danger to motorists. Sapa news agency reported that 100 people protested over poor service delivery in Nyanga. Police spokesperson, Andre Traut said the group gathered on the corner of Lansdowne and Duinefontein roads just after 3am and barricaded the road with burning tyres. "The situation is monitored, and police are on the scene to maintain law and order," he said.

Golden Arrow Bus Services spokesperson, Brownen Dyke said one of the company’s buses got caught in the spreading protest action. "They stoned the bus and set it alight in Gugulethu, on the corner of Lansdowne and Nyl roads," she said. "The driver was injured. He received facial lacerations because a stone came through the window and hit him on the face. He is okay though." She could not say how much damage there was to the bus.

The City has warned motorists to avoid the following intersections due to the ongoing service delivery protests:
- Lansdowne Road and Stock Road
- Vanguard Drive and Duinefontein Road
- Vanguard Drive and Weltervreden Parkway
- Vanguard Drive at the R300

The City’s spokesperson for traffic services, Maxine Jordaan said they are advising motorists to use Old Strandfontein Road and Baden Powell Drive as alternative routes. “Road users should approach intersections where traffic signals have been vandalized as four way stops. All the City’s services assisting with the clean up and monitoring actions will stay on high alert and work together on a 24 hour basis to minimize the disruption as far as possible,” said Jordaan.

She said the City is encouraging residents to report protest related incidents by calling the 107 call centre number from a landline and 021-480 7700 from a cellphone. VOC/SAPA (Dorianne Arendse)

Ashley Kriel 25 years on: will SA youth rise up?

This article first appeared on www.surfingbehindthewall.blogspot.com and was written by Shafiq Morton

THE other day I was asked in a radio interview whether South African youth, frustrated by lack of opportunity and the politics of party privilege, would ever rise up against authority like the generations of the 1970’s and 1980’s.

It was an interesting question, asked against the background of the 25th anniversary of the killing of the iconic Cape Flats anti-apartheid activist, Ashley Kriel, in 1987 by a security policeman.

There was no easy answer, I replied. Youth is a big question. 50% of the world’s population today is under 25, and in South Africa that figure is just over 40%. South Africa was little different to other African countries, where the highest unemployment statistics were between those of 20-35-years of age.

I was asked whether this would not lead to a festering sense of malcontent amongst young South Africans?

Again I replied that there was no simple answer. A recent study by the Gordon Institute of Business Science in June this year had revealed that 74% of Grade 11 and 12 learners felt our country was a good place to have a career.

Interestingly, the same figure in the sample (over 2,000) believed that business had more power than government, but that improvements in the country would come mostly through the state. The survey revealed great optimism amongst our youth and that they understood well the dynamics of South African society.

This applied equally to the generation of Ashley Kriel, I added. In spite of apartheid’s masters doing their best to dumb down social awareness, the youth of the 70’s and 80’s had not been fooled. They had been as overwhelmingly optimistic and focused about toppling PW Botha’s government, as the class of 2012 was about getting a job.

But for young South Africans today, things such as the State of Emergency are the fireside yarns of their grandparents – a pre-digital era of black-and-white pictures, long hair and Casspirs in smoky townships.

Our youth know that apartheid was bad, but as the struggle generation I think we have to accept that history has moved on. The young political lens of the 2000’s is not quite the same as ours. An IDASA study, for example, reveals that our youth are more driven by civil society and cause awareness, than that of a party.

Young South Africans of the 2000’s still face serious social issues, but they have changed shape. Indeed, for them the struggle does continue, and they have picked up the baton: but now the struggle is against AIDS, drug addiction and crime; it continues for jobs, for education and for security.

Of course, this does not diminish in any way the memory of people like Ashley Kriel. They gave their lives at a very turbulent time in our history. And if it hadn’t been for the courage and commitment of our Ashley Kriel’s, we would not have gone to the polls in 1994.

Youth Day on June 16 quite rightly celebrates the contribution of youth to the South African struggle. What we must not forget is that Africa’s most powerful military force of the day was confronted in the 1970’s and 1980’s by unarmed young people.

It was the youth who re-energised the political movements in exile after 1976 and 1985. And one can only wonder what great things could have happened to young leaders such as Steve Biko, Ahmed Timol and Mathew Goniwe, had they not been murdered by their interrogators.

Ashley Kriel was only 20 years old when he died at the hands of Warrant Officer Benzien in Athlone. A member of the military wing of the ANC, the Umkhonto we-Sizwe, he came from a poor family. It is no doubt that this informed his aspirations, as it did so many like him.

But back to the original question about today’s youth: I commented that if South African youth were to rise up against their elders, the dissidents would most likely come from the ranks of those most affected by the burning, unresolved issues of the day.

It would certainly not be the Malema’s, street-wise but already tainted by entitlement, and nor would it be the Mazibuko’s, well-meant but marked with privilege. No, it would be the Ashley Kriel’s, the Andries Tatane’s and the forgotten poor.

Of course, no-one is touting the idea that a youth uprising is imminent in this country. But I do think if the question has been asked, we must be attentive.

Policy “wars” on abstract nouns such as “poverty”, “crime”, “education” and “joblessness” are well-intended. But intention alone without meaningful engagement doesn’t enter you into university, get you a job, find you start-up funding for your small business or buy you a house.

Possessing precocious survival talents, the young under-class of South Africa know that we have been better at collecting taxes than spending them on the poor. They know that our much-vaunted transition has been unevenly successful, and that without skills, affirmative action is meaningless.

Young South Africans – such as Ashley Kriel who left the country for military training during the struggle – might have been motivated by a burning desire for social justice, but they also realised that to contend with the apartheid system, you had to have skills.

This was something realised on the chalky soil of Robben Island. Had struggle icons such as Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and Ahmed Kathrada simply vegetated while in prison, instead of educating themselves, it is an open question whether we would have had the South Africa we have today.

The prospect of a youth revolution may not be on the horizon, but in post-apartheid South Africa it is imperative we give chance to the young – a chance based on merit and guided by wisdom, and not by political elitism.

I know that people who died for the cause, such as Ashley Kriel, would not want to have it any other way. Our adult fear of the seemingly impossible must not rob the optimistic young mind of the imminently possible.

MEC calls for investigation into looting of 'spaza' shops

**This interview was first broadcast on the Voice of the Cape during the Breakfast show**
This week the MEC for Community Safety, Dan Plato, said he will be calling for an investigation into the looting of shops in Valhalla Park. According to the MEC photographic evidence indicates that SAPS was standing by and doing nothing while the 'spaza' shops were been looted. For more on this we are now joined online by Greg Wagner the spokesperson for the MEC for Community Safety...

Cosatu writes open letter to President Jacob Zuma on gang violence

This week Cosatu in the Western Cape wrote an open letter to President Jacob Zuma about the gang violence on the Cape Flats. This follows the letter written by Premier Helen Zille to President Zuma this week asking him to deploy the army to areas like Hanover Park and Lavender Hill which has been the worst affected by gang violence...

19th HIV/AIDS Conference to be held in Washington

The 19th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012) in Washington DC will be held from 22 to 27 July 2012. One of the topics of discussion will be: Is it possible to control the epidemic of HIV by using antiretroviral therapy? Joining us on line to tell us a bit more is Dr Alex Welte, from the South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis at Stellenbosch University....

Anti-Apartheid Activist Remembered

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the death of struggle stalwart, Ashley Kriel. Kriel was killed by police in Cape Town on 9 July 1987 for his role in advocating anti-apartheid actions. During 1999, Jeffrey Benzien was granted amnesty by the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission for his part in the killing. On his release from prison in February 1990, Nelson Mandela acknowledged Ashley Kriel's sacrifice for the freedom struggle.In his memory, the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation and the University of the Western Cape created the annual Ashley Kriel Memorial Youth Lecture to highlight youth leadership challenges throughout the country. This week I had the privilege of speaking to Cape Town journalist, Shafiq Morton about the legacy of Ashley Kriel and the events which took place at Kriel's funeral 25 years ago...

Hard work pays off

Last week I had the privilege of attending the launch of the Mail and Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans. Never in my wildest dreams had the thought crossed my mind that I would one day find myself on the list.

Initially when I received the e-mail that I had made it to the shortlist for the Mail and Guardian’s shortlist of the Top 200 Young South Africans, I thought it to be spam and did not even bother to read the e-mail. It was only when the follow up e-mail was sent that I actually took note. I then knew that there was merit to the initial e-mail.

While the publication does their own research on the nominee, they also send through a questionnaire that needs to be filled in. It looks at the work you are currently doing, what you would change if you were President of South Africa and also looks at any accolades you may have received.

The accolade could not have come at a better time for me. If you are a community journalist you are acutely aware that you are not earning the same salary as journalists who work in main stream media or at commercial radio stations.

You are painfully aware that you are not able to afford a house of your own or a car -if you do own a car, which in today’s day and age, is no longer a luxury you will have to either find ways of supplementing your income or permanently live off 2 minutes noodles and peanut butter sandwiches.

And yes there are times when this can depress you -normally somewhere towards the middle of the month or just before you get paid. You then start questioning why you are working in community media and not main stream, or better yet, why you are not working for government as a spokesperson.

You work long hours because, at a community radio station, you often have to do the work of more than one person, which sometimes seems to go unnoticed. But it is accolades like the one from the Mail and Guardian that makes the meager salary, long hours and intense critique that one has to endure worthwhile.

It is in moments like these that you suddenly remember why you choose this profession and you realize that out there someone is taking note of the long hours you put in to produce a quality product.

Dorianne on M&G list

This article was first published on Voice of the Cape's website: www.vocfm.co.za


VOC’s Breakfast Beat presenter and award-winning producer Dorianne Arendse is one person you have to take out to lunch. That’s according to the Mail & Guardian newspaper, who listed the news hungry journalist on their 200 Young South Africans list, officially unveiled in Johannesburg on Thursday. The Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans displays exceptional young achievers making an impact in various fields as they shape the country's future.

Arendse jetted off to the special luncheon in Sandton where she rubbed shoulders with these young dynamos. She will be featured in Friday’s supplement of the Mail and Guardian. Short-listing the candidates was a rigorous process for judges because they had to track the work done by the candidate over a period of time. “I think it’s the first time a community radio journalist made it onto the list but I do speak under correction. Most of the reporters that have made the list in the past come from main stream media,” she told Drivetime from OR Tambo International Airport.

“It’s a wonderful achievement…I feel very honoured. And I know this will be a huge boost for my career.” She believes the mere fact to be nominated for such an accolade shows that community radio is a force to be reckoned with. Arendse emphasised that the work The Voice of the Cape is delivering is of the required standard as the station is competing with people in other media. “VOC has won numerous awards over the last three years in various categories. We have proven that we can compete with the big guns and we come out on top…” she enthused.

Quite a number of people from media houses such as SABC and Primedia made the cut, including her ‘rival’, 567 Cape Talk presenter Africa Melani, who went head to head with her in a debate on the merits of community radio versus commercial radio. The keynote speaker at the event was Minister for National Planning, Trevor Manuel.

“I think the development of youth was one of the key factors in Minister Trevor Manuel’s speech as he put the National Development plan in place for 2030. The minister’s speech was geared towards motivating and inspiring us as the youth to become the leaders of tomorrow,” Arendse said. The ambitious reporter kept busy at the event by requesting an interview with Manuel, who promised to make himself available in August for an exclusive interview.

Arendse returns home with the accolade and a great career to look forward to. “If someone is going to Google your name they are going to see that your name was on the list. The list is pretty hot as people look out for it every single year.” exclaimed Arendse. VOC (Tashneem Abrahams)

Faceoff: Who deserves to be on our YSA list?

Another accolade on the cards for community radio

This article was first published on Voice of the Cape's website- www.vocfm.co.za

VOC’s feisty, award-winning producer and Breakfast Beat presenter Dorianne Arendse is up for another accolade of note after she made the shortlist of this year’s edition of the Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans. The newspaper supplement showcases young people who are seen to be making an impact in their fields, ranging from media to finance.Kat Pritchard, Editor of the M&G 200 Young South Africans list, was very interested in the fact that Arendse has carved her niche in community radio.

Being nominated along with many other individuals who are virtually big names in their industries was something of a surprise. “We see that age-old community versus commercial media argument taking place here. I firmly believe that community radio is a force to be reckoned with in their own right," she said. Arendse was nominated by VOC social commentator Riyaaz Ismail, a self-confessed Facebook and internet junkie. The Mail & Guardian then researched and tracked the information in the nomination, as well as her career path from her days as an intern at Bush radio to her work in Parliament.

Last year, she completed her BTech in Journalism at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, while at the same time balancing her full time work at VOC. Arendse has a Vodacom Journalist of the Year award under her belt and also received special mention at the Taco Kuiper Awards for investigative journalism, two achievements which have opened up many doors for her.

"We competed against major role-players in commercial media and received top honours for our work in the Radio Feature category (at Vodacom awards), which just goes to show that there is a high standard of work coming from community too," she related. There are a number of factors which the selection committee takes into consideration before they decide.

“I had to fill out a questionnaire, so they can see what makes you tick in terms of politics and South African general knowledge. They look at your past achievements and career too. I did my in-service training at another community radio station, which often makes for more well-rounded staff. There are less people in employment, so people are often doing the work of more than one person.”

Arendse was initially notified about her nomination via email, but thought it was spam because of the “Congratulations” in the subject line. “It was only after I received the second email that I took note of the fact that the selection committee was actually trying to get hold of me. It is accolades such as these which make working in media worth it. Sometimes you feel despondent, but it is good to see there are some people who recognise the work we do.”

As part of the promotional campaign for Mail & Guardian, Arendse was featured in video with fellow nominee, 567/Cape Talk presenter Africa Melane, who went head-to-head with her in a discussion about the differences between community and commercial media. The funny skit can be viewed at

Arendse said she was elated about making the list, which will be revealed in Sandhurst, Johannesburg on Thursday, June 21. "It's an awesome feeling...and a great opportunity. I never would have expected something like this coming my way." VOC (Aqeelah Bawa)

Service Delivery Protest in Bishop Lavis

A service delivery protest is currently taking place in Bishop Lavis. According to Deputy Metro Police Chief, Yolande Faro about 300 people are protesting at 35th Avenue and Modderdam roads in Bishop Lavis. She says that traffic is been diverted as there are tyres and rubble in the roadway. Faro says that shortly after 6am this morning the crowd turned riotous.

RUCdi: Early Childhood Development Essential

The Ravensmead Uitsig Cravenby Development Initiative has identified Early Childhood Development (ECD) as its key objective for 2012. The aim is to start an early enrollment conversation to sensitize parents about the importance and benefits of Early Childhood Development. The need for advocacy of Early Childhood Development and enrollment into ECD and specifically Gr. R was identified due to the feedback received from schools in the community on the poor performance levels of learners in Gr. 1. Many of these learners have not had the privilege of Gr. R or any formal pre-school educational experience prior to being enrolled in Gr. 1. This week I had the opportunity to interview Verna Stuurman about this initiative. This interview first aired on Voice of the Cape's Breakfast programme...

Wage Talks Deadlock

The second round of municipal wage negotiations have deadlocked. This morning I chatted to Tahir Sema the spokesperson for SAMWU about the current wage offer on the table. This interview was first broadcast on Voice of the Cape's Breakfast programme today...

Corruption Watch joins Freedom Under Law Court Application

Corruption Watch and the Social Justice Coalition have filed a joint application for leave to intervene as co-applicants in the matter of Freedom Under Law V National Director of Public Prosecutions in the North Gauteng High Court. This morning I spoke to David Lewis from Corruption Watch about the court case.This interview was first broadcast on Voice of the Cape's Breakfast Show...

Teen Girl Rescued From Human Trafficking

Last week, the City of Cape Town's Vice Squad rescued a 16 year old girl from human trafficking. Mayco member for Safety and Security Alderman JP Smith says the girl was under the influence of drugs and was in the process of soliciting a customer. He says after further investigation, officers ascertained that she was originally from an informal settlement in Durbanville. This morning I spoke to Alderman JP Smith about the scourge of human trafficking in the province...

Breadline Africa Celebrates National Soup Day

On 31 May 2012 National Soup Day was celebrated across the country. Cape Town based NGO Breadline Africa fed 1004 children at the Hillwood Primary School in Lavender Hill.Breadline Africa's Project Coordinator, Edna Titus says that lots of learners in the outer Cape Town areas arrive at school hungry. "Just a cup of soup and a slice of bread can make a big difference," says Titus.

“Lots of learners in the outer Cape Town areas arrive at school hungry. Hungry children cannot learn. Just a cup of soup and a slice of bread can make a big difference,,” projects officer for Breadline Africa, Edna Titus says.
As winter settles across the country, the homeless and disadvantaged will be the first to feel the cold. According to a General Household survey conducted in 2009 by the Medical Research Council, approximately 11-million South Africans do not know where their next meal will come from and one in every five children under the age of nine will suffer from stunted growth as a result of malnutrition.

The core focus of Breadline Africa is to provide grassroots community organizations, who survive on limited budgets, with funding to continue their vital work. The NGO’s Spread the Bread Campaign, which forms part of the Mandela Day Celebrations, will run a mobile food kitchen in poverty-stricken areas to assist with feeding children during the chilly winter months.

This week on Voice of the Cape's Breakfast show I chatted to Edna Titus about National Soup Day on the eve of the event...