Isolabantu january'2017

DUNOON | JOE SLOVO PARK | WOLVERIVIER | KWA 5 | KILLARNEY GARDENS | MONTAGUE GARDENS | MILNERTON | TABLE VIEW | WITSAND

JANUARY 2017

Member of The Association of Independent Publishers | Editorial Tel. 084 229 6399 | 021 422 0412 | Editorial Address: 85 St. George’s Mall Cape Town.

Safety concerns after multi-storey flats boom in Dunoon Find out more on page 3

...the people’s eye

2 / ISOLABANTU | JANUARY 2017 ISOLABANTU is a Xhosa/English monthly community newspaper.

At Isolabantu we practic e ethical journalism, and strive to ensure the free exchange of information that is accurate, fair and thorough.

We support the open and civil exchange of views, even views we find repugnant.

Managing Editor Peter Luhanga editor@isolabantunews.co.za 021 424 2114 084 229 6399 Sub-editor Warren Jeremy Rourke 021 424 2114

Design and Layout Somtoo Mekowulu 021 422 0412 Publlisher IRIS MEDIA SA Pty. LTD 85 St Georges Mall Nedbank Building, CBD Cape Town, 8000

DISCLAIMER The views and opinions of all contributors, writers and all columnists are not necessarily that of the publishers, editor or employees. While we take every reasonable precaution to deal with

M

ore often than not when I meet people; I am amazed by the combination of influences, events

and pure chance that have determined what they do for a living.

If learners and students should take glimpses into the lives and jobs of working people, what they do and how they got there, it will broaden their scope into the almost unlimited number of careers in which people find pleasure and fulfillment. This will strengthen your motivation to make the most of your studies in 2017, to achieve your qualification towards a worthwhile and fulfilling career. Most people spend around forty years of their lives working.

A working life is often made up of more than one career and chances are your career-path will evolve along with your life. With pencil and paper in hand, ask questions, seek advice. Most importantly,

N

good health to study is not the absence of disease; but it is the effective function of all the facets of your existence.

Modern society is a sleepy one. Not because we sleep a lot, but because we are sleepy most of the time when we are supposed to be awake. In this case, awake enough Sleeping is

necessary for the maintenance of nerves in the brain to engrave your memory into the tables of your consciousness. When you are not sleeping or studying, chase recreational activities, which can consist of many activities. It could and should involve mental, emotional, intellectual, and social aspects of our lives, including play. Play is known to activate the higher regions of the brain, enhancing cognitive functioning. enhances

executive

If we don’t live up to the code you can contact the Press Ombudsman at : 011 484 3612/8 or fax 011 484 3619

ISOLABANTU NEWS

encouraging to study as possible. Being in

Play

Isolabantu subscribes to the South African Press Code that prescribes news that is truthful, accurate, fair and balanced.

Konyulwe imanejala entsha kwibhungana

that your environment is as positive and

to attend classes and study.

advertisement, advertorial or classified advertisement appearing in this publication.

Isolabantu reserves the right to vary, alter or omit any advertisement and will not be held liable for any failure to publish.

Gcinani imiqathango yamanzi

Study wisely and without fear JANEL VAN VLIET – PSYCHOLOGIST

only ethical advertisers, neither Isolabantu news nor its publishers, editor or employees are responsible for any loss, harm or damage arising out of or contributed by as a result of any transaction entered into pursuant to any

functions

because the dopamine in the brain that is

keep studying and learning. Gaining new

stimulated by play enters the prefrontal

skills is never a waste of time. Conquer

regions. Regardless of all the never-ending

the world of study wisely and without fear.

electricity that is active in your brain, the

Your brain is an extraordinary processor,

foundation of it all is up to the choices you

capable of boundless and interconnected

make. It will contribute hugely to your

thoughts, so why do you feel fear, stress and

happiness if you pursue subject choices at

anxiety when it comes to studying? If you

school that will support the career path that

are feeling negative or unwell, your state

suits your personality and ambition. Make

of being will have a negative influence on

the most of the time you have available

your productivity. On the other hand, if

to study, and if you do not have enough

you are happy in your environment and

time, become creative and reorganise your

inwardly content, you will react positively

activities and timelines. I know I can trust

and will comprehend new information

you in doing this, because I believe in your

better. It therefore makes sense to ensure

persistence to pull through.

jengoko eshokoxeka amanzi kumadam eli le Ntshona Koloni ibhunga lekansile uSub-Counil 1 ubongoza abahlali ukuba bathi gqolo ukulondoloza amanzi kwaye babambelele kwimiqathango ebekiweyo.

Elibhunga liquka iindawo ezifana neTable View, Du Noon, Atlantis kwakunye ne Mamre, ezikumahodi angu 23, 29, 32, no 104.

Ethetha kwintlanganiso yokuqala yonyaka ngoLwesine uJanuwari umhla we 19 , usihlalo omtsha webhungana uCynthia Clayton uthe uluntgu kumele luncedisane nesixeko ekupheliseni imorasha yamanz.

“Amadama asezantsi kakhulu kwaye sijamelene nembalela ntoleyo ezakubangela kwalelwe ukuncenceshelwa kwegadi, ukuzaliswa kwamaqula okuqubha.

Kutshanje kukho umntu othe wohlwaywa iR2000 asakufunyanwa ehlamba udonga lwakahe ngombhobho wamanzi.

Kubalulekile ukuba kulondolozwe

amanzi okanye uyakuzibona ungena ematyaleni,” utshilo uClayton.

Eli ibilityeli lesibini eqhuba intlanganiso yebhungana sukela oko ethe wonyulwa ngoNovemba emva kocando mida olutsha kusekwa u Sub Council 1 e- Atlantis.

Ukwaphinde ngamxhelomney wamkela imanejala entsha uWessie van der Westhuizen, owayesakuba ligosa eliphezulu e-Eden District Municipality.

“Kuluvuyo kum ukwamkela uWessie van der Westhuizen kwiqela lethu, unamava njengetishala nentatheli ephume iimbambo,” utshilo .

Kwintetho yakhe uVan der Westhuizen, ominyaka ingama 55 uthembisile ukuba uzakwenza konke okusemandleni akhe ukuqinisekisa ukuba iinkonzo zisiwa eluntwini.

“Ndikholelwa ekubeni izinto zenziwe ngendlela , asinakukwazi ukusa iinkonzo eluntwini xa kungekho mxhelo,”” uVan der Westhuizen utshilo.

Bonke ooceba bebhunga bamqhwabele izandla oka Van der Westhuizen kwisikhundla esitsha bezibophelela ekubeni bayakumncedisa.

...the people’s eye

ISOLABANTU | JANUARY 2017 / 3

Safety concerns after multi-storey flats boom in Dunoon

S

cores of entrepreneurs are making huge profits by ¬buying RDP houses, bulldozing them to the ground and building blocks of flats towering above other RDP houses and backyard shacks in Dunoon township near Milnerton. The safety of the multi-storey block of flats which are dominating the skyline of the township is being questioned by residents.

Some alterations to the existing RDP houses are taking place by just extending them and once complete they consists of a series of single room flats off a central corridor with shared ablutions. In some cases a single storey is added on the top and comprises of several rooms.

Now, one entrepreneur has set a new trend. After purchasing an RDP house, he bulldozed it to the ground and built a fourstorey block of flats consisting of many rooms for rent. It is the first four-storey block of flats in the township towering above neighbouring RDP houses and shacks. Backyard dweller, Erick Mzingile, whose shack is in a yard of an RDP house next to the multi-storey block of flats, said he was shocked to see the height of the block of flats. He said the flats had the potential for a higher risk to tenants should a fire break out. “We don`t know if they will withstand severe weather. We didn’t see any building inspectors. We just saw it taking shape,” said Mzingile. Another neighbour, Coki Dumisani, whose RDP house is on edge of the flat, said he was not sure whether his house would be safe in the long term.

But one neighbour whose RDP house is separated by another RDP house from the block of flats, said he did not see any problem as it was after all the entrepreneur’s plot as such he was free to do whatever. “If we confront him and he tells us he knows what he is doing, what

are we going to say? If I had money like him and wanted to extend my RDP house I’d just do it without consulting anyone.

I don`t have to approach neighbours or authorities for approval of my plans. That`s how it gets done here in kasi,” said the neighbour, who refused to give his name.

ANC ward 104 councilor Lubabalo Makeleni said while he supported property investment in the township, alteration and extension to existing RDP house plans ought to be done in a proper and legal way without endangering the lives of tenants and or neighbours. “Investors should prioritise safety and security of our people and not being greedy by taking advantage of our township and laziness of the City of Cape Town planning department. It is the City of Cape Town that should be policing unauthorised building structures in our area but instead they focus on affluent suburbs,” said Makeleni. He said the lack of housing opportunities was a catalyst to the mushrooming of three-storey and now recently four storey block of flats.“Our people are desperate for accommodation and willing to pay any amount towards rental without checking their safety and security in the high rise flats,” he said. The flats boom has also sky-rocketed the price of a one-bedroom RDP house.

“Within a year the price of RDP houses jumped from R120000 to R200000, which is ridiculous to our people as most buyers are foreigners and white people,” he said.

Mayco member for Transport and Urban Development Authority, Brett Herron said previously, Dunoon was formally approved in terms of the Less Formal Townships Establishment Act (LFTEA) of 1991, Act 113 of 1991, and in terms of section 3(5) of the Less Formal Townships Act, the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act, 1997 (Act 103 of

1977) shall not apply to designated land and approval for residential buildings were not required. However, Herron said during 2013, the national government approved and promulgated the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA) of 2013, Act 16 of 2013, which required each province to formulate and promulgate new planning legislation in accordance with SPLUMA. Following this the Western Cape Government promulgated the Land Use Planning Act (LUPA) of 2014, Act 3 of 2014 which saw LFTEA of 1991 repealed.

“All properties situated within the City of Cape Town’s jurisdiction are governed by the newly approved Municipal Planning

By-law and the Development Management Scheme. Therefore, all property owners are now required to adhere to the National Building Regulations for all buildings except shelters,” he said. He said the City’s building inspectors routinely visited building sites and investigated complaints submitted by the community about illegal building work or land use contraventions.

“We encourage the community to report suspected illegal building work or land use contraventions to their local Development Management office for further investigation. Where contraventions have been found, the City will take the necessary legal action,” he said.

4 / ISOLABANTU | JANUARY 2017

...the people’s eye

...the people’s eye

ISOLABANTU | JANUARY 2017 / 5

Defying the odds, Siphelele gets 100% in Physical Sciences

AYATOLAH SEPTEMBER

S

iphelele Xabendlini from Brown’s Farm in Philippi, Cape Town believes it’s not over until it’s over. The 19 yearold former matric pupil at Phandulwazi Secondary school proved that in his final exams when he got a 100% in Physical Sciences in the province. He said he had never received a 100% in any subject before until last year when he wrote his matric.

Siphelele was awarded for excellence in Physical sciences at the provincial awards on Thursday, January 16. The awards were held at Premier Helen Zille’s home in Cape Town. Siphelele couldn’t hold back his excitement as he was announced

as the bright shining star and one of the pupils who beat the odds and didn’t let his situation define him. Siphelele moved to Cape Town from the Eastern Cape three years ago.

“I know where I want to go when I am older and I couldn’t let my circumstance stand in my way of achieving my dreams.

My parents are both not working and we depend on my older brother. I never got a 100% in any subject ever, but I always had a belief that it is not over until it is over.

My older sister was always inspiring me to work hard and today it has paid off. The sleepless nights, video tutorials and 2015 examinations papers really helped me a lot to achieve what I have achieved now.”

said Siphelele. He got four distinctions in Physics, Maths, Life Science and Life Orientation and will study Business Sciences in Analytics at University of Cape Town. He told Daily Sun he haven’t secured a bursary yet but was sure he would get it.

“I applied for bursaries but haven’t got any response, but I am sure I will get something.”

His brother Yandisa Xabendlini said he was the proudest brother. “I am happy for him; I don’t even know what to say he has made us proud. Who would have thought, but here he is now.”

Premier Zille said: “This year’s top achieving learner in Physical Science - Siphelele Xabendlini hails from Phundulwazi Secondary school in Phillipi,

a Quintile 1 school. Siphelele achieved no less than 100% for science. There is no doubt that we are on the right path. Back in 2009 it was unthinkable to hear of 5 or 6 distinctions achieved in disadvantaged schools. It is happening now, not because the standards are dropping, it is happening because quality is improving. Learners, you are the path breakers, the bright shining stars that are the beacon of inspiration for everybody else,” MEC for Education Debbie Schafer said she was extremely happy that Western Cape was once again increased its passing rate. “We remain the only province in the country with 40% or more with bachelor passes. Today we are here to pay tribute to the stars in our province who have done so well in the Matric 2016 examinations, and who are lighting the way for other provinces, as well as in communities that experience many difficulties. These people are showing that nothing is impossible, even if you have difficulties to confront.”

Said Schafer.

Meanwhile in Milnerton,—Sinenjongo High School in Joe Slovo Park, a total of 149 pupils sat the 2016 matric examinations, 127 (85.2%) passed; 42 (28.2%) achieved bachelors passes; 59 (39.6%) diploma passes and 26 (17.4%) higher Certificate passes.

At Inkwenkwezi Secondary School in Dunoon a total of 149 pupils sat the 2016 matric examinations, 118 (79.2%) passed; 40 (26.8%) achieved bachelors passes; 49 (32.9%) diploma passes and 29 (19.5%) higher Certificate passes.

Uphumelele INGABA IKHADI LAKHO emagqibini uSiphelele! LIYAPHELELWA NA NGO-JANUWARI 2017?

AYATOLAH SEPTEMBER

U

Siphelele Xabendlini wase Brown’s Farm unenkolo yokuba akulahlwa mbeleko ngakufelwa!

Lomfundi uminyaka eli-19 wase Phandulwazi Secondary School uzingqine engungqondongqondo asakuphumelela izifundo ze Physical Sciences emagqibini waze wafumana iwonga eliphezulu ephondweni.

Ebonakalisa umothuko uchaze ukuba zange akhe ukupasa okungaka nakwisiphina isifundo sakhe.Ewongwa yinkulumbuso yephondo uHelen Zille ekhayeni layo, uSiphelele ebegwcele yimincili njengoko engazane aphuphe ukuba angaze abonane nenkulumbuso.

USiphelele wafika eKapa kwiminyaka emithathu eyadlulayo eze kufuna imfundo engcono ephondweni.

“Ndiyayazi into endifuna ukuba yiyo xa ndimdala kwaye yiyo kanye into ebangele ndiphumelele phantsi kwemeko ebendikuzo. Abazali bama abaphangeli bobani kwaye sixhomekeke kubhuti wam.

Usisi wam omdala nguye obendikhuthaza ukuba ndenze ngakumbi emsebenzini wam wesikolo. Ukungalali ndifunda ndikwabukela ne video tutorials nokufunda amaphepha emviwo zeminyaka edlulileyo kundincede kakhulu.” utshilo uSiphelele.

Ufumene idistinctions ezine kwi Physics, Maths, Life Science ne Life Orientation kwaye uzakufunda iBusiness Sciences in Analytics e- University of Cape Town.

Uxelele ISolabantu ukuba akakayifumani ibhasari kodwa unethemba elingumangaliso.

“Ndifake izicelo

zebhasari kodwa andikafumani mpendulo okwangoku kodwa ndiyaqonda ukuba ndizakuhamba kakuhle,” utshilo.

Ivakalisa ezondaba iNkulumbuso uZille ithe : “ Kulonyaka oyena mfundi uqaqambileyo Physical Science ephondweni ngu Siphelele Xabendlini wase Phundulwazi Secondary School ePhillipi.

Siyathemba ukuba sisekhondweni elihle kuba kwiminyak emihlanu engaphambili besingena kuyicinga impumelelo engaka apho abantwana abasokolayo bekhupha iziphumo ezinje. Oku kubangwa kukuba umgangatho wemfundo yethu ukwizinga eliphezulu.”

Umphathiswa wemfundo ephondweni uDebbie Schafer naye uthi uvuyiswe kakhulu ziziphumo zephondo esitho lenyukile inani labaphumeleleyo.

“Sithi kuphela iphondo elithe lakhupha ngapha komyinge we 40% kubafundi abazakungena edyunivesithi.Namhlanje siwonga abo bathe bazinikela emfundweni yabo, bekhanyisela abanye abakumanye amaphondo,” uSchafer utshilo.

Ukanti eMilnerton, i-Sinenjongo High School ibe nabafundi abangama 149 abachophele iimviwo kwaye kwaphumelela abangama 127 (85.2%) nalapho i42 ifumene iziphumo ezingenisa edyunivesithi (28.2%) logama abangama 26 (17.4%) bephumelele ukungenela ikholeji.

E-Inkwenkwezi Secondary School eDunoon kubhale i-149 kwaze kwapasa abangama 118 (79.2%) ,ama 40 (26.8%) bafumene iziphumo zebachelors logama ama 49 (32.9%) efumene ezidiploma kwakunye ne 29 (19.5%) ephumelele nje.

Baleka isiphithiphithi, fumana ikhadi elitsha endaweni yelo liphelelwayo ngoku.

Fumana ikhadi elitsha endaweni yelo liphelelwayo kuphela Gcwalisa ifomu yokufumana ikhadi elitsha endaweni yelo liphelelwayo (ifumaneka kwiivenkilana ezikwi zikhululo naku: www.myciti.org.za).

Jonga ikhadi lakho kwitheminali yolwazi ubone imali eshiyekileyo, uze uhlawule naziphi na iimali zezohlwayo ezingekahlawulwa.

Yiya nakweyiphi na ivenkilana ekwisikhululo , kunye nefomu egcwalisiweyo, ikhadi lakho eliphelelwayo kunye nemali engama R20.

Ukufumana ikhadi elitsha endaweni yelo liphelelwayo uze ukhuphele ixabiso lemali eshiyeke kwelokhadi kweli litsha Gcwalisa ifomu yokufumana ikhadi elitsha (ifumaneka kwiivenkilana ezikwizikhululo naku: www.myciti.org.za).

Yisa ifomu egcwalisiweyo, ikhadi lakho eliphelelwayo kunye nemali engama R20 kwivenkilana ekwizikhululo iCivic Centre okanye iTable View, kuphela.

MyCiTi Bus Transport4CapeTown

@MyCiTiBus

Tsalela umnxeba kwiZiko lenkcukacha ngeZothutho (umnxeba osimahla 24/7) 0800 65 64 63 www.myciti.org.za

...the people’s eye

6 / ISOLABANTU | JANUARY 2017

Ulwando lwefleti ezibheke esibhakabhakeni

Liyakhula inani leefleti ezimigangatho iphezulu eDunoon.

I

hlokondiba lozungilichele benze imali ngokuthenga izindlu zeRDP baze baze bazichithe baphinde bakhe oomabhekaphezulu beefleti.

Ukhuseleko lweezifleti zichokoze isibhakabhaka luyaxhalabisa kwinkoliso yabahlali base Dunoon. Olunye utshintso kwizindlu zeRDP lukhokelela kudederhu lwefleti ezigumbinye, zinxibelelana ngosetyenziso lwezindlu zangasese.

Omnye wabahlali abaqeshileyo, uEric Mzingile, uthi ubude besakhiwo sesakhiwo esongiziweyo samothusa kakhulu.

“Ezifleti zingabanga ubungozi kubaqeshi xa umlilo unokuqhambuka apha. Asazi nokuna zingamelana nemozulu eqatha.

Zange sibone i-inspekatarhi zokwakha zihlola apha, sibone nje lefleti ibheka

phezulu,” utshilo oka Mzingile.

Omnye ummelwane uCoki Dumisani ondlu yakhe ye RDP ichophe ecicini lwefleti uthe akazi nokuba indlu iyakukhusela ebudeni bexesha.

Omnye ongafunanga kuchazwa igama uthe: “Andiboni ngxaki kuba lomhlaba ubangwa ngumntu owenze iifleti.

Wenza unothanda kuba xa simbuza uthi uyayazi into ayenzayo , sithini ke ngokuthina? Ukuba bendinemali njengaye bendizakwandisa nam,” utshilo lomhlali equmbe esisifu.

Uceba uLubabalo Makeleni uthi nangona eluxhosa uhlumo loukhuliswa kwezindlu elokishini kufuneka lulawulwe yimithetho yesixeko.

Kwaye uhlablele mgama

esithi kumele kuqwalaselwe impilo yabamelwane.

“Abatyalimali kumele bayenze ingxaki yabo ukhuseleko lwabemi bethu, babengcathu ekufuneni imali yabantu bethu ngoxa bebafaka engozini,” utshilo uMakeleni.

Okhokela icandelo lezindlu nophuhliso kwikomiti yolawulo kasodolophu,uBrett Herron, uthi iDunoon yavunyelwa ukuba ibeyindawo ehlala abantu kwenani elithile ngokomkhamo osekelwa kwi Less Formal Townships Establishment Act (LFTEA) ka 1991, umthetho we 113 ku 1991, nakwisolotya lesithathu lomthetho we National Building Regulations Standards Act of 1997..

Kodwa uBrett uthi ngowe 2013

urhulumente wesizwe uvumele iSpatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA) sangowe 2013 ovumela iphondo naglinye ukuba lenze utshintso kwimiqathango eqatha ethile.

Uthi ke ngoko urhulumente wephondo naye uyavumelana noko kodwa kumele amabhunga edolophu avisisane noku.

“Yonke imihlaba ekwisixeko sedolophu yeKapa ilawulwa yilemithetho kwaye sicela wonke ubani ahambisane nayo,” uBrett utshilo.

Ukwakhuthaze uluntu ukuba lufake iingxelo ngokunxamnye nabantu abakha izindlu ezingekho lungelweni ukuze amagosa esixeko athathe amanyathelo aqatha.

Councilors demand action over local housing backlog

T

he lack of progress in low cost housing projects in Atlantis and Dunoon have united councilors in sub-council 1 to demand a progress report from the City of Cape Town Transport and Urban Development Authority (TDA).

TDA is responsible for transport, urban planning, urban sustainability and housing.

At the first sub-council meeting this year on Thursday 19 January, sub-council chairperson, Cynthia Clayton voiced her concern. “Low cost housing projects in the entire Atlantis is in the Intensive Care Unit.

I am very serious about the residents in my ward. There is a lot of vacant land but we have people who earn above R15 000 why must they stay in rented houses or in servant quarters,” she said.

Clayton said she was very disappointed with housing projects as construction of the remaining houses at the Kanonkop housing project was never started in the quarter of last year as planned. DA’s ward 32 councilor Barbara Rass, agreed saying there is a need to have progress reports on the pockets of vacant land.

A fired-up Clayton said sub-council 1 is the only sub-council that is not performing and delivering on housing projects in the City. “If you go elsewhere in the City you’ll see a lot of (completed) housing projects, but not in this sub-council.

People are crying and we are not happy.”

The councilors have demanded a meeting with responsible City officials in less than two weeks.

Sub-council1 chairwoman Cynthia Clayton is pissed that the sub council is the only that is not delivering on housing projects in the City of Cape Town.

Photo. Peter Luhanga.

...the people’s eye

ISOLABANTU | JANUARY 2017 / 7

Lonwabo’s passion for photography never wavered SIMLINDILE PIKE

A

Dunoon man`s passion for photography prompted him to sell his car to finance a photography studio business in the township! The mantra of ‘invest in what you believe in’ prompted Lonwabo Kolisi, 26, to sell his car to fund his Urban Slang Photography Studio.

After selling his car, he set out to buy a digital camera. Later he would shoot parties and birthday celebrations in the kasi. He later decided to open a photography studio. “I bought every piece of equipment required to start a photography studio and found a house to rent. Though opening the studio was to fulfill my dream, I also did it to inspire my peers in Dunoon to follow their dreams.

However, if I don’t get support from them I’ll be forced to move the studio somewhere else,” said Kolisi. “Kolisi matriculated in 2010 at Inkwenkwezi Secondary School.

“I wasn’t sure what to study after matric and I applied eventually for Multimedia Technology at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). Due to my results, I unfortunately wasn’t accepted at CPUT. After being declined, I gave up the dream of furthering my education as I wasn’t aware of the benefit FET Colleges, due to lack of career expos,” said Kolisi.

Disappointed, he found work at a local retailer after his application to study CPUT was unsuccessful. “I worked there for two months and later I moved to a book shop in Canal Walk, where I was the only black employee. I stayed for eight months,” said Kolisi. He opened Urban Slang photography studio in 2016 and though the studio is popular in the kasi, the challenge is marketing it. He said he would gladly accept entrepreneurs wanting to invest in his studio. “I won’t disappoint. Whether you’re offering information, photography tips, anything is welcome,” he said.

Tech partners want to make technological tools available to SMMEs

W

ith a simple new app, software developers Nomaphelo Lupuwana

and Given Nyauyanga plan to steer driving schools into the tech age.

For

all

the

hype

about

the

countless benefits of technology adoption for small-, mediumsized and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa, the truth is that paper systems still rule.

That’s

pretty

much

what

Nomaphelo Lupuwana and Given Nyauyanga

also

found

when

doing background research for a new app they were developing.

Be it beauty salons or driving schools,

business

operations

were by and large paper-based,

they saw. As a result, businesses owners were unable to keep track of even fundamentals like revenue generation.

To give such SMMEs a taste of just what technology can do for their businesses, Nomaphelo and Given are testing out their first platform – named Drischool – with a popular driving school.

The online platform (which they plan to offer on a subscription basis) does all the basics, allowing businesses to make appointments with customers, set up lessons with instructors, and even make online payments. But more than that, Drischool suddenly gives owners access to a whole range of analytical tools about their business.

“That’s the MVP [minimum viable product] we’re working on right now,” explains Nomaphelo.

“That way business can track their revenue, have stats on their clients and their instructors – operations that now are still done with paper diaries. So these are statistics that will help them grow their businesses.”

It’s software that can also be easily adapted to other servicesector SMMEs, explains Given; and can quickly be up-sized. “It is very scalable – so can easily be applied in regions outside of South Africa,” he says.

Drischool is a far cry from the energy app Nomaphelo and Given initially had in mind, but had to put on hold because they

don’t have the financial muscle right now to compete with the big players in the sector. In the end, they had to conceptualise Drischool in less than a week.

Fortunately, Nomaphelo and Given are one of seven startups currently on InnoTech, a business incubation and acceleration programme that aims to take black-owned startups from concept to market. The programme is run on behalf of Telkom FutureMakers – Telkom’s enterprise and supplier development programme – by the Bandwidth Barn in Woodstock, which forms part of the Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative (CiTi).

Through InnoTech, start-ups are provided

with a R20 000 ‘angel grant’, office space, internet and telephone access, and business training.

Working to tight deadlines, the partners could fall back on everything they had learnt on InnoTech over the six months they had worked on their nowmothballed business idea.

“Because of the fundamentals we had picked up, we could come up with a business plan in something like three days,” says Nomaphelo.

Given waxes lyrical about the value of the InnoTech programme, which is second to none of any of the many business courses he’s attended, he says. “That training can’t compare to the amount of information we have learned here in The Barn.”

JANUARY 2017

SPORT

Dust off those running shoes Runners across the country are hard at work preparing for the eighth instalment of the 27 For Freedom Race taking place on February 11 in Paarl.

The race marks the 27th anniversary of former President Nelson Mandela’s historic release from the then Victor Verster Prison (now Drakenstein Correctional Services) and his internationally acclaimed and revered ‘walk to freedom’ after 27 years in prison.

The race will especially be significant since it will take place on Saturday, 11 February 2017, exactly 27 years to the day that the great Nelson R. Mandela, former President of the Republic of South Africa and father of our democracy, had walked from prison as a free person.

This date will also represent exactly 27-years that Madiba would have spent both sides of the prison bars and 27-years since his release from prison – from his incarceration in October 1963, his subsequent life imprisonment on 12 June 1964 and his eventual and world-famous release on 11 February 1990.

“It is against this background that a series of activities will take place, from Saturday 4th February 2017 to Sunday 12th February 2017 with the aim to signify Madiba’s triumph which essentially encapsulating man’s ability to transform hardship into hope, obstacles into opportunities and tribulation into triumph,” said organiser Warren Lodge.

He said the 27 For Freedom Race and associated events strove towards building sustainable relationships across all government spheres, corporate South Africa and our community at large.

“The objective is to forge sustainable partnerships with civil society and corporate SA alike, through meaningful contributions which resonate with the nature of their business and the values of a

free and democratic society,” he said.

“I have always believed that exercise is the key not only to physical health but to peace of mind” Nelson Mandela This race is no doubt the highlight of the week-long program and will take place exactly 27-years to the day that Nelson Mandela walked through the gates at the then Victor Verster Prison.

The race enjoys the endorsements of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the Sexwale Foundation, Athletics South Africa (ASA) and the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA).

The 2017-event was also boosted with the announcement by the President of the Confederation of African Athletics and Vice President of the IAAF, the honourable Mr Hamad Kalkaba Malboum that he will attend the event in person.

The 27 for Freedom Race is furthermore a member of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Running (AIMS).

Two representatives of the race recently attended the AIMS conference in Athens, Greece and actively lobbied for more foreign participation.

The event is however more than just an athletic event - it is a family gathering opportunity with a strong nation-building agenda.

Much effort has therefore been put in to create a carnival atmosphere, from foodand novelty stalls, a kiddies corner to a 6-hour long music festival. “No one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. A nation should e judged by how it treats its its lowest citizens.” Nelson Mandela