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News
Inner-city Gazette
5 - 12 November 2020
Initiative to keep Joburg inner-city clean Uyapo Majahana
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Joburg inner-city organization, the I love Hillbrow NPO is engaged in a waste management drive to reduce environmental pollution in the streets. The organisation’s founder Napoleon Webster said pollution and waste management is a critical area that needs to be explored to achieve sustainable development. “We have to be innovative in coming up with ways of turning waste into a resource that develops different aspects of our society. Through the opportunities created in this project, we have managed to help intervene in issues like homelessness, unemployment and drug abuse, among other social ills. Together with Kotze Street Overnight Shelter we have managed to get over 30 people off the streets, countless others off drugs and dozens employed,” he said. Webster said the organization recognizes educational, social, cultural, economic and physical needs of marginalized communities like migrants, homeless people and recovering substance abusers, and prioritizes detection of conditions such
ty came I grabbed it with both hands. To this end I call on our leaders to assist us in our cause. They would help if they just take a stroll around some of the environmental pollution hotspots, and have a clearer perspective about the gravity of the situation. Maybe then they can attend to issues like shortage of skip bins with appropriate urgency,” Madikizela said. Project member Sivuyisiwe Ghu said more awareness around environmental issues should be implemented if lasting developments are to be realized. “Illegal dumping contributes to the filth we are trying to eliminate in Hillbrow and surrounding areas. People should be educated about the nexus between environmental health and their own health. Legislative and other measures should also be used to ensure that the environment is conserved for future generations,” she Project founder Napoleon Webster with Mayor Geoff Makhubo during a cleaning event said. Another member, Elton as poverty and other environmental to collaborations with like-minded factors that contribute to crime and individuals and organizations,” Web- Plaatjies said he is grateful for the opportunity to keep himself busy, away substance abuse. ster said. “We are working to expand the Team leader Stanley Madikizela from an unproductive, dangerous and scope of opera- said disruption of his business owing criminal lifestyle. “I am now clean from drugs. The tions to include to the Covid-19 lockdown made him recycling. Since use his environmental education and organisation also made me feel welcome back to society despite my environmental experience. issues are inter“It did not sit well with me to watch criminal past. I had been homeless linked and touch the city rot before my eyes, and want- for over four years, but now make different aspects, ed to be part of a project that address- ends meet; and do fruitful work for we are still open es this problem. When the opportuni- the community,” Plaatjies said.
Man stabs and kills room-mate Newtown - On Sunday police arrested a 28-year-old man after he allegedly stabbed and killed his room-mate at the Mia Building at corner Mahlathini and Genius streets in Newtown. Police spokesperson Captain Xoli Mbele said the man allegedly stabbed his room-
mate, a 35-year-old man at the building. ‘The victim was stabbed once in the upper body and paramedics certified him dead on the scene. The knife used in the stabbing was recovered. The motive for the murder was not yet known, and investigation is underway,” Mbele said.