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ISSUE 18 – 2020 Email: olifants@papashamedia.co.za Tel: 010 023 1845 www.theolifants.co.za FB | Twitter | Insta | The Olifants

Claim for appliances damaged by power cuts

Phumulani Mall– A COVID-19 headache

Teenage motherhood– suffering in silence

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Page 5

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Bye bye electricity Transformer oil theft for muti

by Dumisani Hlatswayo

prevalent in the whole of Gauteng, and the oil is being sought by sanhe police in Olifantsfontein gomas and prophets to make muti. have arrested a man trying “We arrested the man in Clayville to break a power substation west. He was using a screwto steal transformer oil in Clayville driver,” says Sergeant Lucky from West. According to the police, he Olifantsfontein police station. The was caught in the act while the suspect has already made a court police were patrolling the area. This appearance. has become a common problem in “He said he was going to sell the the area. oil to a prophet. And that he was After investigation it seems this going to sell a 5 litre for R500,” culprit was not involved in previ- Sergeant Lucky reveals. ous incidents. This type of crime is A mini substation in Nut Road, in

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Olifantsfontein was vandalised by any major damage. Thus far these The Olifants News joined the criminals for the past few weeks. incidents occurred in the vicinity Olifantsfontein inspection drive of The Olifantsfontein Business Forum of Industry Road, Axle Drive and the damaged transformers which issued a statement to raise its con- Spanner Road. Please be aware of was organised by the business cern about this: “It was damaged to this, and should you have a mini- forum. This involved the local drain out the transformer oil. The sub close to your business, warn security companies, representatives leaking oil was discovered by an your security personnel to be on from the Ekurhuleni suppliers and operative of the security service of the look-out for these culprits,” the the media.

CoE. This was the first such inci- statement ends. dent since May,” says the statement.

“Because of this operative’s quick reporting of the matter it was possible to act swiftly in securing the transformer, thereby preventing

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The Olifants News | www.theolifants.co.za

news

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The OlIfanTs news

ISSUE 2 2018

Publishedby by Published PAPASHA MEDIA(PTY) (PTY)LTD LTD PAPASHA MEDIA Tel: 0861023 744 674 Tel: 010 1845 Fax: 086611 6114478 4478 Fax: 086

Email: theolifants@papashamedia.co.za

m theolifants@papashamedia.co.za

www.theolifants.co.za

Issue 18 | Thursday, 13 August 2020

Washing Izimpawu zomuntu shoes for ofuna ukuzibulala cash N Clayville Laundry

Issue 02 - 2018

jengoba iNingizimu Afrika ilwa izama ukwehlisa isibalo sabantu abatheleleka ngegciwane le-covid-19, siyanda nesibalo sabantu abazibulalayo. m Email: saki@papashamedia.co.za Ngakho-ke kusemqoka ukuthi abantu baqikelele izimpawu zokuInterviews Zandile Mankayi funa ukuzibulala.

Journalist 010 023 1845 Iningi labantu linengcindezi ngeSibusiso Masango m zandilem@papashamedia.co.za Tel. 0861 744 674 muva kokulahlekelwa ngumsebenzi.

Fax: 086 611 4478 Kanti kanjalo amaholo abanye layville – JobEmail: sibusisom@papashamedia.co.za Advertising Sales lessness is high ehlisiwe. Ngaphezu kwalokho, Zandile Mankayi in South Africa kukhona nalabo abangasakwazi 010 023 1845 but for Dennis Vundla (29) m zandilem@papashamedia.co.za ukuvakashela abangani kanye nemiAdvertising Sales this was not game over as ndeni yabo.

Saki Mabhele Art Director he found a niche in his comNgokweSADAQ izimpawu 0861 744 674 Liza Mijburgh munity and started a laundry Fax: 086 611 4478 zomuntu ofuna ukuzibulala yilezi 010 023 1845 business to make a living. VundEmail: meth@papashamedia.co.za ezilandelayo: m info@papashamedia.co.za la, a resident of Clayville Ext 26, • Akakwazi ukucabanga kahle. started his business in 2016.

Layout / Graphic Designer • Akakwazi ukuthatha izinqumo.

“I have always wanted to be an The Olifants subscribes RonaldNews George Wakulato the • Ubona ikusasa lakhe liluvindi, entrepreneur, I noticed that most South African Press Code, which Tel. 0861 744 674 akasanalo ithemba. people in Clayville are the workEmail: ronaldw@papashamedia.co.za prescribes news that is truthful, ac• Akasakwazi ukulala nhlobo. ing class and don’t have time to curate, fair and balanced.

• Akasakwazi nokukudla. lokho kuzokwenza • Cela so ukuba uthintane nelunga ku 10111 okanye abosizo oluphuthudo chores azizwe and their laundry, I If we don’t live up to standards set started a laundry company and wakhe.

• Uzibona engelutho emphakathini. emukelekile emphakathini. lomndeni mayo ku 10177 noma ku 112 noma Puleng Malete be able to feed my famout in the Code, please contact the mergedumphikise. it with house •cleaning,” • Impilo yakhe inobuxakaxaka nje.

• Ungamgxeki noma Beka kude izikhali kanye 0800005133.

The Olifants News subscribes to ily, said Kodibona. KodiPress Ombudsman at the Press said Vundla.

Eyethu Hygiene is the South African Press Code, • Uzizwa esonosizi olujulile futhi Gwema ukuthi uthi kubalulekile namaphilisi angahle akuseUma unegcindezi noma unomnTembisa - Sethopane bona makes about R200 Council on: currently providing employment which prescribes news that olungapheli. ukuphila, noma “ave kumnandi benzise ukuzibulala. gani ombona kwangathi ufuna Tel: 011 484 3612/8 Kodibona (33) from Tem- on a busy day which is is truthful, accurate, fair and to 3 people and has •a Ungalokothi monthly • Unengcindezi engajwayelekile. ukuphila.” umshiye yedwa ukuzibulala thinta abakwaSADAQ Fax: 011 484 3619 bisa started an unconvenon weekends mostly, he balanced. turnover of about R12 000.obonisa izimpawu zoku- kwenye yalezu zinombolo: www.presscouncil.org.za • Ungamhleki ethi ucabanga umuntu tional business washing charges his customers ac- uma “The business can sustain itself, Ngokusho nazi to shoe ukuzibulala. funa ukuzibulala kodwa mtholele • 0800 21 22 23 (8am to 8pm) If we don’t live up to standards set shoes for cash. kwe-SADAG, Kodibona cording size kids however I want it to grow even out in the Code, please contact the izindlelahisongasiza umuntu • Mbonise ukhona ngaso usizo.

• 0800 12 13 14 (8pm to 8am) started businessngazo in pay R10 and adults R25ukuthi more,” said Vundla. Eyethu HyPress Ombudsman at the Press 2017 years of unem- and all suedessonke shoes isikhathi, are ofunaafter ukuzibulala: futhi unetsh• Or SMS 31393. giene provides a number of serCouncil on: ployment.

R35. “My clients are ngempilo the • ZinikezeEmployment isikhathi umlalele, isekelo yakhe, meseke.

Uma kufanele shayela amaphoyisa vices including Wash, Iron, FoldTel: 011 484 3612/8 is hard to find in Tembisa community, police, nurses ing and house cleaning. Eyethu’s Fax: 011 484 3619 and the surrounding areas and everyone who would www.presscouncil.org.za clients range from businesses to and this affected the entire love to support my busihouseholds. Vundla’s long term household and it is what ness is welcome. Kodiplan is to see the company exDennis Vundla (29) drove Kodibona to start bona uses a big board panding and providing more owner of Laundry this type of a business to which he places by the employment opportunities.

Chumile Madiba Services make a living. “No one main road to market his by “I want to see my businesses is working at home, one business. “My wish is to growing with branches in other day I saw a guy washing see my business grow and areas which will in turn proshoes for cash I took the employ other people, who vide employment to the youth idea and started my own are unemployed like me, of South Africa,” said Vundla. business so that I can said Kodibona ccording to the Mental Health careful of what we feed our minds. motivate ourselves.

Some advice to stay positive: Federation of SA, at least 17 Is it positive or negative? Is it makMore often than not, your hap9 Be grateful of the things million people in South Africa are ing us feel hopeless or optimistic? piness and success depend on how you have; suffering from mental illnesses.

Those are some of the questions we you think and it’s never too late to 9 Remember, challenges are This alarming fact needs to be need to ask ourselves every day. train your mind to think positively. there to teach us something put into perspective as mental illAccording to science, mental Your mind subconsciously not to destroy us; and ness is one of the most serious ill- health controls our IQ, decision- impacts on your belief system, 9 Each morning nesses. Depression, anxiety or stress making, and how we comprehend which subsequently motivates you train your mind Staff Writer doesn’t only affect how one lives, things and the situations around us. to live positively or negatively. So, to focus on but the immune system as well.

That is only possible if we learn believe it or not, what you feed your positive things. unemployment is oneand of mind matters.

That’sakmore why it is- High essential to be how in to South controlAfrica our minds the major factors leading to an increase in crime rate. The SAPS in Olifantsfontein have recently released a statement alerting residents of crimes that are happening in Oakmore.

Community members are advised to stop walking alone in the late hours because they might be victims of armed robbery and rape. The SAPS says motorists are advised not to park at the old Pretoria road next to Oakmore, rather they park at the nearest garage to avid being victims of crime. According to Constable Mokete Serakwana Communication Officer Olifantsfontein SAPS Oakmore has become a crime hotspot for criminals, many crime cases have been reported that happened in that area so it is best to avoid it especially at night.“We are urging the community members to take our crime alerts into avoid be086consideration 000 10111to/ 112 ing victims of crime,” said Constable Serakwana.

Publisher Publisher Saki Mabhele Saki Tel: 010Mabhele 023 1845 Tel: 7444478 674 Fax:0861 086 611 Fax: 086 611 4478 saki@papashamedia.co.za

Creates Employment for Youth

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Here’s why what we feed our minds matters

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SAPS Crime Alert for Oakmore

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035 474 0710

012 395

South African Police Service

Olifantsfontein SAPS South African 011 316 8022 8000

Police Service 086 000 10111 /112 Olifantsfontein Saps 011 316 8022

Department of Health

012 395 8000

Children Welfar e

074 080 8315

Thursday, 13 August 2020 | Issue 18

www.theolifants.co.za | The Olifants News

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Ekurhuleni Business Network founder dies

Kaalfontein and Ebony Park residents march for electricity

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aalfontein and Ebony Park residents took to the streets to march against power cuts by Eskom. For the past three months, there has been no power in the area.

Kaalfontein and Ebony park falls under ward 111 which has four sections — an informal settlement, RDP houses, low cost houses and bond houses.

“That march is about the electricity crisis in the area. Residents decided to picket against Eskom’s poor service delivery. And as EFF, we were trying to report all the transformers around ward 111 for service delivery without any success,” reveals ward councillor, John Mnisi.

“We fail because Eskom is delaying the process. That’s why the community became angry.

They want Eskom to speed up the process of changing power transformers,” Mnisi continues.

“The transformers are damaged and blasting, all those things. I think Eskom fails to upgrade those transformers. Those transformers are no longer in a good condition to serve our community’s needs,” he says.

According to Mnisi, exacerbating this issue is the fact that year in year out more people still migrate to Gauteng. According to Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) Gauteng experienced net migration from other provinces of

904,619 people from 2006 to 2011 and 981,290 people from 2011 to 2016. These numbers are increasing every year.

“Eskom makes claims that people are bridging electricity.

But they forget that since 1997 or even 1998 when they started building Ebony Park the number of residents increased. They forget that they installed those transformers in those years,” says Mnisi.

“Eskom must consider this so that they can upgrade their transformers from small to bigger transformers,” he says. Mnisi is not sure if marchers were adhering to the Covid-19 regulations throughout the march.

by Staff Writer

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r Imogen Mashazi, Ekurhuleni City Manager, has expressed shock and sadness at the passing of local businessman and founder of the Ekurhuleni Business Initiative, which was later rebranded as the Ekurhuleni Business Network, Chris van Biljoen.

The 72-year-old Van Biljoen passed on in his sleep in Kempton Park on Saturday.

“This is a very sad day for the people of Ekurhuleni, especially the business community. Mr Van Chris van Biljoen Biljoen was a dedicated and a hard-working individual who was passionate about the success of enterprises throughout Ekurhuleni. small business in the region,” said He always believed in ‘pushing the Dr Mashazi. envelope in order to put businesses She says the City had formed a on the map and see them grow formidable partnership with Mr and prosper’.

Van Biljoen’s EBN ‘because we “His passion for growing small shared a similar vision in terms of business over all cultures will ensuring that Ekurhuleni’s economy always be remembered. As a metro, remained vibrant and advocated we hope that in his absence the for the success of local business, EBN will continue with his vision to regardless of the size’. empower all enterprises so that they Biljoen initiated the business net- thrive and achieve profitability and work organisation over 15 years ago success within the current unpreceto serve the interests of corporates, dented economic environment,” said and small, medium and micro-sized Dr Mashazi.

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The Olifants News | www.theolifants.co.za

Issue 18 | Thursday, 13 August 2020

Ivory Park tutor helps struggling learners

by Dumisani Hlatswayo

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ngel Nkosi (25) was inspired by the people in her community to give back to her community. Her NPO, Angel Nkosi Youth Movement is currently helping at least 40 learners struggling with their school subjects.

“The unemployment rate is high and most people are either school dropouts, or they passed matric with marks that don’t grant them entry to a university, and others failed matric,” she tells The Olifants News.

Nkosi’s dream was to become a teacher, however today she is an Industrial engineer intern. “Being an Industrial Engineer didn’t stop me from practicing teaching, as I was mentoring Leroy Sikhosana (currently in grade 12 at Oracle secondary school) from 2016,” she says.

Soon after that, Nkosi reached out to her neighbours who have matric students struggling with their studies. From there she never looked back.

“My primary goal is to ensure that they move from 30% to 65% pass in all subjects,” she reveals.

One of Nkosi’s major challenges is limited resources. She shares: “We don’t have a place of our own. We use one of the kid’s living and dining rooms which limits us.”

“I have a lot of kids that approach me, but I cannot help them since I don’t have space to accommodate them. The program is self-funded and I have to use my own money to get certain

things. The kids contribute a once off R60 to ensure that they have coffee or snacks during the session. I am the only tutor and sometimes Leroy assists me to attend to the struggling learners and stop focusing on his studies,” Nkosi explains.

From time to time, she deals with learners who are stressed because their results don’t grant them entry to universities. She goes beyond tutoring them and motivates them to change their mindset.

“Some parents don’t offer support to their children and it becomes hard for me to help those kids as their parents discourage them,” she reveals.

“I see the Angel Nkosi Youth Movement reaching out to most schools in Ivory Park and Thembisa,” she adds.

Nkosi needs assistance with getting a place that will allow her to tutor around 40 kids at a time.

“I also need funding to ensure that I provide basic resources to the kids to make learning easy for them since most of them have special academic needs,” she reveals.

How to claim for electrical appliance damages

by Dumisani Hlatswayo

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esidents of Thembisa whose electrical appliances are damaged due to an irregular power supply have a recourse to recover their loss.

Claims can be lodged when a member of the public suffers loss or damages attributable to an act of neglect or omission on the side of Council or any of its employees.

In an event where the damage to an electrical appliance belonging to the customer occurs as a result of the customers fault, the City will not be held liable and as such it will not pay out any claims.

Send your letters to the editor to get them published

editor@papashamedia.co.za

When claiming for damage or loss of an electrical appliance, the following procedure must be followed: • Submit a claim in writing to the Risk Management Division.

These claim forms are available from all customer care centres.

• Substantiate the claim (i.e. grounds on which claim is based) by submitting a detailed affidavit of the events that resulted in the loss or damage.

• Supply insurance details or an original sworn affidavit that there is no insurance covering this loss or damage.

• Provide detailed quotations for the repair and/or replacement

of the property so that the quantum of the loss can be determined.

• Once the claim is submitted, the relevant person must complete and submit a Risk Management Public Liability Claim form within 24-hours (48 hours over a weekend).

Contact the City’s energy department claims technician: Simphiwe Khumalo Phone: 011 999 6549

Thursday, 13 August 2020 | Issue 18

www.theolifants.co.za | The Olifants News

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Three men arrested for truck hijacking

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hree men were arrested for the sedan used during the hijackhijacking a truck in Ivory ing was fitted with a blue light.

Park. The station head At the time the truck was found, at Ivory Park, Brigadier David the registration number had been Mbongeni Ngcobo, has welcomed changed and the grocery is still the arrest. The trio was arrested at outstanding. Ivory Park police are a scrapyard in Extension 2, Ivory appealing to anyone with inforPark, after the police received mation to come forward by callinformation about the truck’s ing them on 011 990 9600 and movements within the vicinity. are assured that any information One of the suspects has been brought to their attention will be positively identified as one of treated confidentially. the original robbers involved “We welcome this developin the hijacking of the truck, ment and our detectives are hard which was carrying grocery at work trying to establish what valued at R250, 000, 00. The other criminal activities are these hijacking took place on 27th three involved in. Furthermore of July in the evening along their status in the country will be the R21 highway, in the verified to find if they are entitled Olifantsfontein policing to be here or not,” said Brigadier area by the occupants of a Ngcobo. white sedan impersonating The three are expected to appear police officers. Some of the in the Thembisa Magistrate’s armed robbers were wear- Court in due course to answer to ing police uniforms while charges levelled against them.

Domestic violence up since lockdown

by Dumisani Hlatswayo

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here has been a sharp increase in a number of reported Gender Based Violence (GBV) cases since lockdown was implemented on 26 March this year.

Of all reported cases, the majority were reported in the Johannesburg municipality, followed by Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni. At least 1 426 cases linked to GBV were opened by the police.

Ozzi Phiri who is the founder of a nonprofit organisation called, Men For Development In South Africa (MFDISA) confirms this: “We did receive those cases. We have even established a hotline number for this,” Phiri tells The Olifants News.

MFDISA has two branches, one in Clayville extension and another in Ivory Park extension 2. Phiri says the purpose of his organisation is to have programs that are geared towards preventing violence against women and children. In addition, provide services to victims of abuse.

“As men we need to accept that we have a problem because it starts with you as an individual,” Phiri explains.

“We need to allow women to be in their own space and express

themselves. And do things at their own pace. We don’t accept that,” he adds.

Phiri says his organisation has organised a march against GBV. “ As an organisation, to mark the women’s month we organised a two hundred kilometres walk. It will begin on the 9th of August until the 12 of August,” he says.

They plan to deliver memorandums in different police stations to urge the police to take GBV cases seriously. “Our walk will start from Midrand and end in Kroonstad in the Free State province,” he says.

Noluthando Moyana who is a social worker confirms that there has been an increase in a number of reported GBV cases since lockdown.

“There’s been an increase in terms of gender-based violence.

With women being abused by their partners but also vice versa. The truth is, it is not only women who are abused but more women are abused,” she says.

“Let’s look at how men were raised in terms of a patriarchal system. That they need to deliver material things and finances. Now with the reality of losing jobs men are experiencing a lot of emotional pressure,” Moyana explains.

Report the abuse of any person in your community to SAPS Olifantsfontein

011 316 8022

COVID-19 compliance in Phumulani Mall a big headache On the 24th of July, the City of Ekurhuleni, led by Mayoral Committee Member for Health and Social Development Cllr Nomadlozi Nkosi, visited the areas to check compliance with Covid19 regulations.

Since South Africa moved to level 3 of the Covid-19 lockdown, there has been a significant increase in the number of confirmed cases and deaths in

Gauteng. of shops were closed and a young “The delegation visited man arrested,” the statement Phumulani Mall as well as the continues.

Winnie Mandela area. Interactions were had with businesses and residents alike to bring home the importance of complying with the regulations in an effort to stop the spread of the virus,” says a statement from Ekurhuleni municipality.

“During inspections a number

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The Olifants News | www.theolifants.co.za

Issue 18 | Thursday, 13 August 2020

Teenage mothers suffer in silence

by Staff Writer

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ingle motherhood comes with unique challenges for mothers between the ages of 17- 27.

The Olifants News spoke to one of those mothers, Thandiwe (not her real name) from Ivory Park. She is one of the teenage mothers who completed her matric in 2019.

“It is really challenging being a single parent, because sometimes you face difficulties alone without anyone supporting you,” she tells The Olifants News.

Now raising her child on her own, Thandiwe can no longer pursue her studies or find a job with fewer chances of being employed as someone who has only a matric certificate. According to Statistics SA’s 2018 figures, girls between the ages of 16 and 19 accounted for 107 548 births in the country, while 3 235 births were attributed to mothers aged 10 to 14.

“I had many challenges because the child depends on me as their

parent but most of the time I cannot provide because I also depend on my mom for other things. And sometimes I can’t provide because I’m not working so my family sometimes helps where they can,” she says.

“I would advise single mothers to stay strong and be brave for their kids because at the end of the day, their kids will depend on them so they have to be strong and stop blaming themselves for what has happened,” she continues.

A year ago, when the department of Basic Education introduced an updated plan for Comprehensive Sexuality Education for learners in grades 4 to 12, it received a barrage of criticism.

A sign that most parents are still not comfortable to discuss sex with their teenagers.

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Issue 18 | Thursday, 13 August 2020

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Tel: 010 023 1845

Covid-19 forces Clayville gym to close

by Staff Writer

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layville Fitness Club officially closed its doors on the 26th March after a lockdown was implemented. The owner of the gym, Jay Pshado affectionately known as “JJ” says he has lost many clients.

“The business is dead. Right now I’m even thinking about getting a few people around, and train them for free,” he tells The Olifants News.

JJ says he is grateful that he still has another source of income as an IT specialist.

“We want to do aerobics for the community to celebrate Women’s

month,” he reveals. JJ says if he can get a sponsor he is willing to train people every Saturday for free.

“The goal is to keep them fit.

Also, I want to make sure people are aware that there’s still a gym in Clayville,” JJ reveals.

“A gym keeps people fit physically and mentally. Now we see people getting sick because they can’t go to the gym. Their immune system has “I’ve got a Youtube channel where weakened.”

I post a lot of videos. I also have a One of the concerns health experts WhatsApp group. I just send people have about COVID-19 is how read- some tips to keep them busy as they ily it can spread through the air via can no longer come to the gym,” he respiratory droplets, especially in says. confined spaces such as a gym. JJ To celebrate Women’s month, JJ thought about this: plans to offer free aerobics classes.