Department of Local Government and Housing 6th Issue, 2007 Department of Local Government and Housing Isebe looRhulumente boMmandla nezeZindlu Departement van Plaaslike Regering en Behuising From the Editorial Team by Xolani Luthuli e are already half way through this year – time really flies! We also, just came from celebrating youth month Wand the highlight was June 16. This reminds me of a song, I recently heard, from one South Africa's celebrated top Hip Hop artist. His name is Tuks this is what he says about challenges being faced by the youth today; Xolani Luthuli from the Communication Team “This is where we from – Bottom to the Top – the Bottom struggle never stops. Check where we were brought up – Prisons held our leaders. 20 years haven't gone by – but we have already forgotten where we come from” This touched me because most of us seem to be unsure of the sacrifices that the Class of 1976, made for us. They paved the way for us to be emancipated and it's up to us to repay them by Editorial Team: being the best that we can be in our respective areas. The struggle for our total emancipation hasn't stopped, let's shoulder Editor: on. So June 16, its not just a political day or holiday, it's a day we Xolani Tyilana must reflect on our past, make an informed decision in the Tel: 021 483 2686 present, so that we can have a positive impact on our future. Content: Xolani Luthuli To my fellow youth members out there, the struggle isn't over, not Tel: 021 483 3605 just yet, we have to deal and come out on top from the challenges we are now facing. Challenges such as, HIV/AIDS, Debbie Francis unemployment, skills shortage, crime and drug/substance Tel: 021 483 6672 abuse. Let's work together united and together we can make a Sandy Godlwana difference. Tel: 021 483 4976 Vumile Ncedani Okay enough about preaching. There have been lots of Tel: 021 483 8975 activities during last month. The MEC visited various projects, Zoë Butsaka unblocking those that needed unblocking. Committing the Tel: 021 483 2578 department to fix houses that have structural defects. It was also Thyrza Horn wonderful seeing one of our proud sons of the Province, Mr. John Tel: 021 483 8790 Ovis, being declared as the second outstanding Community Development Worker (CDW) in the country. I hope most people Malusi Rayi are aware and appreciative of the work that our CDWs are Tel: 021 483 4981 putting in. These are new cadres of service delivery, who bring Design and Layout: various government services to communities they serve. Jacques van Wyngaardt Tel: 021 483 3634 We also got to see the first Breaking New Ground houses completed and handed over to various beneficiaries. Now sit Contact Us: back and enjoy your read, as we bring you stories that you and Tel: 021 483 2870 the department have been involved in. [email protected] www.capegateway.gov.za/dlgh Cover Page: Sam Nzima's famous June 16, 1976 photograph of Mbuyisa Makhubo carrying Hector Pieterson, accompanied by Hector's sister, Antoinette. Department of Local Government and Housing Visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hector_Pieterson for more Isebe looRhulumente boMmandla nezeZindlu information. Departement van Plaaslike Regering en Behuising Inside this Issue t Please forward any queries and letters to [email protected] or contact us at 021 483 2870, Page Content fax 021 483 2343 Unemployed CDWs? 3 Youth Commission encourages youth to plough I would like the Department to take note of the unemployed CDWs as, I've seen them still helping the back communities. They can't do every thing because they 4 Habitat for Humanity don't have the backup from the Department. International Volunteers Built Therefore I would like to encourage the Department to Houses In the Mfuleni assist them with what they are doing, e.g. Sending youth Township to learnerships helping Social Development to establish youth forums, etc. 5 First of its kind: Breaking New Ground Houses Handed over God bless you all to Beneficiaries From [email protected] 6 Community Development Workers were recognized for hard work Meeting held on 10 June 2007 at Loyolo Centre 7 MEC Dyantyi commits his To MEC Qubudile Richard Dyantyi department to fix faulty houses at Luyoloville It is a great pleasure for me (Patrick Sondlo) as the chairperson of Luyoloville to take this opportunity to 8 Motivational Corner thank you and your associate (Mr Sogayise) for the highly profiled meeting held on Sunday 10 June with myself, the 9 New Appointments committee at large that I am working with and the 10 Birthdays residents that elected us. 11 Career File: Mbongi Gubuza You really made our day; you really gave us a big smile! You have made us sleep very peacefully, like a baby, in these years of struggle. Sir, we have always hoped that one day we would be able to walk around with smiles on our faces and we knew that God would one day send us a man like you, to come and listen to our cries. Now here you are, that man we have been hoping and praying for. Once again, thank you, we will not forget you or your department. Keep up with the good work, we know it is not easy and we are looking forward to leaders of your nature. Amaqobokazana angalala endleleni sukuba kunyembelekile. Siswele imilomo ayaba ibiliwaka, The Best Letters! sibonge nentlokomo le nceba ingkanana. You are making us proud. Write to us, give comments or suggestions and the best Thank you very much again! Siyabulele letter will win you this mousepad with the Regards Department’s logo Patrick Sondlo and all members of the housing committee Youth Commission encourages youth to plough back Mr Vincent Domingo, Western Cape Youth Commission Chair Person by Vumile Ncedani e s t e r n C a p e Y o u t h to develop and assist them to a n d r e s o u r c e s f o r y o u t h Commission Chairperson acquire technical necessary skills development were also discussed. WVincent Domingo has w h i l e c o n t r i b u t i n g t o t h e encouraged the youth to plough reconstruction of their communities. S p e a k i n g o n t h e r o l e o f back to the community and “ Young people have always played departmental youth development, voluntarily render their services for a very important role to transform youth co-ordinator Mr. Sipho t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e i r this country. The responsibility of Phendu said, “We need to lobby communities, because time has youth is to develop interest for their influence in various sections within changed. own country and be a caring the department to begin to develop society,” said the Domingo. action plans and programs biased Speaking to the youth of Local towards youth development.” Government and Housing at a youth The department had organized the celebration, held at 27 Wale Street youth celebration event where It was stressed by young people that ISM building. He said young people young people were offered the they should continue engaging in of today do not need to emulate the opportunity to define themselves on d i s c u s s i o n s w i t h s e n i o r youth of 1976 in order to be visible or what it means to be a youth within management, as they believe that heard by the local community the department. Among other the future of the department lies with leaders and government. things discussed, was creating an them. About forty young people appropriate platform for the youth attended the celebration and Domingo urged youth to take to engage. A wide range of issues to participated during question time. responsibility to initiate youth develop the youth strategy, youth programs that would enable them development, allocating budget Revolution Band kept crowds on their knees at the Youth attending the Youth Day event at Plettenberg Bay Plettenberg Youth Day Celebrations Page Three LGH Newsletter, 6th Issue, 2007 by Malusi Rayi he reality is that government Director, HFHSA, said this had Habitat for Humanity South Africa is alone cannot build homes for demonstrated that their relationship a non-profit, Christian Housing Teveryone in South Africa, with government has grown to Organization that falls under the we need a buy in from churches, another level. “I think Government is umbrella of Habitat Humanity and corporate entities to provide starting to know who we are and International, a ministry seeking to decent houses and this is the ideal what we stand for,” she said. provide simple, decent affordable we strive towards as Habitat for housing throughout the world. Home Humanity (HFH),” said one of the Mr. Fahied Mania, a volunteer from owners are selected based on their International Volunteers during the California said, they were doing this financial need and willingness to visit of LG&H news to Mfuleni to demonstrate that there are no partner with their community group township. The volunteers were part walls or barriers between human and Habitat for Humanity. Earlier this of 120 Habitat for Humanity group beings. “Everyone regardless of year, Habitat for Humanity was one who flew all the way from Great colour or race deserves to live in a of the two NGO's who signed the Britain and the United States of decent home,” said Mania.