Harding - Torrential Rains Claims Two Lives
By Sonica Naudé-Steyn
A mother and daughter from Kwajali drowned last week after trying to cross a flooding river near Harding last week.
According to a statmement released by KZN Cogta, disaster management teams reported the incidents and believe it was as a result of the persistent rains that occurred in the province last week.
“A child drowned last night while crossing uMthamvuna River at Kwajali in the Ugu district. Our prayers are with the family and the community of the two victims and we would like to assure the public that our disaster management teams treat such tragedies humanely and with the utmost compassion," said KZN MEC for Cogta Nomusa Dube-Ncube.
KZN Cogta has also reported that EMRS and the SAPS' Search and Rescue unit together with the uMuziwabantu disaster management officials attended to the scene and assisted in retrieving the missing bodies of the deceased mother and child.
"We would like to take this opportunity to reiterate our appeal to the public to take our weather warnings seriously and to cooperate with the authorities when disasters strike and our teams are deployed to provide emergency relief and assistance on the ground," concluded Dube-Ncube.
Monday, 6 March 2017
By Sonica Naudé-Steyn
The Arusha Round Table (based in Tanzania) recently hosted their second annual Klimb Manjaro event where climbers are challenged to summit Kilimanjaro in aid of raising funds for charity.
This year however the Tablers honoured fallen comrade, Gordon Gray by conducting the event in his honour. Gordon Gray was a local businessman and philanthropist who passed away in a helicopter accident in August last year.
“After Gordon's passing last year, we unanimously took the decision to honour his memory by hosting the KlimbManjaro 2 and every KlimbManjaro event thereafter in his memory and honour,” said Ameet Sidhu, International Relations Officer of Round Table Arusha 14.
According to Ameet, the Klimb Manjaro event is Gordon’s greatest legacy to the organisation: “Gordon was a massive part of Round Table Arusha since its inception in June 2014. He visited us on average two to three times a year and we enjoyed his humour and company whilst benefiting from his ideas. KlimbManjaro was his idea and with his advice and support, RT14 brought it to life in February 2016.”
The Klimb Manjaro event raises funds for the Arusha based New Paradise Outlook Centre which supports young orphans through secondary school. Funds are used to provide the orphans with all their educational requirements such as school fees, uniforms and other school materials.
“This year we will be using the money raised from our inaugural climb in 2016 to fund three orphans fully and top-up the fund for two more orphans who receive partial funding from another party. Our total contribution for the five teenagers is 4,600,000 Tanzania Shillings, which equates to just over $2,000. In total, the orphanage has seven children who will be in secondary school this year out of a total of 25 orphans, hence a further batch of students will be joining secondary school next year,” said Ameet.
The ultimate goal for the organisation is to raise enough funds to give every orphan at the centre the opportunity to attend secondary school.
“Up to now, the gentleman who runs and looks after the orphanage really struggled to fund the high school orphans, so this is a big relief for a man who looks to be nearing his 80's. That is why Klimb Manjaro is very important to us in terms of raising money for our project. Of course, every year the number of high school attendees from the orphanage grows bigger and so we will continue our efforts to raise funds for the cause. This year we have raised $1,800, largely thanks to Alex Shulze and Sebastian Schreiber from Table 182 in Tuebingen Germany. That's a pretty strong number for us considering we only had 6 climbers this year compared to 16 last year when we raised just over double that figure!” continued Ameet.
In order to share the success of the fundraiser, the Arusha tablers invited Gordon’s fiancé, Lisa Honneysett-Filer to be the guest of honour at the ceremony where the funds were handed over to the orphanage.
“We wanted to grace the occasion with someone who was very dear to Gordon, and we are so glad she could make it and share our experiences and stories of Gordon with the Tabler's who joined us this year from Germany, Austria, Kenya and of course Tanzania. We hope she will climb Kili in 2018 as part of Klimb Manjaro 3, and really hope we can host some more of Gordie's countrymen in the future! We will forever miss him, his generosity, his quick wit and humour and his beaming smile. It was a pleasure and honour knowing him, and I know that the group of us who summited Kili with him in 2016 will always remember him,” Ameet concluded. For more information on the Klimb Manjaro event please visit the Arusha Round Table Facebook page or email rtarusha@gmail.com.
By Sonica Naudé-Steyn
The Salaam Foundation and Salaamedia’s ‘Riding for SA Education’ team arrived in Kokstad on Sunday afternoon as part of their 3000km awareness campaign.
The ride, which is aimed at raising funds and awareness around the needs of basic education in South Africa particularly in needy and underdeveloped rural areas, started at the Musina border on 7 February and is expected to conclude in March when the team reaches Cape Town.
The main cyclist of the campaign is Salaam Foundation director, Azhar Vadi who was joined by his fellow director, Zaheer Pahad from the start point to Johannesburg. Vadi is expected to complete the entire journey with riders welcome to join him along the way.
The Riding for SA Education team have also stopped at rural schools along the way, identifying problem areas and basic needs and addressing the learners regarding the implementation of education development projects.
“Education is a universal concern and we as South African need to band together to improve education in our country. This is what this campaign is all about. We aim to touch lives, to share with our fellow countrymen. We cannot solve all the problems but we can come together to show the spirit of country,” explained Vadi.
Vadi says that the campaign has been challenging and hard on his body but that he is very happy doing the cycle: “Despite cycling in wet weather, getting the flu and having a sore body every day, I would not want to be anywhere else. I cycle between 50 and 100 kilometers a day but the warm welcome and appreciation my team and I have received in the rural areas and small towns has been wonderful.”
Vadi says that the journey has also taught him many lessons and challenged his discipline in terms of meeting his deadline every single day. The team will be travelling to East London by vehicle due to security concerns before continuing on their journey to Cape Point.
“We welcome others who would like to ride along with us for any distance. We also call on other community organisations and NGO's to come on board. Potential sponsors and donors can contact us on info@salaamedia.com,” concluded Vadi. People who wish to forward details of schools who could potentially be assisted can also send an email to the above address. To follow the campaign visit the social media feeds on Twitter and Instagram @salaamedia and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/salaamedia.
1. Riding for SA Education cyclists, Azhar Vadi arriving in Kokstad on Sunday.
By Sonica Naudé-Steyn
Residents from the Betshwana area of Mt Ayliff (Maxesibeni) took to the streets in protest on Friday after councillors from the Alfred Nzo District Municipality failed to meet with the disgruntled residents.
According to Mt Ayliff correspondent, Mzwandile Mpiti, the residents had arranged a meeting for Friday, however upon arrival at the municipality were informed that the councillors were not available.
“The residents then decided to close a section of the N2 in protests because the Alfred Nzo District Municipality councillors and management failed to meet the local people as per arranged meeting. They said they arrived at the Alfred Nzo Municipality on the day of the meeting and were told that the councillors and management were not in the office as usual. They then decided to protest so that the District Municipality will come to the negotiating table,” said Mpiti.
It is alleged that the councillors and management staff in question were attending and event at the Wild Coast Sun on Friday and thus failed to attend the alleged arranged meeting. At the time of going to press, no response had been received from the Alfred Nzo District Municipality regarding the incident.
Teachers Honoured at Schools Excellence Awards
Teachers Honoured at Schools Excellence Awards
By Sonica Naudé-Steyn
The Department of Education (DOE) hosted the 9th annual School Excellence Awards at Kokstad College last Thursday.
Teachers from the district received awards for exemplary effort in terms of improving on pass rates and general improvements in educational standards. A representative from the DOE said that this year he was particularly happy considering the vast improvement in pass rates compared to 2015.
Guest speaker, Barbara Njapha echoed the sentiment and said that teachers who continually try to improve need to be appreciated: “We are here to celebrate exemplary teachers and support staff. Those teachers who teach despite the challenges they face and do their best…those are the teachers I like. Teaching is about the outcome and not the income. I do however feel that supporting staff, subject advisors and area managers also need to be appreciated for their efforts.”
Njapha said that teachers have so many roles to fill including being a nurse, councillor and social worker and need to be inspired to improve every day.
“They need passion and commitment. I further challenge teachers to change the mind set of expecting less from your learners. Expect more from your learners, inspire and motivate them to do better,” cautioned Njapha. She also challenged stakeholders to become more actively involved in local education for the betterment of the entire community.
“How are we contributing to the betterment of schooling/education in our area? I challenge local stakeholders to become more involved. This will lead to less crime, poverty and disease and build better skills. It all starts at school!” said Njapha. She concluded her address by saying that appreciation is a fundamental human need and that recognising teachers helps to inspire and motivate them to improve.
1. A performance from a local learner.
2. Guest speaker, Mrs Barbara Njapha.
3. Local teachers and supporting staff receiving awards for their efforts towards the betterment of local education.
By Sonica Naudé-Steyn
The Department of Education (DOE) hosted the 9th annual School Excellence Awards at Kokstad College last Thursday.
Teachers from the district received awards for exemplary effort in terms of improving on pass rates and general improvements in educational standards. A representative from the DOE said that this year he was particularly happy considering the vast improvement in pass rates compared to 2015.
Guest speaker, Barbara Njapha echoed the sentiment and said that teachers who continually try to improve need to be appreciated: “We are here to celebrate exemplary teachers and support staff. Those teachers who teach despite the challenges they face and do their best…those are the teachers I like. Teaching is about the outcome and not the income. I do however feel that supporting staff, subject advisors and area managers also need to be appreciated for their efforts.”
Njapha said that teachers have so many roles to fill including being a nurse, councillor and social worker and need to be inspired to improve every day.
“They need passion and commitment. I further challenge teachers to change the mind set of expecting less from your learners. Expect more from your learners, inspire and motivate them to do better,” cautioned Njapha. She also challenged stakeholders to become more actively involved in local education for the betterment of the entire community.
“How are we contributing to the betterment of schooling/education in our area? I challenge local stakeholders to become more involved. This will lead to less crime, poverty and disease and build better skills. It all starts at school!” said Njapha. She concluded her address by saying that appreciation is a fundamental human need and that recognising teachers helps to inspire and motivate them to improve.
1. A performance from a local learner.
2. Guest speaker, Mrs Barbara Njapha.
3. Local teachers and supporting staff receiving awards for their efforts towards the betterment of local education.
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