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Thieves
hit Cato Crest Multi-Purpose Centre
“The
thieves came in from the window”, says Mncwabe, the Principal
of Mayville Secondary School.
The
Cato Crest Multi-Purpose Centre has experienced a spate
of thefts which have left everyone baffled. The thefts occurred
during the first week of the new school calender. A computer,
a microwave, a refrigerator and a calculator was stolen
from the secondary school while a hi-fi set was taken from
the library. As if this was not enough, another refrigerator
was taken from the community hall.
It is the second time the library has been hit by thieves
since it was opened. Computers and books were removed during
the first break-in.
People are doing it for themselves
Vuk’uzenzele infects the whole nation
In
his address to the nation, President Thabo Mbeki made a
call for people to stand up and be counted in the fight
against the struggle to eradicate poverty and underdevelopment
in our communities. Today millions of South Africans ask
themselves the question, "how can I lend a hand in
the national effort of Vuk’uzenzele"?
In Cato Manor this call is two years late because residents
have already been involved in a similar programme which
is called Vuk’uzenzele which is primarily aimed at empowering
people through education.
The Cato Manor based Vuk’uzenzele was launched in September
1998. It started as a homeownership education programme
which was aimed at informing new home owners of their rights
and responsibilities.
"The programme did not only teach the new homeowners
of their rights and responsibilities but it also informed
them of the role to be played by other stakeholders such
as the Metro," said Judy Malqueeny.
Four thousand homeowners have benefited from this programme
since it was launched.
Through constant interaction with the various communities,
the programme has encouraged women groups to initiate the
operation of savings clubs to improve their lives. More
than 50 savings clubs are active in Cato Manor today.
Not only are the savings club concentrated in the informal
settlements, the influence has spread to the formalised
settlements such as the Chesterville Extension area where
a savings club known as Tata ma-chansi operates. The savings
clubs operate on the stokvel principle of survival.
This club is going a step further by seeking to make its
20 members become HIV/AIDS counsellors for their community.
Most savings clubs draw their membership from older women,
but in Cato Crest a younger group of women has banded together
to form Umzomusha which is a cultural craft co-operative
that makes craft which is based on the history of Cato Manor.
While women in Ensimbini led by the remarkable 70-year-old
Mrs Sephani, have literally taken over the piece of land
near the N3 freeway for agricultural purposes. Plans to
formalise their group and introduce the concept of urban
farming are underway.
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Appointment
of black architects
A
black-owned architectural firm Langa Makhanya Architects
has been appointed to design one of two new primary schools
to be built during 2002 and funded by the EU. These will
bring the number of EU funded schools in Cato Manor to
seven. Another two new schools were funded by the RDP.
The
design has already been workshopped and received approval
by the CMCO Education and Training Committee, and representatives
of the local Area Committees were given an opportunity
to make comments at a meeting held at the CMDA offices
in November.
If there are no unforeseen delays construction will commence
in February/March 2002, and completion is scheduled for
the start of the 2003 academic year. The tender for construction
is yet to be advertised.
The primary school at Chesterville is located immediately
below the Booth Road housing project - North and South
of Booth Road. The buildings are arranged around a courtyard,
overlooked by the administration block, resource centre
and the general purpose classroom which will be used for
school meetings, assemblies and sports activities. The
classroom blocks are double-storey and are arranged along
the perimeter of the site with views across the river
running along the southern edge of the site. This arrangement
achieves a compact school design with a high level of
surveillance from staff areas and from the houses that
overlook the site.
Construction of a full primary school comprising 18 classrooms,
an administration block, resource centre and general purpose
classroom will require supplementary funding which may
be made available from provincial government budgets.
If not, reductions in the accommodation will have to be
considered.
The positioning of the facility on the site recognises
the future (unfunded) proposals for a secondary school
and sports field adjacent to the site and establishes
shared access and a parking area for expansion in later
phases.
Volunteers
needed to build
100 houses
Habitat
for Humanity is a non-governmental organisation building
simple, decent affordable houses for people in need in
about 83 countries around the world. During the week of
June 3 - 7 this year Habitat for Humanity is going to
build 100 houses at 45th Cutting, Sherwood, right here
in Durban and volunteers will be needed to help with this
important project. Jimmy Carter, a former President of
USA and his wife will be coming to South Africa to work
with this project. It is expected that 2000 volunteers
from around the world will join them.
We are calling for local volunteers who are able to take
the time out to help with the building of these houses.
You do not need to be an expert builder to participate,
as there will be skilled and competent people assisting
you on site. We need all the helpers we can get.
If you are interested in being part of this exciting team
of people, please contact Iona Laing at (031) 260-2307
or at home on 261-1781 or Yamiko at Habitat for Humanity
offices (031) 207-7830.
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