Business Audit and Business Survey
Make sure your business is counted in

Emerging entrepreneurs from Cato Crest and the Wiggins precincts should brace themselves for a business audit and a survey soon to commence in their areas. The main objective of this study is to ascertain and determine the type of businesses that are available in these communities.

Information gathered from this study will guide the CMDA and other service providers in the identification of needs of local businesses and enhance the general understanding of the local economic environment.

“The communities will benefit the most as this data will enable service providers to design needs-driven intervention strategies. The communities will also be better informed about the economic environment and will be in a position to take advantage of opportunities that are available in Cato Manor,” said Kokela Silimela of the Local Economic Department at the CMDA.

The survey will eventually be extended to the whole of Cato Manor. The two communities have been earmarked as venues for economic hives.

Residents involved in some form of economic activity, no matter how small, should ensure that their businesses are counted. Out of the survey, a database of all businesses in Cato Manor will be developed and this will be made available even to organisations outside of Cato Manor. Ensure that you are counted in!

The commencement date for the survey has been scheduled for 5th of May.

Arts and Culture Council
in Cato Crest

Milton Gcwensa, co-founder of
Sukuma Arts and Culture Council.

Sukuma Cato Crest Arts and Culture Council has been established in Cato Crest to unearth cultural talent buried within the community. The council is going to concentrate its efforts on traditional music groups such as maskanda, mbaqanga, s’cathasmiya, dance troupes, drama, craft makers and poets.

One of the tools that the council is using to unearth talent and gain popularity within the community is staging competitions. The council hopes to have culture related activities on a week-end by week-end basis.

Milton Gcwensa, the chairperson of Sukuma, said: “One of the reasons of establishing the cultural council is to contribute in the on-going fight against crime and encourage people to be conscious about their culture while keeping them entertained. People are bored – they need entertainment and they don’t have to go far for it. There is all the entertainment you can get within the community.

“We can also generate income by attracting the tourist traffic that passes us on a daily basis when we get our act together and act collectively,” he said.

Supplementary lessons for Chesterville High matric students

Efforts to improve matric results at the under-performing Chesterville High School have been set in motion, which must be good news for parents.

A programme to supplement Grade 12 classes has been initiated at the school. Black professionals, including tudents from both Natal Tech and ML Sultan, have offered their services to scholars who wish to improve their understanding of Physics, Maths, Biology, Accounting, Business Economics, Economics and Geography. Motivational speakers will be included as the programme unfolds.

The plan has been hailed as a positive step towards helping matriculants pass their exams at first attempt. The supplementary classes are held on Saturdays between 9:00 am and 12:00 noon.

Hope for Cato Manor

Head of Africa programmes, Dr Mark Ottenweller from the US, KZN Co-ordinator Mlungisi Mhlungu, Senior Counsellor Ben Ntsikanye and Gugu Karuwa of the Chesterville Hospice.

Intuthuko Junction is fast becoming the nerve centre of Cato Manor as far as community servicing is concerned. One of the many tenants at Intuthuko Junction is Hope World Wide, an organisation which offers health services to Cato Manor residents.

Their main focus is to work with people infected and or affected by HIV\AIDS on issues around prevention and awareness. They also provide family counselling and education and training. Their area of concentration has been extended to the Chesterville clinic, Sydenham clinic and the STD clinic in Warwick Avenue.

At the moment Hope World Wide has been very instrumental in setting up three support groups - two are at Ekuphileni Clinic and one is at the Day Care Centre in Chesterville.
Enquiries

Readers who have access to the internet can also visit www.hopeww.org to know more about this organisation – otherwise contact them on 261 9111 or visit them at Suite 355 Intuthuko Junction, 750 Francois Road.

Siyavikela to protect residents

Community safety has become the buzz word around the country. In the Wiggins Precinct a new organisation has been formed to curb and combat crime. The Wiggins Precinct is an area covering Umkhumbane, Dunbar and the Fast Track. The organisation which operates under the name Siyavikela is made up of members from all these areas.

Siyavikela’s primary objective is to protect residents from domestic violence and general crime activities such as burglaries. Siyavikela hopes to expand its operations to all of Ward 30. Its membership is drawn from various community-based organisations such as community policing forums, health workers etc.

f members of the communities mentioned above experience any crime related problems, have on going quarrels with their neighbours and or have family problems relating to violence, drug and child abuse, they may contact any of the following people:- Richman Mkhungo (Old Dunbar), Aaron Dlamini and Ethel Herempi (Wiggins Umkhumbane), Sydney Ngidi, Dudu Nkonki and Themba Mpanza (New Dunbar), Lungi Magubane and Thulani Mbatha (Fast Track).