Instead of travelling to far away places this Easter holidays, you could stay at home and enjoy what promises to be a holiday to remember. A group which calls itself Umkhumbane Institute has set in motion plans to make the Easter Week a historic event.

According to Nhlanhla ‘Mfokanomajalimane’ Mtaka, residents will be treated to a feast of music from well known musicians Sipho Gumede and Sandile Shange, and other up and coming musicians. Plans to launch a bursary fund for poor children during this week are afoot. The bursary will be known as the Mary Thipe Scholarship. “It is only befitting that this honour be bestowed on one of the stalwarts who dedicated their lives to ensure that South Africa becomes a land of equal opportunities for all who live in it.” Another attraction for the weekend is an exhibition depicting the history of Cato Manor in all the community halls around Cato Manor viz Umkhumbane, Cato Crest and Chesterville. KwaMuhle Museum is presently the only place that has a well documented history of Cato Manor. Sport enthusiasts will be treated to various sporting activities such as cricket and soccer. The highlight of the weekend is the unveiling of a memorial which is dedicated to all victims of the apartheid struggle.

Home ownership for Masixha residents

After a lengthy period of uncertainty KwaMasixhawulane residents look set to formalise their stay in the area. Residents are currently engaged in a signing process that is expected to end doubts once and for all.

The KwaMasixhawulane Housing Committee has convinced the Provincial Housing Development Board to accept that people be allowed to use the “rent to buy” scheme as one of the options to purchase the houses.

According to Jabu Zwane, the committee’s spokesperson, the unemployed, pensioners and single parents will also get an opportunity to purchase their houses. But applicants will have to declare their status every six months.

It is estimated that a total of 700 households have opted for this scheme with the remaining people opting for the bond scheme.

When the process of signing up has been completed, residents can expect to have their sites formally pegged.

“There have been a lot of wrangles between neighbours because of boundaries. Many people have fenced their homes and have used their neighbours’ sites because the sites are not clearly pegged,” said Zwane.

Residents will not be paying a fixed amount across the board but they will have individual interviews with PHDB staff to determine their affordability.

On the issue of lack of social amenities in the area Zwane said that relevent departments are being engaged.

Cato Crest SACP Branch
POBox 1755
Durban 4001
22 January

Dear Sir
Factors which hamper the development of Cato Crest Through your permission I would like to greet every citizen of Cato Manor and anyone who is a stakeholder in the development of this area. The Communist movement wishes them a prosperous 2001.
However the real thorny issue that is disturbing the Communist movement is the pace of the development of Cato Crest. We wish to back the Mayor’s call that was published in the last edition of your newspaper. Indeed crooks must not be tolerated. Their time is up. We propose that the clean-up campaign to rid the area of corrupt leaders should start in Cato Crest.

The following are some of the issues that are of concern:

1. Nepotism: jobs revolve around committee members. Committee members practise job hopping. If a lucrative job is on offer they leave it and hop to the next one. When that is finished they go back to their old job.
2. The selling and the reposession of people’s shacks. Committee members have a good business going on by selling shacks that are supposed to be demolished. We have evidence beyond any reasonable doubt.
3. The community fears rather than respects some of the leaders because of threats. Leaders are more like bullies than leaders.
4. The looting of materials that were supposed to be used for the Cato Crest Multi-Purpose Centre opening is well documented.
5. The community has no access to the halls because they are permanently occupied by the leaders. There is no consideration for the youth and the poor.
6. Institute a hearing regarding the abuse of transport money provided by the CMDA for meetings and conferences.
7. We still believe that the investigation that was conducted at the greenfields needs to be revisited. We have evidence that allocation was inappropriate.

We are saying all communities should unite against corruption and work responsibly with organisations like the CMDA and all the political groups in the area. The reason we write this letter is because we are convinced that the corrupt elements of our society are gaining the upper hand.
Thanks
Vuyani Msomi On behalf of the Communist Party