Nkanini People expend their community

Nkanini people are hoping to expend their little community.  The community was founded by few community members who were renting at the backyards of the school crescent and Snake Valley and others were staying with their families in the hostels.

It hasn’t been easy for these community members since at the beginning they had no electricity and no running water because Stellenbosch municipality wanted them gone. One of the residents who started this small community Josephsaid it wasn’t easy building this community because the odds were against them. “We had to fight with the municipality and the neighboring communities because they both wanted us gone, but we fought as we are still fighting even today”, said Joseph.

The community has grown a lot in the past few years and now they are hoping to make it bigger.  Younger people are seeking independence and they see Nkanini as their stepping stone to a bigger house and perhaps see it as a waiting room to a bigger RDP house.

This past weekend the Kayamandi community woken by the noise of zinks and hummers, people building and others expanding their homes. The crowed moved to start building under the police station where Paarl police officers claimed that it belong to a private owner not to the Cape Winelands District.

Municipality came and demolished them but the community members who were building said they will not give up because similar situation happened before when the first Nkanini dwellers build the first houses that made what we call Nkanini today.

The mayor office said the community agreed to have a meeting with them to resolve this issue.

The area is one of the areas in the Western Cape who were against 2014 elections because of the tribulations they are facing. The person who spark the insanity is still unknown.

Township kids enthused to make movies

The film school Africa is gearing up for another exciting year, according to their former students.

The school is starting their level one class at the beginning of June. The former FSA student and the Cape Peninsula graduate Nosisi Sithole has been busy since the announcement of the new classes because she will be working with the Director of the school Katie Taylor and the school’s own editor Marie  Midcalf.

Taylor said the classes are free of charge “the classes are free of charge but we do require your consistency “said Taylor.

The school had their annual festival, where they show case student films.

The Executive International and Film School Africa’ s Director Taylor said the students did their best ,  and she mentioned the boy who she said his movies were the worse when he started. “We didn’t show Cwenga’s level one films because they were that bad, “but look at him now, the best editor, said Taylor with excitement.

She continue saying that “Hard work pays because this kid who didn’t know how to even edit the movies by the end of his level one.” Said Taylor.

The school started way back in 2008 by Katie Taylor, who was working at Hollywood back then. She started everything from scratch, she thought her students how to tell their own stories on camera, how to pitch their story ideas and how to shoot. Know almost eight years later the school has spread in Strand. And they added some more film levels; they also added Art, Photography and acting classes.

The highlight of the school is always the film festival which happened every year at the end of the years. The students invite their friends and family to attend the community and also attend. The students walk in red carpet, families, friends and the school taking their picture.

One of the former students said film festival is the proof that you make it and you can do whatever you put your mind on it because it’s a lot of work, but it’s all worth it. 

Some of the awards winners from last year were given to the best actor, best improved Editor and audience’s choice. The other film makers who went home with awards was Thando Dynatyi ( who currently studying film at AFDA), Azola Anita, Manna Benny Tshengele and Pretty Mcetywa who went home with the best improved director.

Mcetywa said she is happy with her ward, the award inspired her to follow her dreams in Film making industry as she is currently doing grade 12.

 

 The organizers of the Super Club in Kayamandi are satisfied by the progress made this year. The one week fun week for the kids was once again a success after they managed to play games, bond and build relationship with the kids the whole week during the June holidays.  The project organizers Luvuyo Nyamanda and Kutala Tswane said the purpose of the Super Club is to make sure that kids are doing constructive things in a fun way with their holiday time.  

“We want the kids to be kids, we want them to have fun” said Nyamanda. He continue saying that the kids sometimes do not get a chance to enjoy their holiday and to enjoy the beauty of being an infant because of the responsibilities they have at home, so they are creating that platform for them to have fun, learn and make new friends.

The program was started back in 2006 by the coupe from UK and Alfred Jongile who was working at the school at that time as a Mentor in the high school program called Gold.

Nyamanda took charge of it during the world cup in 2010 when they led a campaign to keep kids safe during that time. It was call Keep them safe, and he never look back.   

Kids were energized   by different games lead by young people who are between the ages of 16- 25.

Youth were not left behind, but unlike the kid’s games, the youth had workshop that included movies, poetry, dance, HIV and Aids workshops and drama. The week was completed on Friday by the dance instructed by a dancer Abongile Khwaza and the drama group coached by the drama and dance guru Mbongeni  Mtshali.

 

 

 

 

Kayamandi hero

Our beauty queen is shining the name of Kayamandi as she’s currently leading the Face of Rebel competition countrywide by 275 votes.

 

 

Thandeka Booi, the Kayamandi born entered the Rebel fashion competition a month ago not knowing what to expect. She said she saw the competition in one of their stores in Dutoit on her way to town and she decided to take her chance to apply as she always wanted to be in fashion.” I was walking to town when I spotted the competition, fashion is my thing, I’ve always wanted to be a fashion model” said a 24-year-old Booi.

She said she grew up loving fashion and she was called fashion show growing up and as she grew up name changed to fashion designer, but the real deal that opened her eyes was the time she attended fashion classes in Kuyasa last year. 

Just like all the competitors, Booi didn’t know what was going to happen with the competition, but her support from the community has landed where she might see her herself   as the face of Rebel fashion.

She said if she wins she will complete her media studies diploma and further her career in fashion at the private institute at the Elizarbeth Galloway academy of fashion in Stellenbosch. The institute has given her an opportunity of a lifetime “scholarship” if she studies with them. She is hoping to combine the media studies experience with her passion for fashion and do fashion modeling.

You can make this girl’s dream to become a reality by voting for her. All you need to  do is to login to your facebook account and like her picture in REBEL FASHION SA facebook page.

The winners will be announced on the 2^nd of August 2014.     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kayamandi visited by Government services

The Kayamandi community were visited by the government service called Thusong  .

The two day local government initiative took place in Kayamandi high school. People didn’t disappoint they came in number to take advantage on this free service.  

The government service were brought together in one place some of the programs who were featured is Department of Health, where community members were able to test high blood, TB, Diabetic testing, and contraception’s. The second one was Department of Home affairs, where they assisted people on making new ID’s and Birth certificates,  Sassa helped with the social grants and other related issues,  Department of local government who helped the community members with free ID photos, consumer protector, Northlink college, Boland college, IEC to register people , Department of Justice, Department of Agriculture  who informed the community about farming and the learner ships they  are currently having, South African Police services, Department of Public works and Transport,     Department of Agriculture, Department of labor, who deals with UIF, complaints, career information and Compensation services like injury on duty.

 Some of these programs will be ongoing on monthly basis in the community, they said they have identified the need in the community and the main aim is to bring service and information to the community and make sure it accessible.

Young peope came in numbers to make news ID’s , most of them making them for the first time, Anganawe Dokolwana said he is so excited for an ID, “ I can’t believe I finally did it,  I’m happy and grateful” said a 17-year- old Anga.

The Home affairs official Lesley Samsom said most of the people they have been dealing with so far is the first timers, “we have been busy the whole morning, most of the people who are making ID’s are people who are applying  for the first time, and they are taking pictures for free, that make things easier” said Samson.

And Sassa officials were also at work, people were applying for food and grants.   And Police officers were certifying copies. The first day ended so quick to others, but fortunately there was a second day to finalize everything. 

 

 

 

 

         

 

 

 

Everyday recovery

This post was inspired by one of my favourite celebrities Jada Pinket Smith. It kind of reminded me that we are all recovering from something. Her post made me realize that I am also recovering from something.

Whether you recovering from abuse, trauma, depression, alcohol abuse, failure of relationship, or disappointments. The good thing is you’ve managed to take the first step by admitting to yourself that you are suffering and you taking another step forward to recover.

This is to my dear friend that I still love very much

Dear friend,

I know it’s only been few years since the pregnancy before marriage took place and the everyday struggle that you faced when people including your own friends were giving you nasty  looks  , and losing the father of your child in the short space of time.
I know you spend so many years recovering from the loss of your parents. I know it was never easy. To be honest I’ve learn so much during this process of your recovery myself.

I was so encouraged when I saw you take the first step by getting A’s and B’s on your final year in high school. And I was more encouraged to see you take even further step after a row of disappointments by getting out of the house after months of struggle to get out of the house to face the public.

The biggest lesson of them all is when you failed, ran and managed to come back. And you took two steps back. I want to tell you that we are all recovering from something. We may not show it in pubic but we are all recovering.

There is no one person on this planet that is not recovering from something even if it’s something small. Jada says the process of recovery is about regaining oneself from whatever it is that may have stolen us.

Friend your strength cannot be measured, you are strong behind doubts. I am grateful that I am here to see it all. Thank you so much for reminding me that I am also in constant recovery, even if at times I do not know or I cannot see the progress.

Thank you!

Hi my name is Ncumisa and I’m recovering from obesity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bring back our girls

Where there is no progress and there is poverty it’s likely that we get Boko Haraam is South Africa. We must all know that Nigeria is also a democratic country. When people feel and believe that they are not being heard it’s easier to do those crazy things.

Boko Haram is an unhappy group that is against the system and they are not being heard so they are taking actions into their own hands.

Leaders should take control and listen to their people. The protests and poo war are just the beginning in our beautiful country, I can’t help but to notice and hear the noises that might one day be awakened.
We have a lot to think about as a country, the Boko Haram saga is not just terror to Nigeria, it is a terror to the continent. And it is also a lesson that should be learn by our leaders.
To be honest, we have our own Boko Haram especially here in Cape Town. We have rapes and gang violence. I’m sure other provinces are facing the same if not even more issues. 

I’m not trying to block the sympathy that people have about the girls, I feel sorry for them and their families, and no one deserves that. But we should also focus on our own unresolved issues.

A friend of mine suggested that we should plan a march about these girls, even though we always supported each other but I couldn’t support her on this one. I have never heard anyone saying we must go and protest in Delf about the unending rape that is happening on that area, I have never heard anyone marching to Manenberg about the drugs and gangs that are invading that area and killing innocent people.

Oh by the way how safe are our girls now? I mean since the trend started more than 600 people have been killed, how safe are they now? Don’t you think the trend will make things worse for them? I’m just saying, I may be wrong, but I have seen how things were to Kenneth Bae, an American citizen who was detained in North Korea, did they set him free just because the whole world is talking  about it? the answer is: it  didn’t stop them from detaining him, and he even said people must stop because they are making things difficult for him. I just hope things turn different to the girls.

#justsaying