Page 6 Millions extra for housing - Durban · Page 6 NEWS and FEATURES 12 February 2010 THEMBA...

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NEWS and FEATURES Page 6 12 February 2010 THEMBA KHUMALO AN EXHIBITION of work by Omar and Ebrahim Badsha, titled Under the Umdoni Tree, has opened at the Durban Art Gallery. It includes more than 70 paintings, drawings and sculptures executed between the early 1950s and the late 1960s. It runs until 21 March. Opening the show, Prof Ari Sitas said, “This exhibition asks us to search through the past and try to imagine what it was like then. “The exhibition is about intimacy, violence, women protecting their children and each other,” he said. Sitas said it was important for people to make their own interpretation. “You can see the detail in the drawings and the discipline, and the way things are manifested in the exhibition,” he said. It explores the rich history of artists and intellectuals who contributed to the rich tapestry of life in the then Grey Street precinct. The Mdoni tree is indigenous to KwaZulu-Natal. It grows into a very tall tree that bears a juicy, black berry. Badsha said, “I am very humbled by the gallery for giving us a chance to show our work. My family and I believe this work belongs to the nation and not to us.” [email protected] Exhibition explores a rich history SPECIAL OCCASION: Opening night at the Under the Umdoni Tree exhibition Picture: THEMBA KHUMALO SIYABONGA MAPHUMULO and DERRICK DLAMINI THE Executive Committee (Exco) has approved R320- million for the reconstruction and repair of Council housing. In addition, a grant appli- cation for R280-million will be made to the KZN Department of Human Settlements to service budget shortfalls for housing in Chatsworth, Lam- ontville and former R293 areas (townships). The Council had initially authorised R500-million to refurbish houses in former R293 townships, but this was exceeded as some of the houses were badly damaged and had to be rebuilt. The houses in question were under the former KwaZulu administration, and later the Department of Human Settle- ments and are now the res- ponsibility of eThekwini. In a report before Exco, the Housing Unit said, “Inade- quate storm water control had undermined many house foundations and these costs were not included in the original scope of work”. Housing Committee Chair- man, Councillor Nigel Gum- ede said funding constraints had placed limits on the budget initially. “However, as the upgrading progressed, other essential repairs were undertaken to restore the houses to an acceptable quality. This resulted in the initially approved funding being exceeded,” he said. A total of R80-million extra is required to improve houses in Lamontville and Chatsworth and an additional R245- million for refurbishing R293 houses. In all, 22 areas have benefited from the project. Deputy Mayor Logie Naidoo said, “Structural damage needs to be reported immed- iately to engineers. “The monitoring of dev- elopmental projects is crucial,” Naidoo said. He said all parties agreed on the need for the Housing Committee to step up its monitoring of housing projects to curb irregularities, including the use of substandard material. DA Caucus Leader, Coun- cillor Tex Collins, said, “Councillors also need to monitor housing develop- ments in their wards”. [email protected] [email protected] Millions extra for housing Qashana Khuzwayo Road Formerly Shepstone Road (Pinetown) EDUCATOR, businessman and community leader, Norman Qashana Emmanuel Khuzwayo resisted the formation of bantustans during apartheid. Khuzwayo was born on 14 June 1932 in Clermont to Simon, a business pioneer in Clermont, and Yena Khuzwayo. He was one of two brothers and five sisters. Khuzwayo attended St Chads High School before moving to Inkamana High School were he obtained his matric in 1953. The following year he joined St Francis College in Marianhill, were he studied for a teacher’s diploma. His first teaching post was at Glencoe Secondary School were he specialised in teaching English and Social Studies. Later he moved to St Augustines, were he taught the brother of Dr Frank Mdlalose, the first Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Wishing to work closer to his home, Khuzwayo was transferred to the newly opened Sibonelo High School in KwaMashu. In 1959 Khuzwayo married Miriam Dikeledi Mothebe, from Orlando East, who was a trainee nurse at the time. The couple had four children, Ginger, Sibusiso, Dukuza and Vukile. Khuzwayo had a keen interest in promoting technical skills among black pupils and as a result was attached to the TV and video school in Marianhill as a volunteer headmaster. Khuzwayo’s other interests were soccer and music. He was a prominent member of the Christianenburg Church Choir. His family described him as an honourable man who always put them first. Khuzwayo was killed in 1988. He was survived by his wife, two sons and 13 grandchildren. [email protected] As part of a series on the heroes honoured in eThekwini’s new street and building names, Swazi Dlamini profiles Qashana Emmanuel Khuzwayo Committed to education NONDU NGCONGO LOCAL democracy should be strengthened thanks to the launch last week at the City Hall of a forum to co-ordinate the work of Chapter 9 institutions in the province. These organisations are set up in terms of Chapter 9 of the Constitution to guard dem- ocracy. They include the Inde- pendent Electoral Com- mission, Public Protector, the Auditor-General, and the Human Rights Commission. Beverley Motlhabani, Senior Manager of Regional Services in the Municipality’s Comm- unity Participation and Action Support Unit, said they had organised the event because, “Lots of people are unaware of these institutions. They don’t know what they do or where to reach them.” She said they wanted the public to understand these institutions’ link to the Municipality. Motlhabani urged coun- cillors to hold information workshops in their wards. KwaZulu-Natal Chief Elec- toral Officer Mawethu Mosery said, “These institutions must be impartial and perform their duties without fear, favour of prejudice. “We must make sure we conduct elections which are free of corruption,” he said. Khosi Nxumalo of the Com- mission for Gender Equality explained their vision of a society free from gender oppression and all forms of inequality. “Our mandate is to promote and protect gender equality through research, public education and legislation,” Nxumalo said. Nkosinathi Nkosi did a presentation on the work of the Office of the Public Protector, which investigates improper conduct by organs of state, and recommends remedial action. The South African Human Rights Commission, the KZN Department of Social Devel- opment and the South African Social Security Agency also made presentations. Also attending were Deputy City Manger, Governance, Sipho Cele, councillors, trad- itional leaders, officials and members of the public. [email protected] Forum boost for democracy WORTHY: At the launch of a forum for Chapter 9 organisations were Godfrey Naidoo and Mawethu Mosery of the IEC, CRL Commissioner Dorasamy Moodley, Khosi Nxumalo of the Commission for Gender Equality, Nkosinathi Nkosi of the Office of the Public Protector and Deputy City Manager for Governance, Sipho Cele Picture: JESSIE SINGH QASHANA KHUZWAYO OMAR BADSHA: This work belongs to the nation ARI SITAS: Detail and discipline WORK on the Bluff Clinic is on schedule, eThekwini’s South Durban Basin (SDB) Area Based Management (ABM) has announced. Anitha Govender, SDB Project Administrator, said, “There were delays caused by bad weather, but the team remains committed to finishing in May.” SDB Acting Area Manager Eurakha Singh said, “We want to ensure residents do not have to leave their area to get medical attention.” Sathie Chinnasamy, eThekwini Heath’s Senior Manager for the South, said residents would soon have a clinic to be proud of. – S’fiso Xulu Progress on Bluff clinic

Transcript of Page 6 Millions extra for housing - Durban · Page 6 NEWS and FEATURES 12 February 2010 THEMBA...

NEWS and FEATURESPage 6 12 February 2010

THEMBA KHUMALO

AN EXHIBITION of work byOmar and Ebrahim Badsha,titled Under the Umdoni Tree,has opened at the Durban ArtGallery.

It includes more than 70paintings, drawings andsculptures executed betweenthe early 1950s and the late

1960s. It runs until 21 March. Opening the show, Prof Ari

Sitas said, “This exhibitionasks us to search through thepast and try to imagine whatit was like then.

“The exhibition is aboutintimacy, violence, womenprotecting their children andeach other,” he said.

Sitas said it was important

for people to make their owninterpretation. “You can seethe detail in the drawings andthe discipline, and the waythings are manifested in theexhibition,” he said.

It explores the rich historyof artists and intellectualswho contributed to the richtapestry of life in the thenGrey Street precinct.

The Mdoni tree isindigenous to KwaZulu-Natal.It grows into a very tall treethat bears a juicy, black berry.

Badsha said, “I am veryhumbled by the gallery forgiving us a chance to showour work. My family and Ibelieve this work belongs tothe nation and not to us.”

[email protected]

Exhibition explores a rich history

SPECIAL OCCASION: Opening night at the Under the Umdoni Tree exhibition Picture: THEMBA KHUMALO

SIYABONGA MAPHUMULOand DERRICK DLAMINI

THE Executive Committee(Exco) has approved R320-million for the reconstructionand repair of Council housing.

In addition, a grant appli-cation for R280-million will bemade to the KZN Departmentof Human Settlements toservice budget shortfalls forhousing in Chatsworth, Lam-ontville and former R293 areas(townships).

The Council had initiallyauthorised R500-million torefurbish houses in formerR293 townships, but this wasexceeded as some of thehouses were badly damagedand had to be rebuilt.

The houses in question wereunder the former KwaZuluadministration, and later theDepartment of Human Settle-ments and are now the res-ponsibility of eThekwini.

In a report before Exco, theHousing Unit said, “Inade-quate storm water control hadundermined many housefoundations and these costswere not included in theoriginal scope of work”.

Housing Committee Chair-man, Councillor Nigel Gum-ede said funding constraints

had placed limits on thebudget initially. “However, asthe upgrading progressed,other essential repairs wereundertaken to restore thehouses to an acceptablequality. This resulted in theinitially approved fundingbeing exceeded,” he said.

A total of R80-million extra isrequired to improve houses inLamontville and Chatsworthand an additional R245-million for refurbishing R293houses.

In all, 22 areas havebenefited from the project.

Deputy Mayor Logie Naidoosaid, “Structural damageneeds to be reported immed-iately to engineers.

“The monitoring of dev-elopmental projects iscrucial,” Naidoo said.

He said all parties agreed onthe need for the HousingCommittee to step up itsmonitoring of housingprojects to curb irregularities,including the use ofsubstandard material.

DA Caucus Leader, Coun-cillor Tex Collins, said,“Councillors also need tomonitor housing develop-ments in their wards”.

[email protected]@durban.gov.za

Millionsextra forhousing

Qashana Khuzwayo Road Formerly Shepstone Road(Pinetown)

EDUCATOR, businessmanand community leader,Norman Qashana EmmanuelKhuzwayo resisted theformation of bantustansduring apartheid.

Khuzwayo was born on 14June 1932 in Clermont toSimon, a business pioneer inClermont, and YenaKhuzwayo. He was one of twobrothers and five sisters.

Khuzwayo attended StChads High School beforemoving to Inkamana HighSchool were he obtained hismatric in 1953.

The following year he joinedSt Francis College inMarianhill, were he studiedfor a teacher’s diploma.

His first teaching post wasat Glencoe Secondary Schoolwere he specialised inteaching English and SocialStudies.

Later he moved to St

Augustines, were he taughtthe brother of Dr FrankMdlalose, the first Premier ofKwaZulu-Natal

Wishing to work closer tohis home, Khuzwayo wastransferred to the newlyopened Sibonelo High Schoolin KwaMashu.

In 1959 Khuzwayo married

Miriam Dikeledi Mothebe,from Orlando East, who was atrainee nurse at the time.

The couple had fourchildren, Ginger, Sibusiso,Dukuza and Vukile.

Khuzwayo had a keeninterest in promotingtechnical skills among blackpupils and as a result wasattached to the TV and videoschool in Marianhill as avolunteer headmaster.

Khuzwayo’s other interestswere soccer and music.

He was a prominentmember of theChristianenburg ChurchChoir.

His family described him asan honourable man who

always put them first. Khuzwayo was killed in

1988. He was survived by hiswife, two sons and 13grandchildren.

[email protected]

As part of a series on the heroeshonoured in eThekwini’s new streetand building names, Swazi Dlaminiprofiles Qashana EmmanuelKhuzwayo

Committed to education

NONDU NGCONGO

LOCAL democracy should bestrengthened thanks to thelaunch last week at the CityHall of a forum to co-ordinatethe work of Chapter 9institutions in the province.

These organisations are setup in terms of Chapter 9 of theConstitution to guard dem-ocracy. They include the Inde-pendent Electoral Com-mission, Public Protector, theAuditor-General, and theHuman Rights Commission.

Beverley Motlhabani, SeniorManager of Regional Services

in the Municipality’s Comm-unity Participation and ActionSupport Unit, said they hadorganised the event because,“Lots of people are unaware ofthese institutions. They don’tknow what they do or whereto reach them.”

She said they wanted thepublic to understand theseinstitutions’ link to theMunicipality.

Motlhabani urged coun-cillors to hold informationworkshops in their wards.

KwaZulu-Natal Chief Elec-toral Officer Mawethu Moserysaid, “These institutions must

be impartial and performtheir duties without fear,favour of prejudice.

“We must make sure weconduct elections which arefree of corruption,” he said.

Khosi Nxumalo of the Com-mission for Gender Equalityexplained their vision of asociety free from genderoppression and all forms ofinequality.

“Our mandate is to promoteand protect gender equalitythrough research, publiceducation and legislation,”Nxumalo said.

Nkosinathi Nkosi did a

presentation on the work ofthe Office of the PublicProtector, which investigatesimproper conduct by organsof state, and recommendsremedial action.

The South African HumanRights Commission, the KZNDepartment of Social Devel-opment and the South AfricanSocial Security Agency alsomade presentations.

Also attending were DeputyCity Manger, Governance,Sipho Cele, councillors, trad-itional leaders, officials andmembers of the public.

[email protected]

Forum boost for democracy

WORTHY: At the launch of a forum for Chapter 9organisations were Godfrey Naidoo and MawethuMosery of the IEC, CRL Commissioner DorasamyMoodley, Khosi Nxumalo of the Commission for GenderEquality, Nkosinathi Nkosi of the Office of the PublicProtector and Deputy City Manager for Governance,Sipho Cele Picture: JESSIE SINGH

QASHANA KHUZWAYO

OMAR BADSHA: Thiswork belongs to thenation

ARI SITAS: Detail anddiscipline

WORK on the Bluff Clinic ison schedule, eThekwini’sSouth Durban Basin (SDB)Area Based Management(ABM) has announced.

Anitha Govender, SDBProject Administrator, said,“There were delays caused bybad weather, but the teamremains committed tofinishing in May.”

SDB Acting Area ManagerEurakha Singh said,“Wewant to ensure residents donot have to leave their area toget medical attention.”

Sathie Chinnasamy,eThekwini Heath’s SeniorManager for the South, saidresidents would soon have aclinic to be proud of. – S’fisoXulu

Progress onBluff clinic