A June 16 cartoon in a daily newspaper showed how the youth of 1976 fought and died for freedom, while today's youth are being lost to alcohol and drugs.

The cartoon used the world famous picture of student activist Mbuyisa Makhubu carrying the body of Hector Peterson, the first student to be shot and killed during the 1976 Soweto uprising. Peterson's sister, dressed in a full school uniform, was running alongside.

On the other side, the cartoon shows the same picture, but this time the young man who was carried had passed out after drinking too much while a girl in a revealing dress and a cigarette walked next to him.

The cartoon highlights the challenges today's youth are facing with alcohol and drug abuse.

Learners

Recent research by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism showed that there was an increase in abuse of substances like alcohol and drugs among young people between the ages of 12 and 20.

Following a number of drug and alcohol related incidents involving school children countrywide, police have been given permission to search learners at schools.

Children and teenagers become involved with drugs for different reasons. Most of them see their friends and schoolmates using drugs and want to try it. Some do it to fit in with group of friends they admire - the so-called peer group pressure. Others have even seen their parents or role models doing. Young people also turn to drugs and alcohol when they cannot face the challenges of life.

Addiction

The first time you take drugs or drink alcohol, you probably experience a good feeling and become very confident. But Your body gets used to it and you become addicted.

Addiction comes with a big price, because you have to keep feeding the habit. Drugs and alcohol are expensive. Many drug addicts turn to crime and other unacceptable behaviour like prostitution to get money. Many end up getting diseases like HIV and Aids, others end up in jail, while some die of drug overdoses or crime-related incidents.

The more you know about how drugs and alcohol work and the negative effect they have on your body and mind, the more you will be able to protect yourself.

To be on the safe side, do not even think of drugs and alcohol!

- Ndivhuwo Khangale

IMPORTANT NUMBERS:

Alcoholics Anonymous- 011 341 0609

1st Step Drug and Alcohol- 011 883 5668

SANCA- 082 264 7000/051 447 7271

SAPS-  08600 10111,or call 1020

Write to:
Vuk'uzenzele Health Advice
GCIS
Private Bag X745
Pretoria, 0001

E-mail us on: vukuzenzele@gcis.gov.za

The Department of Health will advise you.

The National Youth Commission and the National Productivity Institute (NPI) signed an agreement called a memorandum of understanding. The agreement is part of a national effort to speed up youth development in the country.

The task of the NPI is to increase South Africa’s productivity. This contributes to the country’s social and economic development and competitiveness.

In line with the Memorandum of Understanding, the Youth Commission and the NPI will ensure that young people gain skills that help the country’s development in keeping with the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa (AsgiSA).

Through the agreement, the Youth Commission and the NPI will help to develop the youth through:

• Mentoring

• Research and development

• Youth development index

• Capacity building

• National skills database

• Skills development

• Youth mobilisation

The agreement will be followed up by a detailed action plan to put the project into practice.

For more information on the National Youth Commission, or to get your FREE Youth Information Guide, call the Youthline on
0800 000 001
or write to the Call Manager,
National Youth Commission,
Private Bag X938, Pretoria 0001

While people in many rural areas complain about unemployment and poverty, the community of Ogagweni is beating hunger hands down.

Ogagweni is a rural area about 70 kilometres south of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.

Here, community members, especially women who are breadwinners, are making a living through farming with a traditional
root vegetable called amadumbe.

Support Their Families

Ogagweni is a beautiful place with lots of green plants. Rondavel
houses, mostly painted blue with red zinc roofs, can be seen spread across the valley. Rows and rows of amadumbe planted by almost every household, add to the beauty of the place.

Through amadumbe, many people are now able to support their families and educate their children. They can also afford to buy cars and build houses in the village.

A few years ago, people in Ogagweni used to grow amadumbe only to feed their families. They sometimes also sold to the community.

Selling to Big Shops

Those with a lot of land used to make about R500 a month. But now most of the villagers make much more than that by selling their products to large shops like Woolworths, one of the biggest stores that sell food grown without fertilisers.

It all started with a young professor who returned from his studies in the United States of America in 1999. He decided to dedicate his life to developing rural communities farming with indigenous or home-grown traditional vegetables.

Professor Thembinkosi Modi (39) studied for a Doctorate in Agriculture specialising in seed science.

Research

Modi is very excited when he talks about agriculture and the development of rural people farming with indigenous vegetables. He said he learnt that in America, agricultural science students not only learn in class. They also spend a lot of time on the farms doing research and giving advice to farmers about their crops.

"I thought I could do the same at home and fight poverty, " Modi said. "When I came back, I started looking for money to start a project working with farmers in rural areas who were farming with home-grown crops."

The Kwazulu-Natal Department of Agriculture gave Modi R28 000 to do research on indigenous crops and how people were using them. He said he found that people in Ogagweni were planting amadumbe in their back yards for their own use and to sell some to others.

"I realised they also had some land that could be used to make money, so I told them to combine their land to produce more amadumbes," Modi said.

Farms Organisation

The result was that the Ezemvelo Farms Organisation was started in December 2000.

A total of 28 people were registered and certified as organic producers. In 2001, they were supplying Pick 'n Pay with amadumbe.

In 2003, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development also helped them with fencing material for their fields. During the same year they started supplying Woolworths with amadumbe.

Improving Lives

To date, the organisation has over 200 members, most of them women, who farm only with amadumbe.

In 2006, during the harvest period of March to August, they made about R250 000. The target for this year is R500 000.

One of the farmers, Tholakele Mkhize, said it has really improvedher life. "I now make about R3 500 a month. My children
eat well and go to school," she said with a smile. Another farmer, Tholakele Nxele, takes care of her seven children and 24 grandchildren.

Woolworths has started a competition for Ezemvelo farmers and Nxele has won it for the past two years. She is building a modern five-roomed house with wooden doors and window frames.

"I have already spent about R28 000 on this house," she said. "I used to make only about R500 a month by selling to hawkers. Today I easily make over R4 000 a month."

While Modi and his students do their agricultural science research in Ogagweni, they also help mentor the farmers. He said he was now looking at starting similar organisations countrywide.

- Ndivhuwo Khangale

For more information on organic farming, contact Professor Thembinkosi Modi: (033) 260 5854.

Government is moving fast to address one of the main problems facing South Africa today - the shortage of scarce skills.

Scarce skills include those of engineers, technicians and scientists, as well as artisans like electricians, builders, plumbers, construction workers and carpenters.  These are trained people who have the necessary experience and knowledge to help the country’s economy develop and grow at a faster rate.

Jipsa

Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka led the launch of the Joint Initiative on Priority Skills Acquisition (Jipsa). This programme aims to develop the skills that are most needed to grow the economy.

It is part of government’s Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative (AsgiSA). AsgiSA is a plan to help the economy grow faster in a way that benefits all. This should halve unemployment and poverty by 2014.

Mlambo-Ngcuka said it has been found that the country needs at least 12 500 artisans a year for the next four years. We are currently producing only about 5 000 artisans a year.

Artisans

A total of 50 000 artisans must be trained by the time the World Cup takes place in 2010. The number of engineers must be increased to 2 400 a year.

To speed up this process, we have a National Skills Development Strategy 2005-2010. This is a plan to identify areas where there is a need for skills development and training in different fields.
 
Training

Bodies that are responsible for training and skills development, like the Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas) and the National Skills Fund, must identify careers and skills that will help grow the economy.

If there is a shortage of these skills, the Setas and the National Skills Fund will make money available for training.

Opportunities

There are training opportunities for people in three different groupings.

The first group includes people who are employed, but lack skills. Employers are encouraged to help them get training so that they can work more productively.  This includes training courses, learnerships and Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) for those who cannot write and read.

For the poorest of the poor, training opportunities are available through community-based organisations or programmes like the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). Through these programmes they gain skills while working on projects.

The third group are unemployed people who need training in scarce skills, people who need work experience to make them employable and young people who want to start their own businesses.

- Ndivhuwo Khangale

For more information on training call 1020

The Working for Water Programme identifies areas where invasive alien plants are threatening water supplies. Then it employs local people to help remove those plants. These people are trained to prevent and control the spread of the invasive alien plants. Training includes the use of chainsaws and other tools for cutting trees, engineering and project management.

If you think invasive alien plants are threatening your water supply and are looking for medium-term employment for yourself and others in your community, why not contact the Working for Water Programme?

Contact: 1020 or (021) 441 2700 or 0800 005 376

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAMME

The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) has a Social Responsibility Programme focusing on environmental projects like protection of conservation areas, coastal rehabilitation, tourism-related enterprises, urban renewal, and others. To access these funds, projects must be a part of a municipality’s Integrated Development Plan.

Strict conditions apply:

30% of total project costs must be from employment of local people.
50% of jobs created must go to women.
25% must go to youth.
2% must go to the disabled.
Projects should be community-based, with a community ownership component, they should create jobs for locals and promote skills development, as well as support local tourism growth.

Contact: 1020 or (012) 310 3523/3489

For more information, contact the BathoPele Call Centre at 1020

This panel first appeared in Building a People's Contract for Faster and Shared Growth,
a booklet published by Government.

CAN YOU UNSCRAMBLE THE WORDS?

Print this page to complete this game... South Africa's Parliament has a new emblem. Each part of the emblem has a special meaning. The squares below contain words about the different parts, but the letters in the words have been scrambled. Click Here to see an article containing a picture of the new emblem and the words about each part. If you read it, it will help you unscramble the words below. Write your answers on the lines next to the blocks.

 CLICK HERE FOR THE ANSWERS

COMPLETE THE MAP OF SOUTH AFRICA

Print this page to complete this game...
South Africa has nine provinces. This map of the country shows the outlines and positions of all the provinces, but the names are missing.  Can you complete the map by filling in the names of the provinces?

CLICK HERE FOR THE ANSWER

Travelling around our beautiful country is now possible for many more people. It has been made cheaper and easier with South African Tourism’s Ezee Travel Club. With a special savings plan, the club makes it possible for all South Africans, even poor people, to afford a holiday.

Savings Account

South African Tourism has taken the traditional idea of Masingcwabane (a Zulu word meaning 'to bury each other’) to help the poor afford holidays. But instead of people putting their money in one account and saving for a funeral, they save their money to take a holiday at some future date.

The difference between saving in the Ezee Travel Club and investing
in the 'masingcwabane 'or 'stokvel 'savings plans is that each member gets his or her own savings account instead of the single shared account of 'stokvel ' members.

To join the club, members must pay a joining fee of R250. They must then save a minimum amount of R99 per month in their credit account. If they want to save more, they can do so depending on what they can afford.

Creating More Jobs

Denys Botes, from South African Tourism said the aim of the club was to show South Africans that there were affordable holiday options. He said if more people travelled, it would also help the tourism industry to grow.

Most South Africans who travel in the country, visit friends and relatives instead of using options for tourists like special accommodation and sightseeing, he said. If people used these options, more people would see the country and it would create more jobs in the tourism industry.

Discount Packages

Club members will also benefit from discount holiday packages, value vouchers, savings accounts that give them interest on their money, reduced banking service charges, information on the latest travel destinations, travel news and special offers.

The idea of a travel club is not new. Like with 'masingcwabane 'or 'stokvel’, a group of members save some money every month for a future goal. With Ezee Travel Club, members contribute to their individual savings accounts which are run by the club on their behalf. When a member has saved enough, he or she may use the money to travel to any holiday destination in South Africa.

- Muzi Mkhwanazi

Many people choose to buy furniture and other goods on credit because they cannot afford to buy it in cash. Buying on credit means you enter into a contract with a shop that allows you to take your goods home and pay instalments every month until the amount is paid in full.

This is called hire-purchase or HP for short. When buying on hire-purchase the price that you pay for goods is higher than when paying cash - sometimes even double the cash price. This is because interest is added to the hire-purchase price.

Things can go Wrong

Even so, people usually think it would be easy to pay the instalment
every month. But they should be made aware that things could go wrong, which may prevent them from paying every month. This could lead to their goods being taken back by the shop or to them being listed at the credit bureau.

A death in the family, illness and losing a job are some of the problems that could prevent a person from paying instalments.

The Right to Ask

Before buying, ask the shop to explain what could happen if you are unable to repay your instalments.  You have the right to ask questions and to understand exactly what is written in the contract before you sign it.

Many people who buy on credit think that once their goods had been taken back, their problems are over and they don’t have to worry about paying the outstanding money.

But even if the goods had been taken back they still owe the money
for the goods.

There is more bad news. If you don’t pay, you are still going to be listed at the credit bureau. You will remain listed until you pay the full amount you owe or until the required time of your blacklisting ends.

New National Credit Act

As from the 1 June 2007, the Micro Finance Regulatory Council will become the National Credit Regulator under the new National Credit Act.

The purpose of the Act is to protect consumers from credit givers and to educate them about their rights.

- Ndivhuwo Khangale

Key aspects of the new National Credit Act

Credit givers will no longer be allowed to call people offering them the opportunity to buy on credit without checking properly if they will be able to repay the money.

• Simple and understandable language must be used in credit agreements.

• Credit givers must give detailed information about the cost of buying on credit when advertising and marketing their credit options.

• Credit sales at a person’s home or workplace is now strictly limited.

• When someone applies for credit and it is not granted, reasons must be given why it was not granted.

Because all children are at risk of getting infectious childhood diseases, protection from these diseases is one of the greatest benefits that government can ensure for every child.

Polio and Measles

The Department of Health has started a major polio and measles plan. The plan aims to decrease the number of children who are at risk of getting polio and measles. It will involve all children in the country under the age of five.

The plan also aims to ensure that South Africa does not experience a similar outbreak of polio to what Namibia experienced last year.

All Children

Cases of measles were reported in Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal, the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape in 2004 and 2005.

Early signs of measles include red rash, high fever, runny nose, red watery eyes and coughing.

All children under the age of five are required to be inoculated against polio, whilst all children between 9 months and 5 years should also be inoculated against measles.

The first round of the polio and measles plan takes place from 6-12 May this year and the second part from 10-16 June.

The Department of Health has set aside these days to raise awareness about the importance of immunisation to prevent all childhood diseases.

Free of Charge

Vaccines to prevent these diseases are available free of charge at any public health clinics.

Vaccination will help prevent polio, tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, haemophilus influenza type B, hepatitis B and measles.

It is recommended that children under the age of five be immunised against the most common childhood diseases at birth, six weeks, ten weeks, 14 weeks, nine months, 18 months and five years of age.

- BuaNews

Childhood diseases like measles and polio can lead to death, especially in small children, but it can be prevented. Parents are urged to ensure their children receive their routine immunisations on time

Limpopo

A tea with a special South African taste will be produced in Limpopo before the end of the year. The homegrown tea will be produced on the Tshivhase and Mukumbani tea farms in the Vhembe district. The Department of Agriculture took over the running of the tea farms after tea producer, Sapekoe, retrenched over 3 000 workers from four estates in the province at the end of 2004.

- BuaNews

KwaZulu-Natal

The province has the highest rate of illiteracy in the country with 1,9 million people unable to read or write. To tackle this problem, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sbu Ndebele, started the Masifundisane Adult Literacy Campaign last year. The campaign is now well on track to put an end to illiteracy by 2008, Ndebele said recently. Masifundisane, which means let us teach one another, will also benefit volunteers and others who are part of the campaign.

- BuaNews

Eastern Cape

Walking on the naked electricity cables that are stripped by electricity thieves can kill people. As part of its broad anti-crime campaign, the Buffalo City Municipality is educating community members on the dangers of damaging electrical infrastructure. The municipality has teamed up with the South African Police Service, Eskom, ward councillors, religious leaders and community-based organisations. In the past nine months, about half a million rand was spent just to replace electricity poles cut down by thieves.

- BuaNews

Western Cape

A plan to put an end to child labour in the Western Cape, Limpopo and Northern Cape was launched in April by the Department of Labour. Because the law protects children, the campaign aims to make people aware of children’s legal rights and the seriousness of child labour in South Africa.

- BuaNews

North West

To help previously disadvantaged farmers to survive the current drought, North West Agriculture Department will provide farmers with fertilizers and farming equipment. The high cost of farming equipment and fertilizers is big problem for farmers because it prevents them from paying off their loans to the Land Bank.

- BuaNews

Mpumalanga

The small towns of Hoedspruit and Ogies will benefit from a R3,2 billion biofuel project funded by the Industrial Development Corporation and the Central Energy Fund. The Hoedspruit plant will make 100 million litres of biofuel from sugar cane in the first year, while the Ogies plant will make 150 million litres from maize. Maize will be bought from local farmers and traders as part of the plan to empower communities.  Biofuels are made from plants. The sector is among those identified for development by AsgiSA..

- BuaNews

For more information about the news items featured on this page, call 1020

WINNING LETTER

You have to move away from your comfort zone

I am a 21-year old youth who never accepted the spoon-feeding system of waiting for someone to do things for me. My matric year was very hard due to family and financial problems, but I passed with excellent results that qualified me to go to university.

Finance was a problem but due to having goals of becoming something in the future, I obtained information and got help.

In short, pushing yourself to areas you thought you could never reach due to your environment and attitude, will always get noticed and opportunities will be there. Problems must be changed into challenges.

You have to deal with problems to grow as a person. There are things that happen between your vision and your goal. But you have to have inspiration, perseverance and knowledge; you have to move away from your comfort zone if you want to succeed. Use your background as a source of inspiration and motivation.

- B.E. Maswanganyi, Soweto, Gauteng

Don't lose your dreams

I am a 16-year old teenager and I have a dream that keeps me clean and away from drugs. It is my dream of becoming an engineer one day. The drug market in South Africa is growing every day - young people turn to drugs for comfort, but drugs only add to their problems! I don't judge people who use drugs, because I don't know what they are going through. We are all born neither good nor bad, it's just that some of us have lost our way and our dreams.

- Kgally Mashaba, Kuruman, Northern Cape

Report Crimes

People tend not to report certain crimes, saying "it's the police's duty, they are paid for it". There are certain crimes you can combat by stopping those around you. Often the police may not know what happened behind closed doors, but will only discover it later. Please, fellow South Africans, let’s unite and report crime.

- Isaac Leope, Mamelodi East, Gauteng

Respect Your Teachers

Today, no one wants to be a teacher, because teaching is the most difficult job. Why are we as learners making it so difficult? Some teachers are so stressed because of us; they die of heart attacks because we don't listen, we don't respect them. What about the coming generation? Who is going to teach them? Please, let's think about others who are willing to learn, who know what they want for their future.  They suffer because of stubborn noise-makers while teachers try their best to teach.

- T Diphas, Bizana, Eastern Cape

A Bright Future

After reading in Vuk'uzenzele that to be born poor doesn't mean you have to die poor, I decided to get up and use my mind. I said to myself I’m going to fight poverty and go on with my computer studies.
I thank Vuk’uzenzele for letting me get up and smell the fresh air to a bright future.

- Dipuo Mogale, Douglas, Northern Cape

A Blessing

It is a blessing to all the countries of Africa to have one of their fellow countries elected a member (non-permanent) of the Security Council of the United Nations. It shows that they have confidence in our country to help maintain international peace and security. South Africa is a strong country and I think her voice will carry weight when disputes are settled. At last there is an African country that will represent the whole of Africa. Good luck South Africa.

- Mophelanosi, Meadowlands, Gauteng

Take Responsibility

I'm sick of people who just make babies and end up abandoning or leaving them with grandmothers. When senior citizens retire, they are supposed to enjoy the fruits of their past labour and the contribution they made to the country, instead of being the ones to take care of the little ones. We must take a stand and stop the ongoing trend of single mothers in our society. We must stop the increasing burden to government's child-support grants.

- Consolation Masoka, Heilbron, Free State

Be Their Heroes and Protectors

It's our responsibility as parents to ensure the safety of our families. But what if the same person who is supposed to protect his family, beats up his wife and abuses his own children? Violence and abuse are often caused by drugs and alcohol. If we can say no to drugs, our families will be safer. So, guys, let’s take off our boxing gloves and say good bye to drugs and alcohol and start saying hallo to our lovely children and partners. We will be their heroes and protectors.

- Thabang Mogale, Ga-Mathabatha, Limpopo

Take opportunities

I am a 19-year old guy in high school and I have had enough of people who don't take opportunities that are available. They just say "there are no jobs." Many youths who have finished school stay at home watching the sun rise and wait for the job they want. Please, guys, let's take opportunities, because one opportunity may give you the experience to get the job you really want. Always remember the word 'Vuk'uzenzele'!

- Joseph Mpakhane, ThabaNchu, Free State

Youth, This Is Our Time

Youth, it is time to make our dreams come true. The future belongs to us who believe in the beauty of their dreams. Remember, an uninspired hunter, even when using the best weapon, cannot hope to be successful. It is our time, let us be proud of our country, let us be inspired and dream to be successful!

- K.H. Magabani, Burgersfort, Mpumalanga

Don't Blame Yourself

Fraud victims typically feel overwhelmed by shame, guilt, embarrassment and self-directed anger. Don’t blame yourself. You are the victim; the blame rests on the person who conned you. If you have made a mistake, admit it to yourself and then move on with your life. Do not conclude that you are stupid. Remember that swindlers successfully defraud highly intelligent people - heads of state, bank managers, executives, finance managers and attorneys.

- Olebogeng Othibeng, Mafikeng, North West

Let's fight AIDS Together

What have we done so far to reduce the risk of HIV and Aids? It is not by virtue of love or choice to be HIV positive. It’s through our unhealthy, unprotected sexual behaviour. Let’s fight this cruel disease together.

- Limpo Mohapi, Welkom, Free State

Violent Children

We are living in a very violent society and what is even more frightening is that the perpetrators of violence are getting ever younger. What went wrong? What is it that makes our children two-faced angels at home and monsters elsewhere? Parents are duped and believe that their children are respectful and obedient. They are shocked when their little angels are involved in the kind of violence that we see in our schools. What kind of sick society do we live in where kids see violence as entertainment?

- F.R. Moloto, Tafelkop, Limpopo

Write to: Vuk'uzenzele, Private Bag X745, Pretoria, 0001,
or e-mail: vukuzenzele@gcis.gov.za.

If you don't want to have your real name published, you may use a different name,
but please include your real name and address to us.

Our high crime rate is receiving serious attention from government. As part of government’s programme of action dealing with crime, the number of police officers will be increased. The number of magistrates and courts will also be increased because there is a backlog in the handling of court cases.

President Thabo Mbeki has highlighted the need for the courts to deal with cases and sentencing of prisoners quickly. Criminals must know that they will be punished.

Backlog Project

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development started the National Backlog Project to improve service delivery in courts.

The Department, the National Prosecuting Authority, the South African Police Services and the Forensic Sciences Laboratory will work together to reduce case backlogs in a number of courts.

Additional resources will also be used. This includes appointing more prosecutors, appointing retired magistrates as acting magistrates and appointing lawyers working for the Legal Aid Board on a contract basis to help out.

Additional Courts

Five regional courts across the country, which have the highest number of case backlogs, have been identified.

Additional courts will be started to deal with the high number of outstanding cases.

This includes three additional courts to be added to both the Pietermaritzburg and Port Elizabeth regional courts.

Two additional courts will be built in Pretoria and two in the Western Cape.

Speed Up

The National Backlog Project has also established provincial development committees and case-flow management committees to look into and assist with backlogs.

Their task is to speed up the handing out of warrants of arrest and to increase the number of bail courts. They must also see that probation reports and reports like those on blood samples are received in time.

Technology

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development is using technology to help them with their planning.

The e-Scheduler is already being used in 332 courts. It is a system that uses computers to make court procedures more efficient.

Re Aga Boswa

To help Chief Magistrates and Judges to concentrate on court matters, the Re Aga Boswa (building anew) project will take administrative duties away from them.

Court managers will help the magistrates by doing their paperwork and taking care of court budgets.

- Muzi Mkhwanazi

For more information, call 1020

South Africa’s Parliament has a new emblem. It replaces the old one designed in 1961.

The new emblem is made up of different parts, each one with its own special meaning. The main part is a protea and a drum with the sun at the top. Green leaves surrround them. At the bottom of the emblem the words "We, the people" appear above an open book.

• The sun at the top means healing the divisions of the past and improving the lives of all South Africans

• The drum calls parliament together

• The protea leaves are the people and their freely elected representatives acting as a voice of the people.

• The book is a symbol of the constitution. The words above it, "We, the people", are the opening words of the constitution. The constitution ensures everyone’s rights and freedom..

South Africa’s Limpopo province has been called Africa’s Eden. This province in the northern part of the country offers wonderful opportunities for tourism.

It was recently voted by a popular health magazine as the healthiest place to live in South Africa.

International Tourists

Premier of Limpopo, Mr Sello Moloto, said Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal were the only provinces in the country that showed growth in international tourism in 2005.

He said tourism in the province showed a 1,3 per cent growth.

Mapungubwe

The province has a rich cultural heritage, beautiful nature, wildlife,
and agricultural crops like mangoes, avocados, marulas and even grapes.

Limpopo is also home to the Mapungubwe World Heritage Site. It is situated on the southern edge of the Limpopo River and forms part of the Limpopo Transfrontier Park.

Since it was declared a world heritage site in July 2003, Mapungubwe
has attracted many tourists - both local and from overseas - to the province.

The provincial capital - Polo-kwane - is becoming an important centre for business conferences.  This is because business people like to get away from the big cities to the peace and beauty of Limpopo.

Business

The National Backlog Project has also established provincial development committees and case-flow management committees to look into and assist with backlogs.

Their task is to speed up the handing out of warrants of arrest and to increase the number of bail courts. They must also see that probation reports and reports like those on blood samples are received in time.

Technology

Moloto said the province had great possibilities to attract more tourists through its farming activities.

He called on farmers in the province to keep this in mind to grow their businesses. The province is known for being the biggest producer of products like mangoes, marulas, avocados and tomatoes.

- BuaNews

Are you satisfied with the service you received while visiting a government office? If not, you don’t have to suffer in silence or take the law into your own hands. Whether it’s an identity document, birth certificate or pension grant application that is taking too long, you may lodge a complaint with the Public Protector.

Unlawfully in Prison

An example of someone who was helped by the Public Protector is Mr L Khumalo. He was released from a Limpopo Prison after spending 18 months in jail although he should have been released.
Khumalo was only released after he approached the Public Protector.

It was established that he unlawfully stayed in jail after a court clerk failed to do a warrant for his release.

Khumalo’s case is an example of the 17 000 different complaints the Public Protector receives every year countrywide.

Appointed by Parliament

The Public Protector was appointed by Parliament in line with the Constitution. He is not controlled by any political party but reports to Parliament.

Lawrence Mushwana, the man in the position of Public Protector, is like a referee who looks at both sides of a problem. He examines all the relevant information and does everything he can to find a solution to the problem.

Report Problems

The purpose of Mushwana’s office is to give South Africans the opportunity to report problems they have with national, provincial and local government departments.  Any person employed by the state, like police and clerks, can be investigated.

Companies and corporations partly funded by government like Eskom and Telkom are included.

The Public Protector can investigate cases of abuse of power, unfair
treatment, violation of human rights and abuse of state money.

The Public Protector cannot investigate judgements made in courts. It also can’t probe private companies, doctors and lawyers.

The Public Protector’s spokesperson, Charles Phahlane, said they resolve about 15 000 cases each year.

He said there was a serious need to inform people about how the Public Protector’s office could help them, because many still didn’t know about it. But Phahlane advised people not to rush to the Public Protector’s office before first trying to resolve the problem with the relevant office.

"Speak to the officials involved, the head of the department or the manager. It is only after your problem was not resolved that you can contact the Public Protector," Phahlane said.

Free and Confidential

The services of the Public Protector are free and confidential.

- Ndivhuwo Khangale

Growing up in the rural Valley of a Thousand Hills in KwaZulu-Natal, all Michael Mbanjwa and his friends could do during weekends was play soccer.

Every Saturday on their way to soccer, they would cross a bridge where they saw white people with light boats in the dam.

"At the time I thought it was just another white thing," Mbanjwa said. He didn't know anything about a sport called canoeing and never thought that one day he would be a champion of the sport. Canoeing, he discovered later, was when one or two people paddled a light boat called a canoe.

Gold Medal

Today, Mbanjwa (24) is a top-rated and respected professional canoeist who has won several medals.

His latest achievement was winning the Gold Medal at the famous Dusi Canoe Marathon. He was the first black person to finish second in this 120-km event. It takes place every year in January along the Dusi River between Pietermaritzburg and Durban and is one of the biggest and toughest canoe marathons in the world.

Training

Mbanjwa, got into canoeing by sheer luck. "Among the white people
who used to canoe in the dam, there was also a young black canoeist called Robert Lambethe. He asked us if we wanted to take part in the sport, "Mbanjwa said. "We were very interested in the boats and Lambethe started training us seriously."

In 1999, Mbanjwa registered with the Natal Canoeing Union and started taking part in small races. He did his first Dusi in the same year and finished among the first 300 competitors.

"I was very motivated and I trained hard. In 2000, I made the South African team that competed in England and Canada. My second Dusi was in 2001 where I finished 47th in the overall results and third in the junior section.

"At the time I was doing my Grade 12," Mbanjwa said. After matric, he got a lucky break when Vodacom sponsored him with a R22 000 boat.

Full-Time Canoeist

In 2004, he was asked to coach children from the East Rand townships at the Kayak Club in Benoni.

"I am now a full-time canoeist," Mbanjwa said. More than five companies are sponsoring him with things like boats, money and cars. "I am very happy with my career and what I earn. I drive a sponsored car and I get money from my sponsors."

- Ndivhuwo Khangale

Michael Mbanjwa made history in January this year when he became the first black canoeist to win the first and last stages of the three-day Dusi Canoe Marathon. He came second overall. The race attracts about 2 000 participants

Watching the news, we have heard President Thabo Mbeki talking about 'social cohesion.'

The meaning behind the president’s words is that South Africans should work together to better their lives without letting themselves be divided by race, sex, culture and religion.

National Identity

Social cohesion also means South Africans should stand together to reach a positive common goal. It requires us to see ourselves as one and to have national pride.

The social cohesion idea challenges South Africans to take part in government's efforts to fight poverty, strengthen the family unit, create jobs, support democracy, fight crime, fight HIV and Aids, increase the number of skilled workers, grow the economy and respect the rule of law.

No Violence

Government campaigns which mobilise people to fight violence and abuse against women and children, are meant to restore good family values. They also aim to encourage members of families and communities to report incidents of abuse to the police.

The involvement of the public in such campaigns will help government to deal with the evil of domestic violence and abuse.

Calls have been made by government leaders especially the Minister of Safety and Security, Charles Nqakula, to communities to report criminals. Criminals live among us within our communities.

Government has taken the lead in starting structures like police community forums, which encourage communities to work with the police in fighting crime.
 

Respect Rights

Social cohesion means people should respect each other’s rights. Government has created special courts like the equality courts in an effort to end discrimination.

Business

To achieve equality within business, government has provided guidelines and a number of partnerships between different racial groups.

Black Economic Empowerment, for example, has helped those from previously disadvantaged backgrounds to start and develop successful businesses.

Social cohesion includes offering South Africans a say in the running of the country through the Izimbizo programs.

Social cohesion can further be seen in how sports events and national celebrations bring people together.

These celebrations speak of the rising South African identity which is expected to blossom further during the Soccer World Cup in 2010.

- Muzi Mkhwanazi

Key elements of social cohesion

A society in which everyone:

• Respects the law

• Respects one another's human rights and values

• Shares a commitment to keep social order.

• Government's, land redistribution programme, brought the Mapulana people of Mpumalanga land to create a better life for the community. They were given a large area of land in the fertile Hazyview region. But at first, they lacked the skills to make a profit from the land.

  Biggest Claim

• Their claim on the farm 'Sandford' is the second biggest land claim in the province and is valued at R23,4 million. In addition to Sandford, the community’s land includes 26 other farms.

  Secretary of the Sandford Trust, Riebs Khoza, said they were grateful to government for giving them the land and letting them fend for themselves.

  Destiny

  "Government really helped us by leaving us alone after having bought the land back on our behalf," he said
   
  By leaving us alone government has done us a big favour, Khoza said, "It has allowed us to follow our own destiny as a tribe."

  The destiny that Khoza speaks about relates to different racial groups working together for the benefit of the country. This means forming working relationships where everyone benefits.

  An example is Tembi Lodge, which is situated on Sanford farm. It was run by the community from 2003, but became rundown.

  Thanks to an agreement with the Hallow Group of investors worth R22 million, the Mapulana community will be able to restore Tembi Lodge to its former beauty. The lodge will be turned into an 80-bed hotel with a convention centre that can accommodate 300 people.
   

  Jipsa

  Khoza said the deal would also put into practice government’s Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition (Jipsa). In line with the partnership, the Hallow Group and the University of Johannesburg,
  plan to build a hospitality industry school at the lodge where community members can study and learn new skills relating to tourism.

  He said if the people got the necessary knowledge and skills they could turn the lodge and the surrounding land into a successful tourism business.

  Good Example

  Chief Executive Officer of Hippo Hallow Hotel, Jack Brotherton, said the partnership was a good example of the ideal of social cohesion with different groups working together for the benefit of all. - Muzi Mkhwanazi.

  - Muzi Mkhwanazi

"Government helped us by leaving us alone after having bought the land back on our behalf"
For more information, call 1020

SOCIAL COHESION
EQUALITY FOR ALL

Government is doing all it can to treat all South Africans equally.

But, even so, all of us must make sure that government really does do what it should. To do this, people have the law on their side and can take cases of discrimination to the Equality Court.

Laws

A number of laws have been passed to protect our rights and make sure that we treat each other with respect in line with our Constitution.

One of these laws is called the Promotion and Prevention of Unfair
Discrimination. It helps prevent people treating each other badly as was the case during the apartheid years. Whether you are black, Indian, coloured, or white, this law protects your right to be treated with respect.

Equality Courts

To deal with cases of discrimination, government created equality courts in line with the Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act.
These courts deal with cases in which people discriminate against each other or hurt each others feelings based on things like race and culture, disability, sexuality, language, religion and age.
Government has so far created 220 equality courts throughout the country. These courts are in the same buildings as magistrate 's courts.
 
Easy Access

Head of the equality courts in Gauteng, Vincent Ratshibvumo, said these courts are easy to access.  He said a person with a complaint must inform the clerk of the equality court about the complaint. The case will be registered and the hearing will be very informal.

"A person who approaches the court does not need a lawyer and is not expected to follow any legal rules," Ratshibvumo explained. But a person who brings a complaint to the court must be able to prove that he or she has been treated badly or discriminated against, he said.

Apology

The court has the power to order the guilty party to pay the complainant a sum of money or force a public apology.
The courts can decide what amount the guilty party must pay.

Disabled

Disabled lawyer, Esthe Muller, used an equality court to make sure that her rights and those of other disabled people were respected.

Through the court, she managed to convince the Department of Public Works to build ramps to make it easier for disabled people to access government buildings.

Muller said she is happy that in the past two years going to court had been easier because of the ramps and lifts. It not only makes her life easier, but also the lives of other disabled people.

- Muzi Mkhwanazi

For more information about equality courts, call 1020

SOCIAL COHESION
GAINING SKILLS, FIGHTING POVERTY

One of government's main programmes to fight poverty is the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).

The EPWP is a national programme run by the Department of Public Works. It creates temporary job opportunities for the unemployed, while ensuring that they gain skills through training on the job.

Halving Poverty by 2014

As part of government's programme to fight poverty and halve unemployment by 2014, the EPWP is divided into four categories:

• Infrastructure;

• Economic;

• Environment; and

• Culture and social.

The infrastructure section deals with creating more labour intensive work. This includes work on projects like road construction and storm-water drains where people use their hands instead of machines.

Access Roads

Head of the section, Maikel Lieuw Kie Song, said their biggest project this year is the called Access Roads Project.

This is a project that employs people to work on roads that connect residential areas to main roads.

An amount of R3 billion has been budgeted for the next three years. The project was started in May and is carried out by provinces
as part of the EPWP.

"We are estimating that 60 000 jobs will be created during the construction of access roads and another 40 000 jobs for maintenance," Kie Song said.
 
Businesses

Economic sector director, Carmen-Joy Abrahams, said the economic sector focuses on developing work opportunities through helping businesses.

The economic sector’s main programme is the Venture Learnership
Programme.

Under this programme there are programmes like the New Venture
Creation Learnership. The Learnership develops small businesses
in areas like wholesale, electrical, building and construction, events management, information technology, pest control and cleaning services.

A total of R9 million has been allocated to train 150 wholesale companies. All wholesale businesses under the Venture Learnership
Programme can get loans through ABSA Bank.

The bank has already given more than 500 of these small businesses overdraft and asset finance facilities.

- Ndivhuwo Khangale

National Youth Service Programme

The Minister of Public Works, Thoko Didiza, last month started a National Youth Service programme. It will employ about 5 000 youth to renovate government buildings. The R140 million programme is a joint initiative between the National Youth Commission and the Umsobomvu Youth Fund. It is part of EPWP. Youth with some experience or interest in fields like building, painting, plumbing, carpeting and brick-laying will benefit.

Call the National Youth Service Programme or other EPWP opportunities on 012- 337 3115/ 012 337 2507 or call 1020

When you report a crime to the South African Police (SAPS), they take every action to make sure that your case gets attention as quickly as possible.

When you have been a victim or a witness of a crime, you can report it by telephone, in person at a Community Service Centre at a police station, or to members of the police patrolling in the community.

An offence can be reported at any police station. The police official will open a docket and transfer it to the police station that handles cases in the area where the offence was committed. You will be told when the docket has been transferred.

Making a Statement

You will first be interviewed by a police official so that he or she can determine the crime committed. A statement will then be taken from you.

A statement can be made in any language. If none of the police officials at the Community Service Centre speaks your language, an interpreter will be appointed to translate your statement.

The statement is made under oath and you have to give:

• your ID number

• your age

• your full residential address

• your postal address

• your contact details

• full description of the crime scene (address)

• day, time and date of the incident

• full details of the nature of the incident

• description of the person who committed the crime

• full description of property (in case of theft, robbery etc), injuries (assault etc)

• full particulars of possible witnesses.

After making a statement, you will be asked to read it. If you cannot read, the police official will read it for you. You are allowed to add or leave out any information.

You will be asked to sign the statement after you’ve accepted that you understand everything in it. If you cannot read or write, you will be asked to put your thumb print on the statement instead of a signature.

Case Registration & Investigation

The police official will register the reported crime on the Crime Administration System or in the Crime Register. You will be given a reference number, which must be used if you want to know anything regarding the case. The completed case docket is then given to an investigation officer who will do the investigation. All enquiries can be directed to him or her and he or she will notify you when you have to attend the court hearing.

- South African Police Service

If you are a victim of crime, you are entitled to know who the investigating official is in your case and to receive continuous feedback on your case.

Many of our top musicians have died in recent times. The possessions and money of some of these musicians have become a subject of clashes between family members and relatives. The clashes over who will inherit certain possessions have even been brought before the courts.

The Law

Their problems are sadly shared by millions of people. If the two musicians, as well as a lot of other South Africans, had taken time to draw up a will, such fights over possessions and money would be avoided.

Rules

A will is a document which sets out how your assets should be distributed among your children, relatives or friends after your death. There are certain steps to take before a will is seen to be valid in the eyes of the law.

According to South African Lawyers for Human Rights a will must be drawn up in line with the following rules before it will be recognised by the law:

• It must be in writing and usually starts with the words: 'last will and testament of...'

• Each page must be signed with the initials of the person writing the will

• It must be signed in the presence of two witnesses who should not get anything from the assets of the person writing the will

• The witnesses, as well as the person making the will, must sign the last page.

A will must be kept in a safe place with either a relative or a lawyer.

Your Wishes

You don't need to have a lot of money to have a will. A will could include your wishes about what should happen to your possessions after your death like your house, car, insurance policies, pension money, land or cattle.

Your will should also have information about who would be responsible for dividing your possessions after your death.

It could also include details like where you want to be buried and who should bury you. Clear instructions about such things will solve problems that arise after your death and will prevent expensive legal battles.

If a person had lots of money or assets, it would be advisable to appoint a lawyer to take care of his or her estate. But for smaller estates, a relative or friend would be the best person to handle it.

- Muzi Mkhwanazi

Meaning of words:

Assets: Items of value which you own, like cash, furniture, land, a car or cattle.
Estate: Total assets of a person at the time of death.

For more information, call 1020