Kwathema in Springs is situated in Ekurhuleni in the east of Johannesburg, South Africa.In kwa thema the lot of section forming kwa thema,one of the section is mzumbe.
Mzumbe is rdp houses which falls under ward 78 and the newly elected councilor is Thoko Radebe.Mzumbe was build in the year 2001, very close to Platinum refinery mine.and the mine is about 1km away from the hospital of people living with disability and mental case.The Platinum mine uses dangerous chemicals during the process of refinering the platinum.Since Mzumbe was build near the mine lot of people are complaining about chest problem,I spoke to Jabulani Mathebula not employed living close to the mine, he indicated that,he is now used to the bad smelling that comes from the mine during the day, but its worse at night,concerning his health, he having chest pain now and then, breathing problem and problem with his eyes, unfortunately he does not have money to go to the doctor fore check up.I manage to have a meeting the health and safety officer Welcome Nstipe from the Platinum mine,He said that as company the were very shocked to see the houses being build near the company and they went to speak the builder, the builder told them his job is build the must go and talk the Municipality of Kwathema.The company was not consulted at all.I wanted to know about disaster risk management plans taking into account the community of Mzumbe who will be affected by the chemicals in case of disaster. Welcome said those were issues which were suppose to be laid down even before the start building the houses. In fact the houses were not supposed to build in the area because of the dangerous chemicals.Speaking to the spoke person for the local leaders who did not want to be mentioned, We must talk to or mandate the National home builders registration council(nhbrc) to ensure that building construction conforms to the building requirements, including measures such as use of controlled ventilation, houses build in a right area and by a registered builder with The (nhbrc.Given the significance of these impacts, it is clear that urgent and decisive action is required to try and limit the problem. but unfortunately the councilors are still preparing their office. but i spoke Mthuthu to try and have a meeting with the relevant councilor for the ward to conduct a research to determine appropriate monitoring with which to evaluate the ongoing wrong building of the houses.I planning to meet the people involved on this matter to try and bring better health to the people of Mzumbe soon.
Kwa thema monitor
MESHACK MBANGULA
Monday 30 May 2011
Friday 27 May 2011
Thursday 19 May 2011
Brick company{big hole}
Endicourt is a rural area in Springs towards Nigel.Springs is at Ekurhuleni metro in the east of Johannesburg, South Africa.
Endicourt as rural area now is starting to develop, because the Goverment is starting to build houses for Endicourt community and do away with informal setlement in the area. Most of the people in this area work at the farms which is still own by whites. Employment rate is very high and crime is on the rise. close to area the is railway line wnich is not secured.And when you jump the railway line about 50m, the is big hole which was dug by a brick company, unfortunately the people of thi area have forgetten the name of the company whch left long time ago.The company according a source who does not want to be mentioned, indicated that the company came in 1998 and left in 2007. The copmany left without rehabilitang the land left a big hole which its lenght is 100m width 50m and deep about 10m and rain water is starting to fill the hole creating more danger to the the community since the hole is not fenced and secured and is without warning signs. The family of Nhlanhla Malaza living close to the hole, They said already three peolpe have lost their life in that hole and nobody is taking resposibity about it.they main concern is children who play over the place when parents are at work. Secondly people walk pass near the hole when thy go to work and coming back.Thirdly at night the place is dark drunk peole can fall in there and die. Having heard the views of the residents, Endicourt community live me without any doubt that the hole have bad effects on the commuty of Endicourt,particulary the families living close to the family. Thabisile Ngomo thou she is not sure whether the water is polluted and dangers for health she collect and boil the water and used it for cooking and washing since she does not have water yet.The cry of the residents of Endicourt could be better addressed by closing the hole, they feel marginalised and sidelined because nobody is claming the damage as far as the land destruction is and danger to their life is concerned.I spoke to a secuty guy who is guarding railway line. unfoturnately he does nt have any information about the company.
Comments from the community.
We would like the councillor to take up this issue
We are neglected and not living like humans
Peolpe of this area to work together with the Goverment to make sure peolpes concern are met and done.
The councillor was not available since the are still busy with votes.
Lastly the community of Endicourt decided that we meet again when voting is done., and we can aproach the newly elected leader to deal with this issue.Really the place is bad Goverment should do something to make it better.
MESHACK MBANGULA
Kwa thema monitor
Endicourt as rural area now is starting to develop, because the Goverment is starting to build houses for Endicourt community and do away with informal setlement in the area. Most of the people in this area work at the farms which is still own by whites. Employment rate is very high and crime is on the rise. close to area the is railway line wnich is not secured.And when you jump the railway line about 50m, the is big hole which was dug by a brick company, unfortunately the people of thi area have forgetten the name of the company whch left long time ago.The company according a source who does not want to be mentioned, indicated that the company came in 1998 and left in 2007. The copmany left without rehabilitang the land left a big hole which its lenght is 100m width 50m and deep about 10m and rain water is starting to fill the hole creating more danger to the the community since the hole is not fenced and secured and is without warning signs. The family of Nhlanhla Malaza living close to the hole, They said already three peolpe have lost their life in that hole and nobody is taking resposibity about it.they main concern is children who play over the place when parents are at work. Secondly people walk pass near the hole when thy go to work and coming back.Thirdly at night the place is dark drunk peole can fall in there and die. Having heard the views of the residents, Endicourt community live me without any doubt that the hole have bad effects on the commuty of Endicourt,particulary the families living close to the family. Thabisile Ngomo thou she is not sure whether the water is polluted and dangers for health she collect and boil the water and used it for cooking and washing since she does not have water yet.The cry of the residents of Endicourt could be better addressed by closing the hole, they feel marginalised and sidelined because nobody is claming the damage as far as the land destruction is and danger to their life is concerned.I spoke to a secuty guy who is guarding railway line. unfoturnately he does nt have any information about the company.
Comments from the community.
We would like the councillor to take up this issue
We are neglected and not living like humans
Peolpe of this area to work together with the Goverment to make sure peolpes concern are met and done.
The councillor was not available since the are still busy with votes.
Lastly the community of Endicourt decided that we meet again when voting is done., and we can aproach the newly elected leader to deal with this issue.Really the place is bad Goverment should do something to make it better.
MESHACK MBANGULA
Kwa thema monitor
Thursday 12 May 2011
Toxic fuels[Paraffin] in Kwatzadudza
Kwatzadudza.The name come from three townships in the eastrand, that is Kwathema, Tsakane and Duduza in Ekurhuleni and with lot of informal settlement around. Uneplyoment is very high which increases the rate of crime as well.
Informal settlement and rural commnuties especially the poor still denpend very much on paraffin as means of energy since is affordable.
Paraffin remains a popular fuel choice for South Africa, despite its dangers. Paraffin remains most affordable,convenient and practical energy source for many poor Kwatsadudza household and South africa at large,Rural and urban alike.
Paraffin is the toxic fuel and use in poorly ventilated homes which increases the risk of inhalation and thus contracting or exacerbating resparation illness. Paraffin is often stored in empty cooldrink bottles not labelled and the risk of accidental ingestion is high.Fires resulting from use of paraffin stoves are frequent,with over 400 000 fires annually. Approximately 100 000 homes are destroyed every year, particularly in high density informal settlement like Langa ville which is between Kwa thema and Tsakane.Fires also results in fatalies and burns especially children. Exposure to the Paraffin fumes is assosciated with a number of respration deseases including chronic obtructive pulmonary deseae,lung cancer,nasopharyngeal cancer,Tubercolsis and eye desease, low birth weight and acute lower respiratory infections may be recorded,particularly in children under age of five.According to the Goverment figuresm up to 40% of household in South Africa mosttly low income household in rural and urban informal settlement, still rely on Paraffin and is becoming expensive. This means that nearly 5 million households,comprimising 20 milion people, use paraffin for cooking and heating.I visited the family of Sam Thabethe staying at Langaville. He is unemployed with a wife and 3 children, he uses paraffin.
These are the questions that ask him.
1, Why are they still using Paraffin instead of other means.
2,How much do they know about the danger of Paraffin,
3,Do they make sure the bottles are put in a safe place,
Mr Thabethe
Thou paraffin is getting expensive but its what the can afford, the dont have a choice. Concerning safety , he said the kids are the one who goes and buy it at the garage so the bottles that contains the paraffin wont do anything, since they know.Concerning deases, he does not know anything because he is been using for a long time and he si not sick. I explain to him, and ask him to talk to others for a meeting.
This lead to talk about energy poverty.Aspect of energy povertym where poor are forced to rely on paraffin for energy, the inefficient ways of prducing and using these source which results in adverse health and environmental impacts.
MESHACK MBANGULA
Kwa thema monitor
kwa thema environmental org
Informal settlement and rural commnuties especially the poor still denpend very much on paraffin as means of energy since is affordable.
Paraffin remains a popular fuel choice for South Africa, despite its dangers. Paraffin remains most affordable,convenient and practical energy source for many poor Kwatsadudza household and South africa at large,Rural and urban alike.
Paraffin is the toxic fuel and use in poorly ventilated homes which increases the risk of inhalation and thus contracting or exacerbating resparation illness. Paraffin is often stored in empty cooldrink bottles not labelled and the risk of accidental ingestion is high.Fires resulting from use of paraffin stoves are frequent,with over 400 000 fires annually. Approximately 100 000 homes are destroyed every year, particularly in high density informal settlement like Langa ville which is between Kwa thema and Tsakane.Fires also results in fatalies and burns especially children. Exposure to the Paraffin fumes is assosciated with a number of respration deseases including chronic obtructive pulmonary deseae,lung cancer,nasopharyngeal cancer,Tubercolsis and eye desease, low birth weight and acute lower respiratory infections may be recorded,particularly in children under age of five.According to the Goverment figuresm up to 40% of household in South Africa mosttly low income household in rural and urban informal settlement, still rely on Paraffin and is becoming expensive. This means that nearly 5 million households,comprimising 20 milion people, use paraffin for cooking and heating.I visited the family of Sam Thabethe staying at Langaville. He is unemployed with a wife and 3 children, he uses paraffin.
These are the questions that ask him.
1, Why are they still using Paraffin instead of other means.
2,How much do they know about the danger of Paraffin,
3,Do they make sure the bottles are put in a safe place,
Mr Thabethe
Thou paraffin is getting expensive but its what the can afford, the dont have a choice. Concerning safety , he said the kids are the one who goes and buy it at the garage so the bottles that contains the paraffin wont do anything, since they know.Concerning deases, he does not know anything because he is been using for a long time and he si not sick. I explain to him, and ask him to talk to others for a meeting.
This lead to talk about energy poverty.Aspect of energy povertym where poor are forced to rely on paraffin for energy, the inefficient ways of prducing and using these source which results in adverse health and environmental impacts.
MESHACK MBANGULA
Kwa thema monitor
kwa thema environmental org
Friday 6 May 2011
Toxic water in Kwathema,Paynville and Duduza
Acid mine drainage is a type of Toxic pollution caused when acidic water flows out from abandoned mines.Asthe water flows out of the mine, it trikles into waterways and permeates the soil and enters the watertable, causing widespread contamination
The following aticle focuses on an aspect of this disaster in the eastrand, Ekurhuleni Townships, namely, Kwathema,Paynville and Duduza, which has received less attention. For 100 years, the area in the eastrand has been one of the richest mining underground gold and uranium bearing reefs in South Africa. Many of the companies which eploited the resources have disapeared. however, they have left an expensive legacy of Environmental pollution. Mines like Grootvlei in Springs near Paynville which is pollting blesbokspuit fulltime and Vlakvontein polluting wetlands in Kwa thema and Duduza..
Lately, attention has been focused on the problem of acid mine drainage which consist of uncotlolled flows of polluted water from abandoned mines into the surface watersources and underground aquifers sorrounding the former mines near township. the pontetail and existing damage from the acid water to the above townshpis water suplly and health risks to the ecosystems and human beings are massive. the Grootvleimine bells rang when the mine started discharching its untreated water into the adjecent wetland as well as Blesboksprit. as the resultther were mass death of fish, crabs and other life forms.
Aurora empowerment systems. took over with no mine experience, within four months, Aorora begen to default. it allowed acid mine drainage to be deposired in the blesbokspruit the Enfofement arm of the the Dept of water affairs from 19 March 2010, 2000 workers distrught by the failure to paid, down the tools, leaving only 100 workers to take of the essential care and maintance. which is highly impossible.Communities in the near townships suffer most and no body seems to care. Commuties in Paynviile iling in the shacks depend on thes water of rhe wetlands and blesbokspruit. The mine Bosses have no where to found.Councils refere the matter to mines.
Local speaker Mr Mathebula indicated that the is whith the Gorverment the will inform me if the meetings takes place with Mine bosses as the Goverment.
MESHACK MBANGULA
Kwa thema environmetal org
kwathema monitor
The following aticle focuses on an aspect of this disaster in the eastrand, Ekurhuleni Townships, namely, Kwathema,Paynville and Duduza, which has received less attention. For 100 years, the area in the eastrand has been one of the richest mining underground gold and uranium bearing reefs in South Africa. Many of the companies which eploited the resources have disapeared. however, they have left an expensive legacy of Environmental pollution. Mines like Grootvlei in Springs near Paynville which is pollting blesbokspuit fulltime and Vlakvontein polluting wetlands in Kwa thema and Duduza..
Lately, attention has been focused on the problem of acid mine drainage which consist of uncotlolled flows of polluted water from abandoned mines into the surface watersources and underground aquifers sorrounding the former mines near township. the pontetail and existing damage from the acid water to the above townshpis water suplly and health risks to the ecosystems and human beings are massive. the Grootvleimine bells rang when the mine started discharching its untreated water into the adjecent wetland as well as Blesboksprit. as the resultther were mass death of fish, crabs and other life forms.
Aurora empowerment systems. took over with no mine experience, within four months, Aorora begen to default. it allowed acid mine drainage to be deposired in the blesbokspruit the Enfofement arm of the the Dept of water affairs from 19 March 2010, 2000 workers distrught by the failure to paid, down the tools, leaving only 100 workers to take of the essential care and maintance. which is highly impossible.Communities in the near townships suffer most and no body seems to care. Commuties in Paynviile iling in the shacks depend on thes water of rhe wetlands and blesbokspruit. The mine Bosses have no where to found.Councils refere the matter to mines.
Local speaker Mr Mathebula indicated that the is whith the Gorverment the will inform me if the meetings takes place with Mine bosses as the Goverment.
MESHACK MBANGULA
Kwa thema environmetal org
kwathema monitor
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