Kwa thema is township which is in the east of Johannesburg which fall under Ekurhuleni metro. Kwa thema is having population of 45 000 and high number of un employment which escalates crime.
Kwa thema recently is having a problem with local goverment corncening electricity,The new system was introduced without consulting the community and leaders of the community as well. The system most of the communty dont understant it but what they tell is that ir is expensive, as i have indicated most of the people are not working, those who do are earning next to nothing at all.
The leaders of the Kwathema community that is PAC and ANC called a commnity meeeting on issue of electrictyon 03.08.2011 and letter was drafted to the Mayor and the team, stated all the problem the community is not happy about with the issue of electricity as main issue.The moyor was given two weeks to respond, two weeks went by and the was no responce.another commnity meeting was called and a decision was taken that action must be taken to show the goverment the serouisness of the matter. On the 15.09.2011 comminity went on rampage stoping people from going to work burning gorverment propety street were closed with rockss and burning tyres government officials were threaten as well police came and used rubber bullts to stop the crowd. The second day again it was the same story.Eskom aproach the commnity leaders on the same issue and explain to the leaders that it was not him who introduced the system but the municipalty of kwa thema.The information made commniy more angry and on the 22.08.2011 again community of kwa thema took action destroying government propety and cars blocking the strees again.
The moyor till today have not responded to the leaders and the commnity about the matter.Meeting was held on 24.09.2011 for stategic action to pressurise the government to respond to the demands of the comminty.
MESHACK MBANGULA
KWA THEMA MONITOR
Monday, 26 September 2011
Wednesday, 24 August 2011
OLD AGE CRISIS EKURHULENI
The future of local old age homes andfrail care centres could come under threat, as lack of Government support has seen homes closes in Gauteng.
Old people wake early in the morning cold or raining to queue outside municipality halls to get paid,sometimes they dont get paid for a reason not known to her.secondly if he or she does get paid, the kids or grand kids use the money for they purposes, thirdly electricity is so expensive the old cant afford any more. who cares.It was better for the old if they live in the old age homes but with the Governmentlacking support. this is despite the fact that the Gauteng Department of social development underspent R66 million of its annual budget, The old age homes will be the thing of the past. This means that, This means thatthe number of older people without a home is likell to increase. following the death of 12 residents at Sruisbult care centre, proves the lack of safety for old and that the centres are not being monitored correctly.
If nothing is done about this centres the old willbe on the street. the Question that arises is ,What happen to the money from the Department of Social development. I spoke to Robbie Nkabinde spokeman for thesocial development. He accuses the department of funding non-complant old age homes while compliant care facilities remain grossly underfunded with littlte to no increase in financial resources.
Its a shame that the Government we voted in let the older to run through thunder. The life of the old is deteriorating and unfortunatly their villages are disappearing too.Keep this in mind we are getting old too, if we dont fix this problem now, whos going to fix for us when times come. Iwish to point out that social development is inconsiderate state.Our Government is able to borrow other countries like Lesotho R2 billion and at the same time cant take of their own old age residents, its shame
Kwa thema monitor
MESHACK MBANGULA
Old people wake early in the morning cold or raining to queue outside municipality halls to get paid,sometimes they dont get paid for a reason not known to her.secondly if he or she does get paid, the kids or grand kids use the money for they purposes, thirdly electricity is so expensive the old cant afford any more. who cares.It was better for the old if they live in the old age homes but with the Governmentlacking support. this is despite the fact that the Gauteng Department of social development underspent R66 million of its annual budget, The old age homes will be the thing of the past. This means that, This means thatthe number of older people without a home is likell to increase. following the death of 12 residents at Sruisbult care centre, proves the lack of safety for old and that the centres are not being monitored correctly.
If nothing is done about this centres the old willbe on the street. the Question that arises is ,What happen to the money from the Department of Social development. I spoke to Robbie Nkabinde spokeman for thesocial development. He accuses the department of funding non-complant old age homes while compliant care facilities remain grossly underfunded with littlte to no increase in financial resources.
Its a shame that the Government we voted in let the older to run through thunder. The life of the old is deteriorating and unfortunatly their villages are disappearing too.Keep this in mind we are getting old too, if we dont fix this problem now, whos going to fix for us when times come. Iwish to point out that social development is inconsiderate state.Our Government is able to borrow other countries like Lesotho R2 billion and at the same time cant take of their own old age residents, its shame
Kwa thema monitor
MESHACK MBANGULA
Thursday, 18 August 2011
Bench mark foundation,Road to development,(monitoring school)
Bench mark foundation is an independent church based organisation.It is involve in multiple responsibilities eg, Monitoring school.I felt that it is very important for me and other organisation as well as world to know about Monitoring school.
The Monitoring School started in 2008 by Bench mark. I Meshack Mbangula i started in 2010 May. The Monitoring shool is an amazing capacity building school, when i was called from Justice and peace to attend the school. I was disturb reason being, was the first time i heard of such thing or animal. Disturb as i was,i attended the school with negative intentions.Supringly the Monitoring school of Bench mark is a class of its own, Im saying this because of what i was before and after i attended the school. Before i attended the school i did not care what is happening in my community, they health,drinking water, dumping and Companies who polluting our environment, I was selfish that the right word.
What Bech Mark did to are the following, Computer skills eg basic computer, emails and windows.The other skills are as follows, free writing,speaker trainig, information reseach, confidance and interact with other organisation as well.With these tools i was able to face the Companies around who polluting to take responsability, capacitated my community about environmentas well as domestic pollution and involving the local government in issues pataining the communty that need be dealt with urgently.I was able to change some of the things like the open areas are no more dumping areas but Parks.
Interacting with other organisation help a lot in gathering in information and used in your community.
Now im part of the Movement called CJN(climate justice now).CJN is movement formed by number of organisation to fight issue of climate change,the aim is to pressurise Govermenmt and big corporates to reduce emmissions that affect our climate negatively with green house gases,Im helping in organising the capacitation of the people of Gauteng about Climate change and the trip to Durban, to Cop17( conference of the parties)where the whole world will be meeting to discuss climate change. We want our Government to be commited and sign a binding agreement, that is why we are taking everybody to Durban.
Bench Mark foundation significance, importace and relevance of these contributions cannot be over emphasised, im Valued. I hope and believe that other organisation as well as the goverment will follow suit.Thank you Bench Mark you Rock.
Kwa Thema monitor
MESHACK MBANGULA
The Monitoring School started in 2008 by Bench mark. I Meshack Mbangula i started in 2010 May. The Monitoring shool is an amazing capacity building school, when i was called from Justice and peace to attend the school. I was disturb reason being, was the first time i heard of such thing or animal. Disturb as i was,i attended the school with negative intentions.Supringly the Monitoring school of Bench mark is a class of its own, Im saying this because of what i was before and after i attended the school. Before i attended the school i did not care what is happening in my community, they health,drinking water, dumping and Companies who polluting our environment, I was selfish that the right word.
What Bech Mark did to are the following, Computer skills eg basic computer, emails and windows.The other skills are as follows, free writing,speaker trainig, information reseach, confidance and interact with other organisation as well.With these tools i was able to face the Companies around who polluting to take responsability, capacitated my community about environmentas well as domestic pollution and involving the local government in issues pataining the communty that need be dealt with urgently.I was able to change some of the things like the open areas are no more dumping areas but Parks.
Interacting with other organisation help a lot in gathering in information and used in your community.
Now im part of the Movement called CJN(climate justice now).CJN is movement formed by number of organisation to fight issue of climate change,the aim is to pressurise Govermenmt and big corporates to reduce emmissions that affect our climate negatively with green house gases,Im helping in organising the capacitation of the people of Gauteng about Climate change and the trip to Durban, to Cop17( conference of the parties)where the whole world will be meeting to discuss climate change. We want our Government to be commited and sign a binding agreement, that is why we are taking everybody to Durban.
Bench Mark foundation significance, importace and relevance of these contributions cannot be over emphasised, im Valued. I hope and believe that other organisation as well as the goverment will follow suit.Thank you Bench Mark you Rock.
Kwa Thema monitor
MESHACK MBANGULA
Thursday, 11 August 2011
Follow up on sewage spillage in Springs
Representative moved to declare the Strubunvale area in Springs as a disaster zone, as sewage continued to flow from broken pipes enventually ending up in the blesbokspruit.
The aim of the meeting was originally to discuss Erwat,s recent filters crisis, which forced the ancor sewage works traetment plant to pump partially treated water into the environment. With Erwat recent replacement of one of three broken filters,eliminating the need for the resultant overflow. Erwat estimated that 50 milliom litres of sewage had escape from the pipes in the past week,prompting outrage from the residets, who heatedly questioned the Metro for its slow response to a pontetial ecological disaster, Councillor Andre du plessis, together with the ward councillor Shadow Shabangu and pr councillor Jackie Reilly, summed up stance on the issue, requesting that the situation be declared a disaster to free up Metro tender processes. Mechanism must put up in place to disinfect or contain the situation for sake of drinking supply, ecological systems in the Blesbokspruit and the health of residents around park, Meanwhile, chemical samples taken from the spruit by the quality section last week,as well as chemical and bacteriological samples taken last week were still being analysed. The environmetal heath directorate says that this could be predicted that the incident will have significant effect on water quality, further recommendationts by the (EHD) include the involvement of the environmental management wing of the Metro,s Department ot Environmental Development, the cleaning of solid mass fromWilhemina park and to prevent the leakage of sewage from connections on the temporary pipes.Acting metro spokesman Justice Mohale says that temporary solutions proved in effective, as tenporary pipes could not accommodate peak flow, promting the installation of a second temporary pipe.
For a permanent solution it will be neccessary to replace both lines with 550mm diameter steel lines with new supports on both sides,Due to the fact that is a specialised project, it requires proper planning and design.The metro promised to treat the matter with urgency and a meeting will be held soon.
The residents of Strubunvalle are still breathing the dirty air and their evironment is still being polluted. Something drastically must be done the community of this place
Kwa thema evironmental org
MESHACK MBANGULA
The aim of the meeting was originally to discuss Erwat,s recent filters crisis, which forced the ancor sewage works traetment plant to pump partially treated water into the environment. With Erwat recent replacement of one of three broken filters,eliminating the need for the resultant overflow. Erwat estimated that 50 milliom litres of sewage had escape from the pipes in the past week,prompting outrage from the residets, who heatedly questioned the Metro for its slow response to a pontetial ecological disaster, Councillor Andre du plessis, together with the ward councillor Shadow Shabangu and pr councillor Jackie Reilly, summed up stance on the issue, requesting that the situation be declared a disaster to free up Metro tender processes. Mechanism must put up in place to disinfect or contain the situation for sake of drinking supply, ecological systems in the Blesbokspruit and the health of residents around park, Meanwhile, chemical samples taken from the spruit by the quality section last week,as well as chemical and bacteriological samples taken last week were still being analysed. The environmetal heath directorate says that this could be predicted that the incident will have significant effect on water quality, further recommendationts by the (EHD) include the involvement of the environmental management wing of the Metro,s Department ot Environmental Development, the cleaning of solid mass fromWilhemina park and to prevent the leakage of sewage from connections on the temporary pipes.Acting metro spokesman Justice Mohale says that temporary solutions proved in effective, as tenporary pipes could not accommodate peak flow, promting the installation of a second temporary pipe.
For a permanent solution it will be neccessary to replace both lines with 550mm diameter steel lines with new supports on both sides,Due to the fact that is a specialised project, it requires proper planning and design.The metro promised to treat the matter with urgency and a meeting will be held soon.
The residents of Strubunvalle are still breathing the dirty air and their evironment is still being polluted. Something drastically must be done the community of this place
Kwa thema evironmental org
MESHACK MBANGULA
Thursday, 28 July 2011
Economic blow for Springs
The whole country is trying by all means to increase job opportunities, but in Springs which is having high number of unemployment which resulted in high rate of crime, is doing the opposite.
Ringrollers a mojor manufacturer and exporter of forged rail tyres that has operated in Springs for almost 40years, has been forced to leave S[rings due to council red tape. Established in 1972 on two hectare property in selection park industrial area. The company identified a need to expand in 2005, to meet increasing demand for its products, including forged rail tyres for locomotive industry and flanges for petrochemical and industrial sector.They negotiated for the undevolped land directly across from its current site in pienaar road, ideal for itd goal, the company aproached real estate agency iProp, owner of the land, for possibility of building extra facilities.With the land not being zoned for industrial devolopment at that time, iProp initiated a rezoning process with the Metro.
Years of red tape, including a moratoruim on council owned land before and after the 2010 fifa world cup to prevent foreing land grabs,envetually saw the company looking somewhere on the eastrand for suittable land, based four non negotiable criteria.Unable to find suitable land on the eastrand, the company looked further afield,indentifying a pontential site, incidentally, next to parent company DCD Dorlby, along the R59 Vereening highway in 2009,the site was ideal. however, at the tlme , the owner told them that he planning to develop thethe land into mini factories.After two years later, was suprised by the owner inviting an offer after all an opportunity that the company did not have to think twice about, and the sale was formalised in August 2010, all along they tried to talk to Springs Metro about the avalable site in Selection park and they failed.
They say that the company, having been established and grown to Springs, would have been preferred to stay in its hometown, particularly for the sake of its workforce. They first choice was to stay in Springs but lack of cooperation from the metro has forced them to seek property elsewhere.The company is currently employing 180 people, and the company has already arrange for emplyees daily to and from Springs,to lessen the burden,while others are considering relocation to Vereeniging.
Attemps to secure interview with mmc fotr city planning and economic development Bennet Nikani through the metro, however no further communication had been received from metro media, we are still trying to secure a meeting with them, to make sure a bad thing like this does not happen again.
Kwa thema monitor
MESHACK MBANGULA
Ringrollers a mojor manufacturer and exporter of forged rail tyres that has operated in Springs for almost 40years, has been forced to leave S[rings due to council red tape. Established in 1972 on two hectare property in selection park industrial area. The company identified a need to expand in 2005, to meet increasing demand for its products, including forged rail tyres for locomotive industry and flanges for petrochemical and industrial sector.They negotiated for the undevolped land directly across from its current site in pienaar road, ideal for itd goal, the company aproached real estate agency iProp, owner of the land, for possibility of building extra facilities.With the land not being zoned for industrial devolopment at that time, iProp initiated a rezoning process with the Metro.
Years of red tape, including a moratoruim on council owned land before and after the 2010 fifa world cup to prevent foreing land grabs,envetually saw the company looking somewhere on the eastrand for suittable land, based four non negotiable criteria.Unable to find suitable land on the eastrand, the company looked further afield,indentifying a pontential site, incidentally, next to parent company DCD Dorlby, along the R59 Vereening highway in 2009,the site was ideal. however, at the tlme , the owner told them that he planning to develop thethe land into mini factories.After two years later, was suprised by the owner inviting an offer after all an opportunity that the company did not have to think twice about, and the sale was formalised in August 2010, all along they tried to talk to Springs Metro about the avalable site in Selection park and they failed.
They say that the company, having been established and grown to Springs, would have been preferred to stay in its hometown, particularly for the sake of its workforce. They first choice was to stay in Springs but lack of cooperation from the metro has forced them to seek property elsewhere.The company is currently employing 180 people, and the company has already arrange for emplyees daily to and from Springs,to lessen the burden,while others are considering relocation to Vereeniging.
Attemps to secure interview with mmc fotr city planning and economic development Bennet Nikani through the metro, however no further communication had been received from metro media, we are still trying to secure a meeting with them, to make sure a bad thing like this does not happen again.
Kwa thema monitor
MESHACK MBANGULA
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
sprui of sewage in Springs
Staggering stench enveloping Strubunvale in Springs and surrounding areas is getting out of hand.
Springs is a smaal town in the east of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni. Strubunvale is one of the suburbs Springs.
Strubunvale has had problems in the past from the companies like Zincor, bad smell from the chemicals and they were polluting blesbokspruit as well, Community fought with the company ang the matter was resolved.Now they are faced sewage discharge which is causes a staggering stench smell which is unbearable at the same time polluting blesbokspruit.
Accopanying Pretoruis and Havinga, from Ancor works sewage treatment plant, the two showede how semi clean sewage water is being discharged inti the surrounding envinment, what the told us is that they are having issues with the pumps and filters, forcing them to discharge into the environment because the remaining equipment cannot cope with the load. Aresident on the waterfront of the blesbokspruit, which has been affected by the sewage discharge,Said imagine what its like to wake up with the strong smell of sewage in your nostrils every morning everyday its frustating, something must be done and it must be done quickly.
Blesbok runs past this establishment, which most of the sewage water flows to it. one guy the name of which he asked to be withheld for fear of affecting his bussiness further, indicated that the have been cmplaining about thi nothing happen its been a month now. Wanda henning spokeman for the Eastrand water company, which runs the sewage treatment plant, confirmed that the plant was expriencing techical problems, they are currently taking emergency measures to see to the replacement and repair of faultly bio filters, The absence of which creates an overflow that the remaining equipment cannot handle the discharge water is not raw sewage as it has been subjected to the first phase of the process.
The authorities of department of water affairs visited he plant last week and gave a go ahead to treat the overflowing water with calcium hypo chloride, which they say will not affect plant and animal life in the sensitive ecological systems of the protected blesbokspruit, while diminishing the resultant smell.
Its expected that the new custom built filter to be installed by friday, while plantis in place to refutbish and repair the remaining filters in the meantime, when the filter is installed there will no longer be a need for the overflow and smell and all the water will go through the regular treatment process.
Since we have meeting monthly a follow up will done to make sure everything is fixed, claen for community
Kwathema monitor
MESHACK MBAGULA
Springs is a smaal town in the east of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni. Strubunvale is one of the suburbs Springs.
Strubunvale has had problems in the past from the companies like Zincor, bad smell from the chemicals and they were polluting blesbokspruit as well, Community fought with the company ang the matter was resolved.Now they are faced sewage discharge which is causes a staggering stench smell which is unbearable at the same time polluting blesbokspruit.
Accopanying Pretoruis and Havinga, from Ancor works sewage treatment plant, the two showede how semi clean sewage water is being discharged inti the surrounding envinment, what the told us is that they are having issues with the pumps and filters, forcing them to discharge into the environment because the remaining equipment cannot cope with the load. Aresident on the waterfront of the blesbokspruit, which has been affected by the sewage discharge,Said imagine what its like to wake up with the strong smell of sewage in your nostrils every morning everyday its frustating, something must be done and it must be done quickly.
Blesbok runs past this establishment, which most of the sewage water flows to it. one guy the name of which he asked to be withheld for fear of affecting his bussiness further, indicated that the have been cmplaining about thi nothing happen its been a month now. Wanda henning spokeman for the Eastrand water company, which runs the sewage treatment plant, confirmed that the plant was expriencing techical problems, they are currently taking emergency measures to see to the replacement and repair of faultly bio filters, The absence of which creates an overflow that the remaining equipment cannot handle the discharge water is not raw sewage as it has been subjected to the first phase of the process.
The authorities of department of water affairs visited he plant last week and gave a go ahead to treat the overflowing water with calcium hypo chloride, which they say will not affect plant and animal life in the sensitive ecological systems of the protected blesbokspruit, while diminishing the resultant smell.
Its expected that the new custom built filter to be installed by friday, while plantis in place to refutbish and repair the remaining filters in the meantime, when the filter is installed there will no longer be a need for the overflow and smell and all the water will go through the regular treatment process.
Since we have meeting monthly a follow up will done to make sure everything is fixed, claen for community
Kwathema monitor
MESHACK MBAGULA
Thursday, 7 July 2011
Pholosong hospital in Tsakane
Pholosong hspital is in Tsakane tonwship which in the east of Johannesburg in Brakpan, Ekurhuleni Metro. The hospital is at the entrance and exit of Tsakane area.Pholosong is a hospital which is having 12 wards incuding, surgical ward,TB ward, Maternity ward and children ward. Each ward accomodate 40 patients, all in all it accomodate 600 patients.Pholosong is faced with the problem of four township, which are, Kwathema popualtion of about 45000 people, Tsakane population of 56 000 people, Duduza population of 39 000, and Guleksdal 31 000.
Pholosong supposed to be bulid according to the population of these four township not only one, because when it was moved from Polark park in Springs, one of the reason that it was small and far from the people,Did it really solve that problem? NO.
Pholosong is faced with more patient than expected some have to sleep on the floor because of the seriousness of their condition the is no more beds for them sleep on. Secondly the are patient that get treated and send home everyday, thirdly what they out patient who are given dates for checkup and medicine.
Doctors and Nurses because of the number of patient to attend to they are overworked and fatigue takes over, somebody who is fatigue can make mistakes which can be fatal.
The Goverment suppose to build hospital that have the resources as well enough accomodation for the people of that area.The manager could not release the number of patient they lose or die day because of classified information. Most Doctors live because of the condition they are working under, which creat more problem for the hospital and the people.Sick and injured patients wait for a long time to see to attendet to by the Doctor because the hospital is overloaded and nobody is doing athing about it.
We will be having a meeting with local Goverment on the 27 July concerning this issue,and hopefully take it to the next level wher desicions are made.The Goverment is busy building walkways all over the place and what about the the health of the people. people before profit, health comes first and the rest. The problem is that the people who are suppose to look after these issues they Medical aids so they dont go to these Goverment hospital to see what happening and try and bring a solution to it. Civil society must stand up and fight about this matter, so that their children will have better facillities and hospitals. Awareness and education on this issue is a key to better Kwasadutsa.that is kwathema, tsakane, duduza and gulksdal.
Kwa thema Monitor
MESHACK MBANGULA
Ekurhuleni enviromental org
Pholosong supposed to be bulid according to the population of these four township not only one, because when it was moved from Polark park in Springs, one of the reason that it was small and far from the people,Did it really solve that problem? NO.
Pholosong is faced with more patient than expected some have to sleep on the floor because of the seriousness of their condition the is no more beds for them sleep on. Secondly the are patient that get treated and send home everyday, thirdly what they out patient who are given dates for checkup and medicine.
Doctors and Nurses because of the number of patient to attend to they are overworked and fatigue takes over, somebody who is fatigue can make mistakes which can be fatal.
The Goverment suppose to build hospital that have the resources as well enough accomodation for the people of that area.The manager could not release the number of patient they lose or die day because of classified information. Most Doctors live because of the condition they are working under, which creat more problem for the hospital and the people.Sick and injured patients wait for a long time to see to attendet to by the Doctor because the hospital is overloaded and nobody is doing athing about it.
We will be having a meeting with local Goverment on the 27 July concerning this issue,and hopefully take it to the next level wher desicions are made.The Goverment is busy building walkways all over the place and what about the the health of the people. people before profit, health comes first and the rest. The problem is that the people who are suppose to look after these issues they Medical aids so they dont go to these Goverment hospital to see what happening and try and bring a solution to it. Civil society must stand up and fight about this matter, so that their children will have better facillities and hospitals. Awareness and education on this issue is a key to better Kwasadutsa.that is kwathema, tsakane, duduza and gulksdal.
Kwa thema Monitor
MESHACK MBANGULA
Ekurhuleni enviromental org
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)