15 April - Human Rights

Hennie van Wyk – Chairperson for the Homeless People’s Sanctuary joined us on the show today to talk about plans to start a computer school for the youth of Retreat and Steenberg. Lessons start this month, at the Retreat community hall and are free. Applicants must take their ID and be prepared for an interview with a social worker. We all are aware that these you have to be computer literate in order to get a meaningful job. And having a job is in a way a human right because if you have a job – you’ll fulfill your basic human right of having a shelter, food on your table and just being able to live. Mr van Wyk explained more about the sanctuary and the work that they do. For more information contact Mansoor on (021) 701 0357.

We also spoke to Takki Amera – From the City of Cape Town. We were talking about the Western Cape Liquor Bill. Capetonians who are concerned about the uncontrollable growth in the approval of liquor licences have only a day left to provide input on the revised Western Cape Liquor Bill that was published on the 14th of March 2008 for public comment. Councillor Pieter van Dalen (Kuilsriver ward councillor) recently experienced how easily liquor licences can be approved. A liquor store was opened opposite a children’s play park in the residential area of Jagtershof. He says the Community is outraged that they were not properly consulted in the process and is now on a mission to get the revised Bill amended in order to protect local communities. In the wake of that the City of Cape Town has set up a task team to create and put together a response to the content of the Bill. Chairperson of the team, Takki Amera – says there are various issues to be addressed in the proposed Bill. The Bill provides for extended liquor trading hours. Bars and restaurants will be able to trade non-stop for 20 hours, from 8am the one day to 4am the next day. Bottle stores will be allowed to trade seven days a week from 8am to 8pm. If you want more information you can contact the liquor Board on (021) 483 4498 or 483 3091.

We were also joined on the line by Gert Witbooi – Western Cape Education spokesperson. We were talking about the Mass Literacy Campaign, aimed at reducing adult illiteracy in the province. Research shows that 161 000 out of 4,7 million adults, who have never attended school and cannot read, write nor count, are living in the Western Cape. The education department hopes that by 2012 these adults will all have attended adult literacy classes. The classes will be at community centres, schools and churches across the country. If you want more information contact their offices at (021) 467 2000.

And our last interview was with Peter Ucko – Director of the National Council Against Smoking. We were talking about the legislation aimed at closing loopholes in tobacco control that has been tabled in parliament. The draft tobacco products control amendment bill will bring South African law in line with the World Health Organisation’s tobacco control convention by banning sales to children under the age of 18. Peter explained more about the legislation and whether it will help address the issue of under-age smoking. If you want more information contact their offices at (011) 725 1514 or visit www.againstsmoking.org. They also have a helpline for those who want to quit smoking on (011) 720 3145.

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