Sakhisizwe -Building the Nation - Bou Die Nasie

Today we spoke to Sub-Lieutenant Thandeka Snail - a naval officer from Simons Town. She is the first black woman to join one of the world’s top naval frigates on an eight month training trip around the world. She has been chosen as a guest on the ARA Libertad – which belongs to the Argentinean Navy for two months. We also had an exclusive interview with Danneline Noach who was arrested in Saudi Arabia conducted by my producer Rhodé Marshall. Danneline’s Kraaifontein family did not know she was arrested and made various attempts to the South African embassy in Riyadh to trace her. Rhodé spoke to Danneline about her experience of being arrested in a foreign country. We closed off the show with an interview with Phumeza Runeyi – TAC Youth Coordinator in Khayelitsha. Hundreds of Khayelitsha activists have pleaded to their neighbours to stop stigmatizing rape survivors. The plea was made during their mass protest against gender based violence in the township on Saturday. The Treatment Actio

Today on the Tuesday edition of Sakhisizwe, we played a feature by Rhodé Marshall and Ilhaam Hoosain where they took a look back at South Africa’s first democratic elections fourteen years ago. Most people who voted on the 27th of April 1994 still remember that day very clearly, as it was a historic moment for a majority of South Africans to cast their vote for a free, just and democratic country. But it’s been over a decade already and many are crying for this beloved country because things like poverty, crime and corruption are spiraling out of control. With the 2009 National Elections coming up, those who are not a registered voter can do so at their local Municipal Office. Joining us in studio was Pamela Mjuleni the Principal of the St Francis Adult Education Centr e. St Francis has been providing education for adults from disadvantaged communities for the past 30 years. They aim to provide relevant programmes and initiatives that enhance self-development and promote employment. Th

Today we were joined on the line by Pam Warne – Curator of Photography and New Media at Iziko National Gallery. We were talking about a photographic exhibition that runs at Iziko South African National Gallery until 25 May 2008. The exhibition demonstrates an engagement with a wide range of concerns and forms: the personal is given new weight; and issues around identity, self-representation and gender are explored alongside landscape and post-apartheid memory. The following photographers are represented in Reality Check: Bridget Baker, Lien Botha, Jean Brundrit, David Goldblatt, Pieter Hugo, Santu Mofokeng, Zanele Muholi, Jo Ratcliffe, Mikhael Subotzky, Guy Tillim, Andrew Tshabangu and Nontsikelelo ‘Lolo’ Veleko. The Gallery is open daily from 10:00-17:00 except Mondays. For more information contact Pam on (021) 467 4660 or visit www.iziko.org.za We also spoke to Eugene Mthethwa – Chairman of the Association of Independ ent Record Companies. We were talking about the Take Charge Anti-C

Today we spoke to Andrew Etzinger – Eskom’s Manager for demand side Management. At the moment Eskom is facing a skills challenge which is associated with the new power stations that are being built and need to be operated. It is reported that they are currently recruiting 1 500 technical skilled workers into the utility every year. Andrew explained more about the recruitment process, which has been on the go for the past 18 months. He says it’s aimed at both local and international talent, at the moment they have a team in the USA which is recruiting skills to bring back to South Africa. If you want more information visit www.eskom.co.za or send an email to recruitmentenquiries@eskom.co.za We also heard from Gugu Mjadu - From the Umsobomvu Youth Fund. The UYF, launched the Invite a Person with a Disability to Work Campaign and has already secured 65 companies to host people with disabilities in the workplace in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and Western Cape. The campaign was established af

We spoke to Banyana Banyana Ex-captain Desiree Ellis. As a former captain of Banyana Banyana Desiree is one of the top Women’s Soccer players in South Africa. She is also an activist for women’s rights, particularly around issues of girl’s involvement in sport and recreation activities. We also played a feature produced by Tina George. She asks the question – why do men cheat. She took to the streets to find out the different views that members of the public have about cheating in general. We closed off the show with an interview with Lone Neckel – trauma worker from the Convention Intervention Centre. We will be talking about Domestic Violence. Domestic Violence is one of the most destructive forces that breaks down the family unit. It is a complex and difficult situation to access and ease. So many women and men remain in abusive situations for years and never get help as they feel they deserve this treatment or can change the abuser with their love. The Convention Intervention C

In today's show we were joined instudio by John Bydell – founder of South African Interested in the Nation’s Transformation. We were talking about his organisation and the work that he does for his community. Over two months ago John Bydell converted his front stoep into a coffee shop and restaurant for the poor and needy and is now catering for the local police as well, charging only a nominal fee for the meals he serves. As a community worker he says he has become aware of what police do and go through. Anyone interested in assisting John can contact him on (021) 692 1131 or 078 269 5297. PIC:by Tina George Councillor Johannes Burger - ward councillor for Retreat also spoke to us about a public meeting he will be hosting next Tuesday addressing issues such as tik, liquor and other substance abuse. They are inviting community organisation who deal with the issue of substance abuse to be part of the meeting. According to Councillor Burger, a concerned parent once said many people t

In today’s show we spoke to the Western Cape Health MEC, Mr. Pierre Uys. The Western Cape Health Department opened an upgraded Specialist Burn Unit at the Tygerberg Hospital last Monday. According to the Minister, treatment of severe burn wounds is a painful process for patients and to be successful - specialised medical knowledge applied in a special, customised ward with modern medical equipment is needed. He says the unit has personnel with exceptional expertise who are able to achieve world class results and he also explained more about his department’s commitment in providing world class medical care. For more information contact the department’s offices on (021) 483 4625. We were also joined by Dr. Neil Cameron from the University of Stellenbosch, where we dealt with the topic of Malaria. Malaria is not common in this province but if you visit malaria high-risk areas it is important to take precautionary measures to avoid malaria infection. When it comes to symptoms, Fever is th

Today we spoke to Keith Mackintosh - Ballet Master and head of Audience Development & Outreach Programmes at Cape Town City Ballet. The Cape Town City Ballet in conjunction with the UCT School of Dance, the Cape Junior Ballet and the friends@capetowncityballet present their annual open day tomorrow the 19th of April from 10am till 3pm at the studios of the UCT School of Dance in Rosebank. Activities include demonstrations by the students and staff of the UCT School of Dance, in African Dance, Contemporary and Spanish. Admission to Open Day is R10 for children and adults. Tickets for the two Fund Raising Performances at 12h45 and 13h45 are available on the day at R40 from the CJB table. The entire proceeds from the day go towards Cape Town City Ballet's Development Training Programmes. For more information contact (021) 650 2400 or visit www.capetowncityballet.org.za We were also joined by Zoë Moosmann - A photographer. We were talking about her So lo Exhibition titled 'The

Today we spoke to John Lloyd - Business Growth Strategist, Speaker - Columnist and Seminar Leader. We were talking about negotiating a salary that you deserve. You know many people are taught not to ask for money. The question is if you need to ask for the salary you deserve, even if this makes you uncomfortable how do you do it without feeling like you are greedy or you too forward. John explained the factors you should consider before negotiating for a better salary. Remember a salary negotiation isn't over until you've discussed benefits (holidays, insurance, pension, etc.) For more information on John go to www.brandstorm.co.za or call 083 638 8788. We also heard from Wendy Lavita – From the Cape Flats Development Association or CAFDA. They run training courses in pattern making, basic sewing and advanced sewing. CAFDA is a non-profit Child and Family organisation that provides numerous services to disadvantaged communities on the Cape Flats. If you want more information

In today’s show we heard from Nomsa Nkatha – Chairperson of the South African Women Entrepreneurs’ Network or SAWEN. That interview was conducted by Tina George. SAWEN is a networking forum for individuals and organisations that are committed to the promotion and advancement of women entrepreneurs. It is a dti project that aims to represent and articulate the aspirations of all women entrepreneurs (existing and potential) in the SMME sector. They will be hosting an Economic Development Conference, taking place on the 18th of April for all women entrepreneurs at the Belmont Square Conference Centre in Belmont Road, Rondebosch. For more information contact (021) 425 5017 / (021) 425 2149. We also spoke to Evelyn Moses – Training public awareness co-ordinator from Athlone Rape Crisis. They are in need of volunteers. They are looking for women and men who are 23- years and older who would like to make a difference in their community by becoming a Rape Crisis community development worker

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

Today we spoke to Professor Hein Odendaal – From Stellenbosch University. We were talking about the Dangers of Smoking While Pregnant. Smoking while pregnant should be a cause for concern. It puts both mother's and baby's life at risk. Cigarette smoke contains a cocktail of drugs and poisons which are very harmful to your unborn baby. It also reduces the oxygen level in your blood, which deprives your baby of oxygen and can cause a host of health problems. For more information on the dangers of smoking go to www.tobacco-facts.info . We were also joined on the line by Sister Renette Olivier - Nursing Coordinator for the Western Cape Hemophilia foundation. Haemophilia is a rare inherited disorder that leads to abnormal bleeding, and specifically the inability to stop bleeding. This week is the Haemophilia Week and Sister Olivier explained more about this condition and the activities they planned in raising more awareness about this condition. For more on Haemophilia you can cont

In today's show we were joined by Mariana Olivier – from the Western Cape Genealogical Society of South Africa. Were your ancestors pirates or perhaps some of the original inhabitants of the Cape? There’s only one way to find out and that is to climb up the family tree and trace your genealogy. Mariana does exactly this, she helps people find their roots. The next meeting of the Cape Genealogical Society of South Africa will be tomorrow at the Goodwood Library Hall at 2PM, for more information contact (021) 466 8100. We also spoke to Bennie Rabinowits – Chairperson of the Seafront for All. Members of the Seafront for All will be protesting against the development of the Sea Point Promenade. Community members concerned about plans to construct a hotel, gym and shopping mall complex on the Sea Point promenade are invited to join a protest gathering against this development on 13th of April, which is on Sunday. Seafront for All is a non-profit organisation established, on a volunte

In today’s show, we played an interview conducted by Sakhisizwe’s Producer Tina George. She spoke to Councillor Basil Lee – From the Rondevlei Sub-council. He was talking about the Leaners Licence Project. The Rondevlei Sub-council’s learner’s and driver’s licence programme - Help our People Excel project - was initiated last year and was designed to help learners get their driver’s licence before leaving school to increase their chances of finding employment in the near future. For more information call (021) 710 8394. We also heard from Sue Viljoen – From the Institute for Best Employment Practice. We were talking about the Importance of Employment Contract. It is reported that many employers out there do not provide employment contracts but according to the Basic Conditions of Employment Act – section 29, every employer is required by the law to provide the employee with a written contract of employment not later that the first day of commencement of employment. If you want more in

In today’s show we were joined Instudio by Adelaide Moore – From Woman to woman network. The Woman to Woman Network is an organisation for women in business to network, communicate and share ideas and information. It empowers and uplift and educate women to reach their full potential through networking and workshops. Currently they have two branches, one in Mitchell’s Plain and one on Ottery. Membership fee is R200 per year or R20 per month. For more information you can contact Adelaide on 082 929 9049 or (021) 371 6112 alternatively contact Avril Arrison on 073 923 0330 or (021) 705 0690. We clos ed off the show with an interview with Stephanie van Wyk – Director of Beauty for ashes, Yunna Goliath and Rachel. Beauty for Ashes is an NGO that provides transition for ex-female prisoners from prison to society. They encourages the reestablishment of relationship with family and eventually return to their own communities. Rachel, an ex-prisoner says people need to give them a second chance

In today’s show we were joined on the line by Mansoor Jaffer – Project manager of the Imbizo Focus Week. The National Imbizo Focus Week started on Monday, the 7th of April, with the Western Cape hosting 15 izimbizo. Twelve are community izimbizo whilst three are sectoral, single-issue meetings. The theme for the week is “Building Communities, Changing Lives”. The izimbizo will give residents a chance to interact with senior government officials. There will an imbizo tonight in Mitchell's Plain at Westridge Civic. Premier Ebrahim Rasool, MEC Lynn Brown and MEC Richard Dyantyi will be in attendance to answer some of the residents questions. For more information contact 084 407 1503 or 082 665 6479 alternatively go to www.capegateway.gov.za We also spoke to Dr Tony Booysen – From the Western Cape Health Department. The Western Cape health department formed a task team to relieve the service pressures at community health care centres in Mitchell’s Plain and Khayelitsha. The team aims

In today’s show, we were joined on the line by Peter Johnston – A Climatologist from the University of Cape Town. We were talking about Climate Change. Today is World Health Day and the focus is around climate change and how it affects our health, how it’s going to affect our future and how we can lessen the damage. Climate change is a worsening national challenge destroying lives and livelihoods, hampering development and leaving millions in greater vulnerability. The earth will become warmer than usual. We will experience warmer winters and extremely hot summers. Rainfall patterns will change and there will be a rise in sea levels. Bigger disasters like the Tsunami are an example of man-made disasters mistakably considered being natural. In fact, climate change causes such disasters. Help create an environmentally aware South Africa; communities are encouraged to think globally while they act locally. That interview was also brought to you by the National Department of Health and Fun

Today’s show was very exiting and lively, we were joined Instudio by Jonathan Rubain – Jazz Musician. Jonathan is very young but he is already the bass player of preference for legends such as Mac McKenzie and Alvin Dyers. He wowed the crowd at this year’s Cape Town International Jazz Festival ‘Free Community Concert’ last Wednesday. This young man is said to be destined to become an important player on the SA music scene. He told us more about his music. He will be performing at Manenberg’s on Sunday night. If you want to book him for a performance contact 073 461 4000 or email him to jrubain@yahoo.com We also joined by Mrs Sheryl Lee Ralph – an acclaimed veteran of film, television and s tage. In the country we know her as Dee from the popular sitcom, Moesha. Tomorrow she will be performing her one woman show called "Sometimes I Cry" that will be staged at the Artscape Theatre. “Sometimes I Cry” creatively examines the female struggle when coping with HIV and AIDS, and off

Mandla Malgas – from the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration was instudio to talk about Insubordination. It is broadly defined as an unwillingness to submit to authority either through an open refusal to obey an order or through a failure to carry authority and is said to be a common problem in the workplace. Examples of insurbordination include: actively challenging or criticizing a superior's orders, interfering with management, showing open disrespect toward a supervisor, making threats or using coercion or physical violence, using abusive language or making malicious statements and ignoring instructions. Mandla explained the appropriate response to insurbodination and discipline is one of the best responses. For more information you can contact the CCMA on (021) 469-0111 or visit www.ccma.org.za We also spoke to Zolisa Sigabi – Spokesperson for the department of Labour. We were talking about the Compensation Fund. The revenue of the Compensation Fund consi

Today we spoke to Mpho Mathebula – from Men as Partners in Macassar. The Men as Partners program grew out of an urgent need to foster constructive male involvement strategies to effectively respond to the twin epidemics of HIV/AIDS and violence against women which currently threaten the lives of millions of South Africans. Mpho told us more on how they challenge the attitudes and behaviors held by men on HIV/AIDS and violence against women and children. For more information contact their offices on (021) 365 0880 or Jaco Brink - MAP Coordinator at (021) 808 3136 alternatively Rodney Fortuin - Programme Officer at EngenderHealth on (021) 4488126. We were also joined by Lynette Lerm – Training Manager at the Cape Women’s Forum. Their mission is to contribute to the building of a motivated and skilled agricultural workforce in South Africa through the provision of high quality accredited outcome-based training and development programs that enable learners to obtain credits towards a forma

Today we spoke to Robert Schrirre – Head of Political Studies at the University of Cape Town. We were talking about the Zimbabwe Elections. It’s been three days since the elections but no official announcement of who exactly won the overall polls. There have been growing international concerns over election results delay and the US has urged the Zimbabwean election commission to publish them as quickly as possible. Both the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and independent challenger Simba Makoni accused President Robert Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party of trying to rig the ballot. For the latest on the Zim elections listen to Bush Radio news every hour or go to www.bushradionews.blogspot.com We were also joined by Moosa Salie and David Lewis – from the World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry. A groundbreaking declaration calling for an end to all forced and coerced psychiatric procedures and for the development of alternatives to psychiatry was signed at Cape Town