Sakhisizwe -Building the Nation - Bou Die Nasie

In today’s show, we heard from Mike Louw – from Cosatu . We were talking about activities they have planned for tomorrow as we will be celebrating workers day and of course the significance of this day. So if you lucky enough to have a day off tomorrow then you can join Cosatu May Day celebrations at the Good Hope centre in Cape Town from 10h00 to 15h30PM. The event will feature a number of political speakers including Ebrahim Patel and Gwede Mantashe. There will also be cultural acts and bands including Claire Phillips. There will also be a children’s event with facilities for the kids as well as movies. There will be free trains to transport people to and from the event as long as they have some identification, linking them to Cosatu. For more info contact COSATU offices on (021) 448 0044. We were also heard from Tara Weinberg, Thembi, Junaid and Mr X - they are members of the UCT Students and Workers Alliance. The UCT Students’ and Workers’ Alliance is formed by a group of students ...

In today’s show, we spoke to Sharon Follentine from the department of Social Development. We were talking about the Family Strengths Expo. In celebration of the 15th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family the department of Social Development in collaboration with other government departments and civil society will be hosting a 3 day Family Strengths Expo in Belhar Indoor Sports Complex. She explained more about the objectives of the expo. For more information about the Expo contact Nomfundo Nabela on (021) 483 5601 or Lionel Arnolds on (021) 483 5601 alternatively visit www.capegateway.gov.za We also heard from Dr Clint Le Bryns – one of the founding members of the Ethical Leadership Project. The Ethical Leadership Project is aligned with the constitution of the country and follows a strong Human Rights culture. Their mission is to empower leaders at all society levels with skills, knowledge and values in order to promote moral change. For more information contact (021) 95...

Today we heard from Melanie Robinson – Director of Decorex South Africa. Entering its 11th year, Decorex Cape Town brings you a unique blend of the emerging & the established; manufacturers & suppliers – large & small. The show promises to be a celebration of Cape Town’s most delicate & daring spaces by talented style shapers, trend makers & décor creators. Decorex is at the Cape Town Convention Centre from today till Monday and opens 10:00AM to 20:00PM daily but closes 18:00PM on the 27th. Tickets costs R50 and you can purchase your show tickets at the doors. For more info go to www.decorex.co.za We were also joined on the line by Fabian Petersen – from Heal the Hood. Their mission is to create a sustainable network of youth artists nationally and internationally through which jobs and new skills are created; arts products and arts related information can be distributed. We were talking about the Cape Flats Uprising Hip Hop fundraiser concert that they will be host...

Today we were joined on the line by Ashley Berman – Founder and CEO of Brite Byte. They focus exclusively on the training, recruitment and placement of people with disabilities. Brite Byte’s vision is to contribute positively and significantly to the dynamic skills development process and employment equity transformation in South Africa. We were talking about their services and a special programme learnership programme that they are facilitating. For more information you can call (011) 440 0580 or go to www.britebyte.co.za We also spoke to Peter Jacops – Chairperson of Whisper Boat Building Academy. This is a non-profit organization created in 2004, which aims to teach previously disadvantaged deaf students the art of boat building. Their school is situated in Khayelitsha but they also run a yard in Paarden Eiland. The Whisper Boat Building Academy is financed by the Provincial government, sponsorship from corporates and by the sales of their boats. Unfortunately, the credit crunch is...

Today we brought you live updates from different polling station throughout the city of Cape Town as you are aware that today is dee day for our country. Our roving reporters are deployed all over ranging from Phillipi, Delft, Silvertown, Heideveld to Athlone to capture events as they unfold. We heard from Nokuthula Mbethe – Coordinator of the Young Women in Leadership project at the Quaker Peace Center. The project’s objective is to create and sustain a platform for young women to voice and address issues of concern to them and to form qualitative partnerships with other organisations fighting for human rights, gender issues and other issues that concern women but uSis Nokuthula explained more. For more information go to www.quaker.org/capetown/gender.htm or contact their offices on (021) 685 7800. We spoke to Nomcebo Manzini – from United Nations Development Fund for Women or UNIFEM. The women's fund was established in 1976 and it provides financial and technical assistance to i...

In today’s show, we spoke to Braam Hanekom - chairperson of PASSOP. We were talking about Refugee Rights. Tomorrow South Africans will be heading to the polls to vote in the National Elections but throughout the electioneering , it seems that no political party dares to touch the subject of refugees in their manifestos despite experiences and xenophobia being one of the major challenges facing the country. He shared with us how they plan to challenge a newly-elected government to ensure that migrants fleeing armed conflicts or political or economic hardship in other parts of the continent have their rights protected as spelled out in South Africa's constitution. If you have any queries about PASSOP, please contact Braam on 083 256 1140 alternatively their website on www.passop.co.za We closed off the show with an interview with Fredalene Booysen and Damaris Fritz – from Sangoco. The Metropolitan Community Health Forum in association with a range of stakeholders hosted a Health Summ...

I did an interview with Ma Boys from Empilweni. Empilweni is a community-based Mental Health Project situated in Khayelitsha, near Cape Town (South Africa) and provides essential care for its clients through a comprehensive range of programmes. The project was initiated through the University of Cape Town’s Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry and has been functioning as an independent Community Based Organisation since January 2003. Empilweni is the only project in Khayelitsha with specialised services for children. If you would like to find out more about the village, you can call (021) 361 7063 or visit www.empilweni.org or if you are interested in funding Empilweni you can email the director director@empilweni.co.za I was joined by Nchilo Madutung, an optometrist at the SAMWUMED clinic in Mitchell’s Plain. We spoke about cataracts. A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision. Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide, but interestingly en...

In today’s show we heard from Michael Maas – Artscape CEO. We were talking about the National Classical Music Competition which will be held from the 5th to the 10th of October. The competition is open to all classical pianists and orchestral instrumentalists between the ages of 14 and 19 years. The closing date for entries is the 24th of April. The competition consists of four rounds and will take place at the Artscape Theatre Centre. All selected participants will play in the first two rounds after which the first elimination of the participants takes place. A competition brochure and entry forms can be downloaded from the Artscape website at www.artscape.co.za . Interested musicians can also write to the Secretariat, Artscape Youth Music Competition, PO Box 4107, Cape Town, 8000, or e-mail youthmusic@artscape.co.za, or fax: (021) 419 8756. A non-refundable fee of R150 per entry is payable and candidates are only allowed to enter for one instrument category. Previous overall winners ...

In today’s show, we joined instudio by Victor Ngxito and Sipho Sityoshwane - from the South African Security Forces Union. According to the union there is a continuing exploitation of the poor workers, African and Coloured who want to do contract work at the SA Navy Base in Simon’s Town. They claim that the Navy has outsourced the employment of contract workers to Simon’s Outsourcing Company and this Labour broker wants the poor workers to pay R500 before they are employed. They further allege that women are required to do sexual favours for the management in order to be employed. Bhut’ Victor and Sipho explained more on those allegations. We did invite the SA Navy to be part of the interview but the Lieutenant Commander Greyling van den Berg - Naval Base Simon's Town Public Relations Officer declined to be part of this interview instead he sent us a press statement that says they take notice of the press release issued by SASFU. The SA Navy would like to state that it is a respons...

Today we heard from Sister Anne Cruickshank - Coordinator from the Western Cape Haemophilia foundation. Haemophilia is a rare inherited disorder that leads to abnormal bleeding, and specifically the inability to stop bleeding. On Thursday is a World Haemophilia Day so Sister Cruickshank told us about some of the awareness events they have planned for the day. For more on Haemophilia you can contact the South African Haemophilia Foundation at (021) 785 7140 or Sister Anne on 082 788 1038 alternatively you can visit www.haemophilia.org.za

In today's show we heard from Yasser Booley – a photographer. We were talking about his work in general and his one day photography exhibition titled “recollections before departure. It’s this coming Tuesday, 14th of April at Cape Africa Platform, that’s in number 8 Spin Street in Cape Town at 18:30PM. Entrance is free. For more on Yasser and his work visit his blog at www.yasserbooley.wordpress.com PIC: by Yamkela Xhaso

In today’s show, we joined on the line by Craig O’ Flaherty – Director at the UCT Graduate School of Business Centre for Coaching. The Centre for Coaching is launching a Coaching Mastery Programme this April. According to Craig the three-year programme will be the continent’s most senior qualification in coaching. Craig explained more on who can enroll and according to Janine Everson, Academic Director of the Centre for Coaching “The coaches that emerge from this programme will be masters of their vocation. They will set important benchmarking standards for the profession and a level for new coaches to aspire to; this will help to raise the general standards of the South African and African coaching industries.” For more information, contact the Centre for Coaching on (021) 406 1493 or visit www.centreforcoaching.co.za We also heard from Stephen Curry - Cape Town Branch Manager at Umsobomvu Youth Fund. The Youth fund was created by government in January 2001, and gave it the task of p...

Today we joined instudio by Edwina Smith - from the New Women’s Movement, Vivian Lalu – from the Sex Worker Education and Advocacy Taskforce and on the line by Wendy Pekeur - General Secretary of Sikhula Sonke. Last night the African Gender Institute of the University of Cape Town, The International Labour Research and Information Group and the Gender Equity Unit of the University of the Western Cape hosted an interactive discussion with different political parties on women’s rights, gender justice and their political manifestos. Some of the discussion topics included Women’s access to the justice system and Gender tensions. We were talking about the outcome of the discussion and some of the issues that were raised. PIC:by Busisiwe Mtabane We also played a feature produced by Sakhisizwe’s producer Cindy Witten. Last week Cindy attended the launch of the Women’s Justice Empowerment Initiative that is set up by the United States Agency for International Development in conjunction with th...

Today we were joined instudio by Jane Levinson – Project Manager at Mdzananda Animal Clinic, which is the only clinic providing permanent primary veterinary healthcare support to the dogs and cats in the Khayelitsha community. Last Saturday they hosted a dog show for pet owners in Khayelitsha supported by the International Fund for Animal Welfare. They see thousands of dogs and cats every year. They specialize in sterilising animals to reduce overpopulation and the breeding of unwanted puppies, vaccinating against disease and prevention of parasites. Jane explained more about their services. For more information on such services contact (021) 367 2302 or (021) 689 4091 alternatively visit www.mdzananda.co.za We also heard from Gilad Isaacs – from the Social Justice Coalition. The Social Justice Coalition is an independent group that believes in freedom, equality, non-violence and human rights, and was launched last year in June. One of their aims is to actively use the South African Co...

In today’s show, we were joined on the line by Dr Zainab Waggie – from the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative. We were talking about Polio. Polio is a viral infection which has a wide range of signs and symptoms. These can range from minor, flu-like illnesses, to weakness and paralysis of various muscle groups. This week is the national polio awareness week. Throughout the country, services will be enhancing awareness amongst health care workers and the public in general about the global goal to eradicate polio. Children who are not fully vaccinated are at risk of contracting the polio virus. Dr Zainab explained more the eradication of polio. South Africa is taking part in an effort to eradicate polio worldwide. It means that the virus will be wiped out completely from the face of the earth. The global eradication of polio involves both the halting of the incidence of the disease and the worldwide eradication of the virus that causes it - poliovirus. The strategy is based on...

In today’s show, we heard from Billy Domingo – EspAfrika director. We spoke about the People’s concert that will be hosted by EspAfrika in collaboration with the Western Cape provincial government and the Minister of Arts & Culture Dr Z. Pallo Jordan on Sunday at Swartklip Sports Ground in Tafelsig on Sunday, the concert is part of the two levels of government’s campaign against crime, women-abuse, abuse against children and drug addiction. On stage this year will be Claire Phillips, Sylvia Mdunyelwa, Shakatak, Gang of Instrumentals, Mos Def and The Stylistics. Gates open at 8h00 and the show starts at 10h00AM. We were also joined on the line by Bukhosi Sokoyi – from the Nyanga Arts Development Centre. The NADC is a project initiated by the Nyanga Arts initiative, intended to contribute to the arts skills and enterprise development in the Nyanga community and surrounding areas and it is based at the Zolani Multi Purpose Centre. They currently busy with a production titled Beyond th...

In today’s show, we heard from Natasha Abrahams – from the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration. For those of you who do not know, the CCMA is an independent organization that resolves labour disputes. Some form of conflict in the workplace is experienced in most if not all companies. When conflict arises, it is wise to call in a neutral person to mediate discussions. We spoke about workplace conflict resolution. For more information, you can call the CCMA on 086 116 1616 or visit their website www.ccma.org.za We also heard from Sensei Thulani Ndlovu from the Dimensional Stunt School. The school aims to provide talented, physically fit individuals, from African communities with the highe st quality of professional stunt training available in the country and in keeping with International skill and safety standards. Its vision is to be the leading stunt training institution on the African continent. We spoke about the training offered at Dimensional Stunt School. This c...

In today’s show we spoke to Michele Hlava -who owns an optometry practice. Now you may be wondering how optometry ties in with gender. Well, today we will be speaking about restless classroom behaviour, which Michele says is stimulated by what children see. We will compare behavioural patterns of boys compared to that of girls. For more information you can contact her offices on (021) 852 3667 or visit www.visualtherapy.co.za We heard from Fouzie Ryklief – from the Parent Centre. The Parent Centre is a primary prevention centre that was initially established to be a branch of Cape Town Child Welfare about 20 years ago. It was created in order to provide education and training workshops in order to help prepare parents for the challenges ahead. If you are a parent and you finding it hard to deal with your child or children then you can call them on (021) 762 0116 or visit their website www.theparentcentre.org.za We closed off with an interview I had with Mauritz – from Men Understandin...