isiXhosa culture comes to life at Artscape

Artscape Theatre Centre is gearing up to host the return of the much-anticipated classic - Buzani Ku Bawo, to carve a road map to increase the use of isiXhosa language.

Buzani Ku Bawo will be held from the 03 to 06 October at 19:30 is one of many isiXhosa stories that will be staged as classics to promote and share the culture and language of AmaXhosa.

Adapted and directed by Thokozile Ntshinga, Buzani Ku Bawo is a drama about love, family relationships and conflicts that arise when traditional expectations clash with changing values. The high-quality production, written by Witness K Tamsanqa, also highlights the power of love and that one is meant to have a chosen one.

The play follows Artscape’s recent successful staging of the production as a set work that was seen by thousands of Grades 11 and 12 isiXhosa learners from the greater Cape Town area.

The production is an integral part of Artscape’s mission as an inclusive cultural centre for all and showcasing all arts genres for more than four decades, making it stand out as an iconic cultural beacon in the Western Cape.

Tickets are available at Box Office, Artscape Dial-a-Seat (021 421 7839) and Computicket Outlets ranging from R45 – R80.

For media enquiries, please contact Themba Mzondi on:

078 113 5216 / themba@sceproductions.co.za

Science competition gets learners excited!

The Science  Learning Centre for Africa of the University of the Western Cape will be hosting an annual science club competition where schools from the Cape Wineland region can participate in an inter-school science competition

The competition will be taking place at Worcester from 9am until 3pm

The science clubs is an initiative of the UWC-SLCA to promote greater participation, excitement and enthusiasm for science amongst learners from this region. It is expected that a total of about 250 learners will be participating in the competition. The competition will be divided in two sections, namely a primary and a secondary section that will allow all learners to compete on an equal basis. 

In the science competition, learners will be expected to come up with creative and innovative exhibitions, experiments and demonstrations while at the same time explaining the processes that lead to the outcomes of the activity. They will be judged and scored for understanding, handling of equipment, originality, presentation and safety.

Producing workplace-ready for graduates

The Independent Institute of Education is a division of the JSE-listed ADvTECH Group, is Africa’s largest private education provider.

The IIE is most accredited registered private higher education institute in South Africa, and the only one accredited by The British Accreditation Council, the independent quality assurance authority that accredits private institutions in the UK. By law, private higher education institutions in South Africa may not call themselves Private Universities, although registered private institutions are subject to the same regulations, accreditation requirements and oversight as Public Universities.

Mr Kriel advise all students still in high school go with their heart when it comes to choosing what they would want to study. It is not always a easy process and most learner still do not know what they want to go into heading into the end of matric exams

The IIE and its brands are widely recognised and respected for producing workplace-ready graduates, many of whom become industry-leaders in their chosen fields. The IIE offers a wide range of qualifications, from post-graduate degrees to short courses, on 20 registered higher education campuses across South Africa.

A national movement advocating for sex workers rights

Sisonke is a national movement advocating for sex workers rights’ access to health and human rights. Please receive attached is a Sisonke press release on 2018 national meeting for immediate release.

The meeting starting on 17-20 September 2018 attracted sex workers from all nine provinces, social activists, ambassadors acting as the movement’s volunteers’ and an invitation was extended to partners providing much needed health care services including; Lifeline Northern Cape, TB/HIV Care, Wits Reproductive Health Institute, Free State’s Qholaqwe, Humana, Centre for Positive Care, Oasis, Amaqhawe, Hlokomela, Sex Worker Education & Taskforce, Sotho, Munnandinnyi.

Sisonke National Coordinator, Kholi Buthelezi believes; “The national meeting reminded us the importance of Sisonke’s existence as the leading organisation in South Africa fighting for sex workers’ rights, accessibility to health services and link them to referral networks. The meeting strengthened partnership relations and with members with members and partners”.

The meeting also served as an opportunity for 44 new members to join Sisonke adding their much needed voice for sex workers’ daily struggles through indignities of continued violation of human rights and injustices in most cases perpetrated by law enforcement agencies like South African Police Service.

With support from South African National Aids Council, COSATU, Asijiki Coalition, Sonke Gender Justice and many other organisation supporting the call for accessibility to primary health care service, as an organisation Sisonke is ready for a robust public debate with government and all relevant parties to forge a way forward better the lives of sex workers and ordinary South Africans.

The Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa

SERI is a public interest law litigation clinic, which means they work with communities in ensuring that their Human Rights are respected. They are also a research institute, which does research and advocacy on the number of issues that they work with.

The first was looking into the issues of housing and evictions that were taking place but the work that they’ve began looking at was ensuring that the socio-economic rights of people are respected and that people are able to exercise their rights as far as elections. SERI is producing the documentary together with Two Spinning Wheels Film Production and Pegasys Institute. The Constitution guarantees the right to water and sanitation for everyone. These rights cannot only be enjoyed by the wealthy, able-bodied and people living in formal settlements to the exclusion of low-income households, people living with disabilities and those in informal settlements.

They have taken on a number of cases and worked on a number of research projects that have highlighted wants and needs and how they can better socio-economic and human rights.  They have furthered their research and advocacy work, and participated in a number of exciting civil society and government engagements. These include workshops and dialogues with the South African Cities Network, Women in Informal Employment Globalizing and Organizing, the South African Human Rights Commission, and the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies.

In terms of our research, they've recently launched a user-friendly guide on the right of domestic workers and a working paper on the City of Johannesburg's decision to withdraw the universal provision of free basic water. Some older research on the realisation of the rights to housing, water and sanitation has also been published by the Foundation for Human Rights. This user-friendly resource guide aims to create awareness of the rights of domestic workers and the obligations of employers in terms of the domestic employment relationship. It explains what the law says about domestic workers and gives practical advice on how domestic workers can engage with their employers. SERI also launched a series of short, mobile-friendly information sheets on the rights of domestic workers in IsiZulu.

Written By: Micurls Muller

Khulumani Support Group

Khulumani Support Group was founded in 1995 by three women, when parliament was debating an acts called The Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act. Victims were not directly consulted about any aspects of the act.

People have come to know each other because they have participated in supporting families who had children in detention decided that they should make their own decision about whether to engage with something of which they have never been consulted about. The result was small Khuluma group that said it’s lucky that the benefits will be greater than the disadvantages of participating. It ended up in doing a lot of advocacy, especially on radio telling people about the GRC, because the concern was that if there were only going to be 18 months for veterans, it was very likely that of people would be left out the GRC process and that has been brought out because in the 18 months of its operation only 22 000 people had their statements taken. The consequences are that the hundred and four thousand people now on data base, nearly all of them qualify for any of the remedies. Remedies such as reparations. The overall purpose of reparations is to restore the dignity of survivors, to accompany the rebuilding of affected communities and to facilitate the reintegration of survivors.

Khulumani continues to stand up to remind the South African government of its as yet unfulfilled commitments to dealing with the consequences of the collective trauma of the violent past to ensure that harmed individuals and communities can be restored to a dignified existence.

Written By: Micurls Muller

World Alzheimer’s month

September is World Alzheimer’s month with this years theme is – Every 3 seconds! someone in the world develops dementia.

Jill Robson who is the Reginional Manager at Alzheimer’s South Africa. They are now a beneficiary of the MySchool project. Alzheimer’s South Africa NPC work with multiple organisations and partners to provide families with a wider range of services and activities. Their services and activities include daily care, libraries, carer experiences and more.

Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behaviour. People who look after someone with dementia are likely to get dementia because of all the stress it can have

People with dementia have significantly impaired intellectual functioning that interferes with normal activities and relationships.

They also lose their ability to solve problems and maintain emotional control, and they may experience personality changes and behavioral problems, such as agitation, delusions, and hallucinations. While memory loss is a common symptom of dementia, memory loss by itself does not mean that a person has dementia. Doctors diagnose dementia only if two or more brain functions - such as memory and language skills -- are significantly impaired without loss of consciousness.

Alzheimer’s South Africa NPC provides a wide range of specialist services for people with dementia and their carers. They offer personalized support services, community activities, information and advice, at every stage of the dementia journey.

For more information go to

www.myschool.co.za

Donate to them on www.givegain.com

Written By: Micurls Muller

Pink Drive For Cervical Cancer

PinkDrive is an NGO, which is funded by the generosity of corporates and people that help them fund raise. “Pink Drive currently runs four “Pink” mobile breast check units, as well as nine educational cars. All units travel to semi-urban and urban areas around South Africa with the aim of enabling numerous disadvantaged communities access to diagnostic mammography screening, education, physical examinations and how to do breast self-examination.

The first mobile screening unit successfully launched in the Western Cape in 2011 and operated through local clinics, community health centres and hospitals. Cervical cancer develops in a women’s cervic. This has made women more aware of their body.

The earlier a woman starts having sex and the more men she has sex with, the more likely she is to pick up an infection with a cancer-causing strain of HPV, but this does not mean women who get cervical cancer have it because they were promiscuous. HPV is a very common infection and the major cause of cervical cancer.

There are no early detectable signs. Women with ovarian cancer report that symptoms are persistent and represent a change from normal for their bodies. The frequency and/or number of such symptoms are key factors in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Even early stage ovarian cancer can produce these symptoms. Bloating, Pelvic or abdominal pain, Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, Urinary symptoms urgency or frequency. Several other symptoms have been commonly reported by women with ovarian cancer. These symptoms include fatigue, indigestion, back pain, pain with intercourse, constipation and menstrual irregularities.

Girls younger than 15 years old rarely develop cervical cancer. The risk goes up between the late teens and mid-30s. Women over 40 years of age remain at risk and need to continue having regular cervical cancer screenings, which include both a Pap test and HPV test. It is the second leading cancer death.

Most health care organizations recommend women begin regular Pap testing at age 21. The purpose of a Pap smear is to collect cells from your cervix, which is the lower end of your uterus. The cells collected in a Pap smear can detect if you have cervical cancer or suspicious cells that indicate you may develop cervical cancer.

Pink Drive has their mobile clinics within areas where they don't only do pap smear but also educate and have one to once bases with the patient. They have an active schools programme as well.

For more information contact:

0216975650

0119988022

Written By: Micurls Muller

Gender Dynamix for Gender Equality

We spoke to Lynda Ichumane from Gender DynamiX about being transgender, the challenges that are regularly faced and how she overcame them.

Gender Dynamix is the first African based organisation focusing solely on the transgender community. It is an Non governmental, Non-profit organisation, that aims to provide help, advice and information for those who seek to adjust their lives to live in the opposite gender role, as to that assigned to them at birth; or who are working to come to terms with their situation despite their genetic background. It provides resources, information and support to trans folks, their partners, family employers and the public.

She explains that she was born a male but had identified as a woman since the age of 4 and says the community in KZN where she grew up, was very helpful despite a family who disowned her. She also draws attention to working with Home Affairs to change the Act 49 of 2003 focuses on alternation of sex that allows for people to change their gender marker. She adds that the community often suffers discrimination and are not provided sufficient jobs and health care.

She appeals to all to be more sensitive and understand that transgenders and others alike are simply people with human rights too.  

For more details:
Website: www.genderdynamix.org.za

Written by: Tauhierah Salie

Embryologist Aqeel Morris tell us about Infertility

We also spoke to Aqeel Morris, a Reproductive  biologist and scientist working at Tygerberg Fertility Clinic, about infertility and treatments.

He tells us about his interesting work of having to cultivate and assess male infertilities. He explains how he is part of the team responsible for growing embryos, incubating them and transferring them “back” into women. They assist struggling couples to have a child/children by cultivating and incubating embryos. Although “curing” fertility hasn’t been established, they find ways of by-passing the issue.

There are various ways they try to help, such as treatments like: timed ovulation- which gives couples guidelines to which point in the woman’s cycle they should try to conceive; Inter Uterine Insemination (IUI)- which takes partners concentrated sperm and injects it directly into the uterus of woman; In vitro fertilization (IVF)- which removes eggs from females’ body, combines it with purified sperm and incubates it overnight. Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)- directly injects single sperm cell into an egg and culture embryos for between 3-5 days before putting it back into woman.

Risk factors for men and women include age, smoking, being overweight or underweight and general unhealthy living. He says Infertility has a certain –unfortunate- stigma based on social constructs and that this shouldn’t be the case as it simply another medical disorder. He says people shouldn’t stigmatize being “barren” and encourages everyone to get professional opinions as they are available.

Theyre based at :
Park Rd, Pinelands, Cape Town, 7405
Phone: 021 531 6999
For more information:
Email him: Aqeelmorris@gmail.com

Written by: Tauhierah Salie 

Dr Faatima Kimmie tells us about Endometriosis

For health Mondays we spoke to Dr Fatimah Kimmie from Kimoramed, about Endometriosis.
Kimoramed is a health center that offers reliable treatment with a focus on family and women’s healthcare.

All KimoraMed doctors are certified by the Health Professions Council of South Africa, and offer services with compassion whilst adhering to contemporary global research guidelines.
She describes Endometriosis as a painful disorder in which tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus  (the endometrium) grows OUTSIDE your uterus. It most commonly involves the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue lining your pelvis.  It is a disease that often goes unnoticed until women fail to conceive and realise too late that they needed treatment.

Symptoms include: Painful periods (dysmenorrhea), excessive bleeding, pain during or after sexual intercourse and Pain with bowel movements or urination. You may experience occasional heavy periods (menorrhagia) or bleeding between periods (menometrorrhagia). You may also experience fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, bloating or nausea, especially during menstrual periods.
We touched briefly on the strain infertility can put on a relationship and individual that cannot conceive and the negative impacts it can have.

She urges women to regularly go for pap smears from the first time they are sexually active, once every 3 years, and women above 40 to go once every 5 years. Everyone should do their bit in spreading awareness about the disorder and help women to get diagnosed early to avoid complications.

They are based in :
Lansdowne Corner Shopping Centre 
Shop No. 27, at the Main Entrance, Cnr Govan Mbeki Road and Jan Smuts Drive, Cape Town
Call Out Service- 064 685 5041 
KimoraMed Lansdowne Practice -021 704 0522 
Email: info@kimoramed.co.za 

Written by: Tauhierah Salie

Chef, Food Stylist and Deputy Food Editor becomes Author of Joanne 14

Hope Malau- Chef, food stylist , Deputy Food Editor for Taste magazine and- now- Author of Johanne 14, joins us for our final interview of the week. Malau grew up in Klerksdorp and contributes part of the books’ success to his grandfather, mother and uncle and various family members.

His passion for food and exposure to many different cultures allowed him to produce an unconventional recipe book. Joanne 14 explores the secrets of simple, home-cooked meals in South Africa’s townships and features authentic, traditional dishes cooked with love. It is a vital glimpse into South African township life and a celebration of culture, resilience, human spirit, community and family – through the shared meal.

Find the book at CNA, Exclusive books, Bargain Books or other bookstores for between R200-R275. He gives credit to QuiverTree Publications and encourages everyone to grab themselves a copy.

To Contact him:

E-mail: hopemalau@gmail.com

FB: Chef Malau

Written by: Tauhierah Salie

Chinese Martial Arts and Health Centre offers COMPLIMENTARY week of training!

Marco Kavalier from the Chinese Martial Arts and Health Centre joined us in studio telling us more about Chinese martial Arts and its benefits.

Kavalier recalls that he still has students from when the Chinese Martial Arts and Health Center since opened in 1986. The center has been teaching traditional styles of Kung Fu, Tai Chi and Chi Gung and explains how it boosts students confidence and instills self-discipline and structure. 

He clarifies that the three are different styles of the art. With Kung-Fu being a hard style, it includes karate and kata, martial arts fitness, sparing and joint locking. Tai Chi, he says, is “exactly like you see it in the movies” and focuses on slow movements, balance and controlling “chi” or energy. Chi Gung is the internalised breathing systems and meditation needed for both.

He advises everyone to increase their awareness and be positive and is open to all ages. The Centre offers 1 hour classes and He welcomes everyone to join in for a complimentary week of training, inviting you to try out the classes for a week and see its benefits for yourself-for FREE

Theyre based in Observatory, 85 Station Rd, Observatory (021 448 2594) 
Fish Hoek at 1st Fish Hoek Scout Hall, 58 Upper Recreation Road (0824243751) 
And as well as in centres across the world.

For more information contact Marco Kavilier on 082 568 0240

Website : www.kung-fu.co.za 
Or search @cmahccpt for quick results. 

Written by: Tauhierah Salie

Nisaa Institute for Women's Development Joins Us for Gender Equality

We also spoke to Dr Zubaida Dangor, who is a Clinical Psycologist and the Executive Director of NISAA Institute for Women’s Development, which is a non-profit, non-governmental organization, which aims to enable women and children to live in a world free of violence.

Zubeida tells us of the organization which is opposed to all forms of oppression, exploitation and violence against women and focuses on the prevention of gender violence and the empowerment of women who have been abused at the hands of their partners. It promotes women and children rights through counselling and shelter services, creates awareness and advocacy training, and developing local, national, regional and international partnerships.

Although based in Orange Town, Soweto and Lenasia, they have sister organisations and shelters across the country and encourage anyone who needs assisted to get into contact with them.

For more information, check out their website: www.nisaa.org.za

Contact: 011 854 5804/5 or 011 854 4100/7 

FB: Nisaa Institute for Women's Development

Written by: Tauhierah Salie

Womens Path hosts Women In Leadership, under the theme: Building A Legacy.

We were joined Nowabiso Nisa from Womans Path which is an organisation which focuses on inspiring and empowering woman through education and resources. Upliftment programme cater to all womens needs such as visionary sensory, spiritual, skills development and student mentorship.

She spoke to us about the Organisations 3rd annual conference at Cape Town Stadium, which seeks to acknowledge and award Women In Leadership, under the theme: Building A Legacy. 

The Gala dinner will happen on Friday, 06 July 2018 (from 6PM-10PM) and will see 7 women from the government, construction, business and community and community members acknowledged and awarded for their hard work and contribution to society. Saturday, 07 July 2018 (9AM-5PM) will be open to members of the public to join in on the celebrations and features various spekaers, entertainment, an expo and activities for the children.

  

For more information, checkout: ctc@womanspath.co.za
Website: Ukuanda.co.za/womanspath
Or contact 073 168 4645

Written by Tauhierah Salie

#67FoodGardens Promoting Sustainable and Nutritious Food in Schools

We spoke to Jade Orgil from Springhtly Seed which is a non-profit whose aim is to build sustainable nutrition programs to ensure children from impoverished communities remain food secure. It calls on individuals and business owners to support the fight against hunger at schools.

Jade Orgil describes their latest initiative #67FoodGardens  which will see the implementation of an innovative, water-wise and cost effective worm farm and vertical food garden- that hold up to 29 different foods. It is a free standing unit that doesn’t require land, also makes use of little water and its cultivation method produces more nutritious vegetables. It aims to boost the nutritional package available to children who need it most.

Although the device is simple to use, they offer a development package over a period of 1 year; which includes training, workshops and sufficient start off material to ensure that it is sustainable.

It will be launched on Mandela Day (18 July 2018) and will impact 34 schools across 12 communities and impact 6000 children.

To contribute you can contact : 0799394377
FB: consultingpossibility
website: www.consultingpossibility.com
www.thundafund.com/project/67foodgardens

Written by: Tauhierah Salie

Khaya Imbizo Event inspires Youth to Speak Up

We also spoke to Faith Thando Sidinana, Aviwe and Akona Zodo from Ambassadors of Change.
The organisation is non-profit and focuses on empowering (and advocating for) Youth in our Townships to showcase their talents through self-development. They provide activities such as Dance, Music, Photography & Drama.

They told us more about their Youth Imbizo which will be looking at all the challenges faced by African Youth and help navigate solution driven thinking. It aims to address inequality, education and peace within society. Sidinana makes mention of the Bill which wants to be passed, allowing the consumption and distribution of alcohol at school events. Although there are guest speakers, the aim is to inform the youth, get their opinion and find solutions.

The event is on Saturday, 30 June 2018, at the Desmond Tutu Hall in Khayalitsha, Makhaza from 11.30 AM- 4.30 PM and ENTRY IS FREE.

They are Based in Cape Town at 40878 Gwegweleza Street, Makhaza, Khayelitsha 7784
Contact them:
Call: 076 734 0543
Email: ambassadorsoc@gmail.com
FB: Ambassadors Of Change

Written by: Tauhierah Salie 

Healing Beyond Your Body

This edition of Sakhisiwe and for health Mondays, we were joined in studio by Dr Jefferson Kim Loong Lan; from the Kim Loong Wushu Center. The Center focuses on overall health and wellness, offering a variety of options.

We discussed how acupuncture is used to heal and enhance the body by using traditional and ancient methods just as traditional herbs, moxi-bustion, acupressure and cupping. Through it's unique combination of physiotherapy and chiropractic therapy, it not only treats physical injuries, but also diseases. The center has treated many- from infants to the elderly,of all demographics.

Dr Lan describes Acupuncture as the use of 0.5-2 inch needles to trigger over 300 acupuncture points (that are connected to energy meridians running through the body) to speed up and direct the natural healing mechanism within it.

He tells of his most remarkable experience being his very first patient who needed her baby to be bridged- and after one acupuncture treatment she managed to give birth safely. He jokely recalls his father telling him "not to get ahead of himself."  

He encourages everyone to expand and open their minds. "Do not walk around society with blinkers on- society wants to keep you shut down, like robots, to feed their indulgence and greed. Take off the blinkers”.

The center is based in 133 Bree Street, Cape Town, South Africa; and also offers philosophy sessions, Chinese Martial Arts among others. 

Contact details:
Website: www.kimloong
Email: kimloongwushucentre@gmail.com
Facebook: Int. Kim-Loong Wushu Centre, 
Twitter: @shoalincafe
Center: +27 021 422 2193
Insta @jeffersonlan

Post By Tauhierah Salie

MONDAY-HEALTH

Today we spoke to Dr. Monique Marais who is a qualified Gastroenterologist, which is someone who specializes in gut of your stomach oesophagus, small bowel colon and liver diseases. This means they deal a lot with gastroenteritis, inflammatory bowel disease reflux disease and all types of liver disease.

We spoke about Norovirus, which is also known as a winter vomiting bug. Norovirus is a very common cause of gastroenteritis in both adults and children. It is a virus that antibiotics will not help for. It is a self limiting disease which last for up till six days, but only reveals it self on the 3^rd day.

This virus is transmitted from person to person via food, physical touch hence hygiene is of utmost importance. Some symptoms of the virus are nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, lost of taste, weakness, muscle aches, headaches and fever. And can effect all age groups, hence it is important if you suspect dehydration seek medical assistance. If left untreated it could get dangerous.

Some tips to prevent Norovirus are:

Follow a healthy diet, have enough fruit and veggies to get enough vitamins especially Vitamin C.  

Get enough sleep.

Was your hands as often as possible.

For more information the doctor advice google, before consulting a doctor.

                               By: Jasnine Roberts