Diepsloot is a densely populated neighbourhood situated in the north of Johannesburg, South Africa. Over 200 000 inhabitants live in self made shacks, with living conditions worsened by a lack of access to basic facilities, like water, proper sanitation, education and public lighting. The Philile Foundation is a non-profit organisation that aims to transform the lives of … [Read more...]
Changing lives through recycling in Ngwelezane Township
Two years ago, Nokubonga Mnyango was dreaming about making a better life for herself and her family. She noticed the need for litter collection in her small community of Ngwelezane. After doing some research, she learned that some of the waste that was present in the township actually had value. More than this, she learned that there are businesses who would pay for this … [Read more...]
Recycling prize for textbooks and fixing classrooms
What would your school do with the prize money if you win the 2015 Schools Recycling Competition? ‘We will buy textbooks, and fix broken chairs, desks and windows at the schools.’ This shows that the learners from the schools in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, are motivated to improve their learning environment – and that recycling can make a difference at schools. The teachers … [Read more...]
Come help build sustainable housing
Active citizens from across the world are called to come together by Habitat for Humanity for the Desmond Tutu International Build Week from 2-6 March at Pelican Park. In partnership with Power Construction, the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Government Habitat for Humanity is responding and putting into action the request in the words of their patron Archbishop … [Read more...]
Lwandle: don’t shoot the wounded
Last week I received a call from Ses’khona head, Loyiso Nkhona about the forced removals and demolishment of housing in the Lwandle informal settlement. I was due to meet with Loyiso yesterday out at the settlement. At 3pm he went into a meeting with the Minister of Transport and the Premier of the Western Cape. He asked me to go out and meet with a Ses’khona representative and … [Read more...]
One in 5 people go hungry daily in SA
As the world marks World Hunger Day, South Africa still grapples with massive inequality that’s left many hungry, or at risk of going hungry. Globally, one-in-eight people go hungry every day and live in extreme poverty and many only survive on less than R14 a day. Chronic hunger kills more people than Aids, Malaria and TB combined Among those who die from hunger every … [Read more...]
Tackling urban challenges in heart of Winelands
The response to the call for papers has been entirely positive and the Abstract Committee approved more than 60 academic papers for presentation at the 2014 International Winelands Conference. The Programme for workshops on the first two days of the Conference (31 March and 01 April 2014) under the theme "Innovation in Practice" has now been confirmed. These will … [Read more...]
Cape Town leads provision of sanitation in SA
The City of Cape Town’s achievement of 100% access to adequate sanitation in informal areas, as assessed by the National Department of Water Affairs in 2012, remains unparalleled in South Africa. This has been achieved despite a population growth of more than 30% over the past decade. The City of Cape Town’s achievement of 100% access to adequate sanitation in informal … [Read more...]
Partnerships for change in Cape Town’s oldest township
“PETCO is all about Partnerships, Responsibility and Environmental Integrity” says PETCO CEO, Cheri Scholtz. A ground-breaking partnership has been formed with Sappi ReFibre, Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, PETCO and other local companies to launch a buy back centre in Cape Town’s oldest township. The project was launched on Thursday, 15 August at the … [Read more...]
Philippi farmers speak up
The opposition to the development of housing on the best farmlands in the Philippi Horticultural Area (PHA) is a call to the Mayor to consider public concerns. Concerned citizens, eminent persons and community groups find that the Mayor only considers the interests of developers. Why else would you, Madam Mayor, propose housing on the best farmlands while other land in the PHA … [Read more...]
iShack for upgraded greener living
"This house is more comfortable than our previous place, and I am very happy that we have lights because there is no electricity here,” says Nosango Victoria Plaatjie, proud occupant of a prototype eco-friendly dwelling in the informal settlement of Enkanini, Stellenbosch, called the iShack. The “i” stands for “improved”, and it entails cost-effective and sustainable … [Read more...]
The future of SA’s waste pickers
'Waste pickers are not fighting for the right to be on landfill sites, they are fighting to be part of the waste management system,' said Mr Simon Mbata, representative of the South African Waste Pickers Association (SAWPA) at a workshop debate hosted by the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA) in Midrand last week. Having seen firsthand how effectively … [Read more...]
