SOWETAN

Give poor pupils free uniforms

By Bongekile Macupe | Jul 01, 2016 | 

The Congress of South African Students (Cosas) wants the government to provide free uniforms to poor pupils next year.

CAPTION: CRY FOR HELP: The Congress of South African Students has called on the government to provide free uniforms to poor pupils from next year, especially children from rural areas PHOTO: ANTONIO MUCHAVE

The organisation believes that if the government is already feeding pupils through the national school nutrition programme, and is also providing free textbooks and other pupil-teacher support material, it should also understand that there are pupils who cannot afford school uniforms.

Also read: All school uniform should bear the South African flag by 2017: Lesufi

Cosas secretary-general Khulekani Skosana said the same way the government is able to buy uniforms for prisoners, it has the same responsibility to buy uniforms for poor pupils.

"We still have students who walk to school barefoot and we think that is an embarrassment to the country. We're calling not only the government but the community at large to ensure that come 2017, there is no student who goes to school without a proper uniform.

"There should be no student who is turned away from the classroom because they are not wearing a uniform because they cannot afford it."

He said Cosas was not saying all pupils must be bought uniforms, but the initiative must benefit those who are poor.

". we are demanding free uniform for students in primary and high schools," he said.

Skosana said Cosas was already in consultation with several provincial governments to ensure they come on board and provide all poor students with uniforms next year.

He said the organisation was also engaging with the Department of Basic Education and the National Education Collaboration Trust "to say how do we assist needy students in rural and township areas with uniforms to restore and retain the dignity of the black child".

Cosas also wants to bring in the Presidency and the ANC to support its campaign.

Skosana said a lot of pupils are publicly shamed by teachers in classrooms for not having a school uniform and said the campaign hopes to bring an end to that.

"It is important that the campaign is implemented, particularly in the Eastern Cape where there are still a lot of rural schools and students cannot afford uniforms, and also in KwaZulu-Natal," he said.

The organisation also spoke out on those who wore school uniforms on June 16 only to go to clubs and taverns to drink.

"Every year on June 16 we're going to ensure that we respond to those who use our uniforms shamelessly.

"Instead of buying school uniforms and wearing it to go to a party on June 16, donate it to needy students."

macupeb@sowetan.co.za

SOWETAN

Anguish of 'drug mule's' mom - 3000 South Africans in foreign prisons

By Lucas Ledwaba | Jul 01, 2016 | COMMENTS [ 34 ]

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When Patience Ramaliba heard that her daughter had been arrested for drug trafficking in India she sunk into a deep depression and later suffered a mild stroke.

CAPTION: DEPRESSED MOTHER: Patience Ramaliba, a hairdresser in Central Johannesburg, suffered a mild stroke after learning that her 'drug mule' daughter Hangwani is serving time in a prison in India PHOTO:PETER MOGAKI

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Ramaliba, a hairdresser in the streets of Central Johannesburg, said she has only briefly spoken to her daughter for a few minutes since her arrest about two years ago.

Her daughter, Hangwani Veronica Ramaliba, is believed to be one of more than 1000 South Africans languishing in foreign jails for drug trafficking.

Also read: Second drug mule bust by airport cops‚ this time in Cape Town

She said she last saw Hangwani in December 2014 in Johannesburg where she lived with her boyfriend, who is a foreign national.

Ramaliba said she had been informed that Hangwani's boyfriend, who has since moved in with another woman, had facilitated the trip. Ramaliba said she last spoke to Hangwani over a year ago when she was on her way to court where she said she was represented by Indian lawyer Thakur Karen Singh.

She said they were only allowed a few minutes and she never got to establish the facts of the case.

Ramaliba said Singh has since refused to speak to her, saying she should first pay the equivalent of R50000 in legal fees before he can assist.

Yesterday, an irritable Singh told Sowetan he did not want to talk about the case and referred queries to the SA embassy.

When pressed further, he responded: "I am not answerable to you. This woman has been in jail for 18 months now and I have been getting hundreds of calls about her!"

According to Patricia Gerber of the organisation Locked Up in Foreign Country, the number of South Africans jailed for drug trafficking abroad could be more than 3000.

She said four South Africans are currently on death row in Malaysia.

Gerber, whose organisation assists drug couriers arrested abroad, said many of the perpetrators are enticed into the trade by their economic situation.

"Not everyone is told that they are couriering drugs. Some of them are sold false promises of jobs and only realise when they get to their destinations that they have been lured into drug trafficking," said Gerber.

She said they often get calls from desperate South Africans seeking help after being left in the lurch after refusing to courier drugs.

She said most of the drug couriers are vulnerable women and drug addicts who are forced to transport illegal substances as payment for their debt to dealers.

Ramaliba has been to the Union Buildings and even made a pilgrimage to the church of renowned Malawian prophet Shepherd Bushiri in a bid to find help.

She said Hangwani's 10-year-old daughter's performance in school had declined and she often asks after her mother.

"I'm desperate and in need of help," said Ramaliba.

A United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime report identified South Africa as the origin, transit point, and/or destination of many drug trafficking routes.

ledwabal@sowetan.co.za

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Feature: Cape Town Travel

THE REPUBLIC OF HOUT BAY

Hout Bay residents are so passionate about where they live, that there is a secessionist movement from the Mother City – look out for the tongue-in-cheek “Republic of Hout Bay” bumper stickers on locals’ cars.

Jan van Riebeeck, the first governor of the Cape, gave the bay its name way back in 1652, when he first arrived. “Hout Bay” means “Wood Bay” – named after the dense forests that characterised the area at the time.

THE HISTORY OF HOUT BAY

A good place to get your historical bearings is theHout Bay Museum (+ 27 21 790 3270), which has exhibits on the early strandlopers (hunter gatherers), who lived in the Cape when the first Europeans arrived, as well as memorabilia relating to the early fishing industry.

Mariner's Wharf at Hout Bay serves perhaps the best fish and chips you'll ever have. Photo courtesy of Flowcomm

SPEND THE DAY EXPLORING THE BAY

Browse in the Hout Bay Craft Market, where you can pick up a range of curios made locally and from further north.

The Bay Harbour Market comprises of over 100 stalls, from delicious food to locally made items and is open on weekends. Visit the market on Fridays from 5pm to 9pm, Saturdays & Sundays 9:30am to 4pm. The entire market is indoors so if the wind or rain threatens to keep you from stepping out, come find some treats and a great vibe here at the edge of the harbour, at the Bay Harbour Market. 

Kids of all ages will love the World of Birds, which has more than 3000 birds housed in its large aviaries. There are also many small animals that call the place home – make sure you visit the walk-in monkey jungle, for example.

For great views of the bay enjoy a cruise to Duiker Island, also called Seal Island – a large seal colony – with Circe Launches, Drumbeat Charters or Nauticat Charters. (The Seal Island in Hout Bay, however, is not to be confused with the larger Seal Island in False Bay, where great white sharks are sometimes spotted.)

Enjoy some of the freshest seafood at the Mariner’s Wharf. The area was South Africa’s very first maritime harbour-front emporium. More than 25 years old, popular Mariner’s Wharf includes the 350-seater restaurant, the Wharfside Grill, fast-food seafood bistro, the Wharfette Bistro, a fish market, sushi bar, bakery, nautical gift and curio shops and a nautical antique shop.

Mariner’s Wharf is steeped in local Hout Bay fishing history and patrons can look forward to enjoying the authentic harbour-side ambience. The restaurants offers excellent fish dishes and there is always an abundance of prawns and calamari on the menu.

Although the water off Hout Bay beach is a little colder than Muizenberg or Simon’s Town, the beach is wide, flat and child-friendly, and the water is not too cold for swimming, especially on a hot summer’s day.

If you’re a keen walker, the beaches around Hout Bay are wonderful for long strolls, and The Sentinel is a popular climb. Adventure lovers might also enjoy kayaking, mountain biking, fishing charters and jet-skiing – all available in the Hout Bay area.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO STAY A WHILE

In terms of accommodation in Hout Bay, you’ll be spoilt for choice – there are apartments, guest houses and bed and breakfasts. There are a number of guesthouses in the area. (Search our accommodation database for more details.)

There are lots of restaurants, shops and pubs in this vibrant little town, and although Hout Bay is something of a sleepy fishing village, the nightlife is hot and happening, especially during peak season.

READ MORE ABOUT THIS QUAINT VILLAGE

Read more about Hout Bay on our blog.

DAILY SUN

NATIONAL

35 MINUTES AGO

DO YOU KNOW THIS LATE MLUNGU’S RELATIVES?

   

By  Oris MnisiFriday, July 01, 2016 16:00

Abraham Klopper has died in Bushbuckridge. Photo by Oris Mnisi  ~ 

MECHANIC Abraham Klopper (62) lived most of his life in the kasi, surrounded by people who saw him as one of their own.

But today the mlungu is dead and people are trying to find his family, or they will bury him as he has always been one of their own.

Abraham lived in Hluvukani in the Greater Manyeleti area of Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga.

In May, community development worker Delani Mnisi found him sick in his one-roomed house. He had not eaten for days.

“He said thugs broke in and stole his Sassa card, so I had to buy him some food,” she said.

“I also called an ambulance and he was taken to Tintswalo Hospital in Acornhoek.”

Delani said she was working on having Abraham sent to an old-age home when the hospital discharged him. He returned to his house, but only a few days later he was re-admitted to hospital. He died on 11 June.

Resident Anton Ubisi (43) said Abraham’s death came as a shock to many people in the kasi, who had come to love him. He met Abraham 12 years ago and described him as a happy man who lived simply.

“He was an expert mechanic. It is sad that his last days on earth were so lonely and painful,” Anton said.

Landlord Yvonne Sibuyi (40) said: “Abraham paid R1 000 a month in rent and enjoyed brandy and skokiaan. If his family could be found, they could give him a proper burial.”

Anyone with information on Abraham’s family should call Yvonne on 076 601 5257 or Delani on 060 502 7384.