REACH FOR A DREAM

Party dream comes true for little Sibongile

Published Jul 1, 2001

 

Written by

Jo-anne Smetherham

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Sibongile wore a white satin dress with glittering sleeves and a diamante tiara. She was seated on the stage of the hall with her aunt, Thembisa Mhlongo, who looks after her.

Hundreds of people poured into the hall beneath her to celebrate her birthday party.

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But the five-year-old was exhausted, so she dozed through most of the proceedings.

Sibongile is battling with full-blown Aids.

She only awoke hours into the party when guests sang "Happy Birthday". She looked dazed as she surveyed the crowd, but when her aunt held her upright to pose for photographers, she broke into a grin.

When the third present was handed to her she refused to give it to her grandfather. Instead, she waved it playfully just out of his reach.

When she turned five last Tuesday, Sibongile Princess Mazeka wished for a birthday party. Sponsorships poured in after an article in the Cape Times last week about Sibongile's wish.

This might be her last birthday, as her condition is deteriorating. She has twice been admitted to hospital with pneumonia in the past month, and now has a brain tumour that causes her to have epileptic fits.

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Wimpy sponsored a party for more than 50 children at GrandWest Casino on Saturday and Metropolitan Life, with Reach for a Dream, sponsored most of the party at Phandulwazi Hall in Langa on Sunday.

The hall was festooned with balloons and streamers.

Sibongile sat on the stage with her aunt's family and a church choir. Children filled tiny colourful chairs at a central table and, as the afternoon wore on, the crowd in the hall swelled until even the aisles between the tables were packed.

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"Sibongile never feels sorry for herself," said Sister Maria, principal of St Anthony's preschool, which the little girl attends. "She has shown me, in my old age, how to overcome difficulties and sickness. One day she is in hospital, the next she is back in school, and quite happy again.

"This is what I hope - that other people with HIV-positive children will come forward and not hide the state of their children - and that they can have such a party too."

The party lasted for over five hours as church choirs from Bishop Lavis, Khayelitsha and Gugulethu rocked the hall with gospel music.

Priests, family and the principal of Sibongile's nursery school delivered speeches praising the little girl's zest for life.

"Sibongile is getting quite spoilt with all this attention, but that is good, because we don't know how much longer she will be with us," said Vuyani Jacobs of the Treatment Action Campaign, who helped organise the party.

"Last night, when I was with her, she prayed as she does every night: 'Lord, if you can't take this illness from me, make it easier for me to live with.'

"Sibongile is excited about her birthday," said her aunt.

"I don't think she is very sad about her disease, as I don't think she is really aware of what it means."

 

KWALANGA SPECIAL

67 minutes spent with children

By Staff Reporter

Jul 27, 2016

 

 Photo By Berea Mail

 

The children were ecstatic to receive meals and party packs.

Staff of the Early Learning Resource Unit (Elru), in Lansdowne, visited the Phandulwazi community hall in Langa, to give their 67 minutes for Mandela Day.

The Elru team arrived with soup and bread, as well as take-home packs full of delicious goodies. This initiative was sponsored by two of Elru’s development partners, the Rolf-Stephan Nussbaum Foundation and Joint Aid Management SA (JAM SA).

JAM SA donated takkies to all the children of the Langa programme and the Rolf-Stephan Nussbaum Foundation donated carpets for 40 playgroups, along with soap, facecloths and toilet rolls for the 240 children.

Elru has projects in Langa, Khayelitsha, Philippi, Saldanha, the Northern Cape and the North West, with a focus on 9 000 children under the age of five years.

Development partner JAM SA feeds all the children daily with porridge. For the Mandela Day initiative, the Elru staff donated soup, bread, and party packs, and the programme consisted of children singing the songs that they learn in the playgroups and at home.

Elru’s Family and Community Motivators programme started in 2010 in Langa with five women, and now there are 57 women in it. These women are often the breadwinners in their families.

ATHLONE NEWS

GOSPEL POWER

Gospel duo release their new album

By Phiri Cawe

Nov 12, 2020

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Veteran gospel musicians Kholekile Qongqo, left and Sithembiso Soboyisi entertain the crowd in Langa.

Two musicians who have been starved of an income due to the lockdown restrictions which prevented gatherings and live performances shared with Vukani what it has been like to finally perform in front of a live audience.

On Saturday, Kholekile Qongqo and Reverend Sithembiso Soboyisi launched their new album, Thembalimbi, at Phandulwazi Hall in Langa.

“It has been difficult for all the artists country-wide. We were forced to sit at home with nothing to show.

The province has not even given us the relief funding. We only heard about it in the newspapers and (on the) radio. But we are grateful to have a chance to perform in front of an audience.

“This is something to be proud of. We only hope that as time goes, things will be different,” said Sithembiso.

Sithembiso and Kholekile took full advantage of the day to perform their best songs, among them duets, for their enthusiastic crowd.

“This is the first show since March. We have never seen our fans for such a long time. We missed the stage and performances like this. As gospel artists we ought to give hope to the masses and it is now that time that we should do that. The only hope we have now is that the virus can go away so we can have big shows and concerts.

But we are happy with the little chance we have to perform for them, give them hope through the song,” Kholekile told Vukani.

The two applauded their audience for adhering to lockdown protocols to prevent the spread of Covid-19. They said it was good to see people sanitising their hands and wearing masks.

“This is not the time to break the rules but encourage our people to live a clean life,” said Kholekile.

“As gospel artists, we have a responsibility to not only spread the word of God but to make people aware of their surroundings and dangers. We are all aware that there is word of a second wave, so we want people to be vigilant at all times.”

VUKANI NEWS

Phandulwazi KwaLanga - ZWAKALA

kulula.com plants 1 250 trees in Western Cape in celebration of Youth Day

15 Jun 2011 15:52Publicity 100

 

 

 

 Photo By News24

 

kulula fans raised an amazing R1-million to support Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) efforts to respond to climate change and improve environments, especially for the poor. This was achieved through kulula’s Project Green Programme, which aims to combat the atmospheric carbon loads and greenhouse gases released by their aircraft.

Thanks to these fans, 3 000 trees are already in the ground and doing their thing to bring the birds and the bees back to the communities of Tembisa and Mt Moriah.

“We applaud all our fans who opened their hearts and pockets to show support for climate change action through South Africa’s foremost greening organisation” says kulula marketing manager, Nadine Damen.

To celebrate Youth Day, on and around 16 June, kulula will now plant a further 1 250 trees in Langa, Eerste River and Mitchells Plain. Youth Day represents a turning point for South Africa and it is hoped that the trees will bring positive change to these communities too.

250 trees will be distributed to the deserving communities of Eerste River on 16 June at 15:00 and in Tafelsig, Mitchells Plain, on 18 June at 09h00.

333 residents will also receive trees to plant at their homes from Langa Community Hall on Youth Day morning with a further 333 trees handed over to community members at 12:30 at the Phandulwazi Centre, Zone 16.

A week later FTFA will plant a further 334 trees with more Langa residents.

“These areas are desperately in need of trees and green education to improve the surroundings, as well as to absorb carbon dioxide, one of the major greenhouse gases,” said Mark Isaacs, an FTFA consultant in the Western Cape. “We have been working with these communities for the last couple of weeks to ensure that the trees are planted correctly and taken care of properly and the community members are very excited to be receiving these precious trees on this important day of remembrance in South Africa.”

kulula is also the supporter of the ground breaking new mobi site, mytrees.mobi, which allows South Africans to measure their carbon footprint and plant trees using their mobile phones, participate in a GreenIQ, learn about the environment and much more. Simply sms trees to 34747. Another kulula and FTFA first!

For more information or to attend any of the Youth Day tree distribution and planting events, for interviews, photographs or to attend the event, contact joanne@trees.org.za, or call Joanne at (011) 656 9802 and see http://mytrees.mobi/ to find out how you can help.

EVENT WAS HOSTED ON SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2022

Langa to host Youth Day tournament

By THANDISIZWE MGUDLWA

-

June 15, 2022

Basketball

CAPE TOWN: LANGA will be the place to be for this years Red Tigers Juniors & Seniors Youth Day Tournament on Thursday, June 16, 2022.

JUNE 16 is commemorated as Youth Day in South Africa, after the 1976 Soweto Uprising, which quickly spread to other parts of the country.

The Soweto uprising was a series of demonstrations and protests led by black school children in South Africa that began on the morning of June 16, 1976.

Students from numerous Sowetan schools in Johannesburg began to protest in the streets of Soweto in response to the introduction of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in local schools. It is estimated that 20,000 students took part in the protests.

They were met with fierce police brutality and many were shot and killed. The number of people killed in the uprising is usually given as 176, but estimates of up to 700 have been made. Dozens of other students were injured.

In remembrance of these events, since the first democratic elections in 1994, June 16 is now a public holiday in South Africa, named Youth Day.

But this week’s June 16 events in Langa, Cape Town will see a basketball extravaganza at the Khulani High School.

Organisers have revealed that U13: joining fee is R200.

1st prize: R750; 2nd prize: R500; 3rd prize: R300.

U15: joining fee: R300; 1st prize: R1000; 2nd prize: R700;3rd prize: R500.

For Seniors: joining fee: R600.

Prizes: Group A: R1500; Group B: R1500; Group C: R1500; Group D: R1500.

Also revealed is the Point System Rule.

For Seniors, a team with highest points in each group goes with a R1500 as their 1st prize.

The won’t be knockouts or semi finals.

If teams are equal on points, then goal difference will come into effect, in other words if a team has scored more goals on that group then they will go with the 1st prize.

Kickoff time is at 9am, with registration at 8:30am and the gate fee stands at R5.

SKOMLINE - KWALANGA

Retail Capital Langa Run for Freedom; it’s game on!

By THANDISIZWE MGUDLWA

-

April 26, 2022

Retail Capital Langa Run

CAPE TOWN: More than 1600 runners from Athletic Cubs across the Cape Town and surrounds, traffic cops, SAPS, patrol safety, media, sponsors, residents lining the streets and cheering runners on and much more will form part of the festivities in the first ever ‘Retail Capital Langa Run for Freedom’.

Hosted by the Langa Athletics Club, the event will kick off at the Langa Sports Stadium in Bitterhout Avenue at 7.15am, on Wednesday, April 27.

In South Africa this day is known as Freedom Day, after the first democratic elections took place in the country on April 27 in 1994.

The running route will pass some of the township’s landmarks, such as late South African Pop Queen Brenda Fassie’s home on Makana Circle.

Langa is the oldest surburb in Cape Town established in the 1920s and community has produced many internationally acclaimed sports athletes, artists and other professionals.

The Langa Athletics Club was establieshed in 2015 with the aim to support and encourage participation in youth development programmes.

The club focuses on athletics and promoting and encouraging a healthy lifestyle in Langa and surrounding areas.

Aubrey Isaacs, Race organiser and chairperson of the Langa Athletics Club, said the race was going to be a one of a kind experience.

“The idea behind this event is to bring together runners from across the city in the spirit of peace and togetherness, to celebrate Freedom Day and all that it represents,” he said.

Isaacs added: “We encourage runners to bring along friends and families to support them and to soak up the township vibe on the day. We know that, for many, this will be their first township experience and we hope it will be the first of many.”

Isaacs, who was instrumental in establishing the Langa Athletics Club, said the event was a dream come true.

“We started the club with 20 members, and over the years we have grown it to 350 members, some of whom reside in Langa and others in nearby suburbs like Bonteheuwel and Hanover Park.”

The race is open to runners of all fitness levels and includes a 10km run for participating clubs and professional athletes.

In addition, there will be a 6km option for non-professional runners who want to test their fitness and soak up the township experience.

Isaacs believes the timing is right to launch the Run for Freedom.

“Many people don’t know that sport and fitness are big in this township. We have open-air gyms popping up everywhere recently,” noted Isaacs.

Isaacs further remarked: “From an administration and organisational perspective, the club is ready.

“We are working closely with the traffic department and have roped in our local community policing forum to safeguard the route. We intend to establish it as Langa’s flagship running event.”

Entrants can register to participate on https://entryninja.co.za until Monday or at the venue on race day from 5am to 7am.

Entry fees range from R50 to R120 for the 10km run and from R20 to R30 for the 6km run.

The proceeds from the event will be invested back into the athletics club.

So if you are not yet sure of a way to spend the Freedom Day public holiday, then you should be making your way to Langa and be part of making history.

OLDEST KASI IN CAPE TOWN RISING HIGHER!

Langa shows South Africa how to make a difference in our most vulnerable communities

By THANDISIZWE MGUDLWA

-

April 29, 2022

South Africa

CAPE TOWN: iKhaya Le Langa uses people, planet, profit (PPP) principles and sustainable business tourism to regenerate the region.

As a host city to YPO EDGE, Cape Town, South Africa, was the recipient of much of this generosity, some of it in the form of a donation to iKhaya Le Langa, a movement to sustainably uplift Cape Town’s oldest township, which is Langa.

In recent years, Langa had undergone a considerable revival, in particular, the Langa Quarter which hosted 13 streets, 500 homes and 7000 people.

Now, it is a hub of cultural activity, jazz, street art, dance, and a top-rated place to stay for tourists and locals alike. The Langa Quarter is one of SA’s foremost success stories so far, forming part of the greater iKhaya Le Langa (the house of sun) not-for-profit (NPO), which aims to revitalise the region as a social enterprise precinct and cleaner, greener, safer area of the township.

The NPO has accomplished much to date, showing how powerful community-NPO partnerships can be.

Founded by Tony Elvin, of Tony Elvin Associates SA , iKhaya Le Langa uses people, planet, profit (PPP) principles and sustainable business tourism to regenerate region, with the ambition to create a multi-racial social destination.

The most recent development for the NPO is InSTED: The Institute for Sustainable Township Enterprise Development.

This initiative will operate from converted containers donated by YPO, following the recent YPO EDGE.

At the 2019 YPO EDGE Anthony Ginsberg, Managing Director of GinsGlobal Index Fund and Chairman of YPO Financial Services Network, said a common trait of leaders, which is evident in the 2019 Global Leadership survey conducted by YPO (‪YPO.org) among the CEOs, is a strong desire to give back and positively impact society.

Each year, business leaders from around the world gather for the YPO EDGE, the organisation’s premier visionary showcase of thought leadership and innovation.

For two days, members, convene with world-renowned thought leaders to address key issues in business, politics, science, technology, philanthropy and the humanities. The event, hosted on a different continent each year, offers exceptional educational opportunities for attendees while helping the global leaders of today shape the world of tomorrow.

Paul Berman, Host City Chair of YPO EDGE says, “Collaborating with Tony on the INSTED project is a way to sustainably entrench the inspiration, hope and energy of YPO EDGE in a way that will bring lasting benefits to the community of Langa and South Africa as a whole. We believe that as a research and development facility, InSTED will promote the partnerships and insights that could create real solutions to the deep problems perpetuating from poverty. Langa Quarter is an excellent example of how much can be achieved when we all work together.”

InSTED will be an important way to communicate and implement all the NPO’s learnings from the last ten years, including: developing Langa Quarter into a prototype Social Enterprise Precinct through: proactively zoning homes for hospitality; organizing the Langa Quarter neighbourhood watch for a cleaner, greener, safer area; running the Ambassador Program, which assists community members with job readiness and personal development, to help divert unemployed youth away from gangs, into full-time training and community-building activities.

Other focus areas include: Continuing Community-based Tourism (CBT) Innovation by: developing the Langa Quarter Homestay Hotel, which is a 40-bed ‘homestay’ hotel consisting of 18 homes, with Airbnb endorsement for accelerated growth; and running the Inter Community Tourism Agency, which advocates for tourism in a township, not township tourism.

Additionally, InSTED will house the Academic Partnership Centre, as a resource centre for interns, researchers and students, and it will become a tech innovation hub, supporting Project UBU, which looks at digital currency opportunities; YeboFresh, which assists with low-cost township home food delivery; Micro Investing, which seeks opportunities to use blockchain as a way to invest in Africa; and Quantum Economics, which applies quantum physics principles to
economics.

The take out from this success story is that South African townships have all the potential to become social enterprise precinct hubs of industry and activity. This requires strong private-public partnerships, with continued community buy-in.

Elvin says, “The tipping-point principle applies here. If we can create cleaner, greener, safer neighbourhoods, with vibrant art and music that celebrates the history and culture of our communities, we can catalyse ongoing job creation through sustained tourism. Partnering with Airbnb has helped bring credibility to accelerate the growth of our Homestay Hotel. Working with community ambassadors has been critical to making Langa safer. Joining forces with the Inter Community Tourism Agency has been essential to making sure tourism is ‘done’ respectfully and sustainably.”

And the big lesson is that, it is going to take all of us collectively joining hands to really make a sustainable difference to our country and its most vulnerable communities.