Studies show that roughly 48,000 people migrate to the Western Cape each year. This influx comes from the Eastern Cape and is largely due to widespread poverty and a lack of employment opportunities.
Because of limited housing and space however, Cape Town is not very suitable for habitation, but people have settled here to be near jobs in the northern industrial areas. Without electricity and proper space, people live in inadequate housing conditions, leading to problems such as poor sanitation and an increase in fires. Without electricity, people utilise paraffin for cooking and to light candles, but would fall asleep without switching off the gas.
This carelessness would lead to house fires and would cause families who are already living under difficult conditions to now be homeless.
To provide safer living conditions, the government has begun building RDP houses. Though demand is high, those on the waiting list at least have electricity. Due to government efforts, people in places like Langa, Philippi, and Khayelitsha are very proud to have the best houses constructed by the government.
This development not only focuses within the housing sector, but also attends to disadvantage schools, such as Kwa-Faku primary school in Lower Crossroads. I was proud to hear that most of these schools are receiving free uniforms, as well. These efforts really show that the government is taking direct measures to support the housing and education sectors of the Western Cape.
http://antieviction.org.za/2008/12/20/baby-from-cape-towns-worst-squatter-camp-treated-for-cholera/ that our government is trying its best to support all South Africans.
Protesters in Mozambique are burning tyres to show their dissatisfaction with rising bread prices. Photo: MattWH72182
As you popped your two pieces of bread into the toaster for breakfast this morning, could you ever imagine not being able to afford this basic nourishment? Could you believe that people could die asking for cheaper bread?
This is what is happening in our neighbouring country Mozambique. According to News24 people are rioting, burning tyres and looting shops in protest of the rising bread price. BBC reports that prices have risen by as much as 30% as the Mozambican currency has fallen against the strengthening South African rand. Wheat prices have also been escalating world wide.
Mozambican media has reported that the police opened fire on protesters and that six people were killed yesterday. But the police confirmed only four deaths, and said 142 people had been arrested and 27 wounded. Police have however, admitted that two children were among those killed.
News24 quote Horatio Antonio, a 45-year-old unemployed man, saying “People are angry because prices are going up: petrol, rice, water, electricity, everything.”
It is a trend that is happening throughout Africa at the moment. In Kenya, Somalia and Egypt there have been protests regarding the rising cost of living.
Could you imagine not having bread to eat? Photo: Jamieanne
In South Africa, citizens have also been left to the mercy of Eskom’s price hikes, which is making electricity extremely expensive.
If people do not have bread to eat, something is seriously wrong in a country. The story goes that just before the French Revolution, Marie Antoinette responded to the starving population’s cries for bread by saying: “Let them eat cake”, showing the inability of the aristocracy of the time to identify with the lot of the ordinary person. The Revolution took place to create equality between people and to prevent this from ever happening again.
But it seems that history is repeating itself. No longer is there an aristocracy, but there is an elite class that controls wealth in countries. Corruption persists and producers collude to push up prices. What has happened to ubuntu?
Mozambicans have seen the price of a loaf of bread rise by as much as 30% as the value of the national currency, the metical, has fallen against the South African rand.
The increase also comes as wheat prices have shot up around the world.
The animals in South Africa are also enjoying the FIFA World Cup, as long as the impact on the environment is kept to a minimum. Photo: Shine 2010 via Flickr
A mega event such as the FIFA World Cup can leave an enormous carbon footprint on the world. That is why South Africa has set out since the beginning of the 2010 World Cup to ensure a more environmentally friendly tournament with the Green Goal programme.
More than 450 000 tourists have already entered South Africa since June 11. More people and more cars in cities mean more carbon emissions, a greater usage of electricity and water and more waste. Resources were also stretched to build stadiums.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme’s website the Green Goal programme initiative is a result of a partnership between the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the South African Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA).
The initiative includes three major greening projects: renewable energy interventions in six World Cup host cities, an awareness-raising drive on green tourism and a UNEP programme to offset the carbon emissions of eleven World Cup teams.
Green Passport
Also part of the Green Goal initiative is the Green Passport project. The Green Passport is an international campaign to educate tourist on how to contribute towards sustainable development by making responsible holiday choices. It has been specifically adapted to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup.
The Green Passport website shares information on where to stay, what to eat, how to get around and what to see and do in the host cities. In this way it “promotes tourism that respects the environment and cultures while triggering economic benefits and social development for the host communities”.
According to this website each of the host cities have their own greening projects for the World Cup.
Bloemfontein:
Pedestrian areas have been created in the central business district and 2000 trees were planted.
Cape Town:
Cape Town Stadium. Photo: Media Club South Africa/Rodger Bosch
The city launched a comprehensive Green Goal programme. The Cape Town Green Map shows the city’s green spaces and businesses that practice fair trade. Two recycling “drop off” facilities have been created to take care of waste from the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Johannesburg:
In Soweto 200 000 trees have been planted, including more than 82 400 indigenous trees as part of the programme to green the township.
Nelspruit:
The rural community of the Mbombela Municipality are being educated and empowered to be responsible for the condition of their surrounding environment. Green-focused community businesses are being supported.
Durban's Stadium. Photo: Media Club South Africa
Durban:
Forest areas are being restored and replanted in the eThekwini Municipal Area.
Port Elizabeth:
Tour guides, accommodation owners, taverners, etc. were trained on responsible tourism practices and working with local crafters on the development of sustainable products and services.
Polokwane:
The Polokwane Parks Department has successfully implemented, and is operating a waste composting facility.
Rustenberg:
A pamphlet that provides information on climate change and waste management and what people can do in their everyday lives to make a difference has been circulated in schools throughout Rustenburg.
City of Tshwane (Pretoria):
New parks have been developed with a soccer theme and the city intends to plant a tree for every goal scored in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
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On our blog, Development Talks, we discuss politics and social development. We are interested in the impact of politics on the ordinary citizen and the political activities of those on the ground.
Studies show that roughly 48,000 people migrate to the Western Cape each year. This influx comes from the Eastern Cape and is largely due to widespread poverty and a lack of employment opportunities.
