Izwi - Cato Manor Community Newspaper

Income generating projects
to alleviate povertys

Woza Nawe Juice Factory is a part of the
poverty alleviation programme that has
been initiated by CMDA’s community
development department.

Siyaphuthuma Training Co-op has been contracted by CMDA’s Community Development (COMDEV) Department to equip 15 Cato Manor residents with income generating skills. COMDEV is shifting its focus away from equipping residents with skills that do not secure a livelihood, immediately.

These residents are trained in the production of juice. Their training has a business management component. They have formulated a co-op known as Woza Nawe Juice Factory. The residents are part of a big project initiated by COMDEV that will train residents on bread baking, milk processing i.e the production of yogurt/maas and beer making. But for now the project will kick-start with juice manufacturing and the rest will be handed over to the agency that will continue after CMDA disbands.

“The shift in focus has been prompted by the number of people that we have trained that are still jobless. We are looking at equipping people with skills that will allow them to generate income. This project targets the people who cannot otherwise access COMDEV’s other projects as a result of the matric requirement aspect,” said Fisani Mzimela of CMDA’s COMDEV Department.

For now Woza Nawe members are being trained at the Cato Crest Multi-Purpose Centre and will relocate to a workshop at the ESC when construction is completed. Once at the ESC, Woza Nawe will benefit from the incubation programme until it becomes confident to stand on its own.

Art is alive in
Cato Manor

Lindelani Ngwenya

A Cato Manor resident, Lindelani Ngwenya, is fast becoming a force to be reckoned with in art circles. It usually takes forever for an artist to have his work exhibited by the African Art Centre at Tourist Junction but Lindelani has been afforded that opportunity. That is an indication of how good his work is.

Lindelani’s speciality is wire weaving. It is a technique not favoured by many artists because it requires too much time. Another reason is that this brand of art relies heavily on art galleries and art collectors to buy because most of it is quite expensive. One art object can easily cost R1 000 - considered a reasonable price by ardent art lovers.

In between orders Lindelani has to rely on his sculptures to earn a living.

“Life as an artist has its moments, but it is mostly uphill. Doggedness and love for what you do are the two main ingredients for success. Once you crack it, money rolls in at an unbelievable rate,” said Lindelani.

Lindelani holds a Diploma in Fine Arts from Natal Technikon. He has also been on a three month trip to England to polish his skills.
His work is always interesting. His passion at the moment is a piece depicting a female breast with a bunch of people waiting to be nourished - a tribute to Nelson Mandela.

Young aspiring artists can visit Lindelani at the Umkhumbane Art and Craft Centre in Bellair Road where they can learn a trick or two.

Eager to Serve

Cindy Mahlalempini is the new developmentfacilitator for the Dunbar housing project.

Cindy is a qualified quantity surveyor. She studied at the Durban Institute of Technology (ML Sultan Campus). She has been appointed to assist both New and Old Dunbar residents with their housing related needs.

She views her new appointment as a challenge since she is a shy person and her new job requires her to mingle with people on a day to day basis.

Christmas will come
early in Dunbar

People living in both Dunbar communities will have a good Christmas season as the Department of Housing has approved 1 500 subsidies for the construction of fully-serviced starter units in the area.

The ten show units include a free-standing unit, a semi-detached unit, a double storey unit for members of the same family and a double storey unit for four families. The project manager for this development, Lawrence Pato, informed IZWI that 10 show houses in the Chesterville Café vicinity are currently under construction to allow residents to comment.

Preference for established residents
Preference for the free-standing units will be given to the people who settled in the area early and who are on the register.

To open up the densely populated settlements of Old and New Dunbar, approximately 415 families have been relocated to the newly established Booth Road project. Efforts will now be concentrated on the provision of potable water, tarred roads and electricity to Old and New Dunbar.