PRESS COVERAGE 1999-2000
PRESS COVERAGE 1999-2000
ParkNEWS, Issue No 4, December 2000
OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE CAPE PENINSULA NATIONAL PARK
Happy hackers in action ....... Jim Hallinan of CPNP, far right, provides hacking tips to Nomalungisa Makayi of Masiphumelele. Gianfranca Ticozzi of Italy and Sipho Mooi of Guguletu. Looking on are learners from Ukhanyo School.Park gets 'foreign aid'
VOLUNTEERS from all over the world are literally beating a path to the Cape Peninsula National Park (CPNP), which has become the focus of one of South Africa's most ambitious alien vegetation clearing initiatives.
The latest batch of volunteers, who are from the United States and Europe, participated in an annual work camp which was sponsord by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-SA) and organised by the Quaker Peace Centre, the CPNP and the Friends of Silvermine.
Together with pupils from the Ukhanyo Primary School in Masiphumelele and the Friends of Silvermine, the volunteers helped eradicate alien plants which are regerminating after the January fires in the Silvermine area of the park.
"This programme also attracts young South Africans who would otherwise not make use of teh park. Volunteers from previous camps enjoy these camps so much that they keep returning to continue with alien clearing", says Patricia Sterling of CPNP's Social Ecology department.
Martin Struthmann of the Quaker Peace Centre said the camps help young people to develop social skills and make meaningful contributions towards society.
Local Chatter, November 2000
A NEWSLETTER FOR THE GREATER MUIZENBERG CIVIL SOCIETY VRYGROND ESTABLISHES A FORUM
A big step for Vrygronders, with the determination and assistance of the Quaker Peace who after working for some time with the community, found that there was on Beneficiary Forum to complement the Vrygrond Development Trust, and have now helped to form one. A huge marquee was set up on a Saturday morning, chairs put out, and people sat down. The process went well, including a marimba band, with enough people coming forward to represent different sector groups. These people, most of whom are nice and young, will undergo training by Quaker Peace, and will start working towards developing a peaceful community structure to help them with their development and decision making. Vrygrond is part of our ward 64.
Southern Suburbs Tatler, 16 November 2000
PICTURE: MARTIN STRUTHMANNAll geared up for delivering voter education workshops, from left: Xolani Swelindawo, Jasmine Sprinkle, Nkosoxolo Mdoko, Thozama Mabikwe, Sipho Mtwana, Ketiwe Tutu and Temba Bebe.Mediators provide election workshops
THE Quaker Peace Centre in Mowbray and the Community Mediators' Association have formed a partnership to provide 40 voter education workshops in and around Cape Town.
The voter education workshops explain the election process and changes that will occur with the formation of the unicity. They also cover principles of democracy, rights of voters and citizens and political tolerance.
Thozama Mabikwe of the Community Mediators' Association said: "Most people feel that the promises of the government were not fulfilled. We are telling people the importance of elections and the necessity to take part in them.
"In 1995 we voted for transitional local governments which were in place for a trial period. Now we will vote for a new democratic local government. In the elections we will elect councillors of our choice and give them a mandate."
The Quaker Peace Centre trains unemployed community workers as community mediators in afive-month course run twice a year. On graduation they join the Community Mediators' Association which provides support and further training and negotiates contracts for work.
The Community Mediators' Association builds peace in the communities by providing a mediation service to resolve conflicts in families, neighbourhoods, businesses and organisations.
The Quaker Peace Centre's aim is to build peace in communities in order to lay the foundations for development to take place.
Jeremy Routledge, the director of the Peace Centre, said: "The United Nations declaration of the decade 2001 - 2010 as a Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World provides us with the vision and leadership to work for a better future."
The voter education workshops are sponsored by the Finnish Embassy. The Community Mediator's Association can be contacted during office hours at the Quaker Peace Centre conflict handling office at telephone number 386-1159.
Southern Mail, 15 November 2000
Forum hopes to achieve peace
RAPHAEL WOLF "Peace is a group effort and is achieved by looking at the development needs of the community, before we look at our personal needs. That way everybody wins." These were the words of Ntutu Mtwana of the Quaker Peace Centre at the launch of a new group, the Vrygrond People's Forum, last month.
The launch has opened the way for all stakeholders in Vrygrond to deal directly with the municipality on developmental issues facing the area. The forum's thrust will be aimed at opening lines of communication between the community and municipality, according to Ms. Mtwana whose organisation facilitated the launch.
The event was attended by about 500 residents, and representatives from the Muizenberg Development Forum, the SPM, Vrygrond Community Development Trust and Muizenberg Police and Crime Against the State Unit, the proposed Vrygrond Health Forum, Vrygrond Community Police Forum, New Wolrd Foundation and other NGO's, creches, and organisations of the youth, women business and religion.
Ms Mtwana said the door was still open for any role players to join the forum and that an executive committee would be elected soon.
The need for unity and development in Vrygrond is clear, given the poor state of the area and the conflict that has raged over the years.
Guest speaker MP Professor Ben Turok promised to assist a committed and active Vrygrond People's Forum - by raising funds for development projects in Vrygrond. Vrygrond Development Trust secretary, Freddie Jacobs said: "We were always in agreement for a forum like this one to be established in Vrygrond, because at the moment most of the area's development responsibilities are on the shoulders of the trust."
He said the trust would be able to channel information through the forum which would reach everyone in Vrygrond. "An exchange of information becomes that much easier through a forum", he said.ANC southern suburbs secretary, Khalil Mullagie said: "We encourage and welcome strong civil society organisations that take up issues in any community, because it strengthens democracy."
He said it was important that such organisations should have credibility, integrity and be acceptable in their communities. "If this is the case with the Vrygrond People's Forum, then the ANC welcomes the initiative", he said, adding that the ANC appreciated the commended organisations and individuals that have contributed to bringing a better life for Vrygrond's people. "We hope this initiative will bring peace, freedom and development for the people of Vrygrond", he said.
According to Martin Struthmann, a spokesperson for the Quaker Peace Centre, which facilitated the launch, his organisation comprises a team of peace-makers, who concentrate on assisting people to move towards a way of life that encourages creative, non-violent resolution of conflict, through promoting awareness, co-operation and empowerment.
The launch closed with four teams competing in a soccer "tournament for peace", which was won by the Vrygrond All Stars. The New World Foundation sponsored the trophies.Professor Ben Turok, MP, with Sipho Mtwana of the Community Mediators' Association alongside him, addresses residents at the launch of the Vrygrond People's Forum.
The Good News Reporter, November 2000
Foreigners help fight
alien invaders Fayrooz Johnson
The GNR stiff-upper-lip staff policy was subjected to severe stress recently when a mysterious unidentified male caller alleged that he had sighted a landed flying saucer in the bushes at the noon gun on Signal Hill.
Dismissing the call as a hoax, staff were surprised at a faxed report that followed stating that foreign and local volunteers were clearing out aliens.
Photographers were alerted to shoot at anything that moved.
A spokesperson from the Quaker Centre in Mowbray, Martin Struthmann, has since claimed responsibility for dispatching the fax, saying that the pun had been unintentional.
He denied responsibility for the mysterious phone call. According to him a group of international and South African volunteers have been hacking away at invasive alien vegetation in the Silvermine Nature Area. Some of the volunteers participating in the three-week-long work camp came from as far afield as the United States, United Kingdom, Netherlands, France, Italy and Germany, to work and live with seven South African volunteers for the duration of the project.
Volunteers worked with the Redhill Fynbos Restoration Project and Ukhanyo Primary School in Masiphumelele to eradicate invasive alien vegetation, which is now re-germinating after the mountain fires.
The workcamp was a joint initiative of the Quaker Peace Centre, the Friends of Silvermine Nature Area and the Cape Peninsula National Park, and was sponsered by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
Struthmann described the work-camp as a model for voluntary service for young adults and says it brings young South Africans to the National Park who otherwise would not make use of it. In this way leadership in environmental matters is promoted among young people, particularly those from disadvantaged areas.
He expressed a willingness to offer more camps and is currently seeking additional partner organisations to join hands with the centre.
Information on workcamps in South Africa and worldwide can be obtained from Martin Struthmann at Tel: 685 7800.. Seen in action at Silvermine Nature Reserve are, from left: Judith Oosterbroek from Holland, Chris Walker of the Friends of Silvermine and Sitandiwe Qumba from New Crossroads.
Cape Times, Thursday, 17 August 2000
ON THE PEACE PATH: Nicole Rix from Bridgetown East Primary School was one of several pupils who took part in a three day camp to learn how to deal with today's violent society. PICTURE: MARK HUTCHINSON
Youth learn peace facets BIANCA WILLIAMS
PUPILS from Bridgetown East, Cypress, Blossom, Kewtown and Bridgeville primary schools yesterday received certificates from the Quaker Peace Centre for taking part in camp from June 5 to 7.
This camp was part of the centre’s Peace Education Programme which is aimed at children from schools in areas where there is conflict in the community.
The children attended workshops which taught them about conflict handling, comunication skills, team building and self-esteem.
The programme also warned of the danger of gangs and guns.
Wayne Pedro, a teacher from Bridgetown East Primary School, said he learnt to be more patient with his pupils and to consider their backgrounds when difficult situations arose.
According to him children who attend the camp have become more tolerant, responsible, eager to listen and more willing to lead.
Sunday Independent - Reconstruct, 14 November 1999
Security is a different issue for men and women
BY LEANNE DICKERSON Guns, armies and weapons are the unsatisfactory male response to a human necessity - security.
This was the message at a recent seminar held at the University of Cape Town where academics, NGOs from South Africa, Mozambique and Angola, and ordinary women from communities on the Cape Flats gathered to discuss the concept of human security.
"When men think of security they think of the army, the police, arms," said Elvira Ford of the Quaker Peace Centre. "But when women are asked what they think constitutes security they see it as an issue of health, housing, jobs, support for women."
The concept of human security defines human needs as being met in terms of environment, physical needs, respect of human dignity and identify, and protection from avoidable harm - not just from an external threat to a country, but harm from hunger, poverty and sexual assault.
"National security does not necessarily provide for genuine security of citizens," said Bernadette Muthien, a member of the International Working Group on Peace and Gender Justice, in her seminar introduction.
"When people and governments misinterpret security as only national security as only national security, they build armies and weapons systems, which takes billions of rand away from other basic needs such as housing, employment health and education."
The day aimed to heigten awareness of human security among women - from grassroots level up to government - and subjects addressed ranged from domestic violence and rape to arms sales, war and unemployment. Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, the deputy minister of defence, was the keynote speaker:
"There are people working to cost domestic violence and how it impacts on the economic strength of the country", said Jane Bennet from UCT's Africa Gender Institute.
"However; I'm not sure that it does. Despite the fact that Japan, Germany and the US are wealthy, their rate of gender violence has not gone down,"
Alicia Pieterse from U Managing Conflict (UMAC) spoke of "a silent scream inside of me" as she talked of South African rape statistics, the murders of young Cape Town women and the recent controversial sentence handed down by Judge Foxcroft to a father who raped his daughter:
The Quaker Peace Centre put forward a positive response to the human security situation.
"We respond to human beings in communities. People are realising there is a way other than violence. We teach what we can do with our own hands like gardening projects in response to poverty, and conflict resolution in communities and schools", said Nokwanda Majola.
When a speaker from the Angolan NGO, Rede Mulher; was asked about the public response of Angola's diamond revenue paying for arms, she smiled a war-weary smile: "Ordinary people talk about peace, jobs and getting a better salary."
One of the seminar participants stood up too say: "It is imperative that civil society stops buying the notion that the millitary is a lucrative business". And a mother from Atlantis asked why, after all her years in the struggle, none of her children had jobs.
Madlala-Routledge introduced herself as a pacifist and a Quaker and said the concept of human security should be the concept around which defence operates." There are very powerful forces who would like to see us buy as many weapons as possible. I want you to know I am challenging these issues," she said and invited seminar participants to help her "make sure that our agenda is not diverted".
Referring to the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action, she called on women to be part of all delegations that discuss issues of peace. "All violent conflicts and wars have been waged as a way of women is that women have a different way of relating to power; "she said.
In response to her call to "assist our country" women agreed on measures they could take at grassroots level like educating themselves about their rights, taking part in employment and training projects and establishing support groups.
They pledged to lobby the government.
Constantiaberg Bulletin, Thursday, 14 October 1999
Happy hackers fight green aliens
SIMONE WILLIAMS A GROUP of 15 international volunteers recruited by the Quaker Peace Group recently took part in an alien vegetarian clearing programme organised by the Cape Peninsula National Park.
Varying in ages between 18 and 24 years, the 15 'happy hackers' joined pupils from the Ukhanyo School in Masiphumelele and the Friends of Silvermine in clearing out wattle, rooikrantz, Port Jackson and eucalyptus trees in the Silvermine Valley.
"Besides sub-contracting alien vegetation clearing jobs to emerging entrepreneurs, the Cape Peninsula National Park (CPNP) actively encourages volunteers to assist in areas which are too small to contract out. The true spirit of volunteer work is about giving and sharing, of one's time, enthusiasm and love of nature," says Patricia Sterling of the CPNP's Social Ecology Department.Tackling a long-leafed wattle from leaft are: Mark Hawthorne of CPNP, Sipho Mooi of Gugulethu, Nomahlubi Botma (13) of the Ukhanyo School and Lindsay Krazinsky from New York.
False Bay Echo, Thursday, 16 September 1999
Doing a fyn job at Red Hill
PHILIPPA TAYLOR A group of 15 young people from Germany, America, England, France, Switzerland, Japan and South Africa are spending two weeks working with local environmental groups to clear alien vegetation from the Cape Peninsula.
They are here as a result of an initiative by the Quaker Peace Centre to bring young people of different nationalities together.
The Friends of Silvermine Nature Area organised their work programme and the Cape Peninsula National Park is providing the logistical support and accommodation at the Sunbird Centre in the Silvermine Nature Area.
WWF South Africa and CPNP are funding the camp.
Members of the Red Hill Fynbos Restoration Project team were able to meet the youngsters when the groups teamed up for a day's hacking.
The Red Hill Restoration Project falls under the auspices of the Red Hill Conservation Group, funded by WWF South Africa' s Table Mountain Fund.The project' s work was acknowledged earlier this year when the Red Hill Conservation Group was awarded the Mail and Guardian Green Trust Award for National Resource Conservation.
The CPNP gave each of the volunteers a copy of The Alien Cleaning Handbook for the Western Cape, written and compiled by Jeremy Croudace of Simon' s Town, who is the manager of the Red Hill project.
The recently published book uses diagrams to explain the strengths and weaknesses of the main aliens as well as the methods and tools used to eradicate them on first encounter.
Members of the Red Hill team, who are residents from the Red Hill Informal Settlement, valued the opportunity of interacting with people form different countries.
Bonani Yekani said: "It is the first time I have met and talked to people from overseas, and it was very interesting for me. I am very glad that this has happened."
Another member, Benjamin Mase, "I liked meeting and working with poeple from other countries very much."
Constantiaberg Bulletin, Thursday, 30 September 1999
Happy hackers
STAFF REPORTER VOLUNTEERS from Europe and japan were among the group of happy hackers who spent a day routing out alien trees and bushes from the Red Hill nature area just above Simon's Town.
The overseas visitors and local volunteers were invited to take part in the Red Hill Fynbos Restoration Project by the Cape Peninsula National Park with the Friends of Silvermine and the Quaker Peace Group.
The Red Hill Fynbos RestorationProject was initiated three years ago by Jeremy Croudace of the Red Hill
Conservation Group whose primary objective is the restoration of the Red Hill area.
Jeremy and his wife, Alida are both passionate conservationists who have lived in the area for 14 years.
Supported by the World Wildlife Fund, the project has created 11 jobs and successfully cleared 1 500 hectares of protected natural environment.
It was honoured with the Mail and Guardian Green Trust Award for Natural Resource Conservation.
From left: Kasrils Hawkins from the Red Hill Informal settlement, Yashushi Kono of Osaka, Japan, Ivan Holdsworth of Cape Town and Jim Hallinan of CPNP, Plumstead were some the happy hackers.
Cape Argus, Friday, 27 August 1999
Children learn about alternatives to gangs
TREVOR OOSTERWYK
STAFF REPORTERMarlyn Sassman, 13, spent his formative years in Hanover Park.
Crime, drug abuse and gansterism have been a daily part of his life and he has even seen a man shot and stabbed in the hand.
Marlyn was one of 55 Hanover Park pupils between 11 and 13 who yesterday received certificates for attending a Quaker Peace Centre camp, during which they discussed their feelings about gangs, guns, conflict, mediation and self - esteem.
The three-day camp took place in June at Froggy Pond in Simon's Town, and pupils came from Voorspoed Primary, Summit Primary, Parkfield Primary, Bloemvlei Primary and Morgenson Primary.
At the camp the children discussed gangsterism and suggested alternatives to joining gangs.
They spoke about joining sports clubs, learning to play with the right kind of friends, the problems with drinking and smoking and why it was important not to fight but to respect each other.
They were also taught how to make new friends, how to be assertive but not aggressive, and how to resolve conflict.
They were asked to draw a map of Hanover Park and indicate with
coloured stickers all the places they believed were dangerous.
The whole map was filled with coloured stickers, with the children clearly showing there was not a single safe place for them.
Frieda Subklew, a German exchange social work student and a programme associate, said: "The camp was a safe place where the children could play and make some friends, and where learning could take place.
"At first the children were shy, and they had a low level of concentration. We adapted the programme so they could participate."
The children made kites, had a concert and played all kinds of games. They were also taken to see the penguins at Boulders Beach.
For most this was a first. Teachers at yesterday's ceremony agreed the children had learned a lot.
Percival Ontong from Blomvlei Primay school said: "I could see on their faces they enjoyed themselves and learned many new things. They used to be very inhibited but working in groups helped them. These children are now more confident about themselves."
But young Marlyn Sassman had the last word: "I have learned so much. It was sometimes difficult to remember all the things.
"Now I would like to become a policeman to do the things I have learned," Marlyn said.
WAYNE CONRADIEFun and learning: Frieda Subklew of the Quaker Peace Centre plays educational games with the children from Hanover Park at their graduation ceremony.
iIndaba Zasekhaya, July 1999
Newspaper of the Integrated Serviced Land ProjectVegetable Gardens bring health and prosperity
Next to the Vuyani Clinic in Guguletu crops of healthy looking vegetables attract the eye.
The five very indistrious women and one man tending the garden are eager to show us the wonderful project they are part of.
They grow cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, green peppers, onions, spinach, lettuce, carrots, betroot, tomatoes, turnips and beans. Most of the crop is used to feed their families and they sell whatever they might have left.
This Guguletu food garden project was started in June 1998 with the help of the Quaker Peace Group. This organisation gave a talk to the community at the Uluntu Centre about what growing a Peace Garden would mean their families. They have not looked back since. Now 63 people have plots, which they tend. The gardeners we met say the Quaker Peace Group taught them everything they know today.
A group manager oversees the garden. While bulk compost is bought they also manage their own compost heap
from all the off - cuts of the vegetables,like the leaves and stalks. They have an efficient irrigation system.
Every three months the group harvests and then carefully replants the next crop.
Sophia Ndlebe says that she suffered from high blood pressure for many years. But since she started eating her own freshly grown vegetables from her garden, she has not needed her medication.
They all thank the Quaker Peace Group for making such a significant change in their lives and say, " We dance because we have healthy food to eat".
They are very proud of this project.
They have had no one entering the premises without permission and nothing has gone missing. The community, they believe, respects the project the project. All the families involved now know and understand about healthy eating as well as how to grow crops.
Ilsp families wishing to start a similar project should contact the group o the following number:
The Quaker Peace Group
Ms Nokwanda Majola
Tel: 0833096223
Athlone News, 7 July 1999
Ensuring domestic peace and police quiet
MOST domestic dispute cases reported at police stations usually end with charges being withdrawn, causing an enormous waste in manpower and time. In attempt to avoid this waste, four community workers from Manenberg have successfully completed a five - month course in mediation and conflict resolution.
The purpose of training mediators in the community is to prevent disputes from reaching the courts and so free up the time of police officers. The results of their training have already shown results according to one of the graduates, Marlene Russo.
"We did a course on the different aspects of conflict resolution and mediation. We also did some field work where we spoke to people and helped them resolve their problems," she said.
The four mediators who completed the course are working in the Manenberg community with families and neighbours who are in dispute. The group has also been trying to get a room at the police station where members can counsel people who have problems."I had one case where a family with six daughters in the house had three court cases against each other, but we managed to work out the problems. These are cases that would normally have wasted the time at the police station," she said.
Apart from the skills which all of the participants of community, they also received something personal out of their experiences. "The course also taught me a lot, I am able to control my temper better. It really helped me," said Mrs Russo.
The course was offered by the Quaker Peace Centre to six people in Manenberg, but unfortunately only four completed it.
"It was a great course to be on and we are still in contact with the centre. So if we need help in future the Quakers will be there to provide it and they will be holding courses for other people in the area. We need more people doing this kind of work," she said.
Marlene and the other three people have been working from their homes and visiting people at their homes, but they hope to get a room at the Manenberg police station soon.
Cape Times, Friday, 18 June 1999
Pacifist defence deputy says Quakers an asset in ministry
MELANIE GOSLING THE new Deputy Minister of Defence, Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, is a member of the Quakers, one of the original Christian pacifist movements which believes war is against the will of God.
One observer has described the appointment as "either a stroke of genius or a monumental gaff".
But Madlala-Routledge believes being a pacifist in a ministry concerned with guns and war will be a strength.
"Quakerism is about recognising and upholding life, and being a Quaker helps me to centre myself and to think deeply about the issues, and I believe we need to achieve peace," she said yesterday.
While many think of Quakers sitting in quiet meditation listening for the "inner voice", Madlala-Routledgebelieves this image of Quakers does not show the full picture.
"Yes, it is a pacifist organisation, but like Gandhi who believed in non-violence, many Quakers are very active in bringing about social justice and have been (doing it) throughout history. I have never met a Quaker who thought that sitting and meditating would solve the worlds problems," she said.
Madlala-Routledge was active in the former UDF and is an old friend of the new Defence Minister Patrick Lekota.
Her husband, Jeremy Routledge, is the director of the Quaker Peace Centre aimed at resolving conflict on the Cape Flats.
Quakerism arose in Britain in the 1640's. Although there are fewer than 200 Quakers in South Africa, they have been active in working towards resolving conflict.
