Proud Moment For DA: Councillor Invited To Mandela Washington Fellowship

Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders

The Democratic Alliance is proud to announce that one of their youngest councillors Luyolo Mphithi has received a Mandela Washington Fellowship.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship program of President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).

He will spend six weeks at Syracuse University in New York where he will receive academic training at the university, before attending a summit to be hosted by Obama in Washington.

Luyolo Mphithi

Mphithi is a Mandela Rhodes Scholar who joined the DA at the age of 18 and has served in various structures including DASO, DA Youth and the DA.

Currently he serves as a PR Councillor in the City of Johannesburg, representing Ward 41 in Meadowlands where he is also standing as a candidate.

The DA is committed to building a prestigious network of young African leaders who are at the forefront of change and innovation.

The DA remains committed to change that takes South Africa forward, and we believe in continuing to arm our leaders with skills to ensure they can benefit the broader South African society.

 

Media Enquiries:

John Moodey

DA Gauteng Provincial Leader

082 960 3743

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Gauteng Housing MEC To Explain Delayed Occupation Of Completed Hostels

The DA calls on Gauteng Human Settlements MEC Jacob Mamabolo to urgently explain why four completed Soweto hostels have been left unoccupied for four years and subsequently vandalised.

According to reports residents have been waiting for four years to occupy completed Soweto hostels in Mzimphlophe, Dube, Meadowlands and Diepkloof.

It is alleged that the Department requires beneficiaries to earn at least R 3500 monthly and have pay R 750 monthly rental, which many residents say is too high.

It is further alleged that beneficiaries were placed in temporary shelters without to access to decent housing, water, sanitation and electricity. Access to housing is a basic right and failing to deliver on this necessity as a result inefficient management violates people’s dignity.

Instead of leaving housing units empty and at risk of vandalism, the Department of Human Settlements should reduce minimum salary thresholds so as to give the most vulnerable access to housing.

The DA will engage with the Human Settlements portfolio committee to find a viable solution for the beneficiaries of the four hostels.

 

Media enquiries:

Mervyn Cirota, MPL

DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Human Settlements

060 558 8312

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27 Initiation Injuries in Gauteng in Two Years

Gauteng Health Facilities

27 young men were treated in Gauteng health facilities in 2013 and 2014 for injuries or illness caused by initiation schools.

This is revealed by Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu in a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature.

One death was reported over this period, and others were treated for assault, anaemia, dehydration, septic penis and poisoning.

Eleven cases were treated in 2013, and 16 in 2014.

CONTRALESA

According to Mahlangu, the Department is working closely with CONTRALESA through the Gauteng AIDS Council to ensure that good medical practice is maintained at initiation schools.

This includes encouraging initiation principals to partner with contracted NGOs to perform Medical Male Circumcision.

Furthermore, Environmental Health Practitioners are providing accredited pre-site inspection reports prior to opening of initiation schools.

Traditional leaders are also requested to provide a list of recognised traditional surgeons and headmen to avoid bogus schools, and are provided with contact numbers of Emergency Medical services linked to a nearby health facility.

Cultural Virtues of Initiation

The department is doing good work in this area, but illegal schools are the real problem, such as the one that was raided by police in Meadowlands, Soweto.

While injuries from initiation schools in Gauteng are thankfully much lower than in the Eastern Cape, the battle against illegal schools needs to be stepped up.

The cultural virtues of initiation are best preserved with safe medical procedures and safeguards against abuse.

 

Media enquiries:

Jack Bloom MPL

DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health

082 333 4222

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DA to Conduct Oversight Visit to Rebongwe Primary School in Meadowlands

This morning, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education, Khume Ramulifho MPL, will conduct an oversight visit to Rebongwe Primary School in Meadowlands.

The purpose of the visit is to establish whether the Gauteng Department of Education has addressed overcrowding as well as classroom furniture and other infrastructure shortages as promised.

 

Date: 20 May 2015

Time: 10h00

Venue: Rebongwe Primary School, Meadowlands West, Zone 9

 

There will be opportunity for interviews and photographs. Members of the media are welcome to attend

 

Media enquiries:

Khume Ramulifho MPL

DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education

082 398 7375

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