Thulani Mahamba-Sith***'s Blog (15)

Grahamstown is operating optimally for the most part, as growth is not always constructive. But even the poorer parts have running water and are sanitary. Though these areas could be improved and cleaned up as is currently being done. More recycling would see a more sustainable use of resources and definately a better parking system aided by a shuttle service canvasing all neighbourhoods, to limit the number of cars on the road thus reducing the… Continue

Grahamstown, like many towns and cities in South Africa has had their municipal workers on strike for just over a week. This has meant that garbage has not been collected, people have no been able to pay rates to the munipality and in some areas it has erupted into violence. The resilience of the Grahamstown community was evident in how ordinary citizens took it upon themselves to clean the streets, to maintain the hygiene. Not only business interest cleaned the streets in front of their stores… Continue

Having grown up in Zimbabwe I am aware of the power of politicians especially when it comes to mobilizing the poor and desperate to further their agenda. I am also aware of the propaganda they can employ to ensure that the news keeps as much of its actions and human rights abuses out of the media. This causes a political crisis as democratic values are abandoned and the nation is dictated by an elite few, who may change laws to suit themselves at a whim. The rececent utterrances of the ANC… Continue

Offering women platforms for economic empowerment as mentioned in my Act mission, such as giving them insight and opportunity in gaining access to seasonal hotel staff jobs and house work will inspire them to take initiative on such matters. Furthermore embark on entreprenuerial agendas, which could see them being funded by various initiatives if their plan is solid enough. It will make them aware of the various economic opportunities that constantly avail themselves and of the large labour… Continue

With winter nearing in South Africa, many poor people, including women, will suffer the brut of it. Many of these people I am refering to live in shacks and on the streets and winter is the worst time of the year for them. Getting friends and family to donate towards blankets and bread for these people, would go a long way to helping them through the winter season. It being 2010 aswell could give them economic opportunity, particularly with house work and as additional hotel staff. Offering… Continue

Independence in Africa, as in most nations around the globe, has not seen much redistibution of wealth to thwe poor, previously impoverished black populations and to women. This has spurred a lot of activism from feminist groups who seek such equality, not only in legal proclaimation, but substansively- with the economic empowerment of women. The UN has put a spotlight on this progress, constantly a****sing its progress around the globe. The aim is to see women in employment and positions of…

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The holiday I would aim to power is christams. This is a big family holiday and people come from all over so I will focus mostly on how they get there. Instead of using many different vehicles to go one home a shuttle bus could be hired, and a route mapped to go past everyones home and go to a park/dam. This would save power in transportation and by having it in the open, not needing ovens and television, not to mention the intimacy it would bring.

Most homes in an effort to save power have resorted to turing off the geyser for an hour a day or so. This has its gains but does not quite compare to the energy saving that heating water with solar methods could achieve. A cheap DIY version of doing this is with flat plate colletcors, which is basically using electict conductors to ccapture the heat of the sun and conduct through the water in order to heat it. Though it is not as efficient as most solar heating methods it can still provide…

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Iskhus Power is a South African green company that does energy conservation on a large scale by consulting for companies. They take on projects where they a****s the amount of power being used by a company and a****s ways to decrease consumption and keep that company productive. This reduces costs for that company too which provides them with the economic incentive to save power. On the green side it reduces pollution an conserves power.

The climate changes and consequent issues of global warming have seen a movement towards 'greener' living. 'Going green' requires far greater consideration for the environment and one's impact on it (carbon footprint). Dinner in 2020 will have are far greater element of this consciousness. The aim is for more people in the world to be eating (food secure) which would be best achieved through self sustainance. An article highlighted in the first mission about 'the fight over the future of food'… Continue

With an unemployment rate of up to 25% in South Africa, those with jobs are desperate to secure them. In Grahamstown the population is seasonally dominated by students and for the period of occupation (10 months) many jobs are created, one of which is domestic work, with varsity students needing their digs to be cleaned occassionally. The lady who cleans at my home has no other job, of which she only comes twice a month for less than R200 (US $30). She has children which she needs to clothe,…

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South Africa suffers an unemployment rate of 25% of the working population (statssa.gov.za). These people are those actively seeking work and unable to find any. Some of them are eligible for social welfare from the government, but this is mostly targeting at the non-working population, dependants such as children, elderly and disabled individuals. Further more the bulk of the working population, an estimated 65% earns less than R2000 per month. Considering this and the fact that the…

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Ten years from today i aim to be successfully running my own trucking company, operating from Durban, South Africa. I aim to have worked in the field of logistics for at least 5 years ahead of self-employment and thus have the necessary slikks and experience to run a trucking company and grow further into possibly shipping and cargo. Transportation of aid has long been a problem in Africa, and acquiring skills in logistics is how I would be fit to help Alchemy, with effective transport…

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I have chosen to shadow Guy Kawaski for his keen interest in entrepreneurship. I am currently doing a diploma in enterprise management so this appeals to me. I am also of the opinion that 'the invisible hand', a theory by Adam Smith of how economic activity by one individual will spur more activity and grow the size of the economy. If the economy grows everyone benefits and there are more jobs and more money circulating. Therefore by people setting up businesses and succeeding there will in… Continue

Most of Africa's existing capabilities are not built on. Developing these platforms would go further than simply 'providing aid', more specifically food, which often does not substantially change the living conditions of those that the aid is directed to. Innovating existing platforms could see the creation of jobs and development of basic skills, thus empowering those in poverty stricken conditions. Currently globalisation has seen a drive towards capital intensive production methods as… Continue