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July 24, 2014

Abandoned power station comes crashing down

Rescue workers stand in front of the collapsed power park building, Soweto, 26 June 2014. The building collapsed yesterday morning. Picture: Tracy Lee Stark — Rescue workers stand in front of the collapsed power park building, Soweto, 26 June 2014. The building collapsed yesterday morning. Picture: *Tracy Lee Stark*

NOTE: This article first appeared in The Citizen newspaper on June 26, 2014.

A body was recovered and five injured men suspected of stripping metal and cables from a decommissioned power station, in Orlando, Soweto, were last night rescued several hours after they had been trapped when the building collapsed on them.

“The men sustained head and body injuries, but they were stable,” said Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) spokesperson Nana Radebe. She said the body of the unidentified man was recovered late last night.

Police suspect that the men were trying to strip the dilapidated building of metal fittings and cables when the building caved in and trapped them under rubble.

“These guys came in the middle of the night, it’s obvious that they were stealing,” said Kay Makhubela from the South African Police Service.

However, last night after the rescue no arrests were made, instead the five men were taken to Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital for treatment.

Rescue workers take sniffer dogs into the collapsed power park building, Soweto, 25 June 2014. The building collapsed early this morning after suspected metal thieves were in the building possibly causing the collapse and trapping 4 of them. Picture: Tracy Lee Stark — Rescue workers take sniffer dogs into the collapsed power park building, Soweto, 25 June 2014. The building collapsed early this morning after suspected metal thieves were in the building possibly causing the collapse and trapping 4 of them. Picture: *Tracy Lee Stark*

Orlando resident Maria Matsinhe recalled how her husband telephoned her in the early hours yesterday to alert her of his ordeal.

Matsinhe said her husband Simon Pacul told her that there had been an accident involving himself, her brother and her nephew.

“I don’t know what they were doing there or how they got there, my husband was meant to be going back to work in Rustenburg,” said a visibly distraught Matsinhe.

Her husband is a miner and was supposed to return to work on the platinum belt, where the devastating five month strike finally ended this week.

The decommissioned power station at Power Park in Orlando, which was commissioned at the end of the Second World War and served Johannesburg for more than 50 years, collapsed at around 4am yesterday morning.

Monwabisi Tyani, who lives just behind the building, said: “I heard a sound like a bomb at about half past four.”

EMS spokesperson Radebe said Pacul, who was injured, called them for help.

Rescue workers in front of the collapsed power park building, Soweto, 26 June 2014. The building collapsed yesterday morning. Picture: Tracy Lee Stark — Rescue workers in front of the collapsed power park building, Soweto, 26 June 2014. The building collapsed yesterday morning. Picture: *Tracy Lee Stark*

“We received a call at about 7am and when we got here we found him,” said Radebe.

Radebe said Pacul was taken to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital for treatment. He suffered injuries to his legs, arms and hands.

“He is in a serious but stable condition,” Radebe said.

She suggested that the alleged theft of metal and cable could have caused the old building to collapse.

“Maybe they removed small quantities over time, which weakened the building,” said Radebe.

Soweto police spokesperson warrant officer Kay Makhubela said investigations to find out what the rescued men were doing at the building were in progress.

“We must find the owner of the building to see if he gave these people permission to be here,” said Makhubela.

June 5, 2014

A mall without walls

taxi-rank — Commuters wait patiently for the taxi to arrive at Bara taxi rank in Johannesburg. Picture: *Nigel Sibanda*

NOTE: Article first appeared in The Citizen newspaper on June 3, 2014.

Rushed commuters greet one another in passing, buy combo’s of coffee and magwinya (fat cakes), while others get their daily paper and those with time wait for grilled giblets on a sosati stick. All done in just under five minutes before lining up to catch a bus or taxi, or walk over to the hospital.

This is the Baragwanath taxi rank – 1.4km-long and 50-metres wide – one of the biggest and busiest in Gauteng. At least 1 000 taxis, managed by 12 associations, 20 bus bays and 500 street traders serve the thousands of feet that make their way through the rank every day.

Passing the plethora of stalls you will find your way to a makeshift casino in the form of young men and women playing cards and ma dice – all hoping to win some money.

Just behind them is braai master Musa Bhengu, who has been working at the rank for 15 years. Bhengu braais a variety of meats. “I sell everything from skop (sheep’s head), to chicken feet, mogodu (sheep’s intestines) and pap,” he said.

As one of the only traders at the rank braaing meat, Bhengu said his business grows every year. Along with this, Bhengu’s stall is not directly on the taxi rank property so he does not pay rent, which makes his business all the more profitable.

He also does not have to worry about crime. “They target the big stores like Cambridge, not me,” he said. A short walk across a street to the rank leads to traders who reside on rank property and have to pay rent.

Musa Bhengu looks on as the customer picks the braaied chicken feet at Bara taxi rank, 28 May 2014. Bhengu has been supplying hungry commuters since 1999. Picture: Nigel Sibanda — Musa Bhengu looks on as the customer picks the braaied chicken feet at Bara taxi rank, 28 May 2014. Bhengu has been supplying hungry commuters since 1999. Picture: *Nigel Sibanda*

Second-hand clothes seller Fatima Nyambo said she pays R500 rent a month for her stall. She said it was worth it because “you get safe storage space and there’s security in here”. The single mother of an eight-year-old in Mozambique set up her stall to be her own boss and “provide for my son”, she said.

The orderly stalls inside the rank provide hot food, clothes, phone repairs and some quick hairstyles for customers.

A few holding bays away, Sipho Sobantu is busy repairing a “talking shoe”. He has been repairing and making shoes at the rank for 10 years. Sobantu uses cardboard and leather cut-offs and uses his creativity to make brand new sandals – costing R50.

He pays R100 rent a month for the stall he occupies.

He lamented the stiff competition at the rank: “Lots of unemployed people have come here to open businesses. It’s very competitive now and a lot of people sell the same things.”

Just outside, occupying a space in between some of the bays, stands a blue and white gazebo with promoters selling cheap medical care. “Hello doctor” is a cellular subscription service. “People just have to SMS their symptoms and a doctor will reply with a diagnosis or a prescription of medicine to buy. If people can’t afford that, he can even help you make something from ingredients you have at home. All for R2.70,” said Pamela Ntsume. She said the service will help people who can’t afford traditional healthcare.

Joalane Mokoena pours launch time drinks at a tavern known as ” ga Magogo” opposite Bara taxi rank in Johannesburg, 28 May 2014. The tavern has been serving patrons for over 40 years. Picture: Nigel Sibanda — Joalane Mokoena pours launch time drinks at a tavern known as ” ga Magogo” opposite Bara taxi rank in Johannesburg, 28 May 2014. The tavern has been serving patrons for over 40 years. Picture: *Nigel Sibanda*

Meeting in the cramped storeroom of her tavern at the rank, “Magogo” said her customers hated the noise from outside. “Older people come here to have a quiet drink. We don’t even have music.” Magogo did not want her photo taken or name published because people have already targeted her family business.

As she said this she pointed to a safe with a hole in the middle. “They took so much money. They knew there was money here over the Easter weekend,” she said. Crime has followed the family over the years, she said. Magogo also complained about the competition in the area. “In the past it used to be so busy here people could barely get in. Now people don’t have money and permits are handed out so freely there are taverns on every street and corner.”

September 15, 2013September 15, 2013

A day in the shoes of a Witsie

SMILES ALL ROUND: Wits mentors each got some highschool pupils to take under their wing for a day, From left to right: Philile Mashele, Palesa Mokoena, Tanyani Daku and Kedibone Rapoo. Photo: Pheladi Sethusa

Sixty uniformed pupils were beaming from ear to ear as they got a chance to walk up the steps, sit in the lecture halls and walk amongst ‘real’ students – things and people they had only ever seen on Wits’ promotional brochures.

A rare opportunity provided by the Wits Rag society made that possible. This year’s Take a Child to Varsity day was bigger and better. Last year only ten kids got to spend a day with a mentor, this year that number more than doubled said Wits Rag Chairperson, Siphe Mkize.

The pupils

“We take kids from underdeveloped area’s… To help them get an idea of what to study when they come to varsity, as well as what they need to do to get there,” said Mkize.

A teacher from Lesebogo Girls High School in Soweto, Humbulani Mavhunga who ordinarily teaches grade 10’s and 11’s maths, accompanied pupils on their visit this past Wednesday.

“I took a range of learners, mostly the highest achievers and some who are sitting in the middle. I also took some low achieving learners, to show them what is possible if they work hard,” said Mavhunga.

Mentees and mentors

The selected pupils were allocated a mentor from Wits, anyone from any faculty could volunteer their services for the day. The mentors who availed themselves this year were “very keen and patient with their kids,” said Mkize.

Tanyani Daku, a Media Studies mentor took three girls under her wing and spent her time giving advice from her personal experiences and answering questions posed by her inquisitive bunch.

Daku said she loved being a mentor and getting a chance to help kids with complicated social situations, focus on their academic lives and improvement thereof.

The pupils she took under her wing could do nothing but sing her praises. Although not all of them wanted a media studies mentor, they were glad they all said what they learnt from their mentor was invaluable.

Stop going to the zoo!

“We must stop going to the zoo for school trips, rather come to varsity,” said an impassioned Daku, making her mentees roar with laughter.

Echoing words in the same vein, Mavhunga said that she hoped Wits Rag would continue with this initiative. “This opportunity helps kids to make informed decisions about their futures,” she said.

She said it was important to break down the legacy of students choosing careers within very narrow confines, Mavhunga wishes she had the chance to be exposed to university beforehand.

“All we knew was teaching, nursing and being a policeman or woman,” said Mavhunga.

Impressions

“Today blew me away. I thought Wits was very serious and just for people who want to pursue maths or physics but it’s not,” said grade 11 pupil, Philile Mashele. She cannot wait to come to varsity now that she has had a taste of what it’s really like.

Another pupil, Palesa Mokoena said that she was impressed with the way people seemed very “focused” on campus, she said it inspired her.

On a slightly different note, fellow classmate, Kedibone Rapoo said that she was by no means prepared for varsity life and the pressures that come with it. However, “I am prepared to try by studying hard,” she said.