Change in Housing Policy to Empower Women to Leave Abusive Relationship

 

The way kungakhona, ndinenqqondo ndizothath’into zam ndigoduke, ndinenqondo

ndobelek’usanalwam, ndibhinqele phezulu ndigoduke, these famous words are sung by the

multi-talented singer Thandiswa Mazwai of Bongo Maffin, in the group’ song, “The way

kungakhona”

These lyrics are sung passionately by young and old women at places of entertainment, but

they paint a bleak picture of a woman ready to pack her bags, take her child and return home.

Due to the high rate of gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa, it is common for a

woman to leave her house in fear for her safety and that of her children and return to her

home.

Less is said about the abuser, but she will be given senseless words of wisdom, that

“Kuyanyamezelwa emzini.” When prospects of her returning to the abuser vanish, she will be

labelled many derogatory names, the latest used by the so-called Ama2000, being “the return

soldier”.  Many of these women have to start afresh with limited or no resources.

Noting the numerous challenges faced by these women, it is heartening that the Minister of

Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi,  has implied a change in policy that disqualifies

women from receiving the so-called RDP houses because their names are added as

beneficiaries even after separation or divorce.

Minister Kubayi said the review by the department is a response to today’s challenges facing

the country, such as GBV, which compels women to flee unsafe and abusive households to

protect themselves and their children.

 Kubayi’s action will amplify the message that women in abusive relationships should leave

the abusers, as it removes the fear of homelessness.

Housing Subsidy Mitigates High Interest Rate

 Luzuko Pongoma

The high-interest rate is a noose around the necks of the already struggling working-class people. It

further deterred working-class citizens from realizing their dreams of owning property. The

announcement of a 29 percent increase in First Home Finance subsidy by Minister of Human

Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi, will assist in curbing the runaway costs of affordability for first-

time home buyers whose household income is between R3501 and R22000. People with this income

struggle to qualify for housing finance referred to as the gap market.

First Home Finance is a once-off housing finance that enables qualifying beneficiaries to buy or build

their first homes on affordable basis.  The subsidy has been increased to the maximum of R169 265,

this financial year.

For those living in Gauteng, through its mega human settlements’ projects around the province, the

Gauteng Department of Human Settlements has made it possible for many people to access gap

market houses. These gap market houses are also provided by private developers. With everything

increasing against the working class, a 29 percent increase to benefit people should be taken

advantage of by those who qualify as it will go a long way toward offsetting the consequences of the

high-interest rate.

https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/opinion/letters/2023-05-16-reader-letter-housing-subsidy-mitigates-rate-hikes/

Housing demand remains uphill battle for government

 Luzuko Pongoma

The elusive right to have access to adequate housing continues to be a thorn in democratic

South Africa. With almost 3 decades of democratic dispensation, many strides have been

made in ensuring that the majority of South Africans have access to their basic rights as

enshrined in the country’s constitution.

As much as millions of South Africans have been housed by the government through what is

commonly known as RDP houses, millions more continue to be on the waiting list. Provinces

with economic opportunities such as Gauteng, Western Cape and KwaZulu Natal account

for the largest number of people on the waiting list. This demand is compounded by the high

unemployment in the country which leads to more people depending on the government for

houses. The government as such is dealing with a moving target some of which do not

qualify for RDP houses as they earn above R3500.

Secondly as stated in the bill of rights, the government continues to take reasonable

legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to achieve the progressive

realisation of the right to access adequate housing. This is the form of First Home Finance, a

once-off housing finance subsidy that enables qualifying beneficiaries to buy or build their

first homes on an affordable basis. First Home Finance targets people whose household

income is from R3 501 up to R22 000 monthly. This market segment is generally referred to

as (the ‘affordable’ or ‘gap’ market) and they struggle to qualify for home loans. Another

programme being rolled out by the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements is the

Ikageleng rapid land release whereby applicants who do not qualify for RDP houses are

given a stand with amenities such as water, electricity and sewer and encouraged to build

for themselves.

 

These programs are part of many efforts by the government to ensure that as many South

Africans are able to realize this right to housing.  Like any right, the right to access adequate

housing comes with a responsibility for those who now own houses through the assistance

of the government. As the face of those who need houses changes, it is vital for the

government to continuously adapt its product to ensure more people have access to decent

housing.

https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/opinion/letters/2023-02-16-reader-letter-gauteng-bridging-the-gender-gap-in-science-technology/

Gauteng Bridging the Gender Gap in Science and Technology

Luzuko Pongoma

 

During February the world observes the International Day for Women and Girls in Science (IDWGIS)  which among others seeks to close the gender gap at all levels of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines all over the world.

The rollout of close to 20 Schools of Specialisation by the Gauteng Provincial Government in mostly previously disadvantaged communities contributes to closing this gap. These schools specialize in Mathematics, Science, ICT and Engineering among others and play a role in preparing learners from previously disadvantaged communities, especially the girl child for careers in the STEM disciplines.

This year’s IDWGIS focuses on the role of Women and Girls and Science on Sustainable Development Goals that include the provision of  clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities and communities  as well as innovation and infrastructure. These SDGs talk to the Townships, Informal Settlements and Hostels (TISH) programme that is being rolled out by the Gauteng Provincial Government. This programme puts an emphasis on the development of these areas.

The Gauteng Department of Human Settlements which plays a key role in the TISH programme continues to empower women in the STEM disciplines by offering them opportunities in the provision of clean water and sanitation in its informal upgrade programme.  It further works with women in innovation and infrastructure development in the Alternative Building Technology (ABT) sector and mega human settlements development projects.

The mega projects also offer opportunities in the creation of sustainable cities and communities as they encompass more than 10 000 residential units, light industries, and amenities such as malls, schools and clinics. As we observe the International Day for Women and Girls in Science, by focusing on some of the SDG goals, it is vital that we empower women to be able to play a role in all the 17 SDGs as the goals  recognize that ending poverty is linked to education, reducing inequality and spur economic growth.

*This article was published by the Sowetan Newspaper

https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/opinion/letters/2023-02-16-reader-letter-gauteng-bridging-the-gender-gap-in-science-technology/

Ekunyamezeleni ukhona umvuzo

In the past years, I neglected this space as I was focused on my studies. I am back and will be updating more. It felt great to complete my MA in Communication at the North West University. 
 

UMakhulu vs Tooth Fairy

 Makhulu, Makhulu, thatha nali izinyo undiphe elinye- this used to be a plea from a gradescholer after teething or losing one of his/her teeth. This is what we call uku khumka ngesiXhosa. Ukumilisa on the other hand is when a baby is growing teeth for the first time (teething). With modernisation and with us black people in South Africa drifting away from our traditions and culture we have been engulfed by the Tooth Fairy.

The Oxford Dictionary describes the tooth fairy as "an imaginary creature that is said to take away a tooth that a small child leaves near his or her bed at night and to leave a coin there in its place." This on its own sounds absurd until you have to also play along.  As a child I experienced ukukhumka and I threw teeth on the roof of my home in Mdantsane and asked u Makhulu for izinyo.

This practice is about asking your grandmother to take your old tooth and give you a new one. Grandmothers in the isiXhosa culture are known to be nurturers,t the backbone of the family. They love and take care of everyone. It, therefore, makes sense to ask one of the most loving person in a family setting for a new tooth. The only form of reward the child gets from u Makhulu is a new tooth. science and biology teaches us that the tooth was likely to grow back anyway.

Now the tooth fairy is not only imaginary like uMakhulu, it is also a creature.  In my understanding, a creature is what one would call isilo, and isilo is a sacred being whether it comes to you with good or bad intentions.  To then allow children to accept money from a sacred being or for a parent to act as a sacred creature has an element of megalomania. 

This tooth fairy phenomenon also brings about the obsession with money as the only reward. From a young age, we are teaching our children that they have to be rewarded with money. We then get shocked when they become obsessed with money.

I still prefer u Makhulu, which taught our children that you have to ask your elders and not every reward is financial. Having a new tooth should be a gratifying reward on its own.

Anyway, my preference is not always the way to go, as I have learned recently, with two teething Gradescholars I learnt this the hard way. u Makhulu to my boys (my Mother) recently unilaterally increase the tooth fairy reward by more than 100 percent. 

The thing is I sometimes try to accommodate the western culture. In my home,  we still ask u Makhulu for teeth,  the children go through all the steps of asking for a tooth from u Makhulu, and still, also get the reward from the greedy western culture creature, after all, South Africa is a capitalist state, the children have to learn about these western cultures, which are tooth fairy and capitalism.

The more than 100 percent increase just post the Covid 19 pandemic financial increase and the state of the country's economy has left me paralysed financially. I am not one to allow a situation to get better off, so I am using this tooth fairy greed to teach the boys about saving. This then leaves me with a question, how much are we going to bend backwards in the name of modernity? The Western Culture has taken its propaganda to the big screen and our children are bombarded with it daily.   Famous wrestler turned actor Dawne "The Rock" Johnson recently made a movie about the tooth fairy, something which made this creature more famous.

As parents are we betraying our children by forsaking what we were taught by our parents? These are the parents who under difficult circumstances of racial oppression when their rights were being trampled on daily, stood their ground and protected their culture. As the free generation living in a democratic country, we have used our access to shift further away from our tradition and life as taught to us. We have betrayed the teachings of our parents. Who will this modernity serve?

Sibunikele umva ubuthina maxa wonke avelayo. We have been fortunate to know our roots but we have now digging them out and handing over our children to western society. When the late great Busi Mhlongo asked asked if ingane kamalume ingaba izalwa ngabamhlophe na, we focused on the child that could not speak his or her indigenous language but forgot to ask u malume what role did he play in the child's miseducation.

We have regained our political independency, is using it to teach our children the best we can do with it?

Ukubheja is all relative

Uluntu  olukumakhasi onxibelelwano  (social media), kweziveki ziphelileyo belixhwitha xhwithana  ngenxa yomba wokubheja. This is because of the comment by celebrity Boity Thulo, who made mention of a R450 000 per month girlfriend allowance.  Boity's comments exacerbated what was already a deep debate on what should women expect from men in a relationship which was in the form of "Indoda must.." hashtag

From a young age, I have always known that indoda iyabheja. Nice words such as spoiling your woman or taking care of her, Ilizwi le ndoda engenamali alivakali ( the voice of a man without money is hard to hear)  and many other expressions were and are still used,  the end goal is simple, you have to spend money on your partner.

As the world evolves ukubheja, also transformed with the requirements and expectations reaching new heights. With social media already exerting all types of pressures in peoples lives, the standard of ukubheja was also influenced. It is not satisfactory to receive a gift from your partner and thank him, now you also post it not on social media.

This has placed enormous pressure on both genders, even fueling speculations of gifts that are hired for photoshoot purposes then returned after. Also, high criticism has been levelled at those who demand gifts/ money and those who do not give gifts/money. 

This has led to ukubheja being seen as standardised than being seen as a subject of relativity. Numerous factors are no longer taken into account when dealing with the issue, these include, but not limited to personal choice,  affordability, and class.

Ukubheka is all relative in the sense that, for an unemployed person, it is a luxury to bheja your partner as one would be struggling with basic everyday life necessities. For a low paid worker, an airtime/data voucher is the luxury gift a man can give to his partner. While an average paid man can add doing nails and hair on that airtime voucher, another man is able to even go as far as adding a decent cellphone and weave. The scale goes high with some buying entry-level cars while others buy luxury vehicles, expensive property and overseas trips. All of this is done in the name of love and spoiling your partner.

The recent uproar caused by the #Indodamust and Boity's comment shows how as a society we have standardised and commodified what used to be a gesture of love by a partner. Why is it that we find ourselves in conversations that dictate to people to either lower or increase their way of showing love?

 Every relationship is unique and ukubheja should be relative to that particular relationship. These bandwagons that people jump on about ukubheja are driving in opposite directions and neither is the correct way.   If you do not want or cannot afford to spoil your partner do not make crimes for those who want and could afford it. Also, those who can afford or want to, must not put pressure on those who cannot afford or do not want to. We must find inspiration from Musa and the late Robbie Malinga's song, which state that Mthande umntu wakho, the rest will fall into place

***Pictures sourced from the Internet