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26 April 2022 | Story Dr Qinisani Qwabe
Dr Qinisani Qwabe
Dr Qinisani Qwabe

South Africa recently witnessed a catastrophic natural disaster that resulted in the loss of life, livelihoods, and infrastructural damage. This occurred in KwaZulu-Natal where hundreds of people lost their lives as a result of extensive flooding and mudslides. President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a national state of disaster to which we should all respond. Specific reference was made to the public and private sectors, as well as civil society.

While I applaud the various stakeholders that have extended a helping hand, my heart bleeds for the vulnerable groups whose voices remain unheard, even under normal circumstances. One cannot help but wonder if aid will reach the isolated regions that suffered the adverse effects of these heavy rains, or if all developmental efforts will be prioritised to certain economic hubs of the province such as the eThekwini Metro and the capital, uMgungundlovu.

KwaZulu-Natal is among the poorest provinces in the country. Corroborating this claim is a report that was released by Statistics South Africa earlier this year which reveals that about 52% of the province’s population are considered to be ‘poor’,and live at the lower end of the poverty line.

Drawing from my experiences of the rural communities of KwaZulu-Natal with whom I have worked, many suffer from the triple challenge of poverty, inequality, and unemployment, and rely on agriculture for their livelihood and to put food on the table. Their supplementary income is obtained from government support grants. The graphic scenes that have been shown on the media illustrate the devastating effects of the heavy rains in regions within the agricultural sector. Fields have been washed away, crops and livestock have been lost. This is happening when the province is still trying to resuscitate its economy after the widespread looting that took place in July last year, which had a calamitous effect on businesses and livelihoods.

While this is an injury mainly for the people of KwaZulu-Natal, it is my wish that we all join hands in contributing towards the restoration of livelihoods. In agreement with the president’s assertion, we can all play a part in rebuilding the province. This includes institutions of higher learning, particularly the Community Engagement Directorates whose mandate is to drive socioeconomic development to external communities.

Related article:
Opinion: KZN floods expose significant socio-economic and environmental vulnerabilities

KZN FLOODS

News Archive

FSSO 12 Cellists & FSSO Big Band, 11 June 2009
2009-05-29

FSSO VIRTUOSI
Thursday 11 June 2009
Odeion
19:30


FSSO 12 Cellists & FSSO Big Band

The next FSSO concert is an interesting and unusual concert with twelve cellists of the FSSO playing in the first half of the programme and the FSSO Big Band after interval.

The recently appointed cellist of the Odeion String Quartet, Anmari van der Westhuizen, is the leader of the FSSO 12 Cellists. They will be playing Bachianas brasileiras no. 1 (Villa-Lobos), an arrangement by JC Jacobs of the Largo from Dvorak’s Symphonie No. 9 (From the New World) and Allan Stephenson’ s Souvenir de Sevilla.

After interval the FSSO Big Band conducted by Paul Loep van Zuilenburg, will play well-known items like American Patrol, Haarlem Nocturne (for those of us who can remember so far back – this was the theme music of the popular Mike Hammer series), Birdland and the theme from Pink Panther.

ADMISSION:
R90 (adults)
R70 ((pensioners, students and learners)
R50 for group bookings of 10 or more
Tickets available at Computicket (at all Shoprite / Checkers shops, Mimosa Mall information desk) and at the doors.
Computicket www.computicket.com


ENQUIRIES:
Ella Kotze, tel. 051 – 401 2342

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