Wednesday, October 21, 2015
From shipping container to housing unit
Passers-by were perplexed when a shipping container was offloaded on the lawn behind the Municipal Offices in Ryneveld Street, Stellenbosch last week.
A week later the transformation amisazing – in place of a raw metal container, there is now a fully equipped housing unit complete with kitchen and bathroom (with toilet, basin and shower).
“This demonstration unit is to show the community that shipping containers can be up-scaled into liveable units that one can be proud of,” explains Alderman Conrad Sidego, Executive Mayor of Stellenbosch.
“Stellenbosch has a backlog of 25 000 housing units. If an individual applies for a house now, he will most likely only get the unit in more than a decade. Shipping containers are a quick and effective way of supplying housing.”
The unit is being equipped by Cobus Prinsloo of Sibanya Box Developers and Sam Chagwedera from Barwe Building and a team of workers. A unit consisting of one container of 2.2m x 6m and equipped with kitchen cupboards, a stove, bathroom (with basin, toilet and shower) costs between R80 000 and R95 000. A larger unit consisting of two containers costs R125 000.
These units have many advantages: The walls are crack resistant, they are water and sound proof and can be equipped within three to seven days. It is also fire resistant and the Nutec “skin” on the inside and outside “walls” help to keep the unit cool in summer and warm in winter.
“The housing need in South Africa is huge,” says Sidego. “We need innovative solutions to create a more dignified living environment. These units also tie in with Stellenbosch’s status as the Innovation Capital of South Africa and our vision to be the greenest municipality and to create dignified living for our citizens. By turning these containers into housing units, we eliminate the need for expensive building materials and processes."
The living space can easily be increased by breaking through to a second container which can, for example, be converted into two quite spacious bedrooms or other rooms. There are many examples globally of expensive, high-tech houses being created from shipping containers using high quality finishes and furnitures. Some of these are two or three storeys high.
A solar panel (18 kw) is usually installed with the model on show in Stellenbosch. This supplies energy for a stove, TV, fridge and lights.
“Most people think that a shipping container is a huge tin can that is only good for transporting goods,” says Councillor Valerie Fernandez,Portfolio Manager: Human Settlements and Property at Stellenbosch Municipality.
“Hopefully the unit behind the municipal buildings will be proof that this kind of housing is innovative and offers a dignified living option. The advantage is that many units can be equipped and be ready to move into within a short time.
“The life expectancy of a container in its original shape is 180 years. But once it is upscaled the expectancy is much longer. It is a sustainable housing solution.”
Van vraghouer tot wooneenheid
Verbygangers het verlede week gewonder waarom ʼn skeepsvraghouer in Ryneveldstraat, Stellenbosch op die grasperk agter die munisipale geboue afgelaai word.
ʼn Week later is die vraghouer omtower in ʼn gerieflike eenmenswoonplek kompleet met ʼn kombuisnis, badkamer en oopplan slaap- en sitkamer.
“Hierdie model is om vir die gemeenskap te wys dat vraghouers omskep kan word in woonplekke waarop ʼn mens trots kan wees,” verduidelik Raadsheer Conrad Sidego, uitvoerende burgemeester.
“Stellenbosch het ʼn agterstand van 25 000 huise. Iemand wat nou op ʼn waglys vir ʼn huis geplaas word, sal waarskynlik eers oor dekades ʼn huis kry. Vraghouers is ʼn doeltreffende en vinnige manier om huise beskikbaar te stel."
Die eenheid word ingerig deur mnre Kobus Prinsloo van Sibanya Box Developers en Sam Chagwedera van Barwe Building en ʼn span werkers. ʼn Eenheid wat uit een vraghouer van 2,2m x 6m gebou en volledig toegerus word met kombuiskaste, ʼn stoof, ʼn badkamer met wasbak, stort en toilet, kos tussen R80 000 en R95 000. ʼn Groter eenheid wat uit twee vraghouers bestaan, kos R125 000.
Vraghouers wat in wooneenhede omskep word, het talle voordele: die mure kan nie kraak nie, dit is waterdig en klankdig en dit word binne drie tot vyf dae volledig ingerig. Dit is ook brandbestand. Die Nutec “huid” waarmee die wande buite sowel as binne bedek word, help om die eenheid in die somer koel en in die winter warm te hou.
“Die behuisingsnood in Suid-Afrika is groot,” sê Sidego. “Ons moet met innoverende oplossings vorendag kom om ʼn menswaardige omgewing te skep. Hierdie eenhede pas ook by Stellenbosch se beeld as die Innovasiehoofstad van die land en by die munisipaliteit se visie om die groenste munisipaliteit te wees. Die vraghouers is iets wat reeds bestaan en wat nou in iets bruikbaar en volhoubaar omskep word. In die proses word duur boumateriale en bouprosesse uitgeskakel.”
Dit is ook maklik om ʼn eenheid te vergroot deur na 'n tweede vraghouer deur te breek en byvoorbeeld afsonderlike slaapkamers of ander vertrekke in te rig. Daar is wêreldwyd tientalle voorbeelde van spoggerige vragskeepwonings wat twee of drie verdiepings beslaan en met die duurste en luuksste meubels en toebehore toegerus is.
Krag vir die eenhede soortgelyk soos die op die Stellenbosch munisipale perseel word gewoonlikvoorsien van ʼn sonpaneel wat 18kW krag kan opwek. Dit lewer genoeg energie vir ʼn stoof, TV, yskas en ligte.
“Die meeste mense sien ʼn vraghouer as net ʼn groot blik wat goedere moet vervoer,” sê Raadslid Valerie Fernandez, portefeulje-bestuurder Menslike Nedersettings en Eiendom.
“Die eenheid agter die stadsaal sal hopelik vir die gemeenskap wys dat hierdie soort behuising innoverend is en dat dit moontlik is dat talle eenhede binne ʼn kort tyd ingerig kan word. Dit is 'n proses wat veel vinniger geskied as om ʼn huis van bakstene te bou.
“Die lewensduur van rou vraghouers – in hul oorspronklike vorm en sonder enige verbetering daaraan – is 180 jaar. Maar as dit goed onderhou word, is die lewensduur veel langer. Dit is dus ʼn volhoubare oplossing.”
Thursday, March 15, 2012
STRONG LEADERSHIP, ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURES NEEDED TO FIGHT CORRUPTION
Corruption is a sexy topic and it seems as if everybody has an opinion about it. However, it is a complex issue that needs comprehensive solutions.
This is the opinion of Prof Gavin Woods, director of Stellenbosch University’s Anti-corruption Centre for Education and Research (ACCERUS)
“Not only the ordinary man in the street, but also government is short on understanding corruption. And this lack of understanding helps to create an environment in the public sector where corruption thrives,” says Woods.
“Government is usually quick to appoint investigating teams when there are instances of corruption. We then find a lot of people running around writing reports while what we really need is more direct intervention inside organisations. While we need laws and investigations, this is not enough to effectively swing the pendulum away from corrupt practices and change the attitudes and actions of people inside public entities.”
Woods will be the keynote speaker at the international Winelands Conference in April where issues of governance and corruption will be put under the spotlight under the conference theme Integrity and Governance: What is wrong? What is right? What is next? Other speakers include : John Bennington, Professor in Public Management, Management and Policy (Warwick University); Erwin Schwella, Professor in Public Leadership (SPL), Geert Bouckaert, Director: Institute for Public Management (Flanders) and Cobus de Swardt, MD of Transparency International.
Woods adds: “What is needed is strong leadership and strong organisational structures and the government does not seem to understand the importance of this. When there are weak managers and weak systems in public organisations, workers are inclined to exploit the low risk opportunities – that is they believe they will net get caught out. Corruption thrives in an environment where workers think their managers are weak.
Research done by ACCERUS and elsewhere has shown conclusively that weak leadership and weak structures are conducive to corrupt practices.
“The problem of weak leaders in the public sector is manifold,” says Woods. “ Many managers simply do not have the experience or skills needed to run a public organisation. This is especially detrimental to an organisation if the financial manager is also inexperienced. A further challenge is the high turnover in personnel. Whenever a manager acquires some skills – despite a lack of guidance – he will leave for greener pastures.
“Research has further shown that corruption is multi-causal. Capitalism and the desire to acquire wealth is one of the reasons. Another is commercialism and the advertising world which tells the ordinary citizen that he should constantly acquire more. A false need is created by advertising and this can lead to greed. If an individual cannot afford what he wants, he might turn to corrupt practices.”
And then there are the politicians. Not only do they create unrealistic expectations through promises of wealth and job creation during elections, but they also flash overt wealth. These politicians, who are often short on delivering on their promises, but who enrich themselves at the cost of those they should be serving, act as the wrong kind of role models.
Woods says it has also been shown that value systems in countries in transition become fluid and confused. “We have seen this happening in China, Russia and in India where corruption increased in direct relation to great economic and/or political change.”
Corruption in the public sector, undermines citizens’ confidence in all things related to public service delivery and it negatively affects public service delivery. When a public service entity is known for corrupt practices, it leads to a feeling of disempowerment amongst the citizenry. It can also severely undermine the democratic processes.
“It is clear there is is a huge need to implement systems inside public organisations that will make the risks attached to corruption too high, and that eliminate opportunities for corruption. But before we can do that, we need a more comprehensive and more comprehensible understanding of corruption and its causes.”
Stellenbosch University’s Anti-corruption Centre for Education and Research (Accerus) strives towards finding answers to these challenge. This is done through sound academic research and the identification of solutions. These challenges will further be addressed at the bi-annual Winelands Conference (2 – 4 April that will be hosted by Stellenbosch University’s School for Public Leadership) in conjunction with ACCERUS and the Zijlstra Centre for Public Control and Governance (Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam).
• For information about this story, or to arrange media interviews, contact Stephanie Nieuwoudt +27 (0)83 2978785
• For information on registration, contact: +27 (0)21 938 9245. Or csnyman@sun.ac.za.
Or visit the website at www.winelands2012.co.za.
This is the opinion of Prof Gavin Woods, director of Stellenbosch University’s Anti-corruption Centre for Education and Research (ACCERUS)
“Not only the ordinary man in the street, but also government is short on understanding corruption. And this lack of understanding helps to create an environment in the public sector where corruption thrives,” says Woods.
“Government is usually quick to appoint investigating teams when there are instances of corruption. We then find a lot of people running around writing reports while what we really need is more direct intervention inside organisations. While we need laws and investigations, this is not enough to effectively swing the pendulum away from corrupt practices and change the attitudes and actions of people inside public entities.”
Woods will be the keynote speaker at the international Winelands Conference in April where issues of governance and corruption will be put under the spotlight under the conference theme Integrity and Governance: What is wrong? What is right? What is next? Other speakers include : John Bennington, Professor in Public Management, Management and Policy (Warwick University); Erwin Schwella, Professor in Public Leadership (SPL), Geert Bouckaert, Director: Institute for Public Management (Flanders) and Cobus de Swardt, MD of Transparency International.
Woods adds: “What is needed is strong leadership and strong organisational structures and the government does not seem to understand the importance of this. When there are weak managers and weak systems in public organisations, workers are inclined to exploit the low risk opportunities – that is they believe they will net get caught out. Corruption thrives in an environment where workers think their managers are weak.
Research done by ACCERUS and elsewhere has shown conclusively that weak leadership and weak structures are conducive to corrupt practices.
“The problem of weak leaders in the public sector is manifold,” says Woods. “ Many managers simply do not have the experience or skills needed to run a public organisation. This is especially detrimental to an organisation if the financial manager is also inexperienced. A further challenge is the high turnover in personnel. Whenever a manager acquires some skills – despite a lack of guidance – he will leave for greener pastures.
“Research has further shown that corruption is multi-causal. Capitalism and the desire to acquire wealth is one of the reasons. Another is commercialism and the advertising world which tells the ordinary citizen that he should constantly acquire more. A false need is created by advertising and this can lead to greed. If an individual cannot afford what he wants, he might turn to corrupt practices.”
And then there are the politicians. Not only do they create unrealistic expectations through promises of wealth and job creation during elections, but they also flash overt wealth. These politicians, who are often short on delivering on their promises, but who enrich themselves at the cost of those they should be serving, act as the wrong kind of role models.
Woods says it has also been shown that value systems in countries in transition become fluid and confused. “We have seen this happening in China, Russia and in India where corruption increased in direct relation to great economic and/or political change.”
Corruption in the public sector, undermines citizens’ confidence in all things related to public service delivery and it negatively affects public service delivery. When a public service entity is known for corrupt practices, it leads to a feeling of disempowerment amongst the citizenry. It can also severely undermine the democratic processes.
“It is clear there is is a huge need to implement systems inside public organisations that will make the risks attached to corruption too high, and that eliminate opportunities for corruption. But before we can do that, we need a more comprehensive and more comprehensible understanding of corruption and its causes.”
Stellenbosch University’s Anti-corruption Centre for Education and Research (Accerus) strives towards finding answers to these challenge. This is done through sound academic research and the identification of solutions. These challenges will further be addressed at the bi-annual Winelands Conference (2 – 4 April that will be hosted by Stellenbosch University’s School for Public Leadership) in conjunction with ACCERUS and the Zijlstra Centre for Public Control and Governance (Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam).
• For information about this story, or to arrange media interviews, contact Stephanie Nieuwoudt +27 (0)83 2978785
• For information on registration, contact: +27 (0)21 938 9245. Or csnyman@sun.ac.za.
Or visit the website at www.winelands2012.co.za.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Workshop teaches book restoration
SUNLIGHT, WOODEN BOOKSHELVES CAN DESTROY BOOKS
Having rows and rows upon bookshelves made of old English oak, may be beautiful. But, these shelves may do damage to your precious books over the long term.
So says Johann Maree, who certainly knows what he is talking about. Maree, a book conservationist, is a former Head of the Department of Paper and Book Conservation at the University of Cape Town, where he honed his craft over 28 years.
“Books may, through a process of osmosis, absorb acid from the oak bookshelves,” says Maree. “This is why libraries usually have metal bookshelves.”
However, you do not have to get rid of your wooden bookshelves, simply line the shelves with acid-free cardboard and your books will outlive a few generations of your descendants. That is of course if the books are not subjected to other dangers. Like, for instance, long time exposure to extreme temperatures or humid conditions which can cause mould or mildew in the books. Extreme heat will also make paper brittle.
Maree, who trained at the Swiss Centro del Bel Libro and at the Austrian National Library, may have retired from the formal working life, but he has not retired from the book industry. He is actively involved with the Paarl Taalmonument en Museum and he frequently presents workshops where he teaches his eager audiences about book restoration, paper conservation and book binding. Due to demand he will do two workshops in Pretoria in March.
“People have a desire to work with their hands and many people have libraries of books of which some are in need of repair,” says Maree. However, not only those who are looking for a hobby attend his workshops – archivists, librarians and others who work in the book and manuscript industries are regular attendees.
He incorporates the history of paper in his workshops, taking attendees back to the ancient forms of paper making which originated in China around 2 BC – long after the Egyptians started using papyrus around 3 BC. But before paper spread to Europe, books in Europe were printed on and bound in cloth and rag collectors survived on collecting scraps of cotton and linen and selling it to the book makers. In the 19th century, the industrial revolution had made it possible to pulp wood for the purpose of making paper and subsequently books. Ironically, books made in the 19th century are especially vulnerable.
“Large amounts of chemicals were used to make the paper which means that books dating from the 19th century are highly acidic. And as we know, acid is the enemy of paper,” says Maree.
Those at the workshop will also learn how to get rid of spills in books, and to stay far away from the kind of adhesive tape you use to wrap up gifts.
“If adhesive tape is used, make sure it is high quality acid-free tape,” says Maree. “Ordinary tape leaves behind a sticky, acidic residue which leeches into the paper and damages it.”
Other topics discussed at the workshops, include, grain direction; the enemies of paper; parts of the book and its construction; page repair and tipping in of loose pages; adhesives; spine repairs and dealing with Oxford hollows (it is a tube of strong paper glued to the spine); repairs dealing with the endpapers and repairs of the head-cap (the upper portion of the spine).
Maree uses the metaphor of a machine to describe how a book should work. “The cover, the binding and the way the pages are fixed contribute to a well-functioning book. Like with any piece of machinery, the book should ‘work’. One should be able to open the book and turn pages without the book falling apart.”
Does he think that the e-book is a threat to the printed book?
“I do believe it is still a long time away before we can truly prdict the demise of the printed book. People still love hearing the creak of a book as it is opened and many people are intrigued by the stories an old book can tell about who owned it before. The e-book does not have this kind of personality.”
Although the three day workshops in book repair and paper conservation is intensive, the novice is advised to leave restoration of truly rare and expensive books, to a true professional.
The book repair and paper conservation workshop will take place at the Ditsong National Museum of Cultural History from 5 to 7 March and again from 8 – 10 March. For information contact contact Amira Clayton at tel. 021 872 3441 or kommunikasie@taalmuseum.co.za.
Having rows and rows upon bookshelves made of old English oak, may be beautiful. But, these shelves may do damage to your precious books over the long term.
So says Johann Maree, who certainly knows what he is talking about. Maree, a book conservationist, is a former Head of the Department of Paper and Book Conservation at the University of Cape Town, where he honed his craft over 28 years.
“Books may, through a process of osmosis, absorb acid from the oak bookshelves,” says Maree. “This is why libraries usually have metal bookshelves.”
However, you do not have to get rid of your wooden bookshelves, simply line the shelves with acid-free cardboard and your books will outlive a few generations of your descendants. That is of course if the books are not subjected to other dangers. Like, for instance, long time exposure to extreme temperatures or humid conditions which can cause mould or mildew in the books. Extreme heat will also make paper brittle.
Maree, who trained at the Swiss Centro del Bel Libro and at the Austrian National Library, may have retired from the formal working life, but he has not retired from the book industry. He is actively involved with the Paarl Taalmonument en Museum and he frequently presents workshops where he teaches his eager audiences about book restoration, paper conservation and book binding. Due to demand he will do two workshops in Pretoria in March.
“People have a desire to work with their hands and many people have libraries of books of which some are in need of repair,” says Maree. However, not only those who are looking for a hobby attend his workshops – archivists, librarians and others who work in the book and manuscript industries are regular attendees.
He incorporates the history of paper in his workshops, taking attendees back to the ancient forms of paper making which originated in China around 2 BC – long after the Egyptians started using papyrus around 3 BC. But before paper spread to Europe, books in Europe were printed on and bound in cloth and rag collectors survived on collecting scraps of cotton and linen and selling it to the book makers. In the 19th century, the industrial revolution had made it possible to pulp wood for the purpose of making paper and subsequently books. Ironically, books made in the 19th century are especially vulnerable.
“Large amounts of chemicals were used to make the paper which means that books dating from the 19th century are highly acidic. And as we know, acid is the enemy of paper,” says Maree.
Those at the workshop will also learn how to get rid of spills in books, and to stay far away from the kind of adhesive tape you use to wrap up gifts.
“If adhesive tape is used, make sure it is high quality acid-free tape,” says Maree. “Ordinary tape leaves behind a sticky, acidic residue which leeches into the paper and damages it.”
Other topics discussed at the workshops, include, grain direction; the enemies of paper; parts of the book and its construction; page repair and tipping in of loose pages; adhesives; spine repairs and dealing with Oxford hollows (it is a tube of strong paper glued to the spine); repairs dealing with the endpapers and repairs of the head-cap (the upper portion of the spine).
Maree uses the metaphor of a machine to describe how a book should work. “The cover, the binding and the way the pages are fixed contribute to a well-functioning book. Like with any piece of machinery, the book should ‘work’. One should be able to open the book and turn pages without the book falling apart.”
Does he think that the e-book is a threat to the printed book?
“I do believe it is still a long time away before we can truly prdict the demise of the printed book. People still love hearing the creak of a book as it is opened and many people are intrigued by the stories an old book can tell about who owned it before. The e-book does not have this kind of personality.”
Although the three day workshops in book repair and paper conservation is intensive, the novice is advised to leave restoration of truly rare and expensive books, to a true professional.
The book repair and paper conservation workshop will take place at the Ditsong National Museum of Cultural History from 5 to 7 March and again from 8 – 10 March. For information contact contact Amira Clayton at tel. 021 872 3441 or kommunikasie@taalmuseum.co.za.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Winelands Conference to address challenges in the public service
For Immediate Publication
Winelands Conference to address challenges in the public service
South Africa’s public service faces many challenges and Stellenbosch University’s School of Public Leadership (SPL) has over the years gained a reputation as one of the leading schools in Africa offering excellent post-graduate training in public management.
One of the highlights of the SPL programme is the highly acclaimed Winelands Conference that the SPL hosts every second year. This conference has become a landmark in the South African public and development management fields
“The challenges in the South African Public Sector are myriad. But mostly it is about a lack of good governance and integrity in public service,” says Kobus Muller, director of the SPL. “If these issues are not solved the good ideas that underlie and are integral to policy frameworks cannot be implemented successfully. These issues will be addressed at the 13th Winelands Conference 2012 which will be held in Stellenbosch in April. ”
Popular discourse
According to Muller the Winelands Conference has gained a reputation of highlighting and addressing issues of public importance even before it has become part of the popular discourse. An example: the Winelands Conference of 1991 dealt with Public Administration in Post-Apartheid South Africa. This was even before the negotiations for a new regime were properly on track
Academics and practitioners from both the public and development sectors will attend the conference. “The Winelands Conference has been attracting huge interest from abroad since the mid 1990s. Today it is a truly international conference. As far as I am aware, it is the only international conference dealing with issues of public leadership in Africa.”
The SPL’s conference partners for 2012 are the Anti-corruption Education and Research Centre (ACCERUS) and the Zijlstra Centre for Public Control and Governance. The theme is Integrity and governance: What is wrong? What is good? What is next? The three conference focus points are: What’s wrong? Corruption in Governance; What’s good? Good Governance in the public and non-profit sector and; What’s next? Innovations in governance and research.
Some of the speakers are John Bennington, Professor in Public Management & Policy (University of Warwick), Erwin Schwella, Professor in public leadership (SPL, Stellenbosch University), Geert Bouckaert Director: Public Management Institute, Flanders, Gavin Woods director of ACCERUS (Stellenbosch University).
Addressing challenges
“Through the Winelands Confernce we try to make a contribution to the identification of solutions that are right for our time and hopefully the conference outcomes are implemented.”
“After each conference we publish a booklet with the addresses by the speakers. This helps to open up a larger academic debate of the challenges and possible solutions identified during the conference.”
The Winelands Conference will be held from 2 – 4 April 2012 at the Research Congress Centre of the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS). Registration forms are available online at http://www.winelands2012.co.za/registration.
For information on this story, please call 083 2978785. Or for further information on the Winelands Conference, call +27 021 938 9245.
Winelands Conference to address challenges in the public service
South Africa’s public service faces many challenges and Stellenbosch University’s School of Public Leadership (SPL) has over the years gained a reputation as one of the leading schools in Africa offering excellent post-graduate training in public management.
One of the highlights of the SPL programme is the highly acclaimed Winelands Conference that the SPL hosts every second year. This conference has become a landmark in the South African public and development management fields
“The challenges in the South African Public Sector are myriad. But mostly it is about a lack of good governance and integrity in public service,” says Kobus Muller, director of the SPL. “If these issues are not solved the good ideas that underlie and are integral to policy frameworks cannot be implemented successfully. These issues will be addressed at the 13th Winelands Conference 2012 which will be held in Stellenbosch in April. ”
Popular discourse
According to Muller the Winelands Conference has gained a reputation of highlighting and addressing issues of public importance even before it has become part of the popular discourse. An example: the Winelands Conference of 1991 dealt with Public Administration in Post-Apartheid South Africa. This was even before the negotiations for a new regime were properly on track
Academics and practitioners from both the public and development sectors will attend the conference. “The Winelands Conference has been attracting huge interest from abroad since the mid 1990s. Today it is a truly international conference. As far as I am aware, it is the only international conference dealing with issues of public leadership in Africa.”
The SPL’s conference partners for 2012 are the Anti-corruption Education and Research Centre (ACCERUS) and the Zijlstra Centre for Public Control and Governance. The theme is Integrity and governance: What is wrong? What is good? What is next? The three conference focus points are: What’s wrong? Corruption in Governance; What’s good? Good Governance in the public and non-profit sector and; What’s next? Innovations in governance and research.
Some of the speakers are John Bennington, Professor in Public Management & Policy (University of Warwick), Erwin Schwella, Professor in public leadership (SPL, Stellenbosch University), Geert Bouckaert Director: Public Management Institute, Flanders, Gavin Woods director of ACCERUS (Stellenbosch University).
Addressing challenges
“Through the Winelands Confernce we try to make a contribution to the identification of solutions that are right for our time and hopefully the conference outcomes are implemented.”
“After each conference we publish a booklet with the addresses by the speakers. This helps to open up a larger academic debate of the challenges and possible solutions identified during the conference.”
The Winelands Conference will be held from 2 – 4 April 2012 at the Research Congress Centre of the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS). Registration forms are available online at http://www.winelands2012.co.za/registration.
For information on this story, please call 083 2978785. Or for further information on the Winelands Conference, call +27 021 938 9245.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Stephanie Nieuwoudt wen Mediaveertjie vir "Vriendskap oor dekades"
Stephanie Nieuwoudt het 'n 2011 ATKV-Mediaveertjie gewen vir haar profiel van Ouma Mieta van der Merwe en Oom Tolliejan van der Westhuizen, inwoners van 'n ouetehuis op Sutherland. "Tussen die twee, die een ’n wit vrou, die ander ’n bruin man, lê ’n leeftyd van saamwerk en saam swaarkry..."
Stephanie Nieuwoudt
Ouma Mieta van der Merwe is ’n sterk vrou. Dit sien jy aan haar lengte, haar forse gestalte en haar raakvathande. En aan haar gesig, wat ondanks haar 77 jaar taamlik sonder plooie is. En aan haar oë wat steeds helder en reguit kyk.
Ná ’n leeftyd as boervrou het sy onlangs in die Johenco-ouetehuis in Sutherland in ’n klein woonstelletjie ingetrek. In ’n ander vleuel van die tehuis deel Jan (Tolliejan) van der Westhuizen (70), wat sedert sy kinderdae by hulle gewerk het, ’n kamer met ’n ander bejaarde.
Tussen die twee, die een ’n wit vrou, die ander ’n bruin man, lê ’n leeftyd van saamwerk en saam swaarkry.
“Tolliejan het as sesjarige seuntjie met ’n velletjie oor sy skouer by die buurplaas opgedaag en gesê hy wil daar kom bly en werk,” vertel ouma Mieta. Die “velletjie” was ’n skaapvel wat hy op die vloer oopgegooi het om op te slaap. Die boer van die buurplaas sou later haar man word.
’n Sesjarige seuntjie wat werk? Inderdaad. In die Noord-Kaap moes plaaskinders ongeag hul velkleur van bitter jonk leer om te werk. Ouma Mieta en haar tweelingsuster, Sannie, was net ’n maand oud – daar was vyf ouer kinders en ná hulle sou daar nog vier kom – toe haar pa besluit die gesin moet op ’n kapwa uit die T’Koeriesberg-omgewing padgee agter weiding vir die skape aan. Hulle het vier jaar lank getrek.
“Van daardie eerste paar jaar onthou ek niks,” sê ouma Mieta. “Maar ek onthou toe ons uiteindelik staanplek gekry het en ek en my sussie as vierjariges begin het om skaap op te pas. Ons was so dom, ons het nie geweet ons moet huis toe gaan as die son sak nie. My pa het dan maar ’n vuur gemaak, en dan loop ons agter die gloed aan.”
In haar goed gemoduleerde stem vertel ouma Mieta die polisie het eendag, toe sy en haar sussie agt jaar oud was, op hul plaas stilgehou en gesê die kinders moet skool toe. Hulle was ver van die skool af en die tweeling het saam met agt ander kinders by hul ouma gaan loseer. Nadat hulle standerd ses klaargemaak het, het haar pa besluit die tweeling het genoeg geleerdheid. Hulle moes op die plaas begin werk.
Sy lyk verbaas oor die vraag of sy ’n goeie verhouding met haar ouers, en veral haar pa, gehad het.
“Ons het wonderlike ouers gehad. My pa was streng, maar hy het ook altyd ná die tyd getroos. Die boere was arm. Hulle het nie werkers gehad nie. Hul kinders was hul werkmense
Ouma Mieta was net 19 jaar oud toe sy met die buurman, wat 16 jaar ouer was, getrou het. “Hy was goddank bly hy kry so ’n tawwe vrou,” sê ouma Mieta met ’n glimlag.
Toe hy sowat 14 jaar gelede dood is, het ouma Mieta en oom Tolliejan saam aanhou boer.
“Ek het skaap geskou en ’n klomp pryse gewen. Op 70 het ek gesê tot hier toe en niks verder nie. Die seuns het die plase oorgeneem.”
Saam met oom Tolliejan het sy na haar dorpshuis in Sutherland getrek, waar sy ’n ruk lank saam met haar dogter gewoon het. Oom Tolliejan het in ’n woonwa op die erf ingetrek. Toe ouma Mieta se heup en knieë begin oppak, het sy ouetehuis toe getrek. Weer is oom Tolliejan saam.
Ons stap van haar woonstelletjie af deur ’n gebou wat nogal aan ’n hospitaal herinner, op met ’n gang en kom uiteindelik tot stilstand by ’n gemeenskaplike vertrek waar ’n aantal bejaarde mans televisie kyk.
“Jan, hier’s mense om jou te sien,” roep ouma Mieta in die vertrek in. Oom Tolliejan, ’n oompie wat onder sy warm winterjas duidelik brandmaer en amper ’n kop korter is as ouma Mieta, spring onmiddellik op. Ons stap terug na haar woonstel. Waarom wou hy as kind so graag by ouma Mieta se toekomstige man gaan woon en waarom het hy so lank by die familie gebly?
“Hulle het kans gesien om my te ontvang,” antwoord die oom met ’n breë glimlag op sy beplooide gesig. “Dit was ’n goeie lewe. ’n Baie goeie lewe. Ons het nog met donkies geploeg.”
Nee, sê hy, dis nie vir hom, ’n man wat gewoond is aan die oop veld, moeilik om in die ouetehuis aan te pas nie. Hy kry hier wat hy nodig het. Hy kan elke dag televisie kyk. 7de Laan is sy gunsteling-program. Sy gesondheid is goed, sê oom Tolliejan. Al het hy tuberkulose gehad. Nadat hy lank medisyne gedrink het, is hy nou gesond.
“Hy het siek geword omdat hy tog te graag mense soen,” werp ouma Mieta tussenbeide.
“Ja. Ek soen al my familie. Veral die vroue.”
Hy weet nie wat hy sonder ouma Mieta sal doen nie, antwoord oom Tolliejan op ’n vraag. “Ons is so gewoond aan mekaar; ons kan nie sonder mekaar nie.”
“As ek nie meer hier is nie,” sê ouma Mieta droogweg, “sal hy my mis, want daar sal niemand wees om vir hom twak en vleis te gee nie.”
Oom Tolliejan het self ook vier kinders. Maar sy vrou is jare gelede by die geboorte van hul jongste kind dood. Ouma Mieta het by die geboorte vroedvrou gespeel. Die vrou het doodgebloei. Dit was heeltemal onverwags, vertel ouma Mieta. “Ek was geskok en hartseer.”
Oom Tolliejan se vier kinders het dikwels by ouma Mieta kos en klere gekry. Kosmaak was nog altyd een van die dinge wat vir ouma Mieta, ’n voorslag-kok, groot vreugde verskaf het. Deesdae kry oom Tolliejan minstens een keer per dag ’n bord kos wat sy vir hulle berei.
“Hy is baie lief vir vleis,” sê sy terloops.
Ondanks die probleme met haar heup en die feit dat sy dit al hoe moeiliker vind om te loop, ry sy nog gereeld die ver ent plaas toe, want sy kan nie in die ouetehuis stilsit nie.
En altyd is oom Tolliejan aan haar sy.
“Ons gesels onophoudelik. Daar is ’n leeftyd se dinge waaroor ons kan gesels. Ons gesamentlike belangstelling is die plaaslewe. Dis wat albei van ons ken,” sê ouma Mieta.
Op die plaas, by die dorpshuis en selfs by die ouetehuis deel ouma Mieta steeds vir oom Tolliejan werkies uit.
Ons groet en terwyl ons wegry, sien ons hoe ouma Mieta met haar vinger beduie na ’n potplant wat geskuif moet word. Toegewikkel in sy wintersjas spring oom Tolliejan aan die werk.
- Rapport, 2010-10-09
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Die tirannie van "skoon" wees
Die stem aan die ander kant van die lyn klink effe onsamehangend. Dit is dié van n jong man, Lyle. Hy is 24 jaar oud. En hy is reeds agttien maande lank skoon.
Vir nege jaar lank het hy die mense om hom in n nagmerriewêreld gedompel. Die mense naaste aan hom moes toekyk hoe hy hom oorgee aan dwelms en al maerder en maerder word. Hy het ontwykend opgetree en niemand se besittings was veilig nie. Maar Lyle het nie omgegee nie. Solank hy net daagliks n paar keer per dag tik en heroien kon gebruik, was hy gelukkig.
In graad elf was skool nie meer vir hom n opsie nie. Hy kon nie stilsit nie. Hy kon nie konsentreer nie. Hy kon nie verstaan waarom hy in n klas vasgedruk moes word terwyl hy dwelmbeneweld deur die strate van die Kaapse Vlakte kon ronddwaal nie.
Toe besluit hy eendag om nie meer skool toe te gaan nie. Maar iewers moes hy geld kry om vir sy dwelms te betaal.
“Ek het mense om my gemanipuleer. Vir hulle allerlei stories vertel sodat hulle my moes jammer kry en geld gee,” sê Lyle.
Hy het gelieg en mense besteel. Selfs dié wat die naaste aan hom was, het deurgeloop onder sy lang vingers. Sy pa het sy seun afgeskryf en selfs vir sy meisie was Lyle se leefwyse te veel.
Toe word hy amper twee jaar gelede op n dag wakker, en besef dat niemand hom meer vertrou nie. Die mense vir wie hy die liefste in die wêreld was, het hom verlaat.
Lyle het besef hy moet sy lewe regruk. Hy het by n rehabilitasiekliniek hulp gaan kry en is reeds agttien maande skoon.
“Ek is gelukkig nooit in hegtenis geneem nie.”
Sy broer, drie jaar ouer as Lyle, is egter steeds op dwelms en is al n paar keer opgesluit.
“Ek kan dit nie waag om hom te sien nie. Ek is bang dat ek weer gaan begin gebruik as ek hom sien,” sê Lyle. Hy is so bang om weer in die spiral van dwelms vasgevang te word, dat hy selde uitgaan en meestal by die huis bly.
“My ma en my pa is geskei en my ma het nie blyplek nie. My tante het my ingeneem en ek sorg dat ek besig bly deur haar huis skoon te maak en na goeie programme op TV te kyk. Ek probeer ook net aan goeie goed dink. Ek het my ou vriende afgeskryf. Jy kan nie met mense vriende wees saam met wie jy dwelms gebruik het nie.”
Wanneer hy die dag uitgaan, is dit saam met sy niggies en neefs.
“Hulle het nog nooit dwelms gebruik nie. Ek voel veilig saam met hulle. Ek sal altyd n recovering addict bly,” sê hy.
Maar sy broer is steeds n problem.
“Hy kom vra die heeltyd vir my ma vir geld en kos en slaapplek. Sy probeer hom help. Maar dan steel hy by die mense waar sy bly. En dan word my ma gevra om eerder te trek. My ma weet nie meer waarheen om te gaan nie, maar sy kan haar seun nie net afskryf nie.”
Uiteindelik groet ons. Ek het my storie. Maar selfs nadat ek sy verhaal in n groter storie oor dwelms in die land ingewerk het, laat los Lyle my nie. Lyle is deel van n uiters weerlose groep mense. Hy is arm, jonk en werkloos. En hy kom van n arm gemeenskap waar mense met mooi klere en blink motors dikwels as rolmodel dien – al het hulle deur misdaad ryk geword.
Dit verg n spesiale soort deursettingsvermoë om uit die spiraal van dwelmmisbruik weg te breek en om dag na dag die versoeking te weerstaan. Ek dink Lyle en al die ander recovering addicts is helde.
Vir nege jaar lank het hy die mense om hom in n nagmerriewêreld gedompel. Die mense naaste aan hom moes toekyk hoe hy hom oorgee aan dwelms en al maerder en maerder word. Hy het ontwykend opgetree en niemand se besittings was veilig nie. Maar Lyle het nie omgegee nie. Solank hy net daagliks n paar keer per dag tik en heroien kon gebruik, was hy gelukkig.
In graad elf was skool nie meer vir hom n opsie nie. Hy kon nie stilsit nie. Hy kon nie konsentreer nie. Hy kon nie verstaan waarom hy in n klas vasgedruk moes word terwyl hy dwelmbeneweld deur die strate van die Kaapse Vlakte kon ronddwaal nie.
Toe besluit hy eendag om nie meer skool toe te gaan nie. Maar iewers moes hy geld kry om vir sy dwelms te betaal.
“Ek het mense om my gemanipuleer. Vir hulle allerlei stories vertel sodat hulle my moes jammer kry en geld gee,” sê Lyle.
Hy het gelieg en mense besteel. Selfs dié wat die naaste aan hom was, het deurgeloop onder sy lang vingers. Sy pa het sy seun afgeskryf en selfs vir sy meisie was Lyle se leefwyse te veel.
Toe word hy amper twee jaar gelede op n dag wakker, en besef dat niemand hom meer vertrou nie. Die mense vir wie hy die liefste in die wêreld was, het hom verlaat.
Lyle het besef hy moet sy lewe regruk. Hy het by n rehabilitasiekliniek hulp gaan kry en is reeds agttien maande skoon.
“Ek is gelukkig nooit in hegtenis geneem nie.”
Sy broer, drie jaar ouer as Lyle, is egter steeds op dwelms en is al n paar keer opgesluit.
“Ek kan dit nie waag om hom te sien nie. Ek is bang dat ek weer gaan begin gebruik as ek hom sien,” sê Lyle. Hy is so bang om weer in die spiral van dwelms vasgevang te word, dat hy selde uitgaan en meestal by die huis bly.
“My ma en my pa is geskei en my ma het nie blyplek nie. My tante het my ingeneem en ek sorg dat ek besig bly deur haar huis skoon te maak en na goeie programme op TV te kyk. Ek probeer ook net aan goeie goed dink. Ek het my ou vriende afgeskryf. Jy kan nie met mense vriende wees saam met wie jy dwelms gebruik het nie.”
Wanneer hy die dag uitgaan, is dit saam met sy niggies en neefs.
“Hulle het nog nooit dwelms gebruik nie. Ek voel veilig saam met hulle. Ek sal altyd n recovering addict bly,” sê hy.
Maar sy broer is steeds n problem.
“Hy kom vra die heeltyd vir my ma vir geld en kos en slaapplek. Sy probeer hom help. Maar dan steel hy by die mense waar sy bly. En dan word my ma gevra om eerder te trek. My ma weet nie meer waarheen om te gaan nie, maar sy kan haar seun nie net afskryf nie.”
Uiteindelik groet ons. Ek het my storie. Maar selfs nadat ek sy verhaal in n groter storie oor dwelms in die land ingewerk het, laat los Lyle my nie. Lyle is deel van n uiters weerlose groep mense. Hy is arm, jonk en werkloos. En hy kom van n arm gemeenskap waar mense met mooi klere en blink motors dikwels as rolmodel dien – al het hulle deur misdaad ryk geword.
Dit verg n spesiale soort deursettingsvermoë om uit die spiraal van dwelmmisbruik weg te breek en om dag na dag die versoeking te weerstaan. Ek dink Lyle en al die ander recovering addicts is helde.
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