Leah and Laea show you how it’s done.

 

Ever had the feeling that someone may be lying to you? But no idea how to tell for sure?

Here are a few signs to look out for. On the other hand if you’re trying to avoid looking like you’re lying when you are… try avoiding the mentioned gestures…mmmmmhhhh…..

 

Locating Hlalani and Sun City Informal Settlement:

 

“Sun City”

The name Sun City is synonymous with luxury and leisure for most of us. However the sun rarely shines on the residents of Sun City settlement in Grahamstown. Although the name has connotations of hope and liveliness, the life of the residents at Sun City is anything but bright. Life here is characterized by rampant crime, daily police patrols and juvenile delinquency, but the problems do not end there. For Sun City a much graver problem looms on the horizon in the form of inadequate sanitation. There are only two taps (with many still using the bucket system) and two “public toilets” to provide for its 300 residents. This lack of sanitation is causing serious health hazards among its residents. Children are drinking tap water that is not safe, which is causing concern among residents over the health of the children. Sun City has grown as a shack settlement over the past 11 years but is yet to receive support from the municipality.

 

Poor sanitation:

There are only two public toilets for all the residents of Sun City. They cannot even afford the luxury of using toilet paper and instead make do with newspapers. Sanitation and hygiene throughout the area is bad and in need of improvement. People cannot live like this!!

 

A look around the typical house in Sun City:

Imagine a room with no windows as the Grahamstown winter approaches. Imagine a room where 7 people sleep on 2 beds. Imagine a house with no running water or electricity.Picture a room filled with rubbish and junk. This is what Sun City resident Freddy Pokbas calls home.

 

A resident complains about Sun City: 

Sun City residents lack basic services such as water, electricty and adequate hosuing. However, according to one resident this is because…..

 

 Link to Al Jazeera:

 Click here to see Al Jazeera’s report on housing in Sun City http://sacsis.org.za/site/article/13.19

“Hlalani”

Hlalani settlement on the other hand appears to be slightly more prosperous than Sun City. As we climb Mount Zion to overlook the entire settlement, we see the various RDP houses which have been recently built. Automatically we are convinced that Hlalani is a settlement undergoing development as it has been earmarked for upgrading. However while interviewing one of its residents we learn that the Mount Zion is in fact used as a toilet site. People who have no RDP houses still lack appropriate toilet facilities and continue to use the bucket system, as a supply of running water is not readily available. If not attended to by the government, settlements such as these will continue to grow as more people come to the inner city seeking employment and accommodation. This could lead to greater sanitation problems.

 

 Pictures of Hlalani Informal Settlement:

 Unhappy about life:

 This resident explains life in Hlalani Informal settlement, not only for her, but for the other people that live there as well.

 

 

Mvuyisile Nonyukhela:

He has been waiting for housing for 14 years, and  lives in a small shack which often gets flooded during the rainy season. He makes a living doing pettty jobs and everyday is a challenge for him espeically at his old age. He has norunning water or access to a toilet. Here more about his life….

 

By Mahreen Chenia, Laura Wener, Richard Moor & Greg Alrdrige

Nestled between the coastal cities of Port Elizabeth and East London, in the Makana valley, lies the picturesque university town of the 1820 settlers. Grahamstown is home to just over 120,000 people and houses the prestigous and world-reknown Rhodes University.  It  was founded in 1812 as a military outpost by Lieutenant-Colonel John Graham as part of the effort to secure the eastern frontier of British influence in the then Cape Colony against the Xhosa.

Every year in the June/July Winter vacation, Grahamstown comes alive with the sounds, smells and colours of South African arts and culture. The National Arts Festival attracts thousands visitors who spend their days perusing the attractions that the town has to offer. Every hall or large room becomes a theatre, parks and sport fields become flea markets, normally quiet streets have to be managed by an army of temporary traffic wardens, and every available bed in the city is booked. The festival offers more than 500 shows from opera, cabaret, drama and jazz to stand-up comics and folk music.

The Festival includes drama, dance, opera, music, visual art, lectures and tours. There are also exhibitions, markets and other cultural events. One of the favourites every year is the live music venue, the Cuervo Room which plays host to some of the greatest live acts in South African music. This year’s performers include newcomer, Jesse Clegg, the Parlotones and aKing. Many theatre companies premiere shows which then go on to tour the country. The National Youth Jazz Festival and the Standard Bank Young Artist Awards also take place during the festival. The main and fringe programmes receive funding from Standard Bank, the SABC, the National Lottery, the Eastern Cape Government and National Arts Council. Other hotspots include the Village Green which comes alive with food stalls, open-air performances and of course the different beer tents, where you might just bump into your favourite musician, comedian or artist.

An abundance of world-class performers and a record number of premières will be the striking features of the Main Programme for the 2009 National Arts Festival. The Rhodes University Drama Department will also be presenting some of its works. This gives drama students an opportunity to showcase both their acting and directing talents. The festival operates out of the 1820 Settlers National Monument and is organized by the Grahamstown Foundation. Tickets for the events may be purchased here as well as at other ticket offices around the town. It is also possible to buy tickets from the different venues 30 minutes prior to each show. The dates for this year’s Festival are 2-11 July.

The Grahamstown Arts Festival is not the only time Grahamstown comes alive. Tourists come to grahamstown all year round to take in the rich history in the area of old victorian style buildings and township dwelings. This small little town houses a large population, all vibrant and friendly, taking in the atmosphere of our history heritage and education.

If you are thinking of visiting Grahamstown for the 2009 National Arts Festival then take a trip with us as we explore the vast sites of this little town, from the historic museums to the bright and colourful township dwellings. Engage with our interactive maps, learn how to do a Xhosa dance, explore the Egazini Art Project and view some of our happy snaps from our recent trip through Grahamstown. Along the way you might even find out about the new form of public transport that is being offered by the local folk.

Check out these popular sites in Grahamstown

Use this map to plan your itinerary

Mbuleli will help take you on an interactive tour of Grahamstown. Use the map and the audio to familiarize yourself with the town and its beatuiful heritage.

[podcast]http://rutv3.ru.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/audio.mp3[/podcast]

The Observatory Musuem houses a number of historical pieces from the 1820 settlers…Something to check out

These Donkeys play a pivotal role in the Grahamstown community. They are not only used in the township but many students rely on them for transport to and from town. When in Grahamstown do like the Grahamstownians do and catch a ride on a donkey cart

We Follow Mbuleli Mpokela, a tour guide in the grahamstown area as he takes us to see some very intersting places.His tour includes historical dwellings in Grahamstown as well as township hot spots. Here are a few snippets of the tour

Egazini Art Centre

Traditional Xhosa song and dance

According to SAPS statistics, bold crime in Grahamstown is on the rise. Yet when we hear of crime these days we barley blink an eye and taking precautions is a routine part of our everyday lives. Its only when the precautions we take seem inadequate, that we begin to fearfully blink at the thought of our vulnerability. It seems crime is not only on the rise but also the fearlessness of Grahamstown’s felons. Daylight is as good a time as any. Earlier this year two people were stabbed to death at midday in a local suburb, cars and houses are broken into in broad daylight, even when residents are home. Thieves are not only carrying weapons but also bolt cutters to ensure a successful break-in. Hi-Tech security is usually first on the scene with the police trailing behind. It seems locals are realising that their sense of security is a false one.

Grocott’s Mail reporter, Luvuyo Mjekula has been reporting on crime in Grahamstown for years, and agrees that crime is certainly taking on a more brazen nature, “Crime is getting bolder, more out in the open for anyone to see.”  Mjekula recently reported on an armed robbery at Noluthando Hall in Joza, where pensioners were held at gunpoint and robbed of all their money.  Students have also felt the effects of these more major crimes happening in the Grahamstown area.  We spoke to two students who have recently had first hand experience of the increasingly violent and arrogant nature of these crimes.

 Megan DeWaal a third year BSc student, woke up to find three intruders in her digs on Parry Street.  What shocked DeWaal most was the chillingly cool and methodical way in which the thieves went about their business… [podcast]http://rutv3.ru.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/sequence-03.mp3 [/podcast]

Martin Ross, another student at Rhodes, was one of the victims of the recent spike in car break-ins this month. His car was broken into on Milner street between the relatively busy hours of five and eight o’clock in the morning. Surprisingly it wasn’t just his radio that was stolen…. [podcast]http://rutv3.ru.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/crime-bite_1.mp3[/podcast]

 

 Elicia or “Superwoman” as she is affectionately known by her community has taken matters into her own hands. Her community in the township has expressed a complete disillusionment with the police response in their area.

Although bold crime may be on the rise, statistics show that the number of major crimes in Grahamstown have neither risen nor dropped since the figures released in 2002.

Do you want to get heads turning on campus? This easy how to video will show you how to be ‘that guy’ on campus in just a few easy steps. Heads will be turning in no time!!!