INN News 10 April 2024

04/10/2024 13:43 in News

Religious leaders in Manenberg are calling for a ceasefire amoung gangsters in the area for Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations this week. Residents want to celebrate Eid without gangsters battling it out on the streets. The Clever Kids and the Hard Livings are making the area unbearable with their shootings. People fear for their lives.

Mayco member for safety and security, JP Smith, says according to the ShotSpotter gunfire detection system, there were 18 shootings incidents in the last three days with 52 shots fired.

Moulana Sameeg Norodien says the shootings deterred people from attending evening prayers during Ramadaan. He adds that there are concerns but we will still be hosting the Eid salaah because they believe Manenberg needs prayer. They are asking the gangs to put down their guns and consider the judgement they will face from God for killing or hurting people. They just want to have a peaceful Eid.

According to the City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management almost 3,000 structures were affected by the storm that passed over Cape Town. The storm brought powerful winds, heavy rains and thunderstorms. The City’s Disaster Risk Management spokesperson, Charlotte Powell says that at least 28 incidents have been listed in areas where structural damage occurred due to the wind, including Delft, Mitchells Plain, Khayelitsha, Blue Downs, Somerset West, Northpine, Sir Lowry’s Pass, Monwabisi and commercial properties in Strand. She elaborates that at this stage, the number of structures affected – subject to more detailed assessment – is 2,779.

Reports of flooding were received in Gaba Village (Leonsdale/Epping area), 12 structures in Empolweni, Khayelitsha, and approximately 400 structures in Monwabisi. In many instances, affected residents are sheltering with friends and family.

Mayor Geordhan Hill-Lewis earlier this week visited the affected residential and infrastructure damages, which was caused due to this weekend's severe storm in the Helderberg District. Mayor Hill-Lewis says the city's teams were out across the city assessing damages and has started with repairs. Hill-Lewis says the assessment team was made out of the Human Settlements and Disaster Risk Management. The oversight assessing was in the broader Strand area on Monday morning.

The Realistic Child and Youth Care Centre (RCYCC) in Athlone is being focused on by cousins Husain Badroodeen and Irshaad Arieff. Their focus is to raise funds for a school bus for 30 children under the care of Solomon Madikane. Arieff says that he believes that every child deserves an equal opportunity to live out and fulfil their dreams. Arieff says that this initiative is just one step towards changing the lives of many children at Realistic.

Husain says that this will enable the organization to facilitate excursions and fun events, allowing the children to explore Cape Town and broaden their horizons. RCYCC has been supporting vulnerable children for more than 20 years. Solomon Madikane started the facility in 2004. He wants young South Africans to break free from cycles of drugs, crime, and imprisonment.

The children’s access to opportunities and education is affected by the centre's lack of transportation. The cousins have now started a BackaBuddy R550 million (half a million) crowdfunding in effort to buy a much-needed school bus for the RCYCC, so far they have received almost R13 200 from 16 donors.