Looking back at 2018: July to December

Recapping some of the stories from July to December 2018.

January 3, 2019

Sibonelo Mtshali 4 minutes read

HUGS ALL AROUND: Nancu Mabena with her favourite contestants, Thando Mngomezulu, Zamagambu Memela and Ntokozo Makhathini. Photo: Sibonelo Mtshali.

July

• In celebration of the life of Nelson Mandela, Ward 57 councillor Faeeza Chame spent time with a homeless young man in Tulisa Park on July 18.

• Lona Oulden from South Hills has had enough of bees that have invaded her home and the problem is getting worse.

• Dissatisfied residents are demanding better services for their flats as geysers, sanitation and electricity are a major concern.

• Booysens SAPS issued a warning to residents to avoid leaving valuables in their vehicles.

• The CoJ housing department begins with the allocation of 70 prefabricated units to people who were evicted from Fattis Mansion and Cape York buildings in Mid-2017.

• Rats cause a big problem for Booysens resident Nosipho Nana.

August

• Residents of South Hills gathered at the corner of Nephin and Coalbrook roads where the major was supposed to enter the development site. However, his entourage used another entrance and the community was left fuming.

• Mthandeni Mkhize lives in a double storey shack while renting out the other three rooms. He even installed CCTV in every room of the house.

• The Johannesburg Canoe Club (JCC) was the first original canoe club to set up in Johannesburg back in the 1940s, organising an array of events.

• Everything from beads, Bella Murano’s glass and gas burner is imported from Italy.

• Garden Street in Rosettenville has one of the filthiest houses in the South.

• Gillview baby Alaia McFadyen was born with a tooth, which stunned parents and nurses, on May 29, at Germiston Hospital.

September

• MMC for housing Meshack van Wyk visited Northam Court that was on fire on September 18 in South Hills.

• The CoJ recommends specific mechanism for the involvement of communities in local government.

• Grade Seven learners of Rewlatch Primary School all dressed up, indicating what they would want to be when they are grown up as part of their life orientation curriculum.

• Thrity-eight Northam Place Court was in flames on the morning of September 18 in South Hills, leaving three families affected by a fire.

• Ward 122 councillor Ace Mokonyane led the community of Jackson Drift in Eikenhof to a successful clean-up.

• Booysens Magistrate’s Court builds state of the art building with neat classic lines which soon will open its doors.

October

• Idols South Africa contestants visited Southgate mall on September 28 to meet and sign autographs with fans.

• Victoria Street residents were stunned by a sudden power surge and outage which damaged their electrical appliances in the early morning of September 27.

• As part of their Madiba Day initiative, Waterstone College learners were asked to contribute R67, which they decided would be donated to Door of Hope.

• Sixteen families in Booysens informal settlement were left devastated after a fire raged through their shacks.

• Maria Elizabeth Arthur enjoyed her centenary birthday with her family in Mayfield on October 6.

• The owner of Lusitano Restaurant in Regents Park, Roberto da Silva, was shot dead on October 17.

• Hundreds of learners around Gauteng celebrated International Day of the Girl Child.

• Marcus Pretorius from Florentia, Alberton, won a brand new Ford Ranger in Steeldale Pick n Pay’s competition on October 27.

November

• Johannesburg SPCA hosted the Give Back Challenge where community members were allowed to sleep overnight with any of the furry members of their choice to raise funds.

• Executive mayor for the CoJ Herman Mashaba and MMC for housing Meshack van Wyk launched a housing project to deliver 525 social housing units to Ward 55 residents in Turffontein.

• A handful of parents went to Rosettenville Central Primary School, saying they don’t want the principal at the school.

• Christmas came early for The Hamlet learners in Turffontein when a handful of shops at Ormonde Shopping Centre spoiled learners with lunch, cold drinks, dessert and sweets.

• Colisiwe Mangciphu and her eight-year-old son need urgent help to get her son schooling in 2019.

• Karli van Wyk has been selected as the vice-captain of the Woman’s Action Netball World Cup team to be played in Cape Town in 2019.

• Springbok rugby player Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira, together with Fidelity ADT, visited Laerskool Theo Wassenaar to talk about anti-bullying.

December

• In all schools in southern areas, there were scenes of jubilation as matriculants celebrated their last day behind a school desk by signing each other’s shirts.

• South Rand Hospital awarded its staff for their hard and excellent work.

• Sue Lubbe, a health activist, Ward 57 councillor Faeeza Chame and councillor Suzanne Clarke, chairperson of housing in the ward, couldn’t hold back their anger after witnessing what the elderly have to put up with every day of their lives.

• The farmhouse on Rifle Range Road, Forest Hill, which is over 100 years old, is on the verge of being ruined because of neglect.

• A resident of De Villiers Street, Kenilworth, was stabbed in his right hand after he reprimanded a motorist, who he said was endangering the lives of children.

• Soweto Animal Rescue and Advisory Centre (Sarac) received a brand new Ford Ranger, donated by Bidvest McCarthy.