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Nicholis Louw performed at the Klerksdorp Auditorium on 30 July, and as usual he had the audience in the palm of his hand as he sang his old favourites and dazzled the crowd with his latest songs. See page 2 for our exclusive Nicholis Louw profile and page 3 for photos of the event. Women's month is celebrated during August in South Africa, as it marks the anniversary of the great Women's March of 1956, where women marched to the Union Buildings to protest against the carrying of pass books. On 9 August 1956, about 20 000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against legislation aimed at tightening the apartheid government's control over the movement of black women in urban areas. To commemorate this historic event, the Matlosana City Council staged a women's march from the City Council buildings on 1 August. The theme this year is Business Unusual: All Power to Women, and aims to reaffirm the power of women working together to bring about fundamental changes for good in society. This 52nd anniversary of the 1956 march coincides with the 90th anniversary of the Bantu Women's League and the 50th anniversary of the Zeerust anti-pass march iconic moments marking the role of women in shaping the history of our country and the plight of our people. Women's Day falls on 9 August. On 6 August 2008, the Congress of South African Trade Unions Mobilized its two million members and civil society formations in a national stayaway on the issue of the electricity crisis in South Africa, with marches across the country. Klerksdorp's CBD saw thousands of workers marching through the streets, leaving a trail of litter, torn posters and burning rubbish in their wake. According the COSATU official website, the strike action was “in accordance with COSATU's Notice under Section 77 (1) (b) of the Labour Relations Act, dated 13 March 2008, in response to the danger of retrenchments in the mining sector and elsewhere due to Eskom's decision to reduce electricity supply to industry and its threat to oppose any new major construction initiatives.” COSATU is further concerned that Eskom's tariff increase, which municipalities can increase still further, will put thousands more jobs at risk, as companies, already facing massive increases in the cost of fuel and interest rates, try to balance their books by retrenching workers, or are forced to close down. While COSATU acknowledges that the current power-cuts and power shortages constitute a national crisis which affects all South Africans, and commits to working actively and constructively to helping manage the power-shortage and to finding a lasting solution, the union is adamant that “workers should not be asked to pay for government's failure to invest in electricity in the late 1990s, as a result of its plans to privatise Eskom” and “do nothing when it was warned about the amount of investment that would be required to meet the expected rise in demand for power in the future.” Support Forum For New Businesses Part of the solution to unemployment lies in self-employment. Although this is promoted continuously and structures exist to facilitate this, it remains a daunting task for individuals to embark on such a venture, especially if resources are limited and one starts from scratch. The existing support structures appear not quite sufficient, and disjointed in the sense that an entrepreneur can obtain knowledge and help with compiling a business plan and by attending some courses, but thereafter is basically on his/her own, while hearing repeatedly that the majority of new businesses fail within a short period of time. The Wesvaal Chamber of Business has been grappling with this scenario for some time, to provide easier access to its infrastructure and a service to the entrepreneurial community. Entrepreneurs of all kinds visit the office frequently, or meet us at our “How to start and fund your own business” workshops and express their need for assistance throughout the process of establishing their business. A group of them contacted the Chamber with the idea of establishing a “Youth Chamber”. They are experiencing the challenges that this kind of undertaking poses for people who are also fighting the daily battle to get and keep a business up and running. The Chamber on the other hand, has an existing network and infrastructure, which could prove a great help to such an endeavor. Entrepreneurs find themselves not only on a long and winding, but also lonely, road. To enable them to speak in one voice, find support in and through each other, benefit from synergy and networking, the group, under the leadership of Kgotso Mmadi and Jones Sebote are working with the Chamber to establish a support forum. To get this initiative off the ground, a seminar will be presented at the Rio Casino on 19 August 2008, under the theme of “Women in Construction”. Speakers from the NHBRC, CIDB, supported by some knowledgeable individuals, have been secured. Anybody interested in this concept and event (whether in construction or any other sector), can contact 018 462 7109 or chamber@gds.co.za for more information and to be added to the database. |
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