Taxi unrest in Cape Town

Taxi unrest in our city is unfortunately not uncommon. Numerous taxis were driving with all windows and doors open. They also had fellow taxi drivers or supporters leaning out of both the windows and doors.
There was one beautiful site about my morning. See the clouds drooping over Table Mountain? We do live in the most beautiful city, it is just a pit that this unrest has to make our city so ugly.

Is no news ever good news!

I have the saying many many times: No news is good news. I have been thinking about this and my conclusion is that is not good news.
As per my blog posts 28 October 2008 I mentioned that we have been approached by government to submit a proposal for our drug reconstruction programme even though we have submitted 2 proposals already. To date we still have not received any feedback or response from the department of Social Development in the Athlone District.
Was it just a ploy by government to keep us quiet and happy for the Morning Live show? Maybe, maybe not. This is pure speculation on my part as there is no concrete proof to prove otherwise. We are reaching the end of the year. All departments and organisations are closing down when are preparing ourselves for a busy busy season ahead.
It would of really spoken volumes if government came through at this time to prove or even just make as if they do care about our communities and would like to assist in making a difference.
Someone told me that they are still hopeful and still believe that no news is good news!

TUCK-SHOP IN BRIDGETOWN

THIS IS A TUCK-SHOP IN OUR COMMUNITY WHERE WE BUY OUR EMERGENCY HOUSEHOLD THINGS WHEN THERE IS NOT TIME TO GO TO THE MALL

Challenges with DAS MXit today

I helped out or at least tried to help out on the DAS MXit today. How frustrating when you are trying to use technology to help people but then technology is not helping you? We got off to a good start and had quite a few chats but then all of sudden it stopped. No communication at all. 1 hour later it seems to back on again. We are just afraid that there were a few people who tried to reach us and could not get through. We do pray that God heals hearts and wounds today.
God Bless
Rene

Impact Direct: Nedbank Local Hero

Interview with Venise Smith who nominated Impact Direct as the local hero of the month in Cape Town. This is an initiative managed by one of the large South African banks, Nedbank, and Impact Direct won the award for local hero of the month of October. Here Venise tells us why she believes that Impact Direct is a local hero.

Citizens Expressing themselves

If you want to add anything to this blog please email me: rene.parker1977@gmail.com and I will post it with your name or if you want to remain anonymous that is no problem at all.
This is a space for you to share with others your frustrations or even some positive experiences.
Thank you for reading this blog.
Rene Parker

Citizens Express

Citizens Express blog is birthed out of a discussion I had with my husband Marlon Parker this morning. He was chatting to me about the 27 dinner he attend last night. He said the response he got after his talk was overwhelming.

I would like to use this as a platform for citizens to express how they feel or how they have been affected by systems of authority.

I volunteer at a Non-Profit organisation called Impact Direct in Athlone. They have just updated their website: www.impactdirect.org.za (I will give you more info on them later). One of the latest and most exciting projects they are running is the reconstructed project with ex-drug addicts and gangsters. Please check out their website: www.thereconstructed.com and www.mom2zero.com.

So back to the citizens: I know for a fact that there are lots of people out there who have been let down and dissappointed by either government or other forms of authority. Impact Direct have been running this reconstructed programme for nearly 2 years already. I have personally written proposals and requested funding from the Department of Social Development. We have submitted these proposals 3 times already and received no response. Once you read up on the project you will note how successful this project is and how much help is been given to people that really need it. So, on Friday Morning Live hosted the show at the Impact Direct centre. SABC invited Social Development, the MEC of Safety and Security and the Premier of the Western Cape. Impact Direct was carrying on as per normal preparing for Friday, when we were requested to submit another proposal by Social Development (we just handed exactly the same one we handed in on 3 different occassions).
Please read the next post to follow this story...