The City of Cape Town’s Transport and Urban Development Authority (TDA) has added a thirteenth all-women road repair team to its staffing complement. The all-women team, consisting of members aged between 24 and 40 years, recently commenced with roadworks in Atlantis.

The TDA training academy, through its Women-at-Work Programme, is aiming to change the mindset that certain jobs are reserved for men only, or that women are incapable of doing what can be regarded as physically challenging work. The aim is also to empower women with skills that will enable them to apply for employment opportunities at the 18 roads depots across the city, and to assist with fixing potholes and clearing storm-water infrastructure, among other tasks.

The women were sourced from the local sub-council jobseekers database and the depot assessed and interviewed them as part of the appointment process.

‘This project plays a multi-purpose role. On the one hand, it addresses the under-representation of women in traditionally male-dominated careers, while on the other, it ensures the inclusion of the women in the economy, in particular in Atlantis where the unemployment rate is high. Some of the women who form part of the team are sole breadwinners and are bringing up their children on their own. Thus, this is a real opportunity for them to get a foot in the employment door in future,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport and Urban Development, Councillor Brett Herron.

The women undergo on-the-job training which empowers them with skills to perform their jobs while gaining valuable experience. The training entails skills in the operation of small construction equipment, onsite safety, and best practices in road surfacing as per the requirements of the South African Road Federation.

Kashiefa Beck is a prime example of one of those women who have successfully completed training through the programme. She is now a permanent employee at the City’s roads depot in Heideveld.

‘I am so grateful to the City for providing us with the opportunity to be a part of the EPWP Women-at-Work Programme. Entering the male-dominated world was a challenge in the beginning. However, we soon got into the swing of things and learnt to handle the job and the men working in this field. I think we are more consistent, committed and determined to excel in the work usually done by men. Men can do the work, yes, but I believe that women can do an even better and more qualitative job. We are truly grateful for the permanent employment that we secured in 2016 after being part of this programme. It really had a positive impact and brought stability to our lives. I want to encourage all women to believe that nothing on the road to life is impossible. You must believe in yourself, be focused and stand firm,’ said Kashiefa.

Councillor Herron said Kashiefa must serve as an inspiration to the other women who are currently part of the 13 all-women road repair teams across Cape Town.

‘Stories like this warm my heart and spur me on to do even more for our residents. Road repair work is a skill that can be learned by anyone who has the drive and passion, irrespective of gender. A big plus is seeing some of these women absorbed in permanent employment within the City, a move that certainly helps restore dignity both in the community, as well as in their homes,’ said Councillor Herron.

The TDA’s end-goal is to have at least one all-women road repair team at each one of our 18 depots by the end of the year. This project is in line with the City’s Organisational Development and Transformational Plan which prioritises investing in programmes that will provide long-term employment to the city’s residents.

Ruda Landman is one of South Africa’s best known journalists and television personalities, famous for her interviewing flair. She co-anchored the top investigative news programme Carte Blanche for 19 years, hosted Veranderdinge on KykNET and Talking Change on BrightRock’s website. She is a Non-Executive Director of Media24.

She grew up in the Northern Cape, matriculated in Upington and went to Stellenbosch University to study languages. Shortly after her graduation she married J P Landman, now a well-known political and economic analyst.

“How can we know each other, or understand the whole of our reality, if we don’t hear each other’s stories?”

In the book, she talks to prominent South Africans about their life choices and about how change has affected them. A colourful mosaic of experience emerges as people share stories – from changing careers, to coming out, losing a partner or following a calling.

The book includes insights by the likes of John Kani, Ferial Haffajee, Pieter-Dirk Uys, Katlego Maboe, Gugu Zulu, Zapiro, Mam’Khanyi (who takes in orphans and street children), Arno Carstens, ProVerb, Nick Binedell and Marc Lottering.

All royalties from the sale of this book will got to StudyTrust, an organisation which supports university students. Read more on www.studytrust.co.za

She recently paid Eloise Pretorius a visit at Smile90.4FM, and shared her thoughts on why we have many reasons to be very positive about the future of our country.

Ruda also shared a memory of the day she got pranked on the TV show LOL (Lots Of Laughs).

Click on the video for the full story.

While all of the key winners in our Collect Your Key competition are undoubtedly deserving, Belinda Wreyfort who won on Smile Breakfast last Monday caught my attention for one particular reason.

While interviewing her, she mentioned that she didn’t have a car at the moment, and due to the bus strike, her teenage son was forced to walk the 20km home from school. While that in and of itself is not extraordinary, what is exceptional is the fact that said teenager was forced to do something most teenagers find anathema these days.

Belinda told Lindy and me that he told her something to the effect of … him understanding that times are hard at the moment and that she (his mom) should focus on getting back on her feet. She shouldn’t worry about him; he would get from school by himself. For most parents of teenagers who struggle to get them to just put the dirt bin out once a week, this is a breakthrough more significant than Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. For parents of teenagers, that theory equates to … the force with which teenagers exert themselves (let us call it “teen velocity”), is directly proportional and relative to the reward, with consequence equaling zero.

Back to my story, which I tell you not to illicit sympathy of any sort for Belinda. There are no doubt many millions of South Africans that find themselves in similar, if not worse circumstances. I tell you this story, because it touches on a topic that I have been writing and talking about a lot of late. I have been wrestling with the idea of privilege and entitlement; what exactly it all means and how I can balance it all out for my own children. You see, I come from what is euphemistically described as an economically depressed neighbourhood. Amongst friends, I simply call it the ghetto. I understood very early on that If I was going to make any sort of success of my life, I had to focus on a phrase that has since become my mantra – “You are not the sum of your circumstances, but the product of your experiences.” I like to think that I made it up myself, but in truth, it’s probably a hybrid of several quotes; the consequences of the self-help, pop-psychology sort of things I liked to read as a precocious teenager.

Anyway, my chief dilemma now is teaching my kids empathy, mindfulness, kindness, gratefulness, humility and respect, while also giving them the best that I am able to afford. This has led me to question whether giving them the best is in fact best for them.

My argument goes like this: When you get something of value that you didn’t have to work for, then you are unlikely to appreciate it. This goes for everything from take-out on Fridays to a visit to the cinema, holidays, attending a top-performing school or just an ice cream on a hot day. We parents love providing for and even spoiling our offspring every now and again. But it is also prudent to consider the impact each of our actions has on our kids; and how it may contribute to a sense of entitlement; that belief that they simply must have (and deserve) that thing that they want. It’s here that I believe that a frugal upbringing gives our children an advantage. It might be a terrible overstatement, but there’s much truth in the belief that hardship breeds resilience and a sense of industriousness so key to survival these days. So while Belinda’s son may have resented no one offering him a lift, forcing him to walk home, I would bet good money on the fact that it would’ve taught him a lesson he’s unlikely to ever forget. It’s tough – and maybe impossible – for parents to see their children suffer, so it’s unlikely we would ever deliberately force hardships upon them. But I don’t think there’s anything wrong with allowing circumstances to take its natural course and letting life happen. I like to remind myself every now and again that I am not raising children. I am raising someone’s husband and wife; someone’s mom and dad; someone’s employee or boss. So what kind of parent, colleague and partner am I sending out into the world? It’s a question that I reckon should occupy every parent’s mind a lot more than it probably does.

While we struggle with the daily domestic balancing act, the outside world isn’t exactly helping. With technology moving at the relentless pace that it does and the world seemingly becoming more superficial by the day. I would like to draw your attention to another favourite Youtube video of mine. This time it’s by Simon Sinek, one of those insightful gurus, who clearly gives these sorts of things a lot of thought. In the video below, he tackles the topic of millennials in the workplace and how the digital revolution has impacted on their expectations and their abilities, or lack thereof. It’s a fascination video that has been viewed nearby 10 million times and is sure to strike a chord with you. And while it is a dire situation, Simon concludes with hope in the form of solutions that require you getting involved. I would suggest that if you have a teenager in your life, take 15 minutes out of your day and watch this video with them. It may also just open up some doors of communication.