Celani Sikhakhane brings you KwaZulu-Natal’s latest news.
Durban: Women informal traders who depend on their hands and eyesight to earn a living have received new glasses after poor vision started hurting their businesses.
The women make and sell clothes, beads, traditional garments and other products on Durban’s streets and along the city’s beaches.
But some had been struggling to continue their work because their eyesight was getting worse.
The glasses were handed over on Wednesday during a Women’s Month gathering organised by the KwaZulu-Natal Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa at the Music House in Durban.
Ubumbano Traders chairperson Mama Khuboni said the women approached the federation’s KwaZulu-Natal chairperson, Prince Thokozani “Tzozo” Zulu, for help.
Some of the traders had developed eyesight problems because of old age while others were affected by diabetes.
The problems made it harder for them to make the products they rely on for an income.
“As traders we sew clothes, beads, traditional garments and other stuff and sell it on the streets of Durban and along the beaches in the city,” Khuboni said.
“But some of us are no longer performing well on our craft because of the eye problem.”
She said Prince Thokozani approached Gift of the Givers for assistance.
“That is why today we look beautiful in our new stylish eyeglasses,” Khuboni said.
Prince Thokozani said the federation wanted to help the older women because they are also part of the creative industry.
He said the creative industry was not only about performing artists.
eThekwini: eThekwini residents have been warned to prepare for strong winds and dangerous waves along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline.
The South African Weather Service issued Level 2 warnings for damaging winds and waves.
The dangerous conditions are expected from Thursday afternoon until the early hours of Friday, 28 August.
eThekwini is among the areas expected to be badly affected.
Southerly to south westerly winds of between 30km/h and 40km/h are expected along the coast.
Gusts could reach 70km/h.
Waves are expected to reach between four and 4.5 metres.
The conditions could bring down trees, damage infrastructure and disrupt transport.
The eThekwini Municipality has urged residents to remain alert and take precautions.
uMsinga: Hard working farmers in uMsinga have caught the attention of the KwaZulu-Natal government for their contribution to the local agricultural economy.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli and members of his executive visited communal gardens in the area on Tuesday as part of Operation Sukuma Sakhe.
Ntuli handed over farming equipment, crops and seedlings to help local farmers grow their operations.
The Premier also met members of Community Policing Forums.
He praised them for their work fighting crime and protecting communities across uMsinga.
The visit also brought a boost for people struggling with poor connectivity in rural areas.
Ntuli unveiled digital towers in uMsinga as part of efforts to improve connectivity and give residents better access to information.
Pictured above: Informal traders in Durban received new glasses during Women’s Month celebrations.
Image source: Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa
