April 2015 – Mpophomeni Conservation Group
April 22, 2015 June 9, 2015 | penzmalinga
They approached the iNgonyama Trust and the iNkosi Zuma gave them a piece of land adjacent to the uMthinzima stream. The Zulu Mpophomeni Tourism Experience (ZMTE) assisted them with workshops and training. They identified a market for paprika and other spices and became affiliated with the Spice Association and purchased 35000 paprika seedlings which ZMTE paid for. They tilled the land and planted the seedlings and even had an irrigation system put in place. Unfortunately, because of the strong winds and floods not many of the plants survived. After the failure of the first effort and the lack of promised profit, half the volunteers quit. Since then, other volunteers have passed away and now, ten years later, only France Mtshali and Bongani Madela remain at Vuka Wenze co-operative.
Their vegetable plot is well fenced and has a big compost heap, barrels of manure tea brewing and lots and lots of vegetables in various stages of growth. On the edge is a pretty little office, a turquoise painted corrugated iron structure, were they hold meetings and change into their gardening gear. Fortunately, free roaming goats and cows (the bane of township gardens) can’t get in, but crows are a bother and Mr Mtshali quips “Scarecrows just don’t work!” He reckons they have plenty of snakes around too and they love eating the strawberries!
In summer they start at 5am, stop work in the fields to set up their stall on Mandela Drive at 11 and trade until six. In winter, work in the garden only starts at 7 and they close the stall at 4.30.The corrugated iron Vuka Wenza Stall attracts lots of passing trade on the main road into Mpophomeni, every afternoon.
“We could really use more young and vibrant volunteers. The perception that young people have that the elderly must work in the fields, is wrong” says Mr Mtshali, his friend Mr Makhathini adds, “The youth of today have become lazy and are allergic to hard work”.
They make most of their profit from leafy greens (imifino). Also popular are their pickled chillies, beans, and a variety of pumpkins, butternuts and squashes. They regularly donate some of their produce to the orphans. “All that is life comes from the soil. If you want to live long, live on greens and eat fresh, locally grown food.” he concludes.
uNobhamukwe – Wattled Crane – Bugeranus carunculatus
April 14, 2015 April 14, 2015 | Nikki Brighton
Nkanyiso Ndlela, Environmental Education Officer for the KZN Crane Foundation based in Nottingham Road wrote this article about endangered Wattled Cranes.
Lolu uhlobo lwenyoni yalapha eAfrica engasabonakali neze kulesikhathi samanje. Iyenye yezinyoni ezintathu ezinkulu zalapha e Africa okubalwa kuzo Indwa (Blue crane) eyaziwa njenge nyoni yesizwe salapha eningizimu Africa kanye nonoHemu (Grey crowned crane). Lenyoni iyona enkulukazi kunalezi ezinye kanti ithembele kakhulu emaxhaphozini kanye nasezindaweni eziyisikhotha lapho kunotshani khona obuyimvelo ukuze izalele iphinde ithole khona ukudla okuyizinkalanka, izimpande, izinambuzane, amaqabunga, njalonjalo. Lezinyoni ziyabonakala nakulamazwe, iNamibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe njalonjalo.
Wattled Cranes by Pat Cahill
Ucwaningo luyaveza ukuthi loluhlobo lwalenyoni inani lazo beselehle kakhulu eningizimu Africa ngenxa yokuphazamiseka kwendawo lapho ziphila khona kanye nokungcoliseka kwamaxhaphozi. kodwa ngokubambisana nabezolimo kwe EWT (Endangered Wildlife Trust), (EKZNW) Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, (KZNCF) KwaZulu Natal Crane Foundation kanye nezinye izinhlangano ezibhekelela zinakekele imvelo, imiphumela emihle iyabonakala.
Ngale kobuhle bazo. Lezinyoni zihlonishwa kakhulu ngokuba abazali abaqotho emachwaneni azo njengoba zibambisana kusukela zakha isidleke kuya ekukhulisweni kwama chwane kungenako ukuthi khona umsebenzi kaMama noma okaBaba. Ziphinde zibe isibonelo esihle sothando nokuthembeka njengoba masezikhethene azihlukani ziphila impilo yazo yonke zibambisene ebudlelwaneni, okungamangazi ke ukuthi ziphila iminyaka eminingi elinganiselwa kwengaphezulu kwama shumi amabili nanhlanu (25). Okusobala ke ukuthi sikhona isifundo esingasifunda kulezinyoni kakhulukazi ukuthembeka ebudlelwaneni kanye nokuba abazali abaqotho.
Wattled Crane pair and chick by Crystelle Wilson
Umphakathi nawo uyanxuswa ukuthi ubambisane nalezinhlangano ekunakekeleni nokungalimazi lezinyoni. Uma kwenzeka uyibona lapho zitholakala khona uyacelwa ukuba ujabulele ubuhle bayo ngokuyibuka nje ngaphandle kokufuna kuyibamba okanye ukubamba ichwane lazo noma ukuthatha amaqanda azo. Uma kwenzeka uyibona endaweni lapho ilimele okanye ifile. Uyacelwa ukuba wazise laba abalandelayo. Asibambisaneni ukuvikela invelo yethu ukuze nentsha yakusasa bayijabulele lenvelo iphinde izuze ngayo.
Wattled Crane in flight by Crystelle Wilson
Nkanyiso Ndlela Environmental Education Officer KZN Crane Foundation 073 927 3212 charlesthechameleon@gmail.com
Tel: 083 394 7476
Tel: 033 845 1449
Tel: 011 372 3600