Walking as an Alternative Mode of Transport in the Informal Sector

Within the informal transport sector in Durban, it is clear to see that many people use walking and some use cycling as an alternative to motor vehicles and other forms of transport. With a bit of research and fieldwork, it has been found that the majority of people who do walk or use bicycles as an alternative mode of transport, do so due to financial constraints, however some people also walk and cycle due to the fact that there is a lack of transport systems such as taxi’s or buses in their area. Although these modes (walking and cycling) are cheaper alternatives, they do come with various risks and dangers.

Some of these risks and dangers include muggings, kidnappings, and these pedestrians and cyclists, these incidents have in many cases even led to death. An interview was conducted with Sibaphiwe Cele. She is 23 years old, with two children aged three and five and lives in Destiny court flats, near the Wheel shopping centre. She explained that she has no other option but to walk to her little stall where she sells confectionary items such as sweets and chips at the bus terminal opposite The Workshop, in Durban’s CBD. She explained that the taxi from her place of residence to the Workshop costs five rand a trip. That would mean her transport would cost her approximately 33% of her daily turnover. This is a fairly large portion of ones salary and she expresses that she simply cannot afford this. She has been the victim of a mugging twice since the year has begun and she fears being knocked by drunken drivers on weekends. This therefore shows just how dangerous walking can be.

Thus it is vital that the government should take various measures to ensure that the public are educated and are therefore safe from harm. Government officials should go into these areas where walking as a mode of transport is prevalent, and educate pedestrian about using pedestrian bridges and wearing bright colored clothing especially when walking at night. Also, since many deaths occur due to pedestrians walking on the freeway, they should be informed that this action is illegal and can be fined, and the government should make sure, that for the safety of pedestrians, these laws are enforced.

In many areas, the availability of transport systems are very poor. This could be due to the small demand for transport in an area or due to the ongoing strikes which have been occurring over the past two years. Small though the demand may be, there are people who do require public transport, and this facility is not being made available to them, which then forces them to either walk or cycle.

The danger involved in cycling is mainly being knocked by motorists. Many cyclists fear this as there has been much publicity about such accidents. These accidents can be attributed to the fact that cycling is not promoted by the government and this is shown in that there is only one cyclists lane throughout the whole of the greater Durban area, located near the Moses Mabhida Stadium. The fact that cycling isn’t emphasized shows the lack of diversity in terms of transport promotion and utilization.

Culture in Durban

There are a number of ethnic groups in South Africa; these include Sesotho, Xhosa and Ndebele, among others however the ethnic group or cultures which are dominant in Kwa-Zulu Natal are the Zulus. The Zulu people have a distinct culture that distinguishes them from other ethnic groups.
During each year, they hold ceremonies that revive their culture and tradition such as the Reed Dance festival. The Reed dance is an activity that promotes purity among virgin girls and respect for young women. The festival is part of the annual festivities on the calendar of the Zulu nation. During the Reed dance, the virgins fetch the reeds from the river and bring them to the palace for the royal king, King Goodwill Zwelithini to inspect. It was during this festival that the Zulu King chose his youngest wife.
Shaka Zulu who is known as the most powerful king is the creator of the Zulu nation. What also distinguishes the Zulu people is the traditional dress of women, which mostly includes beadwork. Men’s traditional clothing consists mainly of cowhide that is used to cover the bottom front and back. Although the culture is not practiced as widely as it has been in the past, there are a number of cultural villages celebrating the Zulu culture, especially in Kwa-Zulu Natal. One such cultural village is PheZulu where visitors get the chance to savour the taste and feel the rhythm of Africa. Visitors are taken into traditional beehive shaped huts where the various artifacts, beliefs and rituals are explained and a traditional dancing show is performed and followed by a meal of traditional delicacies.
The Indian culture of South Africa is one of the most notable and dominant cultures in South Africa, especially in Durban. South African Indian culture began in 1860 when the first immigrants arrived on board the Truro as indentured labourers to work on sugarcane farms in present day KwaZulu-Natal. Despite the history, Indian foods are some of the most talked about dishes, and it is the topic of food which makes the main mark in the Indian culture.
South African Indian culture has produced food loved by most South Africans. While they stick mostly to traditional recipes, one of the most renowned dishes in South Africa is the half-loaf of bread stuffed with curry known as bunny-chow. The cuisine of India is thus characterized by sophisticated and subtle use of various spices, herbs and other vegetables grown in India.
There are various places where people and tourists can visit in order to learn the many things about Indians. One such place is the Indian market in Chatsworth, Durban. Here, tourists can see and taste the different foods and experience a truly Indian culture. There is also Indian music and many other Indian specials.

The Afrikaans Dutch culture in South Africa originated when Jan Van Riebeeck landed with his Dutch settlers in the Cape in 1652. Since then, we have seen the Afrikaans community spread far and wide around South Africa. Afrikaans families are most commonly known for their contribution in the agriculture industry and the trade industry. The Afrikaans culture is a strong culture that has its common traits with the love of Rugby (one of South Africa's national sports) and the traditional “Braai-Vleis” or “Boerewors” which roughly translates to “Barbeque meat” and “farmers sausage” respectively.
During apartheid, the Afrikaans led National Party was responsible for implementation of the apartheid system, a dark time of racial oppression in South Africa. Today, the Afrikaans community is known for its conservativeness and high regard for moral values, even though the stigma surrounding apartheid still follows them.

Expectations for the Soccer World Cup 2010

Many people in South Africa have great expectations of the soccer world cup which will be held in South Africa in 2010. One of the most notable expectations is that of job opportunities. South Africa has been facing a great deal of job losses recently as a result of the waning economy, and people are therefore looking forward to the 2010 world cup as they have anticipations of this event, providing an ideal opportunity for people to overcome the problem of poverty and various other problems being experienced. There are expected job opportunities in various sectors and through various phases of planning and preparation for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. People are expecting an assortment of job availabilities in volunteering, construction, in the tourism industry, in the transport sector, in informal vending.
In terms of volunteering jobs, these jobs will be available mainly during the course of the event. Advertisements have already been put forward to the public, calling for people to take part in tasks such as waste management, participation or performance within the event and ticket marshals. There is a necessity for the participation of these volunteers because this allows for opportunities not only for the corporate sector but also the general public and also allows for social integration. These volunteer jobs are aimed mostly at the youth and they can be expected to be paid a daily income of around R80.00 for certain jobs.
Construction is an extremely important part of the preparation process of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. A number of reputable Engineering companies have been employed to undertake the task of mainly building or refurbishing the various Stadiums that will be used for the soccer matches throughout the World Cup. The companies that have been contracted to build these stadiums were able to employ thousands of people collectively creating a livelihood for many and therefore improving the lives of many locals.
With the influx of tourists and foreign exchange many people have become interested in opening small businesses such as curio shops, bed and breakfasts and private taxi services. This could boost the private sector of the economy, although the risks involved with these small businesses are that there is no guarantee that these businesses will succeed and generate a profit because of competition with well known hotels and already established and professional, government transport services.
Lastly, apart from numerous other opportunities, informal vending is often seen as one of the easiest ways for the informal sector to make a living. In the past there have been vendors around many tourist attractions, some of these people have been cleared away however it is thought that there will be an influx of vendors during the world cup. Many people with the intentions of vending around the stadiums are however unaware of the perimeter restriction which they will be faced with. These will prohibit them from selling their goods within a certain distance from the stadium which will be a hindrance to them.
Although there are many opportunities for the people of South Africa involved in the formal and informal sectors of the economy before and during the 2010 Soccer World Cup, there still remains those who may be left disadvantaged. However, the 2010 Soccer World Cup can provide many job opportunities for South Africa, and if properly planned, can in turn diminish many of the past injustices which people still face today, thus creating better livelioods for all.

Final Essay Link

file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/207518452/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.IE5/OL2ZOTY7/Internet_Studies_Final_Essay%5B1%5D.html

Final Movie Project

Dignity

Dignity to me means respect. It is in itself an entity that we all possess, it is innate. The dignity one may posess is self respect. This can be explained by the fact that it is commonly said that people who behave in ways that are seen as abnormal are often said to have no dignity. for example prositutes whose behaviour is a social anomoly could be seen as people who disrespect themselves or their bodies.

Dignity can be related to pride. Often times when people are forced into situations that they feel uncomfortable in they are asked what they have to lose and their answer is their DIGNITY. Here we could use the example of beggers. it is the type of thing that one really has to "put their pride in their pocket" in order to do.

Dignity is a basic human right because that every person is entitled to based on basic principel that everyone is equal. Every person deserves the respet and consideration of their fellow human being. We all have intrinsic value.