Newsletter 08091011 (2)

Newsletters-2022

Newsletter 08- Sep

Heritage Day

v“-laedcaAWd“rfikotanneWpnfiehnnyeoacrjaeesueffdiortdldon,tiwsvidocescrwdteoiumntidrtdarce,ulehabneettwsrsdlauoridosaaiefitrSdd,im,nltamrthekaipdslsafananalthohteikibrdtoenndoenkibeuwtdeeretiPtenyioiHnsmeqlrirtc;gdnaeeaiueaawtxogscdHgorhiucceitiifekdutaeestiorrrheaneerylraoheusiagndottmnarwadtieaotewsecrnegetfmNaeDtwlahade
hetlkeapotliehdpenyDcnliyacseogra-saeaaroreoonetttapwytsnlrefniechathuooodieMhcytnsenuagfht.totosgd”a.noe1oa”saflnodud9ettertodfor9seopghwued6coauoriplrsiuh,iavgwrvsanlmogeaietrresaosriuitainrlcnetaoirdohisktmelonseftoeo.eaneoatWbfhlntahnfunhynedlleetredelotpshnse-

The 24th of September marks ‘Shaka Day’ or ‘Shaka’s Day’,
a day which commemorates the legendary King Shaka
Zulu. Shaka Zulu played an important role in uniting
different Zulu clans into one cohesive Zulu nation in Kwa-
Zulu Natal. Each year, thousands of people gather at King
Shaka’s grave to pay tribute to him and to honour his
memory.
When the New South African Parliament omitted Shaka
Day from the proposed Public Holidays Bill, the Inkatha
Freedom Party (IFP), a South African political party with a
large Zulu membership, objected.
Eventually, a compromise was reached, and it was decided
that a national holiday would be created where South
Africans of all cultures and creeds could come together
and celebrate their diverse cultural heritage.

Today, September 24th is a day that celebrates South
Africa’s roots, their rich, vibrant, and diverse cultures.
South Africa is called the ‘‘Rainbow Nation’’ due to its
colour and diversity, and this is why Heritage Day exists. Its
goal is to nurture and embrace South African culture for
what it truly is, accepting all races and genders.
In true South African spirit, DITSELA celebrated this day by
getting all dressed up in different traditional attires and
sharing a warm; traditional meal together

WC Casual Day

Casual Day is South Africa’s leading fundraising
& awareness campaign for persons with
disabilities and is the flagship project of the
National Council of and for Persons with
Disabilities (NCPD).

Launched in 1995, Casual Day is an awareness
and fundraising campaign benefiting Persons
with Disabilities. Each year, South Africans are
encouraged to go to work or school dressed
differently – either dress up or dress down – and
to wear the official Casual Day sticker and
merchandise to show their support for Persons
with Disabilities.

The campaign encourages the public to
contribute financially through a small donation of
R20 for a sticker, and at the same time lobbies for
the full inclusion and equity of Persons with
Disabilities. So, not only does Casual Day raise
funds, but it also raises awareness of the
challenges and potential of the community in a
fun way!
This year, the NCPD celebrated their 28th Casual
Day on Friday, September 2nd, 2022, under the
theme #ICelebrateSA in an effort to spark a
discussion about everything that was going well
for everyone and our nation. Our DITSELA
Western Cape office dressed up and joined in on
the festivities.

[Article Ref: https://casualday.co.za/2022-theme/]

LABOUR LAW
CROASDSVEOXCAAMCIYNA&TION


During the month of September

DITSELA hosted their National Labour
Law: Advocacy & Cross Examination
Short Course. Thirty-four (34)
shopstewards attended the training,
representing a variety of provinces
and federations. The overall goal of
this session is to explore the role of a
union advocate, and legal
representation rights; to practice
preparing and leading evidence in
arbitration cases and at the Labour
Court and to further identify
appropriate questions to ask without
jeopardising the case of the member.
Comrades learnt how to apply the rule
of evidence (amongst other things)
and had the opportunity to display
their knowledge/ newly gained skills
through intensive role-play.
It was a lovely and productive week.
We would like to express our gratitude
to everyone who helped make this
week a huge success and a special
thank you to Mr. Jabu Mashishi,
DITSELA’s friend, who facilitated the
programme with great diligence.

Women and Others Forms of

Oppression


The year is quickly drawing to an end and thus we have already

reached the 6th module of the 2021/2022 TUPQ. It begun on the 19th
of September until the 23rd of September at the School of Governance
seminar room at the University of Western Cape premises.
The five-day module had 31 students partake in it, where three
managed to join online via Google-meets. It was led by Ditsela’s very
own Grishelda Hartman who has extensive background in academia,
but more specifically on gender studies in the workplace.

Thus, the objectives for Module 6, which was on Women and Other
Forms of Oppression, were focused on gender, discrimination, class
and race in the workplace. Dedicated in identifying these concepts in
the workplace and how they may have an influence in the struggles one
may face in the workplace.
Additionally, students were also given the tools to construct proposals
through interrogating different research methods in academia. This all
will give them the necessary tools to implement this too in the
workplace.

The skills learnt during this period were very important to explore, as
the world moves to a more conscious and industrial space in the
workplace. We need to be conscious of who we are and who the people
around us are as we fight oppression and discrimination to create a
safe and effective workplace.

R&D

During September
12th-16th 2022,

DITSELA Workers
Education Institute

had its mid-year
evaluation process
called; Research and
Development (R&D)
where it took stalk of
evaluating the whole

organisation;
programmes, human
resources and finance.

This is where the
organisation`s work is
critiqued thoroughly

and qualitatively, to
make fair assessment
of its performance. A

lovely and healthy
week was had, filled

with much
deliberation, health

checks from
Discovery, and

educational
presentations on
subjects including
mental health.

Newsletter 09-Oct

Breast Cancer
Awareness Month

The incidence of breast cancer among South African women is

increasing and it is one of the most common cancers among
women in South Africa. It is the most prevalent cancer amongst
white and Asian women and the second most common cancer

among black and coloured women.



Facts about breast cancer:
Early detection of the condition can lead to effective
treatment and a positive prognosis. About 90% of patients
survive for many years after diagnosis when breast cancer is
detected at the early stages.
Regular self-breast examination and regular mammograms
are key to early detection.
Presenting yourself early for treatment may result in more
effective treatment, leading to a reduction in pain and
suffering and a significant decrease in the loss of life.



The designation of October as "Breast Cancer Awareness Month"
in South Africa reflects a nationwide drive by public and private

healthcare structures to raise awareness of this debilitating
disease across all races and class structures



Article Reference: [https://www.gov.za/BreastCancerAwarenessMonth2022]

Negotiation Skills:
Strategy & Tactics, Disclosure of Information

During the month of September DITSELA hosted their Negotiation Skills:
Strategy & Tactics, Disclosure of Information National Short course. Thirty-
four (34) shopstewards attended the training, representing a variety of
provinces and federations. The overall goal of this short course is to explore
different strategies and tactics in negotiations, help union negotiators to be
more effective; to develop skills in gathering and analysing financial and
other forms of information, and to build the confidence of negotiators and
help them to use information more effectively.

Our shopstewards displayed their new found knowledge and skills through
role plays where they were tasked with developing arguments in favour of
unions policies. By the end of the week, our 34 shopstewards who walked in
through our doors almost clueless, walked out our doors with confidence
that they could represent their members and negotiate their way out of any
given situation.

Administration Development
Course

After ten long years, Ditsela Western Cape had finally
run an Administrator Development Course. The four-day
course started on the 11th of October until the 14th of
October 2022 at the University of Western Cape grounds
in Bellville.
From day one, the excitement was felt in the room by
over 34 administrators from different Union offices
around the Western Cape, Cape Town region. They
joined us for a full packed four-day course focused on
sharpening their skills as key players in the union offices.

Each administrator, from those who have been doing this
for 3 weeks to those who have been administrators for
over 12 years, all came to refine and shape on their skills
as union administrators. The focus being the ability to
fully understand the purpose, value and challenges
within the trade union movement. In hopes that indeed
they will be provided with the practical skills needed to
run an effective and efficient union as administrators.

The administers left the course with rich knowledge of
the values within a union. Especially, where there was a
need to improve office management when it comes to
office systems and filling done on a daily basis.

Administration Development
Course

Furthermore, they were able to harness their skills by
learning the ability to fill in CCMA referral forms which is
a critical document for one to familiarize themselves
with as an administrator who is faced with these
challenges on a daily basis.
With help from Ditsela’s very own experienced
administrator who was facilitating the course, Gcinaphi
Dlamini who came down from Johannesburg, they were
in good hands as they were able to feed off her vast
knowledge, skills and experience within this field. They
were also blessed with guests from NULAW, Karen
Manuels, Renechia Abrahams, who highlighted to them
the importance of their role in the union during these
constant political changes that are taking place in the
political sphere.

Overall a successful four days were held, with
participants begging for more and leaving the course
with refined skills to build and progress their members
and Union as a whole as valued members in the
movement towards creating a ‘Pathway for a Strong
Labour Movement’.

Newsletter 10- Nov

Director's Note

They say all good things must come
to an end. I truly hope next year will be
as exciting and enjoyable as you have
made this year to be for this
organization. You have earned a
special place in the labour movement
because you have selflessly empowered
them your footprints will never be
forgotten.

DITSELA would like to thank you all
for your valued support, trust and
loyalty in 2022. We wish you and your
families an abundantly peaceful and
joyful festive season and a prosperous
New Year. Looking forward to seeing
you in 2023.

Ntsilo Molumaele (Mr.)
DITSELA Exceutive Director

Over the past three months, the organization has held four
Siyakhuluma seminars in total; two of which being national
Siyakhuluma seminars held online on 23rd September &
18th November 2022 with topics: Depiction of Women in SA
History- Is it justifiable? and Elections in Brazil: The meaning
of Lula’s second coming for the global South respectively,
and one held physically on October 28th 2022; under the
topic: Public Transport in SA: Through the Eyes of the Four
Revolutions (the first of its kind since the Covid-19
pandemic).

Our Western Cape office also held a seminar on 02nd
December 2022 under the topic: ILO CONVENTION 190: Why is
C190 so ground-breaking? What role can & should the
Labour Movement play in the implementation of C190? What
are the lessons/ challenges for the Labour Movement? This
was held both physically and online.

We were fortunate enough to have well renounced speakers
such as Fasiha Hassan- Provincial chair for the Economic
Development (Gauteng), Professor Mondli Hlatshwayo- An
associate Professor (Labour Studies & Worker Education) as
well as Benjamin Fogel- a P.H.D. candidate in Latin American
History at New York University and contributing editor to
‘Africa is A Country’ editorial collective; and Cde. Ntombi
Ndlovu who is a SACCAWU NGC Member and Regional
Gender Co-Ordinator amongst many others; give powerful
insights on the topics at hand which ultimately led to
participants deeply unpacking the respective topics;
reasons for it and possible solutions.

Thank You! Thank
You! Thank You!

DITSELA appreciates the kind donation made by Cde.
Bobby Maree; a founding member of our staff, and his

partner Shamin.
A large number of books were donated to us on
November 11th, 2022. We are overjoyed and very
appreciative of their ongoing support. We are confident
that these books will continue to provide a wealth of
knowledge and inspiration for many. Once again, we

appreciate your donation.

ETDP Seta and DITSELA Workers
Initiated Programme

DITSELA and ETDP Seta partnered up on a programme called
ETDP Seta and DITSELA Workers Initiated Programme: One
in empowerment of public sector unions with trade union
leadership skills as the pilot project in the area of sector where
the first leg of the programme ran in the city of roses,
Mangaung, (meaning "place of cheetahs) otherwise known as,
Bloemfontein on 22nd – 25th November 2022 and the second
in the diamond city; Kimberly on 28th November – 2nd
December 2022.

Arbitration Skills, Dispute and Dismissals, and Negotiations:
Strategy and Tactics/Disclosure of Information were the three
4-day short courses that ran parallel.
It was indeed a wonderful and hugely successful week.

Keeping safe during this festive
season

The festive season is upon us! After such a long couple of months we all cannot
wait to just kickback and enjoy this extremely exciting and joyful time. However, it
is important to remember to stay safe. Here are a number festive safety tips for
you, which will make your holiday season that much safer and more enjoyable.

Some tips to stay safe during the festive season:
If you are traveling an unfamiliar route, make sure to plan your route properly ahead of
time.
Try to avoid back roads as much as possible.
Always be aware of your surroundings.
Be aware that shopping malls will be crowded plan accordingly.
Park in well lit areas at night.
Never give lifts to strangers.
Always have a map of the area on you.
Be aware of the emergency numbers just in case.
Do not carry around large sums of money.
More basic safety tips to consider:
Be extremely careful on the roads.
Keep valuable items concealed.
Be aware of strangers.
It is always better to travel in groups.
Do your own research.
Keep your car doors locked at all times.
Always be sure to have certified identification on you.
Keep your important items locked up in a safe at home or at your hotel.

Overall the festive season is a fun and happy time. The sun is shining, summer is
here and there are plenty of magical memories to be made. Please consider these
safety tips in order to keep, you and your loved ones safe. Happy festive season!

Article Ref:
https://www.intergate-immigration.com/blog/festive-safety-tips-for-south-africa/

Article Ref: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestcoloringpagesforkids.com%2Fchristmas-crossword-
puzzles.html&psig=AOvVaw0fydpBonuaVshpdCS_6SbZ&ust=1667379247774000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA4QjhxqFwoTCLD-8O_NjPsCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAX

Birthdays

Look who we're celebrating...

Grischelda Khanyi
23 October 10 October

Nelereng Viwe
31 October 30 December

Hip Hip Hoorays to you! We hope you've had/have yourselves

a wonderful day and wish you many more years to come!

Make sure never to miss out on what's new with
DITSELA

Visit our website: www.ditsela.org.za

011 492 0302
021 959 2581

[email protected]

@DitselaBasebenzi