Nothemba (which means Hope in Xhosa)

22

Social Worker

Gugulethu, South Africa

33? 58.909'S

18? 34.293'E



Gugulethu is a township 15 km from Cape Town. The name is a contraction of igugu lethu, which is Xhosa for our pride. Guguletu, was established in the 1960s due to the overcrowding of Langa Township, which was the only black residential area for Cape Town at the time. During the Apartheid era black South Africans were not permitted to live in Cape Town.

Nothemba was born in Gugulethu in 1987. She did not chose to live here, but her mother moved to District Six from the Transkei (an independent homeland), and was later removed by the authorities. She then settled in Gugulethu.

Nothemba is what may be termed a 'backyard deweller' and is housed in a 'bungalow' or 'Wendy House' as they are known locally. These are wooden sheds located in the back yard of a house that is occupied by the 'landlord', with up to 6 other bungalows in the same backyard. These are serviced with electricity fed from the main house and share a single common toilet.

She lives with her mother, but there are 5 other families living in the yard dwellings.

Nothemba works in Khayelitsha and catches a train and taxi to work.

By walking or sometimes using an Amaphela (or cockroach), which is an un-licensed taxi. The vehicles are 'family saloon' type cars (normmally a Toyota Cressida) but are in poor state of repair, and most drivers do not carry a legitimate driverís licence.

Nothemba lives in a friendly and vibrant community, where all people are known to each other in her local sector of Gugulethu. She is very popular, in particular with the young men who are always in pursuit of her. This is not a gated community and it is not uncommon to leave doors and windows open. Everyone knows everyone else, and if it is always noticed if a stranger is walking down the road.

Since she is dedicated to her work as a Social Worker, and works mainly with babies orphened by HIV parents, Nothemba spends most of her time with these children, and other Social Workers. After hours, she has a few girl friends from her high school.

No, she has never left South Africa.

She travels to Umtata in the Transkei with her mother every Christmas to visit her grandmother.

She travelled to Johannesburg with her mother when she was 12 years old. Her mother was looking for work.

Nothemba would like to visit Paris to see the Eifel Tower. She saw this on the local television soap opera called 7delaan.

She understands the basics of good nutrition, but does not always practice this. She likes to eat traditional township food, which comprises mainly of meat, mielie pap (corn based) and rice. Her mother has a small patch of ground in the back yard where she grows vegetables.

Her favourite meal is Amathumpa (or tripe). There is nothing she would like to try.

She has a Bachelors Degree in Social Science specialising in Social Work.

R4500- (equivalent of £340)

A brand new television set

She has grown up with not having material possetions, but would like to live a comfortable life and improve her situation by one day moving into an 'RDP' (reconstruction development plan) house.

Low compared to 1st world standards. (i.e. she catches a train and taxi to work, has parrafin cooking in her house, watches television).

Nothemba plays club hockey for the Gugulethu 2nd team.

PINK

She listens to Kwaito. This is a style of music can be described as an evolution of house music, combined with African sounds. These are at a slower tempo and often containes catchy and melodic percussive loop samples, with deep basslines and vocals. It has some similarity with Hip Hop and Rap but with a distinctive feature is the manner in which the lyrics are often shouted, blabbered and /or chanted.



Her favourite bands are: Zola, Mandoza, Mzekezeke, Brown Dash

She does not read books

Nothemba has limited access to technology because of cost barriers. She has a television, DVD player and Cell Phone.

Her cell phone.

She is caring, kind, sympathetic to other peoples needs, has integrity and is loyal.

She had a very difficult upbringing, her mother was a domestic servent on low wages but managed to pay for her schooling.

Strengths: she is passionate about her work, is generous, kind, has a desire to improve



Weeknesses: she takes on too much, and likes bad boys

Nothemba has been offered an exchange programme with her University sponsor - which was an NGO based in Copenhagen, Denmark. She has been invited to work in the field with Social Workers in Copenhagen for a month.

Children, friends in Gugulethu and her Church.

As above...

She believes in equal opportunity and the betterment of her people.