Page 13 - KZN Business Sense Vol.3 No.1

KZN

KwaZulu-Natal
Business Chambers Council

THE BEST HOUSE YOU COULD LIVE IN

T he White House Community space constraints, the White House • Brickforce
Centre situated in the Valley
has often had to turn away people.
• Windows
of a 1000 Hills, Inanda Valley
is a non -profit organisation that In December 2016, The White • Bricks - 14MPA - (14500)
• Block (8 000)
cares for more than 70 abandoned, House Community Care Centre • Four rolls x 250 micron plastic
disabled and mentally challenged, received a large anonymous 3m x 30m
cerebral palsied children and adults overseas donation of over R48 500
of all races. Most of the residents to construct new accommodation. In addition, once the residence
are referred by social welfare offices Chili truly believes that, “There is completed, the White House will
at King Edward, RK Khan and truly are miracles happening here also require hospital beds,
Clairwood Hospitals. every day”. mattresses, pillows and linen.
Founder of the home, Russell On the 30th January, the White All financial contributions are
Sthe Chili, when asked why he House Community Care Centre very welcome. Meeting the daily
chose the name, replied “Because started digging the foundation for costs of feeding the residents and
in America, that's the best house the double storey new building, the various demands of the centre
you could live in, and that's what which will accommodate a further through the supply of goods such
we are here”. 50 residents. as nappies, medicines, cleaning
materials etc is endless and costly.
Adele Walters, one of the Walters said, “We rely solely on
directors of the Centre said, “We donations from companies and the If you would like to donate
are the only facility of this kind in private sector. As you can imagine anything building related, goods
KwaZulu-Natal, so we get calls our list of requirements is never or financial, the banking and
daily to take more residents. We ending. Our current building wish contact details are on the website
are even getting requests from list comprises: www.thewhitehousesouthafrica.
Gauteng!” org.za or email
• Cement (400 pockets) thewhitehouseinanda@gmail.com Right wall up to slab level
However, due to resource and • BRC Mesh (two rolls) or Adele on 083 461 1415.

GOOD FOR THE

ENVIRONMENT AND

CREATING JOBS

R iparian areas - the strip of providing skills and training to the
land on either side of a river
local community.
- are an important element
of healthy rivers. They provide A team of individuals have been
essential habitats for wildlife while employed to work on the
also acting as buffers between rehabilitation of the riparian zone
upland areas and open water. itself. These people clear the
Having the correct plants in place floodplain tract on either side of
assists in filtering pollutants from the banks of the river using the
the water and provides a barrier to “chop and drop” method: the alien
erosion. The shade afforded by the vegetation is chopped down and
vegetation helps to reduce water left on the ground in place. This
temperatures which, in turn, leads saves on the cost of removal and,
to better oxygen levels to support perhaps more importantly, the cut
aquatic animals. material left on the ground makes
an excellent mulch for the newly
“Years of human settlement, planted indigenous species while
including sugar cane farming, have also suppressing weed growth. It
left the banks of the Ohlanga River specifically isn't burnt as this would
in Cornubia degraded and filled be a waste of perfectly good
with alien plants,” notes Bongani nutrients for the soil.
Gumede, Corporate Director of
Tongaat Hulett Developments. In addition, the local community
“We recognise the importance of is to be involved in growing the
a healthy riparian zone and for this desired indigenous plants.
reason, we have teamed up with Members are to be trained in the
Wildlands Conservation Trust to cultivation of the specific plants
rehabilitate the stretches of land on that will restore health and balance
either side of the river.” as well as increase the biodiversity
of the floodplain.
“By removing the alien
vegetation and replacing it with A clear benefit in the initial stages
indigenous flora,” adds David of this initiative is the ready market
Moldenhauer, Strategic Manager - for the indigenous plants. Those
Technical Support of Wildlands working on the restoration team
“we can restore the valuable habitat will hopefully use the stimulated
to its original state.” But it's not productivity gain out of this
just any indigenous plants which initiative as a springboard to
are used. Thorough research has undertaking other productive
been undertaken to ensure that the activities.
correct historic plants - those which
used to be in this location before “Tongaat Hulett is serious about
the sugar cane fields - are planted. harnessing the capacity of the local
This is the best way to ensure that community and about creating a
the correct biosphere of both flora sustainable ecosystem as well as
and fauna is created. social environment,” concludes
Gumede. “This is only the
On top of this, the Wildlands beginning of a far larger
project is not only aimed at undertaking.”
environmental restoration. The
initiative is also creating jobs and

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