Youth dance-off in traditional style
still have to prepare it, which could mean renovating it and setting up an IT system. So they still have a long way to go, and I strongly doubt they will be able to do that within a month,” said Marike Keller, a policy development and advocacy specialist at Sonke Gender Justice.
Keller said something similar to what happened to the Refugee Reception office in Port Elizabeth could happen.
On June 15 a site hand-over, from Public Works to the Department of Home Affairs, took place at the future location of the Port Elizabeth Refugee Reception Office.
The Director General of Home Affairs, Mkuseli Apleni, said that services would only start in October.
Cory Johnson from the Scalabrini Centre said: “Well we hope they wrap up this process quickly and get this done in a timely manner, and we hope that they communicate everything with us.”
The Supreme Court of Appeal found the decision to close the Cape Town refugee reception office “substantively unlawful and irrational” and required the department to reopen and maintain a fully functional office in the Cape Town metropolitan area by March 31, and to provide monthly reports on its progress in complying with the order. THIRTEEN traditional dance projects gathered together in Langa to participate in the Umbiyozo Foundation Traditional Youth Dance-Off competition.
The friendly competition was hosted by the Umbiyozo Foundation and included top performing troupes, who form part of the foundation that offered supervision and support they need to secure funding and attract paid performing opportunities.
About 400 dancers arrived at the competition in traditional African attire and face-paint to compete for the top six spots.
Judges were wowed with African fusion dances and choral singing. Likhwezi Arts from Nyanga, Proud Youngstar Dancers from Langa and the Siyazama Cultural Group from Khayelitsha emerged as the top three.
Other top groups who made it to the finale of the day included Buyelekhaya Traditional Dancers, the Ingcongolo Arts and Cultural Group and the Masizakhe Youth Arts Project.
“Umbiyozo is an umbrella for many community projects, for kids who do traditional song and dance after school. We want to help unite all groups in pursuit of youth development, youth empowerment and education. We focus on revenue-generating elements to bring more opportunities for these groups by getting people to hire the groups to perform at corporate events and have a more meaningful impact in their lives,” said Jason Woolf from the foundation.
The groups will be included in a collaborative 2018 Heritage Day Concert and will receive developmental opportunities.
To find out more about the foundation, visit their website at www. umbiyozo.org
UMBIYOZO IS AN UMBRELLA FOR COMMUNITY PROJECTS, FOR KIDS WHO DO TRADITIONAL SONG AND DANCE AFTER SCHOOL