Archived News

thewit — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 11:00:34 +0000

Umthombo News – Durban and Beyond…

Check out this press release from our surfing partner O’Neill and see how this event will benefit Umthombo (23/05/12): Surf brand O’Neill, widely respected as the ‘first name in the water,’ has embarked on an eight-month, global art and innovation tour in celebration of its 60th year of operation. So far the tour has had exhibitions in Sydney, Bali, Tokyo and recently in Holland, with the next stop scheduled for Durban, South Africa in July.Six decades of wetsuit innovation, iconic imagery and commissioned artworks are being showcased in a historic time capsule open to the public.Global Brand Ambassador & Asia-Pacific Marketing Manager, Rob Bain, says that in this period of big business and mainstream attention, this celebration gets back to the essence of where the industry grew from. “Our company founder, Jack O’Neill, is a pioneer in all aspects of the surf industry and without his foresight and dedication to wetsuit innovation, the industry wouldn’t be where it is now,” he said, adding…
“Since 1952 O’Neill has been at the forefront of innovation and with this global exhibition we are showcasing six decades of industry firsts for O’Neill, from the wetsuit, to iconic imagery and stories.”

“Above all, this event is a celebration of Jack, his passion and his love for surfing. We want to share this with everyone, from surfers who live on the beach, to those who live in the city or suburbs but have an interest in the sport and the lifestyle.”

As well as all the elements that have made O’Neill synonymous with being “The First Name In The Water’ being showcased at these exhibitions, Monster Children Creative has commissioned six artists to create art pieces in the form of iconic founder Jack O’Neill. These artworks will travel to the event locations around the world, culminating in a final showing at the O’Neill Cold Water Classic ASP World Tour event at Santa Cruz, California in early November 2012.

At the conclusion of the O’Neill Cold Water Classic event, all six commissioned pieces will be auctioned off to the public, with 100% of sales proceeds shared amongst the O’Neill chosen charities, of which one is Durban based street children’s rehabilitation centre, Umthombo, which introduces street children to surfing and the ocean.

At every location on this global tour, local artists will be encouraged to submit their own artworks representing Jack O’Neill, with a selection of 6 of these submitted to be included at the exhibition in the respective territories. For examples of artwork check out previous submitted pieces and imagery of Jack O’Neill here 60yearsofinnovation.tumblr.com

O’Neill South Africa’s General Manager Paul Canning is excited about the upcoming tour. “We can’t wait for the tour to hit Durban, ” said Canning. “Just to see all the iconic wetsuits from all the different decades, the adverts from years ago and other pieces from the O’Neill vault is going to be amazing. O’Neill history is like a time capsule for our sport. We’re also really keen to see how our local artists are going to depict Jack O’Neill.”

If you are a local artist and would like to submit artwork for the show, please send a photograph of your piece to oneillart@monsterchildren.comby Friday, the 22 The Durban exhibition will open it’s doors to the public at The Upstairs Bar at Spiga on Florida Rd on Thursday the 5th of July at 7pm, and will be on display until 1pm on Saturday the 7th of July, and O’Neill would like to extend an invitation to anyone who would like to come and celebrate the unique story, art and wetsuit innovations from the past six decades with us. For info about the event please contact Paul Canning paul.c@sectorgroup.co.za or 031 313 1400

Former street child starts his own surf school (March 15 2012): Sihle Mbutho (21), a former street child and great surfer has started his own surf school in Durban. He operates from the Happy Hippo backpackers, on Mahatma Gandhi Road (formerly Point Road) in the uShaka area. Mbutho came through Umthombo’s surfing programme. If you would like surfing lessons from an excellent coach, please email us at info@umthombo.org and we will pass on your details to him. Pic: Sihle Mbutho smashes out a tail slide in Durban’s New Pier bowl.
Umthombo wins Beyond Sport Award: (Dec 15 2011): Umthombo’s surfing programme has won the Beyond Sports Award for Social Inclusion, an international award presented in Cape Town. We are absolutely thrilled about this. The award was presented by SA football legend Lucas Radebe. Thanks to Beyond Sport. Surfers not Street Children!
Cop 17 update: Good News: Despite all the talk of round-ups, the Metro Police did not engage in any round-ups of street children for Cop 17. Also, there were no incidents related to street children. The advocacy work after the Metro Police announcement in the media paid off. Umthombo maintains that street children are a social development challenge not a Safety and Security Issue.
STEET KID CLAMPDOWN SURPRISING 20 OCT 2011 - East Coast RadioAuthor: Thrishni Subramoney: Street child groups have expressed dismay at plans by Durban’s Metro Police to remove street children from the city, ahead of the massive climate change conference that will start in just over a month’s time. Metro Police told Newswatch earlier this week that officers would be working with the Social Welfare Department to take children off the streets and to places of safety ahead of the event. Adult beggars are set to be arrested and handed over to the courts.

One of Durban’s oldest groups working with street children, Umthombo, says it’s surprised at the approach, as the city has recently become more compassionate in dealing with street children.

Umthombo’s Tom Hewitt believes the plan will harm Durban’s image.
“I am very, very surprised about this idea of rounding up for COP 17. It’s internationally frowned upon. Visitors and delegates hate it when they hear that street children have been rounded up for them. Frankly, we’re looking at a more global campaign called ‘not in our name’, where conference delegates and visitors to cities start saying to police agencies and city authorities, ‘don’t do this for us, we don’t want it!’”

Press Release: Team Umthombo, former street children at Umthombo, win the SA Schools Surfing Champs (Juniors) in Cape Town! New Pier locals Sfiso, Ntando, Thamsanqa (Small), Magolidi and Siphelele (Bhunu) are returning to Durban as champions! All five of them found themselves living on Durban’s streets due to difficult circumstances. They are now at Umthombo’s Safespace. Umthombo uses programmes such as surfing alongside its social working programmes to provide alternatives to street life and a future. Umthombo is so proud of these boys and all that they have achieved. Umthombo would like to draw attention to Sandile “Cyril” Mqadi, our head surfing coach who has put incredible energy into ensuring that street children interested in surfing are mentored and drawn into a new life. Thanks also to Vukani Mhluzi, Umthombo child care worker and surfer who accompanied the team. Surfing South Africa has also offered a R10 000 back to school bursary for these boys. Thanks to SAEL Shipping for sponsoring the surfing programme, ONeill for the wetsuits, Clayton and Gee Force (Graham Smith) for the surfboards, Quiksilver for the travel bags, Hurricane Surf for flip-flops and all at Surfing South Africa and SA Schools Surfing. SURFERS NOT STREET CHILDREN!!
Press Release: Princess Anne, the Princess Royal from the UK visits Umthombo Street Children on they day before the Investiture at Durban City Hall where Princess Anne awarded Umthombo CEO, Tom Hewitt with an MBE. (9/07/11): Umthombo Co-founder and CEO, Tom Hewitt was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Years Honours List at the beginning of the year. In a rare event, this was physically awarded to Hewitt outside of the UK and at Durban City Hall as Princess Anne was visiting the City around the Olympic draw. Princess Anne found time to come to Umthombo Street Children to encourage the children and staff. She spent around 45 minutes seeing the work of Umthombo and chatting with people there. The Princess was shown round by Bulelwa Hewitt (co-founder, former street child and Umthombo Ambassador) as well as Tom. Bulelwa shared stories about her own journey from the streets to having set up Umthombo. The next day the MBE was formally awarded. Hewitt said of receiving the MBE ” Of course it is tremendously encouraging to be awarded the MBE but I really hope that it will be a great tool to highlight the lives of street children as well as sustainable models around empowering them towards alternatives. For too long street children have been marginalized within the development sector. Let us act to change this now. I also want to mention that Umthombo is not a one-man show. I have a great team and Bulelwa, my wife, is an ongoing inspiration” Hewitt’s MBE was given for services to child welfare in South Africa. He has been working with street children since 1992 after first meeting street children on a fact finding trip to Maputo, Mozambique, during the civil war in 1990. There has been an array of media around these events including newspapers: the Sunday Tribune, Saturday Independent, Isolezwe, the Mercury, Weekend Witness and Daily News. we will upload these articles onto our media space soon.
Tourism Indaba Watch 2011(06/05/11): Many of you will remember our successful campaign against the rounding up of street children by authorities in Durban during the run-up to the FIFA World Cup. We are no longer campaigning around this issue as the round-ups stopped before the World Cup due to the pressure. The Tourism Indaba in Durban, where SA showcases its tourism potential has historically been seen as a key event where street children have been “chased away” from the City through round-ups (forced removals”). Last year Umthombo opened 24/7 and the round-ups did not happen during the event. We were ecstatic. Although we are satisfied that the City has no “policy” in place that calls for round-ups, we will be monitoring the Tourism Indaba . Although we have seen a halting in the rounding up of street children during the past campaign (children was our concern) we are not saying that they do not still round-up homeless youth and adults. We are a children’s organisation so we do not have a comment on this. What was our past campaign about? Let us be clear, by having had a campaign in the past to end round-ups of street children and the subsequent dumping of them outside the City, we were not saying that we wanted kids on the streets! (disagreeing with the war on Iraq did not mean being in love with Saddam Hussein!!!) We do not think the streets is a place for any child to grow up. However, we strongly felt that Police officers and enforcement tactics are inappropriate when dealing with traumatized children and indeed further traumatize them. Street children is a Social Development issue not a Safety and Security Issue. Actions should be based around engagement not enforcement. Engagement should be led by social workers and child and youth-care workers not police. Our campaign was ensure that Durban was a City that cared about street children and empowered them to leave the streets rather than being one that was embarrassed about them and sending out “child catchers” to remove them (which incidentally is PR suicide!) Umthombo has been greatly encouraged by the lack of round-ups targeting street children since the World Cup, this is a huge step forward for the City. eThekwini Municipality clearly does NOT have a policy of rounding up street children and we commend the City for this. Most officials that we come into contact with, really do have a genuine concern for street children. Umthombo, as a proudly Durban based organisation, welcomes the Toursim Indaba, a fantastic event. We do not expect any round-ups of street children but of course will keep our eyes open (and video cameras poised) . If you are a delegate visiting Durban, pop in and see us. Durban is an incredible city that has INCREDIBLE progammes for street children. Times have changed. If you want a strong dose of hope and inspiration come and chat with our former street children. Come and do a City tour from the perspective of a former street child! VIVA Durban!!

Sad News: Umthombo friend Dr. Gustavo Parajon, the gentle Nicaraguan doctor, Baptist minister and tireless campaigner for the people, who inspired so many passes away at home in Managua. (13/03/11): Dr. Parajon was a huge inspiration to many, including Umthombo founders Tom and Bulelwa Hewitt. We are truly saddened by Gustavo’s passing and celebrate the wonderful life that he led. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Joan and the rest of the family. Read full tribute from Canon Garth Hewitt of the Amos Trust UK: http://www.amostrust.org/news/index.php?pageNo=1044&parent=1
Pictures of Street Child World Cup Exhibition from the Foundling Gallery in London (28/02/11): http://www.flickr.com/photos/52951417@N06/sets/72157626047807380/
O’Neill Wetsuits and Surfwear: PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Attention
28 January 2011
SA surfing super-star hosting open day for all young surfers on 12 February. 2010 ASP World number #2 surfer Jordy Smith and his sponsor O’Neill will be hosting the Jordy Smith Psycho Surf Day on Saturday the 12th of February 2011 at Durban’s North Beach. The event, which is open to all young surfers, will offer participants the chance to meet and surf with Smith ahead of his departure for Sydney (Australia) for the first event of the 2011 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT).
Also in attendance will be some of the kids from the nearby Umthombo Street Children organization. Situated right near the beach at 4 Gilagan Rd, Point , Durban, many of the children at Umthombo are introduced to surfing, and the sport is often an outlet that contributes to the children escaping from a life of crime and drug abuse.
Jordy said that “I leave on Sunday the 13th of February for Australia to kick off my 2011 WCT campaign, and I could not think of a better send-off! The Psycho Surf Day is a great way to give the groms a chance to stand out, and I’m sure that we are going to be seeing some great surfing. I am also excited to see the Umthombo kids in action, they surf New Pier almost every day of their lives and it is inspiring to see surfing have such a positive impact on their lives”.
O’Neill SA are poised to make an announcement regarding the presentation of a bursary to an Umthombo surfer, as well as additional donations and initiatives aimed at enriching the lives of the destitute street children from the Durban-based Umthombo organisation. Watch the press for details.
Issued on behalf of: O’Neill
Paul Canning
O’Neill Marketing Manager

Umthombo partners with US film Warlord (01/01/11): Warlord is a new sophisticated and exhilarating espionage thrill ride, featuring hi-tech special effects, martial arts and international locations: http://www.warlordthemovie.com/donate . It is a Hollywood thriller that confronts the issue of violence. Warlord is giving 10% of its profits, over a given period, to Umthombo. Thanks to Bryan Thompson and Christopher P. Abaya. also many thanks to our mutual friend, the inspirational Michael Austin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Austin)

Breaking News: Umthombo co-founder and CEO, Tom Hewitt receives MBE in the British Queens new years Honors List. (31/12/10): Umthombo’s Tom Hewitt has received an MBE today for his services to child welfare in South Africa. Tom, was first exposed to the issue of street children in 1990 in Maputo, Mozambique, during the civil war there. He started working with street children in South Africa in 1992 in the Eastern Cape. In 1998 he relocated to Durban and set up the Durban Street Team, working with street children there. In 2004, with Bulelwa, his wife, he founded Umthombo Street Children and incorporated the Durban Street Team. He is known for his passionate belief in the potential of street children and particularly for his lead role in the successful campaign to end the round-ups (forced removals) of street children in Durban. Tom has advocated for strategies around empowering street children to leave the streets that are based on engagement and therapeutic interventions. Tom works closely with the national Department of Social Development in policy development and has become a spokesperson around the issue of street children in South Africa and beyond. Sir Cliff Richard speaking on Hewitt receiving the MBE said, “I’ve seen for myself the incredible work that Tom has achieved among some of South Africa’s poorest and most desperate street children. I’m absolutely thrilled that his 20 years of selfless commitment have been publicly recognised. No-one could deserve it more!”

Al Jazeera article about the drug “Whoonga”. (24/10/10) This drug is rife in Point, Durban and is now used alongside glue by street children and youth. Umthombo is battling to pull kids away from Whoonga. http://blogs.aljazeera.net/africa/2010/10/22/whoonga-cruelest-high
Breaking News: Video: Umthombo’s new Promo video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM9O_ApRbzY With BIG thanks to Tough Sunday Productions
Video Footage of last months Ubuntu challenge, the “Bombsurf” competition for Umthombo’s surf team (16/09/10): http://www.thebombsurf.com/thebombsurfvideos/812/ubuntu-surf-challenge
Umthombo featured in gallery at Foundling Museum in London and in the Guardian Newspaper UK in the first ever edition of Global Development, its online magazine about Development issues (14/09/10): Check all ten pages: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/gallery/2010/sep/14/street-child-world-cup-2010#/?picture=366532144&index=3 Global Development is a publication of the Guardian newspaper UK in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Bombsurf Magazine and Umthombo host the first ever “Ubuntu Challenge” at the “Wedge” side of new Pier in Durban for Umthombo surfers: (23/08/10): Thanks to all at Bombsurf, Warren and Clayton from Clayton surfboards, Michael from SAEL and surfers John Wittle (Surfing Heritage South Africa) and Simon Nicholson. Check out the story: http://www.thebombsurf.com/thebombsurfslideshows/476/ubuntu-challenge
Umthombo surfers! (11/08/10): Umthombo’s surf program is turning heads. Children once seen as the “write-offs” living on the streets and sniffing glue outside the notorious Tong Lok, in Point, Durban are now seen, fit and healthy charging the waves at Durban’s premier surf-spot, the New Pier! Transformed and stoked! Check out the photos: http://www.epa.eu/en/article/62.html?CMSSESSID=e5d6684d23bc45f56ac84a7aaa82752e
Umthombo co-founder and former street child, Bulelwa Hewitt, finalist for the Shoprite Checkers Woman of the Year Award. (15/07/10): From the rubbish dumps to the streets as a child to the co-founding of Umthombo. Bulelwa is a survivor, a strong woman and a role model to many. She has spoken about her life in many places, even at Downing Street in London. She has now been selected as a finalist in Shoprite Checkers Women of the Year award. This is an incredible achievement in itself! For more info go to www.womanoftheyear.co.za You can vote for her there as well. Well done Bulelwa!!
Post-FIFA Press release: No round-ups during World Cup period itself -Well done Durban! Umthombo ends campaign against round-ups, congratulates City and launches new campaign to end glue sniffing among street children in Durban (11/0710): The World Cup is over. Umthombo is excited to announce that there were no round-ups (also called forced removals or sweeps) of street children during the FIFA World Cup period itself. At the 11th hour actions that we had long campaigned against changed. So…
Umthombo wishes to celebrate the way that Durban hosted the World Cup. Congratulations to the City of Durban. Most importantly, engagement programmes with street children ensured that street children were positively engaged throughout the period and included in the World Cup festivities. For many, the period was one in which they were able to leave street life and start a new future. Also, it must be said that Metro Police were a pleasure to interact with during the World Cup. Officers showed understanding and compassion. Umthombo hopes that this new relationship of cooperation with Metro Police can also be developed.The need for round-ups has been proven redundant. There were no round-ups. There was no controversy around street children. Engagement programmes are widely acknowledged to be the way forward. Strategies around the urban phenomenon have returned being guided by social development thinking rather than safety and Security thinking. Durban has shown that it cares!With this in mind Umthombo has decided end its campaign against the rounding-up of street children. There is a new era in Durban around street children and Umthombo wants to nurture this.Umthombo is proud to announce its new post-FIFA campaign: Tackling glue addiction among street children and stopping the sale of toxic glue to children in Durban. This campaign will challenge manufacturers of glue inhaled by street children, seek legislation around the selling of glue and toxic substances to children and also provide upgraded therapeutic interventions to deal with the traumas that glue sniffing masks among street children in Durban. Ultimately we aim to end the phenomenon of glue use among street children and empower these children to be able to leave street life. Let’s do this together!
Umthombo surfers surf alongside World Number 2 surfer Jordy Smith (01/07/10): story coming
Sunday Times SA piece on Umthombo’s World Cup programmes: (27/06/10): http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article520967.ece/Speaking-Surf-African
England football fans from Hat-trick Project run football training camp with Umthombo during World Cup: story coming.
Scotland’s Tartan Army visit Umthombo (15/06.10). Story coming.
Apologies but good news! (23/05/10): Sorry for the lack of news…the good “news” is that in about two weeks we will launch the ALL-NEW Umthombo website. This will be a multimedia website keeping you updated on Umthombo’s work and the urban phenomenon of street children in Durban and beyond.
Deloitte Street Child World Cup Newsflash: Umthombo-Old Mutual Young Stars (South Africa) beat Ukraine 4-1 (17/03/10): After yesterday’s 4-0 defeat to India, the SA team at the Deloitte Street Child World Cup won convincingly against Ukraine to keep their hopes of going through to the next round alive. The team was elated. For action from yesterdays activities see http://streetchildworldcup.org/
The Deloitte Street Child World Cup is now on!! (15/03/10): Follow updates on http://streetchildworldcup.org/ All the teams are now here. Today is the opening ceremony. The weekend was fantastic with the teams visiting Tala Game Park, learning Zulu dancing and body surfing on Durban’s golden mile. The Umthombo-Old Mutual Young Stars play against the team from India first, today! There are updated web clips on the event website.
Newsflash – Brazil’s Team for the Street Child World Cup arrive in Durban (10/03/10): There was great excitement in Durban when the Brazilian team for the street child world cup arrived in Durban this afternoon. The Umthombo-Old Mutual Young Stars met their Brazilian counterparts for the first time, sang Shosholoza and gave a demonstration of Zulu dancing. The Brazilians demonstrated Samba and Capoeira! It was a moving meeting as the two groups of street children communicated through translators. We will keep you up to date with the breaking Street Child World Cup news…
Follow Umthombo on twitter: Name: UmthomboDurban (16/02/10): Keep up to date on current affairs on the streets of Durban in the run-up to the 2010 World Cup. Focus on Metro Police round-ups of street children. Will they continue? Will Metro Police be instructed to stop the forced removals.
Durban Metro Police day of shame (16/02/10): Today Metro police rounded-up street children. That is not new, it happens most days to “clean-up” for 2010. However, perhaps in response to the Sunday Time articles over the weekend highlighting their actions, they came out with more force and spent most of the day rounding up street children. A Candian Broadcasting newsteam followed them with a local cameraman and Umthombo staff. Kids had been pepper-sprayed and there were children with bloody faces screaming from the vehicle. Another Metro Police vehicle intercepted Umthombo’s vehicle firstly, to book one of the passengers for not wearing a seatbelt. However things took a turn for the worse when they apprehended the cameraman and confiscated his tapes. They beat him up at the station. Eventually after some high level interventions the Metro Police had to give the tapes back and also the car that they confiscated from Umthombo! Umthombo staff were also detained. Children were hurt today and further traumatized. Most officials in Durban are not involved in these round-ups, it is only Metro Police and one Captain in particular that is determined to carry on. Today over 15 officers were rounding-up street children. This MUST be stopped. Durban IS a caring city, despite this, and we need to pull together to ensure that it is NO LONGER acceptable to chase street children, round them up and forcefully remove them from the city. Say not to REMOVAL and say yes to a three step process: 1. ENGAGING THE CHILDREN – 2. THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS – 3. SUSTAINABLE REINTEGRATION (and aftercare). It works.
Metro Police Round-ups (forced removals of street children) focus of attention in Sunday Times articles (14/02/10): Sunday Times has reported on the Metro Police round-ups that are happening in Durban in preparation for the 2010 World Cup. See: http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article305799.ece and also, the video piece at: http://multimedia.timeslive.co.za/videos/2010/02/street-kids-rounded-up-in-durban/
Former street child and Umthombo staff member (and Umthombo Young Stars Soccer Coach), Vuyani “Biza” Madolo visits Downing Street In London on the invitation of Alistair Darling, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer. (11/02/10): Biza Madolo is in the UK this week as a guest not only of Alistair Darling but of Momentum Arts and the Amos Trust. Apart from visiting Downing Street, where he met many international heroes in soccer as well as SA Captain Aaron Mokoena, he will be visiting various youth programmes in the UK and partners of the Street Child World Cup. For more about the Downing Street event see the British Sun newspaper report where you can see Biza taking a penalty outside Downing Street against former England goalkeeper David Seaman: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/2851140/Well-put-the-boot-into-poverty.html
Special message from Aaron Mokoena, South African (Bafana Bafana) captain and most capped player (11/02/10): ‘I am proud that the first ever Deloitte Street Child World Cup will be held in my country in 2010. Football has the power to unite people from all over the world and gives young people the discipline and focus to let their true talent shine. No child should have to sleep on the street. I am delighted that the Deloitte Street Child World Cup will celebrate these children’s potential and call for their rights to be realised. Good luck to all the teams but especially the South African team Umthombo from Durban!”
Umthombo CEO is guest on Mandla Shongwe’s Saturday morning show on SAFM (23/01/10): Tom Hewitt (Umthombo founder and CEO) spoke on SAFM about Umthombo’s programmes and his hopes around the urban phenomenon of street children in 2010. He also talked of of the dawn a “new era” in Durban which, he believes, is happening right now where it will become socially unacceptable to allow ’round-ups’ of street children by enforcement agencies in Durban but where citywide strategies that empower children to leave street life will demonstrate Durban as a caring city.
Umthombo welcomes a fourth full-time social worker to its team (22/01/10): Umthombo welcomes social worker Sithembile Mbhele to the team. Sithembile, who will be overseeing the Reintegration and Aftercare programme joins Ashika Pramlall (programmes Director and senior social worker), Emma Sibilo (who runs the therapeutic programmes at Safespace) and Thandeka Mkhize (who runs the weekend programmes at Safespace). Very soon we will be appointing a fifth social worker to oversee the outreach programme at Umthombo. These social workers oversee teams of Child and Youth-care Workers.
Mail and Guardian article about the Metro Police round-ups of street children in Durban (21/01/10): http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-01-22-rounded-up-and-shipped-out SA media is starting to pick up on the rounding-up of street children in Durban. Remember that Danny Jordaan (head of the local organising committee for the FIFA World Cup 2010) recently said that he will not support any campaign that attempts to hide street children. When asked about whether they would be removing street children from the streets for the world cup he said:
“No, we can’t be a society that misleads and creates a false impression. We are a country of diversity, rich and poor, employed and unemployed, and the world must know that we have massive challenges of poverty and housing and we must address these issues.” For the IOL article with Danny Jordaan see: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=13&set_id=1&art_id=vn20090917103326640C229116
Metro Police round-up children and adults from the streets and dump them, all together, at a so-called “centre” in Hammersdale described by the children as “an ugly place” (18/01/10). Kheto is 13, Xolani is 20. They both live on the streets. One is a child, one is a young adult. They need different types of services in order to leave street life. They were amoung a crammed van of children and adults that were picked up off the streets in Durban by Metro Police (Licence plate number: ) and driven out of town, some hours, to a town called Hammersdale where they were dumped at a centre called “Nobuhle.” The children said that there were babies, children and adults there and they described the place as “an ugly place”. The children escaped immediately and jumped a train back to Durban. metro’s actions are wrong in so many ways. Firstly, Metro police officers are not trained to be first point of contact with street children. Secondly, forcefully removing children from the streets to satisfy safety and security agendas and create a “clean” image of Durban around 2010 is a disgrace which heaps more trauma upon street children and is PR suicide for the city. Thirdly, detaining adults and children together is illegal and immoral. Moreover, street children and street adults need separate interventions of assistance. Mixing the two is extremely dangerous for the children. Fourthly, removing a child from the streets with no social working intervention completely ignores the therapeutic needs of street children in overcoming the traumas associated with their experiences. Fifthly, removing children from the streets on an almost daily basis plays havoc with the delicate processes that organisations like Umthombo are engaged in with the children to empower them to be able to leave street life sustainably. Sixthly, arrangements between so-called care facilities and Metro police as places where they can dump children that they round-up need to be investigated. What is the incentive for the care facilities? Any centre that admits both children and adults (other than mothers and babies) needs to be investigated. Umthombo CEO, Tom Hewitt followed the round-up on Sunday morning, taking pictures and communicating with Kheto through the bars of the van whilst the van was stopped outside the Elangeni Hotel. Ironically at the same time, at the back of the hotel, metro Police was escorting, with great fanfare, the South African national soccer team, Bafana Bafana. Umthombo recognises that eThekwini Municipalities other departments are NOT involved in the round-ups and it appears to be that Metro Police is acting unilaterally. STREET CHILDREN IS A SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ISSUE WHERE CHILD FRIENDLY AND THERAPEUTIC SERVICES ARE VITAL IN THE PROCESS OF EMPOWERING STREET CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO LEAVE STREET LIFE. ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES MUST BACK OFF. METRO POLICE – DO NOT LEAD DURBAN INTO 2010 SHAME. Umthombo will be posting the names of the Captain in charge of the round-ups and the ultimate chain of command so that concerned citizens and football fans both in SA and overseas can campaign for the ending of round-ups (forced removals.) Watch this space. Both Xolani and Kheto arrived back in Durban and came separately to Umthombo with their stories.
Umthombo Arts blog updated (13/01/10): Log in to http://umthomboarts.blogspot.com to see Umthombo’s artist-in-residence, Mxolisi Sithole’s latest entry on what has been happening recently in Umthombo’s arts world.
Shameful: Metro Police round-ups (forced removals) of street children in Durban continue in run-up to 2010 FIFA World Cup (10/01/10): Street children continue to be harassed and rounded-up on an almost daily basis in Durban. Siphelele, 14, who currently has his broken arm in a cast, was removed from the city streets by Police and dumped in one of the townships on the outskirts of Durban. He walked back. Other times the children have alleged being dumped outside of the city. Umthombo is aware that SAPS (South Africa’s national police) are NOT involved and have a generally good relationship with street children. It is the municipal police (Metro Police) who continue to do this. Once again, Umthombo states that street children are NOT to be “dealt with” through enforcement strategies based on Safety and Security philosophies but rather empowered compassionately to be able to leave street-life sustainably. This is a social development issue.
Umthombo on Fuel TV: Element Skateboards and US surf/skate shoe brand Tom’s shoes visit Umthombo for a shoe drop and a skate/surf session (11/01/10): see video http://www.fuel.tv/TheDailyHabit/videos/view/15359 and photos: http://www.elementskateboards.com/oneforone/south-africa-shoe-skateboard-drop/index-umthombo.html# Thanks to Element and Tom’s shoes for ongoing support!!!
Umthombo surfers get support from South African online magazine, Mahala (04/01/10): Mahala, who have supported Umthombo’s surfing program in the past arrived at Umthombo with 12 new surfboards this weekend. For more info read the following: http://www.mahala.co.za/surf/stoke-street/ Thanks to everyone at Mahala and to surfer, Josh Reynolds, for collecting the awesome boards.
Umthombo to upgrade its website (02/01/10): in a few weeks you will see the new updated 2010 Umthombo website. Please be patient with us during this time. We are nearly there!!
Welcome to 2010: Happy new Year! (01/01/10) After a busy Christmas time at Umthombo it is dawning on us that the Street Child World Cup is two and a half months away! FIFA 2010 is only six months away!! Happy New Year to all our supporters and friends. Safespace is now fully operational and we are ready for 2010. Bring it on! Check out the Street Child World Cup webpage on www.streetchildworldcup.org
Street-girl hit by car whilst being chased by a security guard (25/11/09): A girl called Nonhlanhla was chased into the road by a store security guard after begging outside the tyre-fitting store. She ran into the path of a car and received injuries to her leg. The store phoned the police in order to explain their side of the story and had a “friend” tell police that she had tried to grab his bag. This was not true. A private “discussion” happened between the store owners and the SA police after which the police decided that they had the “real” story and there was no need to speak to anyone else despite there being many witnesses. Even the metro Police who were very helpful that day were left shaking their heads at the SAPS officers actions. When confronted by Umthombo the SA Police officer simply refused to hear anything and drove off. Thanks to Umthombo’s medical team and the emergency medical team that came to the scene. Thanks also to Metro Police.
Umthombo co-founder speaks at gala dinner in London for the upcoming Street Child World Cup (19/11/09): Bulelwa Hewitt, former street child and co-founder of Umthombo was a guest speaker at a gala dinner in London, last night, in aid of the Street Child World Cup which is hosted by Umthombo and will be held next March. She shared the stage with footballers such as Eduardo, Jamie Redknapp, also football fan and former political advisor Alastair Campbell and popular British radio DJ and TV personality, Simon Mayo. It was a great evening and excitement is mounting for the actual event that will see nine teams of former and present day street children playing a football tournament in March in Durban. There will also be a conference and arts programme running alongside the football, which will celebrate the potential of street children around the world. For more info see: www.streetchildworldcup.org
FIFA 2010 Update: Round-ups (forced removals) of street children by Metro Police continues in Durban (04/11/09): The rounding up of street children by Durban’s Metro Metro Police continues routinely as Durban prepares for the FIFA 2010 World Cup. Metro Police even come up to Umthombo’s premises early in the morning attempting to remove street children who are outside. Children are then taken out lf the city and dumped. When questioned, the police tell us that there are municipal by-laws around loitering and sleeping on the streets and that they are tasked with upholding these. This week a street youth called Themba, 20, was chased by Metro Police and ran into traffic, being hit by a car and breaking his leg. Umthombo maintains that it is immoral to stretch city bylaws to fit Safety and Security agendas that view street children as a problem rather than victims of society. Umthombo wants no children living in the streets but this will only happen by embracing strategies that are in the best interest of the child and that focus on overcoming the traumas of their lives with therapeutic processes that see them reintegrated with communities. Although Durban Solid Waste (DSW) is often spotted with Metro Police on the round-ups, they are the only municipal departments involved. ALL OTHER MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY INVOLVED IN THE ROUND-UPS HAVE LONG SINCE DIVESTED AND NO LONGER HARASS AND HURT STREET CHILDREN. Umthombo applauds the municipality and knows that Metro Police will soon follow suit. Noone wants to let the side down around human rights for 2010.
Umthombo surfers in music video…Check this out! (25/08/09) Members of Umthombo surf-club star in music video for Durban rock band Rambling Bones. Thanks so Mahala Surf. The surf program is one of Umthombo’s programs providing alternatives to streetlife for street kids in Durban. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eORumzMiD30
Umthombo Fundraiser (Durban): Dancing Queen! 17th September, Barnyard Theatre, Gateway, Umhlanga Ridge. (20/08/09) Umthombo is having a fundraiser at the Barnyard theatre. Although the Umthombo fundraiser was scheduled for a play that fuses African and African American music…it was cancelled and…we got Dancing Queen, a celebration of the music of Queen and Abba! Tickets are between R150-R210 and tables of 10 are available. It will be a lot of fun. There will also be a brief overview of Umthombo as well as raffles and prizes! Umthombo staff are just lining up to rent Freddie Mercury outfits for the event! Please email us on bulelwa@umthombo.org to book tickets.
Report on Umthombo’s SAFESPACE and the Street Child World Cup featured on front page of BBC News! (11/08/09): Check out the BBC report on the Street Child World Cup that will take place in Durban next year (in March 2010…not June as they say in the report!!) and the work of Umthombo: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8093501.stm
Umthombo moves office but phone lines down due to Telkom strike (10/08/09): Umthombo’s head office in Durban has moved. We are no longer in the Embassy Building. We are now situated next door to SAFESPACE, our new therapeutic drop-in centre in Durban’s Point district. However, because of the Telkom strike, we have not been able to get our phone lines transferred yet. So, apologies to those trying to get through by phone. Our numbers will remain the same though and should be on again next week.

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