Thabo wil 'n verskil maak

ANC-raadslid bou plakkershut om erkenning vir buurt te kry

Marietjie Gericke 2010-05-27 01:29

’n ANC-Raadslid van die Mangaung-munisipaliteit, wat Bloemfontein insluit, voel só sterk daaroor dat die Makotoko-plakkerskamp in Mangaung amptelike status moet kry, dat hy besluit het om nou self vir hom ’n plakkershut daar te gaan bou en daarin te bly.

Raadslid Thabo Olivier, wat al die bynaam raadslid Thabo Makotoko gekry het, het gister sak en pak in sy sinkplakkershut van 3m by 3m in Makotoko ingetrek. Hy hoop dat hy nou die proses om Makotoko amptelik te maak sal kan bespoedig.

Olivier sê hy gaan ook ’n emmertoilet gebruik, om verder teen die gebruik van die emmerstelsel in die nedersetting te protesteer.

Hy gaan nou op ’n karton in die hut slaap, sonder elektrisiteit, solank as wat dit nodig is om te bereik wat hy wil hê.

Olivier wat die stadsraadslid vir Bloemfontein se sakekern (middestad) en ook ’n deel van die Batho-woonbuurt is wat Makotoko met sy 33 plakkershutte insluit, sê die mense van Makotoko wag al 19 jaar op formalisering. Dit beteken dat die titelakte só sal verander dat hulle eienaars van die grond mag word. Dit kan die lewenspeil van die mense aansienlik verbeter as hulle grond kan besit.

“My vrou, Anthea, en twee kinders wou ook hierheen trek, maar ek het geweier omdat hier nie eens water in die krane is nie, dit nie higiënies is nie en onveilig is. Mense moet my hier kom besoek om te sien hoe ander mense sukkel om te oorleef.”

Olivier sê premier Ace Magashule se Operasie Hlasela se invloed is ook reeds in Makotoko te bespeur. “Die skool in Batho is pragtig opgeknap, waterpype is vir die inwoners aangelê en plaveisel word nou op sypaadjies aangebring.”

Met amptelike woongebiedstatus vir Makotoko kan dit net voor die wind gaan.

Olivier sê die probleem by Makotoko is administratief van aard. “Politici het reeds geruime tyd al goedgekeur dat die nedersetting geformaliseer kan word, maar aan administratiewe kant word voete gesleep omdat sekere dele van die grond aan die provinsie en ander dele van die grond aan die munisipaliteit behoort. Dorpstigting is een van die prosesse wat moet plaasvind.”

- Volksblad

South African entrepreneur breaks language barrier

Thabo Olivier, a South African linguistics expert, has developed a mobile phone application that allows users to quickly learn basic communication phrases in different languages, and even communicate without knowing a particular language at all.

The software, currently available on the MS Windows Mobile platform and almost any other handset with a Java interface, offers various language modules for users to choose from.

Users can download the base module of the software in their native language, and then choose from a range of other language modules as add-ons. The software then allows the user to type basic language phrases using the mobile phone keypad. Upon selection of the foreign language, the device will then display the corresponding language phrase, and emit an audio recording of the phrase via loudspeaker.

A user can therefore type a range of phrases to ask for help, get directions, order from restaurants and ask almost any other tourism related question, and get the target language translation in both text and audio form. This enables a traveler to a foreign country to easily communicate, make himself understood and get information from speakers of other languages.

Currently there are multiple language modules available, including French, Portuguese, Swahili, Arabic, and all eleven of South Africa’s official languages. Mr Olivier sees particular application of the translation software for the upcoming FIFA 2010 World Cup, as it would enable travelers to South Africa to communicate without speaking a South African language or making use of a translator. As safety is a major issue for overseas visitors, the software also adds an additional level of comfort for travelers, knowing that they could ask for help or directions as needed.

The software will be made available online, with each additional foreign language module totaling between 9 and 14 MB in size. Native language downloads will be much smaller, as no audio files would be necessary.

Mr Olivier is currently exploring various partnership opportunities, and as such the distribution model and price of the software has not been finalized. Although the application is currently focused on the tourist market, other applications such as legal or medical translators are in the pipeline.

Mr Olivier, who had previously won the Top ICT Business Man in Africa ICT Achievers Award for the PC version of the software, says: “The software has the potential to unlock a world of communication and information to people visiting foreign countries, and almost completely remove the language barrier that currently exists. The application not only assists the traveler, but teaches basic phrases easily and in a short space of time. The ability to communicate gives both ease of interaction and peace of mind to the user.”

Cape Town based development company Fusion Technologies has partnered with Mr Olivier to develop the application, bringing the technical capabilities to quickly add additional language modules to the software as is required.

Cathy Dlodlo

Thabo, the Councillor and ...

One thing is for certain, Thabo Olivier is not your ordinary councillor. He made media headlines when he decided to stay in a shack in a Batho squatter camp for almost three months in the middle of Bloemfontein’s icy winter – with no electricity or running water – but actually entertained international guests to highlight the plight of the residents.

The councillor:

Olivier is the first white ANC councillor in the Free State who was elected and not appointed through the list system. He is the councillor for ward 19 that includes Bloemfontein’s CBD and some of the poorest townships. He refers to himself as a hustler who can speak to people in their own mother tongue.

His challenges:

He is of the opinion that a councillor needs to have a lot of strategic relationships and a network of officials and politicians to help solve problems or get anything done in time, without getting lost in bureaucracy. He believes that a much more integrated service delivery process, based on a ward system in all spheres of government, would make a huge difference.

“Councillors are being seen as accounting officers, even having to account on projects by the provincial government, and even when a municipal official fails to do something, the councillor has to explain,” he said.

The business man:

Olivier is a stalwart for multi-linguism and can speak five languages. He developed a multi-lingual programme for cellphones that will allow users to get around in several official languages. The programme will be used in the first online course for cellphone users.

His roots:

Both his parents were teachers and he has lived in the province all his life.

“I am influenced and inspired by people with exceptional attitudes and deeds and am constantly reminded by those with bad attitudes and deeds how not to be,” he said.

He is married to Anthea and they have two children – Micaela (14) and Garreth (9). He says he is also blessed with an abundance of friends from all religious, cultural, political and socio-economic spheres.

He and his family love fishing, and in fact he and his wife represented the Free State in rock and surf angling. He also attends army camps and enjoys the Esprit de Corps of his unit, VAR (Vrystaatse Artelerie Regement).

His achievements:

Free State premier Ace Magashule built RDP houses for residents of the Makotoko informal settlement and they are now receiving municipal services, after Olivier’s stay in the area was highlighted in the media.

“People from as far away as Germany visit me to have a true African experience,” he said.

“I also introduced the Citizenship Awards for Ward 19. Five private individuals, five corporate entities, five municipal officials and five NGO’s or corporate entities received medals for their contribution to the community in my ward.” He wants citizens to adopt a “can do” attitude.

“It is extremely frustrating when people feel that their contribution to a better South Africa should be measured by the amount of criticism they can produce,” he lamented.

Invitations for him to live in other squatter camps in the country are now streaming in.

“Residents believe that I would be able to help them to convince their political leadership to deliver services and houses to them.” As a councillor, he said, he only did that for his ward.

“I also don’t think that Magashule promised these residents houses simply because of me. He did that because the area was on his priority list with Operation Hlasela.”

His dream:

Olivier said he wants to see a much higher level of participation by voters when it comes to local elections.

“I am a Christian and believe that Christ the Saviour died for my salvation. I respect all other faiths and would like them to respect mine. If wealth means money, then I am poor. If wealth means to love and be loved, then I am better off than Bill Gates.”

He says he also wishes he had more time in the day to do the things that he wants to do.

“I have made peace with the idea that my obituary will one day read, “Here lies Thabo Olivier – and he is still trying”.

The go-getter is planning to build an environmentally friendly house and to move in with his family. After carefully studying his family’s usage of electricity and water over five years, he hopes to use up to 80% less electricity and 68% less water.

The 41-year-old says he is also looking to buying an electrical vehicle.