What does Bubele do?

When I saw people were happy with the results of the river clean-ups, I applied 3 months ago to register as an NGO. I am still waiting for my NGO number.

I am passionate about helping people help themselves: not just handing out money to people. I love nature, particularly keeping our rivers clean. I do this because I love it.

I don’t receive any income for doing this and I actually get embarrassed when thanked.

I love sharing what’s happening on the river purely because I know all you love seeing the river clean too.

All donations go to supporting those in desperate need.
They either get a food parcel to the value of R200 or R200 in cash.
Most days I hire 6 people 5 times a week Mon - Fri ( when we clean the bridge it’s more like 10 people for 2 days in order to clear it quickly and efficiently - two out of 6 people are my leaders who I know and trust.
The others are mothers, children, or men who have lost their jobs.
We work hard and everyone has a quota of bags they need to fill for that day.
We start at 8am
Lunch 12-1pm
End at 4pm
We collect 50-100 bags per day.
The team really works hard trying to get all the bits of plastic out of the trees, plants, and soil as well as the polystyrene, blankets, bottles, tin, tires etc.
Working in and out of the river.
Pulling bags up and down the river to the point of collection.
Then hiring a driver weekly to dispose of all the bags.

I’ve also been asked to:
Fetch bricks and fill dongas (which has worked well).
Clean up the walls of complexes along the river.
Clear paths
Collect dying branches and trees in the river
Cut away branches that obscure riding paths.
Take it all to the dump

Things I do out of my own:
Provide the bags
Dispose of bags
Hire a driver for the day - and use my bakkie for loads and loads of either bags or branches.
Pay for the petrol.
Sometimes the dump will take stuff and other times we drive around to all the dumps.
Dan has kindly helped me many times with rubble disposal.
Contact City Parks for help
Many, many emails to City Parks and Pikitup and making people aware of our rivers.
Attending meetings - riding back and forth to the river 4 or 5 times a day.
Organizing work daily - clean up days.
Walking up and down the river asking people for support and donations.
So much more, depending on what’s happening.

My plea this year is for your support.
If I didn’t have to beg for donations constantly it would just make this task a lot easier.
Having a regular amount to work with each month would be amazing.
I hope my commitment to the task at hand has demonstrated my love for all our rivers. We also work along the river at Innesfree Park and Hurlingham. I’m given an amount to work with each month. This work has filled me with so much joy
I have met so many lovely people and made many friends.
Many people have assisted with encouragement, ideas, food, labour, donations, and clean-ups. I thank them from the bottom of my heart. There are too many people to thank personally and I would also be afraid of missing anyone out. To everyone - Thank you for trusting me and helping me along this journey.
It’s been the most incredible job and the hardest one too.
Kind Regards
Wendy

Bubele banking details:
Account holder: Wendy Malpage
Bank: Nedbank
Branch: Northgate
Account number: 1698005490
Contact: Wendy Malpage- 083 326 6097- bubelecharityorg@gmail.com
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Odd Jobs

Kids' bedtime: "There shall be wailing and brushing of teeth."

New on the Block, Movers and Shakers  Back to top

• Coffee and Crunch near Sunhill Shopping Centre – Moved to 1 Airdlin Road, Sunninghill (at the bottom of the hill). Variety of filter coffees, plunger coffees, coffee beans. Teas from all over the world. Premium biscuits from Mantelli’s Cape Town.
• Party Spot / Flower Spot moved from Woodmead Value Mart to Woodmead Retail Park opposite Woolworths and next to Cotton On: Flowers, Gift Hampers, Specials, crafts, party décor.
• Brandmania has become Guess, Lower Level in Woodmead Value Mart – Branded goods: "Guess".
• 3rd Base Urban, Upper Level in Woodmead Value Mart.
• Birkenstock, Upper Level in Woodmead Value Mart – Shoe shop - men's and ladies'.
• Fila, Upper Level in Woodmead Value Mart.
• International Brands Outlet, Upper Level in Woodmead Value Mart.
• petzone by West Pack Lifestyle, Upper Level in Woodmead Value Mart.
• West Pack Lifestyle, Upper Level in Woodmead Value Mart.
• Authorised Fragrance & Cosmetics Outlet, Lower Level in Woodmead Value Mart.
• DC 1 Outlet, Lower Level in Woodmead Value Mart.
• G-Star RAW, Lower Level in Woodmead Value Mart.
• Just Japs, Lower Level in Woodmead Value Mart.
• Levisons, Lower Level in Woodmead Value Mart.
• Replay / Antony Morato, Lower Level in Woodmead Value Mart.

From Daily Stoic: Don’t Get Even, Get Justice

These are angry times… with plenty to be angry about. From politicians that have failed us to systemic evils that have gone on for too long. Maybe you’re someone who was conned, pressured into spending money you didn’t have with the hope of promises someone didn’t keep. Maybe you were hurt in an accident. Maybe you were wrongly deprived of your liberties or fair share.

It makes sense that you’re angry. It makes sense that you’d want to get even.

But the Stoics would urge you to question that anger. Not because they think you should “accept” this ill-treatment, but because they think that getting revenge is not the right response. First, they would say that anger rarely leads to well-thought out responses. Second, because there is something better out there than getting even.

When Marcus Aurelius wrote “the best revenge is to not be like that,” he wasn’t precluding other actions. Given that he held up justice as a cardinal virtue and adjudicated many legal cases, we know that he was also a strong believer in holding people accountable. Musonius Rufus has a whole lecture entitled, “Will the philosopher prosecute anyone for personal injury?” which argues against holding personal grudges. Yet he also famously prosecuted several major cases in Rome against people who had committed grievous wrongs against other Stoics. He wasn’t doing this out of animus—he was doing it because he wanted justice. He wanted to prevent it from happening again.

So as we sit here today reflecting on a great laundry list of crimes and failures and misdeeds from people who were supposed to be serving the people, who were charged with following the law and protecting the common good, we should remember: It’s not revenge we’re after. Anger won’t help. What we need to get, at the ballot box, in the courts, in public, is not comeuppance, but justice.

We need to make sure these things can’t happen again.

Justice is one of the Four Stoic Virtues.

Funny Language, English...

Shouldn't a stage-coach be someone who trains actors?  Not an old-fashioned vehicle?

Checked into the Horizontal Hilton  Back to top

• Incredible Connection Woodmead in Woodmead Value Mart – Computers, Computer Software, games, laptops, PC, LCD screens, printers, cartridges, electronic accessories, audio – iPod, speakers, iPhone.
• Aldo Outlet, lower level in Woodmead Value Mart – Branded shoes, e.g. Guess, Nine West, Aldo, Marion and Lindie.

Thought for the Day:

“Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.” – Philip K. Dick, science fiction author.

Is Lockdown Car Insurance a Scam?

According to recent advertising, Santam thinks a 20%-or-less discount, if your car is staying at home,  is a good deal. Good enough to brazenly flaunt "Smartpark" with "up to 20% off".  They should be ashamed of such a small discount.

To give them their due, Santam did pay out pretty promptly for our blown Cisco router, for the insured amount.  But they did insist on us getting quotes first, even though there was an insured amount.

The POPI Act (POPIA) is About to Become YOUR Problem...

The Protection of Personal Information Act. AKA the POPI Act, or POPIA, goes live on 1 July 2021.

It applies to everybody who holds data on other people.  Do you have an email list on your laptop?  A list of phone numbers on your phone?  Then it applies to YOU.

Say your laptop is stolen. Say you lose your cell phone. If you did not take "adequate" measures to protect that personal information, you can be liable for R10 million in fines or 10 years in jail.

If your laptop is missing, or if your cell phone is lost, how will you prove you took "adequate" measures? Nice Catch-22.

Here's a free course that tells you what the law says –in plain English.
It's as long as a typical evening seminar, but online.

Go here for more information and to sign up: Free Online POPI Act Training.

Did we mention that there's no charge for it?

Overheard Near the Checkout

"The car's boot lid won't stay up in cold weather."
"Maybe you should get a stick..."
"And cane it for being naughty?"
"My idea was to prop it open, but yours sounds like more fun to watch!"