Page 23 - SCAT Rural Voice II - 35 Stories for 35 Years

ceDeRBeRG
matzikama aidS netWoRk
The cederberg region is 300km away from cape Town. The region stretches from the West coast Atlantic seaside towns of Lambertsbaai and elandsbaai, to the mountainous inland towns of clanwilliam and citrusdal in the east. The cederberg mountain range is named after the endangered clanwilliam cedar which is indigenous to the area. The caves and overhangs of the mountains are noted for their san rock, evidence of the earliest human inhabitants1. The cederberg Local Municipality is strategically located on the cape-Namibia corridor, and the N7 National Road links it with the Northern cape. According to Census 2011, the total population of the region comprises 49 769 people, 75.65% who identify as coloured, 12,67% Black African and 10,97% as White. The most common languages spoken are Afrikaans (88.66%), isiXhosa (4.98%), sesotho (2.5%) and english (1.85%).2 The main economic activities of the cederberg are agriculture, forestry and fishing (25.7%), wholesale and retail trade, catering and accommodation (17.3%)3.
The cederberg Matzikama Aids Network is an established local development agency (LDA) with a health and wellbeing focus. The LDA changed its focus from being an Advice Office to focus on the Department of Health funded Community Oriented Primary care (cOPc) Programme. The LDA has successfully managed to raise funds from enel Green Power, the solar company operating in the area to establish a health clinic in Paleisheuwel. Paleisheuwel is about 48 km from citrusdal and forms part of the surrounding area serviced by the LDA. This has come as a relief to the people from Paleisheuwel as they were forced to part with between R400.00-R500.00 to get to the nearest health services in citrusdal. The LDA has also continued their work improving parenting skills in their community. They run fatherhood workshops for 15 fathers in Paleisheuwel. The LDA uses its expertise to support and mentor the citrusdal Advice Office with paralegal services in the community.
1. cederberg Heritage Route | Hiking & Heritage trails. (2019). Retrieved October 5, 2019, from http://www.cedheroute.co.za/
2. census 2011: Local Municipality: cederberg. (2019). Retrieved October 6, 2019, from https://census2011.adrianfrith.com/
place/161
3. cederberg Local Municipality - Overview. (2019). Retrieved October 6, 2019, from https://municipalities.co.za/overview/1227/
cederberg-local-municipality
FAst FACTS
NaMe of LDa: cederberg Matzikama Aids Network
LeD By: christiaan Oerson and Tanya Ludick
MaiN cHaLLeNGes faceD By tHe coMMuNity: HIV AIDs, substance abuse, unemployment, poverty, teenage pregnancy.
MaiN actiVities: HIV AIDS programme; TB dot programme; food security programme; community orientated care programme; labour programme; wellness centre; family support programme; child protection programme.
aDDress: 115 Voortrekker street citrusdal 7340
coNtact: 022 921 2113 cell 0721031286
Access to Justice
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