PROMINENT businessman and former Langa, Cape Town, resident Litha Nyhonyha has called on the local community and businesses in the city to invest in the impoverished township.
Nyhonyha, chief executive of Johannesburg-based Regiments Capital, was speaking at the launch yesterday of the partnership between his company and the City of Cape Town.
The partnership has already led to the renovation of the Langa public library.
Nyhonyha called on Langa residents to plough back into the community by helping to develop the township.
Nyhonhya's Regiments Capital advises municipalities, government departments and other organisations on how to raise capital for their infrastructure and other developmental projects.
The company donated furniture, books and other equipment, while the City of Cape Town would help maintain the library's SmartCape facilities.
Nyhonyha said many educated people from Langa did not play a constructive role in the township.
"For example, Langa High School has produced many educated people who are now playing constructive roles in other places.
"Many people have left the township for greener pastures elsewhere.
" I think they should visit the township once in a while and plough back into this community," he said.
Nyhonyha said he visited the Langa library a while back and was shocked by what he saw.
He said this motivated him to renovate the library.
"I spoke to senior librarian, Nomalinge Siyotula, and realised that their budget allocation could not buy at least ten books," he said.
Nyhonyha appeals to professionals and other Langa residents to become role models for the township's young people.
"We also want to hear from the township's young people how we can work together to create a better future for them," he said.
Antonio van der Rheede, chairperson of the city's community services portfolio committee, said libraries were places of hope where individuals and communities could receive information.
Van der Rheede said the library had recently formed a reading club for the benefit of the township's young people.
"Though not many people currently use the library service, we hope that the recent renovations will attract more people to the facility," he said.
Plough back - Nyhonyha
PROMINENT businessman and former Langa, Cape Town, resident Litha Nyhonyha has called on the local community and businesses in the city to invest in the impoverished township.
Nyhonyha, chief executive of Johannesburg-based Regiments Capital, was speaking at the launch yesterday of the partnership between his company and the City of Cape Town.
The partnership has already led to the renovation of the Langa public library.
Nyhonyha called on Langa residents to plough back into the community by helping to develop the township.
Nyhonhya's Regiments Capital advises municipalities, government departments and other organisations on how to raise capital for their infrastructure and other developmental projects.
The company donated furniture, books and other equipment, while the City of Cape Town would help maintain the library's SmartCape facilities.
Nyhonyha said many educated people from Langa did not play a constructive role in the township.
"For example, Langa High School has produced many educated people who are now playing constructive roles in other places.
"Many people have left the township for greener pastures elsewhere.
" I think they should visit the township once in a while and plough back into this community," he said.
Nyhonyha said he visited the Langa library a while back and was shocked by what he saw.
He said this motivated him to renovate the library.
"I spoke to senior librarian, Nomalinge Siyotula, and realised that their budget allocation could not buy at least ten books," he said.
Nyhonyha appeals to professionals and other Langa residents to become role models for the township's young people.
"We also want to hear from the township's young people how we can work together to create a better future for them," he said.
Antonio van der Rheede, chairperson of the city's community services portfolio committee, said libraries were places of hope where individuals and communities could receive information.
Van der Rheede said the library had recently formed a reading club for the benefit of the township's young people.
"Though not many people currently use the library service, we hope that the recent renovations will attract more people to the facility," he said.
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