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CONCEPT DOCUMENT
SEBATA-KGOMO FOUNDATION
STAND NO L0002 LOBETHAL CENTRE MARISHANE 1064 / SUITE NO2 FORUM BUILDING 1157 SCHOEMAN STREET HATFIELD PRETORIA
Fax: (086] 297 4652 TEL: (013) 219 7239 Cell: 073 779 5229
SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & GROWT OF SEKHUKHUNE COMMUNITIES IS OUR PRIORITY
- Stand no L0002, Lobethal Centre, Ga – Phaahla. * P O Box 499 Marishane 1064, - Suite no 2, Forum Building 1157 Schoeman Street Hatfield. ( (013) 219 7238 6 086 297 4652 Mobile: 073 779 5229, + [email protected] : www.sebata-kgomo.org.za [coming soon, under construction]
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CONCEPT DOCUMENT
WHICHEVER WAY, WE WILL ALWAYS DO IT!
CONCEPT DOCUMENT BY: SEBATA-KGOMO FOUNDATION
REVIVING, PRESERVING AND PROFILING OF HISTORY AND CULTURAL HERITAGE OF BAPEDI AND KGOSHI
KGOLO SEKHUKHUNE 1, USING THE LATTER TO ATTAIN SOCIAL COHESION AND SOLIDARITY ADEQUATE
ENOUGH TO SECURE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR SEKHUKHUNE COMMUNITIES.
A. BACKROUND
The era of colonialism/imperialism and institutionalized apartheid has effectively eroded African
cultural-heritage system and way of life and over and above reducing them to inferiority beings as
compared to other races. This led to an unfortunate phenomenon whereby they found themselves
being politically, economically, socially and culturally dominated, which led to the depersonalization of
sections of the communities, falsification of their history disparagement and negation of their cultural
values and institutions. The systems above also tried to replace progressively and officially, African
languages, spiritual traditions, natural medicines and cultural institutions by those of colonial powers.
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One of their strategies was to encourage formation of an elite, which is too often alienated from its
culture and susceptible to assimilation and accumulation of wealth to the exclusion of the rest, thus
creating a huge gap between these elite groups and the African masses.
These forces of darkness have made tremendous strides by unleashing colonial educational system that
was capable of producing people without sense of their past, identity, self-worth, progress and
development. These people lack spirit of self-help, self-reliance and entrepreneurship, thus stalling
progress on endeavors to initialize and or realize conditions conducive for socio-economic development.
B. INTRODUCTION TO THE CONCEPT
Sekhukhune is a southern region of Limpopo province under Sekhukhune District Municipality which
encompasses the following municipalities Greater Groblersdal, Greater Marble Hall, Greater Tubatse,
Makhuduthamaga and Fetakgomo. The rate of unemployment especially amongst youth, grinding
poverty, moral degeneration, high levels of crime and corruption, drug and alcohol abuse, global
warming and environmental degradation, poor governance etc. call upon revolutionaries and activists to
wake-up and save mankind from the claws of evil by heeding the call and join hands as motive forces in
an attempt to redress the said socio-economic ills. The UN MDG Report 2011 says significant strides
have been made towards the millennium development goals, yet reaching all the goals by the 2015
deadline remains challenging as the world’s poorest are being left behind, the MDGs have helped lift
millions of people out of poverty, save countless children’s lives and ensure they attend school. At the
same time we still have a long way to go in empowering women and girls, promoting sustainable
development and protecting the most vulnerable. As a Foundation we are both concerned and
challenged by the afore said phenomena, however we have resolved to be part of solution rather than
be intimidated and sit on the pavilion as on lookers.
The concept document attempts to briefly capture and illustrate the extend by which social cohesion
and solidarity can revolutionize the lives and future of our people, Who their wellbeing and welfare is
threatened by tendencies which are associated with greed, selfishness, self-centeredness, Get rich at all
costs mentality, individualism and lack of empathy and philanthropy. Albeit that our people have
benefited through government programs of development, there is a growing concession in many
corners and quarters that a lot is still left to be done to achieve freedom envisaged by Freedom charter
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and other instruments of liberation. Social cohesion and solidarity are not an option if we are serious
about unlocking doors towards development. What we should be doing and sharing is analysis of the
current situation and the challenges we face as a whole. As a whole we refer to the so called Social
forum which is composed of labour, FBO’s, Political & social movements, NGO’s, Traditional authorities
and Healers, Youth organizations, Business, and in partnership with Government.
The challenges are including the savage impact of the recession, continuing environmental degradation,
the ever present threat of xenophobic and more recently homophobic attacks that weaken and divide
our communities, the chronic levels of unemployment and poverty, High levels of crime, moral
degeneration and the shocking and widening gap between the rich and the poor. All these challenges
should make us all stop and think carefully about what needs to be done, and perhaps more
importantly, how we can work together to combat these and work for an alternative agenda.
All of these issues and many more have persuaded us that building a South African Chapter of the Social
Forum is a project worth supporting and is urgent. We appreciate that there will be differences between
all of those we are hoping to persuade to become involved, and that we must not hide or dilute them.
Being open about our differences, and being ready to listen and learn from them is not a romantic
notion at times like this, but an absolute necessity. The crucial issue is, can we work together for
change?
We have to acknowledge that all of our constituencies, social and political movements, unions, FBO’s
etc. are not as strong as they once were. There has been a long period of considerable demobilization,
but there is a new critical space opening up. How we analyse this space, and what meaning it has for us
requires much more discussion, but we are certain that it exists, and that we must grasp it. Doing
nothing could be a catastrophe.
We have therefore committed ourselves as a foundation to work towards a major project as proposed in
the concept document to achieve the set goals and objectives in collaboration with identified strategic
partners. This document intends to ignite discussions and debate as to which policies and programs we
need, to achieve the socio-economic development for Sekhukhune Land/region which is almost 100%
rural. We are proposing that this can be achieved through resuscitation of social cohesion and solidarity
and we commit ourselves to an open and inclusive process, and we are looking forward for maximized
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interaction. This is not going to be easy, but we hope that you will join us and share the load. Another
world must be possible.
C. VISION STATEMENT
After an intense interrogation of the socio-economic conditions of Sekhukhune communities, the
founder identified socio-economic challenges and ills which called upon for an urgent action by
progressive motive forces to find solutions. Amongst others we recognised reviving the concept of social
cohesion and solidarity in Sekhukhune communities, interalia using the two tools to drive process of
socio-economic development of the said region as key and central towards achieving developmental
Sekhukhune. Through the following identified resources [Cultural-heritage, Eco-Tourism, Agriculture,
Manufacturing, Mining etc. we aim to drive sustainable development to improve the livelihoods of
Sekhukhune communities. Centre the entire process on community involvement and ownership,
thereby building a strong basis for social economy to find space and ground. By social economy we will
reverse the adverse effects of individualism, greed, exclusion of majority of people in the main stream
economy and achieve an accelerated exploration and utilisation by local communities from their
economic structure.
D. MISSION STATEMENT
To provide leadership and comprehensive analysis of the socio-economic conditions and environment to
enable Sekhukhune communities to access and exploit their surroundings for their utmost good,
eradicate culture of dependence and inactiveness, thereby inculcating culture of social cohesion and
solidarity.
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LIMPOPO
Limpopo is the most Northern Province of South Africa. It is sometimes described as the “Golden Horse
shoe”, which refers to the huge arc of unspoiled natural country side. It is gateway to the rest of Africa,
a unique feature of this province is that it shares international borders with three countries, Botswana,
Zimbabwe and Mozambique, as well as provinces of Mpumalanga, Gauteng and North West. It consists
of mainly rural communities, comprising of several ethnic groups that are distinct in their cultures. The
Largest group is the Northern Sotho [Bapedi] accounting for more than half of the population in
Limpopo. Home to two world heritage sites Mapungubwe and Makapan’s valley [annex to the cradle of
humankind] and renowned Kruger National Park. It is also the land of Rain Queen, Modjadji and the
sacred Funduzi Lake. Home too, to a legendary Paramount Chief and Freedom Fighter, Kgoshi Kgolo
Sekhukhune 1 who his actions and involvement in early wars of resistance has by far played a role in
bringing the borders of the great Limpopo province. His story will be unpacked and told in detail by this
concept document. It is an area of 123910 km2 and population of 5.3 million. Unemployment rate is at
35.6%. One of the major three rivers draining the eastern region and flowing in to the Indian Ocean is
Olifants River which cut across the Sekhukhune Communities. The province falls within a summer rainfall
region [October to March] and is the natural resource treasure chest of South Africa. It boasts some of
the greatest reserves of agriculture, mineral and tourism resources many of which remain hugely under-
exploited.
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AGRICULTURE
Many of rural people in Limpopo still practice subsistence farming [most of the produce is consumed by
the farmer, leaving little to sell or trade. Cattle ranching flourishes in the bushveld region and is often
combined with controlled hunting. Most hunting in South Africa takes place in this province. Limpopo
could be described as the “garden of South Africa” with its rich fruit and vegetable production.
According to the Provincial Economics, 2003, the province produced the following [given a percentage
of the total production in South Africa]
• Mangoes [76%]
• Papaya [65%]
• Citrus, Bananas and Litchi [25%]
• Tea [36%]
• Avocados [60%]
• Tomatoes [two thirds]
• 285 000 tons of potatoes
Grapes are also successfully cultivated in the Modimolle district. The largest tomato farm in South Africa
lies between Tzaneen and Makhado.
MINING
The mining sector is also of great importance in the province and employs about 49 000 people,
[Minerals Bureau, 2002]. It contributed 21.7% in 2004 to the GDPR at current prices and increase of
7.3% since 1996. There is also an abundance of minerals:
• Platinum group metals [PGM]
• Iron ore
• Chromium
• Coal [high and mid-grade]
• Diamonds
• Antimony
• Phosphate
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• Copper
• Gold
• Magnetite
• Vermiculate
• Silicon
• Mica
• Emeralds
The follow base commodities are also present:
• Black granite
• Corundum
• Feldspar
SEKHUKHNE DISTRICT
The Sekhukhune District cuts across the north-eastern part of the bushveld complex, it encompasses the
following local municipalities Fetakgomo, Tubatse, Groblersdal, Ephraim Mogale and Makhuduthamaga.
It commands long and proud history majestic proportions with regal mountains, valleys and meandering
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rivers. It is rich precious metals and above its soil is more than 2200 indigenous species of vascular
plants, making it an area of exceptionally high-biodiversity. It covers an area of approximately 13 264
square-meters most of which is rural and it lies to the north west of Mpumalanga and South of Limpopo.
It is located outside major towns such as Pretoria at approximately 200 km to the South, Nelspruit at
about 150 km to the east, Polokwane at about 180 km to the north. Urban centres are Groblersdal,
Marble hall, Burgersfort, Jan furse, Ohrigstad, Steelpoort and Driekop. It is estimated that only 5% of
Sekhukhune population live in urban areas. Almost 605 villages which are generally sparsely populated
and dispersed throughout the District, together with towns are served by its major rivers
[Olifants[Lepelle], Tubatse and Elands.
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E. HISTORY OF BAPEDI, KGOSHI KGOLO SEKHUKHUNE 1 AND OTHER LIBERATION FIGHTERS
The South African history records and archives have for period of time misrepresented facts about
our history and the role our fore bearers played in defending our precious land, resources, freedom
and cultural heritage. The 15 years of democracy has done little in reviving and profiling our
rampaged culture and heritage. Our education system too has had limited impact and effect on
conscioutising our people about the significance heritage has in pulling the nation together for
cohesion and common purpose, value of indigenous knowledge systems and indigenous medicinal
plants in fighting diseases and achieve wellness for prosperous society. Also put in the dark the
possibility of using the above knowledge systems to advance their socio-economic interests and
provide lasting solutions for world’s worst medical night mares[high blood pressure, sugar diabetes,
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cancer, HIV-AIDS etc.] and of course to be alternative to the limits of western medical practice. A
nation without past is a nation without future and a divided nation stand no chance against the ever
changing and challenging times. The Pedi nation has rich history of cultural heritage which faces
threat of extinction unless something is done on urgent basis.
The life of Kgoshi Kgolo Sekhukhune I illustrate an era when the Pedi kingdom grew in strength and
managed to unify the tribes in the then Transvaal from the lebepe [Limpopo] rivers to Vaal [lekwe]
in the south and the north and Komati river and kgalagadi, in the East and West respectively to
enter in to social contract to build their local economies by being stock and crop farmers and trading
in steel/iron ore and minerals with India and other east countries. Further building tower of army,
strategy and tactics that managed to defeat the British military invasion for three times and having
not lost a battle against Paul Kruger’s regime. Through this heritage we can revive the attributes of a
warrior, unifier, diplomat and freedom fighter, to the Pedi nation in Limpopo to rise to the occasion
by taking responsibility of its destiny. The Sekhukhune statue in Tjate, Thaba Mosega, and caves
where in Sekhukhune hid for some days during invasion by the British and envisaged museum of
Pedi culture might come to be tourist attraction monument and play critical role in boosting the
local economy. The museum will not only profile the legacy of King Sekhukhune 1 but all liberation
struggle leaders who hailed from Sekhukhune land e.g. Peter Nchabeleng, Jeff Masemola, Elias
Motswaledi, Phokanoka Madimetja etc. The foundation in partnership with other stakeholders and
role players will embark on programs that will seek to achieve the above.
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F. THE BAPEDI
History indicates that in about 1400 AD, two groups of Sotho speaking migrated into the southern part
of South Africa from northern Africa. The one group was Bafokeng who settled in Botswana and the
other group was Barolong who settled in the then Transvaal. The Barolong found a small metal working
clan of Karanga people (the Wambedzi) occupying the spot they wanted to live in, they promptly
conquered the clan. However, they decided to take as their own name the name of the original
inhabitants so as to appease their gods and spirits and called themselves the BaPedi, the Sotho-Tswana
form of the name Wambedzi. The linguistic similarities between Sesotho, Setswana and Sepedi make it
fairly obvious that they were historically one ethnic group, speaking one language and that geographical
separation has been the factor in multiplication of dialects.
The principal group among the Northern Sotho was the Pedi. Other writings agree that the Pedi broke
away from iron-making Kgatla people under the leadership of certain Thobela. In the 17th century they
moved eastwards from the vicinity of present Tshwane and finally settled between Olifants and
Steelpoort rivers. Early inhabitants of the area around the Sekhukhuneland were the Baroka of
Mongatane under Mashabela, who occupied the area of Leolo mountains; the Batau who had come
from Swaziland and settled in the area of the west of Leolo; and the Bakone and Ba-Matlala offshoots of
the tribe on the area on Matlala Thaba. The Pedi absorbed those clans already living in the vicinity of
Sekhukhune land by judicious marriages and conquests. They were known for their cattle wealth and
their iron industry and this invited clients who were brought within the evolving Pedi statehood. Little is
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known about the group but as early as 1600 they formed the kingdom known as Bapedi or Pedi. Over
several generations of interventions a degree of linguistic cultural homogeneity developed. Their
position was strengthened by their strategic positioning on the trade route from Delagoa Bay to their
homeland and even further west.
To maintain this control, the Pedi needed a strong, centralized government. By the late 1700 King
Thulare (reign about 1790 – 1820) unified few independent chiefs and extended his control over the
region making himself the ruler of the Pedi Kingdom. Contrary to the acceptance custom of Sotho chiefs,
he did not choose a natural stronghold for his Moshate saying that the chief who is surrounded by brave
men needs no walls of stone to protect him. It was with this spirit of bravery that made him so
successful. Thulare’s influence was so strong that he even became the spiritual leader of the
surrounding tribes that the Pedi had not conquered forcibly.
The Pedi hegemony was destroyed shortly after the attack of the Ndebele under the rule of Mzilikazi.
The Matebele depopulated and subjugated a vast area, particularly inhabited by the Pedi, before
settling down in the south – western part of what is today Zimbabwe. Mzilikazi took supplies and his
followers along his way. Sekwati, the last remaining son of Thulare and his followers fled the area and
later returned and started rebuilding the Pedi kingdom. Sekwati engaged Boers settled in the region in
numerous negotiations and struggles over land and labour. His success in these struggles, and later that
of his successor Sekhukhune I, the Pedi became a stronger nation again and able to resist attacks from
the Swazi’s and Zulu’s.
In traditional Pedi culture, subordinate groups seemed to enjoy autonomy but social controls
maintained the dominance of the Pedi. The most popular method of ensuring Pedi dominance was the
subordinate chief to take their principal wives from the ruling dynasty. The system of cousin marriage
resulted, which perpetuated hierarchical marriage link between the ruler and the ruled.
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G. THE ODESSEY OF A GREAT FREEDOM FIGHTER
Kgoshi Kgolo Sekhukhune I was a unifier, a brave warrior king and a great freedom fighter who left an
enduring legacy in the struggle for the freedom of South African people. He built a powerful empire in
Bapedi by a skillful combination of diplomacy and military conquest. Bapedi great empire included
people of other origins including the Bakgaga, Batau, Bakone, Baroka, Batlokwa, Baphuthi, Bakwena,
Bakgatla, Bantwane, Bamongatane, Bamohlala, Mapulana, Matebele, Matlala, Batswana , Maswazi,
Batswako and others. Kgoshi Kgolo Sekhukhune 1 was the son of Sekwati and his wife Thorometjane and
was born in 1814. Sekwati was the son of great warrior who in essence played a critical role in
establishing a kingdom of Bapedi laying a profound foundation for Kgoshi Sekwati and Kgoshi
Sekhukhune to reign as successful chiefs. This may have gone unnoticed that, he was to bring joy, pride,
prowess and bravery to the Pedi nation. His original name is Matsebe. He acquired the name
Sekhukhune as a result of his outstanding role in fights against Boers. The Boers used forts and many
attacks on the Bapedi to Encircle, besiege and starve them into submission, as strategy to block Pedi
access to water and food. In this situation the brave young Matsebe used to move quietly under cover of
darkness and or forest, a khukhuna, with his trusted lieutenants to get food and water for his people.
This activity was the backbone of Bapedi survival from the scorched earth policy of the boers. That is
why on his SERETO (praise poem) he says, ke paletje maburu ka tjate, sebata ke a khukhuna mo ka
boditai ke hlahla le phoka, which means that I survived Boer assaults on tjate, no one could catch my
movements I am very slippery.
This is what comrade Chris Thembisile Hani did, when he led a group of liberation soldiers who fought in
Wankie and other operations. This group was cornered and besieged by Former Rhodesian and SADF
soldiers with no food and water. They decided to send few out at night to search for food with risk of
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being caught and be subjected to torture and brutality, in efforts to making them reveal the
whereabouts of the rest. Comrade Chris having realized the danger of the move, he personally took the
responsibility of getting food and water for the rest with few trusted lieutenants. This operation
managed to help them survive the search and besiege, until arriving at safe shores. What is common
here between Comrade Chris and Kgoshi Sekhukhune I was that they were brave and led by example as
leaders taking front lines in defense of the comrades and struggle, instead of fronting by poor subjects
and cowardly sitting back. These attributes were also witnessed in the renowned and most revered
revolutionary who without fear defended justice and human dignity everywhere, having done so
selflessly. This hero is one and only Ernesto ‘CHE’ Guevara a true legend of Freedom.
The death of Sekhukhune 1 was mourned by his people, well known in Southern Africa and
commemorated in Britain. The London Times of 30 August 1882, in a lengthy editorial, remembered
Kgoshi Kgolo Sekhukhune 1 as follows (We hear this morning from Durban of the death of one of the
bravest of our former enemies, chief Sekhukhune). The news carries us back some years, to the time
when the name Sekhukhune was the name of dread, first the Dutch and to the English colonialist of the
Transvaal and Natal. It was, indeed to a great extend a danger caused by the neighborhood of this
formidable chief that led to the annexation of the Transvaal by England. When war was declared against
the Zulu King, operations went on simultaneously against Sekhukhune I and early in 1879 his stronghold
was attacked. Obstacles stood on the way of these operations, and when, after Ulundi, Sir Garnet
Wolseley enters the Transvaal, he endeavored to humiliate the chief. (Sechaba, 1982].
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H. CORRECTING THE LEGACY OF APARTHEID
The above will assist in rewriting the history of bapedi nation and all icons of struggle hailing from the
nation in question. Profile their contributions and adequately celebrate their legacies, interalia using
these legacies to build a caring nation that would out of collective effort engage in socio-economic
programs that will seek to achieve priorities as set by research work of the foundation in collaboration
with other social formations and strategic partners. The life and time of this king and his nation deserve
a great deal of attention and consolidation as 1800’s detachments that let intense battles in defense of
our land and other resources and defiance of white minority rule. The struggle of resistance and
defiance of white minority rule continued beyond 1900, thus answering fear of Sekhukhune 1 of his
subjects to be forced into labour in white farms and mines. The struggle took another form when
political organizations were formed to allow organizing to take place at greater level and unify Africans
in their quest for freedom.
The enactment of racial discriminative laws let to the forming of organizations like African National
Congress {ANC} 1912 and Labour organization like Transvaal Africans Teacher Association {TATA} 1906
which had common goal of challenging marginalization of African people. Sekhukhune 1 Blood relative
Sefako Mapogo Makgatho was in the midst of this new era of struggle. He respectively played central
role in forming the aforementioned organizations. He was not only founding member, but like
Sekhukhune 1 was a leader, he was elected President General of the ANC from 1917-1924 and from
1930-1933 as a senior National treasurer of the ANC. They adopted a political slogan that was applicable
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not only to SA but also to the whole continent of Africa- “Mayibuye I Africa. They also adopted a
national anthem that expressed the hopes not only of the people of SA but also those of the people of
the continent as a whole- morena boloka sechaba sa geshu, nkosi sikelel I Afrika. The same Africa-wide
spirit informed their choice of colours of the flag of the ANC black, gold and green. When Makgatho
addressed ANC conference he said I quote ‘ we ask for no special favours from the government , this is
the land of our fathers and in it we wish to be treated at least as well as foreigners and with the
consideration extended to foreigners, including foreigners of enemy origin, close quote.
Sekhukhune 1 military wing proved to be a vital forerunner to umkhondo we sizwe {MK} in the sense
that they took up arms against the regime before ANC did. The underground machinery in the 1960’s
included Mogaramedi Sekhukhune, John Phala, John Nkadimeng, Flag Boshielo, Elias Motswaledi, Oriah
Ratsoma, Fenyane Moretsele and others. When MK was formed many Sebata-kgomo members were
the backbone of this new organizational formation. Reference, Sechaba, an ANC mouthpiece. Indeed
around the area of Sekhukhune there are no such cultural monuments or museums to preserve and
promote these legacies. The legacy of apartheid has created far reaching damage to the legacies above,
thus creating mammoth task of profiling. Foundation will have to work tirelessly to erode the effect and
introduce a new era of appreciation of our history and cultural heritage.
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I. PRIMARY OBJECTIVES
Ø Creation of Centre to research, profile, and maximize awareness of history and cultural heritage of
Kgoshi Kgolo Sekhukhune1 and bapedi nation interalia the lives of freedom fighters hailing from
Sekhukhune and extend of their contribution to liberation struggle and history. ‘Fetakgomo o sware
motho, Mofetakgomo ke moriri oa hloga’,
Ø Centre to address issues of youth, family and social development
Education.
Ø Centre for quality improvement on education, the use and promotion of Sepedi as medium of instruction and use amongst youth.
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Ø Centre for Poverty alleviation [ food security], Employment and Growth
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We are looking at possibility of using waste management & recycling to provide opportunity for
locals to be involved in income earning projects, in the same raising awareness of the
significance of environmental conservation & forestation.
There is potential for salt producing business, which currently local women are involved in
producing but at a lower production due to lack of machinery.
The discovery of musical stones, development of Tjate [Thaba Mosega] as heritage site, other
historic & heritage treasures & eco-system present an exciting opportunity for tourism industry
& job creation.
The envisaged museum & nursery will allow local people to preserve indigenous knowledge
system of healing & therapy. Which knowledge they can trademark & sell in open market
sustainably, because such knowledge will be codified & easy to make reference.
Agriculture has been identified as key strategic industry for drive the local economy & creates
sustainable livelihoods for the locals. Further assist communities to establish co-operatives to
manage & own these farming projects for the greater good of the entire community.
Ø Centre for service delivery , fighting corruption
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Ø Centre for democracy and governance
Sekhukhune District Mayor
Ø Centre for technology and science and skills development
Ø C entre for indigenous Knowledge systems and Medicinal plants
The Centre will organize traditional healers & possessors of indigenous knowledge system & medicinal plants in coordinated group with intention of building & preserving the knowledge for various uses.
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Ø Centre for policy analysis and capacity enhancement
Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel has called for a stronger support agency and training academies for social entrepreneurs, noting that social enterprises have the potential to contribute to the government's drive to create five million jobs in nine years.
Social economy refers to economic activities that are undertaken by entities such as cooperatives, mutual societies, voluntary and community organisations, union investment vehicles and foundations.
Cooperatives form a crucial part of rural development in India, Thailand, Korea and Japan, he said.
Social economy, the minister said, was frequently under-recognised, under-appreciated and under-marketed.
Patel said comprehensive government and public support were needed for social economy entities in South Africa.
Ø Centre for Health and Wellness {HIV-AIDS, CANCER, SUGAR DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, etc.]
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G.BY FOLLOWING EVENTS WE AIM TO PROMOTE THE LEGACY OF SEKHUKHUNE THE LEGACY OF
KGOSHI KGOLO SEKHUKHUNE 1 AND OTHER FALLEN HEROES AND HEROINES.
STRATEGIC PARTNERS
Traditional Authorities, Traditional healers, Municipalities, Provincial Govt, Liberation movements, Faith
based & Heritage organizations, Youth Organisations, Local schools, Institutions of Higher Learning,
Local Business, NHC, DAC etc.
Ø Commemoration of the life and death of Sekhukhune 1 and Bapedi tribe, commemoration of the life
and death of Peter Nchabeleng, Jeff Masemola, Elias Motswaledi , Phokanoka Madimetsa, John
Nkadimeng, Sefako Mapogo Makgatho, John Phala, Flag Boshielo, Fenyane Moretsele, Oriah
Ratsoma, Mogaramedi Sekhukhune, Phirime Mashego and others.
Ø Memorial Lecture for the above mentioned leaders.
STRATEGIC PARTNERS
Department of sports, arts & culture [Museum s & Heritage office], DAC, NHC, Kara Heritage Institute,
Municipalities, Traditional Authorities, Traditional Healers, Local
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Heritage organizations, Liberation Movements, Youth organizations, Local schools, Local Business etc.
Ø Museum to profile the legacy of Kgoshi Kgolo Sekhukhune 1, other fallen heroes and legacy of
Bapedi nation
The objective of this project is to establish visible cultural structures and objects that celebrate and
commemorate the history, culture and legacy of Kgoshi Kgolo Sekhukhune1 and Bapedi nation and
all liberation fighters’ from Sekhukhune. The Centre will include a multipurpose space, a library,
Exhibition spaces, an indigenous plants garden and a nursery. The library will even profile Pedi music
and dance and indigenous knowledge system. The museum will have a visitors’ Interpretative
Centre.
STRATEGIC PARTNERS
Municipalities, DAC, NHC, Department of sports, arts & culture [Limpopo], Traditional Authorities,
Liberation movements, Youth organization, Local schools
Ø The conversion of Thaba Mosega and Tjate [Statue of Sekhukhune] in to national Heritage site
The site is already a provincial heritage site with application have been filed with the board of
authority for consideration and decision making. All is left to
Maximize efforts of following up on the application and secure the envisaged result.
Ø Transform former Pedi headquarters Leolo, Thaba Mosego and Tjate [were dibo strongholds] with
lot of caves, in to tourist attraction monument.
Ø The process of developing this area is already underway with Tubatse Municipality at center of the
project. One of the challenges is to connect the communities around to the project, for the
communities to claim ownership of these projects and benefit both economically and socially.
Because for us, we believe that without communities as part, the projects will be white elephants
and consequently wasted investments.
STRATEGIC PARTNERS
Department of sports, arts & culture [Limpopo], Municipalities, Traditional authorities, DAC, NHC, Local
Schools, Youth Organizations, Liberation Movements, Dept of Sports[National], SAFA, Kara Heritage
Institute, Local Heritage & sports organizations, Adopt-a-School Foundation etc.
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Ø Sports and arts-cultural activities and festivals
We aim to have arts-cultural activities and festivals in collaboration with traditional authorities in
celebration and commemoration of different historic calendar days and non-calendar days. We are
planning to have heritage celebrations in Sekhukhune with the theme ‘celebrating African calendar’.
According to African calendar, September month is month of New Year and therefore celebrations
should be as such. We are of the view that soccer is part of our heritage and has played critical role in
building our communities. Involvement of young people in sports offers an opportunity for them to
escape alcohol & drug addictions & avoiding other wrong behavioral patterns. We intend to have soccer
competition organized through schools in honour of Kgoshi Kgolo Sekhukhune 1and revival of the spirit
of the formers soccer clubs like Baroka ba Ga-Nkwana Hot Beans, Lion Brothers, Happy Fighters to
mention few.
J. WHAT THE ABOVE MEANS TO THE INTERGRATED RURAL DEVELOPMENT
The objectives to be pursuit by the Centers of the foundation will over and above go a long way in
regrouping the local economic structure. Urbanisation is a phenomenon that is due to lack of
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opportunities in rural areas and deprivation as a result of decades of apartheid. History affirms that
Africans were entrepreneurs long before colonialism, Farming being at the Centre of their economic
activities, thereby making them independent beings and nations able to maintain sustainable
livelihoods. They were not employees in mines and farms instead they were farmers and dealers in iron
ore and precious minerals like gold. Today rural areas are shamefully homes to the elderly and the
poorest of the poor, the youth and middle age in their efforts to survive have to migrate to urban areas
in search of work with no place to stay, consequently causing serious housing backlogs and putting
pressure on metro’s budgets and economies. Most of the graduates leave rural areas to urban areas in
search of work and in the process rob rural community of their skills, expertise, and their contributions
in sustainable development and uplift of standards of living. Through this centers graduates, retired
professionals, businessmen, faith based organizations, NGO’s, Political organization, labour, heritage
and cultural organizations, government institutions and society at large will collectively seek solutions
and implementation of strategies for socio- economic problems and challenges. The achievement of
government priorities which is accessible to quality education, fighting corruption and crime, quality
accessible health, sustainable livelihoods and decent jobs and integrated rural development and land
reform relies quiet profoundly on participation by civil society. Indeed the Foundation through the spirit
of Kgoshi Kgolo Sekhukhune 1 aim to awake the sleeping giant {civil society], the civil society that
through cohesion and solidarity managed to achieve the impossible, as is illustrated In the items C, D
and E afore mentioned.
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PULA! YA MEDUPI! GA ENE!
WHICHEVER WAY WE DO IT, IT ALWAYS LOOKS SO GOOD!
The beauty of the sky of Sekhukhune during its Rainy season.
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The importance of Education in Struggle for
Freedom [ERA OF MASS MOBILISATIO]
“The worker of the world has nothing to lose, but their chains, workers of the world Unite”
Karl Marx
“International solidarity is not an act of charity: It is an act of unity between allies
fighting on different terrains toward the same objective. The foremost of these
objectives is to aid the development of humanity to the highest level possible”
Samora Machel
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Amilcar Cabral, African freedom fighter (1924-1973)
Hide nothing from the masses of our people. Tell no lies. Expose lies whenever they are told. Mask no difficulties, mistakes, failures. Claim no easy victories. ... Our experience has shown us that in the general framework of daily struggle, this battle against ourselves, this struggle against our own weaknesses ... is the most difficult of all.
WHICHEVER WAY WE DO DEVELOPMENT, IT ALWAYS LOOK SO GOOD!