peace afrika // vol. 18 // no. 2 march 2015€¦ · the struggle for freedom! ... zimbabwe and...

CONTENTSSPECIAL FEATURE: We are Still Searching 25 Years Later ..... 2

UMTAPO’S PROGRAMMATIC WORK• SpecialProjects .......................... 5• SchoolsandTertiary

Institutions ................................. 9• CommunityDevelopment ........14• LatestProjects ..........................16

FEATURE ARTICLE ................................18

IN MEMORIAM .................................... 20

LETTERS TO ThE EdITOR .................... 21

SPECIAL FEATURE:

Weareatpresentanationfullofgrumblers,andwithgoodreasontoo:FesteringcorruptionanditsindirectmanifestationsintheavalancheofseniorofficialsuspensionsattheNationalProsecutingAuthority,SouthAfricanRevenueService,andtheHawks–thesehaveleftalotofthecitizensscratchingtheirheads.AndtheNkandladebaclewillsimplynotgoaway...

Themajorityofourmunicipalitiesaremodelsofincompetenceand

densofsleaze,forcingcitizenstospillintothestreetseverynowand

thentoventtheirfrustrations.

“”

Published by UMTAPO and funded by the C S Mott Foundation.

Articles, information and comments are welcome, and should be submitted to:TheDirector,POBox37674,Overport4067SouthAfrica.

Email:[email protected]

Designandlayout:ARTWORKS

PEACE AFRIKA // VOL. 18 // NO. 2 March 2015 2

by Dr Mosibudi Mangena

WE ARE STILL SEARChING 25 yEARS LATER

Thisisourlottwenty-fiveyearsaftertheunbanningofourpoliticalorganisationsthatfoughtfor

freedom.Theunbanningwasapoliticalseismichappeningthatsetinmotionaseriesofeventsthatbroughtustowherewearetoday.Itmadenegotiationsforapoliticalsettlementpossibleandthedraftingoftheconstitutionthatnowregulatesournationallife.

Ofcourse,forthosefactionsoftheliberationmovementthatwerenotpartofthesecretnegotiationsthatledtotheunbanning,itwasabitter-sweetdevelopment.However,thisdoesnotremovethefactthatitwasamomentousoccasionthatchangedthedirectionofpoliticsinSouthAfrica.Wemovedawayfromthepoliticsofconfrontation,detentions,torture,imprisonment,murders,hatredanddangertofreeanddemocraticactivity.

Therewereexpectations,especiallyintheoppressedblackcommunity,thattherewouldbeanendtotheirlandlessness,povertyandsocialdegradation.Therewasagenuinehopethatthenewdawnwouldleadtoatrulynon-racialsocietywherethewealthofthecountrywouldbesharedfairlybyitscitizensandthatthedignityoftheblackmajoritywouldberestored.

Butalas,twenty-fiveyearson,wehavebeenreducedtoaprotestsociety.Strikesandprotestsaresofrequentandnumerousthatwehavebecomeinuredtothem.

Whereaslanddispossessionwasthecornerstoneofthearchitectureofoppressionandeconomicimpoverishmentoftheblackmajority–aprocessthatwassustainedovercenturiesofsettler-colonialism–theblackmajoritygovernmenthasmadeinfinitesimalprogressintheareaoflandreform.This,despitethefactthatitwasamajorgrievanceoftheblackmajority

andthereforeformedacriticalelementofthestruggleforfreedom!Ourdraggingoffeetinlandreformseemstosuggestthatwehavelostfocusonwhatisreallycrucialforthebuildingofatrulyequalandfairersociety.Alotofusinpositionsofauthorityhavebeenluredbyshinybutsmallthingssuchasluxurycarsandclothesattheexpenseofwhatreallymatters,namely,thewealthofthecountry.

Inasense,thisexplainswhy,underademocraticgovernment,wehavebecomethemostunequalsocietyontheglobe.Oneisnotsurewhetherweareashamedofthisdeplorabledevelopmentornot.Istheprovisionofsocialgrantstofifteenmillionofusaproperandadequateresponsetothewidespreadpovertyinoursociety?Itfeelsandsoundskind,butitisactuallyameasureofourfailuretotacklethepovertyofourpeopleinaneffectiveway.

Ourexpectationsremainunfulfilled

PEACE AFRIKA // VOL. 18 // NO. 2 March 20153


SPECIAL FEATURE: WE ARE STILL SEARChING 25 yEARS LATER

Alotofusinpositionsofauthorityhavebeenluredbyshinybutsmall

thingssuchasluxurycarsandclothesattheexpenseofwhatreally

matters,namely,thewealthofthecountry.Inasense,thisexplainswhy,

underademocraticgovernment,wehavebecomethemostunequal

societyontheglobe.

“

”

inotherspheresofourlivesaswell.Lookatthedeplorablestateofoureducationsystemthatfailslegionsofouryoungpeople.Ourhealthsectorissimilarlyjustlimpingalong,promptingsometocallitadeathtrapforthepoor.Themajorityofourmunicipalitiesaremodelsofincompetenceanddensofsleaze,forcingcitizenstospillintothestreetseverynowandthentoventtheirfrustrations.Thecriminaljusticesystemiscreakingundertheburdenofunrelentingandviolentcrime.Womenandchildrenarebeingbrutalisedinamannerneverseenbeforeinoursociety.Inshort,wearenotdoingwellatallonmanyfronts.

Ourineptitudeinvariousaspectsofournationallifeproducesandexacerbatessomeoftheproblemswehavealludedto.Forinstance,thefailureoftheeducationsystemtoteachskillstoouryoungfeedstheunemploymentandpovertypipelines,andthatinturnfeedsthecrimemonster.

TheembarrassingattacksandlootingofbusinessesownedbyforeignersinthetownshipsarenotsomuchamanifestationofAfrophobiaastheyareconsequencesofourineptitudeintheadministrationofimmigrationandrelatedissues.WeshouldaskourselveswhytheseattacksdonothappeninNamibia,Zambia,Botswana,

ZimbabweandLesotho.Inadditiontothefactthatthese

countrieshavefirmlyrootedthemselvesintheirAfricanness,theyalsoimplementtheirimmigrationlawsandregulationseffectively,efficientlyandfairly.Ourslacknessinthisregardtendstopitthepoorestinoursocietyagainstforeigners.WedonotseeanyhostilitytowardsthemanyskilledforeignAfricansinSouthAfrica.

Allinall,wehavenotyetliveduptotheexpectationsofthatunbanningmoment.Wearestillsearchingformostofitsbenefits.


The seminar was graced by the powerful panel of speakers: ??? (far right), Prof. Sachs Cooper (second from the right), ??? and ???

Caption to come...

SPECIAL PROJECTS:

UMTAPO’S PROGRAMMATIC WORKSTEVE BIKO ANNUAL SEMINAR September 2014InremembranceofSteveBiko,whogavehislifetotheSouthAfricanliberationstruggle,theannualUmtapoSteveBikoNationalConferencewasheldattheDurbanUniversityofTechnology(DUT)HotelSchool,RitsonCampus,on17September2014tomarkthe37thanniversaryofhisdeath.TheeventwasheldinconjunctionwiththeSteveBikoFoundationandtheDurbanUniversityofTechnology,anditaddressedtheissuesofnationbuildingandchallenges20yearsintodemocracy.

TheconferencefeaturedfourspeakerswhoaddressedsubjectsthatwereclosetoBiko’sheart.ProfessorSaths

CoopertackledtheissueofracismandtribalisminSouthAfricawiththequestion:IsOneNationinOneAzaniaamyth?

Hesaidthatit’simportanttohavesocialcohesionandinclusivenessincommunitiesandinsocietyatlarge,andthatweneedtofindmutualsolidarityandexpressionamongindividualsandcommunities.

“Theremustbeaprocesswherebyasocietywithdiverseorigins,histories,languages,culturesandreligionscometogethertoworktowardseradicatingthedivisionsandinjusticesofthepast,tofosterunityandpromoteacountrywideconsciousnessofbeingproudlySouthAfrican,committedtothecountryandopentothecontinentandtotheworld,”hesaid.

Prof.Coopersaidthatit’saproblemthatanti-racismisnotincorporatedintoSouthAfrica’slegislation.TheBillofRightsexcludedracism,makingiteasytobeembracedinrecenttimes.

GivinginsightonwhetherblackconsciousnessstillhasaroleinnationbuildingandthefutureofthecountrywasBlackConsciousnessactivistVeliMbhele,whosaidthatBiko’scontributiontothedevelopmentofblackradicaltheoryandpracticewasoneofthemostcriticalmomentsintheglobalandhistoricalevolutioninthesecondhalfofthe20thcentury.


“Tofullyunderstandtheparadoxesinthemake-upofSouthAfricansociety,wemustbearinmindthatbothinhistoricalandcontemporaryterms,theprojectofnationbuildinghasneverbeenconflict-free,orclassorideologicallyneutral.Nationbuilding,likeallhumanactivity,assumesthepolitical,social,cultural,economicandideologicalcontextofitstimeandlocation.”

Hesaidthatoneofthemostfundamentalimplicationsofblackradicaltheorywasthataspartofextricatingthemselvesfromoppression,blackpeoplefirstneededtounderstandthesource,content,formandinstrumentsoftheiroppression.

MbhelesaidthattheMarikanauprisingwasthesinglemostimportantevent,incontemporaryterms,thatembodiedtheBikoiantypeofradicalblackconsciousness.

“Wewillallhavetoacceptthat,evenunderANCrule,ourbelovedSouthAfricaisnothingbutaneo-colonialbastionofwhite-supremacistcapitalismthatismanagedbyblacksonbehalfofwhites.Andforthisreason,itisnotblackconsciousnessthatmustincessantlyjustifyitsrelevanceorfuturebutus,theblackmajority,whomustbehauntedbythetragedyofourindifferenceinthemidstofgrowinganti-blackbrutality,bothinSouthAfricaandotherpartsoftheworld,”hesaid.

ProvidinganinsightintoeducationandmoralityinpresentdaySouthAfricawas

CrispinHemson,whoalsospokeaboutthepersonalexperienceshehadwithBiko.CrispinHemsonistheDirectoroftheDUT-basedInternationalCentreofNon-violence(ICON).ICON’smissionistocreateandnurture,througharangeofinitiativessuchaseducation,acultureofnon-violence.

AddingtothetopicofnationbuildingwassocialactivistLiepolloLebohangPheko,whospokeontheneedforahumaneandethicalguidingframeworkfortruenationbuilding.

LiepolloLebohangPhekohaswideexperienceinthepublicsectorandnon-profitsectors,aswellasindevelopmentconsultancy.SheisconsideredtobealeadingexponentontradeagreementsandpolicyacrossAfrica,havingconductedimpactstudiesforSADCandtheEUtoassesstradeimpactonemploymentpatterns,wealth

...aspartofextricatingthemselvesfromoppression,blackpeoplefirst

neededtounderstandthesource,content,formandinstrumentsof

theiroppression.

“”

Caption to comeCaption to come

Caption to come


distributionandlocalsectors.MsPheko’sindepthanalysisofthe

topicdemandedmuchmorespaceandtimeforcriticaldiscoursethanwasavailable.Indefiningwhatconstitutesanation,sheelaborated:“Thepeopleofanationgenerallyshareacommonnationalidentityandpartofnation-buildingisthebuildingofthatcommonidentityandanationalcompassthatcansituateapeopleandtheirshiftingcontextswithinaframeofreference,power,identityandself-awareness.Somedistinguishbetweenanethnicnation,basedon(theunitedsocialconstructionof)raceorethnicity,andacivicnation,basedoncommonidentityandloyaltytoasetofpoliticalideasand

Africannationhood

willonlybecomefully

responsivetoourpotential

andourimaginationwhen

wecontinuouslyremember

anddecidewhoandwhat

thatnationis.

“

”

institutions,andthelinkageofcitizenshiptonationality.”

“Theethicofnationbuilding,”shesaid,“isgenerallycentredon:1. Genuineself-rule(makingdecisions

aboutresourceallocations,projectfundinganddevelopmentstrategy);

2. Creatingeffectivegoverninginstitutions(non-politiciseddisputeresolutionmechanismsandgettingridofcorruption);

3. Socio-culturalethicsandunderstanding(givingAfricannations’institutionslegitimacyintheeyesoftheircitizens);and

4. Theneedforastrategicvisioning(long-termplanning).

ThelastisoftenthemostdifficulttoarticulateandinSouthAfricahasbeenobscuredbynarrowpartisanagendas.”

Inconcludingherspeech,shestressed:“LetustraceourstepsdeterminedlytowardstheAzanianandAfricannationandasharedsenseofself.Africannationhoodwillonlybecomefullyresponsivetoourpotentialandourimaginationwhenwecontinuouslyrememberanddecidewhoandwhatthatnationis.”

Aftertheenlighteningspeeches,theforumwasdividedintogroupsthatengagedinconstructivedebates,addingpracticalmethodstoassistinconfrontinghindrancestonationbuilding.

Captions to come

Caption to come


Thefollowingisanarticle,basedonProfessorSathsCooper’saddressattheUmtapoSteveBikoConferenceatDUTwhichappearedinSUNDAYTRIBUNE,News & Views21Sep2014.Prof.SathsCooperisPresidentoftheInternationalUnionofPsychologicalScienceandthePanAfricanPsychologyUnion.

The past still haunts the way we think

Amongthemanyuniquefactsofourcountryisthatitistheoldesttoretainageographicnamesince

itsadventin1910,andhas,contradictorily,soughttoforgenationhoodwhilegivingsuccourtonarrowethnicityandtribalism.TheCentralAfricanRepublicandSouthSudanaremorerecentgeographiccountrynamesthatharkenbacktothecarvingupofAfricain1884attheBerlinConferenceandthesubsequentsigningoftheBerlinActof1885bythe13Europeancolonialpowers.Ofcourse,theEnglishlanguagecontinuestorefer,forexample,toNorthandSouthKorea,butthesecountriesdonotcallthemselvesbysuchgeographicnames.Ourcountry,locatedonthesoutherntipoftheAfricancontinent,isinmanywaysquiteunlikemostAfricancountries,whereindigenoustraditionsareproudlyapparent.Thecolonialnexusisnoticeableeverywhere,despiterepresentinganamalgamofourvariousandrichcultures.SuchhasbeentheimpactofourcolonisationthatWesterntraditionsareprevalentinallspheresofourlives,includingourlegislatures,ashasbeensocomicallydepictedbytheANC/EFFstandoffondresscodesandformsofaddress.

HowoftendowenotrefertoAfricaasifitisanothercontinent,ratherthanacknowledgeourbeingpartofthisvastandresourcefulyetbrutalisedlandmass?

Propagatedastheoldestliberationmovementinhistory,theANCethichas,overtime,tendedtoentrenchthenotionoffournations:African,coloured,Indianandwhite–inonecountry,andhasuncriticallyadoptedthetrappingsoftheerstwhileapartheidsystemofbeingapreserveofEuropeinAfrica.Thedamagewroughtonoursensibilitiesbyapartheidentrenchingthenotionofethnic,tribalandlanguagedifferenceshasbeengivenanewleaseonlifebyalmostallofusfallingback‘onthebizarrerationalisationofethnicity’.Inthelate90s,wordwasthatitwasMbeki’s‘Xhosanostra’.Afterthelatter’signominiousrecall,itwasMalemapeddlingthePediinfluence.Nowit’sZumafavouringZulus!Somuchhasourdiscoursebeencolouredbysuchnotionsthatweactuallycometobelievethemandwillfindallsortsofexamplestojustifyourbelief.

Evenmorefrighteningisthatmanyinleadership,especiallypolitical,fallintothisdangeroustrap,oftenthinkingofthemselvesassuperior.TheConstitutionoftheRepublicofSouthAfrica,Act108of1996,isthecornerstoneofourliberaldemocraticethos,andmandatesalllawstobetransformedinkeepingwithitsdictates.Acarefulreadingofourconstitutionrevealsthattherearespecificprovisionsthatdealwiththequestforequality,humandignity,languageandculture,butthescourgeofracism–thefeatureofapartheid–isdispensedwithinananti-discriminatoryclause.It’salmostasifthedraftersofthiskeylegislativeframeworkwerereluctanttoconfrontracismanditsmultipleills.Littlewonderthenthatright-wingpressuregroups,seekingtoretainpastill-gottenprivilege,passmusterascivilsocietyentitiesthat–outsideofcorruption,crimeandgovernmentshenanigans–dominateourmedia.EventheSouthAfrican

HumanRightsCommissionisrequiredtobecomposedofthe“maincultural,religiousandlinguisticgroups”,inmanywaysentrenchingthepast.Whataboutthegoodoldvaluesoffairness,justiceandequity?

Racism,thatartefactofcolonialconquest,wasintroducedwhenBlumenbachdescribedacolour-codedclassificationofraces–white,brown,yellow,blackandred–whichGobineaudevelopedintoacompleteracialhierarchy,withwhite-skinnedEuropeansattheapex.Wecontinuetoconsciouslyandunconsciouslyyearnforallthingswhiteasdesirableanddeservingofthehighestemulation,atwork,socially,andrecreationally.Whenwepareawaytheouterform,allofushavesimilarneedsandfearsandaresimplyhumanbeings.Butintheethniccocoonsinwhichwetendtoforegather,itsadlyremains‘them’and‘us’.Irefusetobedescribedthroughmylanguageorbiology,anaccidentofbirthandlocation.Whenitcomestothedreadedlandquestion,wehavefailedtoacknowledgethattheKhomaniSanofthesouthernKalahari–theoldestlivingindigenoustribeonEarth,geneticallylinkedtoalmosteveryhumanbeing–roamedthelandwhichcolonialconquestdelivereduntoEuropeanhands.

Governmenthaspaidbillionstothebeneficiariesofconquestwhoenjoythefruitsofourdemocracyandconstantlyusetheconstitution,ourcourtsandthemediatogettheirway.Twentyyearssincedemocracy,thepastresidesinthecobwebsofourimprisonedminds.It’stimetoexorcisethedemonsthathauntusandfreeourselvesfromourterriblepast.Manyofourchildrenaredoingso.


Schools and Tertiary Institutions

Umtapo’sexcitingleadershipprogrammeinprimaryschoolshascontinuedtogrowwiththeongoingsupportoftheNelsonMandelaChildren’sFund.

hOPE FOR ThE FUTURE OF OUR NATION Children’s Peace & Empowerment Forums (CPEFS) at Primary Schools

WeekendleadershipcampsandshortworkshopshavecontinuedduringthisperiodwiththesupportoftheNelsonMandelaChildren’sFund.Sixprimaryschoolsparticipatedin

acampatLekkeroordintheEasternCapeon22-24August2014.SchoolsfromEntshongweniandKwaNdengezi:EdaminiPrimarySchool,EgcekeniPrimarySchoolandKwa-ManziniPrimarySchool,withparticipantsfromgradesfourtosix,attendedanotherleadershipcampheldon7-9November2014atVulekaCentreinBothasHill,KwaZulu-Natal.

Theobjectiveofthepopulareducationcampwastoempowerchildrenwithknowledgeaboutchildren’srightsandresponsibilities,dealwithissuesofchildabuse,andteachthemskillsonhowtoaddress/tacklechallengesthattheyarefacedwithdaily.

Followingthecamp,learners,togetherwiththeireducators,didapresentationaboutthecampandtheCPEFattheirschoolassemblyandmanagedtorecruitotherlearnerstojointheCPEF.

ACPEFworkshopwasheldon25October2014atSithembisoHighSchoolintheEasternCape.Thirty-fivelearnersandfoureducatorsfromtheschoolattendedtheone-dayworkshop.Thelearners,whoweremostlyfromtheMdantsanetownship,identifiedcrimeinschoolsasamajorissue,withsubstanceabusebeingthemaincause.

Caption to come


Simultaneously,aone-dayworkshopwasheldon25OctoberatMzimkhuluPrimaryintheEasternCape.About30children,fourparentsandthreeeducatorsweretheretosupportthechildren.Thechildrendiscussedcrimeandeducatorswhohavesexualrelationshipswithlearners.Drugabuseinschoolshasalsocausedfightswithlearnersandeducators.

BetweenSeptemberandDecember2014,therewere10communityworkshopsinLimpopoandeightinKwaZulu-NataltocreateawarenessandgainsupportfortheCPEFsnationalthemeofBreakingtheSilenceagainstChildAbuse.

Intotal,sixweekendleadershipcampsand37communityworkshopsinvolvingmorethan1000people,tookplacein2014.

Aspartofrecordingtheprogrammeinprimaryschools,adocumentaryis

beingmadecoveringthethreetargetedprovinces:Limpopo,EasternCape,andKwaZulu-Natal.ThisprocessincludedtheUmtapoNationalDirector’svisitstoschoolsinallthreeprovinces,elicitingresponsesfromchildren,theliaisoneducatorsandprincipalsabouttheimpactoftheproject.

ProvincialevaluationsoftheChildren’sPeaceandEmpowermentProjecttookplacesimultaneouslyinEasternCape,Limpopo,andKwaZulu-Natalon29November2014.InKwaZulu-Natal,theattendanceof78participantswasrepresentativeof17schoolsfromthefollowingareas:KwaNyuswa,Inchanga,Chatsworth,Wentworth,Entshongweni,KwaNdengezi,KwaMakhuthaandEmbo.

IntheEasternCape,UmtapoheldanevaluationatRubusana(Mdantsane).About56participants,mainlylearners

fromKingwilliamstownandEastLondonprimaryschools,peaceclubs,parentsandeducators,andtheDepartmentofEducation’sSchoolSafetyDirectorateattendedthisevent.

TheCPEFevaluationmeetinginLimpopowashostedatMunzhedziPrimarySchoolinVleifonteinlocation.ThismeetingbroughttogetherCPEFmembers,CPEFliaisoneducators,PeaceClubmembersfromsecondaryschools–thosethatwerepartofCPEFinprimaryschools,membersoftheUbuntuCommunityForum/TribalAuthorities,YouthForummembers(outofschoolyouth)thatwerealsoassistinginrunningdifferentactivitiesintheCPEFschools(40delegatesintotal).

PeaceClubmembersfromsecondaryschoolswerealsopartofthesemeetingstoassistinsupportingtheCPEFprogramme

Caption to come


andtoactasmentorsforCPEFlearnersintheprimaryschools.

Theprovincialevaluationworkshopsfocusedonthefollowingquestions:1. Whatarethechallengesorwhatpreventslearners

fromdoingmore?2. Whatarethemainissuesthatareaffecting

childrenintheschoolandinthecommunity?3. Dotheystillfeelitisimportanttohaveachildren’s

movement?Ifsowhatwillthismovementdo?4. WhatroleshouldtheSGBandschoolmanagement

playinsupportingthisinitiative?

LearnerswereunanimousthattheChildren’sMovementisstillurgent.RepresentativeswereselectedattheprovincialevaluationstoattendaNationalEvaluationin2015inKwaZulu-Natal.Thechildren,withthesupportofstakeholdersandUmtapostaff,willassessthereportsfromallprovincesconcernedandlookatwaysinwhichtoaddressthechallengesthathaveariseninschoolsandcommunitiessince2012.Theywillalsofollowupandrevisitsomeofthedecisionstakenatthelastnationalevaluationin2012.ThiswillincludedevelopmentsaroundtheproposedNationalChildren’sMovement.

Thisparticipatoryapproachandplatformforchildren’sparticipationandleadershipdevelopmentmakestheevaluationprocessnotonlyauthenticbutitprovidesanopportunityfortheyoungpeopletogathertogethertobedecision-makers,andtobereinvigoratedtocarrytheprojectforward.Theevaluationprocesswillbedocumentedandproducedforallparticipantsandstakeholders.Itwillalsoformpartofthedocumentarythatisalreadyinprogress.

TheNationalEvaluationWorkshopinMay2015willcaterforapproximately80peoplerepresentingtheprimaryschoolsinthreeprovincesandallstakeholders.

Educators at the KZN CPEF evaluation.

Limpopo learners discussing their role and providing feedback.


Peace Clubs at secondary schools continue to play a crucial role

InLimpopo,atrainingcourseforPeaceClubswasheldon6-10October2014attheBenLavinNatureReserve.TheparticipantsonthiscoursewereselectedfromschoolsthathavesetupPeaceClubs(peaceclubcommittee)andthetrainingwasdesignedtobuildtheleadershipskillsofthePeaceClubcommittee/coordinatorsofPeaceClubsinordertostrengthentheworkandvisibilityofPeaceClubsintheschoolsandcommunities.Someoftheissuesthatweredealtwithwerecorruptionanditsimpactonsocietyandethicalleadership.

On17-19October2014,aPeaceLeadershipCampwasfacilitatedbyArunNaickerandTPFmember,ThembelihleMazibuko,fortheWylieHouseChildren’sHome.Sixteenlearnersparticipated.TheyelectedacommitteetofacilitatePeaceClubactivitiesbytheendoftheworkshop.

PeaceClubCommittee:1.KhanyisileMntambo2.SimphiweBhala3.LindelwaMatavele4.NdondoXulu5.KimonikitaPillay

Over400PeaceClubsexistinthefourprovincesthatUMTAPOhastargeted.PeaceClubsareformedatsecondaryschoolsandchildren’shomes.

Why should every school have a Peace Club?SouthAfricaisplaguedwithgrowingincidentsofviolenceatschools.Thishassadlybecomeagrowingglobalphenomenon.Therearedailyoccurrencesofviolencebetweenstudents,attacksonstaffmembers

bystudentsandsexualharassmentandattacksonstudentsbystaffmembers.Thistrend,wherelearnerscarryknives,gunsandotherweaponsaspartofdailyschoollife,isspirallingoutofcontrolinSouthAfricaandothercountries.

TheSouthAfricanHumanRightsCommissionfoundthatastaggering40%ofchildreninterviewedadmittedtobeingvictimsofcrimeatschoolandthatmorethanafifthofsexualassaultsonSouthAfricanchildrentakeplaceatschool.

Violenceinschoolscancomefromdifferentsources,takeonmanyformsandinvolvedifferentactors.Forexample,bullyingmaybelearnedoutsidetheschoolbutperpetuatedinsidetheschoolbecausetheschoolignoresitordoesn’tdealwithitsatisfactorily.Issuesofracism,tribalism,xenophobiaandgender-basedviolenceareoftensweptunderthecarpetformanyreasons.

ItisthereforeimperativetoinitiatePeaceClubsinschoolsnotonlytocombatviolencebuttobecomevehiclesforgood

governanceandtostriveforacademicexcellenceintheirrespectiveschools.Umtapohasfoundthatbyempoweringyoungmindswithknowledgeandskillstocriticallyanalysetheirlivesandthosearoundthem,theyareabletomediateinconflictsinapeacefulmanner.ThePeaceClubtraininginculcatesvaluesofUbuntu,whichprovokesthelearnertoreflectontheirhumanity.Instrumentaltothisprogrammeisthequestion“WhoamI”,andwhataremyresponsibilitiesasahumanbeingonthecontinentofAfrica.Theylearnself-relianceandself-identity.Theyareexposedtotoolsthatassistthemtoreflectontheirsituationandfindnon-violentsolutions.

ThePeaceClubisnotjustanotherclubintheschool.Ithelpslearnerstobuildleadershipatschools,intheircommunitiesandasadults.Theseideashelplearnerstoengagetheirpeersinproductiveactivitiessuchassport,campaigns,drama,anddebatesanddiscussionsonissuesaffectingyouthinschoolsandcommunities.Inseveralschoolsandasasignofrecognitionoftheirleadershipqualitybytheirpeers,PeaceClubmembershaveeithertakenovertheRepresentativeCouncilsofLearners(RCLs)orarekeymembersinthesecommittees,thuscontributingtodailymanagementoftheirschools.

ReportsfromeducatorsandparentsindicatethatnotonlyhavethegeneralcontributionofPeaceClubmembersledtoschoolsbeingtransformedintosaferplaces,butalsothatthelearnersinvolvedintheseproductiveandpeacefulactivitiesareshowingmarkedimprovementintheiracademicperformances.

PeaceClubshavealsodevelopedfurther,particularlywithGrade12studentswhohavenowinitiatedtheTertiaryPeaceForumsatuniversities.

Theoverallobjectiveofthevalues-basedPeaceClubprogrammeistopromotemoralregeneration,peacebuilding,saferschools,andtherevivalofubuntuthroughtraining,mobilisationandcriticalconsciousnessraising.


On12-14September2014,22tertiarystudentsfromthreedifferentinstitutionsinLimpopo,theMakhadoMunicipalityandThulamelaMunicipalityattendedtheTPFcampinMakhado.ThecampwasfacilitatedbyNomikiYekani,whowasassistedbyLawrenceMonyahi,formerUmtapostaffmemberbutnowafull-timestudentattheUniversityofVenda.ThiscampfollowedsimilaronesheldinCapeTownandDurbanfortertiarystudents.

TERTIARy PEACE FORUMS (TPF)

Some feedback from tertiary students

“Umtapo has had a big impact in that it has activated the potential in me of being a peace activist. As a young person, I believe that a

peaceful activist will bring about a peaceful community and that community will bring ethical and thoughtful leaders. It has not only

impacted on me with peace but also with history – it has revealed the truth of African philosophy that I always sang about but never

lived.The love of being an African is blending at Umtapo. The duty of self-introspection is glittering at Umtapo. They never told me to

go and tell others but I was told to be the change that I want to see and then I believe I would let others know about peace. I stand as a

member of Umtapo today, tomorrow and forever.”Kutala Mhaga, dUT

“Umtapo is home. It has actually made me the person that I am today. I joined Umtapo through the Peace Club in 2009 when I was

doing Grade 8. Ever since then, I became a new person. I developed spiritually, mentally and physically through the programmes that

Umtapo provided.

Umtapo is home, it provides a sense of belonging, this is a place where I have learnt a lot about ubuntu, which has helped me to

understand other people. A sense of caring and loving has been one of the things that makes Umtapo a home to all of us.

I will forever be part of Umtapo as it has developed me. I am a changed person: goal orientated, ambitious – I view life differently

compared to people around me. Umtapo is home as it has provided guidance. I remember during my high school days, we had our

own way of doing things as Peace Club activists. We had rules and principles which guided us. Umtapo has liberated my mind from

oppression, thus I claim to be a new person. Free the mind, free the land.”Bonga Mahlati, Walter Sisulu University

“For me, Umtapo is not an organisation that you can come and go to – it’s a family and family sticks together. That is why I will remain

active as an Umtapo member and continue to promote the vision of Umtapo.”Mondli Ndlanzi, dUT

Building an Ethical Leadership for the Future


COMMUNITy dEVELOPMENT

FromhumblebeginningsandwiththeresilienceofUmtapofacilitators,ZukiswaMpayipeliandKhumbulaniYekani,theprojecthasgrownintoahigh-techco-operative.

September–NovemberwerethebusiestmonthsintheyearandsincetheDepartmentofSocial

Developmentinjectedsomefundsintothecooperative,theworkloadincreased.Back-to-backmeetingsandworkshopshavebeentakingplaceandthefundinghasbeenprovidedforatractor,analternativeenginepumpincaseofelectricitycuts,fencing,safetyclothing,seedlings,andtransportcoststoattendcapacityworkshops,etc.

ThetomatoesarestillsuppliedtoMartinandScheepersinWilsonia(EastLondon)andtheyaretakentothemarketonceaweek–150to200boxesand1203kgpacksaresupplied.Thelocalbusinessescometothegardentobuytomatoessothateachweek10-15peoplefromthecommunity,especiallywomen,areemployedpart-timetohelpwiththeharvestingandpackingoftomatoes.Localmembersofthecommunitythereforebenefitbygettingpart-timejobsand

alsobytakingtomatoestofeedtheirfamilies.Surplustomatoesaregivenfreelytothemembersofthecommunity.

Onceaquarter,threemembersofthecooperativemakeappointmentswiththewell-establishedfarmsinEastLondontolearnmoreabouthowtoproducegoodqualitytomatoesandvegetables.Thefarmvisitshavehelpedtheco-operativetotreatandproducequalityvegetables.

Threemembersofthecommunityalsoattendedatwo-weektrainingcourseonvegetableproduction/soilpreparationthatwasorganisedbytheDepartmentofSocialDevelopmentandtheNDA.ThosethatattendedthetrainingwereMrZBraweniisthechairpersonoftheco-op,MsZukiswaMpayipeliisthesecretary,andMsN.Nobavuisafull-timeemployee.

TwomembersofthecooperativeattendedanNPOGovernanceandConflictManagementworkshopinEastLondonthatwasorganisedbyDSDandNDA.

InDecember,othervegetableslikespinach,cabbages,onionsandpotatoeswereplanted.

ThE ENTLANGO COOPERATIVE Continues to Exemplify Umtapo’s Approach of Self-reliance

Throughthis,localmembers

ofthecommunitybenefitby

gettingpart-timejobsand

alsobytakingtomatoesto

feedtheirfamilies.Surplus

tomatoesaregivenfreely

tothemembersofthe

community.

“

”


LIMPOPOCommunity development and Self-reliance Expansion

AfterattendinganumberofcommunityworkshopsandcommunitydevelopmenttrainingsbyUmtapo,communitiesandyoungpeopleinparticular,aresourcinglandfromthelocalauthoritiesanddevelopingcommunityandinitiatingself-helpprojects.

ParticipantsareintheprocessofbuildingaDropInCentreat

The tribal authority of Mashamba village with the community development workers and Umtapo staff on the land that has been made available.

Mashambavillageandlandhasbeenmadeavailablebythelocalchief.AtMadodongavillage,aDropInCentrewasestablishedat

whichyouthweretrainedbyUmtapovolunteers.AcommunitystakeholdersmeetingwasheldinNovembertoidentifyissuesaffectingthecommunityandthewayforwardwithUmtapo.

Youth from Tshisaulu village who were trained as community development workers by UMTAPO.


UMTAPO’S LATEST PROJECTS

democracy, human Rights and Anti-Corruption Project

Thisuniqueprojectbeganwiththeinter-schooldebatesintheEasternCapeandLimpopo.InNovember2014,theNathanielPamlaHighSchoolinPeddie,EasternCape,andtheKutuma

SecondarySchoolinLimpopo,hostedinter-schooldebatesondemocracy,humanrightsandanti-corruption.

On31January–1February2015,aworkshopinvolvingtheprovincialyouthco-ordinatorsoftheprojecttookplaceatthe

VulekaCentreinKwaZulu-Natal.Youthfromtertiaryinstitutionsinthefivetargetedprovincesrevisitedandre-workedtheplansof2014andsetupclearguidelinesforimplementationduringthefirstsixmonthsof2015.

Thefirstfive-daytraininghasbeenconfirmedforLimpopoon26–31March2015,withtwofurthercoursesinJulyforGautengandtheEasternCaperespectively.


Sexual Violence in Schools in South Africa (SeViSSA) – PEddIE

FollowingameetingwithprincipalsfromthreesecondaryschoolsinthePeddie,EasternCaperegiontointroduceUmtapo’sPeace,HumanRights,andAnti-racismEducationprogramme,a

leadershipcampwasheldforlearnersfromthreeschools:1. NathanielPamlaHighSchool;2. KnightMarambanaCommercialHighSchool;and3. KaulelaHighSchool.

InNovember2014,afieldmonitoringvisitandworkshopstookplaceatNathanielPamlaHighSchool.Themeetingwasattendedby50learnersandeducators.TwoofthethreeschoolshadestablishedtheirPeaceClubsfollowingthecamp:NathanielPamlaandKaulelaHigh.

TowardstheendofNovember2014,acommunitydialoguetookplacehostedbyKaulelaHighSchoolinCisiraVillage.Issuesraisedatthemeetingthataffectedthegirl-childwere:sexualabuse,crime,teenagepregnancyandhousebreaking.

AttheDarbanCommunityHallinNovember2014,awomen’sseminarwasalsoheld.Participantscamefromschools,NGOs,andothercommunityforums.

Thetwospeakersattheseminarspokefromtheirpersonalexperiencesandhighlightedtheneedforsocietytotakecareoftheirchildren.

Fromthecommissions,participantsidentifiedtheneedfor:• Opennessaboutsexeducationbetweenparentsandchildren;• AnUbuntuCommunityForumforsupport;• Anawarenesscampaignfortheboy-childandtheirroleinfightingsexualviolence;and• TheformationofPeaceClubstoaddresssexualviolence.

Umtapo’s Akhona Dondashe and Zukiswa Mpayipeli with Mr Mrwebi, Principal of Nathaniel Pamla High School.

Ms Okuhle Mazwi, former Peace Club member and now SRC gender officer at University of Fort Hare, spoke at the seminar.

Nkosenkulu Gunguluza, former Peace Club member, sharing at the seminar.


MARCh 21: ShARPEVILLE dAy

FEATURE ARTICLE

SharpevilleDayorHeroesDay(duringtheliberationstruggle),NationalHumanRightsDay(post-1994),InternationalDayfortheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscrimination(UnitedNations),hasnowalsobeenadoptedasAnti-racismDayinthestruggleagainstracismintheUS.DomostSouthAfricans,however,understandthesignificanceofthisday?


OurhistoryofthestruggleinSouthAfricaissorepletewithdistortionsandinaccuracies(depending

onwhoisrecountingthestory)thatitislittlewonderthatchildrenandyoungpeopleinparticular,havesuchlimitedandinsignificantknowledgeoftheirpast.Simplysayingthattheyare‘bornfrees’isactuallyaformofescapismfromnotknowingandnotwantingtoknow.Inotherwords,ignoranceisbliss!Morethanthreedecadesago,SteveBikowarned:“Apeoplewithoutahistoryislikeavehiclewithoutanengine”.

BenjaminPogrund,whobecameaclosefriendofRobertSobukweandwasareporteratthesceneinSharpeville,wrote:

“Themassacreof69demonstratorsbySouthAfricanpolicemenatSharpevilleonMarch21,1960paleswhencomparedtothecurrentmasskillingsinSyria,AfghanistanandIraq.YetSharpevilleratesasoneofthesignificanteventsofthe20thcentury:itchangedtheworld’sattitudetowardsapartheid,spurringoppositionandboycott.SouthAfricaitselfalsochangedfundamentallywithnewharshnessbythewhiterulers,bringingaboutmorevigoroussuppressionofdissent.

March21isnowmarkedeveryyearinSouthAfricaasHumanRightsDay.UNESCOalsoobservesitastheInternationalDayfortheEliminationofRacialDiscrimination.

Sharpevillehappenedasaresultofananti-passcampaigncalledbythePan-AfricanistCongress(PAC),abreakawaygroupfromthelong-establishedAfricanNationalCongress,whichrulesSouthAfricatoday.The‘pass’wastheidentitydocumentthathadtobecarriedbyeveryblackadult.Itwasthebasicmeansofcontrolusedbywhites.Itshowedwhereeachpersonwasallowedtoliveandwork;failuretoproduceitwhendemandedbyapolicemanmeantinstantarrest,whichwasthefateofhundredsofthousandsofblackpeopleeachyear.

Blackshatedthepass.Theycalleditthe‘dompas’,Afrikaansfor‘stupidpass’.ThePAC’sfounder,acharismaticuniversityteachercalledRobertSobukwe,calledonthemtoleavetheirpassesathomeandgotothenearestpolicestationon21March

andofferthemselvesforarrest.Thepopularresponsewasstronginonlyahandfulofplaces.Sharpeville,asegregatedblacktownship70kmfromJohannesburg,wasamongthem.

About20000peoplegatheredaroundthepolicestationpeacefully.Butapanickywhitepolicemanopenedfireandafusilladeofbulletsfollowed:69died,includingeightwomenand10children,and180wereinjured.Amajorityofthevictimswereshotinthebackastheywerefleeing.

Twelveyearsbefore,theAfrikanerNationalistshadwonofficewithapolicyofwhiteminorityrule.Theyforcedtheirapartheid–apartness–anddiscriminationintoeverynookandcrannyofthecountry.Theworldwasappalledbytheirnakedracism,especiallysocloseontheheelsoftheHolocaust.

Sharpevillewastheturningpoint.Itdroveapartheidontothefrontpagesacrosstheglobe.Ahorrifiedworldbegantolookforeffectiveactiontoendapartheid.TheAnti-ApartheidMovement,whichhadrecentlybeenlaunchedinBritain,increasinglybecameaneffective

internationalforceinurgingboycottsofeveryaspectofSouthAfrica–intrade,investment,universities,musicandsport.

InsideSouthAfrica,blackswereenragedbythemassacre.Aweeklater,theAfricanNationalCongresscalledonblackstoburntheirpasses.Withthecountryinturmoil,thegovernmentdeclaredastateofemergencyandjailedsome20000peoplewithouttrial.Thesecuritypolicetookonanewruthlessness;tortureandassassinationbecametheirstock-in-trade.TheANCandPACwerebanned.

WhenSobukwecalledonhispeopletoofferthemselvesforarrest,hesaidthathewouldnotaskthemtodoanythinghewouldnotdohimself.Sohewentfirst.Itprovedtobehislastdayoffreedomuntilhisdeath18yearslater.

Hewasfirstjailedforthreeyearsfor‘incitement’.Fearinghim,thegovernmentthenrushedthroughaspeciallawinparliamenttokeephimonRobbenIslandindefinitely.Hewaskepttherewithouttrial,ineffectivesolitaryconfinement,forsixyears.ThenhewasbanishedtothesmalltownofKimberley.

“ We are fighting for the noblest cause on earth,

the liberation of mankind…there is only one

race, the human race. Multi-racialism is racism

multiplied.

RobertSobukwe”


In memoriam Harm van den Born

Harmwasafreethinker,an

independentspiritwhowas

guidedfirstandforemostby

hisconscience.

“

”

Harm with some of the youth at UMTAPO during a training course in KwaZulu-Natal.

“Harmwasatreasurerwhotookafirmandpassionateinterestnotonlyintheorganisation’sfinances,butalsointhecontentsofourwork.HedeployedhiscoachingandtrainingcapacitiesforRADARandplayedamajorroleintheextensionofourrelationswithsisterorganisationUmtapoCentreinSouthAfrica.HebroughthomethepearlsofUmtapo’sempowermentprogrammesthattaughtussomuchandthatenrichedourRADARlifewithubuntu.

Inhisworkinglife,HarmwastrainerattheNationalEducationInstituteoftheChristianDemocraticParty,taughtattheHogeschoolinHollandandwasmemberof

theRotterdamTownCouncil.Aboveall,hewasafreethinker,anindependentspiritwhowasguidedfirstandforemostbyhisconscience.Hewasamanwho,whenasocialissuewasatstake,wouldsupplybutwithzest,chooseadifferentangletoapproachitandcometoacreativesolution.

AfterheleftRADAR’sboard,HarmstayedintouchwithRADAR,sometimesmoreandsometimeslessintensively.Hewasalwaysavailableascounselinthebackgroundandinturn,approachedusonissuesthatoccupiedhim.

WeareimmenselysadthatHarmslippedawayfromussounexpectedlyandattheyoungageof54.Ourcondolencesarewithhiswifeandtwosonsandallwhowereclosetohim.”


Letters to the EditorThe New dawn“Wewholivetodaystandattheapexofavastpyramid,slowlybrewedthroughcenturies.Wearetheheirsofeverythingthepaststrugglinggenerationsaspiredtoandhaveaccomplished.”

EventhoughIwastrainedbyUmtapoinNovember2007,aschallengingasitwas,IwasverydeterminedtogobackandimplementwhatIgainedatthetraining.IworkedwiththecommunityleadersandmembersofMagauPAYF.ItwasagoodexperiencebutthepeoplewhorecruitedmewerenolongerpartofthePAYF,soIhadtorecruitnewmemberstimeandagain.Withtime,asIsawthatthingswerenotworkinginmyvillage.IwenttoRathidilivillagetoinitiateanewPAYFsothatIcouldkeepthespiritgoing.

WhenIreflect,myfirsttrainingwasmoreofself-discovery.EverytimeImeetwithUmtapostaffandfellowactivists,Igetrevivedandre-energised.SoIseeaneedformetobeactiveandtocontinueasIknowtheimpactwaspositiveinmylifeandinthecommunityIamfrom.

Fusionofrevolutionsresultsinanewrevolution.ThereasonIchoosetostayinUmtapoisbecauseIwanttobepartofthenewrevolutionwhichisabouttobebranded–thenewdawnwhichalsoisabouttobewitnessedthroughusaspeaceactivists.ThisiswhatdrivesmetodowhatIdo,andbewhoIam.

GIVEN MATUMBA TPF – University of Venda

UMTAPO: Spawning new revolutionaries

August2011,aprofileddaywhere,withlittleinformation,Id

ecidedtojoinanoptimisticgroupofpeaceadvocates–

revolutionariesofthenewworldwhereself-relianceisenco

uragedwhileintouchwithubuntu,thespiritofbeingan

African(forIamwhatIambecauseyouare).Aplatformfor

youngpeople,leadersoftomorrow,weretobegroomedin

becomingselflessandpeople-orientatedleaders.

ThroughPHARE(PeaceHumanRightsandAnti-RacismEduc

ation),Ibecameawareoftheoriginsofhumans.Iwasalso

enrichedwiththephilosophyofonerace:Thehumanrace,f

reeofcolourbarsandstereotyping.Theunfortunatementa

lity

ofhatethatIhadinhaledgrowingupsuddenlyhadnoplacei

nmyworld,rather,Isawitasimportantformetoinform

otherswho,liketheoldme,werestillinwebsofracismand

hate.

ItisinthistrainingthatIrealised,withthehelpofmycolleag

uesandfacilitators,theimportanceofcollectiveteam

effortasthefamoussayinggoes:twohandsarebetterthan

one.

Thereisnobettercommitmentonecanshowtoothersmor

ethancommitmenttoone’sownbeliefs.Itherefore,will

foreverbecommittedtoensuringthatapeacefulsocietyis

notanabstractideology,butapractisedstandardwayoflivi

ng.

Iplanondoingthisbyleadingandlivingapeacefullifestyle,

oneofrespectandrecognitionforothers’valuesandbelief

s,

understandingthatwecannotbeprogrammedtothinkthes

ameway,butbeingwillingtodosoleadsthewholeworldt

o

prosperity.

Courageiswhatittakestostandupandtalk,butit’salsowh

atIttakestositdownandlisten.Whatbetterwayof

listeningtowhatyourothercolleaguesaredoingthantheP

eaceAfrikanewsletter.Seeingmindsthatthinkalikeinactio

n

evokesthesenseofwillingnessandofcourse,thethoughto

fseeingone’sfaceinamagazinestillgivesonebutterflies.

Readingaboutarticlesofpastandcurrentstrugglesensures

oneofhowcommonissuesthatwefaceareinadvocating

peacetothosewhohavewalkedandcontinuetowalksuch

agenerouspathofprosperity.

Asweoftensingincamps“Umtapoifyoumarryme,I’llmarr

yyoubecauseIloveyousomuch”,theformerhasdone

herdutiesbyintroducingmetosuchaworldofprosperity.N

ow,mydutyistoreturnthefavourbyadvocatingsuch

principles.UmtaposhallliveaslongasI,mycolleagues,and

ourprecedinggenerationslive.

Thabani Mkhwanazi

Tertiary Peace Forum – UKZN (howard College)

PEACE AFRIKA // VOL. 18 // NO. 2 March 2015- 22

Letters to the EditorLife-changing ExperienceMynameisMakiGum.IjoinedUmtapoin2012attheUniversityoftheWesternCapeandIcansaytodaythatitwasthebestdecisionIhaveevermade.UmtapohasimpactedmeinsuchawaythatIcanneverexplain.

Umtapoplayedahugeroleinmylifeinallaspects.It’ssuchaneye-openeronalotofthingsandI’velearnedsomuchandI’mstilllearning.InowknowthatIamnotaloneinchangingtheworldandmakingadifference.IhavebrothersandsistersfromallfiveprovinceswiththesamegoalandvisionasmeandwearenotjustindividualsbutweareUmtapo.BeingpartofUmtapomademefeellikeIbelongandIhaveapurposeinlife.Iamnowabletoapplytheskills,valuesandprinciplesthatUmtapohastaughtmeinmypersonalthings.I’maproudactivistfromUmtapoandI’mgratefulfortheopportunityI’vebeengranted.

Thefamoussayingthat“Bethechangeyouwanttosee”begantomakesenseinmylifethroughoutmytimeinthetertiarypeaceforumasIrealisedthateverythinghastostartwithmefirst.Iwasandstillamconvictedaboutthebasicvaluesandprinciplesofhumanity.ThespiritofubuntuingeneralwassomethingIknewfromhomebutalwaysassociatedwitholderpeopleorwealthypeople,notunderstandingthatIcandoittoo,nomatterhowsmallitmayseem.IsawthisinoneofthecommunityoutreachesthatweheldastheTPFofUWC,inaninstitutionforthementallychallenged.Insteadofaskingpeopletodonateandsoforth,Iwasactuallyassistingthenursesinhelpingthepeopletherewiththeirdailyroutinesandbeingthereandseeingandhelpingwasmorethanenoughofareasonwhymypresenceandthestateof‘being’partofUmtaposhouldcontinue.

ThenewsletterquestionsandremindsusofthevaluesandprinciplesofUmtapo,checkingifwearestillontherighttrackandifwestillknowwhywedecidedtobepartofthisrevolution.It’sbasicallyanintrospectionofthisjourneyandthelifechangingexperiencewehavechosen.

Maki GumTertiary Peace Forum – UWC

dear Editor

IreallylookforwardtoreceivingtheUmtaponewsletter.It

inspiresmeinmyworkasacouncillor.Thehoneststories

ofyoungpeopleandthewilltomakeachangeintheirlives

forabetterworldgivesonehope.Theinformationinthe

newsletterisveryinterestingandisnotreadilyavailableinl

ibraries,especiallyinruralareas.

Theideaspresentedarerealandhavebeentested,therefor

etheycanbetherootofchange.Ialwayscarryacopy

ofthenewsletterwhereverIgo.Theclearmessageofempo

wermentandself-relianceisagreatguideinmyworkasa

councillor.

MaythenewsletterreachallcornersofSouthAfricasothat

itisknownthatthisorganisationfulfilsthedesiresofthe

communitiesitserves.Umtapohasitsfeetintherightplace

forimprovingpeople’slivesbynotsingingasongaboutitb

ut

actuallyfacingchallengesandfindingsolutionswithcommu

nities.Asacouncillor,Iamproudtobeassociatedwiththe

Umtapofamily.

Keepupthegoodwork–youaredefinitelymakingadiffere

nceinthelivesofthepeopleofSouthAfrica.

Ward Councillor

Gingindlovu


Messages from Current and Recent Presidents of South American Countries

peace afrika // vol. 18 // no. 2 march 2015€¦ · the struggle for freedom! ... zimbabwe and...

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