AS 2020 drew to a close, Western Cape police deployed reinforcements to the gang ravaged suburb of Ocean View, a few minutes from Noordhoek in Cape Town. This as a war between rival gangs once again brought the community to a standstill.
Here we look back at an interview I did in 2018 on the radio station CapeTalk, about a feature article written after spending a night in Ocean View and speaking to the rival gangs. The feature article was published in the Mail & Guardian. https://mg.co.za/article/2018-07-20-00-life-goes-on-in-bloody-gangland/
The South African Students Congress met (or conspired?) to elect new leaders at the end of last year and shit went down. Really bad. Comrades fought with the cops, cars were smashed. After the election the cops had to usher out winning faction. During the count, 30 votes were missing. So obviously the other delegates accused the new leadership of rigging the poll. Since then, things haven’t been the same.
But this is not about that.
The same leadership successfully presided over a policy conference held in Durban in a few weeks ago to, among other things, chart the way forward for the #FEESMUSTFALL revolution. Interesting to note the resolution to go after the national treasury. And the one about balancing the “contradictory and complimentary approach to both government and the ANC.” What the fuck is that? Does it mean you’re signing up for the gravy train or a full on revolution?? SMH.
Below is an extract of some of the resolutions.
The NPC resolved that in the mean time the NSFAS must be moved from DHET to the national treasury to expedite allocations and prioritisation
We resolved that the 2nd semester will be marked by heightened political activism in demand for free quality educatio
There will be a complete shutdown and the whole society will be mobilizedshould the government not introduce free education.
We will introduce a national student charter
SASCO will close ranks on all opposition parties and opportunistic“student organisations “ in our campus to preserve the rich history of struggles
Some of those student movements’ are GRASSROOTS. Can’t close ranks on nature, homie.
This is a short film about the first #FEESMUSTFALL protest by University of Pretoria students. This video is one of several diary entries about the protests aimed at achieving FREE EDUCATION in South Africa. All copyright reserved. Govan Whittles.
On the 5th of June 2015, 700 delegates at the National Union of Mineworkers 15th national congress voted for new leaders. Free State secretary David Sipunzi was elected general secretary, replacing Frans Baleni, who served in the position for 9 years.
He was elected by the skin of his teeth: Frans Baleni 345 votes – David Sipunzi 354 votes.
The congress was the first since the Marikana massacre and mass loss of N.U.M membership to AMCU. It also took place after the expulsion of metalworkers union NUMSA from COSATU and the dismissal of the federation’s general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi. Baleni is accused of playing a leading role in orchestrating these two events.
There are a few moments during the conference and afterwards that are worth quoting:
N.U.M founding general secretary Cyril Ramaphosa (far right).
“Leaders must lead with humility, and serve members even if you have to go down on your knees to serve members. Members were attracted to NUM because it was on the cutting edge of serving members – Cyril Ramaophosa [iol.co.za]
ANC secretary general & former mineworker Gwede Mantashe.
Once you have a federation dominated by the public sector you are in trouble. We should have industrial unions building themselves, as well as putting on our shoulders to help this union the NUM to be strong enough to deal with Amcu. – Gwede Mantashe [news24]
Former N.U.M general secretary Frans Baleni (left) & newly elected president Piet Matosa.
I decided to campaign for another term after I was approached by nine (9) regions which nominated me for the position. I accept the democratic decision arrived at by the membership of the N.U.M – Frans Baleni [radio702]
Newly elected general secretary David Sipunzi speaks to the media at a report back session in the Free State.
The expulsion of NUMSA is not a contribution towards worker unity, that’s my belief. The expulsion of [Zwelinzima} Vavi is not going down well with the general membership at the ground level. I’m tired of being shouted by members asking when is Vavi coming back. I can no longer close my ears to those calls – David Sipunzi [ewn.co.za]
Will the election of David Sipunzi and William Mabapa [deputy GS] change the N.U.M’s position towards the other industrial unions within COSATU? Will the proletariat reclaim SA’s biggest worker federation?
Newly trained field workers install solar street lights in Mali, the Akon Lighting Africa project.
This has been a week to be proud of #hiphop.
Hip Hop culture gets a lot of flack for negatively influencing the youth, promoting harmful brands, alcohol and drugs and objectifying women. The truth is that hip hop is what inspired us all to make a bad situation better, and help as many people ecape that reality. Hip Hop begun as protest art in South Africa and has been a bridge to different countries throughout Africa.
For Senegalese artist Akon, Hip Hop took him from a dusty open veld on the continent to bright lights and camera time in the United States. Akon has always been an inspiration to Africans – but his latest move is deserving of extraordinary praise.
“Mr. Lonely” has teamed up with African entrepeneurs to launch a solar academy in Mali. This will be a place where Africans are taught how to harness the power of the sun in a bid to give electricity to 600 million people living in the dark every night.
Below is a short video report on the initiative;
It’s also worth noting that Akon’s initiative has received the backing of prominent Hip Hop artists such as Busta Rhymes and Talib Kweli.
A DRC refugee holds up a sign in protest, during a visit by SA president Jacob Zuma to a xenophobia displacement camp in Durban.
Happy Birthday Mama Africa! You’re almost free.
All nations expect the Western Sahara have liberated themselves from colonial powers.
I Cry For You Mama Africa! You’re freedom fighters are unable to govern.
You’re own people have launched wars on each other, I know it causes you extreme pain.
I’m from the south and have noticed our people have a hard time with some of the countries up north. People from countries such as Malawi, Zimababwe, Mozambique, DRC, Nigeria and Burundi. My country hasn’t shown a lot of love to any of them, of late. I know we work well with African businesses and our government has hundreds of cooperation agreements with other African states, but here I’m referring to poor Africans, who set up businesses in small communities across the country. The guys who buy locally owned shops and pay rent, only to remain ostracised from the entire community. It’s important to note that this is not by force, but choice.
I remember when my hometown only had locally owned businesses. Only a handful full of shops, without an ATM or petrol station, in a township called Breitbach, 6 kilometres outside of King William’s Town. About a decade later and the number of local shops as been dwarfed by the new community from Somalia, Ethiopia, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
One of the Somali shop owners operates from a wooden shack just down the road from my house. A few months ago he was held at gunpoint and robbed of all his money and some stock. After the traumatic experience, a few residents joked that he was jacked cos he’s from Al-Shabaab. These are the types of perceptions that flow among our people.
This is in such contract to the perceptions of South Africans that exist in the same African countries we’re seemingly oppressing. In Malawi, I was able to navigate freely through 3 provinces and had a soldier deployed to guard our team with Rescue-SA. All the while laughing with my Malawian brothers who’d come along to make sure we’re okay.
The way our people have treated others from Africa and Middle East is downright criminal. Many have concluded that the reason for this violence is actually the prevailing poverty, which requires a struggle to overcome. I submit the existing tension between shop owners from other countries and locals could possibly be resolved through their integration into community forums and structures.
The bent up anger should be transformed. Instead of burning down the shop, ask him to help you get a job, or enough capital to open your own business. One could argue “collective capital” is the main advantage of the shop owners from the afore mentioned countries in our small towns.
I saw it first hand. Once the network of shop owners is established in the community, they invite their friends or relatives from back home to visit and eventually stay. Later the small immigrant community funds capital for a new shop. All of this is controlled by one fund. Managed carefully to ensure the purchase versus sales ratio is favourable.
However, some shop owners are also criminals. Some are suspected of making use of goods from hijacked trucks, then make super profits on illegally acquired products.
At my uncle’s work place in the cash and carry, one shop owner filled his trolley with goods and paid, then bribed the security guard not to sign the slip. He then gave the slip to another shop owner, who selected exactly the same products and walked out with it for free.
These aren’t very flattering examples, but it’s a reality that’s part of what causes the tension.
And so our people should learn to operate with collective capital. But the country’s diversity is perhaps its greatest blessing and curse. We seem to be failing to rise to the occasion when the time comes to put differences aside and work together. Evidence of this can be seen in our churches, among teachers and in parliament. Our people have yet to humble themselves to learn from African brothers and sisters. In many cases their education is superior, but they are still treated and paid as unskilled labourers. It seems we are moving forward to unity, but remain entrenched in a fight to get to the front of the line. Our dependence on each other can be described in the Xhosa proverb “All throats are alike in swallowing,” as well as the Nigerian proverb “You can’t use your hand to force the sun to set.”
Happy Birthday Mama Africa! You’re day will soon come
The tinder box has been lit by a system of conglomerates,the revolution is drugs and violence.
I Cry For You Mama Africa! And fear the worst is to come.
Close you’re eyes for now, maybe next year I’ll write back in a better day.
The video above inspired me and renewed my faith in humanity. It also reminds me of a quote my mother eched into my memory as a child; umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu
On Thursday the 26th of February I released my third hip hop political commentary song titled #RapSONA. The song is based on the disruptions to President Jacob Zuma’s 2015 State of the Nation Address in the South African parliament. It features snippets from several politicians who made objections and running commentary by Radio 702’s Afternoon Drive show host Xolani Gwala.
A day later, #RapSONA debuted on Sam Cowen’s show on Radio 702. Above is a link to the song on soundcloud, as well as a segment from the show below, where she asks listeners to guess who made it.
I’m referring here to young professionals such as myself, who are from small towns and villages in South Africa’s underdeveloped provinces, and have parents or family members who sacrificed their dreams for us to get a shot at cracking it in the big city.
So here we are, making our presence felt and carrying our family names on our shoulders. The warning not to drag it though the mud reverberating through our conscious during every questionable decision. The debate continues around whether people from small towns in “neglected” provinces work harder that those who were born in say, Durban Cape Town or Johannesburg. The logic from those who agree with statement is that they’re far away from home and have more to lose, as well as a greater dependancy on them to provide a better life for the family, and therefore work harder. Those who don’t agree, who I’ve debated with, argue that it doesn’t matter where you were born because your level of success depends on your level of education, passion and clarity of purpose. I haven’t decided which side I agree with quite yet.
But back to why we’re a lucky bunch of nomads. This weekend I had an interesting discussion with homeboy of mine from the Eastern Cape, about the definition of success. Since my friend is quite accomplished, he quickly pointed out the limitations to living a comfortable life without access to money, power or at least someone who can make things happen. I took the opposing view, citing an example of a herd boy who grows to inherit his fathers lands and cattle, as well as the respect of his community’s elders through years of diligent service.
A key observation is that the herd boy has a chance of growing-up content and successful despite any access to DSTV, the internet or even twitter. Surely that man is successful and his life achievements cannot be regarded as inferior in comparison to a fortune 500 company CEO, simply because he grew up in a different setting.
To a degree, the perception and definition of success in is shaped by what our former president Thabo Mbeki called a two teared economy, which has created two societies. The metropolitan progressive society that’s more tolerant to the new globally accepted norms that exist in urbanised cities, and the society rooted in ancient tradition and beliefs, made up of (sometimes stubborn) people who still rely heavily on their land and the government to survive.
So, we travel to Johannesburg in busses, 2nd hand cars or taxis, with everything we can pack. Then we work our assess off and eventually attain wealth, status and a life far greater than that of our entire village or town. A life that’s the envy of all our friends when we travel home during the Christmas break as small town celebrities.
For some of us, as we approach a decade in the big city, our souls begin to yearn for the simple life back home, the beautiful rolling hills, fresh air and genuine friendships based on the same principals of life we were taught at a very young age. My last trip home forced me to revise my definition of success. Seeing how some of the poorest people I know find happiness within extreme poverty has reminded me that, what’s considered the epitome of success in the big city, could be completely insignificant in rural EC, KZN, FS, MP etc. I remember thinking how lucky I was to have an opportunity to come to that realisation by spending time in the two extremes.
A perfect example of how subjective the value of the two realities can be, is our late former president Nelson Mandela. Madiba grew up as a herd boy who earned the world’s respect and is now held in the highest esteem, yet in his old age he chose to return to a small village to be surrounded by some of the poorest people he knew.
It may sound obvious, but I think we’re lucky because once the small town clique gets tired of the paper-chase in big cities, we have the option of returning to small towns, villages and informal settlements – (with desperately needed skills and experience) – where there is an equal chance that we may achieve success. Albeit in a different form.
So yes, I think we’re all lucky. And I’d like to think knowing that a return to humble beginnings is always a possibility, reinforces a sense of humility.
GRASSROOTS 