6 NEWS
CITY VISION Thursday, 16 April 2015
Ntonzima, nominee for PAC The tragedy of the Sharpeville and Langa massacres of 1960 will forever be engraved in our memories. On Human Rights Day this year, it was not different as Africanists and their supporters from various parts of the Western Cape graced this wonderful day in the history of Azania. It was as if the bones of our ancestors were vibrating, and the spirit was so high, deep and profound that past leadership of the PAC was ‘unofficially’ reflected and deliberated upon. A lot of progressive ideas were thrown into space about who is the right man to lead the Pan Africanist Movement of Azania. Judging by the mood of those present, it was clear that there is a need for an Africanist leader who epitomises political-intellectual growth and profound understanding of the PAC principles, philosophy, slogans and strategic objectives. At this juncture, the PAC is facing many challenges and was almost run down by its inability to identify good, quality leaders who have lived and breathed Pan Africanism and the gospel of total liberation of Africans in Azania, Africa and in the Diaspora. For the position of the President, the name of Lulamile Ntonzima emerged.
The masses characterised Ntonzima as a unifying figure that espouses the values and the spirit of our Founding Fathers. Sons and daughters of Azania let us brace ourselves by supporting Ntonzima’s candidacy. He is schooled and distilled in the PAC philosophy and policy direction. Comrade Ntonzima will engage in the process of changing the fortunes of the disenfranchised. As a leader, Ntonzima, rejects neo-colonialism, neo-liberalism, imperialism and neo-capitalism envisaged by and characterised in the Freedom Charter. Lulamile Ntonzima is a vocal and vibrant leader with great vision who will take the PAC forward. As a young leader, he understands the PAC philosophical underpinnings, the problems confronting the poor communities, and also appreciates the material importance of Socialist Democracy and African Scientific Socialism to resolve African problems. Ntonzima was born a leader. He shares the vision and aspirations of great Pan Africanist leaders in Azania. He is advanced politically, educationally, culturally and socially. Above all, he is a disciplined cadre of the movement.
Gogo ufunisa ngabantwana bakhe Matutu Tsoadie’s(pictured) living conditions are such an eyesore that members of her community have sent out an emergency call to all who know her daughters to come forward with their de-
tails. Gogo Tsoadie stays alone in Site C, and says her children’s names are Nosicelo and Nontsikelelo Singaphi, from Colesberg and Bethuel. If you know them call 0812471852.
NYAMEKO SINANDZILE Khayelitsha
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Statues: Mandela legacy no longer relevant to many We are hardly into the first quarter of the year, and it seems to be characterized by a spate of mass actions against the existing national heritage sites of the country. The whole phenomenon started at the University of Cape Town, which is well known for its liberal values. The irony of those liberal values is that they have yielded a negative and reductionistic approach towards social transformation in post Apartheid South Africa. Such a radical act by an institution of this calibre leaves so much to be desired in terms of how the institution struggles to re-position itself in post 1994 South Africa. In fact, it is a true reflection of ignorance of what social transformation is all about, as perceived and understood by the majority of post modern South Africans. South Africans will recall that just after our country attained its freedom in 1994, the new Government of National Unity, led by late Nelson Mandela (a time–tested political leader) came up with programmes that were based on developing and reconstructing our nation. This was based on the realization that Apartheid policies had done an invaluable damage to the South African nation as a whole. It was particularly in this context that programmes such as Truth and Reconciliation(TRC) and Reconstruction and Development programme(RDP)were introduced. The naïve among us believed that RDP only entailed the building of houses and toilets for the previously disadvantaged. RDP was based on instilling a new culture of tolerance, rainbow nation building, as well as social cohesion with
the intent to project a new and positive image to the international community. These programmes were also meant to ensure that South Africans became good citizens and ambassadors. Many statues are built to commemorate historical events, or the lives of influential people. Many of them are intended as public art, exhibited outdoors or in public buildings. Some statues gain fame in their own right, separate from the person or concept they represent, as with Steve Biko’s and Nelson Mandela’s. Common to all the statues now under threat is the association with past history of domination and subjugation. In 1994, having vanquished Apartheid, South Africans were left with nothing else, but the courage to forgive, hence these statues were never in the agenda for demolition from the begining. They are a true reflection of the fact that South Africa was not immune from other global mishaps brought about by imperialists and capitalists and is therefore also a product of both philosophy and history. Destroying national statues is a clear indication that the pillars of Nelson Mandela’s Legacy are no longer relevant and should therefore be done away with if South Africans want absolute social transformation, as opposed to that of Nelson Mandela. This is sad, as history unfortunately leaves no room for people run by emotions. It is in this context I argue that “The country-wide demolition of statues is nothing else, but a programme to put an end to Nelson Mandela’s Legacy”. THEMBILE MAGOPENI via email
Service delivery protests not done right way The way service delivery protests are conducted nowadays needs to be revisited. There are two methods: one is where people have genuine complaints and must be attended to urgently. The second one is where anyone who is high on nyaope or whatever will organise his friends to stop people who are going to work and block pupils from going to school. The second one mustn’t be entertained
and must be dealt with severely. How can protesters deny emergency vehicles like ambulances access to those who are sick? Why do they chase away journalists when they are the ones who publicise their grievances? If we don’t deal with this madness now, one day we will find ourselves trapped in a march to legalise nyaope and other drugs. THABO MLEBE Langa
Protest, but do not destroy A few weeks ago, residents from BM Section in Khayelitsha were protesting for decent houses. During their protest, they also damaged the OR Thambo Hall. This is the same Hall that accomodated them last year when their shacks were burnt down. They had forgotten how the hall had helped them in their time of need. Destroying infrastructure is not a solution to their problems. They might have managed to vandalise the hall but I’m sure that they did not get any satisfaction from all of that. They were burning tires on the road and the road was damaged. This is what is going to happen next. They’ll protest again blaming the government for low service delivery, their core issue will be “pot holes on the road” the same road they damaged themselves. This week, Site C residents were also protesting. I think the protest was mainly about houses. They closed down the road, buses could not go through because of what was happenig.
My advise to them is that they should first elect a team who is going to lead and represent them. Secondly, they should ask them to represent them to the gorvernment, go to the office of the MEC. That is the procedure that should be followed. I think we know of all these procedures but we are just ignoring them. There’s a danger in ignorance. If the MEC is not giving them what they want, then they can protest. They should march straight to the MEC offices. Black child, Black Nation, Black society, can we please stop vandalising our own infrastructures. Remember we are all benefiting from this infrastructure. In conclusion, before we damage them (infrastructure) remember how we benefited from them in the past, how we are benefiting from them now, and how we are still going to benefit from them in the future. Let’s think wise. MASIXOLE HLATUKA Khayelitsha