A youth organization in the Langeberg region, Western Cape, launched a workshop to teach the youth more about how to do things for themselves, by presenting a woodworking session. In an informal settlement in Droëheuwel, Robertson, about 50 young people gathered to build benches, chairs and tables. The organizer, Denia Jansen, an activist from Mawubuye Land Rights Forum, addressed the youth about the many problems they faced, as well as positive ways in which the youth can be involved.

“It is not just necessary to sit on the street corners all day and wait for work or look for work. You can be your own boss if you just try to get a positive step in that direction. The workshop is already here to inspire our youth more to be able to do things for themselves. We plan to hold a Youth Indaba Day during which the youth can sell their various items that they have made,” Jansen explains.

One of the youth who attended the workshop, Ashwin Jeneke, in turn also addressed the youth and encouraged them not to give up on their future. “It is exactly 46 years since the great uprising in Soweto where the youth came together and stood together as one against the then government that did not see our rights. Our youth are still experiencing the struggle for basic education, as we saw with the Fees Must Fall campaign, the youth is still struggling with funding for tertiary education,” says Jeneke.

Jeneke further explains, “We do not even get proper jobs, even if you have matric or a qualification behind your name. My heart aches so much when I see our youth, with matric, working on the farms. We are going backwards and must struggle to get to something ourselves. I’m so grateful that CWAASU and Inyanda National Land Rights Movement were able to offer a workshop like this for the youth, so that we can do more things for ourselves and involve the youth”. The youth also had fun activities such as playing games against like tug of war, bag jumps, spoon and egg races as well as dancing.

The day afterwards, on the 17th June, Mawubuye Land Rights Forum and CSAAWU united the youth in the informal settlement Panorama in Robertson, where a sports day was held in honour of Youth Month. The youth played cricket, netball and indigenous games. A dance group from Montague and local youth from Zolani in Ashton had the youth on their feet with their dance moves and outfits. A local rapper ‘OB’ also performed for the youth.

The vision was to build a strong bond with the youth and organisations such as Mawubuye Land Rights Forum, Inyanda National Land Movement and CSAAWU. The youth must build hope in times like these, develop problem-solving skills and look to alternative ideological frameworks for a way forward.

‘n Jeugorganisasie in die Langeberg streek, Wes-Kaap, het ‘n werkswinkel geloods om die jeug meer te leer oor hoe om dinge vir hulself te doen, deur ‘n houtwerk sessie aan te bied. In ‘n informele nedersetting in Droëheuwel, Robertson, het sowat 50 jeugdiges bymekaargekom om bankies, stoeltjies, tafels asook plantbakke te bou. Die organiseerder, Denia Jansen, ‘n aktivis en vryheidsvegter van Mawubuye Land Rights Forum, het die jeug toegespreek oor die talle probleme wat hulle in die gesig staar, asook positiewe maniere waarby die jeug kan betrokke wees.

“Dis nie net nodig om heeldag op die straathoeke te sit en wag vir werk of uitkyk vir werk nie. Jy kan jou eie baas wees as jy net probeer om ‘n positiewe stap in ‘n rigting te kry. Die werkswinkel is reeds hier om ons jeug meer te inspireer om dinge vir hulself te kan doen. Ons beplan om ‘n Jeug Indabadag te hou waartydens die jeug hul verskeie items kan verkoop wat hul gemaak het,” verduidelik Jansen.

Een van die jeugdiges wat die werkswinkel bygewoon het, Ashwin Jeneke, het op sy beurt ook die jeug toegespreek en hul bemoedig om nie op te gee op hul toekoms nie. “Dit is presies 46 jaar sedert die groot opstand in Soweto waar die jeugdiges bymekaargekom het en as een saamgestaan het teen die destydse regering, wat nie ons regte raakgesien het nie. Nog steeds ervaar ons jeug die struggle vir basiese onderrig, soos ons gesien het met die Fees Must Fall-veldtog, waar ons jeug nog sukkel met fondse vir tersiere onderrig,” sê Jeneke.

Jeneke verduidelik voorts, “Ons kry nie eens behoorlike werk nie, al het jy matriek of ‘n kwalifikasie agter jou naam. My hart raak so seer as ek ons jeugdiges, met matriek, sien werk op die plase. Ons gaan agteruit en moet self-maar struggle om aan iets te kom. Ek is so dankbaar dat CWAASU en Inyanda National Land Rights Movement ‘n werkswinkel soos dié vir die jeug kon aanbied, sodat ons meer dinge vir onsself kan doen en ons jeug meer betrek by hul aktiwiteite aan die einde van die dag”. Die jeug het ook prettige aktiwiteite gehad waar hul teen mekaar speletjies gespeel het soos toutrek, saksprong, lepel en eier resies asook dans.

Die dag daarna, op die 17de Junie, het Mawubuye Land Rights Forum en CSAAWU die jeug verenig in die informele nedersetting Panorama in Robertson, waar ‘n sportdag gehou is ter ere van Jeugmaand. Die jeugdiges het krieket, netbal en inheemse speletjies gespeel waarby daar ook ‘n dansgroep was van Montague en plaaslike jeug van Zolani in Ashton wat die jeug op hul voete gehad het met hulle danspassies en uitrustings. Daar was ook ‘n vertoning van n plaaslike kletsrymkunstenaar ‘’OB’’ wat die jeug op hul voete gehad het met sy woorde.

Die visie was om n sterk band te bou met die jeug in organisasies soos Mawubuye Land Rights Forum, Inyanda National Land Movement en CSAAWU. Die jeug moet hoop bou in tye soos die en ook opkom met probleemoplossings vaardighede en alternatiewe ideologiese raamwerke.

Dinonyana di ne di dula batho ka la 18 Phupjane 2022 motseng wa Botshabelo karolong ya E lebatoweng la 32. E ne ele semphete keo fete. Kopano ene e le malebana le sehopotso sa letsatsi la mahlomola le masisapelo la 16 June 1976 mane Gauteng motse-toropong wa SOWETO.

Mokgatlo wa batho ba sa sebetseng o tsejwang ka B.U.M (Botshabelo Unemployed Movement) o ne o hlophisitse kopano ya letsatsi leo, ntlong-lehalahaleng la motse Botshabelo Multifunction Center(B.M.C) hona karolong ya E.

Holo e ne e tletse ka batho ba batjha, bomme le bontate le bona bane ba le teng ka bongata ba bona. Kopano e qadile ka hora ya leshome hoseng, batjha ba motseng wa Thaba Nchu le bona ba ne bale teng kopanong ena.

Modula-setulo wa mokgatlo wa batho ba sa sebetseng, B.U.M; Monghadi Kenny Phaoane o thakgotse kopano ena ka noto e phahameng moo a neng a amohela bohle ba tlileng kopanong. “Re le mokgatlo wa B.U.M maikemisetso a rona ke ho beha batho ba batjha sehlohlolong ka hoba neha lesedi le thlakisetso e topalletseng ka nalane ya letsatsi la 16 June 1976, batjha ba rona ha ba bontshe thahasello letsatsing lena ka lebaka la hore mokgatlo o busang o wa leketeka empa rona re le batho ba sa sebetseng ha re bone bohlokwa ba ho keteka hoba le dipalopalo tsa rona di ntse di nyoloha letsatsi le letsatsi.” Ke mantswe a Kenny Phaoane ao. Ntate Kenny o tswetse pele ka le reng batlo tlisa dithuto tsa nnete ho batjha ba profense ya Foreistata, o re bona ba hopola letsatsi lena ha ba le keteke.

Khokhoma Motsi eo e leng e mong wa bathehi ba mokgatlo ona wa B.U.M hape ya phetseng nakong tseo tsa 1976 o hlalositse ka le reng. “ Ho bohlokwa haholo ho etsa sehopotso sa letsatsi lena ho na le ho le keteka, batjha ba dilemong tseo tsa bo 70 ba ile ba bontsha boitelo le ho intsha sehlabelo ho bona ba tswile ditlamong tsa mmuso wa kgethollo wa ba basweu” o bontshitse hape hore mmuso wa ha jwale ha o bontshe hlompho e tshwanetseng ho bahale bana ba 1976 jwaloka bo Tsietsi Mashinini, Onkgopotse Tiro, Steve Biko le ba bang ba bangata. O tswetse pele ka le reng ho keteka letsatsi lena ke tsela ya mokga wa ANC wa ho utswa matsatsi a bohlokwa a lwanetsweng ke batjha ba 1976, “re ka se keteke re sa tsebe moo masapo a Makhubo a felletseng teng re hloka dikarabo.”

Motshidisi Makintane le Thandiwe Tshaka ba ile ba ntsha maikutlo a bona ka ho hlahisa diphepetso tseo ba kopanang le tsona jwaloka batho ba batjha ba basadi. Ofentse Namane e leng setho sa B.U.M ho tswa motseng wa Thaba Nchu o buile tjena “ntwa ya tokoloho ha eso fele ha feela ho ntse ho ena le batho ba robalang ba sa ja, ha feela batho ba batjha e ntse e le makgoba a tahi le dithetefatsi.”

Kopano ena ebile e atlehileng hoya ka modulasetulo wa B.U.M Kenny Phaone, o bontshitse ha honka karolo hwa batho ba ne ba le kopanong ho ne ho phahame, sena se mo file tshepo ya hore batla hlola jwaloka batjha ba 1976.

Ha bongata ba batho bo ntse bo keteka sehopotso sa batjha ba 1976, ho baahi ba karolo ya D ka hara lebatowa la 38 motseng wa Botshabelo; bona ba re ha ba bone bohlokwa ba ho keteka letsatsi lena. Karolo ena ya D ke ngwe ya dikarolo tsa pele tse theilweng ke baahi ba Botshabelo. Dilemong tsa bo 1979 hone ho ena le dikarolo tse ka bang hlano (5) motseng ona wa Botshabelo.

Le ha ho bonahala motse ona o se o hodile haholo ho ntse ho ena le dibaka moo ho senang ditshebeletso tsa mantlha. Botshabelo ke metse e meng ka hara naha ya Afrika Borwa e nkileng karolo e kgolo ntweng ya tokoloho. Dilemong tsa bo 1980 ha di qala, baahi bana ba ile ba lwanela ho ikemela ka matsholo a kang “Black Power.”

“Agriculture is not for old people” says 56 year old Ntombizanele Kima from Kwanobuhle (Khayelitsha area) in Kariega. “Young people must be encouraged to practice farming, especially in rural areas, and start farming at a young age so that they can grow up learning the tricks of running a successful farm.”

Kima adds that jobs are scarce, the economy is not doing well and the cost of food as well as oil is constantly increasing. She adds that if you can grow more of your own food you will rely less on buying food from the shops. “The economy does not favour those who does not have skills. Through farming you are able to put food on the table on a daily basis and meet your financial needs” says Kima.

“This will help us to fight poverty and unemployment in our communities. Farming creates opportunities” says Kima. “You start by planting vegetables in the backyard of your yard, then you can expand to bigger land and find a market for your products. Start by selling to your community and then go beyond your neighbourhood.”

Kima realized her passion for farming from a young age. “It’s been a great journey for me, to understand the dynamics of farming. Today I’m able to mentor people and advise them on what to do when on farming, especially when it comes to food gardens. I also provide tips to overcome challenges to as farmers of food gardens” says Kima.

We are Landless
In the absence of land redistribution, particularly in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, the Makukhanye Rural Movement identifies unused fertile land and occupies it. This is one of the strategies the movement employs to pressurise government to fast track agrarian transformation and engage with the community and the movement.

Given how poverty and unemployment is deepening, land transformation and agrarian reform has become even more urgent, particularly in rural areas. “Land is still owned by a privileged few while the majority of the people do not have access to land for farming and food production” says Ntombentsha Nelani, a backyard gardener and livestock farmer.

Nelani believes that if South Africa is to be a food sovereign nation, people must have access to fertile land. “People were told, now that you have democracy you are free. But for the landless, there is no freedom. The reality is that land dispossession no longer matters to government.” says Nelani

“We demand the right to practice agroecology and farm live stock as our option for today and the future and government must support this not just in policy but in practice. We do not want agricultural officials to promote pesticides and genetically modified seeds. Our government prioritises big farmers who produce for formal markets while we remain excluded from this!” adds Nelani.

Ezolimo ayizezabantu abadala kuphela; utsho uNtombizanele Kima ominyaka engamashumi amahlanu anesithandathu wakwa Nobuhle (kwindawo ese Khayelitsha) eKariega. Abantu abatsha kufuneka bakhuthazwe kwezolimo nasekufuyeni, ingakumbi kwindawo ezisemaphandleni, baqale ukulima besebancinci ukuze bakhule bezazi iindlela zokulima eziyimpumelelo.

uKima uphawule wathi imisebenzi inqabile, uphuhliso alwenzeki ngendlela eyiyo kwaye nexabiso lokutya kunye nelamafutha linyuka rhoqo. Weleke ngelithi ukuba abantu bangazilimela bazikhulisele akuzuxhomekekwa ekuthengeni ukutya ezivenkileni. Uphuhliso alubathatheli ngqalelo abo banganazakhono. Ngokulima uyakwazi ukubeka ukutya etafileni yonke imihla kwaye kukhawulelana nemfuno zemali, kutsho uKima.

Lonto izakusinceda ukulwa indlala nentswela ngqesho eluntwini. Ulimo luphuhlisa amathuba emisebenzi utshilo uKima. Uqala ngokulima imifuno ngemva kwendlu yakho, ukhule uyekumhlaba omkhulu ukuze wenze ushishino. Uqale uthengisele abahlali ulandule ukuyokuthengisela ezinye indawo zasebumelwaneni.

uKima waziqaphela eselula isakhono sakhe sokuthanda ukulima. Ibiluhambo oluhle kum, ukufunda ngokulima. Namhlanje ndiyakwazi ukufundisa nokucebisa abantu nomakwenziwe malunga nezolimo, ingakumbi xa kufikelelwa kwizityalo zokutya. Ndinikeza nengcebiso ukusombulula iingxaki kubalimi malunga nokutyala ukutya, uphawulile uKima.

Asinamihlaba
Ukunganikezwa nokobelwa kwemihlaba, ingakumbi kuMasipala iNelson Mandela Bay, umbutho wasemaphandleni iMakukhanye ikhankanye umhlaba ochumileyo ongasetyenziswayo wahlala kuwo. Eli lelinye lamaphulo elenze umbutho lubenocinezelelo kuRhulumente enze inguqu ekhawulezileyo adibana nabahlali kunye nemibutho.

Indlela indlala nentswela ngqesho ziyiyo, inguquko kumhlaba nohlaziyo lwezolimo zisuke zabaluleka ngakumbi, ingakumbi emaphandleni. Imihlaba isalawulwa ngabanamagunya abambalwa, ngeloxesha isininzi sabantu asinamvume kumhlaba ukuze balime bavelise nokutya, uphawule uNtombentsha Nelani ongumlimi wasemva kwendlu ekwanguye nomfuyi wezilwanyana.

uNelani ukholelwa ekubeni ukuba uMzantsi-Afrika ulilize ekuveliseni ukutya, abantu kufuneka babenelungelo kumhlaba ochumileyo. Abantu baxelelwa ukuba ngoku nisenkulululekweni kwaye nikhululekile. Kodwa kwaba ngenawo umhlaba, akukho Nkululeko, inyaniso yeyokuba ukuhluthwa komhlaba akukhathalelwanga nguRhulumente uphawule watsho uNelani.

Sinyanzelisa ilungelo lendlela yokulima nokufuya njengenye yokukhetha namhlanje nekamva noRhulumente makaxhase lenkqubo, hayi ngokomthetho kodwa ngokwenza. Asifuni amagosa eZolimo anyuse izibulali zinambuzane kunye nembewu eguquliweyo. Urhulumente wethu ukhetha abalimi abakhulu abavelisela ukuthengisa ngeloxesha thina asibandakanywa kulento utshilo uNelani.

The South African government has failed to bring significant change to rural communities. Instead, countless people living in South Africa are in a state of hopelessness, anger, facing violent crimes, and increasingly resorting to substance abuse.

The Makukhanye Rural Movement is a landless movement which advocates for the landless, the poor, the marginalised, the oppressed and the exploited which includes farm workers, farm dwellers, women, young people and the unemployed.

The movement is active in the Kouga Municipality, the Sunday River Municipality and the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. The general demands of the movement includes land for the rural poor; a living wage; better working conditions for farm workers and dwellers as well as quality basic services for all. A key objective is to pressure municipalities into releasing commonage land to emerging stock farmers.

The movement has engaged Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality officials from different local government departments of Human Settlements as well as the department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development. The Makukhanye Rural Movement also fights against unlawful stock impounding and the huge amount of money charged by the facilities which impounds stock. The movement regularly identifies land for emerging black stock farmers to occupy. Makukhanye also plays a vital role in supporting the survivors of gender based violence.

The movement is also trying to address the lack of access to water in parts of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. The lack of water for domestic and agricultural use has made life a misery for the affected areas. The Makukhanye Rural Movement is the voice of the poor and through organising and mobilising the movement can apply pressure to influence policy changes which works for the benefit for the rural poor. The Makukhanye Rural Movement is about hope AND resistance!

In commemoration of Africa Day, the Rural Women’s Assembly (RWA) hosted a webinar on xenophobia. This was a very revealing webinar since it soon became clear that as the panellists discussed xenophobia, there was very different understandings of what the drivers of xenophobia are. This article is the first of a series of conversations to deal with xenophobia.

In the past few years, South Africa has seen a worrying increase in xenophobic attacks, leading to really horrific and inhumane scenes. This has become a significant issue of concern since many African nationals from other countries on the Continent, live and work in South Africa. For us as the RWA, a regional movement across Southern Africa, this is a matter that is very close to our hearts because many members have family living in South Africa.

So why is xenophobic violence so dominant in South Africa? Is it a manifestation of racism? Is it simply hatred as one of the speakers in our webinar suggested? Is it common in societies undergoing transition? Is it because South Africa is opening up after years of isolation from the region during apartheid? Is it because of the nature of South African foreign policy? Is it because of inequality, growing poverty and unemployment within society? Is it because the bosses employ nationals of other countries (often undocumented) because they accept lower wages, are not unionised and therefore appear less likely to strike or demand worker rights? Is it because bosses have changed the nature of work, use labour brokers which has led to an increase in the casualisation and precariousness of work?

While we try to analyse and understand the xenophobia violence in the country, we have to know that xenophobia is a crime against humanity that involves aspects such as dislike, fear, distrust or intolerance of foreigners, often expressed in terms of hostilities towards the outsiders. Xenophobia is classified as a ‘hate crime’.

Throughout the centuries and even recent decades, people have moved in search opportunities for work and to build a better life for themselves. However, in past 30 to 40 years violent anti-foreigner practice has grown and is not restricted to South Africa, but is very much a worldwide issue. Many see xenophobia as a result of the globalisation of society, which prompts the migration of people, especially from developing and less developed countries to go in search of greener pastures.

As the Rural Women’s Assembly, we campaign against ALL forms of violence, including xenophobic violence. RWA is committed to creating spaces for ongoing dialogue and self-education in our effort to strengthen unity!

Small-scale farmer Xolisa Dwane from Ilizwi La Mafama says brown locusts is destroying his crops at an alarming rate. Dwane says he doesn’t know what to do as he practices agroecology and the use of chemicals is prohibited.

In a media statement the Minister for Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thokozile Didiza, explained that government is aware of the brown locusts outbreak in the Eastern Cape, which was first spotted in September 2021. In the statement, the Minister explained that the outbreak was caused by heavy rainfall and wind which helps the locusts reach far flung areas. Government has implemented awareness campaigns and the spraying of insectides to assist. In densely populated forests, they use aerial sprays.

After the arrival of a government task team, Dwane was asked to vacate his fields for a few days so that they could spray his fields. Dwane advised the spraying team against the overuse of chemicals as it could kill the soil and some livestock. When Dwane arrived at the farm, instead of finding dead locusts he found that the locusts had multiplied. Dwane suspects the locusts may be resistant to the chemicals and says his farm has been destroyed.

Dwane still calls on farmers affected by the locust outbreak to cooperate with government and report if they spot any locusts.

Ku cinca ka maxelo ku ni swita-nzhaku leswi vangaka ntshikelelo eka vutomi bya siku na siku. Tinguva na tona ti cincile. Aswa ha olovi ku vhumba maxelo. Timpfula atahani hi nkarhi wa tona, ku hisa ku tlula mpimo naswona mi moya ni ku titimela naswona aswahavi kona hi mpimo. Swimilana ni swihari swinwana aswi koti ku tiyisela maxelo lama naswona hitlhelo rin’wana swi yendla leswaku swinwana swi milana na swi hari swi andla hi xiyimo xa le henhla. Mintungu ya ntumbuluko yo fana na mabubutsa, minkhukhulo, mavabyi ni switsotswana hiswinwana swa mintshikelelo leyi fambisanaka ni ku cinca ka maxelo.

Ku hehliwa leswaku kuna ntungu wa tinjiya lowu vangiwaka hi ku cinca ka maxelo etikweni ra Afrika Dzonga leti sukaka etikweni ra Namibia. Tinjiya leti tihlaserile hi xiyimo xo chavisa eAfrica Dzonga ngopfu ngopfu eka swiphemu swa xifundzha xa Kapa.Ku hehliwa leswaku tinjiya leti ti fikile etikweni ra Africa Dzonga hi lembe ra 2021.

N’wa mapurasi lontsongo Xolisa ku suka ka nhlangano wa Ilizwe La Mafama e xifundzhweni nkulu xa kappa vuxa u hlamusela leswaku tinjiya leti tile ku onheni hikuva tidya byasi xikan’we ni swinwani leswi aswi fanele swi dyiwa hi swifuwo swo fana ni tihomu ni timbuti hile tlhelo tile ku va dyeleni ka swirimiwa swa vona. Hiko kwalaho ka ku tirhisa vurimi lebyi nga va pfumeleleki ku tirhisa ti chefu ta xilungu kuva va tshungula vuvabyi no dlaya switsotswani leswi va onhelaka eka vurimi bya vona hikwalaho ka vurimi lebyi vuriwaka “ Agroecology”, tinjiya leti ti tisa nxungeto lowukulu eka vurimi bya vona. Hikokwalaho ka nxungeto wa tinjiya leti va boheka ku tirhisa yona mirhi ya xilungu kudlaya tinjiya leti, hambi swiri tano aswi kombi ku cinca.

Holobye wa swa vurimi yena Thoko Didiza u kombisile leswaku vaaka tiko va fanele ku tirhisana na mfumo ku pfuneta ku lwisana na ntungu lowu. Vaaka tiko va fanele ku ti hlanganisa na mfumo loko va tshuka va hlangana na ntungu lowu e mugangeni wa vona leswaku va ta kuma vuxokoxoko no mpfuno.

Climate change and global warming used to be a very far-fetched phenomenon.  This is no longer the case since poor communities and small-scale producers are the hardest hit by the impacts of this climate change. This is despite them being the least contributors. The impacts of climate change include drought, floods, outbreak of pests and diseases, just to mention a few.

In early May, some areas in the Eastern Cape was attacked by swarms of brown locusts. The areas affected so far include Alice, Burnshill, Fort Cox, KwaMathole and some parts of Sundays River Valley Municipality. These pests are so voracious and destructive to both crops and pastures. When they get into a field, they leave literally nothing and the farmer has to start all over again. They normally do this in the early morning and just one swarm of these locusts can finish a hectare of vegetation in about 30 minutes which shows just how dangerous these pests are.

How best to control the brown locusts

It is not very easy to control the brown locusts as they come in swarms and there is no pre-warning. However, there are some methods that farmers can employ to avoid losses. The following techniques can be used to control such disasters:

• Use of shade net tunnels
• Use of plastic tunnels
• Baiting: Some chemical baits may be used at a small-scale. These baits are more environmental friendly as they simply attract the locusts to a certain point which is sticky and the locusts get stuck to the sticky wall.
• Broadcasting moistened bran bait by hand in a ±1m wide barrier around the roost in the early morning, has proved a most effective manner of baiting
• Field hygiene: Keeping our fields free of weeds, including the peripheries, assist to some extent in controlling the crawling locusts
• Aerial sprays: This can be done by the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR). Producers are advised to report any locust swarms in their areas to their local extension officers for quick control.

There are  mixed feelings about the idea of aerial spraying for the locusts, especially  in Middledrift. Some members of the community are fearful what the consequences of aerial spraying may be for their own health and the general environmental health. However, for some, spraying the locusts is the only viable option in the meantime, until a proper environmentally friendly control method has been developed.