The Makukhanye rural based working class movement was formed in 2010 in Beersheba in Sundays River Valley Municipality by a group of small scale farmers, landless people, people struggling with their land claims, youth and women. The movement’s vision is a just society, free of inequality, oppression and exploitation with citizens being engaged and self-reliant.

The movement continues to grow and is now active in more than ten areas in the Sunday River Valley, Kouga and Nelson Mande Municipality. Makukhanye fights for the rights of farm workers and dwellers in rural areas as well as access to land and government services. “In many communities in the rural areas, young people and women see almost no prospect for finding work. The high unemployment rate has resulted in an increase in crime. Our movement provides a way to restore the dignity of people,“ says Mziwoxolo Sume the Makukhanye Regional Chairperson.

Over the past 13 years, the movement has led campaigns to address the various crises affecting rural communities such as the water crisis, Gender-Based Violence (GBV), access to land and evictions. Secretary of the Makukhanye Women’s Forum, Sindiswa Mnamatha, says that “if we want to bring about lasting change, we have to build a strong national movement.”

In July 2022, the movement used its strategic planning workshop for introspection, identifying the strength and weakness of the movement while developing its strategic plan. Additional objectives of the two day workshop was to strengthen the Makukhanye leadership and campaigns. Makukhanye Secretary, Ntombentsha Nelana, explains that an “independent strong fighting movement which is not party affiliated has to be established to reverse the situation we find ourselves in as people of South Africans.”

The Makukhanye Executive committee consists of Chairperson Mziwoxolo Sume, Deputy Chairperson Mgcini Mbejane, Secretary Ntombentsha Nelana, Deputy Secretary Sphosethu Skeyi and Treasurer Emily Chitha. The movement plans to intensify it water crisis campaign in the Kwalanga, Kwanobuhle, Peterson and Humansdorp areas. The Gender-Based Violence campaign with a focus in areas such as Kwalanga, Blaukrants and Humansdrop. The movement has planned its next strategic review meeting for June/July 2023.

Umbutho wasezilalini nowabasebenzi obizwa ngokuba yiMakukhanye wasekwa ngo-2010 eBeersheba kumasipala iSundays River Valley liqela lamafama asakhasayo, abantu abangenamihlaba, abantu abasokola ukufaka amabanga abo emihlaba, ulutsha nabantu ababhinqileyo. Injongo yalo mbutho kukuba kubekho ubulungisa ekuhlaleni, kuphele ukungalingani, ukucinezelwa nokuxhatshazwa baze abahlali bakwazi ukuzimela.

Lo mbutho uya usanda ngokwanda ibe ngoku ukwiindawo ezingaphezu kwezilishumi kumasipala iSunday River Valley, iKouga neNelson Mandela Municipality. IMakukhanye ilwela amalungelo amafama nabahlali basezilalini kunye nokufikelela kumhlaba neenkonzo zikarhulumente. “Kwiindawo ezininzi ezisezilalini, abantu abatsha namabhinqa kunzima ukuba afumane umsebenzi. Eli zinga liphezulu lentswela-ngqesho libangele kwanda ulwaphulo-mthetho. Umbutho wethu uveza ikroba lokubuyisela isidima eluntwini,” kutsho uMziwoxolo Sume nonguSihlalo Wengingqi weMakukhanye.

Ebudeni beminyaka eyi-13 edlulileyo, lo mbutho ukhokele amaphulo ukuze kulingiswe izinto ezahlukahlukeneyo ezichaphazela abahlali basemaphandleni ezifana nokunqaba kwamanzi, ukuhlukunyezwa kwabantu ngenxa yesini (GBV), ukufikelela kumhlaba nokususwa kwabantu kwiindawo abahlala kuzo. Unobhala weMakukhanye Women’s Forum, uSindiswa Mnamatha uthi “ukuba sifuna kubekho utshintsho oluza kuhlala luhleli, kufuneka sakhe umbutho wazwelonke owomeleleyo.”

NgoJulayi 2022, lo mbutho wenza inkqubo yokufunda nokuceba ukuze uzihlole, ujonge nezinto ezomeleleyo nezibuthathaka kuwo njengoko uzama amacebo abaza kuwasebenzisa njengombutho. Enye injongo yale nkqubo yokufunda eyathatha iintsuku ezimbini yayikukuqinisa ubunkokheli namaphulo eMakukhanye. Unobhala weMakukhanye, uNtombentsha Nelana, ucacisa ngelithi “umbutho ozimeleyo nowomeleleyo nongeyonxalenye yemibutho yeepolitiki bekumele ubekho ukuze utshintshe le meko sizibhaqe sikuyo njengabemi baseMzantsi Afrika.”

Ikomiti Eyintloko yeMakukhanye ibunjwa nguSihlalo uMziwoxolo Sume, Usekela-sihlalo uMgcini Mbejane, Unobhala uNtombentsha Nelana, Usekela-nobhala uSphosethu Skeyi noNondyebo uEmily Chitha. Lo mbutho uceba ukuqinisa isandla kwiphulo lengxaki yamanzi Kwalanga, Kwanobuhle, ePeterson naseHumansdorp. Iphulo leGBV ingakumbi kwiindawo ezifana naKwalanga, eBlaukrants naseHumansdrop. Lo mbutho uceba ukusingatha intlanganiso yokuhlola indlela oza kusebenza ngayo ngoJuni/Julayi 2023.

The Assembly of the Unemployed is a collective of community organisations and activists, farm workers, farm dwellers, youth and women that seeks transformation in rural and urban areas. Our dream of freedom has become a nightmare. We are oppressed, marginalised and excluded. Our youth is facing a huge unemployment, which is the cause of the high rate of crime.
But we are confident that we are our own liberators.

Assembly of the Unemployed #Budget2023 Demands

1.Water for All
Water is our life, right, and basic need. We can’t survive without water. When there is no water we can’t cook, wash and all other services which require water are also negatively impacted. School children cannot finish school hours due to the water crisis. Women and young girls are the most affected by the scarcity of water in our communities.

2.Basic Income
We reject the R350 Social Relief of Distress Grant since it does not cover our basic needs, this is why we are demanding R1 500.

3.Loadshedding
Government must not privatise Eskom. Loadshedding must not be a ‘normal’ part of our daily life. Our communities are suffering under this crisis. Hospitals, mortuaries, schools and businesses, which require electricity, are no longer functioning properly. On the issues of IPPs, communities must be given a chance to produce electricity and benefit from the value chain.

3.Decent Jobs for All
Our source of income for living depends on better jobs. We also reject the EPWP programme which is a scam and benefits the few of this failing government. We also reject the six month employment period of the EPWP programme, which only favours a few. Our human dignity depends on decent jobs. We demand full employment.

4. Budget Cuts
Budget cuts must be stopped because it negatively affects our communities and service delivery such as health, education as well as other necessities and services.
All government departments are suffering as result of budget cuts which results in retrenchments, high unemployment and crime.

5. Stable Municipalities
We need a stable municipalities that will provide full-service delivery for our communities. The coalition processes does not work for our communities. Instead, politicians keep fighting their political battles and communities are suffering.

Indibano Yabangaqeshwanga yindibaniselwano yeentlangano zoluntu kunye neenkokheli zoluntu, abasebenzi basezifama, abahlali basezifama, ulutsha kunye namabhinqa afuna utshintsho kwiindawo zasezidolophini nasemaphendleni. Umnqweno wethu wenkululeko awuphunyezwanga. Sicinezelwe, asikhathalelwanga kwaye asiqukwanga. Ulutsha lwethu lujongene nokungabikho komsebenzi, nto leyo ebangela ulwaphulo-mthetho lube phezulu.
Kodwa siqinisekile ukuba singakwazi ukuzikhulula.

Indibano Yabangenamisebenzi #Izinyanzeliso Zolwabiwo-mali lwango023

1. Amanzi Kumntu Wonke
Amanzi bubomi, ilungelo neemfuno zethu ezisisiseko. Asikwazi kuphila ngaphandle kwamanzi. Xa kungekho manzi, asikwazi kupheka, ukuhlamba kwaye zonke ezinye izinto ezifuna amanzi zichaphazeleka kakubi. Abantwana abakwazi kuba sesikolweni de siphume isikolo ngenxa yengxaki yamanzi. Amabhinqa namantombazana asemancinci ngabona bantu bachatshazelwa kakhulu kukunqaba kwamanzi kwiindawo esihlala kuzo.

2. Umvuzo Osisiseko
Asiyamkeli i-R350 ye-Social Relief of Distress Grant ekubeni ingazifikeleli zonke iimfuno zethu ezisiseko, yiyo loo nto sifuna i-R1 500.

3. Ucimicimi Wombane
Urhulumente akamele enze uEskom abe lishishini labucala. Ukucima kombane akumele kube yinto ‘eqhelekileyo’ kubomi bethu bemihla ngemihla. Uluntu luyahlupheka ngenxa yale ngxaki. Izibhedlele, iindawo zokugcina izidumbu, izikolo namashishini adinga umbane awasebenzi kakuhle. Kumba wee-IPP, uluntu lumele lunikwe ithuba lokuvelisa umbane luze luzuze kwinkqubo yokuveliswa kwawo.

3. Imisebenzi Ephucukuleyo Kumntu WOnke
Ingeniso yethu ukuze sikwazi ukuphila ixhomekeke kwimisebenzi ephucukileyo. Asiyamkeli inkqubo ye-EPWP eyinkqubo eqhathayo nezuzisa abambalwa kulo rhulumente wohlulekayo. Asiyamkeli nento yokuqeshwa kangangeenyanga ezintandathu kwi-EPWP, nto leyo ezuzisa abambalwa. Isidima sethu njengoluntu sixhomekeke kwimisebenzi ephucikileyo. Sifuna ingqesho epheleleyo.

4. Ukuphungulwa Kwemali Eyabiwayo
Kufuneka kuyekiswe ukuphungulwa kwemali eyabilwayo ngenxa yokuba oku kubachaphezela kakubi abantu kunye nokuziswa kweenkonzo ezinjengezempilo, ezemfundo kwakunye nezinye izinto eziyimfuneko neenkonzo.
Onke amasebe karhulumente awasebenzi kakuhle ngenxa yokuphungulwa kwemali ayifumanayo nto leyo ebangela kudendwe abantu, imisebenzi ingabikho kuze kubekho ulwaphulo-mthetho oluphezulu.

5. Oomasipala Abazinzileyo
Sidinga oomasipala abazinzileyo abazakubonelela ngeenkonzo ezipheleleyo kuluntu lwethu. Indibaniselwano yolawulo ayibasebenzeli abantu bethu. Endaweni yoko, abezopolitiko bayalwa baze abantu bangakhathalelwa.

On 23 February, the day when the Finance Minister delivered the national Budget Speech in Parliament, activists under the umbrella of the Cry of the Xcluded took to the streets to make their budget demands known and reject the government’s austerity budget.

“How can this government be so callous as to propose a budget that slashes spending for education, health and social welfare and for public sector workers? While you do this, we are living in a disaster. 13 million workers are suffering unemployment, not for a few weeks but years. Bread, transport and electricity prices have brought millions of us to the brink,” says Lindi Mkhumbane from the Cry of the Xcluded.

While the Finance Minister claimed that the budget was not an austerity budget,
Dominic Brown from the Alternative Information and Development Centre (AIDC) explains that, “AIDC joins our allies in the social and labour movement in rejecting this budget… The cut in spending to the Main Budget (leaving aside debt service costs which are rising) will be R85.4 billion in real terms compared to the 2022 budget. One can only understand this budget as a massive attack on poor and working class people.”

“In terms of the social relief of distress grant, the budget only makes provision for 8.5 million beneficiaries, effectively excluding at least two million people from much needed support. Moreover, the R350 SRD is now worth just R277 in 2023 compared to 2020, R73 less than when it was first introduced,” adds Brown.

In Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape, activists marched to the Uitenhage Town Hall. “In the past we used to march to Parliament. But this year we decided to rather be at the local level where the real issues and challenges of our people are, so we rather go to the municipality’s offices. Local Government is in a terrible mess,” says Mziwoxolo Sume of the Makukhanye Rural Movement.

In Cape Town, the Commercial, Stevedoring, Agricultural and Allied Workers union (CSAAWU) joined other activists and trade unionists who had gathered at Keizersgracht Street. “CSAAWU is of the view that the ongoing implementation of the austerity budget proposed by the government is a clear attack on the rural poor who are already suffering as they are on the receiving end in terms of service delivery and economic exclusion,” says CSAAWU Deputy General Secretary, Deneco Dube.

CSAAWU says that these budget cuts for social services are already being felt by farm workers and the rural poor. “Loadshedding is a pandemic on its own and it is felt by farm workers who are being threatened with retrenchments and wage cuts. Loadshedding is a direct consequence of the deaths of many poor families living in shacks who are forced to use firewood to prepare food and candles for lights.”

“In Botshabelo, we marched to the Free State Provincial Government offices, together with our sister organisations. The trade union, South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU), joined the march to support us and we were joined by Free State Provincial Secretary of SAFTU, Comrade Felicity Lekhethe. Members of the National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (NUPSAW) were also present,” says Mooketsi Diba from the Botshabelo Unemployed Movement. But unfortunately, there was no government official to receive the activists Memorandum of Demands . “Initially they gave us the notice that the Head Of Department of the Free State Treasury will be the one who is going to accept our demands. But when we showed up, there was no staff, only security guards at the provincial Treasury offices. That was the saddest part from our side,” adds Diba.

“The budget does not talk directly to the masses of the poor and it does not meet the needs of our people. The collapse of health, policing, transport and education will remain the same under this budget. Even this R350 SRD grant is an insult, it’s almost two years with the same amount. It should have been increased to R1 500 as a Basic Income Grant,” says Sume. At the Uitenhage Town Hall, activists handed over the Assembly of the Unemployed’s Memorandum of Demands to the Executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay, Retief Odendaal.

The main municipality of Mangaung was established in 2014. This municipality is established with the following towns: Botshabelo, Bloemfontein, Thabanchu, Dewestdrop and Wepener. The main city of this municipality is Bloemfontein, which is well known as the city of roses, but many experts explain that roses are found among thorns. Mangaung shares the border with the country of Lesotho.

The fact that roses are found among thorns is a sign of concern for the residents of this municipality because a major disaster has fallen on them due to rampant crime within the towns which include Botshabelo, ThabaNchu and the neighbouring towns. The economy of this municipality is heavily dependent on agriculture and animal husbandry. Most of the people in this municipality make a living by selling animals, especially the residents of Botshabelo and ThabaNchu. Most of the livestock are cows, sheep, pigs, goats, horses, and chickens.In Botshabelo, livestock farmers have put their animals outside the town in what is known as the ranch, the land where the municipality has kept them since 2002. However, in ThabaNchu they still use their land that was given to them by the government. The land used in ThabaNchu is under the Trust system managed by the House of the Barolong Chiefs.

Mr. PapiDiba who is the father of three boys explained that this issue of animal theft is a big challenge for them because last year, in 2022, three (3) cows and two (2) calves were stolen and he said he is surprised that most of his cows were stolen in the presence of the herd boy. Diba says that he is not the only one in the town of ThabaNchu who is the target of animal theft.
“At home, we lived by rearing animals while my parents were still alive and I also want to continue with this. What hurts me most is that these thieves are not only stealing but they are destroying the future of our children because by selling animals I was able to send my son to university”, said Diba.

PapiDiba’s son Ntando said that this matter is a conspiracy because most of the people who lose their animals in ThabaNchu are from Lesotho.
Another victim of theft is Mme Anna Tsatsane who is a resident of Botshabelo, Tsatsane says these thieves have no mercy because when they come to your kraal, they take everything. This woman who is also a member of the Leratong Ranch Committee says that as she is an unemployed woman who relies heavily on rearing animals so this matter must be take serious ore they will take the law into their own hands because some of these thieves work together with the police.Tsatsane said, “I am asking our people not to associate themselves with these thieves by buying unlicensed animals. Our people and businessmen, we are appealing to you not to enrich this market of thieves by buying stolen animals”
Mr. TankisoPhindela, who is a member of the Botshabelo Livestock Committee, says that this issue of theft is causing them trouble. “The issue of animal theft continues, so, let us stand up and work together to prevent this crime.

Monghadi Tankiso Phindela eo e leng setho sa komiti ya Botshabelo Livestock Committee o re taba ena ya boshodu e ba jesetsa kgwebeleng, o ile a fana ka dipalopalo tse latelang selemo sa ketepedi le mashome a mabedi:
Mr. Phindela shared the following statistics for 2022

Mmasepalata o moholo wa Mangaung o theiwe ka selemo sa kete pedi le 1eshome le metso e mene(2014) mmasepalata ona o theiwa ka ditoropo tse latelang: Botshabelo, Bloemfontein, Thaba nchu, Dewestdrop le Wepener. Toropo e kgolo ya mmasepalataa ona ke ya Bloemfontein e tsebiwang haholo ka hore ke motse wa dirosa empa ditsibi di enne di hlalose dire di rosa o di fumana ka hare ho meutlwa. Mangaung e arolelana lediboho le naha ya Lesotho.

Taba ena ya hore di rosa o difumana ka hare ho meutlwa kennete ho baahi ba mmasepalata ona, hoba koduwa e kgolo e se e bawetse hodimo ka lebaka la botlokotsebe bo jeleng setsi ka hare ho metse setoropong e kenyeletsang Botshabelo, Thaba Nchu le metsana e mabapi. Moruo wa mmasepalata ona o itshetleile haholo ho tsa temo le ho ruwa ha diphofolo. Boholo ba batho ka hare ho mmasepaleta ona ba iphedisa ka ho rekisa diphofolo haholoholo baahi ba Botshabelo le Thaba Nchu. Boholo ba diphofolo tse ruilweng ke dikgomo, dinku, dikolobe, dipodi, dipere le dikghoho. Botshabelo barui ba na ba diphofolo ba beile diphofolo tsa bona ka ntle ho motse mo ho tsebahalang ka hore ke ka motebong, lefatshe leo mmasepalata o ba beileng ho lona ho tloha ka selemo sa 2002, ha ele ka motseng wa Thaba Nchu teng bantse ba sebedisa mobu wa bona eo ba o neilweng ke mmuso, mobu o sebediswang Thaba Nchu o ka tlasa tsamaiso ya Trust e laolwang ke ntlo ya Marena a Barolong.

Monghadi Papi Diba eo e leng ntate wa bana ba bashanyana ba bararo o hlalositse ka hore taba ena ya boshodu ba diphofolo ke phepetso ekgolo ho bona hobane selomong se fetileng sa 2022 o utsweditswe dikgomo tse tharo(3) le maname a mabedi (2), ore taba e momakatsang haholo ke hore dikgomo tsena tsa haye di utswiwa modisana a ntse a le teng. Diba ore hase ena fela ka hare ho motse wa Thaba Nchu eleng lehlasipa la boshodu bona ba diphofolo. “E sale lapeng re phela ka ho rua diphofolo ha batswadi baka bantse ba phela, lenna ka ntshetsa taba ena pele. Se nkutlwisang bohloko haholo ke hore mashodu ana ha ba etsa ketso ena empe ba bolaya bokamoso ba bana ba rona hoba ka ho rekisa diphofolo ke kgonne ho kenya mora waka unibesithi” ke mantswe a Diba ao. Mora wa Papi Diba eleng Ntando o boletse hore taba ena ke mmomori hoba boholo ba batho ba lahlehelwang ke diphofolo ka hare ho motse wa Thaba Nchu badisana ba bona tswa ka hare ho Naha ya Lesotho.

Lehlasipa le leng la ho utswetswa ke Mme Anna Tsatsane eo e leng moaahi wa Botshabelo, Tsatsane o re mashodu ana haba na kutlwelo bohloko hoba haba fihla lesakeng la hao ba lefiela kaofela. Mosadi enwa eo eleng setho sa komiti ya motebong wa “leratong” o re jwaloka ha e le mosadi ya sa sebetseng eo a itshetleileng haholo ka ho rua diphofolo taba ena e tlameile hore e emelwe ka maoto ho sabeng jwalo batlile ho inkela molao matsohong hoba ba bang ba mashodu ana a diphofolo ba sebetsa mmoho le mapolesa. Tsatsane o buile ka tsela e latelang “Ke kopa ho setjhaba sa rona hore se ke sa ikamahanya le mashodu ana ka ho reka diphofolo tse senang mangolo,setjhaba sa rona le borakgwebo re a ipeletsa ho lona hore le seke la nontsha maraka ona wa mashodu ka ho reka diphofolo tse utswitsweng”
Monghadi Tankiso Phindela eo e leng setho sa komiti ya Botshabelo Livestock Committee o re taba ena ya boshodu e ba jesetsa kgwebeleng, o ile a fana ka dipalopalo tse latelang.

Taba ena ya boshodu ba diphofolo e ntse e tswelapele, sethaba sa Rantsho ha re emeng ka maoto ho thibela botlokotsebe bona.

The Southern African Rural Women’s Assembly is calling for a speedy and independent investigation to bring to justice to all the cowards complicit in the murder of human rights lawyer and activist, Thulani Maseko. Maseko was assassinated on Sunday 22 January 2023 at his home in Swaziland, in front of his wife and children. Maseko’s family and the people of Swaziland have been robbed of a man of great courage, integrity and compassion who was selflessly fighting for democratic reform.

The Rural Women’s Assembly is calling on the SADC and African Union to oversee the investigation into Maseko’s murder and hold Swaziland authorities to account for the ongoing political unrest, violence and murder of pro-democracy activists.
Maseko’s assassination is a shameful stain in the struggle for democracy and freedom in the Southern African region. He selflessly sacrificed his life to defend the universal principles of freedom, justice, rule of law and human rights. His murder forms part of a pattern of brutal violence in Swaziland against activists which escalated since the 2021 pro-democracy protests.

The Rural Women’s Assembly is standing in solidarity with pro-democracy and human rights defenders who are calling for:

• An independent and neutral body to swiftly investigate Maseko’s murder;
• Open dialogue to uproot the causes of political killings in Swaziland;
• Targeted sanctions against individuals of the Swaziland State and isolation of the State until it respects the human rights of its people;
• Any mercenaries currently in Swaziland to immediately leave the country;
• An end to all violent rhetoric targeting pro-democracy activists and human rights defenders;
• Support for the Maseko family and all Swazis currently faced with trauma as a result of the political unrest.