Staff members from Creative Consulting & Development Works took part in today’s protest at Parliament, advocating against the passing of the so-called ‘Secrecy Bill.’
Check out some photos from the day’s event:
Book Launch:’When a State Turns Against its Citizens’ reflects back violence in Zimbabwe
April 8, 2011
When a State Turns Against its Citizens: Institutionalised Violence and Political Culture, a book by Lloyd Sachikonye, made its appearance on the shelves during a launch at Lobby Books, on Thursday 31 March 2011.
Clever Bere, the MC of the event, addressed the audience. He provided an educational background of the author and other discussants that were present at the launch. He said the timing of the book’s arrival was good, as Zimbabweans are still dealing with matters of runaway violence in their country.
Lloyd Sachikonye opened his statement by depicting Zimbabwe as a “country of contradictions.” He said it is a country with a high magnitude of well educated, skilled professionals, given the impression of its great potential. That was over the course of the past 20 years, and now, the country sees a bleaker future due to the harsh realities of political violence and ethical crisis.
“Roots of violence go a long way,” he said in his speech, highlighting beatings and violent acts against those who fought for freedom.
“People were shot in the townships. Stones, sticks and petrol bombs were thrown at those who were involved in the struggle,” he said.
Consequences of political violence includes fear and stress and now Zimbabwean society is under trauma. Horst Kleinschmidt of the Amani Trust took a stand, saying that this history takes us back to 1960. “History matters, we need to study our history if we are to deal with type of society we aspired to; not to fear those elements of the past year.”
There is hope among Zimbabweans to resolve struggle in non-violent way. Horst pointed to high rates of violence in 27 June 2008, where hospitals had to accommodate 200 people a day with cracked arms, legs and small bones. Though it was a deafening sight, people joined together as a community, offering basic services and encourage people to vote to protect democracy.
It was a powerful event as the author and several audience members shared stories of the injustice in Zimbabwe. As our neighbouring country, we must continue to look for ways to advocate on their behalf and put pressure on their government to support innocent civilians.
Photo by Jacana Media
South Africa Advocates for the People of Libya
February 25, 2011
The world cannot ignore the high number of deaths and crisis in Libya as reports come through of more than 2000 people having died in Benghazi alone. The voice of the people of Libya must be heard as the world watches the Gadaffi regime make a last desperate stand to remain in power.
Libyans have shown their courage and commitment in their desire for better living conditions and a change from autocracy to democracy. First Tunisia , then Egypt , now Libya.
As neighbours on this African continent we all need to show our support to Libyans in their drive for democracy. Civicus has called an emergency press conference today at the Grade Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa for activists to demand African governments take action on Libya.
“Archbishop Desmond Tutu joins African civil society in call for African Governments to urgently treat the situation in Libya as a threat to international peace and security.”
Speakers include:
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Noel Kututwa, Foreign Policy, Amnesty International
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Patrick Mpedzisi, Executive Director, African Democracy Forum
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Ingrid Srinath, Secretary General, CIVICUS
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Rajesh Latchman, Global Call to Action against Poverty
In support of this call Creative Consulting & Development Works wants to help spread the word by posting this statement below:
“Civil Society: African Governments must protect the People of Libya
Johannesburg, 24 February 2011.
“We, civil society organisations from all over Africa, urge our governments to protect the people of Libya against whom crimes against humanity are being committed by a vicious regime.
As news reports and testimonies of people caught up in the events in Libya indicate, the violent unprecedented brutal crackdown against protestors is continuing. Libya’s ‘supreme leader’ Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has urged his supporters to come out on the streets to attack the “rats” and “cockroaches” opposing his iron grip on power.
Indications from his public address of 22 February show that he is in no mood to relent to the legitimate demands of the pro-democracy protestors. Instead, he has threatened to purge opponents “house by house” and “inch by inch” and do whatever it takes to hold on to his iron grip on power. The situation in Libya is fast spiralling into an international and continent-wide crisis.
Article 3 of the Constitutive Act of the African Union (AU) lists the promotion of peace, security and stability on the continent as one of its key objectives. Despite this, the AU and African governments have been slow to react. Issuing statements urging the violence to stop will not deter the Libyan regime, which has practised its brutal methods for over 40 years.
The UN Security Council has issued a unanimous statement condemning the violence but has failed to take any concrete action to restore peace and security to the people of Libya. The three African countries that sit on the UN Security Council – South Africa, Nigeria and Gabon – as representatives of the continent have a special responsibility to ensure that the people of Libya are protected from grave human rights violations constituting crimes against humanity.
It is vital that all African governments immediately recognise that this is an extraordinary situation which is fast becoming a threat to peace and security in Africa and internationally that must be recognised and acted upon resolutely by the UN and the AU.”
photos: Reuters and AP
Are Zuma’s supporters turning against him?
September 3, 2010
Jacob Zuma seems to be losing favour. Photo: Globovision via Flickr
It was not so long ago that ANC Youth League president Julius Malema said he would “Kill for Zuma”, but now it seems that President Jacob Zuma has fallen out of favour with the ANCYL and leaders within his own party. Could we soon see a new candidate stepping up to become president of the ANC? Or will there be a split in the ruling party – reminiscent of the COPE formation?
The Mail&Guardian wrote today that tensions are brewing within the party and the tripartite alliance, which will probably reach boiling point at the ANC National General Council (NGC)that kicks off on 20 September. News24 earlier reported that Zuma will not be attending the United Nations general assembly on the 23rd of September, as he is prioritising the ANC NGC. The presidential spokesperson denied that this was because of rumours relating to a planned revolt in the ANC.
Now the M&G is saying “many party leaders have their eye on higher office or want to punish Zuma for not rewarding them sufficiently for their support in the run-up to the ANC’s 2007 Polokwane conference”. They name Siphiwe Nyanda, the communications minister, Fikile Mbalula, the deputy police minister, and Malema.
Who will next feature on election posters for the ANC? Photo: Attawayjl via Flickr
The newspaper also reports that a group of ANC members including Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale and Lindiwe Sisulu are said to be banding together with Zwelinzima Vavi, Cosatu‘s general secretary, and ANCYL members (including Malema) to make sure that Zuma does not serve another term as president.
Apparently these people are: “Discussing a return to such values as a rejection of corruption and a clear division between party and state”. This sounds much the same to what the members of COPE were saying when they split off from the ANC.
It has repeatedly been said by analysts that it would be good for the country’s democracy if the ANC had a strong party to oppose it. The possibility of perhaps losing an election would keep the ruling party on its toes and ensure better service delivery to the people of this country. COPE has failed to provide this opposition, not gathering enough votes in the national election and being plagued by infighting.
Is there perhaps hope in a new party? Will people have faith in a faction that includes Malema, seeing as this controversial figure’s popularity is plummeting?
The Right to Strike vs the Right to Education and Health Care
August 26, 2010
The civil servants strike has brought learning and health care to a standstill. Photo: Kool_skatkat via Flickr
South Africans are lucky to live in a country that has a Constitution which confers on its citizens many rights and freedoms. However, problems arise when you trample on someone else’s rights in the process of practising your own.
Currently the members of the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU), the Health and Other Service Personnel Trade Union of South Africa, the Public Servants Association, Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA and the South African Democratic Teacher’s Union (SADTU) are exercising their constitutional right to freedom of assembly, demonstration, picketing and petition.
These civil servants are on strike to demand a 8.6% increase with a R1 000 housing allowance. But in the process they are denying others their rights.
What about health and education?
According to the Constitution everyone has the right to basic education and further education. However, learning has come to a halt in schools across the country because teachers are striking. Exams are just around the corner, but the Gauteng Education Department has decided to postpone the preliminary matric exams until the 3rd week of September.
The Constitution also says that everyone has the right to health care. But health care practitioners are also striking and patients are being neglected. People who are sick, especially children, cannot fend for themselves. The Constitution says that everyone has the right to life and if the lives of these patients are put in danger because of the strike, their rights are being severely compromised.
Volunteers are helping out in schools and hospitals around the country, improving the plight of learners and patients slightly. But a speedy resolution will have to be found for this strike to avoid more rights being trampled on.
What do you think about the ongoing strike? How can it be resolved? Leave a comment below.
