Patrice Kindl in his writing of ‘Keeping the Castle’ best describes a bolt from the blue. I have sometimes read of an unexpected event described in this way, and now I know exactly what he meant by the phrase.
“A blue sky, a sunny, mild day the usual list of worries and troubles run through one’s mind, but nothing that cannot be overcome, Nothing that will not reach a satisfactory conclusion eventually, If not today, why then, tomorrow, an ordinary day, in fact. And then lightning strikes from out of that innocent blue sky and all that remains is the smoking ruins of one’s every hope and every dream.”
The ruins of a pandemic now segregate the poor from their right to education. The hope of families who not only hope for a graduate from their household but to the dream of an additional warrior who will help in fighting poverty and socio-economic marginalisation not only for the family as a unit but for the community at large.
The test of character for revolutionary activism is found in the harshest terrains. Activism teaches us to speak truth to power; our revolutionary morality must never stumble even when faced with immeasurable opposition. We must raise our voices even when we quiver and our own voices shake, we must speak up for those who do not have the voice to speak for themselves, it is our responsibility as activists, the revolutionary path we have been called to in changing this world for the better.
April marks 27 years since the passing of the passionate youth educator, President-General Oliver Reginald Tambo. It is the month in which millions of South Africans waited for after enduring decades of oppression from the gruesome Apartheid regime. Unforgiving to the majority massive acts of injustice happened to people of colour in the country. It was in decades before that some of the greatest injustices happened. This included legislation to marginalize the majority of South African citizens for the gain of the minority. Education is the anchor tool of segregation for equitable development.
Marked with such trying times, South Africa birthed some of its fearless activists, waging just causes and being the mouthpiece of the most vulnerable in society and standing firm to attain justice for all that live the country. Their activism was in actual fact one met with legislative resistance through banning of political parties and escalated to even to violence. People’s lives were at stake, some killed, some tortured and some paid the ultimate price with their lives. It is at this point we reflect heavily on what we stand for as activists, a selfless, empathetic, and just form of activism that spearheads values that are humane.
Central to the publication this month is activism and intellectual contribution to build the movement during the trying times of COVID-19 and post the time frame. We sum up this month’s discussion with the following topics;
• The new world order post-COVID-19 – Buyile Matiwane, Qamani Sinefu & Zipho Tshangana
• The tyranny of structurelessness: the power relations within radical feminist collective in the SA context – Thabile Dlamini
• Built-in obsolescence plan, the fourth industrial revolution beast to feed tech companies greed. – Phathutshedzo Nthulane
It is our hope that these articles will continue to spark debates amongst SASCO activists across the country. The current period which the country finds itself in demands sharp activists who will contribute meaningfully in how society navigates the new normal.
“I speak not for myself but for those without voice… those who have fought for their rights… their right to live in peace, their right to be treated with dignity, their right to equality of opportunity, their right to be educated”.- Malala Yousafzai
[Views published here are those of the writer, not of the organization unless indicated otherwise]
Luvuyo Kenneth Barnes
Editorial Member – Moithuti
SASCO – Media & Communications Liaison