Inselelo November 2012 - Diakonia Council of Churches

INSELELO NOVEMBER 2012 - PG 12Marikana: iso lokubukaezomnotho e-South AfricaIzehlakalo zosizi eMarikana ngo-Agasti zishiye kushoneabangu-44 zishaqise izwe lethu nomhlaba wonke.Lokhu kufa kwabantu okufana nezehlakalo zezinsukuzobandlululo kwenzeke kwanjani emva kwamashumi amabilisesinentando yeningi?Ukuphendula lombuzo neminye eminingi nokufundaokuthile ngalesisihlakalo, uMkhandlu wamabandla i-Diakoniaube usuhlela ingxoxo emfishane ngomhlaka 9 Okthoba.Enkulumweni yakhe u-David van Wyk we- Bench MarksFoundation uthe okwenzeke eMarikana kusenokwenzekanakwenye iziindawo ezweni ngokomnotho. LesisehlakalosaseMarikana ngokwempela yisimo esiqhubekayo.U-van Wyk uthi i-Marikana wuvuthwandaba lwemibhikishoyokunganeliswa ebiyenziwa ezindaweni eziningana kuleli,kulandela isiteleka esasingekho emthethweni nokubhikishakwemiphakathi ngo-2011.Uphinde wabalula ukungaphatheki kahle neze ngegebeelikhulu ngokungakholeki phakathi kwamaholo abasebenzaemgodini nawabaphathi kanye namabhonasi ababazekayo.Ngo-2011 igebe phakathi kosezingeni eliphansi nomphathiosesiqongweni phecelezi lalingu 390:1 (cishe liphindlekeamakhulu amane kokukodwa). Ukuze afinyelele laphoumsebenzi kungadingeka asebenze iminyaka engamakhuluamathathu namashumi amabili nanhlanu.” Kusho u-van Wyk.Obethula naye inkulumo, u-Chris Molebatsi, oyilungulomphakathi eMarikana, yena ubeke kanje, “Imbangelayalesibhicongo yisimo sempilo esingagculisi nezeabaphoqeleka ukuphila ngaphansi kwaso njengezisebenzi,nabahlali basezimayini. Uqhubeke wathi lempiloiyisikhumbuzo sobubha nempilo engamukelekile neze abantuabahlala ngaphansi kwayo beyizisebenzi zemayini. Uqhubekewathi, “ Abaningi basemikhukhwini, baminyene. Amapayipiathutha indle ayavaleka, aqhume, indle ichithekele egcekeni.Esephetha uthe, “Ngenxa yakho konke lokhu abangafundilebaningi, isimo sezenhlalakahle asigculisi, okuholelaemazingeni aphezulu okukhulelwa kwamantombazaneasemancane, ukwanda kwesandulela ngculazi, yingculazinobugebengu.”Apartheid era violencestill haunts victimsDelegates share memories in groups.It was an emotional afternoon as victims of apartheid eraviolence took a trip down memory lane and related howthey were affected by the horrors of the system.This happened during a conversation on the impact ofapartheid wars on South Africa, co-organised with theInternational Centre of Nonviolence (ICON) and the Legaciesof Apartheid Wars Project of Rhodes University, on 27October.Speaker after speaker described their experiences ingraphic terms, with many sharing that the trauma is still vividin their minds. They spoke about the arbitrary arrests,banishments, being hunted down by the security branch andtraumatic treason trials. As a consequence of this, it emergedthat there is real need for healing which should first take placeif some social ills are to be effectively addressed.Youthful delegates felt that the anger that they see in thecountry's young people has its roots in the apartheidviolence, adding that for many frustrated young SouthAfricans to get by, violence is the solution. “The infliction ofpain onto others is the only way they can release the tensionand frustration of unexpressed anger,” said LeratoRamoroka, one of the young delegates.Others felt that this anger is being handed down fromgeneration to generation. “Young people are simplydownloading the software from their elders and that softwareis programmed and does not change,” said another delegate.“The anger of the youth is understandable. What can weexpect from them when they cannot find a job, accesseducation and when they live in dehumanising conditions?”another delegate asked.Delegates also felt that a lot of work still needs to be doneto heal the wounds of the past and civil society should beleading this initiative.Omunye wezethameli ubeka umbono.Special thanksto