Give Sam Nzima The Credit He Deserves

It was humbling to see President Jacob Zuma mentioning and acknowledging the presence of Sam Nzima in Parliament during his State of the Nation Address earlier in February this year. While I commend this wonderful gesture, let me point out that I believe Nzima is not being given all the credit that is rightfully his. On that note, I believe that it is high time that we, the people of Bushbuckridge and Mpumalanga as a whole, push for the recognition of our hero, Nzima, the man who took the 16 June 1976 photo of the dying Hector Pieterson. Although that photograph received a round of applause for exposing the brutality of the apartheid police and shocked the entire world, it also saw an abrupt end to the career of the man behind the lens.

What many people do not know is that Nzima had to retire his camera due to the implications that came with the publishing of the most famous photo in the history of our Struggle. This man remains an unsung hero despite having captured the photo that played a huge role in turning around the political misfortunes of this beautiful country.

Nzima snapped an image that helped in shaping the political landscape of the country and unconsciously contributed to the fall of the apartheid regime. However, this hero is not receiving all the honour that is due to him. The only time he ever gets mentioned is when he is referred to as “the man who captured the June 16 photo” and nothing more.

It is self-evident that we may not have known about Hector Pieterson had it not been for Nzima. There would not be Hector Pieterson Memorial in Soweto today if it was not for this brave man who risked it all to capture what turned out to be the most important image of the Soweto Uprising.

The doors of freedom that were opened due to that picture, and the attention and sympathy that South Africa received from the international community because of that photo, definitely had an impact on the freedom that we are enjoying today.

However, it is so sad that Nzima is not even involved in the Hector Pieterson Memorial despite being the indirect influence behind the photo that ensured the establishment of this monument. It is so touching that this man’s great deeds are going unnoticed and no one is doing anything about it. It hurts so good to realise that not even a single author has volunteered to pen a biography about this man’s life. Why? I don’t know. I really don't know.

Perhaps Nzima is not visible enough. But the man really deserves recognition. He is our hero and that should not be taken away from him. There should at least be a place, road, building, street or an off-ramp somewhere in the country named after this man in honour of his contribution to society.

It goes without saying that Nzima is a hero and all heroes should be recognised for their positive contribution regardless of their geographical setting, ethnicity, race, gender or any form of classification. In the meantime, I just have to keep my fingers crossed and hope that something be done.

Rural School Intensifies Fight Against HIV/AIDS

A school in the rural area of Gottenburg in Bushbuckridge is taking a stand against HIV/AIDS. On Friday, 3 June 2016, Manyeleti Primary School observed a Candlelight Memorial Day to remember those who lost their lives to HIV/AIDS and also to honour and show love to those who are living with the virus. The event took place at the school premises during the morning assembly session.

“Although we were supposed to have held this event last week, we want to sensitise all learners about this deadly disease today. We want them to grow up knowing that HIV/AIDS is real, but it is not the end of the world to be living with it. Our main objective is also to remove the stigma that comes with this disease. We want to see an end to discrimination against HIV-positive people,” said Constance Mkhabela, the school principal.

The event saw all learners wearing red ribbons to show solidarity to the day. A committee of learners that is responsible for this subject also raised its voice through the presentation of banners with the red-ribbon image.

“We observe this day to create awareness and also teach learners that although HIV/AIDS is a deadly disease, we should continue to embrace those who are living with it. After the session, the children had learned that they could share books, pens and food with those living with the disease without having to worry about anything unless there is blood involved,” said Johannes Khoza, a teacher at the school.

The school says there are learners who have been identified as those who need help because they have lost their parents to HIV/AIDS. These learners are provided with school uniforms from different donors and also food to ensure that their schooling is never disturbed.

“We want to instil hope because we have learners who have since became orphans due to HIV/AIDS. As educators, our role is to make them feel welcome and valuable. They will grow up knowing that there is a deadly disease that they need to protect themselves from. The younger they are, the quicker they learn and that is why we opt to teach them now,” said Sainah Mokone, a teacher at the school.
The school says they want to stretch the campaign to communities so that other people, particularly parents, can come out about this disease.

“We want to change lives. Working together we can win this battle. It is in our hands,” concluded Victoria Sibuyi, an admin clerk at the school.

The event ended with a prayer and a pledge by the learners that they will not discriminate against those living with the virus.

I Am A Bushbuckridgian

I am a Bushbuckridgian

 (Inspired by President Thabo Mbeki’s I Am An African)

I owe my being to the hills and the valleys of Makerepeni, the small mountains of Acornhoek, the curvaceous roads of Mambhumbhu, the beautiful shades of Cottondale and the rivers of Hlalakahle, the trees of Ka-Shorty, the flowers of Clara, the small dams of Seville and the ever-changing seasons that define the face of our Bushbuckridge.

My body has frozen in our abandoned farms in Xidakeni and those in Shatale and Casteel. The scary cracks of the bridge between Gottenburg and Tlhavekisa have been the cause of my misery, and subsequently remind me of the people of Mariti.

The smell of nature in our communities has been as pleasant to us as the sight of the citizens of the veld in Ngala, Tintswalo and Timbavati game reserves.

The dramatic shapes of Utha, the warm weather of Dixie, the soil-coloured waters of N’wandlamhari river, the bumpy roads of Welverdiend and the sands of Khokhovela river, have all been panels of the set that ensure a smile on our friendly faces.

At times, and in fear, I have wondered whether I should concede equal citizenship of our region to the leopard in Vuyatela, the lion in Djuma, the elephant in Skukuza, the hyena in Singita, the black mamba in Londolozi and the locust in White City.

My knowledge is formed by the victories that are the jewels in Hluvukani, the victories that ensured the construction of many schools and a beautiful hotel where we visit as a recreational facility.

I am the grandchild who lays fresh flowers in Swikwengweni in Ludlow on my way to church, to show my appreciation of life.

I am inspired by the chief’s kraal in Ka-Madizi in Islington, where our title deeds office is located and our residential permits are obtained.

I am the distant child of the great Buyisonto and Thulamahashe, who unfailingly made it possible for our region to thrive to greater socio-economic heights.

I am a descendant of the warrior men and women who were displaced from Andover, Mala Mala, Manyeleti and many other areas that have since been turned into nature conservation havens, where we visit to witness the beauty of nature.
I hold with high regard the people of Mkhuhlu and Rolle, the gate in Mankozola, the bridge swimming under a river in ka-Kumani, the water in Phororweni and the scary bush in Marhapyani, that serve as perfect examples of regional diversity.

With all these experiences and many others that my ink could not paint, no one dares challenge me when I say, I am Malphia Honwane and I am a Bushbuckridgian.

The Incredible Power Of Community Development

I have an inspiring story to share with South Africa and the rest of the world. On Friday, 11 March 2016, I partnered with my two friends: Chesley Mnisi of Lunghisani Trading and Jurie Moolman of Djuma Private Game Reserve to host an interschool debate competition in Manyeleti Circuit in Bushbuckridge. The competition took place a Dayimani High School in Gottenburg and involved nine high schools that are based in rural communities, where extracurricular activities are not a usual arrangement.

What inspired the move was that I sat down and thought of how best I can assist the learners to improve their communication and presentation skills, and I resolved that a debate competition was a way to go. It worked very well because at the end of the day, we had 27 learners who participated and expressed themselves freely. The biggest challenge that rural school learners are confronted with at tertiary institutions is their inability to confidently give a presentation in front of the masses, and this cripples their academic performance.

The event was also graced by local musicians such as Themba Nyathi, DJ Kukza and Tizzman who came to entertain the learners at no cost. Although the event did not have monetary prizes, all learners who made it to the top 10 will have the luxury to visit Djuma Private Game Reserve and be part of an educational game drive, free of charge.

What made the day to be more eventful was that other learners who could not be part of the debate were given a platform to showcase their skills such as poetry and music. This may look like a small gesture, but it is small things like these that go a long way in motivating learners to believe in themselves despite their challenging backgrounds.

We need more people to stand up and champion the cause of community development. I would like to urge other community members, particularly businessmen, to invest in our children and help build a better society. It may be too difficult to recognise the value of a drop in the ocean, but the ocean would not be the same without that drop. Let us all be the change that we want to see in our communties.