Linked with London Project for a Participatory Society LPPS, with Life After Colonialism, with Woes of privatisation in South Africa, with ‘War of Position’, Anti-Capitalist Attrition as a Revolutionary Strategy for Non-Revolutionary Times, and with Articles for Indigenous Peoples on our blogs.
Mandisi Majavu is a writer and activist based in South Africa. His writing has appeared in a number of South African publications. Internationally, his writing has appeared in reputable websites like Z Magazin. He is busy working on his Master Degree.
He writes: The history and the present life of the San, indigenous people of the southern Africa, is a sad story of a people who after surviving genocide at the hands of other African ethnic groups and European colonialists had to endure slavery and oppression, while in the process losing their land, language, culture, and traditional way of life. (full text).
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Mandisi Majavu – South Africa
Mandisi Majavu, a cultural critic, has written widely on African affairs. He is fascinated by post-colonial discourse, anarchism and has a penchant for psychology, particularly black psychology. He is staff member at fahamu, the network for social justice. (full text).
He writes also: The silent takeover of the continent (Africa) by South African businesses is way too advanced, make no mistakes. According to the State Of The Nation: South Africa 2003 – 2004 (7), available documents show South African businesses running the national railroad in Cameroon, the national electricity company in Tanzania, and managing the airports located in or near seven African capitals. They have controlling shares in Telecom Lesotho and are the leading providers of cellphone services in Nigeria, Uganda, Swaziland, Tanzania, Rwanda and Cameroon.South African companies are also managing power plants in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mali; building roads and bridges in Malawi and Mozambique, and a gas pipeline between offshore Mozambique and South Africa. They control banks, breweries, supermarkets and hotels throughout the continent and provide TV programming to over half of all Africa’s states … (full text).
His review of the book Remembering the Future of Radical Activism, August 22, 2007.
The whole issue of moral integrity, political responsibility and accountability and impunity has not been at the center of how people have been selected to assume positions. In fact the whole issue of the profile of people has not been at the center of the discussions at all. Might is right has been the rule. One must satisfy all those likely to continue creating problems at least to end the war and the balkanizatioin of the country. There was no conception in view of strategic positions to enhance chances of sustainable peace and reconciliation and to give to credible people with integrity and commitment. (full text).
His review of ‘No Cold Kitchen‘, a biography of Nadine Gordimer, published by STE Publishers, and written by Ronald S. Roberts.
And he writes: Steve Biko died in detention at the age of 30, leaving behind him not just a political movement but a liberating mirror for the black men and women of this country. This is evident in one of his essays, « Black consciousness and the quest for a true humanity », and in several of his statements, including his testimony in the 1976 South African Student Organisation trial in Pretoria. All of these and more are contained in « The Essential Steve Biko », published by David Philip and Mayibuye Books. (full text).
His review of Fanon’s book: The wretched of the earth, Critical psychology in the colonial context, May 22, 2007.
THE City is planning to put in place a « social funding policy » to assist non-governmental organisations financially. The new policy, according to Alex Bhiman, a deputy director for social development in the city, is in line with the City’s Johannesburg 2030 vision and strategy, which includes good governance and service delivery through partnership with NGOs. (full text).
The academy in South Africa remains largely white. The intellectual milieu in South Africa is predominantly white. Needless to say, this is due to the legacy of apartheid. If we are in agreement that this situation ought to be changed, then keep reading; if you feel that there is nothing wrong with the picture I have just painted, there is no point in continuing with this article. What is to be done to change the status quo? One attempt to address this crucial question is the option of the Native Club. However, one negative point about the Native Club is that it has political backing of the government, something that arguably can compromise the “central task of the black intellectuals”. (full text).
His publications: on ZNet Commentaries; on University of Kwazulu-Natal/CCS; on Institute for anarchist studies; on ZoomInfo.
The Big Issue, a magazine sold by destitute and homeless people on the streets of Cape Town and Johannesburg, has taken off to such an extent that the magazine is now gearing up to go nationwide … Quality writing: The Big Issue is a colourful, glossy magazine with both light and serious stories and plenty of advertising. It consists of several sections, including: news, features on topical issues, columns by reputable journalists like Ryland Fisher and Heather Dugmore and satirist Pieter-Dirk Uys, letters and a poetry section. Each edition runs a column on the “Vendor of the Month” who tells his or her story of poverty and upliftment. Readers are invited to nominate a vendor each month and the winner receives a cash prize and a gift voucher. (full text).
A – I n f o s – a multi-lingual news service by, for, and about anarchists, April 2006.
Nigeria ist Afrikas führender Ölproduzent – und es ist der sechstgrößte Rohölproduzent weltweit. Dennoch leben 70 Prozent aller 120 Millionen Einwohner Nigerias unterhalb der Armutsgrenze. Es ist ganz simpel: trotz geschätzter $600 Milliarden Öleinnahmen seit 1960 leben 70 Prozent der Nigerianer von weniger als 1 Dollar am Tag. Wer das für keinen ausreichenden Grund hält, weshalb jene 70 Prozent armen Nigerianer nach einer Art Revolution rufen, bei der auf den Straßen Köpfe rollen sollen (und zwar buchstäblich!), dem ist nicht zu helfen. (full text).
Das Jahr 1990, besser gesagt, die frühen 90ger, brachten viele bemerkenswerte Ereignisse mit sich, die bis zu einem bestimmten Punkt auch die Gegenwart erklären. Für manche war es der Beginn einer neuen Ära: das Ende des Kalten Kriegs; Nelson Mandela kam aus dem Gefängnis frei – das Signal für den Anfang vom Ende der südafrikanischen Apartheid. Der längste Krieg Afrikas – zwischen Eritrea und Äthopien – ging nach 30 Jahren der Kämpfe zu Ende. (full text).
links:
many different articles about Afrikka – Africa;
ZmagazineWorld ZSVS;
BGST Bilim ve Toplum;