Oral History Journal of South Africa

The Origin of the Wentzel family of the Strand Muslim Community

Ebrahim Rhoda — 2019-06-13

No abstract

Contribution of Prof. H. W. E. Ntsan'wisi in the Development of the Mhala Area

Harold Lekhuleni — 2019-10-11

This article is based on the presentation that the author made at a conference that was organised by the Oral History Association of South Africa (OHASA) and that was held in Mthatha, Eastern Cape on October 12, 2017. The theme of the conference was “Oliver Reginald Tambo in Memoriam: Reminiscing on a Centenary of Struggle.”

O. R. Tambo in the Period of the ANC’s Illegality

Patrick Shylock Mangashe — 2019-10-11

Oliver Reginald Tambo’s life is best known by his association with the African National Congress (ANC) and the struggle for liberation, and as having been the foremost leader of the ANC for most of the period of its illegality. Most accounts, however, do not mention O. R. Tambo’s religious beliefs, and in this they pass off an opportunity to highlight what could have been the source of his individual strength, his spirituality. It is this spirituality that this article seeks to highlight and whose depth it seeks to explore. It aims to show that Tambo’s personal religious beliefs were infused with his political outlook and concludes that this composite belief system provided the strength he exuded throughout his service to the struggle for liberation in South Africa. The article looks at how he related to and influenced those he came into contact with, both inside his organisation, the ANC, its military wing Umkhonto We Sizwe (MK), the broader alliance, and those who were outside his close political realm. It looks at how he exercised his leadership qualities, born of his beliefs, under the pressures thrown up by the struggle, and finally how he grasped the moment at the point of the conclusion of that phase of the struggle. This article is informed by a number of sources, including books written on the subject by scholars, those who shared space with O. R. Tambo, some of his speeches, interviews, and occasionally the author’s own experience as part of the MK contingent from the late 1970s.

Understanding the Traditional and Contemporary Purpose of the Njelele Rainmaking Shrine through the Oral Testimonies of Local People in Matobo

Sindiso Bhebhe — 2019-10-11

The Njelele shrine is located in the Matobo Hills, an area that has been declared a world heritage site. The site of the Njelele shrine is of paramount spiritual significance in Zimbabwe, and it is visited annually between August and September for ritual purposes just before the rain season begins. The rituals are not limited to rainmaking but also relate to, for example, asking for forgiveness after society’s wrongdoings and asking for cures for diseases. During the liberation struggle in Zimbabwe, this shrine was consulted by politicians and liberation fighters, and, in contemporary times, war veterans still consult the Ngwali oracle. It is believed that many years ago a voice came from the Njelele rocks but that it has since disappeared because of the disrespect people have shown to the area. This article conveys the views of the local community about the traditional and contemporary purposes of the Njelele national shrine, and in so doing aims to provide some insight into these people’s views. It also looks at the diverse values that different interest groups attach to the site. The researcher mainly used oral testimonies as sources of information but also consulted some published sources.

Freedom Charter, Women's Charter, Memories, and (Un)freedoms

Kogielam Keerthi Archary — 2019-10-11

More than 60 years ago, South African women declared their aim of striving for the removal of all laws, regulations, conventions and customs that discriminated against women and that deprived them in any way of their inherent right to the advantages, responsibilities and opportunities that society offered to any one section of the population. Women do not form a society separate from men. There is only one society, and it is made up of both women and men. Against this backdrop, after 60 years, and with a Women’s Charter and Freedom Charter in place, there are many issues that still need to be addressed, highlighted and referred to. On the agenda is the investigation of unresolved women’s issues so as to pave the way for emancipation from the (un)freedoms that still prevail. On August 9, 1956, more than 20 000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the extension of women’s pass laws. This march, organised by the Federation of South African Women, has been recorded as one of the largest demonstrations staged in this country’s history. Women have played an important role in building a better South Africa. They should be protected against abuse, violence and discrimination, and they must be valued and respected in order to uphold the vision of building a non-racist, non-sexist and prosperous South Africa. Against this background, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Women’s Charter and 25 years of freedom indicates that change should have taken place over the last six decades. However, the liberation, education and management of South African women within the paradigm of political, legal, economic and social challenges need to be investigated and documented.

Pension Funds in South Africa: Leadership Challenges

Mmokeng Rodney Makina — 2019-10-11

Service delivery in South Africa is a topical issue. What comes to mind immediately is the government’s ability (or inability) to provide basic services, such as running water, electricity, flushing toilets and tarred roads, to citizens. This line of thinking can be squarely attributed to the political history of South Africa. The country’s struggle for liberation was not limited to political freedom; the struggle was for economic freedom as well. Historically, the exclusion of Africans from mainstream economic opportunities also extended to pension benefits paid out upon retirement from active employment. Before 1994, only white beneficiaries had representation on boards of pension funds, but thereafter, Africans enjoyed full representation in pension funds in terms of leadership roles. However, many pension funds have recently been rocked by scandals resulting from poor leadership. We are reminded of the prophecy of O. R. Tambo that South Africa will experience a leadership crisis after achieving liberation. The aim of this article is to focus attention on the pension funds industry, which appears to suffer from a paucity of leadership. In the context of this article, pension funds are focused on as an aspect of service delivery as it can be regarded as a way of eradicating poverty among the historically disadvantaged. The author argues that if pension funds are administered properly, they have the potential to contribute to the eradication of poverty among historically disadvantaged communities. This argument is elucidated by the information provided by widows who are beneficiaries of pension funds in the Greater Sekhukhune District municipal area and by retired pension fund members with whom interviews were conducted. A focus-group discussion was also held with trustees employed in the Greater Sekhukhune District Municipality.