#endoutsourcing

The task of managing contradictions is hefty. It is definitely not for the faint-hearted.

In less than a week, Unisa is going to insource 910 of the 1413 vulnerable black workers that we have been fighting for since last December. The remaining 500+ is going to be cheaply retrenched. I cannot begin to explain the heaviness of the heart that engulfs me whenever I think about this. Today alone, I had to put out fires, trying to make sense of this madness to different groups of workers. Usually, I speak freely and without flicking my tongue but today I was completely dumbstruck. The usual Mac Maharaj that I am ran away at the most crucial points when one had to respond to some tough khweshins. I mean, how do you explain to a breadwinner that he/she is about to lose his/her only source of income in less than a week. The pitch was flat and green, even Shane Warne was not going to get any turn on it.

The major contradiction here is that, it seems like the pain and the heaviness that I am feeling is not shared by some of our closest comrades from the leading clique. Perhaps I am Mr Dramatic, mhlambe vele I am being Mr Lily, but I’m gutted that some comrades seem to have made peace with this. Of course there must and there will be casualties in every revolution, but must it be to this degree? I do not look forward to the cut-off date of December 1st 2016. As my Swazi friends would say; “Kosiphuka ti dzindzi, kudzabuke mdzidzi ngalelolanga”.

Yimbi Lendawo! 

The creative arts students of UCT are building a safe space for creative expression during and beyond #feesmustfall called Umhlangano (gathering).

The arts and drama students of the UCT campus currently known as Hiddingh have, since Friday 16th September 2016, shutdown the campus. This is part of a university and nationwide movement to address the need for free decolonised education and an end to financial exclusions. We stand in support of all students suspended, expelled and interdicted nationwide ♯BringBackOurCadres ♯ShackvilleTRC. We have crafted a document outlining our experiences specific to our grievances, demands and solutions in peaceful and creative ways. We arrived on Friday 23 September 2016 to continue this important work, only to find that our discussion space – a space which had been used for sharing, expressing and exposing ourselves – had been locked and chained; preventing us from accessing it. We were then forced to work outside under constant surveillance by undercover private security (white men who refuse to identify themselves) who have been threatening and intimidating some members of our group. We have begun a peaceful transformation which includes art interventions, talks and performances which activate the space in a way that we find more considerate of our needs. This is a way of shifting our campus away from one that continues to be a violent, oppressive and suppressive space for poor, black, womxn, queer, trans and disabled bodies.

This is not a violent or a violating space. It is an inclusive one which we are activating through intervention. We ask that all that join our space respect that.

#bringatent if you want to come live with us.

If you want to contribute message us, and if you want to make performances, interventions, collaborations just come through. Email us at [email protected]