Mweni Valley, Drakensberg

For hiking purposes, the area stretches from the Royal Natal National Park in the North-East to the Cathedral Peak area in the South-West – it is a vast range commencing on the Southern edge of the Amphitheatre and Devil’s tooth, going around the Valleys from which the Mnweni river spring, across the jutting escarpment which is the source of the Orange (Senqu) River all the way to the Northern side of the jaw-dropping Bell and Cathedral Peak Ridges. Officially, the Area known as “Mnweni” is managed by the amaNgwane Tribal Authority and covers the Region between Mount Amery and the Ntonjelana Ridge. This rugged Mountainous Area is not part of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg World Heritage Site. It belongs instead to the Amangwane people. (AmaNgwane is a Nguni-speaking tribe Resident in a Reserve under the Mont-aux-Sources in Bergville District, Natal. Numbering about 30 000 people. They form one of the largest tribes in the Province. )

There are camping facilities and rudimentary rondavels at the Mnweni Cultural Centre, but no shopping or meals – one has to be entirely self-sufficient in that regard. But the area is not only for hikers. Rivers offer swimming, horse riding can be arranged, there are mountain bike trails, homestead visits to the local Amangwane people includes traditional meals and dancing, and a local Amafa rock art custodian can guide those interested in rock art sites in the Area.

Geolocation
-28° 49' 55.2", 29° 6' 32.4"

Speaking for ourselves: FOSATU Worker News by Victor Gwande and Nicole Ulrich

This paper will provide an overview of FOSATU Worker News, including the editorial policy, content and circulation. We are especially interested in examining ideas of freedom (including notions of democracy and socialism) as well the kind of worker identity, culture and history the paper promoted.

Victor Gwande and Nicole Ulrich

Language

Labia Theatre, Cape Town

The Labia Theatre is 65 years and older, originally an Italian Embassy ballroom. It was first opened by Princess Labia in May 1949, as a theatre for the staging of live performances. For the past 4 decades it has been operating as a cinema on the alternative circuit appealing mainly to the more discerning viewer, (who enjoys its quality product and the charm of its old-World ambience.) The Labia was able to convert to digital projection and boasts superior picture and sound quality while retaining its unique charm. In addition to the conversion to digital projection. The Labia consists of four screens, a 176 seater, a 67 seater, an intimate 66 seater and the recent addition of the MNET Screen. The Labia has slowly been upgrading the facilities! Situated at 68 Orange Street in the Gardens, Cape Town, lies the Labia Theatre, the oldest independent art-repertory cinema in the country. The Labia is run by Ann and Ludi Kraus, Michael Berkel and Rose Nhlapo.

Geolocation
-33° 55' 47.9097", 18° 24' 44.3142"

Mary Malete

Mary Malete was the president of the Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) and the first president of the South African Confederation of Trade Unions (SACOTU). She served on various boards, including the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), LAMOSA (Land Access Movement of South Africa) and the Job Creation Trust.

1973 Durban Strikes Conference , 26-28 January 2023 - Celebrating 50 Years

January 8, 2023,  will mark the 50th anniversary of the 1973 Durban Strikes and the emergence of a new wave of independent non-racial trade unions. This was followed by the formation, in 1979, of the Federation of South African Trade Unions (FOSATU) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in 1985.

South African History Online (SAHO) is marking this anniversary by:

Bheki Cele

Life and Early Career

Bhekokwakhe (Bheki) Hamilton Cele was born on 22 April 1952 to Albertina Mtshali and Gillford Cele at uMuzumbe Mission Hospital near Port Shepstone in Natal (now known as KwaZulu-Natal)[1]. When he was only nine months old his mother passed away, leaving him in the care of his father.

1973 Durban Strikes

1973 Durban Strikes

On 9 January 1973, workers at the Coronation Brick and Tile factory, outside Durban, came out on strike. Immediately thereafter, workers from small packaging, transport and ship repairs companies also came out on strike. By the end of March 1973, close on 100,000 mainly African workers, approximately half of the entire African workers employed in Durban, had come out on strike. South Africa’s Apartheid Government and its White capitalist allies were shaken by, presumably, what looked like a spontaneous strike, which had its beginnings in the complex mix of low wages, the humiliation of pass laws, the hardship of migrant labour, forced removals and the denial of the right to organise, the denial of basic human rights and racism that was the bedrock of Apartheid legislation. Through songs and marches, Durban workers made their demands heard - the first time since the political “stay at home” of the 1950s – and to exercise the power of factory based mass action.

The strikes signalled the beginning of a turning point in the long struggle of Black, Coloured and Indian workers to build non racial trade unions and to open up the possibility of mass struggle against the Apartheid regime. The Durban strikes marked the first stage of mass action that contributed to the spirit of rebellion in the country. The strike signalled the growth of militant non racial trade unionism; the evolution of an alliance between workers, the broad united front of progressive organisations and the banned underground liberation organisations. Above all, the strike signalled the central role of working class organisations in shaping the ideology, strategy and tactics of the struggle against Apartheid and racial capitalism, which culminated in the fall of the Apartheid regime in the 1990s.

During this period three distinct political traditions appeared in labour movement with different perspectives on broader political issues. The first tradition was from shop floor unions. They developed a cautious policy towards political involvement. The second was a national democratic tradition which argued that labour had an obligation to address socio-economic issues as workers struggles in factories and townships were indivisible and majority of the unions in this category were affiliated with political organisations. The third tradition developed from Black Consciousness and Africanist movements. This category demanded black leadership within the unions.  


Siyathemba, Local Municipality

Siyathemba Municipality incorporates the previous municipal areas of Prieska, Marydale and Niekerkshoop. Located in Siyathemba Municipality is the The Koppie Nature Reserve. The Historic old British stone fort, situated on Prieska Koppie, in the Prieska Koppie Nature Reserve, being a portion of the remainder of Erf 1, Prieska is situated in the Municipality.

Geolocation
-29° 27' 32.4", 22° 33' 54"