South Africa: September National Imbizo (SNI) on justice and sustainable development
SNI Press release

The September National Imbizo (SNI) is a historic meeting sixteen years after Democracy in South Africa. Ours leaders are fighting amongst themselves whilst the people suffer. We can no longer leave things in the hands of the politicians. It is for this reason that have we called for the SNI which is a gathering of ordinary South Africans who want to see change in the lives of our people.

The post-1994 government has not shown the sort of commitment required to turn the legacy of colonialism and apartheid around. The September National Imbizo is an opportunity for ordinary citizens to take stock of what has happened in the past decade and a half and deliberate on what must be done by all South Africans who want justice and sustainable development for the majority.

All areas of Black life are engulfed in major crises; from healthcare, education, poverty, housing, racism, sexism and landlessness just to mention a few. On the other hand, a few have benefited from the fruits of democracy which have created new major inequalities and sustained apartheid created divisions. Our country, contrary to the official mantra and the guarantees in the constitution, remains primarily an unequal society. These inequalities are both raced and gendered. It is true that it is Black men and women who suffer the most from the post-1994 social and economic injustices. The conference is the first of many steps towards giving our country and Black people another possibility and new hope!

The current social questions are deeply shaped by our terrible past. We believe that if only our government could demonstrate the same amount of dedication as displayed during the hosting of the soccer World Cup, then half of the majority’s problems would be solved. The excuse of there being a lack of capacity increasingly doesn’t hold water. We know for a fact that the lack of service delivery in Black areas is the result of our government prioritising the interests of the White minority. What we need now is to unlock the creative energies of our people to answer the serious challenges they face which have been so normalised that they go unquestioned. The xenophobic attacks and high levels of violence in poor communities already suggest that the social fabric of our country is falling apart. It is for these reasons that we resolve to call for a national dialogue to discuss our situation and collectively find answers.

The SNI is inspired by the great sages of the anti-apartheid struggle who represent the main currents of the liberation movement: Oliver Tambo, Robert Sobukwe and Steve Biko. Whilst the liberation movement was divided, the vision each of these leaders held dear was to see a liberated and prosperous South Africa. It’s their vision which the SNI seeks to draw inspiration from as we move forward.

Highlights from the programme:

- An address by Professor Lewis Gordon - a renowned Africana philosopher from the United States. This session will be chaired by Professor More, a local scholar of Black Consciousness.
- Mr Sabelo Sibanda, a Pan Africanist scholar from Zimbabwe will provide an input on the lessons of post colonial Africa.
- Two of South Africa’s most prominent artists Simphiwe Dana and Thandiswa Mazwai will be panellists on a discussion about the Black condition and how we concretise a collective vision that seeks meaningful change.
- Andile Mngxitama a black consciousness activist will give a talk titled “16 years is enough!”

The SNI will be held from the 24th-26th September 2010 in Soweto. There will be a media briefing on Saturday 25th September from 1pm until 2pm. SNI discussion document please go to : [email][email protected] or Follow the SNI on twitter: http://twitter.com/imbizosni

The September National Imbizo has been endorsed by Simphiwe Dana and Thandiswa Mazwai.