Paying respect to JL Dube

The day starts with a proceeding to the tombstone of JL Dube. Learners and teachers form a guide of honour which is led by two learners carrying a wreath to be placed on the tombstone. All dignitaries are part of this. Matriculants are asked to be at the front just after the two learners who are carrying the wreath. Then the principal asks Rev BK Mndlandla to open in prayer and after the prayer the principal tells the story of John Langalibalele Dube. This is mainly done to inform the new learners of the person who started the school and to announce new rules for the school especially the change in uniform.

Lulu Dube and BK Mndlandla lay the wreath on the tombstone and Lulu communicates with her father telling him about what is happening and asking for his blessing and to bless all the learners especially matriculants.

Thoughts for day by educators and learners

Mr Boysie Mthethwa an educator at Ohlange High School said: ‘It is important that we celebrate this day. I wish that the whole country can also celebrate it because of the work that Mafukuzela did for the nation and not only for the community of Ohlange.”

One of the learners Olga Mkhize, 16 in Grade 9 said that: “In the beginning I did not care about this day. But now we like it. We are the ones who remind our educators about this day so that they can prepare. I would like to see more community members to be part of the celebration because some of them don’t know much about Mafukuzela.”

IsiZulu Summary: Usuku lukaMafukuzela Ohlange High School, Inanda

UJohn Langalibalele Dube owayaziwa ngoMafukuzela ngenxa yokusebenzela kwakhe umphakathi wayenguthisha, engumbhali, engumhleli wamaphepha futhi engumqali wesikole samabanga aphezulu esaziwa ngOhlange High School endaweni yaseNanda. UMafukuzela washona ngonyaka ka 1946 ku February 11.

Usuku lokubungaza impilo yakhe lwaqala mhlaka 11 February 1958 luqalwa ngu Mfundisi BK Mndlandla. UMfundisi BK Mndlandla wamazi uMafukuzela ngesikhathi esavakashela ibandla ayeliphethe ngalelosikhathi uma benezinkonzo ezinkulu njengePhasika kanye nenkonzo kaJuly. Lolusuku lubalulekile empilweni yalesisikole. Kumenywa izicukuthwane eziningi njalo ngalolusuku njengomndeni kaMafukuzela, uBK Mndlandla nabanye.

Ukuhlonipha impilo kaMafukuzela

Usuku luqalwa ngokuthi bonke abafundi nothisha bahambe ngokuhlonipha baye ethuneni likaMafukuzela beholwa ngabafundi ababili umfana nentombazane bephethe imbali eyisikhumbuzo. Uthishanhloko uyaye abone kubalulekile ukuthi abafundi abenza ibanga leshumi kube yibo ababa ngaphambili ukuze bacelelwe izibusiso zokwenza kahle emsebenzini wabo wesikole.

UMfundisi BK Mndlandla uyaye avule ngomthandazo bese kukhulunywa ngempilo kaMafukuzela. Uma sekuqediwe izinkulumo indodakazi kaMafukuzela uLulu Dube uthatha imbali elekelelwa nguBK Mndlandla bayibeke phezu kwethuna likaMafukuzela bese ekhuluma noyise ngokuhlonipha emazisa ngabahlangene ngakho acele nezibusiso.

Okwenzakalayo ngosuku lukaMafukuzela

Ngemuva komsebenzi wasethuneni kuba khona izinto ezenziwayo njengokucula amaqembu ahlukene ehholo lesikole. Lolusuku futhi lusetshenziselwa ukumemezela ngezinguquko zesikole. Njengokushintshwa komfaniswano emabangeni athize. Kumenywa nabacula abasebandleni lamaNazaretha ukuzonandisa. Abantu bomphakathi bathola nethuba lokuyobona umuzi kaMafukuzela bafunde nangezinto abezenza endaweni. Obasiza ngolwazi oluphelele uMandla ongumsebenzi wesikhungo sikaMafukuzela.

Okucatshangwa ngothisha nabafundi ngalolusuku

Sikhulume nothisha ofundisa khona oHlange amabanga aphansi uneminyaka emithathu efundisa kulesikole. “Kubalulekile ukuthi kubungazwe lolusuku lukaMafukuzela. Ngiyafisa ukuthi iNingizimu Afrika ilubungaze lolusuku njengoba uJL wenza imisebenzi emihle eyenzele isizwe sonke hhayi abantu basOhlange kuphela.” Boysie Mthethwa

Olga Mkhize oneminyaka engu16 ofunda uGrade 9 nongumfundi kulesisikole yena uthi “Lolusuku ngangikade ngingalunaki esikhathini esingaphambili. Manje sesiyaluthanda ngoba sesazi kabanzi ngomlando walolusuku. Thina besizidlalela nje. Yithina esesikwazi ukuthi sikhumbuze othisha ukuthi bangakhohlwa ukuthi usuku luyeza kufanele bahlele kahle yonke into. Ngingathannda ukuthi abantu basendaweni yasoHlange baziswe ukuze bakwazi ukuthi babeyingxenye yalolusuku olubalulekile. Nokuthi abantu bafundiswe endaweni ngemisebenzi ayenzayo uMafukuzela’

To ensure that positive benefits are achieved and negative impacts are avoided, the Durban Tourism Unit has embarked on Community Tourism Awareness programme to promote tourism culture and inculcate responsible tourism in communities.

The first of a series of activations are taking place at the JL Dube Stadium in Inanda on 6 June 2010 from 9am – 4pm.

Popular DJ’s, Big Nuz and Tira, will be entertaining crowds, learn the Diski Dance and win with competitions galore. Free t-shirts will also be handed out to some of those who attend the event.

Mr Philip Sithole, Acting Head: Durban Tourism Unit says, “The activations are aimed at enhancing communities’ understanding of tourism and building their recognition of tourism as an important contributor to the local economy.’

He added that activations will include information sharing on the potential benefits of the 2010 Soccer World Cup to the growth of the Tourism Industry, information on the Moses Mabhida Stadium, Fifa Fan  Fest and Public Viewing Areas, new tourism products and brands such as  `Woza eNanda, and others.  Educational programmes will also highlight the importance of safety and security issues to protect visitors and tourism assets.

The activations will be done through activities that promote civil pride, through entertainment that is combined with tourism awareness messages involving music, dance, creative expressions through drama, and so on.  This will involve a coordinated strategy with media and other stakeholders.  The local leadership, community heroes, role models, celebrities, soccer stars, and other community stakeholders will also participate in the event. The public is invited to attend.

Entry is free.

Mwelela Cele interviews Ela Gandhi as part of the Memories of Inanda documentary, produced for the eThekwini Municipality’s Ulwazi Programme. Ela discusses her grandfather Mahatma Gandhi, the Phoenix Settlement and her work as an activist and politician.

Ela Gandhi (born July 1, 1940), granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi is a peace activist and was a Member of Parliament in South Africa from 1994-2004, where she aligned with the African National Congress (ANC) party representing the Phoenix area of Inanda in the KwaZulu Natal province. Her parliamentary committee assignments included the Welfare, and Public Enterprises committees as well as the ad-hoc committee on Surrogate Motherhood. She was an alternate member of the Justice Committee and served on Theme Committee 5 on Judiciary and Legal Systems.

Shot at the the Durban University of Technology in April 2010

Foreign and local media attending Indaba, as well as a number of high ranking dignitaries and community leaders will converge at the historic Dr. J.L Dube house in the heart of Inanda for the launch of a new branding for the area, as well as for the unveiling of a life-sized bronze sculpture of President Nelson Mandela casting his first democratic vote here in the historic 1994 elections.

“The Inanda Trail is one of South Africa’s most significant destinations”, said Acting Durban Tourism Head, Mr Philip Sithole. “Although Durban is famous for its beachfront attractions, there are numerous other attractions in the city. Some of these are located within communities that have never previously had access to marketing opportunities and are not well known. Durban Tourism intends to change all that and this high profile event in Inanda is evidence of that commitment.”

“Inanda is the cradle of democracy in South Africa with the Gandhi settlement; the birthplace of John Dube, founding father of the ANC; and the spiritual home of the Shembe religion. Dr Nelson Mandela cast his first vote here in the first democratic elections,” he said.

The area is also home to the huge Inanda Dam, offering more leisure opportunities to tourists and locals alike. In addition, large natural areas of pristine bush give the experience of rural Africa just a half hour from the city centre.

“Durban Tourism is excited to be launching this tourist route and we expect it to be a big success. We intend to further develop this area as one of the most important tourist assets, in the eThekwini Municipal area, and elevate it to a much-needed higher profile. We expect to pour tourist development into the area over the next few years to make this a must-see experience.”

If we put tourism in its rightful place as a significant contributor to the GDP, bringing tourists to all our communities will contribute to the development of our city. We will actively seek to promote a wider range of tourism products across the city, and we believe this is just the start of a new approach to marketing the cosmopolitan assets of the city,” said Sithole.

The Chairman of the City’s Economic Development Committee, Deputy Mayor Logie Naidoo, said, “Inanda and its neighbouring townships of Kwa Mashu and Ntuzuma have been prioritised by the government for accelerated development. The Inanda Heritage Route is an exciting area for tourists and will generate many economic spin-offs for residents when its development is complete. The intention is to extend the route to the Inanda Dam where tourist can have refreshments. This will introduce them to our rural areas and help create job opportunities. “