Women in South Africa have always provided leadership in the struggle for liberation, Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform Gugile Nkwinti said at the media briefing on the “reversing the legacy” of the 1913 Native Act exhibition held at the Mmabatho Convention Centre on Friday.
Minister Nkwinti said the exhibition is part of the government’s effort to conscientise South Africans about the effect of the infamous 1913 Natives Land Act which paved the way for the majority of Black South Africans to be removed from their land and banished to unproductive land reserved for black people. He said the loss of land destroyed the potential economic growth that could have thrived from these farming communities.
“The first big march was led by women in 1913 and because of their resistance women in South Africa have provided leadership. It is important that we carry forward a tradition that we got from those that came before us,” said the Minister.
In her remarks to accept the 7-day- free walk through tour, North West Premier Thandi Modise said that inequality and poverty can be traced back to the infamous 1913 Native Land Act which was the first formal instrument of apartheid that accounted for 100 years of dispossession, humiliation and tears.
Premier Modise who was accompanied by MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Desbo Mohono amplified the importance of the exhibition and urged the people of the North West to come to view it to learn from the mistakes of the past.
“Let’s not go back into crying, but let’s not pretend that 1913 did not happen. Let’s say to our children: learn from the mistakes of the past, never do unto others that which was done to you. To those who were dispossessed and are recipient of restituted land we wish to say, as you take the opportunity of land being returned to you, we must make sure that land that is being redistributed is used productively. Using it productively will help us create jobs and make us more equal,” said Premier Modise.
Since 1994 the government has been trying to reverse the legacy of the land dispossession by a number of land reform initiatives which include land redistribution, restitution and tenure reform. A significant progress has been in the implementation of the land reform programme and 75 percent of the land earmarked for redistribution was acquired over the last 15 years.
The Executive Mayor of Mahikeng Local Municipality, Councillor Lena Miga and Kgosi Madoda Zibi were among some of the high profile officials gracing the occasion, which was characterised by a spectacle as ten supersonic trucks carrying twenty-three containers of exhibition material arrived for off loading and set up.
The exhibition entailed historic, heritage research and development of a story-line through consensus with all the various expertise from state archivists, historians, academics, heritage specialists, creative artists and other activists.
The explosive and interactive exhibition is part of the centenary anniversary of the Native Land Act and is expected to draw audience from across the province during its seven days run.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele, Spokesperson
Cell: 083 629 1987
Tel: 018 388 3705
Fax: 018 388 3157
E-mail: LKgwele@gmail.com
