September 10, 2004
By Ndaba Dlamini
WITH the muffled shouts and sombre commentaries of events of 16 June, 1976, from television monitors in the background, the executive mayor of Johannesburg, Amos Masondo, officially launched Soweto 100 Projects in the auditorium of the Hector Pieterson Museum in Orlando on 8 September.
In partnership with the City of Johannesburg, Soweto 100, a private company, has lined up a number of projects to celebrate Johannesburg's biggest township's centenary celebrations to run from October this year to 2005.
"The company will operate in partnership with communities, government, various civic society organisations and businesses," said Masondo.
Pam Ndaba of Soweto 100 described the planned celebrations as the "most exciting event in South Africa's history".
"Our intention is to create something that South Africans will remember for many years to come. This is an opportunity to celebrate the richness of Soweto's unique culture and way of life," Ndaba said.
According to Ndaba, the centenary celebrations will benefit Sowetans in many ways and a Soweto 100 Legacy Foundation, which will receive a significant percentage of profits generated from Soweto 100 projects, will be set up.
"These profits, and the commensurate identified projects, will be overseen by prominent members of the Soweto community who will be our patrons. All events and developments will involve Sowetans who are the beneficiaries of the Legacy Foundation," explained Ndaba.
Soweto 100 will not only create job opportunities and skills transfer and increase tourism, but will ensure that all Sowetans are involved "so that they take ownership of all projects", said Ndaba.
The company has planned a list of projects to celebrate Soweto's centenary, which will commence with an inaugural gala dinner to be held in October this year.
The 2005 projects will kick off with a Buy-Brick-Campaign. "Soweto 100 will source sponsorship of used and new bricks to pave sidewalks in Soweto. If all goes well, these bricks will be used to pave sidewalks lining the streets used by Soweto pupils on 16 June, 1976. This campaign, to begin in January, will afford corporate South Africa the opportunity to get involved in this initiative."
A memorial walk, planned to become an annual event, is also in the pipeline for 2005, and South Africans from all walks of life will be invited to embark on a commemorative march along the route taken by students on 16 June, 1976.
"In terms of the Soweto 100 plans, the executive mayor of the City of Johannesburg will unveil the paved sidewalks in June 2005 on the day of the march," said Ndaba.
Soweto arts and cultural events will be showcased and these will be linked to Arts Alive, a festival which runs annually throughout the month of September in various venues in and around Johannesburg. The festival features something for everyone: kwaito, jazz, gospel, comedy, photography, dance, choral singing, arts and crafts, writing, poetry and workshops for children.
In line with developments being undertaken by the City in Kliptown, the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Freedom Charter at Klipspruit in the early 1950s will be celebrated on 26 June 2005 in Kliptown.
The Freedom Charter was drawn up by the Congress Alliance, a group that came together and formed the Congress of the People.
The Congress developed a list of demands for a new government, among which were basic freedom rights involving personal rights, housing, work, security, and equal free education. All these demands were brought together, and on June 26, 1955 in Kliptown, the Congress of the People created the Freedom Charter.
A wall to mark the signing of the charter will also be constructed, according to Ndaba.
A township that was first established from a "native location" in the portion of the farm Klipspruit in 1904, Soweto has grown to become a "true icon" of South Africa. "The township has over the years given South Africans the country's greatest leaders in every discipline of society," Ndaba said.
"Some of South Africa's greatest leaders like the former president Nelson Mandela and Bishop Desmond Tutu all emerged from this community," reiterated Masondo.
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