(English follows)
Solidariteit Beweging
April 2017Suid-Afrika is nie nou op ‘n goeie plek nie. Die politiek is deurmekaar, die ekonomie is afgradeer, en misdaad is besig om handuit te ruk. Maar dit beteken nie dat ons magtelose toeskouers is wat niks aan ons toekoms kan doen nie. Die landsomstandighede is soos die see wat onstuimig word waaraan seemanne nie veel kan doen nie. Maar ons kan sorg dat ons skepe sterk genoeg is om storms te weerstaan. Tweedens moet ons eilande van uitnemendheid bou waar mense veilig is en kan tuisvoel. Daarom moet ons voortdurend ons ‘radar’ en ‘sonar’ dophou om te sien wat rondom ons aangaan, en dan sorg dat ons skepe veilig deur die storms vaar.
Dit is hierdie maand twintig jaar sedert ek in Israel gesien het wat ‘n vakbond kan vermag as hy homself tot ‘n sterk gemeenskapsbeweging kan uitbou. Daar het die Histadrut-vakbond eers die bekende Kibboetze gestig, en daarna ‘n bepalende rol gespeel om die land deur ʼn netwerk van gemeenskapsorganisasies op te bou. Daarom is dit wonderlik om te sien hoeveel mylpale ons span die afgelope tyd bereik het. Ons het saam deur die genade ook daarin geslaag om ‘n klein vakbond tot ʼn groot Beweging uit te bou, wat noodsaaklike dienste aan derduisende mense landswyd verskaf. My hartlike dank aan al ons lede en ondersteuners, personeel, deeltydse vrywilligers, en almal wat so hard aan al hierdie mylpale gewerk het! Dit verteenwoordig ‘n groot stap vorentoe in ons 2020-plan. Julle maak’n groot verskil en gee baie mense weer moed. Ek noem net enkele hoogtepunte, omdat elke organisasie meer besonderhede sal verskaf.
1. Beweging se lede by die 400 000-mylpaal
Ons Beweging se totale ledetal het nou die 400 000-mylpaal bereik! Dit stel ons in staat om meer vir meer mense te doen. Die Beweging se werk word opgesom in die aangehegde “Volhoubaarheidspyplyn”.
2. AfriForum
AfriForum het onlangs ʼn mylpaal van 190 000 lede bereik en groei steeds sterk. Daarby stig AfriForum hierdie maand ons 100ste buurtwag en op 6 Mei sal ʼn groot Veiligheidsberaad in Pretoria aangebied word. Nooi asseblief almal wat sal belangstel. Daarbenewens het die private vervolgingseenheid wat onder leiding van advokaat Gerrie Nel gestig is, al volstoom aan die werk gespring. AfriForum se eerste studentekoshuis, De Goede Hoop, het hierdie jaar sy deure geopen.
3. Akademia
Akademia het die jaar afgeskop met 744 studente en ʼn personeelkorps van byna 50 voltydse en 10 deeltydse dosente. Vyf-en-sewentig studente het verlede jaar hulle studie voltooi, waaronder 13 grade, vier diplomas, 14 gevorderde diplomas en 45 sertifikate. Nuwe sentra is in Bloemfontein, Paarl, George en Pretoria geopen (11 sentra in totaal vir 2017). Daar is verskeie grade in die pyplyn vir akkreditering en Akademia is met groot uitbreidingsplanne besig. Honderd-ses-en-vyftig studente is lede of kinders van Solidariteit-lede en kry 20%-afslag op hulle studie.
4. FAK - Federasie van Afrikaanse kultuurverenigings
Die FAK fokus sterk daarop om die Afrikanergeskiedenis ewewigtig deur te gee en het onder meer ‘n Geskiedenismuseum op die internet, ʼn Afrikanergeskiedenisjoernaal, en ʼn historiese plakkaatreeks wat aan 200 skole versprei word. Die FAK bevorder Afrikaans landswyd in skole met die Afrikaanse Expo-projek en gee weer hulle bekende Sangbundel uit. ‘n Konferensie oor gesonde gesinne word op 4 Mei gehou en die FAK onderneem sy eerste internasionale kultuurtoer na Europa in September.
5. Helpende Hand
Solidariteit Helpende Hand het nou ongeveer 40 000 lede en het hierdie jaar R41 miljoen rand aan studiehulp vir 1 642 studente toegeken. Die Helpende Hand se Skoleondersteuningsentrum (SOS) is by meer as 500 Afrikaanse skole betrokke met talle projekte. Dit strek vanaf noodvoeding aan meer as 5 500 kleuters deur die Kosblikkieprojek, die verskaffing van skryfbehoeftes aan ongeveer 5 000 kinders jaarliks deur die Skooltassieveldtog, die verskaffing van ʼn kis vol onderwyshulpmiddels aan 50 behoeftige laerskole, tot die jaarlikse opleiding van ongeveer 1 500 onderwysers en beroepsvoorligting aan kinders. Die SOS begin ook met ʼn “Wolkskool” of “Skole-Akademia,” waar leerders toegang tot videolesse kan kry van vakinhoude vir graad 4 tot 12. Kinders kan lesse op ʼn selfoon of tablet volg teen uiters lae datakoste van sowat R2 per uur.
Helpende Hand het tans 164 vrywilliger-gedrewe takke wat aktief betrokke is by die verligting, voorkoming en verbreking van Afrikaner-armoede in hul eie gemeenskappe. Tot dusver hierdie jaar is reeds altesaam 575 gemeenskapsprojekte ten bedrae van R2,8 miljoen suksesvol van stapel gestuur.
Honderd-vyf-en-twintig kinders uit behoeftige gemeenskappe geniet die lewensveranderende voordele van die gestruktureerde opvoedkundige- en versorgingsaktiwiteite wat deur ons twee gemeenskapsentrums gebied word.
Daar is ook nou 25 skenkingswinkels waar goeie bekostigbare klere aan behoeftiges verskaf word. Al hierdie projekte raak al sowat 200 000 kinders se lewens.Die Helpende Hand se eerste Gemeenskapsgesondheidskliniek, Ons Spreekkamer, het op 1 April sy deure in Witbank oopgemaak en gee gratis mediese dienste aan behoeftige mense in die streek. Baie dankie aan die tien dokters en ander kundige medici wat gratis hulle hulp aangebied het!
6. Maroela Media
Maroela Media is die grootste onafhanklike Afrikaanse nuusblad op die internet met meer as 1, 6 miljoen lesers. Dit verteenwoordig ‘n groei van 35% in drie maande. Maroela het nou meer as 200 000 volgers op Facebook wat verseker dat derduisende mense gratis nuus in Afrikaans kan lees. Maroela verskaf radioprogramme aan 55 radiostasies wat sowat 1,4 miljoen mense bereik.
7. Sol-Tech
Sol-Tech spog nou met ʼn slaagsyfer van 98,5%! Ons kollege is propvol, die gemiddelde besetting vir die teoretiese N-skool is 100% en die werkswinkels 91%. Die uitplasings vir prakties deur Ajani verloop glad en ons kry baie goeie terugvoering van werkgewers. Sowat 95% van die studente kry vinnig werk na voltooiing van hulle vaktoetse. Sol-Tech vier sy tiende verjaarsdag op 8 September 2017. Die kollege het die eerste prys gekry in Februarie se Jooloptog wat in samewerking met AfriForum Jeug gehou is. Bykomende klaskamers is in die elektriese afdeling ingerig en ʼn nuwe sweiswerkswinkel is gebou. Daar is nou meer as 1 200 studente in die pyplyn.
8. Solidariteit Eiendomme
Ons het na ‘n lang hofstryd die hofsaak oor die sonering van die grond wat ons langs die Waterkloof Lugmagbasis vir Sol-Tech gekoop het, met volle kostes en op die hoogste moontlike skaal gewen. Die regter het in sy uitspraak gesê die saak teen ons was kwaadwillig, pervers en sinister en dat die vorige stadsraad se optrede ‘n goeie voorbeeld van magsmisbruik was. Ons wag nou net op die LUR in Gauteng se finale goedkeuring voordat ons kan begin bou.
9. SBM (Solidariteit Beleggingsmaatskappy)
SBM se bates het vir die eerste keer R200 miljoen oorskry en het in 2016 ‘n omset van R80 miljoen behaal.
10. Solidariteit Vakbond
Die vakbond se totale ledetal is nou meer as 160 000. Solidariteit se Bouveldtog kry nou goed momentum. Sowat 3 000 studente studeer hierdie jaar met behulp van projekte wat Solidariteit begin het, soos Akademia, Sol-Tech, of deur die Helpende Hand se Studiefondse. Benewens die Boufondsbydrae van R10 per maand wat deel van vakbondlede se ledegeld uitmaak, dra meer as 10 000 ondersteuners tot die Boufonds by. Só help jou ledegeld aan ‘n toekoms bou! Benewens die omvattende regsdienste, onderhandeling vir beter diensvoorwaardes, veldtogte vir gelykheid in die werksplek en die beantwoording van meer as 450 000 werksverwante navrae in 2016 deur ons nasionale dienssentrum, kry ons lede jaarliks sowat R200 miljoen kontant terug in die vorm van vergoeding vir beroepsgesondheid en -veiligheid, regsake en vakbondbyvoordele. Solidariteit het net aan begrafnisvoordele verlede jaar R8 miljoen aan lede of hul afhanklikes uitbetaal.
11. Vennootskappe
Ons Beweging het talle vennootskappe met selfstandige organisasies wat ons waardes deel. Pretoria FM is die land se grootste onafhanklike gemeenskapsradio en saai nou daagliks landswyd na meer as 200 000 luisteraars uit.
Samevatting
Hierdie is net ‘n uiters beknopte oorsig van die nuutste mylpale wat deur ons Beweging bereik is. Daar is nog baie ander, soos Kraal Uitgewers se nuwe winkel en hulle boeke oor Nonnie De la Rey en kulturele vryheid.
Ons Beweging groei steeds sterk en ons volgende uitdaging is om van “groter na sterker” te beweeg deur meer mense by ons werksaamhede betrokke te kry.
Baie dankie vir almal se harde werk! Julle skep hoop in ‘n moeilike tyd in ons land en ons gemeenskap se bestaan.
Flip Buys
Voorsitter
Solidariteit Beweging
Solidarity Movement
April 2017The current situation in South Africa is not good. Our politics are in a mess, our economy has been downgraded, and crime is getting out of hand. However, we do not have to be helpless spectators who are helpless when it comes to our future. The circumstances in the country is like a sea becoming more and more turbulent and which leaves the sailors without anything to do about the storm. Secondly, we must build islands of excellence where people can feel safe and at home. Therefore, we must carefully monitor our ‘radar’ and ‘sonar’ to see what is going on around us and then we must see to it that our ships can sail safely through the storms.
It has been twenty years since I have seen how much success a trade union can achieve by building a strong community movement. The Histadrut trade union first founded the well-known Kibbutz and subsequently played an important role to build up the country through a network of community organisations. It is therefore fantastic to see how many milestones our team have successfully reached up to date. Together we have, with the grace of God, succeeded to build a large Movement out of a small trade union, which provides necessary services to thousands of people countrywide. A sincere word of thanks to all our members and supporters, staff members, part-time volunteers, and all who work so hard to achieve the success. It represents a big step forward in our 2020 plan. You make a significant difference and instil courage in people. I only mention a few highlights because every organisation will provide more detail.
1. Movement’s members reach the 400 000 mark
Our Movement’s total members reached the milestone of 400 000 members! This enables us to do more for more people. The Movement’s work is summarised in the attached “Sustainability Pipeline”.
2. AfriForum
AfriForum reached a milestone of 190 000 members and is still growing strong. AfriForum also founded the hundredth community watch and on 6 May, a Security Summit will be presented in Pretoria. Please invite all interested persons. In addition, the private prosecution unit, founded under the leadership of Advocate Gerrie Nel, is already up and running at full speed. AfriForum’s first student residence, De Gode Hoop, opened its doors this year.
3. Akademia
Akademia kicked off the year with 744 students and a staff complement of nearly 50 full-time and 10 part-time lecturers. Seventy-five students completed their studies, i.e. 13 degrees, four diplomas, 14 advanced diplomas and 45 certificates. New centres were opened in Bloemfontein, Paarl, George and Pretoria (11 centres in total for 2017). Several degrees are in the pipeline for accreditation and Akademia is busy with large expansion plans. Of the students, 156 are members of Solidarity or children of Solidarity members who receive a 20% discount on their study fees.
4. FAK – Federasie van Afrikaanse kultuurverenigings
The FAK focuses strongly on presenting a balanced version of our history with a history museum on the internet, a history journal and a poster series which is distributed to 200 schools. The FAK promotes the Afrikaans language in schools countrywide with the Afrikaans Expo Project and will publish their well-known songbook again. A conference on healthy families will be held on 4 May and in September, the FAK will embark on its first international cultural tour to Europe.
5. Helping Hand
Solidarity Helping Hand now has approximately 40 000 members and has paid out R41 million in study support to 1 642 students. Helping Hand’s school support centre is involved in many projects at more than 500 schools. These projects range from feeding more than 5 500 toddlers annually with the Lunch Box Project, stationery to approximately 5 000 children with the School Case Project, boxes full of teaching aids to 50 needy primary schools, to training of approximately 1 500 teachers annually and career guidance to children. The School Support Centre has also started with a Cloud School or School Akademia where learners have access to audio visual lessons on subject matter from Grade 4 to 12. Children follow these lessons on a mobile phone or tablet at the extremely low cost for data at R2 per hour.
Helping Hand currently has 164 volunteer-driven branches which are active in the alleviation of, prevention of and breaking free from poverty in communities. In 2017 up to date, a total of 575 community projects to the amount of R2,8 million have been launched.
In poor communities, 125 children enjoy the life changing benefits of a structured educational and care facility presented by two community centres.
There are now 25 established donation shops where good quality clothes at affordable prices are provided to people in need. All these projects touch the lives of approximately 200 000 children.
Helping Hand’s first Community Health Clinic, opened its doors on 1 April in Witbank. The clinic provides free medical services to poor people in the district. We sincerely thank the ten doctors and other knowledgeable health care providers who offered their services for free!
6. Maroela Media
Maroela Media is the largest independent Afrikaans news site on the internet with more than 1,6 million readers. This represents a growth of 35% over three months. Maroela now has more than 200 000 followers on Facebook which ensures that thousands of people can read the news in Afrikaans at no cost. Maroela provides radio programmes to 55 radio stations who reach 1,4 million people.
7. Sol-Tech
Sol-Tech boasts with a pass rate of 98,5%! Our college is full to the brim, the average occupation for the N-School is 100% and the workshops are 91% occupied. The placement for practical experience by Ajani is very successful according to the good feedback from the employers. Approximately 95% of the students manage to find employment after completion of their trade tests. Sol-Tech celebrates its tenth birthday on 8 September 2017. The college received first prize for their float during a Rag Procession which was held in conjunction with AfriForum Youth. Additional class rooms were installed in the electrical division and a new welding workshop was built. There are now more than 1 200 students in the college’s pipeline.
8. Solidarity Properties
After a long court struggle regarding the zoning of the land next to the Waterkloof Air Force Base, which we bought for Sol-Tech, we won the case with full costs and on the highest possible scale. In his ruling, the judge said that the case against us has been malicious, perverse, and sinister and that the previous city council’s behaviour has been a good example of power abuse. We are now waiting for the Gauteng MEC’s final approval before we can start building.
9. Solidarity Investment Company
Our investment company’s assets have for the first time exceeded R200 million and reached a turnover of R80 million in 2016.
10. Solidarity Trade Union
The trade union’s total members are now more than 160 000. Solidarity’s Building Campaign has gained momentum. Approximately 3 000 students study this year with the assistance of projects Solidarity founded, such as Akademia, Sol-Tech, or Helping Hand’s Study Funds. Apart from the Building Fund contribution of R10 per month, which is part of the trade union members’ monthly fee, more than 10 000 supporters contribute to the Building Fund. In this way, your membership money build a future! Apart from the comprehensive legal services, negotiations for better benefits, campaigns for equality in the workplace and responses to the more than 450 000 work-related enquiries in 2016 by our national service centre, our members receive annually approximately R200 million back in cash in the form of compensation for occupational health and safety, court cases and trade union benefits. In 2016, Solidarity paid out R8 million in funeral benefits to members or their dependants.
11. Partners
Our Movement have many partnerships with independent organisations who share our values. Pretoria FM is the country’s largest independent community radio station and broadcasts daily to more than 200 000 listeners countrywide.
Conclusion
This is a very condensed and abridged overview on the latest milestones which have been reached by our Movement. There are many others, like the new shop of Kraal Uitgewers and their books on Nonnie de la Rey and cultural freedom.
Our Movement is growing strong and our next challenge is to go from “bigger to stronger” by involving more people in our activities.
Many thanks to all for your hard work! You create hope in a difficult time in our country and our community’s existence.
Flip Buys
Chairman
Solidarity Movement
