The Steve Biko Centre, an initiative of the Steve Biko Foundation and Baxter Theatre Centre invite you to;
An exploration of the role played by Bantu Stephen Biko & Black Consciousness in the South African liberation struggle.

Date: Friday 9 March 2012
Time: 11h00 - 13h00
Venue: Golden Arrow Studio

The life and ideas of young activist Steve Biko inspired many black people and continue to do so in the contemporary society throughout the world. His ideas and writings on black consciousness empowered people with a new sense of self-worth, self-motivation and an attitude of activism. His contribution to the South African Liberation struggle took over two decades to be noticed and celebrated, and 20 years after his death we began to see symbols in his memory, such as:
• The Steve Biko Monument in Ginsberg Township
• The renaming of John Vorster Bridge in East London to the Steve Biko Bridge.
• The renaming of the Ginsberg Community Cemetery into The Steve Biko Garden of Remembrance by former President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.

In ensuring that we fully support the Grade 12 History curriculum and keep Biko’s legacy alive for this generation and the generations to follow, the Steve Biko Centre has resolved to undertake a program targeting youth and teach about Steve Biko and the philosophy of Black Consciousness under the title Steve Biko Legacy Lectures. This is an important collaboration with Baxter Theatre and we encourage schools to attend this lecture taking place on 9 March 2012. This will also be an important lecture in preparing for the First Paper for Grade 12 History Learners which will be written around September and October 2012 under the chapter The Rise of the Civil Rights Movement.

The lecture will be presented by Mr. Jongi Hoza from The Steve Biko Centre.

For bookings you may contact Sharon Ward on 021 680 3962 or Carmen Kearns on 021 680 3993 during office hours.

The Steve Biko Centre, an initiative of the Steve Biko Foundation and Baxter Theatre Centre invite you to; An exploration of the role playe...

To all theatre and dance companies in the following areas:
• Newlands
• Westbury
• Roodepoort
• Sophiatown
• Kagiso
• Dobsonvile and all other areas around Jo’burg.

Promusica Theatre in Roodepoort is currently working on holding auditions in all these areas as part of selecting groups to participate in the inaugural Sisonke Community Theatre and Dance Festival to be held at Promusica in April.
E-mail Mpho Molepo at mphojmolepo@ gmail.com with your company name, profile area, contact person and details to take part in this initiative.

To all theatre and dance companies in the following areas: • Newlands • Westbury • Roodepoort • Sophiatown • Kagiso • Dobsonvile and a...

The Steve Biko Centre, an initiative of the Steve Biko Foundation, and Magnet Theatre:INVITE YOU TO

Reclaiming Stolen Memories in Content and Aesthetics with regard to performance making: A talk by Mandla Mbothwe.
(Artistic Director Steve Biko Centre, King William's Town)

Mandla Mbothwe, acclaimed director and theatre maker, will be presenting a talk at Magnet Theatre on the work of the Steve Biko Centre as well as Reclaiming Stolen Memories. The talk will be followed by a questions and answers session.

Date: 8 March 2012
Time: 10h00 for 10h30
Place: Magnet Theatre, Unit 1, Old Match Factory, corner Lower Main andSt Michaels Road, Observatory, Cape Town.

Please RSVP to Margie by 2 March 2012 on 021 448 3435 or margie@magnettheatre.co.za.

Looking forward to seeing you.

The Steve Biko Centre, an initiative of the Steve Biko Foundation, and Magnet Theatre:INVITE YOU TO Reclaiming Stolen Memories in Content ...

Anthony Kambi Masha’s letter of January 30th refers. In it Masha accuses the Steve Biko Foundation (SBF) of depriving applicants without internet access employment opportunities because the advertisements he refers to request e-mailed submissions.

The first flaw in Masha’s argument is assuming that hiring can ever be absolutely fair. While desirable, this is impossible. When an institution looks for particular qualifications and years of experience; places adverts in one medium over another; and the position is in one area and not another; it has chosen a complex set of parameters, which will affect some people’s chances over others. Realistically the best that can be achieved is substantial fairness rather than absolute fairness.

It is also simplistic to assume that a fax number and post box would have ensured absolute fairness. The Post Office’s 2010 annual report enumerates 1 539 postal branches and 927 agencies to serve all of South Africa. So the majority of the communities Masha is concerned about are as challenged to access a post office or fax as they are the internet.

Masha will have seen that SBF’s adverts are for employment at the Steve Biko Centre, currently under construction. SBF has taken great care to achieve substantial fairness in its hiring practices. In partnership with the community, SBF established a consultation forum to encourage anyone who desires to work to register on a database from which candidates would be drawn during construction and operational phases. The contractor was required to source employees from here first and then, beyond if such skills are not within the database.

A total of 1 122 candidates registered, many assisted in the process by SBF’s own human resources and infrastructure. According to the project’s latest social impact report, generated by an independent party, 604 people have been employed during construction. Of that number 76% are from BCM and 78% are from the Eastern Cape. All in all 97% are previously disadvantaged individuals, what Masha refers to as “ordinary” people. Further, the initiative will provide 89 permanent positions. Indirectly there are opportunities in the area of homestays, transportation, tour guides, etc.

The adverts referenced by Masha are part of this broad empowerment initiative. They are explicit on several requirements including e-mailed submissions; however, they do not prohibit other methods. Where this is the case, companies usually make it an unequivocal condition. In fact, a number of candidates have faxed or dropped off their responses at SBF.

SBF’s history demonstrates a commitment to empowerment in ways that can be empirically substantiated. Our documents in this regard remain open to Masha should he wish to undertake an objective appraisal. If Masha’s intention was to engage SBF he should rest assured that we are willing to participate in a discourse on job provision of a general nature or of a nature specific to SBF’s practices.

S. Dibuseng Kolisang
Communications Officer
The Steve Biko Foundation

This letter was first published in the Daily Dispatch on February 3rd, 2012.

Anthony Kambi Masha’s letter of January 30th refers. In it Masha accuses the Steve Biko Foundation (SBF) of depriving applicants without int...

Zuma's State of the Nation address: Read President Jacob Zuma's full state of the nation address here.

Zuma's State of the Nation address : Read President Jacob Zuma's full state of the nation address here.

CBC.ca | The Current | Interview Panel

CBC.ca | The Current | Interview Panel

In the third issue of the FrankTalk Journal entitled Biko's Legacy Today, we revisit the contemporary relevance of this South African freedom fighter. The journal is available on our website.

Visit our website at www.sbf.org.za and be a part of the discussion.


As always, we welcome your comments, responses and feedback here on our blog page or through Facebook or Twitter.

In the third issue of the FrankTalk Journal entitled Biko's Legacy Today , we revisit the contemporary relevance of this South African f...