News & events

Events

If We Must Die

25 August 2015
12:30 - 14:00

SPEAKER
Stanley Manong (Former Commander of uMkhonto we Sizwe)

Date:   Tuesday, 25 August

Time: 12:30  – 14:00

Venue: VCRs, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban

This seminar focuses on Stanley Manong’s book which gives a deep insight into the complexities of South African life in exile during Apartheid. A talented student from Victoria West, the author left his home country in 1976 to join the ANC. He soon played a role in organising underground activities of its military wing, uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK).

 

 

 

The book includes an analysis of the ideological controversies and differences between MK and ZAPU (Zimbabwean African Peoples Union) in Zimbabwe on the nature of legitimate political and military targets. It also focuses on corruption, malfunctioning and elitism within the organisation, as well as conditions in certain military camps of the ANC abroad. Manong participated in the ANC’s Kabwe Conference in 1985, and thereafter, with the support of ANC President Oliver Tambo, he was able to further his studies in Hungary. The book chronicles the experiences arising from the collapse of the Soviet Union and system change in Eastern Europe whilst he was in Hungary.
 
The public lecture series, Contributions, Experiences & Sacrifices: Post liberation knowledge production and nation building by military veterans is an initiative to contribute to ongoing work by key Government Departments (Defence; Arts & Culture; Social Development; Higher Education & Training) focused on the development and implementation of policies and programmes targeting Military veterans. These were planned in partnership with the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, South African History Online, the Freedom Park Trust, DMV, DSD and DST. These seminars are centred on a book authored by a military veteran and have a theme that explores the range of contributions, experiences and sacrifices by military veterans.

The HSRC has adopted a consultative and participatory approach in understanding, engaging and seeking solutions with existing partners from the onset, especially amongst Military Veterans themselves. This has proven to be highly effective in developing inclusivity and opening spaces for positive and constructive participation. This approach will thus become the guiding principle of engagement throughout the various stages of implementation and evaluation of this intervention.

This seminar may be attended via video conference in Pretoria, Cape Town and KwaZulu-Natal.

Kindly RSVP by  24 August 2015

Cape Town : HSRC, 12th Floor, Plein Park Building (Opposite Revenue Office), Plein Street, Cape Town. Contact Jean Witten, Tel (021) 4668004, Fax (021) 461 0299, or JWitten@hsrc.ac.za

Durban :  First floor HSRC board room, 750 Francois Road, Ntuthuko Junction, Pods 5 and 6, Cato Manor, Contact Ridhwaan Khan, Tel (031) 242 5400, cell: 083 788 2786 or RKhan@hsrc.ac.za

Pretoria : HSRC Video Conference, 1st floor HSRC Library Human Sciences Research Council, 134 Pretorius Street, Pretoria. Arlene Grossberg, Tel: (012) 302 2811, e-mail: acgrossberg@hsrc.ac.za