Africa Day celebrated in Vosloorus
Masakhane Civic Organisation (MCO) hosted an Africa Day celebration at the Vosloorus Old Age Home on May 24.
In attendance were more than 300 people, young and old, from Vosloorus and the surrounding areas, including MCO members – MCO coordinator Thamsanqa Mbokoti, MCO chairperson John Mabunda, MCO secretary Paulina Mocumi and other non-executive members.
The event started at 9am at in the old age home hall and ran until late afternoon.
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According to Mabunda, they decided to celebrate the day in a different way.
“We understand that Africa Day is about celebrating African cultures and encouraging African people not to oppress one another.
“This year, we decided to meet as the communities and discuss issues that affect us as Africans, such as climate change. We also wanted our government to assure our people that the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) won’t take over people’s jobs,” said Mabunda.
Mbokoti said: “We want our government to give us a detailed plan on how to create job opportunities.”
MCO co-hosted the event with other stakeholders from Earth-Life Africa, special guests and representatives of the government’s Department of Environmental Affairs, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), Green Peace and Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu).
The above-mentioned organisations staged a question and answer session with members of the community under the theme of “Transition by the Government Towards Environmental Change that is Carbon and Pollution-Free”.
The process the government is going to use to create future jobs in renewable energy by the year 2050 was also discussed. It was also promised that the process will not be interrupted no matter what happens in politics or change in government.
People were assured by government officials who attended that the people will have a say in the kind of change they want and that 4IR will not take people’s jobs in the mining sector.
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The government took it upon themselves that no matter the state of finances at Telkom, employees from the company will not lose their jobs.
Community members gave government officials a very strong message: government must empower black African youth with skills to enable them to become employers instead of job seekers.
The celebration of cultures and languages was embraced by singing and chanting African songs.
The event was a success and everybody was excited.
