INTRODUCTION:
Chairman, members of the Diplomatic Corp, members of OSAK, representatives of the OlAF Palme International Centre and Network for Southern Africa, ladies and gentlemen.
I often wonder how it is that I, a small town social worker, have ended up delivering a speech at what is really an international seminar or conference. The answer must be that it is the twinning process that has given me and so many others, the opportunity of exposure, for growth, for maturing, for developing new skills and finally to put back what has been given to me.
That is not to say that I am still not terribly nervous about having to deliver this address to all you important people.
I must start by saying that you must not expect a clinical definition of the twinning process and the requirement for successful twinning in the form of a formula.
In the Oskarshamn/Port Shepstone context it is an idea that was born out of our commitment to each other, an idea we have grappled with from one day. It is an idea that we have developed continually, but we are still far off from the degree of development and fine-tuning that we would like to see.
Twinning between Port Shepstone and Oskarshamn specifically and between South Africa and Sweden generally remains rooted in the struggle against apartheid and racism. It is important to keep this in mind because the challenges of creating a new non-racial society is what guides the work of the twinning committee, both in Port Shepstone and Okarshamn i.e. capacity building, skills training, economic development, job creation, reconciliation, tolerance and nation building. Same ingredients to make it a success.
Commitment and Dedication:
It is very important to be realistic about what can achieved. There is no huge budget to fund full time people working on this project. You thus need to find committed and dedicated people on both sides to keep the process moving forward. It has taken us almost 5 years from concept stage to where we have reached now. All our people hold full time and demanding jobs of their own. Apart from that many are involved in other public activities.The twinning process thus cannot be a major objective on its own or in a vacuum. But it can be used very successfully to cement and strengthen many other processes underway, in the reconstruction of our coutry.
Reconciliation:
You will see that despite its strong roots in the anti-apartheid struggle and therefore its association with the ANC, a great and conscious effort has been made to reach out to a wider circle of people. When we analyze the various delegations that had gone abroad you will see that it reflects all spheres in terms of race, gender and to an extent political affiliation.
*Questioned political affiliation
Even then we still face some criticism that we are an ANC body. This criticism often comes from the more conservative forces. We can ignore them but we cannot ignore the wider public. We must not give them any reasons for the public to give credence to these criticisms. It is thus important that we reach out to an ever-widening circle of people. We are still grappling with the most effective way to do this. On the one hand we need to attract a collective membership to share the workload of the process/and the workload is considerable. On the other hand we have to guard against opportunists whose only intention is to exploit the twinning process as a free travel beareau.
Economic Development:
When we first started discussions on the aim and objectives of the twinning process we dreamt that one day, perhaps in ten years it would start leading to issues of economic development. We are probably quite far from that objective. However it is very encouraging that in three weeks time a delegation from a Swedish computer company will be going to Port Shepstone to explore investment opportunities. This contact was initiated through the Twinning process.
Promotion of tourism is also taking off with many tour groups from Sweden including Port Shepstone on their itinerary and being hosted by the twinning group.
I will now try and brief you on the chronological sequence of events since the concept arose in 1993.
In June 1993, a group of 10 representatives from various organisations, disciplines and democratic groups from Sweden visited our country to deepen the already strong links. The purpose of their visit was to initiate contact as Sweden for so many years fought against apartheid through the isolate campaign. Due to the rapid changes taking place in terms of the pending first democratic election it was time to initiate a process of dialogue. The concept of people to people contact was one the ways to create a new climate of exchange.
Amongst the areas visited, the town of Port Shepstone was one of those. Due to the already established links in the anti-apartheid movement it was a natural process to initiate contacts with these links. The group met with key ANC leaders of the region, viz. the late George Mbele, at that time he was the chairman for the region, Ravi Pillay, Siyabonga Cwele, presently a member of parliament and others. On this delegation was Lillemore Nesset, 16 years old at that time and still a student and from my knowledge the only person from Oskarshamn . This delegation visited various NGO’s viz. Ziphakamise, Practical ministries, Child Welfare and including Inala School of which George Mbele was the principal. The roots in establishing contact with this school were forged during this early stage. This school is still involved in the twinning process. The present principal was part of the delegation in 1997 and at present we have in Port Shepstone Runo Hageberg, ex-principal of Komvux School sharing his knowledge of administration and school management. He is spending 8 weeks in two schools.
During this period, which was just prior to the first democratic election in 1994, the violence in the country and particularly Port Shepstone had reached its peak. Estimated deaths exceeded 2000 people from around Port Shepstone. Many of the leaders lives were in danger. It was highly political and concentration on any other issue besides peace negotiation and conflict mediation was impossibility. George Mbele was assassinated in February 1994 and most of the key people were in hiding. His dream and many others dream were realized in their life times.
Immediately after the first democratic election in 1994 while we were still living away from home due to violence, Tormod Nesset spend just 24 hours in Port Shepstone. He immediately initiated contact with key leaders and set up a meeting at the peace office, with representatives of various organisations to discuss the twinning concept. The idea seemed interesting.
Over the next three months, through telephonic and fax correspondence, a programme was designed for a delegation from Oskarshamn to visit and familiarize themselves with many varied aspects of Port Shepstone. In November 1994, this delegation led by Camilla Johansson came to Port Shepstone. The key contact in Port Shepstone was Ravi Pillay and Selvin Chetty. A comprehensive programme was complied after consultation with many grassroots representatives. The fields of interest were early childhood education and formal education, welfare and ecology. Many projects in these fields were visited, including Ngo’s and a brief meeting with engineer of the Port Shepstone Council. As a representative of welfare I was tasked the duty of arranging and co-ordination a twinning workshop on 9 November 1994. The response to this seminar was very successful A six-member committee was elected mith myself as co-ordinater of the project.
*However, I did not understand at this stage what twinning meant.
Vividly, I remember the first meeting of this newly elected committee and only the three of us attended, i.e. Johan van der Walt, Emily Mavundla and myself. We had no agenda and did not know what to discuss. But most significantly, The Twinning process at local level began here. We discussed our culture. For Johan, it was his first opportunity to ever communicate with a Black and Indian Female. The contribution of twinning in this type of reconciliation cannot be over emphasized.
This was the beginning was our internal nation building process.
In February 1995, an invitation was extended, inviting 6 delegates to Oskarshamn from various disciplines. But 8 names were mentioned Included on this list were three members from the committee. As South African we were not exposed to the outside world and given such opportunities. It was very difficult for those that were not elected to continue to play an active role. This “selected group” set up meeting with various organizations, including the local council. We were uninformed about further future delegations and rightfully so and felt it was important to include all disciplines. On this delegation we elected the mayor and deputy mayor [the first non-racial council] to be included. ISAK, which it was then called, quite firmly responded that funding of the two additional delegates that we selected, were our responsibility. This group was able to secure these funds. and worked consistently over the months in preparation for this trip.
On this delegation were myself as co-ordinator, Selvan Chetty employed at Practical ministries and was actively involved in the monitoring of peace, Fana Sishi, a volunteer at the Peace desk, Emily Mavundla, preschool tutor at a rural crèche, Johan van der Walt, engineer at the local council, Anton Pheil, head of health department at the local council, Pauline Duncan, principal of a junior primary school and mayor of the town and lastly Themba Zondi, deputy mayor and water project manager. The real process of reconciliation began with this group, we worked together as a team in preparation for the trip, and we attended a church service in a rural area as part of a reaching out amongst ourselves. For some of the delegation it was the first time to enter rural communities and be exposed to the lifestyles yet this community is only 4kms away from the town of Port Shepstone.
The first trip was a historical event, we had to cope with our differences, gel as a group and overnight portray an image of non-racialism. Further, lay the foundation for future exchange. I must admit that thinking back, it is remarkable that we coped so well as democracy in our country was new and we came from such a fragmented society. For these reasons it is not surprising that some bonded and are still actively involved in the Twinning while those that could not cope with this sudden transformation remain at a distance. Of the 7 members on the present Twinning committee, 4 of us are from this delegation.
To the majority of us, including delegates from other groups, it was our first trip abroad. A sudden realization that the world is a small place. A further acknowledgement was that people outside of our country could play such an important and critical role in bringing an end to apartheid. Although I was aware of this fact but to experience the level of commitment and sacrifices shown is still beyond my comprehension. Not only had we established important links on this trip for all the other groups but also for many of us it boosted our self esteem and confidence. This in itself is an empowering role that the twinning is aiming to achieve. My question is- How do we measure this form of capacity building that the twinning process has achieved. Due to our fragile relationship and democracy, this delegation’s only report back was via the local press and to our respective organsaitions.
However, correspondence and telephonic contacts were maintained with the contacts and links we had initiated. I must add that to date it still amazes me how Lillemore Nesset continues to maintain contact with every person that she met on both her trips, including remembering all our birthday and sending gifts. This is not only delegates but other persons that she had encountered and developed a friendship. I am sure she gets this characteristic from her father and to be quite frank, at times I do not want to hear from Tormod Nesset – it means work. But it takes this kind of personal contact to keep the process alive.
During February 1996, we received the second Swedish delegation of three. The main fields of interest were library, adult literacy and ecology. A highlight on this trip was a workshop arranged at the Council Chambers on these three topics. By now the message had definitely spread that “ people might get a free trip overseas” In attendance, were over 90 people to this workshop from both urban and rural communities. I remember quite significantly in one particular incident that the head of a department did not extend the invitation to her junior employees who we felt would have benefited from this workshop. I am illustrating this point as a SA, we often have to guard about people’s motive since we are still in the early transitional phase and our history has taught us “ never to trust” Therefore when we come across as negative and not trusting it is with this background.
My present position as a Manager f Welfare Services of an area probably the size of Smalland or maybe larger, allows flexibility and in- depth knowledge of grassroots projects, including various community leaders. I am in contact with schools, clinics, crèches and various other projects. In view of this, I have a good knowledge of this region, of which Port Shepstone in the context of the area of operation is probably 1/10 and most resourced.
As a result of this, I am able to strategically , on a continual basis educate those persons that I am in contact with in both urban and rural areas about the twinning project which compliments my present job- that is to improve quality of life. Owing to this exposure it is not difficult to know various leaders in various fields and to get them involved directly or indirectly in the Twinning. I am referring to John Green, John Harrison, Themba Zondi and the like that play a pivotal role and contribute immensely in the building of a new nation. May, I also mention Peggy Nkonyeni, a delegate and present at this seminar, she is in the forefront of women empowerment.
It is not easy with the kind of sustainable development our country needs, to be involved in yet another committee if the results thereof cannot be practically measured. Referring to Twinning concept, it is very difficult to explain or market. It only becomes clear to those individuals once they are given the opportunity of going abroad and the positive effects it has on self growth and development. No manner how much publicity it has in the media it is only though personal one to one education that people can feel and understand twinning and its positive impact.
Selection criteria and selection of delegates have always being problematic and will probably continue to do so. Initially those delegates selected were invited by the members of OSAK on the basis of the OSAK:s delegations observations about the work of individuals in their respective fields. There was off course consultation with the local committee who also made suggestions. As the Twinning progressed this process has now become reversed with the local committee making the proposals in consultation with OSAK. The eight delegates were chosen from the following fields, viz welfare, church, teacher union, race, Physically Challenged organisation and librarians were selected for April and August 1996.
During this phase ( 1996), we still did not have a committee although a co-ordinator was selected in 1994. The two stable persons ( co-ordinator and treasurer, were able to keep the communication lines open with OSAK and ensured accountability and proper monitoring of funds ( although minimum). We developed a system whereby the leader of the previous delegation assumed the role of chairman until the next delegation. This is how it evolved, recruiting more interested persons.
The links strengthened even further when we received the next delegation from Oskarshamn in October 1996. May I stress that on this occasion the chairman of OSAK, although he had been in Port HSepstone previously for a few hours, this was his first trip as a delegate. Despite all these loose arrangements, publicity in the media, report backs, newslettewrs were successfully attendee to. After the 4th Port Shepstone delegation in April 1997. At their report back meeting we attempted to formalize the structure and elect a committee. Due to the poor response, this could not be successfully concluded. We thus elected a steering committee to finalize the constitution, develop policies on selection criteria, draw up a pledge of which these tasks were successfully concluded.
At this stage around mid 1997 we were constantly bombarded by criticism and questions about the smooth operation of Twinning and demands were made for some concrete developments even by those that were delegates. One will note that it is those that have benefited but have been the most critical without concrete suggestions for a way forward, as this being voluntary , a NGO developing. Finally, the Steering or Adhoc Committee stressed to the Chairman of OSAK, Tormod Nesset that his input was required for direction to formalize our Twinning Committee.
Co-incidentally, what has always been positive is that when delegations are here from Oskarshamn, there is an overwhelming support from past delegates and tasks are delegated to all persons that have been delegates.
On 5th October 1997, the first AGM was help, in attendance of over 70. A brief report was presented on the process and development. The constitution adopted and a 7 member committee elected. It had taken a few years but eventually we reached a stage where this loose structure had to be formalized. Since the first AGM, meetings meetings have been held on a regular basis when when needed, e.g in preparation for a delegation or vis vesa, preparatory meetings are held weekly. The constitution and general policies developed are adhered to. A formal pledge by delegates are also signed in accepting responsibilities and being good ambassadors for our country.
We experience difficulties in obtaining membership or small contribution from the larger community or those that have benefited. The OLof Palme centre has contracted Bill Sewell to make an Independent evaluation of the Twinning. We look forward to this evaluation. We are sure, it will help identify weaknesses and develop solutions.
Conclusion
Twinning is a long term project. It has taken us 5 years to have reached the stage to where we are at present. We have just passed the “teething stage” and we now progress to the next phase in its development.
We cannot underestimate the hard work that is required to keep the process going forward. We have fought for decades in Sweden and South Africa to defeat apartheid and racism. We now need to stand together for as long as it takes to build non-racialism and promote reconciliation. Twinning can be one effective way of doing so.
It is a long walk ahead!
Gulshera Khan
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