The FunDza Literacy Trust supports the Save South Africa campaign that seeks to mobilise civil society, business and individuals to support the founding principles of our democracy and hold government leadership to account to the Constitution and the values they have pledged to uphold.
The Save South Africa campaign is coordinating a People’s Assembly Against State Capture on 2 November in Pretoria. It has called on those in the area to support the initiative and for others around the country to make their voices known.
FunDza is not a political organisation. It is a literacy trust with a mission to get young South Africans reading and writing for pleasure. That said, the need for its existence is due to the deep inequalities in our society. It exists because poverty is pervasive and crippling. Those living in the base of our economic pyramid have little access to relevant books and reading material in their homes, have little access to resources in public libraries and schools, and are subjected to unequal delivery of education services.
We’re trying to address this through our work – by creating and distributing exciting, local and relevant reading matter that inspires reading for pleasure, by providing opportunities for young people to practice their writing skills and find their own unique voice in the language of their choice. Our stories tackle often difficult subjects that speak to important issues that young people face.
But, we know that our efforts can never fully address the underlying structural issues that inhibit young people across our nation from reaching their true potential – those structures that were created by the apartheid government which have not yet been eradicated or even creatively or carefully addressed. Government has a major role to play.
Against the backdrop of student protests for access to quality higher education that is relevant to their lives, the learner-driven protests for access to schools that – at the very least – adhere to minimum norms and standards, and the gross levels of corruption and silence from government, it is necessary for us as a civil society to speak out against government wastage, against government corruption, against state capture.
We are working towards building a country based on social justice and equality. We call on civil society, business, government and individuals to join us in this work. In the words of our late President Nelson Mandela: “We must use time wisely and forever realise that the time is always ripe to do right.”
The time is now. Let us work together to stand against state capture, to speak out against corruption and wastage, to build a society based on the principles of our Constitution and Bill of Rights.
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We, the people of South Africa,
Recognise the injustices of our past;
Honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land;
Respect those who have worked to build and develop our country; and
Believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity.
We therefore, through our freely elected representatives, adopt this Constitution as the supreme law of the Republic so as to –
Heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights;
Lay the foundations for a democratic and open society in which government is based on the will of the people and every citizen is equally protected by law;
Improve the quality of life for all citizens and free the potential of each person; and
Build a united and democratic South Africa able to take its rightful place as a sovereign state in the family of nations.
May God protect our people.
Nkosi Sikelel’iAfrika. Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso.
God seen Suid-Afrika. God bless South Africa.
Mudzimu Fhatutshedza Afurika. Hosi katekisa Afrika.