Article by Ambassador Darkey Africa

Huhudi, a township steeped in history and resilience, stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of its people. As we commemorate three decades of freedom, it is crucial to reflect not only on the strides made but also on the challenges that persist in our community.

The origins of Huhudi are shrouded in mystery, with various theories surrounding its founding and name. While ongoing research seeks to unravel these mysteries, it is essential to delve into the rich history of this township and acknowledge the struggles and triumphs of its residents.

Many theories and historical versions abound about when Huhudi was founded and by whom. Extensive research seems to be underway to fully understand what the name-Huhudi means and lay to rest the myths and confusion surrounding the name. Young historians will in future, probably crack this one, and I will then reveal what I know. But for now, I wish to take a step into history and recount the glorious history of this township. Just part of it, and the little I can recall……

From the 1960s to the 1980s, the geo-physical and spatial development of Huhudi had ceased. During that period, the township became a veritable hell to those who inhabited it. A darkness of despair enveloped the township. No secondaries nor high schools were built until much later in the 1970s. After the establishment of the Bophutatshwana Bantustan in 1977, the Apartheid regime conceived a grand ideology and strategy to consolidate the Bophutatswana Bantustan. Huhudi became their target for forced removal because at that period in history, many people who were backyard dwellers(Bahiri) were seriously looking for houses. They were therefore targeted to be shipped to the newly build settlement of Boputhatshwana called Pudumoe.The promise of owning their own houses became very attractive for many. Also, the socio-economic challenges of the time induced to move. It was during this period that the boiling anger of the masses against forced removal was harnessed. A campaign called “No to Pudumoe” took shape. For almost 14 years, the people of Huhudi resisted the removal to Pudumoe. While there was no obvious and visible leadership at that time, young leaders such as Jomo Khasu and the writer, were covertly mobilizing the people not to move. Since there were no leaders at that time, Jomo and Darkey started engaging people like Bra Nick Mothusi, Bra Fusi Maruping, Bra Small Dikole etc.They are also responsible for persuading Bra Hoffman Galeng, who was then a member of Seoposengwe Party in Bophuthatswana join them. He became the only adult then, who would later lead the Huhudi Civic Association. Both Jomo and Darkey were also very sympathetic and understanding to those who were very desperate for houses and wanted to move. That is why in in or around 1980,about 100 people moved to Pudumoe,to occupy the first 100 houses which were completed then. The Huhudi Community Council, established in 1977 was mildly opposed the removal, but its attempts were ineffective. The intensification of apartheid laws in the 1980s, and its attendant onslaught on the resistance movement, saw a mushrooming of community based organization and non-governmental organization in response. This was especially so at local level in cities, towns and rural areas. The Constitutional Proposals and the Koornhof Bills lit the fuse that ultimately led to outright popular resistance, leading to the collapse of apartheid institutions and symbols. These Apartheid policies and others gave rise to the country wide civic movement which engaged in disobedience and resistance. For Huhudi, these developments found a fertile ground for mass mobilization and collective action against forced removal and the history of stunted infrastructural developments which dated back to the 1960s.Today, more than three decades later, like many communities across the country,Huhudi finds itself in the same situation. This brings back memories about the pain of the past and urge for interventions for relief as was the case then. This therefore means that, there is an urgent need to mobilize the people to come together to form the Huhudi Civic Association (HUCA) which was   launched on the 28th May 1983 at the Huhudi Hall. It adopted the slogan “United we stand, divided we fall.” It was the first civic to emboss a clause of the Freedom Charter on its T-shirts and it chose the clause “There shall be houses, security and comfort.”

This occurred in 1983, the same year which the ANC had proclaimed, in January 1983, as “The year of United Action.” HUCA was to play a critical role in the struggle locally and nationally, being among the first civics to be part of the conception and formation of the United Democratic Front (UDF) in August 1983, almost three months after its own formation. Consistent with theme of “united action,” HUCA partly influenced the adoption of the UDF slogan “UDF Unites, Apartheid Divides.” HUCA became a formidable force which brought hope within the masses. It became the pre-eminent leader of society, producing leading cadres of the ANC and became a solid political pipeline for the recruitment of ANC and MK operatives throughout the then Northern Cape. Many young Umkhonto We Sizwe recruits were nurtured and influenced by its politics. It was also amongst the first civics in the country to adopt the Freedom Charter and popularized it, especially in Setswana. Most of its seasoned activists became leading organizers in the UDF, the Trade Unions, student movement, youth and community organizations throughout the then Northern Cape and were even acknowledged nationally. They were also the core of the political underground under the unit Kgalagadi Underground Machinery (KUMA) commanded by “Kgalagadi” (Bushy Maape).

MASS ACTION AND VERITABLE HOPE: HUCA AND ITS LEGACY, HISTORY AND REMEBRANCE.

The Huhudi civic grew from strength to strength from its formation in 1983 until the unbanning of the ANC. It forged a solid coherence of all formations of the MDM locally. It was a manifestation of the hope, fears and aspiration of the people of Huhudi and beyond. Amongst its notable achievements was the creation of the Joint Negotiation Forum, which was central to push for a single tax base and determination of a new rent. Eventually, the community paid only R20 per month as rental. The people had invested everything in it, trusting it to represent and lead through those difficult times. It was seen as the embodiment of the UDF and the cradle and foundation of the politics of the then banned ANC. For a short period of 10 years, from 1983 to 1993, the Huhudi Civic Association (HUCA), whose hallmark of existence was commitment to call people to a programmatic revolutionary consciousness, reflective in all its activities and political agenda appropriate for that period of struggle, was a source of great certainty. It was a profound connection between the past and the present. It gave the local community unimaginable hope and inspired them greatly. This was in line with the command articulated by OR Tambo, the late President in exile of the then banned ANC, in 1983 when he said “We must organize the people into strong mass democratic organizations, and organize all democratic forces into one front for national liberation. Large sections of our people remain unorganized. We should not allow this situation to continue any longer.” He further asserted that “the masses must have their own democratic organizations to mobilize and guide them through which they can themselves make their own point of view.” This, HUCA fulfilled in great measure and made Huhudi ungovernable, setting up, organs of people’s power as alternatives to the oppressive system they were subjected to through consumer boycotts, rent boycotts and a combination of other methods of struggle. HUCA asserted itself as the new alternative, and made its unique contribution to our (first) liberation in 1994. This history remains a strong reminder today with lessons on how not to allow a new political degeneration into society. As we celebrate,30 years of our Constitutional Democracy, we must take stock of the progress we have made, and similarly, point out the challenges and suffering our community continues to endure. The demise of progress, growing decay and lack of sustainable development in the so-called free and democratic society, is an indictment which has the potential to erase great histories.

THE NEW PARADIGM: CORRECTING THE WRONGS INFLICTED BY FREEDOM: A NEW PAIN, A HOPELESS PRESENT AND AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE.

Symptoms of decline are all around us today: streetlights with no globes, streets with over 11 million potholes in Huhudi, Vryburg, Colridge and Kismet combined. Uncollected refuse adorning every corner in Huhudi and elsewhere in Naledi including Stella. Unresponsive authorities (just like under apartheid!) but more painful, because it is our own. High unemployment, crime and other social ills are afflicting the communities across Naledi.The growing drug industry locally as championed by foreign nationals and the devastating impact on the youth especially, is something we must not allow to fester. Like we stood up then, we must stand up now to fight this scourge. The framework within which the community is degenerating, total stagnation characterizes the area. Nobody seems to care. Leadership to restore the hopes of the community and assuage their fears and uncertainties are lacking. The prevalent paradigm is an incisive indictment to those who occasionally pretend to lead. The diagnosis is that hope has frozen and everything reminiscent of freedom has broken down. What exactly has gone wrong and how can the wrongs be corrected? Is there a case for the revival of HUCA to restore hope and retrieve for the masses, the dividends of freedom from this unfreedom and uncertainty. What possibilities exist to engage in the struggle for our (second) liberation?

The answer to these, and many other questions must remind and rekindle in our people the following imperatives:

• “United we stand, divided we fall.”- HUCA

• The people must take the future into their hands.

• None but ourselves can determine our fate.

• When leadership fails, the vacuum must be filled by the people.

• The degeneration of  politics must be stopped

The Huhudi Civic Association was and stand as the only reliable hope for the people. HUCA must awake and lead!

WHAT NEXT?

In pondering this question, if to confirm our commitment to the ANC and its vision and leadership. In doing this we must separate the ANC from some of its transactional leaders who are sacrificing the people in pursuit of the selfish and self-serving interests. It will be prudent to consider very objectively the recent reflection of a leading scholar and intellectual, Prof Njabulo Ndebele,who,when addressing the Consultative Conference of the ANC Veterans and Stalwarts said….”The ultimate threat to South Africas achieved constitutional democracy,and which as a nation we have been consolidating with significant progress is the loss of freedom through a near collapse of state capability. Regaining that Freedom,protecting,deepening and increasing what is left of it ,regaining that capability and permitting the proven collective genius of the South African people to flourish a constitutional democracy ,is what makes our current situation no less than imperative to embark on a second revolution. If in the first revolution we struggled against something, in the second revolution we must struggle for something”(Njabulo Ndebele,2017:Polity).The prevailing socio-economic decline and the unresponsiveness of those who, calls for a new politics of service and sincerity to the people of Naledi. For too long we have watched transactional leaders subverting the future of the community. We instead admired our problems, paralyzed to act. NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE A MOVE.

-Based on an editorial contribution in the Possession of The VIP Team

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