Hosted by the Centre for Civil Society Community Scholars:
-Mzamo Zondi (TAC),
-Nisha Naidoo (Powerfest),
-Philisiwe Mazibuko (R2K)
Centre for Civil Society, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban – 22 May 2019
For catering purposes please RSVP Melanie Reddy: reddys2@ukzn.ac.za
by Tuesday, 21 May 2019
09h00-09h30
Welcome, Introductions and Overview
09h30-10h15
Mzamo Zondi-TAC
SETTING THE SCENE AND CONTEXT – DISORGANISED AND DESPERATE: CIVIL SOCIETY IN A HARD STATE?
Many of us working in civil society have noted that the space for activism is shrinking. We are increasingly faced with repression when questioning authority. As ‘civil society’ we are also challenged by a lack unity which weakens our impact. This is compounded by a funding crisis for advocacy. Civil society mobilization is also affected by clientelist tendencies where ward councilors create a ‘culture of dependency’. Further to this a number of ‘civil society’ spaces are coordinated by the state.
10h15-10h45
Discussion
10h45-11h30
Nisha Naidoo-Powerfest
TACTICS FOR IMPACT AND ORGANISING IN A POST-CRASH/OCCUPY/FALLIST WORLD: DRAWING FROM LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXAMPLES.
Ten years after the financial crash; eight years after the Arab Spring and Occupy Movement; three years after the Fallist Movement, we explore how people around the world and in South Africa are organizing and mobilising and discuss what is making an impact and what is not; and what lessons we can learn for greater impact.
11h30-12h00
Discussion
12h00-13h00
Lunch
13h00-13h45
Philisiwe Mazibuko-R2K
YOUTH IN CIVIL SOCIETY: SOCIAL MEDIA AND NEW ACTIVISMS – THE ROLE OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF CIVIL SOCIETY AND THEIR NEW TOOLS.
With the evolving of struggles and tactics used in campaigns such as Fees Must Fall, Black Hair Love and campaigns centred on student safety on campuses and prospects for employment: what is the role of the youth in continuing the ongoing fight for freedom, economic freedom and decolonisation? Have the youth now become the face of struggle? How do we identify ‘youth issues’ and broader community struggles and how to link these?
13h45-14h15
Discussion
14h15-15h00
Final Thoughts, Way Forward, Round-Up and Wrap-Up
Speakers:
MZAMO ZONDI
Mzamo is a former Community Relations, Communications and Mobilisation team leader at the Human Sciences Research Council. He currently serves as provincial manager for the Treatment Action Campaign KwaZulu-Natal and has years of experience mobilising communities, leading civil society campaigns and engaging with various levels of the state.
Mzamo is a Community Scholar at the Centre for Civil Society University of KwaZulu-Natal.
NISHA NAIDOO
Nisha is the founder and executive producer of The Creative Advantage and founder and director of the Open Money Portal and The Naked Money Festival. She is a strategy consultant and media producer with more than 20 years professional experience in the public, private, non-profit, educational and media sectors in the USA, UK, Canada, East, West and Southern Africa. Her focus is on popular education on money, banking, financial, economic and business systems and alternatives through media, technology and social learning events. Nisha has an MFA in film production from York University in Toronto, Canada and an MBA from Manchester Business School in the UK with an MBA specialisation in the Business of Film from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
Nisha is a Community Scholar at the Centre for Civil Society, University of KwaZulu-Natal.
PHILISWE MAZIBUKO
Philisiwe is a human rights activist and aspiring socialist, having worked in the environmental struggle and access to information community based and organizational struggles. She works closely with Durban community based formations in advancing community participation and strengthening tools for mobilisation and advocacy. Her work can be seen through organizations such as the Right2Know Campaign, the Africa Solidarity Network, the Democracy Development Programme, the South Durban Community Environment Alliance and the Durban South Community Peace Builders.
Philisiwe is a Community Scholar at the Centre for Civil Society University of KwaZulu-Natal.