Cape Town -
Khulumani, a support group for survivors of apartheid atrocities, has labelled a new regulation set to provide educational benefits to victims as “vague” and “insufficient”, and plans to challenge it in court.
“There is a strong feeling among our members that this regulation is not adequate. There are a number of issues that need to be challenged immediately,” Khulumani campaign manager Judy Seidman said.
This comes after Department of Justice operations officer Khotso de Wee announced on radio the signing into law of a regulation providing educational benefits for those unable to complete schooling as a result of apartheid human rights violations.
Seidman said concerns were raised by Khulumani members after a draft regulation went public in 2012.
She said their concerns were not addressed in the new regulation.
The group would challenge its five-year limit on the overall duration of assistance, having to reapply for assistance yearly, its two-month deadline for registration and criteria to qualify for assistance, she said.
For Seema Bodalaji, 18, the regulation is a lifeline for her dream of becoming an accountant.
Bodalaji is the granddaughter of prominent Worcester anti-apartheid activist Ayesha Bibi Dawood.
Dawood’s involvement in politics began when she enlisted to support her local trade union to organise a strike against unjust laws on May 7, 1951.
This led to the formation of the Worcester United Action Committee, which she served as secretary.
Her home in Worcester became a hub of political activity, and during the Defiance Campaign Dawood played an active role in mobilising people to participate in these political events.
Dawood was detained for high treason in 1956 and deported to India in 1968. She spent more than 20 years there before returning to South Africa in the 1990s. She died in June.
Bodalaji said her mother was raised in India, where she received minimal education.
“When my mom came back, she couldn’t speak English, only a little Afrikaans, which her mom taught her.”
With her mother semi-literate, she found it difficult to find a job, and their family of nine survived on Dawood’s pension.
Bodalaji has completed matric and plans to study, but cannot afford tuition.
“I’ve been accepted at Stellenbosch University. I may go to Stellenbosch or UWC. I have a future ahead of me. There is hope for me. I’m not going to sit back and feel sorry for myself, I want to work hard and achieve my goals.”
Seidman said this was a common scenario for apartheid victims.
“People feel strongly that education is one of the areas they were deprived of.”
The Department of Justice did not respond to queries at the time of publishing.
Cape Times