# PayTheGrants What happens when the help meant for the poorest, is too expensive for them to reach? This is the crisis of the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant, introduced in South Africa (SA)during the Covid-19 Pandemic to help many in the face of dire poverty, unemployment and inequality. Yet right now, millions of our people are left excluded. And those who can access it remain struggling. We deserve better; a better grant, a better basic income, a better economy that is built for you. As #PayTheGrants (#PTG), that is what we stand for. We are a community-based organisation and registered NPO (287-115), working across the country. We help our people access the support they deserve, confront corruption, push for better systems and policies, and advocate for basic income. Nothing about us without us. Now, we are taking the government to court in our pursuit for justice. Along with our partner, IEJ, and lawyers, SERI we launched the case in 2023, and now stand ready to be heard in High Court on 29 & 30 October 2024. Our aim? To challenge the many ways in which those in need are excluded from the SRD Grant. It does not end here. There is a long journey ahead. And we are ready. Because what happens here can impact not only the SRD Grant, but the future of social protection in SA; towards a more fair, inclusive, and effective system that sees its people as the most important investment. # PayTheGrants About Us What happens when the help meant for the poorest, is too expensive for them to reach? This is the crisis of the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant, introduced in South Africa (SA)during the Covid-19 Pandemic to help many in the face of dire poverty, unemployment and inequality. Yet right now, millions of our people are left excluded. And those who can access it remain struggling. We deserve better; a better grant, a better basic income, a better economy that is built for you. As #PayTheGrants (#PTG), that is what we stand for. We are a community-based organisation and registered NPO (287-115), working across the country. We help our people access the support they deserve, confront corruption, push for better systems and policies, and advocate for basic income. Nothing about us without us. Now, we are taking the government to court in our pursuit for justice. Along with our partner, IEJ, and lawyers, SERI we launched the case in 2023, and now stand ready to be heard in High Court on 29 & 30 October 2024. Our aim? To challenge the many ways in which those in need are excluded from the SRD Grant. It does not end here. There is a long journey ahead. And we are ready. Because what happens here can impact not only the SRD Grant, but the future of social protection in SA; towards a more fair, inclusive, and effective system that sees its people as the most important investment. Budget Cap The SRD is meant for the poorest right? E-e. It is for a few. And Treasury wants it less & less every year. Right now, +16mil qualify, but less than half access. Online-only Access No data? Smartphone broken? Stuck online? Uxolo, the only way to apply is online. SASSA offices are not even trained to help. flawed checks Once you apply, you will be checked against outdated databases. How is that right? everything = income Get help from family? Found a piecemeal job? Sold your stuff to survive? According to SASSA, that counts as “income”. starvation threshold Qaphela. More than R624 in your account = rejected. Kanti, having R625 for the family means we are still starving. fake Appeals Process Rejected, and you want to appeal? Shap. But no evidence is allowed. Baie dankie. No justice in this court.98% failure rate. Payments never made Approved? Halala! But were you paid? Pay dates that never arrive, verification links not sent, money disappeared, the list continues... poverty value received And if you get the R370? It is something, but barely. Our people deserve enough to survive AND to better their lives. The Key Issues The legal challenge highlights several critical issues that undermine the grant’s effectiveness and fairness. These include: Featured Products Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles. Best Sellers Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles. Back in Stock Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles. OUR STORIES The human impact of the injustices in the application and delivery of the SDG grant cannot be overlooked. The following stories are those of communities who have struggled for years to survive on a grant that is designed to fail them. Our Voice In The Media Join Our Facebook Group Visit Our YouTube Channel Follow Us On Twitter Contact US Media & Other Queries: media@paythegrants.org.za Grants Assistance: helpdesk@paythegrants.org.za Facebook: Pay The Grants Twitter: @PayTheGrants *We are not SASSA, & can only assist where able. **Explain any issues fully, but keep your security details safe. ***We are an independent organisation of community activists. Home About Stories Media Contact #Donate

Partner With Us Let's celebrate the unsung heroes of South Africa: The on-the-ground innovators creating positive change in their communities. Partner With Us Partner With Us STORIES THAT NEED TO BE TOLD Who they are Actionists are change-makers around South Africa working tirelessly towards a more equal, kind and compassionate society; challenging the narrative that nothing is being done. Where they are Actionists can be found in every town, in every province around the country. There are Actionists in every community, identifying problems and innovating to provide generous solutions. What we do We find Actionists around South Africa who are working to create a better society, then we promote and celebrate their vital work through storytelling, film and photography. Why we do it We believe that South Africa needs Actionists now more than ever. Together, we can inspire the nation through stories of those who are making an impact on the ground. PARTNER WITH US EXPLORE THE ACTIONISTS Willem Snyman Cleaning up rivers & reviving dead waters Thulani Madondo Upskilling & empowering the youth of Kliptown Keke Malakele Uplifting kids through robotics & coding Colin Northmore Filling classrooms to tackle xenophobia Arnold Sibanda Saluting black male positivity Jarryd Watson Uplifting through inclusive dance Simon Mphela Taking mental health to the streets Jess Robus Mental wellness for kids and teens Sibusiso Zulu Collecting sneakers for kids in need Janet Simpkins Nursing rivers back to health Otsile Nkadimeng Mobilising youth around climate change Desmond D'Sa Battling air, water & land pollution Kekeletso Khena A petition to stop statutory rape Bridget Munnik Drama & performance for social change Hlobisile Bathabile Yende Paving the way for women who farm Natania Botha Environmental awareness through art Wayne Jean-Pierre Restoring freedom by clearing criminal records Sandile Soxokashe Campaigning for peaceful protests Jesse Naidoo & Tammy Greyling Recycling for the community Gideon Swart The cafe that's fighting human traficking Drama For Life Changing lives through performance activism Sharne Jacobs Creating a safe space for skater girls Nathi Mazibuko The security guard feeding the homeless Jack Msibi Sporting goals to unite the community Manti Maifadi Healing through reconnecting with nature PARTNER WITH US WE TELL THE STORIES THAT MATTER TO YOU The Actionists is funded through partnerships with organisations who want to align with, and champion, positive change across South Africa. We discover and document social innovators working to uplift their communities, and provide you with high impact stories for exclusive use across your platforms, showcasing the causes that you care about. To ensure that we deliver a bespoke package that truly reflects the values of your organisation, we use the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to categorise our stories. OUR PACKAGES Just tell us how many stories you want, which provinces to cover and which SDGs you align with and we will do the rest. Our campaign packages, excluding travel costs*, are: 5 Stories - R85,000 10 Stories - R155,000 20 Stories - R285,000 *Costs vary depending on whether you want stories from a single province or a selection of locations around the country. As we are based in Johannesburg, travel in Gauteng is included in the package cost. GET IN TOUCH WHAT WE OFFER Visibility - Tell positive South African stories that align with your brand Impact - Help to unearth champions of progress around the country Value - Share exclusive content across all your platforms Connection - Find critical voices to become part of your story Upliftment - Celebrate your Actionists throughout your public spaces WHAT WE OFFER VISIBILITY Positive South African stories that align with your brand IMPACT Unearthing champions of progress across the country VALUE Exclusive content for your socials, web and publications CONNECTION Critical voices that become part of your story UPLIFTMENT A celebrate of Actionists across your public spaces OUR PARTNERS JOIN THE CELEBRATION As a value-added extra we offer you the chance to transform your public spaces into a bespoke Actionists exhibition; and become part of an evolving, modular gallery around the country. The Actionists About Partner With Us Contact Us FAQ ____________________ Thom Pierce Studios Menu Close GET IN TOUCH Contact us using the form on this page or the following details: Partner With Us partner@theactionists.co.za +27 (0)79 281 0313 General Enquiries info@theactionists.co.za First name* Last name* Company name Email* Phone Message SUBMIT Frequently Asked Questions Who makes The Actionists? The Actionists was created and developed by Thom Pierce, an award-winning portrait photographer. Visit www.thompiercestudios.com to learn more. Thom initially wrote all of the stories himself but now partners with the writer Joe Walsh. They are two British guys, living in Johannesburg, passionate about making a positive contribution in the country they now call home. What do we get? Our campaign packages are bespoke to your preferences of size, theme and locations. We deliver powerful content that can be used in a variety of ways across your platforms. Each Actionist campaign includes a written story of between 300-500 words, photographic portraits and a video interview. Whilst the content is for you, we also feature the campaigns on our website, newsletter and social media; including your logo and crediting you as the partner. What else can you offer? We have a number of optional extras that we can offer at an additional cost. These include: Media pack with portraits, captions and long form story of +- 3000 words. Social media ready content with captions and hashtags Exhibition ready framed prints and captions Magazine style publication of your stories Coffee table books featuring stories, company logos etc. How does it benefit The Actionists? Our goal is to publicise and celebrate the work of these incredible community change makers. By telling their story we hope to increase public recognition of their valuable work and build connections to those who may be able to support them. Once the stories are delivered, we work with our partners to put the stories out into the world through mainstream media, exhibitions, newsletters and social media. Do you require a deposit? An upfront deposit of 50% is required to cover our operational costs. The balance is due on delivery of the content. What is the process? Step 1: Get in touch. Tell us how many stories you want and which SDG's you align with. Step 2: The Pitch Within 10 business days we will pitch a collection of stories to you that we think will align with your values. Step 3: The Deposit If you are happy with our pitch, you pay the deposit to cover our expenses in making the stories. Step 4: Content Creation We will make the stories and deliver them to you usually within 30 days of the deposit being paid (depending on the amount of stories). Step 5: The Balance The balance of the project fee is due on delivery of the final content. Will you promote our stories? If you want us to we will share your campaign with our local media partner, Daily Maverick. It is at their own discretion whether they decide to publish the story. We will share all stories across our platforms; website, socials and newsletter. Whenever there is the possibility to exhibit or publish your stories we will contact you. Who owns the copyright? The copyright is owned by Thom Pierce Studios. Included in our cost is a full all media, global, perpetual license for you to use the content, without limitations. We sign a contract that states neither party will sell the content to anyone else, including stock libraries. There are many reasons why this works in your favour and we would be happy to discuss them with you before commencing the project. GET IN TOUCH Tel. +27 (0)79 281 0313 info@theactionists.co.za Johannesburg, South Africa © Thom Pierce Studios 2025 THE ACTIONISTS Home About Partner With Us Contact FAQ FOLLOW US Facebook
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21 The Actionists About Partner With Us Contact Us FAQ ____________________ Thom Pierce Studios Menu Close Drama For Life Changing lives through performance activism Hamish and Petro in the Drama For Life building at Wits University In the world of academia, Drama For Life is unique. It exists as a post-graduate programme that provides a space to increase the efficacy of performance-based messaging. Through arts intervention and drama therapy work they tackle public health, mental health, governance and environmental issues. But, alongside this academic course, Drama For Life also runs a series of outreach projects, a theatre company and a programme to promote mental health awareness in schools. Petro Janse Van Vuuren runs the academic programme and Hamish Neill is the director of projects. Together, their approach is focused on making important information more accessible and engaging, continuing the work started by programme founder and fellow Actionist, Warren Nebe. Whilst the academic programme is advertised as a post-graduate degree, the objective is to bring together experts and change-makers from around Africa, and beyond. They understand and embrace the power of expertise that originates from varied levels of education or educational backgrounds and, critically, years of hands-on experience. They offer a range of short, project-based bridging courses and recognise prior undocumented learning, experience and impact that equates to an undergraduate degree. “This is someone who has been doing this for 20 years, to not allow them in because they didn’t have the papers, well that wasn’t their choice…Our education programme is part of our activism. It’s not just about getting in post-grad students and ticking boxes.“ - Hamish Neill Drama For Life started in the early 2000s as a response to the fatigue that had set in around the dissemination of HIV information. There was a sense that important messaging was being lost in the oversaturated world of heavily funded HIV campaigns and that little was actually changing. It evolved into a space for the long-term effectiveness and standards of performance-based activism, and healing, to grow by focusing on facilitating discussions, critical reflection and development through applied theatre practices. They recognise that their role is to bring the right people together and provide the tools and space for them to learn from each other. “Our entire teaching programme relies on facilitating the collective information in the room.” - Petro Janse Van Vuuren It is not often that you come across an entire university department so passionate about creating change, and, rarer still, one that understands their role so clearly as a facilitator of others’ expertise. < Previous Item Next Item >

78 The Actionists About Partner With Us Contact Us FAQ ____________________ Thom Pierce Studios Menu Close Duduzile Xaba & Mbalizethu Khumalo Creating a vocational school in Orange Farm Duduzile Xaba & Mbalizethu Khumalo at the Afrika Tikkun Arekopaneng Community Centre in Orange Farm Dudu Xaba and Mbali Khumalo both grew up in Orange Farm, outside Johannesburg, but they took very different paths to the Young Urban Women movement within which they now passionately advocate for more opportunities and a brighter future for the residents of their downtrodden community. The YUW group runs out of two locations in South Africa but is represented in several African countries and India. In Gauteng, they have two bases, one in the Afrika Tikkun Arekopaneng Community Centre in Orange Farm and the other in the Uthando Centre in central Johannesburg. The programme itself is facilitated and run by ActionAid. The programme started as an afterschool support group in Orange Farm and Johannesburg, providing activities and engagement around issues that the young school girls were experiencing in their personal lives. More recently the programme has developed to include young women who have reached school-leaving age, but still need support and networks to thrive. “Young Urban Women brings together a group of young ladies all looking for a shared safe space to talk about our daily lives which have been greatly affected by our socio-economic status. Together we discuss and advocate against social injustices applied by government departments by implementing austerity measures, which often mean budget cuts on the social grants that we depend on.” - Mbali It is essentially a support group that facilitates dialogue and creates bridges between young women who all too often are in competition with each other rather than respectfully working together for a better future for all. As part of the YUW programme, Dudu and Mbali are on a mission to create a new vocational school in Orange Farm, one that could teach much-needed skills like plumbing, electrical work, carpentry and boiler-making to unemployed residents. Seeing how many people come into the IT department at the Africa Tikkun centre every day, they realise that there is a great need, and want, for people to be trained with skills that can make them money whilst also contributing to the upliftment of the community. There is so much need for skilled labourers with the ability to run their own businesses that Dudu and Mbali are sure that a vocational school will be the answer to many of the community's problems. “Orange Farm is the last undeveloped township. Many young boys and girls drop out of school. They can’t read and write. They are not passionate. A vocational school will decrease crime. There are many young people who want to do something.“ -Mbali “Everyone needs a fair chance in life. Let’s break protocols, rules and regulations that the government is putting on us and let us thrive in doing what we want, doing what we are passionate about. There is a young group of women who are pushing, advocating and want to be out there and heard. Not being at the back but being in the front. We have fresh ideas.” -Dudu The school isn't going to come quickly, it will take a lot of hard work to pull all of the necessary parts together, but the YUW are passionate and well-supported. They are starting by involving community members, the local council and other possible stakeholders. In time they want to start the school informally, asking local tradespeople to come and teach their skills to others in the community. In a country with so much unemployment and infrastructure that is rapidly aging it seems like a sensible plan to focus on the jobs that are needed to provide basic needs to the growing population. If it works, they could be creating a blueprint for change all around the country. “As young people can we collaborate, hold hands and support each other to make things happen.” - Dudu This story was created in partnership with Action Aid < Previous Item Next Item >

The Actionists is an ongoing campaign to champion change-makers around South Africa who are working towards a more equal, kind and compassionate society. They are the on-the-ground problem solvers, community activists, climate campaigners, and human rights defenders who won’t stop working for the change they want to see in the world. They are the people that challenge the narrative that nothing is being done. The Actionists About Partner With Us Contact Us FAQ ____________________ Thom Pierce Studios Menu Close © Thom Pierce Studios 2025 Celebrating the unsung heroes of South Africa on-the-ground innovators creating positive change in their communities The Actionists About Partner With Us Contact Us FAQ ____________________ Thom Pierce Studios Menu Close Celebrating the unsung heroes of South Africa on-the-ground innovators creating positive change in their communities Willem Snyman Cleaning up rivers & reviving dead waters Thulani Madondo Upskilling & empowering the youth of Kliptown Keke Malakele Uplifting kids through robotics & coding Colin Northmore Filling classrooms to tackle xenophobia Arnold Sibanda Saluting black male positivity Jarryd Watson Uplifting through inclusive dance Simon Mphela Taking mental health to the streets Jess Robus Mental wellness for kids and teens Sibusiso Zulu Collecting sneakers for kids in need Janet Simpkins Nursing rivers back to health Otsile Nkadimeng Mobilising youth around climate change Desmond D'Sa Battling air, water & land pollution Kekeletso Khena A petition to stop statutory rape Bridget Munnik Drama & performance for social change Hlobisile Bathabile Yende Paving the way for women who farm Natania Botha Environmental awareness through art Wayne Jean-Pierre Restoring freedom by clearing criminal records Sandile Soxokashe Campaigning for peaceful protests Jesse Naidoo & Tammy Greyling Recycling for the community Gideon Swart The cafe that's fighting human traficking Drama For Life Changing lives through performance activism Sharne Jacobs Creating a safe space for skater girls Nathi Mazibuko The security guard feeding the homeless Jack Msibi Sporting goals to unite the community Manti Maifadi Healing through reconnecting with nature BACK TO TOP OUR PARTNERS We partner with organisations who align with, and champion, The Actionists; inspiring and working towards a better South Africa together. PARTNER WITH US FILTER & SEARCH Filter by Sustainable Development Goals Select SDG Filter by Province Select Province Filter by Partner Select Partner

9 The Actionists About Partner With Us Contact Us FAQ ____________________ Thom Pierce Studios Menu Close Sibusiso Zulu Collecting sneakers for kids in need Sibusiso Zulu at Victoria Yards, Johannesburg In his own words, Sibusiso Zulu is “an ambassador for creativity and social change” and it all began with Sneakers 4 Change… In 2013 Sibu had one pair of sneakers. They had a hole in the side, so he used to stand with one foot behind the other to hide it from the other artists, musicians and skaters who he hung out with on the streets of Maboneng. As a plan to get new shoes for himself and his friends, Sibu approached a local club owner and proposed the idea of hosting an event where people could pay for entry by donating a pair of old sneakers. They received 38 pairs and, after taking a few for himself and his friends, he decided to clean them up and donate them to Twilight Children’s Home. “I felt like I had done something really amazing and the kids were really grateful.” After seeing the effect this had on the kids, his focus quickly shifted from hosting events, to collecting and redistributing used sneakers. He started emailing schools and asking them to encourage the parents to bring in any old sneakers that their kids had outgrown. From the first school, he received 1,000 pairs. “I had taken public transport to go and collect the shoes but when I got there and saw how many there were I had to go home, hire a bakkie and come back the next day.” Since 2013, Sibu estimates that he has redistributed around 12,000 pairs of sneakers to various beneficiaries. Over the last few years, Sibu has started various new ventures through his partnership with Makers Valley in Victoria Yards, Johannesburg. These include poetry sessions, youth expos, and his newest venture Swyft Lab - a clothing swap shop and customisation company that focuses on sustainability, environmental impact, and the circular economy. It’s a win-win situation, providing people with a fresh wardrobe whilst also using local art, design, and craft to prolong the life of clothing. < Previous Item Next Item >

10 The Actionists About Partner With Us Contact Us FAQ ____________________ Thom Pierce Studios Menu Close Janet Simpkins Nursing rivers back to health Janet Simpkins at a river cleanup, KZN Janet Simpkins is a passionate paddler who has competed both locally and internationally and today remains in the sport in an administrative role. Growing up on a 5-acre plot of indigenous forest in the north of Johannesburg set her up for an outdoor life, blessed with fresh air, clean water and an abundance of wildlife. Moving to the suburb of Emmarentia for schooling, she discovered her passion for water sports at Emmarentia Dam’s Dabulamanzi Canoe Club. It wasn’t until Janet and her husband left Gauteng for a KZN coastal lifestyle for their family, that she became acutely aware of the state of the rivers and the growing extent of water pollution - and limited action being taken to combat it. Her children were involved in lifesaving and with a son, and husband still paddling, the personal safety of her loved ones was at risk. Instead of ordering them out of the water, Janet embarked on a campaign to save the rivers in Durban. “This is not my profession. I didn't study anything environmental-based. I’m not a scientist. I was first and foremost a mother and wanted something better for my family. I am so concerned about the world we are leaving for our kids. That’s the driving factor.” It was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the polluted rivers. Besides the ‘common’ diarrhoea cases there were also cases of hepatitis being reported. What started as a personal mission driven by the need to protect her family and the watersports that she loved, quickly developed into a campaign that included a broader concern for the environment and communities that relied on the water for their livelihoods. What began as a ‘Save Our Rivers’ campaign and pilot project in 2019, focusing mainly on the uMngeni Catchment, quickly evolved into a more sustainable and formalised structure when Janet registered her non-profit Adopt a River in 2020. Janet realised that to have any impact on an ongoing basis would be unsustainable without funding. As with many similar ventures, the need for sponsorship meant that they had to formalise. The idea behind Adopt-A-River is to engage government and corporations to partner and sponsor the cleanup of small stretches of river. By upskilling and empowering local communities they can allow for multiple grassroots cleanup operations using sustainable, community-based solutions to regenerate healthy waterways. “Recognising that there are huge problems that I cannot solve alone and by taking small stretches of a waterway, focusing on small areas, you can make meaningful changes. If you concentrate on community and you start introducing jobs, education and upliftment it can shine through and when you get it right in one area it can spread.” Whilst Janet is clearly tackling the scale of the pollution by focusing on multiple small cleanups, she is aware that the problem will not be solved simply by cleaning up waste on an ongoing basis. The problem, she clearly states, goes back to us as consumers and our waste responsibility, the products that we are putting down our drains for example, what we are sending to landfill, and the impact it has once it has left our homes. By her own admission, she has become a “recycler on steroids” and she understands the need to encourage others to do the same. But in the meantime Janet is doing what she can to provide cleaner and healthier waterways for the environment, her sports-loving friends, as well as the much wider community who rely on the rivers as a vital resource. < Previous Item Next Item >

64 The Actionists About Partner With Us Contact Us FAQ ____________________ Thom Pierce Studios Menu Close Siyabonga Ndlangamandla Hydroponic vegetables for the community Siyabonga Ndlangamandla in his hydroponic garden There is a very clear division between the work that Siyabonga does for-profit and the work he does for the community. The two, however, are inseparable. As with most Actionists, there is a clear understanding that if he did not feed himself, then he could not help to feed anyone else. For-profit Siyabonga grows vegetables in a hydroponic garden. He feeds himself and sells the organic produce commercially through Food Lovers Market. For the community, Siyabonga runs a community garden that aims to provide the people of Bez Valley, Johannesburg with an ongoing source of fresh vegetables. In a community where there are often 20 people living in a single household, it is a generous and valuable venture. Not only that but through the garden, he aims to up-skill and enable people from the community to grow their own food at home. “We grew up having enough and it was always important to share. We cannot just be eating whilst someone else, next to you, goes without.” Siyabonga was raised on his grandfather’s farm where, as children, they had to work in the fields. Even though he hated it at the time, as he grew up he realised his passion for farming which came from his grandfather. At a young age, Siyabonga became passionate about food security and sustainability. It was ingrained in him to do something for others and, living in a poor area of Johannesburg, he saw the opportunity to help using the skills that he had. When I asked him what he needs in order to run his operations better he said nothing, but that he would like to donate time to teach at schools about food security. < Previous Item Next Item >

50 The Actionists About Partner With Us Contact Us FAQ ____________________ Thom Pierce Studios Menu Close Thato Mphuthi Challenging disability stigma through education Thato Mphuthi at home in Soweto, Gauteng So much Actionism is driven by personal experience and the need to make sure that nobody else suffers in the same way. No more so than for Thato Mphuthi, a powerful voice for the rights of people with disabilities. At 8 years old Thato was diagnosed with TB of the right hip. She had to rely on crutches to get around and took a long time to adjust to her new way of moving. Not only was she in pain and drastically restricted in her movement, but she also became alienated from her friends and fearful of being picked on. For a year her classroom was on the first floor and, only being able to cope with navigating the stairs once a day, she had to stay upstairs for the whole day, unable to join in at break time or enjoy lunch with her friends. In high school, the bullying got worse and she became more introverted. She wrote a poem called “Imizwayami” (My Feelings) for an assignment and performed it in front of her class. It was a raw expression of her experiences as a person with a disability. The performance prompted a change in attitude from many of her fellow students and lit a fire in Thato, proving that she had the ability to change people’s perceptions of her. After leaving school Thato slowly started to engage with activists. She was introduced to the One In Nine Campaign, working with survivors of GBV and the Young Urban Woman Movement and Activate. I am so grateful for the experience that came with having this condition because it changed my outlook on life and opened me up to different things ... I often say to my friends that this feels like a hug to my 8-year-old self who could not speak for themselves at the time. The work that I am doing, as much as I am passionate about it, is also my way of healing. In 2020 Thato started her own NPO, Enabled Enlightenment, as a way to educate children about issues relating to disability, encouraging them to live as good examples to others in their communities. Once she started to run workshops in schools, the program was broadened to include issues of consent, body autonomy, GBV, and sexual and reproductive health. Thato is wearing the Disability Pride T-Shirt designed by tebo x emeka which can be bought through the link in our online store. < Previous Item Next Item >

38 The Actionists About Partner With Us Contact Us FAQ ____________________ Thom Pierce Studios Menu Close Siyabonga Mahlangu Supporting Joburg's inner-city tenants Siyabonga Mahlangu in downtown Johannesburg Siyabonga Mahlangu runs a community-based organisation in downtown Johannesburg called the Inner City Federation. Its purpose is to provide support to vulnerable tenants in low-cost housing who are being exploited by landlords, corrupt city officials, and fake building owners. These situations may seem fantastical but, in a city where the law is sparsely enforced, they are all too common. In 2013 the owner of the building where Siyabonga rented an apartment passed away, and the building was put up for auction. He was presented with an eviction order and told to leave. He had lived there for five years. Through a court hearing and subsequent appeal process, Siyabonga learned that The City of Johannesburg has an obligation to provide alternative accommodation to anyone being evicted whose personal circumstances indicate that they could not afford a new place to live. In his case, it was ruled that The City must provide him with alternative accommodation before he could be evicted. It took five years for Siyabonga to be rehoused and it eventually happened only after the entire building was destroyed in an accidental fire during the first coronavirus lockdown. Throughout the six-year process, Siyabonga was faced with the prospect of being left homeless on several occasions. He experienced, first-hand, the frustration and helplessness that thousands of others face due to the lack of rights and accountability for the welfare of low-income tenants in Johannesburg. But it lit a fire in him to commit his life to help other people who were struggling in similar circumstances... “I promised myself that I would fight for human rights. I will make sure that they are recognised, fulfilled, and protected ...That’s what I tell myself each and every day.” From a small room in Braamfontein, Siyabonga and his team provide free support to 50 buildings in the city centre and deliver valuable services to some of the most exploited residents of Johannesburg’s low-cost housing. Every month Siyabonga and his colleague Sifiso facilitate a meeting between members of the buildings committees. A valuable space for them to come together and discuss issues that they face, and to share advice and solutions that have worked in the past. Siyabonga and Sifiso also take on cases where tenants need more personal support. In these instances, they provide mediation with the landlord or the City; or act as a link to legal representation for court proceedings. < Previous Item Next Item >