Interactive discussion (2): the South Africa we all want to live in
MEDIA RELEASE
INTERACTIVE DISCUSSION IN PAARL ON THE SOUTH AFRICA WE ALL WANT TO LIVE IN
Members of the public, especially those involved in non-governmental and community organisations, are invited to the Library at Paarl Boys High, Paarl, on Thursday 14 March 2019 to discuss what they would want in a future South Africa.
The event, hosted by Radio KC, the Community Chest of the Western Cape, the District Six Museum and the One City, Many Cultures Project, follows a similar discussion at the District Six Homecoming Centre in February where it was decided to broaden the discussion to towns around the Western Cape.
The discussion, facilitated by media expert Ryland Fisher and Bonita Bennett, director of the District Six Museum, will reverse the traditional trend of panel discussions. The discussion will start with inputs from the floor and invited respondents in the audience will be allowed to comment at the end. This is to ensure that more people are able to participate in the discussion within the limited time allocated.
“We started with a discussion on the role of NGOs in an election year and followed this up with a discussion on the South Africa we all want to live in. It became clear that we needed to take this discussion outside of the Cape Town metropolitan area,” said Community Chest CEO Lorenzo Davids.
The District Six Museum’s Bennett added: “We want to know from a range of people what are the issues we want government to deal with. How do we interact with government in a way that will help them achieve a more equitable society? How do we fix the many things that are wrong in our country so that we can all look forward to a better and more positive future? What do we want the country we live in to look like?
“We will bring together a group of people who are interested in taking forward the vision of a more equitable society irrespective of political affiliation. Our aim is not to point fingers at anyone but to help in the search for solutions.”
Radio KC Chairperson, Dr. Harlan Cloete said that the discussions were important to ensure proper democracy in our country. “Our democracy is incomplete, and these conversations will give effect to participatory democracy. We will make a concerted effort to ensure that the young people, who are the future, attend.”
Fisher said that after all the dialogues – the final one will be in June, after the elections – the organisers intend to draw up a report that will be circulated to senior politicians and municipalities throughout South Africa to give them an idea of the views of ordinary South Africans.
The Paarl dialogue will be the second in the “South Africa We Want” series. It will be followed by one in Stellenbosch on Tuesday 19 March.
Lights snacks will be served before and after the discussion. For catering purposes, RSVP to reception@districtsix.co.za.
The event details in summary:
Event: Interactive discussion on the South Africa we all want to live in
Hosted by: Radio KC, District Six Museum, the Community Chest of the Western Cape and One City, Many Cultures Project
When: Thursday 14 March 2019
Where: Library, Paarl Boys High, Paarl
Time: 5.30pm for 6pm until 8pm
For more information, contact Ryland Fisher (rylandfisher@mweb.co.za or 082 800 5326), Bonita Bennett (bonita@districtsix.co.za or 021 466 7200) or Lorenzo Davids (ldavids@comchest.org.za or 021 487 1500)