Man whose heart longs for growth of Mams Development of township at core of what I do, says Mogase
COMMUNITY activist Aubrey Mogase says the development of people in Mamelodi has always been at the heart of what he does.
The 48-year-old was instrumental in the founding of Mams FM in 1995.
In 2013 he initiated activist organisation Mošito wa Mamelodi with a view to promote the township heritage and its development.
Mogase says: “I would like to see the township being one of the most respected in the country, with people who understand their place in society.
“There is nothing that seems to be happening in the township. There are not many activities. Everything seems to be falling apart.”
He says the idea behind founding Mams FM was to have it used by residents as a vehicle to tell the township story.
Looking back at how Mams FM has fared over the years, Mogase says: “To be honest, it has not been effective in terms of promoting the history of Mamelodi.”
Mogase left the radio station in 2012.
“I am presently involved in setting up an online radio which should go on air before the end of October,” he says.
His departure from the station led to the establishment of Mošito wa Mamelodi.
“When I realised that the history of the township was being thrown into a dustbin I couldn’t sit by and do nothing.
“I then started Mošito to tell the history of Mamelodi,” he says.
Mošito has a website, which is used to capture the history of Mamelodi and cultural events in the area.
His dream is to see Mamelodi being the epitome of heritage and also an economic hub in the country.
“Mamelodi is rich and yet many people don’t know about it. Imagine Mamelodi as a country – this is the preamble I often use to make people see the bigger picture of the township,” he says.
His other passion is to see the empowerment of young people, which he wants prioritised “…because they are the future”.
Very recently, Mogase engaged with the Walter Sisulu Environmental Centre.
There he played a pivotal role
‘‘ The idea behind the setting up of Mams FM was to have it used as a vehicle to tell the township story
in motivating young people to take care of their environment. Among projects he engages in at the centre is the cultivation of a culture of reading among young people, under the banner of a community library.
“Seeing other people having to contribute towards the betterment of the next person motivates me. “I am an activist by birth. “Money is not everything, seeing people developing, that is what I live for,” he says.
Mogase also works closely with local artists with a view to assist them to grow musically. “I also work with visual artists. “We have realised that our traditional music is falling so we are encouraging young people to revive that kind of music.”
He says he is in talks with one legendary musician from the township, Vusi Mahlasela, because he would like him to participate in the project.
“We want him to hone the musical skills of young people and teach them how to play different instruments.”
He recounts that Mamelodi existed long before it was re-named Mamelodi.
Mamelodi was proclaimed a township in 1953 and formal housing construction started in 1945, he says.
However, in the 1800s, the place was already occupied by some people and in 1883 much development started steadily taking shape there.