Soweto outages mean electric-wheelchair users are stuck
Beyers Naudé’s spirit looms large in Alex
MASENTLE Mofokeng depends on her electric-powered wheelchair to get around. From last Wednesday, though, she has struggled to move about because intermittent outages have made it a mission for the Protea Glen, Soweto, resident to charge her wheelchair.
When the battery is flat, she asks boys from the community to push her around and they do it – at a fee. THEIR voices are raised they sing his praises.
“We are grateful for ‘Oom Bey’, he is an example for all of us to follow,” said Reverend Nicholas Mashiane.
The commemoration for what would have been the 100th birthday for the late anti-apartheid stalwart and Christian theologian Beyers Naudé took place at the Alexandra Uniting Reformed Church yesterday.
“This is the exact church that ‘ Oom Bey’ worked with during his time in Alexandra. He was the reverend of this church from 1980 until 1993,” said Mashiane.
“I took over from him – he taught me everything I know. He was my role model and a role model for most people in Alex. His heart was always here,” he said.
Mofokeng lives at Tokologo, a home for people with disabilities.
On Friday she tricity had been 11am to 9pm.
“We did not have breakfast and lunch, some of us could not move around, because these wheelchairs need electricity.”
In Orlando East, William Ledwaba, the owner of a panelbeating business, stood outside his workshop where expensive German sedans were in for repairs. He hasn’t
Church council member Harvey Phalatse said Naudé had always been deeply associated with the Alexandra community. “He was a symbol of reconciliation. He showed South Africa that blacks and whites could live together peacefully.”
Phalatse said Naudé had come specifically chosen to work with the Alexandra Uniting Reformed Church in 1980 because he had realised the wrongs of the apartheid regime and wanted to fight for those who were oppressed.
“Today is an auspicious day – it is both ‘ Oom Bey’s’ birthday and the day Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as president. It’s a special day to celebrate both their lives and their legacies.” Phalatse said.
Naudé’s oldest son, Johan Naudé, said his father had left a legacy which encouraged all South Africans, including the Alexandra com- been able to meet his deadlines. His phone has been ringing off the hook with customers calling him to check if their cars are ready for collection.
Ledwaba says electricity was off from noon to 7pm on Tuesday, and then for another two hours on Wednesday, from 10am. On Friday, there was no power from 8am to 2pm. He says he has lost about R60 000 in profit. He doesn’t know if he can pay his 15 employees.
“We can’t munity, never to lose hope.
“He was a freedom fighter and a fighter for people’s rights. His inspiration still encourages the youth to continue fighting for their rights and to continue hoping for the betterment of our society.”
He said his father taught him many valuable life lessons, including saying sorry.
“During the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, my father apologised for the shedding, because it has no schedule.
“I can’t make payments, my employees also need salaries; it is difficult. We are suffering as small businesses,” Ledwaba said.
He would buy a generator if he could afford it, but a generator big enough to power his business would cost R250 000.
“As I speak to you now, we are sitting without cash flow.”
Mariam Rafedile of Moroka is also frustrated.
One of the rooms in her wrongs he had committed before joining the antiapartheid movement. At the time, I could not understand why he had done this, but eventually I realised that he was teaching us to swallow our pride and say sorry even before we act,” said Naudé.
“He taught us to respect each other and respect each other’s cultures and beliefs.”
A woman who attended the service said she had come to house was gutted when a candle was left unattended on Saturday night. She blames Eskom. “I had to continue, I could not stop because of electricity. If it were not for power cuts, my house would not have burnt.”
She said there was no electricity from 7am to 12.30pm on Friday, and on Saturday power was cut from 6pm to 10pm.
The greater part of Orlando East was still without electricity late yesterday. show her respect to Naudé.
“He joined our Struggle, he understood our pain and our suffering. He was there for us always,” she said.
Community members Patuel Poo and Pule Mosenohi said Naudé had been like a grandfather to them.
“He left a legacy for us. He was a giant hero who fought against apartheid with everything he had,” said Poo.
“He played a major role in practical reconciliation with those who had wronged him and showing that all people can live together side-byside,” Mosenohi added.