The Khoesan Indigenous Women in Action (KIWIA) marked World Indigenous Day and National Women\u2019s Day with a prayer ceremony and event at Retreat Civic Centre on Saturday 19 August. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leading the prayer ceremony, which included the release of white doves, Khoisan chief John Jansen said their vision was to restore the humanity of indigenous people in the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are involved in the struggle to get the Khoisan recognised as the first indigenous people of South Africa and women (are) one component of the Khoisan broader struggle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe would like to see us become what we are supposed to be because there is no history on this earth as Coloureds. We have been labelled and made Coloureds by two of the world\u2019s vicious political systems of colonialism and apartheid.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jansen says they aim to restore the culture, heritage and healing of the Khoisan community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou can see through the social fiber of our people in this country, what happened to us over many years under apartheid and colonialism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe initiatives of today are one of many we want to use to start restoring our indigenous culture, heritage and healing for what our people went through under apartheid and colonialism.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking at the event, Ward 72 councillor Kevin Southgate said it was important to not only look at challenges but also to look back and celebrate local heroes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe people who marched to the Union Buildings many years ago can today look back and celebrate a number of victories. However, within our own midst as the Khoisan community, we have a heroine in the name of Eva Krotoa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe was a hero but was never given the acclamation that was due to her and we need to start identifying our own heroes. Because if we look at Krotoa and us today and we ask ourselves, what do we have to show? Absolutely nothing.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Southgate added that the Khoisan community still faced many struggles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are still struggling today and as Chief Jansen has indicated we are almost like homeless in a country that belongs to the Khoisan community. Everyone talks about 1910 and what happened after but in 1652 when Jan van Riebeek came here, we were already here and that is part of the history that we share as the Khoisan community.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mark Killian, associate pastor at the Eagle Life Apostolic House, pointed out that it was important to focus on spiritual healing during the process of restitution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m a local pastor in this area for a very long time. It\u2019s so true, that we, as Khoisan people are still being marginalised in a great way and if we don\u2019t unite as one people, we will never be able to get back what was taken from our people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy late mom and all her siblings have passed away and there\u2019s still a struggle for our family to get back the land that was taken from my late mom and her siblings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn life, four things are very important to me. Our current government needs to acknowledge us firstly as human beings because we are seriously being misused, to put people in authority and power and then we are forgotten. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI strongly believe that our leaders and our nation should stand up and repent.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Killian says for restitution to take place forgiveness must be sought. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cForgiveness must be asked and then there must be restitution to our people. It is not redistribution of land and giving land away to anyone as they want to do now and then there must be restitution.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Khoesan Indigenous Women in Action (KIWIA) marked World Indigenous Day and National Women\u2019s Day with a prayer ceremony and event at Retreat Civic Centre on Saturday 19 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