Interview with Simon KOBEDI

Irenees :

May you introduce yourself, please?

Simon Kobedi :

Simon Kobedi Youth programme coordinator - Action for Conflict Transformation.

Irenees :

Which are, according to you, the most important changes known by South Africa since the official abolition of the apartheid proclaimed in 1993?

Simon Kobedi :

A lot seems to have changed over the period of 14 years since political freedom was acheived and democratic elections were held in South Africa and this would be referred to as political change in regime and economical change in policies to empower those who are previously disadvantaged and this has allowed more opportunities, opened more doors even to foreign investment to a promising country in the African Continent. South Africa has had a fast growing economy and seems to have established good trade links over some time now and has become one of the influential countries on peace building and an example for many countries that peace cannot be kept by force but can only be achieved through dialogue.

Irenees :

South Africa gives the image of a Nation having made successfully in the end of the 2Oth century a peaceful transition of a racist, authoritarian and repressive regime to a democratic regime: what are the challenges which at present South Africa is confronted?

Simon Kobedi :

The new South Africa is now starting to experience a friction in political leadership with the newly elected persons to office of the rulling party (ANC) and the bitterness of the two camps and one by President Thabo Mbeki, the other by his former Deputy who is accused for corruption on 12 counts and is the newly elected president of the ruling party. The ruling party which is the African National Congress (ANC) is greatly dominated by the black community which is the majority in the country. The opposition parties are not so strong in terms of approaching matters of their concern and to challenge for the ruling party who holds the majority votes of the black people. Additional to this political dilemma other oppositions like the Democratic Alliance which is greatly dominant of whites and also mostly represents the interests of white community always appears controversial to South African issues. There is the Independent Democrats which is greatly dominant of the coloured Community and represents the Interest of the coloured community. The whole political situation is Absurd as it mobilizes youth as the main actors to carry on legacy of race division. Economically the country is experiencing a lot of inflation hike, food hikes, Job looses and more unemployed people. Crime is one of the most contributing factors to the laps in economy and every sector of the Government seems not to be coping with the current conditions including service delivery to the grass roots by local government has had a poor impact in turn communities have resorted to violent demonstrations and is continuing, there is problems for big companies like Eskom which is responsible for electricity supply for the country and has been impounding with the cut offs and affecting other business particularly the mining sectors which the major contributor too the economy of the country. Socially issues of racism and tribalism are on the rise as there have been more cases of conflict and this is affecting the process of transformation as it is not properly addressed and not much is done from our leadership as it is their area of manipulation to score more political points. The social fabric causes the doubts in good business links between local people themselves and evokes the attitude of no trust.

Irenees :

How did you and your family live through apartheid, then the transition stage?

Simon Kobedi :

With my Father being a member of the Trade Union at that time it was difficult as we seldom experienced police harassment and our movement was always under guard even my days of academy where difficult as I feared to be attacked anytime as means of avenging my father‘s participation in politics, however we have managed and today we also enjoy the freedom we fought for.

Irenees :

What do you think of the efforts to establish the truth and to promote national reconciliation begun by the Truth and reconciliation Commission chaired by Sir Desmond Tutu?

Simon Kobedi :

These for me was the most important process for our country and it did contribute to the transitional process, however I also believe that more could have been done in term of reconciliation and it is more visible now the importance of that part of the process as people continue to blame, undermine and exclude each other according to race and tribe.

Irenees :

Which are the actions you operate for peace building?

Simon Kobedi :

Building capacity for communities to empower them with skills for conflict transformation as they are going throuhg transformation, education on human rights, life skills programme, multi-cultural camps, peace clubs conferences with South African youth, peace education at schools and theatre for conflict transformation.

Irenees :

You work with young people. What are your work aims? What is, according to you, the role of young people in the future of the country?

Simon Kobedi :

To assist young people to realise the dangers of using their difference negatively in the way that affects the relations between them.

Irenees :

Johannesburg is known for his High level of crime: The « young people » in a general sense are accused of being among the first actors of this crime: what do you think of it?

Simon Kobedi :

There is two answers to it « yes » and « no »: « yes » because most of these people who are filling our prisons are young people; « no » because they are mostly used by adults and it gets to be blamed on them.

Irenees :

What were the decisive reasons of your commitment for the peace?

Simon Kobedi :

Respect for Human Lives.

Irenees :

What does « peace » mean to you?

Simon Kobedi :

A continue process to create a harmonious environment between like and unlike minds.

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