Butjwana Seokoma's blog
Report Back on Lotto March
Many thanks to the 450 NGOs who marched to the National Lotteries Board (NLB) offices in Pretoria and the hundreds who signed our petition and supported us. NGOs from throughout South Africa i.e. Eastern, Western and Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, North West, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and Gauteng. People travelled from as far as Secunda, Nelspruit, Vereeniging to voice their outrage – one only has to look at the posters to gage their opinions.
Lotto Funding Crisis: Struggle to Hold NLB Accountable
The frustrations experienced by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) when applying for lotto funding came under spotlight when a group of NGOs marched to the National Lotteries Board (NLB) offices on 27 January 2012 in Pretoria.
The march highlighted NGOs’ concerns regarding the Lotto which are well-documented in a study undertaken by the Funding Practice Alliance, the class action to the Western Cape High Court and other related issues.
ANC: Celebrating 100 Years of Existence
The African National Congress (ANC) held its 100th birthday celebrations from 6-8 January 2011 in Mangaung, Free State, where it was formed in 1912. The celebrations featured events which were attended by among others, sitting and former heads of state, ANC members and supporters from all over South Arica and the alliance partners.
Below are the messages of support to mark the ANC’s centenary:
Animated HIV/AIDS Educational Videos
Headed by Drs Rick and Anita Gutierrez, the Bethel Health Builders organisation, in partnership with the Health Economics and New HIV/AIDS Research Division (HEARD) and the Regional AIDS Training Network (RATN), produced a series of videos aimed at providing cost-effective health education on HIV/AIDS to people living in Sub-Saharan Africa.
This three-part series tackle:
Concern to the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund
Since we submitted applications for funding to Lottery last year in March and received a short message service (SMS) acknowledging that our application was received, there is no communication or whatsoever. We have entered Christmas and the New Year a new year without any message.
Applications should not take so much time without a response. We appeal to the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF) to consider other mechanisms to speed up the processes of responding to application for funding.
For Profits Profiting Nonprofits - The Perfect Partnership
It’s an unusual place for nonprofits to be but for us it was exciting. Not just because we were there to receive a donation (which always makes me happy), but because of the way the money was given.
Why the Information Bill Matters to Us Ikamvanites
Let’s be frank, Black Tuesday came and went for the majority of IkamvaYouth without much fanfare as the Secrecy Bill passed through parliament. A few Ikamvanites wore black, tweeted or re-tweeted on a selection of the events of the day but – by in large – the day was much like any other with immediate concerns such as passing exams and more mundane everyday issues taking priority.
Achieving Social Change
Earlier this year I applied to the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) to study their course in social entrepreneurship. It’s a phrase that smacked of jargon and one which I felt I probably knew enough about anyway. I set up a social enterprise that copied a United Kingdom model unsuccessfully in South Africa. It wasn’t an entirely new concept.
Endorse the Journalist's Declaration on the Protection of State Information Bill
They are calling on all journalists working in the community, public and commercial media to add their names to the statement.
Here is the Declaration:
Investigating a Sustainable Model for Implementing Community Television in South Africa
