Stretch the Rand Campaign

Our survival kit

Blacks in this country face enormous social, economic and developmental problems which are a legacy of our defeat and subsequent centuries of colonialism and oppression. Our freedom from political oppression, as marked by our first vote in 1994, has not made a dent on our socio-economic problems. The "Stretch The Rand" Campaign is meant to help us on the road to economic freedom. It proceeds on the premise that nobody can affirm us economically and socially more than we can affirm ourselves. It is clarion call for Blacks to stand up and fight for their own economic and social advancement.

The Black condition

Despite the fact that we are indigenous and the vast majority in this country of our forebears, we are at the bottom of the pile in every sphere

of life. We are indeed in bad shape and some of the statistics below testify to that :

- Blacks own less than 13% of land in this country.

- Blacks control only 2% of the economy of the South Africa.

- Less than 1% of all Chartered Accountants are Black.

- Only about 1000 out of 26 000 Medical Doctors are Black.

- 13% of all Lawyers in this country are Black.

- 15 million of us are jobless.

- 7 million Blacks are homeless.

- 80% Blacks have no tap water in their homes.

- 60% of us have no access to electricity.

- Over 75% of Black families live below the poverty datum line.

Figures and statistics aside, we know that Blacks are associated with most of the negative things in our country. we are synonymous with mikhukhu,

street kids, car hijackings and so on. When you see a shack, you know a Black person lives in it. You do not have to ask. The same notions and

images pertain to street kids and car hijackings.

We know that when people call for the death penalty for criminals, they are in fact saying : hang these blacks !

We know that when it is said matric results are bad, in fact, it means Blacks are failing matric.

It is clear that our collective image and dignity as people are terribly injured by these problems which are our direct inheritance from colonialism

and racist oppression.

Our Complicity

The condition of Blacks will not change as long as self-hatred and love of others persist among Blacks. While we do not support one another 's endeavours, we support other races to dominate us.

Whites just know that when they have a legal matter, they go to white lawyers.

They do not even talk about or debate it.

When they are sick, they go to white doctors, dentists, optometrists and other medical people.

When they are hungry, they patronise white restaurants and cafes.

Even if Black lawyers, doctors and cafe owners operate from offices, surgeries and cafes in towns and cities, whites will not patronise them.

However, Blacks are seen everyday queuing in white doctors' surgeries, white lawyers' offices, banks, insurance companies, funeral undertakers and supermarkets. We seem to think it is natural for us to enrich others and some of us might subliminally take pride in doing so. Blacks are the only race group that opens business only for themselves, but other races do it for everybody. Our attitude towards ourselves and our efforts is our biggest enemy.

Stretch the Rand : Our Survival

This is a simple and straight forward call to Blacks to uplift themselves through mutual support. For instance, if you were to build a house, try

your level best to use a Black house planner, brick layers, carpenters, electricians, plumbers and painters.

If you are sick, see a Black doctor.

If you have a legal problem, go to a Black lawyer.

If your tank is empty, fill up at a Black owned garage.

If you have a party, a wedding or funeral, use a Black Printer, Caterer or Undertaker.

In turn, Black business people, professionals and others, donate at least once a year, learning materials at schools nearest to them. This could be

done with ceremonies for good effect.

What will this do ?

1. Make the few Rands we have as Blacks to circulate longer in our ranks.

2. Increase economic solidarity among us.

3. Lift the economic standards of Blacks, especially in the townships and villages.

4. Improve our educational standards, improving chances of us producing more accountants, engineers, doctors, etc.

5. Reduce crime in our communities.

6. Create a better environment for economic activity in our townships and villages.

7. Give our direct contact with role models in the form of business people, professionals and others who come to school once a year to donate and celebrate.

8. Give our learners and educators moral and material support so that they may succeed.

9. Enhance community spirit and cohesion in our townships and villages.

10. Give us muscle in dealings with those who still control the greater heights of our economy.

Collective Dignity

The "Stretch The Rand" Campaign does not isolate us from the economy of our country, nor does it solve all our problems. But it is a huge psychological and material step to launch us on to the road to progress and collective dignity.

The President of this country might be Black, intelligent, staying in a good house and driving good car. But his dignity is diminished by the number of his people who are homeless, unemployed and suffering.

The dignity of an individual US citizen, for instance, is enhanced by the collective dignity of the powerful and dignified United States. Similarly, the dignity of an individual in our country is dependent on the collective dignity of the racial group that person belongs to. By virtue of their social and economic domination, whites have the highest collective dignity in South Africa. Blacks, both as individuals and as collective, have the lowest dignity.

It is our duty and responsibility to enhance our collective and individual dignity through collective economic action. Let us Stretch the Rand !

For more Information contact AZAPO at :

P.O.Box 4230

JOHANNESBURG

2000

Tel. : (011) 333 6681