ancdakawa Dakawa Development Center Dakawa Development Centre Finding aid prepared by Mosoabuli Maamoe. University of Fort Hare Library, ANC Archives September 21, 2005
Finding aid encoded by Mosoabuli Maamoe on September 21, 2005 Overview of the Collection University of Fort Hare Library, ANC Archives
Dakawa Development Centre Dakawa Development Centre records 1974-1993 5.7 linear metre In South Africa today, the word Dakawa is synonymous with the Art and Craft Community Centre in the Eastern Cape town of Grahamstown. Few of those who visited the centre might not know that the original Dakawa was a settlement fifty-five kilometers north of the provincial town of Morogoro, in Tanzania, and that the artistic dimension of the original Dakawa was only one, late, aspect of the Dakawa Development Centre complex, which existed from 1982-1992 ancdakawa The records are in English. Biographical Note

In South Africa today, the word Dakawa is synonymous with the Art and Craft Community Centre in the Eastern Cape town of Grahamstown. Few of those who visited the centre might not know that the original Dakawa was a settlement fifty-five kilometers north of the provincial town of Morogoro, in Tanzania, and that the artistic dimension of the original Dakawa was only one, late, aspect of the Dakawa Development Centre complex, which existed from 1982-1992. The story of Dakawa is part of the story of the struggle against apartheid, carried on over many years, both in South Africa itself, and in many parts of the globe. African National Congress was the largest liberation movement, and its fight against the regime in South Africa, especially after its banning in 1960, was carried on clandestinely within the country and through an international web of bases and offices. The frontline states of Southern Africa and parts of Eastern Africa supported South African resistance movements. Prominent amongst these allies, and particularly useful because of its position away from the front line of conflict, was Tanzania. A crucial moment in the tide of resistance to apartheid was the student revolt of 1976. Starting in South Western Township (SOWETO), it spread to many educational throughout the country, and led to a surge of young people leaving the country, which diminished thereafter, but never died away completely, and grew once again during the increasing conflicts of the 1980s. Bodies such as ANC, which were already established in exile, were faced with the appearance of large numbers of radicalized young people, in flight from repression and from inferior Bantu Education system, eager to fight against the regime. An important response to this situation was the foundation of the Solomon Mahlangu Freedom College, SOMAFCO, at Mazimbu, near the town of Morogoro, in 1978. Mazimbu a village name was an abandoned sisal land estate given by the government to the ANC. With the help of the foreign donors and the support of the Tanzanian government, The ANC created a large educational institution named after one of its martyrs of the freedom struggle, Solomon Mahlangu who was hanged by the regime in April 1979. Therefore, education, and especially SOMAFCO, was at the heart of Mazimbu project. However, it became clear that there were needs that could not be answered at Mazimbu, and indeed that there were there certain ancillary functions that itself SOMFCO required. Among was a place where young people newly arrived from South Africa, or from other frontline states where they had spent time in the trek north, might stay until they could be received at SOMAFCO in an orderly way. At this interim establishment, the academic level of young people, and their security status, would be checked, they would receive basic education in subject such as English and Mathematics where necessary, and would be given political instruction and taught about the history of the struggle and the ANC. The opportunity to begin putting this programme into effect came in 1982, when the Tanzanian government gave an even larger, 2800-hectare plot of land to the ANC, at Dakawa. The first ANC personnel at Dakawa, in place on March 1982, were drawn from amongst old comrades who had been out of the country for many years, known, affectionately, as umgwenya. The first Dakawa Seminar held in July and August 1982, Laid down the policy that was to be adhered to for the institution's existence. It was decided, on the suggestion of Spenser Hodgson, the ANC architect, who, with Oswald Dennis, the ANC Project manager, was to play key role in the development of infrastructure at Dakawa, that the name of the institution should be the Dakawa Development Centre. Dakawa was to become the centre for the orientation of youth from South Africa, who in many cases would to SOMAFCO, and a community would be built where a new model of life would be constructed, free from racialism and inequalities that disfigured South Africa.

Scope and Contents

Correspondence, Meetings, Memoranda, Minutes, Reports, Seminar, Subject Files, and Publications.

 Arrangement

The Correspondence series spans the years 1984-1991. It consists primarily of correspondence around issues concerning Dakawa community. Some of issues covered among others include discipline, statistical personnel in various departments, and scholarships, applications for marriage, and volunteers from abroad. It touches also News and Views publication, which was a mouthpiece for both SOMAFCO and Dakawa. One can learn more about this publication at the eight series: Publications.

The Meetings series spans the years 1982-1990. Meetings served as important forums from which plans, policies, and structures were laid down. It was a tradition for every department to hold meetings to evaluate strengths and weaknesses of their programmes. Everybody got involved in the proceedings: administrators, educators, and workers as well as the community.

The Memoranda series spans the years 1984-1987. It reflects general activities between various formations of Dakawa. These encompass work and roles individuals play in the complex. It also illustrates Dakawa relations with outside agencies, which contributed in the development of Dakawa.

The Minutes series reflects transactions of meeting held between 1982-1991. These are minutes of various departments, including the Administration, which was the governing body. Amongst them are minutes that show cooperation between SOMAFCO and Dakawa.

The Reports series document the interaction between various Dakawa bodies. It reflects also reports from various residential areas, which were named after the prominent ANC leaders, the late and the living. This series indeed covered a variety of topics at Dakawa. All reports were channeled to the directorate. It is from these reports that one can learn the overall atmosphere of life and developments at Dakawa.

The Subject Files series consists of topical files ranging from 1974-1993. The records related to wide range of topics, include interaction among various departments in Dakawa and relations with foreign agencies. Of particular note are the numerous files relating to the establishment of Dakawa (plans and documents), education, political organs, and general matters relating to all sections of the community. This series like the above (Reports series) have an immense history about the establishment and the development of Dakawa. The Publications series spans the years 1982-1991. It illustrate journals which were produced at SOMAFCO and Dakawa about day to day events that were taking place in both settlements and around the globe.

Index Terms

This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.

Persons: ANC Dakawa Places: Morogoro Subjects: Skills development Functions: Empowerment of the community Titles: Development Centre Restrictions on Access

The Collection is Open

 Acquisition Information

ANC Archives Committee

 Detailed Description of the Collection Correspondence 1 1 Chief Administrator, 1984-1986 1 2 Chief Representative , 1984-1987 1 3 Co-coordinator , 1986-1988 2 4 Coordinator , 1986-1986 3 5 Coordinator , 1988-1990 4 6 Dakawa- Mazimbu, 1986-1991 4 7 Dept. of Manpower and Development, 1985-1990 5-6 8 Director of Schools, 1990-1991 5-6 9 General , 1982-1990 7 10 Vocational Training Centre Principal , 1988-1989 7 11 Zonal Political Committee, 1988 Meetings 8 1 Administration, 1984-1988 8 2 Adult Education , 1987 8 3 Commissar, 1984-1986 8 4 Construction, 1986 8 5 Directorate, 1988 8 6 Engineers , 1989 8 7 General\special meetings , 1983-1986 8 8 Maintenance, 1990 8 9 Mazimbu\Dakawa , 1982 8 10 Norwegian People's Aid Representative , 1989 8 11 Official Opening of SOMAFCO, 1983 8 12 Paul Peterson Residence, 1984 9 13 6th Dakawa Prep. Committee , 1989 9 14 Students , 1987 9 15 Supply\Logistics, 1987 9 16 3rd Dakawa Seminar, 9 17 Transport, 1985-1986 9 18 Visits, 1982-1986 9 19 Workers, 1986 9 20 Youth, 1986 9 21 Zonal Prep. Committee, 1985 Memoranda 10 1 General , 1985- 1986 10 2 General, 1986-1987 10 3 Health , 1986 10 4 Lillian Ngoyi Admin , 1986 10 5 Logistics , 1984-1986 10 6 Motsoaledi, 1986 10 7 National Scholarship Committee, 1986 10 Paper on development of Dakawa, 8 10 9 Plot 17 , 1986 Minutes 11 1 Administration, 1982-1987 11 2 Dakawa\Mazimbu , 1986-1988 11 3 Directorate , 1986-1989 11 4 First and Second Staff meetings, 1988 11 5 Fund-raising , 1986 11 6 Fuzile, 1982-1983 11 7 Regional Leadership , 1987 12 8 Site Meetings: Vocational Training Centre , 1985-1991 12 9 Staff , 1991 12 10 Tenth Anniversary: SOMAFCO, 1989 12 11 Vocational Training , 1986 12 12 Youth, 1986 Reports 13 1 Administration, 1984-1990 13 2 Adult Education , 1987-1990 13 3 Carpentry, 1985-1986 13 4 Chief Administrator , 1988 13 5 Commissar, 1986-1988 13 6 Coordinator , 1985-1990 13 7 Construction, 1986-1990 13 8 Culture, 1987-1988 13 9 Day Care Centre , 1987-1990 13 10 Dept. of Information and Publicity , 1986-1990 13 11 Dept. of Manpower and Development, 1986-1990 13 12 Development Centre , 1986-1988 14 13 Directorate , 1983-1986 14 14 Education Orientation Centre, 1984-1991 14 15 Farm, 1984-1990 14 16 FINNIDA, 1990 14 17 Fuel, 1986 14 18 Garment Factory, 1989-1990 14 19 Health , 1986-1990 14 20 Housing, 1988-1990 15 21 Leather Factory , 1989-1990 15 22 Library , 1986-1990 15 23 Logistics, 1986-1988 15 24 National Education Council, 1986-1988 15 25 Regional Education Committee: Angola, 15 26 Schools- ANC, 15 27 Sidweshu, Arthur, 1982 15 28 Social Workers, 1986 15 29 South African Extension Unit , 1986 15 30 Tailoring Dept,. , 1988 15 31 Textile Printing Workshop, 1988-1989 15 32 Trainings , 1984 15 33 Transport, 1986 15 34 Treasury , 1987-1988 16 35 Visitors, 1984 16 36 Vocational Training Centre , 1982-1989 16 37 Women , 1988-1989 16 38 Workers , 1988-1990 16 39 Zonal, 1988 16 40 Zonal Political Committee , 1988-1990 16 41 Zonal Women Committee , 1989-1990 16 42 Zonal Youth Committee, 1988-1989 16 43 Residence: Elias Motsoaledi, 1985-1986 16 44 Residence: Lillian Ngoyi, 1986 16 45 Residence: Plot 17 , 1986-1987 16 46 Residence: Raymond Mhlaba , 1986 16 47 Residence: Ruth First , 1984-1985 16 48 Village 4, 1986 Seminars 17 1 ANC\NORPLA , 1985-1986 17 2 Coordination and Planning of Projects, 1988-1990 17 3 Development of Dakawa , 1982-1984 17 4 Education , 1984 17 5 Sports , 1983 17 6 Third Dakawa Seminar , 1989 Subject Files 18 1 Acting Coordinator's documents, 1986 18 2 Correspondence , 1986-1988 18 3 Meetings , 1984-1990 18 4 Notices , 1986-1991 19 5 Adult Education , 1986-1991 19 6 ANC School Project (plans), 1981-1983 19 7 ANC Viana Project , 1986 19 8 Agriculture, 1984 19 9 Announcements , 1985-1986 19 10 Arts and Culture , 1989-1990 19 11 Basic Drawing and Geometry, 19 12 Boarding , 1989 20 13 Candidates for scholarship, 1988-1989 20 14 Career candidates, guidance, 1983 20 15 Carpentry, 1986-1990 20 16 Catering Committee , 1982\1986 20 17 Chief Administrator , 1985-1986 20 18 Chief Representative, 1985-1990 20 19 Circulars, 1982-1989 20 20 Code of conduct, 21 21 Conferences, 1984-1985 21 22 Contract file , 1984 22-23 23 Contractor , 1986-1988 22-23 24 Contracts, 1983-1984 22-23 25 Construction Department, 22-23 26 Construction Employees, 1989 22-23 27 Construction Project , 1983-1984 22-23 28 Construction Teams, 22-23 29 Culture in another South Africa , 1987 24 30 Daily activities , 1986 24 31 Dakawa census , 1984-1989 24 32 Dakawa coordinator , 1986 24 33 Dakawa history and structure, 24 34 Day Care Centre , 1986-1990 24 35 Dept, of Info. and Publicity, 1986 24 36 Development plan, 1983-1984 24 37 Food supplies, 24 38 Garment Factory, 24 39 General, 1982-1990 25 40 Dakawa Health, 25 41 Dakawa Project and pupils, 1988 25 42 Dakawa Requirements, 1984-1989 25 43 Dakawa Social science syllabus, 25 44 Dakawa Students' intake, 1984-1986 25 45 Dakawa Students' placements, 1982-1984 25 46 Dakawa Women Section , 1983-1986 25 47 Dakawa Dept., of Manpower and Development, 1985-1988 26 48 Directorate meetings , 1983-1984 26 49 Donors,, 1987-1990 26 50 Education H.Q , 1987-1989 27 51 Education in Norway, 27 52 Expenditure, 1982 27 53 FINNIDA: Education , 1990-1991 27 54 Food consumption: Mazimbu , 1986 27 55 Formation of Technicians and Engineers Council , 1986 27 56 Form of agreement: Norway and NOREMCO, 1983 27 57 Funding needs , 1989 27 58 Guide notes, 27 59 Housing, 1986-1990 27 60 Institutes for South African Studies (INSAS, 28 61 International Labour Organisation , 1987 28 62 Inventory, 28 63 Invoices, 28 64 Language policy, 1986 28 65 Library Project, 1985-1992 29 66 Library Project , 1990-1993 29 67 Logistics , 1982-1986 30 68 Maize harvest, 1987 30 69 Management Committee, 30 70 Mange, James campaign, 30 71 Manuals for machines, 30 72 Maputo evacuees, , 1984 30 73 Mazimbu Agriculture , 1983 30 74 Mazimbu announcements , 1985-1986 30 75 Mazimbu School Project, 1984 30 76 Mazimbu Treasury, 1985-1986 30 77 Mazimbu\ Vocational Training Centre Committee , 1988 30 78 Messages , 1986 31 79 Miscellaneous, 1987 31 80 National Education Council, 1988 31 81 National Executive Committee Representative, 1986 31 82 National Scholarship Committee, 1986 32-33 83 National Scholarship Committee, 1986-1990 32-33 84 National Vocational Training: Tanzania, 32-33 85 Norplan, 1983-1986 32-33 86 Norplan: Site Dakawa , 1987-1988 32-33 87 Norplan: Site Mazimbu , 1986-1987 32-33 88 Norway Embassy: Workshop on Dakawa , 1987-1989 32-33 89 Notebooks, 32-33 90 Notebooks, 34 91 Official Opening of SOMAFCO , 1985 34 92 Other documents, 1987-1990 34 93 Otto Benecke Foundation, 1989-1990 34 94 Papers: Education, Health, Land, ANC Constitution, 34 95 Njobe`s documents: Education, ANC history, Language question, 34 96 Proposals: Administrative and Structure of Dakawa, 34 97 Other proposals, 34 98 Personnel , 1988-1989 34 99 Plumbing, 1990 35 100 Political Education, 1988-1989 35 101 Political events, 1985-1986 35 102 Political organs , 1985-1986 35 103 Project Description for Days work, 1986 Project Plans, 36 104 Development Plan, 1984\199 36 105 Draft, 1984 36 106 Manager, 1985-1986 36 107 Preliminary Design report , 1980 37 108 Feasibility study: Agricultural Development, 37 109 Public Relations Office , 1985-1990 37 110 Recruitment, 1987 37 111 Regional Treasurer , 1986 37 112 Rehabilitation Section, 38 113 Rehabilitation Section, 38 114 Requisitions , 1984-1989 38 115 Resources , 1986 38 116 Saba-Saba fair, 1984-1985 38 117 Scholarships , 1978-1984 39 118 Social Welfare, 1986 39 119 Secretary for Education , 1986 39 120 South African Extension Unit: Education, 39 121 Sports, 1984-1985 39 122 Staff matters , 1985-1989 39 123 Statements ANC\NEC on apartheid , 1990 39 124 State of organization in the region, 39 125 Stationery requisition , 1984-1986 Students' Orientation Centre, 40 126 Activities , 1982-1986 40 127 Correspondence , 1986-1991 40 128 Guides, 40 129 Incentives, 41 130 Meetings , 1984-1989 41 131 Programmes, 41 132 Project Documents, 41 133 Registration forms , 41 134 Reports, 1984-1989 41 135 Seminar on education , 1984 41 136 Staff, 41 137 Students list, 42 138 Tailoring, , 1984-1990 42 139 Tanzania government representative , 1989-1990 42 140 Teachers' guides, 42 141 Technical Dept. , 1984-1986 42 142 Technical preparations , 43 143 Tools or equipment, 43 144 Training, 1987-1989 43 145 Transport , 1982-1986 43 146 Treasurer, 1986-1990 44 147 United Nations Development Programme , 1986-1987 44 148 Visits, , 1989 44 149 Vocational Guidance Programme, , 1987 44 150 Vocational preparation, , 1988-1989 Vocational Training Centre, 44 151 Background information , 1978-1986 44 152 Basic data on policy and planning, 44 153 Calendar , 1988-1989 44 154 Correspondence , 1978-1989 Vocational Training Centre, 45 155 Correspondence , 1988-1989 45 156 Documents on various projects, 1983-1986 45 157 Evaluation, 45 158 Facilities, 46 159 International Labour Organisation , 1983-1985 46 160 Kirjasto\Dakawa , 1990\1992 46 161 Organisational Chart , 1989-1993 46 162 Organisation Plan and Instructions, 46 163 Position\Development , 1981-1986 46 164 Programmes, 1984 47 165 Project 7429: Makrotalo Oy , 1984 47 166 Prospectus, 1974 47 167 Report-Survey Mission, 1990 47 168 Seminars , 1982-1985 47 169 Site Office, 1985 47 170 Staff Register, 48 171 Students Orientation Section , 1985-1986 48 172 Trainees , 1988-1989 48 173 Vocational Training in Tanzania , 1977-1985 48 174 Volunteers, 1988-1990 48 175 Vouchers, 49 176 Women's Section, 1988 49 177 Workers , 1985-1990 49 178 Works Committee , 1982-1990 49 179 Youth projects, 49 180 Zonal Political Committee, 1988-1990 49 181 Zonal Youth Committee, 1988 Publications 50-51 1 Mazimbu Youth Journal , 1985-1991 50-51 2 News and Views , 1982-1986 50-51 3 News and Views, 1989-1991 50-51 4 Newsletters, 50-51 5 Voice of Dakawa, 1986