African Oral Narratives
Military Intelligence in Apartheid-era South Africa

Farming

A large number of the several thousand people inhabiting the Maandagshoek community rely on small-scale farming. Residents are of the opinion that people are no longer farming because the abundant grazing lands of old have either been taken over by the mine or are slowly dying from incessant environmental degradation. People who once farmed in Maandagshoek are now the poorest in the village as a result of the impact of mining activities in the region. Prior to 1994, the majority of residents from Rammolutsi, located adjacent to the small farming town of Viljoenskroon in the Northern Free State, were either farm workers or workers in a local manufacturing plant, living in township houses built by the apartheid state and/or certain farmers. These days only a few residents remain full-time farm workers, as permanent farm work has been replaced by low-paid 'piece jobs' on surrounding farms. Sometimes the only jobs available on farms are during harvest times. Those not involved in farm work survive predominately on state welfare/pension/social grants and remunerations from relatives working outside the community. Since 1994 Rammolutsi has seen a huge influx of people, mostly as a result of the mass evictions/retrenchments of workers from surrounding farms in the region as well as the local manufacturing plant. Increased job shedding in the commercial farming sector due to mechanization to enhance its global competitiveness has led to an unemployment rate of more than 80%. Many of the farm laborers feel that farm work and relations with white farmers prior to 1994 were better than they are now.

This interview with January Monokame, a municipal worker at the local rubbish dump, was conducted by Dale McKinley and Ahmed Veriava in Rammolutsi in 2007 as part of the South African History Archive's Alternative History Project, titled 'Forgotten Voices in the Present'.
This interview with Ndaba David Nzunga, an unemployed community youth activist and music enthusiast, was conducted by Dale McKinley and Ahmed Veriava in Rammolutsi in 2007 as part of the South African History Archive's Alternative History Project, titled 'Forgotten Voices in the Present'.
This interview with pensioner Molefi John Phasha was conducted by Dale McKinley and Ahmed Veriava in Rammolutsi in 2007 as part of the South African History Archive's Alternative History Project, titled 'Forgotten Voices in the Present'.
This interview with pre-school teacher Joyce Bafedile Mokgadi was conducted by Dale McKinley and Ahmed Veriava in Rammolutsi in 2007 as part of the South African History Archive's Alternative History Project, titled 'Forgotten Voices in the Present'.
This interview with Rabase Lehlohonolo, a Grade 10 high school student and a member of the Congress of South African Students (COSAS), was conducted by Dale McKinley and Ahmed Veriava in Rammolutsi in 2007 as part of the South African History Archive's Alternative History Project, titled 'Forgotten Voices in the Present'.
This interview with Mokete Tsolotlo, an unemployed worker and lifelong Rammolutsi resident, was conducted by Dale McKinley and Ahmed Veriava in Rammolutsi in 2007 as part of the South African History Archive's Alternative History Project, titled 'Forgotten Voices in the Present'.
This is a still image of David Nzungu, an unemployed community activist and music enthusiast of Rammolutsi, during an oral history interview conducted by Dale McKinley and Ahmed Veriava in 2007 for SAHA's Alternative History Project, entitled 'Forgotten Voices in the Present'. The still image was derived from the DVD 'A Dream Deferred' which was produced in 2008 as part of this project.
This first interview with farm labourer Samuel Mahoko was conducted by Dale McKinley and Ahmed Veriava in Rammolutsi in 2007 as part of the South African History Archive's Alternative History Project, titled 'Forgotten Voices in the Present'.
This is a still image of Joyce Mokgadi, a creche and pre-school teacher of Rammolutsi, during an oral history interview conducted by Dale McKinley and Ahmed Veriava in 2007 for SAHA's Alternative History Project, entitled 'Forgotten Voices in the Present'. The still image was derived from the DVD 'A Dream Deferred' which was produced in 2008 as part of this project.
This is a still image of Mmamodike Ntsala, an Adult Basic Education (ABET) teacher in Rammolutsi, during an oral history interview conducted by Dale McKinley and Ahmed Veriava in 2007 for SAHA's Alternative History Project, entitled 'Forgotten Voices in the Present'. The still image was derived from the DVD 'A Dream Deferred' which was produced in 2008 as part of this project.
Part one of the first interview with Mmamodike Lydia Ntsala, an Adult Basic Education (ABET) teacher, was conducted by Dale McKinley and Ahmed Veriava in Rammolutsi in 2007 as part of the South African History Archive's Alternative History Project, titled 'Forgotten Voices in the Present'.
The first part of the interview with Gabriel Mashakhale, pastor of the local branch of the Apostolic Church and ex-ward councillor, was conducted by Dale McKinley and Ahmed Veriava in Rammolutsi in 2007 as part of the South African History Archive's Alternative History Project, titled 'Forgotten Voices in the Present'.
Part two of the first interview with Mmamodike Lydia Ntsala, an Adult Basic Education (ABET) teacher, was conducted by Dale McKinley and Ahmed Veriava in Rammolutsi in 2007 as part of the South African History Archive's Alternative History Project, titled 'Forgotten Voices in the Present'.
The second part of the interview with Gabriel Mashakhale, pastor of the local branch of the Apostolic Church and ex-ward councillor, was conducted by Dale McKinley and Ahmed Veriava in Rammolutsi in 2007 as part of the South African History Archive's Alternative History Project, titled 'Forgotten Voices in the Present'.
This is a still image of Samuel Mahoko, a farm-labourer living in Rammolutsi, during an oral history interview conducted by Dale McKinley and Ahmed Veriava in 2007 for SAHA's Alternative History Project, entitled 'Forgotten Voices in the Present'. The still image was derived from the DVD 'A Dream Deferred' which was produced in 2008 as part of this project.
This second interview with farm labourer Samuel Mahoko was conducted by Dale McKinley and Ahmed Veriava in Rammolutsi in 2008 as part of the South African History Archive's Alternative History Project, titled 'Forgotten Voices in the Present'.
The second interview with Mmamodike Lydia Ntsala, an Adult Basic Education (ABET) teacher, was conducted by Dale McKinley and Ahmed Veriava in Rammolutsi in 2008 as part of the South African History Archive's Alternative History Project, titled 'Forgotten Voices in the Present'.
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