Vuyo Mvoko
‘THE World in Soweto” — a project to be launched today by President Nelson Mandela — will give foreign governments the chance to make their mark on one of South Africa’s biggest and most famous townships.
According to the project’s founder and co- ordinator, Zelda Mantle, it is envisaged that a foreign country or one of its cities will “adopt a clearly defined area of Soweto”, then develop and beautify it as they wish.
Forty embassies have already indicated they will be attending the launch. They are expected to make a blitz of pledges.
Participating donor nations will be allowed to imprint their own cultures if they wish. Although they can use their own discretion and vision, governed by their budgets, priorities so far identified by the overseeing committee included paving the sidewalks, planting trees, developing parks, beautifying cemeteries, building sports facilities, environmental training and recycling centres, sinking boreholes and installation of irrigation networks.
Funds will go directly to the hired contractors. The committee will undertake the management of contracts if required, but its particular brief is to provide donors with comprehensive data on things like where to contact reliable contractors, the costing of materials, how to employ skilled artisans from the community, and how the development will be maintained when completed.
The glitterati committee includes African National Congress stalwart and Soweto resident Walter Sisulu, mayor of Johannesburg’s Northern Metropolitan Substructure Danny Kekana, human rights activist Amina Cachalia, author Heidi Holland, and horticulturist Mike Gibons.