Phandulwazi Workers Skills Development Project - Cape Town

Phandulwazi turns 30 this year, 2018.

Phandulwazi (which means 'Seek for Knowlwdge') is a support structure for former members and pensioners of the trade unions; as well as unemployed citizens.

This initiative was established in 1988. The supportive concept on which it is based was conceived and pioneered by Zora Mehlomakulu in Langa, where she resided. This visionary and pioneer whose legacy still exists passed away in 2001.

The former Premier of the Western Cape Province, Mr Abrahim Rassol, who is the present Ambassador of South Africa in the US, in a reminiscing about Zora’s life had the following to say: “She will be remembered for her warmth, generosity and above all, her commitment to the freedom and betterment of others.”

In the Editorial Notebook issue; Points  

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of light in South Africa that was published in 1993 in The New York Times, a point was made of Mrs Zora Mehlomakulu’s key oversight responsibility of the multi-purpose centre at Langa. This centre catered for job training, taught sewing, pattern design and brick making.
Zora had lost her position as organizer for the General Transport Workers Union (GWTU) when the economy slumped down.

Zora’s words were echoed by a myriad of Langa residents and around Cape Town: "South Africa is changing, but not anywhere near the level to help the majority of people. They had nothing, have nothing now, and almost nothing to live for."

In a book review that was written by Desiree Lewis on Post-apartheid her stories: Zubeida Jaffer’s Our Generation Cape Town: Kwela, 2003 and Pregs Govender’s Love and Courage: A Story of Insubordination Johannesburg: Jacana, 2007, Zora and Mildred were foregrounded as black women who advocated for women rights : "The subtext of the story of male-led struggle is therefore a record of how black women have always struggled for justice and rights; accounts and photographs of women such as Zora Mehlomakhulu, detained as a young woman in the 1970s and Mildred Ramakaba-Lesiea, one of the main organisers of women activists in the Western Cape, locate the author’s personal experience in a proud and independent history of struggle."

A question that is often asked by those who were close to Zora is: How many people remember the work of Zora Mehlomakulu?

Learn and Teach compiled a story on Zora Mehlomakulu called "A Mother for Many." The gist of the story is centred on how workers in 1971 decided to form an advisory office instead of a union, due to pressures of the apartheid system at the time, The ANC, PAC and the trade union body, SACTU were supressed and subsequently outlawed. In the workers’ own words:

"We decided to start an advice office and not a union. The Minister of Labour was hard on unions at that time because the workers were still weak. The government wanted committees for the workers - not unions." That is how the Western Province Advice Office was started… Learn and Teach number 1, 1986.

A Cape Argus, August 1998 report read: "To commemorate the 50th anniversary of its country's independence, the Indian High Commissioner in South Africa last week honoured 16 women who contributed to the struggle against apartheid. A substantial number of these heroines spent many years in jail. Many of them were also denied their freedom through house arrests and bannings. They also suffered the perpetual inequality that is common among South African women. Yet most of them remain unsung heroines. Last week was one of the few public tributes of their work. It was refreshing that the icons formed part of those who were honoured in Cape Town by High Commissioner Lakshmi Jain and Mrs Devaki Jain on behalf of their government."

Zora was one of the honoured women at this event in 1998.

In 1996, Zora graduated in the Adult Community Education Programme from the University of Cape Town.

She also received more awards and honours from the Trade Union Movement while she was still alive.