Sipho Mantula

Sipho Mantula
Workstream Lead of Sport and Recreation Social Cohesion Advocate Programme
What is your educational or experience background that equips you to add value to this SCA team?

Our inspiration and calling are on issues of human and people’s rights, conflict resolution,

Pan cultural knowledge and humanity in practice and as an Intellectual labourer one will link the work of social cohesion with many universities and partner to bring change into our communities.


WHY ARE YOU A SOCIAL COHESION ADVOCATE?

It is natural calling to be the servant of Afrika, Azania and our communities (specifically disadvantaged and marginalised) and promoting Pan Afrikan Solidarity using Social Cohesion activities and interventions and secondly it is Ministerial directive to appoint and nominate us to be the ear and eye of the people’s government on issues of nation building and socially cohesive nation.

What change are you passionate about seeing come about?

The role of sports, arts and culture in healing and providing national consciousness to our country and continent, the human and people’s rights values to be respected and recognised and to see our country confronting the past and present with clear focus and people centered government using arts and culture as the soul provider and enabler.  

What makes you feel uniquely South African?

As Pan Afrikan I am Afrikan before South Afrikan and it is important to gravitate towards embrace our Afrikaness beyond regional or geographical division – born and bred in an Afrikan community we feel proud and Afrikan to be who we are – and our identity is our dignity.

What is your dream for South Africa by 2030?

Our vision and mission for South Afrika/Azania is to see social justice , respect for the people of the soil and unity amongst the youth and women in South Afrika towards building a new South Afrika/Azania that will be free from racism, bigotry, tribalism, related intolerance.

What do you believe South Africans need to do to make this dream a reality?

Our communities in South Afrika/Azania need to be resilient, focused and actively participate in national commemorative days and rebuild our communities using environment, sports, arts and culture that represent their identity.

What topics are you equipped and at ease talking about in the media?

Politics of arts and culture post and pre apartheid South Afrika/Azania, Human and People’s rights, Pan Afrikan activities and current affairs, Conflicts in Afrika using arts and culture, Reggae and Rastafari activities and content, Indigenous People and traditional healers issues, cultural diplomacy and Pan Afrikan literature. 

Who are we as South Africans?

We are people of sun, soil , water and air – we are the descendants of great kings and queens of Maphungwebe, Taung, Monomotopa, Alkebulan, Ethiopia.. we came before the time and we black and proud our who we are – because we are people of the sun. 

Where do we come from (as a nation)?

We come from ancient mountains, valleys and rivers of beautiful savannahs and flora of Alkebulan – our nation was nearly decimated and wiped out of our story but we rise and shine again- we are the sons and daughters of glorious kings and queens of Ancient kingdoms and queendom across the length and breath of Afuruka/Azania. 

Where are we heading?

Our destination is our source which the Nile River – Kongo Rivers and all Valleys, we must be focus to embrace the new Afrika and Azania with common identity and dignity we shared since time immemorial 

How do we wish to conduct ourselves in SA?

Upright people of care and Ubuntu leading us, we need to have sense of high discipline, high morale and demonstrate the spirit of Pan Afrikan consciousness integrated with our identity and destiny 

How do we hold each other’s hands as we build and form a cohesive nation?

Our historical and geographical origins must guide us to unite and treat each other as human beings in the eyes of our children and great grand mothers and fathers of this beautiful cry beloved country of milk and honey. we must use the immense power of sports, arts and culture as the build blocks for a social cohesive nation amongst nations.