Communities Rescue the Winter School (2010-2017)
In 2010 due to currency fluctuation and the strengthening of the SA Rand, Khanya’s overseas grants were decreased. Instead of retrenching any staff, Khanya’s collective decided to reduce all salaries from the director down, by 30%. The cut in income put the Winter School in jeopardy. Communities engaged Khanya to continue the School, the only space where movements and activists get education, and that they would provide accommodation. This was a solidarity intervention that enabled the school to continue and indicated the communties’ ownership of the school, and continued from 2010 to 2017 (until Covid 19).
This was a huge logistics operation, checking and fixing infrastructure in townships, providing breakfasts, water, electricity and heaters to family household. Winter school participants were housed in community accommodation (with neighbours, widows, in backrooms and RDP houses). It showed what was possible, and also ensured that khanya and activists remained grounded. Experience of unions with access to hotels has impacted on democracy, retaining links to the grassroots base, and political perspectives.