What is the rationale for SASI’s work?

The San are the first peoples of southern Africa. In South Africa, most indigenous peoples were destroyed during the colonial period. The only surviving community, the ‡Khomani San, retain some of their identity, traditional knowledge, language and culture. Most are spread over a vast area of several thousand kilometers of the Kalahari desert. Today, there are about 1500 San of South African origin (‡Khomani), a further 4600 who have emigrated to South Africa (!Xun and Khwe- Platfontein) because of war and about 90 000 San in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Angola.

The San of Southern Africa are largely misrepresented and romanticized. For many years, the reality is that they have been scattered and disorganized. Under Apartheid, indigenous identities (Nama, San and Griqua) were suppressed in favour of promoting coloured identity. Indigenous people became invisible in the racially-based administration and lost their land to mining, national parks and white farmers. The loss of identity and rights has led to marginalization and disempowerment, with all the attendant social ills. Most have been forced into poverty and servitude.

The democratic government of South Africa recognizes the need for redress and restitution. Presidential support for resolution provided weight to the San land claims. A positive policy environment has been established that encourages the state and public service to incorporate San people into service provision, recognizing special needs and the threatened cultural and linguistic character.

Strides have been made toward bridging the gap between the traditional way of life and the reality of the modern world. However much still needs to be done. Critically San need support to be able to develop their own capacity to ensure access to resources and the protection of their rights under the constitutional principles.

An assessment conducted by the European Union in 2000, identified principles for effective programming for San people including long term development commitments, multi-sectoral and flexible interventions including capacity building, project implementation, income generation, community-based natural resource management and education. Furthermore the development of a political (governance) infrastructure amongst the San is critical for long-term sustainable development. If the San people are to be empowered and enabled to take responsibility for their development, members of the community need skills and capacity to engage in practical development initiatives that address health, education, welfare, livelihoods and political organization.

With deep commitment, experience and knowledge, SASI is well placed to manage programmes aimed at developing the San. SASI’s work has included legal support, cultural and heritage management, skills training, community development and networking with the indigenous world. SASI will continue to strengthen existing programmes using a holistic development strategy and build upon our current successes in the Northern Cape.

The programmes developed by SASI in close collaboration with San community-based organizations are distinguished by being practically oriented and involve intensive collaboration. Where necessary professional expertise is sought to ensure training and support is of a high quality. The approach is based on SASI’s well-established methodologies for capacity building and skills development and executed by experienced field-based community development workers.