14/09/2022
Heritage: A bit of history for those interested in where we come from. What it was and what it is now.... Just a short version, hoping it's a good read.
Shakeup of beer halls in South Africa – particularly in KwaZulu Natal
After 51 years of beer hall existence, in 1909, black women armed with sticks, marched to beer halls where they forced men to leave those buildings.
Women perceived these beer halls and liquor consumption as the root and somehow reasons for their poverty, and believed the Municipal selling beer, to be a symbol of oppression.
1929, National riot for beer halls started because black women were also making their own beer, selling it to make a living. This was a brewing concern that eventually made women to take a stand because of the Native Beer Act of 1908, which was the reason women lost their source of income. While this act prevented Black Women to earn money, Municipal Beer Halls were making huge profits!
In 1959, the Women went to Cator Manor Beer Hall to protest, they destroyed beer and other properties because of the anger, hunger while Municipality was still continuing making money. After this incident, Beer halls were temporarily closed. About 25 beer halls were burnt down and some damaged.
Over 2000 Women marched against Men going to Beer Halls or supporting Municipal Beer Halls, over 1000 were arrested and convicted. Women knew what Municipality/Government was doing: The Apartheid government stole the African cultural tradition of brewing. We all know iJuba is our very own recipe.
Bangamagugu ethu abantu besimame! Our very own treasures!
The locations in the Kwazulu Natal are the results of the profits came from alcohol consumption from the Municipality Beer Halls. That very same money from buying alcohol, the government/Municipality built the locations like KwaMashu, Chesterville, KwaDabeka, UMlazi and others. This was a perfect way of removing black people from the so called white areas.
In Clermont we still have a building that was a beer hall, and it's still standing. It is where Clermont Women’s organization is, and we can only be proud of the work the organization has been doing over the years. ( See attached building photos)
@ Zazi Road- Clermont
We should thank, cherish and continue the legacy and lead towards better future. We must protect children, teach those good values and make them understand where they come from.
We are to celebrate Women as our very own heritage- they have lived and left history, written and told. These are precious people that we all need to protect at all cost in our societies. We have leaders that would never have been leaders without women- Even through being neglected violated, they lead, they achieve, they provide and they raise & support children.
Bangamagugu ethu okumele siwavikele, siwathande ngasosonke isikhathi.
Our treasures!
Can we do same? Fight for drugs and alcohol abuse? Women can lead and make a difference in fighting this.
* Information researched and told*
Organisation
our Societies
Afrika/Siko Lami
Month
Women's Organisation - May you live long!
