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24 September 2026 | The Palace Guest House, Cala The Cala community gathered at The Palace Guest House on 24 September 2026 for a special commemoration of Batandwa Ndondo and the launch of The Decade of Torment and its Aftermath: Being a Sibling of Politically Active Brothers, an autobiographical account by Patiswa MaThuse Qokweni. The event brought together family, friends, former classmates, community members and others connected to Batandwa Ndondo and the wider history of

Sakhisizwe Information and Research Centre (SIRC), in partnership with CALUSA, invites the public to the Book Launch and Commemoration of Batandwa Ndondo on Thursday, 24 September at 10:00 at Palace Guest House. The event will celebrate the launch of Patiswa MaThuse Qokweni’s new book, The Decade of Torment, while also commemorating the life and memory of Batandwa Ndondo. Pre-order your copy The book is available for pre-order for R200. To pre-order, please make payment using

The launch of The Decade of Torment and its Aftermath by Patiswa MaThuse Qokweni was successfully held at Isilimela High School in Langa on Wednesday, 12 August 2026. The event brought together family, friends, community members and supporters to celebrate the publication of the author’s powerful personal account and to reflect on the experiences documented in the book. The programme was directed by Mrs IN Mbanga, followed by opening remarks. Prof Lungisile Ntsebeza delivered

The Sakhisizwe Information and Research Centre (SIRC) is pleased to invite community members, parents, caregivers, educators, health practitioners, and youth development practitioners to an informative seminar on Early Childhood Development (ECD). The seminar will focus on the vital role that nutrition plays in children's growth, learning, health, and overall development. Participants will gain practical insights into how proper nutrition during the early years lays the found

The Decade of Torment and Its Aftermath puts the spotlight on the experiences the author, Patiswa Ma'Thuse Qokweni (née Ntsebeza), endured following two key events: the arrest of her two brothers, Dumisa Buhle Ntsebeza and Lungisile Ntsebeza, on 11 June 1976, and the murder of her cousin, Batandwa Ndondo, on 24 September 1985. She also reflects on how these developments affected not only her, but also the wider family, with particular reference to her mother's side of the fam

15 June 2026 | Khowa, Eastern Cape The Sakhisizwe Information and Research Centre (SIRC) participated in a youth development seminar hosted by Khowa Public Library in partnership with Khowa Youth Guide and Development on 15 June 2026. The programme brought together young people between the ages of 15 and 30 to equip them with practical skills for personal growth, education, and future career success. Representing SIRC, Ms. Fatima Nzulase facilitated an interactive session on

SIRC’s Early Childhood Development (ECD) research programme continues to gain momentum, not only through data collection but through deepening relationships with the communities it serves. This past week, the team was honoured to be invited to graduation ceremonies at Butterfly Pre-School and St Christopher Pre-School—an invitation that reflects growing trust between SIRC and local ECD stakeholders. These invitations signal something significant: SIRC is no longer viewed only

The Sakhisizwe Information and Research Centre (SIRC) is built on a simple but powerful idea: expanding access to knowledge in historically disadvantaged rural communities. In this in-depth conversation with Luphiwo Tanda, Professor Lungisile Ntsebeza—founder of SIRC and Emeritus Professor at the University of Cape Town—reflects on the journey that led to the establishing the Information Hub in Cala, as well as the values and objectives that continue to shape its development.

The Sakhisizwe Information and Research Centre (SIRC) facilitated the participation of a group of learners from Cala Community Senior Secondary School in the University of Cape Town (UCT) Open Day, held on Saturday, 12 April 2025, as part of a collaboration with Professor Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela. The initiative formed part of SIRC’s broader commitment to expanding educational exposure and access for learners from rural and historically disadvantaged communities in the Chris H

The 2025 Seminar Series on the Transformation of Governance in the Sakhisizwe Municipal Area culminated on 24 September with a powerful commemoration of Batandwa Ndondo and Matthew Goniwe of The Cradock 4, political activists whose lives and work continue to inspire community-driven approaches to justice and governance in Cala and beyond. Hosted by the CALUSA , Sakhisizwe Information & Research Centre (SIRC) and the Trust for Community Outreach and Education ( TCOE ) the ser