Healing sought after 24 years

WHEN it comes to the history of Nelson Mandela Bay's northern areas, a 24-year gap is yet to be filled.

A dialogue focusing on the history of the Northern Areas Uprising of 1990 had old and young from Port Elizabeth's northern areas and Uitenhage reflecting on the events of that year, in which about 59 people died.

Struggle heroes reminisced yesterday about how thousands of marchers in Port Elizabeth gathered to protest against a rent increase in 1990, which led to a week of violent protests.

And the northern areas have not yet healed 24 years later.

Allan Zinn, from NMMU's Centre for the Advancement of Non-racialism and Democracy (Canrad), said: "South Africa has come far since the dawn of democracy, but the mistake we made was to phase out history as a subject in schools, as well as talks on our history in our communities. - Alvené du Plessis