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Phillip Nyalungu

Ntirhisano is eradicating colonial mentalities and borders

Mass Solidarity Movement


by a.k.a Mzamani, 12 October 2022

The principles and practices of Ntirhisano Community Centre (NCC) are based on historical memories and oppressed groups' resilient cultures. From the conquistadors to feudalism, slavery to the slave trade, and Belgian Congo to colonialism and its replications. As a means of reaching mutual solidarity within, between, and beyond socioeconomic and political boundaries. Our hope at Ntirhisano is to piece together the difficult experiences impoverished communities have endured. They are essential to keeping the fight moving forward and ensuring future generations will carry the torch.

Refugee parents and children inside Ntirhisano Community Center, Cape Town. 10 October 2022


There are no words to describe how deeply the weapons of oppressors have torn the human race apart. As a result of the current status quo, we find ourselves destined to self-destruct in a multitude of ways. Our future is stubbornly based on economic stratification, not because you are human and the most intelligent species on earth.

Poor migrants and immigrants who migrate from one place to another economically face hostility in the unknown. Immigrants and vulnerable communities are primarily affected by capitalism's economic frustration. Because wherever they find themselves they have to compete for basic human necessities. Reception or treatment reinforces divisions from cradle to grave.

A vegetable garden started by members of Ntirhisano with refugee mothers at from the refugee community in Kensington, Cape Town, 2022

Ntirhisano Community Centre (NCC) is breaking these colonial divisions. To eliminate colonially and opportunistically induced divisions and replace them with mutual solidarity among impoverished communities, irrespective of ethnicity, nationality, gender, age, or race.

Refugee children arriving at school after getting out of the school transport organized by Ntirhisano Community Center. 12 September 2022


Recently, in some parts of Limpopo province, Zimbabwean nationals are being chased away. This mayhem started after three Zimbabweans were burned to death by the locals. I’m ashamed this brutal killing happened in Chavani, the village I was raised in. They are accused of stealing copper wire cables during the long electricity blackouts that are blackouting the whole country. Instead of turning to Eskom and the government for failing to fulfill its obligations. Since then, Zimbabwean nationals have become a scapegoat. Before the uproar against Zimbabwean nationals, the minister of health in Limpopo was recorded chastising a Zimbabwean patient that they are depleting the country’s health services.

Elderly people queening at the home affairs department in Makhando (formerly Louis Trichardt), Limpopo. 2015

As a political appointee, one would expect the minister to be politically conscious of the fact that she and Zimbabweans are the same people. The borders were imposed by colonizers. People lived side by side and passed through each other's compounds with ease before then. Limpopo is predominately Venda, Tsonga, Pedi, and Ndebele people. Their traditions, languages, and cultures are the same as Shona, Tonga, and Ndebele in Zimbabwe. These phenomena cannot be questioned and even the said minister’s accent sounds like she’s from Zimbabwe.


The class system is a direct social product of Capitalism. The capitalist system is centered on making a profit, protected by the states and governments. The colonizers had direct involvement in the colonized countries. As with slavery abolition, decolonization relieved colonizers from the responsibility of responding to human tragedies that they caused. Nevertheless, the masses were sincere about breaking free from feudalism, slavery, and colonialism. But to the ruling class, this was a way to avoid responsibilities.

A worker shows his hand severed while at work inside Checkers Supermarket’s cold storeroom where worked as a porter, in Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown), 2018. On the day he was injured the manager at Checkers didn’t care. This worker had to call his brother to take him to the doctor. Even though he was working at this supermarket for close to 15 years.

These forms of economic production were replaced by capitalism and nation-states. In this context, the owners are off the hook, while workers are required to obey their orders once in the owner's factory or firm. The elected government governs in accordance with its laws that serve investors' interests. This means you sell your labor at the boss' price. The government is the manager who makes sure the interests of the owners of the means of production are maintained and advanced at all costs.

The African National Congress (ANC) delegates arriving at the 54th elective conference in which Cyril Ramaphosa qualified to be the current president of the country in Narsrec, Johannesburg. 20 December 2017.


The nation state governments are therefore managers of the wealth accumulated through acts of crime against humanity. The state officials are the manufactures and detonators of social mayhems in the impoverished communities. Because they are protecting and advancing the interests of the ruling class in the expense of the masses.

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