Introducing R2K’s new National Coordinator: Axolile Notywala
We are very pleased to introduce comrade Axolile Notywala as the new Right2Know Campaign National Coordinator.
Axolile has a strong track record of movement building and campaigning for a democracy that centres the needs of the working class. He has recently ended his term as the general secretary of the Social Justice Coalition where he lead a of successful struggles to secure access to sanitation and hold the police accountable – as well as the successful #SJC10 constitutional court challenge to overturn draconian aspects of the Gatherings Act.
Axolile also brings a wealth of organisational and governance experience. Apart from leading the SJC secretariat in recent years, he has served on boards and advisory committees of organisations such as My Vote Counts, Equal Education, the Black Sash and the South Africa Human Rights Commission.
Recruiting a new National Coordinator has been a key goal of our Turnaround Plan and we are grateful that Axolile has agreed to step up to the challenge.
Axolile’s appointment comes at a time when South African democracy faces mounting challenges. Deepening factional battles in the ruling party are fuelling a culture of impunity and unaccountability. Government’s dogged commitment to their anti-poor policies are deepening inequality, unemployment, and hunger – as well as undermining the right to know by commercialising public broadcasting, underfunding community media and many other institutions that are vital to realising our democratic rights – including the Information Regular, CCMA, ICASA, etc.
It comes as no surprise that across the country citizens are organising to resist these attacks on our democracy. Sadly, it is also not surprising that the government is responding to the people with violent repression rather than democratic engagement. The current struggle of our students to defend access to education is both an inspiring example of popular resistance and a nasty reminder of the government’s decades long drift towards securocratic authoritarianism.
While the situation is dire, we remain confident in the people’s commitment to justice and their ability to organise democratically to confront their oppression and exploitation.
We look forward to working with C’de Axolile to ensure that Right2Know grows from strength to strength as we continue to defend and open democratic spaces for the movements of social, economic and ecological justice.
You can reach Axolile on 074 386 1584, email axolile@r2k.org.za or follow: https://twitter.com/xila_notywala
Our Interim National Coordinator, C’de Mark Weinberg, will remain on R2K staff until the end of May to ensure C’de Axolile induction and support a smooth handover. In June we look forward to welcoming C’de Mark back into the ranks of R2K activists.
Long live the Right2Know!
