By: Puleng Maphisa – 23 February  2024

In the calm confines of a small township settled along the banks of the Vaal River, a touching chapter in history unfolded on June 17, 1992, forever drawing its mark on the collective memory of Boipatong. The story of the Boipatong massacre, a tragic event that unfolded when several hundred IFP-supporting residents from KwaMadala hostel launched a devastating attack on the Boipatong community, still resonate with the families who endured the profound pain and loss. The incident claimed forty-five lives and left 27 individuals with enduring injuries, casting a shadow of despair over the community.

In the result, survivors faced with economic challenges, prompting governmental intervention through skills development programs. Recognizing the resilience of a group of women in Boipatong who found support in their craft of sewing, the Colombian Embassy, in collaboration with Pan African Council, embarked on a mission to uplift these women. Ambassadors Maria del Rosario Mina Rojas of Colombia and Mr Monde Mshudulu of the Pan African Council joined forces, identifying these skilled seamstresses and generously donating sewing machines to empower their artistry.

A significant step in this collaborative effort unfolded at Vaal University of Technology (VUT), where Ambassador Rojas and Mr. Mshudulu, alongside their delegation, engaged with Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Khehla Ndlovu and senior management of VUT. The purpose of their visit was to explore potential partnerships with VUT that could contribute to valuable skills to the Boipatong sewing community through community upliftment programs.

The Colombian Embassy’s initiative, which commenced in October last year with a captivating fashion show, gained the attention and support of Colombian designer Laura Laurens. On 21 February 2024, the Embassy delivered on its commitment by graciously donating sewing machines to the women of Boipatong. Their pledge to provide essential skills, supported by the involvement of VUT and Pan African Council, ensures the seamless progress of the project, enriching the abilities of the women involved.

Professor Ndlovu welcomed the collaboration and expressed VUT’s commitment to support the effort through its Fashion Design department and highlighted existing skills development projects within the university. He envisioned a collaborative effort that not only benefits the Boipatong community but also extends to the broader VUT community through exchange programs with Colombian universities, an aspiration supported by Ambassador Mina Rojas, who vowed to help VUT to build a relationship with Colombian Universities that would be outlined in an envisaged memoranda of understanding with VUT through the Columbian Embassy in SA and Department of Higher Education, Science and Technology.

Mr Vido Kungune, the acting Director for Internationalisation at VUT appreciated the commitment, adding that the project will also contribute to advancing VUT agenda on community engagements and internationalisation.

As collaboration weave hope and empowerment, Professor Ndlovu voiced his positivity that the project will not only uplift Boipatong communities but also create a positive flow effect within the VUT and beyond. The exchange programs promised by Honorable Mina Rojas further solidify the potential for enduring connections between Boipatong and Colombian communities, fostering a spirit of shared learning and growth.