Two leaders from South Africa's Shack Dwellers' Movement, Zodwa Nsibande and Mnikelo Ndabankulu, will present the documentary film "Dear Mandela" at Ithaca College. After the screening, the two leaders and filmmaker Dara Kell will lead a discussion on housing and human rights. The next day, Nsibande and Ndabankulu will discuss storytelling and community leadership strategies at the Greater Ithaca Activities Center. "Dear Mandela" follows young activists in South Africa who fight for their housing rights in the highest court after being forced to leave their homes.

1. Ithaca College to Host
Leaders on Discussion of
Human Rights and Housing
Jen Segal, 10/1/2012
ITHACA, NY — Zodwa Nsibande and Mnikelo Ndabankulu, two
leaders of South Africa’s Shack Dwellers’ Movement, will present a
screening of the award-winning documentary, “Dear Mandela,” at
Ithaca College on Tuesday, Oct. 2. Free and open to the public, the
event will start at 7 p.m. in Textor 102. After the screening, the two
leaders, along with filmmaker Dara Kell, will conduct discussions on
housing and human rights.
Nsibande and Ndabankulu will also discuss strategies, story-telling and
community leadership on Wednesday, Oct. 3., at 6 p.m., at the Greater
Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC), 301 W. Court Street, Ithaca.
More than a decade after apartheid ended, millions of South Africans
still live in basic homemade shacks. These inhabitants eloquently argue
their case for real citizenship rights through the Shack Dwellers’
Movement. “Dear Mandela” tells the true story of three young
protagonists who were forced to leave their homes when the
government promised to clear the slums of Durban, South Africa’s
third largest city. This film follows the young activists as they fight to
stand up for their rights in the highest court in South Africa and become
leaders in a growing social movement.
The events are sponsored by numerous organizations from Ithaca
College, Cornell University, Tompkins Cortland Community College
and the greater Ithaca community.
Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodation should contact
Lyndsey Lyman at llyman1@ithaca.edu at (607) 341-1054 as much in
advance of the event as possible.