1985 – 1993

During this period of oppression the international community was pressured to isolate the apartheid regime and to implement economic sanctions. Beyers Naudé and Bishop [from 1986 Archbishop] Desmond Tutu were at the forefront of these campaigns. However, full sanctions were never approved. Instead, the European Union committed to what it called positive measures – it would support a trust – the money to be used to help strengthen South Africans in their struggle against apartheid.

So it was that Kagiso Trust was formed, its mission “To work with people to achieve a society which will offer liberty, justice and freedom from poverty”. The focus would be on women, children, the youth and the disabled in poor and marginalised communities. The Trust, which began as a small organisation with a staff of two, grew into a significant development agency employing over a hundred people and with offices in Cape Town, East London, Eastern Cape, Natal and Johannesburg. There were also satellite offices in Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape.

R10-million was set aside for South Africa under the EU’s Special Programme for the Support of Victims of Apartheid, and church leaders of international stature, such as Archbishop Tutu, then head of the South African Council of Churches, and Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa, then head of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference, were brought in to help with the disbursement of the funds. A third, secular, avenue was also needed and Kagiso Trust was established as the conduit for dispensing the funds, which came largely from the EU and the Japanese government.

The Trust focused on supporting and funding education, human rights, freedom of the press and the creation of civic structures and advice centres. It also looked for ways to strengthen civil society and to fund potentially viable community projects. Approximately R842-million was distributed on behalf of the EU.

In response to an indication in 1990 by the EU that it would cease to provide funding in 1993 the idea was mooted of forming Kagiso Trust Investments and exploring other ways of keeping the Trust sustainable.

PROJECTS & PROGRAMMES

• Civic and Advice Centres

• The Kagiso Trust Bursary Programme

• Alexandra Disability Movement