D.G.S. MTIMKULU

Inkundla ya Bantu 's Unique Position.

by

D. G. S. Mtimkulu

I am particularly glad to avail myself of the opportunity of congratulating Inkundla ya Bantu on its eighth birthday.

Inkundla ya Bantu holds a unique position in African life. First of all it is African owned; this is something to be thankful for in these days. The establishment, growth, and development of African business concerns is a matter of national , for it is one of the ways by which the African will reach that very desirable goal---economic independence. Without economic independence we shall never travel very far along the road to progress. The whole top structure of professions and technical skills presupposes a base of economic independence within the community.

It is with this recognition that we congratulate Inkundla ya Bantu and other pioneers among African businessmen who are launching out in various directions to establish African-owned concerns, run by Africans for the welfare and benefit of other Africans. In a country such as ours where there are to be found a number of conflicting racial interests, it is needful to keep in mind that very true saying, “there is no money without strings.”

Secondly, Mr. Editor [Jordan Kush Ngubane], I consider Inkundla ya Bantu as unique among African journals because it strives to be independent---it seeks to provide, without fear or favour, a platform for all who have something to say in the national interest.

The importance of such independence is many a time overlooked. We Africans tend to think of independence always in terms of freedom from European control, and, by implication suggest that there is no need to be wary of pernicious influences seeking to control the minds and spirits of the people, as long as they flow from African sources. Nothing, in my opinion, could be more unwise than such an assumption.

There is a crying need in African life for a press that shall be free---free from European as well as African pressure groups.

In these days of the written word, the Press is the most influential expression of the vox populi [the Voice of the People]. It should, therefore, never, at any time, be the mouthpiece of a few, or much worse, the mouthpiece of one, no matter f how great, or clever, or good he may be.

At this time the African is being gradually won over, in ever increasing numbers, to an appreciation of the power of the printed word, it behoves the African Press to jealously guard this heritage of impartiality, in an effort to find in the vox populi the vox Dei [the Word of God]. This, it seems y to me, is the very highest ideal that any journal can seek to attain.

In wishing Inkundla ya Bantu years of future service in the cause of the African, I can direct it to no higher aim than this; with this assurance moreover, Mr. Editor, that the upholding of this flaming torch will demand of you and your successors the very best that you can give on behalf of Africa.

----- Inkundla ya Bantu , May 17, 1945.