作者：秉海徒 来源：原创 发布日期：08-26
一 | Editor's Note:
In an era of profound global shifts and increasingly complex regional dynamics, a proper understanding of the world must be rooted in "grounded experience" and localized insights. Global Times English edition, in collaboration with the Academy of International and Regional Communication Studies, Communication University of China, is proud to launch "Local Insights," an English-language column dedicated to original, field-based observations.
We invite Chinese scholars and professionals who are studying, conducting exchanges, or working outside China, as well as international students and friends living and studying in China who are familiar with the social contexts of their home countries or third countries, to begin from first-hand field experience and engage with social, cultural, and contemporary issues beyond China. In the fifth article of this column, drawing on her on‑the‑ground experience as a Chinese exchange scholar, the author observes a South Africa Freedom Day memorial gathering, revealing how local politics unfolds through collective singing, dancing, and grassroots participation, while also reflecting on the gap between political liberation and economic justice.
As a PhD student, I am currently on an exchange program at Nelson Mandela University in South Africa, with support from the China Scholarship Council. Since arriving here, I have developed a habit of stepping beyond campus whenever possible. Community meetings, municipal events and public gatherings have become a vital way for me to engage with local life. This time, a local friend recommended that I attend a memorial event in Kariega, organized by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in honor of its former president, Phumzile John Gomomo. Beyond that, I had little sense of what kind of gathering I was about to enter.
It was on the way that I noticed the streets were unusually vibrant. Groups of people were dressed in colorful attire, with bright Xhosa headscarves and garments bearing political symbols. My friend then reminded me that it was April 27, which is Freedom Day in South Africa. On this day in 1994, South Africa held its first non-racial election, formally ending apartheid and inaugurating democratic rule. Over the past three decades, Freedom Day commemorates political liberation, while also inviting recurring reflection on whether the promise of freedom has been fully realized. In that sense, Freedom Day marks an important moment for observing contemporary South African politics and social sentiment.
From street to hall: Entering Freedom Day
The event was scheduled to begin at 10 am, and we arrived shortly before the hour. Yet there were not many people present. Banners of COSATU, the South African Communist Party (SACP), and the African National Congress (ANC) had already been displayed inside the hall, quietly framing the political context of the gathering. Although my understanding was still limited, I could already sense that their presence mattered. COSATU, SACP and ANC represent key forces in South Africa's political landscape, historically linked through the "Tripartite Alliance" formed during the anti-apartheid struggle and sustained in various forms since 1994. I could see that this was not simply a local gathering, but one embedded within a much longer political tradition.
What struck me first was how different the atmosphere was from what I had expected of a political gathering. There was no sense of urgency or visible tension. My friend introduced me around, and we greeted each other through handshakes, embraces and brief conversations, with a familiarity that suggested long-standing connections. Someone also greeted me with "ni hao." The early autumn wind carried a chill that felt almost like winter. However, the mood was unmistakably different. A sense of warmth emerged from the way people related to one another.
We took our seats in the front row. As I looked around, the hall was gradually filling up. I noticed that people wore headscarves, skirts and short-sleeved shirts layered under heavier coats, with ANC insignia visible in various forms. Every time I made eye contact with someone, they would respond with a warm smile. Even as the only foreign face in the hall, I felt no sense of awkwardness or exclusion.
When music preceded speech
The atmosphere felt far more open than I had imagined. There was no formal signal from a host. Yet, almost imperceptibly, singing and dancing began to fill the space. At first, it was only a few voices. Then others joined. A group of older women stood up, stepping lightly as their bodies moved with the rhythm. Their arms tracing steady patterns in the air, moved with an ease that suggested a deep sense of rhythm. Around them, others began to join in. Someone clapped, someone responded in song, while others stepped forward into the center, aligning themselves with the unfolding rhythm.
Before I fully understood what was happening, someone gently pulled me into the group. I followed, trying to imitate the movements. It didn't take long for me to realize that participation did not depend on learning the steps. Once inside, you were already part of it.
Meanwhile, a more distinct call began to emerge, repeated at intervals: "Amandla" (Power) "Awethu" (To the People). The words rose above the singing and then dissolved back into it. Song, chant and movement overlapped, making it difficult to distinguish where one ended and another began. At that moment, I found myself wondering: was this a political gathering, or a celebration?
It was not until around midday that the event formally began. Speakers gradually took their places, and the hall shifted into a more structured atmosphere. What I did not expect, however, was that the mayor I had followed on social media was among those arriving. Seeing her there came as a surprise. I didn't expect to see local officials there, let alone find myself within what was clearly part of their political life.
The memorial lecture brought together members of the ANC, alliance partners and the broader community in a moment of reflection and renewed commitment. The gathering honored the enduring legacy of Phumzile John Gomomo and his immense contribution to the struggle for workers' rights and social justice.
They reflected on Cde John Gomomo as one of the most dedicated worker leaders produced by the Congress Movement, emphasizing unity, organization and ongoing activism as essential to advancing the goals of the democratic movement. Gomomo was an icon in the labor movement. He devoted his entire life to serving workers and is remembered as a hero of the struggle for freedom, democracy and workers' rights. His contributions were situated within the broader historical moment of South Africa's transition to democracy - a transition whose achievements are commemorated each year on Freedom Day, marking the political liberation attained in 1994.
The lecture also raised a question that resonated widely: when political freedom was achieved, did it also translate into economic freedom? Gomomo's legacy was not only invoked as history, but also a lens through which to examine the present.
Speakers highlighted the ongoing challenges facing workers today, including high unemployment and the rising cost of living, which continue to strain working-class households. Against this backdrop, unity, organization and sustained activism were presented not as symbolic gestures, but as necessary responses.
The themes of the lecture aligned closely with the spirit of International Workers' Day, linking past struggles with present realities and ongoing demands. In this sense, the lecture stood not only as a tribute, but also as a call to action, urging those in attendance to carry forward the values, discipline and commitment that defined his life of service.
After each speaker delivered their speech, people rose from their seats, singing and clapping. The officials on stage joined in as well, blurring the distinction between speaker and audience. The atmosphere remained lively, with an almost continuous sense of energy. Gradually, I began to realize that the event was not simply a commemorative one, but rather a form of political practice.
What stood out to me was that the mayor mentioned China in her speech. She spoke of the strong relationship between China and South Africa, noting the presence of Chinese automotive companies in Nelson Mandela Bay and expressing hope for further cooperation. After her speech, I was invited to take a photo with her. She shook my hand, welcomed me as an international student in South Africa, and expressed her positive view of China.
I also had a brief exchange with Xolile Nqatha, the provincial secretary of the SACP in Eastern Cape. Reflecting on the history of leftist movements in South Africa, he noted that both the SACP and the Communist Party of China were founded in 1921. He also remarked that it remains rare to see Chinese scholars present at such gatherings. I had not imagined that I would be speaking with government officials, which initially caught me off guard. For me, this brief encounter made China's presence in South Africa feel less like a matter of diplomatic language and more like something embedded in local political life.
The event continued until around 3 pm. As I stepped outside, the surrounding streets were noticeably more crowded. The parking area was nearly full. Roadside vendors were selling clothing marked with political symbols, and media crews remained on site, documenting the scene. People left gradually. Many paused to exchange farewells, embracing one another before leaving, as if the rhythm of the gathering had not yet fully ended.
The experience reshaped my understanding of what a political gathering could be. In a global context where political expression is increasingly fragmented, a mode of public engagement built around rhythm and participation offers a different way of understanding political life. Here, politics did not take shape solely through institutions, procedures or formal speech. It could be serious, yet also warm. It could be articulated through language, but it could just as readily take shape through song, movement and collective response.
This year also marks the 32nd anniversary of the end of apartheid. It represents the restoration of dignity, equality before the law and the collective promise that South Africa would never again be a society governed by exclusion, injustice or oppression. In the community, I saw how residents engaged with the local government, participated in decision-making processes and worked collectively to build safer, more inclusive neighborhoods. For me, the gathering became an entry point into contemporary political life in South Africa, revealing something that cannot be fully grasped from a distance.
The author is a PhD student in African Area Studies at the College of Foreign Languages, Zhejiang Normal University
。 Kayhan周三作为Battlefield 的一部分在Disrupt SF展示，其业务比TechCrunch第一次报道他们时有了很大的进展；当时，他们正在进行种子轮融资，但现在他们已经站稳脚跟。该公司由多年前从伊朗来美国留学的 Araz Feyzi 和 Siamak Hesar 创立，他们正在应对过去几十年卫星发射数量级增长的自然结果：交通。太空可能看起来像一个大地方，但相对而言，低地球轨道实际上是相当拥挤的。随着数以千计的卫星在各种轨道上飞来飞去，以及数以万计的太空垃圾，你的航天器必须要有点动作以避免一个时速20000英里左右的螺丝钉的机会越来越大。
二 | 当轨道重叠到有可能发生碰撞时，它被称为"会合"--当然，这是一个比"碰撞路线"更中性的术语。Feyzi告诉TechCrunch说：“有很多卫星对卫星的会合；今天还不到10%，但这种模式正在发生变化。
三 | 会合的数量正在增加，因为我们正在追踪更多的物体，而且有更多的活跃卫星--我们预计这种情况会变得更糟。”他解释说，恶化不仅仅是在频率方面，而是在潜在的灾难性事件发生前的时间减少。这段准备时间非常重要，因为最后一刻的演习既令人毛骨悚然，又浪费燃料--几个小时前本可以通过微小的冲力避免的事情变成了更长的紧急燃烧。
四 | 通常情况下，卫星运营商向太空指挥部报告他们的位置和轨道--听起来令人印象深刻，但想象一下，一个机场的控制塔突然增长到其正常大小的10倍。他们只能做这么多，这么快，而且他们依靠运营商调用最新的数据和变化。由于天空中有数以千计的卫星，在几个小时或几天的时间内消除轨道冲突--并通过电话决定做什么--不再是一个现实的选择。Kayhan正在努力利用现有的最新的数据使这一过程尽可能地自动化。
五 | 其中一些是由政府维护的高精度物体数据库，是的，但也有其他跟踪来源，加上来自客户和任何提供信息的人的实时信息。他们的Pathfinder平台提供态势感知、会合警告、推荐的新轨道路径--如果你有合适的推进器，它甚至会提供冲力。“我们使用所有这些数据，我们已经开发了大量的专有算法和流程。例如，我们已经开发了一个现代预测引擎，预测物体的路径，这使我们能够非常迅速地计算、模拟和重新模拟物体在空间的运动，”Feyzi说。Feyzi继续说，会合反应的周转时间是以分钟为单位，而不是以天为单位，但它的仔细考虑并没有减少。"当你使用Pathfinder，看着为你准备的建议时，你可以确定它们是安全的--我们已经对它们进行了筛选--其次，它对你来说是可行的，因为它符合你的所有限制：你的推进系统，你的地面接触。"他还强调，这些能力不受限制，例如，一个雷达天线能转多快。作为一个基于数据的产品，它可以任意地扩展。“软件的魅力，以及我们设计基础设施的方式是它很容易扩展。”Feyzi说：“我们可以搭载今天的每一颗卫星，这对我们来说不是问题。”与其他卫星和任务管理平台的整合也即将到来--不是每个人都想与一个全新的工具合作，所以数据将通过SDK提供。你可能会问，作为一项业务，纯粹的数据游戏是否站得住脚。Feyzi承认，其他人很可能会尝试相同类型的系统，但Kayhan的领先优势和专业知识是不可低估的。
六 | “我们的团队今天有五个天文动力学博士。”他说：“我们处理的数据量和处理量都非常大；除非你发展这些核心能力，使其有效地运行，否则你将无法实现我们正在实现的目标。如果你有数据、资本、人员，是的，也许在两年内，你可以开发出这个平台--迄今为止还没有人做到这一点，但我们两年后的情况与今天的情况大不相同。
七 | ”在这一点上，Kayhan本身正在扩大其能力，它现在的产品被称为Gamut，旨在提供同样的自动安全检查，但用于发射。安排发射不只是为了等待好天气--还必须把有效载荷放在正确的轨道和位置，也许是在几十或几百个同行中。随着卫星数量的增加，共享任务进入几个不同的轨道的前景迅速成为一个非常复杂的后勤问题。而最关键的是，如果错过了几分钟的发射窗口，将需要一个新的解决方案。“我们发明了一种新方法，利用GPU处理来处理发射筛选，速度快了一个数量级，”Feyzi说。这意味着发射公司可以为更多的可能性做好准备，并在将火箭送入太空所必须通过的文书工作和其他官方程序上实现快进。Gamut仍在开发和测试中，但你可以期待在他们投资最新的融资时很快听到更多关于它的消息。
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