Funda Community College is set to host the historic relaunch of its Phinda Phemba exhibition on Saturday in Diepkloof Zone 6, Soweto, an event that marks a major milestone in the ongoing restoration, renewal and reclamation of the iconic institution.

According to Funda Community College chairperson Magoshi Kgole, the relaunch is more than a standard art showcase.

He said it represents a vital opportunity to reconnect the college with its rich history, its artists, the local community and the numerous contributors who have sustained its legacy over the decades.

Speaking ahead of the exhibition, writer and storyteller Sibusiso Nxumalo emphasised that Funda's mission remains tied to addressing the structural flaws of South Africa's past.

Reflecting on the current state of the country’s educational system, Nxumalo argued that systemic inequalities persist, noting that while students receive an education, “true access” to knowledge remains unequal between townships and historically privileged areas, leaving the historic mission of institutions like Funda unfinished.

"We believe that our communities need access to knowledge. We believe that knowledge comes from remembering, and that memory is the weapon. Culture is the teacher if nature is the creator," Nxumalo stated.

Funda Community College was established as a direct response to the June 16, 1976 student uprisings.

Nxumalo explained that following the unrest, the Urban Foundation, backed by Anglo American, established adult education centres in New Brighton, Katlegong and Soweto to address systemic educational gaps.

The Funda Centre served this purpose from 1984 to 1994.

While many of the college's historical disciplines faded or faced silencing over the years, its visual arts department has remained a resilient core, he added.

The upcoming exhibition will showcase this enduring strength, alongside an ongoing curation process that has been developed over the last five years.

Nxumalo pointed out that the physical restoration of the campus has been a long-term effort. Since reclamation efforts began in 2015, the college has successfully reclaimed five out of its nine buildings.

However, critical spaces – including the library, the administrative round building, the science centre, and the teacher centre – remain outstanding or under occupation.

Nxumalo noted that the physical state of the campus reflects the broader challenges faced by the community it serves, making the revival of its educational methodologies even more urgent.

Securing recent funding and assembling a dedicated team has allowed the college to transition its long-held recovery plans into reality.

Looking forward, Funda Community College plans to significantly expand its curriculum beyond visual arts.

Nxumalo highlighted that future programmes will introduce formal courses in music; drumming; theatre and performance; communications; expression; digital technologies; and event management and festival hosting.

These new programmes will incorporate specialised cultural frameworks, including what Nxumalo highlighted as the Molefi Pheto method, which focuses on deep listening and recording.

The Phinda Phemba relaunch serves as a celebration of survival and the beginning of a new chapter in indigenous epistemology and community-led education, he said.