The other day I couldn't wipe the smile off my face as I watched countless flags flap around cars all over Johannesburg. I was so excited for the scores of foreigners arriving soon to experience the infectious warm-hearted attitude of the people of our wonderful nation. I have been to a number of countries in Europe and no where have I met people as friendly as South Africans.
Then I had a reality check and realised how jaded I (and so many others) have become; I am very hesitant to stop for someone who is broken down on the highway, open my window for beggars or speak to strangers, all for fear of being a victim of crime. I get the feeling that we have lost what makes us such wonderful group of people. We don't trust each other and close ourselves off to those around us; think boomed-off communities. It would be an absolute tragedy if a few hundred thousand tourists don't get experience what we are truly like simply because of a crime problem created by a few thugs and political ineptitude.
I am sick of hearing politicians spew out rubbish about being committed to fixing crime. If the 'powers that be' were really interested in fixing the crime in our country they could; they simply do not have the will. Human beings have proved that if we have a will, then we can make it happen. China was able to increase their literacy rate from about 20% in 1950 to over 90% within 15 years. Literacy is a lot harder to achieve than fixing crime; it involves educating teachers before educating the people. They had the political will and made it happen. Politicians in South Africa have no desire to solve our most burning issue.
There is a problem and there are many possible solutions. I propose one: until the crime situation in South Africa is fixed up politicians should not be permitted to have body-guards and private protection. Take that away and watch the crime-scourge plummet.
Added to this, the same politicians should be forbidden from sending their kids to private schools. How can they justifibly be responsible for government education but not trust it enough to use it themselves. Force these politicians into over-crowded schools and I can guarantee there will be a drastic change in quality.
Thoughts?
Monday, May 31, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Slap on the wrist (or is it the face)
Like most people suspected, the ANC do not have the guts to challenge Julius Malema and take him to task on his behaviour.
After getting most of the disciplinary board to recuse themselves he promptly got three of the four charges dropped against him. The three dropped charges were; publically attacking and bad-mouthing a BBC journalist, continuing to sing the 'kill the boer' song after being banned by the ANC and the courts of this country, and for openly declaring support for Zanu PF and thus seriously denting the unity government there. He pleaded guilty to the final charge of 'undermining Jacob Zuma' and was fined R10 000 and told to go for political training and anger management classes. This is what you may call a slap on the wrist and Malema smiles all the way to school.
I saw this coming, but what upsets me most is how the ANC has revealed how self-centred they are. They punish Malema for upsetting the President but they are prepared to drop charges that embarrass us in the international media, affect and upset an indigenous race group in South Africa, and threaten the political security of one of our neighbours. This is completely unacceptable and a blatant slap in the face for all South African citizens.
After getting most of the disciplinary board to recuse themselves he promptly got three of the four charges dropped against him. The three dropped charges were; publically attacking and bad-mouthing a BBC journalist, continuing to sing the 'kill the boer' song after being banned by the ANC and the courts of this country, and for openly declaring support for Zanu PF and thus seriously denting the unity government there. He pleaded guilty to the final charge of 'undermining Jacob Zuma' and was fined R10 000 and told to go for political training and anger management classes. This is what you may call a slap on the wrist and Malema smiles all the way to school.
I saw this coming, but what upsets me most is how the ANC has revealed how self-centred they are. They punish Malema for upsetting the President but they are prepared to drop charges that embarrass us in the international media, affect and upset an indigenous race group in South Africa, and threaten the political security of one of our neighbours. This is completely unacceptable and a blatant slap in the face for all South African citizens.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Power Play
The election battle for the leadership of the ANC in Gauteng is over and Paul Mashatile has ben re-elected as chairman. Good news or bad news? That is not the point of this article. What interests me more is what he said when questioned about his relationship with Nomvula Mokhanyane.
The media and opposition parties have asked whether or not his disagreements with Mokhanyane will affect service delivery. They also asked if Mokhanyane will be fired; he stated that she will keep her job as long as she does what the ANC tells her to do. On the surface this seems like a simple enough answer but scratch the surface and his answer reveals the heart of the ANC. Mokhanyane is not answerable to Paul Mashatile, the ANC, or even Jacob Zuma; she is answerable to us, the voting public but the ANC does not care.
In 2008 the ANC came out in public and said that Thabo Mbeki would be removed as the president of the country. The ANC has an overwhelming majority in Parliament, thus the removal of Mbeki was a fait accompli but the vote still had to take place in Parliament. The ANC showed their contempt for both Parliament and government by announcing his removal before even mentioning it to Parliament.
The ANC does not believe in democracy or Parliament, they feel that they are single-handedly controlling South Africa and until the voting public stand up and vote for someone else, the ANC will continue this attitude and the ones who suffer will be you and I.
The media and opposition parties have asked whether or not his disagreements with Mokhanyane will affect service delivery. They also asked if Mokhanyane will be fired; he stated that she will keep her job as long as she does what the ANC tells her to do. On the surface this seems like a simple enough answer but scratch the surface and his answer reveals the heart of the ANC. Mokhanyane is not answerable to Paul Mashatile, the ANC, or even Jacob Zuma; she is answerable to us, the voting public but the ANC does not care.
In 2008 the ANC came out in public and said that Thabo Mbeki would be removed as the president of the country. The ANC has an overwhelming majority in Parliament, thus the removal of Mbeki was a fait accompli but the vote still had to take place in Parliament. The ANC showed their contempt for both Parliament and government by announcing his removal before even mentioning it to Parliament.
The ANC does not believe in democracy or Parliament, they feel that they are single-handedly controlling South Africa and until the voting public stand up and vote for someone else, the ANC will continue this attitude and the ones who suffer will be you and I.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Two-Thirds Terror
During the course of a lesson on the difference between the ruling party and government in class today, one of my students asked what the ANC would do if they lost power in South Africa. Would the ANC run the same course as so many other independence organisations and refuse to accept the defeat, turning the country into a dictatorship?
In the heady days after the release of Mandela many South African's were worried about what the ANC would do when they came into power. People stock piled canned goods and cleaned out the barrels of their guns. The elections came and went, the ANC won and the country continued in peace and prosperity.
The next 'worry' that emerged was what the ANC would do should they get two-thirds majority. Many were convinced that they would change the constitution the first chance they got. In 1999 and 2004 the ANC got the dreaded 'two-thirds' but left the constitution alone.
In the elections last year the ANC suddenly engaged reverse gear and they lost their two-thirds majority and the rule of the Western Cape. The ANC accepted both these loses and there has been no hint of them not accepting these gut-wrenching defeats.
If the history of the ANC in South Africa is anything to go by then I think the citizens of this country should not worry about what the ANC will do. Like any other political party they will fight to regain power but they won't resort to violence and totalitarian tactics to do it.
What do you think?
In the heady days after the release of Mandela many South African's were worried about what the ANC would do when they came into power. People stock piled canned goods and cleaned out the barrels of their guns. The elections came and went, the ANC won and the country continued in peace and prosperity.
The next 'worry' that emerged was what the ANC would do should they get two-thirds majority. Many were convinced that they would change the constitution the first chance they got. In 1999 and 2004 the ANC got the dreaded 'two-thirds' but left the constitution alone.
In the elections last year the ANC suddenly engaged reverse gear and they lost their two-thirds majority and the rule of the Western Cape. The ANC accepted both these loses and there has been no hint of them not accepting these gut-wrenching defeats.
If the history of the ANC in South Africa is anything to go by then I think the citizens of this country should not worry about what the ANC will do. Like any other political party they will fight to regain power but they won't resort to violence and totalitarian tactics to do it.
What do you think?
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