The Sunday Times this week has got it wrong!
Two main articles this week caught my attention. The first being the front-page story titled ‘Malema on the ropes’ (Sunday Times, 7th August 2011). The article relates how Julius Malema, the President of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL), has crossed the line with his reference to overthrowing the government of Botswana. The article then adds that the African National Congress (ANC) is planning on coming down hard on him for his embarrasing statements. The article was well written, informative and well researched, but nothing new, we have heard this all before.
The second was an article in the opinion section, written by ANC stalwart and National Executive Committee member ‘Cyril Ramaphosa’ titled: ‘Let’s mine, not undermine’. Ramaphosa explains that the ANCYL have a very good point in wanting a solution to our rampant poverty and unemployment but argues that nationalisation is not the answer they are looking for. He acknowledges that mines have exploited the poor and he challenges the mines to find long-term solutions to the plight of the poor and re-invest the billions that they are making into real benefits for the poor. He believes that the ANCYL and the mines have the potential to work together and plot a new trajectory for South Africa’s economic growth. Please do yourself a favour and read the article (http://www.timeslive.co.za/opinion/commentary/2011/08/07/let-s-mine-not-undermine).
He has clearly, intelligently and thoughtfully provided a solution to a potentially explosive situation and through his article Ramaphosa gives our country something that we desperately need: leadership. Rather than choose sides and deride the opponent, Ramaphosa has seen that a new way forward needs to be plotted if we are going to get anywhere as a country. He also knows that the only way we will succeed is if seeming enemies can find a way to work together.
What the Sunday Times got wrong was to mix up the order of importance of the stories; Ramaphosa’s conciliatory article should have been their front-page headline, pointing the nation in a positive direction. The confrontational statements of Malema should have been tucked away where they belong, far from sight.
What do you think?
Monday, August 8, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
When teachers fail their students
The plight of the South African student is well-documented; poor facilities, lack of motivation, low standards, uneducated teachers, ongoing strikes and poor school leadership all have lead to the dismal state of South African education. Student failure and drop-out rate equals over 70% and recent tests show that 1 in 6 Grade 6 South African students achieved over 50% for basic numeracy and literacy. Something drastic needs to happen for this situation to change.
It is thus with utter dismay that I learned that the South African Democratic Teacher's Union (SADTU) in the Western Cape has forbid its members from writing competency tests in order to be eligible to mark matric papers. It has furthermore urged all Principals and Deputy Principals to boycott the signing of performance contracts. I do not understand why.
The Western Cape government simply wants to raise the standard of marking and the standard of leadership quality in schools. The only reason I can see for SADTU's stance is that they know that many of their members would fail the competency tests and would fail performance contracts.
If we are to stop the rot of perennial failure of our students we need to ensure that our students are taught by the very best. Until SADTU change their stance, teachers will continue to fail in their duty to serve and educate the youth of our nation.
It is thus with utter dismay that I learned that the South African Democratic Teacher's Union (SADTU) in the Western Cape has forbid its members from writing competency tests in order to be eligible to mark matric papers. It has furthermore urged all Principals and Deputy Principals to boycott the signing of performance contracts. I do not understand why.
The Western Cape government simply wants to raise the standard of marking and the standard of leadership quality in schools. The only reason I can see for SADTU's stance is that they know that many of their members would fail the competency tests and would fail performance contracts.
If we are to stop the rot of perennial failure of our students we need to ensure that our students are taught by the very best. Until SADTU change their stance, teachers will continue to fail in their duty to serve and educate the youth of our nation.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
ANC does not take Youth League seriously, neither should we
So Julius Malema has been voted in for another term as leader of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL), does this mean anything to our country?
Traditionally the ANCYL has produced leaders of incredible calibre that have gone on to change this country (think Anton Lembede, Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisula, Oliver Tambo etc). However, while they were in the Youth League they had very little say in the running of the ANC main body. The impotence of the Youth League has not changed much to this day. The Youth League is a place for people to rant and rave but not get much done. The latest Youth League conference was no different.
This weekend Malema waxed lyrical about taking land, banks and mines and returning them to the people. Today, the ANC came out and said that the ANCYL has no power to change ANC policy and that they have no intention of making the changes the Malema was demanding.
Why then does this upstart get so much media attention? Every 30 minutes there was a news update on the goings-on at the conference. To my mind this is what Malema wants. He spews out ridiculous statements knowing very well they have no power for actual change, but the media gobbles it up like it is manna from heaven. He loves the attention and the media gives it to him.
We need to realise that the ANC does not to its own Youth League seriously, so neither should we.
Traditionally the ANCYL has produced leaders of incredible calibre that have gone on to change this country (think Anton Lembede, Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisula, Oliver Tambo etc). However, while they were in the Youth League they had very little say in the running of the ANC main body. The impotence of the Youth League has not changed much to this day. The Youth League is a place for people to rant and rave but not get much done. The latest Youth League conference was no different.
This weekend Malema waxed lyrical about taking land, banks and mines and returning them to the people. Today, the ANC came out and said that the ANCYL has no power to change ANC policy and that they have no intention of making the changes the Malema was demanding.
Why then does this upstart get so much media attention? Every 30 minutes there was a news update on the goings-on at the conference. To my mind this is what Malema wants. He spews out ridiculous statements knowing very well they have no power for actual change, but the media gobbles it up like it is manna from heaven. He loves the attention and the media gives it to him.
We need to realise that the ANC does not to its own Youth League seriously, so neither should we.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Mr President, take a bow
When President Zuma came into office he immediately reshuffled his Cabinet and created a number of new posts and committees. A distinguished teacher-friend of mine from Zimbabwe cried foul. He said that this was simply a process of creating jobs for friends and reminded him of his home country up north. When I disagreed with him he said I should give it two years and see if the new posts produce anything of value.
Two years have passed and one of the new committees, the Planning Commission headed by Trevor Manuel, has just presented their diagnostic report to Parliament. They have identified that unemployment and sub-standard education are the two biggest challenges facing our government. You might read this and say: “that is obvious”, but you cannot treat a sickness without first having an accurate diagnosis.
The report tabled in Parliament is thorough, intelligent and insightful. Furthermore, it provides real solutions to the problems that they have identified. We are now one step closer to correcting problems that were centuries in the making. For this our President needs to be praised.
Mr President, take a bow.
Two years have passed and one of the new committees, the Planning Commission headed by Trevor Manuel, has just presented their diagnostic report to Parliament. They have identified that unemployment and sub-standard education are the two biggest challenges facing our government. You might read this and say: “that is obvious”, but you cannot treat a sickness without first having an accurate diagnosis.
The report tabled in Parliament is thorough, intelligent and insightful. Furthermore, it provides real solutions to the problems that they have identified. We are now one step closer to correcting problems that were centuries in the making. For this our President needs to be praised.
Mr President, take a bow.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Can we take COSATU seriously?
Zwelinzima Vavi -the Secretary General of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu)- is a man that I am growing to admire. His unending challenge of the opulence of parliamentarians as well as his fight for the rights of workers is something I can respect.
However, On Monday 06th June Zwelinzima Vavi said that South Africa is a ticking time bomb on the verge of a massive uprising. Whether this is true or not is debatable, but his comment brings to light the double standards of the trade union.
Cosatu foresees disaster for this country yet just a few weeks ago they willed their members to go out in numbers and vote for the ANC. Since 1994 Cosatu has been a bedfellow of the ANC, insisting that all of its 2 million members vote for the ANC. As a reward for this, Cosatu's leadership get handed high positions of power in parliament and cabinet. Essentially Cosatu have a hand in running our country without ever having to canvass anyone for votes.
They are complaining about the state of our country but they are part of the leadership running our country. When they are challenged on this duplicity they say that the ANC holds all the power and they are powerless to change economic policy.
So either they need to stop talking and start fixing. Or if they feel that they do not have sufficient power to change our economic policies then they should break away from the ANC and run in elections independently.
They are doing neither, so it begs the question: can we take Cosatu seriously? And if we can’t, can we still take their leader seriously?
What do you think?
However, On Monday 06th June Zwelinzima Vavi said that South Africa is a ticking time bomb on the verge of a massive uprising. Whether this is true or not is debatable, but his comment brings to light the double standards of the trade union.
Cosatu foresees disaster for this country yet just a few weeks ago they willed their members to go out in numbers and vote for the ANC. Since 1994 Cosatu has been a bedfellow of the ANC, insisting that all of its 2 million members vote for the ANC. As a reward for this, Cosatu's leadership get handed high positions of power in parliament and cabinet. Essentially Cosatu have a hand in running our country without ever having to canvass anyone for votes.
They are complaining about the state of our country but they are part of the leadership running our country. When they are challenged on this duplicity they say that the ANC holds all the power and they are powerless to change economic policy.
So either they need to stop talking and start fixing. Or if they feel that they do not have sufficient power to change our economic policies then they should break away from the ANC and run in elections independently.
They are doing neither, so it begs the question: can we take Cosatu seriously? And if we can’t, can we still take their leader seriously?
What do you think?
Friday, June 3, 2011
Are we becoming a police state?
A few months ago the residents of Ficksburg in the Free State went on a violent protest against lack of service delivery and incompetent officials. In an attempt to protect old ladies being blasted by a police water cannon Andries Tatane took off his shirt and stood in the way. The police response was to surround him, beat him, and shoot him (see the video on you tube). He died from his injuries.
The national response was one of shock and injustice at the obvious abuse of power by the police. In response, the police force quickly arrested the policemen involved and justice seemed to be taking its course. However, this did not stop comparisons being drawn between this situation and apartheid-era police tactics.
In the 1980s in South Africa some of the most horrendous human rights abuses took place when this country was essentially a police state. All over the country the townships were burning with protests and the response of the government was violence, murder and underhand tactics. It seems as if nothing has changed.
On Wednesday evening at 9.30 pm the main witness in the case against the police, Molefi Nonyane, was arrested on a charge of fraud allegedly committed 5 years ago. The timing of this arrest is very questionable even if Mr Nonyane is guilty. This stinks of a rotten police force intimidating citizens and protecting their own.
We have great cause for concern about our country returning to a police state.
The national response was one of shock and injustice at the obvious abuse of power by the police. In response, the police force quickly arrested the policemen involved and justice seemed to be taking its course. However, this did not stop comparisons being drawn between this situation and apartheid-era police tactics.
In the 1980s in South Africa some of the most horrendous human rights abuses took place when this country was essentially a police state. All over the country the townships were burning with protests and the response of the government was violence, murder and underhand tactics. It seems as if nothing has changed.
On Wednesday evening at 9.30 pm the main witness in the case against the police, Molefi Nonyane, was arrested on a charge of fraud allegedly committed 5 years ago. The timing of this arrest is very questionable even if Mr Nonyane is guilty. This stinks of a rotten police force intimidating citizens and protecting their own.
We have great cause for concern about our country returning to a police state.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
When human rights are wrong
According to a 2001 Constitutional Court ruling the South African government cannot extradite someone suspected of a capital crime to a country that enforces the death penalty. The ruling does however allow for the extradition if the requesting government provides a commitment that they will not pass the death penalty.
A victory for human rights? I don't think so.
In the last few years two men from Botswana suspected of a capital offence (murder) have entered South Africa. The government of Botswana asked for these men to be extradited so that the cases can be put to trial. Subsequent to this one of these men has died but the case continues to be dragged out in our courts. The snag; Botswana has a mandatory death penalty for convicted murderers.
Our government has appealed to the government of Botswana for a commitment not to pass the death penalty; understandably they refused. This has created a legal dilemma: the men cannot be tried in a South African court, but also cannot be extradited. This has two obvious infringements on human rights. Firstly, the accused could potential get away with murder and the victims not see justice. Secondly, South Africa could become a safe-haven for criminals fleeing potential execution thus our citizens right to safety in infringed upon.
In an attempt to protect human rights, our constitution has actually protected potential murders.
A victory for human rights? I don't think so.
In the last few years two men from Botswana suspected of a capital offence (murder) have entered South Africa. The government of Botswana asked for these men to be extradited so that the cases can be put to trial. Subsequent to this one of these men has died but the case continues to be dragged out in our courts. The snag; Botswana has a mandatory death penalty for convicted murderers.
Our government has appealed to the government of Botswana for a commitment not to pass the death penalty; understandably they refused. This has created a legal dilemma: the men cannot be tried in a South African court, but also cannot be extradited. This has two obvious infringements on human rights. Firstly, the accused could potential get away with murder and the victims not see justice. Secondly, South Africa could become a safe-haven for criminals fleeing potential execution thus our citizens right to safety in infringed upon.
In an attempt to protect human rights, our constitution has actually protected potential murders.
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