Our government is doing everything in its power to silence the media and restrict media freedom. Tomorrow, Tuesday 22 November 2011 is your opportunity to stand up to this in your own way.
The National Press Club has called for a day of mourning called 'Black Tuesday'. They are calling on all South Africans to wear black to protest against the implementation of the Secrecy Bill, which Parliament will be voting on tomorrow. By choosing this name the Press club is invoking some very powerful history.
On the 19th October 1977 the National Party government banned several newspapers and magazines as well as 19 Black Consciousness activists, the day was dubbed 'Black Wednesday'. That particular 'black' day was seen as the death of press freedom in South Africa.
I challenge you, stand up for what is right, lead South Africa, and do your bit by educating yourself, and by wearing black tomorrow. Let us all fight for press freedom and say 'We will not be silenced'
You can learn more from the following sites:
http://www.r2k.org.za/
http://www.leadsa.co.za/
http://dailymaverick.co.za/article/2011-11-21-black-tuesday-protest-declared-against-secrecy-bill
Monday, November 21, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
ANC members are 'more equal' than others
Of all the atrocities committed during the dark days of apartheid one of the worst had to be the search for chemical weapons to subdue the black population; this team was headed up by Dr Wouter Basson.
During the Truth and Reconciliation commission this Dr Basson did not apply for amnesty and as a result he was charged for his offences during apartheid. Through an independent court he was found innocent and allowed to continue his medical practise.
Over the last few years the government has done everything in its power to try and prevent Dr Basson from practising medicine in South Africa. They feel that his past immoral actions should exclude him from caring for sick people in our country.
While I agree that Dr Basson did some wicked things, I disagree with the morals behind this government intervention:
Tony Yengeni, a National Executive Committee Member (NEC) of the African National Congress (ANC) was recently found guilty of fraud relating to the procurement of weapons for South Africa (also known as the Arms Deal). He was given a ludicrously light sentence, allowed home on weekends, broke his bail conditions, was let out early, and welcomed back into the upper echelons of the government with open arms. This same Toni Yengeni has now been appointed to the Defence Review Committee of Parliament. When challenged on the farce of this appointment the ANC bent over backwards to justify this appointment. They say that he has served his time and he should be free to serve his country.
How can it be that a Doctor wanting to practise in a private capacity should be hindered from doing so when a convicted criminal can serve the public in the very field he was convicted of a crime?
According to Chapter 2, section 9 of our constitution: "Everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law." However, it seems that if you are an ANC member you are more equal than others.
During the Truth and Reconciliation commission this Dr Basson did not apply for amnesty and as a result he was charged for his offences during apartheid. Through an independent court he was found innocent and allowed to continue his medical practise.
Over the last few years the government has done everything in its power to try and prevent Dr Basson from practising medicine in South Africa. They feel that his past immoral actions should exclude him from caring for sick people in our country.
While I agree that Dr Basson did some wicked things, I disagree with the morals behind this government intervention:
Tony Yengeni, a National Executive Committee Member (NEC) of the African National Congress (ANC) was recently found guilty of fraud relating to the procurement of weapons for South Africa (also known as the Arms Deal). He was given a ludicrously light sentence, allowed home on weekends, broke his bail conditions, was let out early, and welcomed back into the upper echelons of the government with open arms. This same Toni Yengeni has now been appointed to the Defence Review Committee of Parliament. When challenged on the farce of this appointment the ANC bent over backwards to justify this appointment. They say that he has served his time and he should be free to serve his country.
How can it be that a Doctor wanting to practise in a private capacity should be hindered from doing so when a convicted criminal can serve the public in the very field he was convicted of a crime?
According to Chapter 2, section 9 of our constitution: "Everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law." However, it seems that if you are an ANC member you are more equal than others.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Julius Malema: the most astute politician in the land
Politics is a dirty business. As much as we would like to think that the people presented to us are the best leaders for the country this is most often not the case.
In modern politics there are so many people to please and quite simply, it is impossible to please everyone. As a result, the person who has the ability to 'play the field', so to speak, is the one who wins. These people have mastered the art of manipulation and deceit. They know when to cause a storm, and when to disappear in the storm. They know how to change allegiance at the right time and when to appear entirely devoted to a life-long cause.
Since his short time in the political arena Julius Malema has proved that he is, by far, the best politician that we have. He has swung like a pendulum, turned his cloak, lied, cheated (and some say stolen) for years, but is at the forefront of the political landscape.
His current trial is a case in point: he is on trial for bringing the ANC into disrepute and for breaking the rules of the party. However, through some masterful political strokes, he has taken himself well out the lime light. First he delayed the trial by storing up violence outside the hearing, then he delayed by appealing to the constitution of the ANC, then he questioned the legality of the charges, and finally he missed his hearing due to illness. All this has served to quieten the storm around him and remove the negative emotion from his trial. It appears as if we will only hear the verdict during November.
He may not be a great example of the kind of leader that we want but the above information serves to confirm that Julius Malema is the most astute politician in the land.
In modern politics there are so many people to please and quite simply, it is impossible to please everyone. As a result, the person who has the ability to 'play the field', so to speak, is the one who wins. These people have mastered the art of manipulation and deceit. They know when to cause a storm, and when to disappear in the storm. They know how to change allegiance at the right time and when to appear entirely devoted to a life-long cause.
Since his short time in the political arena Julius Malema has proved that he is, by far, the best politician that we have. He has swung like a pendulum, turned his cloak, lied, cheated (and some say stolen) for years, but is at the forefront of the political landscape.
His current trial is a case in point: he is on trial for bringing the ANC into disrepute and for breaking the rules of the party. However, through some masterful political strokes, he has taken himself well out the lime light. First he delayed the trial by storing up violence outside the hearing, then he delayed by appealing to the constitution of the ANC, then he questioned the legality of the charges, and finally he missed his hearing due to illness. All this has served to quieten the storm around him and remove the negative emotion from his trial. It appears as if we will only hear the verdict during November.
He may not be a great example of the kind of leader that we want but the above information serves to confirm that Julius Malema is the most astute politician in the land.
Monday, September 26, 2011
A (very) brief History of South Africa, by Lance de Ruig
Having just celebrated another Heritage day I thought it would be a nice idea to do a (very) brief summary of our history. It is a little bit tongue in cheek and by no means is it comprehensive. Please bear with the length, it is hard telling the history of a country in 300 words. Also, in my (very) brief history I have intentionally excluded post 1948 due to the fact that many South Africans have no idea that we actually have a Heritage pre-1948. We focus so much on the atrocities of the last 50 years that we neglect the formative years of this great country. So, here goes:
Very little is known of South Africa pre-colonialism as most African tribes had no written language and as such we mostly rely on archaeological evidence. What we do know is that between 3000 BC and 1000 BC peoples from Ethiopia and Somalia migrated to Southern Africa. Also, In 400 AD many Bantu speaking tribes from Central Africa made their way to our shores and began disposing many of the existing tribes (those would be the San, Khoi, Zulu and Xhosa).
In the late 1400s we know that the Portuguese, through Bartholomeu Dias and Vasco da Gama, made their way around the tip of Africa and made stops along the Southern African coast. They butchered and bruised, but also fell in love with the country and the people (well, the topless women actually) and many settled and made new lives in Southern Africa.
While there were some ‘whites’ in Africa, the real trouble started in1652 when our friend (well, maybe not yours) Jan van Riebeeck founded a Dutch settlement called the Cape Colony. Thousands upon thousands of Europeans, mostly Dutch, made their way to our fine climes and started a new life at the tip of Africa.
As the Dutch poured in and built with their blood, sweat, guns and tears, an upstart French invader named Napoleon was ravaging their ‘home’ country. In order to protect the strategically placed Cape Colony from the dirty French, the British occupied the colony at the Cape. Needless to say, the British soon realised that sun was good for their sickly skins and so they flocked in their hordes to the sunny skies of Africa.
It would be amiss not to mention that while the pasty poms were invading, Shaka was building his empire. Between 1816 and 1826 the Zulu nation struck fear and loathing in the hearts of black and white hides alike. Dispossessing, murdering and conquering at will, it seems as if the only real match for Shaka was betrayal.
Meanwhile, back at the colony, the Dutch (or Boers as they would be called, meaning farmer) could not handle the rule of the Brits and so left the Cape en-masse to find some living space. Having fought disease, famine, drought and warring tribes the Boers found a place to call home and created the ZAR (modern day Transvaal) in 1856.
All was at peace (well, sort of) until that pesky yellow metal called Gold was discovered in Johannesburg in 1886 (turns out that 70% of the world's gold has come from this tiny Republic) and true to form, the Brits (yes, them again) wanted their piece of the pie.
In 1899 the crown invaded the independent Boer republics and a long and bitter war was fought with thousands of Boer and black women and children being starved to death in the world's first concentration camps (yes, it was the Brits, not the Germans). Eventually the broken and beaten Boers would sign peace in 1902.
What followed was a brilliant piece of nation-creation (well, if you were white) and in 1910 the Union of South Africa was created, joining the Boer Republics and the British Colonies, creating modern day South Africa (Yes, we were 100 years old last year and no one knew). The problem was deciding what to do with the black people in this new nation, the solution was the 1913 Land Act, forbidding black people from owning land outside of a predetermined (and tiny) chunk of land know as the 'Home Lands'.
The Brits had a merry time running their new creation until 1948, when the Afrikaans, through the National Party, won the election and did all sorts of horrendous things to hang on to power. And the rest, as they say in the classics, is history.
A (very) brief history of our country points to one amazing point: being African does not mean Zulu, or Xhosa, or even Afrikaans; what African means is Somalia, Ethiopia, Britain, Congo, Netherlands, Portugal, France, Sotho, and so many more. As we celebrate Heritage days in the years to come may we remember where we come from, and embrace where we want to go, together!
The rest, as they say, is history
Very little is known of South Africa pre-colonialism as most African tribes had no written language and as such we mostly rely on archaeological evidence. What we do know is that between 3000 BC and 1000 BC peoples from Ethiopia and Somalia migrated to Southern Africa. Also, In 400 AD many Bantu speaking tribes from Central Africa made their way to our shores and began disposing many of the existing tribes (those would be the San, Khoi, Zulu and Xhosa).
In the late 1400s we know that the Portuguese, through Bartholomeu Dias and Vasco da Gama, made their way around the tip of Africa and made stops along the Southern African coast. They butchered and bruised, but also fell in love with the country and the people (well, the topless women actually) and many settled and made new lives in Southern Africa.
While there were some ‘whites’ in Africa, the real trouble started in1652 when our friend (well, maybe not yours) Jan van Riebeeck founded a Dutch settlement called the Cape Colony. Thousands upon thousands of Europeans, mostly Dutch, made their way to our fine climes and started a new life at the tip of Africa.
As the Dutch poured in and built with their blood, sweat, guns and tears, an upstart French invader named Napoleon was ravaging their ‘home’ country. In order to protect the strategically placed Cape Colony from the dirty French, the British occupied the colony at the Cape. Needless to say, the British soon realised that sun was good for their sickly skins and so they flocked in their hordes to the sunny skies of Africa.
It would be amiss not to mention that while the pasty poms were invading, Shaka was building his empire. Between 1816 and 1826 the Zulu nation struck fear and loathing in the hearts of black and white hides alike. Dispossessing, murdering and conquering at will, it seems as if the only real match for Shaka was betrayal.
Meanwhile, back at the colony, the Dutch (or Boers as they would be called, meaning farmer) could not handle the rule of the Brits and so left the Cape en-masse to find some living space. Having fought disease, famine, drought and warring tribes the Boers found a place to call home and created the ZAR (modern day Transvaal) in 1856.
All was at peace (well, sort of) until that pesky yellow metal called Gold was discovered in Johannesburg in 1886 (turns out that 70% of the world's gold has come from this tiny Republic) and true to form, the Brits (yes, them again) wanted their piece of the pie.
In 1899 the crown invaded the independent Boer republics and a long and bitter war was fought with thousands of Boer and black women and children being starved to death in the world's first concentration camps (yes, it was the Brits, not the Germans). Eventually the broken and beaten Boers would sign peace in 1902.
What followed was a brilliant piece of nation-creation (well, if you were white) and in 1910 the Union of South Africa was created, joining the Boer Republics and the British Colonies, creating modern day South Africa (Yes, we were 100 years old last year and no one knew). The problem was deciding what to do with the black people in this new nation, the solution was the 1913 Land Act, forbidding black people from owning land outside of a predetermined (and tiny) chunk of land know as the 'Home Lands'.
The Brits had a merry time running their new creation until 1948, when the Afrikaans, through the National Party, won the election and did all sorts of horrendous things to hang on to power. And the rest, as they say in the classics, is history.
A (very) brief history of our country points to one amazing point: being African does not mean Zulu, or Xhosa, or even Afrikaans; what African means is Somalia, Ethiopia, Britain, Congo, Netherlands, Portugal, France, Sotho, and so many more. As we celebrate Heritage days in the years to come may we remember where we come from, and embrace where we want to go, together!
The rest, as they say, is history
Friday, September 16, 2011
How to kill democracy in 3 easy steps
Step one: Trample the independence of Parliament
Last year a number of dodgy lease deals were signed by government. The Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, looked into these and found them to be corrupt and she urged President Zuma to take action. Her report gave President Zuma until Monday 12 September to announce what he would do with the two ministers concerned (Bheki Cele and Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinda). President Zuma has blatantly ignored the deadline and has shown contempt for the legal processes of our country. On Wednesday this week Members of Parliament tried to hold President Zuma to account for this lack of action and instead of rigorous debate, the speaker of Parliament ANC member Max Sisulu, protected the President and denied Parliament the opportunity to question the man who is supposed to be leading our country. This shocking show of party politics has no place in Parliament
Step two: Question the integrity of the Judicial system
A number of months ago Julius Malema sang a song at a rally called "awudubule ibhunu" (Shoot the Boer). Many individuals and organisations were concerned that this was hate speech and duly took Mr Malema to court. The ANC threw their weight behind Malema. This week the ANC lost and the song has rightly been called hate speech. Rather than accepting an independent legal process the ANC has come out and shamelessly challenged the courts. If we cannot respect rule of law we cannot call ourselves a democracy.
Step three: Crush the freedom of the media
For any democracy to thrive the media need to be free to challenge and question the party in power. This serves to strengthen and reinforce the freedom of speech and the culture of transparency. In the last year the ANC has introduced proposed legislation, which would greatly restrict media freedom. This legislation allows for the classification of any information the government deems fit, coupled with jail time for any journalist who should publish this classified information regardless of public interest. By crushing the media's freedom the ANC is crushing our democracy
Having read the above statements, you tell me if you feel that our government is committed to democracy or not.
Last year a number of dodgy lease deals were signed by government. The Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, looked into these and found them to be corrupt and she urged President Zuma to take action. Her report gave President Zuma until Monday 12 September to announce what he would do with the two ministers concerned (Bheki Cele and Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinda). President Zuma has blatantly ignored the deadline and has shown contempt for the legal processes of our country. On Wednesday this week Members of Parliament tried to hold President Zuma to account for this lack of action and instead of rigorous debate, the speaker of Parliament ANC member Max Sisulu, protected the President and denied Parliament the opportunity to question the man who is supposed to be leading our country. This shocking show of party politics has no place in Parliament
Step two: Question the integrity of the Judicial system
A number of months ago Julius Malema sang a song at a rally called "awudubule ibhunu" (Shoot the Boer). Many individuals and organisations were concerned that this was hate speech and duly took Mr Malema to court. The ANC threw their weight behind Malema. This week the ANC lost and the song has rightly been called hate speech. Rather than accepting an independent legal process the ANC has come out and shamelessly challenged the courts. If we cannot respect rule of law we cannot call ourselves a democracy.
Step three: Crush the freedom of the media
For any democracy to thrive the media need to be free to challenge and question the party in power. This serves to strengthen and reinforce the freedom of speech and the culture of transparency. In the last year the ANC has introduced proposed legislation, which would greatly restrict media freedom. This legislation allows for the classification of any information the government deems fit, coupled with jail time for any journalist who should publish this classified information regardless of public interest. By crushing the media's freedom the ANC is crushing our democracy
Having read the above statements, you tell me if you feel that our government is committed to democracy or not.
Monday, August 8, 2011
The Sunday Times has got it wrong
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?
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?
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.
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