Why always me

It is disturbing to learn that in 2012 the law still favors one race more than the other in South Africa. Why do white people successfully win cases in this country? Even the DA can find fault with any law and successfully challenge it any time? Is it because our Court rooms are still white? Or the law is based on European situations and therefore it makes it easy for white pople to understand and push its boundaries. This begs more questions, can a South African law adapt to South African situation base on African experiences all citizens? 

From a layman like me the criminal laws of this country favor the whites. I have lost count of cases where farm owners kill Africans and claim that they thought they were monkeys (how ironic because this is the same term associated with black people all over the world especially in Italy and Russia) and they got away with murder literally.

There was a sensational case in South Africa after the killing of an ANC connected businessman Brett Kebble. Everybody who was involved in his killing from the planning to his actual murder was pale with the exception of one Jackie Selebi who did not even take part in the killing. Guess who was arrested? The only African amongst the lot, guys who pulled the trigger left scot-free. From where I stand they were let free because they had the right color. maybe I am wrong, maybe I am racist.

Few weeks ago I was shocked when I heard that two Lotter siblings got lighter sentences for killing their parents. They claim that they were forced to kill their parents by a certain Mr. Moodley who got a stiff sentence compared to theirs. My bone of contention is that here white murderers kind of get away with murder again.

Rewind to few years earlier, Scot Crossly forced his employees to throw a human being in a lion’s den. Guess what the poor black workers did not receive any mercy from the magistrate, not that they deserve any, but murderers should all be treated as that.

Modimolle monster and his accomplices are waiting sentencing very soon for attempted murder of this monster’s wife and the killing of his stepchild.  I won’t be surprised if the worker get stiffer sentence compared to their master. Do you really think black people think there is justice in South Africa?  Here I go again asking questions that I don’t have answers too.

I remember my first week at High school.

I am now the husband and father of three boys, but I still remember so vividly my first week at high school at Moshesh Senior Secondary School in the shadows of Drakensburg mountains in Matatiele not far from the better and a popular Catholic school Mariazell.

I did not apply for admission so I had to go 2 days before the school opened. I was with my Brother Zolile (popularly known as Malombo because of his soccer exploits)

I had high expectations for the school and the type of football they played was what attracted me the most, I was a soccer player myself growing up in SOWETO and later Matatiele only soccer was our form of real recreation.

Arriving on a hot Afternoon in an old bus Called lesedi which took way more time than it was suppose to, the school did not reflect what I had in mind. There was no vibe; the whole buildings were hidden in long bushes of grass, untidy and down right ugly. As we enter the main gate, there was a garage for a School car a huge engine that produces electricity for the school. And there was a long empty building that the caretaker later told us it was a dining hall.

Another eye sore was the old building opposite dining hall, it was a burnt down building, which we were told it was burnt, buy students who were on strike in the early 80’s. We were told that we would have to come tomorrow because no late applications were processed on that day.

There was no transport back but we were told about our distant relatives who lived in the area, I never knew them my whole life until I was desperate. Speaking to some old student who came to collect their results I got a sense that the school was going to be beautiful within no time. But today we were going to sleep in the dormitories if we were accepted.  We came in ready with clothes a suitcase and almost everything that I might need in the first three months. Fortunately I was accepted, but not my brother. I made few friends, I remember my first friend who appeared to be a real friend was Stanley originally from Thokoza, but like me his father was originally from Matatiele. Stanley few weeks later died to what everyone believed was an initiation of  “Metjhoba”(new student”. I was not there when he died therefore I cannot confirm or deny this. I wanted to believe that they killed my friend.

Dormitories resembled deserted pigsties with few halls with bunk beds. The boarding master who seemed to be a nice guy showed us around. There were three building and we had a choice of staying anywhere because we came first.  We were put of by stories of rough guys who live in those dormitories. They all had names, some were so iffy I kind of wondered if they were official I don’t know who named them. I chose to live in New York. I was told normally new students live in New York, so I thought I could survive my first year easy there. Behind our building it another called Russia, commodores which was smaller could accommodate six people maximum and there was notorious SOWETO which Stanley did everything to convince me to go stay with him in. next to Soweto there was an SRC boarding house which used to be boarding master room.

By three in the afternoon I had my bed set ready for me to sleep on we exchanged our provisions steam bread chicken or sheep. I must say some of the food uneatable to say the least. The empty hall was beginning resemble a home.

Students were trickling in one by one drunk like adults and were told scary stories about the guys who will use the last bus. The bus come when it is become darker and students at that time are doing as they wish. I was afraid that day were going to be initiate us in what was called “ ho treater” all the old students were shouting at the loudest of their pitches “ Ha Nkaaaaaawu, ha Nkawu”.

This was a war cry to call new comers to join what was called a stitch, we followed each other and this kind of looked nice, but we were told sometimes it gets ugly.

All the scary stuff we were told about began to sound like urban legend, as I never experience it. Treatment was far and between and depended on who hates you the most. For some strange reason they did like guy from big cities because they thought we know it all. If you have gone to initian school you were better of as you socialise with big guys. I was lucky that I had gone initiation school hence the treatment began to sound like urban legend. And I did the Sesotho initiation, which was popular in the areas of kwaNkawu, Queens’s mercy Mpharane, Lehata Pontseng and all surrounding areas. It is still surprising me how we could easily adjust to such conditions especially in winter.

Metrorail is at it again.

Train from Thembisa stuck in the middle of nowhere

Four over three and half weeks metro rail passenger from Pretoria and Thembisa were subjected to the worse form of unreliability from Metrorail trains. Not that they are normally reliable, but this time it has reached the crises proportion, but PRASA is yet to acknowledge that.

In early January two Transformers near Kalfontein station were hit by lightning and for that week there were no trains between Kempton park and the northern parts of Gauteng including Pretoria. Passengers were left reeling after they hasd used their last monies to buy monthly tickets. All Metrorail could offer was apologies. No refunds, no alternatives transport. That was not the end but the beginning of  trouble for commuters. Three /four weeks later it has become normal to see passengers running along the rail because their train is stuck in the middle of nowhere.

I use a train called Tshwane business express this is supposedly the best alternative to driving. But unfortunately it is not immune to Metrorail’s foolhardiness. As we were going home on Wednesday the trains were all running late including ours? We saw hundreds of people walking along the rail and I new they must have disembark from a stuck train somewhere. Our train make announcement when there will be a delay, but this time they just kept quiet.

Their stupidity came to bear when we approached Pretoria just 5minutes away from the station we got stuck. 20 minutes later they decided we to go back and change tracks really did that had to take 20 minutes to think about? Especially if when there was no train coming out of Pretoria. I normally arrive at home around 18h30 but on Wednesday I arrived at 19h30 exactly an hour later.

I have my car to use as an alternative, but that will defeat the purpose of buying a monthly ticket. I will take this pain on my chin never to return in the coming months. Gautrain here I come.

Umtshato ka Webster

I am a married man, but I did not have a big wedding and my friends are just like me at least most of them. They all had small family and friends wedding, but last weekend I attended a big wedding of my last friend standing Mawethu. The last one in our group of four (Me Tlou, LBK and Webster). We left on a Saturday morning in a hired car. It took us six months  from the day I received a call from webster telling me that he was getting married. I remember the call one Sunday afternoon when Webster called me, initially I thought he was going to send me to some music store in Johannesburg to buy him old school and jazz music as he usually does. To my surprise he told me in a very soft voice “ndiyatshata nge 26 ka November” I’m getting married in November and I just kept quiet because this came as a shock.

I told my other two friends of what I have just heard they were still shocked. As a  merried man I had to speak to my wife about this and we had to agree that even though she knows Webster she won’t go. We immediately started working on logistics like hotels, means of transport, routes to take if we drive.

Initially we wanted to use our cars as we realised that flying to Umtata was a hustle. Using East London was going to be problematic if the “African time “(starting late) comes to effect we would have a problem. So we decided to hire a car. I used my credit card and my friends had to top it up in Pretoria, which is where I live. Tempest was the company of choice as it still offers unlimited mileage. Avis was our first choice because we always use them, but s they no longer offer unlimited km’s. I drove down to Johannesburg to pick up my friends. But then we were already running late as we expected to leave at 9h00, but now it was about 10h30 already. LBK suggested that we use Bloemfontein route. I had never travelled to Umtata using this rout before. I was excited that I was going to use a different route.

Lbk drove from JHB to a small town with the name starting with venter…something. I took over from there to Umtata/ Mthata these days. We had to fill up in Bloem Lbk told me about the closest garage ,but I missed the off ramp to the garage. And they scolded me for that but there was an Engen garage which for some strange reason Lbk and Tlou did not like. Even more surprising was that Tlou has never been to Bloem, Lbk has never used this garage before. They just did not like it for no reason or maybe is because I missed their beloved Shell ultra city. We refilled both the car and our stomachs. We bought refreshments and moved on. We were so careful not to get traffic fines that I was encouraged to drive at 100 Km/H in a 120 speed zone. We turned into N6 to Aliwal north the route did not seem to be busy there was a Quantum taxi with EC registration number which was going at a freighting speed. I assumed that there were no speed traps and started to increase the speed but within the confines of 120.

Before we got into Aliwalnorth there was a stop and go of 20-30 minutes and Lbk informed us that there are four more stop and go’s ahead of us. 

AliwalNorth has a feel of the old Matatiele(a small town south of Kwazulu Natal where the three of us as friends originate from) about it, but first we crossed the huge bridge over the Orange River. The bridge is long  and old, but tough the river is so scary I wish I could see it when it when it is full. It must be one of the scariest rivers in the world, but it looked so spectacular now that is was empty.

I did not know there was a town called Jamestown in South Africa, it is so small we had passed it in four minutes driving at 60.  It was around 17h30 and people there look like they are from Southern cape (mostly coloured/colored what ever) The small town was clean though.

We arrived in Queenstown around 18h50. There were a lot of road works in the main road, but we had no choice, as we did not know other alternative routes. There was less or no signage at all to help us through. I protested that I was tired, but Lbk insisted that we were almost 30 minutes away from Umtata so I continued. As we drove out towards Ezibeleni (an old Queenstown township) Tlou told me in confidence that it cannot be 30 minutes to Umtata he had driven on that route before. Bad signage problem continued as we saw a road sign board that indicated that we would have to turn right if we go to Cofimvaba and Umtata and we immediately had to turn. I had a problem stopping I past it a little but fortunately it was not a one way so I turned around and went to join R67 to Umtata. The route goes over the rout we were using as to why they did not just build an off ramp to the left I have no idea. To me it looks cheaper and less time-consuming, but who am I to question the eastern cape engineers. Tlu also mentioned that we were going to turn left into Transkei road, which was confusing when I saw that we should turn to the right. By now it was becoming darker and the roads were becoming iffy by a kilometre as we drove. Cars were becoming more and more old on the road.  Now even the road signs that warn against stray animals were plenty.

We arrived in Umtata at around 21h00 thanks to dodgy roads, dodgy cars and even rain. I missed another turn but this time my friends were more forgiving.

 “No we will use the Fort gale entrance it is okay,” said Lbk. By that time I had given my phone to Tlou to look for the number of the B&B we were going to use. He could not find it; we stopped at Myezo Sasol Garage so that I can check it myself. I could not find it, “aketsebe ke e seyivile ka mang number ena” I said. We asked at the garage if they know a place called Hlalanathi Myezo lodge. The petrol attended did not look self assured, but told us to use the back rout as there are several B&B along that street.

We went up the street and down without any luck. We saw three girls and a guy leaving another house we stopped to ask they told us to go up again. By now I was the bigest joke in the car, but guys were tired I understood. Lbk called a friend who gave us better directions we went further up and and we saw the B&B. behind us there was an Audi car following us. As we approach the lodge I indicated my intention to enter, the car behind did the same.  We stopped at this huge gate pressing buttons but no response. Occupants of the other car came out two women and 2 guys. I said to my friend “these guys came prepared”, he just looked at me he was tired very tired I am not sure who was supposed to be more tired the one who was driving (me ) or my passengers.

The occupants of Audi said they had the mobile number of someone inside but they don’t have airtime. I gave them my phone and eventually someone came out. We enterd this huge mansion turned into a B&B. Every one from all the occupants of the Audi and the lady who easy opening the gate for  us was drunk. We were sharing 2 the rooms with my friends and it was one of those few moments where we could talk about our issues with LBK. It is amazing how our life styles stifles open conversation amongst friends, I mean the staff that you can to BBM or Wattsapp or even over a telephone conversation. We slept very late that night.

We were having a breakfast when one of our hostess came to have a conversation with us. Later she asked if we were going to pay by credit card of cash. “Cash why” I asked.  “ you can  save some money if you play along” she said. She later explained to me that she does not earn much but today they are alone as hostesses they want to share at least money for a room. I did not like the sound of it but I was assured that I won’t be part of it. We shared to room, this lady wrote that we shared one room between the three of us. It was a cold morning with drizzle we drove to Ncise a village just outside of Umtata.

I was not expecting to see the Groom who is my friend. I don’t know much about these big weddings, but there he was waiting for us at the gate very happy that we drove all the way from Jozi. He led us into a dinning room and told his sister to take care of us and he disappeared into one of the rooms. The first thing his sister who introduced herself as Sibabalwe did was to introduced us to the MC for the day from East London. Before we knew it there was a heap of home made bread, meat and drinks in front of us.

Later we were put on a nicely prepared table in the main Tent with some Mawethu’s colleagues. It was a good day until I was called by Sibabalwe to lead a toast. I have never done it I don’t really do these sort of things ,but this was for my friend I agreed. I called my wife who does a lot of these to give me some tips. By the time I went to the stage I was armed. Then we had to leave later, but first we were put in his bed room so that we can change those suit and into comfortable clothes for us to drive long distance. But not before Sibabalwe staffed take away boxes with meat and more drinks. We left for Johannesburg leaving festivities continuing. Now it was raining so we made sure that we don’t leave late the the roads would be very tricky for us. We wished them well and left.

Spanner in the Works

Politics are running on overdrive in the ANC, not because they want to serve better, but because some are power hungry. Just when we thought we are over the oil gate scandal and Mahlangu Nkabinde and Shiceka debacle now Fikile Mbalula.

Since Polokwane the ANC of Oliver Tambo and Albert Luthuli will never be the same again. It seems like every time the organization is facing a big shake up we hear scandal after scandal. When Vavi said comrade are (beefing up security not because they fear right wing) you sit and wonder.

Is Mbalula a sex pest or a pawn in the dirty game of politics leading to Mangaung? Motlanthe had his share, Tokyo had his own share, and I think the next in line is Mathews Phosa. I must say I have lost respect for most leaders in our movement including comrade Motlanthe himself. The media is playing that role again just like they did with Zuma character assasination.

Is it Islamic? I don't think so

I watched with pure disgust as Libyans queue with their kids to watch deposed and maimed leader Muama al Ghadafi aka Bother leader. It is not because I sympathise with him nor has followers but because I am not used to that, it was a cultural shock to me. Muslims normally bury the dead within 24 hours at least they do that in South Africa. For rebel leaders to allow his decomposing body to be exposed to the elements so that they can satisfy their bloodthirstiness I am afraid to me they have shown that they are as bad.

When I was young I think I was around 12 years if not eleven, my friend and I used the “skiet rekker and old bed’s springs too shoot the white police man walking on our street like they owned it. One police man turned and realised we were skieting and them with these home made toys initially he just ignored us and that spurred us to action, then he turned again there was a gun shot, my friend collapsed next to me. I went into the house screaming that they have shot him that was the last time I saw him. Even on the day of his funeral children of my age were locked in the room and were not even allowed to peep through the window.

Now you understand where I come from, things have change even in South Africa kids go to the funerals where their class mater a friend or neighbour of their age is buried.

Seeing those kids with Cameras and cell phones taking pictures of Ghadafi was nauseating for me

Reshuffling or ANC stinker

Every one from man on the streets to opposition parties welcomes President Jacob Zuma actions as brave and courageous. Helen Zille went as far as saying “it is better late than never”. Indeed his actions are commendable, but are it sincere?

Media sometimes focus on one issue like they have a vendetta. Remember when the media was focusing on Judge Hlophe going to constitutional court? He was not appointed Judge Mogoeng was, but when Mogoeng was interview for the head of Constitutional court there was a media outcry.

The fact that Gwen Mahlangu Nkabinde and Sicelo Shiceka have been fire sound very hollow to me, these guys are just going without any accountability. You remember that Sicelo Shiceka is still challenging public protectors findings. Therefore the president might be buying time to send these guys to foreign affairs as ambassadors. Who will win then?

It seems like our president is playing politics, he unleashed oil gate commission outcomes. When it turned out to be a non-starter he unleashed the second wave of attack by means of reshuffle. The second wave was not to hurt, but to help him to be seen as doing something against corrupt politicians.

Thula Nxesi has replaced Baloyi, we all know there is no love lost between Baloyi and Public servants. We know the song by workers when they are on strike “Samthata uBaloyi sambeka e pitoli now Voetsek” now his comrades will be saying “Voetsek” to him. This was done in order to buy sometime from COSATU, which seems to be a divided house every time they communicate to the media.

If there is any winner in this it is Advocate Thuli Madonsela who kept her feet on the ground when the media was trying to make celebrity out of her. She went about her work 

I have never felt so scared for my life.

Just two days after Police minister Nathi Mthethwa told the World that murder and car hijackings were down in South Africa, a Mazda ridge  followed me and my wife home. Fortunately for me I saw them and tried to drive defensively with the hope to show them that I am aware they were following me. When I turned into my streets they did not have enough time to maeup their minds then they kept on Driving. I was relieved thinking that was it, I also thiught maybe I was just paranoid like most South Africans, but the guys came from another street. Maybe they thought I saw them initialy now they wanted to surprise me. unfortunately for them I was already on my drive way they turned and drove away very quickly.

What concerns me the most is that this is the second time this happens to me. The first time I did not see the car following me but my wife did. As I stopped at my driveway they drove passed me and that was when I realised they were all guys packed in a white Nissan skyline. After they had passed they acted strangely as they seemed to be lost  and ended up making a U turn I reversed quickly into my driveway as they passed slowly in front of me not even looking at me to avoid being identified.

One never think of dying at their gate until last weekend I had a feeling that someone is doing some surveillance on me. Most South African are paranoid and paranoia got to me this time I could not sleep the whole night thinking they might come. What scared me the most is that my wife comes home late on Friday’s. I have a strong belief that our neighbourhood is one of the quietest neighbourhoods not rich but just the working class,

Juju a court case or election machinery

I am not a Malema fan and most importantly I totally against doing things that fellow South Africans feel are uncomfortable for them. I would love to feel welcome at my back yard. Malema was very impressive in court yesterday, he made his points clear to everyone so much that even the Afri-forum lawyer Advocate Martin Brassey seem to run out of questions and relied on a dose of abrasive and provocative line of questionings to unsettle him.  Malema Sat quietly on the dock in his expensive suit showing a big expensive watch on his wrist. When he opened his mouth he was so smooth he even tried to make friends with Advocate Brassey by saying he knows that he had represented some of his comrades in the past.

Calm Malema in court

I must say Malema mostly speak crap on public platforms, yet yesterday he carefully chose words even when he was angry after being asked some abrasive questions. He showed some political maturity that I have never seen before. This was probably the defining moment for his political future. Both parties tried to play to the gallery, but Malema passed with distinction leaving Brassey’s ego bruised.

Secondly the Afri-forum grew their brand immensely which I think was the big idea behind this court case. ANC ended up wining in that front too, they really made a meal of this case. As Malema-phobia according to Gwede Mantashe was playing itself inside the court  room, Malema maniacs were making fool of themselves outside running up and down Pritchard street the whole day.

Literally there was an ANC rally every day on Pritchard and Kruis streets. This court case came at the right time just before Local elections and they milked it to death.

Afrifrum have every right to protest against “dubula ibunu” struggle song, but I am not sure if the route they took will help their cause that is if there is any

I ran for my life

One evening we decided to go on an illegal tour in a game reserve with the hope of seeing one of the big five if not all the big five. When we reached the reserve it was midnight and the paid game ranger told us to stick together as we can easily get lost. We were a group of few ten maybe including me, my two friends and some tourists. We were there until we realise it was early morning, the first light started to appear and we had not seen even one of the big five. The sound of the birds singing in harmony was a sign that we should leave.

Suddenly we heard a Lion roar from a distance. The roar was so powerful one could not help it but tremble in ones pants. Several Echoes made it very difficult to detect from which direction the sound of the roar was coming from. We were in the middle of nowhere in the forest. With roar after roar coming closer and closer the members of the group became anxious and the game ranger was visibly shaken.

That was the time when my two friends and I decided to take matters into our own hands. We ran towards the entrance, which is a normal reaction from a layman like me. As we approach the entrance we could see from a distance a huge lion outside of the game reserve approaching the reserve, the there was a big man made hole in the fence which I suspect the lion used it to get out of the reserve in the first place.

I looked behind us for a place to hide, but there was an open area, which was, quiet a distance before we could reach the forest.  The only option we had was to run as fast as we could and hope that we will get to the fence all alive. I was the fastest among all my friends, based on that I believe I had a chance of surviving to tell the tail. As soon as we started running the lion also started the chase. This lion came strait for me I have no idea why, maybe it was the clothes I was wearing.  It ran past two of my friends whom by then they had even changed their direction everyman for himself.

I could hear the lion breathing down my neck. I knew I was not going to survive I said a little prayer, I also prayed for the lion to kill me instantly hopefully with less pain. I guess I would not even feel the pain given how much I was traumatised. I could hear from a distance my friends giving instructions as to what to do, but I had ran out of options the lion was right behind me, I was just waiting for that jump and attack from the back when I suddenly stopped. The lion just passed me at high speed only to turn around to face me, face to face. I was just few seconds away from my death and at that moment I wished I had a bad dream. My alarm rang I woke up, Yes I was dreaming what a relief.

Business express gone wrong

I am a loyal Tshwane business express passenger. I am not driving to Johannesburg any more thanks to this train. By the time you reach your destination (Pretoria and Jhb) you have read two free newspapers (Sowetan and The Star) had a morning coffer of your choice (hot chocolate, gone through emails even had made Skype calls) this is all only from R870.00 per month. The success of the led to PRASA introducing the second train that leaves earlier at 05h40 and the second train leaving at 06H15. The Second train even helps to take Pretoria passenger. Everyone was happy at that time.

The reservations are have about this is that even though when we were lured into this train we were told this will be standard, over a very short period of time these services are altered without any communication to paying customers.

1.     Two newspapers in the morning

Sowetan that they use to give us with The Star they just stopped giving it to us without telling us anything.

2.     Variety of drink in was reduced as well no more hot chocolate in the middle of    winter only Coffee and Rooibos is available.

3.     Parking was chaotic at first in the beginning it is still disorganized but it is better much better than in the beginning when they were still going trough teething problems.

4.     One was guaranteed to be in Johannesburg or Pretoria on time not 1hour as they claim, but it was at least 1h15 on time almost all the time. This was because it was given preferential treatment on tracks if there was a problem on the way. How things have changed, the fact that we still pay R870.00 means nothing, as the traveling time can be anything between 1h30 minutes to 5hour.  

5.     On Friday the 18^th of March 2011 things came to a crunch when the train Manager Mr. Leshilo exchanged insults with passengers as he tried to address passengers on why middle Carriages of the train did not have anything to drink for the past three weeks and counting. 

     Passenger were very upset especially when this explanation comes just two days after this train arrived in Pretoria at 22h00 and the only passengers who were taken care of were Pretoria. Those who disembarked in Kempton Park and Centurion were left to fend for themselves.  The manager even wanted one passenger to be arrested far saying a hostess is just a tea hostess. This was in the heat of the moment where the manager said one passenger is a Taxi Driver, which I am not sure, what he thinks of them.

As all this is happening passengers are still paying the same R870.00 even though PRASA is obviously making a profit by reducing its services to the passengers. Is it not time the passenger’s request reduction in ticket price?

Are SETA's working or job creation for pals.

Are South Africans really benefiting from Sectoral Education & Training Authorities? (SETA's) I am asking this beacuse, in an effort to transform workplaces in South Africa, the government introduced affirmative action, Black Economic Empowerment and improved labour laws. But this did not help much as the majority of the disadvantaged working class are still unemployed and those who are working lack skills. In order to address this crisis, the government introduced learnerships, which are meant to help the unemployed to have some qualifications and skills to be more employable. Those who are already employed are also meant to improve their skills to move to higher positions. Its objectives are to ensure that the skills requirements of the various sectors are identified and that the adequate and appropriate skills are readily available. This morning I heard over the radio that we still don’t have skills that SA industries want. Only few weeks ago we read in the news that the SETA’s CEO is vacating the post. What has he done? To what extent are the Sectoral Education and Training Authorities (SETA’s) helping to improve the skills of the unemployed, women and the disabled?

Employment equity

Since the dawn of our democracy in South Africa the matter of employment equity has not been a tangible one, the human-resource policy has been characterised by limited commitment.

Few understand the term Employment Equity in the workplace and it remains an apprehensive manner. To appraise this system of establishing equal access to jobs for members of designated groups who experienced past discrimination, such as black people.

People with disabilities and members of minorities and women. The employment equity initiatives of employers and governments while at the same time ensuring those current members' seniority rights are protected.

The aims of the Employment equity are to promote and achieve equity in the workplace, by encouraging equal opportunity amongst all workers. Is this the case in South Africa I don't think so

No happy endings in real life.

The late Teddy Pendergrass once said, “life is a song worth singing”, but when I look at what is happening in the world and around me, he couldn’t be more wrong. Life seems to be a song one has to sing because there is no choice. I have seen people struggle their whole life. A friend of mine Michael was born to a loving family, they were a God fearing family that goes to church every Sunday. I remember vividly they were the envy of many as they use to wear look alike suits (suits were really rare for kids in our community in late 70’s to early eighties.

Mike was Fourteen years his brother Hloni and Tumi were 11 and 9 respectively and younger sister Nono was a baby.  One rainy afternoon their mother was struck by lightning and their house was burnt down to ashes. The family member had to share kids as their father was working for Johannesburg mining companies that kept only men in hostels. Mike was sent to live with her Gogo (grand mother) from his mother’s side. Like most men, their father discovered a new woman and later moved in with her. He was no longer going home to visit his kids. When Michael was 18 he came to work in the mines like his father. He didn’t do much to uplift his siblings either, and it was not long before bad luck struck again. He was retrenched for joining a union (NUM) and went to sit at home. His siblings were still living separate lives like strangers even worshiping at different churches.

I know this because I went to initiation school with one of his young brothers by then he was trying to reopen their neglected home, which still bore the scars of lighting that struck years ago. Mike wanted them to be a family again as he worked as a seasonal worker in Cape farms. During off-season he got another job as a security guard for Security Company that was transporting money. He was given a day off one Monday and on that Monday his colleagues were ambushed and undisclosed amount of money was taken. He was the prime suspect because he was not on duty. He was never convicted, but he lost his job anyway.

He had to stay with a relative and he seemed fine even though at his age he was uneasy. Their relatives had lost faith in them even though they were still good people. Unfortunately a relative he was living with also passed away and she was a widow and had no kids. He was forced to leave as the relatives were fighting over the house, but another relative took him in. It was not long before news broke out. The wife of that relative was pregnant and Michael was the father. He went to ground for sometime.

Sometimes God can see when you are desperate, a big supermarket chain called Boxer soon employed him. Three years later he lost his job under unclear circumstances that he doesn’t want to discuss with anyone. By then he had build a life for himself and his younger sister. By then he was married with a kid. He was back to square one, but now there were two more mouths to feed. Forced to reopen their home with the hope that they will make it. His wife became a hard working hawker in Town. Luck was still on his side. He got the job in the farms outside of Cape Town and he was looking after his family well and in the process of stopping to drink. One evening I received a depressing call from him he wanted us to me as he was coming to Tygerburg Hospital for a check up. I agreed and I was living just a stone throw away from the hospital in the nearby Parow Valley. He was diagnosed with Throat cancer. This was so advanced that the hospital applied for grant on his behalf and order him to stop smoking and stop working.

The only good news is that he is still alive living on the meagre grant with wife and 3 kids. The kind of life they live thought them to be independent, but no one went to school beyond standard 7 (grade 9). He is depressed drinking cheap home brew beer to forget about his worries that he wake up to daily. The circle continues as his kids are already struggling to pay school fees.

Will there be a happy ending I don’t think so. This is just one case there are worse cases in rural South Africa.

MAT is still boiling under

The most talk about topic in 2010 was not the public servants strike which was suppose to hog the fast lane, but the Media Tribunal.

The ANC led government rightly feels that the media is focusing on what is wrong instead of building the young democracy (I am not sure for how long will it remain young) I am personally not against discussing any issue that will help shape our democracy especially our media. Our media is elitist by its nature as a result if you start an African language newspaper it is likely to drawn and die.

The ANC saw this, but instead of finding new ways to improve the mechanisms that exist they went for the new Animal called “MAT”

What makes this animal scary is that some of the ANC cadres are calling it a done deal why waste our time fighting it. At Wits University debate on media tribunal Joe Tlholoe said something very important. He said in 5-10 year time even ICASA will be useless, so this debate is already  “obsolete”.

It is the truth that cannot be disputed that our media is elitist and focuses on the elite. This has to change some how but cannot be achieved by putting gun on the media via tribunal. Jackson Mthembu said there would be no need to amend the Constitution to accommodate the MAT. As a Chapter five institution MAT somehow will need Constitutional amendment to function well, what was he thinking?

The media need to stop being defensive and listen out and take what is useful in the debate and try and implement it trough Ombudsman. Thanks goodness they are busy doing that. (Apparently the ANC only wished them luck) The ANC Government must stop using 2 thirds Majority to push down our throats what ever they think is right for our consumption.

Public Transport in Gauteng

Gauteng province in South Africa is one of the most congested provinces in Africa if not the world. It is has a World-class city (Johannesburg) in Africa. Prior to the world cup a lot of upgrade was done to the airport rail and roads.  The government was taking responsibility and credit for all the upgrades, but for some strange reason they left that responsibility to a private company when it comes to the roads after the World Cup. Now the private company is doing every thing to extort money as quickly as possible from road users by installing expensive tollgates on all the roads that have been upgraded. They even proudly told road users that government is not part of it any more (literally saying Drivers you are on your own) . Now the country is up in arms fighting back, but just like Mubarak our leaders are far removed from the sufferings of their people. The minister of Transport Minister Sbusiso Ndebele even suggested that we use Public transport which they failed upgrade since they took over from white government as well.

South Africa has badly managed and maintained public transport with major transport Railway and taxi the riskiest modes of transport one can ever think of.

For government to consider tolling the public roads the public transport upgrade should be their main priority. This would help to releave some pressure from the national roads.

Most roads that are in dire need of repairs in Gauteng are municipal roads, what this tolling system will do to them is to divert traffic away from national roads to these municipal roads putting unnecessary pressure on them . Municipalities are already struggling to maintain them but  money recovered from new e-talling won’t be used to repair these roads even though they will be under stress as a direct results of them.There is no question that we need better roads and that they don’t come cheap, but when the price of driving around you city become so expensive it defeats the purpose of a developing economy.

The impact of the e-talling with directly lead to high prices as we know in South Africa Tracks transport everything including coal on our roads. These prices of transport will be passed on to consumers thus leading to higher inflation.

Underpaid workers who depend on Public transport that the minister says we should consider, as an alternative will bore the brunt of these tollgates, as no Taxi owner will want to forfeit their profits. Trains are unsafe; as they are already not coping with pick hour passengers. You can see passenger hanging in opened door between carriages even on top.

The government seems to be detached from this and very soon municipal elections are coming. I hope they pull wool over our heads until elections and retreat to their safe suburbs, as all this does not affect them

Hooligans

Westrand trains are suspended because apparently workers torched a metro rail train for being late. I don’t buy into a belief that commuters spontaneously burn trains whenever they are angry. Do we believe that people go to work expecting to be upset and therefore carry with them Petrol, Matches and all these dangerous stuff that you can think of? I don’t think so, there are people behind this, why would commuters burn their only cheap means of transport.  

I was driving via Bree taxi rank last week and I couldn’t believe how long were the queues to west rand.     A colleague of mine who use trains called around 18h00 telling me that she was still in Johannesburg. She left the office at 16h00, I only left the office at 17h00 and by the time she called I had already negotiated the N1 traffic to Pretoria and was only 5 minutes away from my house. She told me some people arrived in Krugersdorp at around 23h00 in the evening and their bosses expected them early morning the following day. Taxi industry cannot cope with the train people ever.

Much ado about nothing

The city of Cape Town entered into agreement with the people of Makhaza to build them toilets. Stupidly the city fell for an agreement to build the infrastructure for the and later they could erect walls for them selves. For desperate people this is a very tempting proposal. If I were going to the donga to soil a toilet of any nature would be acceptable.
When the infrastructure was done people were left with stand-alone toilet sits.

Enter ANC youth league, which according to the ANC documents it, is in disarray. They were prepared to prove once and for all to Hellen Zille that they could still bite. I have no they managed to squeeze DA led city council to erect structures. But they were hoping that local government election would reach those toilets and capitalise on that. They were not aware that the City council has other ideas. The city decided to give in to ANVYL pressure and built structures around the toilets to preserve dignity of the people which they should have done long time ago.

Now frustrated and out of ideas the youth league decided to dismantle them or should I say they destroyed them. Condemning those who still go to the dongas to help themselves to another misery. One resident said she wanted that toiled because she was tired of going to the dongas or neighbouring township for a toilet as it is not safe. One Buffoon from the ANC said she was minority. Ironically this guy has a flushing toilet in his house. Now the DA led municipality has an upper hand as they will save money and not build those toilets again.

The irony of all this is that, when the ANC was running the city they never thought beyond tenders and build toilets for the poor. They squabbled to oblivion; now that someone is doing something for the poor they start talk.  The city can do better those toilets are not good enough but they are far better than what I have seen country wide in ANC run municipalities. Just go to Dieploot, Alex, Nelson Mandela the list is endless. What they could have done was to constructively intervene, but let people use those toilets they need them.

I hope the ANC could win local government and see what they would do. I am beginning to ask myself do I keep on voting these guys. This is Hooliganism of the highest order of wasting taxpayer’s money by destroying what we already have. No wonder when workers strike or there is a protest March people burn existing structures.  Looting and all of that is because when the youth league run riot the ANC is as quiet as a mouse

Now the DA upped the ante they removed the infrastructure all together. Makaza residents are now a football in the field of ANCYL and the DA. Both exploit their plight. As the saying goes when elephants fight it is the grass that suffers.  It will take some tie for the local government to put back those toilets. The ANC Youth League must be proud of themselves that they successfully denied Makaza residence some kind of privacy. Makaza residents also not innocent they didn’t voice their dissatisfaction with the league but later they show interest in those toilets by burning tyres and protesting.
They should have done that in the first place when they ANC YL denied them access to their toilets.
Plato feels in top of the world now that he managed to egg on ANCYL faces not that they care they live in houses with in house toilets any way. Plato was supposed to bring the police when installing those toilets nothing would have happened to them.

Still on track

At least bafana bafana are showing a steady progress, it is amazing how a change of coach can do to players. Sometimes it is said players don’t want to play for a coach. I think it was the case with Santana. These players lost 9 out of 10 games under Santana, but under Pereira they have not lost a single game in as many matches. Maybe playing Thailand first was not bad after all. Despite the draw bafana could have won by a bigger margin if they took all their chances against Bulgeria, but Ivanov stuck to Mphela like a glued wood.

Kagiso was oozing with confidence, which is what we want from our player. For a change Teko Modise played well I hope he will build up his confidence from here. As a commentator Cebo Manyaapelo put it, South African are quick to write players off if they don’t see them. Siyabonga Nomvete still has some good touches and speed they the youngsters can envy. Again my player was the unfashionable Thanduyise Kuboni, I must admit that I never thought he would crack it when he was called up. Now seems to be confidant cool and composed under pressure. South Africa needs a player like him not fancy and stylish but very effective.

I am sure Pereira by now is confused as to leave out and who to take. Lance David I consider him a very lucky player, but I think his luck is running out when it matters the most. He has the international experience he is versatile but also the master of non.

He will be very lucky to survive this time, Fransman, Mdledle, Yeye, Ngcagca (I like him though), I am not sure about Benny it does not look like he will make it even though Pereira likes him.

Overall bafana a gelling as a unit that will make them a force to be reckoned with come World cup. We might spring some surprises.

Is it a good thing

So the president took a public HIV test, this was a good PR exercise and so far it worked as everyone even the critics applauded him. This support comes in the backdrop of his predecessor refusing flat to take any HIV test let alone in public. In my opinion the president should not have taken the HIV test in public or announce his results. If he were HIV positive I don’t think he would make the public announcement because of stigma. For him to announce the results won’t help anyone, but what he should have done is to encourage every one to test and keep his or her status secret.

Now that he tested negative wil that not encourage recklessness amongst the rigid traditionalists who don’t believe in this condom thing. We all know he had sex with an HIV infected woman and came out unscathed. This in a twisted way might lead to unintended consequences.  Take someone in a rural village in Matatiele or Makhado who does not subscribe to condom use. What the result of the president is saying to him is that, it does not matter whether you sleep with someone infected with HIV you are not going to get it. You might as well go on and sleep around without a condom after that.

What message did he pass to the layman in the street, who regards him as a hero? Was it a good thing that the president took pupblic test and made results public.