Tsuai's World

The youth of 2010

2010-06-16T15:13:00.005+02:00

If the youth of 1976 look at the calibre of young people today, would they be proud? Would they say we have lived up to their legacy. They fought for the freedom we have today, are we using it the right way?

How have we used the freedom they made possible with their bravery? To party and become stinking rich through ill gotten tenders? If Tsietsi Mashinini and Onkgopotse Tiro would look at today’s youth would they be proud of us?

This is the time to seize the opportunities and make the youth of ’76 proud by giving to this generation our time and skills to make South Africa and Africa a better world. When the youth of 2020 look back over the years, they should say the youth of 2010 have given us compassion, service and dedication.

The end of the world is nigh

2010-01-16T14:19:00.003+02:00

"Blessed [is] he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time [is] at hand." Revelation 1:3 (KJV)

The earthquake in Haiti should not surprise us. We should look to such catastrophic events as pointing to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ; for he said that when you see these things know that the end of the world is near.

In Matthew 24:6 Jesus Christ, sitting on the Mount of Olives with his disciples said: 'And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet.'

We hear of rumours of a possible war between Israel and Iran. There are claims that the Islamic republic is developing nuclear weapons; and it has in the past on criticized the existence of the Zionist state of Israel.

According to a news report Israel will be distributing gas masks in anticipation of conflict in future. With Iran or Hezbolla perhaps.

Our Master, Jesus Christ of Nazareth went on to say that 'for nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places'. (Matthew 24:7) (KJV)

Surely the Haiti earthquake, Asian Tsunami, Rwandan and Darfur genocides, various other wars, human suffering, the growing coldness of the human race and lack of ubuntu (humanity to others) point to an impending catastrophe.

According to Jesus Christ 'the love of many shall wax cold'. (Matt. 24:12) The world is not the same anymore, and the signs are there for everyone to see.

'Signs which could not be mistaken pointed to the coming of Christ as near', writes Ellen G White in the Great Controversy (p.391).

Former health minister dies

2009-12-16T21:23:00.007+02:00

The former South African minister of health Dr. Manto Tshabalala Msimang (1940-2009) died today at the Wits University Donald Gordon Medical Centre. In 2007 she underwent a liver transplant and she died as a result of complications from that liver transplant.

Tshabala-Msimang's statements that beetroot, lemon and garlic were good for HIV/AIDS caused widespread condemnation from AIDS activists. She was also reported to have smuggled wine into her ward while at hospital for a shoulder operation.

I think some will remember her as a struggle stalwart who served her people; while others will see her as the health minister who failed the nation.

Her work is done and only God can judge her. May her soul rest in peace.

Loud music drives me mad

2009-12-16T20:37:00.003+02:00

It seems loud music and booze are the only means to celebrate?
Today is Reconciliation Day, and as far as I can remember it’s a holiday that everyone looks forward to. Everyone plans ahead for this day. People put money together and go out on trips, get together to buy meat, alcohol and play their music unbearably loud.

The air is thick with the smell of braai meat; loud music can be heard in every street; neighbours are playing their music loud as if to compete with one another while they drink themselves numb.

I doubt if tonight we are going to sleep peacefully with all the loud music. Sometimes I don’t blame the blacks who, once they get an opportunity to, immediately move out of the township to buy houses in the suburbs. They have had enough of neighbours who are not considerate of others.

I don’t care when people braai their vleis and drink their liquor and have fun in their backyards, as long as they don’t make noise for the rest of us. Why is it that when they enjoy they do so at our inconvenience. If they want loud music they should go to the disco or club.

When I enter the comfort of my home I expect that peace and quiet that can only come from my own home. But unfortunately I cannot enjoy that because when people party, they don’t care whether or not they cause a nuisance to others. What is to be done?

Corruption top to bottom

2009-10-26T10:39:00.005+02:00

Civil servants are living large, and spending taxpayers money like there is no tomorrow.

Corruption in government is rampant and parastatals have become cash cows for administrators to live large. If administrators are not busy mismanaging municipal funds, they are busy with parastatals or government departments.

It came as a shock to learn that about R1 billion from the Gauteng provincial health department cannot be properly accounted for. It's not surprising that the department is in such financial disarray; that's because the people who govern us do not care about our wellbeing. Former GP health MEC, Brian Hlongwa, did his job half-heartedly while at the helm of he GP health department, hence the corruption that happened under his nose. He didn’t give a fig about the shenanigans in the department because his business were making money than what the department paid him.

Hlongwa bought a house for R7.2 million. It makes you wonder, looking at the money that cannot be accounted for by the Gauteng Health department. It seems GP health is not the only one.

The guys at the land bank are having it good spending money that was meant to assist poor farmers. In an intriguing expose (see report) of how the some smart land bank employees allegedly siphoned off money meant for the AgriBee fund to buy businesses, cars and expensive houses. Mismanagement of funds is everywhere, it was the SABC, then Eskom, corruption is everywhere in state departments. The department of correctional services has awarded a tender to a company under investigation by the Special Investigating Unit, and a director of that company was appointed national intelligence head.

The administrators and corrupt politicians are wasting our money while the government wants us to pay hefty Eskom electricity tariffs. The service delivery strikes that have hit some municipalities will surely continue as long as we are led by incompetent, corrupt leaders and self serving leaders.

SAFA not proudly South African

2009-10-26T09:48:00.005+02:00

Will South Africa make it to the quarterfinals of the 2010 Soccer World Cup? The Brazilian coach, Joel Santana has been sacked and another Brazilian coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira has been appointed.

Parreira left the job of coaching Bafana Bafana a few months ago, citing family commitments; and he recommended Joel Santana who failed to make any significant improvement to the national squad.

I wonder why Parreira was re-appointed; why the obsession with Brazilian coaches? It means the South African Football Federation (SAFA) is not proudly South African. I don't think Bafana's perfomance would improve because of Parreira's appointment, but I do believe a South African coach would do a much better job and our nation would improve.

I'm eager to see if the team's performance would improve in the next three games, but the real challenge is whether we will make it past round one of the world cup. Looking at our performance at the moment, I think we will be out in round one.

Nice day, nice mobi blogging

2009-10-25T21:20:00.000+02:00

It's been cloudy from this morning, and around 2pm rain started pouring. The weather's is cool indeed, the kind I like. The only thing missing from the equation is my family. If I was home I would obviously spend the day in bed, asking for tea with cakes while teaching my daughter how to read and write. It's true; east or west, home is best. I'm very tired, I think I should forthwith retire to sleep so that I can dream about home, my woman and daughter. It was great blogging from my phone. I have sent tweets and updated my Facebook profile from my phone, so it was high time I got myself used to mobile blogging.

Inmate couch potato

2009-10-14T18:52:00.005+02:00

Being a prisoner seems like going on a holiday.

According to a news report published on news24.com prison officials were taken to task by the correctional services potforlio committee for hiring a company to clean after prisoners and another to fix TV's in prisons.

It seems that the prisoners spend the whole day watching TV while hired cleaners tidy up for them. And when the TV's are not working technicians who are hired by the department of correctional services come and fix the TVs.

The chair of the correctional services portfolio committee, Vincent Smith, asked if they hired a company to clean for the prisoners and repair TV's for them while they (prisoners)sit the whole day doing nothing but watch TV.

It is no wonder some people don't mind to readily commit crimes. They know they will go to prison to laze around and become couch potatoes. The Diepkloof Prison is even known as Sun City Prison.

The recession has made life a bit difficult for me, so I'm simply gonna still steal a roasted mutton leg from Pick n Pay even though I don't eat meat and casually walk out of the shop so that I can get arrested. I wanna eat free, laze around, watch TV (though I'm not a TV fan) at taxpayer's expense.

South Africa is going left

2009-10-07T10:07:00.003+02:00

Some people appear to be alarmed at the influence Cosatu and the SACP are exerting on the ANC. Both the labour federation and the communists have a vested interest in the ANC and by extension the running of the country. At the heart of the battle is the country’s macro-economic policy. Over the years the two organisations, which together with the ANC constitute the Tripartite Alliance, have complained about marginalisation during the era of Thabo Mbeki’s presidency.

Mbeki told the SACP plainly during the ANC policy conference before the Polokwane congress that the SACP should not delegate it’s goal of bringing about a socialist revolution to the ANC. In its congress resolutions and general meetings the SACP encourages it’s members to “swell the ranks of the ANC” in order to ensure that the ANC is influenced by the working class and not business interests. The ANC is said to be a broad church that represents civic leaders, business people, the working class, religious people, the poor and communists who were united by the objective of overthrowing apartheid and building a non-racial society. But the communists are the ones who are supposed to ensure that they give leadership and policy direction, and that is the reason they are encouraged to hold both the SACP and ANC membership, known as dual membership.

And now that apartheid has been defeated and there is no common enemy to fight a struggle has ensued within the ruling party and its allies for control of resources and to shape the economy of the country, which is largely owned by mostly white monopoly capital. Thabo Mbeki marginalised the two Tripartite Alliance partners, hence it was imperative to get rid of him and find a person who is malleable and whom the leaders of the working class could discuss policy issues with, and if need be instruct on what socio-economic policy the country should follow. The communist party’s aim is to lead the revolution for a socialist state and it needs a mass based organisation like the ANC to ensure it keeps its socialist agenda alive. Without the people behind them the SACP will be unpopular, and the ANC has the support of the majority of South Africans. It is not surprising that the current crop of SACP leaders do not see a socialist revolution ushered through the electoral platform but rather by swelling the ranks of the ANC. For this reason they have continuously sidestepped suggestions that the SACP must contest elections, and opted to emphasise the alliance with the Tripartite Alliance as paramount.

Those who are afraid of a left leaning ANC should brace themselves for more vigorous control of the ANC by the Cosatu and the SACP. The battle begun before Polokwane with the push for Jacob Zuma to become president and continues with the drive for Ebrahim Patel, the minister of economic development, to be given more powers and the attempts to subdue Trevor Manuel’s influence in president Zuma’s cabinet. Manuel is seen as one of the people who introduced the macro-economic policies that the communists and the labour federation leaders opposed. He is the last person they want to stand on their way as they assert their influence in government and shape government policy.

As things stand, it looks like Zuma is not willing to stand up to the communists and working class leaders like Mbeki did, and no one within the ANC dare challenge the left as they gain influence in the running of the country, appointment of ministers and the economy of the country. It remains to be seen how long Zuma will continue to give in to the leaders of the SACP and Cosatu before he tells them to back off.

Let the people blog

2009-09-27T18:19:00.067+02:00

But majority are excluded because of lack of internet acccess

I have stayed away from my blog for a very long time, maybe I'm suffering from blogger's block, the blogging equivalent of writer' blog. But I'm back, what more can I do than join millions of people around the world who use their blogs to share news, their thoughts, views and offer advice on a range of issues.

What is disconcerting in the South African blogosphere is that many black South Africans are not blogging, thereby making blogs something of an elitist and irrelevant medium of communication for the greater majority of South Africans.

Once I was covering a story for the now defunct Reporter.co.za in my township. Residents raided a house where stolen goods were found after a string of house breakings. They wanted to burn the house and beat the owner of the house. This happened last year just before Reporter.co.za closed down.

"For which publication are you writing the story?" one youngster asked me. I explained that I was a citizen reporter writing for a citizen journalism website. "I undersatnd, but it does not help much because many people in Buhle Park dont' have internet."

I agreed with him but nevertheless I contniued with my work. As I write this blog I still vividly remember his words, and it looks as if the best medium to reach most black South Africans is via the printed words. Despite declining newspaper circulation figures the print medium is the best mode of delivering the news to the masses and initiating dialogue. The reach of blogs is limited.

Our mass based internet revolution is still far off. I doubt if it will happen in our lifetime. According to the internetworldstats.com iternet usage on the continent is the lowest compared to other continents and here in South Africa about 9.4% of the population has access to the internet.

We have a challenge to ensure we make the internet accessible to the great majority of Africans. I hope the governement will take progressive steps to make the internet cheap, fast and a reality for the majority of the population.

In the meantime I should continue blogging, it is the best way to exercise my section 16 right to freedom of expression.

spyza sent you a video: "NPR's Scott Simon: How to Tell a Story"

2009-08-22T09:33:00.001+02:00

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spyza has shared a video with you on YouTube: This is a useful resource for reporters, wannabe reporters and citizen reporters. NPR's Scott Simon: How to Tell a Story This video is a part of the YouTube Reporters' Center. See more videos on how to report the news -- and share your ideas -- at http://www.youtube.com/reporterscenter. Find more videos from NPR's Weekend Edition on our blog, www.npr.org/soapbox, and on the NPR YouTube Channel, www.youtube.com/npr.
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End of four week vac work

2009-07-25T17:48:00.005+02:00

After writing my last story, I sat at my desk staring at the monitor, a cocktail of emotions. It is my last day. Four weeks can seem like four days when I'm deeply immersed in what I love and forget to look at the clock ticking furiously on the wall.

It was time to bid farewell to the journalists I've been with for the past four weeks and the newspaper that has offered me a scholarship to study journalism and follow my dream of becoming a reporter. It was only after I'd stepped out of Media Park that I felt an overpowering sense of sadness for leaving.

Even though I was going to be away for about four months, the days I've spent in the City Press newsroom were worthwhile. I've seen the practical face of reporting and it was not as easy as I had imagined. To be a successful reporter one has to work hard and be committed to the work of reporting.

I experienced the sadness and frustration of the newsroom, and subsequently the sheer pleasure of seeing my name on the City Press print and online editions. But I think I could have done better by being more proactive and aggressively coming up with more story ideas and producing clean copy.

I have identified areas where I need to improve, thanks to my supervisor and colleagues who were supportive during my brief stint. During the next semester at university I'm going to work on areas where I have shortcomings and hope that when I return in December I'll be a step ahead.

Our nation of 'action'

2009-06-29T11:08:00.000+02:00

South Africa is a nation of industrial action. Teachers, doctors, police officers, and emergency service workers go on strike without any compunction. Even students sometimes go on strike; I'm waiting for the time when primary school learners and soldiers demand their right to go on strike.

In a democratic society workers have the right to negotiate better working and salary conditions. It is an essential right which lies at the core of our society like the right to dignity, equality and freedom of speech. But all rights are not absolute; they can be limited as enshrined in section 36 of the Constitution. Obviously they cannot be limited arbitrarily but only by a law of general application.

Workers like police, doctors, emergency services workers, and teachers should not be allowed to strike. The government is currently revising labour laws. It will be advisable for the government to classify the aforementioned work as essential services and therefore drastically curtail their right to strike.

Soldiers have a union but they do not have the right to embark on industrial action. They have mechanisms in place to resolve their grievances. If they go on strike they threaten national security and they will be charged with mutiny.

There is no reason why the same shouldn't happen to doctors, teachers and police officers. The doctors hold the life of their patients in their hands and if they strike they endanger precious and innocent lives.

As for the police, crime is a national crisis and if the cops go on strike they give criminals Carte Blanche. During the last civil service strike the police couldn't strike as they were declared to be essential services by the court.

With regard to education, South Africa is bottom of the list in literacy, maths and the standard of education. And the education of our kids is important to ensure a prosperous and productive society that can compete globally. The right of teachers to strike must be outlawed and a special bargaining council be put into place.

If it should be necessary for industrial action it should happen outside school hours. Student organisations like Congress of South African Students must not be allowed to embark on class boycotts or be banned from organising in schools. Education must be classified as the number one essential service above national defence.

To ensure that people who work in the essential services do not go on strike the government must pay better salaries for these workers. It does not help to work as a qualified teacher for 10 years and earn a salary equivalent to that of a Personal Assistant who has only matric.

The top officials must trim their fat pay cheques, beginning with the president, and pay good salaries to people who really matter most, those who hold our life, future and security in their hands.

Our nation of 'action' is my article published on MyNews24.com today.

"The man of fiction"

2009-06-25T17:03:00.002+02:00

The books I will be reading during the winter vacation

“Eish wena, you like fiction too much,” Lolonga said to me. I looked at him curiously. I’m a literature major, what does he expect of me. He told me that he’d rather read classics and inspirational novels like the Alchemist. “I love fiction and I read as widely as I can,” I countered.

“You know sister Ellen White calls fiction readers liars,” he admonished. I know sister White does not approve of fiction reading (Fundamentals of Christian Education). “I’m not a liar, but I’m honest and truthful ad I tell the truth to the best of my ability,” I protested. Lies are not part of my agenda. I find no reason to lie; even a so-called white lie is not something I indulge in. But I’ve been reading fiction since I was a child. I also read motivational books and other non fiction books but literary fiction makes for the bulk of my reading.

Lolonga took out a Cyril Ramaphosa’s biography; he reads a lot of biographies. I’ve not read a biography, only fictional autobiography. I decided to take out President Jacob Zuma’s biography by Jeremy Gordon. I’ve always seen Zuma through the eyes of the media, and reading his biography might give me fresh eyes to look at him. And who knows, maybe I’ll develop an appreciation for biographies.

But I will continue to read and enjoy fiction. That’s the world I’m comfortable to live in. When many decide to be couch potatoes and click on the remote, I open a novel and read. And this winter vacation I’ll be indulging in a lot of fiction, because I am, as Lolonga calls me, “the man of fiction”. But I protested and told him to call me a literati or man of letters instead. I have taken out a few novels and an omnibus of short stories in addition to JZ’s biography. I have a buffet of books to keep my mind going, both fiction and non fiction.

When I’m not working or teaching my daughter how to read I’ll relax with a book. What more can a man wish for. At least I’m no longer involved with political organising. I used to spend the bulk of my time attending meetings and mobilising young people to take a proactive role in the community. I did this under the banner of a socialist youth organisation. But I think I can make a meaningful contribution as a community member than I will ever achieve in a lifetime of political activism. So next year I will continue to be a community activist, sans “political.” Political activists are less interested in community development, but rather their concern has to do more with power and their wellbeing in the form of tenders and lucrative jobs for themselves and their friends and family.

I’ve learnt a lot from my involvement in the mass democratic and the working class movements, and I’m happy that I’ve put this chapter of my life behind me. I have learnt a lot about my history and the current political activism in the country. But now I have to continue reading. Maybe next year I will do an Honours degree in English Literature.

The 1976 youth deserve the 21 gun salute

2009-06-16T08:20:00.001+02:00

Today is National Youth Day. We remember the June 16 1976 generation of youth who stood up and challenged the apartheid government?s policy to make Afrikaans the medium of instruction in schools. The students were shot at by the police and some were detained.

This started an era of student and youth activism that culminated in the 1980?s unrest in black townships and the crisis in the culture of learning and teaching as the student took the battle against apartheid to the streets. The aim was ?to make the country ungovernable? and ensure that freedom was achieved at all costs even if it meant their education had to suffer. Their motto was ?liberation first and education later.?

The 1976 youth were an inspiration to youth and students to be militant and sacrifice for the liberation of South Africa. Their are national heroes and heroines who deserve our deepest respect. We owe them a lifetime of nation building and service to our country. All of them deserve the highset honour in the land and the 21 gun salute every year on 16 June.

Journalism in my lifetime

2009-06-16T06:45:00.004+02:00

On the 22nd of June I'll be writing my last exam, and on the very
same night I'll be boarding the 18:45 Greyhound coach from Grahamstown
to Johannesburg. I miss my daughter, her mom and my vegetable
garden. It is not easy to live far from my two year old daughter,
she needs me to teach her how to read and play computer games with
her. And her mom needs me to give her the love and appreciation she
deserves.

Furthermore, I'm going to spend the four weeks of vacation at Media
Park, the City Press office in Auckland Park, putting to the test
theoretical approaches I've learnt about the media and reporting. When
I left Joburg to come and study Journalism at Rhodes University I was
a bit naïve and thought journalism was about fighting the powers that
be on behalf of the poor. Little did I know that the media is not
primarily about giving a voice to the poor or challenging the status
quo. It is a business motivated by the profit motive.

I'll be going into the newsroom with a clear and yet incomplete
picture of what it means to be a reporter beyond the theorising of
lecturers and theorists. I have to learn as much as I can from the
actual practice of newspaper reporting in the four weeks I'll be at
City Press. At the end of the four weeks I'm going to tell my daughter
and her mom how I love them and thereafter return to Grahamstown for
term three and four.

For the rest of term three we will be doing pracs at the local Grocott's Mail newspaper. This newspaper was celebrating 140 years this year, and it will be a memorable experiene to work for the newspaper. I went around the township of Grahamstown and identified
some issues that I think are worth pursuing when I'm at Grocott's Mail.

In term four I will specialise in New Media, and when term four ends I will be looking forward to serving my year's internship at the City Press. In the meantime, let me go back to my study desk. I must study and complete this course, exciting times lie ahead of me.

Boitumelo Tumi Mape 1966-2009

2009-06-12T11:32:00.003+02:00

In life we live under the shadow of death. It lurks about in the very air we breathe, ready to strike randomly like lighting. Every second death strikes and leaves bereavement in its wake. And no one is spared, rich or poor, black or white, sick or healthy, death comes regardless. Publilius Syrus correctly pointed out that "as men, we are all equal in the presence of death. "

Death, always hungry and devouring people, has claimed the life of Mr. Boitumelo Tumi Mape. He was an entrepreneur and conveyancer. Tumi was a charming and talented man. We have lost a good man and a leader. He paid for my studies at Vista University and I worked for him in two of his companies.

May your soul rest in peace Ntate Boitumelo Mape.

So we must all know that anytime, the hand of death might strike.

President Jacob Zuma: not worth his word

2009-06-09T20:23:00.003+02:00

You cannot trust president Jacob Zuma or take him at his word. He has proved himself to be self-contradictory. And how can we trust him when he says he will not change because he is president. I think already he has changed his tune on running for one term when he said that it will be up to the ANC to decide if can serve as president for a second term.

Before he was elected he made a pledge to serve only one term. He did not say the ANC will decide. When Zuma does not what to take responsibility for thinking, something he should have mastered by now as president, he always refers to the alliance and the ANC.

Gwede Matashe, the secretary-general of the ANC and Julius Malema, ANCYL president, should stop acting in an immature way by claiming that Cosatu has no right to say Zuma must continue for a second term. Do they suffer from political amnesia? Have they forgotten that Cosatu and the SACP were vocal in their support for Zuma before the Polokwane conference? Maybe both Mantashe and Malema wanted to be the first to announce the proposal for Zuma to run for two terms so they are angry Zwelinzima Vavi of Cosatu overtook them and is now busking in the political limelight.

Mantashe has said that it is up to the ANC branches to decide if Zuma will run for two terms or not. But Zuma must start to be a man of integrity, own up to his words and say that he is not available to run for a second term. We might start to take him seriously and believe some of the things he says. But if he dilly dallies and hides behind the ANC, then what he said at his party in Nkandla over the weekend that being in office won’t change him will go down in history as nothing but empty words.

If Jacob Zuma does not become a firm leader and an independent thinker most of us will sadly remember him for being a political chameleon who found the charming and glittering trappings of political office irresistible.

Words of inspiration

2009-05-20T19:50:00.003+02:00

I am a spiritual being. Sometimes the spiritual man gets hungry and wants to be fed. It is difficult to ignore him even if I am satiated or content. He wants his share of food. Jesus Christ said that man cannot live by bread alone but by the word of God. And there's nothing good like connecting with one's maker.

This week's memory verse: “Then he said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath’ ” (Mark 2:27, 28, NIV).

“If there is any command hurried and hassled modern people need, it is the Sabbath. We are so busy trying to create meaning in our own life and serving ourselves that we forget that God is the only One who can give meaning to our lives. We show our ‘resting’ in Him by resting on
His day.”—Jon L. Dybdahl, Exodus, The Abundant Life Bible Amplifier (Boise, Idaho: Pacific Press® Publishing Association, 1994), p. 186.

“God saw that a Sabbath was essential for man, even in Paradise. He needed to lay aside his own interests and pursuits for one day of the seven, that he might more fully contemplate the works of God and meditate upon His power and goodness. He needed a Sabbath to remind him more vividly of God and to awaken gratitude because all that he enjoyed and possessed came from the beneficent hand of the Creator.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 47, 48.

“The Sabbath is a powerful testimony to the sovereignty of God. Only he can create, and only he can make something holy. This is why Adventists object so strongly to the change from Sabbath to Sunday as the Christian day of rest and worship. Without a clear divine mandate, such a development is nothing less than an affront to God.” —Richard Rice, The Reign of God (Berrien Springs, Mich.: Andrews University Press, 1997), p. 403.

“Setting aside a holy Sabbath means that we can cease our productivity and accomplishments for one day in every seven. The exciting thing about such a practice is that it changes our attitudes for the rest of the week. It frees us up to worry less about how much we produce
on the other days. Furthermore, when we end that futile chasing after wind, we can truly rest and learn delight in new ways.”—Marva J. Dawn, Keeping the Sabbath Wholly (Grand Rapids, Mich.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1996), p. 19.

“Heaven’s work never ceases, and men should never rest from doing good. The Sabbath is not intended to be a period of useless inactivity. The law forbids secular labor on the rest day of the Lord; the toil that gains a livelihood must cease; no labor for worldly pleasure or profit
is lawful upon that day; but as God ceased His labor of creating, and rested upon the Sabbath and blessed it, so man is to leave the occupations of his daily life, and devote those sacred hours to healthful rest, to worship, and to holy deeds. The work of Christ in healing the sick
was in perfect accord with the law. It honored the Sabbath.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 207.

From the Adult Sabbath School Lesson, Lesson 8, May 16-22, 2009.

Young tsotsi caught in Buhle Park, Germiston

2009-04-25T15:54:00.003+02:00

A young man was apprehended by residents of Buhle Park, East of Johannesburg, with the assistance of a Chubb security officer last week Saturday after he stole clothing from a washing line of one of the residents.

Residents wanted to beat the tsotsi but the Chubb security officer called the police who then took the young man into custody.

General elections 2009

2009-04-23T03:01:00.006+02:00

Millions of South Africans voted yesterday. I also made my mark at the local library here in Grahamstown. The queue at the voting station on campus was still long in the evening so myself and Matedi, fellow Journalism student, decided to go to the voting station at the local libary after we were tipped that there were not many people there.

We did not take more than 15 minutes at the polling station to cast our votes. When I left the polling station I felt satisfied that my vote would make an impact, no matter how small, in breaking the monopoly of power held by one party.

I'm eagerly awaiting the results like most South Africans but in the meantime I will be closely following the process of counting through radio, television and the internet. It is predicted that the ANC will win but it remains to be seen if they will still get an overwhelming majority like they did in the previous elections.

So one must prepare to live under the fallible Jacob Zuma's presidency. Interesting times lie ahead of us. Verbal assaults against the media and the judiciary are coming our away in leaps and bounds.

News values 101

2009-03-30T08:29:00.005+02:00

The re-defection of former South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) president Mlungisi Hlongwane from the Congress of the People (COPE)to the African National Congress (ANC) is not surprising.

I wonder why the Congress of the People (COPE) allowed a leader of his calibre into its own ranks in the first place.

Hlongwane has been one of the most divisive and controversial leaders. Sanco has become dysfunctional and irrelevant under his leadership.

Talk Radio 702 refused to allow the ANC to air the announcement live because it was not a "matter of national importance."

I wonder why the ANC did not use its propaganda mouthpiece, the SABC. I think the comrades will go back to their political dictionaries and try to unpack the word "national importance" in respect of newsworthiness.

More students need financial aid, says Manamela

2009-03-20T18:57:00.006+02:00

Buti Manamela, YCL secretary, addreessing students at rhodes university, south africa

Young Communist League national secretary, Buti Manamela, told students that they must ensure that higher education becomes accessible to all the youth who cannot afford to pay by pressuring university management to enrol more students.

Addressing about 200 students at Rhodes University on Thursday night Manamela said: “There are students who have passed matric and are considering doing crime or prostitution because they cannot afford to go to university.”

He said that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, set up by the government to finance destitute students to study at tertiary institutions, must fund more students and stop operating like a bank by charging interest on loans.

Before Manamela’s arrival, some of the students left the venue after they were told that ANC Youth League president, Julius Malema, would not be attending the meeting.

Manamela said that the university had refused to grant Malema permission to come and address students and that this should be discouraged because “students have a right to invite leaders of their choice to address them in the run to the national elections.”

He took a swipe at the Congress of the People (COPE) when he said that the party goes around “creating uncertainty by telling people that the president will be a reverend.”

A group of protesters belonging to the 1 in 9 Campaign waved placards in protest against the statements made by Malema when he said that the Jacob Zuma rape complainant had a good time.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters Larissa Klazinga said that they believe that rape survivors had to be treated with dignity and that Zuma’s statements during his rape trial were uncalled for.

members of the 1 in 9 Campaign wave placards in protest against Zuma & Malema's statements regarding the Zuma rape complainant

Anglican Cathedral of St. Michael and St. George in Church Square, Grahamstown, South Africa

2009-03-12T00:16:00.002+02:00

The breath taking Cathedral of St. Michael and St. George in Church Square, Grahamstown, South Africa. I set off early in the morning to get some shots of this monumental building.

The DA, the ANC and the missing COPE

2009-03-11T00:32:00.008+02:00

1 nation, 1 future.
A poster of the DA on Prince Alfred street next to the Rhodes Theatre, Grahamstown

JZ for President
The ANC car, with a poster of party president Jacob Zuma, parked on Prince Alfred street next to the Rhodes Theatre, Grahamstown

COPE logo

Ever since I arrived in Grahamstown I've never seen an African National Congress (ANC) poster in the city centre except the one on this car. Democratic Alliance (DA) posters are all over the place.

Does that mean the ANC does not bother about winning the white voters of this place? Have they given up even before they try? It looks like the DA will have a field day in the city. But in the African townships posters of the ANC are plenty and the people will probably vote for the ruling party.

The less said about the Congress of the People (COPE) the better. I've never seen an election poster of this party anywhere else. COPE needs to catch a wake up call otherwise no one will take them seriously.

The queen hugs me

2009-03-09T02:13:00.002+02:00

The queen poses for a pic (photo by Alinka Brutsch)

The queen hugs me (photo by Alinka Brutsch)

While we were touring the African township of Grahamstown as part of our assignment for the Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism and Media studies class we arrived at a place called Joza.

People were going up and about, some were sitting under the trees to avoid the scorching sun, and children were running around generally indifferent to the curious students who had just alighted from the bus and were looking around, listening to the tour guide while taking down notes.

An unkempt, petit dark skinned woman, with a thick layer of clay smeared all over her face emerged from nowhere and pounced on the team. Her locks looked as though they had not seen water for ages. She greeted everyone and asked for money. Otto Ntshebe, our tour guide, called her the queen.

“I have no money,” one team member said as she stepped backwards when the queen approached her. I recalled that I had a few coins and so I gave her some. Unexpectedly she hugged me, cheerfully thanking me.

“God will bless you, He is in the sun” she told me as she pointed at the sun as though she could see God in it. When the bus left I happy that I had met the queen. But later it turned out that the woman was not of royal descent; “the queen” was merely a name Otto affectionately used to call her.

Time voters show ANC the door

2009-03-09T01:53:00.003+02:00

The African National Congress has too much power for its own good. The release of Shabir Shaik from prison on medical grounds is unfair and unreasonable. The man was not terminally ill.

It is time Nqconde Balfour stepped down. In the past the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Poprcu) called for his resignation and this is the right time for him to resign and save his department the embarrassment.

Shaik is the next president's friend and former financial adviser. It is clear the minister was acting on instructions from his masters within the ruling party. Besides, Shaik was going to be released sooner or later.

So justice favours the rich. Prison is a place for the poor who don't have money and political connections. I wonder what happended to "all shall be equal before the law." Evidently, some are more equal than others.

The only people who hold the power to stop the ANC's abuse of power is the voters.

COPE comes to Rhodes University, South Africa

2009-02-26T22:19:00.005+02:00

COPE is busy launching branches of its youth and student movements. About 340 students attended the meeting in spite of the heavy rain and power outage on campus minutes before the meeting started.

Anele Mda, COPE’s youth convener, Lynda Odendaal, the second deputy president and, Smuts Ngonyama, head of policy, were ushered into the gas lamp illuminated Barratt Hall. But power was restored about 30 minutes later.

After the meeting I interviewed four students. Two said they supported COPE, one was undecided and the other one supported the ANC.

Yesterday I, Thandeka Mapi and Floyd Musekwa, my fellow prospective reporters, were ready to cover the ANC meeting which was supposed to be held at the same hall. The meeting was cancelled.

Tsuai's pix

2009-02-26T01:23:00.002+02:00

Tsuai's pix

2009-02-26T01:19:00.002+02:00

Tsuai's pix

2009-02-26T01:15:00.003+02:00

Journalism is for me

2009-02-04T15:42:00.002+02:00

On Friday last week I quit my job as a public servant in the Gauteng public works department to take up the City Press Percy Qoboza Scholarship that I was offered after I applied and was interviewed.

I will be doing a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism and Media Studies at Rhodes University this year and next year I will be working as an intern at the City Press. Thereafter the sky is the limit.

From Tuesday I have been coming to Media Park to get a feel of the newsroom and how reporters and journalists work.

Today we went to the printers, Paarl Gravure and the distributors, NND24 to get an idea of what happens to a publication from the time it leaves the offices of the newspaper until it reaches the reader.

On Saturday I'll be leaving for Rhodes University in Grahamstown. I love this career and I want to work as a reporter.

Give us this day our dose of moral regeneration

2009-01-26T12:21:00.003+02:00

The allegations against president Kgalema Motlanthe, reported in today's independent online, are serious and deplorable.

I'm concerned when a president, someone the people look up to, has an affair and impregnates a 24 year old woman. A few years back ANC president Jacob Zuma slept with an HIV positive woman and later made regrettable remarks about a shower and women asking for it.

Motlanthe has the right to privacy but that needs to be balanced with the fact that he is a public figure. As head of state we expect him to behave in a manner that is beyond reproach and to abide by the Moral Regeneration Movement's charter of values.

People like Kgalema, Zuma, Winnie Mandela and Angie Motshekga are leaders and our children are supposed to look up to them as role models. But I think I'll be damned if I let my child look up to them as role models.

The Firm by John Grisham

2009-01-20T15:29:00.000+02:00

Mitchell Y Mcdeere, known as Mitch, has just graduated from Harvard Law school with flying colors when he joins a law firm in Memphis, Tennessee. The firm makes him an offer he can't refuse and he becomes an associate. Little does he know that Bendini, Lambert & Locke, his new employer, is owned by the mafia.

The FBI makes contact with him after two associates die under mysteriously circumstances in an accident. From there he learns about the shady business of the firm and how the FBI has been investigating the firm for years.

Even though he was apprehensive at the beginning he decides to make a deal with the FBI. He uses his wit and skill as a lawyer to get a favourable deal and help the authorities in their fight against organised crime.

This is an interesting book that is not easy to put down until you finish it.

Friends of JZ and Friends of Democracy

2009-01-15T10:25:00.000+02:00

Following the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) judgment in the NPA v Zuma appeal case on Monday I decided to check the Friends of Jacob Zuma website for messages of support for the ANC president Jacob Zuma. The Friends of JZ trust was established in 2005 after Zuma was fired by the then state president Thabo Mbeki after judge Hillary Squires found Zuma's former financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, guilty of corruption.

Most members pledged their support to Zuma while some attacked the acting Deputy Judge President Harms who read judgment. True revolutionary, (13/01/2009 07:50 PM) wrote that:

The day our shameful judiciary sentences Zuma to prison will be a start of my exile days where as former guerillas we will again rekindle old memories because we will fight the Boers led persecution of our leader... fortunately we are ready for such a possibility. When they touch Zuma (our commander) they will have overstepped the mark. They must know that we are prepared to die and take up arms in order to defend him plus this country. But thankfully that will never happen... because Zuma is only going in one direction and that is at the Union Buildings, come rain or sunshine. Zuma served time for nothing and we'll be damned before we can allow that to ever happen again. It does not matter whether it is our own who are part of the conspirators, we will clean them all

The website contains a long list of documents, inter alia heads of argument, affidavits, judgments, Special Browse "Mole" Consolidated Report, SACP and Cosatu documents which touch on Zuma's persecution by the forces bent on undermining his ambitions to become the state president. It also features a biography of Zuma and a photo gallery with samples of his autographed photos.

Another website of interest is The Friends of Democracy which was set up following the recall of former president Thabo Mbeki as the country's president after Judge Chris Nicholson suggested that Mbeki had interfered in the prosecution of Zuma.

The home page has a picture of an apparently distressed Zuma rubbing his right eye and a debate on the decision of the SCA in the NPA/ Zuma case. There is also Thabo Mbeki’s resignation letter from the country’s presidency after he was recalled.

Various issues are posted for comments and the debates get heated as critics and members of COPE slug it out in the battle of ideas. Insults fly back and forth in the process. A comment by QedaqmangaKZN (Wednesday, 14 January 2009 at 04:48 PM) reads:

The Bum Flashers have every right to follow their leaders whom President Mandela is ashamed of, Julius Joburg Butcher HH Matric Pas's Malema, Angie Do'g Matric Pas's Is Not Important and Reverend Showerhead Kangamam. But please leave us alone to be part of the clever and smart people in the COPE. You see, President Mbeki appealed the Nicholson judgement because he is smart and clever and he knew that he was innocent. He won. Your leader, the Reverend Showerhead Kangaman did not appeal Judge Hillary Squires judgement because he is a dud head and he knows he is guilty;and was too busy with shower and baby oil! That is why we no longer look forward to ANC Today ever Friday!

I couldn’t stop laughing as I read the comments on both websites.

New Year, new beginnings

2009-01-13T11:39:00.000+02:00

It is the New Year. And this is the time to start afresh. Therefore I’m making changes to my blog and I hope it will be more interesting and lively. I’m going to add more images, photos, poems and stories and essays. If I don’t publish my stories here no one will publish them elsewhere. This is my blog, my writing space. So I’ll go for it.

The name of the blog will change from express thought: life from the south of Africa to Tsuai’s World: writing is an expression of the self and a medicine of the soul.

My cousin Nombulelo set up her own blog just before the end of last year. I checked her blog and she put powerful poems and images on it. I think this will be an interesting blogging year.

Review: The Trial by Franz Kafka

2008-12-27T19:11:00.001+02:00

I have finished reading The Trial by Franz Kafka. The book makes for a compelling read which spurred me on to the end, anxious to discover the outcome of the Josef K.’s trial.

The book is about Josef K., a chief clerk at a bank, who is suddenly arrested one morning by the police for no apparent reason. He is frustrated by the court process which is slow and secretive. He doesn’t get to know the charge he’s arrested for and with the help of his uncle, Leni, he gets himself a lawyer.

But still he remains frustrated as he sees no progress in the conclusion of his trial despite having a lawyer. He talks to numerous people who offer to help him but he turns down their offers. Notable amongst these is Titorelli, the painter.

He explains the three options that K. has; absolute acquittal, apparent acquittal and deferment. Titorelli offers to help K with the last two options only because the first one is uncommon as far as he is aware.

K. finally decides to fire his lawyer in the hope that doing so would enable him to take control of his trial and make things move faster.

The book shows how the functioning of the court system inconvenienced, frustrated and humiliated the defendants. It was of course difficult to defend yourself if you didn’t even know the indictment against you. Further, as a defendant you could wait for years before your case was resolved.

At the end, disappointingly, K. is taken away by two unknown men to meet his Maker. He doesn’t even know who they are. From the narrator’s description, they might possibly be policemen or executioners.

‘The courts don’t make their final conclusions public, not even the judges are allowed to know about them…’ Titorelli told K during their meeting. It made me wonder what kind of justice was this. Quite strange.

I must now finish Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. I can thereafter move onto Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote, James Joyce’s Ulysses, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis, Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace, and many other classics in English literature.

I hope that I will be able to give myself time to write a brief review of each book as soon as I finish reading. Another book that I must give a brief review of is F Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.

COPE 'is coming'

2008-12-15T18:43:00.000+02:00

So sang the delegates

The 4000 delegates to the inaugural congress of the Congress of the People (COPE) sang and clapped joyfully during the opening of the congress.

I listened attentively to hear if they will sing mshini wam (bring my machine gun) or boo the speakers as they addressed them. It seems the ANC never planted a group of noise makers to disrupt Terror Lekota as he spoke.

The Congress of the People (COPE) is indeed here. Fresh from a high court victory on Friday to use the name Congress of the People, the delegates sang iyezi COPE! (COPE is coming)

The interim chairperson, Mosiuoa Terror Lekota, spoke freely about "our forebears in Presidents, Mandela and Mbeki." This was a bold statement to show that the ANC does not own Mandela or other leaders who led the liberation struggle.

Maybe the ANC ought to begin now to patent Nelson Mandela and other struggle heroes' names before COPE 'steals' their legacy. We must remember that history, liberation, the Freedom Charter, June 16 and everything else is supposed to belong to the ANC.

Lekota also spoke about the fear that people were subjected to if they joined COPE, the disruption of COPE meetings, the attack on the judiciary, and how the members of the press "are under constant pressure to give special attention to approved news items and ignore some..."

These are genuine concerns that society needs to talk about openly without fear of intimidation. So COPE is in a way giving hope to those who are afraid to voice their opinions freely because of the events of the recent past.

After this inaugural congress, when the dust has settled, it will be up to the voters to decide as to who becomes the next government.

"All shall enjoy equal human rights!"

2008-11-14T17:05:00.000+02:00

The initiative by the founders of the Congress of the People is to be welcomed. The disregard for the rule of law, criticism of the media and the judiciary, the intolerance of dissenting views and the tendency to deal with those who differ within the ANC have necessitated such an initiative.

The ANC is a reputable movement whose record speaks for itself. It is heartbreaking to see it crumbling before our eyes and this is a sad moment in Africa’s history.

Parties are a microcosm of society and therefore the ANC must represent the collective and democratic will of the people. But it is becoming more selfish and represents its own views and interests more than those of the people.

The late eighties and early nineties were characterized by political intolerance fuelled by a third force bent on undermining the efforts of freedom loving South Africans to achieve their objective of liberation. But as with many revolutions the desire to build a society based on freedom to assemble and belong to a political party of one's choosing triumphed.

The intolerance of differing views must be condemned. Instead people must be allowed to differ. We must disagree and still be friends. But some people think they have a monopoly on ideas and views expressed in society. And they are ready to crush anyone who differs. They have the right to air their views in the media but when others do the same they are branded counter-revolutionaries, snakes and dogs.

That is not what we fought for. The values of our society are enshrined in the Freedom Charter, the Constitution and ubuntu. It is a courageous step to voice the truth in a storm of fierce opposition. The more diversified the contending voices in a society the better it is for its democratic wellbeing.

Many fear to differ on issues of principle because they fear those who hold arbitrary power to suspend or expel so-called dissidents.

I want a society where I can express my views free from intimidation or violence or inflammatory propaganda. The heroic sacrifices of our leaders cannot go to the dustbins of history trashed by people bent on ascending to power by all means, even if it means disregarding the rule of law.

Are we going to allow the abuse of power and position to go unabated or do we protect the values of humanity? It gives me hope to see that some people stand up against leaders who want to rule by force under the guise of democracy.

The first black US president

2008-11-05T15:45:00.000+02:00

Barack Hussein Obama makes history

On July 03 this year I made my predictions on this blog regarding three issues that were of concern to the world at large. One was that Barack Obama will be the first black US president. And indeed the senator from Illinois was elected as the 44th US president.

He won an overwhelming support of Americans both black and white and thus history was made by Barack. And it is worth celebrating his victory although I'm not sure yet as to how it will benefit us as Africans.

It also remains to be seen how he will handle the issue of Iraq, Afghanistan, the war on terror and the Israel-Arab conflict particularly Iran's uranium enrichment programme.

On the other two issues regarding the price of oil and the imminent attack on Iran by Israel I think that it is just a matter of time before these happen. As soon as the world financial crisis is under control the price of oil will skyrocket. The markets enjoy managing one crisis or another.

The tensions in the Middle East won't be resolved, not now. War is imminent in that part of the world as long as Islamic extremists believe that Israel must be destroyed and Israelis believe in their right to exist.

So far so...

2008-10-02T12:24:00.000+02:00

It's nearly even time. I mean for the year. Sooner we will be reveling as it will be the festive season. Then the festive season will pass and a new year will begin. This will continue the next and the following year until we are deep down six feet.

So what we are living for? To make it through each day and year so we can see the next. I think many people wouldn’t agree. Some contend they have a purpose greater than just making it through each day.

I love and hate the festive season. I love it because it's the time for reflection. I look back and look forward. The road I have trodden and the road that lies ahead.

But I hate the festive season for the noise, partying and brawls. Young people dance and drink and do all stupid things imaginable. This is the time when you might believe that the world is coming to an end.

As I look forward to 2009 I also look forward to production. In blogging, writing and photography. I also look forward to train as a journalist. Whether I get a journalism opportunity or not I must write for publication. The ultimate aim is to publish a novel.

In everything that I do I must not forget to give back to my community by working with my peers and interested community members to build and empower our neighbourhood.

We can only lead ourselves to a better life.

Looks like 2009 is around corner

2008-08-22T14:37:00.000+02:00

And the road seems long and bumpy

Since the beginning of the year achievements have not been abundant. I'm still living the old life I used to live last year.

There's no significant event that has occurred and by the looks of things nothing will occur. The year has four months left and I hope this year's December will be better than the last. Moreover, I believe I'll make the year 2009 a year of achievements.

The greatest challenge is to make the most out of the remaining months of the year. The most I can do is to read, write and pray. But I will create something to be proud of.

I will make it happen for my own sake.

Been a long time

2008-08-21T17:08:00.000+02:00

I have not blogged for a very long time.

Am I still interesed? Blogging is about writing and therefore I can't say I'm no longer interested. I should not limit myself to much but rather write as much as possible.

Further I should write what I like just as the late Black Consciosness Movement leader Bantu Stephen Biko. I don't mean to step on other people's toes and criticize unnecessarily like some writers and anlysts do.

All I'm going to do is write as much as possible. Time and tide waits for no man, and talent is wasted if a man of my writing prowess fails to pen diligently.

I will return shortly.

What makes Iran so confident?

2008-07-07T15:51:00.000+02:00

World peace under threat

Claims that Iran wants to proceed with uranium enrichment in order to acquire a nuclear bomb are not to be taken lightly. Tehran has vehemently denied that it wants a nuclear bomb.

Despite this denial Iran's defiance and 'elimination of Israel from the face of the earth' war talk should not be allowed to go unchecked. This is hate speech and incitement to war and will do harm to the volatile Middle East region.

If Iran cannot recognize the state of Israel; obviously they will do anything in their power to destroy it, & what better way to do that than to get a nuclear bomb and drop it on the tiny state of Israel.

The haughtiness of Iran lies in the fact that it is the world's fourth largest oil producer. If it is attacked it might choke the supply of crude oil and this will lead to an undersupply and high prices. What a strategy to hold the world to ransom.

World leaders at the G8 summit in Japan should condemn Iran. Zimbabwe is a small issue as it is not likely to pose a threat to world peace

Should Israel attack Iran would it be justified to do so? You be the judge.

3 Things Likely to Happen

2008-07-03T18:07:00.000+02:00

I predict that the following will happen in the next few months:

1. The price of oil will continue to rise. It was selling at more than $145 dollars on Thursday. By the end of the year it will soar past $200.

2. An attack on Iran by Israel. Though George W Bush has indicated that a diplomatic solution is the way to go, Israel is bent on attacking Iran's nuclear facilities.

3. Barack Obama will be the first black American President. He's won a tough race against Hillary Clinton and is the favourite to take over as the next US President.

Interests rates go up again

2008-06-23T16:38:00.000+02:00

And so does my blood pressure

On Friday the 13th my blood pressure was abnormally high. Incidentally, when interest rates rise my blood pressure follows suit.

Over the past two years interest rates have risen steadily to the extent of threatening our livelihood. The National Credit Act has gone a long way in reducing reckless lending and borrowing. So the regular rise in interest rates is uncalled for.

Enough is enough. Mr. Tito Mboweni, please have mercy on us. We are struggling to make ends meet with rising food and fuel prices. A few months back a R100 note could buy me a few necessary grocery items, but now it's worthless.

What is difficult to stomach is that my house is slowly slipping out of my hands. With each interest rate hike I fear that I will end up in the streets or in a mkhuhku lest I sell my house and ensure I get a handsome R50 000 profit.

I can then use this to buy an RDP house. The prices range from R20 000 to R100 000 depending on the area and improvements on the property.

The price of electricity will rise by 27.5% from July and petrol will also increase by 70 cents a litre. My predictions that this will be a gloomy year are correct.

The next certain thing is not economic stability but the end of the world.

14 years of freedom

2008-04-30T16:04:00.000+02:00

Reasons to celebrate

Creation of a black elite
Eskom regular power cuts
Rising food prices & interest rates
Abortion and gay marriages
Spiralling crime

Why South Africans hate immigrants

2008-04-23T15:55:00.000+02:00

Xenophobia hides behind a string of unconvincing reasons

The attacks by South Africans on foreigners are heartrending. Whether a person is in the country legally or otherwise we cannot sit and fold our arms while the dark flame of xenophobia engulfs the African nation.
During the apartheid years illegal migrant workers from Mozambique, fleeing the civil war in their country, settled in the black townships and lived peacefully with the locals. They used fake ID’s and surnames; they were taunted sometimes but they remained part of our communities.
After the 1994 democratic elections, the government allowed people from other African countries to move freely in and out of the country. Africans fleeing hunger, civil wars, repression and others seeking better career opportunities flocked here.
Some entered the country as refugees, and yet others illegally.
The years following 1994 eroded the hospitality and ubuntu of the South Africans due to a rising cost of living, spiralling crime, corruption in the home affairs department and joblessness.
Accustomed to blaming apartheid for their problems, the locals turned to the illegal immigrants as their scapegoat. Some of the reasons advanced for the inhumane treatment of black foreigners include, amongst others, that:
• They are taking our jobs (they sell their labour far below accepted minimum wages)
• Commit acts of crime (housebreaking, car theft, robbery, muggings, rape etc)
• Steal our names by buying fake ID’s
• Sell drugs and run brothels (mostly referring to Nigerians)
• Dirty and overcrowd the streets of Joburg with their markets (street stalls)
• Take "our" businesses (spaza shops and interent cafés)
• They bring illness and deseases
• Steal our wives and daughters (to make them live-in partners
• Corrupt our government officials
• Invade buildings in the Joburg inner-city
Although some of the concerns raised by South Africans hold water, not all immigrants living here are destroying the country. It is therefore important for us to practice tolerance and accommodate our neighbour in times of need. But obviously we must be wary of bandits who are here to loot and cause chaos.

http://www.reporter.co.za/article.aspx?ID=RP21A754242

Why the bitterness

2008-04-22T16:01:00.000+02:00

What do whites want?

Whites are angry, very angry. Just read their prominent columnists, including the former Sunday Times' David Bullard, Thought Leader contributors, letters to newspaper editors and their blogs. They are forever spewing bile at the government, the leaders and blacks in general.

Why they are angry I'm not certain. But I think it is because of crime, the black government, corruption, BEE, affirmative action, race quotas and racial integration. Although they have lost political power, whites still command economic power.

On crime and other issues they are not alone. Crime affects me too and my community and unfortunately we don’t have money to install sophisticated security systems or hire security companies. I 'm angry too on this one. We hate corruption and nepotism but we cannot overlook the good the government does because of a few black sheep.

Years after legislated racial segregation was abolished, most whites (not all of course) still think that blacks are criminals, incapable of leading, inherently corrupt, don’t deserve the best jobs and to share in the country's wealth. Did they criticize the apartheid government with the same passion they criticize the black government?

Apartheid was a reflection of the collective psyche of whites. And it is not easy for them to accept that the glory days of apartheid are behind us. But let's pray that they will wake up to the reality that you don’t build by trashing all and sundry just because they are of a different race.

Please go back home fellow Zimbabweans

2008-04-21T15:33:00.000+02:00

I would like to appeal to all fellow Zimbabweans to return to their motherland. Running away to South Africa in droves won't alleviate the problems you left behind in your country.

The self proclaimed martyr, Morgan Tsvangirai, should lead all the Zimbabweans back to their country to stage protests against perceived oppression, dictatorship, election rigging and theft. What do you want Thabo Mbeki to do, send an army to Harare to forcibly remove Mugabe?

If you want that go to the African Union (AU), they managed to remove Mohamed Bacar of Anjouan in the Comoros islands from the office he held illegally. The AU should be fair enough and remove Mugabe if it is true that he stole the votes.

Please stop blaming Mbeki and rather make your case to the AU. If that fails, call upon your courage and go and demonstrate in the streets of the capital. Apparently, you are on your own and it's every man for himself.

All you need is UNITY.

We'll miss Reporter.co.za

2008-04-17T15:28:00.000+02:00

It was with heaviness of heart that I learnt Reporter.co.za will be going on a break at the end of April.

They want to revamp it. We don't know how long this will take but I hope that when it comes back, it will be better and livelier. We also don't know if it will indeed come back.

We will surely miss our champion of online journalism.

At least I have my own blog and it will keep me busy in the meantime. Further, I must express my gratitude to Reporter.co.za for motivating me to start my own blog and write what I like.

I’m very afraid

2008-04-09T15:02:00.001+02:00

My piece published in Reporter.co.za today

By Tsuai

Academic and freedom of speech under assault.

The flurry of criticism thrown at Unisa rector Barney Pityana for saying that Zuma is a leader who does not inspire confidence is alarming.

Pityana, a respected academic, recently told the Law Society of South Africa that JZ is a flip-flop leader. Most analysts concur that Zuma is a cunning politician who tells different sections of the population what they want to hear. In the process he sometimes contradicts himself.

Meanwhile, our society is degenerating as a select group of people want to claim monopoly of views in the battle of ideas. And those who differ with them are labeled as conservative, ultra-left, pushing the white/DA (Democratic Alliance) agenda, anti- transformation and racist.

Apparently I’m becoming a reactionary. But freedom of speech, freedom to differ with the opinions of others is a fundamental element of a democratic constitutional state.

I’m afraid to differ. I realised that you cannot differ and get away with it when I was personally attacked in a discussion forum of a prominent youth organisation for voicing a different opinion (http://tsuai.blogspot.com/2007/12/things-that-i-do.html). In this discussion forum, those who voice views that are not sanctioned by the majority are cut to pieces.

This makes me wonder what the purpose of debate is? Don’t we discuss and debate so that we can differ? After all, we are different and can never think alike.

http://www.reporter.co.za/columnists/article.aspx?ID=RP21A744650

Writing for our times

2008-04-08T15:52:00.000+02:00

'... and I didn’t want to go to any other black I knew in London. It's one thing to be comrades against whites and it's totally another to be penniless; the comrades would be suddenly struck by amnesia as far as knowing you went.' p.58 The Black Insider Dambudzo Marechera.

These are the words of Zimbabwean born writer and poet Dambudzo Marechera (1952-1987). He wrote The Black Insider while living in London where he had been offered a scholarship to study at Oxford.

In 1979 his book, The House of Hunger, won the prestigious Gurdian First Book Award.

I think many people living in post apartheid South Africa will identify with his words in. There was a time in my life when I felt alienated and hopeless and when I read these words they struck me like a gem of undiscovered truth.

The late Marechera was a terrific writer. And he would put to words through his incisive writing what many were afraid to say. He spoke truth to power. In post apartheid South Africa we need writers like Dambudzo who can fearlessly capture the state and mood of our nation and challenge the status quo. Notably, we need more young black writers.

I'm going to write a novel and tell about life from the south of Africa.

Happy preparation day

2008-04-04T15:54:00.000+02:00

I encourage you 'to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Nothing beats prayer.

'Prayer is the breath of the soul ...the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven's storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence ...and the opening of the heart to God as to a Friend.' Christ's Object Lessons p.129 in Great Prayers & Pray-ers of the Bible, Seventh Adventist Church Adult Bible Study Quarter 1 2001

'So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.' Luke 11:9,10

I wish everyone a happy day of preparation.

Words of Inspiration

2008-04-03T07:40:00.000+02:00

Now that we are living in the perilous last days, I entreat you to ‘...take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.’ (Ephesians 6:17).

‘No man can gain insight into the Word of God without the illumination of the Holy Spirit. If we will but come into the right position before God, His light will shine upon us in rich, clear rays.’ Ellen G White Comments, SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 3, p. 1152 in God Shows and Tells, p.60, SDA Adult Bible Study Guide Quarter 1 1999.

Stay blessed.

Koolie, boesman, coconut, grigamba or makwerekwere

2008-04-01T13:13:00.000+02:00

Another piece I wrote for Reporter.co.za published today.

By Tsuai

Observe the golden rule and stop name calling

During the dark repressive years of apartheid whites used to call black Africans kaffirs. This name is derogatory and Africans resented it and they still do today. White racists who are not happy with transformation in the country still call blacks kaffirs.

Blacks retaliated by calling Afrikaners boers. They did this to spite the Afrikaners but the boers were not offended in any way. They are, after all, boers, which means farmer.

Seemingly the whites were the masters of bigotry. They called the Indians koelie. And to be honest, I have known Indians as koelies and it was only later that I learnt that the name was derogatory.

Then there is the boesnman. This is used to refer to the coloured people who are descendants of white and black South Africans. The word boesman in fact means bushmen but some silly people use it to the humiliate coloureds.

But it looks as if black South Africans have not learnt their lesson. They continue to call their fellow Africans from across the continent with demeaning names. These are the people we should treat with more respect than with disdain. Instead of calling them grigambas and makwerekwere because of their darker hue and language, we should embrace and welcome them as our brothers and sisters.

Lastly, there are blacks who are privileged and live in the suburbs, go to private schools, speak English with an accent and shun the townships where they were born. They would rather keep white than black company. Is it necessary for us to call them coconuts? Why can’t we live and let live?

As a nation, we must learn to treat others as we would like them to treat us.

http://www.reporter.co.za/article.aspx?ID=RP21A737789

Zim MDC must await official election results

2008-04-01T08:01:00.000+02:00

The leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirayi, must not preempt the election results by announcing early victory prior to the release of official results.

By so doing he is stoking the fires of post election violence should the MDC lose the election. Who wants another Kenya just across our border. We have more than enough illegal Zimbabwean immigrants living in South Africa.

Yesterday in the Johannesburg city centre, near the Noord street taxi rank, Zimbabweans were happily proclaiming that MDC has won and Mugabe is out. This is as a result of the irresponsible behavior of people like Tsvangirayi.

He should wait until the results are officially released. If there is any reasonable suspicion of election rigging, then the intervention of the African Union (AU) can be sought.

If the AU concludes that the elections were indeed rigged then they should act, and do so harshly. They can send an army to remove anyone clinging to power illegally like they did in the Comoros Island. Then I'll have confidence in the toothless AU.

Going on sabbatical

2008-03-20T14:39:00.000+02:00

I will be on a sabbatical for a week. It is incumbent that I go on vacation and I don't want to mention the consequences that would result should I fail to do so.

When I come back I will give my blog a new lease of life. I will improve the image and the quality of the news, commentary and write more frequently.

I wish everyone a happy Easter weekend. I pray that people will avoid things like alcohol, drugs and speeding.

I encourage everyone to read. You may read a book, a poem, a story or newspaper. But whatever you do, don't forget to read.

We are not kaffirs

2008-03-19T14:58:00.000+02:00

The name kaffir is a derogatory name that Afrikaners used to call Africans during the era of apartheid racialism. Some racist elements still use the name but apparently the incidents are isolated. One can compare this to the situation in the United Sates when white Americnas used to insult African Americans by calling them niggers.

Although some African Americans have accepted the name nigger to refer to themselves, we South Africans have not and we will never embrace the kaffir name. Who knows, maybe after 100 centuries?

When Arthur released the song "Kaffir" in the mid 1990's I thought the name would find appeal among the youth kwaito generation. Being part of this generation then, we tried using the name with my friends but it simply didn’t stick. It is an ugly name and there is nothing cool about it.

When Irvin Khoza told an African journalist to stop thinking like a kaffir I was baffled. He went on to claim that Africans in the townships use the name to refer to themselves. That is a blatant lie. Perhaps he considers himself a kaffir, but he must not think we are also kaffirs.

All I can say is that the man does, after all, talk like a kaffir.

666

2008-03-13T15:25:00.000+02:00

Is the Beast about to reveal himself?

When Fikile Mbalula, president of the African National Congress Youth League said that the sale of liquor must be banned on Sunday I was not overly surprised. It set my mind wondering why Mbalula chose Sunday of all the days.

I asked myself; did he visit the Vatican and was asked to subtly champion the sanctity of Sunday and the impending mandatory Sunday worship?

I find this distressing. Maybe it's because I refuse to take it lightly. Hardly a week after the statement by Mbalula, the British Parly passed a motion numbered 666 on the order paper calling for the separation of state and church.

The efforts to unite the world and to bring about so-called global peace and prosperity under one government are nothing but a farce to control the world and force people to worship on Sunday.

The beast is revealed. He is a man, and his number is 666, and he is VICARIUS FILII DEI.

Are police cowards?

2008-03-11T16:19:00.000+02:00

We want the army

Police are human. They have their fears, concerns, aspirations and goals.

The fact that they have undergone intensive physical and firearm training and that they carry guns and shoot to kill when it is necessary does not make them Terminators or Rambos.

But their role remains a noble and imperative one; to protect our lives and property.
As marauding gangs of armed bandits intensify their siege on ordinary citizens in the country, we look up to the police to protect us.

But what do we do when police themselves are scarred of the armed criminals who answer fire with fire?

The brutal murder of seven year-old Gofaone Tyatya at the Zandspruit informal settlement in Johannesburg on Sunday raises doubts about the ability of the police to deal effectively with crime.

If police are afraid to respond to a crime because an area is dangerous then we are doomed. The fact that they did not have a car is a lame excuse. Where were the cars in the first place?

If they are afraid, then the government must excuse them and bring in the army. They will surely do a better job. I bet some have been in the barracks for some time and are now itching for some action.

All South Africans, black and white, are sick and tired of crime.

Scantily clad women march to taxi rank

2008-03-03T18:02:00.000+02:00

Published in Reporter.co.za today.

Taxi drivers angered by marchers blockade

By Tsuai

The Noord street taxi rank came to a chilling standstill on Friday when scantily clad women marched to the rank in protest against the disrespectful behavior of taxi drivers towards women.

The marchers, under the banner of Remmoho Women’s Forum (RWF), were determined to assert their freedom and right to choose what to wear and when to wear it. This march followed the incident at the Noord street taxi rank where a 25 year old woman’s clothes were torn off because she was wearing a mini-skirt.

The indecent assault has aroused widespread condemnation from all and sundry.

The police had to call for back up to prevent the taxi drivers from attacking the marchers who blockaded the Plein street exit of the taxi rank. Marchers sang struggle songs, danced and exposed their breasts and panties provocatively as they dared the taxi drivers to touch them.

The taxi drivers retaliated by singing ’Awulethu umshini wam,’ (bring me my machine gun), insulting the female marchers and taking off their trousers and showing off their backside. A drunken man believed to be a taxi queue marshal was arrested for insulting and provoking the police.

The secretary of the Top Six taxi association Mr. Mogorosi accepted the memorandum of demand from the marchers and condemned the behavior of those taxi drivers who sexually harass women.

When asked whether RWF condoned the actions of the marchers who showed off their bodies, Nosipho Twala justified the behavior as a form of protest and a show of disgust and outrage at what they did to the female who was sexually harassed and many other women.

Another leader of the marchers, Tebogo Mashota, said that they were ’not intimidated by the actions of the taxi drivers.’

Most of the marchers believe that women must not be controlled by males, their parents, and the community as to what they must wear.

http://www.reporter.co.za/newszone/article.aspx?ID=RP21A718550

Mini-skirt incident sparks outrage

2008-02-28T17:33:00.000+02:00

This is an article by Tsuai, my alter ego, published in Reporter.co.za

Women to march to Noord street taxi rank

The incident at the Noord street taxi rank in central Johannesburg, where a 25 year old woman’s clothes were torn apart because she was wearing a miniskirt, is an indication of how morally bankrupt and sick our society is.
Women say it raises concerns about the victimization of women by men and taxi drivers in particular. This is not the first time that such incident has occurred at this taxi rank.
They say that if the trend is allowed to continue without being checked by the authorities and conscientious community members, it will get out of control.
A group of women under the banner of Remmoho Women’s Forum, which is an initiative of the Anti Privatization Forum, will march to the Noord street taxi rank on Friday to highlight the plight of women who suffer sexual harassment and indecent assault at the hands of taxi drivers.
Teboho Mashota of Remmoho, which means we are together, said that this behavior ’has to come to an end, and it is not happening for the first time.’
They also want the authorities to improve security at the taxi rank and update them on progress of the investigation into the sexual assault case of the 25 year old woman.
’We also want an explanation as to what happened and why the police do not have footage from the closed circuit cameras in that area,’ she said
The march is expected to attract hundreds of women who will move from Beyers Naude Square to the Noord street taxi rank. They will be united in the fight for women to be treated with respect, dignity and humanity.

http://www.reporter.co.za/article.aspx?ID=RP21A716339

Letter to the Editor (The Star newspaper)

2008-02-18T07:32:00.000+02:00

Published on Thursday February 14 2008. (Klipoortje is in Germiston and not Alberton)

There is no compelling reason to have two deputy presidents. One is enough as it is. The ANC deputy president, Kgalema Motlanthe, must wait for his time to come if he wants to serve in government.

During the time of the government of national unity it was understandable and justifiable to have two deputy presidents. The aim was to forge national unity in the country.

When Nelson Mandela became the country's president he had no experience in government. But he did make the best of his term as president and managed to serve as a symbol of unity and reconciliation. Let us hope that Motlanthe will wait until the next round of deployments to get into the government and then prove his worth as a leader.

Thando Tshangela
Klipoortje, Alberton

Cry the beloved country

2008-01-28T13:35:00.000+02:00

Cry the beloved country

I foresee tough times ahead of us. South Africa is facing innumerable challenges for the year 2008.

One fundamental challenge is the doubtful calibre of leadership elected at the Polokwane Conference of the ruling liberation movement the African National Congress (ANC) in December 2007.

Just a month after their eventful election the national executive committee members of the ANC have attacked the judiciary and National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). Their contention is that the judiciary is not partial and possibly Jacob Zuma might not get a fair trial.

Deputy Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Dikgang Moseneke was the latest causality of this unwarranted vitriol directed at the judiciary. But the ANC has since retracted its statement after a meeting with Deputy Chief Justice Moseneke.

The former President of the same Constitutional Court Justice Arthur Chaskalson and human rights lawyer George Bizos had to defend the independence of the judiciary to ensure that politicians don't rubbish judges.

How can we, ordinary law-abiding citizens, have confidence in the administration of justices and respect judges if our leaders attack them and cast doubt on their professional independence and impartiality?

Are the attacks a deliberate attempt to discredit the judiciary and the prosecuting authority before the appeal case of ANC President Jacob Zuma is heard in the Constitutional Court in March? The appeal from the Supreme Court of Appeal relate to the search and seizure operations by the Scorpions at Zuma's residence and his lawyers' offices.

An indictment has already been served on Zuma to appear in the Pietermaritzburg High Court for corruption, fraud, racketeering, and tax evasion in August this year. It is probable that the attacks are aimed at creating an impression that the NPA and judiciary are not going to be impartial and that Zuma will therefore not get a fair trial.

We are all equal before the law and everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty. It is thus important that each and every accused must be afforded an opportunity to prove his innocence. This is what Zuma must get and it will be in the best interests of the country for politicians to stay out of the whole process.

On the issue of the Directorate of Special Operations (Scorpions), the NPAs investigation arm, the ANC's December conference resolved that the unit be integrated into the South African Police Service (SAPS). This is because the Scorpions have been audacious in their pursuit of corruption by the ruling class and their patrons. It is also blamed for Zuma's woes.

The planned integration must happen by June. The whole issue of doing away with the Scorpions as an independent investigation unit has raised the ire of opposition parties that strongly believe that the Scorpions should not be disbanded. They argue that it is necessary to retain the unit as a means to help fight white-collar crime and corruption by the top politicians and police members.

With the year in its infancy, we look set to dig deeper into our already empty pockets. The price of bread has gone up by 40 cents. A shop in my area has hiked the price by 60 cents and their loaf costs an exorbitant R6.60.

Our woes don’t stop here. They will possibly continue right through the year. Over the past 18 months interest rates have been hiked up more than I can count and some analysts predict that they will rise this year as the Reserve Bank tries to curb inflation.

This has had a negative impact on the household income of many South Africans who are struggling to make ends meet.

The petrol price is set to increase by 15-20 cents next month. And when the cost of petrol goes up, food prices go up. Taxi fares will also go up and this will be a burden for us as we will have to fork out more for our traveling expenses to work and fro.

The price of Brent crude oil, which climbed to a high of $96 a barrel, is likely to reach $100 before the end of June, I suppose. This will of course have negative repercussions for us and the whole world.

What is lamentable is that the poor, the ordinary man on the street, is going to suffer most. The wages that we get now are not enough, and it looks as if we are going to find it difficult to eke out an existence.

Another issue that is of concern is the electricity supply. The electricity supply commission (Eskom) has hiked tariffs by 14% but consumers will start to feel the pinch in July when local municipalities raise their electricity charges.

Despite the increase in the price of electricity, most parts of the country are experiencing load-shedding (electricity cuts) as Eskom maintains that there are power supply shortages and these will continue for the next five years. As a result we need to save electricity and also consider alternative sources of power.

With the winter not in the far too distant future, I think the load shedding means that one must brace himself for a cold, dark winter.

The year 2008 is going to be a gloomy, cold and tough year. Folks, let us keep the torch of hope alive and brace ourselves for the year of the rat.

The New Year is here-2008

2008-01-04T16:31:00.000+02:00

The New Year is upon us. Reveling, drunkenness, brawling, accidents....etc will give us a break at least until the next summer festivities.

The sun has been continually burning like fire for the past three weeks. If global warming is anything to go by, I wonder how hot it will be in the next five to ten years. At least the intervention of rain yesterday night and this morning gave us a much needed intervention albeit temporarily.

Johannesburg aka Jozi, the former city of gold (has lost its golden touch, although optimists may find this to be disputable), was quieter for the past two weeks. Obviously the noise of traffic, people going to and fro will pick up gradually from next week. I've seen people, young and old, alighting from taxis and buses with bags.

As for me, I'm going to miss all the serenity which had visited itself on the streets as over the past few weeks.

Since 1994 the Johannesburg Central Business District has become a slum. The street corners smell of urine. Shops carry on business during the day and at night they are used as lodgings. Before 1994 there were not so many foreigners, legal and illegal, selling fake clothes, cigarettes, drugs, buying fake Identity Documents. I have nothing against foreigners but what I can say is that they have changed the face of Johannesburg, and South Africa too. And most have done so in a negative way.

I spent mine own New Year's day reading David Copperfiled and analyzing short stories for my critiques to the Internet Writing Workshop.

This year is "The year of the writer" for me. At least I must complete my novel which I started 2 years ago and never moved beyond chapter one. I had no confidence that I would complete it and beyond that get it to be published.

But then I've resolved that for now, nothing is important than completing this whodunit. Everything else will follow after, whether I get it published or not is not of paramount importance now. The thrill of writing a novel, even if unpublished, will be enough to set me to rest peacefully. I also want to enter Nanowrimo (the National Novel Writing Month in November) this year with a determination to make it beyond the finish line.

Furthermore, I want to be a better writer by writing more often and on various topics. I want to try sports writing, scripts, drama and essays. This will help stretch my imagination and help me get exposure to different kinds of writing.

Another piece of significant writing is my journal. Over the past 18 months I have neglected my journal writing after a 13 year endeavour. This was after my girlfriend went through my journals and unearthed every bit of my life that I though no one but me was entitled to. I was distraught. I then decided to write my journal on the computer and save it with a password. At least now I'm back at my old labour.

Further, I want to continue to study for a law degree, or maybe switch to an honours in English Literature. This year I want to cut on social life, if any, in order to read and write more.

I want to give Lesego, my preemie baby girl who will be turning a year on the 22nd of January 2008, all my love. Her mom, Shadi, will be turning 30 tomorrow and I hope we will have a lovely small birthday party for her.

Writers block

2007-12-27T14:49:00.000+02:00

time is now
to unleash dreams
never realized
for reasons
not clear

the year begins
battles lie ahead
the pen is the
sword
to conquer the self
and the world to
savour

the smell of
victory is nigh
thanks to the pen

Songs of revolution

2007-12-19T17:22:00.000+02:00

By Tsuai

Once used to fight the oppressors, they now mock former liberators, the new ruling class

During the dark days of oppression and apartheid blacks gathered for marches and demonstrations to demand their rights and freedoms. Long before the freedom fighters took to arms in 1961 under the auspices of uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) songs of revolution were ammunition and glue that kept the freedom loving masses together.

Through songs like Nkosi Sikelel’ Africa (God bless Africa), senzenina (What have we done?), wathinta abafazi, wathinta imbokotho (You strike a woman you strike a rock) the people articulated their frustrations, their demands and sometimes mocked their oppressors.

One will also remember the old MK song, Awuleth umshiniwami (bring my machine gun), now turned bubblegum pop song by the ANC’s Jacob Zuma.

The songs were about self-sacrifice, heroism, civil disobedience, anti-racism and anti-sexism. At the 1955 Congress of the People when they drafted the Freedom Charter, when women marched to the Union Buildings in 1956 and during the 1976 Soweto uprisings revolutionary songs were never left behind.

There are various freedom songs particular to the civic movement, workers, students and guerilla fighters and women whereby each group articulates its needs and wants.

The unbanning of the liberation movement and the attainment of freedom in 1994 did not see the disappearance of struggle songs. The leaders of the revolution contend that political freedom has been achieved and that economic freedom still remains to be achieved.

Therefore the people have not stopped singing. They still sing the old songs but there are also recent ones. The sad fact is that whereas in the old days they sang obscenely about the oppressor, today they mock their liberators who are now the ruling class.

During the massive civil service strike early this year the marchers insulted Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi by singing derogatory songs aimed at her. The ANC President Thabo Mbeki has also not escaped the wrath of Cosatu and SACP members who sang un-revolutionary songs about him.

Will the delegates to the ANC conference in Polokwane also sing songs against the leaders that they don’t support? It remains to be seen.

http://www.reporter.co.za/article.aspx?ID=RP21A665273

This is one of my articles that was published on Reporter.co.za. This is a news website that is "written by the people for the people."

To write with honour

2007-12-14T18:47:00.000+02:00

Although I'm not a journalist I put these Guiding Principles for the Journalist on my blog to remind myself of what I must strive for as a writer.

I write for Reporter.co.za as a citizen reporter, that of course is not professional journalism per se, but I'll strive to maintain a level of professionalism in my reporting and writing.

Reporter.co.za affords me an opportunity to publish my work and therefore share it with others. The website has its own code of conduct and I shall uphold it together with the guiding principles for journalists.

One reason why I have decided to put political activism and affiliations behind me is to enable me to freely say that "I write what I like" (this is a title of book by Steve Biko). It is important to 'remain free of associations and activities that may compromise your intergrity or damage your credibility.'

I cannot, for example, write critically and point out the weaknesses of the government's Growth Employment and Redistribution (Gear) programme or Asgisa or any of the government or movement's policies without getting myself into the firing line by the movement itself. I will of course be hauled before a disciplinary hearing of the movement and suspended or expelled.

Another thing that I find difficult to agree to is that I must defend a policy position even if I find it morally repugnant or against my own principles. A case in point is abortion and gay marriages.
To ensure my credibility, I will not renew any membership I held with any political association and will resign from any political association that I'm affiliated to currently.

I hope the effort to quit active politics will be worthwile.

Guiding Principles for the Journalist

1. Seek Truth and Report it as Fully as Possible

Inform yourself continuously so you in turn can inform, engage, and educate the public in a clear and compelling way on significant issues.
Be honest, fair, and courageous in gathering, reporting, and interpreting accurate information.
Give voice to the voiceless.
Hold the powerful accountable.

2. Act Independently

Guard vigorously the essential stewardship role a free press plays in an open society.
Seek out and disseminate competing perspectives without being unduly influenced by those who would use their power or position counter to the public interest.
Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise your integrity or damage your credibility.
Recognize that good ethical decisions require individual responsibility enriched by collaborative efforts.

3. Minimize Harm

Be compassionate for those affected by your actions.
Treat sources, subjects, and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect, not merely as means to your journalistic ends.
Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort, but balance those negatives by choosing alternatives that maximize your goal of truth telling.

The things that I do

2007-12-12T16:51:00.000+02:00

I posted a discussion to the Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA Discussion) last week hoping to stir debate about the leadership style of the SA Communist Party, particularly comrade Gwede Manatashe.

I had thought that the National Chairperson will foster unity and move away from the politics of retribution and witch hunting for comrades who are perceived to be pro- Mbeki.

Maybe the way I presented my argument was flawed but I did not expect such harsh comments from people who claim to be communists. In fact some of them, including the administrator, Cde Dominic Tweedie, nicknamed Vice-Chancellor, tackled me before they tackled the issues I raised.

Thanks I never renewed my Communist Party and Young Communist League membership when it expired. I doubt if I'll do so in the near future. Although I remain a communist, I won't affiliate to the Party and its youth league anymore.

I'll only join the struggle for communism the day the masses rise against the capitalists and demand that power be handed over to the workers and the poor.

As a writer I must be independent and avoid associations and activities that may compromise my independence and integrity. If I 'm serious about my writing it is time to put my political affiliations behind me and my craft before me.

I shall forthwith go to the Internet Writing Workshop where I shall read, critique and post my work for critiquing. This is a better home for me than the discussion list of the young 'commies.' Here they critique my work and not me as a person.

I have included my submission only but you can read the responses thereof at the website of the YCLSA discussion list. I have provided the link below:

http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum/browse_thread/thread/92172d0a0c729e64

thando tshangela [mokwadi@gmail.com]

Thu 12/6/2007 7:22 PM

[YCLSA Discussion] Re: Stalinism is killing the SACP

Cdes,

The leadership style of our new Chairperson, Gwedwe Mantashe, is disappointing. He is not doing anything to foster unity in the Party, on the contrary, he's deepening the divisions and encouraging Stalinist tendencies.

The disbandment of the Limpopo PEC refers. I wonder who is next. I think the cde Zico and his Gauteng PEC must watch out.

Last year just before the YCLSA National Congress the National Committee disbanded the GP YCL for clandestine reasons. Comrades must realise that when they disband organizational structures willy-nilly they are killing the revolutionary spirit and moral of cadres who have worked hard to ensure that such structures are functional.

I begin to doubt cde Gwedwe Mantashe's bona fides. Is he really a communist? He seems to be obsessed with the ANC more than the SACP. When he appeared in the news last night he was wearing an ANC golf T-shirt, Further, the topic of the seminar schedules for the 6 th at Cosatu is 'Future Challenges for the ANC.'

In conclusion, I want to respectfully challenge cde Gwedwe Mantashe to tell me about the 'future challenges and opportunities for the SACP,' and only then I will have confidence in him as a Party Chairperson.

cde thando

--
Thando Tshangelahttp://tsuai.blogspot.com/
Vita sine libris mors est

Victor Ntsosa Tsuai: 1954- 2000

2007-12-06T17:04:00.001+02:00

Victor Tsuai is my late father. He was a scribe par excellence and I don't want his legacy to die. I created this blog to ensure that I write and carry the penning torch he lit years ago. I am hopeful that I will do this to the best of my ability.

In future I hope to publish some of his articles which appeared in the various newspapers.

Below are extracts from Victor Tsuai's orbituary.

The late Victor Ntsosa Tsuai was born in rural Coligny in the Northwest Province, South Africa on 06 April 1954 and passed away on 14 December 2000. His family later moved to Randfontein, West Rand, where he attended his primary and secondary education. There being no high school in Randfontein, Victor had to pursue matric at Orlando High School. It was here at Orlando High where the journalism bug showed in him.

After Matric he became a freelance journalist for The World newspaper. He was permanently employed by The Post after The World went defunct. The following are the newspapers and magazines which Victor served unselfishly and with dedication: Daily Mail (1977), Pace (1980), Drum (1983), New Nation (1988) and Sowetan (1990).

The year 1997 saw Victor serving City Press as a Sports Editor. It was here at City Press that his health gradually deteriorated. He was on and off in hospital till he met his untimely death (called to serve in the highest world).

Rest in Peace

A black cloud hangs over my home

2007-12-06T13:10:00.000+02:00

By Tsuai

Drinking and crime has made me very afraid

Buhle Park, the place where I stay, is a small community. It consists of RDP houses and bond houses. The place was established in 1997. Most people who live in RDP houses don’t seem to be very poor as they have demolished the government houses and built bigger houses, even bigger than the bond houses.

The problem is that there is no school, no community hall, library, clinic, or swimming pool. But they are currently building a high school which should be operational next year.

The place is relatively peaceful, except of course for the rampant alcoholism and the loud music that we are subjected to every weekend. The people of this community love liquor, young and old, male and female. Everyday they drink. It picks up at weekends but the real drinking frenzy takes place at the end of the month. The music volumes are turned to maximum from early in the morning until late in the night.

I tried to organize a youth organisation but I ran into problems early on. My comrades didn’t turn up for meetings on weekends, and when they did, they came tipsy. Once someone brought his beer along to a meeting. I then decided to forget about this task and concentrate on reading good literature and writing more pieces to polish my craft.

This peaceful Buhle Park (except for the loud music and beer drinking) has been rocked by gruesome murders in the past months. In August a police officer was shot dead and his body was set alight. Two weeks back a woman was brutally murdered in the early hours of the morning.

Last week an Indian man who sells items door-to-door was shot dead and robbed of his vehicle in the street next to mine.

I’m afraid, very afraid. Death seems to stalk each and every corner, in every township, and knocks at every door. It is just a heart-beat away, no one knows the time and anyone can be a victim.

Published by Reporter.co.za
http://www.reporter.co.za/article.aspx?ID=RP21A651415

Amagama* the enemy

2007-12-05T16:21:00.001+02:00

By Tsuai

Destroying our lives

Children of Africa
Hear the new battle cry
The struggle not of
Targets and petrol bombs

An enemy invades us
A virulent virus causing a
Syndrome of mass destruction
Amagama HIV & AIDS

Struggle Africans
For A, B, C & D
And repel the enemy
Like you did apartheid
And you shall perish not

* Words- referring to HIV/AIDS

This is my poem published in Reporter.co.za

Post to YCLSA

2007-12-04T14:13:00.000+02:00

I find this debate interesting. The Party has been in the forefront of battles by the poor and marginalised eg the fight against credit bureaux and the Khutsong issue.
But in my honest opinion the Party has not done enough. Instead of pushing the struggle for socialism we are busy pushing capitalists to the forefront of the ANC in the hope that they will deliver socialism on a silver platter. I think it is wrong for Cosatu and SACP to be pushing JZ. He is not a communist, neither will he give us communism. He is like all the ANC neo-liberals.
I have lost confidence in the working class leadership. Apparently they want to be on JZ's side not because of his working class struggle credentials but rather they want to exploit the opportunities that will be presented by being in JZ's government.
The failure to take the resolution to contest the national elections smacks of opportunism on the part of our vanguard. Are we always content to be sharing the same bed with the neo-liberals while we preach communism to the masses.
At the opening of the ANC Policy Conference Cde Mbeki said that the Party must not delegate the socialist task to the ANC ( linked below). According to Cde Zico Tamela, SACP GP Secretary, the Party 'must not lead only the socialist revolution, it must also lead the national democratic revolution.' (article linked below)
We wont lead the socialist revolution by supporting leaders like JZ. The question remains: is the SACP still relevant to lead the workers & masses to socialism?
http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/history/mbeki/2007/tm0627.htm
http://www.thetimes.co.za/Columnists/ChrisBarron/Article.aspx?id=474573 cde thando

Community to get school

2007-11-29T16:40:00.000+02:00

The community of Buhle Park in Ekurhuleni will get its first school early next year. The Gauteng MEC for Education promised two schools to the community back in July 2005 in the aftermath of an accident involving a school bus. On the 11th of February (2005) a school bus ferrying learners from Buhle Park to surrounding areas left one learner dead and four without their legs. The school bus collided with a truck near Leondale. Learners in the area have to commute to neighbouring locations to attend school every morning.

Construction of one of the promised school was supposed to begin in 2006 but the contractor failed to await a geotechnical report from the engineers before erecting foundations on site. The contractor was later dismissed and a new one appointed. The latter started construction in June this year and was given 10 months to complete the project. The local councillor and the principal agent have confirmed that the recent contractor was given a go ahead to build the school.

After numerous complaints about the slow progress of the project, and calls to the councilor and the department of Education, things look promising. The residents are expecting the school to be completed at least next year March or April, provided that there won’t be any extras or extensions of time.