Misteak – Misstake – Mistaik

"When children get pregnant it's usually an accident. In most cases it's not intentional," that's according to Timothy Bainbridge, regional director for the South African Chapter of the Save the Children NGO. "It is unacceptable that some politicians imply that poor girls are so conniving to get R240…" is according to Marcella Naidoo, national director of Black Sash, an NGO (City Press, 15 Nov 2009).

 

In September, former governor of the Reserve Bank, Tito Mboweni said that it is an urban legend that girls become pregnant just to get their hands on child-support grant. Staggering statistics show that in 1998 more than 21 000 children were on the child-support grand system and just 10 years later this number is close on 9 million.

 

21-year-old Akhona Mhlawuli, mother to a one-year-old daughter, from Elias Motsoaledi informal settlement in Soweto says she cannot apply for a child-support grant for her daughter because she doesn't have a birth certificate for her, and she doesn't have an ID. Akhona lives with her mother, her 13-year-old sister (who receives a child-support grant) and her 23-year-old sister, Nosiyabonga, who has THREE children each receiving a child-support grant. Even though Akhona and her boyfriend (also 21) never took preventative measures when having sex, she said falling pregnant was a "mistake". "It wasn't my aim to get pregnant. My boyfriend didn't want to use condoms. I love him and so I agreed" says Akhona.

 

With such opulence or profusion of information relating to teen pregnancy at our disposal, it is atrocious to hear the afore-mentioned rhetoric. As part of curriculum, schools endeavour in raising awareness about the implications of teenage pregnancy; available contraceptive options; and most gravely HIV & AIDS. Do Akhona and some youngsters like her expect Home Affairs officials come to their houses grab them by their hands and escort them to Home Affairs offices to make proper applications? Common sense! How often are young girls informed that they need not sleep with their boyfriends to prove that they love them? Love is blind – they say – or they wanted to say Ignorance. How informed are school kids about issues relating to HIV? Anyway, most still think they are immune to the virus!

 

What constitute a mistake? I believe that a mistake happens in a split of a second, with no opportunity to think or even consult. When we decide to have sex, remember the process of fondling, kissing and undressing – within which we have the sovereignty to change our initial thoughts, but alas excitement dictates terms for the ill informed couple to ride-on. For crying out loud, Maria conceived Jesus without coital engagement, then how does a person who engages in unprotected coitus expect not to fall pregnant. Mind-boggling! For how long are we going to play dumb by blaming everything and everyone, but ourselves, for the actions that we voluntarily make? What will it take to eradicate the victim mentality that we assume when things don't turn out as we anticipated?

 

When millions of people depend on social grants for sustenance, I also believe we are running the risk of the social grants becoming an end in themselves and thus nurturing a dependency syndrome, destroying the fabric of our society? Maybe I'm just thinking aloud…

Is Solar Energy really the answer to Eishkom?

With the impending Eskom's much talked about 45% increase and the current excruciating electricity tariffs, one is tempted to suggest that the country resort to Solar Energy. It minimizes electricity consumption drastically, by about 75% – 80% according to Jon Adams a resident of Jozi. The same sentiments were echoed by Leon Ravell of Cape Town and Samantha Handey of North of Durban, who also use solar-powered energy (Sunday Times, 18 Oct 2009).

 

Solar energy is not only cost-effective; it also eco-friendly and will help to conserve our already dilapidating environment. With the trio having installed solar-powered energy at a cost of between R100 000 to R300 000, and purchased & install solar geysers at a cost of between R20 000 to R35 000, one couldn't help but wonder if it will just be a reprieve for the affluent. The dice always seem loaded against the majority of those living in adverse poverty and the working class, emancipation from financial slavery and the cost of living seem an illusive panorama...

Life after HIV & AIDS

The latest publication or announcement about Mzansi being on the verge of discovering a cure for HIV & AIDS, left me overwhelmed with excitement; the prospect of realizing Love Life's objective: "Living with HIV-free Generation". What a colossal & emancipating discovery, viral load reduced to zero with no or minimal side-effects, and the ability of the cure to prevent HI Virus from entering the human cells. Wow, that's miraculous! My excitement was short lived by the thought of possible and realistic aftermath...

The current state of affairs - The ignorance displayed by South Africans with regard to the excruciatingly spiraling statistics of new infections, stereotypical thoughts that hamper progress and over shadow efforts made in raising awareness, destitute people wanting to contract HIV in order to access the Grants, and people's persistent apathy. Is the impending cure going to cause or exacerbate other social ills?

Most people, young & old, indulge in unprotected sex, even with the knowledge they had around HIV & AIDS. Then I pause & wonder about the aftermath: What's gonna happen to approximately 13 million people who are dependent on the state grant? Won't the country be in crisis with the sudden boom in natality (birth rate)? Won't we now see rape cases sky rocketing? Promiscuity or just casual engagement in coital acts? The prospect or fate of employees of flourishing HIV & AIDS related organizations? Capacity to deal with brimming or swarming rate of Sexually Transmitted Infections?

How do we instill sense of responsibility? Furthermore, will possible employment opportunities be created for millions who aren't working & are dependent on the state grant for survival? As we eagerly anticipate the treasurous discovery, one can't help but wonder...

MONOTONY IN SA GOSPEL MUSIC

As a person who loves and is enthralled by a diverse genre of music, I find Gospel music in SA tedious or wearisome. Not that I myself am the connoisseur, but have an ear for good quality music. With the incessant emergence or revelation of new Gospel artist, one gets excited anticipating a breath of ingenuity or creativity in this virtuous genre, but alas rendition of the same old hymnal AGAIN.

 

I am gravely perturbed or agitated by variety of artists' endeavour to "bling" or bring a "vibey" tempo to the clichéd mantra or hymn. This to me is utter abhorrence and lay bare a cesspool of lack of innovative thoughts in composing the music.  Artists use computer-generated cadence or rhythm, whilst rendering the weary hymns verbatim – and we are supposed to exult to that "genius innovation". I also enthusiastically appreciate the wealth of talent or aptitude amassed and unleashed through the Joyous Celebration project, but having to applaud the "stroke of genius" of a variety of artists rendering mostly the same old hymns through their sequel (Joyous 1 – 13). The same artists then embark on solo projects, and render 'remixed' versions of the same hymns – this is absurd.

 

Like some of the music fanatics out there, I don't shy away from purchasing and accumulating well produced and talent-filled original CDs, but having to pay for assortment of CDs by different artist performing the same song – that's pure lunacy. I diligently believe that, the Almighty will also appreciate and treasure inventiveness.

 

Can somebody please SAVE me from the ear-ache torture from this piercing dull music? I am spiritually thirsty for originality…

Brain Drain on Facebook

With the dawn of less expensive and convenient social interactive tools, I gushed out a sigh of relief anticipating developmental and robust discussion of credible or authentic issues on social pages like MXit, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, etc. With Mxit relegated to the disposal of primary and high school kids, I thought Facebook was going to make meaningful inroads, but was I disappointed. Not that I am advocating for everything to be too serious and formal, but have fun interacting and addressing issues that are of concern to our society.

Issues that attract attention and receive comments are just petty, childish or immature postings. People raise thought provoking issues based on current affairs or issues that are negatively affecting our societal advancement, they hardly receive a comment, input or a negating view. But when somebody post: "I need a drink..." or just "I'm in need" people will be flocking to post their pervertish comments. As compared to other social/interactive networks that are there, Facebook has to be the most desolute and regressive one. I initially thought maybe is the people that I interact with, but no, even after expanding my horison and perusing other people's daily post, I was disappointed. There is just no meaningful and developmental discussions happening on FB. I was enticed to join one group there - Ghetto Spitters - anticipating posting of beautiful and inspirational poems there. OMG, people still think vulgar rhymes, how pathetic that is.

I embrace promote innovative ways of interacting, but can we pls RAISE and UP the level and not stagnate...

“DARKIES JUST DON’T READ”

Sihle Khumalo writes
Black people and reading just do not mix. First things first: before anybody tells me about the string of degrees they have. I am talking about general (i.e. non-academic) reading. In this country, with almost 50 million people, a book has to sell 5 000 copies to be regarded as a bestseller. That can only mean one thing: South Africans – of whom almost 90% are black and about 95% of those African – just do not read. I have often wondered why blacks do not read.

I have narrowed it to two reasons: Firstly the inferior Bantu education – which most of us were exposed to – never, ever encouraged us to read. The last thing the National Party wanted was vast number of knowledgeable blacks. Go to any black household and you will find lots of music tapes, LPs, CDs and DVDs and a handful, if any, of general books. That, by the way, includes blacks in the suburbs. The lack of reading is the black thing, irrespective of where you live.
It is way more fashionable to have loads of music than to be truly knowledgeable. The second reason why black people do not read is, admittedly, because reading is not a basic need. So as long as they have to worry about basic things like where they are going to sleep and where the next meal will come from, the last thing on their minds will be: “what book am I going to read today?”

Another reason (read: excuse) for lack of reading is that most books in this country do not appeal to a black audience; and thus the vast majority of people cannot relate to the products on offer. Bullsh*t! The fact is there are countless books written by black (and white) South African, which an average black person can relate to, but those books never seem to crack it in the market. Why? Because the vast majority of black South Africans do not even know that such books even exist.
Another famous excuse is that there are no bookshops in the townships. Well, the only bookshop in Soweto – a location with more than a million black people – closed down at the end of August because: “Eish, business was very slow.” A friend of mine forever tells me that the reason we darkies do not read is because hardly any book is written in our language. It might be a valid argument, but let’s look at the facts: former President Nelson Mandela wrote a bestseller, Long Walk to Freedom. This award winning book was subsequently translated into Xhosa by author Professor Peter Mtuze. Did it make it into the Sunday Times Top 10, which tracks sales in more than 120 book outlets nationwide? No, of course not. Not even for a single week.

You can defend the indefensible as much as you like, but the facts are there and they all point to the same thing: black people just do not read. As a black person, when was the last time you bought a non-academic book, started reading it and finished it? When was the last time your black friends did? When last did you spend at least five minutes reading something to your child, niece or nephew?
There is so much more in life than being vuvuzela-blowing-soccer-mad people who can dance until sunrise. Our past is not ideal, but we can our future far better by doing one thing: reading general books. After all, oppression, just like freedom, is mostly a state of mind. As darkies we need to collectively take a quantum leap and free ourselves from ignorance and the slavery of the mind.
While you scream and shout, please excuse me; my black arse is feeling kind of itchy.
Khumalo is the author of bestselling book Dark Continent my Arse, and Heart of Africa which is his second book.
Adapted from Sunday Times – 13 September 2009

“WOMEN ARE THE BIGGEST CHEATS”

For the past decade Cherie Green run confidential introduction business for people wishing to have an affair – www.aboutlovers.co.za. She assert or affirm that she is qualified to speak about why South African women have affairs, with reference to the article published in Sunday Times (6 September).

She highlights two basic reasons. The first is the need for a high-status man to pay attention to them, compliment them and generally make them feel they are desirable again. This according to Cherie may be a sad commentary on the neglect and lack of emotional intelligence of their male partners. The second reason is fundamentally different and seems to relate to the emerging South African culture.

She further states that South African women love money and all it can buy, which include cars, trips, jewellery, designer accessories (especially luggage and handbags) and “pocket money”. Even professional women, who may be financially independent, want to be spoilt by their new lovers. Tokens of affection don’t count – they want the real stuff!
If men are not wealthy executives, professionals or entrepreneurs, they (women) are simply not interested in meeting them. Hence the display of social status extends to the world of affairs, claims Cherie. She explains that there is no apology for this from either party – it’s a tacit but mutual understanding. The article in Sunday Times (6 Sept ’09) stated that women were better at lying and deception than men. She admits that she hasn’t noticed women being better or worse than men at keeping their private affairs, because they (the cheating pair) know what they are doing, and are very careful.
She explains that what she has noticed is that men are more reckless, because to them a glamorous mistress is another way of displaying status, by drawing attention to what they can afford.
Adapted from Sunday Times – 13 September 2009, letter by Cherie Green.

What's Important Now?

What's Important Now

 

With the personal and e-interaction that I had with most of you, i.e. face-to-face, e-mails, and blogs, I realized how easy it is to whine, complain, blame, and lambast. Little realizing the phalanx of blessings and the joys in life of waking up to a brand new day and the thought that someone cares.

 
Then I got thinking... I've had plenty of inspiration.
For the past couple months I've got lazy; I lost my drive, focus, ambition, and basically all the good qualities that make Vusi Moalodi who he is. I have nobody to blame but myself. Success is not an accident. We are the reason for our own happiness or demise, and I am going to start being responsible for my happiness again. I've had to reevaluate myself. In my life, there haven't been any "free lunches". I've worked for everything I have, and I've done it with very little outside help. I have been the reason for my own successes. And... I've always been the reason for my own lack of success.
I think that right now I'm in a major turning point in my life... and I'm going to embrace the opportunity. The opportunity to live! To live is to have life. Neither have I won the lottery nor received an invite from Donald J. Trump to manage one of his exquisite hotels. Nothing extreme... its been simple actually. I have great people in my life, you are maybe part of those. I'm enjoying life one day at a time.

For the first time in my life... I'm actually happy.
Some people might read my blogs and think "who is he to give advice on this or that...". And I'll be the first to tell you that I'm far from perfect. One thing I can tell you is that I appreciate life. Do I have problems? Negative things happen? Sure... who doesn't. Who hasn't been hurt in life? Who doesn't wish they could change a thing or two in their past? What I realized is that: As long as you walk this earth, you are not immune to the daily hassle or problems. But for every sad story I have, somebody has one just as sad, if not more... you don't want to read about my sad stories... and frankly, I don't have to hear about yours to appreciate and tolerate the person you are.

I try to have a "W.I.N" attitude; W.I.N. being an acronym for "What's Important Now". I cant change my past, nor can you change yours. But I can focus on right now. Enjoy the blessings that life has given me right now. If you think about 'whats important now', and stop living in yesterday, you'll start living today.

Have a great time ahead everybody!

Healing Apathy

Lots of initiatives and programmes are embarked on in an attempt to reignite and instil sense of urgency, responsibility and discipline in our learners or teenagers. Motivational speakers and affluent people in designer suits are a common feature during most assembly days at various schools; this in a quest to make learners want to learn and be self-motivated. After which they all hibernate to their posh or palatial houses in enclosed boom-gate areas. By and large, children are inspired by substance and their immediate environment.

Our learners don't aspire to be educated or be known as top achievers, because their immediate environment - educators - are a depressed lot. Educators and graduates with assorted qualifications lead mediocre lives. "Kings and Queens of Bling" or "Self-made millionaires", who hardly made it to the tenth Grade, in townships are what they aspire to be like, materialism is more valued than an honest day's work. Opening up a corner, carwashing, and taxi driving seem to have become ideal career destinations. "Thug life" is fashionable and people like criminal William "King of Bling" Mbatha and opportunist like Khanyi "Queen of Bling" Mbau are held in high esteem or on pedestals and usually demonstrate luminous benefits of scavenging. Rappers have to brag about being shot several times or having shot somebody for them to be idolized. Less is known about Mathematics wizards like Loyiso Nongxa (Vice-chancellor at Wits) and the deceased Professor Thamsanqa Nkambule, because no one wants to emulate them.

I earnestly think that adequate recodnition and remuneration of educators can positively impact on our learners' desire to learn and aspire to be like their mentors - i.e. educators. Imagine a situation where educators drive decent cars like Q7's, X5's, R8's, M3/5/6's parked in the school premise, live in posh houses while they are not suffocating in debt, and can afford a decent meal other than the same bunny chow or "kota" that they also devour during lunch. Won't our learners aspire to be like them and see that it is rewarding to go to school or be educated? When you buy a decent house and register in a well resourced school, you have to go on pension before you buy a second hand car, a professional nogal. I can suddenly hear somebody repeating an old adage: Teaching is a Calling or a Noble Profession! Forgetting that Calling or Nobility doesn't pay bills. Eskom wants another elctricity hike, petrol is continuously up, food is agonizingly expensive, the property market is leaving public servants to apply for low cost houses, and education is gradually becoming out of reach. We can moralize for all we like and clatter about how materialistic our learners are, the fact is that we are living in a substance or material world.

Paying educators well is directly proportional to provision of quality education, which learners will eagerly anticipate and acquire to emulate their mentors...

Name changes in SA

As part of a reconciliatory process, the government in consultation with "people" agreed on renaming some of the historic monumental structures and streets to names that highlight and embrace the currrent change. I personally see this as a reverse of what the Apartheid regime advocated for - recognition of the minority. What inspires the criterion used to allocate a name to a street, monument, or place?

During Apartheid, almost every town in SA has to have a Voortrekker and other Afrikaner Apartheid architects (Verwoerd, Malan, Botha, etc.) street names, which seem synonymous to the current trend by the ruling party - ANC. There seem to be an overuse of the name Nelson Mandela - not undermining the momentous contribution the struggle icon has made to the emancipation of SA. There is Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, Nelson Mandela Metro University, Nelson Mandela Bridge, Nelson Mandela Stadium, Nelson Mandela Squatter Camp, Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, Nelson Mandela Lecture, and Nelson Mandela drive in almost every town. Let the names of statesmen be used in Capital cities mostly, and not just a repetition of one icon. Most of the changes of great monuments are almost always named after ANC cadres, neglecting the contributions made by other political organisations. The tussle in KZN where the ANC intending to change Mangosuthu Highway to another ANC stalward.

Street and town names should be accorded bonafide citizens and/or struggle heroes of respective towns or townships, thus enabling the community to relate to and embrace the effected changes. There is a sudden buzz to rename a street in SA after Yasser Arafat - What contribution has he made towards the advancement of this country? What qualifies him to such honour? Name changing should also not be politically inclined, to alleviate continuous changes if there is a political change in governance of the country.

The cost of Geographical name changing in SA, with majority living in adverse poverty, is excrutiatingly expensive; taking into cognisance updating all logistical areas (maps; road posts; GPRS; GIS,: Navigation systems; etc.). What is the point of embarking on a massive name changes whilst people are starving, dropping out of school and unemployed. Change is appreciated but let it not be subjective and honour only people who are affiliate of a certain group.

Let's rewrite history by bestowing honour to the unsung heroes in our towns and townships...

Blacks are bunch of lazy people...

Cyber Junkies

South Africa is a young democracy, still in its teenage years; 15 years to be exact. The country is still reeling from thousands of years of mental/psychological, social, physical slavery, and emotional torment at the hands of former colonial masters under the ideological masterpiece - "Apartheid". Can 15 years into a democratic dispensation quash centuries of oppression? Some affluent black academics seem to think that Blacks should get over the victim or slave mentality.

In one of the lectures that I always attend at the University of Johannesburg, one of our Educational Theory B (which is part of Psychology) lecturer, Dr. Sedibe to be specific, asserted that 99% of Blacks are lazy. It was freezing on the day, the "lazy blacks" who constituted 98% of the overall attendance were in class. If there was any racist pig in the lecture, his/her stereotypic thinking about Black people and where they are as opposed to where they are supposed to be, was confirmed and perpetuated by the learned doctor. On what is her assertion based?

I think there is a tendency about us as Black people that when we become "those that got away" or affluent, we look down on those who are in the quest of making things happen. Who is making white people's houses homes? Who is raising their kids? Lazy Black people I suppose. How many Blacks work in 5 star hotels and yet cannot afford a buffet or 1 night in one of the rooms they so meticulously tidy? Who possess the wealth of this country? She, like many affluent black people, has locked her family in enclosed mountaneous areas, who do they expect to role model the 'lazy black kids'? How many affluent black people who matriculated in township schools, still want to be associated with and invest in their former disadvantaged schools? They rather associate themselves with schools where their kids are, in order to maintain their bourgeoise class.

The doctor's assertion is synonymous and can be equated to what the Australian losers and the IAAF are putting the South African athlete, Caster Semenya, through. How can a girl from the 'bundus' outdo her "masters"? She is supposed to be lazy, ill disciplined, care-free, and maybe pregnant, then she would be a typical black lazy person; but when the inverse is true, eyebrows are raised. These incidents at this juncture are indicative of the relevance of ideological principles like Black Consciousness, which aimed at instilling Black pride and encourage the collective ownership and sharing of resources; where the Talented Tenth (10%) would use their aptitudes and propencities to advance their communities (90% of the less fortunate), as is the practice with mostly Jews and Muslims.

Maybe this is just the concept of "The Wonderful I" - the other person is late, but I am delayed...

In the Still of the Night

The country is in a hospitable mode, anticipating the convergence of the world to Motherland - South Africa - for the Soccer spectacle. The first on the African continent since its inception; the prospect for Africa to show the world that Africa has the aptitude to host this Colossal event on the FIFA calendar. Stadia are reconstructed, revamped and resourced; tourism industry is booming with anticipated flock; strikers struck a lucrative deal with their bosses; SMME's are gearing up to prepare the wares that they think will be required or consumed; and government officials are trying to evaluate how the Prostitution or Sex Work (to be politically correct) Industry can be beneficial to both the visitors and the South African economy.

There is a simmering talk of Decriminilisation or Legalisation of Prostitution in South Africa, with some quarters saying it is aimed at 2010 Soccer World cup. Officials are trying to paint a beautiful picture of the aftermath of decriminilisation of prostitution, whilst moralist denigrate the intended move. Someone is mummering: "Why doesn't someone who is gifted in the art of satisfying clients sexually be allowed to trade his/her wares like footballers do?" The other alludes that: "Coital issues are sacred and should be shared in a sacred union."

There might have been some positive outcome to the decriminalisation of prostitution in some countries, but I sincerely believe that our young democracy is not ready for a step. There is too much poverty in this wealthy country; a dependency syndrome was created through establishment of well meaning social grants; schools are common sight of some foreigners bringing school girls - who think they will uplift their socio-economic situation - to school in flashy cars; microwaved success is commonly anticipated by most young people; and learners don't have the urge to go to school.

There is an existing and alarming problem of child trafficking, molestation and prostitution. So, why exacerbate the situation by creating an easy route or way out. One doesn't need to go to school or any form of qualification to become a prostitute. What are we saying to our girl learners? That they can became sex objects and be used by tourists like Saartjie Bartman? Will mothers who are trading themselves be expected to take their girl-child to work on Take-A-Girlchild-To-Work day? Why not use those expensive forums to come up with empowerment initiatives that are aimed at rooting out poverty and slums? School girls becoming Night Walkers... What a sorry sight!

Education for emancipation...

Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust...

Hi there Cyber junkies!

I sincerely would like to have you comment on this one, irrespective of your religious affiliation; furthermore without undermining or scorning any belief system. This is aimed at enabling me to comprehensively understand issues related to the existence and demise of human kind. The questions posed in this publication are rhetoric and aimed at enabling you to provide the required clarity.

Two boxers kneel in their respective changing rooms to request Divine intervention from the Almighty before their scheduled bout. Who is God going to favour or is the impending victory depended on the boxer's preparatory training and execution of skills and tactics on the day? Which lead me to ...

Do we DIE because it is time, GOD has recalled us; or do we DIE because of the CHOICES we and/or other people make?

When listening to preachers and mourners during the time of bereavement, they always say that 'God has given, and now He has taken'. Does this mean God is responsible for our deaths? If that is the case, why would God knowing the socio-economic status of a certain family take the breadwinner? Why would God take that young man or woman whose family literally struggled to put through university and had just started a month ago at a new job? The family viewed this as emancipation from the adverse grip of poverty.

A person goes to a party or bar, decides to drink after which he drives. A family is cruising peacefully on their way home when suddenly they crash head-on and are killed instantly on impact with the drunkard who was driving on the wrong lane. A young lady who preserved herself and is untainted by any man until marriage, contract HIV on her first sexual encounter and later dies of AIDS. A young girl decides to fall pregnant, gives birth and strangles the newly born. A young man decides to have multiple sexual relationships without using any protective measure or condom, and later dies of AIDS. Gang of youngsters decides to hijack a car, kills the owner so that they can sell the car to feed their drug habit. The wife decides to hire a hit-man to dispose of her husband so that she can inherit all the wealth. A racist pig decides to go on a shooting spree to killed innocent passersby, because he can't stand seeing them. A terrorist group decides to shoot on a plane carrying 250 passengers who have nothing against their cause. A frustrated man or woman decides to commit suicide because he/she can't handle the pressure that comes with life. Need I go on. Did all these people die because that's the way they are destined to meet their Maker?

I sincerely believe that God has given us life and He can't live our lives for us, he is not responsible for the choices we make, so it is up to us to live life they way we choose to. We make choices every moment of our lives, and have to live with the consequences of the choices we make - whether good or bad. If a person decides to drive a car drunk, crash with another car and other people are killed on impact, they died because of the choice that that drunkard made. A young girl who suffocates a new born baby in a plastic bag does so because of her egotistic motives, or else she could have used contraceptives. A husband decides to use a gun to wipe-out his entire family and himself for reasons known to him. God loves all human kind equally and wouldn't allow a person to maim others so heartlessly.

That's my Take, What's yours!

Lost Generation

Hi there Cyber Junkies

I listen and watch with much enthusiasm the deliberations about the youth of '76, with due respect to the legacy. I am astonished by all the focus, glorifying and praise accorded to them, whilst the current youth is deemed doomed. We live in a society that is characterized by all the anomalies one can find in a dysfunctional society. Kids as young as 15yrs are alcoholics or cigarettes addicts if not dagga; household are headed by children; educators are alleged to have sexual contacts with their learners; a female is raped every 10 seconds; crime is a common act; corrupt officials; need I go on and on.

Young people are accused of displaying apathy. Our learners lack commitment with regard to their school work; educators and parents blame the system for this behaviour. Young people are carefree with their future, sex, and use alcohol and drugs as if they advance a cause. Some school kids spent their school days in rehab centres than in classrooms. School going age female kids are walking around in bulging tummies or falling pregnant as if to outdo one another. Churches are flourishing, with members of the congregation overwhelmed by debt in their quest to tithe. A convicted rapist, murderer, thief is allocated a meal three times a day; a law abiding citizen has to fend for themselves. Prisoners are afforded skills development programmes as part of rehabilitation, whilst disadvantaged matriculants has to devise means to pay for their tuition if they are fortune to be registered with a tertiary institution.

Remember the saying: "Children live what they learn." What happened to credible role-modeling? A dad/mum is telling his son/daughter that liquor is not good, whilst his drowning in a cheap or expensive bottle of whiskey, brandy or beer. A mother complains about her youngster watching porn at 01H00 AM, where is she at that time, out? We continuously yell that 'crime' doesn't pay', however criminals are glorified, live better in palatial houses than the educated folk. How do we expect children to be in school? Affluent citizens migrate to the "enclosed suburbs" for security and tranquility, leaving township kids to be role modeled by thugs, nonentities.

If we want to judge or complain about the direction that the current youth is headed, let's scrutinize our leadership. Whose fault is it anyway?

Interception of Communication Act (RICA)

The Justice Minister announced the implementation of Interception of Communication & Provision of Communication Act, aimed at combating organized crime syndicates. All cellphone users must register their SIM cards with their respective service providers by the end of 2010 (18 months), thus providing your identity and proof of residence. Failure to comply with the stipulation will result in the unregistered SIM cards being blocked. All the SIM cards the user uses and those of their kids must also be registered.

As much as I want to convince myself that this is aimed at the betterment of and rid this country of organized crime, I sincerely believe that this is blatant invasion of people's privacy. Remember the movie - Enemy of the State - starring Will Smith? How are we expected to make conversations with the thought of a NIA agent listening at the other end? How is one expected to share intimate, saucy, juicy or lustily details with their loved ones with the thought of a certain "pervert" listening for the supposed "criminal conversations"?

Our Intelligence Agency has got data base on the operations and syndicates involved in this heinous acts, so why not tap phones of the suspected perpetrators. Organized crime would not be executed without sufficient and 'inside' info; I don't have to be an Intelligent Agent to know this. So, why burn the entire forest in search of snakes whose hideouts are known? The registration of SIM card is equivalent to installing tracking device to people, thus monitoring their every detail. Are we properties of the state or the state is the people's property?

Re: Lobola under scrutiny

Hi there u Cyber junkies!

With the dawn of the democratic South Africa, people were encouraged to mobilize themselves to advance whatever they thought was unfair, barbaric and oppressive practices. African cultural practices and beliefs were also not immune to public and personal scrutiny. Women forums lobbied for the eradication of cultural customs that they accused of being rigid and discriminating against the women folk.

Most cultural practices were ultimately done away with, but what surprises me most is the preservation of iLobola or Dowry as some quarters call it. Is it because it only benefits women and their families? What determines the value that the MAN has to part with in "appreciating" the nurturing of the supposed wife? iLobola or Dowry is said to be a token of appreciation for the raising and educating of the prospective wife. Whose responsibility is that to raise their female children? Why price the "Token of Appreciation"?

The "token of appreciation" is now treated as an auctioned of the 'priced' possession to the highest bidder. The growing competition between families on whose daughter was well priced is becoming a norm. What also astonish me is that the same women who were critical of cultural practices have assumed the responsibility of being in the negotiating proceedings. Pricing their daughter with no clear and sensible criterion. The daughter who also questions African customs embrace and accept to be married in this fashion, yet not prepare to assume the role as per that custom.

I sincerely believe that Culture is not static, but evolves with time. Unlike with our European counterparts (Caucasians) where males and females marry each other, ours men marry women, hence it is difficult in the African context for a woman to propose marriage to a man. With the current trend where a man is unemployed and is dependent on the woman for monetary support, who is suppose to marry who? Where is the Gender Equity that is so lauded in this scenario?

Not that I'm perpetuating the abusive tendencies by some people on their partners; how do we expect a MAN not to treat his 'priced possession' as an equal partner if the contribution and relationship was parasitic? This create the perception that they 'own' their 'auctioned tokens' because they paid for them. Doesn't this practice perpetuate abuse in a relationship? Is this not a formalized way of human auctioning, disguised as preserved cultural practice?

If we want to do away with our cultural customs because we accuse it of being rigid, barbaric and oppressive, let's do away with everything it represents. Not selected certain things because they benefit a certain societal group. Alternatively, let's embrace our culture and allow it to evolve and preserve it. Not use the practices that is aimed at fostering relationships to improve our financial muscle, pursue the tasks that we failed to accomplish ourselves, or make a living out of our children. It is your responsibility as a parent to nurture your child in whatever way possible, and not to expect somebody to pay you for raising your child.

Chaos will continue to reign supreme if we do not preserve the things that defines who we are, and not use those practices for our egotistic gains. Equality for equal partnership and equal contributions.

Personal greetings

Hi there!

I'm excited to be on Blogger and looking forward to interacting with all the Cyber junkies...

'Til later

Read and comment on
http://moavus.blogpost.com
Inbox me on
moavus@gmail.com