Decolonising South Africa

Redi Tladi...eish

2011-03-28T02:27:00.000-07:00

Months ago, I unleashed a vicious diatribe against Redi Tladi of 702 radio fame. The simple gist of the missive was that she was grossly underqualified to make some of the statements or arguments that she is so fond of making on her show. After talking to some friends and considering Redi's successful run of late (TV and Radio), it dawned that I may just be jealous. At 32 years of age, it seems that Mrs Tladi is, to use an old boxing analogy, punching way above her weight. So I pushed aside my antagonism and allowed myself to rather celebrate the icon of South African media that she has become. This did not last very long. On a recent debate on her show, the topic of manhood was being discussed. It arose as a result of the unfortunate incident where a Xhosa youth was stabbed to death by his friend following an altercation regarding their private parts. Mrs Tladi was very dismissive and condescending while spewing forth how ridiculous this was and how a man's penis does not a man make. This initially seemed to make sense given the psycho-liberal babble that modern society has been indoctrinated with. Then I remembered that in Xhosa culture, a man's penis is instrumental in him becoming a man (by way of circumcision rite). So is Mrs Tladi belittling this age old tradition which is still a central part Xhosa culture today? Or she simply doesn't know any better? Culture aside - can a man really be a man and celebrate manhood without a penis? Mrs Tladi I once again declare that you are still a debutant and are not fit to make social commentary until such time that you further your education or take your commentary off line.

Let’s muzzle Redi Direko

2010-09-14T23:09:00.000-07:00

As a citizen and an avid consumer of local media, especially talk radio, I feel that it is my duty to raise a pressing concern. 702 radio station is possibly a leader in the field of talk radio and I have been a listener for some years now. Redi Direko is one of the 'burgeoning' stars of this radio station; piloting the weekday slot between 9AM and 12AM. This show deals with a range of issues which include opinionated pieces based on current affairs. Some may argue that Redi is already a star and is possibly a veritable stalwart. Judging from her pompous manner it seems that this is something that she believes or her ego has been stroked as such. In my view, she is nothing but a debutant. She is only 32 years old yet she serves up her two cents as if it were steeped in experience and erudition. This fact is exacerbated by her lack of objectivity regarding comments made by listeners. One would think that objectivity is one of the cornerstones of talk radio. This is clearly lost on the venerable Redi. The truth is that Redi appeals to the ill-informed, insular and elitist crowd that is 702's bread and butter. Her particular brand of reverse intelligence is just what the doctor ordered and they love her for it. So I guess in that regard, she is a star because she caters for her audience. For those who demand more I think SAFM offers a better alternative.

A tale of mistrust and a fool's ascent to power

2009-01-28T01:39:00.000-08:00

It sickens me that Jacob Zuma has the audacity to still run for the highest office despite clear evidence that he is not worthy. Rape cases and corruption trials aside, nothing in the man’s conduct or ideologies suggests that he would be a worthy steward of our faltering democracy. Everything points to him being another Odinga, Mugabe or Nujoma. He embodies the boring and deviant nature of African leaders of recent times. What can one say of a man who believes that the ANC is the moral compass of our democracy when it is very clear that mistakes are being made and the internal subterfuge is rife. To me the mark of a good leader is the ability to admit to mistakes and the wisdom to know that South Africa’s future belongs to all and not just the ANC and its sycophants. Perhaps my perception of politics has been unjustly influenced by the goings on in the US and the advent of Obama politics. How can one resist? So powerful is the notion that we are not a polyglot of individual states and ethnic groups, but we a one nation; all striving to progress and become all that we can be. The ANC’s brand of politics reeks of divisiveness and arrogance that they know what is best. A belief so entrenched by the all knowing Thabo Mbeki.
As a result SA politics lacks accountability. The media is ineffectual in conveying an objective view of the political landscape. This is partly due to their overriding concern about profit & loss, and secondly because of their explicit support of one view over many. We as the public therefore cannot rightly know what’s really going on in the corridors of power. The masses therefore view with mistrust the articles about JZ’s indiscretions and his inherent incompetence. What’s left therefore is that our country is bereft of objective and informative views about current affairs in our country and an inept fool will rise to the highest office. This is just another heart-rending chapter in the tragic African saga.

Pausing for breath at the precipice

2009-01-12T21:52:00.000-08:00

We are if anything creatures of habit …

South Africa has just seen the birth of the first viable alternative to the ANC. The emergence of COPE has been a whirlwind of amusement, bewilderment, anxiety and finally acceptance on the part of many South Africans. Millions of my countrymen are flocking to this fledgling organization in the hope of denying the ANC a two thirds majority in this year’s elections. Mostly, I believe, this move represents the injured cry of a populace that feels that their liberators have now begun to take them for granted. It is a populace that has been jaded by the callous hand of a Mbeki-led government and is now baulking at the prospect of further abuse under the Zuma-led usurpers. The initial response of the ANC to this new party took me by surprise. Those who left the party were branded traitors and dogs, by venerable party leaders. ANC supporters at grassroots were less amiable. They threatened violence against would-be deserters. To me these are the signs of a party that has grown arrogant in the belief that as the liberators of this country it alone can rule.

The same belief permeates the Zanu-PF in Zimbabwe. The formation of COPE is reminiscent of the formation of the MDC in Zimbabwe not so long ago. Upon its formation the MDC was perhaps greeted with the same hope and alacrity by jaded Zimbabweans. However, history has shown us how quickly that new hope devolved into a political farce with the incumbent ZANU-PF flouting human rights and the law in order to cling to power. Robert Mugabe believes that he alone can rule Zimbabwe. A similar statement was made about the ANC’s right to rule in South Africa.

So what will happen in South Africa? As a patriot I would be quick to say that a similar fate will not befall COPE because in South Africa we respect the rule of law. Do we now? If Zuma’s antics and those of his sycophants are anything to go by then I have to conclude that the law is only respected when it suits one’s own ambitions.

Therefore I am holding my breath, excited at the prospect of a more balanced political landscape in South Africa, but also mindful of what can happen when arrogant, complacent liberators are challenged.

Deprived Sickos will sink us all!

2008-07-24T01:38:00.000-07:00

In my view apartheid and or colonisation are not to blame for:

Violent crime
Rape of women and children
General apathy and tardiness
A sense of entitlement

I believe that there is something deviant in our genetic make up that makes us so self destructive.

Like I showed yesterday our murder rate in on par with some of the most dangerous places in the world.

Today lets look at rape:

A woman is raped in SA every 17 seconds
It is estimated that 1 in 2 women will be raped.
Between 28% and 30% of adolescents report that their first sexual encounter was forced.
Of SA men who knew somebody who had been raped, 16% believed that the rape survivor had enjoyed the experience and had asked for it
According to police 1 in 36 rape cases is reported and only 15% of those culminate in conviction.
Comparing to other countries:

A woman is raped every 2 minutes in America
The FBI reports that 72 of every 100,000 females are victim of rape or sexual assault.
Only 37% of rapes are reported.

As far as I'm concerned we can wish for a better South Africa and better governance, but there are some seriously deprived
sickos out there who will thwart our efforts.

Source: http://www.rape.co.za/

To emigrate or not to emigrate? That is the question...

2008-07-14T00:31:00.001-07:00

White people and perhaps some nouveau blacks are losing their minds. Every waking morning brings with it the anxiety and paranoia of crime, Eskom, Jacob Zuma, Xenophobia and Zimbabwe. For many it seems that these issues are insurmountable and that a mediocre life elsewhere is better than the horror that is to come. I don’t blame them. Survival is a primary human instinct; altruism too. People must decide what is best for them and theirs in these uncertain times because our leaders do not have our best interests at heart. It seems that ordinary South Africans and their woes are merely a soundtrack to their political exploits and devious dealings. “Egos first, the populace second,’” seems to be the ongoing refrain.

I feel that the problems that we face should be distilled into simpler forms. The media is compelled to sell newspapers therefore they are dedicated to reporting the gruesome ills of this fledgling country. I feel that we need to take a step back and analyse each factor in the context of where we are as a country and the experiences of more developed nations.

Eskom - power shortages are a hallmark of any developing nations. Brazil was faced with the same problems a few years ago. The USA was also plagued with similar issues and will be again, which is why nuclear power generation is high on the White House agenda. The media played havoc with our problem and took it as another chance to show how incompetent our government is. Government then exacerbated the situation by being dishonest and deflecting blame. Why can’t they just be honest? South Africans are so forgiving – so what’s up?
Zuma – the man has been unfortunate. My view is that even our most revered leaders are tainted in as far as the arms deal is concerned. Secondly, I sense that JZ is a man of the people and that he is willing to accommodate all comers and is hardly the fervent socialist revolutionary that the ANCYL and COSATU looking for.
Zimbabwe and Xenophobia - I class these in the same category as I feel that they are intertwined. At the risk of sounding callous I feel that Zimbabweans must take back their country. The fact that people still vote for Mugabe suggests that Zimbabweans are complicit in their own destruction and thus deserve no sympathy. It’s probably a lot more complicated than that, so forgive my ignorance.
Crime – for me this is the pivotal issue. Government is failing. Business against crime has been especially tardy. Communities are guilty of apathy. We are all guilty of allowing crime to spread unchecked. I feel we need to know our neighbours and work together with them to protect our acre of Africa. If we all do this then I think significant progress can be made.

Above all else I believe that the key reason for South Africa’s demise is the fear and hate that we have for each other. It keeps us from working together. It keeps us from loving our country. Eskom, Crime, Fuel prices, Interest rates, Food prices could all be easily resolved if we worked together. There is enough here for all of us yet many are sidelined. Why?

Democracy

2008-06-09T03:14:00.000-07:00

'Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for dinner' - Ben Franklin

The plundering of Africa's mineral resources continues unabated

2008-05-23T04:49:00.000-07:00

South Africa is a nation built on mineral resources. As one analyst put it, “What is South Africa if not a big quarry and a tourist destination?” Our claim to fame in the global market place is that we control a significant portion of the world’s mineral resources. My question is: how has this dubious honour benefited ordinary South Africans?
We can argue that the trickle down effect has been in play for the past century in that mining gave birth too many of our established industries such as banking, retail, construction etc with the result that most South Africans today have the opportunity to find employment. However, if we put this into context, this state of affairs does not seem rational. Mineral resources are non-renewable by nature. They were a gift from GOD as it were. Furthermore I contest that the mineral resources of a country belong to the people of that country and should thus be used for the benefit of those people. Then how is it that the Oppenheimer’s and the Motsepe’s of this world have been able to profit above all others from these non-renewable resources that belong to all South Africans?
How is it that our precious, non-renewable resources are sold cheaply into the world only to be bought back at three times the price? Massive conglomerates like Anglo American owe their very existence to the blood and sweat of our people and the rapacious exploitation of our precious non-renewable mineral resources. How is it then that the majority of profits produced by this company are now remitted to foreign lands?
Patrice Motsepe is man to be respected. He stands as a role model for many Africans who harbour dreams of becoming fabulously wealthy. I respect his foresight and his daring at a time when the political climate in South Africa was still shaking of the last vestiges of political and economic upheaval. Furthermore he ventured into an industry that was gripped by malaise due to weak commodity prices. It is evident for all to see that his courage has been rewarded.
He is man to be revered; however, the truth is he got rich quick. This was mainly due to favourable BEE policies that were in place at the time. His foresight and courage is not in question, but the truth is that it is damn near impossible to become a billionaire in Africa within ten years without an intervention. While I am proud to see a South African man on the cover of Forbes magazine, I am bitter because the billions that are vested in this one man could have benefited a multitude of other South Africans had BEE policies been more efficient.

Another painful chapter in the tragic African saga

2008-05-18T23:38:00.000-07:00

The xenophobic violence which has had defined much of the last few weeks in South Africa is diabolical. Words cannot describe the shock and horror that has engulfed me at the moment. Even by multiply it by infinity and taking it to the depths of forever the reader still will not truly understand how I feel. Where is this so called ‘ubuntu’ that we Africans like to talk about? I understand the frustration that poor South Africans and Africans at large live with every day. Lack of service delivery across the continent is enough to rob one of one’s senses of reason and humanity. I am not poor, nor have I ever lived in a shanty town wherein I am teased endlessly by government promises of a better life. I don’t know what it feels like to be driven to the depths of desperation, not knowing where my next meal will come from. However, I am not sure that this state of affairs would drive me to kill. Resentment and unfair treatment towards perceived migrant, usurpers can perhaps be tolerated in an imperfect world, but cold blooded murder is in contravention of the laws of the universe.
I have long dreaded the consequences of large scale immigration into a fragile country still grappling with racial, tribal and economic issues. While I welcomed the entry of new skills and cultures into our diverse melting pot, I was anxious that the country was not yet ready to deal with externalities. However, I now doubt that we will ever be ready given our government's incompetence and apparent state of ‘dizziness’ coupled with the insularity of our people. I have come to the conclusion that there is no ‘ubuntu’ here. Before the Westerners came South African tribes were fighting each other. We’re still fighting each other in post-apartheid South Africa, only now we use words and political structures to inflict harm. Tribal tensions continue to simmer below the surface of our loosely knit democracy. Shangaans are ridiculed and Xhosa’s are despised in the new South Africa. Now throw external tribes into this simmering cauldron and the concoction simply explodes.
As always government is one-step behind, always reacting to situations instead of preventing them. Lack of communication with the people is government’s greatest flaw. There is a complete disconnect between the lunch time conversations in the Union buildings and the banter around imbawula in the townships and for that reason the poor and the ultimately the country will pay the price.

No Joe-king...

2008-05-09T06:22:00.000-07:00

Here's a comment with which Bonkers Bob Mugabe would agree, made by one his heroes, Joseph Stalin: "The people who cast the votes don't decide an election; the people who count the votes decide everything."

- Stephen Mulholland, Finweek

A case for tribalism in the New World

2008-04-24T23:00:00.000-07:00

Africans all over the world are struggling with identity. There is no doubt that our development was hijacked by the powers of the West and the African trajectory was usurped by Western development which was largely fuelled by greed and a desire for world domination. As Africans we have lost centuries of our development and now find ourselves trapped in a future that was not of our making. So the question is: what do we do now? In a more local sense: what do South Africans do now? Many feel that the Westerners visas’ have expired and that they need to return to the land of their births and therefore leave Africa to Africans. I for one agree in part with that notion because westerners have abused African hospitality in the most egregious of ways and forgiveness on our part will be hard to come by. What irks me even more is that some westerners feel entitled to forgiveness because ‘they didn’t enforce apartheid”. My answer to that is that by not opposing apartheid means that you were complicit and should therefore burn in the embers of black reproach. I digress.
How do Africans make a place for themselves in this new world? Anecdotal evidence seems to suggest that we’re battling to find our way. African states have systematically gained their independence since 1960’s and in the same manner the newly emancipated economies proceeded to decline and existing infrastructures deteriorated. South Africa, as it were, could be seen to be the last bastion of white supremacy in terms of economic and educational well being. 14 years after ‘independence’ our economy continues to prosper largely on the back of western capital and intellectual property. However, the cracks are beginning to show and one wonders whether history will repeat itself leaving the Rainbow nation in tatters with the 14 or 15 ethnic tribes warring for scarce resources?
My contention is that we need the whites. We need to keep them here. They need to teach us how to run this economy while at the same time we need to teach them about what it means to be truly African. I fear that without them economic decline cannot be avoided. Without them we lose the connection to the outside world. An outside world whose coy munificence we so badly need. I fear that Madiba’s lesson is being lost. Getting back at westerners is not the way to improve our lot. Revenge, although justified, will only lead to our collective demise. I suggest that in this new Age Africans should embrace this new way of life because it has become a part of us, but at the same time we need to rekindle the flame that was lost all those centuries ago.

Calling all men/women of vision

2008-04-23T08:11:00.000-07:00

If the recent ANC youth league conference is anything to go by then I quiver with fear for the future of this country. Presumably the leaders of this league will one day graduate and become fully fledged members of the main party and thus put themselves in the way of being administrators in government. The shambles and shenanigans that represented that circus send shivers down my spine when I think that these will some day be the torch bearers of our floundering democracy. Curiously, the caucus was split down the middle, much like the goings on in the main party. This suggests that the ANC of tomorrow will be somewhat different to the ANC of today. Too many bulls in one kraal or rather too many clowns in one circus tent, I guess. Anyway I think its time that business-minded people got together and started their own party so that we too may have a say in our country's future instead of allowing the erstwhile comrades of yester-year to hijack our socio-economic progression.

Morgan Tsvangirai: Shrewd opportunist or Pious saviour?

2008-04-18T00:31:00.000-07:00

Much has been said about the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and its leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Many see him as Zimbabwe’s great hope while others remain more circumspect. I must admit that I fall into the latter category. Having followed the MDC-Zanu-PF saga for the past couple of years I have been moved, like some, by the anti- Zanu-PF rhetoric that has been bandied about by the MDC. However, when thinking about what a Zimbabwe under MDC rule would look like, my excitement faded.
It dawned on me that the MDC has not said how it intends to reconstruct Zimbabwe after the demise of Robert Mugabe. Maybe I haven’t been listening closely enough, but it seems that the MDC’s entire political campaign is built around anti-Mugabe sentiment without regard for real issues like runaway inflation and the displacement of large sectors of the urban population. It seems to me that the MDC is riding a free ticket into State House on the back of the waning popularity of the ruling party rather than through any vision of their own.
This state of affairs is reminiscent of the ANC elections at Polokwane this year. There is a growing belief that Jacob Zuma’s win was more a rejection of Thabo Mbeki‘s abrasive and parochial style of leadership rather than an outright acceptance of a Zuma presidency. How else can a man with Zuma's dubious morals win with such an overwhelming majority?

Tolerance and Respect

2008-04-16T00:06:00.000-07:00

Guy Lundy's blog (http://blog.guylundy.com/) discusses the issue of tolerance and respect and what it means for reconciliation in South Africa.

He says: "Unfortunately, too often in South Africa these values are supplanted by egos; people determined to fight rather than to understand."

I agree with this whole heartedly. The ANC started off so well with this 'New South Africa' dream of theirs, but since then greed and politics has blinded their vision. Day by day the country becomes more polarised on issues like BEE, crime, business and service delivery.
The new ANC National Executive is filled with irredeemable fascists who only see things their way and people who criticise them are either racist or idiots. This is the culture that Thabo Mbeki has bestowed on South Africa. His denialism and delusions of grandeur are planting the seeds of reverse rascim, moral decay and ultimately a Zimbabwe-style hijacking of business and politics.
As a black South African, my allegiance is to my country of birth and the issue of emigration is really hard to stomach. However, the seeds of SA's ultimate destruction are being sown. Intolerance and Disrespect for one another are becoming the order of the day and there is nothing in governement's actions that leads me to believe that this will change any time soon.

Heartless Lovers of Mankind: Surviving in Gangstas Paradise

2008-04-15T23:20:00.000-07:00

Two thoughts come to mind when I think about crime in South Africa.

First - the police cannot protect themselves, let alone ordinary citizens.

Second - its a war out there and the criminals mean business and citizens need to protect themselves.

This is were I get confused, however, because acknowledging these two pseudo facts means giving in to the icy chill of fear and insecurity that has already gripped most South Africans. It means getting 'strapped' with a 9mm and seeing all passer-bys as deranged reprobates who are greedily scheming to relieve me of my cellphone, wallet, car and or even my life.

It leads to a culture in which armed citizens blast would-be-robbers after a failed and potentially innocuous smash-n-grab attempt. It breeds a morally bankrupt society in which government officials give official licence for police to: "kill the bastards!"

But, what else can we do? It's guerilla warfare out there and the ones without guns, it seems, are sitting ducks.

Zimbabwe and South Africa should become one

2008-04-14T23:54:00.000-07:00

I have a proposition - Zim and SA should become one nation. While some of you may balk at the mere audacity of this suggestion, I beg you to hear me out. The motivation behind this has nothing to do with the fact that Zim needs a big brother to bail it out its current quadry.

My reasons stem from the desire to see greater strength and unity in the SADC region. Coincidentally the current turmoil in Zim perhaps provides the opportune time to implement such a strategy. I also see many similarities within the two nations that would be vital in realising synergies if the 'merger' were to go ahead.

Zim and SA have similar legal, business, educational and religious systems. Both countries are rich in natural resources and Zim's relatively small population would be comfortably absorbed into SA structures and the combined population well-supported by the regions resources.

The newly elected government (or the ZIM authority) would benefit greatly from the experience of ANC leadership in terms of revitalising State and business institutions and nurturing economic growth.

SA business, which is also has a significant presence in Zim would be able to rationalise business structures and thus allow for greater efficiencies in operating activities in the region. SA would benefit greatly from Zim's world class education system.

Sadly, as appealing as this proposition may be (or not) national pride (politics) would not allow any big brother scenario for Zimababwe; whatever guise it may assume. Hey, it was just a thought. :-)

Thabo Mbeki is a lame duck President.

2008-04-14T23:32:00.000-07:00

The pedigree of the man cannot be questioned - he is an intellectual. One can see this in his writings and in his poetic speeches. However, is he fit to be President? At the time of his election I was proud to have a man of his stature as my President. In hindsight I admit that I was naive and time has since taught me how a true leader should be.

This country is faced with many challenges; many of which mean life or death for the majority of our people. It is my contention that the manner in which our President has tackled these issues is flaccid and impotent. Forgive my callousness, but our country was nearly brought to its knees by the Eskom debacle and there was mass panic and yet our President was conspicuous in his silence.

We have Zimbabwe threatening to implode on our doorstep and in typical fashion our President is deathly quiet, his passive expression clouded by the billow of smoke from his trusty pipe.

Time has taught me that a leader is a man of the people, who listens to the people and does the will of the people. I am not in favour of a President who deems himself above his constituents, who is not accountable for his actions and whom one never hears or sees in times of crisis. Thabo Mbeki is the hapless expression of a misguided belief that leadership is best meted out through intellect.

A case of paranoia or being overly sensitive?

2008-04-14T23:30:00.000-07:00

"Charlotte Griffin was at a restuarant one evening when a white woman complimented her on

her kids' behaviour. She may have meant it to be kind, but Griffin wondered if she heard a note of condescension - an assumption, perhaps, that black kids aren't usually polite."

This story is from the LA times - paranoia and or a case of being overly sensitive perhaps?

Is David Bullard racist?

2008-04-13T23:49:00.000-07:00

I have followed Mr. Bullard's columns with interest over the years. I've always enjoyed his unique point of view and his sly wit. However, his rhetoric has changed in recent times. I don't blame him - his ordeal and those of his friends are enough to turn even the most naive optimist into an irreverent cynic.

Having read his 'controversial' article I must say that I did not find it to be racist other than being a tad condescending. I must admit that I was not offended. Racial slurs, both white and black often take more sinister forms and the question really is: where does one draw the line between racism and jocularity or more to the point; truth and racism?

I for one feel that some quarters are overly sensitive and as a result others are forced to hold their tongues and thus deprive all of us of discourse that will help us along the path of building a new, vibrant and diverse South Africa.