Our education system

 

No matter where you go, education is of high importance and great value. Even before freedom came along, schooling was taken seriously and valued by all. Some were lucky enough, or were given the opportunity were able to go study abroad. Bantu education was passed 1953 and though it was not easy for most to learn in the Afrikaans language, many did not give up.

18 years today into freedom and our education system is nowhere near reaching the top. iOL news reported in September that poor education lies at the root of South Africans problems. Sadly this can only result in the problems of society getting worse rather better, because education is like a universal language. It is the one thing that contributes greatly to economic and human growth, not forgetting that it is a human right.

 The Limpopo text book crisis that happened not so long ago was like a pat in the back, reminding us of the wider picture of the problem within our education system. iOL news reported that in the year 2011, the South African education system was ranked 33^rd of 142 in the world by the World Economic Forum. The Forum went on to say our system is failing to achieve even the basic standards of numeracy and literacy.

With that said, clearly something must be done. The more we empower this nation, the faster we fade the issues of poverty. Instead of spending 203 million into the Nkandla project, why can we not give the people of Nkandla and the rest of the nation a better quality education? The sad part is that the children of our politicians are born within families that can afford to give them education of overseas. While the average child has the right to education, but still is given one of the worst education in the world.

The nation of strikes

The great Einstein once said, you cannot try to solve a problem with the same mentality it was created… and neither can you perform the same actions and expect different results. True?

In the year 1956, the strong and brave women of this country went out to march.  According to the History of South Africa Online, about 20 000 women representing all racial back rounds came from all over South Africa. They came together to march towards the Union Buildings for this very freedom we have today. Sadly many did not return home that day, and families were broken. In 1976 history repeated itself in the Soweto Uprising.  And again many did not make it back home alive.

Through all that has been fought for and all we have achieved, by now this country must have realised that strikes seem to be doing more harm than good. Between the months of August and September a strike occurred from the miners in Marikana.  According to Mail & Guardian this strike claimed over 60 lives. Not long after this, truck drivers also entered into a strike, cars have been damaged and people have been injured. Clearly this channel of communication cannot go on forever.  One of two things can be the cause of all this. Its either the people of this country are failing to be patient towards the unions and government, so much that they cannot even communicate their needs to top. Or our unions and government are to slow to hear the people and communicate back to them. Now the sad reality is that generations to come are going to learn and are already learning that striking together with violence is the way to solve any given problem, and that is the future South Africa that is being built.

 New procedures must be put in place to help this nation deal with challenges, procedures that will do away with striking and violence. Procedures that will bring unity and confidence back into our country. It is enough!

Whats in the voice?

 

Most would look back at the past two years or so, and actually realise how much of a joke things have been from a political point of view.

Due to this, half the country has been anxiously waiting for this time. The time where we take a walk down the road to Mangaung.  So this is it! This is where a leap into the future is taken. And now we wait to see if our “honourable illiterate president”, as some may put it will be facing the end of the road or not. Looking around in every possible direction, not so many, if none at all changes have occurred since Zuma was voted president. All he has managed to do was walk yet again into another marriage, frequently shuffle the cabinet and show inconsistency when it comes to discipline.

Well who’s next? Times Live newspaper reported on the 3^rd of October that the ANCYL have nominated our current deputy president Mr Kgalema Motlanthe to take over, they stated that he is a leader with the ability to inspire the country and restore the confidence of the ANC. But even so some may not agree for they know not Motlanthe's voice.

Mr Kgalema Motlathe

- Were you not familiar with Zuma’s voice before he became president?

-Was he not the one always singing to the masses?

 -How exactly has the familiarity of his voice made a difference?

Looking on the bright side, we have witnessed Motlanthe serve the country as acting president between the months of September 2008 to May 2009. He also once served as a student activist of the Umkhonto we Sizwe. Maybe somebody as calm and humble is what this country needs. Yes he may not be singing to the masses, but can we really go another term with Zuma as our leader?

Whats in the voice?

Are they children or adults?

“How do you raise a child without being able to smack them every now and then?” this is a question asked by most parents.

·         Alcohol

·         Drugs

·         Sex

·         Sexual transmitted diseases

·         Pornography

Could the above by any chance be the result of the legislation passed in 2007, which makes it a crime for parents to discipline their children by raising a hand? Well most parents will be glad to hear that this legislation has been put back on the table for a review, reported City Press on August 27^th 2012. The City Press even went on to point out that, this is why today we come across cases where boys young as 7 years old are raping young girls.

Then again common sense says this does not balance out. If it is still legal for a girl young as 14 to terminate a pregnancy, take contraceptives, or be excused from school to give birth. Then it clearly means it is perfectly fine for teenagers to be engaging in sexual intercourse. What future are we building as a country? Children should remain just that, children! But how can they when they are pushed into adulthood at such young ages by our very own government. There is so much more out there for young people, they just need to be faced into the right direction. As soon as parents and the government start speaking the same language, then we will be on the right path to building bright futures and a stable country.  

Anyone but Zuma!

If you have had the chance to read Eight Days In September: The Removal of Thabo Mbeki, by Rev. Frank Chikane. Then you have broader knowledge into the removal of our former president Mr. Thabo Mbeki.  According to Rev. Chikane who was at the time Secretary of Cabinet, on the 19^th of September 2008, just before 1:00 am, the first text message came through to him to recall Mr. Mbeki from president of the country. Not long after that another message had said the ANC officials had been appointed to visit Mbeki immediately that same night to inform him of the decision.

NOTE: Only eight months were left of Mbeki’s term

Yes Mbeki had his mistakes, especially during the time of his removal. Too much was being questioned on the latest leadership decisions he had taken, not to mention the case with Jacob Zuma and Shabbir Shakes. But was eight months really too much to put up with to let him finish his term and duties? Even though Mbeki handled this harsh act with much maturity and humbleness, many rejoiced.

Shortly Mr. Kgalema Motlanthe took up the role as acting president for the remainder of that term. The following term was successfully won by our current president Mr. Jacob Zuma, and it seemed like the masses were happy. Lately the tables have turned. It seems like Zuma will not be seeing himself successfully through the second term as president of the ANC. iOL news reported on the 27^th of August that Zuma has been placed in a camp known as (ABZ) Anyone But Zuma by some of his collogues. The camp is mostly been pushed by those looking forward to seeing Motlanthe as Zuma’s possible challenger, as well as those in favour of Tokyo Sexwale.

 If surely it should not be Zuma, then who?

After the ANC and government in general fought so hard to get rid of Mbeki, with immediate effect, and rejoiced for having Zuma as president. It’s sad that already before the first term has even ended they are ready to replace him. It is either society alongside with the ANC are voting in favour of fame instead of leadership qualities. Or it could simply be time for the ANC to sit down!

   

Apartheid lives on.

Eighteen years ago, a country filled with violence, anger, hatred and discrimination walked into the parth of freedom. Yes South Africa. One of the biggest impacts that freedom was meant to come with, was the abilityto for people be comfortable in their own





• skin colour
• hair texture
• traditions
• culture

while many may have still beared hatred and grudges, surely it should not be so with the generation of the 90's and further down the line.

On the 16th of August 2012 a white boy (17) was sentenced to eight years for the murder of Modise(59) a black man. iOL news reported that the young man had repeatedly stabbed Modise on the face and neck. The state's argument was that, the boy who was 16 at the time of the event, killed Modise because he could not speak English. On the contrary the boy stated that he became angry when Modise used a slanderous term about his mother, not taking into consideration the two different speaking languages.

The question is who is to blame in all this?

Has the government failed the nation in bringing it to be one? Is it maybe that they have not communicated and managed to heal the deep wounds of the past? Then again what about society? there is no doubt that this is not the first racial incident.Whether it be against white, black, indian, red purple or green. Each day society continues to carry stereotypes and perceptions against others. This young man comes from a family, is this where we all say he is a reflection of of his backround?

It has now been 18 years, this country is no longer "young in democracy" its either we are still slowly but surely getting there, or we have simply been running around in circles for a good 18 years.

Sanral CEO walks away...

Does Nazir Alli's resignation seem innocent???

Nazir Alli

As most motorist knew, the new e-tolling system was to have started on Monday the 30th of April. To the advantage of the public, the system was put on hold just about a week ago by the North Gauteng High Court. This morning Mail & Guardian reported that the CEO of the South African Roads Agency Limited (Sanral), Nazir Alli has put forth his resignation from the company and it was successfully approved. Sadly just as the public would have suffered financial loss had the system been running already, so will Sanral should the court decide against the e-tolling system. It certainly is not the first or the last time a CEO resigns from their position or company, but what is surprising about this case, is the way that Alli decides to up and leave at such a critical time. iOL news stated that Alli has with no doubt just thrown away the last bit of credibility the public had on Sanral, which is certainly true, as if that was not enough for Sanral to worry about, the National Treasury told the parliamentarins that Sanral will only be able to survive another six months in terms of finances.

Alli's sudden walk raises even more questions from the public about this e-tolling system.