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.