1st Black SA Idols winner came a bit too late

Khaya Mthetwa

Everywhere I turned young black ladies are singing Khaya Mthethwa’s praises. Do not get me wrong I think the 25 year old is vastly talented and has a voice that demands acknowledgement. But why is this acknowledgement happening only now. This is the 8^th session of idols that the first black winner was chosen. When I posed these questions to my fellow black people, most of their views circulated around the fact that DSTV channel is not available to the majority of blacks in the country who happen to be poor. Another view point was that black people, when it comes to voting they do not react even if they love a particular artist.

Having watched idols throughout the latest session, my own observation took me to the selection criteria that were happening in front of my eyes as I watched television. Is this session choosing a lot of black candidates or is it my imagination I thought silently.is that fair to the other vocally talented racial candidates? To me it looked like this session pressure to produce a black winner was a much higher priority than selecting the best singer from any racial group. Is this Affirmative action on the entertainment stage I see taking place?

I am proud of Khaya Mthetwa’s achievements and I wish him nothing but the best. But the dark cloud that surrounds the talented winner diverts attention from me and other people with an analytical eye from celebrating with him the great achievement.do I dare call it an achievement. The words: winner by strategic default come to mind.

I believe the whole selection procedure would have been more nearer to the truth for once. I am not questioning the credibility of the Idols judges; I am simply reminding the reader that those judges have a specific mandate to deliver on each session of South African Idols. Congratulations Khaya Mthethwa for winning and being the 1^st black SA Idols winner.

MALEMA: Charismatic or a Strategic leader

Julius Malema

If you living in south Africa the name Julius Malema is heard or seeing in the headlines on a daily basis. This man is legendary when it comes to newsmaker of the year. I wonder how he manages to pull it off. If we breakdown the recent history of the man himself, one will be left with no doubt in mind that the Julius Malema is a force to be reckoned with. From his high days as ANC Youth leader where he was and still is a hero and role model for many of South Africa’s youth. Even when dark clouds surround the controversial politician his voice echoes through many South African top newspapers. Is he a natural born leader or has Julius malema received some form of leadership training on how to master the art of drawing up a crowd. I have noticed during most speech delivered by Malema when he speaks the voice command is high due to the sharp, loud and clearness of his voice. The iron fit is also held up high as masses of people stand and listen to the young man who is so passionate about politics.

Recently Malema has been charged with money-laundering and will appear in the courts to state his case. He walked into court wearing black suit with a white shirt and a red tie. This image is very familiar. It reminds me of Barack Obama in his Power suit. Style analyst will tell you that white shirt and a red tie has a sense of power associated with it, it is bold and sends out a strong statement of intimidation. I ask myself once more is Julius Malema just a charismatic leader or a strategic minded leader? And the only conclusion I can come up with is that he is naturally a born leader who has received lot of leadership grooming. This subjective view is the result of my view of the man who is a front page newspaper seller.

Indeed this is a man to keep an eye on for the future and never underestimate. Whether good or bad for the country, we can all agree he has already made it into South Africa’s history books with his trademark smile.

REAL WINNERS AND LOSERS OF MINE STRIKES



Mine workers from Lonmin Mine



Back home in the Eastern Cape or Kingdom of Lesotho and all other places were the mine workers come from, is a mother worried about were the next meal will come from for her and her children as their sole breadwinner was one of the mine workers who passed away. Also on the other side of the fence a woman has lost her husband and the children lost their father who was a good police officer. She knew a day like this may come were she would get phone call to be told her husband and father of her kids is no more. Clearly you can get a sense these two parties on opposite ends are not the winners in the topic at hand. I asked myself, “Are they any other losers?” I had forgotten all about the South African economy, were most of us are tax payers! South Africa is a loser in this because our international image and credibility as a stable economy for outside business companies to do trade exchange with. We have taken quite a knock if I can speak plainly. The international media and world sees as a risky African country to do business in, as our future is uncertain and unclear to the masses.

The mine workers union also took a nose dive in terms of popularity measures in the eyes of the people they are meant to serve and protect.

So you may ask “who are the winners? “  I would respond by saying, “can there ever be winners in a dispute? The only winners I can note down are individual people or groups who stand to gain a lot out of the saga our country is currently facing. Let us think for other people who are suffering more than us and as a collective we must also protect the rights they do not even know they have and protect our countries image .in doing so our future will remain prosperous for the benefit of our children.

YET ANOTHER BLUNDER

Woolworths. Photo by Simphiwe Mbokazi

 

 



The brand of Woolworths is slowly being associated with constant blunders in terms of how their image is being publicly perceived. How could a company so right get it so wrong once again one may ask! My view is perhaps the internal communications at Woolworths has a breakage somewhere. Employees and managers need to get back to being on the same page regarding issues and company policies. When mistakes happen, what will happen normally is that a correction and plans are made to avoid any further related mistakes. What I saw with the recent news doing the round in local newspapers is that the company has lost the plot somewhere.

Something so small was made into a big issue. I can only see one reason for this! Mismanagement of information. A chain reaction was created and released which represent the normal communication circle were the sender sends a message and receiver receives that particular message. In this instant the message was distorted and lost in translation. I am not saying mistakes do not happen but I am saying mistakes do happen and as communications practitioners we learn from them and move on.

Contingencies on how to handle the distorted messages should be always in place. But as we have observed sometimes those measures put in place may not be enough. Woolworths tried doing damage control online through their website and twitter account, to little effect. Sometimes the public’s view is so passionate and mis-directed at the wrong issues which plagues the topic at hand that no change will be done .it is more like a couple fighting always about the same old issue. We can all agree that it is tiring to go around in circles about communication failure and breakdown between Woolworths and its loyal and once loyal customers.

WHAT EVER HAPPEND TO RUBBER BULLETS

Everywhere I look and turn I see newspapers and television and even world headlines about the horrific Marikana massacre. I asked myself why was there no initial impulse to react in protest of the senseless killings witnessed in the North West province of South Africa. Through the media “updated news” or changing story as I call it keeps filtering in day by day. Some say 34 mine workers were killed, while others another number claiming the figure is wrong.

So when I heard that a bus full of mine workers who survived ,my curiosity got the better of me to go and hear the story from non-other than the men and women who were present on the day. The sound that echoed from many people was that the story delivered by the media was incomplete.

The minors retold their stories and their simple and broken English but were understood by all that their voices had pain written on them. For me it’s the first time in a democratic South Africa that I see the police kill so many men who were striking to defend what rightfully belongs to them. As Professor Peter Alexandra introduced the minors at a University of Johannesburg conference hall, one could hear cheering sounds that are normally reserved for heroes.

(Picture source: My camera phone)

One Xhosa speaking elderly woman stood up to speak, she introduced herself and told everyone in the room that a young minor who was staying with her has disappeared. It then came to mind for me that these minors were from different far away areas, with some coming from Lesotho and Eastern Cape Province. The role of the police is to serve and protect. I wonder if they were to visit the poor families of those breadwinners shot to death what will they tell the widows of those miners and their family who were they protecting when they used real bullets instead or rubber bullets or pressure water. Minors say their union has failed them dismally. The news television which stood out was the Al Jazeera news. Their news content is raw and shows you what actually happened.

Support came from far and across the world as far as Dublin, Namibia and Australia. Their message was that of peace and human rights. Moving forward I do not think as a country and as a nation we will ever be the same again. Does it really need a lot of people to die like senseless beings before we wake up as a nation to stop killing of one another.

Even Mandla Mandela's private affairs requires a spokesperson.

Mandla Mandela and his French bride, Anais Grimaud
(source : www.iol.co.za )

Comments such as ''She's French, what do you expect?" and "Family gatherings must get a little tense." were the order of the day on the Daily Mail online newspaper article. What was the whole fuss about? The humiliation of a love triangle scandal involving Nelson Mandela’s grandson Mandla Mandela and his French bride Anais Grimaud.

I was first surprised that the first time I read about this was from an overseas article about the affairs of my own backyard. I quickly remembered the difference in approach and delivery African newspapers have in comparison to the rest of the world. Locally I know such issues are respected and treated as a private family matter which has no place in the public domain. Even if a particular individual is a well-known public figure, culture and tradition of respecting another man’s private affairs takes precedence over the sale of a publicly intriguing story.

As I observe article after article including this latest one I cannot stop asking myself whether the family has a spokesperson at their disposal. Such private issues in the public domain require the skill of a public relations practitioner (PRP). Mandla Mandela shouldn’t be troubled with communicating with the media when a family spokesperson should be made available to deal with all matters and enquiries by the press. Mandla Mandela’s wife is alleged to have had a child not by her husband but by her husband’s brother!

Nelson Mandela and grandson, Mandla Mandela
(source: www.oryxmedia.co.za)

True or not that is beside the point. The issue remains question whether Mandla Mandela public image is treated with fairness by the Media.is his voice being projected the way he wants when challenged by printed stories. Having a PRP in a way levels out the battle field in order for all parties to have a voice. I for one would be shocked beyond words if indeed Mandla Mandela has a spokesperson.if so ,then I urge that particular individual to communicate using all the relevenat resources available to him\her in order for us to hear the voice that with dim out the intensity of this fire of a scandal.

Women's Day Disables Women

Women standing together for a common course at the union building on the 9th August 1956

Looking at the picture above even as a man, I feel proud and honoured to know that our country had and still has some courageous women. Celebration of National Women's Day for me feels like it is inspired by the International Women's Day. The local special day has a more personal feel for women who were present on the day were South African women marched to the Union buildings in unity for a common course/believe. For such organised acts and standing for what they believe in proves to me an organisation or federation was found were women can as a collective stand tall for what they believe in.

 As women of today reflect and celebrate the "special day", in my ear there seems to be a voice which echoes from a lot of different women:

• "Today is my special day I am not cooking, you man must cook for us"
• "You forgot to wish me happy women's day"
• "This is a day for all women to feel special"

One can clearly observe the word women shares same platform as the word 'special' in many phrases. My question is, do you not think associating women with words such as "special" renders them disabled in a way? I believe it does, even though that was not the initial objective for when days were set aside to remember and honour women all over the world.

 I also have to state that by no means is this blog about the battle of the sexes as some may think. It is about magnifying the unintended meaning Women's Day presently carries along with other meanings and views every individual has. "Men do not understand", a reply I get when I verbalise the issue and voice my concerns about what the future role of continuous celebration for women on a particular day  have on little girls when they too grow up to become women. I hate to think the same issues that plague women today in society will still recycle themselves in the unbreakable circle chain of human ignorance.

 Women rights groups will therefore agree with me when I say women equality in a society full of male dominance is an objective! Again these possess a few questions as to the type of equality which is desired? Would that mean equality with special conditions? Or are we offering that a special day be set aside also to celebrate Man Day?

 On the other side of the spectrum I have personally observed and researched the drastic changes noticeable in the way women today are treated, which is totally different to women of yesterday. Do we credit the endless struggle and fight for women's rights for this achievement of were women are today? And at what price has the battle for equality are women currently paying for?



Picture mocking Women's Day which has gone viral on the social media



The picture above was send to people and forwarded by same people with the intention of appealing to the humorous side of both men and women. My thought are that the initiator of the picture did not think twice about the implications a simple photo will have on years of struggle and fight for women equality it would have on society. It makes one wonder what triggers this type of insensitive humour. This results in more questions than answers at some instances. As I conclude I am reminded of a phrase which says "inside every joke there is truth". To me every day is women's day and no special day needs to be set aside to remind me about just how important and vital are the women of the world are. Nor do any women need a day to celebrate what must be a daily thing.

Related blog : http://overberginfo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=798:2007-womens-day

Youtube video of Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga

Whats in a book?

Is it words only or is it knowledge I ask myself! in Limpopo textbooks are not a neccesity nor are they an immidiate need! why do schools,principals only cry mid year that they do not have material that shapes a childs mind?

What is in a book for me is : Empowerment

                                           Dreams

                                          

                                           Literacy

                                          Independence

The Basic Education Minister cannot take full blame for the embarrassing saga that has plagued the Limpopo province for more than six months. I grow up knowing that in January when schools open I would receive all the relevant study materials I would need for the rest of the year! Has procedure changed since my last day at school? I doubt it! But I sense a culture of relaxation has infiltrated the broader education system. Why do I say so? It is human nature to believe when people take responsibility for their own actions they would not point fingers at one individual for being at fault for all that has happened. Our Minister did not fail the schools, the system did. I am not about sides, but I am on the side of perspective.

Our dear Minister Agie Motshekga is only at fault for one thing, and that is her cunning ability to stand firm for what she believes in within her confidence as a woman and as a leader! We all know that human behavior that seems to project a certain high level of confidence other people can mistake that for being too pompous or arrogance. Many people like me at first can misjudge this character in the Minister as a blind fold over her eyes from seeing the truth and absolute truth about the matter at hand. I would love to challenge the Basic Education ministry public relations and communications team to better project the Minister's public image, so that she can better her work without any distractions, as I am a firm believer in the notion that says "The is always room for improvement".

The saga of textbook in limpopo only highlighted the importance of books in society. Even professionals in the department of Basic Education can confirm that they too are were they are because it all started with a book! Lets help each other as a community,as principles,as Ministers to restore the Dreams of many children in order to Empower them within a high Literacy rate that gains them Independence in the near future.

5 LANGUAGES OF LOVE applied to Business

In the current world of technological advancement and innovative business practice, it comes as no surprise that human behaviour has evolved over the generations to accommodate the different levels of generational functionality. I personally think people are putting too much pressure on themselves to assert themselves and conform to the norms of the day. Business innovation occurs with the help of set business values and systems. The type of business practice is mostly driven by the different elements compiled by experts in that particular field. When I look at the various business elements, using Public Relations as an example, one can observe that the core value of executing all elements relies heavily on appealing to the basic human emotion. My question is if we use all the elements that project and evoke the human emotion of LOVE and we use those same elements in conjunction with already existing ones to use in business function to better project organisation brands and other aspects for a successful business practises.

I one came across a book called “THE 5 LANGUAGES OF LOVE – the secret to love that lasts”. Can you image what power any organisation can have by applying the same elements that go into the basic yet strongly effective emotion of LOVE by duplicating them to function and help in a business context. To me this book on love represents an innovative outlook on finding generational solutions of organisations and their respective customers or clients. Total client satisfaction is the desired form of achievement by any organisation.

Book by Dr Gary Chapman

Let us briefly look at the “five languages of LOVE”

1.   Word Affirmation (People who love hearing the words “I love you” as to seeing the action of that specific love).

2.   Quality Time (Some people treasure and view the time you spend with them as a validation that indeed they are loved).

3.   Receiving Gifts (the receiver of the gift thrives on the Love that the gift represents and what it means symbolically).

4.   Acts of Service   (Going the extra mile to help the one we love thus making them feel special and important).

5.   Physical Touch (Human emotion of showing compassion).

To sum up all that was discussed, the Five Languages of Love as stated above can easily be duplicated and translated to fit in the business context when it comes to dealing with customers and clients. Anything is possible with creativity and different innovative minds coming together to modify and utilise the elements of LOVE in order to achieve the ultimate business objective of total customer/client satisfaction.

F:\Public relations.mht

Public Schools No Place for Minister with “fancy” words!



cartoon interpretation by Zapiro

I had the pleasure of reading and being entertained by an article in one of South Africa’s prestigious newspapers, the “Mail and Guarding”;were the Minister of Primary Education Angie Motshekga and Mamphela Ramphela, former vice councillor of University of Cape Town and World Bank Director were having a go at each other through the media. As I read the reporters detailed article I noticed how the "kid gloves" came off the Minister’s hands as she hit back in a reply statement made by the academic Ramphela .The main issue between the two educated ladies was about the level of South Africa’s Primary and Secondary public schools.Have we not all expressed a view about that issue?  Read more

The “Cat fight” to me looked like it was sparked by Mamphela Ramphela when she delivered a lecture at the sixth annual Solomon Mahlangu Lecture at University of Johannesburg held on 22 March 2012. She said, "Maths Literacy, what is that?” I was particularly entertained when the “Minister of Defensive” as she was dubbed by one individual commenting on the Mail and Guarding online article. She reacted by saying, “We may not be where we want to be. But it’s wrong -- I think treacherous -- to say we’re going back to Bantu Education.” Talk about a two-way asymmetric communication (little or delayed feedback by receiver to the sender of the message).

I believe it is high time South African public schools imitate what other African countries, like Zimbabwe have done, in adopting the British O and A Level system. The qualification equips primary and secondary children to prepare for a University entrance with a reasonable literacy rate. If I compare a Zimbabwean’s literacy level with that of South African, the later is put to shame dismally. Zimbabwe’s Examination Council before the fall from grace had long since partnered with University of Cambridge International Examination GCE systems, in order to deliver quality scholars. I ask what is stopping us from giving our children in public schools one of the best educational O and A Level systems our neighbours are using.Read more

In terms of the Public Relations angle, we can clearly see that emotional dialogue entertains and it fails to bring constructive solutions to the public school tables were children could learn what the Minister said when she used the word “treacherous”.

• Cartoon interpretation by Zapiro
• http://www.ace-sa.co.za/a-levels.html

Gang Rape Scars Get Elongated

http://www.iol.co.za/

http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2012/04/20/warning-over-rape-video

One of the worst forms of violating a fellow human being is through rape. Rape points out the line between moral and immorality in terms of human behaviour. The law is put in place to help remind and enforce punishment if such violations are made such as rape. Some human beings need protection to and from themselves.

In the recent news a devastating incident occurred to a mentally disturbed 17 year old girl from Soweto, Johannesburg, in which she was gang raped. Let stop right here and ask ourselves where was her mother? As I read through the different articles, I was quick to notice that even when the little girl disappeared from home, her own mother did not see it necessary to report her mentally disabled daughter missing at the police station.

• Did the mother just brush it off as a stunt her daughter is used to pulling by being away from home?
• Was the mother careless about creating a security net for her child?
• What other issues are at play in this story that lead to the gang-rape of a 17 year old girl?
• In her own defence that 48 year old mother was quoted as saying she did report the rapes occurring to her child as from 2009 to the police but they did not open a case of missing as the 17 year old had tendencies of going missing and then turning up.

As I read further on one article in the Sowetan newspaper published on 20th April 2012, the 7 men not only are there minors among them but they took a video as well. I am flabbergasted as the reporter stated that the men had smiles on their faces as they took turns raping. At the back of my mind I am saying ''the reporter saw the video too''. It does not come as a surprise as this story is on everybody’s lips where ever I go in Johannesburg. The video went viral ladies and gentleman.

Immorality was passed on from person to person even now as you read this blog; the ugly side of social media communication is taking place.



5 of the 7 chraged men who gang raped the 17 year old girl hiding their faces as they enter the Roodepoort magistrate's court in Johannesburg



Not only is social media being used to promote and get the world connected, it is connection and promoting immorality as well. As human beings we should never forget that once a good thing happens or is discovered, that same thing will start having a few rotten apples in the ''social media communication basket'' in the case.

At the Bottom of the Barrel you will find Credibility



source

Credibility is defined as
"the quality of being believable or worthy of trust" of  ”. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/credibility.

A credible person is said to be an experienced, qualified, intelligent, skilled and trustworthy human being. “Charisma can increase credibility”,some may say. Does it mean people who are not charismatic will not appear to be credible enough? And how does one measure charisma on paper? As I blog about this particular issue the credibility of this specific article I have compiled is being observed under a microscopic eye and questioned by every reader who comes across each blog article, it is the basic natural reaction of human beings to question and individually evaluate  what is presented to them and conclude if whether it is factual or fictional truth I am presenting.

For many years human credibility was the decider of whether a person’s views or words are authentic or not, even in many judicial systems of the world when credibility boils down to one person’s word against the others, individual credibility will be scrutinized to the letter. If everyone of us did not question, then we would not find people wondering if the same courts who are suppose to find credibility in a person, if they themselves are credible enough to serve the people. In all spheres credibility is questioned, from the gender gap of the courts to credibility of the witness. My question is does questioning bring results or truth?

I came across a book written by a woman and the book is said to have sold more than 1 million copies. When I accessed her credibility I am directed to a statement on the author's website which states, “Choo Thomas is a simple, down-to-earth Korean American. She is married and has two children and four grandchildren.” http://www.choothomas.org/ .

To summaries her book which was published in 2003 objectively, she claims to have had visited Heaven and she describes all her experiences in detail in the book.

 Moving closer to home (South Africa) in recent months an elderly man named Sibusiso Mthembu, who claims to have visited Heaven also, I cannot sideline his story and the similarity to that of Choo Thomas' story. They both claim similar encounters but amazingly their stories in the general public are received differently. This is a direct result of their credibility being perceived and projected differently by people. I would not be surprised if Choo Thomas’ story is trusted more than that of Sibusiso Mthembu, a man who claims to have visited Heaven; only because of trustworthiness. When I look at the article written about Sibusiso Mthembu, it is clearly visible that the writer of the article is not at all objective as they started the article with a statement which reads,” The self-proclaimed prophet, 64-year-old Sibusiso Mthembu, says there are 11 heavens, each of which he has visited, with his first heavenly journey having taken place in December 1998.”  

Sibusiso Mthembu

We can see how the beginning of an article can steer people’s perception about a certain individual in order to shape that particular person’s credibility through impulsive pre judgements from the general public. If you notice, the positive statement about Choo Thomas was taken directly from her official website.Obviously one would never paint a less credible picture of themselves. In my view, credibility is formed by opinions of others who question to get results or truth. The above two stories are only a reflection of many similar stories across the globe. Credibility to me is only made up of “subjective truths”. As public opinion is lead to the truth by already subjective research and views of others. Truth is out there, we all just need to dig a little deeper and at the bottom of the barrel we will find credibility of that particular individual.






Right or Wrong only depends on which side of the Equator you fall under!

http://www.africanviews.org/pundits/2012/03/01/race-in-south-africa-still-an-issue/

Morals and values guide human beings to make the right or wrong choices in the eyes of their peers or society they leave in. What is deemed right or wrong and most importantly who chooses what is right or wrong? Those are the questions aimed at an ever changing global culture. When we observe the issue on a more global setting, we have to consider other aspects involve, like culture, geographical location as well as different languages in decision making irrespective of what is seen as right or wrong. Cultural differences play a major role in the topic under discussion. An individual’s background and upbringing has to be considered when that same person behaves in a certain manner which falls outside the general norm of other global cultural behaviours. Neutrality and understanding of a different behavioural pattern has to be the basis for cohesivenes. Any statement made which is not understood,before the individual is classified as doing right or wrong we have to have dissected and categorised as to what did they mean and from which angle their statement is coming from before that person is judged. Just like culture, a person’s geographical location plays a major role in how they interact with the world in general.
 People in Africa, China, North America or Europe have their own set of morals and values. In African cultures it would be deemed right to slaughter an animal in the home backward whereas in other parts or the world it is seen as cruel and sometimes barbaric. So in geographical terms in Africa the practise is deemed right and elsewhere it will be seen as wrong. Language also plays a major role in bridging the gap of understanding and tolerance of our many diverse languages of the world. Languages translate our different cultures, though globally the English language is one of the most preferred means for communication purposes between two or more different language groups. So does this mean the English language is responsible for setting the standard on what is deemed right or wrong in society? Many may argue that it is a “temporary setting”, because as the different cultures with different languages terminate a particular meeting or gathering for instance, they each go back to their own cultural norms and behaviours.

In South Africa a person who has a black and a white parent we refer to them as coloured and that is how they refer to themselves.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4tbtFzdsPQ
As one moves above the Equator into North America or Europe, the word Coloured has a different meaning and it is viewed as a derogative word than in South Africa. In most parts of Europe Coloured people are called “Mixed Race’’ and in North America the Coloured race includes Blacks (African-Americans). Clearly a distinction is made in South Africa as to who is classified under Black or Coloured, but the issue of whether it is an offense when one calls a mixed race person in Europe Coloured that is based on cultural and geographical standards of interaction and communications.

Next time you are offended, stop and ask, “Am I really offended, and who is actually doing the verbal offense” before saying something is right or wrong. I believe a word can be right or wrong only in different contexts. Therefore when in Rome I will do as the Romans do.

Religion in Government, Parliament and the Courts of South Africa

Religion in Government, Parliament and the Courts of South Africa

http://mg.co.za/article/2012-03-16-judges-cannot-bow-to-religion

Currently in the South Africa Christianity makes about 79.8% of the religion of choice for the country’s population. While 15% of the population has no religion and 1.5% of the population belonging to Islam and Hinduism totaling 1.2%, we can deduce from the above statistics (http://www.southafrica.info/about/facts.htm) that Religion is alive and a huge part of the average South African. The question at hand is weather religion has a place in the affairs of the state or in the law system of the country.

South Africa is a democratic state with its constitution being religiously tolerant and inclusive of all different religious believes practiced in the country. The statement above does not in any way state which form of religion is used to represent the country unlike in Sudan were the country will be Africa’s first Theocratic state (A government ruled by or subject to religious authority). (http://godictionary.co.za/theocracy-definition).

In a speech address to Khartoum students, President Omar Al Bashir said “Ninety-eight percent of the people are Muslims and the new constitution will reflect this. The official religion will be Islam and Islamic law the main source (of the constitution). We call it a Muslim state.” (http://dailymaverick.co.za/article/2011-10-14-sudan-to-become-africas-first-theocracy)

Do South African Courts, Parliament and Government reflect a “Christian state”? This would be an honest assumption by any individual who believes in the principles that govern democratic practices in terms of “the majority being the overall rulers” as the country’s majority is Christian, or is the country a religiously neutral state. Leaving in such a culturally an religiously diverse country the president of south Africa Jacob Zuma even though he may hold his own religious believes, he has to represent the state and uphold all religious beliefs of the country equally and form a relationship with religious sectors. (http://www.thepresidency.gov.za/pebble.asp?relid=5519).

A recent article in the mail and guardian newspaper by Brent Meersman, a political novelist and a writer for the newspaper since 2003; Brent Meersman is misguided in his quest to revel the consequences of mixing religion and state affairs and furthermore he has controversial solutions such as the removal of Christmas and Easter as public holidays.it comes as no surprise that he would be labeled an atheist by some of the people who commented on his blog about the subject. (http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/brentmeersman/2012/03/19/please-no-god-not-in-our-courts-not-in-parliament-not-in-government/comment-page-1/#comments). I totally disagree with his views on the matter. Though when it comes to the topic of just how impartial are Christian Judges, I have to agree it is a questionable and fair curiosity of the truth about how the law system operate. South African government, Parliament and Courts are all about upholding the rights of freedom of religious expression and believe as stated in the Bill of Rights. Even though some of the high officials put in place to safe guide these rights serve the country from their own individual religious backgrounds, their mandate is to cater and treat every religion equal respect. The South Africa government has shown a great working relationship between the state and all other religions and I will continue to do so.

Influence on Communication by Generation Gap

http://www.medleynews.com/relationship/what-is-generation-gap-1365.html



Generation Gap in my own interpretation is the period between two or more generations which differ in how they view the world and perform socially in that particular time.''The generational gap is and was a term popularized in Western countries during the 1960s referring to differences between people of a younger generation and their elders, especially between children and parents''.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_gap

In the book titled ''Mind the Gap!'' by  Graeme Codrington, certain generations are given names to specify which generation a person belongs. Those who were born in and around the period 1920s are referred to as the ''old generation'' and the generation which was born around and after the First World War whic was around the 1940s are classified as ''baby boomers''. Those who fall in the period around the 1970s are called ''generation X'' , and lastly the generation which came after ''generation X'' which fallS in the period of 1990s and 2000s are called the ''millennium generation.''

Every generation has its own view and interpretation of the world around. As the world evolves in terms of generally excepted norms and values by people belonging to a certain generation, we must not forget the impact on communication the different generations are causing on each other as the decades pass. For us to acknowledge the existence of a gap between the generations it means we recognise the challenges and most importantly the influences the generational gap has on communication. Phrases such as, ''i do not understant my teenage son and his type of choice in music'' or ''grandpa you too slow for me'' or ''you youngsters have no respect these days'' are common phrases expressed and verbalized by the frustrated yet so different generations when one a member of a certain generation interacts with other members of another generation.
I would like to argue the point that the influence on communication by the generation gap is the reduction of communication quality and adaptability to misunderstandings of communication without any desire to drive home the intended message.

Personalised values and perceptions which are mostly subjective during sensory analysis of a situation, maybe blamed for the existence of misunderstandings and therefore misinterpretation is created as a result and thus this leads to a communication quality reduction. In my opinion when communication between the generations is compromised in terms of misunderstandings and misinterpretations, chances are high for generational intolerance to formulate. Therefore it is crucial for a ‘’communicational compromise’’ from any side of the two interacting generations if any form of communication is to take place sidelining individualistic values and perceptions of the other.
 In 2005 I attended a seminar at the University of the Western Cape on HIV/AIDS presented by one of the resident lecturers. At the seminar it was highlighted that the effects of HIV/AIDS on the creation of a wider generation gap in south Africa due to massive loss of life especially among the ‘’generation X’’ which was born around the 1970s time period has already commenced. It was said that those who lost their lives to the Aids pandemic in South Africa , are the uncles and aunts of the ‘’millennium generation’’ and they were the younger siblings to the ‘’baby boom generation’’. The effect of such a massive loss of a generation on communication is visible in parent and child frustrations with each other, the increase in teenage suicides and the lack or fear of children confiding in their parents has resulted as an outcome. Once again communication quality is compromised. These effects were attributed to a cultural and societal norm and perception of seeing uncles and aunts ‘’generation X’’ as a bridging human instrument in terms of communication between parents and their children. The important role ‘’generation X’’ served in the South African context was being almost the closest person to communicate with who will be more understanding to both parent and child.

We cannot blind ourself from an existing reality that in current South Africa and globally that the quality of communication between different generations has changed.From the above findings one can formulate an informed intellectual conclusion that indeed generational gaps have a direct influence on communication.

The Physics of past and present South Africa

http://www.emagzin.com/featured/travel-to-fifa-world-cup-2010-south-africa/





Newton's third Law (first published in 1687) is still in motion in current South Africans mentality.The Law states that, ''for every action there is  an equal and opposite reaction''.http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/newtlaws/u2l4a.cfm.An historical example of this Law is the ideology of the National Government's apartheid law.http://books.google.co.za/books?id=MrlnwlKQDr4C&pg=PA3&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=4#v=onepage&q&f=false has seen Newton's Law projecting an equal and opposite reaction decades later,in what is currently symbolically known as the rainbow nation of South Africa.
One must be patient in understanding the developmental process of the South Africa's rainbow nation.It is still in its teenage phase.One has to make note of the similarities the new South Africa has to its predecessor, the Nationalist Government of the apartheid era.One can argue that history is repeating itself,but i will be quick to correct and highlight that history is only reacting out in an equal and opposite motion,just as Newton's third law states.


To support above mentioned statement let's analyse what we mean when we say: "We belong to the colourful rainbow nation".There is a symbolic meaning behind South Africa's ''rainbow nation'', (in my opinion) it reflects the individualistic celebration of different colours of the rainbow and those colours represent the diverse racial groups of our country.Every race has a sense of pride and belonging as we observe even the national flag,but a very crucial point many fail to observe is that the more the individual races celebrate their own uniqueness, it the more the different racial groups isolate each other from the other racial groups.The mental visualisation of thinking of the ''rainbow nation'' as a whole will never materialise in the minds of the average South African(in my opinion).


The above statement should draw you back to the ideology of the Nationalist Government of separate development for different races ,and you will notice how the ''rainbow nation'' is just an equal but opposite reaction to the historical actions taken by the then Government. Has history changed that much? And maybe we should ask, what are we as South Africans doing to steer the course of history?