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.