AFRICANS LOST THEIR IDENTITY

I think we should go back to the earlier 19th Century whereby our grandfathers lived their true identity. We are unconsciously losing our identity as Africans and embracing others' cultures. We have somewhere, somehow lost our originality. We are more adopting the western cultures and neglecting our very own. Of course we cannot run away from the fact that westernization has induced almost everything on how we do certain things. It has set us a criteria on how we should perceive things and judge others in spite of their actual being. However, we should not get overwhelmed by its influence in a way that we all completely become Americans. 

Back then teenagers could feel so unfortunate to have small narrowed breasts and wish they could have those "big-balled-breasts" as much as do their contemporaries. It was all the influence of the western culture in which celebs and models with big breasts were portrayed and considered sexy by the american modellers. Lately, the likes of Nicki Minaj (anaconda) and Katy Perry promote the notion that booty is sexy. This again made those who are not so booty feel inferior and not sexy. Nevertheless, we should know our value-being as Africans and embrace our identity. Although we need to acknowledge that westernization has super-powered  the globe but we should never throw our cultures and customs. We must go back to where we left our identity.
  

Sending your children to private schools where they speak English all-day long it's not a matter of concern but when they come home they should speak their original language, not just a mother-tongue but their home language. 
Why is it so common when one cannot speak or express themselves in English fluently we ought to laugh at them but when they fail to speak their original language we consider it okay? Speak your language and live your African but don't forget to adapt to the new and constantly changing lifestyle but most saliently,  never lose your identity.   

SOUTH AFRICAN JUSTICE FOR WHOM

I was really surprised by the judge Thokozile Masipa's decision against Oscar Pistorius. It tells me that our justice is not served as it should be. She proved me wrong about the notion that her judgement would be more influenced by the media since it was televised worldwide. the judge Thokozile Masipa overlooked the fact that the entire world was watching that trial.

It is patently apparent that she was just kind in her ultimate judgement without the fear of public criticism. The whole country and the world at large anticipated that she would not be sympathetic for the very fact that the trial was on the public view throughout. I am still wondering how our justice system is going to be like in the next few years if a murderer like Pistorius could walk away with guilt. This will have an impact increasing the crime rate in our country as criminals will commit crime knowing that they can walk freely.

Taking a broader look at the case, I think people need to be educated about the South Africa's law to know what it entails and to understand how our justice system works in different cases. People who just heard from the media how the incident took place will think the judge has been bribed to lessen her judgement to Oscar simply because they do not know how our the justice system works. This will lessen the value of our justice and of course eventually damage our reputation as a country globally.

I think such case and its outcome will also invite foreign criminals such as Shrein Dewani. (www.theguardian.com/shrien-dewani). He certainly chose South Africa  knowing that south Africa's law can be bribed and he can walk away with guilt. furthermore, since Oscar's trial has been televised globally, international investors will lose interest to invest in our country where its justice is not served accordingly. It threatens international investors.  Investors do not just look at the company's financial status but they are more attentive when it comes to the reputation of that country they are willing to invest in.

Now it seems like our justice is served to those whore are financially poor and set free extra ordinary murderers. Judges become more generous when they are having cases of high profile people such as Oscar and Jerky Selebi.

MALAMULELE RESIDENTS MADE AN IMPULSIVE DECISION FOR NOT REGISTERING TO VOTE IN THE UNPCOMING ELECTIONS

(malamulele residents burning tyres
 in their protest for municipality) 

I think the decision made by Malamulele residents was imprudent and it will have severe drawback in getting what we really need (municipality). My concern is, what is going to happen should they not take our demand into account because we did not register which disqualifies us to vote next year. We can hardly anticipate government to reconsider our demand after the elections since we do not take part in deciding  who should be our government. Nevertheless, such action would be very influential if we had a fair and caring government that works for its citizens.

For the past 19 years our ruling party has failed us to deliver better service especially in rural areas. we still suffer for basic water, enhanced infrastructure and the like. Despite all these failures, changing our ruling party would be just worsening the already worst situation. When things change is the more they remain the same, we need to be loyal to what we believe in until our demands are met. my suggestion would be that if I may have to put my advise. Let us not be violent in our protest, to sabotage the least we have, we are putting a financial burden to our government of which the damage will not be renovated over night but will take time and budget.

SHERYL CWELE TO SERVE HER SENTENCE IN JAIL





(convicted drug dealer:Sheryl Cwele)

After all ups and downs the constitutional court has showed its fairness on Cwele’s case. Sheryl was arrested and charged in 2009 by the Hawks over her alleged role in the recruitment of drug mules for an international drug-trafficking ring. In May 2011 she was found guilty of drug trafficking by the KwaZulu-Natal High Court. The former wife of the state security minister Siyabonga  Cwele was charged with a case of drug dealing. She started to serve her 20 years sentence in prison yesterday after handed herself in to the Westville prison. I am wondering as to why those people who were supposed to be great examples to the young people and the country as a whole fail to retain their perceptions.

However, I applaud the sentence given by the court. It really shows that our justice works to everyone. Since there is uncertainty about the equality when it comes to our justice, this will eventually restore its credibility and reliance. They say the prison is only for poor people. Think about Schabir Shaik’s case, how did it come to an end? What about Jeckie Selebi? All these people are of the high profiles, wealthy people. We need to bring our justice to equality and fair to everyone regardless of the individual’s status, material or occupation. We really need to have a balanced justice when compared to other countries in order to enhance our image and perception worldwide. Our country is rated number one in the entire continent with a large degree of freedom and democracy.
It is our mendate to retain that image.

ILLEGAL STRIKE THREATENS NEW INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS

These illegal strikes threaten new international investors in the mining industries in particular , which will simultaneously impact our economic growth negatively. Because these strikes involve violence, international investors will in a long run no longer invest in our country because they might lose their profit and business at large. Although my concern is hugely focused on the management for ignoring their workers’ demands which creates bad perception to the public. The management of those concerned industries should learn to be proactive and responsive to their workers since they have a great impact on how the public perceives them. The mining management is seen as incompetent when compared to the other industries.

They should have seated around the table and discuss all issues concerning salary increase beforehand. They deserve decent salaries as they work hard to develop their organisations. Since Marikana tragedy we have seen more strikes breaking out especially in the mining industry. This clearly shows us that all mine workers are not satisfied with their salaries so they embark on strike in order to persuade their employers to respond to their grievances. I am failing to understand why does not management solve their workers' problem before they action on strike.

·Why do they wait until the workers take actions?

·Does this show that the management do not see the need for salary increase without getting a     workup call by their workers?

·Do they care about their image and reputation for failing to handle their workers issues before   they protest?

It seems like the management only take into consideration their workers’ demands after they engaged themselves in strike. Since it is patently apparent that  the management will eventually listen and responds positively to their workers’ demands it would be ideal to respond to them before they embark on strike which will eventuate in damaging the image and reputation of the mining industry at large.

MALEMA SHOULD GET MAXIMUM MEDIA COVERAGE

There are romours spreading from ear to ear pertaining the coverage of the expelled youth league president Julias Malema by the public broadcast SABC. SABC spokes person Keizer Kganyago declared that the allegations were not true. I was bit surprised as to why should the public broadcaster give unbalanced reporting by not covering some stories which are on the public interest.  SABC journalists say they were instructed not to report about anything Malema says. This would threaten journalists to execute their job freely and exercise their rights to cover stories. In South Africa we have the freedom of expression and freedom of speech. It is highly likely that SABC might lose its listeners and viewers in a long run due to the exclusion of Malema. People would tend to listen to the commercial broadcasters chasing for what appeals to them. However, this was not true the management did not instruct any one not to give reporting about Malema, says Kganyago.

(Expelled ANCYL president Julias Malema)

Since the public hear what they want to hear and see what they want to see, it would be on their advantage to report about what interests the public in order to sustain their audience's loyalty. As a public broadcaster that is perceived as giving a balanced reporting we expect them to give us what we like to know. They would be perceived as incompetent for giving unfair and biased reporting, should they get influenced by some of the government officials who are against Malema.

TOGETHER WE CAN COMBAT CRIME IN SOUTH AFRICA

Crime is a prominent issue in South Africa. We have an extraordinary high rate of murders, assaults, rapes (adults,child and infant) and any other crimes compared to other countries particularly in Africa. The annual crime statistics released in 2011 show a continuing downward trend except rape which went up by 2.1 percent.  The individuals who commit crime they are our brothers, sisters and friends and they live within our communities.

• Why do not we report them since we know that they are criminals.
• Why do we hide and not expose them to the police?
• Why do not we work together with the police in fighting and reducing crime?

It is rather annoying in the country to have residents who perceive police as their enemies, while they are trying to protect us. Let us be their eyes and ears for any crime and corruption that takes place in our communities.

Moreover, the South African prison should change the way in which prisoners are treated. I think there is nothing which criminals may be fear to commit crime since they know that they will be treated as a king in the prison. They should be treated accordingly even though, they might not be treated like the way apartheid regime did. Ineffective communication and relationship between the police and the communities is the major cause that needs to be enhanced in order to combat crime in our country. The police should build a sustainable relationship with the public by convincing them that they are there to protect us they are not against us. Together we can end crime in our country.