The Valley

Africanising the Internet

2011-12-15T10:40:00.001+02:00

Wikiafrica aims to redress the critical imbalance of factual information about historic and contemporary Africa on the internet.

Wikipedia, the internet's most utilised information source, is designed to allow anyone and everyone to contribute to what is now the world's largest encyclopedia but it has some fatal flaws.

The people who contribute the information to Wikipedia are not represenative of the planet they are writing facts about.
Four out of five Wikipedians (the people who contribute to Wikipedia) are male.
Four out of five Wikipedians come from countries in the North.
Half are under the age of 22.

Wikiafrica intends to activate a new community of African experts and amateurs alike to generate and expand 30 000 articles about who and what Africa is on Wikipedia over the next 2 years.

Wikiafrica is an initiate of the Africa Centre which explores how contemporary pan-African Art , culture and intellectual pursuit can be a catalyst for social change. Visit www.africacentre.net

Conversations with God

2011-11-10T10:21:00.001+02:00

It took me a while to make time to read the critically acclaimed Conversations with God trilogy by Neale Walsch because I try to stay clear of "American hype".

I must admit that I understand what the hype was all about is the read is a life changing experience. The one excerpt that speaks to me in Book One is found on page 114:

"A true master is not the one with the most students, but the one who creates the most Masters.

A true leader is not the one with the most followers, but the one who creates the most leaders.

A true King is not the one with the most subjects, but one who leads to most to royalty.

A true teacher is not the one with the most knowledge, but one who causes the most others to have knowledge.

A true God is not One with the most servants, but One who serves the most, thereby making Gods of all others."

As a subscriber to the philosophy of servant leadership I identify fully with this message.

The Consequences of testifying against Apartheid Israel

2011-11-09T11:39:00.001+02:00

HE Jacob Zuma

President of the Republic of South Africa

Cape Town

South Africa

Cape Town, 7 November 2011

Dear Mister President,

On 5-6 November 2011 we held our third session in Cape Town, hosted by the District Six museum.

Yesterday afternoon it came to our attention that at least one witness who has given evidence to the Tribunal this weekend has been subjected to reprisals because she has opposed apartheid. Haneen Zoabi, a Member of Knesset (Israeli Parliament) gave evidence to the Tribunal yesterday, Sunday
6^thNovember 2011, and within hours of doing do so was reportedly the subject of a formal application to the Knesset’s Ethics’ Committee to strip her of her Israeli citizenship. The media reports of that application make it clear that it is based on the fact of her testimony to the Tribunal. We fully appreciate that the proposed action against MK Zoabi is currently initiated by another MK, which at the time of this letter has not received the support of the Israeli Government and has not been the subject of decision by the Knesset. However, the very fact of such a formal step may effectively achieve its principal purpose: to chill public debate on the issue of Israeli apartheid.

^{This
weekend, we heard evidence from many witnesses in order to assist us
in answering the following question: “Are Israeli practices against
the Palestinian people in breach of the prohibition on apartheid
under international law?” (We also heard evidence concerning the
crime against humanity of persecution). In due course, we shall send
you the Tribunal’s findings on Israeli apartheid and persecution.
We heard testimony from many witnesses who live under Israeli
jurisdiction, from both Israel and the territories occupied by Israel
since 1967. The full list of those witnesses is attached as an
annex to this letter.}

^{As
you know, Article 2 of the 1973 Convention on the Suppression and
Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid (the ‘Apartheid Convention’)
provides as follows:}

^{“For
the purpose of the present Convention, the term ‘the crime of
apartheid’, which shall include similar policies and practices of
racial segregation and discrimination as practised in southern
Africa, shall apply to the following inhuman acts committed for the
purpose of establishing and maintaining domination by one racial
group of persons over any other racial group of persons and
systematically oppressing them: (…) Persecution of organizations
and persons, by depriving them of fundamental rights and freedoms,
because they oppose apartheid.”}

^{It
is clear that anyone who opposes apartheid, including what they
believe to be apartheid, must never be persecuted for simply
expressing that opposition or providing evidence to any tribunal in
that regard. Despite this clear prohibition, yesterday’s
developments regarding MK Zoabi indicate that witnesses to the
Tribunal face the real and immediate risk of being victims of the
inhuman act of persecution for opposing apartheid.}

^{We
are concerned that the initiative taken openly against MK Zoabi may
well not be an isolated act of persecution and that each and every
witness who provided the Tribunal with their testimony will face
measures seeking to deprive them of fundamental rights and
freedoms.}

^{We
are not prepared to accept the intimidation and harassment of
witnesses at a legitimate tribunal.}

^{We
therefore request that you kindly communicate to the Israeli
authorities as a matter of urgency in order to secure from them an
immediate assurance that:}

^{· MK
Zoabi and all other Israeli witnesses do not have their Israeli
citizenship removed (nor threatened with removal) simply for
providing their testimony in Cape Town; and}

^{· All
witnesses living under Israeli jurisdiction are able to return to
their residence without any hindrance to their safe passage; and}

^{· No
Israeli reprisal actions will be taken against any of the witnesses
who gave their testimony to the Tribunal}

^{Please
confirm the action you take on receipt of this letter and that you
will keep us updated on all developments.}

^{Yours
respectfully,}

^{Stéphane
Hessel Pierre Galand}

      ^{On
behalf of the jury members of the RtoP  On behalf of the
International          Organising
Committee}

^{Members
of the Jury: Stéphane Hessel, Ronald Kasrils, José
Antonio Martin Pallin, Cynthia McKinney, Mairead Corrigan Maguire,
Michael Mansfield, Yasmin Sooka, Aminata Traoré, Alice
Walker.}

^{cc:
Embassy of Israel, Ireland, United Kingdom, Spain, U.S.A., France,
and Belgium}

^Annex

^{Names
of the Palestinian and Israeli experts and witnesses of the third session
of the Russell Tribunal on Palestine, Cape Town, 5-7 November 2011.}

^{· Raji
Sourani}

^{· Mahmoud
Hassan}

^{· Rafeef
Ziadah}

^{· Lea
Tsemel}

^{· Jamal
Juma'a}

^{· Haneen
Zoabi}

^{· Shawqi
Issa}

^{· Mohammed
Khatib}

^{· Jazi
Abu Kaf}

^{· Jeff
Halper}

^{· Emily
Schaeffer}

The Russel Tribunal on Palestine Cape Town: The Executive summary of Findings

2011-11-08T13:01:00.001+02:00

The Russell Tribunal on Palestine

Cape Town Session: Summary of findings, 7 November 2011

“May this tribunal prevent the crime of silence”

Bertrand Russell, London, 13 November 1966

The Russell Tribunal on Palestine (RToP) is an international citizen-based Tribunal of conscience created in response to the demands of civil society (NGOs, charities, unions, faith-based organisations) to inform and mobilise public opinion and put pressure on decision makers. In view of the failure to implement the Advisory Opinion of 9 July 2004 of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning the construction by Israel of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the failure to implement resolution ES-10/15 confirming the ICJ Opinion, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 20 July 2004, and the Gaza events of December 2008 – January 2009, committees were established in different countries to promote and sustain a citizen’s initiative in support of the rights of the Palestinian people.

The RToP is imbued with the same spirit and espouses the same rigorous rules as those inherited from the Tribunal on Vietnam (1966-1967), which was established by the eminent scholar and philosopher Bertrand Russell, and the second Russell Tribunal on Latin America (1974-1976), organized by the Lelio Basso International Foundation for the Rights and Liberation of Peoples. The tribunal has no legal status; it operates as a court of the people.

The Israeli Government was invited to present its case before the Tribunal but chose not to exercise this right and provided no answer to correspondence from the RToP.

Following the hearings and the deliberations of the jury, the findings of the third session of Russell Tribunal on Palestine, held in Cape Town on 5-6 November 2011, are summarised as follows.

I. Apartheid

The Tribunal finds that Israel subjects the Palestinian people to an institutionalised regime of domination amounting to apartheid as defined under international law. This discriminatory regime manifests in varying intensity and forms against different categories of Palestinians depending on their location. The Palestinians living under colonial military rule in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are subject to a particularly aggravated form of apartheid. Palestinian citizens of Israel, while entitled to vote, are not part of the Jewish nation as defined by Israeli law and are therefore excluded from the benefits of Jewish nationality and subject to systematic discrimination across the broad spectrum of recognised human rights. Irrespective of such differences, the Tribunal concludes that Israel’s rule over the Palestinian people, wherever they reside, collectively amounts to a single integrated regime of apartheid.

The state of Israel is legally obliged to respect the prohibition of apartheid contained in international law. In addition to being considered a crime against humanity, the practice of apartheid is universally prohibited. The Tribunal has considered Israel’s rule over the Palestinian people under its jurisdiction in the light of the legal definition of apartheid. Apartheid is prohibited by international law because of the experience of apartheid in southern Africa, which had its own unique attributes. The legal definition of apartheid, however, applies to any situation anywhere in the world where the following three core elements exist: (i) that two distinct racial groups can be identified; (ii) that ‘inhuman acts’ are committed against the subordinate group; and (iii) that such acts are committed systematically in the context of an institutionalised regime of domination by one group over the other.

Racial Groups

The existence of ‘racial groups’ is fundamental to the question of apartheid. On the basis of expert evidence heard by the Tribunal, the jury concludes that international law gives a broad meaning to the term ‘racial’ as including elements of ethnic and national origin, and therefore that the definition of ‘racial group’ is a sociological rather than biological question. Perceptions (including self-perceptions and external perceptions) of Israeli Jewish identity and Palestinian identity illustrate that Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs can readily be defined as distinct racial groups for the purposes of international law. From the evidence received, it was clear to the jury that two distinct, identifiable groups exist in a very practical sense and that the legal definition of ‘racial group’ applies to all circumstances in which the Israeli authorities have jurisdiction over Palestinians.

Inhuman Acts of Apartheid

Individual inhuman acts committed in the context of such a system are defined by international law as crimes of apartheid. The jury heard abundant evidence of practices that constitute ‘inhuman acts’ perpetrated against the Palestinian people by the Israeli authorities. These include:

widespread deprivation of Palestinian life through military operations and incursions, a formal policy of ‘targeted killings’, and the use of lethal force against demonstrations.
torture and ill-treatment of Palestinians in the context of widespread deprivation of liberty through policies of arbitrary arrest and administrative detention without charge. The jury finds that such measures frequently go beyond what is reasonably justified by security concerns and amount to a form of domination over the Palestinians as a group.
systematic human rights violations that preclude Palestinian development and prevent the Palestinians as a group from participating in political, economic, social and cultural life. Palestinian refugees who remain displaced are also victims of apartheid by virtue of the ongoing denial of their right to return to their homes, as well as by laws that remove their property and citizenship rights. Policies of forced population transfer remain widespread, particularly in the occupied Palestinian territory.
civil and political rights of Palestinians including rights to movement, residence, free opinion and association are severely curtailed. Palestinian socio-economic rights are also adversely affected by discriminatory Israeli policies in the spheres of education, health and housing.

Since 1948 the Israeli authorities have pursued concerted policies of colonisation and appropriation of Palestinian land. Israel has through its laws and practices divided the Israeli Jewish and Palestinian populations and allocated them different physical spaces, with varying levels and quality of infrastructure, services and access to resources. The end result is wholesale territorial fragmentation and a series of separate reserves and enclaves, with the two groups largely segregated. The Tribunal heard evidence to the effect that such a policy is formally described in Israel as hafrada, Hebrew for ‘separation’.

A systematic and institutionalised regime

The inhuman acts listed above do not occur in random or isolated instances. They are sufficiently widespread, integrated and complementary to be described as systematic. They are also sufficiently rooted in law, public policy and formal institutions to be described as institutionalised. In the Israeli legal system, preferential status is afforded to Jews over non-Jews through its laws on citizenship and Jewish nationality, the latter of which has created a group privileged in most spheres of public life, including residency rights, land ownership, urban planning, access to services and social, economic and cultural rights (see list of legislation and proposed legislation in the attached Annex). The Tribunal heard expert evidence detailing the relationship between the State of Israel and the quasi-state Jewish national institutions (the Jewish Agency, World Zionist Organisation, and Jewish National Fund) that embed and formalise many of the material privileges granted exclusively to Israeli Jews. Regarding the West Bank, the Tribunal highlights the institutionalised separation and discrimination revealed by the existence of two entirely separate legal systems: Palestinians are subject to military law enforced by military courts that fall far short of international fair trial standards; Israeli Jews living in illegal settlements are subject to Israeli civil law and a civil court system. The result is a vastly different procedure and sentence for the same crime, committed in the same jurisdiction, by members of a different group. An apparatus of administrative control implemented through pervasive permit systems and bureaucratic restrictions adversely affects Palestinians throughout the territories under Israeli control. In contrast to the explicit and readily available South African apartheid legislation, the Tribunal draws attention to the obscurity and inaccessibility of many laws, military orders and regulations that underpin Israel’s institutionalised regime of domination.

II. Persecution as a Crime against Humanity

Much of the evidence heard by the Tribunal relating to the question of apartheid is also relevant to the separate crime against humanity of persecution, which can be considered in relation to Israeli practices under the principle of cumulative charges. Persecution involves the intentional and severe deprivation of fundamental rights of the members of an identifiable group in the context of a widespread and systematic attack against a civilian population. The Tribunal concludes that the evidence presented to it supports a finding of persecution in relation to the following acts:

the siege and blockade of the Gaza Strip as a form of collective punishment of the civilian population;
the targeting of civilians during large-scale military operations;
the destruction of civilian homes not justified by military necessity;
the adverse impact on the civilian population effected by the Wall and its associated regime in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem;
the concerted campaign of forcible evacuation and demolition of unrecognised Bedouin villages in the Negev region of southern Israel.

III. Legal Consequences

Apartheid and persecution are acts attributable to Israel and entail its international legal responsibility. Israel must cease its apartheid acts and its policies of persecution and offer appropriate assurances and guarantees of non-repetition. In addition, Israel must make full reparation for the injuries caused by its internationally wrongful acts, with regard to any damage, whether material or moral. With regard to reparation, Israel must compensate the Palestinians for the damage it has caused, with compensation to cover any financially assessable damage for loss of life, property, and loss of profits insofar as this can be established.

States and international organisations also have international responsibilities. They have a duty to cooperate bring Israel’s apartheid acts and policies of persecution to an end, including by not rendering aid or assistance to Israel and not recognising the illegal situation arising from its acts. They must bring to an end Israel’s infringements of international criminal law through the prosecution of international crimes, including the crimes of apartheid and persecution.

IV. Recommendations

In view of the above findings, the Russell Tribunal on Palestine resolutely urges all relevant parties to act in accordance with their legal obligations.

Accordingly, the Tribunal urges:

The state of Israel to immediately dismantle its system of apartheid over the Palestinian people, to rescind all discriminatory laws and practices, not to pass any further discriminatory legislation, and to cease forthwith acts of persecution against Palestinians;
All states to cooperate to bring to an end the illegal situation arising from Israel’s practices of apartheid and persecution. In light of the obligation not to render aid or assistance, all states must consider appropriate measures to exert sufficient pressure on Israel, including the imposition of sanctions, the severing of diplomatic relations collectively through international organisations, or in the absence of consensus, individually by breaking bilateral relations with Israel.
The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to accept jurisdiction as requested by the Palestinian authorities in January 2009, and to initiate an investigation ‘as expeditiously as possible’ as called for by the ‘Goldstone Report’, into international crimes committed in Palestinian territory since 1 July 2002, including crimes of apartheid and persecution;
Palestine to accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court;
Global civil society (including all groups and individuals working diligently inside Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory to oppose the system of racial domination that exists therein) to replicate the spirit of solidarity that contributed to the end of apartheid in South Africa, including by making national parliaments aware of the findings of this Tribunal and supporting the campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS);
The UN General Assembly to reconstitute the UN Special Committee against Apartheid, and to convene a special session to consider the question of apartheid against the Palestinian people. In this connection the Committee should compile a list of individuals, organisations, banks, companies, corporations, charities, and any other private or public bodies which assist Israel’s apartheid regime with a view to taking appropriate measures;
The UN General Assembly to request an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice as called for by the current and former UN Special Rapporteurs for human rights to the occupied Palestinian territory, as well as by the Human Sciences Research Council of South Africa, to examine the nature of Israel’s prolonged occupation and apartheid;
The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to address the issue of apartheid in its forthcoming review of Israel in February 2012;
The government of South Africa, as the host country for the third session of the Russell Tribunal on Palestine, to ensure that no reprisals of any sort are taken by the state of Israel against the witnesses that testified before the Tribunal.

The Tribunal welcomes the decision of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to admit Palestine as a member. It deplores the punitive action taken by the United States towards the organisation, and urges all states and international organisations to actively support the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. The Tribunal welcomes the solidarity and support of those countries that have consistently and steadfastly supported Palestinian human rights, and urges them to continue with the struggle for justice.

Annex: Legislation and proposed legislation

Acts:

Law of Return (1950)
Citizenship Law (1952)
Citizenship and Entry to Israel Law (2007)
Covenant between the Government of Israel and the Zionist Executive (1952)
World Zionist Organization-Jewish Agency (Status) Law (1952)
Keren Kayemeth le-Israel Law (1953)
Covenant with Zionist Executive (1954, 1971)
The Chief Rabbinate of Israel Law (1980)
The Flag and Emblem Law (1949)
The State Education Law (1953) and its 2000 amendment
Absentee Property Law (1950)
The Land Acquisition Law (1953)
Basic Law: Israel Lands [The People’s Lands] (1960)
Agricultural Settlement Law (1967)
Basic Law: The Knesset (1958), Amendment 9 (1985)
The Israel Land Administration (ILA) Law (2009)
Amendment (2010) to The Land (Acquisition for Public Purposes) Ordinance (1943)
The Admissions Committees Law (2011)
The Israel Lands Law (Amendment No. 3) (2011)
The Economic Efficiency Law (Legislative Amendments for Implementing the Economic Plan
Absorption of Discharged Soldiers Law (1994) [2008 amendment]
Absorption of Discharged Soldiers Law (1994) (Amendment No. 12) (2010)
Law (2011) to Amend to the Budgets Foundations Law, Amendment No. 40 (The “Nakba Law”)
The Regional Councils Law (Date of General Elections) (1994) Special Amendment No. 6 (2009)
Duty of Disclosure for Recipients of Support from a Foreign Political Entity Law (2011) (“NGO Foreign Government Funding Law”)

Bills:

Bill to amend the Citizenship Law (1952) imposing loyalty oath for persons seeking naturalization in Israel and Israeli citizens seeking first ID cards
Bill (2009) to amend the Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty and limit the judicial review powers of the Supreme Court to rule on matters of citizenship .
Bill Granting Preference in Civil Service Appointments to Former Soldiers
Bill Awarding Preferences in Services to Former Soldiers
Bill to Prohibit Imposing a Boycott (2010) (“Ban on BDS Bill”)
The Associations (Amutot) Law (Amendment – Exceptions to the Registration and Activity of an Association) (2010) (“Universal Jurisdiction Bill”)
Bill to Protect the Values of the State of Israel (Amendment Legislation) (2009) (“Jewish and Democratic State Bill”)
The new cinema bill – would regulate and condition that any state funds would be given to film makers only after they have signed a loyalty declaration to Israel and its institutions as ‘a Jewish state’.

Racial Bean counting

2011-10-24T11:07:00.001+02:00

In South Africa the color of one's skin says a whole lot about you, whether the 'assumptions linked to it' is true or not.

The newspapers are littered with opinion pieces and letters to the editor regarding race and it's manifestations in contemporary South Africa.

Let us face it, we do have a racist past dating back centuries so all of this focus on one's race will not disappear from the South African nation's psyche in the near future.

It was not surprising the comment that coloured people are overconcentrated in the Western Cape was met with outrage by a lot of people including a high-profiled colored politician, Trevor Manuel.

I must admit that race-talk get tiring at times and is emotionally draining so I try to come up with brainless Affirmative Action policies when it all gets to much for me.

White shark monopoly
I am of the opinion that there are too many white sharks feasting on swimmers in the beaches around Fish Hoek. They're insider trading secrets amongst these white sharks make them get information not privy to black, colored and Indian sharks on when swimmers will be available to eat. By the way, can 'black' sharks swim? If not, then the government should put in place a 'development swimming programme for them. Whites (sorry I meant white sharks) should give the Indian and colored sharks opportunities to also eat. White shark monopoly is unsustainable.

Affirmative Action
The government should do something about the gross under representation of white and Indian people in the South African prison population. It's 'unconstitutional' for prisoners to mostly be black and colored. These guys get 3 free meals a day, DSTV, free education all paid by the tax payers. I believe that there should be more effort put in by government departments to get Indians and whites in jail to also 'share' the 'perks' of the 'new South Africa'.

I think it is important to laugh at serious situations because it breeds resilience.

Peacekeeping in Africa

2011-10-21T11:04:00.001+02:00

The role of the United Nations in Africa has always been met with mixed reactions by Africans. Some are happy that the United Nations come and attempt to stabilise war torn regions. However,others are sceptical on how effective to UN peacekeeping efforts are.

Libya was one of the African regions in turmoil in 2011. The involvement of the UN was a lot of debate amongst Africans.

Access to oil resources was the main reason why many viewed the UN involvement with suspicion in Libya.

Thabo Mbeki's lecture - The potential for African students in light of Arab Spring - at Stellenbosch University outlined what many viewed as hypocritical acts of Western countries.

To get a European view of this situation I then asked an European friend that has done duty in Afghanistan, Sudan and Somalia under the auspices of the United Nations for his comments on what Thabo Mbeki had to say about this issue.

He replied:

"Nothing will be better if AU has capability, will and knowledge to handle African internal problems. In this case the rebels were close to be sloughed in Benghazi, east in Libya. It was no time for AU’s “Road Map”, and the rebels were crying for help from western countries. France took leadership for very quick political response, and then NATO, with all their members, had capability to respond broader relative quick, also military. It was not in our interest to be involved in another conflict; we have already enough with Afghanistan. But in this case it was no better alternatives. For the oil business and Mediterranean border control, Gaddafi was better for us than the rebels; we don’t know their direction in future. It was a risky involvement for us, but this was the best alternative."

Days later the Centre for Conflict Resolutions held a public dialogue on UN Peacekeeping in Africa . I forwarded the invitation to him and this was his response:

Hi,
Interesting, but remember the organizer may have their own political agenda, point of view/ visual angel, like anyone else...
Please ask critical questions, like from opposite point of view. I would like to be there. I guess it is a bit afro centric point of view on this meeting, and not global. It is a trend in your continent now days.

My response read as follows:

"The African Union derives 70-80% of it's funding from the European Union which also dictates how that money is spend"- Aziz Pahad (Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister) at the 'UN Peacekeeping in Africa' conversation last night.

No wonder the African Union is useless when they have to solve disputes in Africa.

You say the continent is Afrocentric, as if Europeans are not Eurocentric! Everyone watch out for their own interest.

It was a stimulating debate.

Will this ever end?

Singing the Woodstock blues

2011-10-10T10:03:00.000+02:00

I have never thought of living in Woodstock but a sudden change in my love life a couple of years ago meant that I was stranded. A friend of mine had a spare room in Woodstock which I was all to grateful to rent for a couple of months.

Growing up in Cape Town I have always heard of the notorious Gympie Street in Woodstock. Rape, murder, muggings was synonymous with this road and it's inhabitants.

After one of my late nights out on Long Street I was caught up all alone in the Cape Town CBD. My lift back home disappeared with his one night stand and I boozed out what was suppose to be my 'emergency' taxi-money back home. I decided to walk the 45 minutes back to the Woodstock flat along Main Road.

It was a chilly Spring morning but with so much alcohol running through my veins the icy breeze was not a problem. Blissfully unaware that I was approaching the infamous gangster-infested area around Gympie Street I started singing some love song.

For some reason I looked behind me and low and behold, two men were crossing the road running in my direction.

If I was in a 100 metre race with Usain Bolt that morning I would've won that race hands down. They chased me for about 200 metres before they realised that I was some super adrenaline pumping maniac having an out of body experience.

During this high speed chase my body greeted the tarred road with little friction as no bruises were visible afterwards. I must have be on my feet in a split second continuing my 'run to freedom'. After chasing me for 4 blocks the assailants gave up.

I only realized much later that I running with beach sandals. Imagine me beating Usain Bolt in a 100 metre sprint wearing beach sandals nogal.

I got away. Thank God.

Ever since then I've harboured nothing but scorn and disdain for the suburb of Woodstock. The blissful memories of the Sunday morning breakfast which was an institution for my flatmates and I was replaced with that of the stereotypically violent gangster drama which I've heard of.

Until a month ago I have not been back to Woodstock. However, during a recent work project I was in the Gympie Street vicinity and saw the most amazing mural.

I was awestruck by the contrast of this outstanding artwork on the walls of a dilapidated double storey house.

I was really grateful to have discovered this gem because as humans we need to look for the positive in people and places. This re-affirmed my confidence in humanity and that there are 'goodness and greatness all around us if we only open our eyes.

Incubating South African Literary Heritage

2011-09-29T09:46:00.000+02:00

Open Book Cape Town Literary Festival: Youth Day

Opening scene: Taxi to Khayelitsha
Two minibus vehicles are parked in front of The Bookery, Roeland Street. A middle-aged lady sit in front of the second vehicle as a student enters the minibus the following exchange happens.

Student: "This must be your first time in one of these?"
Lady:"No, I work in Khayelitsha and I take one of these from my home in Sea Point to town on a daily basis"
Student: (smiles,disbelief written all over his face).

As he joins his two friends from Cape College on the backseat one exclaimed: "I am busy writing about death, rape and violence that constantly takes place in Cape Town."

The lady, seated in front was joined by a companion. She reminisced about her 'perfect childhood' in Camps Bay her house next to a lake in England (one of the whites that emigrated when the darkies took over in 1994).

It was a most memorable taxi/shuttle/one-of-these rides.

Motivation
I decided some time back to attend the Open book Cape Town Literary Festival's Youth Day program on Heritage Day. I've been volunteering at Equal Education for a couple of months after I heard that they are planing to open a library at Matthew Goniwe Memorial High School.

It is a fact that black people do not read as much as they should and that reading is not promoted amongst the youth. The saying that if you want to hide something from a black man just put it in a book, still rings very true today.

I saw it as an event fitting to spent my Heritage Day as none of the other events around town tickled my fancy.

Having attended a few Literary Festivals (Litfests) in the past I knew that the audience are always 'pale'. I saw this youth day initiative as making black youth part of the national literary conversation as well as developing a broader audience for future litfests.

In her postmortem on the Mail and Guardian Litfest, the Features Editor Tanya Pampalone describes the audience profile that is in dire need for change at events like these:

"But the festival goers themselves seemed to underline a point of stuckness. If you took a syringe to the Weekly Mail of old to extract a sample, a bit of original DNA , if you will of M&G readers, you would come up with this largely pale crowd: greying academics and activists;pointy headed intellectuals and some ageing hippies, with the tiniest pinch of some young black Joburg hipsters" M&G Volume 27, No 36

I am partly responsible for the rearing of the daughter of my late brother. Seeing that I learned my most valued lessons during my school years outside of the classroom I believed that she might just be keen on attending a Youth LitFest when she is a older.

Opening of the library
The proceedings started at 10h30 on 24 September 2011 in the school hall of Matthew Goniwe Memorial High and included a poetry performance, a drama act, a couple of choir performances.

Poetry performance by learner

The speeches were kept short and sweet. The Principal of the school, Ntomboxolo Mqumbisa explained the history of herself as a teacher from 1994 and the tribulations and successes of the institution. The high school has 1200 learners and is the top school in Khayelitsha. They achieved an 86/9% matric pass rate in 2010.

Principal Ntomboxolo Mqumbisa showing learners around the new school library

The absence of male teachers and parents of learners at the opening of the school library spoke volumes.

Book reading at the Harare Library

We travelled to the Harare Library where were welcomed by the head librarian. She explained how it came about that this ultramodern facility was funded by the German Bank and the Carnegie Foundation and why it is focused on teenagers and children.

The head librarian at the Harare Library explaing how the Library came about with Frankie from the Open Book Cape Town LitFest next to her. Author Sifiso Mzobe in red shirt


Captivating audience during the book readings

Award winning wordsmiths Cynthia Jele, author of 'Happiness is a four-letter word' and SifisoMzobe , author of Young blood read from their acclaimed books. They also took questions from the spellbound audience members.

There was a special reading by a teacher that resides in Khayelitsha from his book called Gugulethu Seven. The extract that he read from his book aired more questions than answers regarding one of the most brutal killing sprees in South African Apartheid history.

Cynthia Jele (Winner of 2011 Commonwealth Writers Prize and M-Net Prize, Film category 2011) and Sifiso Mzobe (2011 Sunday Times Literature Award winner for his debut novel Young Blood) during their Q&A session.

I had a quick word with the two award winning authors. They came across as very approachable and genuine. Both repeated the fact that good literature takes time to write. I was even requested by Cynthia to read her offering and send her a critique because she ain't getting much feed back from critics. The fact that her book, Happiness is a four letter word, won the 2011 Commonwealth Writers Prize speaks volumes and I don't think any critic would want to critique her novel, except me of course. Watch this space.

Tell your story

Our return trip to the CBD took around 25 minutes. At the Homecoming Centre in Buitenkant Street we were entertained with a thrilling piece of physical theatre by members of the Human Rights Media Centre.

Stories from the book Edge of the Table were dramatized which depict real life stories of youngsters that live on the Cape Flats. The book was funded by Danish youth that took a day's wages and contributed it to a trust fund. The different ways in which one can tell one's story was stressed by the highly capable facilitators.

Learners were informed of their rights should they decided to tell their story to a journalist or any other media entity. The underlying message was that we should be literature consumers and producers and that everyone's story is worth being told be it in the form of poetry, documentary, short stories, dramas or novels.

Conclusion
This was a well thought out programme to stimulate literary conversation amongst teenagers. It also made them aware of how their heritage can take another dimension eg writing a book about the Gugulethu Seven.

Philanthropy played a major part in establishing the school library at Matthew Goniwe Memorial High School. I hope learners can emulate this example in whatever way or form.

To Frankie and the Open Book Cape Town Literary Festival and the zealous Equal Education team, WELL DONE!!!

Right2know Anti-secrecy bill march

2011-09-17T13:00:00.000+02:00

One of my favorite unorthodox people on this planet, Prof Pierre de Vos. Love his blog www.constitutionallyspeaking.co.za

The invitation read as follow:

DEMAND THE RIGHT TO KNOW!
STOP THE SECRECY BILL!
March to Parliament: 10am - 1pm, Saturday 17 September 2011
It's been almost one year since R2K mounted its first march on Parliament in protest at the draconian Secrecy Bill!
Through the efforts of our membership of civil society organisations, social movements and community groups, we have ensured that many of the draconian clauses have been removed or revised. But despite efforts to reform the Secrecy Bill in Parliament, the final draft that will appear before the National Assembly still metes out harsh prison sentences to whistleblowers, and poses a clear threat to the free flow of information.
On Saturday 17 September from 10am to 1pm, thousands of South Africans will join in a march to Parliament to reject the final draft of the 'Secrecy Bill'!
Gathering point: cnr of Keizersgracht and Tennant, 10am.

Why access to information is important

Imagine trying to pass an exam or trying to do a job without having the necessary information. We all know what the result would be - we would fail the exam and not be able to do the job properly. The point is that without the information we need- whether it is for an individual exam or for ensuring your local municipality delivers quality and affordable basic services to your community - we are left largely in the dark (like when our electricity is cut!).

The good news is that we all have the right to access information. Our Constitution as well as law called the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) gives everyone the right to access information held by any level of government as well as any information held by another person if we need it to protect or fulfill any of our other rights (like our right to housing).

This means you and your community have the right to access information (among other things) about:
How the municipalities and Councillors are spending the community's budget!
Who has received service tenders from the municipality and how much they are paid!
Whether a local company is following labour laws or is polluting the environment!

Knowing your rights is the first step. But the next step is to fight for those rights because we all know that action is more important than words. The fight for our right to access information is central to the fight for all our other rights -without information we a re fighting with one hand tied behind our backs.

If you know your rights to access information and organise and fight for them, not only will you and your community be more empowered but can also hold political leaders , government and local businesses accountable. This is what real democracy is all about.


Don't you just feel sorry for him*I'm trying to be sarcastic*

I am with Desire De La Cruz-Visagie . We attended youth leadership camps together in 'our youth' back in the day.

The Right2know campaign:Our mission and demands
The Right2know campaign is a coalition of over 400 organisatioins and 20 000 people and it is growing all the time.

OUR MISSION: We seek a country and world where we all have a right to know- that is to be free to access and to share information. This right is fundamental to any democracy that is open, accountable and participatory and responsive; able to deliver the social, economic and environmental justice we need.On this foundation a socirt and an international community can be built in which we all live free from want, in equality and dignity.

OUR DEMANDS: Our constitution demands accountable, open and responsive government and our elected representatives are bound by these Constitutional values and any legislation they pass must comply. We therefore demand that the Protection of Information Bill -the Secrecy Bill - must reflect the following:

Limit secrecy to core state bodies in the security sector such as police, defence and intelligence agencies.
Limit secrecy to strictly defined national security matters and no more. Officials must give reasons for making information secret.
Exclude commercial information from this Bill.
Do not exempt the Intelligence agencies from Public scrutiny.
Do not apply penalties for unauthorised disclosure to society at large, only those responsible for heeping secrets.
An independent body appointed by Parliament, and not the Minister of State Security, should be responsible for reviewing and deciding what may be secret.
Do not criminalise the legitimate possession and disclosure of secrets in the public interests.

Enthusiatic marchers


My favourite protester


On the way to Parliament

Grooming them young to stand up for their rights. Methinks it is good parenting.

***All information taken from the wwww.r2k.org.za pamphlet that was handed out on the day of the march.

Redefining Heritage Day

2011-09-15T16:26:00.002+02:00

In the Kwazulu Natal Province 24 September was earmarked to commemorate the Zulu King Shaka who played an important role to unite Zulu clans into a cohesive zone.

In 2005 I watched in horror as the South African media attempted to hijack the South African holiday called Heritage Day and make it into Braai Day

The celebration of a great warrior of Africa has been watered down to having a couple of friends around a barbecue, all in the name of the 'rainbow nation'.

I felt that this Braai Day initiative was a brazen attempt to fill people's stomachs with braaivleis and beer and make them forget their proud past (embarrasing to the fairer section of SA).

What are we doing about this 'dumbing down' of our people was the question.

Cape Cultural Collective initiative
I recently discovered that the Cape Cultural Collective, a collective of musicians, artists and poets with a strong focus on social transformation was having a Book launch of their new Poetry Anthology to mark this day. Two of the poets that are featured in the Anthology, Primrose Mrwebi and Khadija Heeger are well known scribes in Cape Town. I was also privileged to attend their Poetry Workshop on Human Rights Day at the District Six museum this year. The museum will also be the venue for their book launch this coming Friday.

City of Cape Town Art and Poetry Competition
I commend the Cape Town Municipality for staging an Art and Poetry competition. to celebrate Heritage Day.I attended a junior school that put great emphasis on arts and culture and I am sure the participating school children will have a stimulating time creating their presentations. The theme 'My City, My Heritage- Celebrating our diverse culture is inclusive, relevant especially for City segregated, still, by the apartheid socio-economic vault lines.

My Heritage Day 2011 celebration
Part of being the change that I want to see is an improvement in the quality of the South African public education system. I witnessed with great admiration the concert and march on Human Rights Day 2011 where 20 000 kids stood together demanding quality and equality education. I have been volunteering at The Bookery in Roeland Street whenever I have a couple of hours to spare during the week. I assist with the covering labeling, cataloguing of books that will be donated to disadvantaged schools.On Heritage Day we will be opening a Library at the Matthew Goniwe High School in Khayelitsha.

Liberation Heritage Summit
On 26 and 27 September 2011 the National Heritage Council will be hosting a Summit on the Liberation heritage Route(LHR) in order to consult with the public and other stakeholders to ensure full participation and contribution towards Liberation Heritage.

The Lhr will be a network of sites telling stories of South Africa's liberation struggle and the route to democracy. The identified routes will be considered for listing as World heritage Property by UNESCO World heritage Committee. Delegates at the summit will motivate for places, struggle heroes and events to be included in the liberation route.

All the people who have information to contribute to the stories of the liberation of South Africa have been invited.

NOW THAT IS A MORE LIKE A HERITAGE DAY EVENT!!

Wie gaan kyk en wie gaan eet?
I have nothing against Braai Day**wink** but as a young nation we still do not know where our neighbors, colleagues and fellow country men come from, their beliefs, their language and their challenges. I am sure there are more innovative/appropriate ways to get together celebrating our heritage and that of our fellow countrymen.

Poverty is rife amongst a great part of the South African population. The people do not have the means to have a braai and enjoy 'their heritage'. Oh well, if you can count rat meat as edible it wont be a problem because these rodents are plagues in most informal settlements in the country.

I really think Braai day is insensitive if you think of the economic aspect thereof. This makes a great part of the nation mere spectators when celebrating 'their heritage'.

My Leadership advice for President Jacob Zuma

2011-09-13T12:41:00.001+02:00

I've noticed with great interest President Zuma's latest utterances regarding the political future of the ANC Youth League leader, Mr Julius Malema.

As a concerned South African I firmly believe that we should develop our youth so that they can take our country and the continent to the next level of socio-economic development.

The President said, “You cannot allow him to do the wrong things. In other words, the job of the ANC is to help Malema, to mould him into a dynamic, good leader. That's what we need to do. It is only if you can’t do it, that the question becomes what do we do with him.”

I commend the President's 'fatherly approach' to a youth leadership style that has been confrontational, incoherent and divisive.

However, it is blatantly clear that Mr Malema and the youth league executive are incapable of providing the visionary leadership that is so badly needed by the ANC and South Africa as a whole.

I therefore would like to quote the leadership guru, John C.Maxwell ,on how to handle the 'lack of leadership' within the youth league.

"Don't send your ducks to eagle school. Why? Because it won't work.Ducks are not suppose to be eagles - nor do they want to become eagles. Who they are is who they should be.

As a leader your job is to help your ducks to become better ducks and your eagles better eagles -to put individuals in the right places and help them reach their potential. You shouldn't ask someone to grow in areas where they have no natural talent. It is very important for a leader to get the right people in the organisation and put them in the right position" John C Maxwell

I know that the ANCYL has got a plethora of great leaders who, for some reason, do not rise to the top of that body. Instead of helping Mr Malema try and become someone he is not, can President Zuma help facilitate the rise of 'eagles' in this organisation.

Book review of Jacob Dlamini's Native Nostalgia

2011-04-29T18:02:00.005+02:00

I could not have chosen a better book to read over the Easter weekend cum Freedom Day holidays.

Native Nostalgia has been one my 'have-to-read list' for over a year and I finally managed to make time to see what Jacob Dlamini had to offer. I have always and will always be attracted to arguments that goes against the grain of the 'normal opinion'. In this book Dlamini did just that.

His dismissive stance regarding the undifferentiated portrayal of black townships and black people during Apartheid permeates from the first to the last page. The 'one size fits all' story is challenged and his examples of the differences in class, languages, ethnicity, skin color and upbringing in his township, Katlehong, is very colorful.

His illustration that under Apartheid there were more areas of grey than black and white was superbly illustrated by the Joe Mamasela (an informer). "the past was not one of resisters on the one hand and oppressors on the other".

I am disappointed in his brief description of how the senses are experienced in the township. I am of the opinion that one chapter should be dedicated to each sense which he so vividly describes.

The dualistic relationship that black people under Apartheid had with the Afrikaans language is one of intrigue, suspicion, love and hate. Another example of the greyness that the black township was filled with. There was no clear black and white as the contemporary, mainstream opinion want us to believe today.

Dlamini has a great affinity to his township, Katlehong, and makes the reader understand the multi-layered, differentiated ecosystem that his environment really was under apartheid.

The multi-dimensional view which one should view any neighborhood pre- and post-Apartheid comes to the fore in this offering.

This book is an easy read and yet another example of why black people (in fact any people) should tell their own stories. This is the very reason why I started blogging, to tell my own story.

A classic read for anyone grappling with the notion that not all black people and black townships are the same.

They never were; they never will be.

Related links
Book review of Moeletsi Mbeki's Architects of Poverty

A woman's guide on how to make a man want to eat her oyster

2011-04-28T12:53:00.003+02:00

Background
I am a great listener/eves-dropper par excellence and therefore know that women in committed relationships usually complain about 2 things:

The fact that their partner is not spending enough quality time with them.
The fact that after a period of time their sex life becomes stale. Their men becomes under performers and never wants to 'go down' on them.

Light-bulb moment
Over the weekend I attended an Oyster & Champagne Festival in Durbanville. After indulging in my umpteenth drink a big-busted lady caught my eye. She was wearing a tight T shirt that showcased her 'twins' for the world to see but that was not what really intrigued me.

Her t-shirt read as follows, "The man who ate my oyster was very brave".

As I am always on the look out for weird and wonderful things and sayings this woman got my attention instantaneously. Due to my slow reactionary time (blame it on the bubbly) I lost sight of her a second later and could not trace her.

I obviously wanted to know who this brave man was and what exactly her 'oyster' signified ***wink***.

But then I thought of my female friends that struggle to get their hubbies to 'schuck and slurp'. I came up with the following strategy to make any woman's man want to eat her 'oyster'.

The Strategy

Design a tight fitting t shirt in your favorite color that reads "The man who ate my oyster was very brave.
Wear this t shirt at events that is frequented by, especially men e.g bars, sport matches, political rallies.
Always greet reactions to your t shirt with a big smile in his presence.
Make sure that he sees that you are extremely proud to wear that t shirt because it represents fond memories.
Due to the competitive nature of men he would want to be regarded as that brave man. Trust me on this one. Men still kill each other over penis size insults in modern day South Africa.
Don't stop wearing the t shirt until he initiates verbal talks/fights about this 'brave oyster-eater'.
When he is ready to negotiate his 'oyster eating sessions' let him know how much you love it.(Your reason for wearing the t shirt).
After you got what you wanted you can still wear the t shirt in his presence. However, your reaction to any male attention should be directed to the 'brave man' you created. The one next to you.
A big smile and a hug will let the world know that you are very proud of your personal oyster-eater.

Hedonist Valley Communications

Commemorating Freedom Day

2011-04-26T09:09:00.006+02:00

I've always had issues with how my peers and I commemorate historical South African public holidays. I succumbed to peer pressure and just did the regular social event or get-together that is usually on the menu.

However this year the concert and march for equality education that took place on Human Rights Day 2011 made me the re-evaluate my actions on such profound public holidays. I sat back and thought of ways how to purposefully commemorate Freedom Day in a contemporary way.

Background
Freedom Day is a South African holiday celebrated on 27 April. It celebrates freedom and commemorates the first post-apartheid elections held on that day in 1994. The elections were the first non-racial national elections where everyone of voting age over 18 from any race group including non-citizens were allowed to vote, no voters roll was used.

Ways to commemorate the day

Collect books from relatives and friends to donate it to the the bookery in Roeland Street, Cape Town.
If you are unable to collect books complete the show government you care petition form and forward it on to 10 colleagues or friends requesting them to complete the petition form
Collect used musical instruments to donate it to the one of the Amy Biehl foundation's after-care initiatives in Phillipi. A worthy cause, I must add.
Unfreedom Day celebrations was started by Abahlali basemjondolo and has become a day of education in which films discussions and performances play a major role. The theme of the day is to demonstrate that the poor is still not free in South Africa.
Entry to the Iziko museums, excluding the Castle of Good Hope and Planetarium, will be free. Each museum has it's own history and character presenting extensive art, social and national history collections reflective of our diverse African heritage. The different museums offer something for everyone.

If you have any suggestions on how to commemorate significant South African holidays, more consciously, feel free to share it.

Hedonist Valley Communications

My Oyster & Champagne Festival Experience

2011-04-25T13:08:00.002+02:00

I arrived at Bloemendal wine estate in high spirits. I haven't seen my pals that I was gonna hook up with in a very long time.

When I entered the venue I was told that my peeps left the venue because there was no credit card facilities (they never carry cash). I decided to stick it out alone and self-indulge which comes very naturally to me.

Bloemendal Restaurant on top of hill. This is what I call top-of-the-food-chain baby!!

It was good to see that the entertainment on the day consisted of was bands that is unfamiliar to me. I get tired of bands that I see on TV and hear in clubs and then have to endure at live gigs. I remember the performances of Benjamin Peaceful and a band called Loose Cannon very well (was still in a state to remember!).


Loose Cannon

I like live bands. In particular guitarist. The lead man of the Cannons was outstanding in his performance. This man practically made love with is guitar. He got me going there for a split second.

I don't do queues. A full house of fun-seekers on the farm obviously meant that queus will be inevitable. Rows of people queued for food and to use the toilet. Thank God there was less demand for stock at the bar and the shooters section because that's where I hanged.

Decided to skip the Oysters because of the pickled fish feeding frenzy that I attended at my mom's over lunch.

The kiddies entertainment section was very extensive. Activities on the day included

jumping castles,
paint ball games
face painting
toy store and many more

It was an all round family experience which I'll definitely share with kindred spirits next year if I am in Cape Town over Easter.

Hedonist Valley Communications

Jazz @ the Library: Part 2

2011-04-21T17:28:00.003+02:00

It was with great anticipation that I cut my lunch meeting short to get to a much-awaited jazz performance by the John Pama Primary School Brass Band.

I arrived at the venue at 15h15 only to find that the band did not arrive yet (the scheduled time was15h15) but then I realized that it is Cape Town and that the band is most probably operating on African time. I had to take two deep breaths.

At around 15h25 the fresh, young, talented musicians confidently entered the library and spent 20 more minutes in the preparation room.

I took two more deep breaths. "This better be worth the wait", I told myself.


John Pama Primary School Brass Band enters the house

Their performance took me back to my days of being a choir boy in primary school. I was reminiscing with a big smile on my face.

The brass band is part of the Amy Biehl Foundation's after-care school incentive, which focuses on involvement in education and creative activities.

Showman: The drummer during his electrifying performance

As a group they performed outstandingly, however some individual performances need some practice.

The highlight of the performance was delivered by the the group's drummer. He had one solo session of about 1 minute but boy, did he make everyone stand up and notice. He was animated, high-spirited and full of energy. He rose to the occasion when it was his time to shine and from the smiles of his band mates I sense that he is a natural performer.

As part of the Central Library's community involvement plan, they are running a drive to collect old, unused musical instruments on behalf of the Amy Biehl Foundation. At the moment they can only accommodate 15 learners per teaching session. More instruments available would allow more children to enjoy the benefits of playing a musical instrument. Donations of old instruments can be dropped at the Central Library Drill Hall c/o Darling and Parade Streets.

I hope to see this Brass Band gracing the stage at Africa's grandest gathering in the nearby future. With hard work, dedication and encouragement from family and the broader community these youngsters will go places.

Hedonist Valley Communications

Related links
Jazz @ the library: Part 1

Jazz @ the Library: Part 1

2011-04-19T15:02:00.006+02:00

I was surprised by the invite that said there will be live Jazz performances at the library. This is a foreign concept to me. Combining the library and a jazz performance. Apart from the Music Library section at Libraries, live music is a foreign concept to the house of knowledge.

When I reread the invite I saw that it is an American Corner, USinfo@Central, initiative and part of the Central Library community outreach program. Trust the Americans to STILL come up with out-of-the-building ideas.

Background
"Each April, the United States celebrates Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM), an opportunity to savor a major American contribution to world culture. Initiated by the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History, JAM aims to focus public attention on the music and on the many talented composers, musicians and other contributors to the sound. Jazz Appreciation Month 2011 – the 10th Anniversary – examines the legacies of jazz women, and their advocates, who helped transform race, gender and social relations in the U.S. in the quest to build a more just and equitable nation"- An extract from the invite.

The tribe of Benjamin Jazz Quartet delivered a scintillating performance over lunch time. It was no surprise that the band also featured at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival this year. The band which consist out of Benjamin Jephta ( Bass Guitar), Marlon Witbooi (Drums), Keenan Ahrends ( Guitar), Zeke le Grange (saxophone) and special guest vocalist Sandile Gotsana mesmerized the crowd.

This intimate Jazz performance challenged my view of 'appropriate venues' for live music performances.

Hedonist Valley Communications

Related links
Jazz @ the library: Part 2

Why I'm breaking my political rally virginity

2011-04-17T12:39:00.003+02:00

Confession: My political rally virginity will be broken on Worker's Day, 1 May 2011.

A couple of days ago I was handed a flier by a man dressed in a Cosatu union T shirt and a cap in the City Bowl. It is a couple of weeks to the municipal elections so it's expected that all political formations are pulling out their arsenal to win the minds and hearts of the electorate.

I noticed the usual suspects on the speakers' list, the usual fun and games and the free transport. This is nothing out of the ordinary for a political rally that is organized by one of the ruling Alliance partners.

On my second perusal of the pamphlet I noticed that the venue of the rally is the Cape Town stadium in Green Point. I was pleasantly surprised for the following reasons:

My parents always had issues with the fact that political rallies are ALWAYS held in Cape Town townships. Not that there is anything wrong with townships but as an Alliance that governs ALL of South Africa the ANC/Cosatu/SACP comes across as being intimidated by the City of Cape Town.
The rallies in stadiums (like Phillipi and Athlone that are normally used) are substandard if you compare it to the Cape Town Stadium. This gives me the impression that the Alliance partners don't believe that their followers deserve to use the best facilities available.
Many people are bussed to and from rallies so transporting people from e.g Kayamandi (Stellenbosch) to Athlone as to Kayamandi to Green Point should not be a financial burden for Cosatu and it's Alliance partners.(They can always bank on the Guptas if they need an extra 'sponsor').
I believe that it has always served the ruling Alliance well by keeping these rallies in Cape Town townships making the 'them' and 'us' point more tangible. I call it ghettoizing the mind. Followers start believing that their only place in South Africa is a derelict township and that the reason that they are there is the 'white man'.

I am thrilled that the whole of Cape Town can come and enjoy the best of what the City has to offer on Worker's Day 2011.

With the family friendly Green Point Park situated adjacent to the stadium, this Worker's Day rally will definitely be the place where ordinary men and women of the City can come and celebrate and be celebrated.

It took them years but Cosatu is finally speaking my language.

Hedonist Valley Communications

Back to Stellenbosch

2011-04-16T11:11:00.002+02:00

Yesterday I took the long, overdue journey back to my Alma mater, Stellenbosch University.

I've been to the town a few times since I left in 1998 ,but for reasons other than education. Most of my friends from out of town love Stellenbosch so we always spend a couple of days in the vicinity when they are in town.

My visit yesterday, however, was overdue because I've been postponing the start of my postgraduate studies for at least 3 years. After doing much soul searching and career planning I decided that I better get my ass back to school ASAP.

I was delighted when I traveled past the Sustainable Institute in Lynedoch where I'll be spending a lot of my time the next couple of years.

The main campus

Heading into the main campus was like a 'traveling-back-into-time' experience. Not only did all the buildings remain the same but it looked like the composition of the students are very similar to that of the late 1990s.

However, it was heartwarming to see at least 2 blind students walking between classes with their aids (in my undergraduate days I never saw any blind person on campus).

I saw a couple of students sitting on the lawn, enjoying the early autumn sun, and I couldn't help but think of the many hours my first year classmates -Jolene Cairncross and Gloria Behr- and I enjoyed the perfectly manicured lawns. Those were the days I tell you!!

I grabbed a coffee at Neelsie where I found hordes of students transfixed on a wide screen TV. The clock has not even struck 10 am and they were watching a Super 15 rugby match . Some things will never change around this rugby mad campus I thought to myself.

Well, I managed to see a couple of new flat complexes that sprung up and the mall in the dorp was also undergoing changes.

I am looking forward to my journey back to my school next year :-)

Hedonist Valley Communications

Embarrassing childhood experiences

2011-04-13T13:41:00.003+02:00

I believe that it takes a certain level of maturity to blog on some of my most embarrassing experiences to date. However, some would say it is plain stupidity to blog about experiences that leaves one red faced (I turn grey not red)

Chick-chick-chick-chicken!!
When I was 10 years old my father decided to slaughter a chicken. This practice is very common in my family but I have never actively taken part in any slaughtering activities until then. My father called me to the back yard and requested that I hold the chicken (I don't like animals). With some hesitation I held the feathery beast. As my father tried to slaughter the chicken I started crying uncontrollably and let the chicken out of my hands. I think my father was extremely embarrassed to see his first born son not able to assist in slaughtering a chicken. My baby brother, who was 7 years old at the time, replaced me and did a sterling job.

He was a....
During my last Sunday school beach outing I called our bus driver 'a son of a bitch' in front of my Sunday school teachers. The brother was two hours late and we starting to think that we'd have to sleep on Gordon's Bay beach. My teacher was in tears because all her hard work to get me to be a 'good Christian' amounted to nothing.

You can always count on me to add some descriptive spice into the mix (until today).

Daydreamer
In high school I was a daydreamer and always in my own world. During a discussion on an issue I addressed my male teacher as 'mommy'. He was one of those uber masculine dudes who got girls salivating. This was the standing joke of my Grade 8 year.

Lance Armstrong here I come!
When my father bought my first bicycle I didn't know how to cycle and had to find all sorts of excuses not to use the bicycle for 2hours after he purchased it. My dad got fed up and forced me on the cycle. He pushed and I simply had to go with the flow. It all went fine except for turning the bicycle in another direction...ONE BIG DISASTER!!

I'll write about my more recent embarrassing situations some other time.

Hedonist Valley Communcations

The real Cape Royalty

2011-04-12T09:14:00.002+02:00

The street people in Cape Town have always intrigued me. The stories of how they ended up living on the street is at times very shocking but loosing their homes and families doesn't mean that they are down and out, not in the least.

Don't worry be happy Police Guard
A couple of weeks ago I was slapped with 2 SARS penalties for late submission of my tax returns. After numerous, frustrating phone phone calls to the regional office I decided to take the bull by the horns. I was in a murderous rage when I walked down the the SARS office in lower Long Street, ready to kill the consultant that will tell me what I do not want to hear. As I approached the office a homeless lady came out of nowhere and asked me :
" nou wantoe gaan jy met daai lang gevreet? Naai man trek reg jou gesig!"**.

I could not contain myself and burst out in laughter. I was not laughing at her but the fact that she had this happy-go-lucky-attitude. She made my day. Needless to say I was a defenseless puppy when I got to the SARS office and paid my penalties without a fuss.

Cape-o-hornication
A friend of mine, Esau, was working for the Department of Justice in Plein Street. He told me that there was a homeless couple that would squat in doorway opposite their building. The couple had no inhibitions and would at times fornicate, yes have sex, anytime of the day. Some bystanders would, at times, call the police for them to be removed but in a couple of hours the couple would be back at their 'home' doing whatever they wish. This happened metres from the entrance to the National Parliament.

Food snobs
Thando was one of my flatmates that loved to cook. When she moved in with me she soon befriended some of the homeless people that stayed on our street. Let me rephrase that, we stayed on their street. She would occasionally give food to some of our neighbors on the street and would always be taken aback by the 'ungrateful' attitude some have when it is home cooked meals.

The homeless in Green Point are use to getting restaurant doggy bags from residents so a healthy plate of pap and vleis is way beneath them.

I believe that being a homeless person is a condition. You might not have any material things to show off but that simply doesn't mean that you have to be satisfied with whatever society believe you deserve in life. Cape Town street people is a very special breed.

**" nou wantoe gaan jy met daai lang gevreet? Naai man trek reg jou gesig!" - Now where are you going with that long(unhappy) face? No man pull your face right!

Hedonist Valley Communications

Mothers groom woman abusers

2011-04-09T11:47:00.003+02:00

The first time that I registered society differentiated between a male and a female was when I had to write a essay regarding who the stronger sex was.

I was very confused because I grew up in a household where my parents split the responsibilities equally (at least from my vantage point). Both my mother and father held down more than one job and the household chores were shared. At school and church there were never any mention made that there is a stronger sex so this topic of who the stronger sex was, was very confusing to me.

On a Saturday afternoon I found my mother and grandmother chatting in the kitchen. I'll never forget the chilling stare both women gave me when I asked them whether a man is stronger than a woman. The deafening silence that my question was greeted with send chills down my spine. After 30 seconds of the silent treatment therapy I instinctively knew that the battle of the sexes was a contentious issue.

The following Monday morning at school I told my teacher that I want to write about a different topic because this one might get me in serious trouble with my mother.

She obliged.

The first and only time that I hit a female was when my baby sister and I fought about the television remote control. I blessed her with a mighty back hand that landed on her right cheek. This vile act was followed by one of the longest lectures my mother ever gave me. She sat me down and taught me how to respect females.

I took that lesson to heart.

South Africa has a large percentage of woman- headed households. These women have an obvious influence as to how their male children relate and treat the opposite sex. I have always found the high women abuse rate in South Africa puzzling because in my world it was women that taught me how to respect and treat other women.

I therefore believe that mothers groom woman abusers because, if every mother teach their underage male children how to respect females that message will go a long way to eliminate the scourge of woman abuse.

Hedonist Valley Communications

Related links

The Historical Roots of the ANC

2011-04-06T11:24:00.003+02:00

Last night I attended a public dialogue that was held by the Centre for Conflict Resolution about the principles and processes that led to the founding of the African National Congress. The recently published book is the first in a series of six published on behalf of the ANC Parliamentary Political and Education Committee.

Left to Right: Prof Ben Turok, Dr Adekeye Adebajo and Dr Pallo Jordan

The chairperson, Dr Adebajo, opened the dialogue by explaining a little bit about how the series of books came about and giving some facts about Africa's oldest liberation movement.

I was not surprised that the Centre for the Book, the venue, was filled to it's capacity for this very engaging talk shop.

Dr Jordan started of by saying that there are two ways of looking at the ANC:

South Africa's governing party which is just another political player
Or the oldest liberation movement on the African continent that lit the flames of the liberation movements in the Anglophone African countries.

He said "the movement was founded by the educated African elite". (Looking at the quality of the current crop of, especially youth, ANC leaders the founding fathers must be puking their lungs out in disgust.)

He went on to say that in 1912 the entire Africa was still made out of colonies, except for Ethiopia. At birth the ANC adopted a vision that was different from white political parties.

In 1923 the name African National Congress and the African Bill of Rights was adopted.

He added that the ANC is a result of decades of internal struggles and that the organization displays capacity for absorbing new ways of doing things.

He also stated that unlike any other freedom movement, the ANC remains relevant and if it plays its cards right it should be returned to government in 2014.

Prof Ben Turok explained that the series of books contains lectures that are delivered to the ANC Parliamentary caucus on Thursdays. These lectures are suppose to increase the analytical skills of the Members of Parliament and make them understand the complexities of ideas. (This in itself should be an incentive to get the books because I'm sure everyone would want to know what the MPs are taught). He also stated that all MPs will in future attend a compulsory lecture on ethical behavior.(Only NOW, I asked myself?)

He added that the books are highly readable and recommended Part 6 for its focus on economics. The books pre-date the ANC struggle and includes the scenarios where Africans are fighting for self-determination.

It was one of the more intellectually stimulating evenings I've experienced in a while but a couple of things bothered me.

The chairperson was sitting with his pen in his mouth for half of the night. He did not break any laws by doing that but I have an over-imaginative mind so I had to really focus on what was said and not where my mind was trying to race to (if you get my drift).
Dr Adebajo also declared after the first round of questions that he'll take a second round of questions after the speakers answered the first batch. This did not happen and my question that I meditated on for days could not be aired (talk of non-delivery!!).

I believe that the series of books is a collectors item. At R600 for the 6 volumes it is reasonably priced and should be used to educate all South Africans and anyone interested in African History.

Hedonist Valley Communications

Related links
Verwoerd the future kwaito kingpin?

Opening of the Green Point Park

2011-04-05T11:04:00.009+02:00

After much deliberation on Sunday, I decided to attend the opening of the Green Point Park. The weather was a perfect and with my 'special one' out of town I had to keep myself engaged.

The bait
The Cape Town Municipality's newsletter, Citynews, described the new Green Point Park as "an oasis of open space and a fabulous place to relax and play". According to the report 12,5 hectare park boasts walkways ,seating, green areas, water features and ponds, and a walking , cycling and jogging track. The Park has Table Mountain, Signal Hill, Lion's Head and the ocean as its stunning backdrops.

I simply had to go and experience this irresistible offering for myself on a perfect Autumn afternoon.

A spectacular view of Lion's Head from the Green Point Park

The company
I decided to pop in at my ex housemate, Len's, to request his company to the event. I believe that I was godsend because Len has been on anti-depressants for one month and was in 'bad shape'. He was not the best of company but being his housemate for over 5 years I know and tolerate his mood swings. We took a leisurely 10 minute walk from his house to the Park. (Why are anti-depressants referred to as 'happy pills'? My friend was miserable!! )

Eye candy on our way to the Green Point Park. Check the little girl looking LOL!!! Precious!!

The Park
I was very impressed by the amount of people that attended the Opening ceremony. The park was designed along ecological principles and includes:

Indigenous landscaping
Multipurpose spaces
Biodiversity garden with interpretive signage
Artworks

As an environmentalist I was overjoyed by what I saw and even more so that future developments will include a state-of-the-art environmental education and demonstration centre.

Entertainers

We did not get to enjoy much of the entertainment on offer because Len was not impressed with the line-up (I blame it on the 'happy pills'!). The Rudimentals, Emo Adams and the popular MC Soli Philander were some of the entertainment on offer.

My x-housemate and dear friend Len

Kids Entertainment Section
The section I was most impressed with at the Park was the amphitheater that showcased Children's entertainment. Most of my friends have little ones and keeping their kids entertained and occupied is the first priority when they decide on any leisurely excursion.

Kids Entertainment Section

I am of the opinion that it was worth spending billions on this facility. As the mayor said that this is a legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and it belongs to all Capetonians.

Hedonist Valley Communications

Related links
Mandela Rhodes Place on Reconciliation Day
My day at the horse races
Best Medicine
Alfresco in the bundus
Styling at the Ritz

10 Tips to get South Africa in shape

2011-04-04T09:51:00.006+02:00

On 15 February 2011 I listened to a Moeletsi Mbeki interview on SAFM. The discussion was about his controversial Tunisia Day opinion piece . During the radio interview his comment that hit a raw nerve was about the obese Members of Parliament.

Obese Members of Parliament is not a new phenomenon in SA. I believe that they are a direct reflection of the weight problem that we face in this country. However, it was refreshing that someone had the balls to say it on a national radio station.

With this in mind I took it upon myself to develop a National Strategy to combat Obesity.

Setting up a Ministry of Obesity. This is a pandemic and government should show that it is serious about combating this problem.
An ideal weight should be prescribed to all citizens. If a citizen, for whatever reason, weighs more than her/his prescribed weight he/she should be slapped with a 'fat tax'. I recommend R 5000 for every kilogram over the prescribed weight.
A compulsory monthly weigh-in for all citizens.
A compulsory online food diary should be kept by all citizens. This food diary should be accessible to all Interested and Affected parties.
All citizens should observe compulsory 'meat-free' weekends.
Compulsory physical exercises for all citizens on a daily basis. An online record of exercises should be kept.
Alcohol-free weekends should be made law to curb the consumption of empty calories.
Free counseling for emotional eaters.
A weight exchange program with undernourished African countries. "African solutions for African problems" as they say ;-)
If above-mentioned strategies don't work the mass roll out of the following are recommended:

Tapeworm tablets
Fat-attack tablets
Surgery to reduce stomach size

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Hedonist Valley Communications

Related links
My book review of Moeletsi Mbeki's Architects of Poverty