Millions for president foundation

It wasn’t long South African citizens spotted 3 big PSL soccer bosses at the ANC NGC front row seat held recently in Durban and just a few weeks; Mining magnate Motsepe gives R10m to Zuma Foundation and this will happen for the next five years.

Okay; it’s fine it’s his millions and he can spend them which ever way he sees fit without us questioning him but what bugs me is why donate to foundations that are already worth millions and would function well without that kind of financial boost.

A friend of mine said “this is a smart way of eluding tax and possibly a favor from the high office in the future” Would it hurt to have donated that much needed money to foundations in Orange Farm, Diepsloot or any of our many impoverished squatter camps around our country? 

I don’t want to toy around with the idea that this donations is politically motivated but one wonders why be generous to a foundation that has ties with a state man?

My believe is that ample foundations could have benefited in terms of sharing as that’s a lot of money for a single foundation but hey! I don’t have millions to can make decisions expect to raise my concern and next time you happen to have such amount stashed somewhere give me a shout I will make sure the needy get’s to benefit.

Tuition fee to unemployment

Year in and out sees ample of matriculants enrolling for tertiary studies with hopes that someday they’ll be able to have decent jobs that will not only put food on their table but secure them a better future.

But unfortunately furthering your studies doesn’t guarantee one employment; and the fluctuating economy hasn’t helped either. One wonders if it’s worth spending exuberant fees going to school only to be unemployed post graduating. Wouldn’t it be wise to start a business instead but then this depends on your surrounding as majority of our people are not working.

With such high rate of unemployment for graduate who is to blame?

a)      Government for making promises which they can’t fulfill because their system to empower entrepreneurs seems to benefit the few;

b)      Tertiary institutions that mostly rely on theory forgetting that practical plays a major role for the corporate world or,

c)      The very own students who happen to be incompetent, lazy and expect to be spoon-fed?

Over the years we have witnessed masses of our intellectuals immigrating in a sense of finding a better life elsewhere, it’s good for personal growth but what does that mean for our country?

South Africa though is a developing country worldwide but developed compared to its African compatriots still has a long way to go when it comes to balancing the working scale. With a little bit of determination one hopes that such dream will be achieved someday.

Local elections nearing speed up service delivery

“A better life for all”, “Sonqoba simunye” to name a few; these are some of the slogan we get accustomed to nearing elections. Campaigns are the order of the day and post electing our leaders and hoping they’ll keep their word, one sees them moving out of ekasi for a lavish lifestyle in the suburbs.

It’s absurd that in these day and age there are still people living without proper sanitation and infrastructure. I’ll omit housing because there’s too much corruption in there (cause by councilors) that it’s not even worth talking about. Yes, it’s a fact we cannot all benefit at once but how does one explain the huge gap that is seen between our living conditions yet we brag that we are free?

Street lights; sewerage, garbage to name a few can go for weeks, months and years not maintained yet we have local committees we elected to take care of such things when they occur.

We no longer take pride living in the township because we don’t have proper (recreational facilities, libraries) which is our youth have took solace in committing crime, making booze their trusted buddies and teen pregnancies to get the grant (which is good enough for nappies only)

There has been a lot of noise about nationalization of mines to bettering people’s lives but in true reality who will benefit? Who gets tenders? Who drives luxurious cars while others go to bed without even a slice of bread? 

Media Appeals Tribunal

The Polokwane Conference held in 2007 by the African National Congress not only was where they re-called (I prefer dethrone) the then-president Thabo Mbeki from high office but was where the illustrious media industry was plotted as to how they’ll gain control of.

Never before since democracy has the media industry faced a threat and a possible gag. According to the ruling party they have had it with the print media per se which unlike its sibling (broadcasting) is less regulated and have rendered the Ombudsman ineffective.

A ruling on the protection of information bill will be debated in parliament however these are some of the things the ruling party have to make crystal:

-          ANC have to prove how parliament application to the tribunal would be fair, considering that parliament was dominated by them,

-          Press Ombudsman was biased in his rulings;

-          How many citizens had complaints regarding media appeal decisions

ANC had documents that South Africa was aware of unregulated power and unbridled capitalism by few media companies. If the law is introduced it would adjudicate complaints from citizens between media publications.

It’s a tug of war where press freedom is jeopardized and could come to an end in favor of protection of information for the individual as the ruling party believes this will be in the public interest.

Sibambene foundation reaching out

“You can be the change” these are the words echoed by The Sibambene Foundation Founder Alan Turner as his non-profit organization celebrate heritage day with the youth of Finetown, Orange Farm South of Johannesburg. With few days before the foundation launches its website officially they saw it fit to engage with the community and spent the historic day on the country’s calendar.

The cultural group recently held an event at a local hall to enjoy, celebrate their different cultures under the “Ubuntu” umbrella and tolerance towards one another.

The event was well received by the community which came in their numbers and the atmosphere was so warming. “The foundation is a not for profit business that will be looking into sustainable development of small business and renewable energy, hopefully by this year next year it would have grown immensely as we further looking at making a difference in this poverty stricken township with the help of government, large corporate companies, business and land owners.”

Media versus Government

The recent arrest of Award-winning journalist Mzilikazi wa-Afrika might have raised eye brows and shocked masses but in reality this is the kind of treatment (we) journo’s succumb to on a daily basis when dealing with lawmen in trying our level best in exposing the evil that our government officials get up to; which of course they wouldn’t like to be brought before the public.

There are so many stories that don’t get to be told as bribe is involved and this is degrading to the industry because the media is a trusted source of information that is tasked with rooting out evil but this result to injustice to the people right to know.

I, happen to be testimony to that dealing with the men in blue but as a freelancer I didn’t have a sound media house to back me and consider legal action and to make matters worse I had to go for weeks without my equipment.

To all budding journalist out there word of advice “Have the nerves of steel, don’t be shaken by ignorant officers who can’t even do their jobs properly” Have passion for this industry (not monetary driven) and a never-say-die attitude and as they say “all things will fall into place.” And oh! No amount of money is worth withholding information to the public!