Recapping

COUNCILLOR FACES COMMUNITY WRATH

SOWETO - Chiawelo residents took to the streets protesting about the installation of electricity prepaid meter and barricaded the busy Chris Hani Road nearby.

Ward 12 councillor Johannes Nemaungani became a victim when his house and vehicle were torched by the angry protestors; six people who were trapped in the house were rescued.

It is a norm that in winter the entire country faces an enormous power blackouts, illegal connections are not foreign which may be the contributing factor to the constant cut-off as the demand exceed supply.

As much as I don't condone the masses irresponsible acts that is without a doubt fuelled by jealousy but truth needs to be told that councillors promises heaven and earth when they campaign for votes. They forget to inform the communities that promises they make are not solely depended on them but there are protocol to follow and procedures within the government that has to be followed which usually takes forever. Worse still, up-on being elected they don't return to the people to inform and educate them about things to expect. As it stands people are fed-up with excuses and lies politicians feed them and lack of service delivery despite president assuring them that such irregularities will be the thing of the past hence they resorted to such activities. We may argue that the said councillor has nothing to do with Eskom but who owns the power supplier?

A group of protestors fought with metro police officers to free one of their own after he was arrested, overpowered and under siege the two officers fled the scene.

NATIONALISATION

It's a first of its kind in our country we have had and seen a youth leader that is so powerful, influential and dominating one would mistaken him for occupying the State President seat.

Seshego-born Julius Sello Malema was at it again preaching and talking 'nationalisation' of mines and banking institution. According to him its high time white people give back what they took from black people. ''We are going to engage with these investors with a will that they hand over 60 percent of their wealth which in this case are minerals and 'loot'. We can't have them coming into our country to invest and only for them to return to their respective countries without us benefitting'' he concluded.

Communist Party leader Blade Nzimande has came out with guns blazing about how nationalisation won't benefit the poor and this argument was backed by ANC Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe who emphasized that the ruling party is not going to be dictated to by the Youth League and that nationalisation is not their policy; and this resulted in the ANCYL taking a stance and airing their views that come 2012 at the ANC Conference which will be held in Bloemfontein, Free State they would love to see him vacate the secretary position for Fikile Mbalula who was once the president of the Youth League.

How will they run big corporate companies when they fail to run departments like Home Affairs and Traffic for that matter; where bribes are now a procedure in obtain a drivers license. Tenders are now a mess mainly because of this type of mentality and now nationalisation, do we yearn to see Mzansi emulate Zimbabwe, ruled by dictators and losing our currency? I doubt...

R200m UNSPEND GOVERNMENT GRANT

Not a single graduate applied for funds from the government scheme set up to help settle their outstanding university fees. NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme) was tasked with administering the fund which was supposed to enable 25 000 students to receive their qualifications.

Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande announced the grant during his budget speech in May.

Anyone who knows whether Umsobomvu Youth Fund or National Youth Development Agency are of any help to many of our unemployed youth across the country? As much as there are ample initiatives by the government to aid those in need, do these plans yield any positive results; the latest being the Digital Integration Programme that many have applied for but are yet to get a response.

HANDS OFF THE PUBLIC PROTECTOR

Lately exposing corruption in our country has taken an ugly turn where one get hunted as if s/he is the criminal. Its ironic how after a few months where the Public Protector Adv. Thulisile Nomkhosi Madonsela unraveled corruption in the R500m lease for police headquarters, the men in blue are now breathing down her neck.

Independent Newspapers reported that she faced imminent arrest for fraud and corruption with her work at the SALRC, three years ago. Madonsela owned the companies which did the work for the commission for about R1.8m

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said that he was surprised at the news that police were planning to arrest Madonsela on charges of fraud and corruption.

The Justice Department at the treasury request investigated if there had been a conflict of interest when her company Waweth rendered services to the department and it emerged that Madonsela did not break any laws while she was the SA Law Reform Commissioner.

Madonsela was appointed Commissioner in 2007 and became Protector in October 2009

She is considering approaching Parliament regarding her personal security.