Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Disadvantages of dependent workers union
The trade union’s primary concern is to strive to better the working conditions of its workers and to see to it that workers are compensated fairly for the profit they bring to their respective companies. For this reason, a workers union needs to be allergic to any form of alliance with specific political party especially the ruling party. In Namibia, the worker’s union was in alliance with ruling party and its National Executive Committee member were offered senior position to government departments and as a results they found themselves being kept busy with government issues instead of worker’s related issues. In some extent they were easily silenced by being reminded about their commitment to the alliance and not to combat government policies publicly.
Herbert Jauch (2004) described these form of alliance between trade union and ruling party as “ideological onslaught”. The reason for his labelling was based on the fact that, trade unions in Namibia found it difficulty to cope with neo-liberally policies of government with those of the ideology of nationalism that was embraced by SWAPO since its inception. At independence, nationalist policies were coupled (in often contradictory ways) with the global onslaught of neo-liberalism. Entangled in the national liberation paradigm and at the same time confronted with a global wave of neo-liberal policies, trade unions found it difficult to clearly identify and articulate the specific needs and aspirations of their working class base. Instead, they were drawn into continuous compromises in the name of the ‘national interest’ – as defined by government.
Another dilemma was around union empowerment. As unionists started serving on company boards, they had to adjust to business perspectives of profit maximisation, restructuring and cost-cutting exercises which clashed with traditional union values of socio-economic justice, living wages, security of employment and elimination of inequality.
So when one argue for independency of trade union in South African context, one had to acknowledge the current issues in hand. For instance, the current stance of Congress of South African Trade Union (COSATU) is that, for next year National election in 2009 they proposed a 30% representative in government structures as form of empowerment of its National Executive Members (NEC). Their logical explanation is that they want to influence directly the structures of governance, more especially policies which contradicts workers rights. However, one has critically analyze this exercise of empowering trade unionists as some strategically emergence exit for the ruling party to silenced to vocal trade unionist and to yard stick them to compromise their party stance when it comes to government policies. How on earth a unionist can agree to privatisation while its policy is fighting for equal distribution of the wealth and to advance the idea of the workers to own the means of production
One has to be constantly reminded about what happened to a former unionist member Mr. Mbazima Thsilowa who was elected to be a Gauteng Premier and has practically done less to what was prophesised by workers. Instead he was more involved in government issues than union issues and in some extent workers were Toyi-toyi (Marching) against his administration .This resulted to internal politics as number of trade unionists was striving to acquire highly paid positions and factions were the awarding ornament of the day.
To date, the trade unions are affected by factions of the ruling party who favoured an outstood (Mpumalanga’s resolution) former President of the Republic Mr. Thabo Mbeki and those who favour the new breed leadership under the current president of the ruling party.
In all what workers want is the firm and independent workers union which is free from any political ideological influence. As one has studied so many alliances in different countries between trade union and ruling party, one can not help to observe Chrystal clear defiance and betrayals of workers interests.
In conclusion, there is no recognizable agreement between the jackal and Sheppard without involving the sheep. Such an agreement is based on betrayal.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Insufficiency of Thesis Supervisors
Right here next to me are two guyz who are also faced with similar case and I just can't sit down like a spectator. Our Brothers and Sister are dedicating their valuable time and energy in drafting and writing thesis everyday with no supervisor guidance. They keep on neglecting their duties while earning as ghost workers. This is academic crime which is intolerable by me as a growing eLearning Champion. Three weeks without feedback from a supervisor is total negligence and there's no justifiable excuse for it. Supervisors must just be restricted from Supervising more than three candidates per semester to avoid overloading of work to supervisors since they are also lecturing during day time.
Our institutions should design a commitment form for both Supervisor and Students to sign under Oath that they will mutually work with each other until the thesis is submitted and accepted by Varsity department council as good enough for a candidate to graduate.A draft programme should accompany this document and must be agreed upon by both parties involved.
I suggest that, Deans, Head of Department, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs and Head of research Unit should should spearhead this process and form part of this committee as it seek to dent the image of some South African Institutions of Higher Learning. The Varsity Senate Council should also adopt this as a strategy to provoke confidence to these candidates and to safe guard them in the same time.
Candidates are loosing their sponsors money because of taking too long to complete their thesis at the stipulated time and others are being sued for breach of contract for the afore- mentioned reasons.
"Education to Us means a Service to Africa", Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Where is men species?
However, in these event I found it so hard to comprehend the fact that "The Male parents are always absent". It puzzled me because I'm sure not all of their fathers are migrant workers, died or unknown by their mothers.
What happened to men? Have we lost Love for our children?
On one ceremony, a drunken men came with his heavily intoxicated friends to the ceremony. Firstly, I got so angry with this unspeakable behaviour but later I was so pleased to hear him telling his friends to leave if they careless about their children. On that day we were six men there, me, Preacher, Principal's Husband and the drunken men with his friends. Usually is me and the Pastor who represent men species.
Qouting Pastor Chris Oyakhilome "If you're a parent, you ought to have a vision for your children, especially while they're still young".
I challenge every men out there to demonstrate the "Spirit of Ubuntu" towards their own children and also appeal to those women who are cutting off their children father involvement in the child daily life to please involve them for the sake of the child. To stepmothers to allow their partners to visit their children more often without a fear of loosing them.
The fundamental duty of male species is to Protect, Love, Shelter and Cater for his family. We as men need to restore our dignity in the community which is tinted by cloud of being associated with Child and Woman abuse.
We can do all this if we show them Love, because Love conquers everything.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Are the Youth Political Organisations contributing to youth development?
This is speculated to be caused by Power- Hungry young politicians whose main aim is to rise to Parliament one day. Our Young Politicians has lost focus and resorted on competing on power- struggle and some are operating at the mute level.
It is more worse these days because the so called Youth Commission is dysfunctional. I wonder what are these comrades doing and if they are accountable to any government institutions. On what budget are they operating from? Another fact is, the structure has been infiltrated by one organization who claim to represents the youth of South Africa.
I've been told that Dr. Manto Tshabalala-Msimang is appointed as Minister in Presidency: Sport and Youth Affairs; and I was wondering the relevancy of her in that portfolio. We need an energetic Youth Leader to lead that portfolio since she's old enough to fall under Youth. Alternatively, she needs to be capacitated with a designated Youth Leader who have Youth aspiration at heart.
I am also disappointed with Pan Africanist Youth Congress of Azania (PAYCO) visibility. They have not come out of closet and introduce a progressive youth programme to rally and unite our youth. I don't mean they have to be controversial like Mr. Julius Malemela (ANCYL President) but rather be persuasive and constructive in their effort to seek political fame.
Resolution:
* We need to Capacitate our Youth Commission
* Our Sport personalities needs to be more aligned to Youth Agendas
* Our Youth political organisation needs to establish a meaningful Youth Agendas
* To restore discipline among youth leaders
* Contextualized the Awareness programmes
* To tackle the crime prevalence in our community
* Graduates to be more involved in Youth projects as role models.
Lastly, Youth organizations needs to swallow their visible political pride and work together for the upliftment of our community standards and assists government in job- creation.
I Remain
"Agitator"
*
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Xenophobia
Our Democracy has been demoted to Xenophobia by individuals who honour the segregation boundaries which were created by colonists of our mother continent, called Africa. Since AD and BC, our fore-fathers used to seasonally migrate freely around our great continent without having to produced "Passport and Identification"; and with the invasion of the colonialist we saw the introduction of of boundaries based on who has conquered what part of geographical area of Africa and rename such region according to their preferred name.
Today in Elexander, Crossroad and Motherwell people are web-trapped with this confusion of identity and lack of Brotherhood. In our oral tradition we were educated about the "Spirit of Ubuntu" which is more about "Love one another as we love oneself" and we have preserved these preaching for ages. In modern world we have generated hatred, individualism, tribalism and xenophobia (the rest I will leave on you to explain) from our imperialist and we thought we were moving towards "Modernization theory" of improving our living standards.
We have forgotten all our guiding principles (e.g.Ubuntu) and our African Culture of sharing our resources in times of needs. As a results, xenophobia in misleading our African masses.
Our so called political leaders were haboured, trained, catered, educated and groomed in our neighbouring regions so we can be politically free and through our 1st Democratic President Dr. Nelson Rolihlala Mandela we have pledged as South Africans to return the flavour to fellow Africans in times of needs. We opened socio- economical ties with all African regions with the sole aim to rally Africans under the banner Pan Africanist Parliament, African Union and Southern African Democratic Countries (SADC).
Tell me who has advocated xenophobia which has containmeted our Motherland? Xenophobia is an insult to our young democracy and all organization should swallow their political pride and extinguished this monster. They should be starting to begin preaching our Spirit of Humanity and explain further what it means to be an African rather than shouting slogan of "I am an African" in every opening of parliament.
As UWC, we must embark on a campaign of " take one or two foreign students home' can also alleviate the fears/perceptions that the Africans have about our African brothers/sisters and can eventually accept them as their brothers and sisters". Be advise that I am not subscribed to the use of a term"Foreign" when is referred to fellow Humans, especially Africans.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Are we studying for huge salary or to plough back to our communities?
The reason for the above heading is, I am provoked by fact that our youth have moved away from the basic foundation of being educated in order to plough back to our communities. They simple study to enrich themselves through getting that job which will pay them big salaries so they can be semi royalties and neglect their parents under their newly created idiom “Ayincanci etholeni”, meaning “a cow can not breastfeed from its own calf”.
Have we lost the “Spirit of Ubuntu” or are we playing stupid? Remember, the Holy Bible “Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you” [Exodus 20:12] and also Quran "'Do not worship except Allah; and to parents, do good…'" [Quran 2:83].
In our country South Africa, our youth potential to upgrade the living style of each other is contaminated by high organised crime rate and the absentee of graduates as role model has yardstick them to believe criminals are role model of our societies.
If we as graduate are failing dismally to rescue our society from crime and other social challenging issues then we have lost our primary reason why our parents have been cautiously raising us for. If we as society are failing to address these issues, then big fat salaries are being demonised in our society. Quoting Councillor Mike Whetton “Residents will see measures that they themselves have identified as priorities to reduce crime and the fear of crime.
Our highly paid graduates are migrating from location to suburbs and displaying their haves through drinking expensive whiskey and driving C class cars. If one tries to engage them to social developmental structures they simple denounce your suggestion under the good name of Youth Commission’s duty to modernize our communities.
I appeal to all graduate to be involved in our community development projects and to offer skills whenever is dim necessary. We supposed to be Ambassadors of our institutions which are community based institutions.
There’s totally nothing wrong to be harboured at suburbs and be pocket filled with big fat salary. We need to administer ourselves with dignity and to freely contribute towards the development projects. We must be role models of our younger brothers and sister; and not display liquor as if is a Olympics medals for being educated.
I challenge every graduate to be a true Ambassador of Development in our society.
HOPE/e-Learning Outreach Project
The e-Learning Development and Support Unit (EDSU), of the University of the Western Cape is committed to become a leader and producer of knowledge in the community through the innovative and effective application of information and communication technologies, systems and services (ICTS).
The problem arose from the fact that the fieldworkers have access to computers but they lack skills on how to utilize basic computer programmes, e.g. Microsoft word, Excel, etc. HOPE Worldwide Manager Mrs. Joan Daries approached one of her Internship student from UWC Mrs. Nelisiwe Maleka (Masters in Admin.) to device means of capacitating the fieldworkers with relevant basic computer literacy training so that they can have the skills and basic knowledge to use computer programmes in their day to day office duties.
Mrs. Maleka appraoched Mr. Ncedikhaya Magopeni (Manager: VICE-RECTOR: STUDENT AFFAIRS) to assists them. He then refer it to eLearning Development, Support Unit (EDSU) Manager Mrs. Juliet Stoltenkamp who gladly agreed to assists them and proper arrangement were formulated to meet the needs of fieldworkers. Mr. Mavela (eLearning Student Support coordinator) was selected to administer and facilitate this project.
The project took place at Thintana lab every saturday for 12 weeks with some class exercises and tests between.
Lesson covered:
- 3 Weeks for MS Word
- 3 Weeks for MS Excel
- 3 weeks for Powerpoint
- 3 weeks for Internet and email
Learners were able to:
- Record the information/data of the performed activities for safe keeping and future references.
- To use the recorded data to monitor and evaluate the status of their programme.
- To use the recorded data to compile their programme reports.
- Use graphs and pie charts to illustrate the outcomes of the programme.
- To search information on the internet for the educational purposes that they offer to the community.
- To communicate by e-mail.
- Learners confidence in utilising Computer Literacy skills were Developed and strengthen to suit their daily office duties.
- Learners are able to do their awareness programmes through Powerpoint presentation.
- To use search engines for relevant topic in preparation for their awareness programmes.
- To communicate with fellow collegues and national office bearers.
Qouting one of the student
" I would like to thank Mr. Mavela, Issa and UWC for taking the trouble of training us with the skills which are necessary for our development. He was so patient with us and always willing to help assists us. The training was supposed to be 2hour per session but because we were slow and needed extra cautious attention he then extended it to three full hours without complaining about his supposed to be family time. He has done this without expecting a pay as he was training us outside office hours without payment. We really need a person of his calibre to develop our communities and to equip us with skills which will later benefit us to combat poverty "
To view HOPE Worldwide view on this project, please feel free to open the below link:
As elearning team, we are glad to be part of this historic programme and hoping to be involved in more community based project through the Office of Vice- Rector.
User Resistance to Technology
The University of the Western Cape has adopted an E-learning stratergy to enhance the teaching and learning of both Students and lecturers but this strategy has met with lots of resistances from both parties. I am focusing my argument on students because they are the core fundamental client (user) which has caused the inventing of this Learning Management System (LMS).
Students (users) without computer literacy background are forming a large amount of statistic of resistance to technology. Without computer literacy course being introduced at first year level for users of online learning, the facilitators of it are faced with too much resistance and lecturers are also affected through submission of assessments online and some are frustrated by lack of computer laboratory space for students to complete their assessments.
Some students from Law Faculty could not see a link between computer literacy and online learning versus with their courses. The honours are left on facilitator's shoulder to contextualise the use of technology in their mainstream. What the users seems to forget is "To some degree technology resistance creates intangible barriers that tend to make it uneasy in the way people work in their fields and also intensify the rate of unemployment in our country".
My recommendation are:
- Basic Computer Literacy should be intergrated to all courses in all faculties to combat the technophobia.
- The use of more exciting technology should be intensified to at all levels of academic teaching and learning with more support for first time users of technology.
Acknowledgement
Mr. Sinethemba Mandyoli