Tuesday, January 13, 2009

School furniture that generates foot out of its premises

Being grown up in the township has thought me a lot. For instance, I have learnt with regret the truth that as human we must agree to disagree for the sake of progress. Sometimes we have to comply with the major principle of democracy which is majority rule, whether or not such rule is fragile invested on the negative impact.

Before I can puzzle you with some mere rhetoric statement, let me register my bone of contention without further dislocating it.

New Brighton is one of natural beautiful location with high redundant number of qualified graduates who are directly and indirectly in organized crime due to job wilderness. One of its divine blessing is construction of one and only Apartheid Museum in the world to mark the path of liberation struggle so as to remind our youth of where we came from and where are we heading as the nation. This is complemented by number of high standard school buildings and beautiful churches.

However, such blessings are demonized by looting of school furniture and vandalizing of school properties. This year for instance, the police department and Abahlali (communities) have fought a tooth and nail battle in combating these afore-mentioned crimes and what made things worse was the involvement of so called professionals. School toilets are vandalized by metal and copper hunter; and as a results the Sewerage system is malfunctioning and learners are left with the honours of troubling neighbouring communities or search for bush to relieve them. Most respected shebeens and taverns are occupied by established professionals and to be specific teachers.

Teachers are not ashamed of sitting on school furniture with the school name on it and some lawyers are more pleased to see looters illegally dispatching tables from school for their extravagant whiskeys to be put on. I’ve tried to engage some of these professionals and I was massaged with insultive political jargons and my intellect demoted for lacking skills of triggering constructive dialogue.

One still wonders if we still have people with teaching skills as calling or just a money making career. How on earth a qualified teacher can enjoys the comfort of sitting on school chairs and the pleasure of displaying overrated whisky on school’s learners table? How is their feeling when the return to school and only to found furniture missing and some learners sitting and writing on the floor? Do their children attend school in the township or Model “C’?

Before I can pause let me suggest that:
• Our communities must own the schools and its property
• Our education and security department must join arms in fighting this crime. They should together raid our streets and yards in search of school properties.
• Chicks (Metal and Copper recycle) companies must not accept any recycle material without the seller producing a positive green ID document and a certified affidavit from the police station.
• Security in schools should be reinforce
We must stop buying stolen goods.

I remain
“Agitator”

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Disadvantages of dependent workers union

This blog seek to address and identify disadvantages of having a workers union which is aligned to the ruling party. In doing so, I will use certain case studies to illustrate the danger of trade union being infiltrated by ruling party and the manipulation of greediness of its own members should they be incorporated to govern bodies of the ruling party.

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

For the past years I've been surrounded by highly frustrated PhD and Masters candidates. Many of them complain of insufficiency and effective of Supervisors in guiding them in accomplishing their task and fulfilling their dream of writing a eloquent thesis.

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?

For the pass 3years I have been invited to Pre-School Graduations ceremonies as some kind of a Chancellor to Bless the Children who are about to start their Grade R education. I have done this with a passion and dedication without expecting payment since I viewed these events as a platform for me to encourage parents "to serve, suffer and sacrifice for their Children education because to me, education means a service to Africa".

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?

Recently, there has been an outcry of lack of visibility and meaningful contribution of Youth Political Organizations in a Development of our Youth.

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

The recent attack on fellow Africans by Africans has left much to be desired in the eyes of International Community, especially investors.

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?

Today youth is caught up in the confusion of not knowing whether they were studying for big fat salaries or to assists our under- developed communities to a more developed stage.

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.