We might never be ready for Madam President, but we need her

I saw the headline ANC Women’s League saying South Africa is not ready for a female president. 
My immediate reaction was: “and this is a leader of a women’s organisation, suppose to lead other women, saying this!” now I could probably question her leadership style and capabilities, but that’s not my worries, at least not right now.
I’ve been thinking, is saying this not a slap in the face of the many female activist? 
People like Bertha Mhkize, Florence Matomela,Fatima Meer, Bibi Dawood, Lillian Ngoyi, Ray Alexander, Helen Joseph, Amina Cachalia, Rahima Moosa, Sophie Williams and many more.
Before I continue, let me first state, South Africa does not have a shortage of female leaders and as a guy I am willing to admit some of our female leaders are way better than some of our male leaders.
Back to that statement that South Africa is not ready for a female president....
Angie Motshekga, ANC Women’s League leader, I agree with you – South Africa is not ready for a female president. But then again South Africa was probably not ready for democracy, nor were we ready for corruption in the public sector, or GuptaGate, Arms Deal, Nkandlagate, shall I continue or stop here?

South Africa’s slogan after democracy became alive with possibility but for the past almost two years our new slogan has been: Inspiring new ways. Is it not then time to start with our Commander-in-Chief?

Now the big question: Like really, who should we elect?
Irrespective of political affiliation names that come to mind for the position of female president and for some reason top of my list is the longest-serving female minister dr. Lindiwe Sisulu (current Human Settlements minister, daughter of struggle stalwarts Walter and Albertina) then there’s one of my favourite politicians Patricia de Lille (executive mayor of Cape Town).
Sisulu was previously minister of Intelligence, Defence and Military Veterans as well as Public Service and Administration.
De Lille was previously Western Cape Social Development minister and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport.

Other possible strong candidates could include 

• Helen Zille (Western Cape Premier and former DA Leader), 
• Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (former African Union Chairperson and former minister of Home Affairs, Foreign Affairs and Health), 
• Naledi Pandor (Science and Technology Minister), 
• Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (executive director of UN Women and South Africa’s first female deputy president), 
• Dr. Hlengiwe Mhkize (deputy minister Telecommunications and Postal Services) and 
• Baleka Mbete (National Assembly Speaker, ANC National Chairperson and former Deputy President)

Female leaders as contenders I’m not so sure about are Mamphela Ramphele (former AgangSA leader) and adv. Thuli Madonsela (former Public Protector of South Africa). 
Names I might just consider throwing into the hat (in no particular order) include 

• Lindiwe Mazibuko (former DA Parliamentary Leader), 
• Sandra Botha (former Ambassador to Czech Republic and DA Parliamentary leader), 
• Rhoda Kadalie (founder of Gender Equity Unit) and even 
• Brigalia Bam (former Chairperson of the IEC).

I can’t help but wonder though how would a presidency under dr. Frene Ginwala (former Speaker of Parliament), Sophie Williams-De Bruyn (anti-apartheid activist), Graca Michael (wife of late former president Nelson Mandela) or Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (former wife of Madiba) would be. Okay maybe not Winnie, but I can’t help wondering.
It has become a trend for South Africa to copy the United States, however not on the political front and this is somewhat good. South Africa had a black president before America.
Former US First Lady and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton won the popular vote in the 2016 US Presidential election but Donald Trump secured enough Electoral College votes to get to the White House.
Come 2020 who knows it might be another former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice against another former First Lady Michelle Obama.
Our next General Election is in 2019 and it looks like we might be one step ahead of the free world again.

On the question? I agree with the ANC Women’s League, South Africa is not ready to elect our first female president, but we sure can elect our first Madam President.

This blog was updated on 17 March 2017.

Raising your child with love is better than Spanking

In October 2013 the then social development minister, Bathabile Dlamini, hit a nerve when she said her department will look at drafting a bill making it illegal to spank your child, in the comfort of your own home – this could lead to parents soon being charged for assault if they smack their child’s bottom with a flat hand or use any form of corporal punishment at home.

Dlamini said if a husband beats his wife, it is a crime, but if a parent hits a helpless child, it is not illegal.

I’m sure the honourable minister did not wake up that Sunday morning with a sermon on the radio, TV or her head telling her let the children come to me, but that she realised the outcry by so many abuse children.

Taking into consideration that it is government’s task to protect the children of our country with laws, and then yes I could easily support the possible proposed Anti-Spanking Law. But taking into consideration that corporal punishment is prohibited in our schools since 2006 and the current discipline amongst school learners since then, I doubt if I could support minister Dlamini.

The draft law is being considered so parents don’t end up killing their children and believe it or not but there are parts in our country where certain parents believe they have to discipline their child until there is blood. You and I would both agree that is abuse, but clearly not in the eyes of that parent. I find it highly unlikely that in such case a three year old would go to the police to report their parent and lay assault charges. Chances are that incident will instead repeat itself.

Dlamini was correct when she said parents have a responsibility to raise their children with proper values. The how they do this would differ.

I got a good hiding, even if I as much as talk back to my parents. I remember being a toddler and by accident hitting my sister (two years younger than I were) with a broomstick. Boy oh boy the spank I got was no accident. Homework had to be done and you had to help your neighbour or the slipper will meet your bum.

We need to face reality and be honest. Spanking a child can leave that child with a life long scar. This is something we cannot determine now but will only reveal itself years later, too late to regret that you did not stop when you heard the cries: "No mommy/daddy, no..."

I'm sure all parents at some stage make the promise to raise their child in and with love, not spanking and with abuse.
I am against South Africa becoming a nanny-state, especially with a government telling me how to raise my child but I am more so against the abuse of a minor. 

Yes spanking 20-years ago was good, but disciplining a child became abusing a child. I firmly believe you can discipline a child without touching the child, by simply loving that child.

A child will most likely listen when a parent, still in a firm strict voice, speaks with love and not threaten to spank and cast fear.

The Afrikaans-saying “Buig die boompie terwyl dit nog jonk is” does not refer to spanking your child, but raising your child in values with love.

We must continue our efforts to turn our hopes into reality

Former President Nelson Mandela’s words “Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success” should be a motivation for all. Most of us know by now who this noble peace laureate and former statesman is. South Africa’s very own icon someone that not just South Africans but people all around the globe look up to. Movies have been made about him and in others they mention his name. Even books have been written about him and what he did.

The United Nations in November 2009 declared Madiba’s birthday Nelson Mandela International Day. In response to this Mandela wrote to the United Nations saying “It is my wish that the day be used not to honour an individual, but rather to remember the millions who have contributed to the struggle for freedom throughout the world.” On this day people all around the globe are asked to dedicate 67minutes, the amount of years Madiba dedicate his live to improving the lives of others, to do something good in their communities.  Mandela hails from South Africa and it is thus only right that we set an example.

He set an example when with his inauguration as first democratically elected President of the Republic of South Africa he said “there shall be a social order which respect completely the culture, language and religious rights of all sectors of our society and the fundamental rights of the individual.” Something we don’t always (most times) succeed in, but Madiba knew this would happen because he also said “the task will not be easy. This needs unity. It needs action. It requires us all to work together to bring an end to division, an end to suspicion and build a nation united in our diversity.”

In his last speech to the first democrat parliament of South Africa as president, Mandela cautioned us that the long will continues. He mentioned new voices of men and women who exist in all communities, who will define themselves as leaders by their capacity to identify the issues that unite us as a nation. Madiba called on all saying together, we must continue our efforts to turn our hopes into reality.

Watching the final Oprah Winfrey show that took more than two shows, with a range of celebrities and politicians taking part, I couldn’t help but wonder if this is how people honor Oprah then how will, no how can we honor Tata.

This is my conclusion; all around us we see the needs in our communities. Unemployment, drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, corruption, violence, etc… Let’s start using our 67minutes every second of every minute during each hour of every day of the month during the year to make a difference by changing these hurdles in society.

Let’s tell our friends:

• Of the dangers of drugs,
• Using protection when having sex and the consequences if you don’t (being HIV, teenage pregnancy and sexual transmitted diseases and infections)
• Educate one to create employment opportunities and or to assist those seeking.
• Be the eyes and ears of the long arm of the law, by going to the police and tell them if you see a crime.
• Not to make yourself guilty on corruption or violence
• Never to judge

Friends let us honor Madiba by living our lives with integrity, dignity and always being on our knees praying for fellow mankind.

Standing Alone

Tuesday 31 January 2012, a date I won’t forget, atleast not very soon and if I do, I got the scar to remind me. Everything happened so quick……

In the early hours of that morning I had immense pain on my abdominal area and it was swollen. As is the case when I usually have pain, I took two pain killers, waking up that morning for my daily activity the pain had ease a bit and I could thus carry on with my day. Early afternoon the pain struck again and my stomach was still swollen, colleagues “pressured” me to go see the doctor. He suspected it could be one of three things or all three – so he referred me to a specialist and for x-rays.

After admitting myself at the hospital, they took some blood and I went for X-rays. As the doctor scanned his eye over the results, at 21h46 he uttered the words, I probably thought I would not have had to hear, “emergency operation now.”

On my way to the theatre I did what I do “best”, multi-task. Because I had to hand in my phone, I smsed my parents, asked the doctor about the operation and I prayed. Because of the uncertainty of what exactly could be wrong, they had to make a bigger and horizontal cut. I asked God to 1) make me calm, 2) to go ahead not only with the operation but the healing process and 3) recover at his pace.

Being admitted, the test, the operation – all happened so quick, there was no real time to think or reflect – I had faith though and it carried me. Born with a leak heart, having regular visits to the hospital, I’m “use-to” having a family member next to me – especially when I go for an operation. This time round there were no one it was me, all by myself.

I woke up ±6hours after a successful operation, “glued” to a bed with machines and drips and stuff all over me, not forgetting the very large cut on my body. Or as someone said days after the operation “you’ve been under the knife a number of times, full of cuts.”

After two days in the intensive care unit, I was moved to a single room for a day and a half before finally being moved to a room I shared with others and five days after an operation where they had to cut through my stomach muscles, I was able to eat.

One of the nurses told me I set a record at the hospital with phone calls. Within the first three hours after being admitted I received more than a hundred phone calls of people looking for Earl September, Earl-Ryan, Mr. September; and this is excluding close family.

The doctor and other medical staff all told me I’m recovering quite quickly, faster than normal, that’s not bad but a good sign. I should still take it slow though.

A week after the operation I was discharged, in time for the SONA, but not physically ready to attend it – or even to walk for that matter.

The entire incident and everything that lead to it, made me think.

We come into this world on our own but as a gift to someone. What we do, goals we set and how we achieve it, is up to you alone.

We all faced with challenges (mountains to climb, rocks to catch) – it’s not our destination, not Gods plan for us, but its part of his plan, part of reaching our destination.

So the “emergency” operation and some say if I waited longer I could have died, taught me to live a healthy lifestyle. It also taught me standing alone makes you stronger.

It is the late Pop icon (singer/actress) Whitney Houston who sang “I’ll try it on my own” and “The greatest love is to love yourself.” This is confirmed by my favourite bible scripture, 1Corinthians 13:7 and 8 (a) reads “Love never gives up, and its faith, hope and patience never fail. Love is eternal.”

Wat is tog in 'n naam

Jou naam speel 'n belangrike rol. Dit is jou identiteit.

Die aankondiging dat die raad van Radio KC, op sy tyd een van die vooraanstaande gemeenskap radiostasies in Suid-Afrika, die naam wil verander het soos 'n veldbrand onder veral voormalige omroepers en personeel van die radio stasie versprei en die vraag op almal se lippe waarom nou?

Vanjaar is dit die tiende jaar dat die radiostasie met sy permanente lisensie uitsaai. In September vanjaar sal die stasie sy 15de bestaansjaar vier.

Soos 'n tiener is dit seker letterlik ook die geval dat die stasie deur 'n fase gaan en die naam dan nou wil verander. Watter impak sal dit op die stasie, die omroepers en die gemeenskap hê?

Die nadeel aan hierdie verandering is natuurlik dat KC 'n huisnaam geword het en die nuwe naam kan dalk nie so lekker op die tong klink nie. As een wat die produksie proses al te goed verstaan is die grootste nagmerrie al die “jingles, drops, promo’s” wat moet verander. Daar is ook kliënte wat adverteer, hoe gaan hulle die verandering ontvang?

Maar tog kan daar ook voordeel getrek word uit hierdie “aankondiging” en dalk net dalk is die feit dat die stasie nou 15-jaar oud is en al tien jaar met sy permanente lisensie uitsaai die “gulde” geleentheid om 'n naamsverandering te ondergaan. Die huidige span, waarvan nie een in 2001 betrokke was by KC nie, sal die naamsverandering as 'n nuwe begin sien – om met 'n nuwe boek te begin.

Hoeveel weet regtig waarvoor staan KC, terwyl name soos Stasie vir die Nasie en Klank wat vrede gee gebruik is. Toe ek te hore kom aan die gedagte, kon ek nie help maar om te wonder het Koinonia Community, se naam ooit sy reg laat geskied of was dit maar net 'n naam.

Die radio stasie vir die gemeenskap, deur die gemeenskap om sake in die gemeenskap te bespreek. Kan nie help as om te wonder sal dit nou gebeur? Sal die gemeenskap die naamsverandering in programme kan bespreek? Meer nog gaan daar na die gemeenskap geluister word, en sal die gemeenskap/luisteraar gehoor word

'n Verkorte weergawe van hierdie brief het in die Paarl Post van Donderdag 1September 2011 versykn.

Patience, Humility & Spirituality for Ramadan

Our Muslim friends all over started celebrating Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, this week.

Ramadan, which lasts 29 tot 30 days, is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating and drinking and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, humility and spirituality. Muslims fast for the sake of God/Allah and to offer more prayer than usual. Something many others should also opt to do and renew yourself as an individual.

Muslims believe Ramadan to be a promising/lucky month for the revelations of God to humankind, being the month in which the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed.

In the Qur’an, God proclaims that “fasting has been written down as obligatory upon you, as it was upon those before you.”

As we wish our Muslim family a festive Ramadan, let’s renew and revive ourselves as individual in our own religions about patience, humility and spirituality.

“Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success.” Nelson Mandela (17/12/2009)

Monday 18 July 2011 marks the 93rd birthday celebrations of Nelson Mandela. Most of you know who this noble peace laureate and former statesman is. South Africa’s very own celebrity icon someone that not just South Africans but people all around the globe look up to. Movies have been made about him and in others they mention his name. Even books have been written about him and what he did.

The United Nations in November 2009 declared Madiba’s birthday Nelson Mandela International Day. In response to this Mandela wrote to the United Nations saying “It is my wish that the day be used not to honour an individual, but rather to remember the millions who have contributed to the struggle for freedom throughout the world.” On this day people all around the globe are asked to dedicate 67minutes, the amount of years Madiba dedicate his live to improving the lives of others, to do something good in their communities.  Mandela hails from South Africa and it is thus only right that we set an example.

Watching the final Oprah Winfrey show that took more than two shows, with a range of celebrities and politicians taking part, I couldn’t help but wonder if this is how people honor Oprah then how will, no how can we honor Tata.

This is my conclusion; all around us we see the needs in our communities. Unemployment, drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, corruption, violence, etc… Let’s start using our 67minutes every second of every minute during each hour of every day of the month during the year to make a difference by changing these hurdles in society.

Let’s tell our friends:

• Of the dangers of drugs,
• Using protection when having sex and the consequences if you don’t (being HIV, teenage pregnancy and sexual transmitted diseases and infections)
• Educate one to create employment opportunities and or to assist those seeking.
• Be the eyes and ears of the long arm of the law, by going to the police and tell them if you see a crime.
• Not to make yourself guilty on corruption or violence
• Never to judge

Friends let us honor Madiba by living our lives with integrity, dignity and always being on our knees praying for fellow mankind.