Suid-Afrika bou voort op 20 jaar van demokrasie

As negejarige kon ek in 1994 nie soos die meer as 19 miljoen ander Suid-Afrikaners my kruisie gaan trek nie, maar ek kon die geboorte van ons demokrasie op straat hoor, voel en sien.
Suid-Afrika vier vanjaar 20 jaar van vryheid en demokrasie. Hierdie groot gebeurtenis is ’n geleentheid om te besin oor hoe vryheid en demokrasie bereik is, oor vordering wat gemaak is en hoe die nasionale ontwikkelingsplan vorentoe geïmplementeer sal word.
Drie dienende parlementslede, ’n minister wat al sedert 1994 deel van die uitvoerende gesag is, die jongste parlementslid en een wat in die laaste parlement voor demokrasie, maar ook die eerste demokratiese parlement gedien het, deel hul menings.

Derek Hanekom, minister van wetenskap en tegnologie
“Die eerste dae van demokrasie was daar onsekerheid, maar ook groot opgewondenheid.” Hanekom, een van die lanksdienende lede van die uitvoerende gesag, onthou die dag toe hy ingelig is dat hy in oudpresident Nelson Mandela se eerste kabinet van nasionale eenheid sou dien, asof dit gister was.
“Dit was die dae voor selfone, maar biepers. Ek was by ’n middagete-afspraak toe die boodskap deurkom dat ek as minister in die kabinet gaan dien en asseblief onmiddellik by die Uniegebou in Pretoria moet wees.”
Aangaande die land se suksesse en uitdagings, verduidelik Hanekom dat jy eers die uitdagings van 1994 moet verstaan.
“Ons was ’n baie verdeelde land. Om verskillende administrasies vreedsaam saam te voeg as een, was een van ons suksesse. Om kalmte, stabiliteit en eenheid in die land te  bewerkstellig, sal sekerlik Suid-Afrika se grootste sukses wees, veral politieke stabiliteit.”
Verder lig hy ook ons internasionaal gerespekteerde instellings, hoofstuk nege-instellings en grondwet as suksesse uit.
“Daar is nog ongelykheid in Suid-Afrika, maar jy kan nie alles in 20 jaar verander nie,” reken Hanekom.
Hy erken dat korrupsie en misdaad Suid-Afrika se reputasie van dit wat wel die afgelope twee decades bereik kon word, effens swart smeer. Hoewel niks ’n bedreiging vir ons demokrasie inhou nie, is dwelms beslis ’n kwelpunt en sal hy dus veral meer jeugdeelname en -ontwikkeling wil sien.
Bestendige vordering ná ’n droom van ’n nie-rassige, nie-seksistiese, verenigde en voorspoedige samelewing gegrond op geregtigheid en gelykheid, met stelsels in plek vir daardie droom, is hoe Hanekom twee dekades van demokrasie sal opsom.
Oor sy drome en verwagtinge vir die volgende 20 jaar, sê Hanekom dat “ons verder moet verbeter deur krities te bly en teenstrydige sake ernstiger aan te spreek”.

Dene Smuts, DA-skaduminister van justisie en grondwetlike ontwikkeling
Dene Smuts, wat in vyf parlemente gedien het – vier daarvan in ’n demokratiese Suid-Afrika – sê die eerste demokraties verkose parlement was, soos oudpresident FW de Klerk gesê het, almal se parlement.
“Dit was ’n uitbundige en kleurryke parlement vergeleke met die vorige, nie alleen wat velkleur betref nie, maar ook kleredrag. Ons was ’n halfdosyn vroue tussen 300 mans in die vorige parlement. Nou was nie alleen die vroue nie, maar ook baie nuwe manlike LP’s kleurvol aangetrek.”
Interessant genoeg het die mans mettertyd maar weer meestal pakke begin dra, voeg sy by.
Dit was Smuts se taak as hoofsweep om vir haar party se sewe LPs kantore te kry en sitplek in die raadsaal te beding.
“Sy het kantore in die solder van die Marks-gebou gekry en sitplek in ’n waaierformasie, met die party se destydse leier, Tony Leon, in ’n voorbank.”
Vir haar is Suid-Afrika se grootste sukses die aanvaarding van ’n liberaal-demokratiese grondwet en ook die aanvaarding daarvan deur alle Suid-Afrikaners.
En hoewel sy nou na 25 jaar nie meer in die nasionale vergadering se voorgestoeltes sal sit nie, verwag sy dat daar voortgebou sal word op die herskepping van ’n nasie.
“Ons sal net die ekonomie aan die gang moet kry om vervreemding te voorkom.”

Mkhuleko Hlengwa, IVP-parlementslid
“Ons demokrasie is ’n werk in wording, wat nog besig is om te groei en wemel van al die moontlikhede,” beskryf Mkhuleko Hlengwa, die jongste parlementslid, Suid-Afrika se demokrasie.
Ook hy voel die grondwet is Suid-Afrika se grootste sukses.
“Dit verseker dat demokrasie floreer volgens ’n gesonde stelsel van wigte en teenwigte in die uitoefening van goeie regering, verantwoordbaarheid, deursigtigheid en ontwikkeling. Korrupsie en werkloosheid is die land se grootste uitdagings,” glo Hlengwa.
Hy voeg by dat demokrasie nog altyd gewerk het, maar dat dit dade wat teenstrydig met demokratiese prosesse en norme is, wat die stelsel ondermyn.
“Ons demokrasie kan slegs verbeter as aktiewe burgers die plig aanvaar om die regering binne die grondwet verantwoordbaar te hou. Daar moet ook ernstig daarop gefokus word om ’n bevorderlike en bevoegdheidsgegewe omgewing te skep vir besigheid om sake te doen en werk te skep.” 
Hlengwa sê niks verhoed Suid-Afrika om ook ’n toonaangewende wêreldnasie te word nie.
“Oor die volgende 20 jaar moet ons nie die droom laat vaar dat alle Suid-Afrikaners in vrede en harmonie kan saamleef en ’n beter, voorspoedige en vooruitstrewende Suid-Afrika kan bou nie.”

Emeritus-aartsbiskop dr. Desmond Tutu
Vroeër hierdie week het emeritusaartsbiskop dr. Desmond Tutu gesê die feit dat Suid-Afrika 20 jaar van vryheid vier, is ’n reuse-prestasie, een waarop alle Suid-Afrikaners trots moet wees.
“Twintig jaar van vryheid is iets om oor te spog. Die doemprofete het gesê Suid-Afrika sal dit nie maak nie, en ons het. Ons het onsself verras met die aanbied van die Wêreldbeker sokkertoernooi in 2010 en het vir twee maande feitlik geen misdaad ondervind nie. Hoekom kan ons nie daardie tydperk verleng nie?”
Soos 20 jaar gelede met die geboorte van ons demokrasie, sal meer as 25 miljoen Suid-Afrikaners vanjaar op 7 Mei hul kruisie gaan trek.
Tutu sê ons het ’n waardevolle gawe, en dit is om te kan stem. 
“Elke Suid-Afrikaner moet goed nadink oor wat hulle met daardie voorreg wil doen, omdat jou kruisie so belangrik is.”

Hierdie artikel het in Die Burger verskyn op Vrydag 25 April 2014.

He over came it all

We on the eve of celebrating Easter, but the weekend is about more than Easter eggs, pickle fish and hot cross buns – it’s a reminder for all, not just Christians that Jesus came to earth suffered and died on the cross for our sins.

A scripture that best describes Easter is John 16:16 – 33. Jesus Christ was arrested, heard, condemned and crucified and soon his disciples would carry his message throughout the world. Jesus knew that they would be tested, tempted and followed, there for the final instruction, a warning and a promise.

If you read again you would notice Jesus told his disciples not that they would possibly cross trouble, he told them that they would encounter problems. They were hated and followed, some died because of what they believed.

Jesus told his disciples that they would suffer in the world, but despite this they should remain peaceful and keep faith.

In just under three weeks South Africans will be going to the polls in the country’s fifth democratic elections – the first without Tata Nelson Mandela, the founding president of the republic’s democracy. Various politicians visit churches and places of faith and one can only hope it is not only to canvass but to really go for the word of God.

In the bible we read that until Christ comes, Christians would always be in conflict with one another in this world. Visiting places of faith might look good but does not guarantee a vote, just as going to church does not guarantee you a ticket to heaven.

Christians are unique with our type of loyalty, values, believes and lifestyles. We don’t compromise, and still every day enriches someone’s live, accepting Jesus as his creator.

Our actions as Christians don’t make us popular and we’ll also experience trouble; despite this we’ll have peace. Jesus tells us in the bible, he overcome it all for us.

Because we know and believe that our Lord overcome sin, death and all Satan’s temptations and attacks, we can look courage and prosperity in the eye to take on any challenge with a calm and powerful spirit.

As we celebrate Easter 2014 we do so knowing there’s many challenges, but Christ comes and tell us no matter what your challenge, whatever is keeping you awake at night, whatever makes you doubt in him, whether its tomorrow’s bread money, the back pain that won’t go away, drugs that you don’t know how to stop, fear that you might be a pregnant and you only a teenager, or still looking for a job – have faith, believe – Christ has overcome it all.

Visiting the critical but not stable Metrorail

For about three weeks I have been one of Metrorail’s biggest critics and I will remain to criticize the rail operator.

On Monday 14 April, I was invited to Metrorail’s Operational Centre, being in what is the heartbeat of the trains operation – behind the scenes, gave me a better understanding of how things flow.

My visit confirms a previous post (Another day Another delay) that communication is indeed Metrorail’s biggest problem/challenge.

The visit started with a tour and introduction of the different components within the Operational Centre. I also got the opportunity to engage with the staff and ask questions.

It is indeed a fact that despite living in 2014, Metrorail Western Cape sits with resources that dates back to the 70’s and 80’s if not 50’s and 60’s and for this you cannot blame them. My concern though is: has no manager tried to raise this issue with Prasa and the department of transport – or are they waiting on a big accident with a lot of casualties?

Through this blog I also wish to challenge the ministers of transport and public enterprises and the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee’s on Transport and Public Enterprises and their provincial counterparts to not only take a train and engage with commuters but take two hours like me and sit in the Operational Centre and observe the “nerve centre” to come to the conclusion that Metrorail Western Cape is critical but not stable.

I want our public representatives to observe, like me, how trains are tracked, why there is such a delay in communication especially trains beyond Stikland and Kuilsriver, to understand when I say Metrorail is indeed critical but not stable.

With the current resources Metrorail Western Cape will not be able to ever give an accurate figure of with how many minutes a train is delay – but breaking barriers within the Operational Centre can make communication more effective, in getting estimated times to the commuter.

Metrorail think and operate in train language and this is one of the reasons that there is little to no effective communication to commuters. If all staff, especially those in the Operational Centre, Management and Communication understand the importance of commuter communication – things might be much better.

We live in an era where technology makes life sometimes so much easier. If you sit in Metrorail’s CMOCC, you get the feeling at times they still in the era between a message being sent via post or faxed.

Another observation I made is the sms-system Metrorail uses. Metrorail should look at getting a more effective computerized one – getting the message to more commuters faster.

Metrorail also lack an integrated communication strategy between the different components within the Operational Centre. Currently it seems as if everyone is just doing their job because they have to (and that is not wrong), but the staff are either unaware or ignore the fact that they are not promoting their brand. If the importance of effective communication is understood amongst the staff and different components in CMOCC, Metrorail is already giving a big step in the right direction.

There are a few other observations I made as well, operational matters and regarding resources. I have mentioned some to the Communications Manager and will also engage with the Regional Manager on a few suggestions.

I need to state however some within Metrorail fear that having more effective/proactive communication with the commuter is compromising the operation. This is because they not only fear the unknown but don’t know how to communicate in commuter-language.

Metrorail does not have to complicate things by saying they have too much information. Some technical information can be shared with the commuter through illustrations and others through images. If Metrorail is more honest with commuters, they will receive a lot more useful handy tips and this need not wait for a new minister or financial year.

To conclude, what Metrorail did was not to silence me but to give me an understanding of how things work. I would like to thank Metrorail Western Cape’s Management, in particular Mthuthuzeli Swartz (Regional Manager), Riana Scott (Communications Manager) and Daphne Kayster (Marketing and Promotions Manager) for granting approval and the tour as well as taking time to interact with me.

Another day, another delay

This happens when Metrorail fails to effectively communicate on which platform a train would be.

I started writing something positive about Metrorail, but that is now like the trains in peak-time delayed.
Thought I might touch on Metrorail’s biggest challenge – my term for problem.

Now before I continue it is maybe also important to note that the Go Metro service which Metrorail was so proud to announce, sometimes don’t even feature delays or cancellations and even thought I will continue to say the service is thus useless (until I’m proven otherwise) – I will acknowledge that Go Metro can and will only be effective with the full proactive cooperation and support by Metrorail’s Operational and Communication teams.
Go Metro is a third party support mechanism to better communication, but it is Metrorail’s Operational Centre and team who receives information first and should relay this information to the Go Metro platform where commuters can access it.

Metrorail from time to time make announcements about trains on platforms at different stations. What management don’t want to acknowledge, accept and address is that the announcers sometimes don’t speak clear for the commuter to hear what the person is saying. If you lucky you might hear “delay”, and for the past month “we apologize for the inconvenience” is not even said anymore. I partly blame the individuals but it is Metrorail who should ensure that staff is fully trained with microphone techniques and judging by the failure to hear what is said, it is clear many announcers have little or any of these techniques.


We live in the 21st century and despite having social network accounts on Twitter and Facebook, Metrorail Western Cape seem to be unable to communicate to commuters effectively.


As mentioned in a previous blog, on Facebook you will every now an then see a press statement. When commuters comment and ask questions, Metrorail’s comments seem to have been cancelled as they never comment on Facebook on questions/concerns. 

On Twitter, @CapeTownTrains will tweet train delays and cancellations – only during peak time – and fail to reply to all questions and criticism from commuters. And when they do, some of those tweeting from the handle got an attitude and respond by tweeting what you can basically just read on their TL.

So what should happen?
Metrorail’s management, area managers and Communication team should do a quick course in public relations or communication to understand why they have to communicate with commuters – or they could just make use of the train in peak time, when trains are delay by 50minutes and it still goes and stand just before Cape Town station, this is after you waited in the rain for a train.
While they busy with the above they can start to commit themselves and encourage colleagues in the Operational Centre to do the same in being more proactive in relaying information to Go Metro.
Announcers can be taught microphone techniques, and that is not an expensive or long exercise.

Both Facebook and Twitter accounts can be used more proactive. Metrorail can start by giving sufficient answers on social networks and not merely repeat what you can already read on their TL.
Metrorail should also be more open with commuters and not only say a train is delay but actually put a time to all delays and give reasons for it.

Metrorail has a weekly newspaper, MyLine, which is not used effectively. The Regional Manager can use this paper to address weekly issues, answer five to ten questions and explain why certain issues occurred in the week. Besides this, they should maybe also get staff to hand out MyLine on the trains as most weeks the papers are just laying on a platform and nobody really picks it up to read it. 

Metrorail can also start by promoting their success stories, especially the off-peak once like their Edu- and Tourism trains. They fail to do this and instead focus on delays.
Metrorail can also start being more proactive and not try and cover their wickets the whole time. At the current rate, Cricket SA might as well hire Metrorail as wicket-keeper.

Metrorail can also start by identifying ambassadors aka “loyal commuters” who can not only inform the Operational Centre on what is happening on the tracks to relay to Go Metro but who can inform fellow commuters on the train about why a train is standing still in the middle of somewhere and nowhere for longer than what a Blackberry battery last.

If Metrorail can admit the important role communication plays and commits to being more proactive with communication, their might just be a bit lesser frustration amongst commuters. 

Also read: Cape Town Trains is Metrorails etoll and Metrorail is now Metrofail

• I’m not expecting a detailed response to points mentioned in this post, but the type of response would should how serious and effective Metrorail communicates