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

Cape Town Trains is Metrorail's eToll

It is no secret that trains into and out of Cape Town has been delayed so much, one don’t even get frustrated no more.
What gets to me is that even though Mthuthuzeli Swartz, Regional Manager, say the frustrations are valid and he understand it – I fail to believe he truly understand.
You can only understand the frustration of a commuter if you:
• Have been waiting for two hours on a station, some in the rain and others in a train.
• Arrive late at work and you have to please explain to your manager who will probably believe you once or twice but by the fourth time, you will be signing your warning. 
• Arrive home two/three hours after you were suppose to and you had to arrange with someone to pick up your kids because trains are delayed and now you have to go cook.
• Don’t get to spend time with your family cause you got home late and you so tired you just want to wash and sleep. 
See RM that is why I doubt that you understand commuter frustrations.
The other thing that upset me is that since the whole delay due to infrastructure started, not once did senior management of Metrorail and Prasa take a train in peak time to truly feel what commuters have to endure, instead they say they have compassion and understand commuter frustrations. 

What I think of Metrorail's Interventions
Swartz on Tuesday March 25th, 2014 announced safety critical interventions to stabilise rail service. First thing I noticed is that the announcement contained no time-frames and deadlines, Swartz said it would be implemented over the next four months.
Metrorail’s immediate actions include of track circuits and use of suitable technology, as well as the overhaul of track transformers.
The building of another closer-by station for those in the Wallacedene area in Kraaifontein has been added to the planning and a few stations will be completely upgraded.
I agree with Swartz that the root of this problem goes back to the 1980’s, as well as a policy of disinvestment – but was none of the managers bold enough to say 30 or 20 years ago this is our problem and needs to be addressed soon.
The actual good news was when Swartz said that a second train to Worcester is being negotiated. Commuters making use of this line have been asking this for a long time now and I share in their joy. The other good news was that plans are also afoot to use spare Shosholoza Meyl trains to alleviate capacity constrains. Now someone who understands commuter frustration would know, this is what commuters want to hear.
Metrorail’s sms system will also be resuscitated. Now the service had a slow death because it was useless, wait that is to harsh – it was not effective. Who says it will be now as @CapeTownTrains on Twitter only update every 20 to 30 minutes and a reply from them is not efficient. Commuters are encouraged to use the GoMetro mobi-site. I use the site and it can be good, if it is updated more regularly. There are days that delays don’t even feature.
I've told the RM before, he has good communication resources – it is just not use effective.
And why have a Twitter account if it signs off at 19:00, and trains are delayed. If you serious about making communication better, have a better communication policy with extended hours.
Read: Critical interventions

This is reckless commuter behaviour and can only be addressed by collaborative effort between us and the police was Swartz response to the image.

What is my point? 
• Metrorail didn't get a Christmas card telling them that we have old infrastructure, etc. so why did Metrorail WC wait until a train derailed and damaged tracks leading to the closure of platforms at Cape Town?
• Why can no one take responsibility? 
• Why did Prasa wait (on the minister to listen to commuters) before more than R233million was made available for urgent intervention?
• Is it safe to say a certain manager did not do his/her work to report that tracks need urgent upgrades?
• Why can’t Metrorail/Prasa admit that they have failed to deliver an effective reliable rail service to commuters?
If you admit that you have failed then you can make a promise to better, but now you make more promises and commuters, well doubt if you can deliver on them.
Scary part of this whole fiasco is that ticket prices will increase, as soon as the four months is over.
The annual ticket price increase with no improvement in the service is probably the eTolls of those using Cape Town trains. 
Because we pay for
• delayed service, 
• losing quality time with our families, 
• Signing warnings at work and 
• Metrorail and Prasa management to enjoy increases.

Prasa and Metrorail’s management should do the honourable thing and reject a pay hike until an effective and reliable rail service can be offered and to compensate commuters (for having to deal with this 40 year old issue that no one wants to take ownership of). Why can’t those with lets say March monthlies not buy new ones and use them in April – this is one of those dreams of mine that I should just give up on.

The past week, Western Cape Transport and Public Works minister, Robin Carlisle says Metrorail is a disaster waiting to happen – I disagree with the honourable MEC and should show him this piece to inform him that the disaster already happened and I pray it’s not to late to change course or even driver.
Metrorail a disaster waiting to happen

Oh I’m Earl just an ordinary commuter 

Metrorail now Metrofail

Thousands stranded as trains are delayed due to infrastructure problems

Cape Town is the World Design Capital for 2014 and host of one of the Seven Wonders of the World, but two days after the annual Cape Town carnival, hundreds were stranded and frustrated on platforms as trains were delayed by more than an hour.

Monday 17 March 2014 is why many commuters call Metrorail, Metrofail.

The delay is due to a train that derailed on Saturday evening, leaving staff with a headache to fix. The chaos comes a week after Transport minister, Dipuo Peters took a train journey to engage with commuters and they shared their frustration of train delays with her.

Monday is probably a day Metrorail staff and commuters would not like to see be repeated, reality is that with our old infrastructure and stock, we will probably see much more delays before the new trains arrive, next year.

Metrorail was unable to effectively communicate with commuters. Their GoMetro service as well as website only stated “Trains are delayed due to Infrastructure problems at Cape Town”, this was also tweeted by @CapeTownTrains. This might be okay if trains were delay for say 10 minutes, but more than an hour - a time frame should have been added from the start.

Two hours after asking Metrorail to add by how many minutes trains are delayed, they eventually tweeted “trains are delayed by 60+minutes”.

I don’t really know what made matters worse, when Regional Manager, Mthuthuzeli Swartz tweeted “our woes have been made worse by the contractor at CT station who damaged signalling equipment” or the fact that no ticket verifier were on duty. Or wait the fact that no-one from senior management engaged with commuters on the platforms.

So what is my beef with Metrorail, well I don’t have any, I am like the many ordinary commuters, who took our frustration to social media and @CapeTownTrains will most probably ignore those tweets and service won’t be any better. 

Some of the tweets that caught my eye were:

• “Metrofail!!..Metrofail!!..need I say more, no freakin back up plan.”
• “Wow…#Metrofail was str8 from hell 2day…”
• “once again #metrofail. What a way to start my week…”
• “get to the station as fast as I can, to find out no trains”

The harsh reality is that Metrorail only “apologize for the inconvenience” and come June/July ticket prices will increase and thousands like me who depend on the rail service, will just have to fork out the extra rand.

We can’t say we paying for a better service or better trains as trains are vandalize and the service is, well the service is delayed. Except when a minister is on board, then it seems like a world class railway service.

So what should be done?

Commuters can start by putting pressure on Metrorail and not just accept the “sorry for the inconvenience”. Commuters can also start by being more informed, like using the GoMetro-app.

And Metrorail, well they can start by implementing better, more proactive communication channels – one of them being all ground staff being well informed of what is going on and what is being done. The second thing Metrorail should start focusing on is contingency plans, as this lack and is in many cases only in action after someone made someone somewhere aware of an issue.

Fact is things won’t change overnight and no one will win, but the commuter is the client and the client is always right.

Politici raak romanties agter die politieke skerms

Hierdie is ’n verkiesingsjaar, wat beteken dat al wat politikus is, tot en met die groot dag op 7 Mei na jou stem gaan vry. Maar hoe romanties is ons land se leiers as hul saans hul ampsbaadjies ophang?
Valentynsdag word aanstaande Vrydag – ’n dag ná die lewering van die staatsrede – gevier, en heelparty politici sal seker nog herstel ná die bekendmaking van die president se planne vir die jaar. Desondanks beplan ’n paar van hulle iets spesiaals vir hul geliefdes. 
Ons het by van hulle gaan uitvis of hulle ook die dag van liefde vier en of hulle hul heel eerste Valentynsgeskenk kan onthou:


Helen Zille, Wes-Kaapse premier 
Die premier voel Valentynsdag is net nóg iets waaroor jy jou moet bekommer. “Hoewel dit hope pret kan wees, het dit in ’n reklame-foefie ontaard wat ons almal uitgebuit laat voel,” reken sy.
“As ek aan die dag dink, onthou ek die kinders in my laerskoolklas wat bekommerd was of hulle ’n Valentynskaartjie gaan kry. Baie het uit en ongewaardeer gevoel as hulle niks kry nie.”
Kon sy die dag saam met enigeen deurbring, verkies sy dié mense vir wie sy die liefste is, haar gesin.
“Ek het vanjaar ’n groot funksie met die konsulêre korps, so ek sal dalk nie eens Valentynsdag onthou nie. Vir nou is ek wel verlig die gehuigel met die Mamphela-soen is agter die rug.”

Corné Mulder, Wes-Kaapse leier van die Vryheidsfront Plus 
“Valentynsdag is die viering van die sterkste en mooiste emosie wat bestaan. Daar is niks sterker en mooier as liefde nie.”
Sy eerste Valentynsgeskenk onthou hy nog baie goed. Hy was in standerd 7, oftewel graad 9, in die Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool en sy in die Afrikaans Hoër Meisieskool. Die geskenk was ’n mooi hangertjie.
“Ek wil nie die dag met ’n bekende persoon deurbring nie, maar met die persoon vir wie ek lief is. Sy weet wie sy is.”
Sy planne vir die dag is om die liefde te vier, “want met baie meer liefde sal die wêreld ’n baie beter plek wees”.

Cheryllyn Dudley, ACDP-hoofsweep in die Nasionale Vergadering 

Valentynsdag beteken vir haar herinneringe aan kaartjies met teddiebere, blomme en hartjies, om verlief te wees op die idee van verlief wees en uiteindelik verlief te raak op die ongelooflikste persoon.
“Ek onthou nie regtig my eerste Valentynsgeskenk nie, maar wel verlede jaar, seker omdat dit die opening van die parlement was. Ek het beplan om ’n oulike, gemaklike swart rok aan te trek, maar in die bloedige hitte van Februarie het ek besluit op ’n helder oranjerooi somerrok – en dít met karakterlose skoene wat nie eens by die rok gepas het nie!”
Sy sal die dag vanjaar wil deurbring met dieselfde seun wat sy 36 jaar gelede ontmoet het. “Ek verkies net die volwasse weergawe van hom,” bieg sy.
Daar is nog geen planne vir die dag nie, hoewel hulle gewoonlik probeer om mekaar spesiaal te laat voel en oorvol eetplekke vermy. “My dogter het dalk planne en dít beteken dat ek en my Valentyn ons twee kleinseuns sal kan oppas.”

Donald Grant, Wes-Kaapse minister van onderwys 

“14 Februarie was nog altyd ’n spesiale dag, want dit is my ma se verjaardag. Daar was maar altyd blomme en ’n partytjie om dié dag te vier.”
Hy het sy eerste Valentynsgeskenk op 14 ontvang. “Ek het aan drie meisies in twee verskillende skole ’n Valentynskaartjie gestuur. Ek het net twee ontvang en weet tot vandag toe nie wie die een was wat nie een teruggestuur het nie!”
Die dag lê vir hom nog baie ver en sy skedule is onderhewig aan veranderinge, maar hy sal graag die dag met sy “bokkie”, Cheryl, wil deurbring. “Al is dit dan ook net ’n braai by die huis, met ’n bottel goeie wyn.”

Magdalene Moonsamy, hoof van internasionale betrekkinge van die Ekonomiese Vryheidsvegters 
Valentynsdag is ’n dag om die liefde te vier. “Liefde is die kern van respek en waardering van ’n maat, ouer, bloedverwant, gemeenskap en samelewing. Dit is ’n dag om te herbevestig wat ons na liefde dryf en hoe om dit te handhaaf.”
Haar eerste Valentynsafspraak was met ’n vriend wat alles moontlik probeer het om die vriendskap in iets meer te ontwikkel. “Dit was ’n date vol pret by ’n speletjiesarkade.”
Sy sal beslis die dag met haar verloofde wil deurbring, en al kan hulle nie op die 14de saam wees nie, sal hulle om die datum werk. 
“Op Valentynsdag moet ’n dame bederf en bewonder word. Dit is die man se taak om alles te beplan – ek wil hom nie van daardie pret ontneem nie.”