THE ROAD TO DIVISIONS

 

President Jacob Zuma and Deputy President, Kgalema Motlanthe. CapitalFM



Only a month left for the road to Mangaung and it seems like it is going to be a very hectic event just like it happened in Limpopo, 4years ago. We have been hearing and reading of the Mangaung Conference since the beginning of this year. Much has been happening with the African National Congress and that on its own makes me wonder how it is going to be come Mangaung Conference in December 2012.

There has been a lot going on in this country and much has happened within the ANC. I mean with President Jacob Zuma’s “SPEAR PAINTING”; the dismissal of Julius Malema and of course the whole Marikana Massacre, surely indeed they have faced a lot of drama including everyone living in South Africa. With Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe going against President Jacob Zuma; this goes to show that the ANC is divided.   

The road to Mangaung has been showing that Limpopo Province is against President Zuma bidding as president of the ANC for the second term; but it doesn’t surprise me because it is the hometown of the outspoken Julius Malema who is anti-Zuma of course. Limpopo Province is looking forward to making Kgalema Motlanthe the new ANC president . Even so it is not clear that Kgalema will ever bring any change within the congress or the party and on the other hand how do we know for sure that Zuma is going to bring along some change?

My question is; how long is the ANC going to be divided amongst themselves? How much longer can the people of South Africa be able to bear the things that are happening within the African National Congress and within the whole country? Let’s hope that something good will happen, when Mangaung arrives but it doesn’t look any good and satisfactory to me. Let the games begin.

It's a long time coming!

 

Expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema,
 right, and suspandedyouth league secretary-general Sindiso Magada. B.D

Why is that in politics when things are not going according to your way, you suddenly imply that you are being sabotaged? Are people in politics not cautious enough about what they doing? Are they always going to blame their opponents or rivals? Why not pay for your mistakes and get it over and done with? Hence they say what comes around comes around. Juju face the music-it’s a long time coming.  

Julius Malema is facing charges of corruption and all he can say is that he is being potted by President Jacob Zuma. I heard Thibos from Kaya FM asking Julius Malema if he knows about the fact that THE HAWKS are coming for him on charges of corruption and you know he could say was that he is not scared they can come for him. Now on Monday, it was revealed that Juju and his peers form Limpopo are facing charges of corruption for unlawfully laundering government’s R4.6-million and R16-million tax bills.

Come to think about all the things that Julius has been saying in the news regarding corruption and Jacob Zuma in particular, makes me wonder that oh! That’s rich coming from Julius, because he also played his part in all the corruption schemes within the context of the ANC. All this time he has been playing advocate; hiding under a sheep’s skin just to win over the support of the vulnerable South Africans.

It is enough that South Africa has been through a lot; and we sort of need hope that will make us feel that we are at home and that everything is going to be just fine after a rough time that we had during the apartheid years. However all we are seeing and hearing is fights, fights and fights. What better solution do we need to have place or country that our parents and our freedom fighters have always dreamed of?

All in all what I’m trying to say is that everyone who is practicing corruption should be punished and get the punishment he or she deserves, irrespective whether you are a politician or not. One should lead by example and not do things that will jeopardise the reputation of this country, including Julius Malema and his associates. In the practice of PR we are taught that we all need to honest about any information in an organisation, reserving some information simply means you are guilty. Let us pay and make this country a better and secure place for all.

Finally it has gone to rest!

Striking miners dance and cheer after they were informed of
a 22 percent wage increase offer outside Lonmin's Marikana mines.
The Star.



I must say that I am relieved that the Marikana strike has come to an end. Although it claimed the lives of 46 people, left the South African economy sinking and left some people without jobs.

The strikers really fought tooth and nail until they got what they wanted, even though it is not entirely what they were looking for. I guess this is what you get if you are an organization and you do not listen to the grievances of your employees. To me, the workers of Marikana have been trying so hard to reach out to their management and they were probably overlooked. Indeed, against all odds 22% wage increase is a huge achievement. One of the workers’ representatives said that, “No union has achieved a 22% increase before,” Zolisa Bodlani, a worker representative at Marikana, told Reuters.

It got me thinking that somehow South Africa has a lot of work to do regarding labour equality and justice.  Frankly talking, the Marikana strike showed just how much there is a lot of disconnections within our country and much need to be done as a way of correcting the imbalances.  We must really applaud the South Africa Council of Churches (SACC), for it was playing referee in the talks. Indeed they have been there for the families of those who were killed during the debacle. This is what we need in this country; we need solutions and strong leadership qualities.

Now what is left is for the Lonmin mines to come up with a strategy of re-branding itself and come with solutions of changing the bad perceptions that the strike left millions of South Africans and the whole world in shock. In the practice of PR you need to adapt so that you will not perish. The power is in their hands to make a difference.  

IS JUJU POURING SALT ON THE WOUND?



Julius Malema at the Lonmin mines,
addressing them Aurora liquidated mines. Daily Maverick



If Julius Malema could spare us his thoughts and opinions for a moment please! What happened at the Lonmin mines was one incident that left the whole country in tears and yet, one person is making the matter even worse than it seems. How is the Marikana issue going to be solved if Julius is continuously pouring salt on the wound? I was listening to e-news on Wednesday, 5 August in the afternoon and the Minister of labour, Membathisi Stephard Mdladlana was very adamant to solve the issue and she was hoping that a conclusion could be reached by Monday the 10^th of September 2012. However, we still see in the news that the strike is still going on; in fact some miners from other mining companies have also downed their tools News 24.

It is in the open that that the mining sector needs urgent attention to correct the imbalances within the industry, but Juju is hijacking the whole situation and making it his own. I have to say that Juju has got a few valid points but, he is not following the correct protocol to voice them and even worse no one authorised him to go to the Lonmin mines. It doesn’t surprise me that he is now being compared to the deceased AWB leader Terreblanche.

I think that this problem could have been long solved if some politicians didn’t make a fuse out of an already damaged situation. Yes, this whole situation needs the government but it is imperative that they come with good strategic solutions, without any distraction from those who only want to channel their anger. Nonetheless, I really think that an urgent public relations solutions needs to be employed for the revolution of the whole entire mining industry. However, they should have thoroughly done their environmental scanning to check if they are on the right track and people and if people are happy or not. This is how I was taught that environmental scanning is crucial at all times in the practice of public relations.

 We all know that working in the mines is very hard; it’s even worse if you are not being treated with respect and getting what you deserve. I say let it go to rest Julius and let the Lonmin workers fight their own rights and to the owners, please give people what they deserve for the betterment of this whole situation. Otherwise they wouldn’t be striking if they were happy.

History repeating itself.



A policeman fires at protesting miners outside

 Lonmin's Marikana platinum mine

 in Rustenburg on Thursday, August 16, 2012.

Times News



What could have caused the turmoil at the Marikina mines? Do we always have to fight for our rights through violence? What does freedom mean to us South Africans? Are we there yet? Why cannot we sit down and come up with a way of solving issues instead of using force and violence at the expense of other people?

I was very saddened to see the police and mineworkers of Marikana shooting at each other tirelessly. This reminded me of the Sharpeville Massacre 1960, even though I was not even born at that time. This goes to show that there is still tension with in the South African society and it should not be underestimated. But, how does the South African Police Service project grievance solving to a sense that we the citizens, start respecting our fellow police men and woman? I thought the police service is/was there to solve problems and tensions, but this proves otherwise and it goes back to the apartheid era, when citizens used to fight with the police repeatedly. Think back when an innocent man Andries Tatane was brutally killed by the police last year on 13 April 2011 , my question still stands, how does the police service solve issues of an angry crowed?

Now this comes to crowed control and crisis management. Although, crowd control is not the simplest thing one can do but, once you are jointly working together it becomes a lot easier. Communication is very vital when doing crowed control.  I was once involved and engaged in a huge event, when the University of Johannesburg held a two day open day on 11 and 12 May 2012, and I have to say we worked well together with my fellow student marshals. We did crowed control like we were professionals and this is because we were jointly working together as one and, we communicated well each other.

Now coming to the issue of crisis management, this is where the Marikana mines should have involved their public relations department to resolve the dispute while there was still time. How do companies effectively use PR for a speedy recovery? This for me shows that PR techniques were not effectively used to solve the quarrel that was between the management and workers of Lonmin. Sadly, a blood pool of people was the answer to the dispute between the two parties…WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? WHAT IS DEMOCRACY IF WE ALWAYS HAVE TO REPEAT HISTORY TIME AND AGAIN? 

HAS THE RDP MET THE CRITERIA YET?



RDP houses in the Western Cape. Vrygrond

What was the purpose of coming with the resolution of RDP houses? Was this programme really designed to cater for the less unfortunate? Well, what I have seen and heard about the RDP houses is totally working against the mission and vision of this programme. I further say that; the standard that it was set upon has not the met criteria standard to suit the needs of our people.

Upon reading the RDP framework, I came across following statement stating that: “It seeks to mobilise all our people and our country’s resources toward the final eradication of the results of "apartheid". It’s amazing how this statement is well written but we still find people struggling out there; whereas they were told and promised so many things of which some of them have not yet been fulfilled. We hear of cases of fraud, alleged planning, inadequacies, procurement irregularities including corruption leading to defective house (Sowetan).  Does this mean that our people were deceived and not told the truth? Why is that people in high place are always taking advantage of the vulnerable?

To me this seems as if the government of South Africa is not willing to reach out to the people, and do what it said it will do to change and reform the imbalances of the past. At times one would say that the apartheid was much better than our current government. One of the six basic principles of the RDP says that it is people driven and seeks to bind up with the peace and security of the people, but where is peace in that? Why are people so angry that they are always embarking on strikes? This for me means that a lot needs to be done and people need to be given what they were promised a long time ago.

Although, some have granted the RDP houses but we find the houses are not well constructed or are not in the rightful allocation, so now where is integrity and sustainability in that? What I’m trying to convey to you my readers is that much needs to be done hence I believe that community relations has not been done and maybe a lot of public relations needs to be done as soon as possible. I believe that with the knowledge that public relations have about community relations by the government and the private sector many things can be achieved enormously.

For god sake he is our president!



Expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema,

seen here with President Jacob Zuma in May last year.

                            iOl News

Every time when I read the newspaper, it’s Julius Malema throwing insults at President Jacob Zuma…I’m like why? Is it really a necessity that when Julius Malema is given a platform to give a speech of some sort he has to include President Zuma in his speeches?

I know President Jacob Zuma has done his fair share of mistakes and I believe he knows that too, but he also deserves some little respect at least. For god sake he is our president and well he is also human; if we could think about that for a moment, particularly Malema then we could perhaps spare our feelings for a moment.  Sowetan has reported that each and every time the expelled ANCYL president is given a platform to give speeches he makes it a point that he insults President Zuma. (Sowetan). I mean what is that? I think and I say that Julius Malema should GET OVER HIMSELF!

I know that everyone in South Africa is entitled to his or her opinion but, what does this say about freedom of expression? Does freedom of expression mean that other people’s rights should to be side lined and overlooked? Check this out Rights + Responsibility = Rightfully Responsible.  Hopefully you, my readers will be able to understand what I’m trying to bring to your attention, and somehow make me understand these personal vendettas Julius is bring to our public attention continuously.

According to the practice of public relations as a public relations student, I was told and taught that, an organisation has got to work cohesively together to show an open working system. But what does this say about the ANC? For me it says that, issues management was not thoroughly done, to best suit the interest of the people of South Africa. Instead what we are experiencing now is leaders throwing stone each other; most of which are directed to one person who is our president at the moment and I deeply feel that we and, particularly Julius Malema should give him a break. This for me is called human decency to show respect at an elderly person who happens to be your leader; our president and a father to his children. Imagine how they feel.

Not that I am Zuma’s fan but I’m bringing this to your attention the things that I have noticed ever since Julius Malema has been expelled from the party. STOP AND THINK!!!

  

Limpopo textbooks, a crisis or sabotage?



Basic Education minister, Angie Motshekga.
The Times



What came to your mind when you first heard of the Limpopo textbook situation? Is it sabotage or just the government neglecting education, one of the most essential things of life? Well I think the Limpopo provincial government is blame in this whole situation. If they were so much concerned about the future of their province they would have challenged the issue a long time ago, not when the first two terms have passed and everybody is planning towards the next coming year.  

I fail to understand why South Africa is called a democratic country, while we are still struggling to provide simple books for learning for schools. Why when books are supposed to be delivered to the respective schools; someone just decides to dump the books in a veld? This for me is purely sabotage and it is clearly intended to the government. Not that I’m playing the government’s advocate but, I’m purely saying that there is something not going well with this issue and, hence the Limpopo officials have answers to this.

It is said that the company responsible for delivering the textbooks, EduSolutions distanced itself from the whole Limpopo textbook solution. Limpopo is the only province right now struggling with textbooks yet other provinces are doing fine and going well; therefore I strongly say that this could be some kind of vendetta or sabotage if I must say. Looking at the EduSolutions website, the company indicates that it has successfully managed the entire supply chain for public schools in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng since 2002 This statement for is contradictory to what has occurred to the two months ago at Limpopo, definitely.

My communication angle is that there some lack of communication between the department of education and the Limpopo province. If there was any vivid communication the two, then they would have sat down to discuss the future of the learners that is at stake, some of which are doing their final year in matric. According to public relations organisations should work hand-in-hand at all times even when in times of crisis. The following are 10 crisis management steps by Jonathan Bernstein

·         Identify Your Crisis Communications Team

·         Identify Spokespersons

·         Spokesperson Training

·         Establish Notification Systems

·         Identify and Know Your Stakeholders

·         Anticipate Crises

·         Develop Holding Statements

·         Assess the Crisis Situation

·         Identify Key Messages

·         Riding Out the Storm

In concluding I would like to stress the fact that our government should find a way of solving this problem particularly the Limpopo provincial government. Communication is the key solution, to every problem or crisis and therefore I think that our government should thoroughly implement better ways of making the South African education a better one.



Textbook thrown in a veld at Limpopo, 30 June 2011. Eye Witness News



Public realtions and politics a great collaboration.



Public relations practitioners
involved in politics. (Source)



Public relations and politics may sound as if they not clicking together but hey they make a good collaboration which ensures success. Public relations stands out as one of the most undermined professions in South Africa, and I think it’s all because most organisations do not have an understanding what public relations is all about. I was taught that public relations practitioners are somehow organisational journalists, watch-dogs for organisations.

Politics is one of the most controversial things you can find in the world or is maybe we seem not to get what politics is all about because of the way the media has framed the concept politics. Well politics is all about influencing the people around you through the state of organisational knowledge and I know that everyone has his or her own take of what politics means him/her when internalising the word or concept.

One of the reasons why this blog is emphasising that politics and public relations make a good collaborations is because most of our South African politicians and the government for that matter are in need of good public relations communications. Public relations is there to manage any communication risks and business opportunities internally and externally (link). It is the job of a public relations practitioner to manage communication to wide spectrum of stakeholders and to be able to manage any publicity an organisation may come across.

Public relations play a role in politics in many ways. I mean it plays a role of awareness, good media relations, good communication and all these I have mentioned is are all public relations functions that could help politics in any way. While public relations can help the voters understand the candidates more and what their mission is all about and it can help enhance the messages from the candidates to the voters. One of the breaking-point that could help politics is that public relations allows two-way communications and well I truly think it could help manage the communication between an organisation and its stakeholders a lot more better in the world of politics.

Imagine a political campaign without any publicity wow, I mean it will never work at all and that is why politics need public relations to help generate publicity, to manage and control the image and brand of the organisation through its persuasive methods of communication. Well what’s your take on this one?

Sustain your brand...brand equity matters.

A picture of a brand. Source

In the public relations profession image and brand management is the most important elements to have a successful and recognised organisation. “Image and brand management is the strategic and tactical tasks involved in the management of positive, personal and continuing communication between an organisation and its target audience overtime; recognising this should be complementary of customer/audience relationship management” (Pickton and Broderick 2005:9)
    

It is in the power of an organisation to keep its target audience happy and satisfied at all times but, it becomes a problem if the issue raised by the target audiences are not carefully monitored and taken into account. This is one of the problems that are facing the African National Congress at the moment whether they just ignore the issue or not.

My question is where to from here? How is the ruling party going to solve this problem for their brand name is sinking in the water?! One of the issues relating what most of the people have detected is of the ANCYL and of cause the expelled Julius Malema. Why were the problems of the public not issued from the very on-set so as to make the ANC unit to seem a little more connected?  What kind of an organisation is ANC if they are not delivering the same and connected messages to the public? From a public relations philosophy if a system is not well connected together then it so means that internally there something wrong going on. A system should always stand together in order to produce a system that is integrated. Lack of integration in a system can be caused by a lot of things such as conflict, lack of environmental scanning, and less communication, etc.

What does it mean for a person in an organisation to always want to win and not listen to other people’s concerns? It is said and we all know that Julius Malema was found guilty for putting the party at disrepute and for not respecting the ANC’s constitution (READ MORE). When an organisation does not adhere to their stakeholders concerns then they will obviously turn away from the company so as their concerns can be clearly listened to. Brand management and sustainability is done through identifying your brand, building your brand, promoting your brand and lastly being and living your brand because people are not only concerned about the products or services an organisation renders but the brand itself.

From my observation the African National Congress should start rethinking about how to sustain and maintain their brand by thoroughly researching their target audience, scanning their environment because change is taking place within the 21^st century, they need to adapt from the olden days of doing things to the change that is taking place in South Africa. I think they should listen to the people more often and give them what they want for it will help them survive in this very competitive industry of politics…oh well the ball is in their court to be there for this nation.  

What would it mean for South Africa to nationalise the mines?

Maybe we should get clarity on what the nationalisation of mines would do for our country?! It a question of how able are we as a country to sustain what belong to us as South African. I am certainly not a fan of Julius Malema but I have to say that he definitely has point on the fact that mines should be nationalised. The constitution of this country states that each and every citizen of this country has a right to land and minerals of this country.

Firstly allow me to explore around the meaning of the nationalisation of mines this country, South Africa since this blog is aimed at informing and creating an on-going dialogue. When South Africa was involved in a whole lot of protests, campaigns and many other things that led this country to becoming what it is today the purpose was to have a free and fair South Africa and this includes the distribution of land and minerals to the people for this country belongs to all who lives in it.

The nationalisation of mines means that the control of ownership and mining activities such as extraction, production, processing and trading to other countries will benefit the whole country ANCYL . Though nationalisation of mines has its own advantages and disadvantages to it but from the research that I have made the advantages weigh more to the disadvantages and they are as follows:

• Nationalisation to increase the state's fiscal capacity and better working conditions.
• Nationalisation to industrialise and create more jobs.
• Nationalisation as a means to safeguard sovereignty.
• Nationalisation as a means to accumulation path in the South African economy.
• Nationalisation to transform South Africa's unequal spatial development pattern.

Disadvantages of the nationalisation of mines are as follows:

• Inefficiency due to lack of competition.
• Kills the private sector.
• Begins to acquire the greater control over the lives of the people.
• Leads to complete centralisation of economic power in the hands of the state.

Hence the paragraph above argued that the advantages out weigh the disadvantages, I believe that we should carefully consider what it would mean for us as a country. What makes me wonder is that our minerals are being exported to the foreign countries and making them benefit more than us. I know the worry for most of us is that this will give the government more power to keep corruption going within the government sector, but there is more to it than we know. Let us carefully understand what it would mean for our economy to make the right decisions...therefore should we nationalise or not??

LEADERS WITH ONE MISSION, ONE GOAL!




http://www.sacp.org.za/main.php?ID=2294

 

I was watching SABC 1 on Thursday April 12, when it was show-casing the life and times of Chris Hani and for a while I realized that South Africa has lost good representative, well orientated leaders who had a very clear vision of what they wanted South Africa to be like. I’m talking of Robert Sobukwe, Steve Biko, John L. Dube, Chris Hani and anymore others.

Allow me to specifically focus and relate to Chris Hani since we just celebrated his 19^th anniversary of his assassination. From the research that was done about, he certainly was a servant of the people who believed in what he did with the understanding of the struggle of this country and would not allow any disrespect and ill-discipline that we find our leaders and the  young leaders are doing today .

Today South Africa finds itself in the mist of greedy and disorientated leaders who have no clue what leadership, integrity and accountability means and that is what Tembisile ‘Chris’ Hani had all through his political era. It is said that “he was a man who had courage and ability to tell the truth irrespective of what his audience expected from him”The Times.

Our leaders today are not only throwing stones and blowing their own whistles but they are also tearing their own nation apart, they have utterly lost the mission and vision that has been fought for by not sustaining their promises and not keeping this country together particularly the ANC for it is the ruling party of today. They are obsessed with careerism, opportunism and infighting the movement.

From a public relations point of view an organisation has to always sustain and protect its image for its stakeholders is the most important thing. We have seen in the ANC that lack of research and understanding of the target market being a corner stone the fall of their brand image. I salute and give praise to Chris Hani for being a man of good and honest calibre with good leadership skills. I should say that this country is really in need of his leadership calibre.   

What is really going on in the ANC? Unity or divergence?



http://wordpress.integrat.co.za/dailysun/category/bestofyesterday



I can still remember when Mr Thabo Mbeki was harshly removed from his position as president of the Republic of South Africa and Julius Malema was the one provoking and sustaining his removal. Everything was all about “Comrade Zuma” this, “Comrade Zuma” that. “He would openly say and I quote Mbeki must step down” without even considering any repercussions of his actions. When we date back the situation, most of us can still remember just how much he was disrespectful towards Mr Mbeki and today we can witness the fact he is acknowledging him as his “Comrade”.

It is amazing just how the tables have turned from sweet to sour between Julius Malema and President Zuma. It is saddening as an individual to hear of people plotting against you and no one deserves such treatment but President Zuma deserves what’s coming to him. If he carefully examined and evaluated his environment then he would have known better that the same thing he did to Thabo Mbeki was going to come and bite him.

The question is where is the ANC looking? I mean now Julius and his subordinates are saying “Zuma must go!”ANCYL. What kind of a leadership are they building in the faces of their supporters and the South African nation? On Saturday the 25^th March 2012 the ANCYL members at their centenary celebration at Nkowankowa Stadium outside Tzaneen were saying that Motlanthe should replace Zuma25 March 2012.   Much as we can anticipate about the future of President Zuma we can well do so to anticipate the future of the ANC in the country, because the party has so any imbalances, “members are being bribed, intimidated and even promised government post if they backed one faction over the other”Live.  The ANC has failed to unite the country utterly because they have lost what they stand for therefore it is simple for them to fall for anything.

It’s okay if the ANC leadership wants change but according to S’Thembiso Msomi of Times live the ANC should reform their outdated nomination procedures for internal elections and allow more structured process so that those seeking to be voted into positions can openly canvass for votes. More debates should be allowed amongst the party members and not plot against other. In that way many will be able to voice their interests and advance the party.

The ANC should carefully examine their environment because their boat is sinking, many of their supporters are losing hope in their leadership because from a public relations perspective an organisation has to adapt or it will perish because systems must constantly learn and renew themselves. Therefore if “YOU STAND FOR SOMETHING YOU WILL FALL FOR ANYTHING”.



http://www.blabla.co.za/wordle-up-the-anc-nec-99th-anniversary-statement-visualised/



Is it only about Sharpvillers?





source: http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/

21 March 1960 is one of the most important and a remarkable event to the South Africans, particularly to the people in Sharpeville BUT is it really only about the Sharpvillers???Read more.

Early on 1960 ANC and PAC organised their members to prepare themselves for a proposed nationwide because on 16 December 1959, the President General of ANC, “Chief Albert Luthuli announced that 1960 was going to be the Year of the Pass” 21 March 1960.

I was surprised to hear in the news that people in Sharpeville were complaining that Human Rights Day is all about what happened in Sharpeville. The argument was that Human Rights Day should not be celebrated in Kliptown, Soweto and that President Jacob Zuma was not adhering to their concerns Sharpeville. For moment I was so much baffled with their actions that why on earth they would do such a thing instead of looking forward to the future and start making a change within their society.

Human Rights Day is about coming together as a nation to build a unified, free and fair nation not about protesting, burning tyres and burning other people’s properties. According to COPE president Mosiuoa  Lekota,” political parties had a duty to educate South Africans on the fact that human rights were not about the Sharpeville and Langa Massacre and make the society aware that it is of high importance not to take the human rights for granted” Lekota.

From a public relations perspective is important to know your history but we need to adapt and learn new ways of adhering to the environment we find ourselves in-we need to seek ways of educating our nation about what it means to have a right to life, equality before the law, human dignity, freedom and security of person, freedom to slavery, servitude or forced labour Rights for all. 

South African citizens need to be taught that not everything is about violence and that messages can be transmitted without having to burn tyres or without having to protest and organising riots-Rights go hand in clove with Responsibilities so let us learn from what happened on the 21^st of March 1960 that we need not to repeat history but reshape and convert our nation. Therefore HUMAN RIGHTS DAY IS NOT ALL ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN SHARPEVILLE it’s ABOUT SOUTH AFRICANS COMING TOGETHER AS A NATION AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE!!! Enjoy your rights safely and contently.   

Hands up to Mr Deputy!!!

On Tuesday 12 March 2012, Deputy Kgalema Motlanthe asked the National Public Protector, Thuli Mandonsela to investigate any corruptions levelled to him and his partner Gugu Mtshali regarding the issue that she is said to have been involved in a bribery connection.

The Sunday Times has reported that Gugu Mtshali has asked the a R104-million bribe to get the government support for a South African company to secure a R2-billion sanctions busting deal with Iran.( for more info). Gugu Mtshali is a high profiled business woman who was listed as a director of Imperial Crown Trading (ITC).

What is most impressing is that Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe was honest from the very onset that the public protector, Thuli Mandonsela should take a look into the allegations thoroughly into his partners claims of wrongdoing, because this just goes to show just how much he can build and maintain his image as a public figure and a hero to those who see him as one.

The Deputy President has proven just how much he respects his position when he was still general secretary of the Nation Union of Mineworkers by speaking his mind and that he is a straight forward man who has integrity and who humbles himself at all times. He surely knows how to keep a lasting impression to the public and is very inspired by his work because he walks what he is all about.

As a public figure he has shown a sense of right and wrong, democracy, his position standing nationally and internationally, and all that makes him a man of honour and of high values by standing by his words as a figure across the whole globe. Therefore hands up to Mr Motlanthe for his valuable integrity and showing his loyalties lie.  

It's about time!!!

For a very long time the African National Congress took time to see that it is necessary to discipline Julius Malema and his subordinates until, things got out of hand. Julius got away with so many things and made sure that he tells his story irrespective of the circumstances and the context he finds himself in. From the very on-set he never showed any respect for his leaders, yet himself he is a leader. One might wonder what kind of a home this leader was brought up in, as they say "charity begins at home”, does this reflect how he brought up from an early age?

It was a long time coming for the ANC given the lashes Malema always forwarded to the highly ranked officials of the party. To name a few, the lashes at the previously minister of higher education Naledi Pandor, former president Thabo Mbeki and many other political figures from other political organisations. Malema should have been ceased by the ANC at an earlier stage to avoid the public deterioration.

In public relations field is to sit back and bask in the glory a public image (Seitel 2005:51). The ANC certainly didn’t react on the issue of Malema quickly now the people are arguing that matters should have been solved a very long time ago, as the ANC should reflect what it is all about (http://www.iol.co.za/article/2012-03-06-malema-to-challenge-expulsion-from-anc.-anc1.124).

His expulsion from the party has shown that at least the ANC has seen just how much this matter could have got worse because the image is just in the verge of being destroyed by simple little things of not protecting the environment that you are within. He was expelled for bringing the party into disrepute and sowing divisions in its ranks (http://mg.co.za/article/2012-03-06-malema-the-youth-want-change-with-or-without-me).

It is important to always walk what you preach so that and to all always draw people into the right if you want them to side. The silence within the ANC was motivating factor of some sort because of it took time for them to see their mistakes and rectify them in a manner that is accepted. IT’S ABOUT TIME that he be shown the right path and not lose the liberal struggle that was fought by the previous leaders who made this country and the ANC what it is today.