sex worker arrests unlawful (SWEAT)

City’s vice squad violating SWEAT’s interdict Lawyers acting on behalf of SWEAT (Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce) have submitted a letter to the City of Cape Town detailing in legal terms why the ongoing arrests of sex workers are unlawful and requesting that the City respond by 5 November.

On 16 October 2009 the City issued a media release stating that they had arrested 84 sex workers for soliciting and that the purpose of the arrests was to ‘profile sex offenders at the police station and register them on the City database if they are habitual offenders’ – such evidence ‘can subsequently be used should habitual offenders be arraigned in court’. All eighty-four of the sex workers who were arrested were released ‘after being profiled and fined’.

According to letter written by Angela Andrews from the Legal Resource Centre: ‘The arrests violate the terms of the interdict granted in favour of SWEAT by the High Court on 20 April 2009, and the circumstances in which arrests can be made without a warrant. Such arrests must be made with the intention on bringing the arrestee before a court and cannot be made with the intention of “profiling” an alleged offender or imposing a series of admission of guilt fines on them.’

Vivienne Lalu, advocacy coordinator at SWEAT felt that the City should be held accountable to the law like everyone else. She further stated that sex workers fought long and hard to obtain the interdict. She said: ‘Sex workers do have rights even though the work they do is considered a crime.’ SWEAT would value any opportunity to engage the City regarding this matter. The random arrests of sex workers not only fails to address real crimes and those criminals who capitalize upon sex workers, but cause the industry to be driven further underground and result in sex workers not being able to access their human rights.

Please contact Vivienne Lalu from SWEAT on +2721 4487875 / +2782 4940788 or Angela Andrews from Legal Resource Centre on +2721 4238285.

Can we trust media to look after itself?

The media has been canvassing for relaxation of regulations with regards to what it can publish and what it cannot publish. Thus far a number of these laws have been relaxed compared to apartheid era. However a lot still needs to be done by media or South African Broadcasting Complaints Commission as well as Advertising Authorities with regards to flexing their muscles on the kinds of advertisements that the media can publish or broadcast (access to information will not be discussed here).

I’m sure a lot of you have come across a number of advertisements particularly on newspapers that make you wonder, is this business being advertised here legal? i.e. abortions adverts as well as the over 18 business services. I mean who in their right mind approves those adverts, can’t the courts charge these institutions alongside the culprits or owners of the businesses advertised.

There has been a number of reports by the media on the effects of illegal abortions and how our government systems are failing to curb this yet on the same newspaper there are at least 4 adverts of illegal abortions. Has anyone amongst you heard or saw action taken against these media institutions for their role in the killing of innocent children who die daily at the hand of these heartless barbarians. How many people out there who have had the worst ordeal have publicly mentioned that they saw the contacts of the abortion this on the newspaper and yet nothing has been done to change this.

The worst thing some of the editors and those in charge of the adverts sections are parents themselves, how do they sleep at night knowing fully well that somewhere in some dingy corner a girl is going through excruciating pains that she shouldn’t be or could be dying.

So as we celebrate this day while demanding more media freedom let us be careful how we use it.

There’s a no parent out there who will be willing to increase his/her daughter’s allowance knowing fully well that she’ll spend it at a tavern or club drinking her kidneys out or in the modern street lingo eliminating her neurons.

Does male circumcision protect against HIV? not completely…

We might all know that Male Circumcision (MC) reduces HIV acquisition by 60%, this does not mean that all MC is protective for HIV.

Before I start I want to acknowledge that MC is a sensitive subject and I sincerely hope not to offend anyone reading this note.

One of the main ways in which HIV infects males is through sexual intercourse, studies has revealed that HIV infects males much easier through the foreskin. Recent research has shown that through removal or cutting of foreskin males have a 60% CHANCE of not being infected.

Firstly whether MC protects men from HIV depends on many factors.

It appears that in some cultures/communities the initiation may involve only a nick to the foreskin, or cutting the frenulum, or removing a small wedge of the foreskin but leaving a little or most of it behind. This obviously raises huge communication challenges because the men might believe they are completely circumcised and thus at lower risk of acquiring HIV when in fact they still have most or all of their foreskin.

Messages we should be sending is:
Male circumcision is good for men’s sexual health and protects
against sexually transmitted infections, but it does not protect against HIV
COMPLETELY.

* Men who are circumcised still need to use condoms, reduce sexual
partners, and delay having sex.

* Transactional sex, intergenerational sex and sex when drunk are all
high risk behaviours for HIV, whether a person is circumcised or not.

* If you are HIV positive, male circumcision does not protect you or
your partner

* Male Circumcision does not protect MEN who have SEX with MEN

* If a man is circumcised it DOES NOT mean he is HIV negative.

* Circumcision DOES NOT protect women against HIV

The education and social support provided in initiation schools is valuable, indeed priceless, to many
communities and it is possible to preserve this while also ensuring that the initiates get accurate information about sexual health and HIV as well as safe and complete circumcisions.

South Africa watches on as 800m Gold medalist, ‘Caster’ Semenya is being abused

SA 800 mitre Gold Medalist, Semenya 'Caster' Mokgadi

I’ve been following the story of Mokgadi “Caster” Semenya the female 800 mitres’ specialist at the Berlin (German) Olympics.

 

I have to say I’m over the moon with her achievements thus far she really deserves a big, loud welcome when she lands at OR Tambo international airport. However what I find disturbing is the support she’s not getting from human rights and gender groups in particular those who were so vocal when Julius Malema (ANC Youth League leader) made certain dumb comments in relation to women abuse.

 

In Semenya we have a woman who is being politely told that she’s not a women therefore a man unless proven otherwise by western methods, questions are raised about her body, her face, moustache, her way of celebrating a victory etc. It doesn’t take an expert to figure out that this amounts to emotional abuse the fact she’s compared to males.  I know for a fact that you’ll never find a single woman in the world who would be happy to be told that they look like a man.

 

If one were to scrutinise the whole story we would realise that Semenya is being emotionally abused and the fact that the organisations should be at forefront in defending this abuse are silent. Even more disturbing is the fact that we as South Africans are not as vocal as we ought to be (the same way we are when our political leaders make dumb comments),  while she continues to being subjected to continuous abuse at an international level.

 

This silence not only creates doubt on the confidence we have in her but also encourages this abusive behaviour against her. I will not be comparing her to other athletes intentionally because this is not about other athletes but about our own questionable loyalty towards her and our continuous silence while she endures abuse as a representative of South Africa.      

 

Despite all of this she has continued to deliver on the responsibilities we have entrusted in her, even though we have not been as supportive as we ought to be. She has remained a national hero after her excellent performance in the 800 mitres at World Athletics Championships in Berlin last night.

 

Some of you might have been thinking perhaps she went for a sex change. Let’s look at this option closely, she 18 years of age raised by her grandmother, Maphuthi Sekgala who’s 80 years old currently. If she had this option how much will it cost for the sex change? She just turned 18 therefore this procedure would have required her grand mother to sign on her behalf, now how many grandmothers out there would approve of this?  We often wonder why people like the Kwaito artist, Mshoza go for breasts implants (34C) and nose jobs to look more feminine, hope this answers your question. So next time you pick-up your tabloid or magazine and see women going under knife DON’T BLAME THEM, THEY’VE HAD ENOUGH OF THE ABUSE!

Dr Herb (Sicelo Shiceka) takes over where Dr Beetroot (Tshabalala-Msimang) left off (HIV/AIDS)

Minister of Provincial and Local Government: Republic of South Africa, South Africa.

Sicelo Shiceka this week stuck to his controversial statements that “herbs” have an important role to play in “bringing down the viral load in HIV/AIDS”.

Still recovering from an era of AIDS denialism and quackery under former health minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang and then President Thabo Mbeki, South Africans read in a weekend newspaper that the minister of co-operative governance and traditional affairs believed that herbs “surpasses antiretrovirals because your body gets used to them” and “arrests the spread of the viral load”.

Offered an opportunity to explain his comments, Shiceka’s spokesperson Vuyelwa Vika this week sent an e-mail response to a set of questions.

“The Minister believes there is enough space for both herbs and antiretrovirals within the health management environment in our country. His statement to the journalist was that since we live in a democracy where people have a choice, people should have choices even in terms of their health and wellness and the kind of medical treatment they choose for various illnesses and conditions, including living with HIV.

“He said he knows of people who have used herbs and have reported a marked decline in their viral load. He also said because we live in Africa and Africans use herbs and other forms of indigenous knowledge systems, they should not be embarrassed and use these secretly because it is a choice they have, but the one thing that the system of indigenous medicine needs to be rid of are charlatans who can take advantage of our people.

“However, the presence of charlatans does not take away from the fact that for some in society, traditional herbs and ways of medicine do work and have been proven scientifically to work,” Vika said.

Asked to share the evidence on which the minister had based his claims that herbs could reduce the viral load of a person living with HIV/AIDS, Vika said he had witnessed it in his community and among family and friends. She added that he was unable to name the specific herbs he was referring to as he was not a herbalist, but urged the journalist to “do your research and go to herbalists in the country”.

Invited to explain his statement that herbs “surpassed” antiretrovirals Vika responded that “in some instances the herbs have surpassed antiretrovirals where people reacted negatively to ARVs but reacted far more positively to herbal medication which indicates that people should exercise their choices and work with what their bodies work the best with.

“Rather than this being turned into an either or situation, the Minister believes that it is primarily a health management issue and there can never be a one size fits all”.

Vika also confirmed that the minister knew of instances where “more than just one person living with HIV arrested or contained the increase of the viral load in their body
after using herbal medication – meaning instead of spreading/increasing, the viral load stabilised and after some time actually went down”.

In the weekend report Shiceka states that he was planning to meet with the health department with the aim of making traditional medicine available in every health facility.

Vika said the Shiceka was planning to bring together traditional healers and the health department to explore means of mainstreaming alternative African indigenous health and medicinal systems and getting rid of charlatans through legislation – “to the extent of making these ways of healing and preventative medicine accessible in hospitals and clinics, without demonising them and making African people feel ashamed of their ways of doing things”.

Vika said the minister’s thinking was in line with Eastern societies, “including the example of Chinese herbal remedies, which are not a source of shame to the Chinese and have actually gained the respect of the rest of the world. There cannot be a one method fits all in health management, so ARVs can co-exist with African indigenous ways of herbal medication”.

Reminded of the confusion caused by Tshabalala-Msimang’s statements on nutrition and other natural remedies being superior to western medicine, the Vika responded that “People living with ARV (sic)are living with the virus but have minds which work very well, so they are not easily (be)”confused” by clear statements like what the Minister said.

Asked pertinently whether the minister supported ARVs as part of the various tools in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Vika said agreed that it was acceptable as an “alternative for those who prefer them, because people have a democratic right to choose what works for them – for some it is ARVs, for others, herbs.

“This is the democracy the Minister sacrificed his youth to see unfolding in South Africa, so that everyone of us can exercise some of these fundamental choices.”

Mark Heywood of the AIDS Law Project said Shiceka’s comments were worrying and disappointing.

“Comments such as these set the country back to an era that we thought we had gone moved from. We hope that the minister can retract his statement and that the health department can take a stand against it”, he said.

Nathan Geffen of the Treatment Action Campaign said it was not the state’s role to say that people have choices in how they treat HIV.

“Obviously people have choices. The state’s role is to inform people what choice will save lives on the basis of scientific evidence. There is no evidence that any intervention other than antiretroviral medicines suppress HIV viral load, it is this message that all representatives of the state should be conveying,” said Geffen.

07.08.2009 Anso Thom and Lungi Langa

http://www.health-e.org.za/news/article.php?uid=20032436

Politics of ARVs in South Africa

My experience has shown me that some people are careless about their future (life) and care a little more about today. This I learnt while participating in the roll-out of ARVs.

 

People on ARVs are given about three different types of pills to take over a period of time (for life). Where these are filed or recorded on patients’ files one notices some trends which often made doctors wonder what’s going on (could SA’s ARVs have been weakened?), because when ever there’s a CD4 count it often indicates that either the patient isn’t taking them or they not effective. This took a while to uncover until eventually it spread through grapevine eventually reaching the ears of Medical Officers (MOs), that there’s grant for HIV positive people, however not all HIV positive people can benefit from it only those who’s CD4 count is either 200 or below, (note only at this stage can our govt. also enrol patients into ARV programmes).

 

This system has affected how people take ARVs i.e. there are a lot more visits to check CD4 counts than before which is good, however since this is only to ensure that one still qualifies or maintains a CD4 count of 200 or less in other to remain a grant recipient and not in too much danger i.e. by not taking sufficient ARVs to be much healthier.

 

The grant might if it has not as yet made some envious of the free monthly income and we all know what are the consequences of being envious and have what it take to manipulate the system in this case intentionally get yourself infected in order to access the free money.  This does not mean that the grant is a bad idea, it is not as we all know that ARVs go hand in hand with healthy eating i.e. veggies and fruits thus the monthly grant.

Hiding Africa’s Looted Funds: The Silence of Western Media

Quite often when you read newspapers, listen to radio and watch television in the West you learn how poor Africans are and how corrupt African leaders are. But you will never watch, read or hear anything in these media outlets about the role being played by Western banking institutions; property development and estate companies; the big corporations; and the western political and business elite in promoting corruption in Africa. When it comes to Africa and the developing world the Western media pretend to be doing a good job only when there is an embarrassing story or a scandal that undermines their credibility as the watchdog of the state.

It is not uncommon to see poverty stricken Africans in poor living conditions being shown in documentaries, movies, and television screens in the West but the same documentaries and movies are always silent on the role play by the institutions in the West. Bribery as we all know involves a giver and a taker but it is always the taker who is reported in media. In many instances as we shall soon see bribes are offered in order to secure contracts, secure official favour or to induce officials in order to influence the out come of a government decision. In other instances people become corrupt because of the existence of favouring conditions as can be seen in most western countries with their banking secrecy laws.

The media in the west tend to ignore the role of western institutions for many reasons. One main reason why they would like to show the poverty level in Africa but refuse to show the role played by the western banking, property, multinational corporations is the fear of loosing revenue through adverts. Many of the media outlets survive through advertisements from the property, banking and multinational corporations so while would they want to incur their wrath? Another reason is that the editors, programme directors and the other bigshots in the media are themselves shareholders of these banks and property companies so why would they want to jeopardise the source of their own wealth? The enthusiasm with which CNN, BBC, ABC, CBS, ITN, SKYNEWS and other television producers portray Africa as poor and least developed; the same cannot be said about the way they report on the role played by the Western banking and other institutions. They fail to tell the world that the looted funds that make Africans poor are indeed sitting in Europe, America, Australia, New Zealand and the offshore Islands controlled by the West. They fail to tell the world that Africa would be a different place if all the stolen monies are returned, but would they ever raise a voice in support of such a laudable idea? Why would the media change the way they report when for centuries they have been the source of all the misinformation and misrepresentation of anything unwestern?

Corruption is rife in Africa because there are banking institutions in Europe especially Switzerland, France, Jersey Island, Britain, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Austria, US and many others who accept money from African leaders without questioning the source of the money. According to the UN around $148 billion are stolen from the continent by the political leaders, the business elite and civil servants every year with collusion and connivance of banking industries in Europe and North America.

Even though it is a common knowledge western banks are acting as safe havens for looted funds from Africa, very little attention is received from the western media to expose them. The media tend to focus their energies on the corrupt leaders with little or no mention at all as to where the monies they have stolen are being kept. There has not been any concrete effort to expose the banks that collude and connive with these corrupt leaders who are impoverishing the people. No effort has been made by the political elite in Europe and America to force the banks to return these stolen monies to the poorest of the poor because they are often the shareholders and beneficiaries of profits made by these banks. They talk about corruption because it is embarrassing to them but they have no agenda to fight it as that would mean no fat dividends for them and no cheap credits for their citizens.

Even the Pope knows that the monies stolen are in Europe and America as is seen below. Within five years of his reign (1993-98) Sani Abacha of Nigeria according to official figures was able to stash four billion dollars and between 12 and 16 billion dollars in unofficial terms. After his death in 1998, investigators in Nigeria, Europe and America stumbled on over 130 bank accounts in abroad where some of the money stolen was kept.

The banks that received Abacha’s stolen funds are: Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, ANZ, London Branch; Bank Len, Zurich; Bankers Trust Company, London; Bankers Trust Company, Frankfurt; Bankers Trust Company, New York; Banque Barring Brothers, Geneva; Bank in Liechtenstein A. G. Vaduz; Barclays Bank, New York; Barclays Bank, London; Banque Edouard Constant, General; Banque Nationale De Paris, Geneva; Banque Nationale De Paris, London; Banque Nationale De Paris, Basle; Citibank N. A. London; Citibank N. A. New York; Citibank N. A. Luxembourg; Citibank Zurich; Credit Lyonnais , New York; Credit Suisse , New York; Credit Suisse, General; Credit Suisse, Zurich; Deutche Morgan Grenfell, Jersey; FIBI Bank (Schweiz) A. G. Zurich; First Bank of Boston , London; Goldman Sachs and Company, Zurich; Gothard Bank, Geneva; LGT Liechtenstein Bank, Vaduz; Liechtenstein Landesbank, Vaduz; M. M. Warburg and Company, Luxembourg; M. M. Warburg and Company,Zurich; M. M. Warburg and Company, Hamburg; Merrill Lynch Bank, New York; Merrill Lynch Bank, Geneva; Midland Bank, London; National Westminister Bank, London; Paribus, London; Paribus, Geneva; Royal Bank of Scotland , Leeds; Standard Bank London Limited, London; UBS AG, Zurich; UBS AG, Geneva; Union Bancaire Privee, Geneva; Union Bancaire Privee, London; London Branch; Verwaltungs Und Private Bank A. G., Vaduz; and ANZ, New York; ANZ, Frankfurt. Source: Tell Magazine, October 7, 2002.

On February 2009, a French court had Omar Bongo’s 9 bank accounts containing several millions of Euros frozen. In confirming the court’s decision lawyer Jean-Philippe Le Bail said, “This concerns Crédit Lyonnais, in which the president of Gabon has two current accounts, two savings accounts and a share account, and BNP, in which he has two checking accounts, a savings account and a share account”.

These are the banks whose shady dealings with the political and business elite in Africa continue to impoverish African countries but which for profits sake the media refuse to tell the world about. The banks know these corrupt leaders have stolen the money yet they pretend not to know until there is a scandal before they begin to act as if they are responsible institutions. Most of the above named banks have also been implicated for receiving billions of dollars of looted funds from the lates Mobutu of Zaire; Lansana Conte of Guinea; Eyadema of Togo; and a number of dictators and tyrants such as Omar Bongo of Gabon; Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea; Dos Santos of Angola; Denis Sassou- Nguesso of Congo; Paul Biya of Cameroon; Arap Moi of Kenya; Jerry Rawlings of Ghana; Ibrahim Babadjinda of Nigeria and a number of sitting and ex-presidents in Africa yet western media are silent about where the funds are being kept.

According to a 110 page report prepared by international risk consultancy firm Kroll, Arap Moi and his family have banked £1 billion in 28 countries including Britain but the media in the west will not expose the banks involved.

Apart from the banking sector, the property sector in Europe, America and Australia have also colluded and connived with the political and business elite in Africa to impoverish the people. It has been revealed that several African leaders have bought properties in Europe and America using the monies stolen from their poor countries. It is on record that Mobutu of DRC (Zaire)bought several villas in France, Switzerland, Belgium and many European Countries. Yet again the companies selling the villas have been kept secrete. They will not be exposed by the media. Why would they? According to AFP a French police investigation has established that Bongo and his family own at least 33 luxury properties in France, including a villa located at Rue de la Baume, near the Elysée Palace, in Paris bought in 2007 for 18.8 million Euros. The French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been spotted greeting Bongo in this villa bought with funds looted from Gabon. However, other investigations have uncovered that he and his family have at least 59 properties, several bonds and stocks in France alone. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner was embarrassed when it was revealed that Bongo’s government paid his consultancy firm a staggering 2.64 million Euros for advice on health policy drawn up by Kouchner before he took office. It has recently come to light that Arap Moi of Kenya and his family bought several multimillion pound properties in London, New York, South Africa including 10,000-hectare ranch in Australia and bank accounts containing hundreds of millions of pounds. While majority of Kenyans live in slums and in rural areas, with little roofing on their heads and lacking water and other basic necessities of life, Moi’s family live in a £4m home in Surrey and £2m flat in Knightsbridge yet the media will not expose the estate companies involved.

Another area often ignored by the western media is the role play by western companies and corporations in encouraging corruption, bribery and thievery in Africa. It is very common for western companies looking for lucrative contracts to pay bribes and kickbacks to induce officials into awarding them contracts. For example on 17th September 2002, a Canadian firm called Acres International was convicted by a High Court in Lesotho for paying $260,000 bribe to secure an $8 billion dam contract. In 2002 Halliburton a company once controlled by Dick Cheney former US Vice President, Harliburton, was accused of establishing $180m flush fund with the intent of using it to bribe Nigeria officials in order to secure a $10 billion Liquefied Gas Plant contract in Nigeria. Achair Partners a Swiss company and Progresso an Italian company have been accused of bribing Somalia Transition Government officials in order to secure contracts to deposit highly toxic industrial waste in the waters of Somalia. Such corrupt practices by western companies seeking contracts in Africa are one of the reasons why poverty and diseases are rife in the continent.

The catastrophic environmental damage being caused by Oil, mining and timber companies such as Shell, BP, Total, Elf, Texaco, Mittal, Anglo-America Corporation in Nigeria, Ghana, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Congo, DR. Congo, South Africa, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Senegal do not make the news in the West. How often do we hear about the huge environmental price Africans are paying to satisfy the west insatiable appetite for energy and technology? Apart from the huge profits being made by these conglomerates which we often hear in the news, do we hear also their complete disregard for environmental rules; the pollution of rivers, lakes, streams, wells, and the environment?

In October 2002, after a three year investigation a UN Panel of Experts implicated Cabot Corporation (Boston), Eagle Wings Resources International, and George Forrest’s OM Group (Ohio) for arming rebel groups and collaborating with them to traffic from DR. Congo gold, diamond, timber and most importantly coltan (columbo-tantalite)-a precious ore essential to Sony playstations, laptop computers, and cell phones. Coltan is often spirited out of DRC to U.S., Swiss, Belgian, and German clients by Uganda and Rwanda army officers, rebel groups and through a network of criminal syndicates. In all 85 companies were implicated by the report. Except the wars and the stranded faces of hungry refugees, do these illegal activities by the corporations make the news in the Western media? Definitely not. Even when local journalists and writers document these for broadcast in the western media they refuse because it does not serve their interest in the wider scheme of things. These are the hypocrisy and the double standard of the western media. They want the world to know how poor Africans are but fail to tell the world that Africans are poor because Western banking institutions, property development companies, defence companies and defence contractors, oil, mining and technology corporations are major stakeholders in promoting Africa’s poverty and underdevelopment.

Corruption and bribery in Africa and indeed the developing world could be reduce tremendously if the media for once put aside the pick and choose journalism and attach the same importance to show the degree of involvement by western capitalist institutions in Europe, America and Japan and their role in keeping Africans poor.

June 17, 2009

By Lord Aikins Adusei (Modern Ghana)

STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS BY Jacob ZUMA, PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA, 03 June 2009

 

President of the Republic of South Africa, Jacob Zuma

 

 

STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY J G ZUMA, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, JOINT SITTING OF PARLIAMENT, CAPE TOWN
03 JUNE 2009

 

 

 

Honourable Speaker;
Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces;
Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP;
Deputy President of the Republic, Kgalema Motlanthe
Former President of the Republic, Thabo Mbeki, 
Our icon, the First President of a democratic South Africa, Isithwalandwe Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, 
Former Deputy Presidents,
Distinguished Premiers and Speakers of our Provinces;
Esteemed members of the Judiciary;
Chairperson of SALGA, mayors and leaders in our system of local government;
Chairperson of the National House of Traditional Leaders and our honoured traditional leaders;

Heads of Chapter 9 Institutions;
Governor of the Reserve Bank,
Religious leaders,
Directors-General and other leaders of the public service;
President of the Pan African Parliament, Honourable Idriss Endele Moussa,
Your Excellencies Ambassadors and High Commissioners;
Distinguished guests, comrades and friends;
Fellow South Africans,

Dumelang, Abusheni, Molweni, 

On the 22nd of April, millions of South Africans went out to cast their votes. They exercised their democratic right spurred on by the desire to change their lives for the better. In their overwhelming numbers, they confirmed that working together we can do more to fight poverty and build a better life for all. They were encouraged by the vision of an inclusive society, a South Africa that belongs to all, a nation united in its diversity, a people working together for the greater good of all. We are humbled by this decisive electoral mandate given by the people of our country, who have chosen their government in a most convincing manner. 

Honourable Members, Our nation has over the past few years gone through very challenging times. It is thanks to the fact that we have a strong and fully functional constitutional democratic system, with solid institutions, that we overcame these difficulties smoothly and with dignity. Today’s occasion is a celebration of what makes this democracy work. It is also a celebration of our culture of continuity and collective responsibility. This is evidenced by the presence here of our icon Madiba, who laid the foundation for the country’s achievements, and that of former President Thabo Mbeki, who built on that foundation. The continuity is also evident in the fact that former President Kgalema Motlanthe is now the Deputy President of the Republic, after a seamless transition, making us a unique country in many respects.

Fellow South Africans, 

As you would be aware, the fight against poverty remains the cornerstone of our government’s focus. On the 9th of May, during the Presidential inauguration, we made a commitment to our people and the world that:

For as long as there are South Africans who die from preventable disease;
For as long as there are workers who struggle to feed their families and who battle to find work;
For as long as there are communities without clean water, decent shelter or proper sanitation;
For as long as there are rural dwellers unable to make a decent living from the land on which they live;
For as long as there are women who are subjected to discrimination, exploitation or abuse;
For as long as there are children who do not have the means nor the opportunity to receive a decent education;

We shall not rest, and we dare not falter, in our drive to eradicate poverty.

In pursuit of these goals, our government has identified 10 priority areas, which form part of our Medium Term Strategic Framework for 2009 to 2014. The programme is being introduced under difficult economic conditions. The past year has seen the global economy enter a period of crisis unprecedented in recent decades. While South Africa has not been affected to the extent that a number of other countries have, its effects are now being clearly seen in our economy. We have entered a recession. It is more important now than ever that we work in partnership on a common programme to respond to this crisis. We take as our starting point the framework for South Africa’s response to the international economic crisis, concluded by government, labour and business in February this year. We must act now to minimise the impact of this downturn on those most vulnerable.

We have begun to act to reduce job losses. There is an agreement in principle between government and the social partners on the introduction of a training layoff. Workers who would ordinarily be facing retrenchment due to economic difficulty would be kept in employment, for a period of time and re-skilled. Discussion on the practical detail is continuing between the social partners and the institutions that would be affected by such an initiative, including the Sector Education and Training Authorities. We will support the work of the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to assist employers and workers to find alternatives to retrenchments through the relevant legal process. To date, CCMA commissioners have saved over four thousand jobs through facilitation processes, and provided ongoing advice and support to retrenched workers.

The Industrial Development Corporation has developed a programme to fund companies in distress. We will also ensure that government buys more goods and services locally, without undermining our global competitiveness or pushing up costs beyond acceptable levels. Building on the successes of our industrial policy interventions, a scaled up Industrial Policy Action Plan will be developed. The lead sectors already identified are automobile, chemicals, metal fabrication, tourism, clothing and textiles as well as forestry. In addition, attention will also be paid to services, light manufacturing and construction amongst others, in the quest to create decent jobs.

As part of Phase 2 of the Expanded Public Works Programme, the Community Work Programme will be fast-tracked. It offers a minimum level of regular work to those who need it, while improving the quality of life in communities. The economic downturn will affect the pace at which our country is able to address the social and economic challenges it faces. But it will not alter the direction of our development. The policy priorities that we have identified, and the plans that we placed before the electorate, remain at the core of the programme of this government.

Laat ons mekaar se hande vat, en saam oplossings vind in die gees van n Suid Afrikaanse gemeenskap. Die tyd het gekom om harder te werk. Ons regering gaan vorentoe kyk, nie agtertoe nie! 

The steps outlined in our Medium Term Strategic Framework had to take into account the constraints posed by the economic crisis. The downturn should not cause us to change these plans. Instead it should urge us to implement these with speed and determination.

The Framework focuses on 10 priorities.
We make a commitment that working together we will speed up economic growth and transform the economy to create decent work and sustainable livelihoods. We will introduce a massive programme to build economic and social infrastructure. We will develop and implement a comprehensive rural development strategy linked to land and agrarian reform and food security. We will strengthen the skills and human resource base. We will improve the health profile of all South Africans. Working together with all South Africans, we will intensify the fight against crime and corruption. We will build cohesive, caring and sustainable communities. Working with Africa and the rest of the world, we will pursue African advancement and enhanced international co-operation. We will ensure sustainable resource management and use. And, working with the people and supported by our public servants, we will build a developmental state, improve public services and strengthen democratic institutions.

It is my pleasure and honour to highlight the key elements of our programme of action.

The creation of decent work will be at the centre of our economic policies and will influence our investment attraction and job-creation initiatives. In line with our undertakings, we have to forge ahead to promote a more inclusive economy. In this regard, we will utilise state levers such as procurement, licensing and financial support to assist small medium enterprises as well as to promote the implementation of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment and affirmative action policies. The implementation will be done in recognition of the need to correct the imbalances of the past. The transformation will be undertaken in support of women, youth and people with disabilities. We will reduce the regulatory burden on small businesses. The matter of being stifled by regulations has been raised by the sector several times. 

In another intervention to create an enabling environment for investment, government will move towards a single integrated business registration system. This will improve customer service and reduce the cost of doing business in South Africa. Another important element of our drive to create job opportunities is the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). The initial target of one million jobs has been achieved. 

The second phase of the programme aims to create about four million job opportunities by 2014. Between now and December 2009, we plan to create about 500 000 job opportunities. While creating an environment for jobs and business opportunities, government recognises that some citizens will continue to require state social assistance. Social grants remain the most effective form of poverty alleviation. As of 31 March 2009, more than 13 million people received social grants, more than 8 million of whom are children. We are mindful of the need to link the social grants to jobs or economic activity in order to encourage self-reliance amongst the able-bodied. Most importantly during this period, neighbours should assist each other. 

Jwale ke nako yakopano. Are thusaneng jwale ka baahisane. 

Are dumalaneng hore ho sebane le ngwana ya tla robalang ka tlala hobane batswadi bahae bafeletswe ke mosebetsi. Hare ka kopana ra sebetsa kaofela re ka etsa ho feta mo.

Distinguished guests, as part of the second strategic priority we will continue with our programme to build economic and social infrastructure. The newly-formed Infrastructure Development Cluster of government will ensure that the planned R787 billion infrastructure expenditure as provided for in the budget earlier this year is properly planned for and executed. This funding includes allocations for the school building programme, public transport including the bus rapid transit system, housing, water and sanitation. 

One of the biggest infrastructure investment projects is in the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup. We have, as government and the nation at large, pledged that the World Cup will leave a proud legacy from which Our children and our communities will benefit for many years to come. We are on track to meet all our obligations and are determined to give the world the best World Cup ever. We are putting all systems in place to make the Confederations Cup, which kicks off on the 14th of June, a huge success. 

In April this year, I gave an undertaking to the taxi industry leadership to defer negotiations relating to the operation of the Bus Integrated Rapid Transit system until after the elections. We undertook to allow more time to deal properly with the concerns of the industry. On the 11th of June the Minister of Transport will resume discussions with the industry. The meeting will kick-start a series of engagements with the stakeholders affected by the BRT system. We are confident that unresolved issues will be dealt with to the satisfaction of all parties. This will include the important issue of how all stakeholders will benefit from the initiative.

Honourable Members,

Another development which should boost the World Cup is the roll-out of the digital broadcasting infrastructure and signal distribution transmitters. Overall, we will ensure that the cost of telecommunications is reduced through the projects under way to expand broadband capacity. We have to ensure that we do not leave rural areas behind in these exciting developments. As part of social infrastructure development we will provide suitably located and affordable housing and decent human settlements. 

We will proceed from the understanding that human settlement is not just about building houses. It is about transforming our cities and towns and building cohesive, sustainable and caring communities with closer access to work and social amenities, including sports and recreation facilities. In this spirit, we will work with Parliament to speed up the processing of the Land Use Management Bill. 

Working together with our people in the rural areas, we will ensure a comprehensive rural development strategy linked to land and agrarian reform and food security, as our third priority. I would like to use this opportunity to extend our condolences to the family of the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Dirk du Toit, who passed away this week. His contribution will be sorely missed.

Abantu basemakhaya nabo banelungelo lokuba nogesi namanzi, izindlu zangasese ezigijima amanzi, imigwaqo, izindawo zokuqeda isizungu nezemidlalo kanye nezindawo zokuthenga eziphucukile njengasemadolobheni. Nabo banelungelo lokusizwa kwezolimo ukuze bazitshalele imifino nokunye, bafuye nemfuyo bakwazi ukuziphilisa. 

Sizimisele ukuwuqala lomkhankaso wokwakha izingqalasizinda ezindaweni zasemakhaya. Uma sibambisene nezakhamizi, amakhosi, amakhansela nezinduna siyokwazi ukuwusheshisa lomsebenzi. 

Sicela abahlala ezindaweni zasemakhaya baqale balungiselele ukutshela uhulumeni ukuthi yiziphi izinto abazidinga ngokushesha. Uma sisebenza ngokubambisana sizokwenza okuningi. 

Hon. Speaker and Chairperson,

While having drawn the necessary lessons from earlier rural development initiatives, we have chosen the Greater Giyani Local Municipality in Limpopo as the first of the pilot projects for the campaign. Out of these projects will emerge lessons for the whole country. 

In addition, we will work on the targeted renewal of rural towns, through grants such as the Neighbourhood Development Grant programme. In this way, areas around the towns will benefit from the economic boost. With all these interventions, we are poised to change the face of rural areas in our country. Compatriots, Education will be a key priority for the next five years. We want our teachers, learners and parents to work with government to turn our schools into thriving centres of excellence. The Early Childhood Development programme will be stepped up, with the aim of ensuring universal access to Grade R and doubling the number of 0-4 year old children by 2014.

We reiterate our non-negotiables. Teachers should be in school, in class, on time, teaching, with no neglect of duty and no abuse of pupils! The children should be in class, on time, learning, be respectful of their teachers and each other, and do their homework. To improve school management, formal training will be a pre-condition for promoting teachers to become principals or heads of department.  I will meet school principals to share our vision on the revival of our education system.

Fellow South Africans, 

We will increase our efforts to encourage all pupils to complete their secondary education. The target is to increase enrolment rates in secondary schools to 95 per cent by 2014. We are also looking at innovative measures to bring back into the system pupils who dropped out of school, and to provide support.

Honourable Members, we are very concerned about reports of teachers who sexually harass and abuse children, particularly girls. We will ensure that the Guidelines on Sexual Harassment and Violence in Public Schools are widely disseminated, and that learners and teachers are familiar with and observe them. We will take very serious, and very decisive, action against any teachers who abuse their authority and power by entering into sexual relationships with children.  To promote lifelong learning, the Adult Basic Education and Training Kha ri Gude programme will be intensified. 

Compatriots, Honourable Members, 

We have to ensure that training and skills development initiatives in the country respond to the requirements of the economy. The Further Education and Training sector with its 50 colleges and 160 campuses nationally will be the primary site for skills development training. We will improve the access to higher education of children from poor families and ensure a sustainable funding structure for universities. 

Fellow South Africans,
We are seriously concerned about the deterioration of the quality of health care, aggravated by the steady increase in the burden of disease in the past decade and a half. We have set ourselves the goals of further reducing inequalities in health care provision, to boost human resource capacity, revitalise hospitals and clinics and step up the fight against the scourge of HIV and AIDS, TB and other diseases.

We must work together to improve the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan for the Treatment, Management and Care of HIV and AIDS so as to reduce the rate of new HIV infections by 50% by the year 2011. We want to reach 80% of those in need of ARV treatment also by 2011. We will introduce a National Health Insurance scheme in a phased and incremental manner. In order to initiate the NHI, the urgent rehabilitation of public hospitals will be undertaken through Public-Private Partnerships.

We are also paying urgent attention to the issues of remuneration of health professionals to remove uncertainty in our health services. Working together let us do more to promote quality health care, in line with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals to halve poverty by 2014.

Fellow citizens, 

Together we must do more to fight crime. Our aim is to establish a transformed, integrated, modernised, properly-resourced and well-managed criminal justice system. It is also critically important to improve the efficiency of the courts and the performance of prosecutors and to enhance detective, forensic and intelligence services. This work has started in earnest, and it will be undertaken with new energy and vigour.

Among the immediate targets is to ensure that we increase the number of prosecutors and Legal Aid Board personnel. We will do the same with police detectives. We changed the name of the relevant Ministry from Safety and Security to Police to emphasise that we want real operational energy in police work. This will contribute to the reduction of serious and violent crimes by the set target of 7% to 10% per annum.  The most serious attention will also be given to combating organised crime, as well as crimes against women and children.
Honourable Speaker and Chairperson, 

While appreciating the investment of the private sector in the security industry, we will improve the regulation of this industry. Amongst other key initiatives, we will start the process of setting up a Border Management Agency; we shall intensify our efforts against cyber crime and identity theft, and improve systems in our jails to reduce repeat offending.
Compatriots, I wish to underline our support for the continued transformation of the judiciary. The transformation should address key issues such as the enhancement of judicial independence, entrenching internal systems of judicial accountability as well as ensuring full access to justice by all. The success of the democratic system as a whole depends on good relations of mutual respect and a spirit of partnership among the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. This is very important for our constitutional democracy.
Honourable Speaker and Chairperson, 

We have repeatedly stated our commitment to fight corruption in the public service. We will pay particular attention to combating corruption and fraud in procurement and tender processes, application for drivers? licences, social grants, IDs, and theft of police case dockets. Let me emphasise that we all have a role to play in this war against crime. We must actively participate in Community Policing Forums. We must stop buying stolen goods, which encourages crime. We must report crime and assist the police with information to catch wrongdoers. In this way, we will move forward towards a crime-free society.

Honourable Members, since 1994 we have sought to create a united cohesive society out of our fragmented past. We are called upon to continue this mission of promoting unity in diversity and to develop a shared value system, based on the spirit of community solidarity and a caring society. Our shared value system should encourage us to become active citizens in the renewal of our country. We must build a common national identity and patriotism. We must develop a common attachment to our country, our Constitution and the national symbols. In this spirit, we will promote the National Anthem and our country?s flag and all other national symbols.

Our children, from an early age, must be taught to pay allegiance to the Constitution and the national symbols, and know what it means to be South African citizens. We will ensure a common national approach to the changing of geographic and place names. This must provide an opportunity to involve all South Africans in forging an inclusive national identity, to deepen our understanding of our history and heritage.

Sport is a powerful nation-building tool. Working together we must support all our national teams from Bafana Bafana to the Proteas and the Springboks; from Banyana Banyana to Paralympians.

Our teams can only do well with our support.
Allow me to use this opportunity to congratulate our national teams for their performances in the past week, indeed in pulling off a hatrick.  The country’s women’s netball team has done us proud by winning the Tri-Nations Netball Challenge. Congratulations to the Sevens Springboks who have become the IRB Sevens World Series Champions – and not forgetting the Blue Bulls who have won the Super 14 finals in a convincing fashion! We take this opportunity to wish the Springboks well in the upcoming series against the British and Irish Lions. It is clear that we need to invest on a large scale in sports development. We will speed up the revival of school sport and ensure that it forms part of the school curriculum. In addition we will ensure that the provision of sport facilities in poorer communities receives priority.

Hon. Speaker and Chairperson,

We have committed ourselves over the years to contribute to building a better Africa and a better world. 
The main goal of government for the medium term is to ensure that our foreign relations contribute to the creation of an environment conducive to sustainable economic growth and development. To this effect, we will continue to prioritise the African continent by strengthening the African Union and its structures, and give special focus to the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development.

Equally important, and closer to home, is the strengthening of regional integration with particular emphasis on improving the political and economic integration of SADC, towards the AU goal of a Union government. We will establish a South African Development Partnership Agency to promote developmental partnerships with other countries on the continent. South Africa will continue to assist in the reconstruction and development of the African continent especially in post-conflict situations. We will continue to encourage a peaceful and sustainable settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the two- state solution.

We will support the peace efforts of the African Union and the United Nations on the African continent, including in the Saharawi Arab Republic and Darfur in Sudan. As the Chairperson of SADC and Facilitator, we will participate in promoting inclusive government until free and fair elections are held in Zimbabwe. 

The plight of the Zimbabwean people has had a negative impact on the SADC region, especially South Africa. We call upon all peace-loving countries in the world to support the inclusive government to achieve economic recovery. We will support efforts of the SADC region to resolve the situation in Madagascar.

Allow me, distinguished guests, to pay tribute to the SA National Defence Force for their sterling role in peace building in the continent. Through continental and regional bodies, we will work towards the entrenchment of democracy and the respect for human rights on the African continent. We will contribute to the strengthening of South-South relations and pursue mutually beneficial agreements with key countries of the South.

We will continue to enhance relations with the developed North including the G8, and our strategic partnership with the European Union. We will continue to play an active role in ensuring the conclusion of the WTO Doha Development round of negotiations.

Honourable Speaker and Chairperson, 
South Africa, being a dry country requires urgent action to mitigate adverse environmental changes and to ensure the provision of water to citizens.  Amongst various programmes, we will implement the Water for Growth and Development strategy, which will strengthen water management. We will continue to improve our energy efficiency and reliance on renewable energy.

Honourable Members,
A developmental state requires the improvement of public services and strengthening of democratic institutions. We have established two Ministries in the Presidency to strengthen both strategic planning as well as performance monitoring and evaluation. To ensure delivery on our commitments, we will hold Cabinet Ministers accountable through performance instruments, using established targets and output measures, starting in July. We will also involve State-Owned Enterprises and Development Finance Institutions in the government planning processes and improve the monitoring and evaluation of their performance.

Honourable Members, fellow South Africans,

To ensure that all three spheres – local, provincial and national – improve service delivery, we will speed up the establishment of a single Public Service. This administration will insist on putting people first in service delivery. We will ensure courteous and efficient service from front-counter staff in the provision of services in all government departments. In this era of renewal, we will move towards a more interactive government. To lead by example, work has begun on the establishment of a public liaison capacity in the Presidency. 

In addition to receiving letters and emails from the public, we will also establish a hotline for easier access. Staff will handle each public inquiry as if it was the only one, following it through all the channels until it receives the attention it deserves.

Honourable Speaker and Chairperson,

The National Youth Development Agency, formed through the merger of Umsobomvu Youth Fund and the National Youth Commission will be launched on June 16 in Ekurhuleni. The institutions are being merged to enhance service and development opportunities provided to the youth. The Agency will link up unemployed young graduates with economic opportunities; strengthen efforts to expand the National Youth Service Programme and support young entrepreneurs. 

Speaker and Chairperson, Distinguished Guests,

Next month our beloved Madiba will turn 91. People all over the world still continue to clamour for his presence and for him to address their crises. His values and his example of dedication to the service of humanity is a shining example in today’s troubled world. An international campaign has been initiated by the Nelson Mandela Foundation and related organisations, called Mandela Day, which sums up what Tata stands for. Mandela Day will be celebrated on the 18th of July each year. It will give people in South Africa and all over the world the opportunity to do something good to help others. 

Madiba was politically active for 67 years, and on Mandela Day people all over the world, in the workplace, at home and in schools, will be called upon to spend at least 67 minutes of their time doing something useful within their communities, especially among the less fortunate. Let us wholeheartedly support Mandela Day and encourage the world to join us in this wonderful campaign.

Honourable Speaker and Chairperson Fellow South Africans,

We have presented to the nation our programme for the next five years. Attached to each commitment we make is a detailed project plan, with targets and critical milestones. This information will in due course be made public. Indeed as citizens we should at the same time ask ourselves what is it that we can do on our own to help promote this national programme. To be a citizen is not only about rights, it is also about responsibility, to make a contribution to make ours a better country.

We also expect to work well with Opposition parties in Parliament, in the spirit of putting the country first. In addition, Madiba taught us well that this country belongs to all, black and white. Working for reconciliation and unity will remain important as we move forward.

Since the implementation of our programme will take place in the face of the economic downturn, we will have to act prudently – no wastage, no rollovers of funds – every cent must be spent wisely and fruitfully. We must cut our cloth according to our size. 

Fellow South Africans, working together we can do more to realise our common vision of a better and more prosperous nation!

This is the partnership we are calling for.

I thank you!

An experience that no human being or animal should be subjected to…

A while ago (2 May 2009) I read an article published on Vukani community newspaper (in Cape Town). It had a story on one of health system’s failures; however I still can’t get over the poor women’s bad experience with the Govt. hospital she went to for assistance and her irreplaceable loss.

The story goes like this, a 21 year old women (Nomampondo Booi) from Khayelitsha (Cape Town), has opened a case against the nurse she accuses of being the cause of her baby’s death. 

From the story it emerges that Nomampondo went to Nolungile Day Hospital in Site B seeking assistance with the delivery of her baby. She “…needed a toilet and I asked” (the nurse) who’s response was somehow rhetorical asking Nomampondo if whether she couldn’t see where the toilet was. She proceeded to the toilet where she delivered the baby into the bowl. “After I realised that I gave birth I screamed for help. She (the nurse) came and told me to pick up my ‘thing’, clapping and beating me. I had to pick up the child on my own, still attached to me. I was pale with the beating I got from her”.

 

Nomampondo’s concerned aunt upon hearing the news visited the hospital to enquire about what transpired. Instead of getting answers securities and police were called on her however she stood her ground demanding answers despite the (anger) treatment she got from the nurses, she was eventually told that the child had a problem with her lungs which led to the death, “but they never alluded to the fact that the child was born in the toilet bowl and that could have been a major problem” (writes the reporter). 

Nomampondo’s aunt believes that the baby could have died because of a head butt, “the child had a purple mark on the forehead that shows she might have been hurt by the seat,” said the furious aunt. The aunt requested an autopsy and she was promised the results on 13th May. “When I got to the hospital on that day, there were no results. They instead told us that the file was lost. There were also suggestions that they will test placentas, but I was told it was destroyed. It was clear they were hiding something,”…I had to cause chaos to get somebody to listen to me. A certain doctor by the name of Ishmael was the one who eventually listened to me. He tried to convince me that according to the file he had, the chances of the baby’s survival were very slim” said Nomampondo’s aunt. When the doctor was asked if he was aware that the baby was delivered in the toilet, he said he was not and shocked at this revelation. It was at this point that he tried to pay attention. The patient’s file was not even signed by the nurse. The site B police station confirmed that the police were investigating both parties, however the case will be sent to court for the prosecutor to decide. Attempts by the newspaper to get comments from the Department of Health draw a blank as usual. 

I believe there’s a very strong rule that governs nurses’ practice or rather that they are expected to enforce and this rule is always (well mostly) on their examination paper. The rule states that not under any circumstance should a women who’s about to deliver be allowed to go to the toilet, whether they want to piss or crap rather they do it on the bed. I believe this rule was enforced and emphasised clearly to avoid situations such as those experienced by people like Nomampondo Booi. I am no medical expert I just read (when I’m bored or don’t have anything to do) it’s times like these that such knowledge come in handy, lets hope the justice will prevail fro this women. If I were her I would lodge another complaint with South African Nursing Council too.

Does SABC appreciate the work Zikala did for it if not for SA?

Dr Snuki Zikalala

I’m disappointed with the treatment Dr Snuki Zikalala has received despite his hard work which revolutionalised the SABC News from what it used to be.

 

 

I remember when he first joined SABC there was a lot of negative talk about his appointment

“The post was advertised and I went through an interviewing process about three weeks ago. I was chosen on merit, not because I’m an ANC lackey.”

 

Current and former employees who worked under Zikalala described his management style as “dictatorial” and said signs were that several resignations would be tendered as a result. Democratic Alliance communications spokesman Dene Smuts described Zikalala’s previous tenure at the SABC as “the lowest point in its post-1994 corporate life”. Veteran journalist and editor Allister Sparks said Zikalala’s appointment was a “retrogressive step” that harked back to the days when the SABC was under apartheid control.

 

Everyone was on his case not expecting him to perform but instead he disappointed them and changed what used to be Johannesburg News to South African news. He deployed journalists all over South Africa ensuring that they cover the real South African stories directly on the ground and not through telephones interviews with a snap shot (picture) of the interviewee on the back ground. There was a time when the weather channel was reported only in English and Afrikaans if reported in IsiXhosa it would be the same every day i.e. a voice over (no face) saying “kuzawuthi gqwagqwa ngamafu” every day no highs and lows or the speed of the wind etc.

 

He went further to set up bureaus around Africa and deployed journalists to cover those stories instead of buying them from CNN channels (you’d remember back in the days we used to have an over night CNN channel instead of SABC Africa now SABC International). International stories (including Africa) were sourced (at a price) I mean we would buy a story on Zimbabwe from CNN even though it was just next door to us.

 

Upon closer scrutiny it doesn’t take a genius to see that he had a plan with timelines and I’m sure part of it included having SABC International available as a subscription channel throughout the world (not just SA) thus ensuring that people abroad get the real stories from the people who know and have or are experiencing it rather than hearing it from CNN or BBC etc. which often portrayed Africa as the dark continent full of war, poverty, diseases and nothing positive.

   

It is this plan that the South African Broadcasting Channel failed to consider when deciding on his contract, it is this change that the media failed to report on when reflecting on his tenure at SABC.

 

Like Jacob Zuma people (academics and analysts especially) judged him by his qualifications i.e. where he obtained his Doctorate rather than on delivery.

 

Fare you well Dr Zikalala (some have noted your great contribution to SABC if not to SA). 

http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=988844