Are we really protecting Madiba’s legacy by voting for Jacob Zuma and the ANC?

Living in the shadow of greatness

I still respect the African National Congress (ANC) for fighting the struggle and bringing peace. But, today, 20 years after democracy changed South Africa, I find myself thinking about the ANC we have now.

The ANC under Nelson Mandela was not much different than it is today. Yes, maybe the members were a little younger back then, a little more threatened and much more passionate about freedom but there’s one glaringly obvious difference between the ANC under Nelson Mandela and the ANC under Jacob Zuma.

Leadership!

Let’s look at the quotes below that clearly illustrate the difference between Nelson Mandela and Jacob Zuma. It doesn’t matter what your race or your political affiliation is, once you’ve read this ask yourself, “Are we truly protecting Madiba’s legacy by voting for Jacob Zuma and the ANC?”

"A real leader uses every issue, no matter how serious and sensitive, to ensure that at the end of the debate we should emerge stronger and more united than ever before." 

Nelson Mandela, 16 January 2000

"Honour belongs to those who never forsake the truth even when things seem dark and grim, who try over and over again, who are never discouraged by insults, humiliation and even defeat." 

Nelson Mandela from Robben Island, 23 June 1969

____________________________________________

“My residence at Nkandla has been paid for by the Zuma Family. Every building and every room we use in that residence was built by ourselves as a family and not by government. I have never asked government to build a home for me and it has not done so.” 

Jacob Zuma, 29 November 2013 – South-African National Assembly

“A task team of experts have been established to investigate whether supply chain procedures were properly followed by the department in carrying out the security upgrades. I fully support these investigations. Should the investigations unearth wrong doing of any kind, the necessary actions will be taken.” 

Jacob Zuma, 29 November 2013 – South-African National Assembly

The glaringly obvious quality of leadership in the ANC today is terribly disturbing. While I understand that we are still waiting for the Nkandla Report to be released, it is also blatantly clear that Jacob Zuma has lied to us.

When our president speaks, the ANC members cheer. You only need to watch his address to hear the support from the ANC in the National Assembly. I ask you honestly, is this the same ANC we voted for?

“I fully support these investigations.” - Another lie from our president. 

Today I read an article with the headline, ANCYL calls Madonsela a ‘DA Agent’. Here are some of the quotes from the ANC Youth League…

"We are worried about the integrity of her office... She is very mischievous."

ANCYL national convenor Mzwandile Masina

"We think that there is something wrong with that public protector and we know there is so much excitement from the public waiting for her reports,"

ANCYL - Mzwandile Masina

"We think she is doing a disservice and we can't wait for her term to end and we won't be surprised of what will happen to her when her term ends."

ANCYL - Mzwandile Masina

"You are female, you are black – they can invite you. We won't be surprised if she is invited because they are so generous about anyone who is opposing the African National Congress… She is an agent of the DA."

ANCYL - Mzwandile Masina

These are not the leaders I voted for… 

When I was younger and we spoke about the ANC, I was filled with hope. I cannot forget how hard my family and their peers fought for change. How often police interrogations threatened to rip our lives apart.

The ANC and all political parties that participated in the peaceful transformation, saved us.

Today, when someone mutters the words ANC, I shudder:

• At the excuses and lies that fall from the leaders’ mouths 
• When they blame apartheid for present day injustices
• When they cheer for the lies spewing forth from our president’s mouth 
• When I think about corruption and blue light brigades
• To think about the people with no basic services and human rights
• At the disrespect the ANC has for Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu 
• At how they paraded a frail Nelson Mandela around like a trophy just before he died
• When I think about the sacrifices my family made for the ANC during apartheid
• When I think about the friends I will lose after speaking out against my new oppressors
• When they replace our leaders with wheelers and dealers 
• At Nkandla and the mass loads of poor and destitute people 
• At the lies about 5 million jobs
• At the lack of service delivery
• When I think that I can no longer put my X next to the Green Black and Gold that defined such a large part of my life
• To think that in the next election I have no choice but to exercise my human right NOT to vote

So, if you honestly believe that we are really protecting Madiba's legacy by voting for the ANC, then please vote with pride... If not, you have some tough decisions to make.

I am just saying it like it is...

Waking the sun with musical inspiration

I disturbed the sun this morning as I walked through the garden checking my vegetables. It kept peeping at me from beneath its cloudy blanket as I secured the aubergine plants and picked some tomatoes.

The soil was still damp and the grass soaked from last night’s rain. As I breathed the fresh morning air and aroused the outside world, my mind kept singing,

“I am a mountain, I am the sea, you can’t take that away from me…”

This Biffy Clyro song has been pleasantly haunting me for a few months now. And, I think I finally know why…

I’ll never forget the first time I heard it…

In November 2012, I flew down to Cape Town to cover the Annual Institute of Retirement Funds Seminar. I had very little time to socialise but I made a point of meeting up with one of my oldest and best friends, Sarel Havenga.

It was a beautiful day. The sun was in a better mood! It bounced off the ocean as we drove from the Strand to Muizenberg, all along the cost. We laughed about old days, as I absorbed the fresh sea air and sent pictures of the sea to my wife.

Then, Sarel turned up the music and started singing to this funky rock song…

“Took a bite out of a mountain range, thought my teeth would break the mountain down

Let’s go I want to go, all the way to the horizon

Took a drink out of the ocean and, treading water before I drowned

Let’s dive, I want to dive, to the bottom of the ocean

Took a ride, I took a ride, I wouldn't go there without you

Let’s take a ride, we'll take a ride, I wouldn't leave here without you…”

I still have a video clip of this somewhere and I promise I will look for it and post here. (soon) 7802

That was a great day, one of my favourite days actually. Since then, this song stuck with me.

I left Cape Town on 17 November 2012… It just happened to be my mother’s birthday – Her last birthday before she died.

So I did a little research… what I found stunned me!

In June 2008 Simon Neil (the band’s songwriter) told the Scotsman that the song was influenced by the loss of his mother. She died while the band was recording Puzzle.

Neil said, “This song is about life after Puzzle, and trying to build things up after going through a rough time. Out of the worst times I could ever possibly have in my life came the most amazing time. And, it made me realise that I wanted to marry my girlfriend.”

It’s a little similar to what I’m currently going through. Less than a year ago, my mother died suddenly, almost unexpectedly. Today, I am building my family, my garden and my life after one of the most difficult period of my life. But the best thing is, I am convinced, every day that I want to be with my wife.

It’s strange how so much deep meaning can be found in something as simple as a song. It’s amazing how much motivation you can find in a garden early in the morning, the eyes of your children or the embrace of your wife.

So, as I  embark on the next part of life’s journey, I fondly remember the people that truly matter in my life... my sons that motivate me to work a little harder, my wife that supports me and deals with my insanity and the friends that understand me even when I seem a little crazy.

I am the mountain

I am the sea

You can't take that away from me

I am the mountain

I am the sea

You can't take that away from me

'Cause you tear us apart

With all the things you don't like

You can't understand, that I won't leave

'Til we're finished here and then you'll find out

Where it all went wrong

I wrote a note to the jungle and

They wrote me back that I was never crowned

King of the jungle so, there's a end to my horizon

Took a ride, I took a ride, I wouldn't go there without you

Lets take a ride, we'll take a ride, I wouldn't leave here without you

I am the mountain

I am the sea

You can't take that away from me

I am the mountain

I am the sea

'Cause you tear us apart

With all the things you don't like

You can't understand, that I won't leave

'Til we're finished here and then you'll find out

Where it all went wrong

Nothing lasts forever, except you and me

You are my mountain, you are my sea

Nothing lasts forever, between you and me

You are my mountain, you are my sea

I am the mountain

I am the sea

You can't take that away from me

I am the mountain

I am the sea

I am the mountain

I am the sea

Nine hundred and thirtynine million three thousand and sixty thousand

Sometimes it's best to let our president speak for himself.

I shudder to think that the future of our country is in this man's hands and that we might serve another five years under his rule.

Click here to see the face of the ANC today. 

Today I am not doing it... It's our president's turn to...

Say it like it is!

Three parenting secrets living in your garden

Green peppers

I often speak about a lack of leadership and how the youth wander around aimlessly, taking direction from the wrong type of role models.

But, what type of a parent would I be if I didn't suggest a practical solution to keep our children on the right path?

It’s my duty to nurture my sons. Just like the seeds in my vegetable garden, I need to protect them from the elements, give them the nutrients they need to help them flourish into strong and productive young men that contribute to the well-being of the community in which they live.  

How can we shake off the culture of consumerism and instant gratification to teach our children the importance of patience, peace and reaping the fruits of resourceful labour?

Three ways my garden helps me to be a better father

1. Learning the art of patience  

I’ll never forget the first time I planted a pumpkin seed. I was about five years old. As soon as I put in the ground, I watered it and willed it to grow immediately. Nothing happened…

Every day, I’d rush into the garden, water the soil and inspect the ground closely. A week or two passed and just as I was about to give up on watering the ground, I saw these tiny little slivers of green forcing its way through the hard sand.

The excitement was unbearable.

Now, if you’ve ever grown pumpkins in your garden, you know that even though it takes a while for the seed to germinate and the seedling to grow, as soon as it puts down roots, there’s no stopping the plant.

It will quickly creep its way along the ground and if you don’t control it’s growth, it’ll break all boundaries and destroy all other plants in its path. And, even then, you still have to wait a few months before you can harvest your first pumpkin.

Today, I encourage Skyler to play in the garden while I dig, weed and plant. I am patiently waiting for the day that he is old enough to plant and nurture his own little veggie patch. He can watch his plants grow, keep it clear of weeds and eventually enjoy the fruit of his labour.

2. Showing care and love

In our hash South African climate the sun, and even hail can quickly destroy even a well-kept veggie garden. I know that if I don’t check on my plants after a storm, they could easily collapse. I often brave the elements to make sure my garden is safe from the elements.

I water my plants late at night and on hot days, I need to cool off the leaves with the sprinkler. As the plants grow, I add supporting structures to stop them from collapsing, (particularly my tomato plants. This year, they have seriously surprised me).

I know that if I don’t care and nurture the growth, give the plants the love, care and attention they need I will not get a good harvest.

It’s the same with my children. If I listen to them, attend to their needs or work a little harder for them even when I am exhausted, they will grow up to understand the love I have for them. They will learn to respect me and eventually they will become the fruit of my labour.

      3.  Focus your attention on the right things

Too many of us focus our attention on the wrong things and expect positive results. If you see a weed and leave it, it’ll grow. In fact, it’ll probably kill some of your fruit producing plants without blinking an eyelid.

So just like life, you need to weed out the negative and focus your attention on the positive. Sure, you can get poison to kill your weeds but good luck trying to get anything to grow in that space again. And, would you let your children play in the area where you just sprayed poison? I certainly wouldn't!

So why not focus your attention on pulling out the weed. Be careful not to let the weed drop its seeds everywhere and make sure that you remove as much of its roots from the ground as possible. If you focus your attention on removing the weeds and nurturing the plant, you’ll reap the benefits of a healthier garden.

The same goes for your children. If you focus on protecting them, teaching them to defend and fend for themselves and not on the negative influences that could sway them, you will raise a well-rounded young person.

They need to see you acknowledge the danger but more importantly, your children need to see how you meticulously plan to remove the danger, protect them and plan to recover.  

Some wise person once said, “The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude towards the problem!”

I hope that you are inspired to do these things:

·         Start a garden or a family,

·         practice patience,

·         show love and

·         focus your attention on the positive things in life.

As always, I’m simply want to…

Say it like it is. 

Our future leaders stink while young South African’s sleep!

Sometimes you just have to say it…

Our future leaders stink while young South African’s sleep!

It’s been nearly three years since I have written something here… And, I hope this is the start of many new words…

As the country gears up for the next elections, thousands of young South Africans, like me, simply don’t know who to vote for. We look at the political mudslinging between the ANC and the DA and we think… 

What is going on?

I don’t want to talk about the ANC’s obvious leadership flaws that inspires young people to do one thing… 

Nothing.

But now, the DA and AGANG have proved that they’re not much smarter than our current president, Mr Jacob Zuma.

I have to ask the question that’s on everyone’s mind, “How the hell can Helen Zille and Mamphele Ramphele make premature announcements, then back pedal because they “rushed into it.”

What if the DA takes office…? Is Zille going to rush into international partnerships with mediocre countries that could potentially destroy the well-being of our citizens?

South African politicians are blithering idiots!

What this country needs at its helm is someone that can do due diligence before rushing into things, act responsibly by not building mansions with fire pools and actually put the needs of its people first.

This will help us to attract young, fresh talent.  

The sad thing is, if you cut through the bull spewed forth by the likes of Zuma, Zille and Ramphele it seems the only new party left to vote for is the EFF.

Let me say that again… IT SEEMS, the only new party left to vote for is the EFF. But the truth is, even young Julius doesn’t spark much confidence in the youth of this country. You must give it to him though… He has never changed his tune like the Double Zs (Zille and Zuma)

And my old hero, Mr Lekota? He doesn’t know how to COPE…

So where are the young South Africans now?

I’ll tell you…

Take a walk through the ever-expanding shopping malls, look in front and behind the tills of indulgent commerce. Watch as the elders abuse young South Africans and protest of the “bad service”.

Drive through Johannesburg or any city’s CBD and notice who is walking in the street aimlessly! The youth are pimped out in brand named threads, their ears abused by loud hip-hop, rock and pop from unscrupulous performers interested in three things… Money, Drugs and Sex.

While our politicians grumble and mumble about who is taking power next, our young people are being influenced by American greed. Gangsters are leading them down a path to prison… 

You’ve seen them smoking, swearing and swaggering on the street while their parents work relentlessly to provide them with a safe place to sleep.

I see the young people of this country falling for lies spewed forth by the likes of Ray McCauley and his religious nuttiness. Stronger than Marmite and Black Cat, these charismatic spiders fill the hungry hearts of our young nation with promises of hope, love and riches beyond measure.

They take the hard-earned money of our youth and build religious cattle kraals to hypnotise and energise the young to bring their friends to spread their message like a cancer. Pay your tithe and stay alive!

And what is our youth doing? They forget...

They have all but forgotten about the minority rule that used and abused their parents and grandparents. They fail to recognise their power, they fail to plan for a future that is theirs. A future that is being dictated by the old legends, freedom-fighting relics that still believe that racism will return if a white party takes power…

To the relics I say, racism never left. It’s alive and well… in YOUR hearts.

But where are the young leaders?

The young leaders are quietly waiting, biding their time and counting. They are counting on our government to fail, they are counting on their parents to do nothing but the same. They are complacent in their ambitions and passionate about doing one thing… Nothing.

So we bow our heads in shame… Our leaders will never change.

Yes, I know what politicking is… Don’t hate me.

I am just saying it like it is!