Congress of the People in the Mother City

Archive for June, 2009

Cope Youth (Western Cape) Thum’amina Campaign!

In Editorials on June 29, 2009 at 10:49 am

It has come to COPE’s attention that the residents of Da Noon have decided to embark on service delivery marches, starting today (3 July 2009). Due to this mitigating factor COPE YM has decided to postpone its Thum’ Mina campaign until further short notice while it consult with its structures.

Cope Youth Movement is bringing back the Cope Spirit by launching its Thum’amina Campaign, [Send Me!] a concerted effort of the youth to be involved in community building. All are invited to be part of this initiative which wants Cope members to become the change they want to see in their communities and the world in general. Cope The Dawn of the new era! :

thuma mina (danoon)

western cape posterscome to COPE

Cope (Western Cape Legislature) Input on Health Debate

In Speeches on June 24, 2009 at 4:02 pm

Thank you! Mr. Speaker
Allow me to extend our congratulation, first to the official opposition party here, for devising such a pro-poor budget, and to the ruling party for having wisdom to table it for adoption.

The core function of the Department of Health, Mr. Speaker, includes finding effective ways for prevention of disease, promotion of health, providing effective emergency and curative service to the general public at reasonable terms, and rehabilitation and chronic care for those who need. We still have serious short-fallings.

Numerous promises are made yearly to improve on short-comings, but year by year these things persist. The service at our public hospitals, for one, is still appallingly poor to say the least. I’ll talk nothing of long queues where people are still compelled to wake as early as three in the morning if they want to stand a chance to get service at our Day Hospitals and clinics. There are still complaints of being given wrong medication in these institutions. The current strike by the doctors is indicative of our government’s lack of taking seriously people with crucial skills that we need. I know this is an issue for national office, but if here we don’t put pressure on them to get their act together we’ll be the ones left with hospitals that are understaffed.

The motto of this department says “equal access to quality health care”; which is why it is most surprising to me that there are those who wish to sabotage the proposed National Health Insurance (NHI). Indeed, as proposed now, it has practically problems that must be refined and given a much cost effective procedural means. Yet, it is to me, Mr. Speaker, a mystery why people are fine with having public schools along with private ones, but not OK with having public insurance along private ones. We must guard against following the lobby of big companies at the expense of ordinary people.

We must also, Mr. Speaker, realise that the health of our people is priceless. Only healthy people are productive. I’m sure we can find innovative ways of paying for the NHI if we try. For instance, we can introduce reasonable taxing for all income earners the same percentage of their income. What we must not do is to subject crucial imperatives, like health care, to capitalist values.

Those who are opposed to the NHI give me a feeling they favour “free market” only when it benefits them. The fact is, having public insurance will inherently decrease cost of medical care Mr. Speaker, because it spreads risk and cost across more people. NHI is the beginning of dialogue on creative means of providing what should be a right and not a privilege. At Cope we believe quality health care must not be a profit oriented industry, and this we cannot emphasise strong enough.

Meantime, Mr. Speaker, in this province we would like a more concerted effort of implementing the Comprehensive Service Plan. We need to see in reality the delivery of cost-effective primary health care service, including the prevention of disease and promotion of a safe and healthy environment, as promised and started by the previous administration. Comprehensive Service Plan has a promise of reshaping the service to improve the quality of patient care and optimising our resources.

In the metro, where the thrust of this implementation is supposed to start, the process is still painfully slow. The most worrying factor is that some of the external activities that relates to the plan are seriously subject to inflation and exchange rate fluctuations. In this atmosphere of recession we can easily find ourselves with a big chunk out of even the resources we thought we already secured due to economic conditions.

The last budget identified Tuberculosis (TB) as the major threat to the health of our nation; not much has changed Mr. Speaker. TB and HIV/AIDS should still be our highest priority. Recently a summit was held in White River, Nelspruit, which emphasised on soliciting input from the young people. Its statistics reveal that young people are heeding the message of delaying sexual experience, and using condoms; they say now their aim is to promote the practise of circumcision as an add on to prevention of AIDS. Coupling this with the reports from other organisations working on similar fields, the message that things are slowly improving, even if we are not yet out of the woods, is beginning to emerge Mr. Speaker.

One of the key focuses of the Extended Public Works Programmes has been strengthening home-based care and skill development training. Not only does this provide care for de-hospitalised patients to make way for acutely ill patients, it gives a safety net income for people in these communities. We hope this administration would recognise the importance of this and seek rather to expand and give substance to the programmes.

The construction of hospitals in Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain is something the people of these communities have been waiting for and are eager to see completed. It’s ridiculous, Mr. Speaker, that a community whose population is as big as the city of Port Elizabeth does not have as single full hospital servicing their health needs. That it took this long to rectify this disaster points to a failure of our government’s measuring its words to deeds. This is why we’re most concerned by the revelation that there’s no money to build the Mitchells Plain hospital. This to us Mr. Speaker is unacceptable.

If countries like Morocco teach us anything, it is that the quality of health care does not only dependant on resources, but in the general change of attitude towards a more people friendly public service. When the political will, coupled with efficient non corrupt attitude of service, everything else follows, especially if reduce redundant layers of administrators, codify and use uniform billing rules, regulations and design.

Mr. Speaker, the government must not only act to give people quality alternative health insurance to what insurance companies provide, but somehow regulate and cap prices in pharmaceutical industry and medical institutions. This is already happening to countries like Japan, whose price controls even prescribe minimum and maximum fees to what doctors and hospitals can charge for medical services.

Thank you!
Tozama Bevu
Cope MPL, Western Cape Legislature


I am an African!

In Speeches on June 18, 2009 at 8:37 pm

Friends, on an occasion such as this, we should, perhaps, start from the beginning. So, let me begin.

I am an African!

I owe by being to the hills and the valleys, the mountains and the glades, the rivers, the deserts, the trees, the flowers, the seas and the ever-changing seasons that define the face of our native land. My body has frozen in our frosts and in our latter day snows. It has thawed in the warmth of our sunshine and melted in the heat of the midday sun. The crack and the rumble of the summer thunders, lashed by startling lightening, have been a cause both of trembling and of hope… The dramatic shapes of the [landscape] have… been panels of the set on the natural stage on which we act out the foolish deeds of the theatre of our day.

At times, and in fear, I have wondered whether I should concede equal citizenship of our country to the leopard and the lion, the elephant and the springbok, the hyena, the black mamba and the pestilential mosquito. A human presence among all these, a feature on the face of our native land thus defined, I know that none dare challenge me when I say – I am an African! …

Today, as a country, we keep an audible silence about these ancestors of the generations that live, fearful to admit the horror of a former deed, seeking to obliterate from our memories a cruel occurrence which, in its remembering, should teach us not and never to be inhuman again. I am formed of the migrants who left Europe to find a new home on our native land. Whatever their own actions, they remain still, part of me. In my veins courses the blood of the Malay slaves who came from the East. Their proud dignity informs my bearing, their culture a part of my essence. The stripes they bore on their bodies from the lash of the slave master are a reminder embossed on my consciousness of what should not be done… My mind and my knowledge of myself is formed by the victories that are the jewels in our African crown, the victories we earned from Isandhlwana to Khartoum, as Ethiopians and as the Ashanti of Ghana, as the Berbers of the desert….

I have seen our country torn asunder as … my people, engaged one another in a titanic battle, the one redress a wrong that had been caused by one to another and the other, to defend the indefensible. I have seen what happens when one person has superiority of force over another, when the stronger appropriate to themselves the prerogative even to annul the injunction that God created all men and women in His image.

I know what it signifies when race and colour are used to determine who is human and who, sub-human. I have seen the destruction of all sense of self-esteem, the consequent striving to be what one is not, simply to acquire some of the benefits which those who had improved themselves as masters had ensured that they enjoy. I have experience of the situation in which race and colour is used to enrich some and impoverish the rest.

I have seen the corruption of minds and souls [in] the pursuit of an ignoble effort to perpetrate a veritable crime against humanity. I have seen concrete expression of the denial of the dignity of a human being emanating from the conscious, systemic and systematic oppressive and repressive activities of other human beings. There the victims parade with no mask to hide the brutish reality – the beggars, the prostitutes, the street children, those who seek solace in substance abuse, those who have to steal to assuage hunger, those who have to lose their sanity because to be sane is to invite pain. Perhaps the worst among these, who are my people, are those who have learnt to kill for a wage. To these the extent of death is directly proportional to their personal welfare…

All this I know and know to be true because I am an African!

Because of that, I am also able to state this fundamental truth that I am born of a people who are heroes and heroines. I am born of a people who would not tolerate oppression. I am of a nation that would not allow that fear of death, torture, imprisonment, exile or persecution should result in the perpetuation of injustice. The great masses who are our mother and father will not permit that the behaviour of the few results in the description of our country and people as barbaric. Patient because history is on their side, these masses do not despair because today the weather is bad. Nor do they turn triumphalist when, tomorrow, the sun shines.

Whatever the circumstances they have lived through and because of that experience, they are determined to define for themselves who they are and who they should be… As an African, this is an achievement of which I am proud, proud without reservation and proud without any feeling of conceit…
But it seems to have happened that we looked at ourselves and said the time had come that we make a super-human effort to be other than human, to respond to the call to create for ourselves a glorious future, to remind ourselves of the Latin saying: Gloria est consequenda – Glory must be sought after!
Today it feels good to be an African…

I am born of the peoples of the continent of Africa. The pain of the violent conflict that the peoples of Liberia, Somalia, the Sudan, Burundi and Algeria is a pain I also bear. The dismal shame of poverty, suffering and human degradation of my continent is a blight that we share. The blight on our happiness that derives from this and from our drift to the periphery of the ordering of human affairs leaves us in a persistent shadow of despair. This is a savage road to which nobody should be condemned. This thing that we have done today, in this small corner of a great continent that has contributed so decisively to the evolution of humanity says that Africa reaffirms that she is continuing her rise from the ashes…
Whatever the difficulties, Africa shall be at peace!

However improbable it may sound to the sceptics, Africa will prosper!

Whoever we may be, whatever our immediate interest, however much we carry baggage from our past, however much we have been caught by the fashion of cynicism and loss of faith in the capacity of the people, let us err today and say – nothing can stop us now!


Thuma Mina! Send Me!

In Editorials on June 16, 2009 at 8:54 pm

COPE Youth Commemoration 16 June 2009, Athlone, Cape Town

The mains speaker for Cope’s Youth Rally to commemorate was the president of the organisation Terror Lekota. In his speech, president Lekota emphasised the need for disciplined youth with respect for it elders, and promotion of democratic practise for all, including members of different parties. Cope revealed its post election campaign, which it calls Thuma Mina! [Send Me!]

The campaign aims to emphasise the role of every member to build the party and promote what is best for the country as a whole. A call went about to Cope members to build their structure and recruit members in a sub-title of a ‘One Week! One Branch in good standing order!’ The Thuma Mina campaign is marked by colours of South African flag side by side with Cope’s logo as a rising sun to signify the dawn of a new era for change and hope for all.

President Lekota lamented the practise of the ruling party for not including other parties on how the government funds set aside for youth programmes. These end up being used only to promote the ANC activities at the exclusion of all other parties. Many people around the country share this concern as can be read in these few comments from the youth:

“Is the Katlehong Youth Rally an ANC or government event? If government event, why is Julius the only youth leader addressing the youth? If it is an ANC event, why is a government agency, National Youth Development Agency, being launched at a party event? Just curious!” Sentletse Diakanyo

“We need way of celebrating the youth day. Let’s do something creative, something that has meaning. Rallies and Bashes are not an ideal way to remember freedom fighters. Let’s engage the government on youth matters, empower communities around us; and make a difference to those less fortunate than us. Celebrate this day wisely, be the change!!!
“U can start with table talks, mentor a child, awareness, community service etc. The idea is not to re invent the wheel, but make use of available methods. Change mindsets one by one. A bash only fulfils u for that moment. If it does at all!” Achumile Majiji

“Thank u bro. I’m a community worker @ heart. Rallies have lost meaning to those who do not know where the next meal will come from. We cant throw food and clothes away! Thuma mina!” Bullet Boqwana

“This signals a start of gr8 things to come and I want to be part of this. I think we as the youth we need a platform whereby we can interact and engage amongst each other first, then communicate their challenges and needs to government. I propose that we be the active voice’, start a multifaceted youth forum that will go out to schools, churches, facebook, political parties to spark debates and engage the you.” Tiisetso Sehole

“The idea is on the air now hands on to the next June 16, 2010. Meaning a group of people to get the necessary funding for whateva event that can bring gud to the youth of our tym, if we cn get the mind changed 2 bliv on a greater SA than the current lets do that. we cannot always b follows the world has to fill the pressure to follw us too. Ace boet organise….jaaaaa a bash afta wards 4 completeness” Buntu Khatsh

“I like this, nothing would be more gratifying than making a contribution to the enhancement of human capabilities to those with less opportunities that are as a result of our ugly history. I still like the idea or rallies and bashes nonetheless. In my view everyday or every opportunity we have to make a social contribution should be used and we should not wait for a public holiday to do that.” Lwandile Fumba

Thuma Mina! Cope Youth has put the ball to their leaders to send them where necessary that may make a difference. We can only hope our elder brethren, bent on shadowing and copying everything Cope does will copy this one too. In the end all South Africans will be a winner with this attitude. The ruling party can redeem its disgusting electioneering tactics, like food parcels and Indigent monies only towards the elections by taking up this more permanent attitude. Let’s for once compete in doing good!


The Winds of Cahnge are ushering in the servants of the people

In News on June 16, 2009 at 8:51 pm

Dear friends,
There’s this family I’ve come to know well in Itipini. The mother has four children, three under the age of the 10, and the oldest daughter has a baby as well, who’s about two years old. Recently, the older daughter, who’s quite sick with AIDS, and the mother left the four children with their father and his brother, two older men, both of whom have tuberculosis. Both men are diligent in their treatment and their health is improving but neither has any interest or knowledge in caring for the four children. They seem to think the responsibilities of a father stop at the moment of conception. So the two men and four children all share a 7-foot by 7-foot tin shack and the children take care of each other while the men do their best to ignore them.

It is difficult for me to see this situation, not only because of its inherent tragedy but also because I know I am leaving Itipini soon. I want to smack the men around, track down the mothers, help the children, convince a government social worker to care – for once! – about something that happens in Itipini, and so much more. But I know that this requires more time than I have remaining and that it might be worse to start something, raise hopes, and then depart with it unfinished. If mission is a journey, it is time for me to sit back and let people here find someone else to accompany them on their journey or move forward themselves. Holding back is not a character trait I’m known for.

There are plenty of other ways in which I sense the beginning of a journey I know I won’t be able to see to the end. The condition of several HIV-positive patients, whom I have long known as a-symptomatic and quite healthy, has recently deteriorated. I’ve been able to explain to them the importance of another CD4 count and how they qualify for anti-retroviral drugs and point them in the right direction. But I know I won’t see them through to the end and see them, hopefully, regain strength and energy when they begin ARV treatment.

Many of the goodbyes I have known in my life have come at natural ending points – the end of a school term, the end of a summer camping season. Those difficult moments are soothed by the natural rhythm of life that winds down as one prepares to say goodbye and the knowledge that everyone is experiencing the same farewell moment at the same time.

As I stare down the tunnel of my final two weeks in South Africa, I realize that I am the only one preparing to go. Not only that, my departure is abrupt. Just because I’m leaving doesn’t mean that life won’t continue the same as it always has among the holy people I know in Itipini. Life will continue more or less as it always has. I just won’t be around to share it.

There are so many people to say goodbye to and I marvel when I think about where people are now compared to when I arrived. I visited my young friend Petros in prison the other day. He helped in the clinic when I first showed up but has now been in prison for about eight months, with no trial in sight. We spoke through the glass wall as we always have and I tried to tell him how I wouldn’t be able to visit him anymore.

A young student in Grade 2 was in pre-school when I arrived. When I explained to her I was leaving to return to school, she grabbed my hand and pointed towards her crumbling and forgotten primary school up the hill and said, “You can study at Ezra School with us!”

There’s just not enough common vocabulary and common experience to communicate the distance I’m about to travel or the finality of it all. A student in Grade 6 asked to come along with me. I told her it was a long way and expensive. “That’s OK,” she said. “I can ride in the back of the bakkie,” the pick-up truck we often use at Itipini. I didn’t know how to explain how long an airplane ride it was and how far away the plane would take me.

Oddly, it seems to be the pre-school children who understand best that I am leaving. When I ask them where I am going in a few weeks, they say, “to the rural areas.” People here often leave Itipini to return to their village home for a time. If that’s what it takes for them to understand my departure, then it’s fine by me.

Many of the pre-school children – and not a few of the adults – have long tripped over my name and called me Jesus. I’ve always responded with a Christ-like expression, “Who do you say that I am?” and they correct themselves. Now I realize it might just be more appropriate if I explained, “Where I am going, you cannot come”; and found a good hill from which to Ascend.

There is still plenty of sweetness in this time as well when I consider where this journey began and where it now ends. One difficult young woman with whom I have never seen eye-to-eye sought me out the other day to say, “Our hearts will hurt when you leave,” which was a surprise from her. My functionality with Xhosa has increased dramatically it seems in these last few weeks. I delight in all the little things I can now say and do on my own that before were impossible or needed someone else to mediate. (If anyone knows any South African Xhosa-speakers in southern Connecticut, please let me know!) I have a broad knowledge of the health-care system in Mthatha.

When I arrived, the system struck me as hopelessly byzantine and labyrinthine. It still is, mind you, but I just know the way through now. The other day I was at a local clinic I visit frequently and got speaking with one of the nurses in charge there. It was a wandering and discursive conversation about various medical topics and patients as between two colleagues. When I think about how much that same nurse used to intimidate me and when I think about how little I used to know about TB or HIV, I marvel at how far the relationship has come and how much my knowledge has grown.

I continue to update my web log – http://mthathamission.blogspot.com – as the days wind down here. If you check now, there’s a photographic progression of AIDS, an update on my cleaning lady Hilda, whom I mentioned in the last e-mail, a story about the difficulty of accessing treatment, plenty of pictures, and lots, lots more.

It is hard to believe it is nearly two years since I arrived here.
Thank you, as always, for the continued support, financial and otherwise, that has made this time here possible.

Your man in Mthatha,
Jesse

Jesse Zink
Episcopal missionary in Mthatha, South Africa
c/o McConnachie
P/Bag x5014
Mthatha 5100 South Africa

jessezink@gmail.com198

http://mthathamission.blogspot.com

+27 79 840 7683


I’m honest about my racism

In News on June 13, 2009 at 7:15 pm

I am one of those people who is honest about my racism. I am a black racist. I have a problem with white people, especially white South Africans. It is not that I don’t have white friends, I do and I love and respect them and wish them the best. But in our conversation the issue of me and the fact that I don’t like white people much always arises. I feel that whites are pretentions and they sometimes befriend black people so they can say: “see I am not a racist I have black friends” or “my maid is black and I treat her well, so how can you say I am racist.”

I fight with my friends because if we are anywhere and they see a shabby looking black person they feel sorry for them and assume he or she is poor and that they should give them money, yet they don’t react in a similar manner when they see that in a white person, they assume he/ she is on drugs.

Today a friend, Sixolise, posted a very constructive article on why she feels black people should get over themselves and stop looking back on apartheid but rather move forward and hold their heads high like the victors that they are.

June Love [a suspected fake profile whose sole purpose is to create racial dissent and discord on Facebook] proved my point that even the most sophisticate new age white people still harbor resentment against black people or that they are still racist. How else would one explain a white person getting angry and taking it as a personal attack on her race when a black person reprimands her fellow black people?
[Across is Sixolise’s piece]
Below conversation is a conversation that ensued between the two.

[10:18:37 AM] June: u have nothing but hatred for the whites dont u?
[10:19:02 AM] June: is there any reasoning with u?
[10:19:17 AM] sixolise Gcilishe: you should know me better than that
[10:19:30 AM] June: oh i think I do.
[10:19:55 AM] June: stop feeling sorry for yrself and get on with life
[10:20:06 AM] June: get rid of that chip on yr shoulder

Reason number 1; why racism still prevails:

I failed to see where Sixo was feeling sorry for herself. Maybe wanting to be proud and black and trying to encourage other black people is a sign of “feeling sorry for one’s self”
White people have a tendency to want to make us black people pity our situations. They say agh shame it will be ok don’t feel bad you are not alone. Here is some money here are some clothes and like mice draw to a trap with cheese we fall for it. We think these people are so nice, they give us clothes, money, food etc and all they are trying to do is build dependency.

[10:23:18 AM] sixolise Gcilishe: i’m actually weeping black people on that note if you care to pay attention
[10:23:42 AM] sixolise Gcilishe: they are the ones i suggest should stop feeling sorry for themselves
[10:23:45 AM] June: no u not
[10:23:50 AM] June: u running the white man down
[10:24:15 AM] June: but if u want to be LEFT BEHIND in another fucken Zim then carry on with yr shit
[10:24:39 AM] June: look at the whole of Africa it’s fucked ask yrself why
[10:25:20 AM] June: Rhodesia was a thriving country, taken over by yr people look at it today, and the rest of Africa went through the same just S.A. left now!
[10:25:29 AM] June: :P
[10:25:42 AM] June: just look at it all with common sense
[10:27:51 AM] June: the rest of the world call Africa the “dark continent” wonder why or if it has two meanings?

Why is it that every time black people try to motivate each other some white fool always feels the need to point out bad examples of things that happen in other African countries.
I love how Africa is the “dark continent” yet all the first world countries receive their light from Africa, perhaps we are a dark continent because we are being sucked dry of our resources while all the white super rich countries flourish and we are left in poverty.

[10:30:11 AM] June: Sixo, it wastn my fault u were born black, and if others treat u like shit just ignore it man
[10:30:34 AM] sixolise Gcilishe: thats what im saying on that note June
[10:30:47 AM] June: GET A BOOK CALLED THE MIXED BLESSING by Helen Van Slyke I read that book when I was about 13 and let me tell u I felt sorry for that little girl

Reason No. 2

Why do white people have this assumption that we have a problem with our blackness? When will they realise that we are in love with our black olive skin, we don’t have to tan or buy creams that will make us darker.

It’s an inferiority complex they try to instil on us and most of the time we instil upon ourselves. We think they are better than us they drive better cars, they live in better houses and therefore they must be superior and white people thrive on this especially the racists. You see it in the manner in which they treat their employees or the manner in which they generally deal with white people.

The black people who have this complex still call the white man bass or madam.
Our generation does not succumb to this complex and this infuriates the racist white person and fuels their racism even further.

[10:31:00 AM] sixolise Gcilishe: i am saying to black people they should stop whining and seeking approval of a white man
[10:31:56 AM] June: why do they seek approval in the first place? Do they feel inferior and why do they, they shouldn’t
[10:32:27 AM] June: if i was black I would say fuck everyone, my life is my life and get on with it
[10:33:14 AM] June: NO ONE CAN MAKE U FEEL INFERIOR WITHOUT YR CONSENT
[10:33:25 AM] sixolise Gcilishe: my point exactly
[10:33:49 AM] June: we have it in the white community too, if you dont fit into the WHITE SOCIAL circle u shit
[10:34:04 AM] June: trust me it is worse being a white with whites
[10:34:48 AM] June: we have to maintain a fucken standard all the time IT IS TIRING
[10:35:32 AM] June: I sometimes use to tell my maid who worked for me for 13yrs AND SHE ADORED ME she was like a mother to me, I TOLD HER SOMETIMES I WISH I WAS BLACK SO I COULD JUST LET MY HAIR HANG DOWN FOR A MINUTE

Reason No.3

This in some way is link to reason 2. White people assume that we black people don’t have any standards; they assume we just drift around in life and by some miracle we find ourselves succeeding. Just because our mothers and fathers were maids, garden boys, security guards, taxi drivers or train attendants does not mean that we don’t have standards.
Black people perpetuate this by accepting the shabby treatment they get from white people and making excuses and being apologetic for their appalling behaviour.

You find black waitresses treating white people better that they treat black folk because they have decided that black people don’t tip (standard). Why would I tip you if you bring my drink late, by the time my food arrives it is cold because you were busy being attentive to white people sitting at the next table. You don’t even ask me how my meal was.
Until black people start owning up to being black and encouraging each other and setting standards for our work ethic etc white racists will always look down on us.

[10:36:08 AM] June: if u white u are expected to be FUCKEN PERFECT AT ALL TIMES
[10:36:24 AM] June: THEY ASK FOR VERY HIGH STANDARDS AND IT IS EXHUASTING
[10:36:41 AM] June: be who u are and enjoy it
[10:36:54 AM] June: IT IS HELL BEING WHITE#

Reason No.4

The feel sorry for us syndrome. Why must we feel sorry for white people? They still live in the most affluent areas of the country? They are the ones who are still at the helm of this country’s economy? Majority of them are employed? They can afford to get further education and training? Majority of them don’t survive on $1 a day.
Black people also have this syndrome, capable man and women stand in street corners and beg. They go around knocking on people’s houses and asking for food instead of looking for work. They are always going on about how tough life is and how difficult it is to be a black person.

How has feeling sorry for anyone ever helped any situation?

[10:37:10 AM] sixolise Gcilishe: i do not wish to be white
[10:37:17 AM] June: oh u do
[10:37:22 AM] June: for the sake of money
[10:37:32 AM] sixolise Gcilishe: my family is rich June
[10:37:36 AM] June: U HAVE TO BE TOP OF THE FUCKEN CLASS ALL THE TIME
[10:37:54 AM] sixolise Gcilishe: i lived in sandton now in fourways
[10:37:56 AM] June: MY HUSBANDS FATHER Is a multi mill yes I am too
[10:38:01 AM] sixolise Gcilishe: so?
[10:38:12 AM] June: so? money doth not maketh the man

Reason No.5

We have more money than you therefore you are jealous or want to be like us. Why do why people think only white people have money? Is it because we have been silly enough as black people to have allowed them to have monopoly over most sectors of our economy?
The white racists feel threatened by affluent black people and they try to block our success where ever they can.

[10:40:33 AM] June: but ask yrself why there was apartheid
[10:40:45 AM] sixolise Gcilishe: i dont care about fucken apartheid
[10:40:50 AM] June: u do
[10:41:52 AM] June: There were young farmers and the wives and little children being slaughtered by the zulus, of course the whites would retaliate

Reason No. 6

Blame the blacks. White man syndrome of blaming apartheid on the black people is another reason why racism will not end in our generation. Why did the Zulu kill the whites is it perhaps because they were taking over their land, killing their crop, people and livestock?

[10:43:12 AM] June: blacks in other countries dont slaughter like here we are 300 yrs behind still backwards look at the bloody hottentots
[10:43:27 AM] June: they still hunt
[10:43:48 AM] June: imagine a hottentot having a PC
[10:43:54 AM] June: :O
[10:44:21 AM] June: WE STILL beleive beetroot cures Aids? my God!
[10:44:31 AM] June: heaven help us
[10:44:48 AM] June: the problem lies not with the whites
[10:45:00 AM] June: and that came frm a woman with a bloody degree

[11:06:08 AM] June: blacks hated whites, whites hated blacks now get over it and move ON
[11:06:49 AM] June: that’s why we successful we dont hold grudges we move on and build empires
[11:07:03 AM] June: u should take a leaf out our books

For as long as we all don’t make a collective effort to change for the better in our attitudes and dealings with each other racism will never end. As long as the black man look upon the white as the one who stole the wealth of our people and brought on apartheid, for as long as black people feel that their burdens are all to be blamed on the white person.

And for as long as white people look down on black people and regard them as nothing but thieves, liars, maids and garden boys, then the war against racism is nowhere near being over.

Sandra Johnstone (South Africa) replied to Khayakazi’s poston June 8, 2009 at 7:01pm
June Love and her sick commentary is not a reflection on what millions of “White” people say and think.

June Love is a nut case and an embarrassment to many people who do not share her views.

I personally gave her a mouthful in my responses to that article you refer to, and I most definately do not appreciate being “lumped in the same mould” as that woman.

Lastly, anyone taking this June Love seriously, needs to reconsider, as I am convinced she is a suspected fake profile whose sole purpose is to create racial dissent and discord………….and has questionable motives.

Helen Oyintanda Ilitha (South Africa) wroteon June 8, 2009 at 9:15pm
June Lowther I think she is. Something like that. I called her June Loathing so she changed her name to June Love. She’s crazy. Her husband is an English racist too. She met hm thru an internet dating site. He sometimes logs on under her profile but you can tell because he starts taking about the British National Party and stuff.

Teboho A. Theoha (South Africa) wroteon June 9, 2009 at 8:33am
Tjo. The shock and horror! Thats post was so long, and I read it first thing in the morning. That June person has some serious mental problems. Talk about a warped sense of reality. Racism, like all other -isms, serves only to detach the species from the natural work. We’re all the same people, in spite of our geographic location, or skin colour, we’re exactly same.

I am not a racist. I dont hate people because of their colour, i hate them because of their deeds. ”Blacks need to stop blaming the white man, and start whipping ass” said an American activist.

Sixolise Eileidh Gcilishe (South Africa) wroteon June 9, 2009 at 2:01pm
That was an experience. It left me speechless

Liansky Bestenbier wroteon June 9, 2009 at 2:10pm
Why is everyone shocked? It’s not like this is something new. I was probably one of the first ‘non-white’ individuals to have access to the internet and back then, you’d be swamped with hate speech if you so much as suggest that being black was okay. Now its a bit better because the internet is being accessed more and more by different race groups and i do believe that the internet community in SA is starting to build a much more tolerant culture. This is an improvement compared to four or five years ago. We have to be proud though because the COPE FB group is probably the most diverse and most tolerant of all SA orientated internet groups.

Helen Oyintanda Ilitha (South Africa) replied to Liansky’s poston June 9, 2009 at 2:40pm
I think this group has gotten more black since the election. There are really pro-black topics now.

Sandra Johnstone (South Africa) replied to Helen’s poston June 9, 2009 at 4:07pm
I still think there is a concerning undercurrent of rascism and colour reminders in this group as well.

Maybe I have been a bit wet behind the ears and truelly “colour-blind” prior to Cope’s formation and joining this group, but I’ve never had to encounter so much Black/White/Coloured/Indian racial rhetoric and Colour issues, as I have here.

I’ve always understood Cope to be a party for all people, irrelevant of race, sex etc……..yet these forums can become quite hectic with racial overtures and colour issues.

Sixolise Eileidh Gcilishe (South Africa) replied to Helen’s poston June 10, 2009 at 11:01am
“I think this group has gotten more black since the election. There are really pro-black topics now. “

Are you having problems with black people now? Who have you been chilling with?

Capitali Zim replied to Sandra’s poston June 10, 2009 at 4:01pm

It’s a combination of the fact that it’s a political forum with relative anonymity, people that would probably smile be polite to each other on the street may have alot more to say here.
Sentletse Diakanyo (South Africa) replied to Helen’s poston June 11, 2009 at 10:14pm
Helen, I think you need to come clean. Are you racist or not?

Sabelo L Kotswana (South Africa) replied to Sixolise’s post17 hours ago
Poor Sixo. Next time call on me :)

Sabelo L Kotswana (South Africa) replied to Sandra’s post17 hours ago
Sandra,
I do not think there is any part of South Africa where there is no racial undercurrents. In the workplace, shopping, etc. Now, one can ignore all of this and move on, pretending it does not exists, but that is one’s approach and not often the reality.
The other day I found myself at Roodepoort CC to play golf on a very cold Saturday morning.
When my name was called as on standby, I immediately walked towards the tee. The group ahead of us played their shots and left. At that point, there were 4 people on the tee-box. The one was a young guy working for the club and collecting the payment slips. A guy came up and handed his slip to the young non-black assistant. He then asked the two non-black players whether they were playing as a two ball. I am standing there talking to these guys and he bloody assumes I am a caddy. There were 3 golf bags there. I decided to ignore it because it served little purpose to teach a racist that he is a racist. He will simply find excuses.


My take on the craze over the Old South African Flag

In News on June 13, 2009 at 7:12 pm

I’m told that there was a point in our country where there was smoke everywhere you looked. Streets were getting used to being watered with human blood and tears. Back in the days it was a usual thing to see women crying, hands over their heads, weeping for their husbands that died, some didn’t return home. Daughters, sons, neighbors were lost everyday. People died of bullets from “justified” police guns. Stories were fabricated and families had to swallow, bitter as it may have been.

Songs were composed, poetry written. All my people wanted was to be considered and ultimately treated like human beings. At times I sit and I throw myself into deep thought, but still, it doesn’t matter how hard I make an effort I just fail to fully comprehend how man made in the image of god as the scriptures inform us, can contradict their creator in such a manner.

I have heard about the suffering of my people. Their land taken from them, I heard about the slavery and them thrown in squatter camps and many dying of starvation. The humiliation and suffering brings tears in mine eyes. Yes I also sometimes very much wonder why, why our forefathers had to suffer. Why black people were not equal. Why we were discriminated against and why we had to struggle like that. But will that lead me to hating every white man on the street? Does this information give me enough reason to take onto some shooting spree? How will others feel if I then burst in song and in my angelic voice I sing “kill the Boer the farmer? Is my anger justified? I wonder to myself.

As much as most the times I am also tempted to curse with others the waves that brought the ship and curse the ship that brought the white man, and curse him that raped my people and enslaved my people and the system that killed my people and the laws of discrimination I shall not for I believe flowers do grow in dry areas.

Yes the story of an individual who waved an old South African flag at loftus this past weekend is reported. A friend and colleague expressed how such a behavior left a bitter taste in his mouth. He even suggested that this flag must be banned and only be put in a museum.

I also had a conversation with friends who share same sentiments with him. Most expressed their feelings and I was accused of controversy and insensitivity. Truth is, I’m not sure how to react. Personally I suggest that it’s about time as black people we stop paying attention to every piece of crap that is thrown our way. I get the feeling that we always desire and force people to be apologetic even if they are not. We are too needy and we long for acceptance of the white. What if they are not apologetic? What if they don’t give a *&% about your feelings and still consider you a kaffir, maid, garden boy and most of all a thief and the most irresponsible nation? What if everyday they say a prayer to their God to return the days of apartheid? Are you going to confront them for feeling like that? Are you going to create laws to prevent or ban such feelings?

old south african flag

My granny always believed to “rub the salt on the wound in order to heal”. This sweeping under carpet formula we insist on will not assist us in any way. Our fear of the truth will mislead the nation. I think that we as South African need to table these issues. When are we ever going to reach a point where we will look at this flag as black people and be proud to have defeated apartheid? We are victorious? Why bother with looser? Racist who yearn for only bad for the black people lost, so let them expose themselves and their idiocy. The truth and the fact of the matter is they lost the game. It is about time we show these people who Endeavour to piss us off a middle finger by ignoring them. Apartheid will never ever return in South Africa there will have to be war first and one of the people who will have to die first before that happens is me.

Let’s look at the story of Jesus. He died on the cross. Main objective was to hurt him in a despicable way. But according to Christians he resurrected. He overcame. Christians sing nicely of the cross. It reminds them that they are conquerors .They get excited about it because the devil was defeated at his own game. He’d be stupid to brag about nailing JC. Do you see my point? We defeated the Boers. Let that flag remind you that darkies are the shit.

A flag that hangs and fly on national events, on embassies and the flag that is internationally recognized is the one I approve of. I think I’d rather have people waving the flag on my face that to stupidly believe they like me when they do not.

Let the people express themselves and expression doesn’t mean they have to admire you.

The waving of that flag at that stadium is the reality of SA. Some wish they could wave it but they fear the labels.

We must not run away from reality by utilizing emotional blackmail.

Media Statement on COSATU Section 77 Notice to NEDLAC

In News on June 13, 2009 at 9:37 am

13 June 2009

Sir / Madam

Re: THE COSATU SECTION 77 NOTICE TO NEDLAC

The Congress of the People in Western Cape appreciates Cosatu’s concerns for “unity and cooperation both within the Western Cape as well as nationally.” What Cope does not understand is Cosatu intended meaning in saying it is seeking to “putting into place an alternative administration—under Nedlac—focusing on dedicated areas which will advance the interests of our people collectively.” Alternative administration of what? Cope tried to raise the question with Cosatu and was promised further elaboration on the matter in due time after the Nedlac meeting that will be convened at a later date.

Cope would like to state that it’ll not be party to any collaboration that seeks to remove from office a democratically elected government, like that of the Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape. Cope might not see eye with the DA governance in some issues, like the male dominated cabinet, but it does not feel this constitute any breach of fundamental law of governance. Cope believes in the rule of law based on the constitution of the country. Even though Cope feels the DA could have handled the matter better it recognizes that it is the DA’s prerogative, as democratically elected government, to put into positions of power whomever they feel best suited to the positions of government.

Kind regards
Mbulelo Ncedana
Cope Chairperson (Western Cape)


INPUT OF COPE ON PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE ON YOUTH DAY (SA belongs to all its Youth)

In Speeches on June 11, 2009 at 12:38 pm

Greetings to Hon. Speaker
Hon. Members

Young people are the future of the society. For this reason all societies should nurture young people to play a meaningful role in their affairs and beyond. In turn, young people are expected to explore the limits of their opportunities and responsibilities in society. In other words, the youth grow into society, becoming part of it, growing with it, eventually grow it themselves.

This year marks the 33rd Anniversary since the Soweto Youth Uprisings which was characterised by the firing of bullets, spraying of teargas, killing and assault of young people whose sin was to demand their right to freedom, democracy and right to education without being language confined. That day a body of a 12 year old Hector Pieterson was sewn by the bullets of agents of apartheid dying in front of his comrades as they paved a way for the coming generation to take spear and
advance further. The commemoration is also in the month from which one of the greatest sons of this continent was born, the intellectual who has defined & redefined the African renaissance concept, Thabo Mbeki(happy early birthday to Zizi, and thank you for leaving a traceable legacy).

The current state of youth development of our country continues to be a worrying factor as this celebration of this 33rd anniversary bears no significance of change of situation to them but rather celebrating it with heads of youth bow down and shame written in their faces as they continue to witness democracy contributing immensely in their misery. We define this as misery because:-

• The level of unemployment continues to escalate with young people being the most affected group. The statistics show most unemployed graduates are young people who haven’t yet plough back to their communities despite the fact that as they were studying they were the investment to their parents and ultimately changing life for the better. A solution of a Youth Cadet Service where school leavers will serve and support communities whilst they get themselves empowered is offered by the Congress of the People to alleviate a roaming youth that is unemployed and not at schooling. As if this was not enough, reports tell us in provinces like the Free State municipal workers, 98 to be specific, were dismissed on the basis of political affiliation with Cope; so much for depoliticised civil service.

• The lack of universal access to qualitative education continue to subject young people to unintended misfortunes of finding themselves drowning in financial misery. Often you find even the semi-employed youth up to their necks with debt, victims of loan sharks that pretend to be rescuing mechanisms for them to access education yet they eventually get to be listed to credit bureau before they get employed. To this effect it must be mentioned that NFSAS is amongst these giants who continue to swallow the dreams, aspirations and the future of youth through this scheme has left many casualties along the way. I must also mention that the Government is accountable for all this mess as it continuously make promises it does not keep. An example must drawn in the University of South Africa where learners are used by the SACP to call for the head of the most productive Vice Chancellor,
Professor Barney Pityana. The youth of the SACP, the party whose Secretary General, is now the Minister of Higher Eductaion, are the champions of the campaign against professor Pityane.

• We also call on the department of Education to take drastic steps and decisive measures against teachers in Soweto who are disrupting classes holding the future of our brothers and sisters at ransom.

• The aspirations of young people to become businessmen/women is often hindered by the fact the institutions that Government have created are open to access only by a certain sphere of society and not all. UYF,SEDA & IDC continue to shut rural youth out of the systems that are used to get financial assistance in order to become young entrepreneurs as a result of this Young people end up subjecting themselves to unwanted tendencies of fronting for the wealthy that seeks to get wealthier-What kind of government enjoy seeing its future leaders being prisoners of the haves? The critical task of the National Youth Development Agency amongst other things must to ensure that these bottlenecks are dealt with and economic freedom is enjoyed by the youth of this country.

• The lack of service delivery by the current government continue to be evident in the areas where even the Christmas of the food parcels cannot reach because roads aren’t constructed, water & sanitation or electricity aren’t by any means in pipe lines, example of this is in the area of Xolobeni A/A where the department of minerals and energy had wanted to impose a mining in deep primitive area where no attempt was ever made to bring government services selling the land of the poor Pondo people to Australian company.

• The painful living of the people of Second Creek (East London) who feed their families including infants who are 1 day old on the Mununicipal dumping site is the worse book from which this Government must read all symptoms of poverty and hopelessness our people are subjected to, and begin to truly commit to letting the sun of Hope and Change shine in these darkest areas of our country.

• Hon Speaker we welcome the creation of a new ministry of Women, Youth and people with disabilities we are hopeful that this Department will be used as a first department to champion really interests of these key spheres of our country more especially taking from the experience that out of the previous 18 National departments only 6 of those had Youth directorates hence the slow progress to the advancement of the youth agenda. In the same spirit we would want to see our government implementing the opening of opportunities to youth with disability as they are still a seriously marginalized group in all aspects.

• Lastly as youth of the Congress of the People we commit to being the desired value to the means and programmes that our government put in place in order for the lives of young people to get better. We are South Africans, and we are Africans regardless of race, colour, gender or creed. We commit on mobilising youth to being responsible citizens who subscribe to the following:-

(i) I am loyal to my country, South Africa, and the Continent of Africa regardless of whatever difficulties the country and the continent faces;
(ii) I will work for the unity and success of my country, South Africa, and the Continent of Africa;
(iii) Defend and enhance the national sovereignty of South Africa and our right to determine for ourselves, our hopes and aspirations as a people united in our diversity.

THANK YOU!!!

Anele Mnda is Cope National Youth Convener


A Parliamentary Debate, Western Cape Legislature

In Speeches on June 10, 2009 at 9:32 am

Youth in Government & Citizenship

10 June 2009

Hounorable Deputy Speaker

When we recall the incidences that happened in the soon to be commemorated 16 June 1976 event it leaves us without any doubt that the youth of this country played a forefront role in the liberation of our country. We saw also during the past election how our youth, contrary to global trends, rose to consolidate the freedom they fought for by going to vote in numbers. With all these noble efforts it very unfortunate that they are the ones at the worst of the frustrations and shortcomings experienced presently by our country.

They are the most unemployed, thus in need of requisite skills. They are dying in droves from the HIV/AIDS, though recent statistics show that the numbers are declining but still too high. In short Mr. Deputy Speaker, our youth is not fully enjoying the fruits they fought and sacrificed so much for.

I know terms like youth empowerment are in vogue these days, but is our youth really empowered? Look around this house and tell me if you see any MPP that is less than 40 years old. How are we empowering our youth if we do not include them in decision making processes by making them part of governance. Without boasting Mr. Deputy Speaker, there’s only one party whose youth leader is a member of National Parliament, and that is Cope, though it has only thirty representatives there.

We don’t only need to include the youth in governance Mr. Deputy Speaker, but we need to lead them by example. We need to show them that freedom does not translate to license or anarchy. The sad part is that, when it comes to moral values, like a fish, we seem to be rotting from the head. I know it is uncomfortable to speak of these things but we must for the sake of our children, if not ourselves. As parents we are not providing much good example to our children. How do we expect them to do what we tell them then? Children tend to learn more from what we do than what we say.

I’m not taking the responsibility away from the youth Mr. Deputy Speaker; but am emphasizing that it starts with us, the parents. We must measure our words by our deeds. Sure the government must provide a platform for the youth to develop to their best potential.

We recently heard the President’s address giving one promise after another, renaming this Commission for that Agency. Name changing does not change anything if substance is still lacking, and there’s no real change of attitude and capability. The office of the Premier in this province has promised to establish a Commission for Youth, Women, and the Disabled. That is laudable if followed by real works. It is imperative that we take our youth seriously, include them more, especially about decisions that affect them directly. We must adopt an attitude of humility on things they have much to teach us, like technological innovation and suave. The youth can help us get rid of old bad habits. They can, for instance, drive us more towards respecting our environment, better management and conservation of our fast depleting natural resources.

We need our youth if we are to achieve progressive reorientation of our mindset to respond more efficiently to the needs of the present age. There’s much institutional changes that need to be altered to achieve all this, and it is certain that we cannot measure well against the coming age without the help of our youth. The youth is truly the future that is here!

Thank you Mr. Deputy Speaker
Tozama Bevu
Cope Western Cape Member of the Legislature


GIVE US SUBSTANCE Mr. PRESIDENT

In Editorials on June 8, 2009 at 2:54 pm

Jacob Zuma has consistently demonstrated an uncanny ability to be everything to everyone; saying all the right things at the right time. He seem to have the need to please everyone; something that would suggest a sense of disturbing insecurities about him. It is generally leaders who lack confidence in their capabilities who would seek broad acclaim and affirmation from others. His state of the nation address did not deviate from this already established trend of submerging us under showers of empty promises and unrealistic commitments. The task of a leader is to inspire us all and give us hope amidst these difficult times that we have to contend with. However, the difficulty in doing so is to strike a balance between dispensing that hope and the temptation to raise expectations of the people to unimaginable heights. People do not remain eternally optimistic even when it becomes evident that there is a demonstrated betrayal of their hopes and dreams.

Zuma ascend to power under the false guise of being this caring leader and man of the poor; making an endless stream of broken promises, which even at the time any person with a fraction of a brain could have known were unachievable given the current global financial turmoil and his track record. The ANC elections manifesto was a long wish list that was far removed from reality; and we may have forgiven Zuma and the ANC and excused that as only part of electioneering, that once in government there would sober assessment of the state of the nation in order that tough choices are made and communicated with the people.

The Zuma government has indeed indicated that it has prioritised a number of key aspects of the elections manifesto; yet the manner of approach in relation to the key priorities appear to be off the mark. Zuma continues to demonstrate an obsessive compulsive populist behaviour even while in office as president of the republic. The constraints within which government operates would prevent a realist from continuing to make promises that cannot be achieved within the specified timeframes. Government is not cash flush. There is declining tax revenue and we face the spectre of growing budget deficit and the future burden of servicing expensive debt. The economy is in recession. Companies are going through bankruptcy and liquidation; and are shedding jobs at much higher rate than any government official could wish to create additional ones.

The state of the nation address does indeed outline where we want to be; but how do we get to where we want to be? What we want to hear is how government intend of stabilising and reviving the economy. The Keynesian approach of increased government expenditure, alone will not assist in bringing the economy to full employment. The extended public works programme is nothing new. This is a continuation of work already initiated during Mbeki’s term of office. The level of unemployment had continued to increase despite the limited success of this programme. It is shortsighted for government to see this as the magic bullet that would inject stimulus into the economy and create much-needed jobs.

The US president Barack Obama came into office with a plan on what his administration would focus on. Already before his inauguration he had outlined what his Economic Recovery Plan entailed and how it was to be executed. Economic recovery is the bedrock upon which every intended government programmes rests. The effects of the global financial crisis are felt more widely across the economy as a whole as the downturn in lending affects consumer spending, private investment, etc. and ultimately tax revenue. All other key priorities outlined by Zuma in his speech are futile if the economy is to continue on a downward trend, if government is not making a concerted effort to revive it. The large majority of our people would continue to be subjected to endless misery and dehumanising conditions of poverty. The achievement of ten key priorities of government as contained in the Medium Term Strategic Framework would be compromised and we would suffer the same fate as other countries.

The Zuma government has no Industrial Policy Action Plan. What has Zuma and his men been doing since Polokwane and not formulating a plan that would allow for necessary and required interventions in various key sectors of the economy? Jacob Zuma claims the economic downturn should not cause government to change its plans with regard to ten key priority areas of the Medium Term Strategic Framework; that instead government should implement these with speed and determination. Exactly how is government going to do that within the existing constraints? The president in this instance sounded delusional and far removed from the harsh realities that we face as a nation. Determination to implement all these things is fruitless when the economy continues on a downward trend.

The ANC increased ministries with the intention of improving on service delivery and execution of programmes of government; yet there has not been a clearly outlined plan of how all these new ministries are going to coordinate their programmes with the provincial structures to which they are not aligned. The financial consequence of this bloated bureaucracy had not been quantified. For a government with limited financial resources one would have expected that adequate planning would have been carried out beforehand to ensure smooth and seamless transition; and to ensure that service delivery is not impacted.

A measure of a good leader is the ability to make unpopular and tough choices. Our current economic environment demands that government assume an unpopular stance on matters of economic policy and government programmes in order that we may all emerge less unscathed and bruised from this turmoil. If we are to make any progress towards prosperity we cannot do so when the President attempts to please trade unionists and his sycophants in the SACP at every turn. The challenge of reviving the economy and addressing its structural problems, of ensuring that jobs are created, that banks are lending, that government officials are performing, cannot be overcome by making flowery speeches which lack substance. We need specifics!

South Africa does not exist as an island to the troubles of the region. Jacob Zuma has side stepped the important issue of also dealing with the political and economic recovery of Zimbabwe. Government cannot pretend that the situation in Zimbabwe would not continue to have negative consequences on our country. It is a problem that none of us can simply wish away and not address. This was not a problem of the Mbeki government alone. The Zuma government should provide leadership in finding a permanent and sustainable solution for Zimbabwe in order to minimise the impact on our depressed economy. Failure to address this problem, as it appears there is a reluctance from the Zuma government to deal with this; and the continuing habit of raising unrealistic expectations of the poor and unemployed, would only lead us on the path to the vicious xenophobic attacks that embarrassed us all in 2008. This obsession of making empty promises only serves to foment tensions in poor communities and may lead to anarchy.

We cannot risk the future prosperity of our country and continent in the interest of promoting economic populism. This is not the time for leaders to attempt to exaggerate their reputation through populist rhetoric. Give us substance Mr. President.


STILL WE RISE

In Editorials on June 7, 2009 at 8:17 pm

When degenerative organizations like the African National Congress (ANC) regard you as “the main threat”, and call battles against you a “swimming against a strong stream”, you know you must doing something right. Which is why we take the reports in the Mail and Guardian that the “ANC has identified the Congress of the People (Cope) as “the main threat” as a compliment, albeit an unintentional one. In fact, we would be concerned if they were compliment us intentionally. If your friends say a lot about you, so are your enemies.

This revealed order by Gwede Mantashe ‘to introduce programmes that will “undermine” Cope support …’ will work to Cope’s advantage by delousing the fleas, especially those from the ANC. The chaff will be separated from the wheat. Cope has for sometime now, even before the fall of the head of election strategy, Mlungisi Hlongwane, trying to get rid of the enemy within. We opted against the option of conducting witchcrafts and chose to suffer this enemy within until to run out of steam. When the ANC embarked on its ‘Operation Come Back Home’ [whose object is to attract our members, especially the leadership, with lucrative jobs and business opportunity] Cope looked vulnerable until it realised the ANC was actually without realising doing the organisation a favour. For an organisation that is genuine about ethical principles operating with fewer quality membership is preferable to collecting worthless and rubbish quantity for the sake of inflating numbers.

When you have something going, as the saying goes, everything your opponents doe work to your advantage. The Christians among us will be aware of St Paul’s saying that everything works for the greater good of the good. What this strategy of the ANC spells out clearly is that their organisation does not only lack imagination but have actually ran out of ideas if all it can come up with to counteract the Cope wave is by shadowing its moves. We take it as a sincerest form of flattery, but the worrying factor, as seen during their election campaign, is that when this strategy fails they embark on violence.

It is not by accident that ANC MKVA suddenly resuscitated towards the last elections. And it was not just a matter of few opportunistic individuals taking opportunity to reboot their significance within their organisation. The move was organised and well orchestrated. The ANC is showing all symptoms of a declining Liberation Movement: lack of progressive ideas, intolerance to real alternative views, use of history as a weapon for political power, growing centralisation of power towards unchecked party/leader autocracy, and resorting to violence when all else fails. There are disturbing signs also that it is aware of its demise and has chosen to rely on manipulation and abuse of State power as the last straw to desperately crutch on.

What the ANC still fails to understand is that the Cope wave is strong because it is rooted on the present day needs of the people that are determined by their social progressive spirit. The ANC has failed to keep up with the progressive spirit of the people, which can be seen in its obsession with empty rhetoric, nostalgia for yesterday politics, and wishy-washy wish lists and empty rhetoric it calls manifesto. The ludicrous cut and paste thinking of the ANC is a sign of crouching mediocrity it operates by, as can be clearly seen in the State of the Nation Address. It’s pathetic. It’d be laughable were it not so tragic. What mediocrity relies on is indecisiveness (look at the cabinet), compromise (because you principles), lack of vision and obsession with the past. Need we say more?

The most worrying factor for Cope is not the ANC tactics of regression, but the people of goodwill in South Africa who choose to keep quiet because of misdirected intentions of aiming to be patriotic. It makes them accept mediocrity through flawed reasoning. If you keep quiet even though you see the country is going to the dogs then you are in complicity. This is how Martin Luther. Jr, put it. “Though we be present in the battle, if we are not present where the battle is hottest, we are traitors to the cause.” Traitors to the cause we becoming by saying we just want to live our private lives when signs are clear that soon there won’t be much platform to live those lives at the best possible way. As Yeats saw long ago, the best are lacking in conviction while the worst are filled with passionate conviction. If things continue in this path, things will soon fall apart; we’ve a clear example beyond the Limpompo.

As for total onslaught of Cope during the 2011, well, that just another point among the long wish list. Just as you cannot create 500 000 jobs over 6 months on a recession economy, unless you don’t know the difference between job opportunity and what you call ‘decent jobs’. Decent jobs are not temporal, and they involve proper health insurance, and so forth.

For those who seem to still miss the point, let us reiterate; the Congress of the People was born out of revolutionary will of the people who wanted to defend their Constitution, correct the deviations from the spirit of Freedom Charter, restore ethics in politics, morality and consolidate participatory democracy.

We were then concerned about the lack integrity on our leaders, the political deviation to an undue introduction of rowdy politics of partisanship and personality cults within the Liberation Movement. We are still concerned, in fact things have only changed for the worst when the ANC changed pilots, adding impotent imagination, dubious morals and corruptible characters to habits and patterns of regression.

The ANC chose to co-opt real concerns of the people into an electioneering strategy, speciously promising to put corrective measures, only to go back to old habits the moment they were off the woods, like cadre deployment to civil service after elections. What is becoming glaringly clear is that, though the ANC preaches things like democracy, constitutional based open society, it does not embody their spirit, in fact sometimes it betrays it.

The wind of a new agenda for change and hope for all is sweeping throughout our land. There’s nothing either the ANC, the SACP, COSATU, or rest of the bunch who remain cordoned off from the 21st century by sophisticated ignorance and obsolete ideologies, can do anything about it. No one can stop an idea whose time has come, especially not those who boast only outdated social structure and perverted intellectual heritage. Cope is the only alternative to the failing vision of the ANC, and one by one everyone is going to wake to this realisation.

Cope stands on the cutting edge of change for the better, almost by luck for that matter, because the spirit of change is fostered by the needs of the people, and not by politicians. Cope is there because of the opportune moment it was founded on, and will itself be relevant only if it embodies people’s aspirations, ready to fulfil the carryover miscarried promises of liberation of our people to new heights.

Cope is the only party that brings new solutions to our present needs. It’s other advantage is that it has genes of a liberation movement on its blood, and the overwhelming support of emerging South Africa’s progressive generation. This enables Cope to move in harmony of tradition and progressive thought, forging new ways to realise the hopes of the people.

Studying the voting patterns of the last elections a clear picture of Cope being the only party crossing beyond racial, ethnic, cultural bounds emerges. All the people of goodwill are slowly realising that Cope is the only way forward for us under the progressive umbrella that is South Africa’s constitution.


Reporting from the Western Cape Legislature

In Editorials on June 3, 2009 at 9:31 am

The Western Cape Legislature sat to debate the Premier’s State of the province report yesterday, 2 June 2009. The leader of the ANC in the legislature, Lyn Brown, was visible angry and accused the Premier, Helen Zille, “for stopping short of calling me a liar.” The ANC, in bickering style, accused the Premier of creating a sense of crises within the province so that she may appear as a hero.

COPE MPPS, Dr. Allan Boesak and Tozama Bevu, addressed the house on behalf of the organisation. After thanking the Premier for wasting “no time in exposing the deficiencies of the previous provincial government” Dr. Boesak pledged COPE’s “support for efficient, clean, and transparent governance.” He promised to hold the Premier accountable on her promise of streamlining the process of service delivery.

“Mr. Speaker, while the Premier’s speech promises technical excellence, it lacked entirely in two fundamental respects: visionary leadership and democratic intuition.” Dr. Boesak said. He went on about how visionary leadership should be informed by the spirit of our constitutional wisdom, is driven by a democratic intuition that understands that the fabric of our social cohesion, particularly in this province, which has been torn apart by group conflicts. Our diversity which should have been the treasure of all our people has been devalued into an easily dispensable commodity and exchangeable for cheap, short term political gain. Indeed, our national quest for nation-building and the realisation of a truly non-racial society is severely under threat.

Dr. Boeask lamented the fragile and unstable progress of our reconciliation process and accused the Premier of the Western Cape of not helping manners with her style of abrasive leadership. He said a visionary leader would understand and grasp the fact that the deep desire of most South Africans wants to live in harmony with one another and encouraged the Premier to nurture and not antagonise this desire. The spirit of Dr. Boesak was not to discourage rigorous debate, rather to find amicable ways of disagreeing with each other without disrespecting one another. Debates amplify democracy and relieve us of ever lurking tendencies of mediocrity, while conforming us to common values and culture of humanity. All we need is a little recognition and acceptance of the otherness in another, which is one of the requirements of democratic intuition.

Dr. Boesak said; “Mr. Speaker, democratic intuition understands that the poor do not live by service delivery alone but also by politics of compassionate justice and meaningful inclusion.” In the Premier’s speech the poor are merely made an appendix of service delivery. Genuine commitment to justice and eradication of poverty pertain to an attitude of empathy, and making oneself one with the people and their needs. “Visionary leadership and democratic intuition, Mr. Speaker, understand that ‘cooperative government’ cannot be defined, as Madam Premier seems to do, almost exclusively in the relationship between a DA-led provincial governance and a DA-led city government. It incorporates this province into the bigger picture of national government, and amicable relationship with all political parties, especially those present in this house … Hence COPE strongly feels the Premier will need a fundamental change to her understanding of what it means to be the Premier of the all the people in this province.” He said he believed the Premier was sincere in this desire, and therefore COPE will work tirelessly with her party, and all other parties, to make this a cooperative provincial government that will bare fruits for all the people of the Western Cape.


PARLIAMENT OF THE WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE DEBATE ON PREMIER’S ADDRESS 2 JUNE 2009

In Speeches on June 3, 2009 at 9:28 am

As my colleague, Dr. Boesak has already said, COPE welcomes the commitment to efficient, clean and transparent governance that the Premier, the hon Helene Zille, has emphasised on her address, and hope its effort will not, okwezithukuthuku zenja ziphelele eboyeni [like a dog’s sweat disappear into the fur]. And that it won’t mean purging people based on political affiliation. The Premier’s commitment to creating more jobs is commendable, we wait to see if it realisable. But in COPE’s opinion in general thinks Madam Premier failed to provide a clear directive of how provincial government will achieve this, especially for the poor areas of our province.

When we recall the speech Madam Premier made upon the occasion of her becoming the mayor of Cape Town we become wary of these promises. On that occasion we had high hopes, supposing that it meant more services to our black townships. Our experience since then is that nothing much came out of it. Had we time we would compare statistics notes with the premier to drive home the point; the much media reported misery of those who still live without basic services is argument enough.

This provincial government must not abandon Expanded Public works too; if anything it must start thinking of more urgent ways of creating labour intensive public works to ease the strain of unemployment, and the loss jobs that coming with the intensification of the economic recession. I know Madame Premier is sensitive on the issue of responsibilities before rights, but some, through no fault of theirs, have fallen between the cracks of the system; they too must be accommodated with social security. The Premier’s address was rather regrettably silent on that.

Mr. Speaker, the Premier, in her state of the province speech lamented how the ANC makes the DA administration chase a bouncing ball when it comes to house delivery. We believe, without discounting the seriousness of the accusation of rushed land transfers to the national government, that’s only part of the issue and nature of politics. The Premier will have to look for more innovative ways of speeding up house delivery; and hope now that the DA is a provincial government the poor will see a much more concerted on this department, and less complaints about lack of land.

As much as we support “a public transport system that is more regulated, formalized and co-ordinated …” we’ll caution the premier into taking a more cooperative tone when dealing with the taxi industry. The taxi owners are not miscreant; all they want is for a more consultative process and an assurance that they too should be empowered by the process.

We would also like to remind Madam Premier that South Africa is a constitutional democratic state that espouses the will of the majority over even that of parliamentary law. And that the Western Cape is just but a province in the bigger picture of South African democratic project.

There’s a whole lot of other issues we could talk about, like market structures that need to be corrected so that the possibilities of downstream production or service industry development can be substantially expanded. The Premier on her speech touched, for instance, like developing to the optimal level Agri-processing. We would like to hear more about that, and regret that there are people into his house, from her party, who are still calling for Agri villages. What would that entail? And would it not rather be just another form of discrimination by big boys who own farm lands and have expertise to service them at the expense of the rest? Also, why have we not yet gotten into the wagon of using green energy development as a source of economic development? Madam Premier didn’t touch on that? These are things we should be investing our resources and energies on. Unfortunately time does not allow us to discuss these things here now.

Thank you ladies and gentleman.

Tozama Bevu
Member of COPE Western Cape Legislature