Thursday, April 21, 2011

Julius Not Aggressive

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13151267

The head of South Africa's ANC Youth League, Julius Malema, has taken the witness stand in Johannesburg in a high-profile hate speech trial.
An Afrikaans community is seeking a ban on Mr Malema singing a controversial apartheid-era song with the words "shoot the Boer".
"Boer" means farmer in Afrikaans and they say its use incites racial hatred.
Mr Malema began his testimony insisting he is not an aggressive man, and that the song should not be taken literally.
Karen Allen reports.

Hate Speech Song

A song about the struggle, which may destroy it

Asaph Madimetja Chuene
21 April 2011

Asaph Madimetja Chuene says Malema should be honest about why he sings ‘dubula ibhunu'

I honestly don't get it! Or maybe I do, in a different perspective from what the ANC and its cheer supporters would like to have us believe. Unfortunately we are not little impotent children, who are somehow, due to the law of human development, unable to distinguish a Goose from Gander. The employment of heritage, culture and struggle credentials on the singing of ‘dubula ibhunu' chant is misleading to say the least.

There is an ongoing attempt by the ANC to defend the song at all costs, perhaps taking this issue as the battle between the minority right wingers and the ‘mighty' ANC. What I fail to identify in this debate is the objectivity on the side of those who defend the singing of the song.
The apostles of pro-dubula ibhunu are, like I said, quick to claim the struggle, heritage, and culture on the account of singing a song which is purely and clearly divisive, racist and inflammatory in a post racist era. 

Truly, I wouldn't have not said the above during the struggle era, because I understand that the song was a necessary means to an end. To mobilize support against the apartheid system that was represented by the Boers. The song was therefore intended to produce a desired effect, to incite anger, and thus intensify the struggle against apartheid to the bloody end.

Indeed, it is because of these songs and many others that the struggle was victorious. The purpose, which was to destroy the apartheid system, has been achieved. The Boer is no longer in the Union Buildings calling for racially venomous policies anymore.

The question is, why and for what, in this age and era, should a leader of a youth league sings a song which was purely meant for the struggle purpose? This country is bound to enumerable national challenges which affect the youth the most.

Logically one will expect a national youth leader to tackle and engage in the struggle against those challenges. What of a desired effect will the singing of the Anti-Boer song achieve for the ‘national democratic revolution'?

I have also observed that all those who defend the song alienate it to the agenda of the organization (ANCYL) and the personality of the person called Malema and the potentially dangerous implications it has for this country should they have their way to the Union Buildings.
ANCYL aka Malema and his shadow backers have rightly pronounced that political freedom without economic liberation is a fallacy. What is rather disturbing with their agenda of "economic liberation in our lifetime" is their means in which they intend achieving that goal. There is a saying which goes: It isn't about what you do or want but how you intent to do it.

By all probabilities, I stand to support the agenda of black economic emancipation by any means possible except for that which is purely guided by opportunism laced with demagoguery at the expense of the masses of our people.

In this struggle, Malema and his backers have appropriated to themselves a mandate of achieving black economic liberation with them as the aristocratic beneficiaries. Of much concern is that, in this struggle, they see the white section of our society as their prime enemies.

Malema reiterated this stance during a ‘Hard Talk' interview with the BBC recently.

It is within this context that the singing of ‘dubula ibhunu' must be understood. It has nothing to do with all the momentary justification we are showered with. I was very active during my student years at the University of Limpopo; never did it occur that any of the student political formations there to sing ‘dubula ibhunu' simply because it was not in context. The songs which were sung then where specifically linked to the cause of student politics directly and indirectly.

Under no circumstance did we imagine singing ‘shoot the Boer' when what we were concerned about had nothing to do with the Boers. Instead, we sang ‘Shoot Mokgalong' (the Vice Chancellor) because we rebelled against the administrative system which was represented by him and this way we were able to incite students into demonstrations, anti-management sentiments and sometimes into violent behavior.

When now, people who see the ‘white males' as the prime obstacle of their agenda and thus sing dangerous song to incite racist sentiments to galvanize us into Zimbabwe style anti-white rapture, they must equally have the bravery to say so instead of taking cover under our culture, struggle and heritage.

And see if we support such an agenda. As for me, I despise with the contempt it deserves, any demagoguery leadership in all purpose. Africa has long suffered from poverty of leadership. We should not stand idle as the menace of demagoguery is confronting us. We should say No to ill-devised approaches to our economic struggle.  

The song must be banned, for it is a song about the struggle which may destroy the struggle.


Attorney Out of Control

April 21 2011



                                                              Koobashan Naicker


Attorney Koobashan Naicker was on Wednesday portrayed as a man out of control - not only facing murder charges relating to last month’s fatal accident on Athlone Bridge, but a host of others involving alleged drunk and reckless driving, malicious damage to property, assault and robbery in various incidents over the past two years. 

The charge sheet before the Durban Regional Court, where Naicker is making a bail application, is 25 pages long. 

And, according to an affidavit in opposition to bail by the investigating officer, Captain Kassavan Pillay, Naicker is also being sought by police for at least two other alleged drunk-driving charges and a culpable homicide matter relating to the death of a motorist in another accident

Naicker was arrested recently following the deaths of Gillian Bell, her son Connor, 8, and dance teacher Carmen Hunter, 19, in an accident on Northway on March 26. 

He has now been charged with three counts of murder, driving under the influence, and reckless and negligent driving in that he drove into oncoming traffic, causing the multiple car pile-up in which two young girls were also seriously injured.
Naicker was himself injured and is under police guard at Addington Hospital, receiving treatment. 

In total, including the Athlone Bridge incident, there were seven cases of drunk, reckless and negligent driving against Naicker, said Pillay. It is also alleged that he assaulted a barman and stole money and liquor in another incident in Tongaat. 

In reply, defence advocate Jay Naidoo accused the State of “pulling old cases out of the archives” to bolster its bail position. 

ANC Freedom Charter

JULIUS MALEMA CAN YOU READ???THIS IS SUCH A FARCE AND WHITE SOUTH AFRICANS HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT!!!

 

The Freedom Charter

As adopted at the Congress of the People, Kliptown, on 26 June 1955


We, the People of South Africa, declare for all our country and the world to know:
    that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white, and that no government can justly claim authority unless it is based on the will of all the people; that our people have been robbed of their birthright to land, liberty and peace by a form of government founded on injustice and inequality; that our country will never be prosperous or free until all our people live in brotherhood, enjoying equal rights and opportunities; that only a democratic state, based on the will of all the people, can secure to all their birthright without distinction of colour, race, sex or belief; And therefore, we, the people of South Africa, black and white together equals, countrymen and brothers adopt this Freedom Charter; And we pledge ourselves to strive together, sparing neither strength nor courage, until the democratic changes here set out have been won.

The People Shall Govern!

    Every man and woman shall have the right to vote for and to stand as a candidate for all bodies which make laws; All people shall be entitled to take part in the administration of the country; The rights of the people shall be the same, regardless of race, colour or sex; All bodies of minority rule, advisory boards, councils and authorities shall be replaced by democratic organs of self-government .

All National Groups Shall have Equal Rights!

    There shall be equal status in the bodies of state, in the courts and in the schools for all national groups and races; All people shall have equal right to use their own languages, and to develop their own folk culture and customs; All national groups shall be protected by law against insults to their race and national pride; The preaching and practice of national, race or colour discrimination and contempt shall be a punishable crime; All apartheid laws and practices shall be set aside.

The People Shall Share in the Country`s Wealth!

    The national wealth of our country, the heritage of South Africans, shall be restored to the people; The mineral wealth beneath the soil, the Banks and monopoly industry shall be transferred to the ownership of the people as a whole; All other industry and trade shall be controlled to assist the wellbeing of the people; All people shall have equal rights to trade where they choose, to manufacture and to enter all trades, crafts and professions.

The Land Shall be Shared Among Those Who Work It!

    Restrictions of land ownership on a racial basis shall be ended, and all the land re-divided amongst those who work it to banish famine and land hunger; The state shall help the peasants with implements, seed, tractors and dams to save the soil and assist the tillers; Freedom of movement shall be guaranteed to all who work on the land; All shall have the right to occupy land wherever they choose; People shall not be robbed of their cattle, and forced labour and farm prisons shall be abolished.

All Shall be Equal Before the Law!

    No-one shall be imprisoned, deported or restricted without a fair trial; No-one shall be condemned by the order of any Government official; The courts shall be representative of all the people; Imprisonment shall be only for serious crimes against the people, and shall aim at re-education, not vengeance; The police force and army shall be open to all on an equal basis and shall be the helpers and protectors of the people; All laws which discriminate on grounds of race, colour or belief shall be repealed.

All Shall Enjoy Equal Human Rights!

    The law shall guarantee to all their right to speak, to organise, to meet together, to publish, to preach, to worship and to educate their children; The privacy of the house from police raids shall be protected by law; All shall be free to travel without restriction from countryside to town, from province to province, and from South Africa abroad; Pass Laws, permits and all other laws restricting these freedoms shall be abolished.

There Shall be Work and Security!

    All who work shall be free to form trade unions, to elect their officers and to make wage agreements with their employers; The state shall recognise the right and duty of all to work, and to draw full unemployment benefits; Men and women of all races shall receive equal pay for equal work; There shall be a forty-hour working week, a national minimum wage, paid annual leave, and sick leave for all workers, and maternity leave on full pay for all working mothers; Miners, domestic workers, farm workers and civil servants shall have the same rights as all others who work; Child labour, compound labour, the tot system and contract labour shall be abolished.

The Doors of Learning and Culture Shall be Opened!

    The government shall discover, develop and encourage national talent for the enhancement of our cultural life; All the cultural treasures of mankind shall be open to all, by free exchange of books, ideas and contact with other lands; The aim of education shall be to teach the youth to love their people and their culture, to honour human brotherhood, liberty and peace; Education shall be free, compulsory, universal and equal for all children; Higher education and technical training shall be opened to all by means of state allowances and scholarships awarded on the basis of merit; Adult illiteracy shall be ended by a mass state education plan; Teachers shall have all the rights of other citizens; The colour bar in cultural life, in sport and in education shall be abolished.

There Shall be Houses, Security and Comfort!

    All people shall have the right to live where they choose, be decently housed, and to bring up their families in comfort and security; Unused housing space to be made available to the people; Rent and prices shall be lowered, food plentiful and no-one shall go hungry; A preventive health scheme shall be run by the state; Free medical care and hospitalisation shall be provided for all, with special care for mothers and young children; Slums shall be demolished, and new suburbs built where all have transport, roads, lighting, playing fields, creches and social centres; The aged, the orphans, the disabled and the sick shall be cared for by the state; Rest, leisure and recreation shall be the right of all: Fenced locations and ghettoes shall be abolished, and laws which break up families shall be repealed.

There Shall be Peace and Friendship!

    South Africa shall be a fully independent state which respects the rights and sovereignty of all nations; South Africa shall strive to maintain world peace and the settlement of all international disputes by negotiation - not war; Peace and friendship amongst all our people shall be secured by upholding the equal rights, opportunities and status of all; The people of the protectorates Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland shall be free to decide for themselves their own future; The right of all peoples of Africa to independence and self-government shall be recognised, and shall be the basis of close co-operation. Let all people who love their people and their country now say, as we say here:
THESE FREEDOMS WE WILL FIGHT FOR, SIDE BY SIDE, THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES, UNTIL WE HAVE WON OUR LIBERTY

Pikitup Workers Trash Johannesburg

Angry Pikitup employees trash the streets during a protest in Johannesburg. The ANC in Gauteng says it is concerned about the strike by refuse workers, and believes it is intended to sabotage the party's election campaign. "It is the timing of the strike during elections that make us to conclude that the strike is orchestrated to sabotage the ANC campaign," spokesman Dumisa Ntuli. He said the matter was raised with the SA Municipal Workers' Union. "Our message to Samwu is that the trashing and vandalism is in complete violation of the 2007 Polokwane conference resolution on defending the democratic state. Samwu's trashing of streets, destruction of property and attacks on non-strikers were of "grave concern", he said. 













A police officer arrests a young boy who was allegedly caught stealing during the pandemonium that was caused by the Pikitup workers strike in Joburg.