Muzzle the Media Demonstrates the ANC desperation

The current attempts to muzzle the media is a clear indication of the African National Congress (ANC) desperation. By banning real live events and keeping people uninformed about the actual situation in South Africa, the ANC have moved a step closer to dictatorship. Control of the media is a sign that can lead South Africa into a one-party state.  Is this the sole objective of the ANC?

You will never get justice in South Africa when criminals create the rules. The ANC and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) do not want people to see certain footage because they believe people will be corrupted. Freedom of information is a powerful tool in the hands of ordinary citizens. The ANC believe that the violence, the burning of buildings, riots will enforce people to become copycats and criminals. What the ANC have forgotten is that these incidents are not a spur of the moment actions triggered by events broadcast on television. These protests are planned, by community leaders who debate issues and take action based on government refusal to meet their demands. 

The decision not to show violent protests has nothing to do with promoting violence. It has all to do with protecting the ANC during the elections.  By banning the protesting events, the ANC can protect its image and change the mindset of people. 

The SABC argues that using violent protesting footage is a promotion to encourage others to follow. The SABC have a weak excuse as the station plays movies of murder, war and other social ills all the time. Is this then not a promotion of violence?  Of course, when the SABC tells the story of anti-apartheid or a liberation struggle, the station shows protests of police and unarmed black people fighting for freedom on the streets. 

It is this type of footage the ANC and the SABC do not want you to see because they believe you will be corrupted. Is this the kind of stories the ANC do not want you to read because it will damage the reputation of the party.

21 March 1960: Sharpeville Massacre

Police shoot and kill protesters at Sharpeville and at Langa, Cape Town.

The Sharpeville and Langa incidents bring journalists to South Africa in large numbers, and international audiences see shocking footage of the massacre on television.  Pictures played an important part in the local publishing of the events.  Laurence Gandar, the editor of the Rand Daily Mail, decides not to publish one of these, which shows bodies strewn as far as the camera could see because it might inflame further violence.

Cape Times driver, Richard Lombard, is killed in Langa.  The photographer and reporter, Cloete Breytenbach and Terry Mc Comb Herbst, whom Lombard had driven into the township, escaped with the assistance of the police. Lombard was taken out of the car by the rioting crowd, shot, doused with gasoline and burnt.  A limb was severed from his body.  Herbst had a bottle smashed over his head.63  The editor of the Cape Times, Victor Norton, banned staff from entering the townships "until things quietened down". 

18 June 1976

Police come under heavy fire in Alexandra, "but this was almost entirely concealed to protect white morale and the confidence of investors.

Alexandra was at war, with the army called in to back up the police, but the press collaborated with the government to conceal the fact.  The police were caught by surprise and suffered casualties (including probable deaths), but these were not revealed."

From this present moment, the SABC will not cover violence or bad news of any kind. South Africans can relax, it will only be good news and a closer move to a dictatorship.  

Laura Oneale - published on  South Africa Today – South Africa News

Unemployment Promises by African National Congress

In what might have been a blooper, the African National Congress (ANC) posted a statement on Twitter promising to create “Unemployment” for the youth. The ANC said they will do what they are good at and restore the dignity of women. Shortly after realizing the mistake, a correction update was posted. 

However amicable the promise of doing what is good and creating employment for the youth, the ANC once again are posting empty promises.  The unemployment rate in South Africa is high, approximately 27 percent of people are jobless. Most of the unemployed are youths who have little or no education and lack experience.  

There is no clear indication of how the ANC will create jobs, especially for the youth. Getting the young people to attend school and study at institutions of higher education is problematic. The current events leading up to the burning of schools, and universities although disgraceful, tells a story of no interest in obtaining an education. The government does not provide textbooks, motivate students to study and ignores the poverty of the people. Some students are too poor to pay for an education and demoralized at the lack of attention from the government.

Now the ANC will create employment, and it is a guessing game of how the ruling party will accomplish this plan. What is the strategy of the ANC, is there a possibility that unemployed youngsters will be allowed to work in government facilities. Will the government open up training centres and teach the youth skills. So many questions and the same issues that have been pondered for years. 

With the local elections looming, the ANC will once again, promise not only the youth but all South African a better life. A pledge of a life filled with good governance, less corruption and not as much crime. The voters will remain gullible and tricked into believing the promises of a government that has a track record of discontent. Once again the ANC will tell the people of South Africa how well the ruling party has governed and tell the good story. 

Jacob Zuma once said “It’s cold outside of the ANC”, and he told the truth. It is cold outside, and there are millions of people who will confirm that it is true. There is the elite that is warm within the ANC, and it’s all from the abuse, corruption, fraud, and entitlement. The promise of employment, and whatever other benefits the ANC will toss at the voters is another empty undertaking to keep the elite in power. Yes, the ANC might keep the unemployed people hanging onto a promise, for the next two months.

Laura Oneale - South Africa Today – South Africa News

White Man You Stole the Land - Malema

Julius Malema said that Jacob Zuma stands in the way of acquiring land for the people of South Africa.  Economic Freedom Front (EFF) leader Malema has no sympathy for Zuma, president of South Africa. In fact Malema lambasts the president publicly and scorns the deceitful manner in which land reform progress lingers on. 

Malema said “no white man came with land”, the white man came with ships and guns and massacred the country. The white man came to steal the land and enslave the black man. It is a harsh statement yet historically the EFF and in particular Malema continues to boast in this fact. 

The land expropriation bill has been passed and now government will have the power to take land away from rightful owners and hand over to aspiring black farmers.  Aspiring farmers who no doubt will turn fertile, productive land into a barren wasteland. In the past, there have been no real success stories of black farmers willing to work hard and keep food production secure. The Zimbabwean farm lands were once the bread basket of Africa and today, there is nothing. Nothing has been gained and much has been lost. 

The EFF will be participating in their first Municipal election in August 2016 and remain confident of successfully gaining control of several municipalities. The African National Congress (ANC) control eight provinces and the Democratic Alliance (DA) control the Western Cape and a scattered few municipalities around South Africa.  The followers of the EFF are eagerly waiting to vote this party into power on the basis that free land, education, and a host of other free benefits will be handed out immediately.  The supporters of the EFF have the notion that once Malema gains control all poverty will be eliminated.  However, the political rhetoric used by the EFF should be taken with a pinch of salt. 

Is Malema thinking in antiquated terms of distributing land to any black man who needs it?  Take land away from white people, corporations and pension funds to hand over to poor people, is that the plan of the EFF? Malema believes that the war is against whites and will forcefully remove the land, it’s the battle cry of the EFF. It is the roar of an aspiring political leader who indoctrinates the ignorant or uneducated poor people into believing that the EFF can solve South Africa’s oppression.

Malema remains confident that the upcoming elections will be a tremendous success for the EFF.  

There is no doubt that the elections will be hotly contested and that the EFF will gain more votes placing the party into a powerful position. While the ANC remain insecure and anxious, about losing municipalities in the elections, some fiery drama can be expected. The ANC have endorsed 

corruption and the past 22 years of ANC control show a visible decline in good governance. 

Laura Oneale - published on South Africa Today – South Africa News