HUBPAGES

Hello Everybody,


Trusting all is well.

This weekend, I have tried to spend more time writing, and I actually managed to complete two articles.

I started writing on HUBPAGES and had my two articles published yesterday. I will share the links with you.

My real name is Delores, and I use the name Laura for writing; and I had to create a new name on the HUBPAGES and chose DORADEE. That name is one of the many names given to me by some friends, I won't mention all of them as I could probably confuse myself and not know who I actually am.

South Africa - twenty years into democracy

Are you a safety conscious person


Take care for now and remember to smile.

Your friend,
Laura

Three Children a Day are Murdered in South Africa

Hello again,

Sharing yet another article written last month.

"Three children a day are murdered in South Africa," the Director of the Children's Institute at the University of Cape Town, Professor Shanaaz Mathews told reporters in an interview this week. He mentioned the difference between actual discipline and abuse. He referred to the brutal death of a Cape Town toddler who died from head injuries caused by the father bashing his head because the child had a soiled nappy.

The past week several murders were reported, and this has highlighted the need for a more secure protection act for children. The Children's Institute based at the University of Cape Town is leaders in child policy research and advocacy in South Africa will play a vital role and facilitate policy makers in determining the best protection for the children of this country.

On Tuesday, this week, two baby girls were found dead, and their mother barely alive who was taken to hospital. It is assumed that they are immigrants from neighboring countries who lived in a derelict abandoned house on the East Rand. The mother is under police protection and could be charged with the murder of the two children as there are conflicting reports with her version of the truth. It is suspected that they had died of food poisoning. An investigation into the cause of death will continue.

Newborn twin babies were found abandoned in a basket near Muldersdrift, north of Johannesburg, on Saturday. Patrolling officers found the babies and rushed them to a hospital. It was discovered that one of the babies had died, and the surviving one remains in a critical condition. A murder document has been opened, and an investigation will follow.

Saturday, the body of a baby, wrapped in plastic was discovered floating down a stream in Diepsloot, a township between Johannesburg and Pretoria. The age of the child is unknown, and no further details have been reported and the investigating officer. This follows the gruesome kidnapping, mutilation rape and murder of two children who were discovered by a communal member on Monday.

Diepsloot, a densely populated settlement in the north of Johannesburg, consists of government-subsidized housing, and shacks. The shacks are built on any open piece of land and assembled with scrap metal, wood or plastic. Basic services are scarce and running water, sewage and garbage removal are not available to all residents. Most roads are not tarred. Living conditions remain a persistent problem in that township and most of the residents are unemployed.

On Saturday October 12, the mother's of 2-year-old Yonelisa Mali and her cousin Zandili Mali aged three reported these youngsters as missing to the local police station.
Diepsloot a township and a place where overcrowding of locals and immigrants remains a nightmare share some common toilets. It was on Monday that a resident discovered the two bloodied bodies of the missing children in one of these filthy toilets. Immediately the police were notified, and the crime area was closed to the inquisitive eyes of residents and media.

This horrific event revealed the rape and murder of two innocent girls. It was later discovered that five men were involved in this horrific crime. The police arrested four of the suspects who have been revealed as foreigners, and the fifth one was arrested toward the end of the week. All suspects remain in police custody.

The residents of Diepsloot are angry and wanted the police to release the men into the community, as they wanted to avenge the senseless murder and burn the perpetrators. This sparked violence that is further heated, and when the founder of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) political party arrived in Diepsloot, clashes between this party and the ruling ANC party emerged. A heavy police presence remains dominant within that community.


Terrible but so true!

Cheers,
Laura

South Africa – Official Language and Racial Reconstruction

Hello Everybody,

Here is another article written by me and published in the Guardian Express. Just sharing.

South Africa has the most official languages in the world. Eleven in total, and this is probably the biggest obstacle in reconstructing a free ethnic egalitarian rainbow nation. English, Afrikaans, isiZulu, isiXhosa, Sesotho, Setswana, Sepedi, Xitsonga, siSwati, isiNdebele and Tshivenda are the official languages.

In India, there are eighteen languages and all recognized by the constitution, there is only one official language, Hindi. The difference in that country is that with each language it is the official language of particular areas. Whereas in South Africa, there is no verification of which language is official in any particular area.

Having a common culture or speaking the same language would be easier for South Africa to focus on overcoming the mean racial discrimination that haunts the nation. The eleven official languages and different ethnic groups all have different customs and cultures. The culture and history of each individual one is unique to each different group of people.

The nationality of South Africans are always portrayed as either white or black, Zulu speaking or Afrikaans and so forth. The people of this country have a hard time referring to themselves as South Africans. The identification of people is never just ordinary South Africans, it is always extended by Indian, Colored, Zulu, Xhosa or black.

Language barriers are a real problem and how can this country become a prosperous country if its own citizens cannot speak to each other.

There is no clear indication if South Africa will ever be a united country with one unified people. Black people continue to blame the white people for their current situation and white people have to defend their position and so the blame game continues. All the citizens forget that they share one identity, which is being South African.

To develop economically and socially, the identity of South Africans must adapt to a united one and until then we will stay in the blame game. No real progress can be made while the people still remain in the past and refuse to move forward as united South Africans.

The racial blame games, and referring to different cultures as either white, Indian, deprived or unjustly treated can never have a positive effect on the country. The people need to look away from the past and see the future. Focus on what can be and implement a change and a commitment to try. This should start with the leaders.

Division among the people has a detrimental effect on the social and economic factors of the country. The division in government and the endless representation of belittling certain cultures is wrong.

South Africa is not the only country in the world that has a diverse people with different cultures; we must commit to democracy and learn to respect people. The citizens must begin to realize we will always have remarkable histories and cultural trends and thus unite as supportive South Africans and stop the racial slurs that will never help to improve our situation.

Cheers,
Laura

Laura's Page: South Africa can Learn from the History of Germany...

Laura's Page: South Africa can Learn from the History of Germany...: Hello Everybody, Trusting all is well. Sharing another article I wrote and had published by the Guardian Express. Hope you enjoy. To...

South Africa can Learn from the History of Germany

Hello Everybody,

Trusting all is well.

Sharing another article I wrote and had published by the Guardian Express. Hope you enjoy.

Today South Africa is at a disadvantage because of its high crime rates, escalating poverty and racial conflict. What can this country learn from the history of Germany? Is there a solution that can make a difference to this country tied into the shackles of apartheid?

We cannot compare all the history of both countries. Both countries have a different history and both plagued by problems of racial hatred. Yet Germany has succeeded to overcome the racial hatred for the Jewish race and moved away from the terrible history of its deadly genocide practices.

In South Africa, and after twenty years of democracy, the majority of its citizens still blames apartheid for their pathetic lives and refuses to let go of the past. Instead, they clutch to the word 'apartheid' like a lifeline waiting to be compensated for the injustices they suffered.

Apartheid ended twenty years ago, and after two, decades, it is still an extensively used term with no foresight of disappearing. Are the people of this country conditioned into believing that apartheid is the cause of their misery?

World War 2 ended in the past 1940's and with the end of the war, so did the massacre of the Jewish people end. How did Germany succeed to build a prosperous country and defeat the painful history of their actions? Although Germany did not have the distinct cultures as South Africa does, it still moved away from a horrible past.

Today, Germany is a global market leader, has a strong economic system, with established policies and ethics in place. The infrastructure, education and medical systems work. The citizens live in a country that controls crime and corruption. What is the answer and how did they overcome the past to become such a strong leader today?
Germany dealt with its past, the government of that time was determined to overcome the issues of war and move forward and restore their vast country. Hard work, integrity and focus on a future to provide a safe environment for its citizens. Today Germany still compensates the Jewish families who survived the destruction. Germany has succeeded because of sheer hard work and determination.

South Africa will not succeed simply because there is no substance, no direction and no control. The current government has not overcome their past, and this has spiraled down to its citizens. The people still live in the past, and allow the country to deteriorate into a jungle again.

The South African government needs to focus and lead the nation in a democratic way. There must be respectable strong work ethics from the top leaders, and this must be enforced throughout the land.

Honesty, sheer hard work, determination and focus are the key to rebuilding a democratic South Africa. The government and citizens must take responsibility for their actions and move forward with a renewed vigor of developing this country into a first world one.

Apartheid is not the enemy of South Africans, their history started way before the implementation of that bad system. The people need to overcome their issues and move forward in confidence. The government must stop their corruption and govern this country with moral ethics.


Your friend,
Laura