Zuma wants smarter citizens

 I read the article and can honestly say, that what South Africa needs is  a smarter president.  Perhaps Zuma should go back to school and lead by example. How can we believe? Education is the process of facilitating learning.

The Education system in South Africa is the worst in the world, and there is no hope for future generations receiving a decent education under the current government. The rapid decline and almost non-existent learning process for school children get worse each passing year. The government does inject a lot of funds into providing a solid education, but there are astounding results of complete failure.

A ten percent mathematics pass rate for a Grade nine learner is proof that the education system is a failed system. The education standards are so low that intelligence is driven out, rewarding the stupid beyond abilities achieved much like a communist state.

The Global Information Technology Report 2014, published by the World Economic Forum (WEF) ranked South Africa’s science and mathematics education quality as the worst in the world. The general education quality was ranked at number 146 out of 148 countries. With a ranking this devastating there is no beacon of light on the dark continent. 

 (You can read this article I wrote and published on the GLV - here is the link)
 http://guardianlv.com/?s=South+Africa+Education+System+Is+the+Worst+in+the+World

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 SA wants smarter citizens in the future, says Zuma

JOHANNESBURG - President Jacob Zuma said that Operation Phakisa (the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Education) will assist the country to have smart citizens in the future.
“We want to have smart citizens in the future,” Zuma said.
ICT has made strides in leveraging education to strengthen learning, Zuma said. He said 49 percent of schools in the country are reported to have access to connectivity.
Zuma said that there were established, dedicated educational television channels that would benefit students as well as teachers.

“We must admit that we have not taken full advantage of what ICT can give us to achieve the benefits it brings into teaching and learning,” Zuma said.

“Unfortunately the pace has been slow and inadequate.”

Zuma added that devices alone would not improve learning.
“It is the manner that the tools are used through teaching and learning.”
Pupils will now be able to access resources to reach the requirements of the curriculum, Zuma said.
“Specialised resources will be given to disabled students.
"Teachers will be able to engage in online programmes to enhance their knowledge and deliver to students,” he said.
Zuma believed the outcome of ICT would renew passion for teaching and called for the private sector to assist to ensure sustainability.
He said that the presidency would monitor the programme in order to ensure that it is successful.
“Education enables people to move forward.”
Zuma said that countries that did not focus on education were left behind.
“Nations invested in education will always succeed and find a prosperous future,” he said.
“Teachers build the nation by educating young people. We cannot fail with Operation Phakisa.”
http://www.msn.com/en-za/news/featured/sa-wants-smarter-citizens-in-the-future-says-zuma/ar-AAf1PSE?ocid=spartandhp

References in classic literature?

But to teach the Negro to do skilful work, as men of all the races that have risen have worked,--responsible work, which IS education and character; and most of all when Negroes so teach Negroes to do this that they will teach others with a missionary zeal that puts all ordinary philanthropic efforts to shame,--this is to change the whole economic basis of life and the whole character of a people.

Up From Slavery by Washington, Booker T. View in context

South Africa ANC demonstrates unshakable confidence

My opinion on the recent African National Congress (ANC)  Press release - WOW voters have unshakable confidence in the ruling party ............. So I presume, corruption, crime, service delivery protests etc. really do not bother the people.

I bet the ANC are going to make a noise about this one and brainwash the people about their brilliant leadership.................. Stupidity - a lack of intelligence.

Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

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ANC wins DA and IFP wards in by-elections
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1 October 2015
The African National Congress welcomes the results of the by-elections held yesterday Wednesday, 30 September 2015. The by-elections were held in 11 wards in 4 provinces; Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal, Limpopo, and the Western Cape.
Voters demonstrated their unshakeable confidence in the ANC in 8 of the 11 contested wards. The ANC futher decisively won two wards previously held by the DA and the IFP, notably in areas these parties have considered to be their strongholds of Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal respectively.
These results reaffirm the confidence that the people of South Africa have in the ANC and its leadership. We extend our gratitude to our communities for the continuous show of confidence in their movement. We wish the newly elected Councillors success as they move forward the work of improving the lives of our people for the better. We dare not fail.
The ANC thanks all those who went to cast their vote and call for even higher voter turnout as we advance to the 2016 Local Government Elections. We equally, thank the Independent Electoral Commission for continuously delivering free fair, credible and transparent elections. Our democracy is alive and well.
Issued by
Zizi Kodwa
National Spokesperson
African National Congress

We are in danger of destroying ourselves by our greed and stupidity. We cannot remain looking inwards at ourselves on a small and increasingly polluted and overcrowded planet.

Stephen Hawking

South Africa the Tower of Corruption

The starting point is that the African National Congress (ANC) is rotten to the core. It has not just recently become rotten, but has been on that path for a long time. Therefore, the tower of corruption grows and there is no end to the escalation of lawlessness nor to the corrupt deals that continue to rob the poor majority of South Africa. Who are the benefactors of the new democracy? It is the ANC elite, who include some very powerful Indian business people as well as a few whites who trail behind to do the bidding of the ANC.

Corruption, greed, and power have robbed the very people who placed the ANC in power. The amount of money that has crossed hands in corrupt deals could have by now built a democracy and uplifted the people who needed it most. The dishing out of shares and equity to ANC leaders by corporations did not do much for the Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) program; instead, businesses use the BEE beneficiaries to influence the government’s economic plans. Corporations have easy access to tenders while at the same time they exploit the poor South African people.

If Cyril Ramaphosa was a transformational leader and had but a handful of co-leaders who shared the values of good government, he might be able to make an impact on the corrupt culture that is throttling the ANC and government. However, it is quite disconcerting that so far, Ramaphosa has not changed the presidential attitude towards Nkandla, Hlaudi, South Africa Airways and Passenger Railway Agencies of South Africa (PRASA). Moreover, people are aware just who has been using PRASA as a private cash cow. On the other hand, Ramaphosa is a perfect example of what greed can do to a man’s reputation and integrity. He is a capable politician who loiters in the shadow of Zuma.

Political expectations and personal ambitions are the driving force of ANC decisions. People who are members of the ANC or affiliated to the party are in it for a quick buck, thereby creating a continuous, growing disconnect between ANC government decisions and the needs of the poor. President Zuma is a real embarrassment, bringing the ANC party to its knees. Forsaking integrity and honor and hiding from embarrassment, nobody will dare challenge the president, as there is too much money at stake. This is the price of greed.

Has South Africa gotten to the point where everyone recognizes a need to change certain systems, much like the apartheid regime changed to democracy? It would appear there is the need to change from total kleptocracy by the politically connected to avert real poverty. It is not about racial hatred; it is about the super rich versus those with nothing, and the easy profiteering by the wealthy who manipulate politicians and businesses.

South Africa remains controlled by corruption and the process of escaping the wrath of the law. Identifying the problems is the easy part, and finding the meaning of the confusion starts the blame game: Blame apartheid, Mandela, Mbeki, Zuma, and Ramaphosa; blame the whites and capitalism.
The ANC has lost its place in society. It is no longer the party that can unite South Africa and create a prosperous future for all citizens. The leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Julius Malema, said the Gupta family are above the president and are the ruling party of South Africa. The Guptas were not part of the ANC struggle to crush apartheid and are perceived as opportunistic parasites, preying on the greedy leadership. It might be said that anything is possible with the current ANC leadership.

In a recent press release, Malema said the newly-appointed minister of mineral resources, Msebenzi Zwane, is the same person who gave the Gupta family the R570 million dairy project in the Free State – a deal that was found to be irregularly awarded through improper procedures. The deal was awarded to the Guptas after Zwane visited India and built relations with Gupta-linked companies.
Malema remarked on the use of the Waterkloof airbase by the Gupta family and pointed out that none other than Zwane himself wrote and signed an invitation to the family in an attempt to justify the illegal landing of the private Gupta aircraft. Again, it was the same man who signed off on major projects while in the position of acting premier of the Free State, and in particular, the Operation Hlasela, a government plan to combat crime and uplift the poor. Malema has called on the public protector to release the report into the public sector.

Malema stated that there is a massive crisis affecting the minerals and mining industry and the appointment of a corrupt minister who does not have knowledge about this sector will worsen the crises in South Africa. Malema believes that to gain promotion in the Zuma cabinet, one should have strong links to the Guptas and be ready to violate procedures. He also said it would be a surprise when the Guptas take over the controversial Department of Minerals Resources.
Zuma is a puppet president controlled by one family – the Guptas, according to Malema, who vowed to never stop exposing corruption within the ANC government. Malema believes South Africa is not safe and is hijacked by a wealthy family who acquired its wealth through immoral means.
Opinion by Laura Oneale


PUBLISHED ON THE GUARDIAN LV TODAY - HERE IS THE LINK

http://guardianlv.com/2015/09/south-africa-the-tower-of-corruption/

South Africa on Auto Pilot and Going Nowhere

South Africa is running on auto pilot and going nowhere with no national project and no vision for the future. Today the leaders of South Africa are confused, and students jump from one issue to another. Labor unions run amok and render education and mines unworkable. Young people loiter aimlessly causing mischief. Leaders create friction between the population in an attempt to mask the failings of bad governance. All too often analysts and commentators are nothing more than cheerleaders and agent provocateurs. Is South Africa replacing quality with quantity?

Without strong moral leadership, mediocrity is setting in, masquerading as radicalism. Personality cults, mere talking heads are taking center stage, compelling South Africans to comply with the current leadership or remain silent. The sporadic bouts of unrest, including political party stampedes are trying to fill the vacuum. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) chanting slogans has become commonplace with nothing new to offer the people. Other political parties have not much more to offer, and moral values are no longer important.

South Africa has a severe socioeconomic situation, and contrary to analysts there is no racial tension. The black people, the population segment, are mostly disadvantaged and are not preparing to attack minority groups. The picture painted about frustrated, angry and bitter black people regarding the failed Mandela legacy of reconciliation is false. Despite the massive unemployment, shameful poverty and class inequality, poor blacks are not about to attack other races.

The anti-Afrikaans language debacle at Stellenbosch University, affirmative action, and decolonization issues at other universities are not revolutionary; they are events and debates. These discussions are not representative of black nationalism, and the number of people involved in these issues is probably less than Christian groups on campuses.

The service delivery protests are civic actions that are localized and part of the democratic culture. Despite the high level of violent crime, it is not political and most victims are black people. Sports, entertainment, and public spaces are fully integrated. There is a leadership crisis, and that is the real concern of the day in South Africa. The legitimate economic class actions are racialized and exploited by the political elite as a mechanism to consolidate power.

Politicians are parasites with the sole reason to accumulate power and keep the masses powerless. Political parties operate under competition incorporating social movements for gain. Whatever is happening in South Africa today is not unique, and ultimately the only logical outcome is freedom from the political elite.

The state of governance in several provinces fills people with despair. It is all about the egos of a few and leadership disputes. There is a fear to organize around civic interest based on the local politicians perceiving spontaneity as a threat to popularity. Sabotage of public gatherings is nothing new.

Where is the vision, a rallying point to move forward as the custom of the past decades indicated? During the apartheid, there was a divided unity and a vision of what South Africa should become. Political parties purged ahead to make the country ungovernable, and the minority tried to protect the whites from communism. During the nineties, whites were united while blacks rallied around nationalism, a decade of hope, change and reconciliation. Between 2000 and 2010, South Africa experienced a decade of public service transformation and Black Economic Empowerment, change, and uplifting. Now in the 21 years of democracy the vision has disappeared, the country is on autopilot, heading into a disaster.

Until the government gets the education system on track and eradicates illiteracy, the country will not move forward. Education will add value, and that could turn the redundant vision into one of empowerment and hope. Education will ignite potential to get young people working and encourage entrepreneurs. The decolonization events will no longer be a prominent feature for politicians to hijack. For now, South Africa is like a wildfire, burning until nothing is left.
Opinion by Laura Oneale

PUBLISHED ON THE GUARDIAN LV TODAY - HERE IS THE LINK
http://guardianlv.com/2015/09/south-africa-on-auto-pilot-and-going-nowhere/

Appreciation and respect for South Africa

The majority of people have appreciation and respect for South Africa and the decision by the Dutch and British colonialists to settle in the country, a fascinating, vast dusty land. The early settlers had the appreciation of the radiance, beauty and bountiful fruit the land could offer and invest in technology, land tilling and irrigation skills. Communities were built; minerals were mined, and a structured food delivery system was created to drive the economic robustness. The early settlers paved a way for the future success of South Africa.

The success was made possible by strong and cohesive leadership, a clear vision, and a deliberate plan on how to achieve that vision. By doing this, the colonialists essentially built a new civilization and shared or imposed beliefs and traditions on the people already living in South Africa. Without a doubt, the settlers took advantage of cheap labor and established a system to benefit the entire country.

Every successful or dominant country, or tribes across the world have similar stories of migration and conquest. The settlers of South Africa appear to have been less violent than others with proportionally little blood drawn relative to other colonial activities or conflicts around that same time in world history.

The Bantu have a proud story of migration from other parts of Africa, driven by a need to find new natural resources. The Bantu influence spread relatively fast over the indigenous inhabitants as the tribe moved towards a fertile new land.

Zulu history is reasonably well understood and is a history permeated with violence and domination of other tribes. As the Zulu tribe established roots in old Zululand, the tribe soon blazed a bloody path that created fear amongst neighboring tribes. Their history is impressive, in a visceral way.

The KhoiSan who genetically is shown to have existed well before any other humans in Africa also inhabited the southern part of the continent. The KhoiSan lived harmoniously with nature and appear to have had the closest connection to the steady and ever-present "heartbeat" of Africa.

Shifting to current times, there are parallels with yesteryear. It appears today that people in positions of responsibility in the politically and racially tainted government complex have lost the connection to the rhythmic heartbeat and soul of the country, and to that of the people. The government has forgotten why people are here.

There is a different breed of people who rule South Africa today, the name given to the ruling party is African National Congress (ANC). The ANC was recognized for being a party that emancipated the black man from the shackles of Colonialist-infused apartheid. Now the ANC is known for diverting resources away from the people into private Swiss bank accounts. A party that is avoiding the hard work that is necessary to build a country in order to meet the growing needs of a nation, not the character traits people see in real leaders. The ruler today is not recognized as a qualified leader.

The ANC rulers appear to have the respect of the original inhabitants, the KhoiSan, Bantu and Colonialists had for the land called South Africa. The current leaders do not have a clear vision for how the lifeblood of South Africa, both inhabitants as well as the resources should be appropriately harnessed.  It should be done in a way that honors the land and creates a safe harbor for the citizens, and thereby respecting the essence of Africa and the ongoing support of the people.

The land is being abused and used inappropriately. It is the acute awareness of the lack of stewardship shown by the ANC as the land grows weary. This selfish horde or rulers known as the ANC spend the resources recklessly and then in a power-hungry-induced-trance, sell the treasured land and human capital to the Chinese in backdoor deals. The ANC and cronies at an alarming rate are selling the resources. Mother Africa stirs. The corrupt rulers cheapen everything the Africans know. The ANC leaders have betrayed the same people for whom liberation was fought. Mother Africa awakens.

The beloved South Africa will soon bare its fangs and turn on its rulers by sending a clear message that leadership is violating a position of power and the privilege of ruling a sacred land. The Africans are the soul of the country, who feels the vibrant blood coursing through dusty veins. Those Africans are awakening, and will rise up soon.

The Africans represent all the right stewards of the land and plan to return to the days when respect was earned the same respect that was given by the Khoi, the Bantu and the English and Dutch. To go back without bloodshed, for the ANC is but a house of cards that is about to fall, no killing will be needed.

South Africa so desperately deserves this respect. The ancestors demand this respect and the consciousness of Africans needs to be appreciated.

It is time to put water back into mother Africa so that she may provide for the people abundantly later. The people must earn the respect by giving. The people can give by finding real leaders who will give and not take.

Opinion by Menzi Solomon Shange and Laura Oneale

Source: CorruptionWatch – Corruption affects us all