To serve and NOT protect

So today we saw protests happening out in Bonteheuwel where residents are fed up of the gangsterism and lack of policing in the area. So they decided to join together and protest against the insecurities and devastation which is brought about by gangsterism. Let’s make one thing clear though, Bonteheuwel is not the only area in Western Cape where people are being traumatized by turf wars and drug trade, and let it be said, it will not be the last and only place where protest will occur, but today’s happenings had me a bit “Piissed Off”, to put it lightly. So let’s just get some context, Gangsterism is plaguing Western Cape communities. Opposing gang members will openly shoot at each other. Day time, night time, breakfast, lunch and dinner, it doesn’t matter what time of day, they will shoot. What’s is worst is the amount of innocent lives that are lost because of these shootings. Just this weekend, A person got shot sitting in their living room, in their own house. Luckily, no lives were lost. ( Imaging that, you are lucky for not being killed while sitting in your own house.) You can’t risk having your kids play outside, you can’t risk walking to the corner store, you put your life at risk going to work in the morning and coming home in the evening. This is the reality of living in these areas. Now look at what happened today. Protesters blocked Jakes Gerwel Drive this morning and refused to move when police ask them to because of their frustration. What does the police do, they fire stun grenades to disperse the crowd. Stun grenades get shot at residents who want the police to start protecting their neighbourhood against the scourge which is gangsterism and what do they do, they use force against the victims. Did the crowd retaliate? NO! They dispersed. That is because the crowd was made up of people who want to build their community and not burn it down. I wonder how the police feel? Do they feel like they have done their jobs today? Do they feel superior in this show of force? More importantly though. WILL THEY USE THIS SAME FORCE AND MORE IN TACKLING GANSTERISM IN OUR COMMUNITIES? I doubt it...

How powerful is Zuma?

How powerful is Zuma?

This question will be answered within the next week or so. 

So Jacob Zuma eventually broke his silence by putting out a statement about the sacking of Nhlanhla Nene. And what it briefly says is that his reasons for sacking Nene is because he is to to be nominated for head of the BRICS Bank.

Really Zuma? Really?

And this was so top secret that it could not be said when you made the initial statement about removing Nene from his post I guess. 

Wait! Hold up! You saying that Nene is only nominated. He got fired because he is going to be NOMINATED??? 

Yes Jacob. That is how stupid that comment sounds. 

But could this be the tipping of the iceberg? 

This comment is not the usually arrogant statements that Zuma puts out. This comment seems to be put out due to pressure. 

The question is, pressure from who?

It cannot just be pressure from the South African public. Zuma has been screwing us over for years while laughing about it. It can't be the rest of the world. Not long ago, Zuma gave the international criminal court and the rest of world the "middle finger" when he allowed Sudan president Omar-Al Basir to escape arrest. 

So who is putting the pressure on Zuma?

My best guess would be factions within the ANC. There those who now realize that Zuma has reached his expiry date. And it's not that idiots "speakers" who are continuously in the public domain speaking, but without any relevance.

 

There are those behind the scenes who have come to the realization that if they do not act now, the ANC may lose the power of having a 2/3 majority in parliament. Without the 2/3 majority, how will they pass new legislation? How will they control rival political parties? How will they be able to bend the rules for their own benefit?

The ANC's power lies in it's ability to make decisions without any hassles as it has a 2/3 majority and this may be now at risk.

The fact that no one from the ANC has come out and fully backed Jacob Zuma's decision may also lead to questions around his decision.

So we wait in anticipation. 

If Jacob Zuma remains president of South Africa and the leader of the ANC, we will truly know how powerful he is.

Watch me Dudu... I'll get rid of Nene

That is most likely what Zuma was singing to "his girl on the side" Dudu Myeni. This after Nhlanhla Nene stopped Dudu Myeni in her tracks when he rejected the SAA Airbus deal all but a week a go. 

But I cannot say that. I am just speculating when I say something like that. There is no actual proof. 

Well then Jacob Zuma, why do you not give us the reasons for why you fired Nene?

Oh. I forgot. That is not your style. We may not hear from you again for the next 2 weeks or so. 

That is usually how you play it. 

But by the looks of it, you are probably pushing for a 2 for 1 deal. The Airbus deal and the Nuclear Power deal for the firing of 1 finance minister.

One thing for sure, these actions prove but one thing. The ANC does come first and then South Africa. Zuma is really living up to that statement. 

Nhlanhla Nene, one of the few ministers in the current ANC Cabinet who showed an interest in what is best for South Africa. One who listened, questioned, listened and then answered. And his answers were based on what he saw, thought and felt. He was not programmed to give an ANC answer. 

Then I listen to the comments made by ANC Speaker, Zizi Kodwa. And we must make sure that we classify this role properly for a spokesperson speaks on what he understands and believes on behalf on individuals or a group and a Speaker simply opens their mouth and noise comes out. That is what every so called ANC spokesperson is. Nothing but a Speaker that transmits noise.

(Needed to vent there)

Well all what Zizi Kodwa said was that Jacob Zuma exercised his constitutional prerogative to appoint a new finance minister. 

Well done Zizi!! That really put me at ease. Next time, tell the people who are making the noise that comes out of your mouth to grow a pair and say what they actually feel.

They might lose their position, but like Nene, they will gain our respect.

Thank you Zuma for bringing back my fire.

So I have been quiet for a few years. Not that there hasn't been controversy in SA politics, just that there was a fire in me that dimmed. But tonights events has forced my writing hand. 

As I am writing this, I am still in shock and to be honest a bit angry. Angry at the fact that we have such an arrogant "leader" that fully believes that he can do what he wants and there is nothing that "we" can do about it. 

And I am ashamed to say... HE IS RIGHT. 

And it is not because there is not enough people to stand against what Zuma is and what the ANC has become. He is right because "WE" who are willing to stand against Zuma and his cabinet are not unified ourselves. We do not have the power of one.

This brings us to the reason for my shock and anger. Nhlanhla Nene has been removed as Minister of Finance by Jacob Zuma and I can honestly say, no one saw this coming. 

So now we all wait in anticipation to hear what lame reasons are put forth by Zuma as to why this was needed.

But I do believe that I know what that actual reason is. 

So thank you Zuma for bringing back my fire.

Oh where, oh where has our President gone. Oh where, oh where can he be...

This I the song that comes to mind whenever questions get ask about issues involving our Great Leader. He who has been chosen by God to lead us "lambs."
And the way things are going, we are most likely being led to the slaughter.

We find ourselves with a president who, at this point, doesn't have the courage to face allegations laid against him.
Whenever issues arise that questions our president's values and his management capabilities, his first reaction is to keep quiet and not say anything. He would rather have his minions categorically state that the presidency is not involved, than to come forward and give his say.

This is scary, because if you cannot stand up for yourself, how do you expect people to believe that you will stand up for them.

But what am I saying, this will be our presidents final term after the next elections.  (Yes, let's not kid ourselves. The ANC is going to win the next election)
So he will be looking to make enough money, strike up the right relationships and put into law the necessary policies to benefit himself snd his friends.

So this would mean that he would be to busy to face up to any allegations against him.

And just like that, "POOF", they're gone.

It has been 5 days since we went to make our mark in the municipal elections and everything went off without a glitch. Well, not counting an electoral office that was burnt down and a road leading to another being demolished, there was no major issues. The IEC did an exceptional job and they should be congratulated on a job well done.

We ourselves should stand up and accept a huge round of applause for our interest that we have shown in this elections. We stood in queues and made our mark in support of our favoured political party.

If we look at what happened in this election, the ANC re-established it's dominance in South Africa. But this victory was not as sweet as what the leaderboard suggests. Fact is that the ANC lost support. Whether it was because of former ANC supporters voting for other political parties or for the fact that some ANC supporters refused to vote, it will remain that this was not a "great victory" for them.
The DA on the other hand are walking around all happy with themselves. They have once again re-affirmed their dominance in the Western Cape and have gained votes in various areas. If this trend should continue, we might just have a new party ruling South Africa in the near future. And then I would love to see the biblical implications because like we all know, according to our ruling party, the ANC will rule until The Saviour returns.

And just like that, POOF, they're gone.
It's like they all dissappeared!

But what has happened to our politicians?

It feels a bit weird. For the last few months, you could not even turn your head and you would hear something about some political party.
But what does this mean? Why are they not saying anything anymore?

But I am sorry to say, "This is what politics has become." It has evolved from a job which meant that people wanted to serve their community to a job which means that you have to trick people to put you into power so that you can do whatever you want whenever you like to grow your bank account.

With all the campaigning and all the visiting of areas, you would think that politicians would revisit those areas to thank the people for voting for them.

But no! They have all received what they set out to get and now they can go about doing what they want. It is no longer necessary to kiss ass and promise, promise, promise! That is until the next elections!

A-N-C Another National Crisis

A-N-C Another National Crisis

This is what South Africa, our beloved country, is heading towards unless something changes in the way that our country is being run. We find that we live in a society where right is right and wrong, well wrong is acceptable as long as you don't screw over the wrong people. Well, you have to know the right people as well to get away with corruption. Just ask everyone in parliment and they will tell you.

I have been watching all media events over the last few weeks and I am shocked to see what is happening within our mists. On the one hand you have Julius who is currently fighting a battle over a struggle song. I found it rather amusing to see how the defense tried to push their argument by getting a white afrikaner to explain what the black youth league president meant when he said "boer." Then you have Julius making the comment saying that he finds it funny how the prosecutor is changing his argument from race to nationalization of land and that the ANC is going to take the land. "What a chop!"
What I want to know is, what does Julius have on Zuma that makes him untouchable. Makes him able to run his mouth, say absolutely anything no matter how stupid or insulting, and then still get away with it. Must be something big.

Then you have the services delivery protests that are happening. Mind you, not that much in Cape Town hey. People in ANC lead municipalities are protesting due to poor service delivery and mainly the selection of ANC candidates contesting in the municipal elections. People have raised their voices and even attacked and confronted police officials due to this. This just shows the serious nature of the matter and this has lead to the death of a protestor in Ficksburg, 300km south of Johannesburg. A shocking incident which led to a senseless killing. There is currently trial underway do determine if the police officers will be granted bail and we will without a doubt hear more about this in the future. But we should not forget what led to this incident. The dissatifaction with the way the ANC is running their municipality.

I have always asked the question. How strong would the ANC be without the backing of COSATU? I thought that how would be able to answer this question when COSATU started questioning the ANC about issues and demanding changes. But alas! That was just a show put on for the COSATU members to make them think that their best interests are being looked after. I take it, the miners working the Aurorer mines owned by family of Jacob Zuma and Nelson Mandela. The miners have been waiting for salaries owed to them for over 5 months, yet one of the owners of Aurorer mines could donate R1 million to the ANC for their election campaign. Not only that, when the ANC was approached and asked to return the monies so that it could be given to the unpaid mine workers and the families, they refused. And then they say they have our best interests at heart.

We are at a fork in our political path. With all the happenings with the ANC, it is difficult to see how they can still win the majority wards. But that will happen.

And where is our president?
When will he comment on what is happening currently in our country?