Touching South Africans on their beloved hero, isithwalandwe ubaba u Nelson Mandela

Soon after Zapiro's gruesome and distasteful cartoon of using rape as a metaphor to describe the current state of the nation, Ayanda Mabulu decided that he also can't lose out. In both instances, it's not the first time that these "artists" have gone overboard in the name of "freedom of speech". But this time Ayanda has "touched the nation on its studio". How dare he dragged the beloved national hero to his controversial and disgusting painting? How dare he does this to "us", a nation which hero worships people?

When some of "us" pointed out the problem with both Zapiro and Ayanda using cartoon and paintings to insult people, we were told about freedom of expression. Because we are a nation of hypocrites, we only see wrong when those we deem as heroes are insulted.  

It's not only the so called "artists" who insult people in the name of freedom of speech on a daily basis, the fourth estate is leading the pack. Have we forgotten about the Eyewitness News' cartoon depicting ANC voters as poephols is the current SA's narrative. But again we are a forgetful and forgiving nation when such things are done by other people. Our forgiveness is reserved for certain people. 

Dealing with challenges facing our movement

In our struggles to improve our beloved movement, we should at all time speak truth to power. While it is rather easy to point a finger at what might be the problem, we should also realize that the other 3 or more fingers are pointing directly back at us. Whatever challenges facing the movement should not be relegated to only lack of leadership because the movement is an organisation because of it's members at branch level and not because of top six, NEC, PECs, etc. The current situation in our movement is reflective of its membership, that is, the leadership problems we face are at all levels of the organisation. 

In pursuit of finding lasting solutions that will move this movement forward, we must shy away from name calling and seeing ourselves as "us" against them. Because the "us" against them creates factions, which are detrimental to our movement.

If majority of branch members have lost confidence in the current leadership, there are processes within the ANC that can help members to address that challenge. In order to move this movement forward, we must also avoid being "members of members. We should at all times remember the oath we took when we were accepted into this movement. 

Back then or recently to some of the new members, we solemnly declared that we will abide by the aims and objectives of the African National Congress as set out in the Constitution, the Freedom Charter and other duly adopted policy positions, that we are joining the organisation voluntarily and without motives of material advantage or personal gain, that we agree to respect the Constitution and the structures and to work as loyal members of the organisation, that we will place our energies and skills at the disposal of the organisation and carry out tasks given to us, that we will work towards making the ANC an even more effective instrument of liberation in the hands of the people, and that we will defend the unity and integrity of the organisation and its principles, and combat any tendency towards disruption and factionalism. This oath should always serve as a compass that guide our discussions to find lasting solutions that will move this movement forward. Amandla!

Is this the reawakening of the student movement and ANC that we have been waiting for?

Events of the past two weeks related to the #FeesMustFall tertiary students uprisings have left most South Africans feeling proud that indeed this generation is aware of its huge responsibility of taking the National Democratic Revolution forward and thus paving a way for future African generations to be on equal footing with their white counterparts.

Many times, we have been told how apolitical is today's youth. We have even coined words for them such as "born frees", the "social media generation", etc. We should accept that we were all wrong, just like the apartheid regime was wrong in believing that banishing all political parties, incarceration of freedom fighters and driving people to exile will lead to the end of the struggle. 

As we celebrate the #FeesMustFall movement achievements, we should realise that these are meant to be a foundation towards addressing the overall education system in South Africa. This should surely give impetus to the powers that be to speed up the implementation of free education and thus achieve one of the pillars of the freedom charter. While celebrating, we must also take time and do proper analysis of what this mean to our "maturing democracy".

To those hoping for the renewal of the ANC, they will indeed see 2015 tertiary institutions students uprisings as a great opportunity for the ANC renewal and revival towards reclaiming its space to continue leading the National Democratic Revolution. Those on the other side of the coin will see these uprisings as a demise of the ANC as well as a precursor towards the creation of the new movement to take the struggle forward.

In my view, just like the 1976 students uprisings helped to revive the South African liberation movements and also brought the plight of South Africans especially students to the fore of the international community, the 2015 tertiary students uprising will help the ANC to find its way again and refocus its energies to the things that really matter in the lives of our people. 

New leaders were "born" during the past two weeks, and as a movement capable of naturing young leaders to become great leaders, we dare fail these leaders. The #FeesMustFall movement has raised the political awareness of students and introduced a renewed sense of independence and initiative among the "born frees" and for that we say, thank you.

Like David Maimela said in the book, The Future We Chose: Emerging Perspectives on the Centenary of the ANC,  

"If the story of the student movement must be told, clearly and properly, then students must tell their own. This is a rich history which must partially define who we are, where we come from and where we ought to go" 

 

Kude kwalapha uThixo enathi 2014

Once again it has been a challenging year but the Almighty continued to bless us and showed us that His love is amazing. We therefore, humble ourselves under God's mighty hand, that He may lift us up in due time. (1 Peter 5:6 NIV). Furthermore, we "give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever" (Psalm 107:1).

As we start the new year, we say, continue to show us Your way, O Lord, teach us Your paths (Psalm 25:4) and we ask You to guide us in Your truth and teach us, for You are God our Savior, and our hope is in You all day long (Psalm 25:5). We know that Your thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are our ways Your ways (Isaiah 55:8) but we desire to do your will, our God; Your law is within our hearts (Psalm 40:8). We say "Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success" (Psalm 118:25 NIV) because You are the Lord our God who takes hold of our right hands and says to us, Do not fear; I will help you. (Isaiah 41:13 NIV)

We pray that we continue to "Do everything in love" (1 Corinthians 16:14 NIV) because we have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us by You Almighty. (Romans 12:6-7 NIV). We also pray that we should continue to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave us (Ephesians 4:32 NIV).

2014 Election Campaign trail

As the election campaigning season curtain falls tomorrow morning at 7am, we say thank you to all the volunteers of this glorious movement of our forefathers, the real congress of the people, the #ANC. 

We thank the volunteers for conducting a positive campaign, despite the "insults" and negativity from other parties as well as other armchair critics on social networks. It's now in the hands of the voters to go out in large numbers on Wednesday and make a cross next to a party of their choice. We are confident that the majority of our people will once again choose this glorious movement to move our country forward! Amandla!!

Kude kwalapha u Thixo enathi

Kude kwalapha uThixo enathi. Once again it has been a challenging year but the Almighty continued to bless us and showed us that His love is amazing. We "give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever" (Psalm 107:1). As we start the new year, we say, continue to show us Your way, O Lord, teach us Your paths (Psalm 25:4) and we ask You to guide us in Your truth and teach us, for You are God our Savior, and our hope is in You all day long (Psalm 25:5). We know that Your thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are our ways Your ways (Isaiah 55:8) but we desire to do your will, our God; Your law is within our hearts (Psalm 40:8).

The art of recycling old news and the obsession of some members of the forth estate with President Zuma.

According to the #Beeld, Lieutenant-Colonel Christine Anderson, second-in-command at the Waterkloof movement control centre, in her statement on the incident, has implicated Zuma under oath. But when you analyze her statement, it's a mere hearsay, which has been in the media for a long time . Apparently Bruce Koloane, the former head of state protocol, told Lieutenant-Colonel Christine Anderson that he had a meeting in which Pres Zuma wanted to know “if everything was on track for the flight”. Are we suppose to believe her because she's white and made the statement under oath? Until Bruce Koloane implicates the President, there's nothing new in this story. 

The obsession of some members of the fourth estate with Pres Zuma continues.