Zuma Booed | Calls for Mbeki

President Zuma Booed at Madiba Memorial

South African President Jacob Zuma took the stand to deliver his eulogy to the sound of boos from the crowd. Yesterday mourners attending the memorial service held for former South African president Nelson Mandela voiced their disapproval of incumbent president Jacob Zuma, calling for former president Thabo Mbeki to take the stand instead.

ANC leaders have called call this display a disgrace in front of visiting world leaders, at a time when the focus was on honouring Mandela.

But was this display not in the spirit of Madiba? Everyone present at the event was there to honour and remember Mandela. It was an emotionally charged day, in an emotionally charged week. Had Nelson Mandela been there in body as well as spirit, he would surely have said "Let the people speak".

Siyabonga kakhulu uTata

Siyabonga kakhulu uTata - Farewell Madiba

We regret the passing of one of South Africa's greatest sons, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, and wish to express our sincere condolences to those left behind; uTata's children, wife, his family and all South Africans everywhere. 

We cannot write words that are good enough to pay sufficient tribute! Instead we simply offer the words that meant so much to uBaba throughout his life...

Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika

Nkosi, sikelel' iAfrika;
Malupakam'upondo lwayo;
Yiva imitandazo yetu
Usisikelele.

Chorus

Yihla Moya, Yihla Moya,
Yihla Moya Oyingcwele

Sikelela iNkosi zetu;
Zimkumbule umDali wazo;
Zimoyike zezimhlouele,
Azisikelele.

Sikelel' amadol' esizwe,
Sikelela kwa nomlisela
Ulitwal'ilizwe ngomonde,
Uwusikilele.

Sikelel'amakosikazi;
Nawo onk'amanenekazi;
Pakamisa wonk'umtinjana
Uwusikilele.

Sikelela abafundisi
Bemvaba zonke zelilizwe;
Ubatwese ngoMoya Wako
Ubasikelele.

Sikelel'ulimo nemfuyo;
Gxota zonk'indlala nezifo;
Zalisa ilizwe ngempilo
Ulisikelele

Sikelel'amalinga etu
Awomanyana nokuzaka,
Awemfundo nemvisiswano
Uwasikelele.


Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika; 
Cima bonk' ubugwenxa bayo
Nezigqito, nezono zayo
Uyisikelele.

ANC, FNB and Treason

ANC Accuses FNB of Treason

The ANC, outraged at FNB's ‘Arab Spring' advertising campaign, accused the bank of committing treason.

FNB's ‘Arab Spring' ad campaign consisted of a series of videos titled "FNB: You Can Help". Children in school uniforms called for, among other things, an end to corruption and people voting for the "same government" while hoping for change. Read More:

The ANC would have 'joe public' believe the "overwhelming majority" of young people are satisfied with the government's performance. Perhaps this is true in some regions, but in my experience, the youth of the nation (and I don't mean those 30 something old-timers in the ANC Youth League) is totally disillusioned with the state of the nation. Granted, my perception is based on opinions among urban youngsters of all races and genders.

The Spear Painting | Winners and Losers

Jacob Zuma The Spear | Success of the Century

Controversy has been the order of the day for the past two weeks after a painting by an obscure artist .... named Zuma - The Spear was exhibited in a Johannesburg, South Africa, art gallery. The Spear portrayed the South African president, the honourable Jacob Zuma, with idealised exposed genitalia.

There have been winners and losers created by this whole episode. The artist, the gallery, the buyer and even the constitution are clearly winners, while the ANC emerges as the only loser with egg on their faces.

ANC Objects to The Spear

The ruling political party, the African National Congress and their cohorts in the tripartite alliance (COSATU and SACP) took exception to the painting, claiming it dishonoured and insulted the president and stated it was unacceptable to black African culture for a leader to be portrayed in this manner. The ANC and allied parties demanded the painting be removed from display and destroyed. A protest march was organised for Tuesday this weeks to deliver the demands to the gallery, and a court case initiated to obtain a court order for the painting's removal.

Agriculture Minister Too Busy to Do Her Job

Tina Joemat-Pettersson Too Busy or Too Lazy?

Tina Joemat-Pettersson, South Africa's Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries told parliament yesterday May 07 2012 she could not possibly meet with all the agricultural organisations in south Africa as there were too many (around 550) because she would have to work every day of the year for 5 years to do so!

Image from Business Day

Well Minister, that's what we (the taxpayers) pay you to do. We do not pay you to drive around the country in luxury vehicles, fly all over the place, stay in expensive houses and up-market hotels when you are travelling for business.

It's part of your job. If it's to much work for you, resign and let someone who is not so bloody lazy take over (if there is any member of your party that actually knows what the concept "Work Ethic" means).

South Africa Budget 2012 in Brief

2012 South African Budget Overview

Presented to parliament and the nation by South Africa's Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan

• South Africa’s finances are in good health. A budget deficit of 4.6 per cent of GDP is projected in 2012/13. We plan to reduce the deficit to 3 per cent of GDP in 2014/15, and public debt will stabilise at about 38 percent of GDP.
• An expansion in infrastructure investment is one of the central priorities of the 2012 Budget.
• Special emphasis is given to improving competitiveness in industry, investment in technology, encouragement of enterprise development and support for agriculture.
• Total spending will reach R1.1 trillion next year, representing some 32 per cent of GDP.
• Education, health and social assistance will remain the largest categories of expenditure, sustaining and expanding the social wage over the MTEF period ahead. Investment in people is at the centre of our growth and development strategy.
• The budget continues to support job creation, with a particular focus on unemployed youth.
• The budget provides for personal income tax relief of R9.5 billion, with further measures to increase tax compliance.
• Measures are proposed to invigorate household savings.
• We will strengthen financial management in the public sector, pursue value for money with the greatest possible vigour and ensure that taxpayers’ money is well used.
• Fraud and corruption will be combated through changes to procurement policies and practices and tough enforcement of the law.

State Of The Nation - Jobs

The Presidents State of the Nation Address 2012

Sawubana boPresident Jacob Zuma, unjani boBaba. Once again you have delivered a well presented State of The Nation Address to the people of South Africa. Your State of The Nation Address was poignant, and addressed serious issues affecting our people, in an absorbing speech with well timed humorous remarks that broke the tension of an otherwise serious discussion. Congratulations, I applaud you.

However Mr President, you continue on a path that has failed since the early 1980's, of course I refer to the intended way forward on the road to job creation.

Tutu Calls ANC Government Disgusting

Desmond Tutu Condemns ANC government and President

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

In a public statement carried on National television, former Anglican Archbishop, and Nobel Peace Price winner Desmond Tutu tells president Zuma and government

“You do not represent me; you represent only your own interests”. You are worse than the Apartheid government, At least it was expected from the Apartheid government

Tutu, speaking in response to the failure of SA government to provide a Visa for the Dalai Lama to visit South Africa before the Dalai Lama decided to cancel his proposed visit to the country, likened the present ruling party to the Apartheid regime of the past.

Dear Mr Zuma

300 Years of Doing Nothing:

I listened with interest to your comments broadcast on SABC news at 19h30 today, Saturday 23 July 2011.

You are so right, in 300 years the people, who migrated southwards fleeing from the Zulu, of the eastern region of the Eastern Cape have done nothing to better their situation. Yes Sir, you are totally right; they have done nothing but sit outside their khayas, steal the odd head of cattle, mutilate their young men in barbaric primitive initiation rituals (and their young women too), and consume alcohol of dubious quality.

However Sir, you forgot to mention the 300 years of progress and development that took place just a little further to the south-west of what used to be the Transkei!