Jacob Zuma is rallying the youth as he continues to make his bid towards presidency.
This is a frightening prospect for many people (including me) as is support base is huge, young, communist and radical.
Zuma’s singing of his signature anthem “Awuleth’ Umshini Wami”, “Bring me my machine (Gun)” recently was criticised by ANC chairman Mosiuoa Lekota. Lekota was then warned his comments could spark further rifts within the ruling party (ANC). The rift within the ANC seems to be one of Communism versus Capitalism, and dissatisfied South Africans vs New South Africans.
I can’t for the life of me understand how this man can still be in the run for the presidency with all the scandal he has been through in the last year , but somehow he has managed to come through as a hero to many. I won’t be voting for a president who wants a machine gun.
Awuleth’ Umshini Wami
Umshini wami mshini wami
khawuleth’umshini wami
Umshini wami mshini wami,
khawuleth’umshini wami
Umshini wami mshini wami,
khawuleth’umshini wami
khawuleth’umshini wami
Wen’uyang’ibambezela
umshini wami, khawuleth’umshini wami
No Comments
Most of the international news about Africa is centred around Zimbabwe, Mugabe and the terrible state that the country is in.
Zimbabwe’s silly inflation rate is the highest in the world, officially at 7600% (likely to be much higher) and is predicted to hit 100000% by the end of the year. Mugabe’s inspired policy of forcing stores to sell goods below cost has forced them into illegally closing and many owners and managers have been jailed for doing otherwise.
Many store owners take a “jail bag” with them to work in case of arrest. An associate of mine who lives in Zim, has always sworn never to leave, no matter what happens. Last week they rounded the family up to discuss getting out, as they face imprisonment for over charging for goods. They employ over 600 people and likely support a further 1000.
4 comments
BIG news is shaking the diamond industry, with claim of the largest ever diamond being discovered by a small unnamed mining company.
The ROCK which is supposedly the size of a coconut and 1.6kg!, is said to be around 7000 carats! If it is genuine, it will dwarf the famous Cullinan Diamond discovered in 1905 – in fact, it would be at least twice the size of that stone” Said gemmologist Les Milner.
Scepticism surrounds the discovery as only a cell phone picture of the stone has surfaced, and the near perfect appearance is making experts suspicious.
While decisions …
No Comments
It is quite frightening to see how very dependant we are on the steady supply of petrol from our refineries.
This latest shortage is caused by The CEPPWAWU union striking over wages and this is causing delivery problems nationwide. The refineries are still making regular deliveries, but panic buying has caused stations to sell up to 50% more than usual, resulting in many dry pumps and more panic.
No Comments
We have had a harsh week of weather, with icy temperatures and driving rain, causing a significant amount of flooding.
As usual the worst hit are the poorest of the poor, living in informal settlements without drainage. 49 townships are said to be affected and 38000 people.
“It was terrible. If four major storms hit consecutively, there is nothing one can do about it. The problem is that people settled in low-lying areas,” said Mayor Helen Zille.
As it was explained to me by my Geography teacher. the Cape Point area is actually an island and the large land area in-between is basically a low lying sand bank. So when heavy rain comes they always flood.
No Comments
In the ancestor worshipping traditions held by the majority (80%) of South Africans (Zulu, Xhosa, Ndabele and Swazi) the Sangoma is the primary and sometimes exclusive healer and counsellor.
There is no governing body to control who is, and who is not, a sangoma, anyone can claim to be one (there are over 200,000!). Traditionally a new sangoma is called by an initiation illness, often psychosis, headache, stomach pain, shoulder or neck complaints. After which they will undergo “Thwasa”, a period of training including learning humility to the ancestors, purification through steaming, washing in the blood of sacrificed animals, and the use of Muti, medicines with spiritual significance. At the end of Thwasa, an animal is sacrificed to appease the ancestors.
3 comments
A towering R6m ($800K) statue of South Africa’s much adored ex-president was revealed yesterday in Parliament Square in London.
The cause was promoted by Lord Attenborough, who was responsible for he 1987 film cry freedom, and it has taken 7 years to find a place for the statue.
Parliament square is home to some notable figures including Sir Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln and Jan Smuts, so I am sure they will have much to discuss.
Personally I feel the 9ft statue is a bit lifeless and is postured in a way that suggests you are about to be strangled, …
No Comments
This all male harmonic choir is South Africa’s biggest musical export. Their distinctive melancholy sound pulls hard at the heart strings of South Africans everywhere. Perhaps a homesick Safrican will hear this somewhere and decide to come back home.
It was formed by Joseph Shabalala in 1960, who still heads up the group. They shot to international fame on Paul Simon’s album Graceland, and have won a number of Grammy’s since in their own right and 12 nominations in total (2 for their new album “Long walk to freedom….
No Comments
While Cape Town has seen massive up scale development in recent years, certain areas have been noticeably neglected, and none more so than Adderley street and the Cape Town train station.
Adderley street used to be the jewel of Cape Town, with all the major department stores and “The Golden Acre” shopping centre, which housed the finest retailers in the CBD.
Right now Adderley street is a string of low end takeaways and loan shark shops and The Golden Acre has oxidised into an extension of the train terminus. This is partly due to the emergence of the V&A waterfront and other 1st world shopping areas.
1 comment
Today marks Madiba’s 89th birthday and starts a week of festivities, including the soccer match dubbed “90 minutes for Mandela” featuring greats Pele and Samuel Eto’o and the launch of a humanitarian campaign.
Guests at the launch include Presidents, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, and ex-UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. British entrepreneur Richard Branson and musician Peter Gabriel are also expected to attend.
No Comments
