A thing of the past

What an interesting week it has been indeed. The opportunity to interview Eva Schloss was somewhat phenomenal as I have an avid interest in War, Literature and have found the impact of the holocaust quite powerful. However, this is still relevant to the current global community as war, conflict, social misunderstanding and intolerance appears to be increasing. For instance the latest report on Syrian rebels forcing a child to behead an unarmed prisoner. Added to this the conflict in Egypt is intensifying as well, while in Mali the Prime Minister has resigned after being arrested by militants linked to the March coup.

Moving to Africa, and particularly South Africa, the run up to the ANC's elective conference is becoming heated and is highlighting the disunity within the party that had fought against the Apartheid Regime. Reports have also surfaced saying that the incumbent President of the ANC had some financial problems while his 2006 suspension as Deputy President, while facing charges of corruption. Well, the events in the political arena of this country, has shown a very different kind of politics that could possibly, give way to a change we could possibly not forecast as accurate enough.

So coming back to the start, despite the generation gap, increasing and many more people forgetting what had happened in World War II, and the impact of a social disconnect, how far are we from treading on the same path, as more such inhumane acts - such as the beheading incident, and the increasing conflict in Syria as well as the constant bombings on religious institutions in Kenya and Somalia have become a constant presence.

Medical parole, or medical control

Former police chief Jackie Selebi has been granted medical parole, a move that has raised a few questions. However, it was heard that he has been giving himself dialysis treatment, but that this was becoming increasingly difficult as he is suffering from Parkinson's disease. A similar ruling was made regarding the medical state of convicted fraudster and President Jacob Zuma's former financial adviser. Is Selebi's medical condition as serious as it has been made out to be that will be the question.

My take....

So Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad decides to cede power today, but there are claims that this is not so. As the rebel forces close in on him, and his family, he decides that the actions of his supporters will lead to him becoming yet another victim, similar to that of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. However, his move may be tactical, but will this appease the rebels? The country has spiralled into an abyss, with the Western-backed UN resolution, calling for sanctions against the country. A move that has seen two countries, that being South Africa and Pakistan abstaining from the vote, while China and Russia have vetoed it. As the the peace brokered deal by Syrian envoy Kofi Annan, fell apart, the question remains as to whether Assad will keep to the agreement he made in allowing the country to be run democratically.

21st Century

Emotions bubble and boil inside of me

Waiting to surface naturally,

But I keep them bottled up,

Afraid of what they may be.

They could be tears, fears and angered shouts

The sounds that tear your heart right out

Its difficult you see,

This time we're in.

How can I better myself if there's no way to move...

Move forward that is.

And move out of this life of misery

Of struggle,

Even though it's the twenty first century. 

Posted this one on my word press account as well, but I would like some kind of feedback on this one, from whoever reads it...

Words......

Words…they seem to be my closest friends of late… yet I feel as though they’re not showing me their true worth. I’ve been missing them a lot that is. The meanings of all of them grouped together. Sometimes when I start writing on my blank sheet of paper, they mimic my every thought, gesture and sometimes even those little secrets I’ve been trying to hide. On some occasions they come out in a different way, angry, disappointed and even heart sore. The emotions that not many want to convey, yet they mean so much, are around so much, and comfort me so much. Ah! An ode to the alphabet will suffice for today…

I wish

My life is torn from a page a book,

That little piece written in the nook,

Never quite looked at eagerly

Just a vague piece written neatly

A few words that breaks you heart in two

The words on the page means so much more

But those few words describe a life

I plunge into a world of tears

Searching through the stream which feels like years

Oh help me to see the end so clear

Maybe if I could get a little near

Slowly, edging ever oh so dear,

I let go and my wings take flight

which carries me to my hearts delight

The page slips from my grip, oh dear

At least the words led me to my dream....

Just another day

I've always wanted to write but have been so scared of the critique's that I would get from publishers. Maybe one day, this fear would just disappear altogether. Things have gone a bit differently over the past few weeks. The realisation that what I had planned for my life, was not according to what God had planned has somewhat – rocked the apple cart a bit. But that's fine because his plan is much greater than what I had in store, in any case. Also, I have finally come to the realisation that a “quiet” life is what I need most right now – after all exams will be coming up over the next few weeks. Might as well take the bull by the horns then. Have been attempting to take some kind of sabbatical from news and technology but that's been quite hard. Here's to a relaxing yet fulfilled weekend.

Quirky SA news...

An interesting day in South African quirky news. A police vehicle runs out of petrol while pursuing a suspect, and then has to turn back to fill-up. Four teachers arrested for beating a pupil. The incident left the learner with no sensation in one of his testicles. Ice suckers doctored with “mampoer” gets sold to unsuspecting people at a Rugby match, one of the individuals was a school pupil.

This really got me off the “political news” trolley that oh so forms part of our daily lives. Although these stories are interesting the underlying tones are somewhat concerning, that the respect for Human rights are some what blurred, except for the police incident that is....its home time. Time to unwind a bit.

Cape Town's leadership.....no comment

Okay, so Western Cape Premier Helen Zille's twitter comments have come back to bite her in the behind. Earlier this week she tweeted another comment saying that those people coming from the Eastern Cape in search of work and food are refugees. Now where does that leave us young people in Cape Town, because most of us are in search of just that?

I'm like seriously confused, firstly its hard enough finding work in Cape even though you are educated, but its easier to find work  in other provinces within South Africa. But you see we are stuck in a catch 22 situation. No money, working for peanuts and still having to sustain families etc. Where and when does this dilemma end someone's definitely pulling some dodgy strings around here. I read the New York times article on Cape Town http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/23/world/africa/in-cape-town-many-black-south-africans-feel-unwelcome.html?_r=1&sq=In%20a%20divid%20city&st=cse&adxnnl=1&scp=1&pagewanted=2&adxnnlx=1332482484-GWS8ouJG0Glsq4eBUvAkYQ, which ultimately reiterated what I had been thinking for quite some time, but was afraid to mention. This obviously indicates that with the birth of democracy in SA some years ago, this country still has a long way to go. Honestly I believe that its up to the younger generations to liberate thought processes in SA or we may just head back into the deepening slump of racial segregation. Wow....profound....time for some coffee.

P...for Protest

Protests were reported across South Africa yesterday. While protesters turned on each other in the Western Cape Town of Grabouw, reports emerged that violent protests in Mpumalanga's town of Ogies and Heidelberg in Johannesburg, had police on high alert. In Mpumalanga its understood that residents burnt vehicles demanding that service delivery be improved. The same went for the other town's where similar incidents were reported.

Service delivery has been a touchy subject in South Africa, but has also become a problem that requires to be addressed urgently. While protests in Grabouw were mainly due to poor education facilities, the incident then turned into racial battles. Its understood that while, some felt that they needed to burn down the the “overcrowded” high school in the area, others felt that it was their children's right to get the education that so many of them were not afforded in the Apartheid era.

Moving across South Africa's landscape the protests reported in Johannesburg yesterday, resembled that of the one in Grabouw, however, the racial tone was not present. The protests in Jo'burg were sparked once again by the same underlying topic, service delivery. Its understood that residents there looted the homes of ward councilors who they have accused councilors of selfishly addressing their own needs. While the protest in Mpumalanga was the result of residents not being employed by the local colliery. Well as the country finds its democratic feet, and politicians finally address the problem of in fighting within their political groups, maybe one day some day this problem could just be addressed. Funny how all these protests come a day before Human Rights day.

A Day in the Life....

So, almost two years later, I'm still fighting with call centre agents and customer service people, who try to find out why my accounts are in arrears. Well, the answer is: "I've been unemployed since 2009 and am currently not earning the "fantastic" salary I did before. Vacant stare, that's all you get. Nevertheless, I face each day positively by motivating myself and wading forward in completing my BA in Language and Literature.

Today was my chosen day off and funny enough I received a call from an agent saying that the Sheriff of the court will be due soon as I owe just over two thousand rand on my credit card. Wow, two thousand rand what about those who owe millions? Anyway, as I am trying to get myself out of this slump, I'm also trying to figure out my next career move.

That is tricky in itself. A few years ago I made the decision to do so and found myself without a job. So, as I apply for numerous jobs across various industries, I'm like so hoping that one day, maybe in the next century I'll get a response. Such a pity that the world economy is in its worst slump in over eighty years....If this were not so, then I could have had a decent job by now or better yet, could've gone to Greece.