How now, you secret, black, and midnight Hag

To mark Human Rights Day yesterday many rallies were staged throughout South Africa. One such gathered drew attention to violence against children with placards imploring us to ‘Stop killing our Children’

A notable speaker – one Winnie Mandela! Has she forgotten about Stompie and the Mandela Football Club. We certainly haven’t.

Human Rights Day

Yesterday was Human Rights Day. It is also the anniversary of day the police opened fire on a crowd surrounding the police station at Sharpville. This caused the deaths of 70+ and wounded many, many more. The event caused an international outcry and perhaps marked the beginning of the end of Apartheid in South Africa.

As always a Nation emerging from a ‘struggle’ for political change has a memory ordained for service to the state. Forgotten is the Shell House incident where IFP marchers were fired upon by guards protecting the ANC headquarters. Also forgotten is the civil war that raged here in Natal in the lead up to the elections in 1994. There are many more incidents where the death toll far exceeded Sharpville.

One does not condone what happening at Sharpville. But one cannot help muse that we would not have had a holiday yesterday if the crowd had broken through the outer fence and slaughtered the policemen.

Just a thought.

What’s in a Name?

Our Department of Transport has decided to rename the E.B. Cloete traffic interchange the Dallah Omar Junction. ‘Where’ you may ask ‘is the E.B. Cloete interchange?’

‘..............Oh! You mean Spaghetti Junction!!’**

Nobody, but nobody, calls it anything but Spaghetti Junction much as nobody calls Shongweni Dam the Vernon Hooper Dam. Popular names have a habit of sticking and be certain that despite valiant efforts by political agencies including the SABC Spaghetti will remain on the menu.

The people have spoken.

(** A four level traffic interchange here in Durban where the N3 crosses the Outer Ring Road)

Honour thy Father and thy Mother - and anyone else of your choice.

Following on from an earlier call in this Blog to honour not only Charlize but also all South Africans of note I saw a large advertisement in the Mail & Guardian. This calls for nominations for South African National Orders. Which are:

The Order of Mapungubwe: For excellence and exceptional achievement in the International arena.

The Order of Baobab: Exceptional contributions in community service, business and technology.

The Order of Luthuli: For contributions in the struggle for democracy, nation building, human rights, justice and conflict resolution.

The Order of Ikamanga: Excellence in the field of arts, culture, literature, music and sport.

The Mendi Decoration for Bravery: For extraordinary acts of bravery.

These are all available in Platinum, Gold and Bronze categories! You didn’t know this - did you?

I’ll keep a watch for the nominees but I’ll bet you a rand to a pinch of compost that one is a forgone conclusion. But please, please, have a good scriptwriter prepare a decent acceptance speech.

I also hope the Order of Luthuli has a sunset clause. If not, it implies that the struggle is here to stay, democracy is a will o’ the wisp, justice is unattainable and conflict will continue.

A 21-drum salute to all nominees!

Bank at 20Twenty

Because of security and other concerns, nobody, but nobody is paid in cash any longer. Having some form of bank account is therefore a necessity as a place to park your cash.

Unfortunately bankers are a strange breed whose reasoning and business methods are often quite incomprehensible to your average Joe. Banking has always been a vexing experience with no lingua franca between bank and client.

Then along came 20Twenty – a completely on-line, no brick buildings, cyber whatever bank, speaking normal English, offering outstanding service and always willing to assist. - I don’t know of many institutions you can phone at 3.42 am on a Sunday and receive help.

Unfortunately 20Twenty hitched its ideas and self to Saambou Bank. Saambou then fell on stony ground, and, amidst much political and business controversy was allowed to whither and die.

Not so 20Twenty. Its clients rallied, formed an on-line web-base support group and even offered to pay enhanced bank fees to tide things over. Of the 40 000 customers only 6% closed their accounts. Most remained and rode out the storm believing that better would follow. And it has.

Wanting to return to South Africa Standard Chartered has bought 20Twenty with its founder, Christo Davel, becoming CEO for Southern Africa. 20Twenty will remain an entity retaining its unique banking style. A major re-launch and drive for new customers is expected soon.

Visit 20Twenty today here. I’m a fan and customer – consider joining

This Land is our Land

I don’t often venture into the field of politics simply because I don’t feel qualified to do so. I also feel somewhat weighed down by my six or so decades in this land and generally leave such matters to the younger Bloggers. Idealism being the preserve of the youth whilst cynicism is often the death rattle of the aged. Feeling in vigorous health, however, and not in the grips of the latter syndrome let me try to steer a middle course regarding Land Reform in Southern Africa.

There has been much in the press recently saying that Namibia and South Africa are to increase the tempo of land redistribution. ‘I told you so’ lamentations proclaim that we are heading the same way as Zimbabwe and by extension the ‘rest of Africa’.

Other Bloggers have correctly pointed out that thus far land redistribution has been conducted on a ‘willing seller – willing buying’ basis and that market prices have prevailed. Both Governments now say that powers of expropriation will be used to speed up the process but on a limited basis and within the law.

I agree with other commentators that although this policy raises suspicion ‘the concentration of a major resource in the hands of an ethnic minority group can be manipulated by unscrupulous politicians.’ Provided the law prevails, adequate compensation is paid and cronies of the ruling party are not enriched then land reform is not only desirable but also necessary. How else can we avoid a Zimbabwe-type situation?

I believe, however, that the provisions of the land reform policy must be extended. Land - good arable land - in Southern Africa is a scarce resource and an engine of production. It and mining are the primary industries that form the platform of our economic well-being. Good productive land should not simply be handed over to subsistence farming or so-called ‘emerging’ farmers who do not have the skill, capital or equipment to maintain production.

As taxpayer’s money is used to fund the land reform process it has to be invested in a manner that maintains a productive asset. A return has to be a Government responsibility and be visible, subject to reporting, scrutiny and review. If not then the ‘I told you so’ brigade will win a joyless victory.

Soccer World Cup 2010

ETV News reported last night that a high-powered delegation will be sent to submit South Africa’s bid to stage the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Unlike the previous failed submission led by Danny Jordaan this time President Thabo Mbeki will lead the charge. Numerous other South Africa ‘celebrities’ will be included in the party including Charlize Theron! I certainly hope she brushes up on her South Africa accent before the occasion.

Bear with me for a moment as I switch to rugby. This game has been in the headlines consistently over the past few weeks. The major issue being that the Springbok emblem is again under threat as the powers that be have determined that the king protea will be worn by all national teams. No other badge or logo may be larger than or dominate the national emblem - or so I have heard. I say this because the assertions, alternate reports and backtracking have left me confused. Also added to the brew is the thorny issue of racial quotas and perceived racial incidents in the Springbok rugby squad.

The upshot of all this is that there has been some falling-off of support for the game at which we were world champions for over 80 years. Private boxes at the various stadiums are standing empty and season ticket sales have fallen off as fans turn to DSTV to watch the Six Nations competition.

‘So what!’ say the supporters of the so-called ‘beautiful game’ played with the round ball ‘rugby is a minority sport on the world stage’. Yes it is but here in South Africa our bid for the soccer World Cup will need the infrastructure provided by the rugby unions. They have the stadiums, the experience and the money. Soccer does not.

If rugby falls into disarray then our ability to stage the World Cup is on shaky ground and will need a huge input of tax-payers money to shore things up.

I do think the Government and its agencies have meddled far too long in the affairs of rugby. If they have problems in running the Country how can they do something as difficult as picking a Springbok team.


Good-bye Sam

The same ETV news (as above) announced that Sam Ramsamy is not to seek re-election as president of the National Olympic Committee (Council?) of South Africa.

Good-bye Sam – I hope I never hear of you again.

CHEAP MUSIC

There’s lots of good inexpensive music in and around Durban. Now I’m not talking about bootleg CD’s available at roadside stalls - I’m on about the live variety.

Many venues offer regular gigs for which the entrance fee is below R20. My favourites include the Centre for Jazz & Popular Music at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, the Folk Club at the Wanderers Club, free lunch-time concerts at the Howard College Theatre, baroque concerts at St Thomas’ Church on some Sundays and of course the Bat Deck.

There are, of course, many others and I recommend you refer to Music Listings in the Mail & Guardian to make your choice. Some need courage to visit if you’re an Old Stiff like me – you know the type where they search you at the door and if you haven’t a gun they lend you one. (Ha Ha – an old Barry Hilton joke)

I went to the Centre for Jazz last night where Esperanto played. They proved to be a consummate jazz act with Steve Peralta outstanding on vocals. Five young Swedish girls here on a student exchange programme embellished the show. Singing mostly acappella they were exquisite and added a new dimension to my music experience.

Next Wednesday features Tony Cox on the acoustic guitar - playing solo this time without his fellow members of the Aquarian Quartet. Wednesday, 21 April, features Darius Brubeck & Afro Cool Concept and this, aided by the wares of the cash bar, should help you recover from the Election.

Aussies and the Boer War

The Australian Government has recently expressed concern over the desecration of the graves of its war-dead in South Africa. This reminds us that approximately 600 Australian soldiers died here during the Anglo-Boer War. Many were Mounted Infantry (MI) and were deployed against the Boer guerrilla forces in the latter stage of the war. Coming from a similar rural background as the Boers they were able to take to the field on equal terms with their enemy and proved very successful in their operations.

One unit of note was the Bushveldt Carbineers in which many Australians served including Harry Morant. He and fellow officer Peter Hancock were convicted by Court Martial in Pietersburg for the murder of Boer Prisoners and were later executed by firing squad in Pretoria. A third convicted officer George Witton had his sentence commuted to life imprisonment. Following a change of Government in Britain he was subsequently released after serving a few years in prison picking oakum.

Witton wrote a book on the trial entitled Scapegoats of the Empire. This was immediately suppressed as the defence at the Court Martial was founded on the claim that Lord Kitchener* had (verbally) ordered that captured Boer prisoners could be shot so as not to impede operations in the field. General knowledge of this would have caused great embarrassment to Britain and impugned the character of the National and Empire war-hero.

Reprinted copies of Scapegoats of the Empire are available in a few libraries. It formed the basis of a stage play and later the movie Breaker Morant. For a while Morant was elevated to the status of National Hero in Australia as he was seen to have suffered at the hands of the English. His dubious background, reputation and guilt in this case being overlooked.

The play and the movie did, however, over-simplify matters as a total of seven officers were charged on 6 counts involving 22 deaths. Recent research indicates that the court martial verdict can be challenged on procedure which lead to the securing of wrongful convictions. Military history is, however, littered with similar cases which also include wrongful acquittals. What makes this case shameful is that the trial was conducted to cover the guilt of senior officers and of Kitchener himself.

(*Kitchener introduced a scorched earth policy into the Anglo-Boer War to attempt to starve the enemy out of the field. Under his command the concentration camp was invented to contain Boer women, children and elderly men removed from their farms. This prevented them from supporting the active men in the field. Approximately 25000 died in these camps. A large concentration camp existed at Merebank here in Durban. Its attendant cemetery has been covered over.

Kitchener drowned during WW1 en route to Russia when the ship carrying him was torpedoed. Morant and Hancock are buried in Pretoria)

See here for more in detail.

If you’re an ex pat and up to your knees in snow you can have a live video feed from Durban’s North Beach. Check it here.

It’s part of Durban’s CCTV traffic monitoring system with viewing of several locations around the City. So if you’re local and need to plan your daily trips you can see what it’s like out there. But you need RealOne Player to see all.

THE CANE IS HIGH & THE BARBEL ARE JUMPING

It’s official – autumn is here. The first cool weather has arrived and those of the pale persuasion feel relieved. Cockroaches the size of skateboards no longer cruise insolently across the floor with feelers waving; the nightly mosquito attacks are decreasing and soon the swallows will start sitting en masse on the telephone wires. No doubt these are committee meetings to decide when to start the long flight back to southern Russia or wherever they go.

Durban has what is described as a ‘sub-tropical, maritime' climate which on the whole is great. January, February and March, however, can see temperatures in the low 30’s and this coupled with relative humidity levels of up to 90% can make things somewhat uncomfortable. Hence ‘Natal Fever’ sets in and everybody slows down, slumps in a chair sans shirt, reaches for a cold one and scans the weather forecast for the promise of the first cold front moving up the coast. The mangos ripen, the avocadoes swell, the sugar cane waves and the paw-paws grow to an obscene size. Let the telephone ring (it’s only head office in Johannesburg wondering what’s happening) as business takes a back seat because the surf’s cool and inviting. Come to think of it where else could you find a place with tropical vegetation, a vast diversity of people, the sea and this climate?

Let us therefore brace ourselves for another tough day in Africa!

PREACHING TO THE CONVICTED?

Leader of the Democratic Alliance, Tony Leon, today visited one of South Africa’s maximum security prisons.

He used the opportunity and forum to advocate the return of the death penalty.

OUR BLOND BOKKIE FROM BENONI

Local girl Charlize Theron has won an Oscar for best actress in the movie Monster. She must be congratulated for this is, in her field, an award of note.

The difficulty I have is not with the award but how its status and worth is viewed here in SA. Our esteemed President spoke for the people saying that first we had the Noble Peace Prize followed by the Noble Prize for Literature and now...and NOW an Oscar!! Our cup runneth over and all true South Africans rejoice.

A lavish Presidential reception is planned followed, no doubt, by civic honours, appearances at the local Mall and street parades complete with tromppopjies. We are kept up to date by the SABC’s hourly news slots on The Progress home to receive a proud nations’ homage and witness her thank her Ma. (Tears are de rigueur)

All good stuff but we must also be aware of and also acknowledge those South Africans who make a huge material, intellectual and social contribution to our country, its people and our future.

Incidentally we are running a competition. If you can name the two recent South African Nobel prizewinners you could win an all-expenses paid weeklong holiday in Benoni at Sannie’s B & B. If you can’t then never mind as there’s always cold Castle, the Lotto and Isidingo.

ROOTS TO FRUITS

Following on from the last post another local radio programme worth bending your ear to is Roots to Fruits hosted by local music fundi Richard Haslop.

I don’t think it’s as good as his original show Off the Beaten Track but does air some music not heard elsewhere. Unfortunately Richard does have the most irritating habit of talking over the intro to each item. Spare us; it’s old DJ hat – and intros do have a purpose. Occasionally he also goes a little too native with his choice of music for my taste.

A good listen: Tuesdays @ 21h00 & repeat on Sundays @ 15h00 (SAST) :
SAfm 104 – 105 MHz and on the Web.

RADIO WITHOUT BORDERS

Tired of the same old play lists? Never hear any lekker local stuff? Bored by endless phone-in programmes? Then try Radio Sonder Grense (RSG).

Best in the evenings – especially Monday. Give Botha Blues a listen at 22h00 SAST.

On the SA airwaves you’ll find it around 100 Mhz FM – Also available on the Web for ex-pats. The language medium is Afrikaans and be assured they’ve come a long way since their church banned sex in the standing position because it could lead to dancing.

Mystic Boers Rule – Ja!