Entitlement – South Africa’s downfall.

You sir – yes you, the guy who decided to smash my car’s window on 2 May – you are an entitled asshole. Not because you took my phone, ripped my shirt, caused damage to my car or caused trauma to me, but because you give people of South Africa a very bad name.

You sir, make people like me believe that every beggar, every street merchant, every pedestrian is in fact a criminal. You make me lose faith in humanity around me. I who give without asking back, you thought it ok to force yourself into my space and endanger my immediate vicinity after pretending to beg from me.

And you sir, the other guy in that bakery van who decided it would be fun to strap a mesh mask to your face, tie it at your neck and lean out of your bakkie window to stare and glare at me – you are worsening the general perception of your culture with the masses.

What are you thinking you arrogant son-a-ma-biatch? That that kind of behaviour shapes our country and makes people feel safe in a place that we all are trying to make beautiful every day? Why am I, a white female automatically branded a racist b*tch? You don’t know me? I wasn’t in the struggle, and as far I could tell, neither were you – so stop trying to claim your stature by entitling yourself to intimidate my perception of our beautiful country.

I also believe in giving back, and assist in many charitable and goodwill institutions as often as I possibly can. I give my heart, my soul, my ears and my tears to people. I have seen abuse, hunger, old age, abused animals, sickness and poverty. I accept people freely, without restrictions on race, colour, creed, religion, sexual orientation or age, but one thing that has become apparent to me, is the general voice of entitlement that roars through the masses of South Africa without thought of another. All I ever hear is me, me, me – I, I, I. In our government, in our suburbs, in business… everywhere. We want this. When do you want it, now!

As I am typing this, I am furious. I cannot name one person within my circle of people who has not been a victim of crime in one form or another – be it petty crime, or murder. And yes, I do know there are many factors that influence crime in our beautiful South Africa. Poverty, lack of jobs or sustainability. Poor salaries, or no salaries at all. Over population in already dense areas. People who do not have running water, electricity, do not have access to proper education systems, health care or food. But my word, what entitles another person to decide that it is ok to harm another? There is no excuse. None.

Its a few days before our national election booths open their doors on 7 May. I, for one, am waiting with bated breath to see the decisions of millions of South Africans roll in. I have had dreams about this, literally, of standing in the queues, waiting to make my mark on a ballot paper – all in the hope of changing the current state of my country for the better.

To me, casting my vote is a very personal affair. I know who my vote will be for. And I know my reasons. I decided on it a while ago, but nothing could have affirmed my vote as indignantly as 2 May did.

As a 30 year old, unmarried, white female, I go at life mostly alone. I run my own company and pay my own way. I drive everywhere alone, stay on my own and believe in being a self-sufficient member of society. I am scared out of my wits most of the time, and have now learnt the art of awareness, self-defence and to be prepared for whatever comes your way at any time of the day. Hell, I can hit through your throat if you attack me in a dark alley, but am scared to do so because our legal system is not adequate enough to protect us from daily injustices, what to say from me harming someone who wanted to harm me in the first place.

Case in point – a poster on the back of an OR Tambo International bathroom stall door proclaimed proudly to me (April 2014) that more space is being made in our prisons as they recently released 30 000 people from our jails. What the hell is that about? So, the SA Correctional Services are letting petty criminals walk free to make space for more dangerous ones? Well, yes! THAT makes me feel so much safer.

On 28 April 2012, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said around 14,600 inmates will be released “conditionally or unconditionally,” according to the Associated Press. More than 20,000 offenders on probation or parole who qualify to have their sentences cut will also benefit from the decision.

Prisoners declared violent criminals and those jailed for sexual, drug-related and weapons offenses will not be among those to benefit from the remissions of sentences.

I took a photo, but don’t have it anymore as it was on my phone that I apparently donated to someone unwillingly.

My question now is this, who did they release? Petty criminals? Hijackers? Smash and Grabbers? Yes, those people are back in society. They are most probably worse off than when they went into jail. They are probably now even poorer, their families are suffering, their conditions have worsened and their needs have increased drastically.

How do I as a South African then blame them, that they feel entitled to enter my private space and take my possessions or cause harm to me? I can’t! But what I can do, and I am now addressing said sirs above, is vote for a change to come to South Africa this election. A change, not to see you go to prison necessarily (although greater  police visibility in areas that are plagued by hi-jack zones and smash and grab zones would be a bonus, with police actually willing to assist) but rather that might see you being able to get a job. To obtain the money through good honest work made available to you to feed your family, and not see the need to take from me to give to you. For your kids to have an education, and create a better world for you, and their children. And my word, I hope you too, sir, make the right choice too.

Everyone’s a damn Robin Hood.

29 parties appear on the national ballot paper, and as far as I can see, many have made their choice on who they would vote for while others are still slightly indecisive.

An X isn’t carved with a bow and arrow but with a black pen and a green barcoded ID book on a ballot paper. If you moan it, you own it, so make sure you cast your vote come 7 May.

A Gangster, a Politician and Yourself

Jacques Sibomana

The recent gang violence, in predominantly the Western Cape, has been a burning issue in South Africa over the last couple of weeks. It depends on which publication you are reading to really pin-point what people believe or want to believe. Guest blogger, Jacques Sibomana (a Capetonian and media practitioner) delves into this sensitive issue, pealing back the many layers to reveal just how deep the recent gang violence goes.

You can connect  with Jacques on Twitter @CptEntrepreneur or just leave your comments in the comment section below. 

Marisa

….

Gangsterism, with its accompanying violence, brutality and death has become a daily topic in the Western Cape, particularly around Cape Town, as the carnage in some communities continue to grab headlines. Of course, this has provided news media with an ideal opportunity not only to provide objective and informative news and information, but also to sensationalise the issue, increase the hype, and consequently muddy the waters even more.

In the discussion about how authorities should respond to the desperate killing fields, the debate has now spiraled down into a “for and against” whether the army should be deployed to the affected areas and communities. Various authorities have now chained themselves into political corners and have taken non negotiable stances – there appears to be no meeting of minds on this matter. Taking a broad overview without purporting to be absolutely accurate, it would appear that two camps have emerged: National politicians and law enforcement representatives hold the view that the army should not be deployed; whereas community leaders/members and the provincial government believe the contrary to be the best action.

The matter has been turned into a veritable political football, with the two big bull elephants going at each other and trying to score political points, while community members are crushed underneath and exposed to daily violence and risk of life. Politicians have now taken to scoring cheap political points, each making local appearances in the community and making statements castigating the other.

There is no doubt, and no debate, that gangsterism is endemic, has a history spanning decades, has deep rooted causes based fundamentally in the severe social deprivation and dysfunctional community life evident in these communities. Much of this is rooted in the earlier political oppression suffered by communities in the Western Cape, where forced removals caused disintegration of settled family and community life, and families were left to struggle to survive on the bleak Cape Flats, with little resources. The subsequent ravages of the apartheid evil have resulted in a poor social fabric, an education not suited to the market, and the struggle to survive in contemporary society. Youth, young adults and older males in particular have lost the ability to craft a life for themselves. This helplessness and hopelessness have contributed to the relentless phenomenon of the gang. Today drugs are the local currency, both as a means of earning a living and as a narcotic to dull the pain of hopelessness. Turf wars, often involving feuds over the drug trade, is what fuels the current gang disputes, and death is the preferred revenge or retaliation when conflict arises. And all of this is interwoven with the prison “Numbers Gangs” who purportedly control community gang operations from within the prison walls.

Together with this is the so called social role of gangs in these deprived communities: some gangs offer resources to families in desperate need of sustenance.

Each stakeholder has a different perspective on the nature of the response needed: Police spokespersons point to the number of arrests and weapons seized as an indicator of their success in policing the gang warfare.  National Ministers disingenuously point to the socio -economic causes of the gang phenomenon, without bringing to the fore any immediate solution or means of intervention to stem the tide of the killings. Provincial authorities point to the incompetence of the police for failing in their duty to protect citizenry.

For how long will communities be held for ransom while politician are only interested in political points?

When will our children be allowed to play freely within the public play ground without fear of being victimised?

To my mind, Police statistics only provide us with an indicator of output, not impact, as the gang fights and killings continue unabated. Though the police presence has mercifully increased, It is obvious that police action is, at best, too little too late. It is only since the request for the deployment of the army that the police have, for instance, brought in more reinforcements into the Lavender Hill/Steenberg area. Despite this, a killing has again occurred. The Premier has been on night patrol with some agencies in the affected areas, Ministers have been on visits to local police stations and homes in the areas – all to what avail? Showing their belated visibility but having no impact at all – in fact what all these statements and visits indicate is a provincial and national political regime with more interest in scoring cheap political points than improving the well being of their constituents.

No-one finds the spectre of heavily armed soldiers and Caspirs attractive – traipsing through densely occupied community areas where children are playing in roads and adults go about their daily business. The possibility of accidents is scary; later alone the image of Caspirs traipsing through our communities brings with it image that most South Africans have hoped not to see again, unlocking what was hidden dip in our psych of Apartheid forces terrorising communities with constant Military-police presence.

Whilst there is no quick fix, nor only one best way to resolve this social ill, on the other hand, for the immediate short term, we need to find a rapid way of bringing matters under control and stability to these communities. Strong law enforcement can open a window of opportunity to introduce medium to long term developmental strategies incorporating social crime prevention and social economic approaches which can then follow on immediately. Is the local police able to provide this level of strong law enforcement?

Perhaps if only there was a real strong collaboration between the affected parties (Community, both national and provincial government and civil society organisation) we might be able to find both a short and long term proactive response to this issue.

If not, and the army cannot be deployed in the immediate term, can someone please come up with a solution?

Switch OFF to Switch ON Awareness

It’s that time of the year again when the guys at the World Wide Fund for Nature urges people around the world to turn off non-essential lights for Earth Hour. Interestingly Earth Hour was started in Sydney, Australia in 2007 when some 2.2-million people took the lead to get the initiative started. It didn’t take long for other country to take up the challenge and by 2010 some 7 000 cities and towns across 135 countries and territories are participating.

The initiative enjoys heavyweight support with Nelson Mandela, FIFA, UNESCO, the Body Shop, Al Gore and Kumi Naidoo (Greenpeace) to name but a few.

It’s important to remember that Earth Hour does not claim to be an energy/carbon reduction exercise, but rather a “symbolic action”. Meaning that we are all challenged to take responsibility to our ecological footprint and its impact on the planet.

What is cool though is that the world’s first Earth Hour Forest started in Uganda this year and is an effort to fight the deforestation of some 6 000 hectares of land that occur in the country every month. As part of Earth Hour’s “I Will If You Will” campaign, corporates, business and individuals are challenged to fill it with at least 500 000 trees during the year.

Isn’t it great when awareness turns into action?

Back home in South Africa we are not to be outdone has really embraced the “I Will If You Will” challenge. As Earth Hour reports our favourite weatherman, Derek van Dam will ride his bicycle to work for a month (regardless of the weather) if Dave Matthews Band sends him an autographed band poster with the words “To our favourite weatherman…”. I also like SA’s got talent judge, Shado Twala who will DJ a 24-hour World Music party if 1 000 people commit to recycling.

DJ Shado Twala

I also can’t wait to see some of our landmarks shrouded in darkness during Earth Hour and truly hope that those naughty corporates and government offices whose lights are forever on follow suit.

But what to do when you have a hour to kill in the dark? Many might find it challenging to be depraved of electrical light for an hour, but keep in mind that many people around the world are still without electrical light and make do with candles and paraffin lamps.

The World Wide Fund South Africa created the ‘Things to do in the Dark’ platform for some tips on what you can do during Earth Hour. Click on the picture below to go to their Facebook page for details on the Earth Hour app. It’s quite cool!

 

As for myself I will follow one of the campaign’s tips and dance, because nobody’s watching!

Watch these handles on Twitter for some official #EarthHour chatter:

@EarthHour

@WWFSouthAfrica

 

Have a fantastic Earth Hour!

@MarisaO2

P.S. If you don’t switch off, I’ll be sending this guy to your house…I pity the fool…

 

 

The good stories are out there

Sjo!

As I’m writing this I have goosebumps. Lead SA posted a happy ending on their Facebook page this morning for ice-cream vendor, Luke Dausi. This 22-year-old man was selling ice-cream on Sea Point Promenade when he was brutally attacked and had all his front teeth knocked out. The robbers made off with two cellphones and R430 in cash.

I’d rather not get into my feelings about the brazen and senseless crimes citizens are subjected to on a daily basis. The fact that our response to this story would probably be: “at least he is alive” speaks to how crime has become a norm in society. No, let me rather focus on the fact that stories like these often bring out another side in communities – compassion, caring and goodwill.

Credit goes to the 567 Cape Talk and the Cape Argus Newspaper that ran with this story and appealed for help. Inspired by Lead SA, dentist Marc Sher volunteered to assess and treat Luke. His missing teeth would undoubtedly have battered his self-confidence and remind him of his ordeal, but thankfully someone stepped up to plate to help. Considering the cost of dental surgery and the amount of time involved, this act of kindness goes above and beyond being an active citizen.

Luke before and after his dental surgery. (Picture: Lead SA)

For the moment I reserve my judgement of dentists as vendors of pain and suppress the torture of the ear-splitting sound of the dentist drill. In my books this act has redeemed the profession.

My hero for this week is Dr Marc Sher and Luke Dausi. The former for reaching out to someone in need with his skill and the latter for sporting a winning and handsome smile.

Now go out and change someone’s life!

@MarisaO2