We need to invest in solutions if we want to save ourselves
IN MY last column I wrote on the September National Imbizo (SNI) march titled "from Alex to Sandton: from Hell to Heaven" due to take place on June 16.
The march seeks to highlight the appalling conditions of our public education system and to honour the warriors of 1976, who faced apartheid bullets in a sacred quest for quality education for all.
Needless to say 17 years of democracy has not brought education, housing or economic freedom.
We need to invest in solutions if we want to save ourselves. We must also stand up and do something about our state of affairs. The idea that we will only queue on election day and then go home and hope must be rejected with contempt.
The politicians have long seen that we are merely voting cattle, so they come, promise and go back to their comfortable lives and we sweat.
I find the SNI campaign "Politicians and Public Servants: Use public services" a great innovation to hold our politicians and public servants accountable.
Currently, the political system is designed to serve the politicians and senior public servants.
They give themselves shocking amounts of money and then take themselves and their families out of the public service because they can afford the private sector services.
The campaign says we need to insist on a law to make politicians and public servants use public services starting with education, health, transport and housing.
In the African idiom if you invite us to your home to pay our respects to the ancestors, you will be required to drink the umqombothi first in front of everybody.
This is a sign of confidence and approval from you as the maker and therefore you say to all, it is good for me and it is good for you.
The politicians and public servants are the guardians of public services. Let them use these services to show confidence in the quality of what they are delivering!
A friend sent me a comment from a top public education sector employee who has read the SNI Manifesto and the campaign demands.
He said: "I'd rather resign my position if this law is put in action as I cannot imagine my children going to such bad schools. Oh! The hospitals are the worst! My family, never! I studied and toyi-toyied hard to be in my position. We can't all be the same".
Our Constitution says we are all equal. We must stop fearing our politicians and public servants; they are in those positions because of us and therefore are responsible to us!
It is indeed comforting to know there are people like Pastor Xola Skosana, who recently said: "Even if Hector Pieterson had survived the apartheid police bullets, he would face the odds of growing up in the hellish conditions that we find in SA townships today."
Maybe like Andries Tatane, he would die from the bullets of the ANC police for demanding justice. In memory of both Hector and Andries, I will march from Alex to Sandton on June 16 under the banner "Welcome to Hell: SA townships".
I say see you at Alexsan Kopano Community Centre on 16 June at 9am.
We need a law to make sure politicians use public services
We need to invest in solutions if we want to save ourselves
IN MY last column I wrote on the September National Imbizo (SNI) march titled "from Alex to Sandton: from Hell to Heaven" due to take place on June 16.
The march seeks to highlight the appalling conditions of our public education system and to honour the warriors of 1976, who faced apartheid bullets in a sacred quest for quality education for all.
Needless to say 17 years of democracy has not brought education, housing or economic freedom.
We need to invest in solutions if we want to save ourselves. We must also stand up and do something about our state of affairs. The idea that we will only queue on election day and then go home and hope must be rejected with contempt.
The politicians have long seen that we are merely voting cattle, so they come, promise and go back to their comfortable lives and we sweat.
I find the SNI campaign "Politicians and Public Servants: Use public services" a great innovation to hold our politicians and public servants accountable.
Currently, the political system is designed to serve the politicians and senior public servants.
They give themselves shocking amounts of money and then take themselves and their families out of the public service because they can afford the private sector services.
The campaign says we need to insist on a law to make politicians and public servants use public services starting with education, health, transport and housing.
In the African idiom if you invite us to your home to pay our respects to the ancestors, you will be required to drink the umqombothi first in front of everybody.
This is a sign of confidence and approval from you as the maker and therefore you say to all, it is good for me and it is good for you.
The politicians and public servants are the guardians of public services. Let them use these services to show confidence in the quality of what they are delivering!
A friend sent me a comment from a top public education sector employee who has read the SNI Manifesto and the campaign demands.
He said: "I'd rather resign my position if this law is put in action as I cannot imagine my children going to such bad schools. Oh! The hospitals are the worst! My family, never! I studied and toyi-toyied hard to be in my position. We can't all be the same".
Our Constitution says we are all equal. We must stop fearing our politicians and public servants; they are in those positions because of us and therefore are responsible to us!
It is indeed comforting to know there are people like Pastor Xola Skosana, who recently said: "Even if Hector Pieterson had survived the apartheid police bullets, he would face the odds of growing up in the hellish conditions that we find in SA townships today."
Maybe like Andries Tatane, he would die from the bullets of the ANC police for demanding justice. In memory of both Hector and Andries, I will march from Alex to Sandton on June 16 under the banner "Welcome to Hell: SA townships".
I say see you at Alexsan Kopano Community Centre on 16 June at 9am.
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