I was a slave and you were my master,
Gave me a new name to call to the father,
I experienced Gods presence in the spirit of the trees,
You called it blasphemy to the maker of the seven seas.

And you forget the as long as we have responsibility
Beauty shall remain,
Beauty in the beautiful continent of Africa
Lies the multi-cultural and customs of our society.

But I ask society, did God not create the beasts and the land,
Such are the views which wars seek to defend,
Animals don’t have mortal souls, only humans go to heaven,
Yet you bury the creature with honour unworthy of a heathen.

The harsh African sun beats and shines low and lower
And that makes up my sizzling dark African skin,
For she anchors victories and pacifism of the exquisiteness of her children
A land with no regression of forgiveness

Forgiveness comes when a mutual ground is reached to avoid an uprising,
Speeches’ bargained, actions sustained and now subsiding.
Don’t call me white for I’m no longer your master,
Don’t call me black for I’m no longer your slave.

I’m no longer your slave for I have a vision of your unique heart where lies
The great Nile, Zambezi, and Victoria falls where water chants in an African rhythm
Your vein runs through Umzimvubu, UThukela and Drakensburg mountains where innocent souls of our king once stepped

I forsake the ways of these souls and this beauty only to falter,
The beauty of a free warrior is within an honourable grave.
I die not from perishing, but perish from this system which chains me
You fear death itself, I fear in which manner I will cease to be.

We cry in Africa, we cry, but wont panic,
There’s survival in my land’s children,
When I’m in chains of injustice laws
Africa brings her head down in a bid to free me.

Humble me to conquer me

by Native Legend & Nkuthalo

In defence of Santana

Why is it that the first option whenever the national soccer team, Bafana Bafana under perfom is to fire the coach? Firing the coach has become too easy for South Africans and we still expect good results after firing the coach. Our national team is currently ranked somewhere in the 70’s in FIFA’s ranking. Who can we blame for this, who should we fire for getting us in this bad situation. I for one think that we need to first fire the owners of most teams in the premier soccer league, because they are not investing enough resources in their teams. I heard a very shocking fact that only two or three teams in the whole PSL have their own canteen that caters to the nutritious needs of the players.

This basically means that the other 13 teams in the PSL after finishing training their players easily go past a McDonald or KFC for a bite, this therefore has an impact on the players ability on the field, well fed players are able to perform better in the field . I am not attacking the fact that the players eat at McDonalds or KFC as I for one am a big supporter of these two franchises ‘no pun intended’ but the issue here is that we have a culture of apathy in our football in South Africa. We do not train as hard as the players in Europe, we lack discipline and excellence. I heard someone saying that most teams in the PSL think that having a fulltime physician is a joke. They would rather trust the bloke that works at Virgin Active.

This again shows that we lack excellence. It is in such a background as this that we as South Africa expect Bafana Bafana to beat the likes of Germany. Let me make it clear that just one of the 11 players in the German run on side is probably worth more then the whole Bafana Bafana starting 11. Look at the likes of Michael Ballack, Podolski etc these are quality players that have mastered the art of playing football, and yet we expect a Bafana Bafana side that has relatively few player that play soccer in Europe day in and day out to outdo a class act like Germany.

I am passionate about my support for Bafana Bafana, but yet I know when to expect them to win and not to win. We need to be realistic in our expectations of our boys, let’s groom them and raise their confidence. Who remembers 10 years ago Ghana was nothing in the African soccer map, but now they are feared by many countries, recently their Under 20 side defeated USA 4-0 in the FIFA under 20 world cup. Let us put down our spears and take up our vuvuzela’s in support of Bafana Bafana, and let us remember that consistency in team selection and coaching wins big games not chopping and changing.

Senzo Mzila

Caster Semenya is a hero, to many in this country. She was able to demonstrate to the millions of South Africans living in villages that their surroundings do not define where they are going. She rose above all circumstances to win gold in the IAAF world championships, and for that we are very proud of her. What soon followed was what media experts call “a media frenzy” when reports were leaked by the Australian media that she had apparently failed a gender test.

As an African I am deeply saddened by what soon transpired after that, it seemed like everyone that had been meant to protect Semenya had failed. The South African Media alleged that the president of the ASA Leornard Chuene had lied about not being aware of the controvercy that could arise if Semenya took part in the championships. Chuene came under fire from most corners of society for not being decisive enough in regards to the Semenya issue. But when I personally look at the issue I feel that Chuene was in a lose lose situation had he taken the advise that he was given to pull Semenya out of the championships (even though the evidence at that time was inconclusive), Chuene would be under fire from the same South African media for not giving the athlete an opportunity. I can imagine bill posters in our streets calling for chuene’s head for pulling out a star athlete with inconclusive evidence.

I am not condoning the fact that Chuene lied to the public of South Africa by stating that he had not been informed that there was some controvercy around Semenya. Lies are unacceptable aspecially from leaders of organisations, the other issue that worried me is that, the South Africa media invaded Semenya’s privacy. President Jacob Zuma made a very good point when he asked the question ‘ how can we as a country that prides itself in upholding the constitutional rights of every citizen, allow the media to compromise the right to privacy of Caster Semenya?. There are some things the media have to respect as being private and I for one fail to see how the media in telling the whole country about Caster Semenya’s gender test results, help the situation. There is something called doctor , patient privacy we should never see a day ever again in this country when someones privacy is bridged just on the basis of getting a good story.

Although the media reports have turned the triumph of caster semenya into a circus so let this be a lesson to us as a country that we need to respect each others right to privacy.

Senzo Mzila

This is the one word that makes +- 2 million students in South Africa wake up every morning, some wake up to circumstances that most of us dread to even dream about. Most of the students wake up in families where breakfast is seen as a luxury, some wake up in situations where they have to walk more then 5km just to get to University or college, and if you were to ask these students what drives them to wake up in the morning. I believe the answer would be this word “success” this word is like steroids because it gives you extra muscles in your spirit to keep on working hard.

As a student of a humble background I have to admit that my definition of success is different to yours. Your definition of maybe “dating or marrying the most beautiful girl in town and driving a Merc”. We all define it in our own way; to some it is finding a job that will allow you to put food on your families table.

So desiring success is very good, what we do not realize is that sometimes the success that we badly want is at times, just trinkets and material that will not last even a year. Of course I can hear you muttering under your breath saying to yourself what am I talking about, your dream car will last you for years. And while you may be right in saying that, I urge to ask yourself this question, if you define your success by what type of car you drive and what type of house you live in when compared to others. Does this therefore mean that the moment you loose you car or house you are unsuccessful?

I strongly believe that we have fallen to the trap of western culture which tends to be too individualistic when it defines success. Success is only seen as something that the individual can only achieve by amassing wealth. There is no focus on inspiring and enriching other peoples lives. According to my African culture Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu’ this means that (I am * because we are*). Would it be too much us for to replace the stars with the word successful, this would then say (I am successful because we are successful). I strongly believe that if what you call success if not linked to changing other people’s lives for the better, then you need to redefine what you call success.

After seeing my mother work so hard just for me to get an education, it has dawned on me that success can only be achieved through taking good care of your family first, after all these are the people that will be there for you when all others desert you. Maybe we need to reorganize our priorities and work harder as students, not for our own sakes but also for the sake of those that are sweating blood just for us to attain education.

If you dream it you can live it, success is what we all want.

Senzo Mzila

It is quite a sad day for South African supporters, to be watching your favourite team performing in a way that leaves you without the faintest hope of success even in the near future. Or even if the players themselves still play the game with passion and pride.
South African sport has not been rosy for almost every sporting code; there has just been drama and a lot of mismanagement with how we develop and run the sporting arena. It surely has been a dark and cloudy year. This past weekend we had a feast of sporting games with the Protease taking on the English side and “Amajita” taking on United Arab Emirates. Sporting fans were glued to their screens to see whether football has not completely lost its touch as our national team, and seeing as they will be in the same position in a few months time for the 2010 FIFA world cup.
The U20s ran into a tough and very competitive clash against the United Arab Emirates which saw them given a world class performance and drawing at the end 2-2 was the final score. The group which they are in is said to be one of the easiest group and we accept the boys to come out at the end victorious in this group.
Well our mighty proteases were not so mighty following what they call a premature exit out of the ICC champion’s trophy. The captain Graeme smith pulled all the stops but in the end the team came short and lost by a small margin to the young English team. Nowadays if a team performs badly somebody is always hinted as to be getting the boot. It is not so with the South African cricket team both the captain and coach still have their positions well intact even after their poor performance.
Umdlalo ngempela phela lo kudlalwa ngamehlo ethu…
S.P Gasa

Are we, as human beings, caught up in always planning for the future that we forget to live for the moment? Maybe.
A conversation was sparked between a colleague and me. We had been talking generally, about our lives, our roots, etc. Then he suddenly asked if I had a significant other, not because he wanted to weigh his chances and competition, but because of the demanding nature of the profession we both find ourselves in. As the conversation progressed, I divulged a few non personal things about my relationship, which then made my colleague, ask, why then am I in a relationship if we do not have plans to later marry.

I had given this little thought, up until being questioned on my choices and opinions on marriage. Are all relationships based on the understanding that those involved will wed one day, or is that just the way seen to be socially accepted without question to human thought and behavior being of a unique nature?
Is a person only seen to be a partner because of the sexual nature of a relationship or can he or she be a partner if you enjoy the little things like hanging together, talking, getting each others’ thoughts on specific topics, etc?
To some people, a relationship is only fully known as a relationship because of the sexual nature of the relationship. To others, the intimacy is in the experiences (non physical) that they share together, it’s the time spent together and getting to know each other, etc, that is more important than the physical aspect of a relationship.

The above then leads to the question, is complacency a problem to us? We tend to just fall into routine and what is socially accepted as opposed to thinking about our actions, no matter how small the task and doing what we want as individuals, as long as what we want, does not harm the next person.

In my humble opinion, people should do what they want and in the way that fits them, not in a way that suits the community in which they live in, and do what suits them in their relationships and not go according to the ‘norm’ of society. For all we know, ways of society could be what is wrong but the thinking is always, if it has been done by so and so, then it must right.

PHUMZILE ZULU

It is undeniable that our education system thus far seems to be in very deep water, with a lot of very serious issues troubling the education department, from drunken teachers, to high pregnancy, under paid teachers, the lack of good teaching equipment, and laboratories for physics and science learners.
This is to just name a few of the many other problems that the department of education has to deal with in a very strategic way. The government has introduced ways and programmes in which it plans to deal with these problems as a matter of importance, because the education system in any country holds the economy together with its graduates it produces that are employed to boost the country in all different sectors.
Our basic education minister Mrs Motshekga has been working on ways to which she can help solve some of these problems. One of these problems that need urgent attention especially at this time of the year is the matric pass rate and their performance in exams. A clause in the gazette, in which Motshekga’s name appeared, proposed that pupils could qualify for a matric distinction if they obtained 80% in three of six external examined subjects and a minimum of 60% in three others.
An overall distinction in grade 12 traditional known as an A pass, has always been accepted as being 80% of a pupils total marks in all subjects.
This sparked a lot of comments from parents and other influential leaders, saying that this new proposal is not going to better the education in the country and the minister should re -look at the proposal. Comment in the “Sunday Times” from readers said, “what is the real reason for lowering (yet another) benchmark or standard of achievement? Is it to hide the present dysfunctional education system?”
After much criticism it has been confirmed that the proposal has been completely withdrawn from the table, which is a sigh of relief to the future of our education system in the country.

S.Gasa

Wealth
Alone I stand in the hot sun
Watching golden children all around having fun,
Listening to car rolling down and humming their tires
And seeing shack alight with fire

I look at the sun on top of where I say
Thinking of all the people I haven’t paid
And all the people that I have failed
So now I’m asking “is it time to pay?”

Gold in my pocket, gold they of mock at
Sliver in my yard, sliver in my mind
I’ve got it all asking, but heading for a fall

For years I’ve been digging for wealth,
Bared all love and health
Today I’m alone in the hot sun
No-one to share the wealth with

One day love finds me,
One day I shall be rich
For now I’m stilling paying the fees
For someone will come and tech,

Wealth wouldn’t have made me rich
But love given me almighty wealth…

By Luyanda Gasa

To find what you seek in the road of life,
the best proverb of all is that which says:
“Leave no stone unturned.”
Edward Bulwer Lytton

The man who makes a success of an important venture never wails for the crowd. He strikes out for himself. It takes nerve, it takes a great lot of grit; but the man that succeeds has both. Anyone can fail. The public admires the man who has enough confidence in himself to take a chance. These chances are the main things after all. The man who tries to succeed must expect to be criticized. Nothing important was ever done but the greater number consulted previously doubted the possibility. Success is the accomplishment of that which most people think can’t be done.
C. V. White