There is a change happening. It’s not coming, it’s already here.

The change is political. Political interest, political curiosity and a craving by South Africans to learn as much as possible about the political situation, past and present, in South Africa.

I’ve felt this change happening for a while. The media focus, the dinner discussions, the coffee debates and late night and early morning TV politics. But now it seems as though it’s true.

Book sales in SA are not great. If you sell 10 000 copies your book has gone “platinum”. That’s pretty bad really. Average sales look for 3 – 6 000 apparently and you’re doing well.

In today’s Mail & Guardian I read an article that says that there is a shift finally taking place and it’s showing in the purchase of politically-orientated books. The article is titled: “Political books go pop” and the basic premise is that recent sales are showing that politically orientated books are dominating the sales charts. People are becoming more concerned with their surroundings and the political state of our nation. This is especially pleasing to me with next years elections in mind. Let the voter education begin. Eventually.

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Yes, it has happened. I am finally making me TV debut! WooHoo!! It was a long battle let me tell you, I have emailed, called and contacted so many people that I’ve lost count. But it eventually happened!

The IMC has offered to put me in their series called “Movement for good”.

I can’t really say much more but to tell you that if you are awake tomorrow morning (August 7th) at 6:45am, watch e-TV and you’ll see me talking about this very website, SA Rocks!

I will post the video later in the day as I am assured that it will be available online by some very resourceful people (more on that tomorrow).

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One of the small, unknown successes that has come out of SA Rocks is the Flickr group that I set up about 18 months ago.

Here are some quick stats:

There are 3039 photographs in the group.
There are 158 members (including myself) in the group.
The top five contributors are: mallix, Calico182, Debby Champion, andreinafrica and finepixtrix.

Here’s a photograph from each of the top five contributors:

And finally the top four tags in the group are:

southafrica
africa
capetown
ocean

I urge you to go and rummage through the SA Rocks Flickr group. There are some absolutely phenomenal photographs on display. If you really are feeling friendly today you could even post a few of the photos on your blog and link to the photographers Flickr page.

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I’ve recently blogged on my personal blog about customising the South Africa Rocks! Fan Page on Facebook.

The Fan Page now features a list of the top posts on SA Rocks as well as the Contributors who have blogged their thoughts consistently on this site.

If you have an idea or think that I can better the Fan Page please feel free to contact me or comment on this post.

I’m looking for some interesting ideas. You name it and I’ll try do it.

What suggestions do you have that will make the Fan Page more interactive, fun, interesting or diverse? More photos? Featured photos? Full stories?

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One of the perks of running SA Rocks is the letters to the editor that I receive. This is one of those letters, one of those moments when people realise that the world is bigger than them and their immediate actions.

Hi Nic

As a major supporter of my home country South Africa, I felt the need to write this, I suppose just to make people aware of the people that actually do work hard in this country without any recognition. Because I truly do believe that SA Rocks!

I was out in Cape Town the other night and we were going to a night club, we took for granted the free entrance that had been organised for us, and we took for granted that we would be able to spend the night drinking and partying with good friends. However, in the car on the way to the club I realised that not everyone finished work at the standard 5pm. It was raining out and it seemed that a lot of the drains in the Rondebosch/Claremont area were blocked. They could just be left like that but instead, the council had sent a team of workers out, in the rain, to clear these blocked drains.

These are all people with friends and family, walking faceless and nameless beneath their rain coats on the city streets after 9pm, ensuring that our country is kept in shape. While we were underneath the club lights, they were beneath the street lights. You will see them in other forms too- the men emptying your bins during the week, the men fixing broken electricity poles in storms late at night and all the people who remain anonymous but keep our lives running smoothly often while we sleep.

It then dawned on me how many people we actually have in this country that do work hard, that do care, that don’t expect any recognition and that just want to support themselves and their families. We often berate car guards for being a nuisance and there are the drunk ones who are not employed by companies who are an irritant.

However, the guys employed by companies are always there, rain or shine, and all they want is a small tip in recognition for their work. I have on many occasions been one to complain about car guards, but then again what do I know about their lives? How do I know what they go through every day to get to work and support their families?

I have seen it in other forms as well. Not long ago I worked for a short time as a delivery person and had to deliver alcohol and drinks to various companies in Cape Town. While office workers sit in their offices and enjoy food and cool drinks from the canteen, they don’t realise the guys and girls who work behind the scenes to deliver these goods direct to their offices and the strenuous physical labour they endure for minimal pay.

I guess this is just to say that there are people out there working hard to ensure our well-being, but we just don’t take the time to acknowledge them.

So in a small manner, this is my acknowledgement to the teams of guys and girls who keep our country great.

Keep it up, there are people thinking of you.

Regards

Sean

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Then pitch me your idea.

I am looking for someone to take control of the theme for SA Rocks for a week. I’ll need you to motivate why you want to blog on SA Rocks. What posts you might have in mind, lined up or want to plan and a promise that you can bash out 5 posts in 5 days! (Yes, it’s a tough job) Even if you don’t think you can get to 5 posts in 5 days and only have 3 in mind, let me know!

All posts will be viewed and approved by me before posting just to ensure that they are in line with the outlooks and opinions of this blog.

I have a few themed weeks lined up in my mind and I am working on them, but they take time and I feel that I should maybe open up SA Rocks a bit more to other thoughts, ideas, interests and writers.

You don’t have to be a blogger you just have to have a passion for SA, writing and an area of interest that might work on SA Rocks!

Use the “Contact” section in the navigation bar above to send through your ideas.

After a brief chat with a friend, I’ve decided to add in some incentive. If you are the chosen blogger for the week I’ll throw in a block advert for the week that you write for SA Rocks. If there is more than one guest blogger, the one with the most reads collectively will get a months worth of ad space on SA Rocks!

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Ed’s note: This post is a submission by Mike Smith.

If there is one thing South Africa has is sport – lots of it and the perfect environment in which to participate. The Sani2c is an example, a South African multi-day stage race that tours from the foot hills of the Drakensberg to the breaking sea at Scottbrugh – crossing South African lands of beauty and splendour.

What makes South Africa so special in sports events like this one, is not the fast paced competitiveness or the absolutely phenomenal organisation (although these things are resoundingly present), it’s the camaraderie, the people and the countryside. Only South Africa could host an event that traverses such diversified environments. From mountainous grasslands, through rough thorn-veld and on to the tropical vegetation of the South Coast. We have it all!

While passing through some of the most memorable of sites, the people are the key feature of the Sani2c. The one thousand competitors and over three hundred support crew not only make the race but resonate South African spirit. Laced with cultural diversity of language and situation, everyone is never the less a potential friend. When racing, the most you are likely to say to your partner or competitor is “how the legs”, “slow down” or many other four letter combinations that need not be recorded – nevertheless, these are the people who you can walk away from the event feeling like you know better than any friend!

The most astounding aspect of all, is that the race travels through some of South Africa’s poorest communities without trouble or a hint of danger. Considering the fact that millions of Rands worth of equipment makes its way through a population of little wealth one would expect a dismal response. Instead, the people of the area line the single tracks – screaming and shouting in support of the cyclists. Glen and Mandy Haw, the race organizers, are responsible for this to a large degree as they funnel money back into the communities.

South Africa is abundant with opportunities and the blessing of unsurpassed beauty. The Sani2c takes full advantage of this, allowing competitors to experience our countryside and reap rewards it has offer. Sport isn’t just something we have in abundance; it’s something we can use to develop this wonderful country.

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Ed’s note: This post is a contribution from Sheena Gates. She was apparently on the verge of leaving our stunning country but chose not to. Here are her reasons why:

I was leaving for Australia. I had my bags packed, my tickets ready and my family there waiting for me. Then one morning I woke up and thought ‘what the hell am I doing?’. I love Africa. I love my country and its people. There are things in this place that only we could ever understand, such as:

The Vern. Vernon Koekemoer. A phenomenon only available to understanding by Saffers. Shopping for birthdays at the robots. Anything from undies to umbrellas or coat hangers are available at a street vendor near you! Places called ‘Moedersfontein’ and ‘Jakobsdaan’. What beauties. Men wear platform shoes down in Bloem and have shirts shinier than any other girl I know. We are the one nation where Mullet hairdo’s are accepted as the norm, and having buck-teeth can like to be okay.

Our people have learned the art of over-coming. Mug us at the beach? its okay, next time we go back we won’t carry anything with us. Rape us in the home? Its okay, because every single girl I know has a can of Mase and/or a baseball bat nearby the bed. Presidents to be sing Umshiniwam, and its okay – because we make fun of it and post pictures all over facebook. We’ve learned the art of rising above, and keeping our sense of humour.

Our nation may be young, stubborn and maybe even a little bit slower than the rest, but you know what? We’re stronger. We’re funnier. We’re going places and we stick together. Our country is more beautiful than most, and our people the most welcoming and hospitable. Aside from the minority of criminals, we have more spirit and oomph than any other.

I love South Africa, and I’m so excited to start over in a new part of it. Here’s to being a Saffa!

*Disclaimer – this post is a contribution from a contributor and might not entirely represent the views of SA Rocks.

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Ed’s note: this post was contributed by someone who emailed me out of the blue to show support for SA and SA Rocks! Fantastic, things like this make my week, nevermind just my day.

Thanks go out to Zee for her contribution and willingness to have a positive opinion about SA.

There is no doubt that our fourteen year old country has far to go.

But deep within my heart I have no doubt that South Africa will be the centre of all success to come.

To all those who continue to be negative about this beautiful country of ours I have just this to say.

You are not an average South African. Driving your car to work (you have a job, albeit you think you deserve more money for the work you do) after having something to eat (you have food in your cabinets), after having a warm shower ( you have utilities ) in your very own home ( a brick layered foundation that protects you and provides you with solace).

The average South African earns less than R2000 a month, lives in a tin shanty, has three kids to educate, and has to travel in unsafe, unroadworthy taxis. And if lucky had a slice of bread as breakfast this morning. This average South African had a cold bucket bath by candlelight, who probably had to walk to get to a communal water hole, awoke at 4 in the morning, so that they could take 3 taxis; to get work on time by 8.This average South African will get home by 7 tonight, will prepare maize meal and two pieces of meat for supper as this is all they can afford to get them through to their next pay check.

So I am so very sorry, that the pothole in your road that caused your car’s suspension to bend, has not been mended, or you had to go to work after having showered in cold water, because of Eskom’s load shedding issue, and the petrol price has risen due to the US Recession. And you only had 150 hours of electricity this week compared to your usual 168.We are so very sorry that those who can afford to buy things on interest have abused that power because they didn’t know how to budget, hence the rise in interest. We are so very sorry that our Politician’s are human and corruptible; I guess there is no corruption in any other country hey? Look up Enron please, and the government involvement in the biggest financial fraud committed in the world.

Get with the programme people, you live in this country, we all seem to dislike the arrogance of the Americans. But what stands out is their solidarity and pride they have for their country. This country has fed you, educated you and gave you the freedom to be who ever you wanted to be.You have a job, a home, all the basic utilities. The average South African has 1 out of the 3 mentioned.

For those who have left this country, hold all your comments, you no longer have a right to tarnish the reputation of this country. You chose to leave and not make a difference in this country.

Realize that with every 8 tourists that enter SA, one job is created for a South African.

We beat out all first world countries to host the 2010 cup. So by chance that we fail in this quest, you cannot run away from your heritage, you are South African ,the world will laugh at you, yes you, not just the 2010 committee, because you are South African.

Stop complaining do something about it.

So make this country work, be positive, be friendly, let go of your hate and your complaints and be grateful of this country you live in. You’ll be surprised at the doors that open in your favor.

Here are facts I’m guessing you never knew about this country.

WHAT YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT SOUTH AFRICAN HERITAGE!

1. FROM CHINESE TO FRENCH – EVERYONE IN THE WORLD IS SOUTH AFRICAN: All the worlds people are “twice South African” because it was here that mans descendants and modern man both evolved

2. THE FIRST EVIDENCE OF LIFE ON EARTH — YES — FROM SA: In eastern South Africa, scientists have found traces of blue-green algae dating back 3 500 million years. This is some of the earliest evidence of life on Earth.

3. METEORS HIT PRETORIA 220 000 YEARS AGO!: 220 000 years ago a meteorite struck South Africa, forming the Tswaing Crater northwest of Pretoria. This is one of the most accessible and best-preserved meteorite impact craters in the world.

4. IF ALIENS LANDED THEY WOULD BE THE PROPERTY OF THE STATE! According to the National Heritage Resources Act, all meteorites are considered protected property of the nation and there are rules regarding what can be done with them. Interestingly, because a meteorite is defined as “any naturally-occurring object of extraterrestrial origin”, this means that if an alien landed in SA he/she/it would become the property of the State. Should an alien arrive and find that SA did not suit its disposition, it would not need a passport to leave but it would have to acquire an export permit from the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA).

5. SA HAS THE WORLD’S OLDEST REMAINS: The oldest remains of modern humans were found in Klasies River Cave in the Eastern Cape. They are well over 100 000 years old.

6. SOUTH AFRICA HAS OVER 2000 SHIPWRECKS: There are more than 2 000 shipwrecks, dating back at least 500 years, off the SA coast and more than one, including the Waratah, simply vanished without a trace.

7. TRANCE WAS HERE OVER 25 000 YEARS AGO: Trance is nothing new to South Africa. In fact, bushman cave paintings in the Drakensburg are thought to be the work of Shamans operating in a ‘trance’ state. Some of these are up to 25 000 years old.

8. THE SAYING “WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST” COMES FROM SA: The practice of “women and children first” originated off the coast of Hermanus when the British ship, the Birkenhead, sank in 1852. Of the approximately 600 people on board, all 200 women and children survived. Unfortunately, almost 400 men went down with the ship.

9. SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE: Detailed documentation from travelers and researchers in the Cape in the 1600s shows that more than 350 years later the traditional “maatjieshut” residence of Namaqualand is still being built in precisely the same manner and proportions as those of the KhoeKhoe people of the past.

10. SOUTH AFRICA THINKS AHEAD OF THE WORLD: South Africa is one of the first countries in the world to formally protect places associated with “Living Heritage” that is based on stories passed down from generation to generation by for e.g. Grandmothers telling children stories about the places in which they live. One of the first projects in South Africa that looked at how we can protect such sites took place in Dukuza (formerly Stanger) in KwaZulu-Natal. The town was the site of King Shaka’s royal residence and interviews with old people in the community revealed an amazing store of information passed down over nearly 180 years concerning things like from which spring the royal water was drawn, where the King swam, under which trees particular events and councils occurred.

11. THREE MILLION!: South Africa’s history and pre-history goes back more than three million years.

12. KAROO BOASTS THE BEST DINOSAUR FOSSILS: The Karoo region is home to some of the best fossils of early dinosaurs.

Zee Harduth

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I wont blog too much about this as a few others have done so already.

I will however, provide you with a video from the eishman:

And here is a little snippet from article on Muti:

Going for his first major championship, Trevor Immelman made clutch one putts on three straight holes around Amen Corner to build a five-shot Masters lead with fives holes to go Sunday, and he didn’t fall behind. Forget about pressure.

Tiger Woods was five strokes behind on a windy day at Augusta National, having squandered a chance to get closer when he missed a 5-footer for birdie at No. 13.

Watching the video above makes me so proud, as a South African and as a person watching success realised and watching Trevor with his family and friends after the victory. What a joy.

Congratulations to Trevor, he deserves every bit of joy, rest and furthered success that he receives!

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