SA Rocks

I don’t ask a lot from my readers very often, but today is one of those days where I’m trying to crowdsource some information about South African culture, subculture and all-round coolness.

Here’s a list of questions:

- Are there any cool or emerging forms of dance going on in SA? For example in the USA there were two styles that were called krumping and jerkin’… do we have any hot emerging dance genres?

- Do you know of a young Pro Social organization doing anything amazing or different in how they approach a solution to a problem?

Those are the questions, please email me or post comments if you have any info on any of the questions above.

Thanks!

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No. It isn’t.

I have a bee in my shoe (not in my bonnet). It’s stinging me. It’s always there in a place that you can’t quite find but you can feel it stinging the underside of your foot. And it hurts.

Over the last two days I have read countless emails, SMS’s, tweets and Facebook status updates along the lines: “I’m seriously considering leaving this country”.

Let me just understand this correctly. Once upon a time AWB political stalwart Eugène Terre’Blanche is murdered, Julius Malema kicks a journalist out of a media briefing and says stupid things (Shock, horror, awe) and an AWB Spokesperson, interviewer and anchor make fools of themselves and some South Africans decide it’s time to openly, in a public forum, declare that it’s time to consider leaving this place.

I am offended. I am offended by the lack of back-bone. I am offended by people’s strength of will or apparent lack thereof. If you take offense at these comments, then these comments are aimed directly at you.

Why is it always the first reaction of people to openly state that it’s time to leave SA when something they don’t like happens? Why do people always want to run? If your husband/wife/sibling/mother/father says or does something that irritates you, hurts you or offends you do you immediately decide to leave them? No you don’t. The first reaction that many people have is to fix the problem. Yet when it comes to our country many people think it best to run away.

I believe this to be cowardice. I know I am taking a strong and hard line on this and I know it isn’t always as black and white (pun intended) as it may first appear. I know that there are complications, children involved, people are busy, lives are full and blah blah blah. But there always seems to be time for us to go out, get pissed, smoke, party, have dinners with friends, go on holidays over the long weekend and live the way we want. Yet there isn’t time to own your country when it needs to be owned?

It’s not those who have lived the past that are going to take South Africa in to the future. I think it’s those of us who are living the present who can see the future that we want and who need to stay in South Africa to make that future a reality.

I see three possible outcomes here:

1. You can choose to stay in SA in the good times (15 years post-apartheid) and at the first sign of discomfort threaten to flee but stay because you don’t have the guts to leave.
2. You can Leave (this is a very real, viable and perfectly acceptable option).
3. You can stay and choose to fight for what you want and take ownership of your country.

Make your decision.

You can comment that I live with blinkers on, that I ignore the truth of what is going on and that I’m an ignorant, racist, white-supramacist, black-loving, confused and idiotic hippie (I’ve been called all of these things before). Or you can get to the heart of the matter in this country; We all want what is right, as human beings, for every other human being in this country. Are you willing to fight for that, or walk away?

I await the flames.

UPDATE: The ANC have responded to Malema and openly condemned him and his actions: Read the full release now.

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It’s that time again. Census time.

Here’s a bit of information about why you should be looking out for with regards to the Census:

Be Cautious About Giving Info to Census Workers by Susan Johnson

With the South African Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. The first phase of the 2010 Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 Census workers will count every person in the South Africa and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data.

The big question is – how do you tell the difference between a Census worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following advice:

If a Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don’t know into your home.

Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your identity number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the Census.

REMEMBER, NO MATTER WHAT THEY ASK, YOU REALLY ONLY NEEDTO TELL THEM HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE AT YOUR ADDRESS.

While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, YOU DON’T HAVE TO ANSWER ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION. The Census Bureau will not ask for bank account, or credit card numbers, nor will employees solicit donations. Any one asking for that information is NOT with the Census Bureau.

AND REMEMBER, THE CENSUS BUREAU HAS DECIDED NOT TO WORK WITH ACORN ON GATHERING THIS INFORMATION.. No Acorn worker should approach you saying he/she is with the Census Bureau.

Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, the Census Bureau will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census.

Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email that are
supposedly from the Census Bureau.

For more advice on avoiding identity theft and fraud, visit www.bbb.org

For more info on the census, visit http://www.statssa.gov.za/census2011/index.asp

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I have had a few requests to blog about my feelings towards current issues facing South Africans. Julius Malema and Eugène Terre’Blanche are the two main issues that people want me to write about.

I wont. I just wont do it. I wont give either of these men more time in the media than either of them do or do not deserve (Ironically having written both of their names has invariably achieved what I set out not to do).

What I will do right now is call for a calm. I’d like to call for people to have the presence of mind not be swept up in whatever political up-chuck forces its way in to the media, whatever political irrelevance bring itself upon the person or people sitting to your left or right. I’d like to call for people to pause, touch, think and then engage. Do not mindlessly follow those who have the loudest voices. Make up your own mind, formulate your own opinion and remember, we are all South Africans, we are all human beings and we all suffer the decisions of our friends, families, neighbours, enemies, politicians or leaders. We are all South African.

I’d like to end off this post with something I wrote and published on SA Rocks two years ago:

I am South African because of my heart

It is not my head,
my gut,
my culture,
my heritage
or my race that make me South African.
I am South African because of my heart.

It is not where I live,
where I grew up,
what school I went to or where I came from that make me South African.
I am South African because of my heart.

I am not here because I have no choice.
I am not here because I am trapped.
I am here because I choose to be here.
I am South African because of my heart.

You will not define me,
debase me,
defame me
or make me leave.
There is nowhere else in the world that I belong.
I am South African because of my heart.

I do not align myself with a particular belief,
system,
party,
person,
race,
area
or group.
I choose stand where I stand for the better of my country.
I am South African because of my heart.

Fear does not override me,
crime will not deter me,
racism will not defeat me
or those like me
because inside we have the same heart
and it is South African.

I am South African because of my heart
and my heart longs to be home.

This is my home.

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Cherryflava keeps popping out the hits and the latest one is this:

Unhinged: Surviving Jo’burg is an honest, quirky (and sometimes manic) documentary-style film about Johannesburg, South Africa’s biggest city and the world’s gateway to southern Africa. With rapid narrative, dry black humour, trivial factoids, insightful observations and a highly enjoyable soundtrack, the film tells a slice-of-city-life story. It’s a personal video snapshot of today’s Jo’burg and provides a unique opportunity for viewers to get a glimpse inside a place that the world has a very fuzzy sense of. – source

I want to go to this event. If you know of anyone who is going, can hook me up or is organising, send them my way!

Popularity: 6% [?]

This is possibly one of the most entertaining videos that I’ve seen in ages from South Africa.

The video depicts a Springbok fan going through the touring bus of Bokke trophies acquired and held by the Boks right now.

Fantastic. Truly.

Thanks to Pienaar for sending this one on!

Popularity: 8% [?]

Do 2010 has arrived. Some are calling it the beginning of a new decade but I am battling to understand the math on that one. Others are calling it the end of an era – which I tend to agree with. But one thing that many people all agree on is that is going to be one hell of a year for South Africa.

Here’s a blog post from Constitutionally Speaking written by Pierre De Vos that I found on what went right in 2009:

(1) South Africa had another free and fair election (it’s fourth!) without any serious violence and the fourth democratic President was inaugurated soon afterwards.

(2) The government decisively changed direction on HIV/AIDS and President Jacob Zuma appointed a health minister who clearly understands that the problem of HIV needs to be dealt with in a comprehensive manner.

(3) Nkosazana Zuma has begun to change things around at the Department of Home Affairs. A friend of mine received her passport only 4 weeks after submitting her application!

(4) The South African banking system weathered the international financial crisis very well and the SA government did not need to pump billions of dollars into the system as was required by the USA, the UK and some European countries.

(5) A free press and independent electronic media continued to thrive and to present a variety of news, exposes and opinion, sometimes harshly critical of the foibles of the governing party and sometimes singing its praises.

(6) Some members of the tripartite alliance began exposing Julius Malema as the self-serving, headline-grabbing, tenderpreneur that he is.

(7) The selection of a new Chief Justice and four new judges to the Constitutional Court proceeded without unnecessary controversy and several good candidates were appointed to the positions while a certain Judge President were clearly not a serious contender for appointment.

(8) A vibrant civil society continued to thrive and to challenge seemingly unlawful decisions made by the President and y constitutional institutions such as the Judicial Services Commission in various courts across South Africa.

(9) South Africa successfully hosted the Confederations Cup and the various soccer stadiums for 2010 Fifa World Cup were completed on time.

(10) Many South Africans quietly continued to build bridges and build the nation by giving of their time and money to address the poverty and deprivation of fellow South Africans.

These are all great things to comment on and take note of.

From a personal perspective I was extremely proud to vote in yet another democratic election in South Africa. I am also noticing a massive influx of young South Africans returning to SA to make their lives. This bodes well for us I think.

I’m not going to dwell on too much suffice to say that 2010 is going to be an invigorating, busy, crazy, manic, massive and important year for South Africa and South Africans all over the country.

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Ed’s note: This post is a guest post from Rich Laburn who has worked extensively in the South African bush and currently at Londolozi Private Game Reserve. This is the first of four posts that Rich will be writing.

There is nothing quite like South African wildlife. It is impressive and has endured long before the first seeds of the country were sown. In South Africa the opportunity to spend uncluttered time with this wildlife is phenomenal because of the accessibility and diversity of game reserves. South Africa hosts many concessions and reserves that provide exclusive opportunities to experience wildlife in its purest form and in uncrowded freedom. Frustratingly though, with so much wildlife around, it’s impossible to experience all of the remarkable encounters that occur every second of every day. Instead, all you can do is pick one animal at a time and give all your energy, thoughts and appreciation to moments spent with that being.

Where I work, at Londolozi Private Game Reserve, the animal that is most frequently picked is the leopard. After 30 years of continual respect, habituation and game viewing, these elusive cats are content to allow us to view them for hours on end. Following them down dry riverbeds and gazing up at them whilst they fall asleep in the cradle of large trees, the leopards viewed by the rangers, trackers and guests are plentiful. From the 17 year legacy of the recently deceased Female leopard to the muscular Camp Pan Male. The Nyeleti female with 3 tiny cubs and the Nottens Female who has just taken over her mother’s territory, these leopards are iconic. They are stars in their own unwitting way, yet still wild animals working with the pure existence of nature for their survival.

For me, there is one leopard that I feel the most affection for. The Maxabeni Young Male, so called owing to the spot pattern on either side of his shiny pink nose. Unlike his more evasive twin brother, this young male is willing to share his journey into adulthood. Cocky and cheeky but still desperately trying to learn where his place in the world is, every moment spent with him is different, interesting and thought provoking. I have watched him hunt his first antelope, leap away in fright from prowling hyenas and how his body language shifts from fear to confidence in momentary flashes. He has taught me lessons of persistence, courage and the value of cutting your losses. He is only a year old, yet he is wise.

This leopard is just one of many different animals that we as South Africans are lucky enough to have on our doorstep in the game reserves throughout this country. I don’t know where else in the world people are granted access to the exclusivity of spending time alone with wild animals, deep in the bushveld. It is here that the madness of the daily grind fades, the pollution of noise and carbon dissipate, and the seamless progression of days into nights into days allow you to just sit, enjoy and possibly learn something small from a moment with that being. It’s moment such as these that make South African wildlife truly rock.

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This was sent to me via twitter (courtesy of Mr Singe!).

What a great way to visually explain the South African national anthem for those of us who firstly don’t know it by now, secondly know it but might not know how we are pronouncing it and thirdly don’t speak the languages in the anthem.

So here goes:

Enjoy and pass it on to those people who can only sing the English parts!

UPDATE: Source is iBurst – www.myanthem.co.za

Popularity: 7% [?]

Last night I was fortunate enough to be involved in an extremely interesting debate involving the owner of the zasucks blog (I’m still not going to link to that racist blog as I don’t want to promote it on this platform).

Blogs like zasucks helped me start SA Rocks. It’s because of people like those behind these racist and ignorant blogs that I do what I do.

So it was with great intrigue that I was called by 702 talk radio last to sit in on a debate centered around Bert Oosthuizen and the zasucks blog.

The story goes as follows:

Uhuru Guru was arrested this morning at around 06h30 on trumped up charges regarding an alleged offence dating back to 1993. His door was ripped off, his wife was not allowed to make calls, his children’s cell phones were confiscated, his little daughters were were ripped out of their beds, you cannot believe the cruelty!!!!!!!

A massive contingent of police from no less than five different specialist units, ranging from Organised Crime, Cyber crime, vehicle theft, etc; raided his home and confiscated all his computer equipment.

This arrest is motivated ultimately by the State. No doubt it has to do with zasucks.

When they finished the raid, two very grey, shady looking characters sat him down and questioned him about the blog. White, Afrikaans men, to boot.

They were told he would not answer any questions re the blog. They persisted and they were again, rudely this time, told to pack it in.
They then asked him what far right meetings he attended. The answer was none.

Then, shockingly, they started questioning him about no less than Dan Roodt. They were again told no questions about Roodt either.

– source: zasucks blog.

I feel very sorry for Bert’s children and wife who had to be put through that ordeal. I do.

But moreso I am concerned that one man was able to trump up and waste police time on someone like Bert. While these police from 5 different departments were knocking his door down, real criminals were getting away with crimes on people who need protection.

Back to the talk show last night.

I have waited over 3 years to find out and talk with whoever was behind zasucks and I had to wait more than an hour to eventually have my say.

There are a few things that I need to say: Bert Oosthuizen is extremely intelligent. Oosthuizen managed to paint himself in a wonderful light, focusing himself as a victim.

In the entire 90 minutes that I was on 702 the only time the word “racist” was used was when I mentioned. I was extremely frustrated that Bert Oosthuisen was not once called what he and his website are. The appropriate words were avoided like the plague. I had no worries in changing the tone of the debate from one of pat, pat on the back to accusatory.

Bert seems to think that he is a citizen journalist. Let me just say that his delusions of grandeur are absolutely astounding. As a journalist and citizen journalist I am horrified and offended that Oosthuizen can actually consider himself to be a citizen, let alone a journalist in South Africa.

Bert said that he is ashamed to be South African, don’t worry South Africa is ashamed of people like Bert and his readers.

I am not going to get in to Bert’s comments about the media and conspiracy theory that they (yes, the entire media in SA) are out to dupe the Afrikaans public in to thinking there is no crime. In fact, I think crime is probably one of, if not the most, covered topic in SA media.

Oosthuizen seems to think that it’s OK to hate black people but it’s not OK to hate Jewish people. So he moderates the one but not the other on his site. He also claims that his site is not moderated. I’ve personally been moderated on zasucks numerous times.

What of plagiarism, slander, hate speech and inciting of violence? Let’s not get in to that.

He also mentioned that the website can’t be so bad if so many people visit it, well child-porn is massive on the internet and that’s not too good I’d say…

But I digress.

This is an issue that has played on my mind since the inception of SA Rocks years ago. These people still exist in South Africa. It’s shocking, but it’s true. Now, South Africa knows who they are. Clients, work mates, friends, acquaintances all know their names. There is no hiding any more. I think Bert is about to realize that he and his cronies are the exception in SA, not the rule.

Popularity: 15% [?]