Not truly xenophobia

By Jean Falconer

This term is defined as an irrational fear, bordering on hatred or actual hatred of people from other countries.
In the past few years South Africa has gained a reputation for the viciousness of the attacks on people from other countries, particularly in the less educated areas.
While it is true that there might be some fear of foreigners, it appears to be more an intense dislike because they are taking over the very limited resources.
Much of this can unfortunately and as with so many other issues is linked to our past.
It doesn’t help that service delivery really is a problem and that Mbeki tried the whole open arms approach, which in theory is wonderful but in practise is problematic. One of the most common complaints is that the foreigners open up little shops and live in RDP housing. Good for them. They have worked out how to abuse the system to their own advantage. We could learn a thing or two.
Another common complaint is that they are taking jobs. This is true but there is a reason. Foreigners are willing to work for less than the other people thus they are more easily hired. This is capitalism at its best, or worst depending on one’s views.
Until people stop acting like the world owes them a living the problem will occur.
Hopefully the change will occur sooner rather than later.

More Strike Action

The Algoa Bus Company strike continues, leaving thousands of commuters stranded in its wake. Bus drivers are striking because of the sale of the bus company to a management consortium. The bus drivers are saying that they were not consulted about the sale and they are very upset about it. Many people who travel by bus have been stranded due the strike. Long lines can be seen at the taxi ranks and at times the commuters have to wait for long periods of time because there are no taxis available. One passenger said “This strike is making life harder for us. I get to work late because taxis are full or there are none to take us.” There was also a rumour that the taxis would also strike in support of the bus strike but that just remained a rumour. Many people have been away from work because they cannot afford take as much as three taxis on a single trip to work and then another three on the way back home. Other reasons are that people stand in line at the taxi rank and the latest that they get home is nine in the evening and they are tired and then they have to wake up early in the morning to catch the earliest taxi to work. Many of the complaint were from the commuters, saying that what the buses were doing was quite selfish in that bus drivers should know that they also play a role in people’s lives when it comes to getting to work or appointments. “I prefer a bus than a taxi because a bus is cheaper and buses actually get to place on schedule unlike a taxi that will wait a long time so that they have enough people in the taxi,” said one commuter. The strike has also come as a blow to school children. One parent said that her little girl in grade one would take the bus because she knew that it dropped her off at the school gates whereas a taxi would drop her off at the nearest stop. A lot could go wrong between the time of getting off the taxi and getting the school gate. Students are also complaining that it would take a bus quicker to get to campus than a taxi because taxis always make little stops and then they wait for people and they do not consider the urgency of the situation. There is a breathe of urgent hope that the strike ends soon and that things go back to their normal pattern but it seems that SATAWU, the union that is involved, wants to fight the sale of the bus company and they will not stop until the issue is resolved. They are even willing to dispute the matter in court.

Disability in NMMU

BY NKELETSENG FAFUDI

 Take time and be around disable people because there is a lot to learn about these individuals their problems, life and how they perceive themselves. Living with disability is not an excuse as there are many opportunities in work places, schools as well as in business.

 At Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), September is not just a Steve Bhiko month, but also a disability month. The institution caters for people living with disabilities at residences, campuses as well as ensuring that those around them are aware of the difficulties they face on a daily bases.

This month saw a very high kick-start as there was a casual day aimed at showing love and support for students and NMMU staff living with disability. As part of the celebration or rather the awareness, NMMU’s disability society together with Student Affairs Division ‘Disability Services’ are running a ‘IN OUR SHOES’ Campaign. This Campaign is basically about the different types of disabilities.

The society visits all the NMMU residences on a one motivational movie night. The message of the night is ‘you can be anything you want to be just don’t give up’. The aim is to play the audience a dvd that tells a true life story. The dvd is about Nick Vujicic’s life. Vujicic was born without arms and legs, although life is not easy for him every day comes as a challenge and self-motivation makes him strong as he visits different schools with the messages ‘Kids you are special and Parents You are doing the best’. After the movie the society members talks about their disabilities and allow the audience to ask questions.

In South Campus the movie night was on September, 19, at 20:30 in Melodi Dinning hall. Surprisingly enough most student did not attend, some did come but lost their patience as there were technical difficulties that led to the most poor attendance. Some student felt the movie night was of no significance to them.

Yazini Samka, a second year student at NMMU 2nd Avenue Campus feels that the society did not organize things accordingly. Samka says she would have attended had she knew about the movie night in advance. Samka is currently not taking part in any activity but believe that she would have learnt a lot about disability and that might have been a new beginning for her “I am a very ignorant person but if something is of a good course then, I am available.”

 “NMMU is also liable for not ensuring that we as students are active in these activities.” Samka addenda that whoever was or still is responsible for advertising the awareness failed to do it. “I knew there was a casual day but I thought, why because I am always wearing my casual cloths, I didn’t know there was a theme for it.”

 Andre Manona and Sakhekile Zweni are both living with disabilities and are willing to share their stories.

Manona was born with disabilities and had never been able to walk since birth. Manona can do everything for himself if only it requires the use of hand “I can cook, shower and dress myself without anyone’s assistance but it’s hard to reach something if it’s high.” He added that his family and friends are very support that at times he forgets the fact that he can’t walk “I grew up with friends that always made me feel wanted as they played games that would also be suitable for me too”

Zweni was on the hand born without any disabilities. Five years ago his life changed “I was working in Cape Town and one day I was going home to Butterworth when the car I was driving suddenly failed and started controlling itself.” After the car accident Zweni was told to choose between living and letting go as the doctors felt they could not do anything without his approval.

 

Zweni is currently living with a disable known as ‘C4 of the spinal cord’ his doctors told him that he has very little chances of being able to walk again. The honors in Bcom Accounting for Chatted accountant student can not under any circumstances be left alone “I cannot even be alone when showering, when writing a test someone has to read a question to me and write the answer I give to him/her.”

The campaign objects to create awareness about the disability unit as a service provider both to students and staff with disability within the NMMU. Also to bridge the gap between people living with disabilities and those who do not, within the NMMU society. Lastly the campaign is to empower staff and students with disabilities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 pictures by Nkeletseng Fafudi

Empowering women

By NKELETSENG FAFUDI

Miss Port Elizabeth (PE) 2011 Nandipha Mnuna was invited to be the guest speaker, of the function to celebration of women organised by Azanian Students Convention (AZASCO), yesterday afternoon. The function was held at South Campus, SRC chambers with the theme: Women as equal architects of our society.

 Although the function was attended by less than 15 people with only two males, serious issues were discussed. The main focus was at young women roaming around the streets of PE townships than making sure that they work hard for their future.

One of the issues raised was that these young females do not know where to go in terms of finding solutions that would be useful for their future benefit. Amongst other problems is that in Zwide location most young women make babies in order to benefit more on the child support grant.

When asked what she thinks is the cause of the ignorance in women, Mnuna said “most people in townships wait for opportunities to come their way, in most cases you find some of the ladies my age, in taverns whilst they could use that time to study.” One of the ladies who attended the function, Thembie, said that other people expect to be moved out of their comfort zones.

What seemed to stuck the ladies attention was the debate between the two gentle who attended the function, as the other one was arguing the fact that women are not inferior as well as that men are not superior but the two are different therefor when combined are equal. The second gentleman argued that men and women are not equal as he is sometimes expected to do something’s which are said to be done by men only.

The function ended with the question, what needs to be done in other to reach out on women especially those in rural areas? An audience member answered in a challenging way (as the two men regarded) by saying men should also raise their children and ensure that women do not feel as though they are slaves. Her point being men should play a role in kitchen, not only by buying food as well as cleaning the house.