The scum of the earth

I was walking down-town with my friend on Saturday morning. We were passing through the Johannesburg High Court Precinct to mind our own business. There is always a group of distitute Zimbabweans seated listlessly on sidewalk benches. On this particular day what captured our hearts was this one woman with a child who asked us any money that we can offer her and the child, as she pleadingly openened her hand.It was a very touching experience as my friend turned and offered the only money that he had by then. The touching thing about the whole incident was different stories the faces of the child and the mother told. The mother's was that of distitution, hunger, hoppelessness and misery whilst that of the child spoke careless disregard of the precarious situation there were in. It spoke of the one oblivious of the fact that It did not care where the next meal was going to come from?....or where there were gonna be sleeping that night?

These were the things that concerned my friend and I as we talked about the factors that lead to this group of economic refugees to be living in conditions that they were leaving in. And that the present Government of self- styled messiahs are doing nothing to ease the situation. That this is basic politics that needed the Malemas of this world. Where are the "men of the people" who had been splashed all over newspaper front pages like popstars that they are? South Africa is a country sitting on a ticking time -bomb with the scum of the earth seated at the top and bottom layer of Society. The leadership is rotten and incompetent. The tax payer's money is being used with no care in the world and even individuals are pompuos about holding the whole county to ransom, thereby kicking the very same tax payer in the teeth..

A City slicker at heart.

I have spent the last six months outside the confines and comforts of Johannesburg to go and witness life in some parts of South Africa. To be more pricise, the specific locations had been George and Oudtshoorn in the Karoo, and Upington,Springbok and Calvinia in the Northern Cape.
What strikes one about these areas is their complete laid-backness and calmness.One can hear himself think in these areas. These areas does not offer much in terms of entertainment for the person of my age. The days are long and dragging in Upington and temperatures mostly in the mid- thirties. As for George, it is the exception for it has the sea, which,for the most time,provided the necessary distraction.

For the time I spent there I found myself constantly thinking abouth the energy that is Joburg.Perhaps you could say that my problem is not having the ability to adapt to different situations.Well, maybe yes. But then the experience opened my eyes to the city slicker that I am .I realised that I thrive in a fast- paced enviroment of quick decisions and constant feed of information. I thrive on the constant buzz of humanity going through their daily business and the pulsating sounds of different cultures being reborn in a melting pot of song, dance and a constant search for creating news meanings. For me...this is home....this is where I draw my strength ....my resolution to look at the coming day with determination and hope in the knowledge that things will work out well in the broader scheme of things

The Living Years

Time lost ....time never regained - the saying goes. Mike Rutherford and the Mechanics (the US Music Band)say that every generation blames the one before. And that how beffiting it could have been that they could have been given a chance to show their gratitute to their mentors .....be it the parents or those who had been influential in their lives.... who unfortunately had passed on. The chance to say whatever they had to say had slipped by and they have only stinging memories to console themselves with...
Eversince I learned of the passing of Jean Powers this song [the living years] had been rechoceting through my consciousness. Jean had been such a person. Gone too soon. A Mother Theresa reicarnated.Yes, the world has become much poorer whith the passing of Jean. And I believe that that the World of Work would never been the same without her ( Much respect to Lesley and Roy) .... and others who made the programme for what it was.
I believe the same goes for fellow WOWERS who had the previledge of meeting the person of the calibre of Jean Powers. I believe that the spirit that Jean ecompassed will continually live whithin us who had the blessing of having met her......
PEACE....Themba.

Zuma' s dogs set free

The Zuma cohort had won round two as Jugde Nicholson dismissed the corruption charges against him on technical grounds. The mob had probably downed a number of Johnnie Walker Blues in celebration of that victory.Every possibe hiccup had been "eliminated". The airhead, Julius Malema was heared yesterday bellowing and baying for blood of certain individuals. Yes, South Africa, brace yourself to the leadership that is made up of a cabal that will resort to anything to achieve its objectives, even if if undermining(or threatening)the legitimate institutions of the state. Yes, brace yourself to be ruled by the likes of Fikile Mbalula and Julius Malema with a morally inept leader at the helm....

Brutus, in taking a decision to conspire and, eventually, in killing his best friend Julius Ceasar had this to say about him...."it must be by his death, and for my part i know no personal cause to spurn at him....He would be crowned : How that might change his nature , that's the question? It is the bright day that brings forth the adder. Crown him and therefore put a sting in him" In here Brutus talks about how crowing Julius Ceasar an emperor will corrupt him and make him a puff adder with a sting to match.Fast - foward that to 2008 South Africa and you have a similar situation. Blade Nzimande, Malema, Vavi and others - a dangerous combination .....Yep, brace yourself good citizens of this intriguing nation.

Welcome Team 2008!

Well, where does one start on an issue like this? Anyway welcome to the World of Work team 2008. What I can promise you guys is that the programme is fun -packed and engaging, which leaves one drained at the end of the day. But it will be one of those programmes that you'll pat yourself on the back that you chose to join. In one way or the other the programme is gonna be useful to you guys.
As you are in ground zero in terms of carreer prospects I will advise you guys to let loose and let the the normal proceses of events takes you where you needed to be. Be yourself and know when you are not up for the task. I know it helps....Did I say that? ....oh wow ....I am starting to sound like a guru!
Everyone have a lovely day....cheers

When chickens come home to roost

In less than three months' time it will be christmas and we will be losing our heads with all the fun and boozing that goes along with it. The ANC conference is approaching quickly and blood is starting to smell in the air. Earlier on, there was an expose` on Dr. "Do Little", Manto Tshabalala Msimang- The National Minister of Health. Due to the sterling work of the Sunday Times we now know the she has a tendecy to be kleptomaniac and she takes her cognac with relative ease. No wonder we had been a laughing stock of Nations when coming to the HIV pandemic . The minister had not been soberly considering the consequences of her talk about beetroot and all those cynical concotions for she had been, at most, drunk.

On the other front Cosatu had come out in the open that it is going to support the embattled JZ (Zuma) in the upcoming ANC conference. I am waiting with bated breath . In the first month of his presidency South Africa will go down ten points on business ethics barometer and the women's rights advocacy groups will have an uphill battle when cultural conservatives like JZ and company takes centre stage for take old-fashioned views on women. What is also of importance is that deputy health minister who had seen unceremonious exit from the cabinet and the NPA boss who was suspended over this past long weekend. Do I see a common threat running through all this developments. Hugh!! It's tense, frightening and yet enjoyable. Watch the space...

THE JOHANNESBURG STOCK EXCHANGE AT YOUR SERVICE

A visit to the JSE (Johannesburg Stock Exchange) is the one I wish every individual in the WOW 2007 never to forget, especially the money making opportunities that are there. It is the place where dreams are made and broken. I personally will not like the thought of enjoying the fruits of my labour when I am all grey-haired, and tired to the bone due to long years of hard labour. Times have changed and you no longer have to wait for pension funds or retirements packages to have any substantial financial resources.

With the JSE you can make money right now and really grow your profile. Investment is the buzzword of the 21century. Investments options available on the JSE are the Exchange Traded Fund, the Bond market, Agricultural Derivatives, Money markets, etc. What is interesting is the fast way in which individuals can create wealth in a very short time unless, of course, they are willing to take investment risks. So jump into the bandwagon of the fast paced money markets!