MAJUBA HOUSE COMMITTEE ELECTIONS PUTS RESIDENTS ON THEIR TOES



Majuba Residence Logo
uj.ac.za



Monday the 13^th of August marked the first step to elections. The University of Johannesburg’s Aucklandpark Bunting Road Campus had the different candidates running for different positions manifest in persuasion to lobby votes to acquire the positions that they were running for.  Majuba male residence had the most competitive manifestos as the Chairpersons position was contested by three members of the residence; two being previous house committee members and one being a senior student. Sicelo Vilakazi being the outgoing Treasurer, contesting Chairpersonship and Lethabo Pheeha, outgoing Academic Officer, also contesting Chairpersonship.

http://www.uj.ac.za/EN/STUDYATUJ/RESIDENCES/BUNTINGROADCAMPUS/MAJUBARESIDENCE/Pages/home.aspx

The rivalry between the two continued in the manifesto as the supporters of both the contestants’ emotions raised as they questioned their performance. However the questions were mainly raised towards the former treasurer, asking about financial statements and where Majuba’s budget has disappeared to.  These questions led to physical handling between the two supporters, surprisingly, and not the contestants - which was then stopped by residence members before it could lead to something worse.

The campaigning began, as open letters were sent through the whole residence, exposing hidden information that is incriminating and could lead to loss of votes for the two. However the Student Representative Counsel (SRC) addressed the first years on Tuesday the 14^th, congratulating the outgoing Academic Officer on the “remarkable” work that he has done. This also helped boost the confidence of the house and of Lethabo Pheeha in taking Chairpersonship.

Wednesday the 15^th of August the house was given an opportunity to vote for the incoming house committee for the year 2012/13. The Progressive Youth Alliance’s (PYA) members gathered at the residence’ foyer and sang the name of Lethabo in the final campaigning seconds to win votes. Sicelo Vilakazi also had his own strategies of getting the students on the way to vote for him. The competition was tough and at the end of the voting, the two, together with their supporters waited in anticipation for the results as nothing came forth, and were told that results would be released on Thursday the 16^th of August at 13:00.

Who do you think is fit to run the residence under the Chairperson’s portfolio?

WILL THE FIGHT AGAINST THE ANCYL AND THE DA EVER END?

The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) has been laid charges against, again by the Democratic Alliance (DA) of intimidation on Wednesday. These alleged intimidation charges were prompted by a threat to make Cape Town and the province ungovernable.

The Intimidation Act, 1982 prohibits forms of intimidation where the ANCYL and the four other organisations have violated the rights of the DA as "This threat comes against the backdrop of a number violent service delivery protests that have taken place in the city in recent days." http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Politics/Zille-lays-charges-against-ANCYL-20120801

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica 

Be that as it may, the ANCYL is unapologetic towards their action as the DA lay charges. According to the ANCYL, the DA lacks historical understanding http://www.iol.co.za

BUT

Both the ANCYL and the DA could do so much more within their organisations if they’d focus less ‘gunning’ for each other. Issues such as poverty, lack of service delivery, crime etc. are the most important issues that any political organisation faces which are not fully being fulfilled.

It is the responsibility of any political organisation to adhere the constitution of South Africa, however their focus is on making sure that the opposition is under siege and is brought down. The ANC slogan’s the following words;

“Working Together We Can Do More.”

These are wise words that has been emphasised by our local government but are not exercised to its fullest potential.

The community asks will this battle between the leading party and the DA ever end? 

Are we fighting a new battle within the government now?

The ANC Takes Life-time Decisions

Following the expulsion of Julius Sello Malema, the ANC continues to become radical in attempt to reduce corruption within the national party. The Republic of South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma received a letter form Lieutenant General saying that he would assist the president to succeed this year if he was reinstated to the position of crime intelligence boss and forwarded that letter to the necessary people. http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica

The rate in which corruption has been taking place within our political government has put certain political parties and jeopardy.

It generally looks as if the president is tired of these scandals and unjust behavior of his colleagues. I think that it is about time the ANC took initiative and amplified the name of the Republic and show people the seriousness of governance, in this way, political leaders will be recognized and not just for their knowledge but also for their dedication and political drive that the individual possesses.

Pule Mabe
timeslive.co.za

This week the ANC Youth League’s treasurer-general Pule Mabe was also voted out of the league with a no confidence vote which also stirred up emotions between him and the party. He threatened violence as he realised that he was in trouble and could not defend his position.

The ANC was known to be a relaxed and corrupt party by members of the opposing parties and also the citizins of South Africa, however this notion of the people will slowly but surely change if the party continues to radicalize their efforts of taking issues and implementing a strategy. Mabe and Malema’s personal involvement played a huge role in making the final decision, as supporters began an impassioned exchange with those who voted against his expulsion. While this led to police summoning, Mabe left the scene for his angry supporters to stay and ‘polish’ it.

It has been raised in office that the ANC must review the expulsion of former Youth League President Julius Malema, due to his utter misbehaviour, despite the League’s demand for the president to return, his expulsion will remain the way it is. http://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/news/anc-dismisses-call-for-malema-s-reintsatement

However, if the National Congress allows Malema’s reinstatement, the entire Congress will increase the levels of corruption based on the fact that if they are caught, they can and will be reinstated like the Youth League President Julius Malema.

IS GAUTRAIN AND E-TOLLING REALLY FOR THE RICH?

The South African government works very hard to alleviate poverty and work to create jobs for less fortunate people, but the South African Communist Party’s general secretary, Blade Nzimande feels different about this. On Tuesday the 1^st of May, he said that the e-tolling system and the Gautrain are for the richer people of Gauteng because of the routes it takes. “The Gautrain does not go into the townships of Gauteng,” he said. However what he does not continue to ask himself is, would those people that reside in the townships make use of this mode of transport? http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Gautrain

Gautrain joburgtourism.com

There are lots of public transportation available everywhere and for everyone. The Gautrain travels from Pretoria to Johannesburg to assist workers from the different cities to get to work on time and enjoy that with luxury and comfort. At the end of the day people must understand that luxury comes with a price, hence the routes of the Gautrain follows through in this way. If it went through the townships, would they want to pay just about three times more than they pay for their taxi services and Metrorail trains?

Interior of the Gautrain
eyewitnessnews.co.za

Most of the key components of the Gautrain are women and business men, according to South African Police’s source of information on crime, a number of criminals reside in the townships of Johannesburg than the middle or higher income group. The routes of the Gautrain were also thought of and calculated to reduce the number of potential risks that we face in our societies. Already there are controversies and shooting incidents that took place on Monday in Rooihuiskraal where the bus driver of the Gautrain shuttle service was shot. To reduce such things from happening the routes that the train takes are key; as much as the general secretary of the SACP has good intentions with his motion, it was not well thought through because the implications of adding routes to the townships would:

• Reduce the safety of the passengers
• Increase crime
• Harrasment of passangers
• Proper explanation of route calculation and allocation
• Increase costs of travelling
• Theft of cables
• Inadequate and untrusted security

Befor the Gautrain can hit the townships, Mzimande must first understand the potential risks that might take place...

WILL THE NAME JULIUS MALEMA EVER DIE?



After the ANC announced the expulsion of Julius Malema
lifeissavage.com



The fate of the suspended president Julius Malema has come to an end as the national disciplinary committee of the ANC confirms his expulsion. Julius Sello Malema once said that if he got expelled from the party, he was going to invest in agriculture and said he was going to pursue his ‘dream’ of becoming a farmer. The time has finally come, is he really going to keep to his word?

However, his existence and role in the ANC had a very big influence on the South African youth politics because in the precious years young people were not as interested in politics as they are today. There are elements in which he was regarded as out of order and disrespectful but Malema communicated what the people were afraid to communicate within the organization. The involvement of students, scholars and young adults in the youth league has increased drastically and the engagement in the community has also improved. However the means of improving such developments has been through insults and disregard for the policy of the ANC, he nevertheless emphasized that he shall not surrender and will remain fighting this expulsion because of his accomplishment within the branch.

 According to political analyst of The University of Witwatersrand, Malema’s expulsion could be reversed and he might come back into his position because of him being 40 years younger than the current ANC leadership. http://www.news24.com/

Malemas Twitter, @Julius_S_Malema, is filled with supporting messages to uplift his spirit and maintain strength, but by his tweeting of Gloria Gaynor’s I will survive lyrics on his handle is some sort of acceptance of defeat and submission to the expulsion. As he wrote, and I quote: “At 1st I was afraid. I was petrified. Kept thinking I could never live without the org by my side... I will survive.” Malema was known for his unusual way of expressing his ideas and somewhat insulting towards other people.

COSATU's 'MOTHER OF ALL STRIKES' IS IMMINENT

According to Cosatu member David Masenya, the government has not yet understood that the e-tolling system will not work because it will supposedly be ‘setting motorists back financially due to their ridiculous rates.’ The South African National Road Agency Limited’s recently released new toll tariffs which incensed frustration within Cosatu. In the result of this, Cosatu has been mobilizing its large number of members to engage in another national strike which is supposed to cause an impetuous protest regarded as ‘the mother of all strikes.’  



Two Million Cosatu Members
photography.riaanroux.co.za



Cosatu members feel that this system is a way for government to rob the people from their financial freedom. However, according to Sanral, the government’s intention is not to rob the people but to ensure that the roads will have less traffic and better road usage by the motorists, as the roads will continue to improve in the near future http://www.nra.co.za/live




e-tolling system (rwrant.co.za)

  Patrick Craven, national spokesperson of Cosatu is confident that several rallies, marches, demonstrations and night vigils at the offices of the Sanral offices and the transport department across the country from April 23 will not only be supported by Costat members but also by thousands more angry residents and motorists who support their demand for the scrapping of these tolls. http://www.cosatu.org.za/show.php?ID=6038

In the event of the strike, they are issuing a national stay-away or socio economic warning in which the federation, on the 16^th of April 2012 issued a notice under Section 77 of the Labour Relations Act which enables workers to engage in a protected protest action, which will include:

•Rallies, marches, demonstrations, pickets, placard demonstrations, and siyalalas at or near the offices of Sanral and the Department of Transport, both provincial and national from 23 April 2012.

•Engagement of motorists and other members of the public to inform them of the reason for the protest action and to persuade motorists not to buy e-tags;

•A national stay-away or socio-economic strike which will commence on 30 April 2012.

DA Social Media: It Continues To Fail Them

Following last week’s publication, the Democratic Alliance Leader Helen Zille still cease’s to re-structure her Twitter account. According to Mail & Guardian reporter Nickolaus Bauer, Zille is losing credibility due to her inability of using her Twitter account.

hil001.blogspot.com

Being a political leader and an icon for many young people, Zille Tweets like an irresponsible teenager going through confusion. Her Twitter, @HelenZille was used to be the spot to go for well measured and eloquent tweets that offered Zille a certain sense of political diplomacy, now she has made it a platform for political dispute and unworthy of praise and one only needs to turn to excerpts from her feed for the reasons as to why.

 http://mg.co.za/article/2012-03-29-stop-being-a-twit-helen

During presidential ellections, Zille projects herself as a leader of credibility and integrity; however her tweets say the opposite of what she is portrayed as. Zille’s tweets are filled with hate, racism and distortion, its either she breaks down the image of the ANC or insulting commentary on children and the people South Africa. Lerato Mashinini, a honours graduate from the University of Johannesburg asked if the DA could be given a chance to lead the country, would Helen Zille be able to handle the pressure of dealing with more people on a political level and would she be able to address the public? She is currently failing to decently tweet with her followers. http://www.twitter.com/HelenZille

dailymaverick.co.za

A political leader should be attentive and have credibility, communication skills should not be questionable, and must maintain a good relationship with the people that put the leader in power. Helen Zille as a ‘political’ leader does not have these qualities. The DA should re-think their Twitter account and provide a more effective and quality way to communicate with their people, because their current method is failing them dismally. The media complains about their messages on every social network that the DA has, it simply means that they are doing something very wrong.