Hitting the spherical golf ball in a 3metre hole has proven to be one of the lucrative sports in the world and playing this game as a profession can positively or negatively affect your bank balance. The majority that play the game for fun has claimed that it is the convergent or congregation of the wealthy, even the non-affluent are opportuned to rub few shoulders with the affluent that converge to play this game. For the outstanding professionals in the world, there is no doubt of the influence on their bank account. Phil Mickelson earned over $1.17m by winning the US Masters at Augusta while the Philanthropist-Tiger Woods has earned more than a whopping $40m in official prize money as a professional and over $60m in endorsements and appearance fees. Interviewing one of the hobby players, he said, “Never play the game if you’re not rich-golf can send you to the shacks”. Thinking of enrolling in a golf course, a seven day membership can cost over 9000rands ($1300), purchasing the equipment and kits for the game can be hilarious-obviously one will need a better equipment to surface with the likes of top parastatals in the playing field. A glove can cost up to R900rands ($130), a towel at 150rands ($21), the top of the range Titleist Pro VI balls at 200rands ($30) for a sleeve of three, a Nike or Adidas cap, top or shorts to be like Phil or Tiger for 400rands ($60) and then tickets to watch professionals play can range from 1500rands ($215)
Not only does this game affect your bank balance, it will definitely increase your popularity if you’re a pro in the game and friends will incessantly increase just like inflation. Recently Tiger Woods has been embroiled or linked in a sex saga with a few number of women in which he confessed his infidelity to the wife-Elin. His ordeal started on November 27 after hitting a tree outside his home with reports claiming that the wife man-handled the gentleman and left him no choice but to run for his life. Tiger unequivocally reported that this was a mere accident. Two days after, US tabloid and gossip magazines made its ways to unleash the Tiger in the woods- revealing the series of extra-marital relationship linked to Tiger Woods. Woods now find himself at odds with Afro American ladies calling for his head after it was revealed that the ladies linked to the sex scandal were not blacks but whites. This makes them feel inferior that Tiger did not find them (blacks) attractive to satisfy him and Tiger’s billions gets enjoyed or controlled by whites and not blacks. Race issue snowballs its way into Tiger’s life-Tiger is a racist! Afro ladies convict you-Tiger!
A saying goes that in good times-friends stay, in bad times-they disappear. Tiger Woods has lost major sponsors with Accenture and few others distancing themselves just like Jesus at his crucifixion was distanced by his disciples according to the scriptures. Tiger was quoted as saying, “it may not be possible to repair the damage I’ve done but I want to do my best to try”. That’s Tiger talking- of course not all problems can be solved but all problems can be manipulated in one way or the other. Sponsors convict you-Tiger!
The fun loving part of this ordeal was when I inserted Tiger on the Google search engine on the 17th December, a headline surfaced, “Tiger Woods has bookies betting on the Elin divorce settlement: Wager on cash but not affairs”. Now the report states that these wagers are based on how much money Elin is expected to receive after the dust settles and after the court decides. People are putting small bets probably so they can have a giggle in the pub and show their mate a betting slip,” Rupert Adams, spokesman for William Hill said. It states that the best moment is still ahead because one other great bet would be putting your money on how many women Tiger shagged or how many women come into play regarding the whole Tiger story. Casinos and betting world convict you-Tiger!
Now where does this leave our handsome Tiger? One advice for Tiger would be, if they all desert and convict you, leave the Afros in America, go to Bahamas for your Christmas holiday and come over to South Africa because blacks love you here. We will obviously fight hard to enrol you on a golf course in Bellville, Mowbray or Milnerton, alternatively your likes enrol in Sun City-so we’ll make sure you’re there and will definitely beckon on your adoring fans to sponsor you. At least we are all alive because you love us and have not unleashed the Tiger in you.
Good luck Tiger!
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
ANC LEGACY LIVES ON
Reflection on how the diplomatic legacy of the African National Congress party has rejuvenated our democracy
In one of his speeches Nelson Mandela told a gathering, “let no individual, faction or group regard itself greater than the organisation and the people”. The ANC is a party that was formed on a formidable ground following the oppression of blacks by the apartheid government. With its long history, some individual’s contribution like Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, and Oliver Tambo remains indefatigable in this present time. By the above words of Mandela, he actually conveys that the ANC represents the people and no individual or group is greater than the masses. The idea of Africa Nationalism of the trio in 1944 led to involving the masses to utilise military actions. The ANC responded militarily on the attack of black people. The masses were encouraged to strikes and boycott... which later led to the Defiance Campaign in 1950 where masses were encouraged to further campaigns against apartheid laws. The party intended to achieve a society where people are empowered intellectually, socially, economically and morally. With its long and rich history, the objective of the ANC was defined by the principle of leading the country to a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic society.
Having argued in one of my former write-ups that race is still a vital issue that needs home-grown solutions; it is of no doubt that a handful of progress has been made in bridging the gaps between different races in the country. The ANC with its unique policy has highlighted fears and worries of racial discrimination and has indeed set up different positive measures which prove to be yielding fruit in curbing racial discrimination. Of course, I will agree with Archbishop Desmond Tutu that we have come from a very long road, we have achieved a lot and more still needs to be achieved. I will highlight again on how prejudice and bitterness has enveloped and heightened racial tensions. In a recent survey that was published on Cape Times News, it revealed that Cape Town is seen to be hostile to black people while white people are still been appointed and promoted at rates suggesting ‘positive discrimination’ in their favour. Commissioned by the employment equity programme and conducted by Sabie Surtee and Martin Hull, the report examined 13 Western Cape businesses that together employed about 60,000 people in management positions. It suggested that transformation in Cape was “at best stalled and perhaps in reverse”. In all companies participating in this study, African people are under-represented (in management positions) in comparison to their overall contribution to the ‘South African workforce’ the report wrote. They found black people to almost always be less successful than white people in moving up their career paths, creating what is called an “ebony ceiling”. In this report, interviewees both blacks and whites voiced dissatisfaction on the slow progress the Western Cape has taken in curbing racial discrimination. It is also a fact that individuals try to use racism as an escape route to avoid critic or engage other races where need be. There is absolutely no doubt that the post-1994 ANC government has massively achieved a handful in eradicating racism. With good quality education, building of schools and monitoring teachers’ performance and the recent splitting of the education ministry into Basic and Higher-has been a brilliant move to ensure that institutions are strengthened and that there is adequate monitoring and evaluation. With high/well grounded Self Esteem we can be a few miles away in effacing this racial virus that is deteriorating the nation.
However the role of women will never be forgotten in the struggle to ensure a non-sexist society. According to the founding document of the Progressive Women’s Movement of South Africa, women struggles started before the last century. They were excluded from decision making processes and they continued to fight for their rights and for all others who were oppressed. Their objectives were to unite the women of South Africa in diversity, strengthen the relationship between the government and women organisation, ensure that women that are committed to women’s agenda have their forum and fight against the discrimination of women in all spheres of life. Our democratic government recognises this and thus has involved women in policy making processes. One of the challenges still facing us is the unjustifiable reason on why women are still been assaulted and raped. In the front page of a Sunday Times newspaper, we read how General Manala Manzini assaulted his wife because she wouldn’t cook or iron his clothes. We also get acquainted on how Maketta Jimmy abused and raped 22 women on his routine operation. We believe that hope has been revived by the recent dedication to duties by the recent government and the police chief to fight and protect the rights of women in South Africa. The recent piece of Dr Gumede http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/vusigumede/2009/11/30/acknowledging-challenges-confronting-women-and-girl-children/ also highlighted few concerns confonting women in this modern age.
Moreover, our constitution has proven to be remarkable and accommodative among others in the world, ensuring that the rights of individuals are respected and honoured. Greater stability and economic freedom has been achieved. Political parties commit themselves to democracy and greater use of dialogues has been used to implement different Government strategies. The government has also reduced deficit budgets and public debt. Young people in townships and cities now have access to clean water, quality education and good housing. With an independent judiciary, our legal system seeks to protect its citizens and acknowledge their rights. There might be few short-comings but the high percentage achievement has proven that greater heights can still be achieved.
With concise and progressive measures in place, the ancient idea, dream and objective of attaining a society where individuals are empowered intellectually, emotionally, socially and morally will continue to be achieved and will reach its greatest heights. This will realize the vision of Pixley Seme when he said, more than 90years ago: “There is today among all races and men a general desire for progress and for co-operation, because co-operation will facilitate and secure that progress” and the principle of creating a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa will be attained to its entirety if we believe that we hold the key to the future and the future lies in our hands as Nelson Mandela phrased.
Together and united we can make a difference!
In one of his speeches Nelson Mandela told a gathering, “let no individual, faction or group regard itself greater than the organisation and the people”. The ANC is a party that was formed on a formidable ground following the oppression of blacks by the apartheid government. With its long history, some individual’s contribution like Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, and Oliver Tambo remains indefatigable in this present time. By the above words of Mandela, he actually conveys that the ANC represents the people and no individual or group is greater than the masses. The idea of Africa Nationalism of the trio in 1944 led to involving the masses to utilise military actions. The ANC responded militarily on the attack of black people. The masses were encouraged to strikes and boycott... which later led to the Defiance Campaign in 1950 where masses were encouraged to further campaigns against apartheid laws. The party intended to achieve a society where people are empowered intellectually, socially, economically and morally. With its long and rich history, the objective of the ANC was defined by the principle of leading the country to a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic society.
Having argued in one of my former write-ups that race is still a vital issue that needs home-grown solutions; it is of no doubt that a handful of progress has been made in bridging the gaps between different races in the country. The ANC with its unique policy has highlighted fears and worries of racial discrimination and has indeed set up different positive measures which prove to be yielding fruit in curbing racial discrimination. Of course, I will agree with Archbishop Desmond Tutu that we have come from a very long road, we have achieved a lot and more still needs to be achieved. I will highlight again on how prejudice and bitterness has enveloped and heightened racial tensions. In a recent survey that was published on Cape Times News, it revealed that Cape Town is seen to be hostile to black people while white people are still been appointed and promoted at rates suggesting ‘positive discrimination’ in their favour. Commissioned by the employment equity programme and conducted by Sabie Surtee and Martin Hull, the report examined 13 Western Cape businesses that together employed about 60,000 people in management positions. It suggested that transformation in Cape was “at best stalled and perhaps in reverse”. In all companies participating in this study, African people are under-represented (in management positions) in comparison to their overall contribution to the ‘South African workforce’ the report wrote. They found black people to almost always be less successful than white people in moving up their career paths, creating what is called an “ebony ceiling”. In this report, interviewees both blacks and whites voiced dissatisfaction on the slow progress the Western Cape has taken in curbing racial discrimination. It is also a fact that individuals try to use racism as an escape route to avoid critic or engage other races where need be. There is absolutely no doubt that the post-1994 ANC government has massively achieved a handful in eradicating racism. With good quality education, building of schools and monitoring teachers’ performance and the recent splitting of the education ministry into Basic and Higher-has been a brilliant move to ensure that institutions are strengthened and that there is adequate monitoring and evaluation. With high/well grounded Self Esteem we can be a few miles away in effacing this racial virus that is deteriorating the nation.
However the role of women will never be forgotten in the struggle to ensure a non-sexist society. According to the founding document of the Progressive Women’s Movement of South Africa, women struggles started before the last century. They were excluded from decision making processes and they continued to fight for their rights and for all others who were oppressed. Their objectives were to unite the women of South Africa in diversity, strengthen the relationship between the government and women organisation, ensure that women that are committed to women’s agenda have their forum and fight against the discrimination of women in all spheres of life. Our democratic government recognises this and thus has involved women in policy making processes. One of the challenges still facing us is the unjustifiable reason on why women are still been assaulted and raped. In the front page of a Sunday Times newspaper, we read how General Manala Manzini assaulted his wife because she wouldn’t cook or iron his clothes. We also get acquainted on how Maketta Jimmy abused and raped 22 women on his routine operation. We believe that hope has been revived by the recent dedication to duties by the recent government and the police chief to fight and protect the rights of women in South Africa. The recent piece of Dr Gumede http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/vusigumede/2009/11/30/acknowledging-challenges-confronting-women-and-girl-children/ also highlighted few concerns confonting women in this modern age.
Moreover, our constitution has proven to be remarkable and accommodative among others in the world, ensuring that the rights of individuals are respected and honoured. Greater stability and economic freedom has been achieved. Political parties commit themselves to democracy and greater use of dialogues has been used to implement different Government strategies. The government has also reduced deficit budgets and public debt. Young people in townships and cities now have access to clean water, quality education and good housing. With an independent judiciary, our legal system seeks to protect its citizens and acknowledge their rights. There might be few short-comings but the high percentage achievement has proven that greater heights can still be achieved.
With concise and progressive measures in place, the ancient idea, dream and objective of attaining a society where individuals are empowered intellectually, emotionally, socially and morally will continue to be achieved and will reach its greatest heights. This will realize the vision of Pixley Seme when he said, more than 90years ago: “There is today among all races and men a general desire for progress and for co-operation, because co-operation will facilitate and secure that progress” and the principle of creating a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa will be attained to its entirety if we believe that we hold the key to the future and the future lies in our hands as Nelson Mandela phrased.
Together and united we can make a difference!
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