PROTEAS SHOW NO CONCERN ABOUT TAMIL HUMAN RIGHTS WHILE THEY PREPARE FOR TOUR OF SRI LANKA

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PROTEAS PREPARE TO TRAVEL TO SRI LANKA DESPITE THE CONTINUING OPPRESSION OF TAMIL PEOPLE

While the South African national cricket team, Proteas, under the captaincy of Hashim Amla prepare for their tour of Sri Lanka within the next few days, the Sri Lankan Government and its soldiers continue with their oppression of the Tamil people in the North and East of island country and also with their attacks on Tamil Muslims.

The Sri Lankan army has invaded the land of the Tamils in the North and East of the country, carry out daily raids on people and also use dastardly tactics of rape against Tamil women. All these are attempts to cow the Tamil people into submission. The continuing subjugation and oppression of the Tamil people follows the civil war which ended in 2009 when Sri Lankan soldiers butchered and massacred between 70 000 and 100 000 Tamils. This genocide is now being investigated by a special committee of three international personalities appointed by the UN Human Rights Commissioner, Dr Navi Pillay, who is a South African. Tamils in Sri Lanka, in Tamil Nadu and in diaspora are demanding that the perpetrators of the genocide, including the President Rajapakse and his brother, face the full might of international law at the International Court of Justice at the Hague in Holland.

We in South Africa support this campaign and also for sports and other sanctions to be imposed on Sri Lanka until the Tamil people enjoy full freedom. It's in this regard that the current tour of Sri Lanka by Amla's team is a national and international tragedy. We supported sanctions against apartheid South Africa and now we would have expected the free South Africa to support the freedom of oppressed people in Sri Lanka and other countries in the world. The South African cricket bosses should hand their heads in shame.

The late sports and cricket anti-apartheid activist and cricket administrator,Krish Mackerdhuj, would be turning in his grave at this lack of concern for the human rights of the Sri Lankan Tamil people by Haroon Lorgat and his henchmen.

O'H HOW WE HAVE LOST THE VALUES OF FAMILY LIFE

“ The most beautiful thing in this world is to see your parents smiling ,and the next best thing is to know that.....you r the reason behind that SMILE ” By Subry Govender I had just watched one of the most touching, emotional and mind-awakening Tamil movies on Sun TV. It was about a villager and his wife, their battles to bring up their five sons, the problems they encounter after their sons leave home, and the lack of respect and appreciation shown by three of their daughters-in-law. Life in the village was a struggle and the man and his wife had to literally toil to send their sons to school and to ensure that they become settled in their lives. Their three adult sons - one a teacher, the other a bus driver and the third a small scale trader - leave home and lead separate lives after they marry. The fourth oldest son - the simpleton in the family - ends up in prison after he murders a local shark who tries to take advantage of a young girl related to the family. The fifth son leaves home to continue his studies in Chennai. Left all alone - the father and mother - do their best to continue their lives but over time - the mother takes ill. She and her husband decide to visit their eldest son and his family while on their way to hospital. But the daughter-in-law - although welcoming her in-laws - ends up fighting with her husband over the visit of the two elders and how long they would stay in their home. She demands that her husband's father and mother leave the next day because she was not prepared to look after them. The father overhears what his daughter-in-law has to say and early the next morning, they leave their son's home. "Treat your parents with loving care.... For you will know their value, when you see their empty chair.... ” The son is overcome with sorrow and anguish and tries to console his parents. The villager and his wife then turn up at their second son's home. But here too the daughter-in-law puts up a front when welcoming them. She ends up fighting with her husband and even prevents their baby son from being in the company of her mother-in-law. "I don't want my child to become afflicted with the asthma that your mother is suffering from," she tells her distraught husband. He is not as calm as his elder brother and ends up bashing his wife over her lack of respect for his parents. The villager and his wife once again decide to leave and they return to their home. The villager's wife throws away the medicine she was given for her asthma at the hospital. She ends up preparing a meal with poison that leads to their deaths. In the meantime - the youngest son and his girl-friend unaware of the sufferings of the old people make preparations to fly them to Chennai for medical care. He departs for the village and on the way joins his three married brothers. They end up saving the life of their fourth brother who, after being released from prison, is attacked by family members of the bully he had killed. All five brothers return home to inform their parents about the release of their brother and the good news about their fifth son who had made arrangements for their medical care in Chennai. But to their utter shock and dismay they find both their mother and father dead. At the funeral - the three daughters-in-law - put on a show by shedding crocodile tears. The moral of the story. I'll leave it to you. MOTHER AND LOVING SONS And then while on a visit to the La Lucia Mall in Durban on Sunday, June 29, I noticed something that really instilled a smile and got me thinking. Two young boys, must be aged about 15 or 16, were in the company of their Indian-origin parents. The boys were dressed in smart pants and shirts and wore ties. Their father was also dressed in a suit and tie and their mother looked like a school maam in a blouse and dress. They must have been to a special family function before visiting the mall. I was at this time standing at the front entrance near the underground parking. I was really amazed at the dignified manner in which the boys chatted with their parents while they walked into the mall. Then about five minutes later I saw the family walking out - all smiles but serious. The father walked in the front with his suit coat in his hands. One of the boys had his hands around his mother's shoulders and he was busy chatting with his mother. Then suddenly, the other boy went around and put his hand on his mother's shoulder as well. His brother did not like this at all and pushed his brother's hand away. The other boy gave his brother an angry look and must have said: "This is my mother as well." I just thought to myself what a wonderful show of respect and appreciation that the two boys demonstrated for their mother. At the same time I asked myself: "Would the boys have the same love, respect and admiration for their mother and father once they marry?" I leave this as well to you to answer!

HUMAN RIGHTS OF SHACK DWELLERS VIOLATED

(A view of the Kennedy Road Informal Settlement from the main Kennedy Road) On Tuesday, June 3 this week more than 800 families were evicted from their shack homes by the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) in the Zola informal settlement near Strand, in the Western Cape. Then in another inhuman incident, several hundred people were left homeless in the township of Alexandria in Johannesburg where their homes were also demolished. The evictions, carried out despite the extremely cold and mid winter weather conditions, highlights the pathetic plight of hundreds of thousands of people who try to eke out a living in shack settlements in urban areas in all the cities and towns of South Africa. The evictions also demonstrated the lack of concern for the human rights of shack dwellers. In order to get a detailed and clear picture of the conditions under which shack dwellers, I visited a shack settlement in the city of Durban....... . (WE WANT A BETTER LIFE FOR OURSELVES AND OUR CHILDREN) By Subry Govender The Kennedy Road Informal Settlement, situated in the Sydenham area of coastal city of Durban in South Africa, is one of the oldest shack settlements in the city. It came into existence more than 20 years ago when rural people began to move to urban areas in droves to seek employment and a better life for themselves and their families after the dawn of our new democracy and freedom in 1994. When I drove down Kennedy Road from the main Sydenham Road, I was shocked and disgusted at what greeted me. There was literally thousands of shacks built on top of one another, stretching for several hundred metres down a hill from the top of a dumping site. The shacks are built of wood and iron, tin and in some cases tarpaulin. In this congested settlement, more than twelve thousand men, women and children eke out an existence. They have to contend with the unhealthy and polluted smoke that billows out of the dumping site and have to make do with public toilets that are situated on at least two spots on one side of Kennedy Road. There are also other public toilets inside the settlement itself. The hapless residents also have to make do with running water from communal taps. The residents also have no electricity and they have to resort to obtaining power illegally by connecting wires to street lights and electricity boxes. On the days I visited the Kennedy Road informal settlement at the end of May and early June, I noticed a few children, some as young as two and three-years-old crossing the road without any supervision, women doing their washing at the public taps, taxis driving slowly - dropping off and picking up passengers, and small-business owners plying their wares from make-shift shops. One of pubs in the area was packed with several men, drinking, singing and having a rolicking time. This was a surprise for me because it was a weekday and it was only about 10 in the morning. On the other side of Kennedy Road, the situation was somewhat different. There was hardly any activity despite the number of properly constructed houses. While some of the houses are occupied, a number of others are in a state of disrepair and deterioration and the owners seemed to have deserted their homes. The deserted houses have been taken over by homeless people and at one of the houses at least nine families have moved in.

( Ms Mpumelelo Cele, standing near her shack home) One of the people who has been living in this shack settlement for the past 19 years is 36-year-old Ms Mpumelelo Cele. She arrived here with her parents from Empangeni, on the north coast, to seek a brighter and better future. But life has been tough and the conditions have not improved much, especially after her parents passed away some nine years ago. She, her five children and siblings live in two shack houses at the bottom end of the settlement. "The conditions of the house," she said, "are very bad since the house is built of mud, board and plastics". "Whenever it rains our houses are flooded and whenever there's a fire, our houses catch on fire and are destroyed. I wish this place can be developed so that we can live in decent houses." Ms Cele said the residents of Kennedy Road Shack Settlement had been campaigning for better housing and improved living conditions since 1995. Except for the recent provision of public toilets, communal taps and a community hall, they were still waiting for the provision of decent houses. "We have held many protests to highlight the poor and unhealthy conditions in which we are forced to live. We have been promised the Dodoma Project nearby but are still waiting. In the conditions that we live in it's not a good situation to raise the children in the shacks. Since we live in a dump, this place is very dirty and unhealthy. "If we are moved to decent houses, then we will be able to take care of our lives."

(Tamsanka Desmond Gumede, one of the residents with the town councillor, Obed Ngcobo) One of her neighbours is 58-year-old Tamsank Desmond Gumede, who has been living in the settlement with his wife and five children for the past 17 years. Although he has to put up with the same polluted environment like other residents, he had and his family are in a much better position as he is a small businessman. He runs a small transport company and owns a small tuck shop. His house, although built of wood and iron, appears to be a litter better and he and his family boast a security gate in front of their front door. He's also concerned about the living conditions and would like to see the municipality improving the conditions as soon as possible. Speaking through an interpreter in IsiZulu, he said: "I want this place to improve with the provision of proper houses, improved roads and proper toilets. "I also want the authorities to provide permanent job opportunities for the people. The municipality must also provide soccer grounds and netball facilities for the youth. Only by providing better facilities we can overcome crime and other social problems."

(Another view of the settlement with a local resident and town councillor, Obed Ngcobo, in the foreground) The hunger for a better life in the new democratic South Africa is also the struggle of 41-year-old Ms Nosuko Hulushe, who arrived here with her mother from the Eastern Cape region when she was only 13-years-old. "We settled here a long time ago but still find ourselves without decent housing," said Ms Hulushe, who is the mother of two school-going children, a girl aged 13 and a boy, 12. Ms Hulushe, who is a member of the Kennedy Road Development Committee and deputy president of the newly-established ANC Womens' League branch, said she and other community leaders were working with the town councillor for the area to improve the lot of the shack dwellers. "We need proper housing. I want to move to a decent area. I want proper sanitation, hygenic wise, also better education for the children," she said. "I think the problem is that lots of people don't have enough income. If people can get proper jobs, some of them can manage to have houses, also the first priority is to have houses of their own."

(Town councillor, Obed Ngcobo, pointing to a spot where the Dodoma Flats are expected to be built) On one of the days I visited the settlement, I was accompanied by the town councillor, Mr Obed Ngcobo, who is working closely with the residents in an attempt to improve their lot. We walked along the road and interacted with the residents. He acknowledged that the living conditions of the people are unacceptable and inhuman. "We've got a very good plan of providing the residents with houses," he said. "That's the first thing. Secondly, they need jobs as you can see there's a lot of unemployed people here. So that's another challenge but we are trying to accommodate them in the short life span projects that we have started." He pointed out an area where the council wanted to start its housing project but said this was in a state of limbo at the moment. He said the ratepayers had submitted a petitition opposing the construction of the Dodoma Project on the site because it apparently contained remains of their ancestors. "We are waiting for a report from the department concerned and once this is at hand, we will decide the next step. We are also planning to provide alternative accommodation for the residents in housing estates like Cornubia." A veteran struggle activist, Swaminathan Gounden, who resides about five kilometres from the informal settlement, said the plight of shack dwellers was highlighted everytime it rained heavy or when there was a fire. He said the authorities were taking far too long to improve the living conditions of the people. "Now I know that the Kennedy Road informal settlement has been there for years," he said. "What has the municipality done. If it has done anything, we can't see people suffering like that. I am of the view that the municipality should attend to this situation as a matter or urgency." The Kennedy Road Informal Settlement is just one of several shack settlements that are found in and around the city of Durban and the hundreds of shack settlements that are found in all other cities, towns and urban areas of South Africa. The ruling ANC Government says it has and continues to build low cost housing to provide for homeless people. But it seems that the pathetic and inhumane conditions under which the informal dwellers live will continue for some time.

SOUTHSIDE FM RADIO - LATEST DEVELOPMENTAL REPORT

By Subry Govender

Now that the country's 5th democratic elections are over and the ruling ANC has been returned to power, we have stepped up our negotiations with the Ministry of Communications, ICASA and Sentech about the efforts by the Minister of Communications, Mr Yunus Carrim, for a frequency to be granted to Southside FM Radio. The Minister gave an assurance in a letter dated January 30 that certain processes had been put in place for a frequency to be granted to us. He said these processes would be completed by ICASA on July 31 2014. Since the receipt of this letter we have been in regular contact with the Minister's office, ICASA, the Department of Communications and Sentech.

In April we held two meetings with Sentech in Durban about the frequency and have been assured that the necessary tests had been completed and that we would be informed of the outcome in due course. Meanwhile, while we were in negotiations with Sentech, we had been informed that another frequency 96,8 had not been used for sometime and that the owners of this frequency are now untraceable. Since this frequency covers most of our target market in and around the greater Durban region, we wrote to the Department of Communications, ICASA and the Minister, requesting that this frequency be granted to us. We have been informed both by DOC and ICASA that the frequency in question was not currently not in use but it had been assigned to some one else. We wrote back saying that the matter should be investigated and if the assignees are not traceable, then ICASA should grant us the 96,8 frequency. We wrote the following letters to the Minister, DOC and ICASA on April 30 2014: (On 2014/04/30 9:51 AM, "Subry Govender" wrote: April 30 2014 Dear Comrade Minister Please find below another letter we have written to ICASA about the meeting we held with Sentech in Durban yesterday and about the 96.8 frequency that is lying idle. We really appreciate your assistance in trying to get Southside a frequency and would be grateful if something could be done about the 96.8 frequency being given to us. According to the Sentech officials, 96.8 frequency will cover most of our target market areas in and around the greater Durban region. All the best for the elections. Thanks and kind regards. Subry 082 376 9053 SOUTHSIDE FM RADIO (NPO No: 089 - 426) 59 Musgrave Road, Durban P.O. Box 486 Verulam 4340 Tel: 082 376 9053/ 031 - 568 13009 email: subrygovender@gmail.com April 30 2014 Mr Monde Mbanga Manager: Broadcasting Spectrum Engineering and Technology ICASA Johanesburg Dear Mr Mbanga We refer to our letter of April 23 2014 regarding the frequency 96.8 which has not been used for the past six months. We held a meeting with Sentech yesterday, April 29 2014, about the tests they are carrying out in terms of the letter written by the Minister of Communications, Mr Yunus Carrim, regarding a frequency for us. The Sentech officials informed us that they have completed their tests and will finalise their report in the second week of May. During the course of our discussions, it was confirmed that that frequency 96.8 has not been used for sometime and that this frequency covers most of our target market in and around the Durban area. We would be grateful if ICASA could investigate the possibility of granting us this frequency now that it is available. We have been negotiating for a frequency for more than five years and our target market members are becoming disappointed and disillusioned that as South Africans we are not being fairly. Please let us have your acknowledgement and response soonest. Thanks and kind regards. Subry Govender Secretary --------------------- Board of Governors: Mr Balan Gounder (chairperson), Ms Keresha Govender (treasurer), Mrs Sally Padaychie, Ms Thirupuriesundrie Govender (asst secretary), Mr Logan Naidoo, Mr Swaminathan Gounden, Mr Richard Naidoo (deputy chairperson), Mr Denis Naidoo and Mr Subry Govender cc: 1. Mr Dick Sono, Chief Director: Radio Frequency Spectrum 2. Dr S S Mncube, Chairperson ICASA 3. Mr Tinyiko Ngobeni, DOC 4. Ms Siphokazi Shoba, Chief of Staff, Ministry of Communciations. 5. Craig Meyer, DOC 6. Xolisa Mnyute, DOC 7. Nomfundo Godlo, DOC 8. Claude Nadasen, Private Secretary to Minister 9. Patrick Sikhosana, Sentech Regional Manager KZN) Then, on May 9, two days after the elections and after the ANC was returned to power, we communicated once again with ICASA, DOC and the Minister's office about our frequency requirements. Here is the letter of May 9 2014: (SOUTHSIDE FM RADIO (NPO No: 089 - 426) 59 Musgrave Road, Durban P.O. Box 486 Verulam 4340 Tel: 082 376 9053/ 031 - 568 13009 email: subrygovender@gmail.com May 9 2014 Mr B Sethole Acting Manager Broadcasting Spectrum ICASA Johanesburg Dear Mr Sethole Now that the party we voted for, the African National Congress (ANC), has been returned to power, we hope that our five long years of struggles for a frequency for our radio station will be sorted out. We refer to our letters of April 23 and April 30 2014 regarding the frequency 96.8 which has not been used for the past six months. We held a meeting with Sentech on April 29 2014, about the tests they are carrying out in terms of the letter written by the Minister of Communications, Mr Yunus Carrim, regarding a frequency for us. The Sentech officials informed us that they have completed their tests and will finalise their report in the second week of May. During the course of our discussions, it was confirmed that that frequency 96.8 has not been used for sometime and that this frequency covers most of our target market in and around the Durban area. We would be grateful if ICASA could investigate the possibility of granting us this frequency now that it is available. We have been negotiating for a frequency for more than five years and our target market members are becoming disappointed and disillusioned that as South Africans we are not being treated fairly. Now that we as former struggle activists have once again cast our ballots for our liberation movement, we hope that we will be granted our frequency without delay. Please let us have your acknowledgement and response soonest. Thanks and kind regards. Subry Govender Secretary --------------------- Board of Governors: Mr Balan Gounder (chairperson), Ms Keresha Govender (treasurer), Mrs Sally Padaychie, Ms Thirupuriesundrie Govender (asst secretary), Mr Logan Naidoo, Mr Swaminathan Gounden, Mr Richard Naidoo (deputy chairperson), Mr Denis Naidoo and Mr Subry Govender cc: 1. Mr Dick Sono, Chief Director: Radio Frequency Spectrum 2. Dr S S Mncube, Chairperson ICASA 3. Mr Tinyiko Ngobeni, DOC 4. Ms Siphokazi Shoba, Chief of Staff, Ministry of Communciations. 5. Craig Meyer, DOC 6. Xolisa Mnyute, DOC 7. Nomfundo Godlo, DOC 8. Claude Nadasen, Private Secretary to Minister 9. Patrick Sikhosana, Sentech Regional Manager KZN) After sending this letter we received the following responses from ICASA and the Minister's department: (ICASA LETTER: From: B. Sethole Acting Manager Broadcasting Spectrum ICASA Good Day Subry The trial licence given to SABC expires on 31 June 2014, only then can we seek feedback with regard to the test results. These temporary authorization was granted to SABC specifically for making way to Southside. I humbly request that we await the completion of the trial. The frequency is currently unused but it is assigned. Thanks and best regards busang DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNCIATIONS' LETTER: Dick Sono < Dicks@doc.gov.za> Fri, May 9, 2014 at 2:41 PM To: Subry Govender Cc: Tinyiko Ngobeni , Alfred Mmoto , Busang Sethole , Siphokazi Shoba Reply | Reply to all | Forward | Print | Delete | Show original Dear Mr. Govender Your email to the Minister regarding letter written to ICASA and about the 96.8 frequency refers. The DOC has been informed that Mr. Monde Mbanga, Manager: Broadcasting Spectrum Engineering and Technology is no longer an employ of ICASA effective March 2014. Therefore, any correspondence to ICASA should be directed to Mr Busang Sethole copied in the correspondence. The 96.8 frequency in question, according to ICASA is currently not in use however it has been assigned to another Broadcaster. As a result, ICASA cannot assign it to Southside while assigned to another broadcaster. As per the trial, SENCTECH has completed the field measurements and they have been analysing the results thereof. A detailed report of their recommendations will be forwarded to the DOC by latest Monday 12/05. Upon receipt of the report I will advise you on the outcome. It is recommended at this point that we wait for the outcomes of the SENTECH report and we will advise accordingly. Hope you find this in order Regards Dick Sono )

CONCLUSION: -------------------------- We are continuing a relentless struggle to obtain our frequency and sincerely hope that the 96.8 frequency would be granted to us. We have made it clear to the government officials concerned that we cannot be treated with disdain and that everything must be done for us to launch our radio station as soon as possible. We have informed the Government officials that members of our target market are becoming restless because our efforts to launch a radio station is taking too long. We have been struggle for more than five years to obtain a frequency despite repeated assurances that we will be assisted. We sincerely hope that now that the ANC has been returned to power, ICASA, Sentech and the Department of Communications would waste no time in granting us our much delayed frequency. We as South Africans have played an important role in the struggles for freedom and a non-racial and democratic society. We cannot now allow a situation where we are being frustrated in launching a radio station to promote our cultures, languages, traditions and music. Subry Govender Secretary/Initiator ----------------------------------- Board of Governors: Mr Balan Gounder (chairperson), Ms Keresha Govender (treasurer), Mrs Sally Padaychie, Ms Thirupuriesundrie Govender (asst secretary), Mr Logan Naidoo, Mr Swaminathan Gounden, Mr Richard Naidoo (deputy chairperson), Mr Denis Naidoo and Mr Subry Govender

RURAL VOTERS HAVE THEIR SAY

(A section of the KwaCele village in the rural district of Dududu) (By Subry Govender) Millions of South Africans went to the polls on Wednesday, May 7 to cast their ballots in the country's 5th democratic elections. Once again, as in 1994, I covered the elections for my radio station, Radio Deutsche Welle (Voice of Germany). This time around I visited a polling booth in a rural district to the south of the coastal city of Durban to report on how rural villagers viewed the elections. This is the print version of my radio report:

(Elderly voters waiting their turn to cast their ballots at the Shonkweni polling booth in the KwaCele village) The polling booth I visited was situated at the Shonkweni Primary School in the village of KwaCele, about 120km to the south of the South African coastal city of Durban. In order to get to the village, I had to travel on a national road(N2), take a turn off at a town called Scottburgh and then drive for about 20km. The road towards the village is tarred but the drive is an hazardous one. The road is full of pot holes and one had to be extra careful in order to avoid unnecessary accidents. But despite the hazardous nature of the road, the regular motorists in taxis, cars, buses, and trucks appeared to be making the best of the situation. They zig-zagged and swerved to avoid the dangerous pot holes.

(Another section of the KwaCele village) On both sides of the road, tens of thousands of houses - of all sizes, shapes, old and modern, neat and newly-painted - dotted the undulating hills and valleys that characterise the KwaCele and several other villages. One massive mansion stood out and on inquiry with local residents later, I was told that the owner had won more than R13-million after playing the Lotto about 10 years ago. When I arrived at the Shonkweni polling station, I found a long queue of people waiting patiently to cast their ballots. I also found two groups of party agents singing and dancing, dishing out their party shirts and other paraphernalia to voters. This was obviously a last minute effort by party agents to convince the voters to make their mark for their parties.

(ANC party agents)

(NFP party agents) The officer in charge of the Shonkweni polling booth, Mr Petros Shinga, told me that the people had come out very early to make the mark. "The people of this village," he said, "are members of a community of more than 500 000 people who reside in the district of Dududu". "Although the area falls under the jurisdiction of a greater municipality, the village is one of several that falls under the tribal authority of nine traditional leaders." Some of the voters who went into the booth to cast their ballots wore ANC T-shirts that were handed to them by party agents at the entrance to the schook grounds. There were also other voters who adorned the T-shirts of the National Freedom Party(NFP), headed by by Ms Zanele Magwaza-Msibi. From my observation it seemed that the ANC dominated this rural area and beside the presence of NFP supporters, there were no other parties like the DA, EFF, COPE or IFP trying to woo the voters.

( Mr Kulekani Miya) Mr Kulekani Miya, 45, was one of the voters who was prepared to talk to about 20 years of freedom and what progress has been made in their area. "We are very, very happy," he said. "There have been lots of improvement. We have got RDP houses, tarred roads, sanitation, water, electricity, clinics, and community halls. Everything has improved now."

(Mrs Kulusile Cele with her teenage son) Mrs Kulusile Cele, a 49-year-old mother who works as a domestic assistant in a nearby urban area, said she voted because she wanted a bright future for the villagers and the children of the area. "Yes, I have voted because I want a better future for my children. I need something, I need improvement in this Mandau, in this area," she said. The voters in this area it seemed are not concerned about the high rate of corruption that has gripped the new Government, especially the allegations against President Jacob Zuma and the Nkandla security upgrades scandal.

(Ms Zanele Nuyuwase) Ms Zanele Nuyuwase, 32, said President Zuma was doing a lot for rural people and she could not understand what all the fuss was about. "I'm very happy because I have seen that everything is going very well. President Zuma is doing very well. I like him, I like him very much. He can continue to be a president. He's doing very well."

(Ms Mbali Mthetho) Another young woman, Ms Mbali Mthetho, 30, said President Zuma was her hero. "I'm feeling so happy because this president cares about us. I don't think all the criticism is true," she said.

(Born frees who want to see rapid changes) There were also a number of young people who were born after the dawn of our freedom on April 27 1994. These so called "born frees" voted for the first time. And they were much more critical of the government than their parents. They told me that many people wore ANC party T-shirts just for show. Sabani Nuyusa, a 19-year-old engineering student, said he was not happy with the manner in which elected representatives used their positions to enrich themselves, their families and friends. "Even in my area," he said, "I would like to see people getting open job opportunities, all that things". "Some students have got high qualifications but they don't get jobs. A lot of people who wear ANC T-shirts really do so for show. When they go into the booths they vote for EFF and other parties. " Twenty-year-old Ayanda Khuzwayo was another young person who wanted to see rapid changes. "I would like to see a lot of changes here since the service delivery is very poor. We don't have street lights and the roads are in a terrible condition," he said. "May be if we vote for another party we will see more changes. I am very upset about the corruption. They only put their cousin brothers, uncles and their families. The people who deserve to get jobs, don't get jobs." Fika Mdluli, 25, who is unemployed, said he believed that politicians must serve the people and not their own interests. This was causing a lot of anger among the young people. "As a young person I'd like to see a bright future for all people and for all young ones like me," he said. "I want everything to be perfect and proper."

The visit to a voting booth in this rural area has highlighted the vast differences between the lives of people in the rural and urban areas. Most of the people here have faith in the ruling ANC and leaders of the calibre of Zuma, but expectations of the new government are also very high. - ends (sg/dbn/sa)

SOUTH AFRICA BELONGS TO ALL WHO LIVE IN IT

"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." - Nelson Mandela. ((People standing in long queues on April 27 1994 to vote)) (By Subry Govender) When we were preparing for our first democratic elections in April 1994, there was an air of unbridled excitement, jubiliation and joy among the electorate. I was at that time based in Johannesburg, covering the elections for the Press Trust of India, Radio Deutsche Welle (Voice of Germany), Radio Netherlands, Radio France Internationale and several other international foreign radio stations. All the people - African, coloured, Indian-origin and white - stood in long-winding queues to cast their ballots. It was for the first time, after the struggles of the past few decades, one could see that they were looking forward to the advent of the new non-racial and democratic society. The majority voted for the ANC and the former liberation movement swept to power under the leadership of the late Nelson Mandela. There was no concern among the people about their future. The ANC had made it clear that "South Africa belongs to all who live in it" and there would be peace, freedom of association and speech, democracy, reconciliation and security. The ruling party set about trying to "create a better life for all" and bringing an end to the injustices of the past. It began to build RDP houses for the homeless, create and provide jobs, open up the health and education services and generally creating an environment where no citizen was made to feel inferior in the land of his birth. Life generally in all areas of life, the ANC claims, has improved for most people over the past 20 years. In fact the ANC says that "South Africa is a better place today than in 1994" and "we have a better story to tell". But at a time when the country is caught up in the hype and machinations of the fifth democratic elections since 1994, the commitment to overcome decades of deprivation, marginalisation, and inequality has not been easy. While life for millions had been made easier and thousands of former "comrades" and others had become part of the "new elite", the situation of millions had not changed much. Most of the marginalised are still disadvantaged and try to eke out a living on the fringes of society and live in wood and iron informal settlements in and around urban areas. One just has to visit the Effingham/Overport/Asherville/Sydenham/and Reservoir Hills areas of Durban to witness the miserable conditions under which the marginalised live. Unemployment and poverty dogs the most disadvantaged and marginalised. Some of the marginalised have to survive by searching through bins in former white suburbs. This is noticed every Monday when residents put out their waste for collection by the municipality. This kind of environment is replicated in all the cities, towns and urban areas throughout the country. Most of these people (or more than 15 million of them) rely on government grants to sustain themselves and their families. While the marginalised try to improve their lives, opportunist elements have taken advantage of the situation and are enriching themselves through all types of devious methods, bribery and corruption. The area most affected by corruption is at the local government levels where millions or billions are stolen or squandered through corruption. At the same time another element - violent thugs and criminals - have made life difficult for home owners, businesses and others. They raid and plunder homes and businesses, kill without any thought for life, and generally reduce home owners and business people to "prisoners in their own premises" at their will. These vile criminals are not deterred even by the best of rapid response alarm systems, high fences, burglar guards and fierce dogs. In many cases where home owners and business people have been killed, the criminals have not been brought to book. "No arrests have been made" and "the matter is being investigated" are the common responses of the spokespersons for the police. The public health and education services have also degenerated for the poor and those not privileged to have medical aids. The state of these services have deteriorated to such an extent that politicians stay a distance away from public hospitals and ensure that their children attend the best private and Model C schools. The lack of respect for the environment is also visible everywhere you go. Streets and roads have become have become an eyesore with litter and rubbish everywhere. Drivers and passengers in motor cars, buses, taxis and even trains have no qualms about throwing tin cans, lunch boxes and other rubbish into the environment. Concerned people only shake their heads and ask: "What has happened to people? Why have they become so unconcerned about our country?" The degeneration of small towns are there for all to see. What's really shocking is that the new municipalities go all out to ensure that the former white suburbs such as Durban North and Umhlanga Rocks are kept "clean and tidy" but yet don't do much to improve the environment in former African, coloured and Indian townships and residential areas. The filth and litter in these areas is there for all to see. All these are matters of serious concern for all citizens but the main issue affecting most people (except politicians who are protected by security financed by the taxpayer) during the run-up to the country's fifth democratic elections is the violent crime that is plaguing almost all residential and business areas in the length and breadth of South Africa. "Why must we live in a state of siege when we are supposed to be free in our new democracy?", is the common question that I am asked by the people. "South Africa is the greatest place on earth but violent crime and senseless murders during break-ins depresses one", is the genuine expression of the person in the street. "We are free but not free because of the high rate of violent crime." The ruling ANC has given a rosy picture of what it has achieved and what it is going to do through the National Developmental Plan to improve the lives of the marginalised. It has also stated that the situation of crime is not as bad as it used to be during the days of apartheid. The other political parties, such as the IFP, DA, Economic Freedom Fighters(EFF), Cope, Agang and the ACDP, have all made promises to make South Africa a safer place. They have also promised to improve the economic situation of the less privileged and the marginalised. Whether all of them will deliver is another matter altogether? (Refuse to be cowed into silence) What is important for the common voters is that they must make their voices heard and refuse to be swayed by promises and cowed into silence. They must remember that politicians are there to serve the people and not themselves, their families, friends, cronies and the business opportunists. "South Africa belongs to all who live in it", and not just for the privileged, the greedy hogs in political parties, the new elite, tenderpreneurs and others who have become wealthy through dodgy means.

ANC SUSPENDS OFFICIAL FOR CALLING ON INDIAN-ORIGIN PEOPLE TO "GO TO INDIA"

By Subry Govender The ruling ANC in South Africa, which has always promoted the principle of non-racialism and "South Africa belongs to all who live in it", has moved fast to suspend one of its officials, Visvin Reddy, for calling on people of Indian-origin "to go to India". Reddy, who is reportedly the chairperson of an ANC branch in the predominantly Indian residential area of Chatsworth, described Indian-origin people as "whiners" and called on them "to go to India" and then see what a good life they enjoy in South Africa. In a posting on Facebook last Friday, he said: "To you anti ANC commentators wait until May 8 … The ANC will still rule this country. You whiners should leave … Go to India and you will see what a good life we have here. Continue with your garbage and marginalise yourself further. Don’t blame the ANC, blame yourself. You have not yet embraced democracy. Only a foolish Indian in SA will not engage the majority constructively." Reddy made the comment at a time when the ANC and other political parties have been criss-crossing the country to woo voters for the country's fifth democratic elections on Wednesday, May 7. He obviously made the remark after finding that many people of Indian-origin have expressed their disillusionment with the corruption, inefficiency and other malaises that confront the ruling ANC under the presidency of Jacob Zuma. The ANC's secretary general in the KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Sihle Zikalala, said Reddy had been suspended immediately and the due internal processes would deal with the matter. "We are a non-racial party and will not promote such racial talk," said Mr Zikalala. "We do not associate ourselves with any sentiments which seek to divide our members on the basis of race, sex, colour or creed. The ANC is for everyone.” The ANC has a rich history of working with the Indian-origin community from the time it was established in the early 1990s. It has had a strong bond with the now disbandded Natal Indian Congress, which was started by Mahatma Gandhi in 1894, and also with the South African Indian Congress, the Transvaal Indian Congress, the Congress of Democrats (white) and the Coloured Peoples Congress, during the freedom struggle years from the 1940s to the dawn of democracy in 1994. Reddy's "go to India" statement has not only caused a stir but some some opposition political parties are using the faux pas to score political points. The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) has been sending out SMs to Indian-origin people and calling on them to vote for it because "the ANC wants Indians to go back to India". The ANC has condemned this as "cheap opportunism". Now that the ANC has taken swift action against Reddy, it will be appropriate to reflect on who is this politician who claims to be a leader within the Indian-origin community. From all accounts it's not a surprise that politicians of the calibre of Visvin Reddy make statements that are not only reactionary in character but also downright offensive. Who is this Visvin Reddy, who has been suspended by the ruling ANC for describing Indian-origin people as "whiners" and calling on the people "to go to India"? What is the background of this politician who is reportedly the chairman of an ANC branch in Chatsworth? At the time of our transition into our new non-racial democracy in 1994, I recall that Visvin Reddy was a pal and colleague of the late Amichand Rajbansi in his Minority Front party. Then after a while there was a fall-out between the two former stooges and Reddy went to the DA. He did not last a week in the day and thereafter ran to the ANC. The ANC had no business to open its doors to reactionary and apartheid opportunists, but sadly this is what had happened. Many former struggle activists such as the late Professor Fatima Meer were vehemently opposed to the ANC giving refuge and being a home to the likes of Visvin Reddy but it seems in politics there's no place for values and principles that we endeared during the struggle years. I don't know what Visvin Reddy's status in the ANC today is but it seems that he's gone overdrive in promoting his chances for higher office. He knows nothing about following the values and principles of the ANC struggles and, therefore, will do anything to promote himself. No member of the ANC worth his salt will sink to such a low level and the gutter to condemn fellow citizens and call on them to "go to India". Visvin Reddy must understand that all citizens are South Africans and they have the democratic right in terms of the freedom we attained in 1994 to express themselves freely and to associate themselves with whomsoever they choose. No one has the right to dictate to fellow South Africans as to which political party they must belong to or support. In the struggles that we had been involved in prior to 1994, we did not see people according to their race or colour or whether they were part of the majority or minority. We only saw people as those who were part of the oppressed and those who were the oppressors. Not black or white. It's only reactionaries of the types of Visvin Reddy who categorise people according to race in our new democratic South Africa. It seems some people of Indian-origin find themselves today in a state of disarray and confusion primarily because we don't anymore have the leaders of the calibre of the Monty Naickers, Yusuf Dadoos, Ismail Meers, Fatima Meers, J N Singhs, and George Singhs. Another reason for the confusion and disarray is that we don't have a progressive organisation like the Natal Indian Congress(NIC), which played a crucial role with the ANC and other progressive forces in bringing about the freedom we enjoy today. It seems certain leaders of the NIC had made a major error or misjudgement in pushing for the disbandment of the NIC early in 1994, just before the first democratic elections on April 27 of that year. Those who chose to disband the NIC did not even take into account the advice of Nelson Mandela that the NIC should remain because it had a role to play in the new South Africa. Although it may have been seen by some of the NIC activists to be a politically correct decision to take at that time, twenty years later many people of Indian-origin find that if the NIC was around today it could play a constructive role and a "guiding force" in the new South Africa. It's because of the lack of a progressive organisation like the NIC that we find elements such as the Visvin Reddys going astray. The ANC has now taken action against Visvin Reddy and the next step should be to show him the door. ends