An Angel, if there ever was one on earth

There is a miracle called friendship that dwells within the heart, you don’t know how it happens or even how it starts but the happiness it brings you always gives you a special lift and you realize that friendship is God's most precious gift.
I have travelled with you for the last 7 years, during that time: I have found myself in many different situations.
At times you treated... me like a friend, sharing your adventures and experiences. At times I became your confessor, sharing things you would disclose to no one else.
And at times you forgot me and left me behind for a new discovered friend.
Looking back, I see how much we have grown. Time has changed many things but nothing wil ever change our friendship. I’m ready for the next 7 years

Best friends bring out the Best in Each other

National Election Fever already

Ok so I have been off the charts for while, my apologies about that. Varsity life has taken me by storm, with semester tests and assignments being thrown at me from all angles, nevertheless its spring break now meaning one week off the city and its polluted air.

While burrowing through the streets of my lovely and quant hometown Bedford, I saw some posters from the different political organizations and it dawned on me that it’s almost time for the next elections. I believe the 2014 National elections are very crucial for the future of this country. With more political parties on the rise, more people becoming aware of the current ruling party’s deceitful ways and corrupted governance, and the “born-frees” (anyone born in 1994 and after) will be voting for the first time.

We (the youth of 2013) are wise enough not to base our votes on the past at the expense of the future. I personally am a very proud liberal, rooted in the values of constitutional liberal democracy. I believe that education is the cornerstone of the liberation of all South Africans and the catalyst for the full realization of the rights and freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution. As much as I am grateful for the freedom I obtained through my former leaders, our current government does not live up to those standards. There has been a major shift in leadership, whereby leaders don’t lead with dignity and affirmation but rather with greed and selfishness.

 Nelson Mandela once said “if the ANC does to you what the Apartheid government did to you, and then do to the ANC what you did to the apartheid government”. Our leaders fought for a South Africa that is united regardless of our skin colors, economic status and social background. With the DA winning more local municipalities, and gunning pretty hard for Gauteng in 2014, and EFF growing their support by the day, where does this leave the ANC? They have vowed to govern until Jesus comes back. Well there is a guy in KZN claiming to be Jesus, what does this mean for the AnC? is it the end of their reign or do they have yet another trick up their sleeve. well democracy wiill prevail, and hopefully this time we will see some change in leadership.

By: Siyamthanda Mhlangabezo 

YOLO- you only live once

since tomorrow is guarenteed to no one, I believe its time to live it up, laught it off and aspire to inspre before you expire!!

You strike a woman, you strike a rock!

To the pillar of mankind, the peacemakers, humanitarians and all round ladies of this world…

 

Long gone are the days whereby women were confounded to the norms of the male chauvinists. Being bounded to the stereotype that their place was in the kitchen, running the household, and basically being a fertility case, meant to breed babies and have no hopes of ever going beyond that, and claiming their independence.

The 20 000 woman, of all races, that all marched along to the union buildings in 1956 were not only protesting the Pass Law, but an attempt to prove that they weren’t going to be silenced by unjust laws and intimidated by society’s norms of how they should act and live their lives.

We are now in the 21^st century, oppression gone, equality set into place between the races but what about Gender equality? Woman are still being discriminated against, classed as being lower than man, and mostly incapable of fulfilling tasks that aren’t household related. The 21^st century woman is more than capable of making it to university and qualifying for a degree. However society never gives them half a mind, always ready to judge and discredits them. Now that the dark days are gone, women are more empowered to choose their destinies and claim independence.

Women aren’t asking to be spoon fed, but rather to be recognized for their abilities and capability of excelling in their given professions. It all starts internally, woman need to empower themselves, be ready to embrace the new revolution, and stand firm, like the women who marched in 1956, show no intimidation and take a stand against society.

Always remember, “wathint'abafazi wathint'imbokodo” (you strike a woman, you strike a rock)

Happy Woman’s month to all the ladies out there of all ages, races, generations! You surely do make a difference in this world. It’s time to make a stand once again, and united to fight society and its norms!

BY: Siyamthanda Mhlangabezo

 

 

Until when will we put it off?

An open letter to the youth, by the youth…

“We are still young; we have plenty of time to figure out what we want to do with our lives.” What if I tell you this statement is bogus. Tomorrow is not guaranteed to anyone, so I believe it’s time to stop putting everything off but actually start showing some action.

We all have dreams, some big and some small but they are OUR dreams nonetheless. I’m a prime example of what determination can earn you, hard work guarantees success. I hail from Bedford, a small farm town in the heart of the Eastern Cape, a poverty stricken place where the cycle of non-educated keeps repeating itself, where education is your key out and innovation is your ultimate weapon to prosper. I had a dream to study journalism at a higher institution, and everyone thought it was just a fantasy but I proved them all wrong, pushed myself to the edge, worked hard in high school in order to achieve University entrance and well long story short, I’m due to graduate in April 2015.

I managed to achieve this because I didn’t put off any of my dreams, I didn’t make any excuses, I didn’t justify failure, heck that word does not exist in my vocabulary. So what I’m trying to say is empower yourself, a little bit of confidence, faith in yourself and your abilities and a lot of blood, sweat and tears, you can build the life you have always wanted for yourself. It’s not going to be easy, no journey to success ever is but perseverance and a good support structure should see you through.

You come up with a “crazy idea”: Companies don't want to fund you, banks don't want to fund you and all your friends laugh at it and say “you’re crazy, it'll never work” Then after struggling to develop and market your "crazy idea": Your friends remind you of how they've always been there for you, companies want a piece of your pie and banks call you with different banking options to choose from.
Basically what I am saying is that, in life, if you don't believe in yourself, no one will. If you don't believe you can do it, no one will. "Obstacles are just a test to see if you truly deserve success". Strive to be different and when you are, people will strive to be like you. Like Steve Jobs once said: “STAY HUNGRY, STAY FOOLISH”

So until you make that decision, to better your life, and determine your own destiny, nothing is going to change, the cycle will just continue.

 

Nelson Mandela once said, “It always seems impossible until it is done”

 

By: Siyamthanda Mhlangabezo

 

Frankfurt's theory regarding Mass Media

So recently in our Media in Society class we tackled Frankfurt's theory regarding Mass Media . The theorist of the Frankfurt school are still applicable to the contempory mass media because of they main idea which states that mass media stands in the way of meaningfull sociall change by selectivily representing reality. the media confirm support and circulate dominant capitalist ideology of which these are still prevalent in today's media.

The mass media today is our source of whats going on around us, therefore what they decide is what everyone will  percieve as important. they repeatedly select certain topics that they portray as reality which then will have an effect on public opinions and their lifestyles. they also observed that people engage a lot in these growing technologies without really considering the purpose behind them.

IZULU LAMI IS MY SECRET SKY

 

Thats where my beloved ones rest, those who have been before me, faught for me.

Izulu Lami, my stars and moon, where my dreams linger about.

My cries are heard, my protector emerges alongside my ancerstors
Izulu Lami
-My secret sky

It hangs majestically around me, showers me with hope, lectures me about perseverance and dangles the light that empowers my abilities...

Ill always have Izulu Lami
-my secret sky