Asylum Seekers Say Celebration Makes Them Feel Welcome

Paseka Menyau
@King_Matthews

Many in the western world would like to paint Africa as a continent of civil wars, famine and much conflict and instability, but what they should also know is that this is a place where one can find absolute warmth and kindness and that should be more important that the few conflicts in just a few regions of this amazing land.

People who originate from other regions of Africa came together on Heritage Day in Johannesburg to celebrate the warmth of the countries they come from. The theme of the event that took place in the Marice Freeman Recreation Centre Theatre was “We are all Africans, we are all one”.

South African Varsity Students Must Appreciate What They Have

Siphumelele Zondi
@SZondi

One would often hear some South Africans complain about how better things are in certain parts of the world and I have been in Britain for only two days to get that sought after Master’s degree from the University of Sussex which has a huge international student body and has been listed in the top three this year for a best university award. I have found that students from the so called first world seem to have bigger problems than us.

I have met two American students who say obtaining their development Master’s degree is cheaper than obtaining it in their native USA despite them getting foreign rates in the United Kingdom. They say their struggle for an affordable education in America is an ongoing battle. One mentioned that she took out loans to be here as she would back home and the other said in the US she had two work two part time jobs in order to pay her fees and she is in huge debt which would mean finding a job in the UK too in order for her to survive.

Slut Walk in Johannesburg

Our Heritage Sidelined for a Braai!

Nondumiso Shabangu
@MsNondumiso

It has occurred to me that Heritage Day on 24 September has been side-lined this year as many seem to have forgotten that September is South Africa’s heritage month and are replacing it with national braai (barbeque) day.

From what I understand September is a month to celebrate our history especially and rich backgrounds of slavery, colonisation and ethnic conflicts. As South Africans we know that there are many languages in this country with eleven of them being official languages – all those languages come with their own histories and cultures. While we have the Zulu, English, Tsonga, Afrikaaners, Xhosa, Ndebele, Tswana, Sotho, Venda, Swazi and Pedi people – there are also people who are of Indian descent and coloured people who are unique to South Africa as they came from a mixture of various race groups like the Cape Malay in the Western Cape whose descendents came as slaves from Malaysia. There are also San people who are the indigenous group of people found in South Africa. All these cultures need to be celebrated on Heritage Day.

Speed Limit Should Stay and Traffic Officers do Their Work

Kgothatso Madisa
@Gubzee

Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele says that the Department of Transport is looking into changing the speed from 120 km/h to 100 km/h because he is convinced most road accidents in South Africa are caused by speeding drivers.


“The number of accidents in the country has reached crisis point,” says Ndebele.

According to Ndebele about 126 people have been killed on South African roads in the past two months.

“Studies in other countries such as Australia where the speed limit is 110 km per hour show that reduction in speed limit can save lives,” he added.

Some African Leaders Worse Than Colonisers

Gift Ngobeni
@nyikogifted

Fromer DJ, Andry Rajoelina, ousted Marc Ravalomanana
with the assistance of Madagascar's military.

African states often celebrate independence and leaders would often go on about how much of a milestone and an achievement it was for colonisers to leave the continent, but is there much to celebrate when leaders abuse their people, never hold elections in certain countries, rig them in others and refuse to accept defeat in some.


All this has led to Africa being a continent of mediation processes that often take more than a long time to complete – lately it’s no longer mediation processes as in some countries citizens have decided they will fight for their freedom and a better standard of living. A few examples where this has taken place would be Madagascar, Libya, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Sudan, Tunisia and lately Malawians seem to be testing President Bingu wa-Mutharika or His Excellency, the president, Dr Bingu wa Mutharika as radio reports refer to him in Malawi.

TUT Students Share Talent to Alleviate Exam Stress

Sibusiso Banda
@sbudalicious

A pre exam stress alleviation event for CCT residents was recently held at the Tshwane University of Technology’s Soshanguve North Campus. The students were encouraged to bring whichever talent they have and share it with others – this was to expose them to rest of the campus and also offer relief from their studies for just a few minutes.

Event organiser and Residence Committe member, Samukelo Ntombela, says the event was inspired by the talent he saw at university hostels.