Rhoda Kadalie intoxicated by DA politics of deception -Millicent Tingwe replies to columnist’s attack on Marius Fransman

A response to Rhoda Kadalie’s defense of the DA politics of deflection, deception, denialism and division

Rhoda Kadalie’s recent article Fransman’s racist rhetoric published on Politicsweb as well as in the Cape Times leaves much to be desired.

Given that Kadalie is not a member of the ANC nor was a delegate to the ANC PGC where the address was made – but rather a so called “independent voice” within the civil society sector as well as a former academic – one would have assumed that her article would have provided constructive critique by an outsider.

Much to my disappointment the article is in fact filled with political rhetoric, bias, unsubstantiated allegations and devoid of in depth political analysis.

One would have expected much more from someone who is a former academic and leader within the NGO sector where the culture of impartiality, independence, rigorous analysis and constructive critique ought to be inherent.

Noting the above allow me to interrogate some of what she has alleged.

Kadalie starts off and lambasts Fransman for his assertion that the DA remains the last outpost of conservatism, racism and backwardness without providing any critical analysis and or evidence to justify her argument. Fransman on the other hand, whether you agree with him or not, does so.

No short-cuts to social cohesion – Helen Zille

 This is an extract of the speech delivered by Helen Zille on 4 July 2012 at the National Social Cohesion Summit in Kliptown, Soweto. 

Helen Zille -DA Leader

I am pleased to be addressing the National Social Cohesion Summit, the theme of which is ‘creating a caring and proud society’, because I believe that we need more care and compassion in our society.

And we need to take more pride in discharging our responsibilities, whether as members of government or as private citizens.

What does this mean?

It means a government that cares passionately whether learners get their textbooks on time. Because if we don’t equip our children with the education and skills they need to take advantage of their opportunities, we will never have a cohesive society.

It means citizens who care about using their opportunities in life, and who take responsibility for using them, because every citizen is an active partner in his or her own development and that of the country.

Opportunity only makes a difference if you use it. And there can be no nation-building without active, responsible citizens using their opportunities for the benefit of the country.

In the Western Cape, the DA government has prioritised social inclusion as one of our main provincial strategic objectives, because inclusive societies are cohesive societies.

And we have learnt a few lessons.

First, there are no short-cuts to social cohesion.

Minorities pay taxes but have no voice in govt – Corné Mulder

Speech by Dr. Corné Mulder MP – Chief Whip of the Freedom Front Plus to the National social cohesion and nation building summit, Walter Sisulu Square, Kliptown, Soweto, July 4 2012

The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities has failed. Since its inception it has done nothing to promote or protect the rights of minorities and communities. If we are serious about social cohesion and nation building the time has come to create a new Department of Minority Affairs. A dedicated department, which will foster a sense of belonging and will succeed in the eradication of the increasing sense of alienation, currently experienced by minorities and communities.

The preamble to our constitution clearly states: “We the people of South Africa, Believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity.” This is a very strong statement. If this statement was taken seriously we would already have had social cohesion and we would, to a large extent, have succeeded with true Nation Building in South Africa. However, that is clearly not the case. The mere fact that we need to have this national summit on social cohesion and nation building 18 years after 1994, is a clear indication that we have failed.

South Africa is one of the most diverse societies in the world. We are a country of many races, cultures, religions and languages. With a divided past and different perspectives on history. It is also true that over many centuries we have become economically entwined and dependent on one another. We all share the same geographical area at the southern part of Africa – called South Africa. This is our common home and country.

The people I represent also have no other. They also believe in Unity in Diversity. But then, we should respect and accommodate diversity and stop paying superficial lip service to this reality. This country is large enough, with sufficient potential and opportunities to provide room and space to us all under this beautiful African sun. This is possible, but then we need the best recipe for true social cohesion and nation building. We believe that the current recipe has failed and it will continue to fail because it emphasizes only one part of the truth of this country and its people.

True nation building and social cohesion will not succeed if we merely continue to stumble from one sporting highlight to the next without successfully creating a true sense of belonging amongst all of our peoples.

It started with the Rugby World Cup in South Africa in 1995. Then in 2003 it was the World Cricket Cup. Then Cape Town’s Olympic bid followed in 2004 but failed. Then we had the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup. Every time we had a surge of national pride, but soon thereafter only to dwindle and disappear in the sand.

This artificial process of nation building never succeeded in creating a long-lasting sense of belonging and true nationhood with the people and communities within South Africa. That is why it was so easy for Julius Malema to completely polarise our society with his inciting statements.

That is why we saw what happened to our society when the so-called “Spear” painting appeared. We can have as many sporting events as we like, but it will never create a long-lasting and sustainable feeling of belonging and create a true place for everyone in the sun.

Successful social cohesion and nation building will only succeed when we have real unity in diversity. When it is founded on a real “better life for all”. When “all” also includes minorities. When equal opportunities means equal opportunities for all. When your children but also my children know that they will not be discriminated against because of this or that reason.

Apartheid fault lines remain in place – Zwelinzima Vavi

Address by Zwelinzima Vavi, General Secretary of COSATU, to the Social Cohesion Summit, Kliptown, July 4 2012

Thank you very much for your invitation to speak at this important Summit on “Creating a caring and proud society”. It is highly appropriate that we are gathered herein Kliptown, the birth place of the Freedom Charter, which laid the foundations for our democratic constitution.

The obvious question we have to ask is: How far have we succeeded in making a reality of the lofty ideals so well articulated in that historic Freedom Charter?

Have we built a society in which:

• “The people shall share in the country’s wealth;
• “The national wealth of our country, the heritage of South Africans, shall be restored to the people;
• “The mineral wealth beneath the soil, the banks and monopoly industry shall be transferred to the ownership of the people as a whole;
• “All other industry and trade shall be controlled to assist the wellbeing of the people.”
• “The doors or learning and culture shall be opened for all”

These surely have to be the cornerstones of a socially cohesive society, but the sad reality is that while we have a constitution and laws which give better guarantees of social justice, human rights and equality than most other countries in the world, in practice millions of South Africans are denied these rights, especially the above socio-economic rights, in what has become the most unequal nation in the world.

WCape schools: Shame on Ehrenreich and Fransman – Theuns Botha

Theuns Botha

DA provincial leader asks where ANC and COSATU were when 4 500 schools were closed in rest of SA.

SCHOOLS: SHAME ON ANC AND COSATU!

The ANC and Cosatu are doing their utmost to convince the people of the Western Cape that the proposed closure of 27 schools in the province is motivated by agendas other than providing the best possible education opportunities for learners. The facts simply do not support this.

The DA-run Western Cape Government has a clearly articulated and comprehensive plan for improving education outcomes and, in turn, the life chances of all learners in the province. This plan is aimed at improving the quality of education for each and every learner in the province – particularly those living in the poorest communities of the Western Cape.

If the ANC and Cosatu were honest with the public about this plan, they would know that it includes, for example, the opening of new schools serving learners living in poorer areas; the replacement of schools originally built of inappropriate materials usually during the apartheid era; and the merger and closure of non-viable schools. This plan also includes:

• providing targeted support to schools aimed at improving the safety of learners and the security of schools;
• providing learner transport to learners living in the province’s poorer rural areas;
• expanding access to the province’s school-based nutrition programme to reduce the impact of poverty and crime on teaching and learner;
• increased investment in educator development; as well as
• supplying additional resources, such as textbooks, over and above those that are nationally prescribed.

School closures cannot simply be seen in insolation of this plan.

Cape Town manager responds to protest

Acting City of Cape Town manager Mike Marsden

The expanded public works programme (EPWP) is not meant to be a permanent employment solution, the City of Cape Town said on Friday.

“The primary objective of the programme is to provide temporary relief over any period of time,” acting city manager Mike Marsden said.

“EPWP is not a permanent solution to our unemployment problems, but it is critical to the fight against poverty and unemployment.”

About 300 SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) and Housing Alliance members marched to the Cape Town civic centre on Thursday afternoon to demand equal rights for temporary workers.

They sang and danced outside the civic centre on Hertzog Boulevard, as a line of policemen dressed in protest gear kept watch.

Samwu Cape Metro regional secretary Mario Jacobs accused the city of misleading workers into believing that 11 000 EPWP jobs opportunities would translate into permanent positions.

“All you have done is to recycle job opportunities from one poor, unemployed person to another with no prospect of that leading to quality, permanent employment,” he said.

The union said it was unacceptable that a permanent council worker was paid about R240 a day, whereas an EPWP worker got R60.

Marsden said the conditions of the contracts were explained to workers at the beginning of the project.

“At no stage of an EPWP project is the expectation created that these work opportunities will become permanent.

“We cannot limit these opportunities to the same group of people. Workers are fairly recruited through a jobseekers’ database on a random basis.”

The city said it had created over 34 000 temporary jobs in the past financial year. It was paying a minimum of R80 a day for these jobs, more than the R63.18 a day recommended by government.

The union has given the city a week to negotiate the terms of employment for these contracts.

It has asked for greater job security, health and safety protection, longer periods of employment, and access to training, among other things.

Housing Assembly chairman Mhlobo Gunguluzi demanded quality public housing without prepaid water and electricity systems.

He wanted the city to scrap arrears and evictions. – Sapa