On the news recently there was coverage of the University of Witswatersrand, where the students were protesting against the annual fee increase. The recording was of the students, sitting around on the steps eating their lunch. Some had protest boards, while others spoke calmly to the reporters. It resembled a university picnic, in contrast to the recent CPUT strikes and I just had to smile to myself. Not because I thought it was funny, but because I thought to myself “signposts and sandwiches? Try petrol bombs and riot police!”
I have been at CPUT for almost four years now, and every year there are riots when the fee’s go up, however this year’s riots reached new heights of violence and damage to the property. Lectures were cancelled for a week and there was no access to library or internet facilities which are most of the student’s main source of research and computers which was necessary to complete their assignments. For B-Tech and Master’s students, those days off were not a worry free holiday as it might have been for other students who took the week off. For students applying for jobs and going for interviews, it was embarrassing to say the least.
I suppose the frustration I felt, was similar to that felt by the students who were rioting. Over the years, I have experienced many situations which have the frustrated me to the point where I could just scream. Situations which just do not happen at other tertiary institutions, which shouldn’t be allowed to happen but they do.
The deterioration of tertiary facilities and level of education available to the students of CPUT over the past 4 years has been vast and very noticeable. Simple toilet paper and soap not being available to use for periods extending up to a month is just one example. But the fact that there were no consequences for the students that took part in the strike: that has been the saddest part for me. By letting the perpetrators off with no punishment or suspension, the management of CPUT has condoned their actions.
When I heard this, and other facts about the strike like a memorandum being issued to the chancellor about the concerns regarding the increase in registration fee’s which was completely ignored because she claimed she forgot to read it, I began to realize that students are not to blame for their frustrations. When I look back at the causes of each frustration which I have felt over the years, they all lead back to management and communication.
Somewhere along the line, there has been a major breakdown and both the management and communication systems within CPUT. It is failing the students, and many feel that their money is being misused. Because they cannot see any improvements, but only deterioration, it is obvious that a price increase would anger them. Not communicating with them about their frustrations is what fueled the fire. This I can also understand.
What I cannot however comprehend is how there were no consequences for their actions of the students participating in the riots. This is just wrong on so many levels, it has been the breaking point for me, the cherry on top of a cake which is not rising, if the batter contains no eggs or baking powder then how can it rise?
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
third world
The very thing that makes us South-Africans or African is where we came from and what we are a part of. I always wonder what some South Africans consider to be living in the third world, on top of living in Africa.
Perhaps it is because many have traveled, and expect a similar sort of structure, many think we deserve to live like Australians, or somewhere else in the world “where shit just works” and health care is for free. Wouldn’t it be nice: people think to themselves, to not have to struggle just to live and more importantly not have to see that struggle everyday at robots? Wouldn’t it be nice if there was no crime?
Well it is nice, for a lot of South Africans who are rich. They have the money to build big walls around their houses and have holiday houses in still bay where is no crime because I quote “the closest informal settlement is some ridiculous amount of miles away” it was nice for those really wealthy inhabitants of Hout bay and Melkbos and even Camps Bay- until the reality of those who have nothing began to creep into their paradise worlds and squatter camps began to pop up and grow rapidly causing an increase in crime.
I wonder if those people ever stop and ask themselves what causes crime and come to the conclusion that it was indeed poverty. I hope that if they do they think about how much money they have, and how many people in our country have nothing. I hope that they think about how they got that rich \ and if it contributed in any way to helping society develop in any way. Many people have this idea that they deserve to have whatever their money can buy them. That spending ridiculous amounts of money something is justified because it can be afforded. I wonder if those people can even remember what their needs were, and how many people do not even have the basic needs of running water and bread.
When did knowledge and learning become less important highly powered jobs? Is it not the very pillars which hold up such positions and allow them to do their jobs to the best of their ability and ultimately benefit society at large.
If the judiciary and the government do not practice what they preach, and Judge Hlophe remains in the system, the very ideals and values of the organizations involved are going to be severely compromised and lose the trust of the people altogether, which will severely affect the development of South Africa and the lives of its people in time to come.
It would indeed be nice not have to worry about the skills shortages and BBE, the current downfall of the justice system, which is fundamental in dealing with crime and corruption, the political tensions and what they could very possibly be leading too without anybody really noticing or being able to do anything.
BBE is causing skilled people to leave to leave the country. It is affecting the very systems which are fundamental to our development as a nation and it is causing so much bitterness amongst those who want to be here and contribute to innovative development. The frustrations experienced by white males who are starting their careers out in South Africa has lead to a rapid increase in suicide since BBE policies were incorporated.
Recently I heard a story a about a BEE employment in a large corporation which made me think that perhaps the thing more tragic is the humiliation which such appointments cause.
The story was about the employment of a highly empowered women in management who was given a company car, credit card, laptop, the works. But had very little knowledge of what she was suppose to be doing to earn all of this. One day she met with the CEO and told him that she had contacted her old boss, from when she was a domestic worker and asked for her old job back. That she didn’t felt like she didn’t fit in the world she was working in.
I suddenly imagined for the first time the embarrassment which she must have felt in that position. People deserve the right to have the knowledge and skills to perform their jobs, it is a part of the very core of who they are. There is no working your way down you are almost deprived of the information necessary to empower you as a person.
This is just one women who represents so many appointments in public service which is serving to be a much larger disservice to people. I have tried to discuss two sides of an a thousand side argument to try and justify something to myself but im not quite sure what it is anymore.
Went on a bit of a rant about BEE, please don’t get me wrong I strongly support the ideals behind the constitution and the idea there-of but the implementation is *%^$$$&&ing up all the systems necessary to our development as a democratic nation. The politics and corruption is taking over all other legs which our country needs to stand on. Power is becoming conceited and being used for the wrong reasons and people need to start becoming aware of why these things are happening, and what they mean.
Perhaps it is because many have traveled, and expect a similar sort of structure, many think we deserve to live like Australians, or somewhere else in the world “where shit just works” and health care is for free. Wouldn’t it be nice: people think to themselves, to not have to struggle just to live and more importantly not have to see that struggle everyday at robots? Wouldn’t it be nice if there was no crime?
Well it is nice, for a lot of South Africans who are rich. They have the money to build big walls around their houses and have holiday houses in still bay where is no crime because I quote “the closest informal settlement is some ridiculous amount of miles away” it was nice for those really wealthy inhabitants of Hout bay and Melkbos and even Camps Bay- until the reality of those who have nothing began to creep into their paradise worlds and squatter camps began to pop up and grow rapidly causing an increase in crime.
I wonder if those people ever stop and ask themselves what causes crime and come to the conclusion that it was indeed poverty. I hope that if they do they think about how much money they have, and how many people in our country have nothing. I hope that they think about how they got that rich \ and if it contributed in any way to helping society develop in any way. Many people have this idea that they deserve to have whatever their money can buy them. That spending ridiculous amounts of money something is justified because it can be afforded. I wonder if those people can even remember what their needs were, and how many people do not even have the basic needs of running water and bread.
When did knowledge and learning become less important highly powered jobs? Is it not the very pillars which hold up such positions and allow them to do their jobs to the best of their ability and ultimately benefit society at large.
If the judiciary and the government do not practice what they preach, and Judge Hlophe remains in the system, the very ideals and values of the organizations involved are going to be severely compromised and lose the trust of the people altogether, which will severely affect the development of South Africa and the lives of its people in time to come.
It would indeed be nice not have to worry about the skills shortages and BBE, the current downfall of the justice system, which is fundamental in dealing with crime and corruption, the political tensions and what they could very possibly be leading too without anybody really noticing or being able to do anything.
BBE is causing skilled people to leave to leave the country. It is affecting the very systems which are fundamental to our development as a nation and it is causing so much bitterness amongst those who want to be here and contribute to innovative development. The frustrations experienced by white males who are starting their careers out in South Africa has lead to a rapid increase in suicide since BBE policies were incorporated.
Recently I heard a story a about a BEE employment in a large corporation which made me think that perhaps the thing more tragic is the humiliation which such appointments cause.
The story was about the employment of a highly empowered women in management who was given a company car, credit card, laptop, the works. But had very little knowledge of what she was suppose to be doing to earn all of this. One day she met with the CEO and told him that she had contacted her old boss, from when she was a domestic worker and asked for her old job back. That she didn’t felt like she didn’t fit in the world she was working in.
I suddenly imagined for the first time the embarrassment which she must have felt in that position. People deserve the right to have the knowledge and skills to perform their jobs, it is a part of the very core of who they are. There is no working your way down you are almost deprived of the information necessary to empower you as a person.
This is just one women who represents so many appointments in public service which is serving to be a much larger disservice to people. I have tried to discuss two sides of an a thousand side argument to try and justify something to myself but im not quite sure what it is anymore.
Went on a bit of a rant about BEE, please don’t get me wrong I strongly support the ideals behind the constitution and the idea there-of but the implementation is *%^$$$&&ing up all the systems necessary to our development as a democratic nation. The politics and corruption is taking over all other legs which our country needs to stand on. Power is becoming conceited and being used for the wrong reasons and people need to start becoming aware of why these things are happening, and what they mean.
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