National shutdown: South Africa's youth awakens!

October 2015, crowds made up of young souls gather and march the streets of South Africa in quest of what is considered the most important aspect of a democratic society, educational needs.

 

Their plea: they neither approve nor accept the recent increments made by some of the national tertiary institutions, universities specifically, thus they kindly request for change and consequently the nullification of such increment.

This should not, by any means, be taken out of context as an act of misbehaviour,  or national vandalism as noted by some. The youth are doing exactly what should be done which is, fight for their basic rights as the people have the power to consciously change what cannot be accepted in a modern democratic society. This is also a result of youth growing tired of the constant dropouts due to unavailability of financial funds for many as well as the ever growing debt that others have to deal with for the remainder of their lives after they graduate.

A number of people have been arrested so far, for different accusations including vandalism, assult as well as treason amongst others things, but there is absolutely nothing stopping the youth as arrests are something expected whenever actions like these take place and no one is standing down until their requests are eventually agreed upon.

In light of all this, I have to admit that I am extremely proud of the South African youth because this means that they are, in fact, exercising their rights for the things that matters most in the best way possible. Education is the most important tool in the life of every human being as he/she looks to survive in this world therefore no human being should be deprived of it.

These actions also show awareness on the part of the youth regarding what the government can do as well as which sectors of our society they should be focusing and investing on.

2015 is surely going down in history as one of the one most remarkable post-apartheid years in South Africa.

The Bigger Picture

South Africa – the rainbow nation, the heart of Africa, and its second most populous nation; the first country in Africa to host the soccer world cup, the biggest sporting even in the world, the house to some of the most remarkable people on the continent - Nelson Mandela, Oliver Thambo, Miriam Makeba, Winnie Mandela, Trevor Noah are just a few of those. 

A nation filled with harmony and warm people although some have tried to tarnish its image.

Historically many have tried to destroy it through apartheid and its atrocious ideals giving birth and rise to discrimination and unfair treatment of the natives here yet the perseverance of many South African heroes and the will to be free proved to be stronger than anything; such was so strong that it impacted not only South Africa but the continent and the world allowing many to free themselves as well and keep the legacy of Nelson Mandela engraved upon their hearts and books.

Nature has thoroughly blessed it with its beauty, adorning it with an abundance of landscape, plateaus, waterfalls, rivers, lakes, sea and wild life. The table mountain in Cape Town, regarded as the most Iconic place in South Africa, has established itself as one of the most beautiful places in Africa and one of the wonders of the word as it is the most photographed place in South Africa. The Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga houses a variety of wild life that attracts many visitors around the world. 

 

Beauty is understandably subjective and everyone has their own views, nevertheless South Africa is house to some of the most beautiful women on the planet and everyone that has traveled around a few African countries can attest to that. Moreover, the diversity amongst women here concerning physical attributes is assurance that it can aesthetically and physically cater for everyone without having to rely on medical assistance!

As an African, South Africa has taught me some, if not the most important lessons in life. It has enabled me to engage in new social gatherings and learn more about different people, cultures and customs. It has also given me real friends that I know I will always cherish. I have been fortunate to be a part of the new South African generation where equality and civil rights are for everyone regardless of their colour or race. This freedom has allowed me to be able to have access to education just like any other South African as well as live or have fun anywhere I want. I also learnt that democracy and freedom of speech can, in fact, exist in more African countries if they could learn a bit from South Africa and the way they deal with their social-economic political issues.

The diverse ethnicity, languages, and heritage here overwhelm me and although different they are all somehow connected and that is the power of UBUNTU that lives among the people here.

These are just a few of the divine attributes that this country has to offer!

S.A Xenophobia: Who to blame?

South Africa's democratic image has once again been marred by one of the most cruel acts on the face of humanity known as xenophobia. Horrible scenes of a small number of black South African chasing and killing fellow black Africans because of, Lord knows what exactly, left me perplexed, knowing the history of this country and how hard they fought for freedom and equality in Africa as a whole with the help of many African compatriots.

According to some of these perpetrators "...these foreigners come here to take our women, jobs, opportunities and money..." they claim; and that for them, is enough reason to make them believe that they have the right to abuse and kill humans in the same manner exterminators deal with a plague of insects or rodents as seen in the picture bellow...

Moreover, the reactions we get from some of the prominent figures in the country are somewhat unintelligible making most people wonder about whether they stand for or against it. Zwelithini, one of the Kings here, said in a statement that "foreigners must pack their bags and go home" only to deny it afterwards saying that his statement was misinterpreted because he had said it in his native language. Other controversial statement came straight from the President's nest through one of his son who fiercely said that government must stop using taxpayers money to accommodate xenophobia victims... quiet an ironic statement here in Africa, seeing that some of his family's income comes from the same fund but oh well, he is South African and his black! so that is his for the taking...

I truly commend everyone who firmly stands against it, supports and promotes peace over all. Everyone is a foreigner somewhere and I believe that everyone has the right to live anywhere on this planet and make a living regardless of your color, race, ethnicity, nationality or social status... Was that not what the "End of Apartheid" symbolized?

This is not the first time xenophobia has hit South African shores and this time government only recognized it as such up until the world started to take notice of it.