Sun is shining, the weather is sweet, Make you wanna move your dancing feet now
To the rescue, here I am, Want you to know, yall, can you understand? - Bob Marley

I cant believe. iYo!!! So last week I am in a rather chipper mood, same mood that I feel I generally find myself in nowadays, and what do I get? Emails saying ok so who is she? Etc. etc. come on now, cant a negro just be happy?

Let me share something that happened to me last week, possibly as a result of my gleeful mood, which I took into a client meeting. I am not saying this to make u all feel jealous, but I guess feel jealous if u must who am I to tell u how to feel J, anyway so I go to a client meeting blah blah, it ends off with me getting invited to a Johnnie Walker Green Label experience, not red, not black, but yes Green… so what is this experience, we were to be chauffeur driven in a Bentley Continental GT, to Lanseria airport, where we would be flown in a Lear Jet, a Gulf Stream II I think it was, to the Lost City, where we would learn about whiskey, get to mix our own concoctions, head over to the Palace for lunch and networking, then take a speedy 15min trip in the Lear Jet back to Lanseria. Whole experience lasted the better part of 7 hrs. The only ‘dissapointment’ though was that there was no Bentley but instead we were transported Porsche Cayenne, driven by a lovele lass, oh darn ;-) …living the dream.

But now to much more important things! I could think of nothing better to send you than this. I have this good friend, he speaks a ton of shaite, but his heart is definitely in the right place and this extract below will show you exactly what I mean…

The Lonely Road Challenge

Africa and in particular Sub-Saharan Africa is faced with a threat that could see it lose more than 10% of its productive population (66 million people) by 2015. Already we are seeing the social effects of this threat with over 12 million AIDS orphans. In South Africa the problem has reached such dire levels that the only response now is damage control. If we had responded early enough we might have saved millions of lives but we are faced with over 1 million AIDS orphans in South Africa alone. We are not proposing to fix the problem across Africa or South Africa itself but if we can focus on an area that has so little even a small offer of support could mean thousands of children could be given a glimmer of hope.

I grew up a privileged black child in Southern Africa. I had parents who worked hard to protect me, feed me, educate me and love me. I have not appreciated nor given honour to that sacrifice until faced with the plight of children left without anyone to provide for them. The thought of these children and what they must go through at that age is one of shame and embarrassment that I didn’t have the foresight to see the great privilege life had bestowed on me. I would not have been able to fend for myself, feed myself nor find the strength to survive. Every day these children are faced with choices no child should have to encounter, they are faced with trials and tribulations that most of us only dream of or read in books. They are placed on a lonely road that seems to have no end but they remain on it in the hope that there is something out there, like only a child could believe.

I am going to get on a bike and cycle to Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, alone and unsupported. At the end of that journey I will climb Mt. Kilimanjaro the highest peak in Africa. I will face many choices, trials, tribulations and I will suffer physically, emotionally and spiritually but my suffering will pale into insignificance when compared to the lives of orphaned children living in Dikgale in Limpopo province for example and it is for them that I do this.

The journey will start from my home in Johannesburg, South Africa and I will cover over 5,000 kilometers on a bicycle. I will travel through more than six Southern and East African countries namely: South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania. I will have to climb Kilimanjaro more than 5 times in ascendancy on the bike. It will take more than 2 months and to be faced with a mountain to climb at the end of such a long journey it would only be the final challenge to what is already a daunting possibility. But it will be a poignant reminder of the mountain that faces all children without support after they manage to survive their brief childhoods. They are required to participate in a society that didn’t offer them anything in the first place and to do so at the same level as all of us privileged individuals.

We will attempt to summit on approximately 25/26 August 2007 and it will bring the challenge to an end.

We are trying to raise over R2,5 million. These funds will be placed in a trust for the support of orphaned and vulnerable children and will also be used to provide education and awareness, testing facilitites and healthcare advice to the community which will include building community Anti-HIV/AIDS capacity as a proactive response to the epidemic.

This attempt and its ideological parallels will hopefully also raise the awareness and understanding of the challenges issues and hopelessness that faces our children and our people… not just in South Africa but on the rest of the continent. I will take on the lonely road challenge because I must and it is my destiny

Thabang Abner Skwambane
(Privileged South African)

Please note that the lonelyroad.org website will only be up and running in 2 weeks time. But this is exactly what I am talking about. After reading this it made me want to get on my bicycle and join him, but I have to be honest, that’s too hectic for me. I wish you well my friend, I hope it all goes well in terms of you getting there and back safely and achieving your goal of at least R2.5mil for the kids of Dikgale. In the words of Al “good men are few” and u ‘Banger’ are definitely one of them, even before u finish your journey, the thought alone boss puts u streets ahead of many of us. I will forward all the details to you guys when I have them regarding the bank account and website etc.

Birthdays
25th Damsie
27th Fedile
30th Randall

Another week done and dusted, here’s to another equally as fulfilling in all ways. One more week of Lent. This Lent has been very easy and loads of fun for me!

Maximum respect

Y
‘Que sera sera’

“How sweet it is to be ‘loved’ by you. I needed the shelter of someone's arms, And there you were, I needed someone to undestand my ups and downs, There you were, With sweet love and devotion, Deeply touching my emotion, I want to stop, and thank you baby” – Marvin Gaye

This by the way has absolutely nothing to do with this weeks email, just had that song in my mind since the beginning of the week, hmm I wonder why J

So whats happening gangsters? I can’t lie to you, as I sit here today, I am in such a good space, I cant remember the last time I was at such peace with myself and the world. Where does it start? It all starts with knowing who you are, accepting your faults and your short comings and giving thanks to the most high for your blessings! Everything goes in cycles, cos a couple of months ago I was in a pretty restless space, work wasn’t inspiring nor motivating and that’s a huge part of my life, things with the lady were on the rocks…everything in cycles, it’s a beautiful thing! I hope you guys all find ur ‘happy space’….long may it last!

21st March…Remembering Sharpville 1960, South Africa’s Human Rights Day…
Anyway, my inbox has been inundated with an email sent by a young man called Bonga Bangani, an email which I have attached to this email. He tells a story of his year at one of SA’s premier investment banks, Investec. He tells a story that many an aspiring black professional has experienced. And trust u me Investec is not the only institution where these concerns have been raised. I am not trying to separate myself from this but I was vocal and fortunate enough not to have experienced this first hand, but I observed it. During my article days, if you walked around the office at any one time, the majority of the people that you would see sitting around the office were…yes you guessed it Black. Coincidence, I think not! I know of someone who has recently left her auditing firm to join another because in her 2 odd yrs of training she is doing arb stuff that even first years aren’t doing anymore! There are those that have made it and I think of Jacob, Rachel, Marang, Baba, Nana, Mogul, Chairman, Gorgeous, to name but a few, and very few (mention too many names and people think they were overlooked). But I look at these people and what sets them apart, well black, pink whatever they were destined to make it, because they are go getters, they don’t sit down and take ka ak. They know what their worth is. They believe the world owes them nothing. And they believe they are good enough. And if what you are saying is nonsense, you will hear it straight from them. You my friend must try and tell Rachel that all she is going to do is sit in the office and do arb work, we’ll see where you’ll get off! J

This is a never ending story, blacks in every sphere have to do so much more to prove their worth. It is what it is, I always use rugby as my point of reference. A player like John Smit, De Wet Barry, Percy Montgomery (even tho he has been playin some decent rugby of late) have been playin the shaitest rugby for eva. Yet they are always picked in the Springbok team, then you have guys like Hanyani Shimange and Lawrence Sephaka catching splinters in their bums cos all he does is warm the bench. Let one of the front running players get injured u think the so called no 2’s will get a run, hell no, we will fly in some other player to take their place. It’s all a farce to be honest. If the guys aren’t good enough to be no 2’s let them stay in their provinces, get some game time and hopefully hone in on their skills so they can actually be ‘legitimate’ no 2’s. Pick a young black guy, no he is too inexperienced he’s too young, pick Pierre Spies or Francois Steyn, and sheesh what took so long…it aint easi! Same too goes for in office transformation. Hire me cos you think I am good enough to do the job and every opportunity will be given to me to train, challenge and test me. Its just that simple! Transformation like most activities have to be sincere for it to have a meaningful and rewarding effect, if you are doing it only because government says so well the cracks will show!

Actually u know what this topic bores me cos we pay far too much lip service to it. At the end of the day your destiny is in your own hands. People are there to assist you along the way. Just like with everything in life, you must go for what you think you deserve, THE WORLD OWES YOU NOTHING!! Apartheid…boo F lippin hoo! It is no longer, fair enough the legacy lives on, but boys and girls now is our time, all of our time. A lot of people tell me there is no opportunity for white people there is plenty of opportunity. White people have the skills in this country. There are many youngsters, determined and raring to go. They definitely need some guidance. I have many mates who went overseas cos they were scared of the “swart gevaar” (black danger), many have returned and landed pretty flash jobs. There are jobs here! I used to be in the finance industry before my new life. Anyone who tells me BEE is only benefiting black folks is most mistaken. The sellers get their money up front and the BEE guys work for the bank for a good few years, fair enough there are transactions where there is a bit of vendor financing. You should see the amount of money some of these people make. Selling at ridiculous prices, but I guess ridiculous is all relative…willing buyer…willing seller. So where does all this money go. Well it goes with those people that say screw this place, I am moving to Oz. Instead of reinvesting it in the country and trying to make a difference. Give a person a job, give them the opportunity to better themselves, why would he want to steal from you? Just being civil to another person, you will see what a difference it makes in disarming them, something as easy as a hi, how u, taking time out to talk to the guys selling stuff on the street. We are quick to point fingers at the government that doesn’t seem to know what its doing, hence why the interest rates are where they are, the ALSI is where it is, all sectors are booming, we have had an influx of foreign investors, if I am not mistaken there was a trade surplus last fiscal. (sarcasm incase it wasn’t picked up)

We CAN all make a difference. Let me tell you about this man I know called Michael. He is not even from this forkin country, but he does more for the less fortuntate in this country than plenty of us put together. Last year he tried to go around corporate SA to raise funding to send a group of Marimba kids from Dobsonville in Soweto to Canada, to raise funds for their school etc. Many corporates said soreee, so you know what he did? Cos he had raised these kids expectations he sold his Ducati to fund as many of them as he could, not only that he used his own cash to help build new Marimbas whilst in Canada, all this just after he had resigned from his job. He does a lot of work for Cotlands that he funds himself a lot of the time.

Black…white…pink…f uck it all I say! Cant we all just get along?!! We can and should we work together to make this place all it can be. Affirmative action, Employment Equity, its been around forever. Lets look beyond it and see how we can make this place work for all of us, cos I believe it can. Govt alone cant do it. You and I are definitely in a position to make a difference, even to one person’s life. Corporates make such big ammo, pay a single person plenty million in terms of remuneration, cut it by 1% invest it in policing, education, whatever. I know it’s a socialist thing to do, which I am not entirely but you have to give to receive. It’s the way of the world!

Sterotypes must go! I am going to reiterate something I read recently in President Mbeki’s letter… get to know one another, we are all so similar in many ways. Stop slating this country guys, problems don’t go by telling each other there is a problem. I don’t care about problems, I prefer solutions personally. Let me hear no more about crime, corruption etc. u want to stop corruption, stop paying bribes when u r caught speaking on ur cell phone…it starts with u!!!

All I can say is thank the almighty for places like Umtata, meet a person who grew up in Umtata during the 80’s and you’ll understand what I mean.

CANT WE ALL JUST GET ALONG????!!!! I guess I am an idealist, but if u believe it, there isn’t much stopping you from living it!

Birthdays
18th Nasrin
22nd Emily
23rd Glenda

That’s enuff ranting for another week

Maximum respect! Have a great week… Attached please find the presidents letter, the letter from Bonga Bangani and Steve Koseff’s response

Y
‘Que Sera Sera”

U know this weekend I kinda realized what really matters in this life, and you know nothing really matters at all, it only matters if you make it, but before I proceed, let me get the formalities out of the way, D, Bron, Adi, Nezaam and Cheryl welcome to our little community. For comments or the older blogs posted, please visit www.mondaymail.blogspot.com else just drop me a line. Furthermore, should you start to feel as if these blogs are a waste of ur precious inbox space kindly drop me a line and I will remove u from this list.

Anyway, so this weekend I was out at a game farm with some mates, thanks again Al! So we get there and this place is super styling, no electricity (everything ran off gas) and no cellphone reception, except at one small corner of a dining room table. Bliss!! The house overlooks a drinking hole and at around 6pm a wide range of buck and zebra came to have a drink, round about the same time the next day same thing…Anyway on this farm lived David and his wife, they came in everyday to clean up after us (yes very colonial) but they were so content, they just seemed quite chuffed with life. They had a nice 3 bed house, a company car (donkeys pulling a cart) life seemed so simple and they just seemed content…but anyway 8 of us went the 7 other people that were there were actually very cool people, had personalities, pretty good looking, and from the 3 days looked like they had good souls (there was this one who scared me tho, too feisty and bossy...) so what did all these people have in common…other than being mates with Al…they were all single.

I got to rapping in Afrikaans to these 2 plaas (farm) meisies (ladies) that came along with us about life and all. They were just so real, very refreshing and they were telling me about how they had just stepped out of relationships and that there are no real good men left nowadays. And it got me thinking to this conversation I was having the other day with Zarif and for some reason the conversation arrives at ‘there are plenty good guys still single’, I laugh and I say boss, been thinking the exact same thing over the last few years. A few days later I go for drinks with my recently separated bra Al and guess what he says exactly the same thing, that in order to get into the pound seat you have to be a prick. It gets me thinking even more…my younger bros and older sisters have to be 4 of the studliest humans around (and not cos they are related to me), well brought up, good natured, rippers and hot (but I guess they had to they are related to me after all ;-)), then there is Michael, Zarif, Dakes, Al, Morule, Zahir, Meaty…let me stop now before it looks like I wrote a whole list of people and forgot some one’s name, some of the best people on this earth, genuine good guys with good souls and tons of respect for their fellow man and particularly the fairer sex, ofcourse none of these boys are angels, and there are those times that the ‘molester’ and other alter egos come out to feed, but on a whole if I had a daughter I would let my daughter date any of these gentlemen (other than Dakes ;-)). All ambitious and successful/soon to be successful, but what do they all have in common, yip that’s right…still single? The question I have is WHY? Is it them is it the ladies? I doubt anyone has an answer

A few days later some of my former colleagues are here and for some reason the conversation leads to my former boss Dave making a comment that his daughter and some of her mates are complaining that there are no good guys left, all the guys wanna do is just get it on with every girl that’s willing.
Guys are saying there are no good girls, girls are saying all guys are dogs, it’s a mess in’it?! He said…she said…But why is it like this? I don’t have the answers but I guess I have some ideas:

Some might say people have become a whole lot more fussy but I guess that’s a good thing in a way, but then is that fussiness realistic or aiming too high? But then again who are u to say whether someone is aiming too high or not, that’s what its all about isn’t it…”aim for the stars and you might reach the sky” there is also a converse to that which is “when aiming for the sky don’t forget the flowers at your feet” (thanks Celeste, just joined and already contributing, nice). I don’t believe in settling, cos at the end of the day, u may well end up unhappy and whatever/whoever u settled for will feel the brunt of your unhappiness. But in saying this though, is TV and the Media as well as society as a whole playing a huge part in moulding what we aim for?

From the perspective of the boys cos I is a boy… Most of the boys will argue this to be the case… Ladies of today have different priorities, the majority are out hunting for that bad boy they can tame and then get rid of...The consensus at the moment is that if you are a real pr ick to the ladies the longer they stay interested…whats the saying, “treat them mean to keep em keen”. Disclaimer: This is a gross generalization, I know!

Also on the priority side, gone are the days of looking to get married at 24 and starting a family, hell no, now its all about my own house, taking care of business, career, man…children…they can mos wait. Good thing… bad thing…its just a thing…we must just learn to deal I guess. Priorities have definitely changed, society has changed. Good thing bad thing…it’s a thing. What are your thoughts?

Then there is another favorite, there is definitely something better around the corner, I guess this dovetails well with point 1, we are always on the lookout for something better, always comparing what we have to what we perceive others to have which seems soooo much better than what we have. Never being content. Never being satisfied that this is as good as it gets.

You know from where I sit, I believe that nowadays, we are all very set in our ways (once again a generalization) we are all rather hard ar ssed, and tend to take the stand…its my way or…well my way! Compro…what?! That word doesn’t exist in most of our vocabulary. I watched this movie the Break up a few months ago and I couldn’t help but chuckle. We come so different (guys and girls) and that to me is the beautiful thing here…it’s a beautiful thing, a sometimes painful thing but I would have it nooooo other way. The average guy is chuffed with chillin on the couch on Saturday with a remote in his hand, the boys around and watching sport, if they are not, well then I guess they are gay, which is not a bad thing at all J (more single gals for the boys….every cloud I tell u….). To make a woman happy, depending on the day, just attention boss, wash the dishes, flowers, arb stuff like that. And I said arb stuff for a reason cos I is a guy and that’s my point of reference. COMPROMISE…let me watch telly, be messy, and I’ll wash the dishes sometimes…

It’s a beautiful thing, it’s a beautiful thing! Remember, the script was written above, your role is just to act it out on this earth (well that’s my story and I’m sticking to it).

I must be off now, this email has taken me weeks to get it into some shape or form so hope it was a good read, if not oh well…

The weekend is upon us, well almost hope u all have a blissful weekend.

Birthdays
11th Bontle
15th Scot McP

That’s me for the week, as always Maximum Respect!

Y

Well howdy to youuuu. Trust all is well with you guys. Interesting this…what you might ask, I and many like me are in a rather interesting place, we are citizens of both the first sub-saharan African country to gain independence as well as the last, we are citizens of one of the poorer nations on this continent as well as one of the richest, we are of one of the warmest and most accepting nations and also one of the most violent and xenophobic. Very interesting place I tell you and trust you me I would have it no other way.

50 years ago to this week, 6th March 1957 to be exact, Dr Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah, stood on the independence square and uttered these words "Ghana your beloved country is Free forever… We again re-dedicate ourselves in the struggle to emancipate other countries in Africa, for our independence is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of the African continent " “Osagyefo" - means "saviour" in the Akan language.

So who was this man they called the ‘the saviour/victorious one”? He was born in a town in Ghana called Nkroful on 21st Sept 1909. He left the Gold Coast in 1935 and headed for the USA. Between 1935 and 1943, he received a BA, MSc in Eduation and a MA in philosophy. He spent a lot of his time in the States preaching and read about divinity and philosophy.

In 1947 he made his way back to Ghana (then Gold Coast) as a result of an invitation to serve as the general secretary to the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), the purpose of this convention was to explore avenues for Ghana’s independence. In 1948 he and fellow senior members of UGCC were arrested following protests around the rising living costs many inhabitants of Ghana were experiencing. He was arrested in error and the British realised this and set him free.

His arrest was the catalyst in his quest for independence of the Gold Coast. It spurred him into action. He traveled extensively and his message was “self-govenrment…now!” He included women in his cry for a new democracy. In 1949 he set up a new party called The Convention Peoples Party. The first step was the redrafting of the constitution. Nkrumah along with representatives of youth groups, veterans, farmers and trade unions came with their suggestions on how the constitution should be drafted to serve the people. This was presented to the British rulers. The Colonials dismissed their request. So what happens when people feel hard done by, correct, protests…protests, civil disobedience, non-co-operation, boycotts and strikes something that was termed positive action. This call to action cost Nkrumah 3 years of his life behind bars. There was a lot of external pressure on the Brits to withdraw from the Gold Coast so in 1951 the first general election was held, an election Nkrumah won whilst still in jail. They won a majority 34 out of the 38 seats in the legislative assembly. He was released from jail on the 12 Feb 1951. He was asked by the then governor to lead the country to independence, a request he accepted with glee.

In 1952 the Brits withdrew and he took office in the office of the prime minister. As a leader of the government he learnt how to govern, create a unified nation and gain independence which happened on the 6th March 1957. 3 years in 1960 Ghana was declared a Republic

Like most other leaders the first few years of his term were all positive, built schools, developed welfare programs to alleviate poverty, got water to the people, tried to sort out the sanitation, built roads, bridges etc. What he was most famous for though was his promotion of pan Africanism (a movement to unify and uplift all native Africans or those of the African Diaspora) thanks largely to his association with the likes of Marcus Garvey, George Padmore and WEB du Bois. He was instrumental in the establishment of the OAU.

The plot went awry (like that word?) when he decided to turn his back on farming and production and focus more on the industrialisation of Ghana. A concept that was somewhat sound, but in this situation it was a case of cutting off your nose to spite your face. You see during this time Cocoa farming was big business and Ghana was producing plenty tons prices had risen by a multiple of 4 in 1954 alone, but instead of rewarding the farmers adequately he decided to siphon the profits into other avenues such as the Akosombo dam which currently is Ghana’s major source of electricity. His whole aim was to reduce Ghana’s dependence on western imports, but as with most good ideas, a lot of thought should be put into its execution and in this case as the current state of affairs in Ghana shows, there wasn’t too much thought that went into it.

This ‘industrial revolution’ that he had begun was to be the end of him. His popularity fell…naturally, take food out my mouth and I wont like u much boss. So what does a ruler who is under pressure do? In 1958 he introduced a law that made strikes illegal. He also became a tad paranoid so he introduced the Preventative Detention act, which would enable the detention and arrest of anyone based purely on suspicion they could be charged with treason without involving the courts. He started alienating his people particularly the union workers, telling them that there is now no place for strikes and looking for the best for the union workers. His focus was solely on the bosses on how best to use the resources to best achieve his vision of the industrialisation of Ghana.

Sad to say, but like most of African leaders, his good intentions became a selfish quest of what he believed to be right rather than a consultative process. No good ever comes of it. He plunged the country into much debt. His ‘subjects’ feared him…the end was neigh. In Feb 1966 whilst in China, a CIA backed military coup overthrew his government. Even though his end was not graceful, he did much good than bad. He set the ball in motion and the rest of the continent followed suit. He never returned to Ghana, he took refuge in Guniea, but died in Romania if I read correctly. He was in Romania seeking treatment for skin cancer. I went past his memorial tomb in Accra.

50 years on and where is Ghana? Where is the continent? Well I havent been back ‘home’ in about 4 years, but 4 years ago it was a nation rebuilding an economy buzzing, and apparently more so now. And long may it continue I say!

Today is Tuesday the 6th March, I am at work wearing my traditional gear. I heard there are many youngsters who did the same today. A true sign of patriotism which is pleasing to see. There are a lot of us here that have much to offer this continent. I am tired of the bad mouthing. Its not somebody else’s problem to fix this continent we call home. People are stealing, give them a job, how will they have time to steal. There is so much disease on this continent, well then start practicing safe sex yourself and teaching everyone else (thank u Thabang!), poverty is rife…feed someone, clothe someone, set up an education trust, teach people whats right whats wrong. Am I doing any of this not really and will I, I most definitely will try. I have put it out there in the public domain.

Its funny how sport can unify a people. In 1995 the script was written up above and played out on Ellis Park, I cant tell a lie I supported the opposition for other reasons, but I cant lie to you walking down main road towards my room to study for my accounting exam, I don’t think I could ever have been a prouder south african…the unification on the streets was bone chilling.

Same too with Ghana, ever since the soccer world cup last year, the youngsters have seen new faith in their country Ghana

Today I sit here a proud Ghanaian, South African, African! There is much this place has to offer us and us…it!!

Aluta Continua! It’s only the beginning.

Birthdays
4th Tebogo S and The Blankson sisters
5th Will M-Smith

That’s me for another week…

Maximum respect…

God bless our homeland Ghana
And make our nation great and strong,
Bold to defend forever
The cause of Freedom and of Right;
Fill our hearts with true humility,
Make us cherish fearless honesty,
And help us to resist oppressors' rule
With all our will and might evermore.
Hail to thy name, O Ghana,
To thee we make our solemn vow:
Steadfast to build together
A nation strong in Unity;
With our gifts of mind and strength of arm,
Whether night or day, in the midst of storm,
In ev'ry need, whate'er the call may be,
To serve thee, Ghana, now and evermore.
Raise high the flag of Ghana
And one with Africa advance;
Black star of hope and honor
To all who thirst for liberty;
Where the banner of Ghana free flies,
May the way to freedom truly lie;
Arise, arise, O sons of Ghanaland,
And under God march on for evermore!