Devastating death of mineworkers due to exploitation

2012 MASSACRE: Its the blood bath, with police killing
people who did nothing wrong expect for fighting for their
rights. Picture Source: www.timeslive.co.za

34 mine workers were brutally killed last week, in Marikana, Rustenburg in the North West, South Africa. The mine workers were the victims of this massacre that occurred due to the strike that the employees of Lomnin recently took, because of the feeling of being exploited. Well, Lomnin is a well known platinum mining company, that bids and produces platinum, but what does this say about their reputation and of the mining industry? What happened in Marikana is just a symbol of exploitation in the mines. Is this because the mine workers are uneducated and that they are perceived as people who are inferior who can stand up for their rights? The law has to take its course on this matter with immediate effect, because if they just going to let this thing blow over, it will show that the South African government does not care about the grievance and the pain that the families of those unfortunate mine workers, had to  die fighting for what they believed was fair to them. The death toll from the week of Marikana violence stood at 44, including the 34 miners and another 10 people who were killed during the protest, including two policemen and two security guards.


BRING HIM BACK: A mother cried over her son's loss, at the
memorial held in Marikana, on Thursday, August 23, 2012.
Picture source: www.timeslive.co.za

The revenue earned by the platinum mine companies is worth billions per annam , but they can't satisfy the needs of their employees. This brings me to a question; what do public relations practitioners do about grievance of employees when they feel that they are exploited and are being taken for granted? Well the last time I checked public relations practitioners or communication managers are the to make sure that the needs of different groups of stakeholders are well taken care of and that there is a mutual understanding between both parties. 29 workers who died are reported to have come from the Eastern Cape, can you imagine the pain their families are going through right now, some of their families will face dire financial constraints, since the food prices are so exorbitant. 



ASTONDANCE: this woman fainted,
at the memorial service , since she is one
of those lost their loved ones in the
massacre. source: www.timeslive.co.za

What is our government to do about this tragic, and what is it that Lomnin going to do to compensate the pain of those families that lost their children while they were only bread-winners to their families, I doubt that there is any amount money that will ever close the big gap of losing a child. Who is to blame about all of this, is it the law or Bheki Cele's 'Shoot to kill'. Regretfully, all the politicians are climbing on the gravy train band waggon and taking this occasion to profit for themselves. Where were they prior to the shooting, did they try to defuse the militant strikers attitudes. Also I query the Bishop's motive in trying blame the mine officials, does he not understand business logic. No profit no mine it is as simple as that. The law must be fair though and Lomnin take a responsibility to look after the families of those who lost their lives, and this incident, reflecting back to Lomnin needs a good PR to convince the public that they are still worth of their support and approval, by so doing this they must prove by taking responsibilities.

Was the law expedient to Bobby Motaung's fraudlent?

BUILD UNDER FRAUD: Mbombela Stadium, in
Mpulanga was built under inequity. Source: www.mahala.co.za

Bobby Motaung and his co-director at Lefika Emerging Equity (Pty) Ltd, Herbert Theledi, looked relaxed as they approached the dock to appear on fraud and theft charges. The released Kaizer Chiefs manager Bobby Motaung and his co-accused director of Lefika Emerging Equity, Herbert Theledi are out of prison on bail of R50 000 each. They have been charged with forgery and fraud relating to the construction of the Mbombela 2010 FIFA World Cup stadium. Lefika allegedly committed fraud in securing the tender to build the stadium.

This is very astounding to see that highly respected aristocrats commits fraud to fulfil their luxury lifestyle. The South African Criminal Law and Procedure: Common-law crimes, a book by John Milton states that "the law must consider fraud and theft cases as a false pretence. The accused's conduct would be justified as a fraud conviction which must then result for a repulsive verdict to his or her conviction, a sentence must be declared to any citizen who is the source of illegal implications." In my professional opinion, I believe that  the law must take its course to anyone who has not adhered to legal practises of a particular country. Despite the fact that the rich or poor person has broke the law, the verdict must favour equally.  This has caused so much controversy, and makes the news because the Mbombela protesters, were dressed in an African National Congress (ANC) T-shirts, chanting a loud rhythm 'Dubula u Bobby' (Shoot Bobby) outside the Nelspruit Regional Court, where Motaung was appearing on charges of fraud. Now that Motaung is a prominent person, it is going to take time to rebuild his reputation and to convince the public that he is worth of their support and approval. This requires a role of a well trained publicist who will positive disseminated information at all costs to the media to reform his image and that people will believe him again, because such things must not be neglected.



FACE THE MUSIC: Accused Kaizer Chiefs Manager, Bobby
Motaung. Source: www.sabc.co.za

Its a good thing that Kaizer Chiefs fans turned out in support of Motaung, after such scandalous and disillusionment behaviour from the person they looked up to. Fraud is an intentional deception resulting in injury to another person or an organisation. What Motaung and his director is unforgivable; he must be prosecuted like any other person who would have committed such a crime. The law is South Africa is not fair, because it favours those who are rich resulting to them not serving their jail time while the other poor citizens, rot in jail certainly for things that they were never guilty of. Do you thing the law is expedient to the riches? Whats your take on this, do you think Motaung and Theledi should be prosecuted?

All eyes are on you, Caster Semenya

LEGENDARY ATHLETE: Caster
Semenya, does what she does
best at the 2012 London Olympics.
Source: www.ibtimes.com

The media-shy 21-year-old, athlete Caster Semenya had little to say about her run on Wednesday . She was third best qualifier behind the current world record holder, Barbara Spotakova, from the Czech Republic, and German Christina Obergfoll, but the 30cm difference between first and third could have been the result of a puff of wind so little can be read into that other than the fact that the leading three qualifiers are likely to fill the podium.The 2009 World Champion did just enough to qualify comfortably for the next round in the women’s 800m.
She did nothing more than what she had to, but to run and make her country proud, which is what millions of South Africans cannot wait to see her on their screens to see what she will do with her speed of the rocket she has. Semenya makes her Olympic debut after gender testing following her victory after 2009 Olympics. For her to come all this way, it shows that she has really got what it takes to be the number one athlete of women's champion. She has come across devasting adversities, ever since her gender controversy. Yesterday she qualified to go run Women's 800m  semi-finals, round 1. Tonight she made it again by coming first on the second round of the semi-finals.
These are there results of Caster Semenya at the Women's 800 m Semifinals

• 08 August - She came second on round 1 at 2:00.71 sec
• 09 August - She came first on round 2 at 1:57.67 sec

STUNNING WIN: Caster Semenya comes first
at Women's 800 m semi-finals at 2012's London
Olympics. Source: www.dailymail.co.uk


 

The Chairperson of African Union (AU), Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma commended Caster to go for gold on a statement where she said she was very proud of Semenya's extraordinary success. Long before she made world headlines, Semenya dealt with the gender questions and controversy few years ago, as a small girl growing up in Limpopo. In fact, there are many other women in her shoes. Many women have been brutally attacked for looking like men and raped to see if they will get pregnant. Others have suffered “corrective rape” in an effort to correct their womanliness, especially lesbians, who have also been killed for looking and acting like men. Where is that media coverage?

As an agenda-setter, the media has a duty to portray not just what is, but what could be; to be exemplary in its own practises; and to open debate on the complex issues surrounding gender equality.I am proud to know women of all shapes, sizes, six-packed or not. Caster Semenya, will always be our favourite athlete and we will always appreciate what she does. Now we are looking forward to see her on finals, bringing the 'GOLD' home from the 2012 London Olympics. Caster has pushed herself a lot more to secure her spot to the finals, which will take place on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 9:00 PM, all will be live on SABC 2.

Beyonce costs South Africa R17 million

News of Beyoncé coming to South Africa later this year for the second Annual South African Sports Awards has become a hot topic on the social network platforms.  Minister of Sports and Recreation, Fikile Mbalula revealed his plan of wanting to bring Beyoncé South Africa on Kaya FM a few weeks ago. Mr Mbalula brought a jarring mix of American film and music stars that included Brandy Norwood, Vivica A Fox and Regina King to perform and present at last year’s awards. The event was held at the Sun City Resort in North West on August 21 and reportedly cost R46 Million.

Fulfiling a lavish lifestyle with

INTERNATIONA MUSIC SENSATION: Talented world star, Beyonce knowles. Source: www.videomedia.com



INTERNATIONA MUSIC SENSATION: Talented world star,

Beyonce knowles. Source: www.videomedia.com

Mbalula is indulging his need for a lavish lifestyle with the tax payer’s money and what has Beyoncé got to do with the South African Sport Awards? South African government is supposed to develop local artists not give money to the established musicians like Beyoncé Knowles. In South Africa we have a vast of talented musicians who still need to grow and becoming popular like Beyoncé. This feels like a slap in the face of South African musicians, for not being appreciated by the government or for such concerts such as SA Sport Awards. What does this have to say for our country, what image is the government portraying to the young upcoming musicians; does this mean that in South Africa we don't have enough talent to showcase on the South African Awards. So why bring international stars to present themselves to what belongs to us who are already rich?

PREFERRING INTERNATIONALS: Vivica A Fox,
 Fikile Mbalula, Nozuko Mbalula, & Regina King
during the SA Sports Awards from Sun City Superbowl
on August 21, 2011. Source: www.bantumedia.com

What happened to building sports courts and fields on our school for youth development what happened to building sports facilities in communities that need those most to get these kids off the streets? The media plays a major role in promoting local and international musicians. This clearly shows that the government Public Relations is poor, how can you appoint or hire people who does nothing for your country at such an exorbitant amount, while you can invest on more important things.

Instead of wasting so much money, that money can be donated to the Roads Agency for the e-tolling system, buy school books for Limpopo's children, build schools. I mean, the list of positive sustainable things you could with that money is endless, but thanks to Mbalula who wants to throw that away. What is your take on Mr Mbalula paying Beyoncé R17 million for an hour's work when we have so many artists in SA?