South African Freedom Day- Are we really free?

BEAUTIFUL COLOURS OF OUR FLAG: Freedom day is portrayed
to our flag. Source: www.southafricareview.blogspot.com

Freedom Day, is a South African Holiday, celebrated on April 27. It celebrates freedom and commemorates the first post-apartheid elections that took place on that day in 1994. What does it really mean to be free? Being free should mean having choice over your life as well as your rights that need to be respected and protected by others. In the South African context, it also means the political freedom to vote. But the bigger question here is, are we really protected or are our rights respected? It has been 18 years since apartheid, but freedom is far from absolute. The legacy of apartheid is still evident to this country's poverty, racial inequalities as well as socio-economic disparities. There are people saying "everybody is free", but people can still not walk everywhere they want because of fear of crime such as getting robbed, raped or killed.

There is so much crime in this country compared to other countries. and we are not even at war. My question is; are we abusing freedom or valuing it? The former President of the African National Congress Youth League, Julius Malema, sang traditional struggle song, 'DUBUL' IBHUNU'  meaning that 'Shoot the Boer',  which contains explicit violent lyrics that implies the killing of white farmers.  Even the government is introducing legislation's  that could suppress our freedom, such the Secrecy Bill, aimed at violating our rights and freedom of expression and as well as access to classified information about the state.

What Freedom Day needs to be about?

• Its supposed to be the time to heal the old wounds for those who died fighting for freedom
• Honouring and respect the rights of others
• Focus on building a new South Africa and safer one
• looking outside ourselves and finding balance where we can coexist in peace instead of being selfish.

Freedom Day, is valuable. It is the time by which we pledge to achieve a better life for all. We need campaigns and the support from our government, so that we make everyone aware that they need to stand up for their rights and and fight for what they believe in. If we are selfish with our freedom and violates rights of others, we are not better than the apartheid government. Is this kind of freedom we have in South Africa leading to chaos?

Gender based violence facing women can be stopped

The recent story on the news currently about the 17-years old girl from Braamfischer, in Soweto, Johannesburg, who was allegedly gang-raped by seven boys aged between 14-20 years old, has touched me a lot because its a cruelest torture anyone could imagine. Well in South Africa, sexual abuse are serious problems that transcend racial, economic, social and regional lines. Sexual abuse is frequently directed towards female and the youth, but it can happen to anyone. Adolescents and young women in particular may experience abuses in the form of domestic violence, rape and sexual assault, sexual exploitation and female genitals mutilation.

(Image: www.imow.org)

The article I read recently by "Sowetan Live" clearly states that the most disgusting and humiliating part is the video that was later posted to youtube, where anyone can see it. The video clearly shows faces, genitals and several acts of penetration which are clearly visible and her attackers can be heard offering her R2 in exchange for her silence. I mean what is this? Surely they do not have respect and I blame their parents for their behaviour.We need anti-rape and non-violence campaigns in our society that can contextualise a difference regarding this issue and help rape crisis on our knowledge base that could provide an effective service to survivors who go through no secondary trauma also know as Post-Traumatic Disorder (PTD) and their trial to completion.  What perception does this issue creates to the society and to children still growing?

Gender based violence is a significant public health problem which impacts women, men and children. Little is known about the correlation based on this issue in South Africa. There is a body called "Sonke Gender Justice" which is a non-profit organisation based in South Africa, working throughout Africa to promote gender equality and prevent the spread of HIV also fighting for human rights as well as ensuring healthy and happy relationships to men, women and children.

If you think that rape can never happen to you, think again, you have a choice to support anti-rape and violence campaigns because you might not know what might happen to you. The power lies in you hands to stop this. Are you ready to fight this horror?

SANRAL to mends its terms and conditions for Gauteng e-tolls

Source: http://www.timeslive.co.za

South African National Road Agency Limited (SANRAL), is mending its terms and conditions for the Gauteng province e-tolls. SANRAL calls for re-registration for Gauteng tolls to those road users who have registered for the e-tolling system and bought e-tags.The new set of regulations will be consumer friendly, hence it is highly essential for every road user to get registered   under the new terms and conditions. I think that this is a better economic sense for SANRAL to restart a registration process under revised terms and conditions. This shows that SANRAL has managed to negotiate on the current terms and have got an indication of revised terms and conditions that has been implemented. There has been a huge controversy and public pressure about the newly established e-tolling system in the Gauteng province, especially by those opposing the e-tolling system.
Recently the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) led a march in protest over the e-tolling system, saying that the costs will cripple the poor and small businesses, already struggling with the accumulative price increase on fuel prices. I think that the new terms and conditions will allay fears thats consumers and road users may have. This shows that the communications team of SANRAL managed to paly a big part, because it is clear that the new terms were based on public concerns, opinions and recommendations. Ideally, SANRAL has put people's interests first by making sure that registered Gauteng roaf users would not be disadvantaged. The changing of terms, is a demonstration that has been take the concerns and inputs of the public seriously. SANRAL make a clear objection that, visitors to Gauteng need to register in advance fo day passes. Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan announed on his Budget speech, in February that toll fess would be capped at R550 a month. Sanral gives thorough instructions, on how road users can may be registered, here is a short summary on how this can be done.Registering for an e-toll Account may be done through any of the following methods:

•  At an e-toll Customer Servvice Outlet, located at a mall or along Gauteng e-road. (click here for locations)
• Online at www.sanral.co.za (click here)
•  By printing the Registration Form on the e-toll website and faxing it to 0800 SANRAL (726 725); or
•  By phoning the e-toll Call Centre at 0800 SANRAL (726 725)

SANRAL declares that the have a highly trained customer service staff that will work will all road users to ensure smooth regulations and e-toll readiness when the e-road becomes fully effective. So, why wait, if you know that you haven't restered and you live in Gauteng provine. Do not be reluctant to go and get registered to show that you are true cizen of this country.