More than ever before, South Africa needs decisive Leadership.

Author: Manganyi Mbhoni Witness

Please note: This was written from a personal point of view with structured, disciplined and logical common sense. Either accept it or ignore it

Dr Mamphela Ramphela, an anti-apartheid activist and co-founder of South Africa’s black conscious movement, has proclaimed the formation of a new political platform to take on the ANC, COPE, PAC, IFP, FF, AZAPO, UDM etc. The initiative was launched under the name of Agang, which can be interpreted in English as "Build".

Studying societies and government holistically is a very daunting task; it requires a great deal of time, time to observe human behaviour and time to interview members of various societies. Mamphela and her team will be using the political platform to mobilise people in different communities; in her eulogy, she indicated that "the ruling party is practicing corruption, thwarting democracy and abusing power". However, others can argue that; since she is accusing the ruling party of corruption, when did she come to a conclusion that indeed the ANC is practicing corruption and what did she do to ensure that such penchant is jeopardised? The ruling party is led by arrogant people who reckon that constructive criticism is political jealousy; they hardly take other people’s ideas because they surmise that theirs are always the preeminent.

Mamphela mentioned that Agang ought to tackle challenges in education, economy and electoral system. We have a failed education system, we have a failed health system, we have a failed safety and security system. People rely on private security because our police and law enforcement system is not working. We have crumbling infrastructure, both socially and physically. And we have an economy that is not taking opportunities for the majority of young people, that in itself is a sign of failure and yet we got the governing party very confident that they win the next election. I mean no democracy with that track record is expected to win seats in a parliament. Proportionality electoral system led SA to have coalition government, which in turn lead to legislative gridlock and consequent inability to carry out coherent policies. Hence, it should be changed.

Having said that; for ANC spokesperson to go on public and say that Mamphela Ramphela is a disappointment is like disappointment saying disappointment and political jealousy at its best. However; some folks can dispute that she would be have been more powerful and convincing if she joined an opposing party. Her strength would have boosting any of the opposition parties, not starting her own political platform. No, we lack effective leadership that can dispel confusion, corruption and disconnection by demonstrating authenticity and building a foundation of trust. What we have is plenty of demagogues that ought to enrich their own selves; it is bliss that Mamphela introduced something new because she is capable of changing SA for the better.

Others think that the new political platform will not bring anything new. I vary enormous, instead; Agang is going to strike a chard and will introduce something new into SA system. I personally think that South Africa desperately needs leaders who aren't afraid of the discomfort that is required of leadership and do the job of putting the needs of others first, not their own selfish interests. More than ever before, South Africa needs decisive Leadership. I feel the lack of constituency could affect the formal build-up and whether or not it will sustain longevity or just die out after the momentum fades; the timing of her decision is enough to build social currency. She brings a hope which is desperately needed amongst our people. Not only to keep the ANC on their toes but to make people believe in reformation again.

Political Disputes Are Not Explained by Miscalculation or Ignorance.

Mbhoni Manganyi

Note: This was written from a point of view with designed, methodical and analytical angle.

It makes me vexed that African National Congress democratically elected leaders wary away from debating with the members of the opposition party in public. Firstly, the former ANC YL President Julius Sello Malema refused to have a public debate DA member of the parliament Lindiwe Mazibukob because he assume that she is “a tea girl”, now the state President Jacob Zuma is repudiating a public debate with DA leader Madam Hellen Zille. Are these so called ANC leaders turning down DA leaders’ requests for economic debate because they lack retorts to whatsoever is happening in the state?

Having said that, I surmise the entire system is a sham. There are parts of the system that were intended to be great and are now full of corruption. There are endless lists of ways that both sides have misrepresented their constituents. To fail to acknowledge that is wilful ignorance. We all deserve representation, and I find it difficult to sympathize with millionaires who couldn't really care less about the true causes of the issues we face right now, as a globe.

While the obedient parade around wearing their special pin marked "ANC", "DA", "IFP", "COPE", etc.. The banks still dictate what is about to happen, and it will result, regardless of our voting efforts. The question is, "Who do we think will manage impending doom the most "president-ly?'" Well... The person I would like to see up there apparently doesn't exist, or the things that I agree with are split up between bunches of different people, or seemingly NO ONE conducts themselves with basic common sense with regard to political matters... Perhaps I'm over immersed, but there is no good way out. We need new governance, we need a different system.

Socrates, the father of ancient philosophy, once stated, "An unexamined life is not worth living" in The Trial and Death of Socrates. In order to make one life becomes worth to live, this famous statement strongly addresses that one must examine himself first and then others in the society to find the meaning of happiness of life. It is important for one to know who they are and what they are doing at all times. If not, one would not be able to live a good life and one would not be able to find their purpose of life. Without examination of their work, one could be either blind of obvious things that an individual is doing wrong or lie to one self and try to make excuses for things that they are doing wrong.   It is understood that everyone makes mistakes, but it takes examining the mistakes in order to fix that particular problem.

South Africa, Are We Really Free!

South Africa, Are We Really Free!

Mbhoni Manganyi

Note: This was written from a point of view with designed, methodical and analytical angle.

When I look at the current situation in Palestine, this reminds me of the days of apartheid in South Africa. Our fathers, mothers, grandmothers and grandfathers fought against soldiers in Caspers, their weapons were stones and bricks and at times Molotov cocktails. They were teargased and if trapped, were beaten with samboks.

Many of them were wiped out from the face of the earth without anyone knowing their whereabouts till today. These were the days of darkness, what is even more sad is that non-whites were working for the old regime and devoted these acts on their own people.  Now, the deaths of miners, families are grief because their loved ones have been killed. Is this the New South Africa? Is this an example of an independent free South Africa?

This is brutal murder, lives were taken for whom? A capitalist mine. I say every politician in this country is accountable for these deaths; we have a nation whose some leaders are only interested in wealth. Life has no value in our country; the use of live ammunition cannot be justified. So are we really free? Are we the Rainbow Nation where all of us are treated as equal?

Economics has not changed colour in our country; those who think they have made it big are only getting the breadcrumbs and selling their people out. 'Time is the master’, If we destroyed apartheid, who are we? Fellow South Africans, open your eyes and think. It's no longer about colour; it’s no longer about political parties as they are all sell-outs.

It's now survival of a Nation. A nation where unemployment is high, the youth is sitting at home without jobs and this is a boiling pot, a recipe for a revolution. What's the worst that could happen? We protest and be shot like the miners. At least we go down standing instead of being on our knees. To those which are responsible directly or indirectly for the death of the miners, Karma is unpleasant and what goes around comes around.  Witty thing is that the movie 'Blood Diamonds' made everyone cry, any resource in Africa is at the cost of us Africans. Maybe we need to produce movies in order to see reality

Open your eyes; free your mind and think!

Focus on Being the Best Version of Yourself.

Mbhoni Manganyi

“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.” ~Judy Garland

“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” ~Ernest Hemingway

It is good to refer to others as benchmarks of excellence, especially when they are doing well in the goals which you want to pursue. However, know that your end objective here is to create your unique life path and excel in your own shoes—not to be a replica of someone else. Feel free to let yourself be inspired by others, but don’t lose yourself in the fascination.

Ultimately, you’re biggest, and only, source of competition in life is yourself. Firstly, there is a limit to the kind of competition others can provide to you, since they may not be good in all the things you can do. On the other hand, you are a source of unlimited competition for yourself, since you are literally an improved version of yourself with each passing second.

Secondly, as Ernest Hemingway said above, there is nothing great about being superior to others; what’s great is when you surpass yourself and your limits. Rather than strive to supersede others, strive to supersede yourself. Create a tracking sheet with metrics of your goals, and measure your progress over time. Aim to outdo yourself every step of the way. That’s what it means to be excellent.

A copy is cheaper than Original.

Mbhoni Manganyi

First and foremost I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to what i have seen on Soweto tv on the 19th June 2012, a fundamental debate on “Education” between four leaners of diverse secondary schools in Gauteng province. In short, it had content. Immediately the secondary schools debate culminated, there was “Youth Economic Participation” debate between ANC YL NEC member Cde Thabo Kupa and COPE WL member Cde Mpho Mihlapi.

Without any doubt, I can make a clear crystal that I was thwarted by how ANC YL NEC member presented himself in the national television. Based on his style of debating, one can certainly conclude that he (Kopa) is neither condensed nor solid because his political philosophies are filled with “Anarchy’’, furthermore I detected that he strained by all means to mimic the ANC YL suspended NEC member Cde Floyd Shivambu throughout the dispute.

The despatch I can pass to him is: You will be a gentleman seating on another man’s thrown, find your own thrown then you will surpass in all aspects of life. Why am I casting this? I surmise the way he articulated the debate was weak like a used tea bag, compared to the way Mpho did, because she seemed to know her story. Kupa just memorised some concepts that he couldn’t explain himself (Too vague). When debating about matters such as “Nationalization of mines”, it is vital to explain how the state can go about nationalising mines and how it will benefit the state citizens economically and socially, rather than helping them to go down a pit of failure.

This does not mean that I am trying to be biased, but it is how I interpreted the whole debate; if we are still having leaders of Kupa’s calibre in the Organization, it will suddenly mean that new way of leadership is prerequisite. ANC must not nurture political leaders whose control over the masses is based on the ability to whip up mysterical enthusiasm. In the light of the above, I’d like to sum my “what others will refer as criticism” with Honourable Nelson Mandela’s quote: “If criticism is valid, it must be made”.

 Examined life is worth living.

Process Your Emotions

Mbhoni Manganyi

Have you ever experienced moments when things just don’t go your way? We all have problems, the way we solve them is what makes us different. Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved.

Whatever you’re facing right now, see it as an obstacle to be overcome. In every worthy endeavour, there’ll always be countless obstacles that emerge along the way. These obstacles are what separate the people who make it, and those who don’t. If you’re able to push through and overcome them, you’ll emerge a stronger person than before. It’ll be harder for anything to get you down in the future.

When things don’t go our way, unhappy emotions are triggered. These emotions need to be processed, not repressed. By process, I mean to gain awareness and deal with them in a conscious manner. Imagine when you get a fresh cut. Immediately, bacteria enter the cut. If you don’t clean the wound properly, it may heal by itself on the surface, but it’ll get infected in the future since the bacteria is still inside.

Likewise, if you don’t attend to your emotions, they remain unresolved. These emotions lie inside you, ready to resurface at some point in the future. It’s like a dormant volcano – it remains inactive for years, only to suddenly erupt one day. That’s why sometimes; people who are normally well-tempered can get agitated all of a sudden when certain topics are raised. The emotions you see are nothing to do with the present situation, but from their past.

Improve Your Relationship with Parents

Mbhoni Manganyi

The first thing I want to point out is that improving your relationship with your parents isn’t a “follow X-step and Y-step, then you can see results right away” goal. In fact, you may not even see any changes for a while for that matter. To improve your relationship with your parents is an on-going, work-in-process goal – an end point does not exist.

While I was working on my relationship with my parents in the past, one of my biggest challenges was that my efforts often seemed futile. For example, when I tried to strike up a conversation with my parents, they were not receptive. There was a period 2 years ago when I went all out to draw us closer, making big steps (in my opinion) like hugging them and writing cards to tell them how much I loved them and appreciated them for bringing me up. The response ranged from weak to negative. With the hugging, my mom violently pushed me away; My dad didn’t return the hug. With the cards, there was no direct response from my dad or mom. With the conversation attempts, my mom would snap back and ask me why I was asking so many questions, while my dad would give his usual mono-syllabic responses.

That was when I realized my relationship with my parents wasn’t one that could be mended overnight. I'm not talking about mending a one-time conflict. I'm talking about mending a lifetime of arguments, miscommunication, conflicts, and misunderstanding. To think that I could resolve all past grievances with just a few “nice” actions was incredibly naive on my part.  Even though I did muster a lot of strength to initiate the hugs and write/give them the cards, these actions alone were not enough to mend the gap. Clearly, *a lot* more work had to be done. (I continued to work on the relationship for years after that, even to this day.) If I switched to their perspective, their (lack of) reaction at that time was completely understandable. Imagine – Up till that point, all our interactions had been abrasive, usually from me to them. Hence for me to suddenly be warm and fuzzy toward them – it was no wonder they were unsure of how to act. They had probably formed a hard shell all these years to protect themselves from further hurt. They probably thought my niceness was a fluke; a randomity; that things would go back to the way they were the next day, and I would be abrasive towards them again.

It was then my responsibility to let them know that things were truly different, that I had grown into a different person, and that I was serious about improving our relationship. How? Not through saying it, but through consistent effort. Through consistent effort on my part, they slowly became more receptive to my actions. Remember these things take time. The rebuilding of trust is a delicate process. If you want to improve your relationship with your parents, be ready to commit to this as a journey, and not some X step, X thing you execute in 1 week or 1 month. Let them know you’re truly sincere in changing the situation. Let them know that you’re not just doing this as a one-off fluke. Anticipate negativity in their reactions at first, because your changed behaviour is probably new to them and they’re trying to adjust. Consistent effort is the key.

Think about how you can be a better child to your Parents