Defying an official ban.

Naghshe Jahan Sq / Esfehan / IRAN. 17th June

This square is about 70 000 sq. yards (60 000 sq. meters) and can hold 150 000 people

LATTEST PICS FROM PROTESTORS; Defying an official ban, hundreds of thousands of Iranian supporters of Mir Hossein Mousavi demonstrate in Tehran on Monday and Tuesday, 2009.

All powerful BBC websites have currenlty turned green in support of the Iran protesters.

Eyewitnesses say 200+ already reported dead.

Career advice you haven’t heard before

Career advice you haven’t heard before.

The top 4 steps to choosing the perfect career.

By Tahir Sema.

Today more then ever before, it has become increasingly difficult to make a career decision. It has become problematic to make a sound career choice, due to various factors that are rarely taken into account. The factors that have complicated matters are as follows; there exists an infinite amount of career choices to choose from, including fields of specialization which one ought to consider, careers are changing rapidly, (to such an extent that in a few years time those same careers may not be as valuable as you once pictured it to be) and finally the levels of expectations on the youth of today are much greater.

The more unusual jobs or career parts are often not considered in favor of the main stream careers. Today in the United States, 1 million job losses later, a perplexing trend has emerged, those individuals who chose off-beat careers and jobs have been saved from the grip of the US economic meltdown. Their counter parts, working in the main stream were mercilessly retrenched by the tens of thousands. A similar trend is being witnessed in South Africa at present.

False stereotypes within the Muslim community should be eradicated almost entirely, or else the difficulties with making a career decision could be exponentially aggravated, this aggravated state has been witnessed repeatedly, with disastrous effects. The statistics speak for themselves.

Muslim families in South Africa and the world over, believe that careers in the medical, sciences and or engineering fields are the only rewarding career paths to pursue. This kind of thinking has had a grave impact on Muslim youth, often forcing them to choose careers they are unhappy with, eventually leading to an unfulfilled life.

Research developed in the United Kingdom, has revealed that 60% of all individuals are not satisfied with their career decisions, and if they could go back in time, they would have undoubtedly selected a different career path.

The top 4 steps to choosing the perfect career;

Step 1: Have or develop a passion.

Discover yourself, explore and learn more about yourself in order to find out what’s your passion. Being passionate about something is the most important step in choosing the perfect career for you. It is passion that has driven ordinary people to become the most successful of people. “Very few of the great leaders ever get through their careers without failing, sometimes dramatically.” It was passion that kept them motivated through the good and the bad.

Step 2: Don’t forget step number 1, under any circumstances.

Even if it may mean taking a gap year in your studies to scrutinize and learn all there is to learn about yourself, it should be done. You should be aware of what’s your interests, what you enjoy doing, your strengths and weaknesses. Figure out what innate skills and interests you posses and what abilities you have that make you different from your friends.

Step 3: Research and network with people

Don’t be afraid of step 3, with the internet at our finger tips, there awaits a wealth of information, websites claiming to offer free career tests that are 99% accurate! Every possible career has already been thoroughly researched for you, which can easily be accessed on the internet. Read about one career everyday with an open mind, and see which career path most appeals to you, your passions and abilities. Network with people already in the various career paths, they will be more then willing to assist you, and maybe even take you to work with them, so you may test drive the career. Experience first hand what’s it like to be in that specific field.

Step 4: Do not let money be the deciding factor

In the final step to choosing the perfect career for you, one should not let money be the deciding factor when choosing a career path. Your success in choosing a career path that would best reflect your abilities, passions and interests is dependant on the above three steps. Monetary gain would follow unquestionably, should you choose to study that which you are passionate about. Money has the ability to take a person away from the things he loves and is fascinated by. Root out all concerns for money, especially when exploring and learning about the various career options available.

“The darkest day in a man's career is that wherein he fancies there is some easier way of getting a dollar than by squarely earning it” Horace Greeley a renowned American newspaper Editor.

By following the above steps to choosing a career path, and keeping in mind the factors that are rarely taken into account, it would enable you in due course to find a career and job which you would love doing. Warren Buffet, who is the world’s richest investor, says he is grateful that he gets to earn a living from doing that which he loves doing. The harder you work at the above 4 steps to choosing the perfect career for you, the more successful you would become in your present and future endeavors. In the words of the famous South African golfer, Gary Player “The harder you work, the luckier you get.”

Facebook’s rapid SA growth is changing and replacing the moral compass

Exposé

Facebook’s rapid SA growth is changing and replacing the moral compass.

By Tahir Sema

South Africa is among the top 10 countries (outside the United Kingdom and the United States) in order of active facebook users in the world. As of March 2009 South Africa had more then 1.2 million active users. When compared to three months earlier, the number of active users in SA grew by a mind blowing 33.4%. The rapid increase in active users puts the youth and various other age groups of this country at risk, changing their perceptions and replacing their moral/religious values, with a fantasy world of immorality in which the race is on, to be perceived as the “most desired”.

For those whom haven’t used or heard of the social networking site before (I doubt there are many). The modern day marvel Facebook, can be described as “a social utility that helps people communicate more efficiently with their friends, family and coworkers. The company develops technologies that facilitate the sharing of information through the social graph, the digital mapping of people's real-world social connections. Anyone can sign up for Facebook and interact with the people they know in a trusted environment.” Facebook Press Room.

Facebook is the second most-trafficked site in the world, with over 200 million active users who have returned to the site in the last 30 days. The rapid growth of this website has been witnessed all over the world, more noticeably in certain countries such as: Turkey, Australia, France, Sweden, Norway, Colombia and South Africa.

The social effects Facebook has on the youth of South Africa, is worrying. It has promoted a culture of promiscuity and is threatening to kill social interaction. Though the effects cannot be scientifically measured, as evidence, startling trends among the youth and even older age groups have emerged, below a few of them with catastrophic consequences will be discussed.

Many youth due to the lack of self control, loose hours each day to socializing online and flirting with total strangers, friends and family.

More recently professional Photographers in South Africa have experienced a tremendous boost in earnings year on year, as a result of Facebook. An immeasurable amount of active Muslim users in South Africa are now going to professional photographers to have their pictures taken, so they may appear more desirable, as voted by their friends.

Based on research conducted among a wide set of Muslim Facebook users, provocative, seductive and revealing pictures made up the majority of pictures uploaded and categorized into albums by individual users. According to Facebook more than 850 million photos are uploaded to the site each month.

Keeping the site nice and clean has proved to be a huge challenge for the 850 plus members Facebook employs. Semi formal rules were developed by its staff to weed out disgusting pictures, among these semi formal rules are the Exposed Butt Rule, the Crack Rule and the Nipple Rule. Members of the site can report offensive pictures, which would immediately go to the more then 150 staff members assigned to carry out policing duties for the website. On any given day the team deals with over 400000 obscene pictures.

Unfortunately Facebook is becoming a site for wild and crazy kids in South Africa and the world over. There are more than 30 million active users currently accessing Facebook through their mobile devices, mainly youth. 150 mobile operators in 50 countries are working to deploy and promote Facebook mobile products on a daily basis.

For a conservative Muslim population in South Africa, Facebook has proved to have disastrous effects when abused. The social networking site is slowly warping people’s perceptions. An extract from a Muslim girl’s Facebook over the weekend;

“OMG!!! (Oh my God) WTF (What the Fu**) happened last night??? I don’t remember anything!!! Later on during the day, while explaining to her inquisitive friends what had happened the night before, she said “I drank a whole lot! not just storm! STORM DOESNT MAKE ME DRUNK LOL” (laugh out Loud). The girl responsible for these comments lives with her parents and comes from a respectable and conventional Muslim home.

Another incident, published on Facebook two weeks ago, was by a 16 year old girl, attending a well known Muslim school in Johannesburg, it read as follows; “Thanks to my friends X and Y for the awesome weekend, I can’t believe we almost got caught while we were high on weed and other stuff ha ha”.

Facebook is not just killing social interaction; it is turning a conservative Muslim population into a shameless one. Many Muslim youth have displayed a similar behavior, and revealed disgusting facts about themselves and what they have been up to in pictures, video and words. This kind of behavior has become acceptable by the Muslim youth because many participate in a similar kind of shameful behavior, which is now viewed as “normal”, in what may, at times be defined as a desperate bid to attract the opposite sex. This kind of interaction online helps one build their social profile to “very cool”, “most spontaneous “very fun” and “very desirable.” These tags will ultimately be placed on your profile for everyone to see.

Both Male and female are using the social networking site as a tool, to market themselves to the opposite sex. All Facebook users I have spoken to claim to have people on their “friends list” that they have never met or seen before. An anonymous Muslim female who is a Facebook user claims to get 2 new invites from random guys on a daily basis; she adds “I am not complaining. I like the attention; most guys invite me or want to chat to me because of my profile pictures”.

Many e-books exist on the internet on how to pick up girls on Facebook, pitching the networking site as the ultimate playing field for pick-ups.

The Facebook debate has always centered on the question is it killing real social interaction or not? More importantly it is eroding our moral compass and promoting a promiscuous society, devoid of values, religious laws and regulations.

The rapid increase in Facebook’s numbers for South Africa is unsettling, as the youth fall victim to its fantasy world. A 33.4% increase in SA users in fewer than four months are figures that would go down in technology and history books, but this is not the end, not nearly. Growth of active users is expected to double and quadruple in the near future, to be precise, in no more then a year’s time.

The Muslim youth’s perceptions of themselves have changed and continue to change, due to social networking sites, lack of self control and a weak set of values. The lack thereof has made them openly display behavior that is at best immoral by any standards and at its worst simply hideous.

Leader of largest Islamic group calls upon all states to abandon ICC membership.

Leader of largest Islamic group calls upon all states to abandon ICC membership.

“ICC is a double standard discriminatory court which issues its decisions on an unbalanced scale.”

By Tahir Sema

Mr. Mahdi Akef leader of the Muslim Brotherhood movement in Egypt has called all Arab and Islamic states as well as Eastern and Western state members of The Hague International Criminal Court (ICC) to walkout and abandon their membership, “in order not to participate in a double standard discriminatory court which issues its decisions on an unbalanced scale, according to the American and Zionist policies.”

Mr. Mahdi Akef in a statement to IkhwanWeb, condemned the decision by the ICC to arrest the Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, emphasizing that “this decision exceeds the limits of law, justice and political decorum and is part of an unending double standard series, the new world order follows.”

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir is accused by the International Criminal Court of masterminding a campaign of extermination, rape and pillage during the six-year conflict in Darfur.
According to media reports up to 300,000 people have died and 2.7 million have fled their homes
in the region since the war in Darfur began in 2003, which was sparked by ethnic African groups, complaining of discrimination and neglect, as they took up arms against the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum.
The arrest warrant by the Netherlands-based International Criminal Court is the tribunals first against a sitting head of state. Humanitarian aid agencies based in Sudan and other international officials said, they will continue to deal with Omar al-Bashir in Sudan since he remains the president of the country.
The leader of the Muslim Brotherhood stressed that the prosecutor in this case is politically blackmailing the entire Arab nation, not only Sudan, as this is the main reason for the trial, not as alleged, to prosecute a war criminal.

“If it were true that the ICC has actual grounds for such a ruling, it should have sought the arrest of American officials and their allies as well, for their crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan. The same kind of treatment should be dealt to the officials of the Zionist entity for their crimes in Palestine, in Gaza in particular” Said Mahdi Akef.

He called on Arab and Islamic countries in particular to take a unified stance, “rejecting the court’s decision and declaring solidarity with Sudan, not for al-Bashir but in defense of the Arab and Islamic will, facing the attempts to make the nation kneel down and to blackmail governments and regimes. This requires a unified stance, for governments to stand together with their people” said Akef.
Meanwhile on Thursday Omar al-Bashir spoke out for the first time since he became an international fugitive in the eyes of the ICC and its member states, saying that his arrest on war crimes charges is a conspiracy aimed at destabilizing the country and disrupting peace efforts in Darfur.
In a televised cabinet meeting al-Bashir said, the court, the United Nations and international organizations operating in Sudan were "tools of the new colonialism" meant to bring Sudan and its resources under control, "an attempt to get at Sudan".
In the recent flurry of international condemnation over the ICC’s decision, China which buys two-thirds of Sudan's petroleum exports in a statement said, attempts by the International Criminal Court to arrest Sudan's leader on war crimes will only hurt efforts to bring peace and stability to the war-scarred Darfur region.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said that China backed a call by African and Arab countries to have the arrest warrant dropped. "China opposes anything that could disrupt efforts to realize peace in Darfur and in Sudan".

Thousands gathered on Thursday in Khartoum's Martyrs Square shouting support for Sudan's veteran leader and denouncing ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo.
It was at this gathering that the Sudanese President echoed the sentiments and concerns of the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, Sudan’s people, African countries and many other Arab nations who believe that the ICC’s decision is unfair and unjust.
In the strongest of words and the backdrop of continuous applaud from his supporters al-Bashir dismissed an international arrest warrant against him for war crimes, telling a mass rally in Khartoum that Western leaders were the real criminals. "The true criminals are the leaders of the United States and Europe".

Dr Zakir Naik among the 100 Most Powerful Indians

Dr Zakir Naik among the 100 Most Powerful Indians

AND

No. 3 on the Top 10 Spiritual Gurus list for 2009.

By Tahir Sema

A newspaper in Mumbai called The Indian Express recently published the list of the 100 Most Powerful Indians for the year 2009. India has a population of more then a billion people, of which the nominees were chosen from amongst these people. The 82nd position from among the 100 Most Powerful Indians was none other then Dr. Zakir Naik aged 42.

From amongst the few Muslims in this list of 100, Dr. Naik is the only Muslim Islamic preacher and scholar to be featured on the list. The few other Muslims featured were either film personalities, Politicians or Businessmen.

As inspiring, was Dr. Naik’s ranking among the Top 10 Spiritual Gurus for 2009, in a list called the special list. In this list also published in the same publication, Naik is ranked remarkably at the No. 3 position, making him the only Muslim in the Spiritual Gurus List.

In response to being among the 100 Most Powerful Indians in 2009 and among the top 3 in the Top 10 Spiritual Gurus List, Dr. Naik had the following to say “All Praises are due to Allah (swt) and the great efforts and sacrifices of our last and final messenger Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and the eloquent Message of Islam for the entire humanity. I am merely a humble servant of Allah striving in His Way, by His Grace, for His Deen as per His Guidance. I pray Allah (swt) continues to guide and help me and the whole Muslim Ummah in overcoming our limitations and increase the “IMAN” and “STRIVING” in us for Islam and its proper understanding the world over”.

According to The Indian Express, comparative religion specialist Dr Zakir Naik has emerged as a cult figure of sorts among Muslims. His public lectures are broadcast on Peace TV, a channel aired in 125 countries that he runs with the help of donations. His lectures are also recorded and sold on CDs all over the world.

The newspaper believes that Naik’s success has stemmed from the past 13 years of relentless work, in which he has authored several books and delivered more than 1,200 public talks across the world, some of which were controversial. At a talk in Mumbai in December 2007, he angered Shias with justification, by glorifying Yazid, the alleged murderer of Imam Hussein.

At a separate incident that caught the world’s attention, Naik offered to have a “live public debate” with Pope Benedict XVI, this after the Pope quoted a 14th Century Byzantine emperor that had said negative things about Prophet Muhammad (SAW). The Pope is yet to respond to his invitation.

In response to what can we expect in the near future from this noble Islamic scholar, Naik was quick to respond, that he plans to launch a news channel.

Listing and keeping track of the most influential Indians is certainly not an easy task, the criteria that was used to measure the power of Naik and others, was a criteria based primarily on influence. Contributing factors to the measurement criteria were about achievement, visibility and or excellence.

“It’s about men and woman who have the power to influence or challenge the way we are. It’s about men and woman who are respected, some even feared, but all who can influence public or political opinion. Some of them have this power by virtue of their office, others because the effects of their actions or abdications touch us all” The Indian Express.

All systems go for SA aid to be administered in the war ravaged Gaza strip.

Inspiring support received from all, including government.

By Tahir Sema

A Boeing 747 jumbo jet packed to capacity with humanitarian aid sent by the KwaZulu-Natal-based international humanitarian agency, Gift of the Givers, has reached the Gaza strip. The aid convoy along with a medical team of 26 South African doctors will assist thousands of civilians injured in the conflict torn region.

The convoy of aid and medical staff from South Africa entered through the infamous Rafah boarder crossing into Gaza Friday evening.

Gift of the Givers CEO, Imtiaz Sooliman said on Thursday “all indications were that a safe passage would be granted to the South African Aid package, because of the flurry of diplomatic activity and the demand by the international community for a safe humanitarian corridor and a ceasefire.”

Sooliman emphasized that “the South African aid did not come only from the Muslim community. It included aid from Cosatu, the SA Catholic Bishops Conference, the South African Council of Churches and the Anglican Church. This is a truly South African response.”

Foreign Affairs Director-General Ayanda Ntsaluba told journalists at a press conference in Pretoria a week ago that the government will be working with various humanitarian organisations such as the Gift of the Givers and the South African Council of Churches, to put together the aid package and secure a passage for the convoy to the conflict torn Gaza strip

According to Gift of the Givers founder, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman 90 tons valued at R17 million were taken aboard a jumbo jet. The jet was brought from Saudi Arabia to South Africa for the mission, making the mission the largest single haul of aid to be taken from South Africa to Gaza.

The aid that successfully reached the besieged Gaza strip is in the form of vital medical supplies, medical equipment, food, water purification tablets, energy supplements, generators for hospitals, wheelchairs, baby formula, an ambulance, a portable hospital, and a dedicated medical team of 26 South African doctors.

African National Congress Women’s League President Angie Motshega delivered inspiring words of motivation and support to the South African aid mission currently in Gaza, along with many other members of the women’s league who sent their admiration and support to the humanitarian team who were expected to be in the Gaza strip late Friday night.

Dr. Sooliman on Thursday said “we are grateful for the support we received from government officials and South Africans, as this mission would have not been possible without their help.”

He concluded by saying that “the Palestinians were well aware of the aid mission. The director of the Shifa hospital in Gaza, who is also the Palestinian Minister of Health had earlier been provided with a list of the SA specialists on the mission and would deploy them to areas most needed. “

The tremendous support received both locally and abroad for this very commendable mission organized and supported by ordinary people and the South African government, demonstrates the support for the people of Gaza around the world. The merciless attacks on the innocent have seen the world demonstrate and pledge their support in various ways, ranging from mere demonstrations to governments taking serious action against the perpetrators of this heinous crime committed against the Palestinian people.

This is not the end, the boycotts and utter disgust by the world will continue to be hurled against the ruthless and the rogue nations that create havoc. The Congress of South African Trade Union’s pledge to hold mass demonstrations all around the country in support of the people of Gaza. The trade union will also announce a boycott against Israeli goods next month.

Ganchi’s arrest was an attempt to block SA aid convoy from entering into Gaza

Ganchi’s arrest was an attempt to block SA aid convoy from entering into Gaza

Egyptian doctor to help SA convoy also gone missing

By Tahir Sema

South African relief agency Gift of the Givers CEO, Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman reported to the media that when they arrived at the Rafah border, officials took one of the 26 South African doctors, Dr Feroz Abukaker Ganchi away, without giving the team any reasons. "No one said anything and when we asked, they kept asking us what we were talking about. We persisted for three hours until they told us that they had not arrested him but merely taken him to Cairo for questioning".

"Why did they issue a visa if they had a problem with him? Why did they let him go through Cairo? They were just trying to obstruct our trip because the whole team was prevented from crossing on Friday. We only got to Gaza on Saturday," he said.

Dr. Ganchi an emergency medical practitioner at a state hospital in Upington, was with the KwaZulu-Natal-based international humanitarian agency, Gift of the Givers en route to render medical assistance to the war ravaged Gaza strip.

Sooliman added that an Egyptian doctor the team was supposed to meet on their arrival in Egypt had also gone missing. "Doctor Malik Mahamoud has disappeared. He's not answering his phone since Saturday and it is unlike him. His wife is frantic. His crime is helping Palestinian people".

South African charity worker Dr Ganchi, who was detained in Egypt and held for questioning, has now been released. He has been deported and expected to arrive in South Africa on Tuesday.

Foreign affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said "We want to express our gratitude to the Egyptian authorities for the manner in which they helped to find a speedy and amicable solution to this matter". He declined to say exactly when Ganchi would arrive in South Africa but said he believed he would be back home on Tuesday.

There were concerns that Ganchi's arrest might have jeopardised the humanitarian mission.

Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, head of the group, told the rest of the team yesterday. "I don't want him on this mission any more; he's becoming a distraction," We had spent a lot of time negotiating with officials in South Africa, Egypt and Jordan to get the missing doctor back.

It has been alleged that Ganchi had been accused in the past of having links to the Al-Qaeda. He has also been accused in the past of having links to one of the US's top terror suspects, a Tanzanian accused of bombing the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania 10 years ago.
Based on media reports Ganchi and Zubair Ismael, a South African student, were part of a group arrested in July 2004 in Pakistan after a 12 hour shoot out with security forces at a house in Gujerat, south-east of Islamabad.

They were arrested with Ahmed Khafan Ghailani, a Tanzanian on the United States list of most wanted people accused of being a top Al-Qaeda operative wanted for the bloody 1998 bombings of the US embassies in Tanzania and Kenya. Ghailani, reported by the western media to be known also as "Foopie" or "Ahmed the Tanzanian" had a US bounty of millions of dollars on his head.

A the time it took weeks before South African foreign affairs officials could get through to the pair, it was widely reported that the men intended to use their training to attack tourist sites in South Africa. A claim which was disputed entirely by Ganchi’s family, the family claimed that the information released by Pakistani interrogators was fabricated.

Khalid Rashid's detention and deportation ruled Unlawful, after much deliberation.

By Tahir Sema

Khalid Mahmood Rashid’s detention and deportation has been ruled in court as unlawful, by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in Bloemfontein. The ruling has been welcomed by Rashid’s legal team in South Africa. Although Rashid’s advocate, Zehir Omar after welcoming the ruling, still had a few grievances, stating that it is however unfortunate that the court had failed to advance jurisprudence on the matter as a crime against humanity.

The Rashid case shrouded in mystery is undoubtedly the most astounding of stories in recent times, that which perplexed South Africans at large and the human rights fraternity.

The story received a tremendous amount of interest and coverage from the local media, because of the nature of the still unexplained reasons for Rashid’s detention and deportation. The Rashid matter above all, caused an outcry over the alleged violation of his human rights.

Rashid was deported from South Africa to Pakistan in 2005. He was detained at the Cullinan police station from November 1, 2005 and was then deported to Pakistan on November 6. The SCA after much deliberation decided in court, that the detention at the Cullinan police station and the subsequent deportation from this facility was unlawful.

Rashid was arrested in the middle of the night at his home in KwaZulu-Natal by armed men and later deported from the country from Waterkloof air base. He has since disappeared in Pakistan, amid charges of participation in international terrorism.

Businessman Ismail Ebrahim Jeebhai, who began court procedures on Rashid's behalf, brought an application against the Minister of Home Affairs in the High Court in Pretoria, failing which, he then appealed to the SCA on the issue of Rashid’s disappearance. The high court had held in February 2007 that Rashid's arrest, detention and deportation had been carried out lawfully, which prompted Jeehbhai to approach the SCA.

The SCA judgment however stated that Rashid's arrest on October 31, 2005 at a home at Estcourt in KwaZulu-Natal, where he was staying was lawful because evidence showed he was an illegal foreigner. The Estcourt arrest was carried out at the home of Jeebhai's brother, Mohamed Ali.

Jeebhai, Omar and Yasmin Naidoo revealed that leading members of the then executive, including the Minister of Safety and Security and the Minister of Intelligence were involved in giving instructions to subordinates to seize Rashid and to send him back to Kenya and later Pakistan.

Advocate Omar said “What is interesting is that these revelations and this judgment is proof of the interference by the executive into the affairs of the judiciary. It is further confirmation that Jacob Zuma too is the victim of interference by the executive which resulted in his persecution spanning a period of several years.”

In 2006 Government spokesperson Joel Netshitenzhe was convinced that Omar, seemed bent on portraying the government as breaking its own laws and constitutional provisions.

Netshitenzhe told reporters at a briefing on the cabinet's twice-monthly meeting that Omar was using "unethical" means to suggest the Government was involved in "such heinous acts as rendition," stating explicitly that "the South African Government would never do those kinds of things."

The SCA said the facts before the court revealed that Rashid had entered the country a few months earlier and had fraudulently obtained documents authorizing his stay in the country.

Omar protested, saying “despite Rashid being illegally in the country, his removal was still unlawful. Whether he is in the country illegally or not, that is an issue for debate. In terms of section 2 of the Refugee Act, a person may very well be an illegal immigrant in the country, but it is illegal for our Government to send him back if he faces persecution in the country he comes from because of his political or religious beliefs”.

The court maintained that as an illegal foreigner he was therefore liable to arrest. However what seemed to have been the deciding factor for the SCA’s decision to rule that the detention and deportation of Rashid was unlawful, was the fact that the SCA held that the Immigration Act required that a warrant be issued, by an immigration officer for the detention of an illegal foreigner and also for his removal from that place of detention. Neither Rashid’s detention nor his removal from detention for deportation was backed by a warrant.

In what seemed like a bitter sweet victory for the legal team representing Rashid, the Supreme Court rejected two further arguments by the team’s legal representatives. The first was that Rashid's deportation was a disguised extradition and the second, that his deportation was a crime against humanity.

Omar described the courts rejection of these arguments as “unfortunate. The Supreme Court of Appeal did not interpret and apply the concept of enforced disappearance, if the court acted now, in support of the Rashid case being a crime against humanity; it would have undeniably served as a deterrent in South Africa, for crimes against humanity.”

Concluding the long drawn court proceedings, the judgment also ordered the minister of home affairs to pay the costs incurred by Jeebhai and his attorneys during high court and SCA proceedings.

South African’s continue to respond to call for humanitarian aid in Gaza

South African’s continue to respond to call for humanitarian aid in Gaza

Gaza’s people say, they are being pushed to reject Hamas and surrender to Israel.

By Tahir Sema

On the 18th of February 2009 the South African Relief Agency (S.A.R.A) embarked on a journey to respond to the call for humanitarian aid in Gaza.

Soon after the attacks on Gaza began in December 2008, various organizations and individuals combined efforts to form S.A.R.A (South African Relief Agency).

S.A.R.A’s chief coordinator Walid El Saadi was positive of the mission’s success, stating “they will be delivering aid in the form of vital medication, surgical supplies and basic prosthetics. Over 6000 people are in dire need of medical assistance and although S.A.R.A’s aid mission is one of several hundred, they believe that the demand is still very great”.

Representatives part of this mission were made up of the following people: Sheikh Walid El Saadi SARA co-ordinator, Moulana Yusuf Bux -Secretary General of Jamiatul Ulama KZN, Mr Mahomed Afzal Abba - Human Rights Attorney, Mrs Shamshad Sayed and Mrs Bibi Hajira Sayed of ITV.

“The cameras have left Gaza and so too has humanity and legality. Away from the spotlight, Gaza is being strangulated and left to die.

The intensity with which the siege is now being enforced is shameful and humiliating. It is an indictment on humanity, that it allows Gaza’s neighbours to further isolate, suffocate and strangulate the people of Gaza who are in dire need of urgent supplies of food, drinking water, shelter , medicine, building and medical equipment , following 23 days of barbaric Israeli bombings on the civilian population in Gaza.

Clearly, political designs and manipulations underpin the new and brutal isolation of Gaza. The people of Gaza express that they are being pushed to reject Hamas and capitulate to Israel and its cronies or left to starve and die!” Shamshad Sayed of ITV.

Their mission had taken the team to a stadium now used as a storage facility in Egypt, some forty kilometres from the Rafah border crossing, managed by The Red Crescent and the World Food Programme. At both these facilities they witnessed stockpiles of perishable goods lying open in the sun as well as urgent humanitarian aid donated specifically for the people of Gaza, precious aid, perishing by the day.

These vital humanitarian supplies lay undelivered for many months, as the Rafah border crossing which is controlled by the Egyptian authorities remains closed, despite international pressure to have the border crossings opened. The Rafah border crossing is Gaza’s only hope for survival, as it is the sole entry and exit point to the outside world.

After passing several checkpoints, and having received permission by the border post officials on the Egyptian side to proceed to Gaza, some twenty metres out of Egypt, the humanitarian group was indecently stopped by a border police who refused them entry, stating that the border was open only to Palestinians. According to the team this was not the case, as many Palestinians were turned back or asked to pay ludicrous exit or entrance taxes.

Apart from delivering aid, the aim of the mission was to assess various humanitarian projects, including the prefabricated housing project that’s currently being rolled out to the distressed residents of Gaza that have lost their homes. This prefabricated system was developed in Turkey and the roll out of homes has so far been a remarkable success.

S.A.R.A had hoped to enhance the efforts of other countries that have already begun the delivery of these housing shelters and vital humanitarian supplies. “By embarking on the Gaza Housing Project, we can return the lost dignity of Gazans”, says El Saadi.

Based on a report by the Union of Construction Workers in Gaza, the natural population growth in Gaza requires the building of 5000 homes per year. In the last 2 years the actual number of homes built has been ZERO. The housing problem has worsened by the senseless December 2008/January2009 bombings. 4100 buildings and homes have been totally destroyed and 17000 buildings/ homes were partially destroyed.

“It is important to provide sustainability as far as possible, to allow Gazans to regain their independence.” says Moulana Yusuf Bux.

After intense negotiations with officials S.A.R.A volunteers were only allowed to visit the Palestinian Crescent Hospital in Egypt, under heavy guard for a brief period; they witnessed first hand, how the Israeli atrocities have affected the lives of the people of Gaza. On arriving at the hospital the team was met with horrific scenes, which have left permanent damage on Gaza’s frail, woman and children.

“The nature of the injuries to the civilian population is evidence that Israel intended to cause maximum suffering, humiliation , subjugation, and a painful death. Just as humanity cannot forget the holocaust , so too should the world’s humanity not forget the massacre of Gaza done brazenly and with impunity in full view of a `paraplegic’ world” Shamshad Sayed.

The humanitarian team S.A.R.A waited for two days at the Rafah border crossing to gain access to the war torn Gaza strip, until they undesirably had to return back to Cairo Egypt, were they had established a corridor with various credible institutions such as the Red Crescent and others, for the safe passage of aid relief and prosthetic limbs from South Africa.

Sheikh Walid is currently deadlocked in negotiations with the Egyptian Government to allow S.A.R.A into the Gaza strip as soon as possible to deliver aid on a regular basis. The mission for now has been postponed, but will continue as soon as Egyptian authorities allow the South African Relief Agency to do so.

Glo Mobi ringtone advertisement ordered to go off air :: Offensive to Muslims ::

Published; Friday, October 3, 2008.

by Tahir Sema

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"The Advertising Standards Authority of South Africa (ASA) ruled that a commercial by Glo mobi ringtones is offensive as it mocks Islamic beliefs. Glo Mobi ringtones was required to withdraw the commercial with immediate effect and not use the commercial again in its current format."

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“There is nothing light-hearted and humorous in depicting a human being as a terrorist”

The Advertising Standards Authority of South Africa (ASA) ruled that a commercial by Glo mobi ringtones is offensive as it mocks Islamic beliefs. Glo Mobi ringtones was required to withdraw the commercial with immediate effect and not use the commercial again in its current format.

Consumer complaints were lodged against Glo Mobi’s television commercial that was flighted on SABC and DSTV promoting its ringtones. The commercial depicts a stand up comedian holding a skeleton puppet wearing a turban on his head. The puppet demands that the audience keeps quite and states, “SILENCE! I KILL YOU!” The voice-over states “Get the Ahmad the dead terrorist”.

The complainants Mr Moegamat Redoh Kimmie and Zaheer Khan explained that the commercial is offensive and discriminatory against the Islamic religion and creates the impression that all Muslims are terrorists who will kill to get people to be quiet.

In light of the complaint the following clauses of the Code were taken into account: Section II, Clause 1 – Offensive advertising and Section II, Clause 3.4 – Discrimination.

The ASA after reviewing judgements of similar cases in South Africa had come to the irrefutable conclusion that “this commercial depicts an Arabic person who has a religious name as a terrorist. There is nothing light-hearted and humorous in depicting a human being as a terrorist, particularly when it is implied that his religion lends him towards such behaviour.”

Accordingly the ruling had stated “It is evident that in Islam, the name Ahmed is considered to be of religious belief as the first prophet. A prophet is a person who speaks for God or a deity, or by divine inspiration. To associate this divine inspiration to a terrorist is offensive to the people who believe in him.”

Media Review Network (MRN) an advocacy group based in Pretoria and the Muslim population at large "welcomes this decision by the ASA and hopes that advertisers will refrain from attempts to mock Islam" said Iqbal Jassat Chairman of MRN. He also called on Glo Mobi to publicly express their regret for having subjected the prophet Muhammed (SAW) to this type of ridicule.

Jassat also added that attempts to invoke humour in situations where Muslims feel aggrieved due to the sustained killings and massacres flowing from illegitimate wars -especially America's 'war on terror' - and the oppression inflicted upon Palestinians by the apartheid state of Israel, is "no laughing matter!".

He hoped that Glo Mobi will respect the ASA ruling by refraining from lodging an appeal. The MRN will continue to encourage consumers to remain vigilant and prevent any form of Islamophobia from rearing its ugly head.

The Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) had also welcomed the decision by the ASA which reaffirms the importance of having an independent regulatory body which serves and protects the rights of the diverse cultures and religious groups in South Africa as stipulated in our constitution. ASA therefore plays a vital role during these times when financial gains increasingly take a precedent over the honour, dignity and sensitivities of the various communities and religious groups in South Africa.

The MJC’s Nabaweya Malik said “As South Africans we cannot allow our hard earned freedoms and rights to be infringed upon by the irresponsible actions of individuals who flippantly utilize the most powerful tool, the media to violate and endanger innocent individuals by feeding into discredited, disgraced and financial bankrupt nations’ war agendas.

We also wish to caution the National Broadcaster, SABC that even though they have contracts with various advertising bodies such as Glo Mobi, the standards and regulations of this country should still apply when being disseminated to the South African public. Buying broadcasting space should not give an advertising agency carte blanche to broadcast hurtful, damaging, degrading and insensitive material. We therefore wish to request that in order to ensure good relations with the Muslim community the SABC should in good faith;”

a) Take responsibility for the offensive ad and offer an apology to our community.

b) Ensure that material which might be offensive to the religious sensitivities or moral standards within this community be controlled/monitored;

c) address complaints promptly/ or use its self regulatory option or its religious commissioning editors to address serious complaints such as this one in order to alleviate time delays whilst waiting for a judgement;

d) Apply policies which protects the rights of the various groups in this country;

e) Respect the complaints of the SABC’s Religious Broadcasting Panel who have been elected to address the concerns of their community.

The respondent Glo Mobi Ringtones submitted that the clip is from Jeff Durham’s “Ahmed the Dead Terrorist”. Mr Durham is a comedic Auteur and one of America’s premier stand-up comedians. He uses Ahmed the suicide-bomber’s character to look at the funny side of terrorism.

Glo Mobi added that in its view, the clip is not offensive as it is a freedom of expression taken from stand up comedy sessions. It is not depicting or imitating or making fun of anyone. It is also not discriminating or intending to discriminate against any party, religion, race or public.

In Glo Mobi’s response it was relentlessly argued upon that the puppet is not dressed as an Arab. He is wearing a cloth around his head which is a bandage for his injury from being a suicide bomber. The catch phrases “Silence” and “I kill you” are meant to retort to public laughter at his humour, his beady eyes, as well as expressive eyebrows. There was no intent to offend or depict Arabs as terrorists or that they would kill for silence.

The ASA in its ruling stated that this context public laughter cannot be applied to the commercial; viewers were offended in their own homes without being afforded the opportunity to choose not to listen to the joke or references.

The Directorate has to balance interest of freedom of speech, and freedom of religion, with the requirement that the advertisement should not offend. “The question of religion and offence is always a fraught one” said the directorate.

Commemorating Black Wednesday and the freedom of the Media in SA

Commemorating Black Wednesday and the freedom of the Media in SA

ANC spokesperson: “individuals that are hostile to the media will be in deep trouble”

Published; Tuesday, 21 October 2008

By Tahir Sema

At a conference to commemorate “Black Wednesday” held in Johannesburg, South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) chairperson Jovial Rantao said that the standard of journalism in South Africa is high and ranks among the best in the world. Our best defence is to publish material that is truthful, impartial, and honest.

Rantao at the outset said that “we must pay tribute to those in the media that fought for its freedom and the end of Apartheid; we need to tell the stories of our young democracy”.

The biggest challenge that SANEF is currently facing is the lack of skills, maintaining and retaining the skills newsrooms produce. SANEF has vowed to produce the best journalists possible.

Rantao strongly pledged his support for self regulation of the media and its operation in the South African context. “Self regulation is a system that works. Where there is no self regulation there is no democracy”.

Members of the media present at the conference and others re-visited the past, commemorating Black Wednesday. This day saw The World, Weekend World newspapers and Pro Veritate which was a Christian publication, banned. Included in the banning were organizations belonging to the Black Consciousness Movement. Scores of critics were also detained.

Juby Mayet, a retired journalist and a 1977 Black Wednesday activist spoke about the events and difficulties they faced as media personnel. These difficulties eventually led up to the terrifying events of Wednesday 19th of October 1977. Working in the print industry at the time, she said all she wanted was to get her job done. One of the founding members of the Union of Black Journalists, she was eventually jailed on account of supposed theft. She was a mother of eight children when she was imprisoned.

The Union of Black journalists began gaining momentum in 1975 and as a result a newspaper was started called The Voice. The Union and its publication were eventually banned in 1977. It did not take long for a new organization with the same objectives to be formed. Adopting the name Writers' Association of South Africa, their sole purpose was to tell the truth. The mere fact that this union was a merger of Black African journalists instantaneously attracted unwanted oppressive action from the government.

African National Congress (ANC) spokesperson Jesse Duarte noted the dramatic changes in the media landscape during the past 14 years, adding that “we ought to be proud of the media freedom we currently enjoy in South Africa today, and we do not wish to change it. Thanks to the many activists like Juby Mayet who went the extra mile to do what needed to be done, for us to enjoy the freedom in the media”.

At the Same time Duarte expressed her anxiety about the lack of background and understanding of South African politics in junior newsrooms. A recent drive to maximize profits which has led to a “homogenization of news” has been equally worrying, noted the ANC spokesperson. The commercialization of the media and the drive to cut costs worried the ANC. Duarte said that these concerns are what the ANC is most afraid of as it diminishes research. “We need more deeper research and investigative Journalism” to combat these concerns.

Not wanting to dampen the spirits of the noteworthy members of the media Duarte added “I know we have very dedicated and professional editors but no matter how busy they are, they should keep an eye on the bottom line.”

“The ANC strongly believes that embedded Journalism is detrimental to media freedom and does not do anyone any good regardless of whether it is taking place at political or corporate level. ANC does not want embedded Journalists anywhere near it, as it doesn't tell the truth and hides the real facts”.

Duarte made it clear that they welcome media that is critical of the ANC but at the same time they should have editorial integrity. She cautioned that those media organizations and individuals that are hostile to the ANC will be in deep trouble. “We welcome critical but definitely not hostile” reporting.

In line with Commemorating Black Wednesday and the freedom of the Media in South Africa, the following books were launched: Remembering Black Wednesday, 19 October 1977-2007, 30 years on, Declaration of Table Mountain and The Extraordinary Editor a handbook for SA media leaders (by Elizabeth Barratt and Guy Berger).

New Convoy to break Gaza siege on the 6th of October

New Convoy to break Gaza siege on the 6th of October

Published; Monday, 06 October 2008

By Tahir Sema “A ticking time bomb about to explode in Egypt’s face” At exactly 11am on the 6th of October a new aid convoy of determined Egyptian delegates and activists from all over Egypt will attempt to break the Gaza siege. They are expected to enter through the Rafah crossing via Egypt in the southern Gaza Strip. This attempt to break the siege in Gaza is organized by legislative Council member Jamal Al Khoudari, in partnership with the Egyptian Medical Union. Media Review Network (MRN) an advocacy group based in Pretoria has reliably learnt that the convoy consists of more than 20 buses and 60 cars at this early stage. They intend to stay where ever the authorities stop them; they have with them moveable toilets and tents. The convoy’s sole purpose is to provide medical assistance for the more than 1.5 million Palestinians faced with a lack of medical provisions and starvation. They also hope to encourage the authorities to reopen the Rafah border crossing permanently. The Muslim Brotherhood, an opposition political party says “the siege is a ticking time bomb that would explode in Egypt’s face.” The MRN expresses its admiration for and solidarity with the Egyptian delegates and activists that have embarked on this mission to break the siege on Gaza. The Rafah border crossing is currently sealed off. No Egyptian is allowed to cross into Palestine through this crossing and vice versa. However, Israelis are allowed to use this border post freely. Dr. Firoz Osman Secretary-General of Media Review Network, says “It is a perversion of justice to allow the Zionist occupiers and persecutors of the Palestinians to tour Egyptian resorts & provide cheap fuel to Israel, and deny basic humanitarian aid, food and medicines to a besieged, starving 1,5 million imprisoned Palestinians. This persecution of the Palestinians by the Egyptian Government is unethical and immoral by any standards. The Egyptian Government is deeply mistaken if they think that this type of provocation will produce security for the Zionist state.” Dr Osman added that “the Egyptian convoy deserves widespread support as it emanates from the ground in opposition to a tyrannical Egyptian regime in cahoots with the Zionist Israeli entity imposing the unprecedented policy of starvation on innocent people.” Dr. Rizq Abdel Fattah of the Medical Union says that the date 6 October is significant because it is the anniversary of the “historic victory of Egypt over the Zionist state of Israel.” He added that “The Egyptian army was able to break free from the Zionist’s grip of the past and now they hope that the same spirit of resistance will prevail so that on the 6th of October 2008 the siege on the people of Gaza will also be broken.” According to the organizers this is certainly not the last attempt to break the siege. The organizers are currently working with international groups who would attempt breaking the siege via sea. The International Middle East Media Centre reports that in August 2008, two boats of the Free Gaza Movement, set sail from Cyprus, arrived at Gaza port carrying 44 international human rights activists in a bid to break the siege. Plans to send two other boats to Gaza had to be shelved for the time being due to unforeseen circumstances. It is hoped that this mission will be accomplished sooner rather than later.

Crime levels in South Africa are “tantamount to a national crisis.”

Crime levels in South Africa are “tantamount to a national crisis.”

Published; Wednesday, 27 August 2008

By Tahir Sema

Siphiwe Nzimande, CEO of business against crime, speaking at the convention, “Action for a safe South Africa”, says our country is currently experiencing high levels of violence and brutality, which is among the highest in the world. More than 50 people are murdered everyday and more than100 woman raped daily.

Nzimande notes that the causes of the high levels of brutality are complex, but among the chief causes are; the decay of moral values in our society and a general decline in respect for the law. Offenders believe they will not be caught or prosecuted.

When analyzing statistics another possible cause comes to light. Nzimande says; “80% of reported crime do not reach the courts mostly due to corruption”.

Incarceration does not seem to act as a deterrent for criminals anymore. Many believe it simply isn’t effective. Crime syndicates when incarcerated still operate business as usual even though they are behind bars.

Nzimande believes that “South Africa is now well poised to improve the situation. Our efforts in support of Government will make a difference”.

Jody Kollapen chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission believes “violence has become our indigenous language”. We are living isolated lives behind our high walls and barbered wires. With higher crime rates Government is spending more each year, yet we still feel unsafe. “The more we spend on security the more unsafe we feel”. Kollapen believes that the most important spending on behalf of Government would be that of prevention, notably ridding dysfunctional behavior from society.

Wendy Luhabe business leader and entrepreneur mention that “action begins with each one of us taking a stand on all evils in society.” The idea that “what’s going on is not my problem” is an illusion. Ultimately it is the responsibility of each one of us to act. Luhabe is of the opinion that each one of us is responsible to act. Crime and violence has severely dented the image of South Africa both locally and abroad. “Crime is shaking the very foundation of our new democracy.” South Africans need to adopt a new language of passion and tolerance.

“Our rainbow nation has been assaulted but we haven’t lost the battle unless we don’t act,” Ms Luhabe said

There seems to be a combined voice of Action! Action! Action! According to Desmond Dube South African television personality and organizer of the Million Man March against crime. “We need to unite before we take action. This exercise needs not be an academic one.”

Barbara Holtman crime prevention researcher admits that the place we want to live in is no longer South Africa, because of the high levels of violent crime. Based on research presented by Holtman, men in South Africa are eight times more likely to die of non natural causes as compared to the world standard, woman six times more likely and children are five times more likely to die of non natural causes because of the unprecedented levels of brutal crime currently experienced in South Africa.

Holtman revealed that South Africans spend R46 billion every year on private security. However on closer analysis it was revealed that private security cannot reduce crime, it cannot keep us safe either, it only makes the problem worse and forces criminals to come heavily armed and in groups instead. Government plans to introduce 60 000 additional police in the South African Police Services by 2010, but this, according to Holtman, is not the solution to the high crime rates. “The Focus needs to shift to prevention rather than enforcement.”

We cannot wait for Government to react. It is every South African’s responsibility to act upon this wickedness that has engulfed our society. By keeping quiet we become accomplices to the crime. We all can make a difference by not keeping quiet. Negative sentiment in society is not going to help improve the situation. As Minister of Social Development Zola Skweyiya says: “Only by acknowledging crime can we make a difference. These are times of danger but also times of creativity.” Therefore action cannot be delayed.

Skills shortage crisis needs “creative solutions”

Skills shortage crisis needs “creative solutions”

Published; Monday, 25 August 2008

By Tahir Sema The solution to the skills crisis lies outside the company as much as it does within the company, “more specifically, in interim management”. Kate Lester, Director of Tuesday Consulting - specialist search consultants say “the challenge of skills development may find its solution in interim management”. According to Lester “Developing an internal skills pipeline is crucial to a company's ability to remain competitive. The problem is that the task of growing this pipeline falls to middle managers, who are invariably stretched by a laundry list of deliverables, and have the largest number of staff reporting to them, as well as the largest portion of the budget under their control”. Over worked managers often tend to underutilize their staff members and run the risk of loosing them, skilled professionals according to Lester are now looking for more than just the salary and perks the company is willing to offer, they are looking for growth opportunities within a company and the need for “balance and flexibility. The current market is the domain of the job-seeker”. Lester explains “Interim managers are a common feature of business in America, the UK and Europe. They are usually brought into organisations during periods of crisis or growth, either to fill an immediate gap for a critical skill until the company can fill the gap permanently, or to provide expertise in a particular area for a specific period, such as until a special project is complete.” Interim managers can be well utilized in the South African framework. The skills shortage problem is not an exclusively South African problem; it is a problem that’s experienced in Australia and much of the European Union, it is undoubtedly a global predicament. It is a complex problem that calls for creative solutions like that of adopting interim management in South African companies. The general notion based on how you interpret the statistics, is that South Africa is currently facing a skills shortage crisis. Much time has been spent debating the degree of the skills shortage and some like Jimmy Manyi president of the Black management forum believe that there is no skills shortage it is rather a euphemism and an urban myth. South Africa is clearly suffering from a skills shortage, in specific fields; such as charted accountants, engineers, scientists and lecturers. Importing skilled labor from outside the country may not be the best of options when there is an underutilization of staff in the country. Ironically companies who have been complaining about the skills shortage have not been doing anything to promote internal skills development. According to stats presented by Manyi 82% of companies are not compliant with skills development. In June 2007 the Department of Home Affairs estimated that there were 35 000 positions which simply could not be filled because of the skills shortage. This however is still a moderate figure, the skills shortage is growing rapidly and no concrete figure could be attached to it, because of the nature of the problem. According to Home Affairs, skills such as agricultural economists, civil engineers, foremen, site managers, construction managers, quantity surveyors, bioengineers, mechatronics, autotronic technicians, structural steel and welding trades workers are scarce and South Africans are unable to fill these positions. Interim management can provide immediate skills that are short and implementation of strategies to fill the gap temporarily until the company is able to find a candidate to fill the position on a permanent basis. The good news according to Kate Lester is that unlike the skills shortage in the permanent workforce, South Africa has a large pool of prospective interim managers. There is a highly capable skills base at the senior management level, many of whom have left permanent employment to go into consultancy, and those women who have left to take care of household duties. With a growing economy we can only anticipate the skills shortage problem to intensify. The Deputy President’s Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (ASGISA) states that in about 4 years time the skills shortage is likely to top 1.2 million.

Skills shortage is a euphemism for "We need more white people"

Skills shortage is a euphemism for "We need more white people"

Published; Monday, 11 August 2008

By Tahir Sema Jimmy Manyi president of the Black management forum on the contrary to popular statistics, states that there is no skills shortage in South Africa. Speaking at a conference on Thursday night he strongly opposed the research presented by the Grant Thornton institute that suggested the skills shortage in South Africa is a serious problem for the country. According to statistics presented by Manyi which was conducted in 2006, the top management positions in the country are still dominated by whites. 63% of top management positions were occupied by whites and 58% of those who received senior management promotions were also whites. Manyi’s claim that “the skills shortage is a euphemism for we need more white people” is based in part on the above statistics and the many inherent stereotypes that still exist in South Africa today. South Africans still believe that “black people are lazy and incompetent”. He says in society there exists an element of mistrust when it comes to blacks. People are unwilling to give them a chance. Black Africans are often limited to the jobs lower down and rarely promoted to managerial positions within a company, or departments with big budgets as there is a fear that the black person will “mess up”. According to Jimmy Manyi when we talk about skills we often focus entirely on the people coming out of university. By using university graduates as the basis for a survey to measure skills shortage “we taper the survey process and conclude that there is a skills shortage.” There are millions of blacks that have skills yet they are unemployed. According to stats presented by Manyi 82% of companies are not compliant with skills development yet ironically these are the companies complaining the loudest about the skills shortage. Double standards in the work place by employers often see black Africans turned down when applying for jobs and told they do not have the relevant education even though they may have the skills required. Manyi believes that black people should be given a chance just like white people were given the chance to succeed in the work place. People should not be hired based only on their degrees, there are a range of other factors according to Government that should be taken into account, such as prior learning, previous experience and capacity to acquire competence in a reasonable time. Manyi quoted many examples of black Africans including former President Nelson Mandela who was given a chance to succeed; “no one turned Mandela down saying that you first have to have the relevant experience in running a country”. Similarly there are many top achievers working in fields not related to their qualification, nonetheless they are doing a sterling job. “There is a serious amount of underutilization of blacks,” therefore Manyi states that there is no skills shortage. To blame for this urban legend is none other than “institutional racism” as employers are still biased against Black African Academic institutions and “racial stereotyping” that is still so rife in our country.

Xenophobic violence could erupt.

Xenophobic violence could erupt again.

Published; Wednesday, 06 August 2008.

By Tahir Sema

Michael Mushayabasa a Zimbabwean national currently living in South Africa in one of the refugee camps spoke out on Tuesday at a Xenophobia conference. Mushayabasa firmly believes that if the perpetrators of this appalling attack on foreigners are not found and dealt with, the spirit behind the attack will still live on. If this ignorant spirit still lives on there is a strong possibility xenophobic violence will break out yet again in South Africa.

Mushayabasa like many others are struggling to find an answer as to why these brutal attacks were carried out. He says, “we need to tame the animal in society and rid the hatred”. Many academics believe that it is hatred that sparked these attacks. A strong emotion that transcends and defies logic.

Among these scholars is Dr. Abdul Lamin a lecturer in International Relations at the University Of Witwatersrand. He says, “we need to interrogate the language we use, so we could begin to understand the broader issue. Understanding the underlying message is more important than condemning it.”

Amid the consensus of hatred as the cause of the violence comes the near adamant behavior of displaced foreign nationals not wanting to register for the temporary ID cards which the government made compulsory. Mr. Mushayabasa says the displaced victims will not register for the ID card, because by doing so “Government is trying to shift the focus away from the hatred that exists in South Africa.”

The focus now is on reintegrating the remaining 5000 people back into society. The Wits law clinic believes that without a comprehensive plan that would protect the rights of these people, could create more problems. Apart from the hatred that still exists, the displaced people’s homes and belongings have now been looted and claimed by criminals.

As a proposed solution Lamin and Mushayabasa maintain that the public needs to be better educated about this ignorant hatred and tolerance should be reinforced by family members, the community and religious organizations. If the underlying message and the broader context are not dealt with, South Africa runs a high risk of experiencing this inexcusable violence that left 62 people dead and 17,000 displaced once again.