I am currently in bed recovering from my cone biopsy (read Knowledge is Power), as you might gather I am in no state to be stressing and straining myself on weight loss issues. I have had a lot of space for thought in general and one I thought I will share today is that of my thoughts about the up and coming elections.
My primary instict would have been to vote ANC, why!? Because it's the politically correct thing to do! I have worked for an IFP led council for the better part of my municipal carreer. My friends and colleagues have never dared to ask me but I know they believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that I indeed belonged to the IFP. It was with this in mind that I decided it was time to change jobs and become politically aligned or insured ( if you will) of a continued career in this municipal wobbly path.
My inexperienced analysis alerted me that the IFP was hurriedly loosing grip on KZN and more so I wanted to not be associated with the party of the old and grey (amakhehla) as its known right now, because I have honestly never been attracted to it. So I used my God given charm and charisma and landed myself a similar position in an ANC led Council.
Let me start of by putting up a disclaimer stating that: I am fully aware and greateful for the struggle and sacrifices of the likes of Hon Nelson Mandela to allow me the opportunities I have had in the new SA. I can also acknowledge that it was through his pain and the support of his party ( the ANC ) that I have never experienced the core pains of apartheid in this country as a 80s baby.
My beef though goes to all political parties currently partaking in the upcoming elections. Unashamedly I am not poor, not unfairly treated in the work place anything of the sort, so an increase in State grants and new and improved labour laws don't affect me. If anything it poses a threat to my dreams of one day employing more people than just my nanny and Gardner full time. Which party looks at my needs and promises tax rebates, maybe less taxes, I am currently paying R18K PAYE no lie! Who is fast tracking my way to the top without being a card carrier and being actively involved in your political office and only because I truly deserve it!
Who is addressing the social injustices I face, the sexual discrimination that is still prevalent in our govt offices and even more so in the private sector? Who is trying to lower the private schooling fees for basic education? Who is looking into actively opening franchising opportunies for young women with no security? Who is trying to offer free diagnostic or preventative tests not just HIV but breast and cervical health too? Who is trying to make me bankable, and offer free education for women on a postgraduate level, women who already have that first degree and workplace experience?!
Why am I being made to pay for working so damn hard?
Its clear ( even if it's to only me) just how irrelevant the politics in this country are to me, but for the sake of not seeming to mock the struggles of our forefathers I will vote. I will be consciously oblivious to the fact that my vote will further give empowerment to those already empowered to empower genetically and by association. Further empowering them with wealth that I will enviously frown upon (no doubt) while opening my latest payment due statements on that bank loan and those private schooling fees.
The English say it best, if you can't beat them, join them, a good thought maybe I will do just that and try to also associate myself, once fulfilled with that tender, I will hopefully rest my case;-)
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Hey there again…..interesting piece you got goin today….congrats are in order, may you have a long and lasting career in what you are capable of doing, Irrespective of it being not your passion.
ReplyDeleteA couple of things that stuck out or made me comment include these following questions from you:
1) Who is addressing the social injustices I face:
- social injustice has been a thing most of us read about in reports rather than experience 1st hand. In which aspects of life are you referring to “social injustice”?
2) Who is looking into actively opening franchising opportunities for young women:
- in a world plagued by male dominance, empowering women only has left a lot of young black men with nothing to do other than being a nuisance to the society at large,
work places and tertiary institutions. Those left out in the “Black Economic Empowerment” gravy trains find it easy to criticize without making any efforts to be
empowered, but then again, like most coins, there is 2 sides to this….others do not know who to approach for grooming in business and social skills that might prove worth
having in the near future or basic day to day survival skills
Is it female postgraduates who suffer from financial security?
3) Who is responsible for making me bankable?:
- I wish it was as easy as walking in a park to find a mentor. I wish most individuals who have made it in life could afford to pass on their knowledge to those struggling to find their feet, be it they got qualifications to back their career paths or be it young entrepreneurs who couldn’t afford tertiary tuition.
Not everyone in life was cut out to make it big, but everyone in life can work together to reduce the social difference gap.
Looking beyond politics and their means and ways of enriching themselves using the needy and desperate, I believe we can all live up to the slogan one to many a politician has used to canvas for votes: “Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu”
All in all, my wish is to see more and more males getting groomed into becoming better men of tomorrow….getting taught basic survival skills in the workplace and means of using their talents to sustain themselves and their families.
Degree or not, one can still make it in life and become a better man, I believe in that…!