Calling it the "Free education in our lifetime" march. The South African Student Congress from the Durban University of Technology along with other branches recently marched from Lewis Botha Gardens to Durbans City Hall in an effort to make government aware of their organisations intentions.

Some found it ironic that such an organisation whose students would march for such a cause, when some of it members spend more years than the three required to graduate, with others not graduating at all.

Wendy Ngcobo commenting on student representives who are not graduating and the image their send to other students.

From students to politicians in school

From students to politicians in school

Posting this question on Facebook “Its a trend we need not look far to witness, when a student comes to university to study but ends up being heavily involved in student politics, they studies suffering heavily in the process. WHAT IS YOUR VIEW ON OUR UNIVERSITY POLITICIANS WHO ARE JUST NOT GRADUATING AND MOVING ON FROM IT?”

I wanted to find out more on my subject on why students who are part of the SRC and end up being heavily involved in student organisations which are politically aligned are just not graduating or spending years in tertiary institutions for just one diploma.

It’s a trend we all see; our institution the Durban University of Technology is just not immune to such. We have become so use to our SRC leaders striking outside the classroom forcing students to stop going to class which always end up in the university having to shut down its gates until calm and order is restored.

What are these student “leaders” doing? Why are they not in class or is it just a reputation that is what they are made up of?

During my investigation I will answer all these questions, with the help of social media and the immence platform it has to offer.

When all is said and done...Reflecting back.

When we were presented with the assignment I was very happy and enthusiastic about the topic and the brief we received.  The topic at hand required us to delve deeper into the world of refugees using a person or organisation, I was of cause a little hesitant about it as I was afraid of going into the world of a refugee.

For my first interviewee I headed straight to the refugee home affairs centre on Che Guevara Road formally known as Moore Road, searching for a subject to interview. After asking around a while and many “No sorry” Bornface Chakadeya agreed. Born in Zimbabwe the young 20 year old is almost my age and yet our experiences couldn’t be further from what one would normally expect from a young man this age. After agreeing to talk to me his brother walked in the middle of the interview changing the mood, Bornface told me his brother had warned him not to talk too much. This change the whole mood and it suddenly dawned to me that I, along with countless others who come seeking interviews from foreign nationals are not trusted by the majority of foreigners whether displaced or otherwise.

I found it particularly challenging turning Bornface story into a hard news piece. When I was starting my second piece I believed that every story relating and touching the core of refugees could be covered. However I ended up being confused with many ideas on what we should do seemed to come from all sides from my classmates, when I finally knew what to cover. The confusion on my behalf led me to find the task very daunting. By the time I had to compile my package the edit suits converted my video and audio into shortcuts, I then cleaned the shortcuts only to find my video had converted itself into audio only not showing any picture. The video is now stataring instead of nmoving. This became a very very frustrating process which I do not wish to repeat again.

Overall I enjoyed the topic but not the entire process of executing the brief and the topic.

A protester holding up a poster during the Congolese nationals strike at Botha Garden last month.

Picture by: Charity Shezi

Related stories links:

http://sfbayview.com/2012/congolese-say-south-africas-congolese-immigrant-sweep-targeted-anti-kabila-refugees/

http://mg.co.za/article/2012-02-20-king-zwelithini-lambastes-unacceptable-drc-protests

The DA was no where in sight

Thousands of people across the country painted the major cities red with no blue in sight in support of the march. DA party leader Helen Zille and Idols judge and radio personality Gareth Cliff had different views concerning the march on Twitter.

Zille says despite the DA supporting Cosatu on it stand on doing away with the e-tolling system, it could not put its support to the banning of labour brokers. Zille was alert responding to a tweet which accused white people from not being part of the march, Pinky Khaobane tweeting “Dear white citizen. You’re talk & no action apart from court challenges. No white people against etolls,” Zille responded by tweeting “so, what do you plan to say to 100’s and 1000’s of contract workers who lose their jobs when Cosatu bans labour broking?’’. The leader also tweeted that “Cosatu wants a ban on all contract work. That will leave millions unemployed, Not with better jobs”  Zille also re-tweeted  a tweet stating “#Cosatu is lk a dude w/a  morbidly obese person and then moans when said person steals all the blankets.”

The radio personality had a far more different view from the main opposition’s party leader. By tweeting in the early hours of Wednesday morning “Are you striking today? #Defiance #eTolling wear comfortable shoes. I’ll see you there.” And later “To more important things…Time to strike #etolling #COSATU”  the idols judge who appeared in court for speeding oand reckless or negligent driving before joining the march re-tweeted a tweet by Nelson Mandela’s executive personal assistant Zelda la Grange which said “Anyone complaining about today’s march clearly earns too much money and doesn’t pay enough tax!”  Cliff also tweeted this morning that the strike shows how South Africans  have had enough, urging government to take note.

Whats in it for the new media graduate?

Criticising every media company she mentioned except the Mail and Guardian Gill Moodie says it is most likely that those journalism graduates who are mad about new media will find themselves not utilising there gained skills if they were to find themselves working for newspapers newsroom.

Having looked at Avusa’s Sunday Times-Times Live website, I found it to be of reasonable standard and at pretty much the same level as the praised Mail and Guardian. Sunday Times has more stories to offer and different varieties such as the review section and business all in there page, which one might find interesting depending on ones taste of news, while the Mail and Guardian has fewer stories compared to the other.

Media24’s News24 website has always intrigued me the way it is designs makes for one to want to click on the news it is not too formal like the Sunday Times and Mail and Guardian. The way the pictures and adverts are all designed fits in well and the colours are well matched. It is designed with the reader in mind.

Independent Newspapers Sunday Tribune is a so bland it makes one not interested in further exploring the website for news. The way in which the pictures and stories are presented is just boring, the colour is not strong enough to attract much viewers. Having looked at the Independents Sunday Tribune, I also looked at the Daily News which is also an Independent Newspapers publication and the Daily Newspaper was much better than it sister publication however I do agree with Moodie when she says Independent Newspapers is still behind on many fronts when it comes to venturing online.

Youth Support for Malema Dwindling

Courtesy of http://www.trust.org/

The rise of a politician

He came in as a rock star politician and took South Africa by storm. He said what he liked and did not care what anybody else thought as long as he believed it he was right. The youth of South Africa were amazed, especially young black youth who saw a fresh face to politics and did not mind his radicalism. Julius Malema came in and it seemed he had conquered the trust and loyalty of the youth, but has he really? The past month has proven the unshakable giant can indeed be moved and the long standing support is now slowly diminishing right from the bottom looking up.

South Africa and the world watched in shock when the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) supporters caused havoc outside Chief Albert Luthuli House last month, in support for the Youth League presidentMalema. He was making his first appearance before the mother body, the African National Congress (ANC) disciplinary committee on a list of charges which include bringing the party into disrepute and causing divisions within its ranks.

While the youth outside Luthuli House burned ANC flags and T shirts with ANC President Jacob Zuma‘s face while chanting songs, it seemed Malema’s support was unstoppable; they were aggressive and made it clear their love they president. Many said the crowd outside Luthuli house represented majority the of the youth in the country, but take a second and pause to think which youth was it really? The majority of the supporters in that crowd were from Limpopo, this is Malema’s home town and it is not a surprise that he would have a stronger base there, but what about the rest of the country.

Exaggerated figure

Ayanda Mthembu an engineering student at the University of Kwazulu Natal said Malema has become an over exaggerated figure. “I don’t really care what he says anymore, and it is irritating that we always have to deal with him” she added. This is starting to be a common trend across the country. In an article written by the Times website about the diminishing fire brand that is Malema. A fourteen year old teenager by the name of Thato commented, he would never vote for the ANC until the corruptions ends, he added “It would never end, Malema gets to do whatever he wants and ignorant people will just follow.”

Sinking Ship?

The TNS research survey was conducted and it revealed Malema is fast losing support in urban areas of this country. According to the survey support for the ANCYL president shows a consistent decline over the last 18 months, the research shows a significant gender difference among young  blacks who are now 26% last year’s 30%, with females showing a much less interest then they male counter parts, Only 22% of  black women support Malema compared to 31% of black males. The 23% unemployed support Malema while 16% employed give him there support. The studies which were conducted among 1 260 blacks, 385 whites, 240 coloureds and 115 Indians/Asians,  showed when considering age groups, he has the support of 26% of people between 18 and 24, and 22% of those between 25 and 34. His support dropped to 7% among people aged 35 to 49. This survey confirms his popularity has dropped and there seems to be no turning back.

Malema’s support is sinking to a whole new low and it seems the firebrand rise is losing its base. The media has played part in raising the youth leader and is now burring him alive. An article poster by the Daily newspaper quote said “Malema not a political god”. 

But with the research study showing a heavy decline in supporter ship they is still those who believe in the “Malema factor”,  Siboniso Mzobe a student and member of the South African Student Congress Organisation(SASCO), said people should not be fooled and he is in full support of Malema “I am young and not stupid but I support Malema”. Mzobe is definitely  not alone many young youths still feel this way, Malema will not go down without a fight and will kick and scream until he is down.

Celebrate a green clean world.

With Durban to host the seventeenth conference of the parties (COP17) of the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change (UNFCCC) and CMP7 being held in Durban later this year it came as no surprise the annual Community Engagement hosted by the Durban University of Technology (DUT) would have a green theme in mind.

The event which took place at City Campus Arthur Smith Hall started on a sad note with a moment of silence as a candle was lit in memory of photojournalist Anton Hammerl who was recently killed while on assignment in war torn Libya. Speaking towards the life of Hammerl, Mbali Dhlomo, vice chairman of the Dut journalism advisory board said “It takes people of courage to be in front of the lines to be our eyes and ears and we shall keep them in our prayers.” Adv Robin Sewlall who is also the head of department for the Journalism department added that society depends deeply on journalists to know what is happening.

Many NGO’s where present to talk and educate the audience more on the climate. Organisations included the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA), Wildlife and Environmental Society of South Africa (WESSA), Durban Green Corridor, One Home One Garden, KZN Substance Fisher’s Forum and many more.

Gabriella Peppers speaking on behalf of the Durban Green Corridor spoke about the uMngeni Green Precinct and Green Hub which are an innovative and sustainable, environmentally responsible building at Blue Lagoon Park, housing nature based tourism, education and promotion centre. When asked by an audience member what initiatives the Durban Green Corridor has in place to better educate the youth of the impoverished neighbourhoods that they work around. Peppers had to elaborate that both the uMngeni Green Precinct and Green Hub are continuously working with the communities of uMngeni and iNanda to educate them more about the environment and it surroundings. “Just recently we had a graduates in the iNanda area where we gave them employment while teaching them about the environment and the many alien plant which are a huge problem for the area” said Peppers.

WESSA activist Jenny Duvenage made a point to educate students who dared to listen outside of the Arthur Smith Hall, teaching us about the importance of a clean green planet. Duvenage apologised for the lack of material saying she would have loved to bring more but a problem with a printer prevented her. Making reference on the upcoming seventeenth conference of the parties (COP17) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which will be held in Durban later this year, Duvenage said “This is the time for all of those who believe in a better world to stand together and represent a united front.” She continued saying this world affects all those who live in it and if we continue to treat it this way we will bear the consequences.

The day ended on a high note with the top achieving students in the journalism department being awarded for their performance on the previous year.