The volatile face of poverty

(Photo: Beeld)

Yesterday our team could not go on site to a client as members from their host community and retrenched workers had a violent protest in which they stopped the mine bus, rolled it over and set it on fire with nine people seated inside. Fortunately the commuters all escaped the fire, however, one of the men that has been working in a senior position at the mine for two years tried to calm the crowd down and got stoned to death as a result.

Our team was right there, on their way to the mine to have a meeting with the senior management on sustainable development principles. We had a recent audit on site in which we indicated to management that there were work to be done in respect of their approach to the host community. This incident however has highlighted to me the dire position communities are in and the need for transparent relationships between corporate, government and communities. We have a lot of work to do and I believe we have run out of time.

Upholding the cross

Democracy in our country is still a fairly young experience and today, as I was standing in the line to cast my vote, I could not help but remember the first election I participated in. In 1994, when the lines snaked around the suburb I lived in. A party atmosphere in the air as all the citizens of this beautiful country waited together to choose a new future.

The line today was much shorter, more organised, people were more blase about the right to choose. Families making use of the public holiday to have another long weekend with trips planned across the country. My current suburb is mostly made up of more affluent families...mixing in line with their domestic workers, grooms and other support personel. A couple of people ahead of me a mature gentleman was standing, serenity edged on his face, dressed in his Sunday best. He was remembering the road we travelled to get here as a country, to arrive here at a space where we can share this priviledge to each mark their own choice, without coercion or fear.

We must, at all cost, protect this, as it was indeed, dearly won

Lets keep perspective

The internet is ablaze with accusations, hate speech and fear. But I came across a little article that I think should be pushed to the forefront to remind us all that we are living in a democratic country with a constitution written to protect all the citizens of our land.

Let us not forget how far we have come citizens of this rainbow nation.

An Adventure - Discovering the Cradle of Mankind

We were on mid term break the other day, so I took my kid of to the Cradle of Mankind to learn all about where the earth and humanity started. It was so interesting and he lapped all the information up. I was really scared that he would get bored half way through as it is rather intense and packed with scientific information. But he loved it, we went from exhibit to exhibit and he never tired at all.

Running past the creation of earth, on our way to the underground boat ride through the ages
As we slid down the ramp into the belly of mother earth, I noticed that my little man was a little bit worried about this experience
We travelled through fierce winds, dripping ice water and erupting vulcanoes, my kid was in awe
Phoning a dodo and a kwagga - both animals have been extinct. E had to listen to each one's story
Just look at the concentration ;-)
The need to protect our planet and our fellow human beings from exploitation was evident everywhere
The exhibition hall reminded me of the Pompedou Art Gallery in Paris, with larger than life pop-art made into surreal science exhibits.

Faces in the mirror
Maropeng - Science in a burial mound
The views of the Cradle of Mankind - the area is littered with sites of paleonthological interest
Down Sterkfontein Caves - I forgot my camera on manual, the result, lots of blurry pictures in the dark. This one is the best of them all
Where they found Ms Ples, who was actually a teenage boy......

Boiling over

The Love Child saga in South Africa has to make one stop and think about the state of affairs in our fair country. A country that generally tries very hard to achieve some form of legitimacy as a world player and in doing so convince the developed world that we are not just the most southern part of a large crime ridden and dark continent.

The hope given to our rainbow nation by Madiba - viewed as the father of peace by many, are being trodden to pieces by JZ, the father of many. It still irks me that a president can be voted in by just over 4000 people in a country with a population of over 48 million. How will democracy ever be realised here? How will we ever hold our government responsible for their actions if they are only concerned with keeping their electorate happy? An electorate constituting of poverty stricken rural people that still view the ANC as their redemption and refer to their president as 'father?' There is no sense anywhere that interest and focus should go to some form of true leadership and development of the country - not economically, politically or even in terms of education, infrastructure, health, the list can continue ad infinitum.

I wonder how much longer it will take the current government to reward all their freedom fighters and whether it is possible that, when that is done, somebody will have the guts to stand up and say - Enough of this, fatcats, lets get our hands dirty and build this country up, from the soil, one brick at a time, regardless of whether we will personally benefit from it or not.

The Good Samaritan

As I crawl along the corrugated dirt road towards my client, I am amazed at the number of insects scurrying across the road, super sized shongololos, piss-krieke with their antennas waving around in a mad dance and beetles of all shapes and sizes. All the while thinking, careful now, we do not want another flat tyre, this is a little city car and not a big bakkie. Then the shongololo appeared out of nowhere, I turned the wheels slightly to the left and....dwah, tsssssssss

I just knew it. I busted that wheel. Totally busted. Fortunately I was just about a hundred meters from the gate of one of my new clients. A very small, marginal chrome mine. I told the security guard about my predicament, he had one look and shared the news that I don't have one flat tyre but two. Yikes, and only one spare. The general manager of the mine appeared around the corner, covered from head to toe in dust, sweat and grime. Told me that he is on skeleton staff because of the season and that something needed fixing in the plant so he is the boilermaker for today. As I shared my predicament, he looked at me with patience in his eyes and told me not to worry about a single thing. Then offered to take me to my client in his own vehicle and promised that the car will be ready by the time I am done.

When I phoned him a couple of hours later he told me my car is ready, where can he deliver it to? So I fetched it, thanked him profusely and am still struggling to understand how somebody in that position with so much work pressure and so little time can still be so patient with someone that is basically a complete stranger that landed unannounced on his doorstep.

It is South African hospitality at it's best. And it humbles me, because I get so impatient and so ratty when I am stressed and under pressure.

The end of a chapter

I am very sad to say that other people that know nothing of the meaning my car had for me, decided that they need her more than I do. What for, I do not even want to begin to imagine, but she is gone. For me, at least.

This signals the end of a period for me and even though I am very sad at it, I also have peace and an inner knowledge that this happened for good reasons. Whatever that might be.

I bought my bakkie exactly two years ago and she was my birthday present to myself. A celebration of my new life as a single mom and a very visual message to all that cared to see of my new found independence and search for adventure. I loved all the road trips I ever undertook with her and she helped me to come to terms with many fears and insecurities. Driving my truck on the long open road always opened up my heart and my thoughts, it transported me to freedom. I never felt lonely when exploring with her. The sheer size of her forced me to slow down. I will miss her but I do understand that I need to move on. That I need to develop new skills and that the near future for me will look slightly different. This does not mean that I will never replace her, just that the timing now, dictates something different.

New Perspective

In my work I come face to face with the beauty and challenges of poverty frequently which serves as a constant reminder of how truly blessed and privilidged I am. Today I started work on a new project, at a missionary in a very poor community about 1.3 hours from my home. After my meeting with the potential benficiaries I was proudly shown to one of the projects. Once I started taking photos with my cellphone I was not allowed to stop until every pupil and her creation got equal attention.

The task was to find whatever flowers and greenery they could and make a flower arrangement. The individuality and creativity evident was mind blowing

The only white at a tea-party

On May-day I had the pleasure to attend a very well organised, high society tea party in celebration of not only a birthday, but also women in general and South African women in particular. It was a fascinating experience.

The tables were set with designer cutlery and crockery, flute wine glasses and delicate little snacks. The women were absolutely beautiful with their exotic looks, from almond shaped hazel eyes to pitch black irisses and skin colours ranging from ebony to milky coffee. Snow white flowing dresses and soft accents, imported scents wafting through the room.

I was the only woman representing the white minority of our country and what was really interesting to me was that the host felt the need to introduce me as 'even though she is white, her soul is that of a black sister, she is my soul's sister'. I keep wondering what that really means. Is it just an acknowledgement that I can hug and kiss my black friends as much as I can any other friends? Does it mean that I don't value people based on skin colour? But black people can be as racist as any other racist group of people and I have often heard them (and at this tea party as well) make slightly derrogatory comments with regards to 'the whities'.

The amazing reality of that morning was to see the strength of our women in action, the believe that if we stand together and work together, we can redefine business in South Africa.

Women in action, in business, changing society and the future for our children.

The stakes: The land and livelihood of your forefathers

When you do business in Africa you must abide by the rules of the land. The rules that forbid the disturbance of the peace and beauty of the soil your forefathers ruled for ions. This is a challenge when western money wants to rape the beauty to get to the heart of the minerals that make everyone rich.

Everyone, but the cow herder that watches and waits.

It is here were traditions meet foreign customs.
Where accents and ceremonies collide
The slaughter of a cow to appease the gods
And safe the lives of the innocent
Rhythmic beating of Njembe drums
Ululating voices
White foreign faces in fire light

And just sometimes the coffee coloured eyes
Of a village boy
Shaking hands with the foreigner
Spanning the bridge
Risking his inheritance
For himself?
Or the future of his family?
Ahh the tension
‘she is tangible my darling, tangible’
But if you promise us and you do not deliver
Your house and family will burn
Burn
Burn
Because in this village you were born

We have dug your graves with you
Celebrated your births
Slaughtered your cows
So we watch
And we wait
To see

Clearing out the stockpile

Whilst in a workshop with one of my clients today she got called out to an emergency meeting. Only to rush back half an hour later, flushed and flustered. The whole operation will be closing down for four months. No production, no work....for more than a thousand people. The reason, their international market has slowed down so much that their stockpile of product has become a white elephant which must be moved before production can be continued. This is a mine with a lifespan of a further 30 years, one in which we, just minutes before, were discussing the recruitment ramp up, we thought was planned for next year.

A thousand lives, just before christmas, from all over Southern Africa. All the strategies and plans for development and economic stimulation are just that. Plans and strategies.....hopefully they will not gather dust in file thirteen.

Taking work to the bushveld

One of the joys of working from your cellphone and your computer is that you really could do it from anywhere ;-) and not too long ago, I did exactly that. I packed the bag and the kiddo and we joined the grandparents at Dikholo, a small game farm not too far of the beaten track

High on the mountain at a lookout - we spend quite a bit of time here looking at the animals and the beautiful vistas of endless rolling hills and bushveld. A little Dassie was warming itself in the sun. These little animals are normally quite shy, but not here, I am not sure if their strength is in their numbers (they were everywhere) or whether they are just so used to living in close proximity to humans that they have become quite tame.



The resort seen from the lookout point. It is beautiful, if a bit overdeveloped


We went for a walk one morning fairly early and I decided to leave my long lens...I am in a game farm and I left my long lense. I know, unbelievable. I was very frustrated halfway through as we got very close to the animals but the short lense just does not do them justice. I played hide a seek with this giraffe for a bit.

Now I am closer to 40 than 30

But then John reminded me that he is closer to 40 than 60 which made me feel like a school girl

My birthday was one of those days I will never forget

The morning of my birthday as I was sitting in the beautiful hotel garden sipping percolated coffee, listening to gurgling waters and bird sounds, I realised that what I thought was a disaster, was really the perfect start to my day. See, I like to control my life and I like to feel successful with what I do and here I got a reminder that we are really at the mercy of those very things we take for granted in our lives. Like our health, our cell phones, cars, jobs whilst any or all of it can so easily be taken away from us.

But more importantly, when things are taken from us, other people can step up for us to take care of us and help us reach our destinations. Only problem is I failed that very lesson the next day so badly that I am afraid I am going to have to write the same test again in the near future....but I am getting ahead of myself a little bit, I think

On Sunday past I thought it a good idea to take E to the Thai Festival, which was ok, apart from the fact that they had a very violent full contact Kick boxing competition going in the middle of the festivities and we left rather hurriedly. On the way back home my little guy fell asleep in the car but I had to stop to get some milk, which I did. But the little fellow was really miserable to be woken and dragged into the shop and whilst he was fretting and fussing I got my cell phone pick pocketed from my hand bag. I left feeling angry, frustrated and betrayed as I knew something was going on with the lady that kept bumping up against me, but I had no extra hands left to try and feel if my bag was ok - which was slung across my shoulder and slightly to my back.

Well, my whole little business runs through my phone which doubles as an external modem for my computer, diary and notebook. So with that lost, I was quite literally left in the dark. I went to John to use his phone to cancel the sim and black list the phone but had to go to a project early Monday morning so could not do anything about submitting the claim for a replacement phone until Monday afternoon. Which I did and was told that I can collect my new phone on Tuesday. Fortunately John had an extra phone which he loaned me, only problem was that it had a very limited battery life, but I had a car charger for it and thought it will be ok at least to take with me on the road and at least I could phone if I needed help.

Tuesday was my birthday and I woke up early with a song in my heart - ready to face the day and slightly nervous as i was due to speak at a conference on development/transformation in the mining industry. We were ready and out the door in good time and I took my little guy to school - where he insisted I kiss him in the car and he will walk himself to his classroom. Watching my little guy with his big backpack and in full soccer atire walking himself into the school garden wrenched my heart. But no time for sentimentality, so hopped back into my truck, turned the key and....nothing. No gentle purring of my diesel enjin, just a disconcerting silence. I could not believe it. This is a new car, it has just come from a three day stint at auto-electricians where they fixed the alarm system and now she was stone cold dead. But not to worry, I will phone John to come and help me out as he is a real wiz with mechanical stuff. As I dialed his number, I got a voicemail but before I could even leave a message the battery died. To be honest I just went blank, I did not know where to start or what to do as the only numbers I knew by heart was my mom's number and Phil's number. And how will they help me? And I need to be at the conference venue in 40 minutes time.

So I went into the school secretary's office and asked if I could use the phone. I dialed Phil, but he did not answer, no surprises there as he hardly ever wakes up before 9 in the morning. Desperately in need of a sympathetic ear I phoned mom, who listened like just a mom can and then asked what she could do to help me….uhm, I don’t know – nothing I guess as they are three hours away. Just as I put the phone down another mom came up to me and offered to take me where ever it was I had to go to. I could not believe my ears, when I asked her if she is sure, she just said ‘darling, I heard you say ex-husband, and I have so been there. Come let me take you, you will be just fine.’ So I left the car keys with the school secretary and got taken 20km across town to the conference venue. On the way there I learned so many things, I learned that this lady was also in development but that her company focus on marketing and branding of projects and SMMEs. What a godsend she was, her wisdom and kindness was a real blessing to me and helped me to calm down and just let the day be. Her words were ‘darling, you try to control too much, just live a little’ mmmmm how on earth to let go of that and just to live a little. How to let go of this anxious knot in my tummy that I might let someone down or make a mistake. Anyway – at the hotel I realized they changed the venue but I did not get the e-mail as I did not have an internet connection the previous day. Fortunately they could get a hotel driver to take me across town – again – to the correct venue.

The conference went down well, our presentation was well received. My dad managed to contact the place that resurrected my Corsa in 2007 and they fetched my car and tightened the battery terminals (which were all that was wrong with it) and Phil collected the bakkie for me. I got dropped off at his house and could drive home. In the mean time I could not get hold of John as I did not know his number by heart but I knew he would be really stressed out as he did not know if I was ok or not, but I decided to bath and dress like I am going out in any-case. And true to form, at exactly 7:00 I heard the roar of his little car’s engine as he pulled up to my gate. His car was filled with flowers and he bought me some perfume. The genuine concern on his face as he got out the car and looked at me with relief washing over him when he saw that I was perfectly fine…that was probably the biggest gift I have ever gotten. He cared, he really cared about me.

On Wednesday I went first thing to the Vodashop to get my phone sorted – and there I failed the test. All the lessons learned the previous day were for naught as I lost my temper so badly and swore at the consultant. Yes, he did have a narky attitude and yes he could have been a little bit more diplomatic in the way he handled the story, but still it is not nice to watch the junk splurting out of yourself when you are put under pressure. Oi, I did apologize, and I managed to get a good phone. I also managed to make it back to the conference just in time for my presentation that afternoon. A presentation that stretched their thinking on economic development and challenged the room to think more creatively regarding the difference they can make to the mining industry and the transformation of the rural economies where they operate.

Spring has sprung

I love September
I love the renewed sound of birds
the budding leaves
the bucking horses
the light through my window when I have to wake up in the morning
the heat in my house where I worked on my computer
the smell of braaivleis over the weekends
the toning and browning of my body
the sound of laughter in the air as everyone congregates in the sun
sultry hot evenings
the promise of new opportunities

Pregnancy is risky business in the South

Every now and again, people talk about the new era of apartheid in SA where the gate keeper is money and not skin colour. In actual fact, a darker pigmentation will open lots of financial doors for you, providing you vote for the right party and if not that,at least you studied at the correct university and move in the right circles. But yes, SA is the land of opportunity and everything can be bought from anybody, at whatever the price, providing you have the money to pay for it

The latest statistics show that infant mortality in SA has increased. That 1 in every 110 pregnant woman will die as a result of a lack of proper care. I cannot help but be reminded that if I was in a different socio economic profile my name would have been on that list

Tips for South African Mothers

I received this in my inbox today:

Safety Hints and Tips from the NHPA:

1 If at any time you have to open the gate yourself, switch off the vehicle, leave the key in the ignition and close the door. Then open the gate.
2 If you have small children in the vehicle, take the key with you (this is the only exception). You then need the key as a “negotiating tool”. The perpetrators want your vehicle and you want your children.
3 If your children are older, it is advised that they exit the vehicle with you when opening the gate so that you are all separated from the vehicle should a hijack occur.
4 Check rear-view mirror to ensure you are not being followed.
5 When exiting your vehicle, be cautious and aware of surrounding obstructions and shrubbery that may be concealing a hijacker.
6 Never sit in your parked vehicle without being conscious of your surroundings. Sleeping in a stationary vehicle is particularly dangerous.
7 When approaching your driveway, be on the lookout for suspicious vehicles / persons. This is very important as the majority of hijackers approach their victims in home driveways.
8 Inspect the outside and inside of the vehicle before unlocking. (Tyre, number plate, other side of the vehicle – as explained during the hijack prevention & survival course)
9 Know your destination and directions to it; and be alert should you get lost.
10 Always drive with your windows closed and doors locked.

Now why does this just not seem right to me?