Exam Horror Strikes Again

It is that time again, time for coffee overloads, paper cuts and perpetual migraines. Exams have come once again to plague the students of South Africa. So tonight, I leave you with some funnies to lighten the horror.

And lastly....

DA's peaceful march to Cosatu turns violent

On Tuesday, May 15th, the DA's peaceful protest march to hand over a memo to the union, Cosatu, degenerated into violence when Cosatu members attacked protesters with stones and bricks in Braamfontein. Tiaan Kotze was injured during this protest seriously when a rock hit him above his right eye.

The memorandum that the DA wanted to deliver was on Cosatu's opposition to the "Youth Wage subsidy". The "Youth Wage subsidy" is aimed at young people aged between 18 and 25 jobs to create jobs at existing companies. The grant can help to create jobs for up to 423 000 young people and it is strongly supported by the DA. But Cosatu claims that it will cause older, more experienced workers to be replaced and that they will end up unemployed. The DA believes that these fears are irrational and that the subsidy may be structured so that it will accommodate everyone.

 Tiaan Kotze told The Star newspaper that he had his own "struggle credentials". He was upset about the violence that broke out during the DA's peaceful march. Kotzé, 23, is an operations manager of the DA in Potchefstroom. He specifically traveled to Johannesburg for the march and he will wear the scars from the attack on his face for life. Kotze is one of the young people of South Africa who have earned the right to be heard. Cosatu had no reason to take  violent action, and the police finally had to use tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd .

It is immoral that in a democratic country, the idea is that only some groups may be allowed to protest. An ANC Youth League member, made the following statement on Facebook, "DA marching to Cosatu is like a black man boasting about bis karate skills to a Japanese guy." It's time that the young people of our country start listening to each other. Our problems can not be solved by violence. We are all citizens with equal rights, so we have the right to protest and freedom of speech. The right to be heard.

 

 

 

Moms And The Horror of Shopping

Today I will start by wishing all the mothers out there a very happy mother's day. And now I will pose my question (sorry, today's one is for the girls). Why is shopping always fun until you have to go with your mom? And I don't mean shopping for groceries, I mean for clothes.

I have gone clothes shopping on my own or with my friends several times. That way we can talk and joke, or I can just browse on my own time. When shopping with my mom, it gets really difficult.

Somehow whenever she goes shopping with me it's hot, there are thousands of rude people, I'm always hungry or in a bad mood and the clothes never suit my taste. Alternatively, when you accompany her to try on clothes she always takes hours to choose something you pointed out when you first walked into the stupid store.

I don't know, maybe I'm just bitter from past experience.

Truth is we love our mom's but we hate shopping with them because we feel inhibited. We're too ashamed to try on the daring clothes we normally would, so we come home with bags and bags full of nun-worthy clothing. Plus, shopping on your own makes you feel all kick-ass and grown up because you're being independent.

My mom isn't that bad at least, I've heard scary stories of mom's that force their daughters to buy only polo necks and floor length skirts! This wouldn't be so bad, except for the fact that your teenage years are when you're supposed to rebel and experiment.

My suggestion? Give your mom either a "Get with the times" speech, or get wine farms to start handing out samples in malls. Or, ask your dad to go with you instead. I'm sure he'll be so bored after a while he'll just hand over his credit card and leave. Score :D

The Baby in Nelson Mandela Square

Today, sitting at a restaurant in Nelson Mandela Square, I saw a woman carrying her baby tied to her back. Now for those of you who aren't familiar with Africa or its traditions, this is an everyday occurrence. From the age of three months the child in their care is carried in a blanket tied to their backs. I was carried like that when I was little, and so was three quarters of our population.

So why was this so interesting to me? Its interesting because African women are changing.

Gone are the days when they were fully obedient to men and elders. Now they go to universities and send their sons and daughters too, to build a better future. They are impeccably dressed in the latest fashions, down to toe-curling high-heels. But still, the baby is put in a blanket and tied to their backs.

Its an interesting mix of old tradition and modernisation. It shows that even though we change, we still hold on to where we come from.

That's why I smiled when I saw a baby on a woman's back.