Born-frees talk about political climate

This piece was published by national newspapers The Star , Business Day and The New Age on 12 August 2016 in South Africa.

The current South African political climate is both exciting and titillating for every individual in the country surprisingly even for the “Born- frees”.

The last time young South African youth took part and showed this much interest it was over 20 years ago when Apartheid was diminished and Democracy proved to be a system that would not only let the country be ruled by its people yet brought some sort of equality amid all races.

All social media networks are flooded with messages, questions and statements from the youth who have positive and negative views about the current political atmosphere and it is great to see.

I believe that a country that has its youth involved and informed in its running; is a country with a optimistic future. This will in the long run benefit Mzansi.

I am looking at it in this way. If we educate our youth that when you are in a position of authority such as a President; Cabinet Minister or Mayor your duty is to serve and protect the people who put you in control and not to oppress and dismiss them.

We can teach our youth to be leaders who do not prioritise financial gain as they climb higher into political positions but to be leaders that will make informed decisions for the rest of us.

Let us encourage positive and constructive dialogue among the youth about politics and stop feeding those negative stories about how Apartheid will come back because the ANC did not get the majority votes in the big municipalities.

As we wait for the coalition results I quote the 2020 United Nations of America Presidential candidate Mr Kanye West: “Listen to the kids”

Article on Business Day Live : http://www.bdlive.co.za/opinion/letters/2016/08/12/letter-the-kids-have-spoken

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We (MEDIA) are not evil

This opinion piece was published on The Star national newspaper on 17 August 2015 and The Weekly newspaper which is a provincial newspaper in the Free State, South Africa on 14 August 2015.

Dear celebrities, rappers, actors and fallen media personalities. As the people’s eyes and ears we are not out to kill your 15 minutes of fame. I could list you the main reasons for our existence and waking up in the morning to write about how you got slapped or how your wife cheated on you and all that but like any other professional it’s our duty to report.

I was amazed when reading an interview by a free provincial  newspaper (The Weekly) where the Bonginkosi “Zola” Dlamini went on a rant while being interviewed on how the ‘mighty evil’ tarnished his image with fabricated stories. Eight questions in, including him telling the interviewer that he\she isn’t experienced enough to know that news agencies do write lies on celebrities- he goes on to talk about the past.

From my view Zola hasn’t really moved on with his life which he denies has been tough. As a reader I really wanted to know about how he plans to make his new show a success, the lessons his learned and what to anticipate from him in the future. Not how the media ruined his 15 minutes of fame.

As if the interview wasn’t plentiful to frustrate me but as I browsed into Twitter one of my favourite hip hop rapper’s AKA was on his usual ‘I didn’t do it’ statements after reports surfaced of him allegedly  breaking a champagne bottle a man’s head yet later apologising. “This bottle incident? ... A false, sensationalist, poorly researched story combined with my team not entertaining bullshit.” Tweeted AKA.

This is just two in a million episodes that journalists and the media have to put up with celebrities getting into situations then blaming them for their downfall when all we do is report on what we know and have been told. Though I do not deny that we have a few thorns in garden but we do best in entertaining, educating and informing the public that buys your music, watches your shows and buys your clothing so respect us and we respect you. Remember any publicity is good publicity.

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Mfazi your voice is superior enough.

 This opinion piece was published on The Star national newspaper on May 29, 2015 under the headline "Create your own world woman"

There is a reason that Nelson Mandela is the most celebrated icon amongst all the South African heroes who took part in the emancipation of our nation. There is a reason Mahatma Gandhi, Malcolm X, Julius Malema and Mmusi Maimane are individuals that we look up to for leadership, wisdom and inspiration.

Our country is full of copy cats and people who believe they can only flourish in life if they follow suit in someone’s footsteps. Every teenage girl wants to be a Bonang Matheba and Nomuzi Mabena because that is what they are exposed to forgetting that presenting is their talent. But few desire to be a Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma or Isabel Dos Santos because their environment doesn’t offer that broad sense of thinking.

Youth especially young females in work places tolerate and accept being oppressed and being made to feel like they shouldn’t communicate their opinions and concerns. Because we are naturally emotional beings, for every point raised, we are made to feel like we are out of line where else, as women we cannot argue the same as a male colleague. We cannot gain authority over a conversation because of my “Manly presence” but of course I am going to raise my voice and make sure you get my point if I have to for you to get it.

Dear Mfazi its okay to be opinionated. It is okay to propose and implement change in your workplace, church, and home and where ever you feel you can convey positivity. Your voice is as equal as the man standing next to you and holding a position same as yours. Be that the Malala Yousafzai, Maggie Gyllenhaal, the Thuli Madonsela, Terry Pheto, Angelina Jolie and Hillary Clinton of your surroundings or forever live a life constructed by another equal human being.

See it on Create your own World woman by Mary-Jane Mabula

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When Bloemfotein Celtics beat Mamelodi Sundows 5-0

An apology ended  up with witnessing Bloemfotein Celtics beat Mamelodi Sundowns to the ground at the Lucas Moribe Stadium. While it was obviously cold and half empty, I enjoyed the atmosphere of soccer fanatics and friends I went with.

 

 

 

Although I must confess I was a bit worried about when the game ended and how the Sundows supporters\fans (who were on their feet since kick off) would react to the outcome- surprisingly they(supporters\fans) sang Gospel songs as the team walked over the pitch and got close to say thank you for the support and took photographs with fans.

All in all a lady enjoyed herself.

Weaving a sense of Self-Worth

By Mary-Jane Mabula

I spent the first 18 years of my life without braiding or having hair extension on. This was a result of church rules and regulations. One commandment that many churches insist on, until the pastor’s wife wants to explore with long hair too. When I grew up weave was wicked and slutty. The nature of the community that my parents bordered me with believed that weave, eyelashes, nail polish, make up are all Satan’s creations.

Now at 23, I am recovering my hairline after I became a slave to weave and braiding since 2010. I began university with my well groomed black afro yet a few months in. I wanted to belong, fit in with my friends who had R400 razor cuts or “Rihanna style” as Ntate Chomane Chomane of Lesedi FM once referred to on one of his rants about hair on radio.

I still had to avoid going to my parent’s house with weave on. I remember once I had just put on a R300 hairpiece on coupled with eyelashes and it turned out I had an interview back at home in the Free State. The struggle of taking the hair off and the amount of money wasted it was painful to me.

Sitting here and trying to understand how weave and all beautifying things got so addictive is a mystery. Reality is I am not alone. An amount of South African young women bear this sickness of not feeling beautiful without all the artificial hair  us.

It is 2014, I am a professional young lady, living and working in a city that discriminates against those who wear “dituku” and long dresses. I believe this addiction that I and many of young women have is because of so many factors that date back to the slavery time. I cannot duel on those factors that even in modern society still tell an average black girl she’s not good looking without some Indian girl’s hair on her head.

It is imperative for us women not to overlook ourselves. I lost the meaning of what beauty is. What being African means. What means to be me without the weave? The need to have weave on clouded my vision of who I am.

I am 25 days into my no weave mission and it has been a journey. Some mornings I wake up wishing I had weave just to brush it and go. Some mornings I wake up to see my roommate slave away the morning trying to straighten it out to my entertainment. Most days it is great fun to laugh at my colleagues using pens to stretch their scalps. Sometimes it is depressing to be given less attention by the opposite sex because I do not look approachable enough. None the less brown sister with nappy hair you are beautiful.

 

Youth donate blankets to the needy

The Balwani Ba Sechaba Charity organisation launch in Soshanguve attracted amounts of youth that contributed to the organisations dream of distributing basic needs to the needy in the township.

The Balwani Ba Sechaba Charity organisation founding members at the launch held at Soshanguve Block K.

Watch Mary-Jane Mabula report on the event

 

More photos of the day :

 

Photographs by Mary-Jane Mabula and Katlego Legodi

 



 

The God that is Minnie Dlamini

 

The beauty that is Minnie. @MinnieDlamini

                 MINENHLE MINNIE DLAMINI                 

 

 

In these days of media hype and instant celebrity linked to reality TV shows, it is something of a rarity to find a carefully planned career taking off. Known for her strong work-ethic, humility and energetic, positive spirit; Actress, TV presenter, Radio DJ, Brand Ambassador, MC, & Fashionista - Minenhle Dlamini – popularly known as Minnie, has set herself apart from her peers.

 

Growing up, in Durban Minnie had always been involved in theatre productions and beauty pageants, while excelling at school. In 2010 her ambitious streak saw her beating thousands of hopefuls, in the nationwide search for a young and sassy presenter for SABC1’s music show, LIVE. At this time Minnie was in her 2nd year at the University of Cape Town.

 

 

Within months of being in Johannesburg, Minnie had landed a role as the sassy Miranda on Generations - his opened her up to a bigger audience. She further extended her brand ambitions by co-hosting SABC1’s lifestyle show for young people, Mzansi Insider. On this show we got to see more of her personality; which showed off her boyish streak whilst in heels. South Africa began to notice her, not just as pretty face, but an intellectual thinker who can hold her own with any topic.



Being one of THE “hottest” girls in SA, Minnie quickly learnt to be fashion savvy. Her experimental dress sense saw her being named the face of Legit, with her own fashion range, the Minnie-Series. It was not too long before MNET approached her to play the role of Zintle on The Wild. On 29 March 2012, Minnie had the honor of opening the nation’s longest running fashion platform, South African Fashion Week (SAFW). This was an evening that saw her being announced as the first, ever, face of international hair brand, Motions. She’s since worked with the brand’s international Ambassador, Ursula Stephen, who is known for creating global star Rihanna’s trendy hairstyles.

 It was also at this time that Metro FM announced her as co-host of the Metro FM Experience every Saturday (12-3pm). She is also currently the for Teach Children To Save South Africa (TCTSA) and also JeepSA Ambassador.

 

extracted from Wikipedia