From the Desk of the Education Cluster

QUANTITATIVE v QUALITATIVE EDUCATION IN OUR LIFE TIME: The Challenges Faced By UBPA!!

The core purpose of all clusters or portfolios at UBPA is to develop road maps and/or guidelines that assess what are the issues or problems confronting our people and come up with ways in which those issues or problems can be addressed. Following that will be to pull together available resources within UBPA to implement and execute those road maps and/or guidelines. What is to follow is a road map from the education cluster.

The education cluster at UBPA currently led by the Chairperson and the Treasurer/Organizer has since its inception been in a forefront of educational development of our people. Obviously assisted by the human resources we have within UBPA our task, particularly during winter classes has been less cumbersome. The education cluster and the current executive of UBPA have focused primarily on matric success. The logic behind this has been that once we increase matric success then the task of getting deserving people to tertiary institutions will be easier.

UBPA is still a new formation and that it is yet to celebrate its second birthday. Because of its infancy it is difficult to give accurate and convincing projections of how the education cluster and UBPA has fared in this task. What is known however is that in our first attempt we achieved the record highest pass rate of 70% in matric of Uthaka Secondary School for the academic year of 2007. The only thing worrying about those figures was the quality of the passes themselves. We are told that there were fewer exemptions and A symbols. This means that we did exceptionally well quantitatively but less convincing qualitatively.

The year 2008 is not going to be anything like 2007. Firstly, this year we have worked with a different class of students. The 2008 class of students looked a year or two younger in comparison to the 2007. Whether this age difference will play any role at all in outputs is yet to be seen. Secondly, the curriculum itself and the methods of assessment are fundamentally different. This year we were dealing with the standardized National Curriculum Statement (NCS). The outcomes of this curriculum worry even the national minister of education because as a nation we do not know what to expect. As UBPA we are optimistically hopeful that once again Uthaka Secondary School will do well even if it is quantitatively.

Quantitative and qualitative outcomes only matter in an advanced stage of success. In the beginning stages where there is no meaningful difference between dawn and sunset we learn to accept whatever we are given even if it is quantitative. But once the difference between dawn and sunset becomes significant we move to accepting nothing short of excellence. This is the advanced stage where we may begin to ponder questions of qualitative outcomes. This distinction is not in anyway suggesting or indicative of the fact that the two cannot go hand in glove or together. The reality of the matter is that it is possible to have students of quality passing their matric in droves at Uthaka Secondary School. However, the trick is to know when to expect this and what under circumstances.

UBPA and the education cluster have been committed to bringing more and more of our deserving students to tertiary institutions. This desire is demonstrated by the fact that we provide information and even application forms that are intended to get our deserving students to the various tertiary institutions. At this juncture we do not have comprehensive numbers or statistics that show how we have done in this regard. But what we have noted is that, probably because of the nature of the institution, the University of Johannesburg (UJ) presents the best opportunity for our learners to enter tertiary. For this reason, we as the education cluster suggest that the open day trip scheduled for next year should go to UJ.

Our task however is not only limited to ensuring matric pass rates and tertiary acceptance. We further have a responsibility towards those who do not make it to tertiary institutions for various reasons. Word out there on the streets of Wakkerstroom seem to suggest that once people have passed matric and not make it to tertiary institutions we forget about them. UBPA we cannot afford to be one dimensional in our approach to societal problems as they confront Wakkerstroom nor can we afford to be naïve in our solutions to such problems.

It will be one dimensional of us to expect every successful matriculant to go to tertiary. We should accept the fact that we live in a country where tertiary education besides what the freedom Charter says remains a privilege for the selected few. The question then will be how we propose to deal with the dilemma presented by those who do not make it to tertiary.

Tertiary is unfortunately a place where success is hard to achieve. It will therefore be naïve of us to expect everybody who gets admission to tertiary to rise to the highest level of success expected of a tertiary going student. The question we need to address is what mechanisms we have put in place that will enable our people to succeed in tertiary once they are admitted. As things stand we are setting our people for failure if we drag them to tertiary institutions but do nothing to ensure that they get all the assistance they need so to guarantee success. This issue ties in with the bigger problems faced by black students in all tertiary institutions and all faculties and departments. There are just not enough support systems in place to ensure that the transition from secondary to tertiary is less scary and cumbersome on a recent matriculant.

Going forward UBPA as a matter of urgency must come up with strategies to deal with matriculants who cannot be absorbed to tertiary institutions. We all know what happens to those matriculants so soon as the school re-opens. They become serious alcohol consumers and drug abusers, they engage in reckless sexual activities that expose them to unwanted pregnancies and serious epidemics like HIV/AIDS. We have to then find constructive and creative ways to prevent them from falling victim to alcohol and drug abuse. We have to assist them to find better ways of recreation.

For those who do make it to tertiary we have to come up with delegations of senior students amongst our ranks who will help them engage and understand their course material. We should ensure that they succeed so to graduate in record times. Our interests to the developmental agenda of our youth should not end after matric but should continue well beyond that.

Going further, there are many dimensions and approaches to education. What the education cluster has discussed above can be termed external dimensions of education. External in the sense that these are strategies targeting people outside UBPA. We now turn to internal dimensions intended for those at UBPA. As UBPA we have not benefited from the knowledge possessed by our associates. The education cluster has not encouraged the culture of sharing, receiving and parting of information amongst associates. How can we then expect to share information with others outside UBPA if we do no appreciate the fact that charity begins at home?

It is a sad day indeed that after two years of being together as associates; we are yet to receive a crash course on basic emergency medical care from our associates who are knowledgeable in the intricacies of medicine. It is equally sad that we have stood in front of learners without any guidance on how to teach from those amongst us who have received knowledge and competence on the art of teaching. The fact that many amongst us are clueless on politics, economics, foreign policy and law could be attributed to the failure of associates to enlighten each other. An educated man or woman is one that possesses knowledge well beyond his or her books.

Going forward, we as the education cluster recommend that associates should bond with one another in the true spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood where we make it a point that we enlighten one another as much and as far as possible. We recommend that there should be formal gatherings particularly at Wakkerstroom where we can exchange and share what we all have learned thus far in our respective universities and career paths. This will further enable us to generally gather if our associates comprehend their course material, and perhaps come up with ways on how to assist where there is a need.

In closing, South Africa in president Monthlante and perhaps Zuma next year is testimony to the fact that such formal gatherings amongst people with the same vision work. Research shows us that in the training of combatants for armed struggle in the various countries where they were stationed, in the evening the combatants will gather in small groups to study and learn. This is where Zuma learned to speak and write English this well. So in these formal meetings that we suggest perhaps people may learn skills that may be handful later on in their lives.

Prepared by the heads of the Education Cluster at UBPA, Thulani Nkosi & Nozipho Khumalo, 2008

Going to year 2009

Politics in South Africa: Positives and Prospects Opinions from the Chairperson

The year 2008 has the potential of going down in history books as the year that changed the political climate in post apartheid South Africa. This is so for various reasons. First, year 2008 precedes year 2009 when the nation will be expected to go for its fourth national and provincial elections. Year 2009 will be interesting merely for the fact that this will be the year that opposition parties are expected to have a real chance of dethroning the African National Congress (ANC). Some opposition party leaders like Rev. Kenneth Meshoe of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) are already saying in interviews that the ANC will not even get 50% of the vote in 2009 let alone the two thirds majority they held. Meshoe is so convinced of this that he even tells the nation that he is laying his head on the block for this to happen.

Second, parties that have been or that have fashioned themselves in the past as opposition parties like the Democratic Alliance (DA) have turned 180 degrees from being opposition parties to branding themselves as parties of government. The DA tells us that it plans to be the ruling party in South Africa by 2014. This means one of two things – that they really fancy their chances of dethroning the ANC or it was just a marketing stint on their part.

Third, the Independent Elections Commission of South Africa (IEC) following the registrations of the 8th and 9th of November 2008 have already indicated to the nation that there were more people than ever who registered to vote in 2009. They attribute some of this turn out to the Obama effect in the United States particularly the interest shown by the young people who have been known to be apathetic. They predict that the numbers will increase running to the 2009 elections.

Last, political parties as expected have been maneuvering in anticipation of 2009. The ANC officially split with the splinter faction forming what is called Congress of the People (COPE). COPE has made its intentions clear that it wants to challenge the ANC for power in 2009, and that it is prepared to form alliances with other political formations. The Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) has also split into various factions of late. There is the African Peoples Convention (APC) led by Themba Goni and now more recently there is the Pan Africanist Movement (PAM) led by Thami Platjie.

Now, these are some of the developments in the political scene in 2008. These developments have been largely viewed as positives for democracy by many who argue that it was always unhealthy for the ruling ANC to hold 80% of parliamentarians in parliament. Some say this power made the ANC arrogant and even ignorant to the needs of the electorate. For me the real question is how much of an influence will these developments have in the outcome of the 2009 elections. How much will they affect the ANC.?

The ANC leadership has largely welcomed the emergence of COPE as a political party in the political scene (although they have a problem with the name). They have told the nation that we are living in a multi party democracy where people are free to establish and belong to political parties. They have further kept a strong face and a united front in saying that they do not think COPE will pose a serious threat for them in 2009. Whether COPE poses a threat to the ANC or not is not material to me because I think that is to a certain extent at least a given, what I am interested in is how much of a threat they pose.

2009 will be a challenge for the ANC but more so for COPE. If COPE has a political life in South African politics then it will be forced to do well in the 2009 elections. They will have to get a substantial percentage of the vote so to make their mark. If they fail to do this then they stand a chance of being another minority party on the fringes of the political scene. The disgruntled ANC members they have attracted thus far will soon vanish into thin air, either back to the ANC or to wherever.

It is most interesting that opposition political parties have welcomed and appear to support COPE. I guess they do this because they are also tired of the ANC’s domination. But the reality is that COPE will also dent on their support base. There are voters in South Africa who are not loyal to any party and their tendency had been to vote, if they do vote, objectively so to spread their vote evenly between and amongst the opposition parties. The arrival of COPE increases the pool of parties but yet decreases the voters who are available for those parties.

The DA under Tony Leon used to call this the splitting of the opposition. I agree with that assertion and I go further to say having more political parties available for less voting voters does not only split the opposition but also protects the ruling party because the few voting voters are also loyal voters who will vote for the ruling party as they have always done. The many people who show an interest in registering to vote still have to actually vote. It is possible to get a situation where there is a high registration turn out but a less voter turn out.

Another question that I ponder is the impact the branding of the DA will have in 2009 and perhaps 2014 as they say. There is no doubt in my mind that the DA is still the old wine we all know but in a new bottle. The sun rising over the rainbow as per their new logo represents in my view what they have always stood for. It is common cause that the DA has always been seen by many black South Africans as nothing but a white party. In this branding the DA is trying very hard to present themselves as a South African political party that can be a political home for both black and white South Africans. Whether many black South Africans will be convinced is yet to be seen but what puzzles my mind is that if the colors of the logo are to resonate some sorts of a message then why choose a rainbow. A rainbow has many colors of the spectrum but not the color black.

The political scene is well laid that is clear, but how the parties and the electorate will choose to play is far from being clear. Perhaps we should all wait for 2009 to see if Meshoe has correctly laid down his head on that chopping block. My overall feeling is that the ANC will remain in government come 2009 but as to how much of a margin that I do not know nor am I prepared to lay my head on a chopping block for. Provinces like the Western Cape and Kwazulu Natal will continue to be hotly contested. 2009 will come and go and life will go on irrespective of the outcomes.


Thulani Nkosi
Chairperson and Co-head of the Education Cluster at UBPA, 2008

May their souls rest in peace

In a relatively short space of time South Africa lost two of its most valuable human assets. As a country did we not lose Eskia Mphahlele and now, more recently on the 9th of November 2008 Mama Africa Miriam Makeba? Was it not John Donne who said "Death be not Proud". Indeed Death may not have a thing to be proud of for having robbed us of such intellect in Mphahlele and such voice in Makeba but that does not make it any easier for us. Mphahlele was a well educated man and highly influential in the realm of African Literature.

For his intellect and his contribution to African Literature he won many prestigious awards from almost all walks of life and was appointed as the first black professor at the University of Witwatersrand. His untimely death came at the time when South Africa was thirsty for knowledge, when African scholarship in general was at war with itself needing new ideas and knowledge to transcend the deep divisions left by colonialism and apartheid. KwabakwaMphahlele sithi akwehli olungehliyo. Eningizimu Africa nase Africa yonke namaphethelo sithi ngempela ukufa kulinuku. Leliqhawe liyibekile induku ebandla ngalokho siyohlala njalo sikhumbula imisebenzi yalo emihle njengengcith'buchopho.

On the 9th of November 2008 South Africa awoke to the news of the death of Mama Africa in Italy. She was performing at a concert geared towards raising funds for the fight against mafias and lawlessness in Italy. Since she retired from the stage in the early 2000s Makeba dedicated her life to giving back to society and such concerts to raise funds were amongst the many activities high on her agenda. Indeed she was a selfless human being. She was a goodwill ambassador to many organisations in her life time.

Makeba was instrumental in the fight against apartheid in South Africa. In the late 1950s she appeared in a moving show titled 'Come Back Africa' and further appeared before the United Nations (UN) so to plead with the United Nations of the world to boycott South Africa and make it difficult for the apartheid government to function. As custom the apartheid regime responded in harshest of ways by suspending her passport causing her to miss the burial and the funeral of her mother.

Makeba after all those experiences and set backs grew into an icon. In 1966 she won a gramy award with Belafonte. In all her endevours she was optimistic and convinced that it was only a matter of time before democracy came in South Africa. She was correct as democracy did come in 1994. But who will ever forget her role in Mbongeni Ngema's Sarafina. Makeba did a lot for South Africa and for this reason we bow our heads in honour of such a selfless person. South Africa is what it is now because of the contributions made by people like Mphahlele and Makeba.

UBPA mourns the loss of such inspirational people. Singathini bandla lekwethu, umhlaba kawunoni vezi kofa izinsizwa nezintombi kusale izibongo. Wena muntu omusha wanamuhla sizokukhumbula ngani? 2008 what a year. May their souls rest in peace.

Thulani Nkosi
Chairperson and Co-head of the Education Cluster at UBPA, 2008

2008 What a year for the World

As UBPA we join the millions of people worldwide who have celebrated the victory of Barack Obama for the top job in the United States of America. We congratulate Obama on his victory as a person. We are convinced that indeed in him the US will achieve the change he stood for in the elections. We remain optimistic that his administration will do things differently. We are hopeful that the Africa - US relations will strengthen under his leadership. It is common cause that post apartheid South Africa did not enjoy a particularly good relationship with the US under the Bush administration and we hope that the Obama administration will change all that.

We hope that the Obama administration will stand for less hostilities in the world. We wish to see the total pull out of all the US troops in Iraq and perhaps an apology to the Iraqi people for the unlawful invasion led by the Bush administration. We wish the new administration will follow South Africa in adopting a two state solution in the Middle East. We hope to see better working relations between the US, Cuba and Venezuela. In every effort the Obama administration embarks on, as the people of the world and the youth of South Africa we shall be watching and ready to lend a helping hand whenever required to do so.

South African youth have important lessons to learn from Obama's victory. We are fast approaching a national general election in 2009. The lesson we can learn from Obama's victory is that the vote of young people can change the course of history. Reports reveal that Obama inspired a largest vote turn out, particularly from the youth in decades. The youth of 2008 in America spoke to change the course of history. In south Africa come 2009 we hope that the youth of South Africa will do the same and go out to vote for the leaders they entrust their aspirations and those of the country in.

Obama's victory will go down in history book as an event that changed the course of history worldwide. For many years it will be likened and even remembered in the same vein as South Africa's first democratic election in 1994. Obama As UBPA we salute you and the young minds of the US in this day and age.

Thulani Nkosi
Chairperson and Co-head of the Education Cluster at UBPA, 2008

2008 what a year for the world, what a year for South Africa and what a year for Wakkerstroom

For the last while UBPA has been consumed, understandably so, by the political developments as they unfolded in our native home town of Wakkerstroom. A lot was said under that topic and new issues, some though unfortunate, emerged that our associates are all aware of. The sad thing though is that whilst we were consumed in these developments we acted as if the world had stopped functioning. We did not tie the Wakkerstroom issues to broader issues that were also unfolding nationally and internationally. Associates, it is important that we remember that Wakkerstroom is not and will never be an island somewhere in South Africa.

Wakkerstroom is a member of the united provinces and districts of South Africa. South Africa is a member of the united nations of the world. From this realization it should become clear that Wakkerstroom is interconnected and interdependent to South African events and global issues alike.

The Chair is disappointed that we were labeled ‘Lekotas and Shilowas’ of this world without any justification and understanding as to why. What follows is that we may very well be labeled the Obamas and McCain’s of this world, again without any justification or explanations as to why. It is common cause that our associates have a tendency of labeling and name calling those they disagree with. The Chair has been committed to the fight against this tendency but without any tangible success thus far.

UBPA has an obligation not only to educate others but to also educate itself internally. Our associates will agree that after all charity begins at home and it should not end there. The year 2008 has been historic in all spheres for different reasons and motives. In South Africa most notably 2008 will be remembered as a true test of our post apartheid democracy. A sitting state president was recalled, so to say, by his party and a new acting president was appointed in the interim.

All this was done peacefully as there was no reported blood shed and lost of life in anyway. As a result of these developments, the oldest political party in the world, the ANC only experienced what is to be remembered as its second split. Since its formation in 1912 the ANC has, until recently, only split once. The first and only split followed the adoption of the freedom Charter in 1955 by the ANC and was led by Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe.

Sobukwe and others in 1959 formed the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) in order to challenge the ANC. Their argument was that the ANC was becoming too soft in its fight against apartheid. The PAC had serious difficulties in accepting the freedom Charter. As we see in UBPA, the break away faction decided to label and name call those they disagreed with. The ANC and those who accepted the freedom Charter were then labeled “Charterists”.

The recent split follows the December 2007 Polokwane Conference of the ANC. Some senior party members in that conference lost their positions in the top five, so to say, and in the National Executive Committee (NEC). The president and the National Chairperson, just to mention a few, were not re-elected in their positions.

It goes without saying that this may have been a bitter pill to swallow because these cadres have been in those positions for ten years. When their own party did not re-elect them it was clear that they were rejected, perhaps the party needed a change in leadership for an ever changing political environment. Whatever the reasons were not to re-elect these officials are only known by the party itself.

The lesson that UBPA and other structures in society must take from this is that nobody is born and entitled to rule for life in any democratic dispensation. It is only in chiefdoms where people are born and entitled to rule for life. At the end of this year UBPA is expected to go for its second Annual General Meeting (AGM) where new leaders will be elected to various positions within UBPA structures. Those who do not make it to the various positions they may be ambitious for should accept and concede defeat if it and when it materializes.

Wakkerstroom saw one of its most turbulent times in our history. Some and/or most associates at UBPA being bread and buttered at Wakkerstroom will know and even remember some upheavals that may have grasp the tiny town in the past. None has been so powerful, dramatic and traumatic.

We surely have not seen an upheaval that resulted in the destruction of a community hall and a house inhabited by a councilor. We also have never heard of an upheaval that resulted in a total express disregard of the law and law enforcement agencies.

The reasons for such upheavals are only known to those who embarked in them. UBPA is in no position to judge, label or name call those who participated in such horrendous activities irrespective of how disappointed and disgusted we are. Our only duty as UBPA is to bring unity and not cast further divisions in our society by pretending and/or making out to be better than thou.

But what we stand to learn and gain from all this is that mightier is the pen. Differences of opinion, wants, needs or facts will and must always exist. The point is how we deal with those differences. We cannot suppress differences because we are not a tyrant or an apartheid state, but we need to find ways to work through them. The position of UBPA must be that izinto zilungiswa ngomlomo in a democracy.

For this reason we must strive to protect and uphold freedom of expression through peaceful and non violent ways. We must create opportunities for negotiations and debates. Those in leadership roles must always be accessible to the electorate. If we fail to do all this then we run a risk of being told by the ‘Lekotas and Shilowas’ of this world that our democracy is under threat and that the ruling party has violated the fundamental principles of the freedom Charter.

The world’s so call beckon of democracy, the United States of America (US) is choosing its 44th president in 2008. The candidates for the White House are most interesting. On the one hand there is an aging Republican McCain, the hero of the Vietnam war. On the other hand, there is the youthful (comparatively speaking) African-American Democrat Obama. Both gentlemen promise to bring something new to the table on the face of the global economic turmoil of recent times.

Our concern should be what each of these gentlemen will mean for Africa-American relations. At the moment none of them has convincingly propose something worth pondering on the subject. It then follows that a safer option will be for us to adopt a wait and see approach.

We are aware that Obama is likely to win and become the first black man in America’s 40 year history of democracy to make it to the White House. In 40 years of democratic practice in America no black person or woman of either race has led the Americans. But yet the Americans are always quick to tell the rest of the world who must lead in which states.

Surely this is imperialism of the highest form. Be that as it may, after these elections the course of history will never be the same again. As Africans we get to learn that it is possible for a black Kenyan to rule the strongest nation. If this is the case what is to stop UBPA from believing that anything is possible if we all work hard on our dreams and aspirations.

The South African matriculants are sitting for the historic national Outcomes Based Education (OBE) paper. Obviously as UBPA we have a vested interest on how this will impact on the education system of our country generally and how it will affect the passing rates of Uthaka Secondary. Many of us at UBPA have tested the syllabus in the winter classes and we admit that it is a challenging task. We remain convinced however that our matriculants will do well so to properly position themselves in the world after school.

The UBPA we lead is one that participates in any discourse from an informed and knowledgeable position. Wakkerstroom is not immune from any of these events. Our associates have a duty to learn and understand these events so that we are in a position to explain to our constituency if and when requested to do so.

History tells us that we can only lead and remain relevant if we have the correct information and knowledge of how different variables impact and relate to each other. It is important for us to view attentively all that happens around us and ask what positive lessons we can learn moving forward. We cannot afford to be complacent because that will speak to ignorance. An ignorant person in a leadership position is tantamount to a blind leading the blind. The English tell us that amongst the blind the one eyed man is king. UBPA is that one eyed man.

UBPA leads, UBPA lives, UBPA is relevant. One Condom = one round, One Round = one condom.

Thulani Nkosi
Chairperson and Co-head of the Education Cluster at UBPA, 2008

Wakkerstroom and the political unrest of 2008

It is common cause by now that we all know that there is some sort of political unrest in Wakkerstroom. It is also well established that our associate Mr Mlambo is full of criticism for what has happened. Mr Mlambo has however asked all of us to have a word on this. The Chair will want to believe that indeed our associates will make known their position on this matter. This will assist UBPA to formulate an official line and position on this matter. Associates may be ignorant of national politics but the question is what will you do when politics ravage your home and/or place of permanent residence?

The Chair has received further information on this matter to the effect that some people have been held liable and legal proceedings have already been brought against such people. One has reasons to believe that Mr Mlambo will be pleased about such developments since he is the one who holds the view that people must rot behind bars. Let the Chair clarify his position on this matter. Associations, there is a jargon of some sort that says everyone is entitled to their opinions, but there is no jargon, at least to the knowledge of the Chair, that says whatever your opinion is it cannot be challenged. It will then follow that the Chair will vigorously challenge Mr Mlambo's position on this matter. It is, one must emphasise, the view or opinion that is challenged not the person who holds such an opinion.

Let us start at the top. Political unrests, whether violent or peaceful are not uncommon in proper functioning democracies. The Chair is of the view that South Africa, Wakkerstroom included, is a Constitutional democracy and for this reason there is nothing wrong with people expressing their disagreements with their elected representatives. Councillor Ms Nkosi is an elected representative of the people of Wakkerstroom. This means that she is in power with a specific mandate given to her by the people. This also means that she will be in power for as long as the electorate allow her. In other words, her reign is by being favoured by the masses. From this reasoning it follows that she must account to the electorate by constantly reminding them that she reigns for them or on their behalf. At any time the masses can withdraw the mandate they have given to her if they feel she is no longer serving the needs and the interests which they elected her to serve. One hopes this is clear.

From what one gathers, it will appear that the masses are angry about the lack of service delivery in general. The masses want to know what happened to the better life they were promised, they want to know what happened to the contract to create employment that the ANC promised them. Simple legal rules will tell us that if you sign a contract you remain bound by the terms of those contract up until you perform. If you fail to perform that equals a breach of contract to which consequences will follow. A many of our associates will sign employment contracts at some stage of their lives and perhaps then they will better understand what one is taking about here. The people of Wakkerstroom want to know why are service fees going up when there is no employment created, where on earth are people suppose to get the money to pay for the hiked rental services. people want to know when will the road also extend next to their home doors. People want to know when will they get their houses.

By comparison, one is told Volkrust is better than Wakkerstroom so far as the services are concerned. Local governments should be treated the same, and therefore, we cannot have a situation where Volkrust councillors are delivering on their mandate and Wakkerstroom is lagging behind. One has a million and one reasons why the people (that Mr Mlambo calls dogmatic)are justified in doing what they have done. Ms Nkosi was not a responsive councillor, she was never there for the people. The Chair had gone to Wakkerstroom a number of times and has actually lived there, but never does he recall hearing of a meeting that was called so that the councillor accounts what is what.

The youth of Wakkerstroom are clearly sick and tired of poverty and unemployment. The councillor is not helping in any way. For example did she fight for the clinic to be built when it was proposed? Why did she allow the office of services to go to town, Why must people have to go to town to buy their prepaid electricity and why must they go to town if they want to report a blocked sewerage or a leaking tape. A good councillor would have ensured that such services are nearer to the people. The Chair is convinced that Ms Nkosi failed in her duties as councillor.

Coming on the burnt house issue. One would believe that the house was insured so the insurance company will then pay, so all is not lost Mr Mlambo unless of course they were foolish enough not to have it insured. Can any of you tell the Chair what youth policies are in place at Wakkerstroom. What is being done to keep the youth busy and productive? Every job has its risks Ms Nkosi should have known that inherent in the job she was taking was popular unrest.

One's position therefore on this matter is that whatever is happening down there must be supported insofar as it will bring change and development. One is convinced that what we have down there is a political problem that doesn't require the intervention of the incompetent police force of Wakkerstroom. People will have to excuse the Chair's language here but there is no police official at Wakkerstroom who is competent. All really they do is to enrich themselves and abuse state resources by forever driving around in police vans, and yes, run in when the councillor is held to account. Where were they when the people voted for Ms Nkosi and gave her a mandate to change their lives?

We should debate these developments!

UBPA lives, UBPA leads and UBPA is relevant. One condom = one round and one round = one condom.

Thulani Nkosi
Chairperson and Co-head of Education cluster of UBPA

On follow up of the above opinion Innocent Mlambo wrote:

Motho ke motho ka bathu

One wish to give credit where it is due, sister Fezeka and sister Nontobeko I notice you think and rethink about what happened back at home before you sit in front of the computer and write what you think is right then thanks for that. On the other hand, I would also like to thank our chairperson for his contributions that he putted although, I won’t take that seriously because he said that, he was challenging me about what I said not because he meant that. Mr. Chairperson I wasn’t really criticizing but I was just worried about what happened back at home.

Furthermore, sister fezeka thank you again for correcting me, we are not talking about Ms. Nkosi’s house here but we are talking about her home (family included). So how someone can talk as if he watched a movie or read some interesting story in a textbook? Come on good people even if you don’t like other people but they are no reason to wish that people terrible or bad luck in life. I may assume that some people they wish she (Ms. Nkosi) should be burnt with the house. The burnt of that home to me it’s not the political unrest however; indeed, it’s a personal issues with Ms. Nkosi. I know that they are many people who think they can do better that what she was doing but not really sure about that nonetheless.

I really like the point that you mentioned when you said if she “At any time the masses can withdraw the mandate they have given to her if they feel she is no longer serving the needs and the interests which they elected her to serve”. So why they burnt the house is that a political unrest as you said? No, but its personal agenda and people hiding with political unrest. Moreover, I wasn’t really surprised when they mentioned some of the leaders of these dogmatic things (strike) because I know them very well that, they have personal issues with Ms. Nkosi. Those who have information about this I urge them to give me the answer for the following questions. Is Ms. Nkosi (councillor) the person who increases the rent at home? Is she the person who promised all the things you mentioned Mr. Nkosi or is the entire person who are in ANC?

Mr. Chairperson I urge you to find something else to compare with because the one that you mentioned is not right. To support that I can safely tell you this, not so long but this year (in few months back) the Volkrust you are talking about here closed the road that go to Wakkerstroom complaining about the same thing, they burnt their councillor’s car, so which Volkrust are you talking about here Chairperson? Mr. Chairperson one is not convinced by what you said, honestly, I don’t want to say your points of view are mistakenly but I’m indeed, totally disagree with them. I also like to urge the incompetent police force of Wakkerstroom to ensure that criminals go behind bars. Let me say this loud and clear I would not go to support mindless things. People who want to do their dirty job they must go and do it!!! What surprises me is that, we are staying here in Johannesburg at the moment and we always see police in tavern with police vans, so
what’s new with that Mr. Chairperson is because Wakkerstroom is not in the map? Lastly, I don’t want to waste much of time talking about the insurance you mentioned because sister Fezeka already mentioned something.

Fezeka Nkwanyana followed up and argued:


Bahlonishwa let us get one thing straight ,we as UBPA stand for the whole commmunity of UThaka .That being said it is important for us to deal with our prejudices against certain individuals .Ngoba lokhu kungas'faka enjeni.Maybe I hold this view because Iam an idealist or it just comes with my tetitory where you cannot just assume a diagnosis. From the C's comments I could not help but feel that his views on the matter are a bit more persona than needs to be.Your comment on insuranse sir is completely inappropriate irrelevant ,non justifieble .To entertain it a bit sir let me just tell you as Mr. Mlambo has said that that is Ndlangamandla's home and not Lungi's house , and I think you know the difference between a home and a house , any fool can build or own a house , but a family makes it a home .Ndlangamandla's legacy has been turned int o ashes overnight ,if it were an accident it would not be an issue because accidents happen and that is the purpose for insurance .But when it is your brothers that do such thing it then becomes an insult .The same people who did this will be telling us "masibuyele emasisweni ".But they are such hippocrits ,because if that was the case what happened to "umuzi wendoda uyahlonishwa "?. Chair insurance can never bring back what you've lost .You can get shelter , new clothes ,new furniture (also depending on how good the insurance is ), but it will never replace what you lost .As an artist I can imagine all of the works of my hands turned into ashes , tell me how the hell will insurance bring it back to life , the pictures the memories all lost !And focus sir this is painful and we haven't even looked at life , there could have been pets in the house there could have been someone stuck in that house .We cannot condone such sick selfish , beyond develish behavior ,AMANYALA!!!!!! People

F Z E Khalulu


Innocent Mlambo further argued:


It is of utmost importance to start by apologizing for repeating one thing several times to the last mail that I sent because it seems as it made much confusion to other people but that doesn’t mean I regret myself by saying what I said. What I said I said intentionally therefore I will repeat it anytime if possible to clearly indicate it wasn’t a mistake when I profoundly said those people who done such a thing like that (burnt) really need to go behind bars, because what they did is dogmatic.

It is important to move to the next point whereby, I can express my deepest disappointed about reading the mail sent by our chairperson when he is supporting what some individuals done something very bad back at home. I’m really not sure how politics goes but if it allows people to done something stupid like the one they did at home it sound silly to me. I will also repeat this again Ms. Nkosi (Ndlangamandla) did not build that house someone else which I think it’s her father and mother who done that, so why did the house burnt? It is with great sadness again that Mr. Nkosi you want other people to think and believe the same way as you think, the reason I say this is the following statement that you mentioned in the following manner “One would believe that the house was insured so the insurance company will then pay, so all is not lost Mr. Mlambo unless of course they were foolish enough not to have it insured” What if they don’t have that
insurance, is that mean they are stupid as you said? What if the police that are not official did not quickly went and stops that riot, to Ms. Nkosi’s family? Tell me about the younger child and others who are older bebezolinda that insurance to come and fix their house?

It is worth noticing that, the reason Mr. Chairperson you talk in this way is because you not close to that family, then I can safely say I’m starting to understand why you are mentioning all that. Perhaps you should just be honest like Ms. Nkwanyana when she said Lungi (Ms Nkosi) is not her favorite’s person. What I strongly suggest are those people who hate that woman they should just ask her to step down in her position of being a councilor and put someone that they like instead of burning the house. Let me quickly give you this example, people of Wakkerstroom appointed Sunday Makhubu to be a mayor, when he failed to give them their needs they toy toy (strike) for him. And he step back without burning his house. So if they are wise enough they should do the same to Ms. Nkosi and I don’t think she would have problem with that because she is not depending on that position, and you can also support me on that.

What is more brainless about the comrades that you go hand in glove with is that, last night they grouped together and went to my family. Aiming to burn the house just because the unofficial police (my father) protect Ms. Nkosi is that a Constitutional democracy? And for this reason there is nothing wrong with people expressing their disagreements with their elected representatives? If it so then I would conclude by saying what goes around also comes around. What happens to Ms. Nkosi when this dogmatic people burnt the house it would come to anyone also what happens when this dogmatic people throw stones to my family would also come to someone’s family but that is not my wish.

In defence of his opinions the Chairperson argued:

Those who live in Glass houses should not throw stones.

This is the topic I choose to speak my views under. In the body of this piece it shall be clear why.

People have just assumed that one was being personal. To make their lives easier let "me" be personal. In this segment of my writing I shall respond to two mails that I find disturbing. Fezeka you raise the issue of insurance but yet you are ignorant to how insurance really works. Insurance does not necessarily only cover things that have happened as a result of a mistake.

There is a supreme court of appeal's decision in the case of FNB that categorically states that even an owner's own negligence can be insured. An insurance is nothing but what learned people will call a 'particular type of contract between the insurer and the insured' so, with due respect to your person, I suggest you check your facts and get knowledge around the subject before you raise an ill founded opinion on it. If you didn't know pets can be insured as well.

On this segment of my mail I respond to your pictures and memories argument. Those are sentimental things and have no pecuniary or monetary value. Of course they shall never be retrieved if burnt, but that is not the point of my argument. People if you really want to engage me or any other person on the basis of what they have said, particularly through their writings, I suggest you read the whole of his writing instead of the bits and pieces you don't like.

Reading is a skill and indeed some may never acquire it let alone grasp it. Having said that, let me restate my position. The context in which I raised the insurance bit in my mail was to argue that I shall not be subjective in my thinking of what has happened merely because a house was burnt down. In other words I was refusing to let the fact that a house has been burnt down cloud my judgment on this matter. I still hold that view.

The fact that a house has been burnt does not and cannot hold people at ransom. Had you guys read and understood my mail in context you would have noted that the insurance bit was insignificant to what I was saying. I spent about a line or two on it anyway to further signify that it is not my main prayer. I find it disturbing then to have to respond to such an insignificant thing.

The fact that Fezeka you find it unjustifiable is problematic because you were not even suppose to ponder whether it was justifiable or not. My argument in a nutshell was: what has happened in Wakkerstroom is an inherent danger of assuming political office. Nobody has engaged me on that. I would hope this will clarify people on the insurance bit.

I now turn to the averments raised by Mr Mlambo. Again with all the respect in the world. People do not divorce things from the context in which they have arisen. You want to know if it was Ms Nkosi who hiked the rent or the ANC. But, you are missing the point here. Let me clarify you. The riots broke not simply because the rent had been hiked but because of the way the hikes were communicated. The rent had been hiked for about a month or two before the councillor and her cronies side step a direct order from the ANC in the region not to call the meeting they called.

In their wisdom they call that meeting and lack communication skills implicit not only on what they said to the masses but on how they handled the meeting itself. One thing a leader must learn before leading is that you don't go to the masses and fail to speak eloquently because the masses like it was the case in Vryheid with Mlambo-Ngcuka will boo you, if you continue shitting they are going to harm you.

But to satisfy you, let me directly answer you on your question. It was not the ANC that hiked the rent and people should be clear here, but possibly it was the district council. The district council and the ANC are two different legal personalities and that should be understood. I would assume that Ms Nkosi in her capacity as Councillor (not her capacity as ANC member) sits on that council where they should debate and discuss these issues and possibly vote on them.

Now, because Ms Nkosi sits on that council the community expect her to plead their abject poverty on matters like rent hikes, if she fails to do that then she is not executing her mandate. (Please do not misquote Fezeka I'm the one who raised the 'mandate' argument that you allegedly like, indeed, it was part of my main argument, to clearly show people not to focus on the insurance bit as if that was the only thing I said)I hope this answers you.

People a biggest cliche in politics is that 'politics is a dirty game'. In my many arguments, as published in the main stream media, I have argued that 'indeed politics is a dirty game played by ambitious man and women'. This simply means that if you are ambitious enough to accept a job in politics you must also be ambitious enough to accept the consequences inherent in that job. I'm being asked to say something about the fact that Volkrust burnt their councillor's car and closed down a road. In particular the question is how do I compare what happened in Volkrust with what happened in Wakkerstroom.

Again, people try to understand things in the context I say them, if you divorce what I say from the context I have said it under then it makes no sense. Anyway the comparison will be that whether people accept this or not Volkrust is by comparison better than Wakkerstroom and a political reasoning for this will be that the community of Volkrust are participatory in nature. Riots are a form of public participation you know. The constitution guarantees freedom to demonstrate which is a form of protest which in turn is a kind of a riot. I hope this will be understood.

I now turn to the riots issue. Let me begin by clarifying a few things. Democracy by its nature is the worst form of government. For this I refer people to the arguments raised by the 17th century philosopher by the name of Aristotle. In the modern world democracy is a worst form of government because embedded in it are protests and major social upheaval equal to what we have seen in Wakkerstroom.

People can't just accept democracy if they fail to accept its shortcomings as well. South Africa is a violent society and our history is littered with examples of that. You guys were lucky because all you know before Johannesburg had always been Wakkerstroom that was protected a great deal from that which is unfolding today. For this reason I do not expect you guys to understand. But if you are willing to learn I may refer you to some of the leading texts on the matter.

I need to make it known that my opinion by and large is an educated one. This means I always divorce myself from taking subjective views on situations. I say this because I now turn to the house vis-a-vis home argument. This is an argument raised by both Fezeka and Mr Mlambo. Nobody disputes the fact that the house was Ndlangamandla's but nobody also disputes the fact that Ms Nkosi lived there.

I find it disturbing that you guys just sit here and judge what has happened without having recourse to the real facts. What gives you authority to say the masses are idiots and stupid. Let me clarify you the context in which the house was burnt.

In the meeting, yes the meeting that led to the total distruction of the hall, council in a spat of words had said to the masses "Ningakhala kanjani ngamanzi adulayo nibe nigezela ezindishini kuhle kwenkukhu ehluthwayo, thina sigezela emabhavini kodwa asikhala ngamanzi abizayo". The masses read this to mean the bath in question was in the Ndlangamandla house and it had to be distroyed so that sizogezela ezindishini sonke njengazo izinkukhu ezihluthwayo, sizokhona phela ukukhala ngento eyodwa sonke. Now, you may want to think and even believe that the house was burnt simply because people are jealous as you all seem to suggest, but I tell you the masses were verbally incited to act in the way they did.

I suggest people get all relevant facts before sitting here to judge people. What has happened is a tragedy but it could have been managed only if the council firstly listened to the ANC's order from the region and/or consequently acted better than the way they did.

Some people may be offended every time I refer to the incompetency of the police, believe me that is not my intention, I know that a police official was assaulted but he was acting outside the scope of his duties to begin with. I also know that had the police being decisive in their actions, that is, had they got the rubber bullets earlier they would have dispersed the masses long before they even reached the Ndlangamandla residence. Because they are incompetent they failed to do that, the fact that the station commander had locked the ammunition and left is not an excuse. I would hope however that the police official who was assaulted will recover.

UBPA I await more of your accusations on this matter, I for all intents and purposes respect each and everyone's opinion, mine is to challenge that opinion where possible this is how we advance. I therefore re-assure people that what they say will not be taken personally and I hope you do the same for that which I have said.

Thulani Nkosi
Chairperson and Co-head Education Cluster at UBPA

Innocent Mlambo once again wrote:

Buyephi Ubuntu (Boile kae botho)


Those who live in Glass houses should not throw stones

Ladies and Gentlemen I really like this topic of the Chair because it support the statement that I said before when I said Motho ke motho ka batho. What I mean by this is that we shouldn’t have inner smile when something terrible happens to other human being unless others we are inhuman because what goes around also come around.

After carefully read and scrutinize your mails MaKhumalo and Mr. Nkosi I also find it is convenient to respond without wasting much value of time. Honestly speaking I find no disturbing things to both what Fezeka and I said. Having said before some of us we want other people to think as same way we think, and if that’s not happen we conclude by saying we find disturbing things to what said by those people. Good people that is not the case in life, everyone have a right to say and believe to whatever he or she believes. Even though, abanye bethu bethola intuba/ithuba yokuzibusisa ngenhlekelele enzeka kwabanye. But one said "Ungeke ubazi abantu nezinhliziyo zabo...bahlala belobiza, belobizela izinto okungezona ezabo". So that’s the challenges we come across in life and we can’t run away for them. MaKhumalo how can you judge other people if you don’t want to be judge? Let me advice you on that, if you don’t want to be judge then stop judging other
people and acting innocent. I hope that is unambiguous and understood. Nozipho I read Fezeka’s mails and they is no need to read mine because I’m the one who wrote it and I didn’t notice anyone talk about jealous who mentioned that if you are not personal?

Nozipho I’m really disappointed that you just read Mr. Chair opinions and concluded that Ms. Nkosi is wrong… judging her with something you don’t have any evidence with. Come on good people why we don’t grow up and stop judging others without any proof. But at least you have sympathy, community is totally wrong I still find no convincing suggestion why they burnt the house. Nozipho I find you mentioning things like police were carrying guns with bullets I’m not sure about that, if you are sure give me the name of the person(s) that they shoot using bullets, if it wasn’t rubber bullets. I assume you don’t mean to say this Nozipho because if it was intentionally I’m disappointed to you again “Indlu yakwaNkosi asingakhathazeki ngayo into ebizosikhathaza kakhulu
umphefumulo which wil neva b replaced, umonakalo wenzekile wenzekile
asidluleni lapho”. Who are you to judge I think you should ask yourself this question maKhumalo!!!

I’m not sure what you mean with some of the things you said Mr. chair, but my believe is that what I don’t know can’t kill me, then I won’t bother myself going thru that. The other thing is that we didn’t noticed that some of the things you wrote is insignificant, but to me all of them sound the same which mean all of them is insignificant, if not so you should take notes of the following quoting from Nozipho she said we should be carefully in whatever we are saying, so zama ukungagiyi ngethambo labanye abantu.

Mr. Chair it seems as if we are not talking with the same Wakkersrtroom here or the house that is burnt. I read what you were trying to clarify although, it totally different with what I have, so that the reason you convinced Nozipho with something that not have any evidence. I have several things that people said Ms. Nkosi said and to all of them I find no one that lead me support them with their dogmatic so-called strike. Mr. Nkosi it’s look like you know every law in this S.A so help me about this what it is that polices should do so that they should be competence? As far as I know and notice when things happens each and every strike polices called to avoid whatever bad situation that might happen, so what is it that are you trying to tell us here. What’s funny to me is that you said “the fact that the station commander had locked the ammunition and left is not an excuse”. What is the excuse then? Things won’t work according to your side
always and you should accept that by now. Lastly, I find no reason why you pretend as if you feel any sympathy with what happened to one of the "incompetence" polices that assaulted because you should be happy about that.


The Chair responded:

It is only fair that the Chairperson responds to this mail. The Chair will soberly point out a couple of points that Mr Mlambo seems to dismiss, perhaps simply because they are not consistent with a view that he wants to advance.

It must be known that the Chair has not coerced people to hold the view he holds on the matter under discussion. That being said, the Chair will however attempt to persuade people to hold his view by engaging them as robustly as possible. This is not the same as saying if you don't hold Thulani's view then you are wrong. UBPA is blessed to have individuals who are skilled in the art of reading and most importantly, understanding. Can then those people try to explain to Mr Mlambo that the Chair is prepared to debate with him, but never will he do that from the basis that if you refuse to agree with him then you are wrong.

People there is a difference, at least to the mind of the Chair that difference is clear as day and night, between saying "you have to agree with me" and saying "you don't have to agree with me but I aim to persuade and convince you to agree with me via the spoken word". Once you see that difference you will then see that the Chair is advocating for the latter rather than the former. This is proved by the fact that time and again the Chair has declared that associates at UBPA are entitled to their opinions and those opinions will be challenged on the basis of what informs them. Perhaps Mr Mlambo clearly did not understand that. UBPA, let it be known that the Chairperson does not prophecies that whatever he says is the gospel truth and this is why he encourages people to engage his views as robust as they can. Now, in any robust engagement the person who holds the challenged views must respond to demonstrate what informs his views and this is the time
when that person could either be persuaded (on the basis of the counter views) to discard his original views for those raised by his detractors. People is this clear?

Having said that and this is constant to the mail addressed to Mr Dladla, it is common cause that on the face of it, the TG/O and the Chair share the same views, whilst the DC; the DSG and Mr Mlambo share the same views. Nothing is wrong with that, but it follows from that premise that people of the same view will protect and defend each other, and again nothing is wrong there. Mr Mlambo and the DC have been defending their views collectively and now the Chair will defend the TG/O's views since they are the same views he has.

Mr Mlambo you can't tell us that you are forgetful. If you are the Chair will refer you to the first mail on this subject written by the DC, titled "Ichilo" which clearly shows the DC arguing that she feels the Ndlangamandla house was burnt down by jeolous people. So you are wrong in saying the DC didn't say that, you are further wrong in saying the TG/O is blindly following the Chair on this point. Remember we all received the mail and we read it and that is what it said, go back to it.

Mr Mlambo you happily quote the quoted phrase in "Ichilo" that has to do with abantu nezinhliziyo zabo, and the Chair will want to believe you did that fully cognisant of the context in which that phrase was penned; and the Chair will further want to believe that the DC also quoted that quote fully aware of the context it was used in. Let the Chair clarify people here on the phrase, the phrase was originally used by an IFP leader who was disgruntled by the fact that certain IFP members of parliament had crossed the floor to the ANC with their sits giving the ANC more power. So that leader was arguing that those MPs have done so because they are greedy.

Now, we all know that greed and jealousy are closely related. This further shows that indeed the DC had used this line of argument Mr Mlambo and you can't argue that she didn't. It then follows that the TG/O was well within her rights to challenge this line of argument just as much as the Chair did. People we can't honestly argue that the masses burnt down Ndlangamandla's house out of greed or jealousy for that matter. The point is clear they did that as a political statement or a political message. Before someone misquotes the Chair on this point let the Chair explains. In Khutsong there has been a lot of destruction to property since it was announced that Khutsong will be moved to the province of North West, Councillors' houses and cars were destroyed severely, can you then say the masses did so because they were jealous of the councillors' possession? Well, a right thinking person can't say that because it is clear the destruction was a political
message similar to that of Wakkerstroom. In fact the situation was far worse in Khutsong.


More, Mr Mlambo you are well within your rights to find nothing disturbing in the DC's correspondence, simply because it is your view that is being advocated there so in essence nobody expects you to find anything disturbing, but that doesn't mean there is nothing disturbing.(Mind you Mr Mlambo "disturbing" is just a polite way of saying the Chair is disagreeing with what has been said - UBPA will know that the Chair will always use polite language in his correspondence).

The Chair finds it highly disturbing even today that people continue judging the masses without having recourse to the facts and the context in which the riot arose. Perhaps other courageous associates will help us here to at least pin point where in the TG/O's (terribly written) mail does she appears to be judgmental? All the TG/O said Mr Mlambo was what the Chair said and that is we (all of us) have a right to judge the masses and even label them as idiots as you, the DSG and the DC happily do. People should really attempt to put in effort in understanding arguments raised by others so that the counter arguments you raise will go to the heart of what was said.
There is no where in the TG/O's mail where she says the DC is wrong, all she did was to warn against the unfortunate language used by some of our associates. People look, assume the TG/O and the Chair are incorrect in holding the kind of views they hold on this matter, but are they also incorrect in saying our associates should not label the masses as idiots, simply because the masses have done what they did?

Again, on the face of it it will look like the TG/O shares the similar view as the Chair on the role of the police on this matter. The TG/O will tackle the bullets part of your argument Mr Mlambo and the Chair will tell you what should have been the role of the police. In protests, riots and/or demonstrations the role of the police as officers is to keep the peace. Now, ask me how they must keep that peace.

South Africa is not a kangaroo state or a banana republic, there are laws here that spell out how must the police conduct themselves. Most of the police power comes from the South African Police Act and the Criminal Procedure Act. These two pieces of legislation clearly state that South Africa is not a police state like Zimbabwe. The Chair assumes that people already know of the famous Zimbabwean scene where the police are lashing and whipping people at the door of the police van, that can't happen in South Africa.

Mr Mlambo on the scene of a riot the police are just required to stand there observing the peace provided they were called to the scene. They are not aloud to shoot anyone, they are not aloud to talk to anyone. The law speak of the police presence in a riot situation nothing more. In Wakkerstroom clearly our incompetent police force went there with live ammunition which is against the law.

If they were called to the scene then they should have immediately brought with them the rubber bullet, not come to the scene to return back to the police station to get the rubber bullets so that they disperse the crowd. On the face of it some lawyers on the field of police negligent can even argue that the police have breached their duty of care to the community imposed on them by the above cited statutes, and that in a court of law they may be found to have acted negligently under the circumstances.

The Chair is not going to entertain your point that his views on this matter are insignificant. In fact the Chair will overlook this and assume that you actually wanted to make a better point than the one you made. You tell us that you are of the opinion that what you don't know can't hurt you, but the flip side of that argument will be that you then have no business in commenting on things you don't know, not so?

Be careful when making your points, rather attempt to think them logically first, because you don't want a person to raise a counter point that will entirely destroy your point. These are but just simple rules of debating in any forum. Mr Mlambo there is no excuse for incompetence particularly if that incompetence is displayed by people who hold high office in society like the police. But let the Chair flip the question you ask him, what is an excuse for incompetent teachers in your view?

To conclude, Mr Mlambo you don't have to believe the Chair on this point if you don't want to. The Chair finds it unfortunate that a police official was assaulted under the circumstances in which he was assaulted. No where in his correspondence did the Chair say he feels pity for such an official, all the Chair is saying is that it should not have happened. You can't honestly believe that the Chair is happy that a police official was assaulted because the Chair had nothing to gain from such an assault.

For your further engagements on this matter, the Chair awaits

Thulani Nkosi
Chairperson and Co-head of the Education Cluster at UBPA


On another issue raised by Themba Dladla member of UBPA the Chair said:

Dear UBPA

One attempts to respond to questions posted by the honourable Mr Dladla. The Chair will hope that Mr Mlambo will also respond since the questions were specifically addressed to the both of us. Collectively the questions seem to be saying there is bad blood between Mr Mlambo and the Chairperson and such bad blood may be detrimental to UBPA.

The Chair sits here today and categorically dismiss such a notion with the contempt it deserves. Mr Dladla will be asked to substantiate such a notion if he really believes it exists. All the Chairperson knows is that Mr Mlambo has been debating just like the rest of us who have contributed views and opinions on what has unfolded at Wakkerstroom.

To people who are not used to debates particularly robust and vigorous debates what has been happening between the associates of UBPA signals divisions. The Chair will want to believe that the honourable Mr Mlambo in his correspondence has done what exactly the Chair has done - engage the views and the points raised by the Chair and nothing more than that.

The Chair has read all the criticisms leveled against him to be constructive criticism. UBPA under the current Chairperson will never suppress debate nor will it oppress dissenting opinions, in fact the contrary will be encouraged. The current Chairperson will always encourage our associates to speak out whatever is on their mind. The recent debates (which can also be assessed on our blog page)prove exactly that.

So, Mr Dladla the Chair will tell you that both himself and Mr Mlambo have the best interests of UBPA at heart and disagreeing in the way they have been disagreeing clearly proves the fact that vigorous debates are a way of life at UBPA. We would however have loved to hear what is your take on the matter, but sadly you were too scared (for whatever reason) to raise your voice. As far as the Chairperson knows Mr Mlambo and himself are associates at UBPA, unless of course Mr Dladla you tell us otherwise. This is the Chairperson's position on the matter, and Mr Mlambo is encouraged to also write an opinion on the allegations that Mr Dladla has leveled against us.

The Chair will also acknowledge the receipt of the TG/O's mail on the matter. TG/O it was difficult to read what you were saying because of the writing style you chose, but your main point was well captured. To those of our associates who struggled even harder to decipher what the TG/O was saying the Chair will summarise that all the TG/O said was what gives us the right to judge and label the masses of Wakkerstroom as fools and idiots if they have done what they clearly though is correct. The TG/O is interpreting the events from a well informed position having attended at least two of those meetings that precipitated the riots.

UBPA, people are correct in holding views that what has happened is unfortunate if indeed those are their views. But nobody has a right to reduce the masses of Wakkerstroom to idiots and this is the message the Chair and the TG/O are communicating to UBPA, especially if people speak from a highly uninformed position. It is common cause that the Chair will marry the view expressed by the TG/O since that has been his view too. All this will give the SG enough material to pen down an official statement indicating the official position of UBPA on this matter.

The current Chairperson will want to believe that his legacy in the executive of UBPA will be one that is characterised by vigorous debates, constructive criticism, flowing of dissenting voices and opinions; and most importantly the growth of UBPA to become a real civil society movement that advances the improvement and development of Wakkerstroom.

The Chair hopes Mr Dladla will find this information helpful and relevant in addressing his concerns. All associates of UBPA are encouraged to speak out and tell us if they also felt that Mr Mlambo and the Chairperson are dividing UBPA, as Mr Dladla seems to suggest.

UBPA lives, UBPA lead and UBPA is relevant. One condom = one round and one round equals one condom. Hey guys, you know in India they have actually invented a ring tone that speaks exactly to the issue of condoms as the Chair so often raise them. There is a ring tone intended to remind people to always practice safe sex, by always shouting "condom-condom" when the phone rings. It is down loadable at www.condomcondom.org for those of our associates who would want to walk the talk.

Thulani Nkosi
Chairperson and Co-head of the Education Cluster at UBPA

on Transformation and Reconciliation: Some analysis and Perspective

How far can transformation and reconciliation go? For some time now as South Africans we have been obsessed with this idea of transformation, and to a certain extent also the idea of reconciliation without really engaging on the practical implications of both ideas. The sad part of our obsession is that we have been talking at each other rather than with one another on these ideas.

The tendency has been to ridicule to say the least, those amongst our midst who ask critical and yet necessary questions as to why, for example we need to change names of institutions like Mangosuthu Technikon and Rhodes university. To some in the name of transformation these have been useless questions. The problem with this approach is amongst others, the fact that we are yet to agree on what we really mean by transformation. Put in another way, we are yet to be told on what transformation is and what it is not.

This is important because to my mind transformation at least as a word would encompass some sort of a change not only in appearance, but also in form; nature and character of whatever it is that is said to be transformed. I argue then that as South Africans we have tended to change the appearance of things, by either renaming them or by simply changing the personnel therein and thereof. The shortcoming of this is that we have forgotten completely the form; nature and character of these things. And more sadly in the process the reconciliation agenda has been swept aside. South Africans have we reached a place in our existence where we feel that we have reconciled and arisen above the race bar in particular? I don't think so, and I feel that if we continue to rename things like we are doing in the name of transformation we are not only narrowly defining our transformation agenda, but we are also execerbating divisions in our societies.

Reconciliation, or at least the spirit of reconciliation as embodied in the TRC, and ,most importantly on the founding provisions of our constitution expressly warn us against the evils uncontrolled anger and vengeance. We cannot be driven by the need to get equal and masquerade that as transformation. It is clear that upon close scrutiny most of the renamings of late have been, to my mind, inspired by the need to get rid of certain historical facts. I am not saying we should not rename places and institutions that disgrace the human dignity of our people but what I am saying is that history cannot only be told from one side - the position of the victor. If that is done then we are not telling history but some sort of a misplaced propaganda and/or ideology.

If we accept that Mangosuthu and Rhodes for example were bad people in history then we must let the historical archives speak for themsleves in that regard. Let the names of the institutions that are named after them remain so to remind us of that historical data. Is it not true that to know where we are going we must know where we come from? Rather instead of changing the appearance of these institutions let us focus our energies on changing their nature, form and character.

What good does it do to rename Rhodes to something else when the culture and practice of the institution stays the same. Is that not tantamount to appointing a black vice-chancelor to lead a totally white untransformed council, senate and deans of faculties? When then that VC is frustrated we are quick to say so and so has failed the transformation agenda. Nobody ever ponders the questions of the working arrangements that VC was confronted with. Is then this not politics without principles to use a Gandhi classification?

Our transformation agenda should not only be about power changing hands where it is synonymous with blacks taking over everything, but it must also be about the internal arrangements of whatever it is that is being transformed. In other words, we ought to have a holistic transformation agenda rather than the one we have now that focuses on the exterior and completely ignores the interior. If we keep on doing things in this manner then we are doing a dis-service to transformation as an ideal and effectively we do not have transformation but a process of reformation.

Now a process of reformation has negative consequences because it alienates others on a practical psychological level. And to add salt to injury it forever reminds the alienated groups of their alienation. Just how far can we reasonably strech transformation and reconciliation whilst guarding against the possibility of being pushed towards a vengeful agenda of reformation?

South Africa lets engage.



Thulani Nkosi
Chairperson, UBPA

Mamela, the Chair speaks

Dear UBPA

On behalf of the executive and perhaps the general membership of UBPA, the Chair would like to take this opportunity to thank the membership of UBPA and as is custom also raise a couple of concerns.

If it pleases you, the Chair would like to thank all the associates of UBPA that made the trip to uThaka Secondary and executed their mandate as stated in our plan of action for this year. There is no doubt that UBPA is a playing ground of both heroes and heroines of immense talent and intellect. The Chair is convinced that the associates who were down there performed to the best of their qualities leaving no stone unturned. From this it can be inferred that the people at Wakkerstroom gained something from this experience and their lives would change for the better.

It goes without saying that we encountered a couple of shortcomings in this regard, and of course some perfectionists amongst our ranks were frustrated, but the Chair hopes that we shall learn from all that happen. Organisation is one of the most difficult things to do in modern day South Africa precisely because people no longer want to give themselves but always expect to receive something in return. As a reader in Black Consciousness and a scholar in politics generally the Chair often asks himself how would a leader like Biko, and others in this regard have dealt with the challenges we face today. Biko a medicine student at the University of Natal actually opened Zanempilo makeshift clinic in the Eastern Cape when he was under house arrest. Obviously he was assisted by other including Mamphele Ramphele. People the point here is that Biko and company did all of this out of their own initiative and expected nothing in return - yes, they also got nothing apart from death. The question then is how many of us lawyers, doctors, teachers and so on would give ourselves in this way?

To show that the Chair is not talking about and thanking fictitious people the following people deserve mention so to acknowledge the work they put in. As is custom ladies first.

Nozipho, Sikhwama, our Treasurer/ Organiser and Co-head of the education cluster thank you for having made the trip, and thank you for taking the subject of Biology in the vigor that you did. May you not tire and always respond positively to the missions of UBPA.

Fezeka, the DSG (the Chair won't mention the other portfolio you are Co-head of for the reasons that you know) you kept the fort and unfortunately ran out of fuel when the distance appeared to be demanding we say thank you for that. We shall pray that you receive strength from above to finish a task.

Mashudu, in the absence; or rather the late arrival of Sihle what would we have done with those hungry minds for the knowledge of Geography if it was not for you. The Chair sits here now and feels comfortable that he understands Geomorphology as nothing but the study of the surface area. This shows the determination you put into the subject that even a person passing by would have benefited from your insight.

Themba, the Chair is often accused of favouritism when it comes to you for but obvious reasons, but what would we have done with all those learners that wanted nothing but to drink in your mathematics fountain. Both the grade 11s and 12s benefited from your presence not only in the study of math but also the study of science, which were field that we struggle to tilt last year. We noted that you were the first to arrive on the premises of the school and that showed character and determination as you just kept on delivering on a day to day basis for the duration of the program.

Bongani, our SG the rule is simple only Mandela would spend 27 years in prison and come out to be hailed as the greatest leader of all time, but the rest of us must work and lead at the front. What economics would have been if it was not for your constant preparation.

Sihle, we noted your late arrival and the constant work you did therefrom. The Chair would hope nonetheless that you sorted out the thing about our contact details with the office of the Principal and that you shall do the necessary follow-ups in that regard. All UBPA demands of you is that once you have taken such an initiative it is only fair to see it to the end. It goes without saying that the Chair and the rest of UBPA membership shall assist you where needs be, all you need do is ask.

The Chair may have left others but that is not to say what they did was not noticeable, but time constraints do not allow the Chair to delve any deeper than this. Will the SG see to it that uMashudu has access to the constitution, that is if she still intends to enlist. It must be noted that the induction manual is still not complete and this means that we are yet to implement the resolutions of MEDUNSA. Will the SG get back to the Chair as to what actually happened with the Dance indaba that we were organising.

It goes without saying that we missed all those of our membership who could not make it for reasons beyond their control. UBPA can be conceived of as a mother with many grown up kids and when one of those grown up kids is not around UBPA gets worried. We hope that we shall be with you guys next time around. Mngomezulu you said that your profile on our website was not making you happy, so this is the time to send to the Chair the correct and proper information.

What has not been said in this mail will be said in the next. As UBPA we still hold the view that one round = one condom and one condom = one round. UBPA leads!

Comradely yours


Thulani Nkosi
Chairperson and Co-head of the education cluster, UBPA

Asibuyele Olwimini Lwebele UBPA

Ngibingelele abahlonishlwa kuqala! Bahlonishwa impela isingisi
sesisonile
sonakele qobo lokonakala.

Ngiphinde ngiqale nje ngokuzixolisela kubahlonishwa ngomlayezo
engawuthumela, iqiniso lithi angivumelani nokwenziwa kwabanye bethu
nabo
ngabantu njengathi ngakhoke mabangabulawa, kafushane nje abacelwe
kahleukuthi babhekise amabombo lapho izinkaba zabo zasala khona.
Ngiphindi
ngiveze ukudabuka okukhulu kwabanye bethu abese bethole omakhohlisana
babo
abangabokudabuka eZimbabwe ngithi alwehlanga lungehlanga, akuqali
ngathi
futhi soze kugcine ngathi!!! Kodwa ke into ebingenza ngize ngibe
nalolugqozi lokuthumela loya mulayezo indlela nabo bese benza ngayo
ngoba
nakhu abanye buthu bebonakalisa ukubazwela okukhulu.

Ngiphinde futhi ngibonge nendlela uSihlalo aphendule ngayo omunye wethu
uMr B ubesethanda ukulahleka noma engatholisisi ezinye zezinto.
Ngithande
nakokhulu lapho umucacisela ukuthi akayiwowonke umuntu okufanele aye
ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme okukanye aye eMEDUNSA,Wits noma eUJ
BAVUMELEKILE ABANTU UKUTHI BAYE NASE NEWCASTLE COLLEGE ngoba nakhona
kunemiphumela emihle kuphela nje kusezandleni zakhe umuntu ukuthi ufuna
ini. Ngamafuphi nje asiphoqi abantu ukuthi baye ezikhungweni zemfundo
ephakeme kodwa sisiza abantu ukwazi ukuthi bangaya kanjani khona.
Anisiboni mina isidingo sokuthatha umuntu ongenamali eyanele ngimuphoqe
ukuba azokwenza umsebenzi wamaphayiphi phecelezi iplumber eWits bese
enza
unyaka owodwa bese ehlulwa izinkiga zemali ayekele engatholanga ngisho
isitifiketi sodwa nje, kanti lomuntu ayeyosithola isitifiketi e kolishi
bese asebenzisa ingqondo aphumelele empilweni azeke afike emazingeni
aphezulu. Ngizixolisele bahlonishwa sengithinteke kakhulu ngoba
ngingakhuluma kushone ilanga ngaloludaba. Ngithembe nokuthi
nizowuzwisisa
lomlayezo engizama niwuzwe.

Sisekelo sihlalo angazi noma wawuthola yini umlyezo wami ukuthi ngizoya
ekhaya ngomhlaka 27-June ngisemile kuyo iBiology (Maths, Science) kodwa
ke
ngokungabi bikho komncedisi we Agriculture ngizinikela ekuyenziseni.
Ngiphinde ngakhuluma noSabza wathi naye uzimisele ekuncediseni impela
eZibalweni nakuyo iScience.Uthe uzoya emakhaya ngomhlaka 22-June,
uzimisele ukuqala kunye nani bahlonishwa. USihle naye ngokunjalo uthe
uyoqala kunye nani usemile futhi kuyo i-Geography yakhe. U-SG yena
angazike ukuthi wayaphi sengafunga yena. Wonder n Innocent ngoba
sebexolisile. uSihlalo ngokunjalo usebekile. Angazike abanye bengizama
ukwenza izinto zibe lula ngalabo engaziyo ngabo.

Sibonge sisekelo sihlalo ngokusivuselela ngobuthina bethu impela bese
ngineminyaka ngingabhali nje indaba ngolwimi lami lwebele.

Nikhonze kubobonke omakhelwane lapho nabantwana bayakhonza!!!!

Yimina ozithobayo
Nozipho Khumalo Usikhwama nomxhumanisi (TG/O),UBPA

Innocent Mlambo ubhale wathi:

Ngizothanda ukuthatha lethuba ngizwakalise ukudumala kwami ngokulotshwe
uMaKhumalo mayelana nokuhlaselwa kwabantu bagaphandle(kwamanye
amazwe). Ngizothanda futhi ukuthi ngiyibeke obala nje lento.Angihambelani
nommbono wakho MaKhumalo. Kodwa futhi angivumelani nokuthi abantu
bakwamanye amazwe bazichancasele kuleli. Akusilona iqiniso ukuthi wonke umuntu
ohlala e-Ningizimu nefrika, uyi South African. Uma phela kunjalo kusho
ukuthi wonke umuntu ohlala nesigebengu naye uyisigebengu. Ukugcizelela
kulokhu ngingaphinde ngibuze ukuthi ukuhamba uphinde uhlale nomuntu
obhemayo kusho ukuthi uyabhema yini nawe? Uma kungenjalo ngizosho ngithi
abantu base Zimbabwe abaseZimbabwe, nabaseNigeria ngokunjalo.
Ngamafushane nje ngizothi abangaxoshwa ngalendlela kodwa kumele bona bahambe.
Kusale abanemvumo yokuba bahlale kuleli.

Sengihamba nje ngizothanda ukusebenzisa lethuba ngokuba ngixolise,
ngokuthatha isikhathi eside ukuloba lokhu. Kodwa ngezinkinga eziningana
enginazo ngizothanda ukusho ukuthi kulamaholidi azayo, kungenzeka ukuthi
umuntu ofana nami noma lona oyimi u-qobo angaphumeleli ukuya-ngasekhaya.
Loyo- naloyo ozokhona ukuya ngasekhaya ngicela ukuthi enze okumele
akwenze, kungalandelwa abantu ngemuva bencengelwa ukuthi basize lapho
kumele basize khona.

Send my love to your families and most importantly: look after
yourself.

Innocent Mlambo
NB: Innocent Mlambo Co-heads the portfolio of Projects and Campaigns at UBPA

On Youth Day (June 16) Mlambo wrote:

This coming monday , the 16th of June is national Youth Day. On Youth
Day we celebrate the heroic actions of young people who took to the
streets of Johannesburg in protest of an oppressive system of government 32
years ago, in 1976.

In the face of apartheid's brutality, these learners joined together,
voiced their unhappiness and set in motion the march towards the freedom
which we finally received in 1994.
The struggle for freedom was fought by students, parents, teachers,
workers and the broader community, who supported the students in their
demand for a political voice. Armed with placards, a strong will and
determination, they fought the might of armed police and soldiers.
It is so important that in remembering what happened 32 years ago, we
continue to celebrate our freedom and reflect on how far we have come as
young South Africans in reversing the damage caused by apartheid. One
want to urge you as the future of South Africa, as our future leaders,
politicians, educators and business men and women, let us rededicate
ourselves to the achievement of the democratic ideals which the youth of
1976 stood up for. Let us be as strong willed and as determined to
stand up for what we believe in. Let us stand united, peacefully and
whole-heartedly against the evils in our society, in our homes, on our
playgrounds and in our hearts.The South Africa we live in today is still the
beautiful land it has always been, but is littered poverty, crime,
racism and violence. In 1976 South Africans just like you and me fought
extremely hard for the democratic education that we receive today. Your
education and your democracy is you right, a
right that thousands of people suffered for. Our rights give us
wonderful opportunities which will become powerful tools that will serve us
our whole lives. However with this great power, we must remember the
great responsibilities, to serve ourselves, our country, our parents, and
most of all the democracy for which we fought so hard.

Please do not fool yourself or your partner be wise because AIDS kills,
one wise man explicitly revealed that "one condome = one round and
one round = one condom" Be Faithful!!!

Innocent Mlambo
Co-head Projects and Campaigns, UBPA

Concerns and Answers

First and foremost i would like to know to the members
of the organisation what actual operation know your status mean
to them,If you guys have the same meaning as I am, which is to know
your status then I am afraid.Why?

let's assume if one of our members get results of being HIV positive what
we as members will do to support that individual. Some asinine can say alot.
I don't think some of us can be able to support that individual when is ill especially with HIV And AIDS
while we can't even support the so-called friends back at home to come to Higher institutions like Wits,Medunsa and Uj
For instance our chairman[Thulani] got his friend[Nkosinathi] at home who was passionate about studying until he lost hope,no support NO1.
another one Fezeka got
people like lindo and her sister Mpumie what she has done to show support to them,no support NO2
Another one which is our secretary[Bongza] he got people like Lucky or LUKIE what he has done to assist this man since they were struggling together
to get a school they even went to Mzo campus together, nothing done

OK let's assume that all this people mentioned above they don't have requirements to for their prefared courses,the those guys done to help them to
improve those result.

So then it is impossible to support someone when is ill especially the one who is not friend when you can't
even assist your friend, I am sorry but is true.

Actually personal I SUPPORT THE OPERATION but guys please lets convience each other that we will be able to support each other
even in bad times.

Mr B.

From the four corners of the office of the Chairperson of UBPA, from deep the valleys of uThaka where UBPA gets its inspiration and relevance from, from the Chair to the associates, from one member to another; Mr B you must be answered in a holistic way that is far removed from personal attacks and prejudices. This is in response to your correspondence of the 4th of June 2008.

It is trite from a Chairperson's point of view that when a member, who clearly appears to be concerned raises such bread and butter issues; he must be responded to in haste one must say. Mr B in some of what you have raised you stand to be corrected, and obviously some of the issues you have raised must be thought hard, and it is for this reason that the Chairperson is not going to rubbish your mail but will treat it as if you have hit a bull's eye and respond accordingly. Our associates should if they are going to respond also do the same, let us rather focus on the merits and not be too defensive on this because we may end up attacking one another and losing perspective.

Mr B, be corrected the people we wanted to bring to tertiary institutions are not necessarily our friends. Some of us are way senior people to befriend matriculants in case you have forgotten the Chair matriculated five years ago. It follows from this reason that the Chair can't really have friends down there as he knows only a hand full people from a distance who all but grew in front of him. The Chair's friends are all the dedicated and determined associates of UBPA and the like. The matriculants are then fellow country boys and girls of ours who we feel indebted to share the little we have as far as academia and development in the broader sense is concerned. The Chair hopes this will make sense and you shall accordingly see why you stood to be corrected on this issue.

Mr B, let us briefly looked at the real reasons why the trips failed. It was not because UBPA failed her "Friends" as you incorrectly put it. but it was because there was no will power on the powers that be to meet UBPA half way on this matter. When the SG and the Chair first spoke about this issue to Mr Xulu, we were told right there and then that this was an impossible task. It was only December early January then. But UBPA persisted on this issue, Lindo tried her best to implement the suggestions by the Chair but she was a grain of sand in a desert, this is why UBPA has then created a portfolio of projects and campaigns to better coordinate all our projects and campaigns although that portfolio at the moment looks disgruntled and is failing to deliver, but it is still our portfolio and we must reinforce so it becomes useful. On this matter those of us who tried did our best and failed on this battle, but rest assured as long as the Chair is around UBPA will win this war, and Chair will see to it. Just in passing, you know Mr B had you also played a proactive role in this matter perhaps things would have turned out differently because what you now doing is tantamount to being an arm chair critic. UBPA we are all wise after the fact and that should change.

Allow the Chair to quickly touch on the TNJ issue. The Chair is afraid to say that you stand to be corrected again on this issue. For your information TNJ completed his ancillary nursing qualification and because there were many issues competing for his attention he decided to get himself full time employment at the municipality. The Chair is convinced that TNJ didn't give up on any thing, the man just wanted to be a father to his kid, a husband to his girlfriend and a son to his mother. A father that could take responsibility and a son that could say "Mama ulele nje udleni namuhla", surely no one can fault him on that. The man took a conscious decision. It must be made clear that not every person who enters tertiary is tertiary material and thus not everyone who enters varsity will succeed, you should know this. UBPA then says we target development holistically, we acknowledge the importance of education, but we still want our people to work so as not to be redundant. Not so associates? Tertiary is tough and yes we can't all be Clinical Psychologist Mntambo, educational Psychologist Mlambo, medical Doctor Nkwanyana or Khumalo, accountant Mtshali or teacher Mngomezulu for example. Mr B the Chair assures you TNJ is content with his life at the moment he thinks he made a wise move.

On the issue of one testing positive. If you have paid particular attention on the whole process of VCT you would know that the support an individual requires start from that individual himself accepting his status and this is why people are psychologically prepared first for this possible outcome before tests are made. Once an individual accepts his status that individual will care less whether UBPA supports him or not, if anything that individual will construe UBPA's lack of support as arrogance and ignorance of the pandemic. Research shows us that even with the best support in the world if an individual himself has accepted his status all will be in vain. The UBPA led by the current executive will do everything reasonably possible in its power to lend a hand to any one who needs a hand under any conditions. Not so associates. The DSG will tell you correctly so that as a slogan UBPA lives, UBPA leads no where does it says UBPA judges people.

As UBPA associates we are joined by a spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood because we share the same history of class and the same aspirations for the future. The Chair remains convinced that if we help one another then definitely the tomorrow will be brighter than the today. Sure, the Chair can't speak on what happened to Luki or Lindo for that matter but the Chair will tell you that not succeeding into getting to tertiary is not the end of the world, some people have never set foot in a tertiary institution but are more successful than any of us will ever be. The Chair's brother matriculated last year and didn't make it to tertiary this year, will that then be grounds to say to the Chair how is he going to help others if he can't help his own brother? No, if you are thinking like this you are missing the point and as Gandhi would say science without consciousness will be your demise. UBPA is convinced that testing oneself is a proper thing to do, DSG as a slogan for our know your status campaign the Chair submits people must be aware after testing whatever the result that one round = one condom, and one condom = one round; not so? Let us be safe from HIV, from drugs, from poverty and mental indignation. In the words of Biko the most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the brain of the oppressed. UBPA let us think and act like the leaders that we are.

Mr B the Chair hopes that this answers your concerns, if not let us engage further.

UBPA lives, UBPA leads all hands on deck as we accelerate the holistic development of Uthaka and her people.

Thulani Nkosi
Chairperson, UBPA

06 June 2008 On the topic the Chair wrote:

Open Letter to UBPA
From the Education Portfolio

This is an open protest to UBPA in general but specific portfolios in particular, our attention is targeted to, where appropriate the Media Publicity and the Projects Campaigns portfolios respectively. As the education portfolio it fell well within our duties and obligations to organise and oversee the education strategy for the coming winter classes as the project appears in our plan of action for the year. We devised such a strategy and posted to the relevant parties for their considerations. It goes without saying that they were also required to perform their complementary duties in line with what we have submitted. The Projects and Campaigns portfolio was required to transport our strategy on its merits to the relevant parties.

The Media and Publicity portfolio were supposed to create hype and advertise us well. Not so associates? You know to those of us who understand the power of advertising will tell you in the words of one writer that business without advertising is like winking at a beautiful girl in the dark where no one else can see you but yourself. This is irrespective of how well the plan is, if it is not properly advertised then it is not adequately exposed to the minds of the people. The Projects and Campaigns portfolio was also suppose to collect data on our behalf, the very same data the DC is now requesting and supply this data to us so we can devise a proper time line and time table. We are not saying it is now too late for the Campaigns and Projects to execute this obligation, but what we do submit is that we are being frustrated.

The Chair in his correspondence as Co head of the education cluster has made submission to this effect so is the TG in her highly controversial submission that read South Africans were justified in showing acts of Barbarism in the attacks of foreign nationals. We as Co heads have discussed this amongst ourselves and came to the conclusion that we operate in an environment where certain portfolios were making it difficult for us to do our work effectively. We still plead with our associates to be conscious of this as we make it an official complain against the cited portfolios. Our associates can then guide us into how best can we deal with this situation. This should be a collective effort but it is clear that certain people are not coming to the party. Having said that, we plead with our associates to still supply the needed information to the Campaigns and Projects Cluster.

The Chair will attempt to avail himself as from the 22nd of June if not sooner but definitely not later. The program must run for two weeks and on this point we need to agree associated and all attempt to be there at least for the duration of the program. The Chair would further like to believe that this is the day the SG is also making his way down. Mr SG there is safety in numbers and the Chair would like to embark on an ambitious mission of using a different mode of transportation, like a train or a bus. Are you keen to adventure so you can join. UBPA the current economic climate we are facing makes it trite that we save and tighten our belts as tight as we can. The reserve bank has said it, so is the Chair of UBPA.

The Chair further feels it fitting to share with UBPA that he is now credited and alleviated to the status of co founder member of the Black Lawyers Association (student chapter - Wits University). Without blowing his own trumpet, the Chair is about to be further promoted to the position of Chairperson in BLA's executive. For UBPA all this means that the Chair is to further develop his skills that will allow him as a leader to make the smaller person feel even greater in the words of one writer. Is this quotation not correct SG? It is UBPA's mission to represent uThaka on every stage possible and both the Chair at BLA and the DC at the Med. Council will pursue this mission to its bitter end. The challenge associates remains to represent UBPA on the highest platform possible as a student - at your graduation.

UBPA all hands on deck as we pursuit this mission. UBPA leads, UBPA lives - One round = one condom, one condom = one round. Let our associates be safe, never do what the Chair will not do. Associates, if you can't be safe in your doings at least be careful.

Thulani Nkosi
Co-head Education cluster and Chairperson UBPA