Media Flaws

If this blog was a child, it would have long-died of malnutrition. What with daddy flirting around with other mediums of expression, going as far as being called a citizen journalist, sowing his creative oats in the wild digital domains that subject him to public scrutiny.

Well daddy's back and today I'll be observing the public servants strike. Is it just me or are strikes in fashion this year? "Get yours too!" "Do one, get one free..."

Let’s clarify this from the onset: I am in favour of the strike!

But. Yes there’s a but. There’s a disturbing trend which I’ve long yearned to point out. Strikes are no longer what they used to be. Khutsong is a startling example of a strike missing the point. By strikes I’m referring to ‘itoyi-toyi’ – yes the “hay’, hay’…” “Come guerilla…” Back then strikes were fully justified. But now, you’d think we’d have the insight to avoid such extremes. But no, we have a Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi who seems to be mastering the craft of talking rubbish with a straight face. You’d be forgiven for thinking she’s deaf, but upon closer inspection you’d be wrong, she lacks listening skills and a lot more I wouldn’t dare state here.

The sad reality of it all is that strikes are still rooted around racial stereotypes and it’s not hard to see why. A white public servant will take the today's strike as a holiday, spend it at home until the strike is over. That’s if they even bother staying away from work. Meanwhile the black caucus of the strike, will go out of their way picking what to wear and which clique they’ll be hanging out with as they re-inforce their most-justified cause to date. The sad reality is that strikes are unnecessary nowadays. Leading me to enquire if stikes are addictive? – I mean given a chance to strike everyday - South Africans (and Capetonians) would take full-advantage of that. Look what COSATU and crew did to Plein street last year – they literally had a blast and would probably do it all over again. I’m actually beating about the bush trying to find a gentle way of saying what I really want to say, but there’s no easy way.

What the hell is wrong with black teachers!? And black schools!? There’s no other way of classifying them in this instance. I’m talking about the township and rural schools of South Africa. Walk into the city and you’ll see cheerful kids walking to their former model-C schools. You’ll see suburbia kids in classes as these strikes proceed. Take a taxi to the township schools and you’ll think you’re the main actor in one of those cowboy movies where the protagonist stands alone in a dusty field. Nothing! Squat! While these township teachers go on strike, a big, big, blow is being dealt to the education of the young black future minds. The ones who NEED this education thing, are the one’s who now have to sit at home and play ‘ugqaphu’ (skipping ropes) or channel their boredom into shebeens. Teachers, of all people, should not strike! Black people need to get that into their heads. Teaching is not a job, it’s calling. You cannot. Other public servants can go wild and burn cities if they will – at least it’ll give us an opportunity to see them doing something for a change. But teachers cannot!