Madiba a true inspiration for education

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Former President Nelson Mandela has been a true inspiration for education throughout the country and the world. Madiba has received many honorary doctorates for his role and contribution in the liberation struggle in South Africa from different universities.

Walden University honours Nelson Mandela


Former South African President Nelson Mandela
smiles after being conferred with an Honorary
Doctorate of Laws at University of Galway, Ireland,
June 20, 2003. (Image by: Reuters)

Nobel Peace Prize winner and former South African president, Nelson Mandela, was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from Walden University for his vigorous fight against apartheid.

Walden University President, Jonathan Kaplan said: "Nelson Mandela embodies the potential in each of us to effect positive change, and Walden is proud to present this honorary degree to a legendary leader whose historic accomplishments will continue to inspire future generations."

Kaplan adds:"“Education knows no boundaries, and through Walden’s unique, multinational community, we are creating educational opportunities for people everywhere to advance their lives and the communities they serve."

Harvard University honours Madiba

President Nelson Mandela on receiving and honorary doctorate from Harvard University in Boston on 18 September 1998 expressed gratitude and encouraged the university to continue playing an important role.

“For three hundred years this great institution has served its nation with distinction. We enter the new millennium in the hope that the rich fruits of learning, science and technological progress will in this coming century truly be shared by all in this global village in which we live. We are confident that this institution of which we are now a proud member will play a leading role in achieving that.”

Then TUT President Nelson Mandela receiving
an honorary degree from the
Faculty of Law at the University of Pretoria.
Image by UP. (Image by University of Pretoria)

Nelson Mandela was awarded an honorary degree by The University of Nottingham in 1996 in recognition of his leadership in fighting apartheid. Image by University of Nottingham

Former South African President Nelson Mandela smiling prior to receiving an honorary degree during a ceremony at Ryerson University in Toronto in November 17, 2001. (Image by Ryerson University)

This article first appeared on SABCNews site.

Mandela hailed for his ability to overcome

 

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Independent policy and political analyst, Professor Somadoda Fikeni has described former President Nelson Mandela as a man who transcended all extraordinary obstacles in life.

Speaking on SA fm Forum@8 on Monday, Fikeni praised Madiba for the role he played in the liberation struggle. He also highlighted the former statesman as a greater leader.


Madiba has been described as
 a man of intergrity. (REUTERS)

Fikeni says: “He (Madiba) kept on reminding us that he is no a saint and precisely because he had no insecurities to say that and that makes him greater.”

Click below to listen.


Download episode (MP3 526.6 KB)



In the same programme, former journalist and speaker of parliament during Madiba’s presidential term, Frene Ginwala says Madiba was a man of integrity and South Africans should follow his footsteps.

“Mandela came back (from prison) with same values and determination.”

Click below to listen.

Download episode (MP3 840.1 KB)



Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy, Rhodes University and the University of Johannesburg, Professor Steven Friedman believes the legacy of Mandela is not understood very well.

Click below to listen.

Download episode (MP3 680.8 KB)

This article first appeared on SABCNews site

National day of prayers, reflection in honour of Madiba

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Activities across the country are being held on Sunday to mark a national day of prayer and reflection in honour of former President Nelson Mandela.

Ninety-five-year-old Mandela passed away on Thursday evening at his Houghton home in Johannesburg after a long illness. He will be laid to rest next Sunday at his home village of Qunu in the Eastern Cape.

A prayer service in honour of Mandela is underway at the Standard Bank Arena in Johannesburg. Thousands of people are there - many dressed in African National Congress (ANC) colours.


Picture by Manqoba Nchunu

Amongst those who are attending, are representatives of various religious groupings, traditional leaders and political leaders such as ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa, ANC Gauteng chairman Paul Mashatile and provincial secretary David Makhura.

 

Picture by Horisani Sithole

Earlier hundreds of worshipers at the famous Regina Mundi Church in Soweto dedicated their church service to the selfless spirit of Madiba. Scores of both local and international journalists were also at the church service.


Picture by Sthembiso Sithole

Among the worshipers is the United States ambassador to South Africa Pat Gaspard.


Picture by Sthembiso Sithole

United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader Bantu Holomisa also attended the service.


Picture by Sthembiso Sithole

Outside Mandela’s home, in Houghton, hundreds of people came to pay tribute to Madiba. People were there to lay flowers and candles and comfort each other. This after a night vigil that was held Saturday night.


Picture by Njanji Chauke

 

This article first appeared on SABCNews site

Madiba celebrated in style

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Soweto Gospel Choir pays
trbute to Madiba. (YouTube)

 The Soweto Gospel Choir has paid tribute to former president Nelson Mandela in style in a Woolworths store in Parkview.

The choir did a flash mob paying tribute to Madiba while hidden cameras were recording the mob. In the video, a man wearing Woolworths’s uniform, pretending to be a one of the workers inside the store begins singing a song titled: “Asimbonanga uMandela” (We haven’t seen Mandela) as customers do their early morning
shopping.

Within few seconds the rest of the choir joins him from different shelves in the store.

According to a Woolworths statement: “On 7 December 2013, Woolworths had planned an in store performance at our Parkview store in Pretoria. The plan was to support our 100 Smiles Christmas campaign, with a performance of the Soweto Gospel Choir’s rendition of James' Brown’s I feel Good.”

Woolworths also says: “The Thursday night rehearsal went well but on Friday, the song could not resonate with any of us. Together with the choir, we decided to transform the performance into a Madiba tribute.”

The food and clothing store asked the Soweto Gospel Choir for suggestions and they chose Johnny Clegg’s “Asibonanga” song which was then performed.

Meanwhile, a 63 year old man from East London in the Eastern Cape has bid farewell to former President Nelson Mandela by displaying colourful Christmas lights outside his Beacon Bay home.

The piece of art has an image of Madiba, candles next to him, hands in rainbow colours and two women and Madiba's year of birth and death. It was crafted by Norman Brown who created a similar piece of art during Madiba's birthday in July.

“To Nelson Rholihlahla Mandela a man who gave our people hope, life and joy but most of all he gave them the light to lead their way. My contribution is to light up Mr Nelson Rholihlahla in remembrance of him, of whom he was and what he stood for. A man never forgotten and this makes me emotional.”

--

This article first appeared on SABCNews site

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Car enthusiasts predict 2014 car of the year


Sthembiso Sithole

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The a ton of beauties will be vying for

the title of COTY.(Audi SA website.)

The 2014 WesBank/ South Africa Guild of Motoring Journalists (SAGMJ) car of the year (COTY) finalists have been unveiled at the Johannesburg International Motor Show and the question on every motorist lips is who will snatch the number one spot.

Some car motor fans have already made their predictions.

"I like Clio and I think it will win. I also like the design and it has power'" says Rozaan Watts.

Dewald Dippernaar disagrees with his girlfriend as he believes that the Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG will make it through. "Mercedes-Benz has done pretty well this year and I think they will win. The car has good technology features and I would advice anyone to buy it."

Another motorist, Gerhard Schoombee also bets that Clio will win: "Due to the current economic condition, I don't think Porsche will make it. I think Clio will take it because its value is reasonable."

The 2014 WesBank/SAGMJ Car of the Year Finalists were announced on Sunday.

The nine finalists are:

2013 Audi A3 Sportback 1.4T FSI Manual
2013 Jaguar F-TYPE 3.0 V6 S
2013 Lexus IS 350 F-Sport
2013 Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG
2013 Peugeot 208 GTI
2013 Renault Clio4 66kW Turbo Dynamique
2013 Volkswagen Golf 7 1.4 TSI 90kW Comfortline DSG
2013 Volvo V40 D3 Geartronic Excel

A two-day evaluation session, which will take place in January 2014, will offer judges an opportunity to reacquaint themselves with vehicles and specific aspects such as build quality, ergonomic, fuel consumption, environment friendliness, safety features and value for money.

WesBank and car representative, Charles West, says: "SAGMJ journalists will have a two-day session to evaluate the cars. This includes test driving the cars, checking performance of the cars and whether it is well suited to be driven in certain routes."

The winner of the 2014 WesBank/ SAGMJ COTY will be revealed at gala banquet in February 2014.

This article appeared on SABCNews website by Sthembiso Sithole

Economist predicts massive fuel increase in Oct

Sthembiso Sithole

 

 

While consumers will most likely be spared in September,

October promises to be harsh on petrol consumers' pockets.(SABC)

The weakening rand and the spiralling oil price have led to many speculations that the South African motorist is in for a massive fuel price hike. However, Economist Mike Schussler says the September increase, due next week, will be a few cents but cautioned that a massive increase is on the cards for October.

“It is very bleak at the moment for October but as it
all political things, it is very difficult to predict what
is going to happen with the oil price but I think in all likelyhood we are going to see a very big increase in the price of fuel come October, probably 40 to 50 cents.”

Speaking about the on-going strikes action in the country, Schussler says they are not helping the currency.

“I think it is more than just a strike. There is certainly a worry about all emerging markets at the moment. So most emerging markets currently are under pressure. Certainly the strikes are not helping the South African currency.”

The rand has continued to perform badly. The currency hit a new four-year low earlier in the session at 10.51 against the US dollar on Wednesday.

A short while ago the rand was trading at 10.31 to the dollar. The rand's volatility has continued as investors who are nervous about the crisis in Syria continued to sell emerging market currencies.
Click below to listen to Economist Mike Schussler as he predicts the fuel price increase.

This article appeared on the SABCNews website on the 29 August 2013.

Mother mourns son’s death after initiation

At least 30 initiates died and close to 300
have been admitted to various hospitals across Eastern
Cape.(SABC)

Andisiwe Msindwana is the first Xhosa mother to speak publicly about the death of her son after he went to an initiation school.
Speaking on SAfm AM LIVE, Msindwana says they had an understanding with his son’s dad about taking Litha to an initiation school.
“We had an understanding with him; he initiated the whole thing that he will take Litha to the initiation. My brother volunteered to be on leave so that he can visit him there because the initiation will be done outside East London, he would be somewhere in the bush.”
Msindwana says at that stage Litha had just turned 18 in April 2009 and she had spoken to him about initiation schools.
“I would engage him on this matter. I would tell him that I am not up for this because of the dangers that are involved.”
She says after her son had left, she was cut off completely from talking to him. There was no contact and she had to rely on his brother to her how Litha was doing.
After few days that her son had left for initiation, Msindwana woke up to the bad news about his son’s health condition.
“Around six o’clock in the morning I had a bagging knock on my kitchen door. It was my brother letting me know that Litha is not well. I asked him what do you mean?”
In hope that her son was outside, Msindwana says: “I peeped outside because I thought he was outside. My brother said no, I took him to a nearest bush, where he will be taken care of. Just make porridge. I think he doesn't like the food he eats there.”
After waiting for a report from her brother about her son’s health condition, later on the day a family friend came and told her that Litha had passed on.
Msindwana has urged other women who are in a similar situation to speak out. Meanwhile, Eastern Cape police say they have arrested five suspects in connection with botched circumcisions since the winter initiation season started at the end of May.
At least 30 initiates died and close on 300 have been admitted to various hospitals across the province.
Provincial police spokesperson Sibongile Soci says the suspects were arrested in areas such as Lusisiki, Mqanduli and Mzamba.
She says they are facing charges such as unlawful circumcisions, attempted murder and assault. Soci has urged communities to report unregistered traditional surgeons and illegal initiation schools to the police. -Edited by Sthembiso Sithole.

Click below to listen to Andisiwe Msindwana who lost her son in initiations schools.

This article appeared at SABCNews online on Tuesday 9 July 2013 10:20