South Africans feel conflicted after the DA showed the SA flag burning

 By Onthatile Mahlangu 

South Africans are experiencing a mix of emotions following the Democratic Alliance's depiction of the burning South African flag.

South African flag burning: Screenshot from the advertisement 

The recent release of an advertisement by the Democratic Alliance (DA), featuring the burning of the South African flag, has left residents of South Africa with conflicting emotions.

 The advertisement triggered a debate nationwide, with opinions spanning from outrage to agreement with its message.

The burning of our flag is ill-advised and seems to show disrespect and disloyalty to the flag, which to many of us is more than a flag but a symbol of triumph against apartheid, in some countries it's even a crime to burn the flag, according to Prof Thulisile Madonsela.

Madonsela said she understood the intention but there could have been other metaphoric symbols to communicate the message.

Ivyn Sambo said that the DA may hate the ANC and what they are doing to the country, but they cannot burn the flag and think that is okay. The flag represents South African history and all those people who died for freedom and rights.

However, among the criticism, some individuals agreed with the portrayal presented in the advertisement.

Ivo Vegter said the national party is trying to suggest that the ANC is burning the country (as symbolized by the flag) to ashes and that the DA wishes to save the country from fate.

Mandla Sithole also said it is not made to disrespect the flag, but to warn against the dangers of voting in another corrupt government.

“What is being displayed under a coalition of ANC, EFF, and Zuma the country will burn, represented as our flag. There is no rage towards the flag or what it symbolises, it is just a visual metaphor," Brian Van Dyk stated.

The DA mentioned that the advert sets out the critical choice that the country faces in this election.

It emphasised that under the current coalition of corruption, the fabric of the nation itself is at risk, as symbolised by the burning flag.

According to the DA, the election is no longer just about politics, it is about survival.

“Whilst this advert shows the burning of our nation's beloved flag, the reconstruction of the flag afterwards represents that it is possible to rescue South Africa and turn this situation around if we make the right choice”.

 

Major Oil Company Shell Considers Leaving South Africa

 By Onthatile Mahlangu 

Picture from facebook

Two recent articles from the City Press and the Sunday Times indicate that Shell, a major player in the oil industry, is considering withdrawing from its operations in South Africa.

According to the Sunday Times, Shell has told Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe and Trade & Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel of its plan to leave SA.

Spokesperson of Shell Pam Ntaka said Shell has undertaken a comprehensive review of the Downstream and Renewables businesses across all regions and markets in line with Shell’s focus on performance, discipline, and simplification. As a result of this review, Shell has decided to reshape the Downstream portfolio and intends to divest our shareholding in Shell Downstream South Africa (SDSA). Considering SDSA’s illustrious history, this decision was not taken lightly.

“During the divestment process, we will work to preserve Shell Downstream South Africa's operating capabilities, maintain the Shell brand presence, and secure the best possible outcome for our people and customers in South Africa under new ownership,” Ntaka added.

 Shell originally embarked on a refinery processing deal in 1998 with Tepco, an energy company owned and established by Thebe Investment Corporation. This was followed by joint ventures with Tepco in 2001 in aviation and commercial fuels.

The intention of Thebe Investments, the global group, to sell its 72% share in Shell Downstream South Africa has led to a dispute regarding the valuation of Thebe's remaining 28% ownership stake in the company, causing conflict between the involved parties, this is according to the City Press.

Meanwhile, citizens on X blame the government for the potential departure of the oil industry from South Africa.

Vrystaat Boerwors tweeted that “Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) partner (ANC code for corruption useless thieves) demanded an impossible increase in their share," implying frustration with the (BEE) policies and their impact on business dealings.

The BEE’s goals are to: Redress past inequalities, promote ownership and wealth creation, and transform the economy.

However, people argue that BEE can be misused for corruption, with some companies focusing on ticking a BEE ownership box rather than genuine transformation.

There are debates about how effective BEE policies are in achieving their goals. Some argue it benefits a small, wealthy elite rather than the broader Black population.

"What did the BEE ever contribute to Shell's business activities - or were they there for the free ride?" This question reflects skepticism about the actual contributions of BEE partners to Shell's operations, hinting at concerns over the effectiveness and fairness of BEE partnerships in the business landscape.

Followers are deeply saddened as they mourn the loss of Ausi Velemina

 By Onthatile Mahlangu 

Fans are left shocked shocked by the sudden news of Aus Velemina's passing.

Picture from Instagram

Fans are in mourning following the untimely death of Ausi Velemina, a beloved influencer and TikTok sensation. Ausi Velemina, whose real name is Lebogang Ledwaba, passed away at the age of 31, leaving his fans shocked and saddened.

Born and raised in the vibrant townships of Atteridgeville and Mamelodi in Pretoria, Ausi Velemina's journey to fame began with a single video that showcased his comedic genius.

According to his manager Jerome Sachane, Ausi Velemina departed after a brief illness in the early hours of Wednesday.

Sachane, who recognized Ausi Velemina talent from the start, became his manager alongside K p Ash-ga 1. Together, they collaborated on projects that showcased Ausi Velemina's unique blend of humour and musical talent.

 One such project was the hit song Ditshele, which highlighted Ausi Velemina's ability to effortlessly freestyle jokes both in and out of the studio.

Picture from Instagram

Beyond entertainment, Ausi Velemina was known for his generosity and willingness to support various causes, businesses, NGOs, and fellow artists.

 His multifaceted approach to content creation, combining comedy, music, DJing, and MCing, set him apart from other influencers and endeared him to a wide audience of all ages.

His manager Sachane said, "He remains a legend, inspiring aspiring artists to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams and leaves behind a legacy that extends far beyond entertainment.”

Ausi Velemina survived by his mother, grandmother, and sister. Flowers will be dropped off on the 18th of April 2024.

The burial ceremony will take place on the 20th of April 2024, in Mamelodi East, at 948 Mokopa Street, where friends, family, and fans will bid farewell to this beloved figure.

Durban residents deem water scarcity as routine

 By Onthatile Mahlangu

Durban residents say they have adapted to endure long periods without water.

Picture by Nithin PA. For Illustration only 

Residents of Durban in KwaZulu Natal, find themselves grappling with yet another episode of water scarcity.

The situation reoccurred on Thursday.

Siyabonga Mnisi a resident, said the absence of water in their area has become a daily ordeal and sadly it is nothing new.

They have adapted to this crisis and accepted the fact that little can be done.

Mnisi said during water outages, they patiently await its eventual return. If they are lucky enough a water truck arrives.

“Going without water for two weeks has become common.”

Conversely, some residents voiced their frustrations at the dire situation.

Phiwokhuhle Duma said the inability to access water deeply frustrates her.

 “It slows down basic activities like personal hygiene and maintaining a clean household," Duma added.

Despite diligently paying water bills, rates, and levies, she feels dissatisfied with the municipality's inability to fulfill this essential need.

Duma emphasized that the municipality must prioritize infrastructure development to mitigate such recurring challenges.

“The frequent lack of water highlights problems with the city's infrastructure.”

Attempts to seek clarification or responses from the eThekwini municipality were unsuccessful at the time of publication.

Old Mutual Faces criticism for not paying customers

 By : Onthatile Mahlangu 

A recent uproar on social media platform X has pushed Old Mutual insurance company into the spotlight, with allegations of mistreatment and failure to fulfil financial obligations to its customers.

The controversy escalated when Seba Molefe shared a tweet to express her frustration with the company's refusal to release her mother's payouts despite a court order mandating compliance.

She said she has been reaching out to the company for months but there are no updates they have not received the money that was claimed.

“Stay far away from Old Mutual if you do not want to find yourselves in our shoes, where we even had to go to court for this and they are refusing to pay out with a court order in place,” she said warning the Twitter community.

The revelation made by Molefe influenced other upset customers to voice similar grievances.

Ria Baloyi said her mother passed away in April 2023 and Old Mutual has not paid the claim.

Charms said her dad did not receive her pension fund and  the matter was only taken seriously after the company was threatened.

one of the tweets where the company is criticised 

In response to the tweet, the company said Mr and Mrs Molefi sought to have an order made directing Old Mutual to make payments from invested funds. Such an order would contravene relevant Legislation, including the Pension the Funds Act and the Income Tax Act, and Old Mutual has advised Mrs Molefe’s representative to resolve this matter expeditiously.

TikTok helps a 22 year old to obtain an ID

 By: Onthatile Mahlangu 

A recent TikTok video shed light on the struggles of a young girl trying to acquire an identity card (ID).

Ayanda Simelane who is 22 years from Mamelodi Nellmapius did not have an identity card.

 She could not do an ID because Home Affairs said that she was a duplicate entry.

“When I was 16 years old and went to apply my ID home affairs told me that my information already exists in KwaZulu-Natal.”

 She said according to the documents she received from the government social workers; her mom was a student who stayed in Sunnyside studying labour Relations at the University of Pretoria.

Then Mom gave birth and left her at Tshwane Academic Hospital.

“I was relocated in a place of safety even today I do not know my mother; I have never met her,” Ayanda added.

She completed her matric with an affidavit however she could not access her matric results due to being a duplicate entry.

“Someone who has the same ID wrote the year before me and prevented me from receiving my results.

In 2020 I gave birth to a boy child, and I reached out to Rea Tsotella, The Devi Show, and Checkpoint and did not get any response,” she said tearfully.

Her child suffered because of not having a birth certificate, making it challenging to enroll him in elementary school and for her to secure employment.

“My parents are supportive, but life is hard, I have been struggling for 8 years to get an ID,” she said.

Despite her efforts, Ayanda hadn't received any assistance until she turned to TikTok users for help.

Days after sharing her video, Home Affairs contacted her and issued her a new ID number.

She thanked social media and urged the media should also assist people who have a similar issue to hers and hoped God would bless them.

“I'm going to school to further my studies and hopefully she gets a job,” she concluded.

Ayanada Simelane :Picture from TikTok.

Navigating the Sacred and Digital: The Evolution of Worship in Township Churches

Picture from Pintrest

On Sunday, I attended a local township church in Soshanguve, marking my return after a year-long break. Typically, I would attend a church in Pretoria Central, and as expected, the experiences between the two differed.

One notable observation is that township churches are evolving with the times. They have established channels for people to join online sermons by recording videos and taking pictures during live services.

While I believe a church is a sacred place for praising and worshiping God, the recent trend of sharing and broadcasting during preaching, singing, and praising times raises a concern. It might become uncomfortable for some worshippers when they realize cameras are constantly capturing their moments of worship and prayer.

As children of God, spreading the word is important. There are many ways to achieve this by; sharing a scripture or a video explaining its meaning. Yes, we are in the 21st century, and young people find inspiration and encouragement through visuals like photos and videos.

The question that lingers is: should churches broadcast during worship?

Share your thoughts in the comment section below.