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Table of headlines
1. Editorial Achivements and appointments 2. The life story of Wallace Mgoqi 3. Another law degree for Mgoqi 4. A silver in the Comrades equals a jackpot 5. New managers Training and self development 6. Restitution orientation gets country-wide attendance 7. Orientation reflective of the department 8. Supervisors more of leaders than bosses 9. Volunteering works wonders HIV/AIDS 10. Poetry livens up sombre event 11. Poetry and messages for the DLA HIV/AIDS Candle Light Memorial Service 11.1 By Mano Reddy 11.2 By Pinkie Phala 11.3 By Reghaanah Mohamed 11.4 By Hans Mangole 11.5 By Shaheed M. Ndongeni 11.6 By Johnny M.Pietersen 11.7 From Heleen Ihlenfeldt 11.8 From Rajesh Jock 11.9 From Manye Moroka Equality 12. Women's access and control over land in South Africa 13. Equity means equality 14. Reasonable accommodation Letters to the editor 15. From Sylvia 16. From Clementine General news 17. Africa's New Eden 18. Standard issue software for PC users 19. DLA information available on PiT 20.Minutes of Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs Martin Luther King says, "Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a permanent attitude". I concur and say for my own environment Batho Pele as a practice is also a permanent attitude. It is applicable, without an exception, to all public servants. Lest we forget, the basic principles of Batho Pele entail:
When looked at closely these principles do not only end in the workplace. They can be applied in our homes, churches, streets, schools, businesses and even in our shebeens, for that matter. As I sit here writing, I think about a former manager in this Department, at that time talking about Batho Pele. He narrated a story wherein someone in one section of the Department ignored him while trying to get information for his departmental tasks. He said this continued even after he had identified himself and explained the purpose of his visit to that office. He said people in that office started to jump up and down only when asked about their supervisor and he mentioned the DG. In all honesty there was no need for that kind of behaviour. I have also been there. For me it was a "big wig". He called me to his office. When I got into his office, the guy was literally sitting on the phone. He kept talking with the other fellow on the other side of the phone without a breather. Unfortunately for him, he thinks I do not understand his language. They were talking about the previous night when the music was very low and the lights were very dim. There were giggles here and there. Really, that was not a bureaucratic conversation. Out of my own I decided to give the guy some privacy. Before I could reach the passage he came panting after me. I do not know what frightened him. There was sweat on his brow. He told me that his boss can be unreasonable sometimes and he had been talking with him while I was in his office. I did not say anything, but rest assured his boss does not speak his language. In another occasion I came to this diva's office for information. Her mouth was opening and closing like that of a hungry chick as she spoke over the phone. She did not even lift her head to see who I was or to question me about my presence in her office. A dry cough came out of my mouth while trying to attract her attention. She just gave me the thumbs up sign without looking at me, and continued with her endless talk. I do not remember how long I waited there, but the minutes were dragging slowly like those behind prison walls. After having drifted out of that office and got the information elsewhere, I have bumped against her on a number of occasions. To be honest with you, she does not know that I was once in her office. One may perhaps say the instances mentioned above are just a drop in an ocean of the good that is being done by the majority of the staff of the Department, and have no impact. I agree with the first part, but say their behaviour is dangerous. We have to remember that it is only the few exceptions who tarnish the good image of great deeds done by dedicated public servants in this country. Now just imagine if all I am talking about had happened to members of the public. Where would the image of the DLA be? In the gutters, just because of a few who do not want to listen. I say they do not want to listen because Batho Pele has now been with us for a number of years. One cannot expect somebody with little experience behaving in the manner mentioned supra. To cap all this one can even say some of the principles contained in Batho Pele are unwritten laws in some of our homes. This time, I must apologise for saying nothing about forgiveness. Some day we will have a long talk about it. But memorising and reciting the principles of Batho Pele is a fruitless exercise if we do not live them. What more can I say? Mgoqi Journal echoes the same congratulatory attitude extended to Dr Wallace Amos Mgoqi for being conferred an Honorary Doctorate degree by the University of Cape Town. This was history in the making. Languages As custodians of the DLA language policy, the Communications Directorate commends the Organisational Development Directorate for introducing classes in isiZulu, Afrikaans and Northern seSotho at National Office. Consciously or not, their behaviour directly responds to the attitude of the language policy. The life story of Wallace Mgoqi On the conferment of an honourary doctor of laws degree to the Chief Land Claims Commissioner at the University of Cape Town, one of the university's council members Professor Geoff Budlender, read his citation. This article is an edited version of what he said. Wallace Mgoqi was born in Goodwood in 1949. When he was six years old, an event took place which foreshadowed some of the activities for which he has become best known: his family was forcibly removed from Goodwood to Nyanga, under the Group Areas Act. A large part of his life has been spent working with people who suffered the same or a similar fate. It has been a life working with people who seek land and housing - both for the benefits which those bring, and as part of the struggle for justice in our country. That struggle had a price, even in his early days. From 1971 to 1973 he studied at the University of Fort Hare for a BA Social Science degree. This was a time of ferment at the universities. Like so many leading black students of that time, he did not complete his degree for which he was studying. He was expelled from Fort Hare, for protesting against the expulsion of other students. He later completed that degree through the University of South Africa. So Wallace Mgoqi returned to the Western Cape. His work as a young man similarly foreshadowed what he would do in the future. He was employed by the Western Province Council of Churches, working as a community worker and translator amongst displaced people. Those were the days of the struggle for Crossroads, when the government was determined to destroy a living symbol of resistance to the pass laws. He helped a vibrant community to organise itself, and worked with the law firms which were representing the community members in that struggle. Any lawyer who has undertaken this sort of work will tell you that effective community workers are the key to for success. Wallace Mgoqi played a vital role in the successful struggle for Crossroads. Some years later, when New Crossroads was established, the residents recognised this by naming one of the streets "Mgoqi Close". His experience working with the law convinced him that this was a way in which he could make a contribution to justice, even in an apartheid state. So he studied law at this University, graduating with an LLB in 1984. He then joined the Legal Resources Centre, where he did a one-year fellowship. He did articles of clerkship, was admitted as an attorney, and then rejoined the Legal Resources Centre. His particular interest was law and development - the role which law and lawyers can play in community-based development. He attended courses at the International Development Law Institute in Rome, and at Harvard University. At home, he put into practice the lessons he had learned. I suspect he will say, and rightly, that he learnt most from the communities with whom he was working. He took on what seemed the hopeless task of representing families in the Kraaifontein area, who had been subjected to endless harassment. After a gruelling five years, that community won the right to land in the Peninsula. They too recognised the role which he had played in supporting them in their struggle. They named the area Wallacedene. In an ironic twist, that name now has a special place in our law. Some ten years after the formal establishment of Wallacedene, the first case under the new constitutional right to housing came to the Constitutional Court. In the celebrated Grootboom case, the Constitutional Court demonstrated that the right to housing - for which Wallace Mgoqi had fought all of those years - was not simply a pious aspiration, but had legal substance to it. The case was, fittingly, about a group of people living at Wallacedene. One of the recurring themes of his life is that Wallace Mgoqi is a person who builds, and who brings people together through change. In 1994, when local government had collapsed and had to be re-structured, he was nominated by about 30 political, civic and community organisations as Commissioner for Ikapa Municipality, the local authority for Langa, Nyanga, Guguletu, New Crossroads and KTC. He served in this capacity until January 1995, when legitimate transitional councils were introduced. One of the first statutes enacted by the new democratic Parliament was the Restitution of Land Rights Act. The purpose of that Act was to bring justice to the people who had suffered forced removals, as Wallace Mgoqi had as a child. When the government was seeking Commissioners to lead the process, he was a natural choice. He was appointed as Deputy Chief Land Claims Commissioner, with responsibility for the Western and Northern Cape. He threw himself into that work, and under difficult circumstances achieved some of the critical earliest successes of the land restitution process. The restitution process was not - and is not - easy. It involves reconciling multiple different interests, and managing inevitably complex processes. It involves law and development, justice and nation-building. The early years were particularly difficult, and were aggravated by difficult personality issues on the Commission. Serious conflict arose, and there was a need for a new Chief Land Claims Commissioner. His fellow-Commissioners were unanimous that he was the person they wanted to lead them. It was a widely welcomed appointment. After his appointment, he set about re-building and strengthening the often fractured and fractious restitution system. It was necessary to learn from the successes and failures of the first few years. That involved some people having to swallow their pride, and adapt to new structures and processes. Wallace Mgoqi guided the restitution process through this with his special combination of wisdom and humility. The results are testimony to the success of his work. During this career, his wisdom and his ability to bring people together through change have been recognised in ever-widening circles. The commercial world recognised the special contribution he could make. He was appointed as a Director of major corporations: of companies in the Syfrets Group; of the Old Mutual; of Safmarine; and of Sekunjalo Investments Ltd, of which he is now the Chairperson. The University of Cape Town also recognised the special contribution which he could make in a time of change. He was appointed first to the University Council, and then to the UCT Board of Governors. In February 2001, he was elevated to the position of Life Governor. Through all of this, he has maintained his active interest and involvement in grassroots-based community development. He was appointed a Director of Communicare, which is involved in the provision of low-cost housing and welfare services. He co-founded the Business Skills and Development Centre. He is National Chairperson of the Trust for Community Outreach and Education. He is a trustee of the Western Cape Community Based Housing Trust, Chairperson of the Black Education Research Trust, and a Trustee of the President's Award for Youth Empowerment Programme. It is not surprising that many people have recognised the truly unique contribution which Wallace Mgoqi has made. In July 1993 he received an Ubuntu Award from the African community in the Western Cape in recognition of his work in community services. The award was the first of its kind, and has become an annual event to encourage local leadership. In January 1994 he was nominated Peacemaker of the Week in the Argus/Sanlam award. In 1997 he received the Ithemba Award, as an inspirational leader who has given hope to the people of the Western Cape. In 1998 the Itireleng Education Project made him an award in recognition of his long-standing support for rural development. And most recently, the General Council of the Bar of South Africa has resolved to award him the Sydney and Felicia Kentridge Award for exceptional service to law in Southern Africa. Wallace Mgoqi is a builder, a person who brings people together. He has shown how the law can be a weapon for justice, for the poorest and for the dispossessed. He has led in bringing together our community, our region and our country. It is fitting that our University should recognise a lifetime of extraordinary achievement in promoting and using law as an instrument of justice. Chancellor, it is my honour to ask you to confer the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, on Wallace Amos Mgoqi. Another law degree for Mgoqi The Chief Land Claims Commissioner, Dr Wallace Mgoqi was on the 21 June 2002 conferred an honourary doctorate law degree by the University of Cape Town. This article is an abridged version of what he said at the event. Life, human dignity and citizenship. It is, indeed, a great privilege and honour for me to be here and address you. Immediately, there comes the words of the African-American poet, Mari Evans, who says: "Speak the truth to the people, Talk sense to the people, Free them with reason, Free them with honesty, Free the people with Love, Courage and Care for their being." I hope that, I will do all the things she is talking about in this address.Life Life, human dignity and citizenship are values enshrined in our Constitution in Chapter Two on the Bill of Rights. Section 11 of our Constitution states that: "Everyone has the right to life" Surely, this must mean life which is self-sustaining, from the cradle to the grave for all of humanity. It must mean that all human beings within a state must be given equal opportunities for realising, each their God-given potential, until they reach their full human stature. Sociological, physcological, anthropological and political studies tell us that a number of institutions, ranging from parenthood, the family, the school, up to university, the workplace, the religious institutions, cultural institutions, including political institutions contribute, in varying measures, in shaping all of us for life. At the end, it becomes the State that must ensure that all its citizens and all those within its borders, are protected so as to live life, and live life in all its fullness. As we go out into the world, we are already part of some institutions like our families and are to join other institutions and even be leaders of such institutions. We must always remember these founding values of our Constitution, life, human dignity and citizenship. Herman Watts, in What is Your Name gives us just a glimpse of what life is when he says: "Life is not intended to be safe. A safe life has too small a name for a creature of eternity. Life at its noblest and highest has a hazard about it; it ponders tomorrow but does not know it; it sounds the depths of the ocean, but knows not the hazards of the bottom. Life at its best takes a chance on righteousness no matter the hazard, no matter the cost. Life when answering to its true name, lifts on wings, feeling no invisible hands supporting it." Upon the shoulders of this present generation of South Africans, upon us, history has placed the daunting and immense responsibility of picking up the pieces, after the destruction of apartheid and the nefarious systems of government which proceeded apartheid. We are called to the task of rebuilding a benevolent and caring society, the task of creating a better life for all. Human dignity Human dignity is another founding value in our Constitution. Section 10 of the Constitution states: "Everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected" My own sense of this is that this is not something that one can attract or not attract to oneself, but it is inherent in all of us, irrespective of race, gender, sex, marital status, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language or birth. As individuals it would seem, therefore, that we must also conduct ourselves at all times, in a way which says there is in us this inherent quality of human dignity. It is something which is there already and must simply be respected and protected in all of us. Under conditions of strife and abject poverty our human dignity suffers. But in conditions conducive to decent human living, our human dignity flourishes and blossoms. Our talents under appropriate circumstances come to fruition. We all have a duty to put our world to rights, rights which must be respected by all.We are called upon to exercise effective leadership, which in the words of former President Nelson Mandela, can cause us to say in our old age: "I am prepared to stand for the truth, even if you all stand against me… I am writing my own personal testament, because now that I am near to the end, I want to sleep with a broad smile on my face knowing that, especially the youth, can stretch out across the colour line, shake hands and seek peaceful solutions to the problems of the country." He goes on to say: "We can enter into the covenant that we shall build the society in which all South Africans, both black and white, will be able to walk tall without any fear in their inalienable right to human dignity……. a rainbow nation at peace with itself." This is a dream worth pursuing by all of us. Life itself prepares us to pursue this vision, for our own sake, as well as for the benefit of posterity. The third founding value in our Constitution is citizenship. Section 20 of our Constitution simply states: "No citizen may be deprived of citizenship." Sadly, we are not given a definition or benchmark of citizenship. We have to look elsewhere for the content of this word. I want to venture and say it is probably what the German philosopher, Karl Jaspers, had in mind when he was reflecting on the tragic disaster of his country, under the Nazi ideology, he observed:"No man or woman is free who does not work for the freedom of others" Over the years I have also come to learn in order to create a better world for ourselves and generations to come, citizenship must mean being free for others, free to be with others, in mutual respect and concern for the conditions of others. Where we find ourselves in a situation where there is public poverty in the midst of private affluence, our citizenship must direct us to find ways of changing that state of affairs.As we grow in our knowledge of local citizenship, we will become aware of regional citizenship, continental citizenship and ultimately world citizenship. World citizenship begins with the acceptance of the awareness of the human family and the interconnectedness of the nations of the earth, our home, and all the resources found on this planet. As we grow in our understanding of citizenship we will also become acutely aware of our duty of stewardship towards the resources of the earth. This is the essence of sustainable development. Citizenship encompasses the principles of sound and economic justice, both within and between nation, non-adversarial decision-making at all levels of society, equality of the sexes, racial, ethnic, national and religious harmony and the willingness to sacrifice for the common good including the promotion of human honour and dignity, understanding, co-operation, trustworthiness, compassion and the desire to serve. My friend and mentor, Mr Guy Stringer, one-time World Director of Oxfam, one of the largest world charities based in the United Kingdom, frequently reminded us of the words of William Blake (1757-1827)."If you wish to do good, one to another, you should do it in minute particulars." These words keep me on track all the time and force me to care, in a particular way, in a concrete way. As we, as individuals or groups go about doing these things, improving our lot and that of others, we may be overwhelmed by the sense that we are making little impact on the grand scheme of things. We must, however, never relent, instead, we must draw strength from the words of that great leader, who spoke from this university, in this very same hall – in 1966, Robert F Kennedy, when he said:"It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man (or woman) stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others or strikes out against injustices, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." Judge Damon J Keith, writing in the Civil Liberties Law Review, Harvard University; an article; What happens to a dream deferred? used words, I think it is apt to quote here: "This nation stands before the world as perhaps the last expression of the possibility that a people can devise a social order where justice is the supreme ruler, and law but its instrument; where freedom is the dominant creed, and order its principle and where equality is common practice and fraternity the common human condition… Our generation may be the last to have a chance; a chance to balance the scales of Justice, open the doors of opportunity and break the chains of bondage."In this monumental and historic task of correcting the injustices of the past, which takes crisis proportions, let us also see a golden opportunity for us all to participate in building and rebuilding benevolent communities, where goodwill abounds. James Joseph, the former US Ambassador to this country, says in this regard: "Building and rebuilding benevolent communities will require a set of values that emphasize connectedness, the interdependence of strangers, commitment, the staying power to grapple with a problem until its solution is in hand, consciousness that moves from a passive altruism to active engagement, with capacity to feed the hungry, heal the sick and house the homeless, while at the same time providing outlets for artistic capability and eliminating the conditions that cause some communities to be without jobs or justice." When we have embraced the values of our Constitution, among others, life, human dignity and citizenship, we shall not hesitate to join John Winthrop, in sharing his vision of a city set on the hill (accepting that you are part of a city at the foot of the mountain) he said:"We must delight in each other, make others` conditions our own, rejoice together, mourn, labour and suffer together, always having before our eyes, our community as members of the same body." I am fascinated by the advertisement of the Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town. It has been appearing fairly frequently recently in the printed media. The UCT’s Graduate School of Business and Duke University (USA) have established an emerging leaders programme. It also quotes James Joseph, Former US Ambassador to SA as saying: " people who strive to live morally are now insisting that their institutions and leaders do the same." It continues to say:" Today, it is not enough for leaders to rely on power alone to achieve their ends. Principle-centred leadership becomes critical to motivating others to shape and pursue a common goal. While ethics was once used to humanise power, in the new millennium ethics is power." History has a special place for men and women, who, through their efforts, against all odds, strive to make life liveable. History respects even more those who develop themselves, so that they can be more effective instruments of change for the betterment of the conditions of their fellow human beings. History reserves a special place for men and women like you, who equip themselves for the task of building and rebuilding our country so that it is able to take its rightful place as a caring nation in the family of nations. Let us use our knowledge, skills and talents to strive for what still remains the best dream we have and the truest South African vision, a better tomorrow for all its citizens. Let me also take this opportunity to congratulate each and everyone of you present and those who could not be with us. This extends to your families, parents, uncles, aunts, brothers and sisters, who supported you up to this point. It would be remiss of me not to publicly acknowledge the support of my late father and mother who toiled to see me reach matric. The Geffen family in Kenilworth who did not know me at all but entrusted their funds to the SA Institute of Race Relations, to support a black student to study in the Social Sciences. A stranger from the Netherlands who met me at Crossroads and convinced his Committee in the Algemene Diakonale Bureau van die Gereformeerde Kerken to support me to study the LLB at Unisa and later here at UCT. All the people who had something to do with my rise from anonymity to where I am, principally Mr Richard Rosenthal, a brilliant lawyer ever produced by the City of Cape Town, now serving in this University’s Council, Prof. Nomvula Mtetwa my Social Work mentor and many others I will not be able to mention here. The Lawyers at the Legal Resources Centre here, Advocate L Bozalek, S.C., W Kerfoot, Judge S.Meer, G.Budlender, Mathew Walton. I can go on and on. Most of all my dear wife Dolly, who has been a pillar of strength, she also graduated from being a wife to being my mother. My dear children, Bulumko, Lindiwe and Nomvuyo and the rest of my family.Finally, let us keep the values of our constitution alive. They form the bedrock of our liberty. Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women; when it dies there, no constitution, no law, nothing can save it, nothing can even do much to help it. Gaudeamus igitur! Therefore, let us rejoice! Thanks you. A silver in the Comrades equals a jackpot By T K Sonjica Finishing the Comrades Marathon by any means is no child's play, but finishing it at the first attempt with a silver medal is no different from winning the jackpot. So says Andries Mudau (AM) one of three DLA runners who took part in the event this year. Immediately after the race T K Sonjica (TK) from Journal spoke with AM together with his fellow runners Nelson Dlowu (ND) and Meshack Mthombeni (MM) who both got bronze medals. Their times were as follows: Andries Mudau 7:24:53 Silver Nelson Dlowu 9:21:32 Bronze Meshack Mthombeni 10:28:00 Bronze TK : From what I hear, Andries and Meshack, this was your first attempt at the Comrades. Can you share the experience with us? AM : To be honest with you, I was afraid of the race. I trained for it but training for something you do not know is very difficult. I went there not knowing whether I would be able to finish the race or not, but I was praying to do so. I am glad that at the end I won a "jackpot" in the form of a silver medal. When I was running I kept on thinking about my elder brother and the people in the Department who have been a pillar of support to us. My brother is my main inspiration in running. All have faith in me and I did not want to disappoint them. When I was about 30 kilometres from the finishing line I suffered muscle pulls - this is associated with dehydration. I struggled on and at the next water point reached for ice and rubbed it on my legs. Things changed for the better and I kept pounding the road. Before the half-way mark I was running 5-6 minutes per kilometre. I was reserving power for the latter part of the race. Thereafter I increased my pace to 3.40 minutes per kilometre up to the finishing line. MM : I will also be honest with you. I was very scared of the race even though it had always been my dream to run it. After Loskop people encouraged me to go for it. I trained very hard but I now think I began the training very late. On the day of the race I had some hamstring problems. This happened from the 41 kilometre mark until the end of the race. I think the race needs a lot of preparation before one ventures into it. I concede that I did not prepare for it properly. Now because I know the course, I think I will fare better next year. I will be going for a better time and most probably a silver. TK : Nelson how was your second go at the Comrades? ND : I realised that there was an improvement this time if we look at the time I did last year. You may recall that last year I did 09 : 59. I also noticed that my body is good for the up run race, that is, this year's race from Durban to Pietermaritzburg. Last year I had pains in the downward run. There were times that I had to walk while others were running. I may as well say I was a little bit fitter this year. I must also be honest in that I started my training very late. I am sure if all of us had started earlier it would have been a better story this time. I used the 42,2 Volvo/Swedo Race as part of my preparation and there I did 03.18. Around here when preparing for the Comrades one can choose among the Volvo/Swedo, the Loskop or the Akasia . I was not well during the Loskop and I used both the Volvo/Swedo and the Akasia races to qualify. TK : What lessons can you say you gathered this time around? MM : To me the race depicts the way life is. This is because in life you will find obstacles and barriers along the way. One has to strive on and overcome all barriers. In life there are ups and downs throughout until one achieves what one wants for oneself and not for others. People can motivate you a million times, but if the spark in you is not there you will go nowhere. As a runner you are the one that has to prepare and perform while inspired by the support you are getting. AM : I take off my hat to the people who appropriately named the race a Comrades Marathon. The brotherhood that prevails during the race is stupendous. It may be among the runners, the officials, helpers or the spectators. ND : A problem that we are having in the race is that our vests do not identify who we are or our Department. When people have cheer us, they can't use our names or that of the DLA. As an example, there is a DLA official who has been privately involved in the race now for eight years. He was there unaware that there were people like us in the race. I think this has to change. I may as well say this race really tests one's endurance. In entering the race, one has to be strong. One can also not take chances with it. In finishing the race, on your own, you will be acknowledged by the whole world. The certificate that one gets is a symbol that will be with you forever. MM : I like to be honest. There was a time when I was tempted to quit. One of my friends did exactly that. But I reminded myself that it had always been my dream to run the race and quitting at any stage would not be fulfilling my dream. I also thought about all the people who supported me. I felt quitting would be shattering their confidence in me and I decided to carry on with the race. TK : Any message to your supporters and prospective runners? ND : We would like to invite all those who aspire to run to join hands with us as a departmental team. We also make a specific call to ladies to join us, because running will keep them in shape and fit. Above all as DLA workers, we are a single family. We give our respects to those who have been supporting us all the way. In that list we include Mr Karel Coetzee, Ms Doneza Oosthuizen, the late Susan Klopper, Mr Thizza Tsoenyane, and the staff at Rennies. We also extend our gratitude to Mr Anton van Staden for making sure that we get transport to whatever race we participate in. We also owe our ability to endure the race to all the people who came out to encourage us to hang on in the race until the finishing line. We promise that next year we will do better. On hearing about this achievement, the Chairperson of the DLA Runner's Club Zukile Dube said, "All of them did well. But Andries`s performance was outstanding , particularly because he was running the race for the first time. I'm sure they will come closer next year". In concurring Karel Cotzee had this to say about the three: "This was an excellent performance by all of them, especially Andries and Meshack who did it for the first time. In preparation for the Comrades these guys ran hundreds of kilometres. They were always more than willing to participate in the relays for the department which are short distances. This shows their love for running. I think I must take up the challenge and join them next year. I once ran the Comrades way back in 1994.The sheer enjoyment they talk with will motivate even the laziest among us to take up the challenge of a 'mere 87 km' in less than 11hrs". Anton van Staden had the following to say, "The Department of Land Affairs started with the initiative in 2001 to pay for members of the Department of Land Affairs Runners Club to take part in the Comrades race. As part of that, the Department also makes transport available for the runners to enable them to take part in races". "I am of the firm believe that a healthy body will lead to a healthy employee who executes his/her daily functions on the same level and enthusiasm as that of our Runners that took part in the Comrades. It is trusted that the diligence and perseverance that they showed in the marathon will also filter through into their daily work activities", he said. New managers By Rinaldi Bester and T K Sonjica Minister Thoko Didiza has approved the appointment of the following three managers:
Mr Makoe is a seasoned journalist whose craft has seen him writing for a number of reputable national and international publications. He did his training at, among others, the Argus School of Journalism, the Reuter Foundation, the Poynter Institute of Media Studies (Florida,USA) and the Institute for Advancement in Journalism. His experience does not end at the art of writing, but extends to the broader field of communications. This includes radio broadcasting and political analysis. In the past he has been:
Before this appointment Ms Archary was acting in her new post since September 2001. In the Mpumalanga PLRO she was the Deputy Director for Implementation and Support Policy and started in the Department way back in 1996 as a Senior Administrative Officer. She has also worked for the Department of Education and Culture in human resource. There are a number of companies she worked for before joining the Public Service. She studied at the Universities of Natal and South Africa. In sharpening her skills, she did some short courses at Pretoria and Rand Afrikaanse Universities, and Damelin College. Ms Archary's hobbies include netball, volleyball, debates and speech contests. On the other hand, Mr Sebape is a linguist, eloquent in five of South Africa's official languages and he has been the Deputy-Director for Redistribution in the North-West Provincial Land Reform Office since 1997. As from 2000, he was seconded to the National Office as a Strategic Co-ordinator for Project Mutingati. Mr Sebape did his tertiary education at the Universities of Zululand and Natal. His vast experience is spread over being a clerk, a teacher and a manager for land use planning. Restitution orientation gets country-wide attendance By Nomsa Makena The restitution orientation training held here recently under the auspices of the Chief Land Claims Commission attracted departmental officials country wide. Against expectations not only restitution officials attended, but other components had people attending.The components were represented as follows:
The CLCC, Gender and Internal auditing staff members made a special request to attend the training as it will help them understand what restitution entails so as to execute their functions with more ease. The training was designed for the new staff only, however, the old staff were also welcomed. The purpose of the training was:
Presentations were done as follows: * Stan Nkosi: Restitution background and the CLCC organogram and its functions * Sydney Hlongwane: Validation Research investigation Archival research * Andre Andreas: Gazetting * Joe Lekala: Restitution options * Johan Havenga: Claimant verification * Kgomotso Mothate: Formats for submissions * Thabo Seneke: Legal Entities Sale entities * Ria De Vos: Mandate to negotiate * Nomsa Makena: First meeting of stakeholders Section 42d A further need for the continuation of this training for new staff members who joined the Commission after the training was identified. A decision was taken by the Directorate that the training be offered twice per annum in Pretoria. This is how participants evaluated the training:
Orientation reflective of the department By T K Sonjica The orientation course conducted here in Pretoria recently under the auspices of the Organisational Development Directorate had a wide attendance, almost reflective of all the components of the Department. The new staff in the Department mainly came from the following offices:
The course covered the following areas:
Presenters came from the specific directorates that deal with the areas concerned. When the writer was present at the course during the restitution presentation, the group was participative asking pertinent question on restitution. As an example, one of them wanted to know if there are any white people qualifying for restitution in South Africa, an example of such a case that was cited to one of the participants during tea time by the writer, was that of the land of the former President of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC), Clarence Makwetu in the former Transkei. The success or failure of that claim is another story. At one stage the question of expropriation seemed to spark a lot of interest among members of the group. Not an argument, but what could described as inquiring questions seeking explanations were following each other from one side of the group to the other. A classical example of an expropriation again explained over lunch by the writer to a participant, is when during the seventies, the government of that time expropriated land belonging to the then Federal Theological Seminary in Alice in the Eastern Cape for the University of Fort Hare. In his overall evaluation of the course Steven Matutoane from the Johannesburg Deeds Office described it as "… an interesting and enjoyable course. I have learned a lot of things that I didn’t know before. I would like to thank the Department for providing me with this opportunity. I hope the Department will keep on doing the good job". Siphiwe Ambani from the Vryburg District Land Reform Office said, "The objectives of the course have been achieved beyond expectations as I got to know information which earlier seemed to be a privilege to managers only, especially PPMS and Labour Relations". Other comments from participants about the course were:
Supervisors more of leaders than bosses By T K Sonjica
"My supervisors here, were more of leaders than bosses", says Clementine Ramatseba who has recently left the DLA to join a parastatal in Polokwane in the Limpopo province. Clementine who has qualifications in financial management, in her short spell with the Department, worked at DLA Finance. She worked for the Department from January to August 2002. Clementine told Journal that when she joined the Department she was still raw with all the theories schools offer. She said she is glad to have had the opportunity to be introduced to the practical side of things by the DLA. "The people I worked with were great. We had our ups and downs, but we always sailed through the low points without any bruises", she said beaming a smile. "The manner in which these guys encouraged me in my work, developed in me a passion for my work. Their patience was also wonderful", she added with a sparkle in her eyes. Clementine continued and added that she would be missing the people of the DLA. She said in her stay at the DLA the Christian Fellowship was her pillar of strength and it always boosted her morale, whenever she was on a low. Volunteering works wonders By T K Sonjica "Volunteering can work wonders sometimes"; says Tommy Molea who has worked as a volunteer at Land and Tenure Reform. Tommy started working as an administrative officer at the South African Police Service's Head Office in August 2002. He is a clerk at the Terminations Section, which deals with retirements, dismissals, resignations and severance packages. Tommy told Journal that the idea of doing voluntary work struck him when President Thabo Mbeki called the youth to offer their services. Because he has links with "amaGents" his first choice was the Department of Land Affairs and without any hindrance was permitted to render his services. "I gained a lot of experience as far as administrative work is concerned in the DLA. Before coming, I was skilled in only Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel computer programmes, but by the time I left I had added GroupWise, PowerPoint and the Internet", he said. "The attitude of the people I worked with at the DLA was very great. Everyone was always willing to help me", he continued. Tommy said the experience he gained at the DLA rendered the desired results when he was called in for an interview at the South African Police Service. He said his suspicion for his success was enhanced when he was asked in the interview on identical work principles he was practising in the Department of Land Affairs. "In the past when I had been to interviews I had always been found wanting. It goes without saying that the experience I gathered at the DLA took me through this one", he said. "To those who are still struggling to get employment, patience pays in the end. In being patient I recommend that one does voluntary work to gain more experience", he concluded. Tommy has a legal background and did his paralegal studies at the Pretoria Technikon. His hobbies include soccer, chess, reading and watching television. Poetry livens up sombre event By T K Sonjica Poetry at a Candlelight Memorial Service at National Office worked wonders when its reading turned a somewhat sombre event, into a lively assemblage of DLA workers. The Candlelight Memorial Day is a day to honour those who have passed away as a result of HIV/AIDS. The fully packed conference venue at the North Block was addressed by the Department's Director-General, Dr Gilingwe Mayende who encouraged DLA workers to demonstrate their commitment to the Departmental HIV/AIDS programme by:
Dr Mayende reminded everybody about the commitments that were made by the Department in 2002 to the Partnership against AIDS. They are:
Dr Mayende said as a Department, whatever small contribution we make in the fight against HIV/AIDS makes a difference. He said people's participation must not only be done on public platforms, like the day's event, but must also be done in face to face encounters. He also urged people to talk about the disease and overcome shyness and tradition. He also recommended counselling saying it has a therapeutic fulfillment. Dr Mayende ended his address by making the follow prayer: Recognising your greatness We ask for your special blessing on all those infected and affected by AIDS Show your love to those in need as they remember loved ones who have died. Provide strength to those caring for the sick and needy. Help us build a healthy, loving and supportive nation. Ms Colly Carey, the Department's HIV/AIDS co-ordinator said 2002 is the 18th year that people all around the world will get together to honour the memory of those who died from AIDS related illnesses, to show support for those living with HIV/AIDS and to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. She said the international theme for the 2002 Candlelight Day is "Share your Vision for a Brighter tomorrow". "The goal is to have individuals around South Africa create their own vision for a brighter future in a world with HIV/AIDS. People around South Africa will be encouraged to light a candle to dedicate themselves to fight against AIDS and to create their personal vision", Ms Carey said. "Staff at Land Affairs are encouraged to participate in the AIDS programme so that you can share the information you receive with families and friends. The purpose of education is to inform people how to safeguard themselves from becoming infected and to offer support to those who are already infected", she added. Mr Tsepo Koebe, who has been seconded by the Department of Health to the DLA and is HIV positive, read a letter he had written a week after and about the death of Nkosi Johnson. He said talking about Nkosi Johnson is giving a face to statistics, even though they tend to exaggerate things sometimes. He revealed that he has now been positive for over six years. He said when he was in denial he went to retest for about 11 times. He said he got married in 2001. He said the disease is a challenge more than anything else. At the beginning of the event prayers were conducted in different South African official languages. Something uncommon in the DLA, on this day, prayers were also not only in the Christian faith. Towards the end of the day's programme poetry became the order of the day. At this juncture ululating and hand clapping was just spontaneous and it is no hyperbole to say at that moment their determination to carry the fight against HIV/AIDS was reflected on their faces.
Poetry and messages for the DLA HIV/AIDS Candle Light Memorial Service
Universal prayer By Sri Swami Sivananda O, Adorable Lord of Mercy and Love! Salutations and prostrations unto Thee. Thou art Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient. Thou art Existence-Consciousness-Bliss Absolute. Thou art the Indweller of all being. Grant us an understanding heart, Equal vision, balanced mind, Faith, devotion and wisdom. Grant us inner spiritual strength to deal with the loss of our loved ones. To resist temptation and to control the mind. Free us from egoism, lust, greed, hatred, anger and jealousy. Fill our heart with divine virtues. For it is these divine virtues we need to see us thru this HIV/AIDS pandemic which is ravaging our country. Dear Lord bless this gathering of DLA employees who have come together to share a vision for a brighter tomorrow. Dear Lord, we come together today to ask you to Bless this gathering of DLA employees, some sick, others have lost loved ones through the HIV/AIDS pandemic which is ravaging our country. We pray for the orphaned children left behind. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti. (Adapted by Mano Reddy) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The pain caused by HIV/AIDSBy Pinkie Phala The pain of knowing that your loved one is HIV positive is unbearable. The pain of knowing that your loved one is dying of AIDS is really unbearable. The pain of watching your loved one succumbing to AIDS is completely unbearable. The pain of your loved one’s death caused by HIV/AIDS is killing. Let us avoid this particular pain by spreading the HIV/AIDS message. ---------------------------------------- AIDSBy Reighaanah Mohamed You have darkened our lives and our souls. You have destroyed our homes and denied our goals. You have entered with such dismay, Ruining lives and changing everyday. Why do you hide from us all? Why do people not answer this call? You easily seem to weave yourself in, Where do you come from and where have you been? The children cry and some even die. Have you no remorse or is this a just cause? Seem to come and go, as time becomes slow, You seem to take away each beautiful day. Some are afraid of you and some just don’t care. I for one do not want to meet you, as you will rip me bare. Tell me what is your work here? Is it for us all to fear? I fear not you, as God is on my side. By His word I live and so I will die. I will however watch out for you, To avoid my days becoming dark and blue. ----------------------------------- Desperate measures By Hans R Mangole Why it has to be me, A woman asks, Why enjoy the sparks? So, the sheath is discarded Giving the sword the power To cut flesh and soul Wrong forum for workshop A man insists And even threatens – ‘Flesh or be flushed out!’ Docility and fearfulness Wilt and prostrate her Before her Alpha and Omega The biting winter came And sanity prevailed ‘I should have stood up’ ‘I should have wisened up’ So as to live longer And love stronger. ------------------------------------------------------ This violent cheat Lesley D Mkhabela Storms of life a great cheat life abundance a thing of the past The very canal of birth A gigantic source of death Cutting across, race, colour and creed Swallowing young and aged with greed Statistics sky rocketing like fuel price Are we pagans, to pay this price Day in day out The nation succumbs this drought The country's churchyards are brimming The world is dying Who's gonna save us From this sinking ship Whose gonna wipe our tears Lest we perish silently like sheep Who would have guessed Shaheed Muhammad Ndongeni Who would have guessedthat you would disappear so quickly from our de-luded eyes? Only we can remember the laughter that filled our days In the granary of our memory we keep you there as a treasure in memory we visit the skies and seas which were once splendid pageants for our wondering eyes No mortal voice can sing enough dirge to you how sad the moonlight sleeps upon your graves! All the dreams that stirred us once have disappeared like a mirage and under somber skies with clouds that bring no respite we lament anew your parting cut off from any kinship with the world May you dwell in the Angel's domain as earthly guests ------------------------------------------------------------- Greetings from beyond Johnny Masego Pietersen I send these greetings. A message from beyond Beyond your knowledge Your worldly understanding. Pain afflicted me, Doctors and scientists called it HIV/AIDS. My body gave in gradually, Not necessarily beyond your imagination. Those who can explain say: "I was the shadow of my former self" My spirit was like a beating African Drum: Thundering throughout the pain, the analyses, the debates, and the deaths. Next to a grave to be; Lovely people said goodbye poignantly. Enough about me though There is a reason for your pain My Brother and Sister. Your pain will dissipate and stop To those who don’t have this pain: Take care forever. I sorely miss you from beyond, in my peace. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Life From Heleen Ihlenfeldt Do not let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past nor for the future. Do not give up when you still have something to give. By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life. Life is a journey to be savored each step of the way. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- From Rajesh Jock Why are so many of our countrymen vulnerable to Aids? Is it poor socio-economic conditions, widespread poverty and lack of access to basic health-care? Is it ill-health, sexual abuse and substance abuse? Is it risky sexual behaviour? Or could it perhaps be something as basic as the lack of access to quality information? The DLA HIV/AIDS Committee has done a lot to share information and champion a safe and supportive work environment. However, to sit back and applaud their work just isn’t enough. As public officials, it is necessary that each one of us shares information on the challenges, needs, concerns and opportunities that exist to make an intervention in any area associated with this epidemic. Raising awareness and the importance of practising safer sex remains one of the key priorities of our national HIV/AIDS campaign, but it is only possible with your visible support and participation. On this candlelight memorial day, we remember our dearly departed and vow to strengthen our initiatives to improve the access of information to our staff by developing information specific to the different disciplines in the DLA, to co-operate and expand the HIV/AIDS programme with other transformation structures and to broaden the involvement of senior managers in the advocacy campaign. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From Manye Moroka Aids related deaths do not only affect those closer to the deceased but equally send shivers to those who continue to regard themselves as lucky in that the future does not necessarily guarantee exclusionary clauses. This in itself tells us a lot has to be done to continue educating people around you, especially about the dangers of being ignorant and/or pretending that it is someone else’s problem. Our challenge remains that of ensuring we share a common goal of reducing the spread of Aids through the exercise of extreme preventive measures and educating, educating and educating. Women's access and control over land in South Africa By Sarah Manthatha The writer presented this paper at a regional workshop in May for the Women and Land Lobby Group in Harare, Zimbabwe. This is an edited version of what she said there. I feel honoured to present a paper after the presentation in 2000 of policies that are in place and that are aimed at enabling women to access and control land. It is important that as a country (South Africa) and region (Southern African Development Community- SADC) we agree on what we mean by access to land and control over land. I feel strong about this because we sometimes use these words loosely and lose out on their critical meaning and end up pointing fingers where it is not necessary. I am not going to attempt to define those words, but I would like them to be part of the debate as we are going to plan issues of Women and Land in the region. Just to share with you some of the sentiments expressed by the agricultural extension officers in the Limpopo Province of South Africa who said "All of us in this province do not have access to Land because we do not have title deeds. Women and men equally do not have access to land therefore they will have limited or no control over it". During the South African National Tenure Conference in Durban, South Africa in December 2001, there were some unpopular utterances that came up, like: "How can women want to have access, own and control land when chiefs and or traditional leaders do not have land". Women and land issues in South Africa: an overview Women in South Africa form the largest part of the population in the country and according to the 1996 census women form 51.9% percent of the population. Most of that 51.9% lives and is confined to the rural areas and its majority derives its livelihood from land. They toil the land that was allocated to their families. Their access to land can thus be said to be on account of using land for subsistence farming. The current South African policies are clear and articulate on ensuring that women access land but the challenge is the practice on the ground. Do the women themselves see land as part of their life? I can say yes because recently, during a conference in South Africa's Limpopo Province, they clearly articulated their need for land. They would like to feed their families, communities and the nation. They however feel dis-empowered, as there are still traditional and customary practices and bureaucratic systems that hinder their access and control over land. They articulated that there is a need to involve other influential women in the community, like traditional leader's wives, who will assist them in overcoming those barriers. A recent Monitoring and Evaluation report in my Department in South Africa on the Land Reform process indicates that there has been a growth in land reform projects from 1994 – 2001. Categories used to make such conclusion were the number of projects approved, the number of households and the number of hectares. The growth referred to above, does not necessarily mean women’s access and control over land. Women form part of applicants at the household level, knowing the power relations that prevail at household level, women’s access to land is therefore still problematic. Women and the redistribution programme It should be remembered that the South African government has put in place three programmes that would ensure women’s access to land. I end up with access because I am certain that women as heads of households as well as co-applicants can access land. Control is still an issue that has to be researched, as this is a very contentious area. The redistribution programme is designed to access land on a willing buyer willing seller approach through making a grant available for any citizen in the country who wishes to acquire land. Because of the high prices of land citizens who need land acquire their grants collectively and purchase land. Women form part of these groups either as heads of households or as co-applicants together with their husbands. At the National Tenure Conference in Durban last year, South Africa's Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs, Thoko Didiza, said in this programme from 1996 to 1998, projects approval picked up. By the end of 1998 about 600 000 hectares of land affecting 35 000 households were delivered. This is an average of approximately 7 hectares per household. Furthermore in the 2000 Quality of Life Study Report it was concluded that the programme has improved in terms of both performance and impact. Another study done in 2001 indicated that approximately 87 000 households have benefited from the redistribution programme since 1994 both by accessing land for settlement and or for agricultural production. This translates today to 450 000 people based on the average family size of 5 persons per household getting land which they can call their own. It will be noted from the information above, that we are talking of the people of South Africa having accessed land and growth that has been realized in that respect. The statistics given is not desegregated, as such it becomes a challenge for both the land reform implementers and the monitoring and evaluation systems to capture the necessary data that would inform us categorically, all the relevant information by gender, social and economic standing, and so forth, so that we can be in a position to say with certainty that so many women in South Africa have accessed land. It will be noted that land, especially in rural areas is said to be serving as a security against poverty as well as improvement of women’s social standing in their community so it is important to give a reflection of the real statistics in the country that is informed by desegregated information. Women and the restitution programme With this programme I will again refer to the Minister Didiza's speech on progress made. She mentioned that " at the cut-off date in December 1998, 67 314 claims by groups and individuals had been lodged, of which about 80% are urban and 20% rural. Of those claims as at the end of October 2001, out of the 67 314 land claims, 12 862 have been settled, translating into 39 209 households and 365 567 hectares of land being transferred to people.Clearly it is about people. Data is not desegregated demographically according to gender and other categories. It should be noted that one other variable that goes with the land claims is the issue of a family tree, which in practice has been found to be excluding daughters of the original owner(s) of the land. Land is also said to be returned to the rightful owner, that is, the one who had title to the land, and we all know that men would be the title holders, as such, land will be returned to male members of a family. I also learned recently that should the male claimant, who claims his father’s land, die while the claim is being processed the wife will not claim on his behalf, but instead any other male relative in the family can claim. The children of the deceased also cannot claim on behalf of their father. The reasons for that being that the children are not the direct descendants of the original owner of the land. Women and tenure reform Tenure reform in the country has been quite slow as a programme, although for those who acquired land through other programmes like redistribution and restitution, their tenure security is ensured through other land ownership mechanisms. One can thus share with this workshop what the National Tenure Conference came up with, as resolutions to ensure that tenure processes are responsive to women’s access and control over land. It was recommended that:
From the debates during the National Land Tenure Conference, it will be noted that women’s access to land in South Africa is very central and crucial at policymaking level. The challenge, like with all the other programmes, is implementation of policy provisions by land reform managers and implementers. Barriers to women’s access and control over land South Africa has the political will and direction. Much as we have that, we have been alerted by research of some barriers that still hinder women’s access to land. These are social and traditional institutions and implementation strategies and practices of policies. These barriers appear in every document in South Africa that talks about women and the land. The research therefore confirmed what prevails in the country. The barriers were mostly found at implementation level. General challenges facing land reform and women in South Africa
Conclusion In conclusion ladies and gentlemen, considering the fact that South Africa is in its eighth year of democracy one can say that it is doing well in addressing issues of women and land. However there are still some challenges facing the country in this respect. Our former President, Nelson Mandela came out clearly that " Freedom cannot be achieved unless women have been emancipated from all forms of oppression. To this end we have acknowledged that the objectives of our Reconstruction and Development Programme will not be realised unless we see, in visible and practical terms, that the condition of women in our country has radically changed for the better, and that women at every level have been empowered to intervene in all aspects of life as equals with all other members of society. My government is committed to reallocation of resources to ensure the achievement of these objectives". Thank you. Equity means equality By Oupa Segotla The constitution as the supreme law of the country renders everyone equal and should be known by everybody. It is a book of guidance for all South Africans. This time we will concentrate on equality at our workplaces. Let us begin by asking ourselves the following questions:
The Employment Equity Act aims to correct imbalances in the nation's workforce by compelling employers to remove barriers for the advancement of designated groups (disadvantaged groups) hence, Section 9 of the Constitution states that, the state may not unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on grounds of race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social origin, colour, culture, language and birth. There are three ways in which Employment Equity is designated to protect individuals, namely:
The protection against unfair labour practice, in most cases is found in employment policies, which are adopted through practice. If an existing policy is contrary to the constitution, that policy has to be totally condemned. Sometimes a policy may be in line with the constitution, but when it is implemented, the employer practises something contrary to the policy. Minimum conditions of employment are covered in the Basic Conditions of Employment Act. The joint venture of the Employment Equity Act and the constitution used affirmative action as a wagon to achieve the objectives of equality in the workforce. The joint venture of the Employment Equity Act and the constitution used affirmative action as a wagon to achieve the objectives of equality in the workforce. Operationalising affirmative action's "positive measures" is established with its own characters that state that the:
It also entails consulting with employees, conducting an analysis of employment policy practices, procedures and the working environment to identify employment barriers to drawing up an employment equity plan. It ensures that suitably qualified people from designated groups have equal opportunities and are represented in all occupational categories. Another key issue of affirmative action is empowerment, which cannot be separated from skills development, aimed at curbing problems which might erupt during the process. However, most people are not participating because of the lack of knowledge. It is the responsibility of those who have knowledge to spread it as widely as possible to others. If they fail to do so, the objectives of the Equity Act will not be achieved, and it might lead to discrimination. It is difficult to envisage the implementation of affirmative action when there are a lot of imbalances. It is difficult to explain that to the people who are illiterate. But, they are in the workforce and they need to understand affirmative action just as much as their literate colleagues. That is the reason why the concept of affirmative action is easily exploited, especially by managers in both public and the private sectors. In many instances employers only talk about and don't practise it. May be one should try to elaborate a little bit on the exploitation of this concept. Before the post is advertised we look at the qualities and qualifications and at some stage consideration is given to experience. Let us say, the employer wants an employee specifically focusing on affirmative action. The person to be appointed must be a lady manager. This is because males are dominating. This has to happen even though there are male officials who are competent to be promoted to the post. The post is advertised. The employer gets applications both externally and internally, from males and females. Immediately the employer appoints somebody new to the post. Because of their competency, those who were based internally are then discriminated against. One who has not been elevated to the post will be easily demoralised, lose interest or even lose trust in his / her manager because he / she is supposed to be the one who knows the strengths and weaknesses of the person he/she is supervising. Now the worse part of this is that a new person is appointed as a manager. Surprisingly, the new incumbent is taught by her competitor his/her work. How is this poor person going to manage someone who knows more than him/her? He / she becomes frustrated. Another problem is that empowering women is not a license to discriminating against men, there is a need to empower ladies and there are males who can assist in doing that. It is useless to employ a female and put her in a top position without the proper skills. You better start with the male who is going to contribute in reaching the objectives of the employer who will also be equipping the female employee with the relevant skills so that when she is ready she can be a competent manager. Again the employer in many cases believes that affirmative action is external. No that is wrong. It causes employees to move from one employer to another knowing that employers prefer outsiders to their internal staff. The proper way of doing it is to start with the existing staff. For example, make sure that information reaches every employee educated, or not, to the highest manager. Have a look at the promotion system in place whether it is effective or not. How many middle managers do you have? How many are ready for promotion? How many are not? Which key areas need to be attended to, so that the managers can also be ready for promotions? How many assistant managers are ready to be deputies? This is the same to all other employees, including people who are acting in certain positions. If, for instance, a person has acted in a certain position for a year or more, and thereafter that position is given to another person, that is discrimination. This situation will create a very bad atmosphere between that employee and the employer, and the poor official will end up looking for work elsewhere. Now the employer is sitting with a new employee who still needs an assistant to do the job with another vacant post created by this discrimination. Lastly, some of the things are happening in our Department. We know about them and keep quiet. There are officials in top positions doing this deliberately, some are ignorant, while others try their level best not to discriminate at all. When one looks at the number of employees leaving the department, the pattern is shocking, and shows that there is a problem somewhere. Managers in this department cannot control or perform everything perfectly, they need assistance, advice and support. To the readers of this column. I would like to thank you for your support and suggestions. Your comments, suggestions and criticism uplift the standard of our workplace. You may state your name if you like, or remain anonymous. Reasonable accommodation By Kgafela Sebelebe Since people with disabilities do not form a homogenous group although their rights are similar, the term reasonable accommodation may mean different things to people with disabilities. My argument on reasonable accommodation is based on the premise that a well- trained physically disabled person, blind person, given opportunities and the necessary reasonable accommodation, can perform the job for which he or she is qualified. Note that I have not prescribed jobs that can be performed . This is according to a modern trend in which we allow for individual choices, discovery and innovation. According to the Employment Equity Act of 1998 reasonable accommodation means any modification or adjustment to a job or to the working environment that will enable a person from a designated group to have access to or to participate or advance in employment. Taking reasonable accommodation from the premise of the Labour Relations Act and Employment Equity Act whereby job seekers are also defined as employees , reasonable accommodation may be classified into five stages, namely, recruitment, selection, induction, employment, and termination. Recruitment Because of the following reasons many blind people struggle to enter the labour market:
Selection Although blind people would like to disclose their disability status, this disclosure may create a barrier or disadvantage to them, resulting in them not being short-listed for the interview. Please look at one's abilities to do a job rather than focusing on a disability. In the interview , people tend to deviate from the main purpose and focus more on a blind person's disability. Please focus on a person's abilities to perform a job.
Induction Blind people need orientation in the workplace, for example, from one office to another , kitchen or tearoom or the toilets. Orientation from home to the workplace. Orientation in job specifications, descriptions, duty-sheets or conditions of service. The aforementioned should either be in accessible format such as Braille, Tape or Electronic or read to a blind person. Employment Depending on the type of job and one's visual impairment, blind people will need some of the following equipment : a tape recorder and tapes , synthetic voice computers, braille computer system, television reader. Although some of this equipment is very expensive, they prove to be a good investment. First they are bought once in life, and second some may prove useful to the non-disabled as well. DLA at Africa's new Eden By Percy Makharamedzha Imagine yourself in this scenario: It is a Wednesday morning 26 June 2002. Here you are traveling to Gauteng on the N1 road from Musina, a town famous for its copper deposits nestling on the border of South Africa and Zimbabwe.You pass Makhado, formerly known as Louis Trichardt. You travel for another 110 kilometers and around 20H00 you reach Polokwane, formerly known as Pietersburg. Here you have reached the capital city of a province that is currently making waves. Just when you thought you are on the way out of the town, you hear sweet sounds of a familiar voice blistering in the vicinity of the park that you are passing by. You are not wrong, it’s Selaelo Selota’s voice and wow! he is live. You decide to make a turn and have a closer look. There stands Jack Botes Hall in front of you. Like a hungry carnivore that has just smelled fresh blood of it’s prey, you out-of-no-other-choice park your car and walk up the concrete path that leads to the security guard in front of a giant door. "May I see you accreditation," he asks politely, as does most of Limpopeans. "I am just passing by. I am on the way to Gauteng," you reply. The security guard refuses entry and stand there for a while as Selota finishes, then comes award winning Judith Sephuma’s spell-bounding voice. Jeff Maluleke, Amon Mvula, and other voices you can’t recognise. When you suddenly look at your watch, its 21H30 and its freezing. You finally hit the road. As you did not manage to come to the celebration of the launch of the new name of the ‘Home of Peace’, you missed out and imagining that you were there won’t help you much. The fact is that Limpopo was announced with a spectacular show of opulence and glamour that Thursday night. Whoever was supposed to be there was there, including yours truly Hilgard Mathews and Solly Phetla – the formidable Communications Directorate team that was assisting the writer to conduct a three-day exhibition together with other government departments and stakeholders, marking the celebration. Among those in attendance was Premier Advocate Ngoako Ramathlodi, various MECs including MEC of Finance and Tourism whose department ensured that the guests were pampered, representatives from the political and economic spheres clad in glitzy designer creations and traditional wear.As the most popular newspaper in the town put it in its story headlined ‘Africa’s Eden welcomed’, "Against the backdrop of Zebra paint cloth, porcupine quills, pink roses, guinea fowl feathers, rattan balls, a version of African drums in cardboard boxes and sunflowers, the large audience was treated to a production never experienced in Polokwane before". In his main speech, Premier Ramathlodi said: " Today 47 years ago, a blueprint for the democratic South Africa – the Freedom Charter – was adopted by the Congress of the People at Kliptown in Johannesburg. This document embodies the true aspirations of our people. One can go further to assert that the Charter is the real basis for the so-called South African miracle. Like a loadstar, it continues to guide our actions, like a teacher, it continues to counsel us, like a mother, it provides for the needs of the majority of our people". The Premier stressed that that was the reason why the provincial government chose that day to launch the new name – Limpopo. "We are doing this, in part to celebrate the victory of the struggle that sought and continues to seek a society based on the ideals of the Freedom Charter. In part, we are renewing our covenant with our ancestors, both the living and the dead, as well as the current generation and generations still to come," he added. Participating in the birth of Limpopo - Africa’s Eden to those who have been listening to the radio and watching television lately - was an exhilarating experience. For the tourist, the gigantic province internationally borders three South African Development Community countries namely Botswana on the west, Zimbabwe on the north and Mozambique on the east. Nationally, Limpopo borders North West, Gauteng and Mpumalanga. It is a huge province with a population of about 5 272 538 people occupying an area of approximately 123 910 square kilometres. With regard to the Department of Land Affairs’ exhibition, it indeed played a tremendous role. The majority of potential beneficiaries for land reform have access to marginal communal land. This is land within the minute degraded patches of land constituting part of the 13 % land that has been in the hands of Africans as and when the government of national unity took power in 1994. There is therefore a great need for land reform in Limpopo. TopLetters to the editor First letter Dear editor June 16, the Soweto Uprising Day is today called the Youth Day. Can we take a few minutes to reflect on this day and why it is regarded as a day to be remembered in South Africa? This year marks the 26 anniversary of this fateful day when the blood of our youth seeped deep into mother earth. But why? Well, the answer lies in our freedom today. Those that died on that day made it possible for us to be where we are today. However this is not enough. We are still engaged in the Economic Revolution. The White Paper on Affirmative Action in the Public Service states that: 1.11 Despite the removal of the statutory and other formal barriers to entry and advancement within the Public Service since 1994, and despite the creation of an increasingly equitable employment environment through improved human resource management practices, there are groups of people whose ability to thrive continues to be hampered by the legacy of past discrimination. For these groups additional steps that correct their disadvantaged status are required so that they too can enjoy the full benefits of employment. For example: Black people 1.12 Systematic educational discrimination against black people in the past and the blocking of opportunities for economic advancement have denied many the formal educational qualifications and necessary experience for entry into and advancement within certain types of occupations, especially technical occupations and managerial level posts. Within the Public Services this has resulted in the majority of black people doing low level work with low pay. This in turn results in there being a significant gap in wages between the different race groups and the creation of an unrepresentative body at the strategic decision making levels of the Public Service." This is a clarion call to ALL the youth to take advantage of education. This is the way to success. Heed it and you will be successful. Don’t stop at the Bachelor of Arts degree. Go forward and obtain even greater achievements. Do not be selfish. Give yourselves and you will receive. Remember the year of volunteerism. Yours truly Sylvia Schuller Second letter Dear Editor South Africa would be a better and a more productive place if everyone would just enjoy what they do, and do it as well as if they would never get another chance to do it. Life is too short to waste time doing things one hates. I know that we don't know what may happen in the next second. So it is better to pull up one's socks before it is too late. Live your dreams because what you see in them may be passing by because you must make it happen. Those who have children must motivate and love them because that will be their strongest encouragement in everything they do. Let them know that you believe in them and they are able to do what they like, with their lives and dreams. Do not let them give up on their dreams. My prayer is always that God must make everything I touch a success. I thank Him for my life, success and my future. To the people at large, I say you are important and I know that you can make a difference by the way you think and implement your ideas. Thank you. Clementine Ramatseba The standard issue software for PC users Purpose of this document The Department's personal computer use policy requires the ITC to define a set of standards for printers, personal computers and the software that runs on them. This document is that standard — for software. The standard exists to simplify procurement, maintenance, support and upgrade. Who is affected by this standard? This standard covers all personnel working at offices of Land Affairs, and the Commission for the Restitution of Land Rights, with the exception of:
The ITC may issue separate standards for these components. Standard software specification These software products will be installed as standard on all User PCs.
These items may be provided if motivated by the user's Director:
These in house systems will be provided if motivated by the User's Director:
These transversal systems will be provided if motivated by the User's Director.
These development tools will be provided to applications developers if motivated by their Director.
These categories of software are not allowed on computers issued to Departmental users. Exceptions must be authorised by the user’s director and the ITC. Dir: Information Services will not provide support for such software. Unlicensed software will never be allowed.
Version Control
DLA information available on PiT You might be forgiven to associate the word pit with a toilet, especially if you are from the rural areas! But, rest assured, PiT is something completely different from that small place of solace in the backyard. The Public Information Terminal (PiT) service represents a radical new step in bringing the benefits of Information Technology, free of charge, within everyone's reach. Launched in 1998 as a joint project between the Department of Communications and the South African Post Office. The introduction of PiT entails multimedia kiosk-style PiT terminals being located in post offices and other access sites around South Africa. A simple, effective, two way communication service which is designed to provide benefits to South African citizens and businesses. Significant social benefits are provided for the individual by making information and technology accessible and within everyone's reach. PiT Services The following services are available on the PiT:
The above three services are basically utilised by advertisers to promote their products or services on the PiT. The revenue gained is put to use by the Post Office to upgrade and maintain existing terminals and to fund future ones.
This service entails the provision of government forms with the option to either print a blank copy or to complete the form using the kiosk whereafter it will be printed. The printed form still needs to be delivered/handed to the relevant government department. Examples of existing forms include an application for a South African Passport, an application for an import certificate and an application to register as an importer.
This page is a direct on-line link to a central government website (gov.org.za) from where the public can obtain information regarding several government departments and officials including direct access to the DLA’s website! The challenge for the Department is to keep our sites up to date, recent and user-friendly to enable our clients to access land related information from any PiT in South Africa. One major challenge for the Department is that of language, at present our webs |