In honour of Madiba!!!

My rights end where your rights begin

The year 2013, marks the Centenary year of the 1913 Native Land Act, this act was the violation of many Native South African rights. Many South Africans were forcely removed in their own land and sent into what was known "Bantustans/Homelands" and they were forced to work for the white man (Bass). The Human Rights Day (21/03/2013) should not be about who did what but it must focus on what we can do collectively to rectify the erros of our history. Irrespective of the colour of your skin or your economic class but we all have a responsibility, which is to build this nation. South Africa belongs to anyone who lives in it, meaning no matter where you come from or whatever happened in your past, you belong here. It is within your right to be here. But the most important thing we need to learn with understanding is that, every right comes with a responsibility. You have a right express yourself in any legal way but that must not infringe on someone else's right. Now adays, we see protest that end in violent because people are forgetting that, as much as they have a right to protest but that must be within the laws governing this country. How many times you have heard or read stories about officers who thinks they are above the law? These are the people one can think they know it all about and human rights. Maybe they think they are above it all. From killing dragging the civilians who are meant to protect to dragging them behind their vans. What happened to Ubuntu? One can say, we are obsessed with this freedom as a results we end up misusing it with the rights that came with it. Neither should I remind any of you that people's lives were lost for this freedom and for us to have these rights blood was shed. The arm struggle gave us this freedom and we should respect that and appreciate those who were left on the firing lines for you and me. The arms struggle may be over but we (The people of this day and age) have a totally different struggle to fight. How many young people who are unemployed in your area? How many people in your area who can not go to school because they can not afford the fees? How many people who are dying of HIV/AIDS in your area? You can say whateve you want to say but the struggle is far from over. We have a lot do deal with and we can only taste the victory in this, if and only, if we pulltogether to achieve this common goal. All that with one thing in mind, we all have rights but we must also respect the rights of other people!!!

DCI Opening Reception

30th Anniversary special

Fest feast: durbanites and people fromm all the walks of life are in for a treat.

Durban International Film Festival that starts on Thursday the 23 July will be celebrating its 30th edition this year. This festival brings together filmmakers from all the walks of life to celebrate this prestigious event.
This year’s festival will present the people of Durban with more than 200 screenings at different venues across the city of Durban. It will also feature free workshops and seminars that will be held at Royal Hotel for young and upcoming filmmakers.
Peter Rorvic a director of the Centre for Creative Arts, which hosts the event said” It is going to be a feast and the most difficult thing will be to choose because you might find yourself having to choose from five screenings.”
He said the festival is growing from strength to strength over the years. The addition of workshops for the filmmakers to share ideas. Rorvik said between 60 and 100 filmmakers and representatives from around the globe are expected to attend the festival.
By Bongani Mthethwa
Pic. DIFF.

Is the swine flu a threat to the FIFA Confederation Cup?

World Health Organisation (WHO) announced on Friday that drugmakers had promised to begin producing a new vaccine to treat people infected with H1N1 virus (swine flu). This will take between four and six months to test and license the vaccine before it can be released to the public.
South Africa will be hosting the FIFA Confederation Cup in less than 40 days, where people from Brazil; Spain; New Zealand and the United States (US). In all these countries swine flu cases have been reported. Is this going to be the repeat of the 2003 Confederation Cup that was moved from China to US due to the out break of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and this week FIFA cancelled the Confederation of North and Central Americans and Caribbeans Association Football under -17 tournament in Mexico due to swine flu out break?
The 2010 Local Organising Committee (LOC) spokesperson Rich Mkhondo said there is no cause of panic at this stage. He also said " We have not reached a stage where we foresee the cancellation of any games."(www.iol.co.za/index.php?)
The government and Airport Company South Africa (ACSA) announced that the thermal imaging scanners will be installed at all South African airports.