Promote humanity stop the culture of spreading lies lessons from the books-Doing Life with Mandela and Ndazana Nat Nakasa

 

With author of Doing Life with Mandela Christo Brand at Nelson Mandela's cell in Robben Island

HELLO everybody and welcome to our new book slot, THE TUESDAY BOOK CORNER, Yhea!!!!.

Every Tuesday’s we will do a scrutiny on some of the books that are available to the public to indulge.

These are not necessary brand new books.

Some we will be borrowing from our local government libraries, others purchased from the second hand booksellers.

Giving a  talk about books at Savoy Library

                                                 Picture supplied by  Savoy Library staff.

While we are still trying to get national book stores to partner with us on book reviews, we will be

 

looking at some of the books that I also have on my personal  home Library bookshelves.

 

Yes, over the years, I have collected a number of books that I never had a chance to share the information with them with the masses and wonderful people like you.

 

Thanks to this blog, today as a budding writer,  I am able to do just that.

 

 So, this is not necessary a book review column, but rather us reflecting on the   lessons that we can take from each book we read. 

The aim is to  promote the culture of reading amongst us Africans.

 

Since this week is the most remarkable week in the history of South Africa.

 

 

 Just yesterday, we commemorated the 60^th anniversary of the death of journalist and short story writer, Nat Nakasa.

Nat Nakasa Picture from the Heritage Portal website

Like his family, I still do not believe that he committed suicide in New York on the 14 th of July 1965.

After reading the 25^th anniversary commemorative tribute by Drum Magazine Journalist, Mr Theo

 

A book gift from Theo Zindela's son Kwanda from Kwa Magxaki Port Elizabeth

Zindela NDAZANA the early years of Nat Nakasa- I am now more convinced that Nat, who had a thing

 

For white girls was forced out of the 7^th floor building while on  all expenses paid trip tour of the USA.

Forgive me for playing detective and letting my security investigative instinct kicked in.

 

But it does not make sense that a man who grew up under the influence of Rev Nicholus Bengu and

 

Taught at the Sunday School of Assemblies of God could commit suicide.

 

The South African National Editor’s Forum (SANEF) and the organizers of the Nat Nakasa Awards should help bhuti Thami Nakasa (see the You Tube insert) to get proper answers and lay the matter to rest. I wonder if the family does get royalties from these awards. They are named after their late relative.

 

In fact, these awards and any event held in commemoration of any victim of apartheid should also help the families with answers and get some sort of upliftment.

 It is really pointless to have such events but no progress on the upkeeping of the legacy of that particular person.

 

It also  does not sit well to have annual events such as the annual Nat Nakasa Journalism Awards which

 

Commemorating your late relative and give out thousands to the growth of the industry. Boast the confidence of upcoming journalists who documents the history of the country but  yet as a family,

 

you are not benefitting from the legacy of your own blood. 

Nor are you given resources that will help you preserve and keep the legacy alive at home in your community, not just faraway in the media … That is sick!

That is so  Un African and needs to be rectified by SANEF. 

Coming from the background of attending some of these journalism awards, I hope the family is included in almost everything and not just to come have a meal on the day of the event. They are not poor and short of food.

 

Book Cover of Christo Brand's book from the internet

The second book is Doing Life with Mandela….. My prisoner, my friend by Christo Brand with Barbara Jones.

I remember, interviewing Christo. He even took me on a trip to Robben Island. Please excuse the picture quality of the phone. I was still using a black berry then.

 

Entrance of Robben Island in Cape Town to interview Christo Brand and take a tour

But enough about me, but the book details an extra ordinary relationship formed by the late state man and someone who was supposed to further oppress him.

 

One of the many things that we can learn from Christo is that, we are all humans and deserve to be treated with dignity.

 

On the Boat to Robben Island with the view of table Mountain and Cape Town behind me

Some of the things that he did for Nelson Mandela and other prisoners at Robben Island were a demonstration of a human spirit.

I like the foreword written by Ahmed Kathrada who was alongside with Nelson Mandela. Both men were sentenced to life in prison in 1964 at the Rivonia Trial and sent to Robben Island in Cape Town.

 https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/lifestyle/2017-12-31-real-life-political-drama-opens-new-chapter-for-books-in-sa/

To quote Mr Kathrada :

 

“ It was the 1980s and the time of the State of Emergency, when thousands of anti-apartheid activists were detained throughout the country.

 

Many of the Western Cape and even some of the Eastern Cape activists were detained at Pollsmoor.

 

Their own families did  not know where they were or how they were faring, but Christo let me see them.

 

One day he took me to see Trevor Manuel who was not allowed any visitors at all.

 

On the boat to Robben Island from Cape Town Museum

Trevor, who later became Finance Minister under Madiba and other presidents, had already been in solitary confinement for two years when Christo took me to his prison cell.

 

It was a big thing for Trevor to have me there speaking with him.

 

In prison, we had been hidden from the world for two decades. Only old photos of us, much younger, were available and even then it was a criminal offence to posses them.

One Can imagine the impact of our visit to him during which I passed on the greetings from Madiba and Walter Sisulu, amongst others, it really boosted his spirits.

On another Occasion, he took me to see Matthew Goniwe, an Eastern Cape activist who was killed by the security police after his release.

Former South African Finance minister, Trevor Manuel Pic from Polity.org

On weekends when sergeant James Gregory, another warder, was not on duty, Christo would call me to show me letters that Gregory had refused to pass on me. They had them for year, along with a whole bundle of indicator newspapers.

 

 

So with that said folks, this week. Let us promote the human spirit and stop the lies. We are hungry for the truth and our real African stories. See you next week, chow now!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who are you to tell me how to run my church?

That was a question I was asked on Fathers Day last year. At the time I was still drunk on the word received from my church. I had honoured an invitation from my Bracken High School friend, Nalo. The girl who decided to shortened my name from Khanyiswa to Khanyi. So to accommodate all the white speakers who found it difficult to pronounce the swa, the last three names of my full name. So there I was in Soweto, at this different kind of church where R60 offering is collected at the gate. Before you could see the different evangelists, prophets,apostles and pastors of this different church took to the show grounds to wow congregants with their car spinning skills. The Bible was the line up of BMW 320 or BMW 3 series E21 cars renamed to Tezza, MA. ERA, Izinyoka nyoka and Skudunga. These cars to wow the crowd as they spin on the field until all tires were damaged or the sport referee calls them out as soon as he spot danger. When watching the sport live, you can't help but clutch your teeth and cross your fingers that the driver doesn't loose control and he come crushing on the bob wire fence. According to Floyd, one of the participants and name the sport as a BEE sport. The sport is costly. He bought his BMW E21 as a second hand for R40 000. He has his own mechanic and has spent almost R100 000 on just maintaining it. One of the courageous ladies, Phumzile from Protea North in Soweto said she loves the sport as it helps her release stress. Phumzile aka Lady P first saw the sport at the South African hip hop star, Pro Kid's memorial service. "I fell in love with the adrenaline rush that it brings. From that day on, I bought myself a car and whenever I want to release stress. I climb on it". Car spinning is not a new sport but it is a growing sport in the black community.

Every Wednesday and Sundays there are sessions held all around Soweto with competitions held in Durban and Cape Town. Please follow us on the various social media pages: Facebook: Khanyiswa Ndabeni Instagram: Khanyiswasa Youtube:Khanyi Ndabeni and here is the link with this article https://youtu.be/QXQ67xYqZEE Twitter: @ndabenik

Combine a honeyed silvery voice with brains and you get radio man... Keith Ngesi

Keith Ngesi's honeyed and silvery voice was first heard on the isiXhosa radio station, uMhlobo Wenene FM, a year after South Africa's vibrant democracy was born. Back then, this young lad from Grahamstown  Eastern Cape, South Africa, was clueless that one day, he would  own  and oversee the operations of  his online radio station, Keith Ngesi Radio.

Keith Ngesi, a big dreamer from Eastern Cape, South Africa... All pictures and videos supplied by Keith Ngesi Radio

To date, the station based in East London, Eastern Cape, has more than 200 000 end listeners whom in the past invested their hard earned data and  tune in. It also turned three years old the past weekend. 

The station's humbling beginnings is started in Keith's bachelor flat.

Ngesi who also present the evening show, Matters on Going said in addition to locals, the station also boasted listeners  as far as the United States of America, Australia, Ohio, France, Island, China, Middle East, We have a lot of listeners abroad. Some are South African ambassadors in these countries.

Keith and friends of the station celbrating its third year.

On social media, he speaks highly of his daughter

"The radio was born out of a prophecy from a South African prophet, Mangaliso Matshobane of Good News Community Church in the 2014.  He5 was visiting our church at the time. That sermon, was titled, are you the one, or should I look for another? When the prophet unpacked the message he said God wanted me in the communication sector. He said, I will do something different. Qouting him directly he said "Uzokwenza into engafaniyo nezinye. That message went straight to my heart and to my spirit.  I came across the same message again in 2015 since I had recorded it and it resonated the same way it did when first heard it years ago," he said.

He started on South Africa's second largest station, uMhlobo Wenene producing a current affairs programme, Apha Naphaya

• Keith admits, the loyal listeners put him and his team under a lot of us in a lot of presusure to deliver quality content. Some were relying on them are originally from home and relying on us to give them content and up dates on what is happening right here at home. 

"We had to get the extra help of expertise like doctors, lawyers, social workers, life coaches, businessman and woman to come give different content for our diverse  listeners or society which we pride ourselves in. 

"It is rare to have a media house that pride itself on the pillars of entertainment, current affairs, motivation, spirituality and technology all under one roof,". 

Starting a radio station  came with some level of material sacrifice as Keith did not have any funding back then. He had to downgrade to a bachelor flat and change his car to something less expensive.

 In the early days of the station, he interviewed guests in his flat until he could afford to move out.

On its third birthday, the station released about 10 graduates from Walter Sisulu University, Damelin, Nelson Mandela University who were doing an internship program. Almost all of them were struggling to get the six months to a year internship in some of these big media houses based here in South Africa.

" As small as we are, we were proud to have been able to give them a chance to advance their skills and we are acknowledged  by  higher learning institutions. One of our milestone this year is that we have another branch that has just opened in Johannesburg and we are interlink with them. 

Present to celebrate the third anniversary of the station were, former Dispatch editor, Sbu Ngalwa and award winning  South African journalist, Siphe Macanda.

Listeners who have come to celebrate the station turning three

"Growing up in Fort Beaufort I learnt everything about life. The first 13 years of my life I learnt hardship, I learnt sharing, I learnt sacrifice.

The were days where we literary went to bed on empty stomach. There were days where we would be sent to bed hungry because my grandmother was saving the little left for us to eat the following morning. She would comfort us by saying supper is not important, what matters is breakfast because we were going to school. My cousin and I learnt a lot there.  My mother was not working, only my aunt was and she often came to take my cousin for a holiday in Port Elizabeth and I would be left  behind. To me those days were painful. 

The line up

https://youtu.be/j33RO-Q9S-o

Proudly KNR

Keith's first taste of radio work started in 1995, interning for uMhlobo Wenene FM.
"How I got there was so strange, I can honestly say it was God's intervention. His hand played a role. I remember in my journalism class almost all of us were keen on working for the SABC but not all of us could accommodated. I mean that was the dream of any student based in the Eastern Cape at that time.

His lecture drew names all the names of the student and put them in a bowl. His name was one of the those lucky to work at the traditional isiXhosa radio station.
"When the internship ended, my boss then Fezile Mpunzi called me into his office. He was impressed with my work and was keen  that I continue working for the station, however. They did not have money to pay me. But I took the offer anyway, doing field reporting, news reading and field reporting. 

But part of the journalism sponsor agreement with the East Cape News Agency was that he had to go back and work for a community media house to exchange the skills he has learnt at the second biggest radio stations in the country.

 "It was a way of getting us to plough back into our black townships by trading our skills with young upcoming talented broadcasters. Before I left the station, I recommended my friend, Luzuko Koti to do a current affairs programme, Apha Naphaya,"

Before going back to the same station, he trained  students in the Eastern Cape and Free State. It is here that he met and developed a relationship with the likes of Eastern Cape health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo, Lulama Matya. The station, called him again to come and work as a senior producer for the same current affairs programme but he was not paid for almost two years.

During the 3rd birthday celebration in East London

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT KEITH NGESI:
1.He was born Grahamstown 1974 and moved to Fort Beaufort, Nobanda village
2. Went to Nombulelo High School
3.Got an encounter with Christ in 1990

4. While a student at a boarding school he repaired shoes for students residing at the Themba dormitories

5. He once attempted to commit  suicide after he failed his matric

6.Got a scholarship with East Cape News Agency in partnership with Rhodes University.

7. His married and loves his daughter

8. He loves local government and was once a communication's manager for Baffalo City

9. He was the brains behind formation of Mdantsane FM and some for Izwi Lethemba FM when they were launch.

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A Church where everyone is a V.I.P

Underneath the multi million rand property, the Sunday line up of luxury cars at an affluent suburb  of Sandton is a South African led church that cares about the well being of people, family and the country.  

Pastor Wilma and Andre Olivier in their Sandton Church in South Africa. All pics taken from their social media pages mainly Instagram.

 It doesn't matter what  background you from, color, nationality or status in society you will find something that will attract you to stay in this  spiritual home.Yes it uses its glamorous state of the art building to lure lost souls and pray long enough that they see beyond the Sunday church event that sees singer and now author, Lloyd Cele amongst its worship leaders.

Idols SA finalist, Loyd Cele lead the worship team every Sunday.

 Humanity, humbleness and humility is the order of the day and triumph any pride or ego. But you will still  be treated as a VIP from the moment you step out of your car.

Every church service, pastor Andre meet and chat with guest and members of the congregation

Screengrab from the churche's instagram page

"Welcome to Church, enjoy the service, let me help you with your child mam and hop on the cart let me give you a lift inside" are  some of the first words you will hear from the moment you step out of your car. The car guards and ushers, some I'm told are doctors, engineers and almost any top profession you can think of. Since its situated in one of the wealthiest suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa the church attracts members from Africa and all over the world. But its senior pastor, Andre Olivier and his wife, Wilma were once drug addicts from Cape Town.

The church has bought the Kyalami on track. The venue used to host the annual LGBTI event, Feathers.

"When I started this church, I wanted everyone to belong. I remember during our first days, a security guard once came to me and ask if he can come to church. How could I say no to him," Pastor Wilma as she preaches to a fully packed audience of females who have gathered for her monthly girls meeting, Sisters of Africa. Before the meeting, the ladies are given a free pampering treatment, from massages, spar treatment and a market which often sells ladies clothes that are branded with positive inspirational messages.

last year's cover copy of the Sisters of Africa magazine

Both her and her husband are business minded and have authored numerous books published. They have collaborated those skills and material to cater for the congregation as they connect over a healthy snack or ground coffee often prepared and sold but the same members of the congregation who have committed their time to volunteer in the church. The church is attached to  Hillsong Church.

My instagram pic at sisters. My new friend is @resh1203 on Instagram please follow her.

 Rivers Church is a family church and caters for individual spiritual needs of each member of the family. With its children's area, Kids Zone a hit to all the visitors and  us single moms. The youngsters have their annual youth  summer camp that is praised for boasting confidence and building friendship amongst teenagers.

My son, Siphiwokuhle Ndabeni with an award he achieved after 

The youth camp also helps new families who have just relocated from all over the country and continent as the youngster are able to quickly make friends.

activities outside the Kids Zone

Another extension of engaging with the congregation intimately is through a connect groups which runs every fortnight Thursday. In these groups are scattered all over Johannesburg and hosted in members homes. This is where believers are provoked in their thinking of what the Sunday message meant to their lives but also challenged to apply the Biblical principals in their daily lives.

Above is a picture of me on the day I was baptized and Kimantha and Saagar are leading a connect group that I belong to.

A child dedication service taking place

I have been following pastor Andre's  preaching for the past two years, I could say he is a firm believer that change starts with an individual before impacting the community,country and the world at large.  His time on stage doesn't last any longer than 45 minutes preaching and all his Biblical teachings are practical. From how to deal with your finances as an individual and business to being the one who influence positive change in the work place or business. His messages are often well researched with him reading across all genre to find quotes of world leaders and ordinary people to tie in with his topic.

The church believe it exist to worship, reach, connect with people all kinds as well encourages volunteering

If you are looking for a spiritual home this Easter, this might be a home for you. Try them

The history of the magnet spiritual sanctuary that  draws thousands of multiracial crowd also has a history of humble beginnings and many obstacles including that of neighbours complaining about influx and being accused of preaching the gospel of prosperity.

A meeting taking place at one of the baby classes of the church. Children from the age of 1 upwards have their own classes and teachings are relevant for that particular group.

"It is through giving, I would like to call it sowing that we are able to build this campus and buy the one in Kyalami, Ballito and Centurion.  Everything we do, we do it for the people cause we want to win souls for the house of God"said pastor Andre in one of the sermons.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BASED ON MY OBSERVATIONS

1. The fancy building and luxury cars might intimidate you but if you approach any of the members, they will gladly show you the way.

2. If you do stay you will be encouraged to be volunteer in any of the department of the church. 

pastor Andre encourages reading. I purchased these at a Sisters of Africa Conference two years ago. American based life coach, Valorie Burton is billed to speak again this year. I'm giving away two tickets. Simply like, share and comment on the article.

3. You will be encouraged to read books not only spiritual books but across all genres so you are aware of what is happening around you and strengthen your spiritual journey.

If you do become a member, there will be times when you are called to pray for the country and its leaders. But that is for an hour once every third month

5.While the ladies have Sisters of Africa Conference, there is a Men's Conference too. This year, Austrailian based pastor and Evangelist, Brian Houston of the Hillsong Church is billed to speak at the conference.

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