Born a crime and other South African stories by Trevor Noah

Born a crime and other South African stories by Trevor Noah

Welcome to our Tuesday book corner.

This week we look at South African born comedian, Trevor Noah’s book Born a Crime and other stories.

The first time I read the book, I fell in love with the character of Mam Patricia Noah and wondering what she will do next. Hence I kept turning the pages, I could relate so much with the story.

                                            Yes, after reading Born a Crime. I bought my current property. 

Not only did I see, my mother but many South African  township women through her.

The second time though, I was searching deep within for my true identity and asking deep questions about what was going on in the country during my conception and with all the beautiful history of apartheid history, how did we end up in the gender base violence mess. What happened to our human spirit? Our community etc.

I think everyone who is questioning our history, laws, and the rainbow nation idea should read this book.

The author has a way of simplifying complex matters and make them easy to understand even for the ordinary citizen who is not that well educated or find court matters and laws very complicated.

As a mixed breed from two South African tribes, the Zulu’s and the amaMpondo which forms part of the Xhosa tribe, I could identify with many of Trevor Noah’s struggles.

 

                                              Born A crime raise an awareness on the GBV and highlights the need for taining in the SAPS for treating such cases.

The book start with the immorality Act of 1927. 

In my simple version of understanding.  This law was put by  someone who hated the love and unity between black and white  way back in the 1920s.

So he or she abused his power by  creating a law that will see these two groups or  anyone from these two racial groups in prisoned for up to five years for men and four years for women. If they love each other or have any intercourse together.

I know it was the dumpest law ever, hence the product of that hatred, Trevor Noah is a full proof that you cannot jail love.

I don’t know about you but this law was set up to promote hatred than love meaning even before apartheid, these two groups did live peacefully and loved each other.

 

                                                     Rosebank Union Church kids centre, 

You will also enjoy the religious part of the Noah family and if you are black like me you will even enjoy it as you can relate to most of their stories.

 

During Covid 19 more GBV cases were brought to light and the lack of SA justice system action against perpetrators.

Those blacks who went to multiracial schools for the first time in the 90s can also relate to a lot that the author says or share.

My son and I getting sprayed with holy water after UCKG bishop told me my problem was witchcraft related hence I attended deliverance services.

I am glad that he touched on the Witch Craft Act, yes he jokes about it but  the witchcraft suppression amendment act 50 of 1970 is something that the government of South Africa needs to look at.

                                            The increase of churches doing deliverance services and  the muthi shops are evidence that witch craft is real and South African government need to look into and implement the Witch craft Act

Yes witchcraft is real not only in the homelands but witches have moved to the urban areas too.

 Alexandra Township is so full of them that every Friday and Sunday 1pm, at Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (both Pan Africa branch and 13^th Avenue ) branch there’s a deliverance service.

Often those who attend are educated and given tools to fight against witchcraft. As well as learning about God and salvation.

The streets of Johannesburg is full of people who were driven out of the Sandton mansion homes to being homeless through witchcraft. These are Dr, laws and businessman/woman

This is one of the many churches that has taken a stand on this. While other so called “churches” have took this opportunity to make money out of those who seriously seek help with deliverance.

This group is that of previously oppressed blacks whose education is not so good due to many other things apartheid.

Hence I believe the government of South Africa or the law of the country need to make a harsh law against witchcraft practise especially if it damages the other person or his/her property.

Their work can be proven especially if you are a believer in Jesus Christ. 

 The  most  most painful story that touched my heart was that of her mother and the GBV she experienced. 

The lack of training in the South African Police Service (SAPS)  when dealing with such cases needs to be looked at.

 I think the book was penned as a cry for help for her mother. The courts also need to get qualified people to oversee such cases. Over all, the book is funny but serious too, worth a read.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let's look between the rainbow and rain with Philip Frankel as we head to the Marikana massacre anniversary

 

Let's look between the Rainbow and the Rain.

 

Working at Coca Cola perseverance as a security guard

Between the rainbows and rain with Philip Frankel

Then I worked at the Alexkor diamond mine in Alexander Bay as a guard

Welcome back to the blog, thank you again for following Book Slot on Tuesday.

 As previously stated, this is not necessary a book review column but rather a slot that I have created for those who want to get into gear with reading.

Getting a certificate for participating in some community programme on HIV/AIDS

 Here we go as far as scrutinizing the book in a positive way as well as look at the lessons, skills we can learn from each author or characters in the book.

It does not matter who you are, your educational background or what type of books you are interested in.

Here we share knowledge, travel through books, meet people and learn about the other people’s hobbies, cultures, religion, sport and also draw some similarities with us etc.

 

We are all about promoting the culture of reading and a platform to share books that are already out there.

Age is not a restriction here, bookworms from any book club, booksellers, high scholars, students, pensioners and even primary school kids can participate.

 If you have an interesting book, which you have read and would like to share what you have learnt or what we must know about, that too is welcomed.

Just bear in mind that everyone views this blog. Therefore, articles or books that are inappropriate for the public will not be published including comments that promote hate speech etc.

With that being said, today’s book is Between The Rainbows and the Rain: Marikana, Migration, Mining and the Crisis of Mordern South Africa. Published by the Agency for Social Reconstruction in 2013.

Yes, we travel to the mining town of Marikana in the North West province, just approximately two hours’ drive from Johannesburg.

Until August 16, 2012 nothing was knowing about this mining town. It made a dramatic historical announcement to the world when police, live on TV cameras shot miners with live bullets.

If you are from South Africa or even if you are reading as a none South African, here is my little investigation and experience knowledge about the (SAPS).  

 

Book cover of Between the Rainbows and the Rain by Philip Frankel

This is just from my experience as an investigative officer, experience journalist and a member of South  African community.

Though South Africa was declared a none racial, none sexist country etc after the 1994 elections.

 https://www.timeslive.co.za/amp/sunday-times/news/2015-06-21-marikana-widows-labour-of-love-for-slain-husband/

 The police department is still not yet transformed.  Like many white establishment that resisted change or take orders from a black men in authority.

 

 It ended up being rid of clever blacks and remained with a workforce of those that only took orders from Baas and never questioned anything for fear of victimization and being without a job etc.

 

This in my view has created a lot of miscommunication and errors or someone intentionally exercising his racist action while the blame was the top official, a black deployed minister of police or black workers.

 

With the other levels of the department not taking any responsibility. With fear having paralyzed some of the officers, some cases and orders are  ignored.

 

But to get back to our book, Frankil, writes as a sociologist of both the mining and South African developments from before the end of apartheid.

In the book, we learn that most mining companies in South Africa violate the principle that was agreed with  traditional authorities  i.e mine workers should originate from 50 km of the shaft. This was probably done to prevent other things like worker’s exploitation and human trafficking which Philip states in the book.

“Miners are so debt-bondage that it is impossible to pay off the traditional or secular network in a single lifetime no matter what rewards he or she derives from years of labor in the mine. In these cases, depending on the inhumanity of the creditor, accumulated debts can be transferred to another member of the family who will then be held hostage in what has become  a trans-generational system of exploitation”, that is from page 88 of the book.

On of the stories I wrote for the papers on Marikana

He also writes about how Johannesburg based, West African syndicate that are not only involved in the loan-sharking to miners and other urban people, but also racketeering, drugs and small armaments are also in.

So young women, a mixture of rural South Africans, Zimbabweans and Mozambicans who have been hijacked by gangs while seeking transportation to the urban centers are forced to commercial sex.

They are raped, beaten or forced into drug addiction that will ensure their dependence on the perpetrator.

The other topic that Phillip explores in his book is that most miners do not successfully articulate their grievances and mines normally or notoriously manipulate the causes of death by safe conditions.

I don’t know about you, but me after reading this book. I feel there was indeed a third silent, feared force behind the Marikana Massacre.

I think it is also time to reflect on Cyril Ramaphosa’s input in the mines. Not forgetting the other elements like the loan sharks and labour brokers which lives the miners with little money to send home.

Let’s also look at the bursary schemes of miners including those that are fallen. Then after let us discuss the historical day with all angles covered….