Hey everybody, and welcome to the Tuesday Book Corner.
Every Tuesday, will be looking at some books that we need to digest, review or maybe properly look at the message behind them.
picture from M&G internet
As you can see that this week, we going inside parliament with the man of God as we reflect on those eight painful days of September 2008.
The first edition of the book was published by Picador Africa in 2012. The author, clergy, Rev Frank Chikane gives us a blow by blow account of damages that the African National Congress 52nd annual Conference held in Polokwane cost the liberation movement and the country as a whole.
Youtube video of me outside the then Malema house in |Sandton and also talking about my personal encounter
This also makes us understand why the current president Cyril Ramaphosa was urging for unity when he took the presidential office in 2019.
The ANC had become a very strange organization that even I or many of us who grew up in the organization before 1994 could not relate to it nor did we fit in.
Somehow, the conference held in Polokwane managed to breed undisciplined, greedy and impatient cadres. This was so un ANC, I tell you.
That organization had always prided itself with disciplined cadre.
From the time lawyer, Pixley ka Isaka Seme,journalist, Sol Plaatje, educator, John Langalibale Dube and Izwi Labantu founder, Walter Rubusana gathered in Bloemfontein to form the South African Native National Congress in Bloemfontein.
Founders of the ANC were all well educated people Pic from Wikipedia
It's foundation was always rooted in Christian beliefs or anything that promotes good cause for the people.
Did they have any disagreement, yes they probably had but to the extend of humiliating and forcefully remove a seating president? That was so unheard of.
Through the book, the Rev take us to the events build up of the Polokwane Conference, which he describe as having tested the foundation of our new born democratic state to the limit with great risk of destabilisation and reversal of the democratic gains made.
From the 19/09/2008, umfundisi gives detail encounter as someone who worked in the presidency and exposed to the angry NGOKU!!! squad who were from the post Polokwane Conference.
Like spoilt children, the squad wanted things done their way and done so urgently.
They didn't want to listen to any other voice of reason. Nor did they see the need to respect anyone.
I mean, humiliating a man who has lived his whole life for the ANC.
The error made by Judge Chris Nicholson was makes you question many things about the country.
Anyway, umfundisi was not revealing much in this book and I think has said some of the things in his follow up book.
As you can read this blog or you are someone
who has been following me on my social networks, Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube,
TikTok you will know by now that the art industry has always been in my heart.
Amazon picture of Sydney Sheldon's collection
Today’s
Read; A stranger in the Mirror is a work of fiction, was first published in
Great Britain in 1976 by Hodder and Stoughton Ltd.
practising tv presenting skills with coach Nonhle Tema, founder of TCA
The two
main characters- Toby Temple and Jill Castle early days of hustling to get into
Hollywood.
Sydney Sheldon -stranger in the mirror. Picture from the internet
reminded me of my days when I first started hustling for screen Jobs
in Egolihood.
Nelson Mandela Bay Media interviews... Now on uMhlobo Wenene FM
The day I
met a dodgy acting agent, who was Zimbabwean national. I am not sure how I
found him but I was really active knocking and going to audition places that
somehow either someone referred me to him or he approached me after one of the
auditions.
Taking pics with ladies outside the Camphor Cream TV auditions at the Melrose Arch
The guy was charging R850 for professional screen pics. He was also
working with the Generation the Legacy crew and provided them with extras and some
of his artist.
practicing for Generation the Legacy auditions
According to his website some of the famous actors started with him so he was a real deal. So rhere I was trusting him my money, I gave him the R850 trusting he
will deliver.
TV auditions... having fun outside another tv audition with a collegue
The only
thing he ever delivered on was the audition script of Generation the Legacy. I
think this was aired on the show before lock down.
The workshop held by the South African writers Guilt
No, I didn’t get the part
even though I did pitch for the audition at the SABC building in Auckland Park.
But I did practise though and even roped in my coach from TCA at the time,
Nonhle Tema to help me with the lines.
Comphor Cream TV Auditions
It was one
of the most confusing scripts ever, I mean if you do watch the clip. It talks about
Vutha. The Vutha I know is related to witchcraft.
Dance lessons Johannesburg CBD Mary Fitzerald square in Newtown
That is if someone really
hates you sends a magic spell that can either burn you physically or your
house/ any of your property. But in that clip, Vutha was a disease. Very
confusing.
At the 10th anniversary of the Feather Awards
But anyway,
I was so active. I went to Talent Coaching Academy (TCA) for presenting lessons, social media lessons etc and acting lessons in their Fourways based school. To sharpened my craft as
well as go to countless of TV ad auditions.
At the Glamour event
I remember
an audition in Alexandra Township where after I have revealed to the casting
director that I left journalism and now at school doing the law and focusing on
building the business.
At the GQ event
The young director was so intimidated by my presence and
embarrassed that I responded to their job advertisement that she sent me out on
a story out in Alexandra Township.
in Sandton with the Adze Ugah Fillm workshop classmates
Now the rudeness and show off came thinking
I was desperate for a job as a journalist.
extras at the Ifalakhe set
But I politely responded that, I
have done my fair share of investigative journalism for Ilizwi, The Herald,
Mail and Guardin’s AmaBhungane Centre and the last paper, The Sunday Times now
I was really looking for something light.
A role on Ifalakhe
She kept
making blunders after blunders trying so hard to prove her superiority. Which I
was really not there for and at the end of all the rudeness. She told me I was
going to get a call. They never did and I was ok, not sure if I was going to
fit in their production.
Actor spaces event
Anyway,
back to the book. It was hard to put down the 348 pages of the 37 chapters in
two days. I could have finished the book earlier if I had lights on and Kuhle
didn’t disturb or demanded attention from me.
Being interviewed by Naija TV on a play xenophobia directed by Adze Ugah
True to the
critiques, the story of triumph of two stars who turned into tragedy. Sheldon
has a way of writing about greed, lust, love, jealousy and ambition.
MCing sister Christine's bridal shower
The book keeps
the reader turning the pages from page one till the last page.
Dr John Kani and Mr James Ngcobo had phenomenal woman at the market theatre
Through Tony’s
ambition to be a star. The author does give clues to any artist that you can
fall but rise up again and become a superstar.
James Ngcobo and Dr John Kani's phenonal woman
As a
parents there are also some lessons that one can draw from Tony’s mother.
At the market theatre where Dr John Kani and Mr James Ngcobo put up a show, Phenomenal woman
That
is to take an interest in what your child is doing or interested in and
constantly affirm him/her. Toby’s mother married a hopeless writer whose
business only succeeded once the mother took full control of it.
At the Saga workshop
In this book,
both the male and female characters have German backgrounds. So we get a
glimpse of the Germans are and their lifestyle which is not far from who we are
as Africans. There are many similarities in their religious beliefs, and an
African way of raising a child.
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 SouthAfrican community.
Though South Africa was declared a none racial, none sexist
country etc after the 1994 elections.
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 areignored.
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 authoritiesi.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 becomea 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….
Caption: Stealing a selfie moment with Bassie at The Herald Miss PE held at the Feather Market Centre in 2009. Bassie was the MC on the night attorney Di-Ann Qoto won.
Helllloooowwww ...there!!!!!!! Welcome to South Africa's women's month.
Pic from SA History online.. The faces of the 9th August March
I don't know about you, but I still can't believe that it is exactly 69 years since the women, across all racial groups in the country marched to the Union Building in Pretoria.
Yes, the over 20,000 women lead by Mam' Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Albertina Sisulu and Sophia Williams-De Bruyn
Picture from SA History on line.. The brave faces behind the famous historic march of 1956
I don't think J.G. Strijdom who was the prime minister then was expecting the unity and the courage of these women who were sick of the oppressive pass laws.
At the launch of Bassie-My Journey of Hope in Sandton in 2019
So in the unity spirit amongst us women uniting and passing on the baton, I thought why not do a close look on the book, Bassie-My Journey of Hope. Miss&Mr Freshett Nelson Mandela Metro University 2019
This was released by Penguin Random House in 2019.
Besides, we are all about creating the culture of reading amongst us South Africans and Africans especially with the group that the like of Bassie speak to.
We really need to know about our story, gone are days where someone else told our stories and there was a broken telephone situation or sensory of information.
Miss Gauteng finalist
This is a book that every beauty pageant girl in South Africa should have. Bassie is the face of the post apartheid beaty pageant queen.
Pic from the Bassie book launch in 2019
I mean the girl, GXHEBE!!! the big sister was rolling with the president of the country then, Nelson Mandela and the relationship lasted until his last days and even after his passing, Bassie continued to be a child that can give the family all the support it needed from a child.
Nelson Mandela's Memorial Service held at the FNB stadium with US president then, Barack Obama speaking at the memorial service
During the disorganized memorial service where important people that needed to be properly credited and given a chance to pay their last respect to the men were not given the chance.
Nelson Mandela's funeral service in Qunu
To Mam' Operah Winfrey, thee mother of talk shows having to pose for a selfie before they will get an accreditation to the funeral.
As much as she spills everything, I'm only assuming out of disgust of how we (South Africans) have
quickly forgotten where we come from and the respect that was instilled in us by our parents just flew out of the window as soon as we heard and given the word, rights.
Bassie Book Launch 2019(I think pics were taken from her instagram account or I took them, not sure)
In her book, she also pays a tribute to Mama Winnie Madikezela Mandela. The two last met in hospital.
Footage from
The old lady gave her a bit of a lecture on how she needed to pass on the baton i.e train other youngsters to be in the position she is currently in.
With Alexandra Townships upcoming beauty queens
In the Book, Bassie also introduce you to the other side of her. The normal South African woman who
also suffered physical Gender Base Violence (GBV) under her then boyfriend and boxing icon, Dingaan Thobela.
Alex Community Unites during a GBV case held in Alexandra Magistrate Court in 2024
She is also a religious who puts God first in almost everything she does. A woman who suffered the painful loss of eight babies while yearning to be a mother.
A woman, whom despite being a public figure still loves her husband a former Metro FM jockey, Romeo Khumalo. She had a chuff life indeed but you can see that Bantu Education really worked on this one.
Some of the lessons learnt from the book:
1.The money and friends can work. If all parties respected each other when it comes to money
2. She interviewed Micheal Jackson during her top Billing years, the interview was done in a musical shop. Not sure why but if you are MJ's fan like me, in one of his Youtube documentary, the child's star reveals how fame didn't allow him to do little things like grocery shopping and has been yearning to go to shopping malls.
Mam Doreen Morris picture from internet
3.Questions to ponder on or would really make you want to know more on is the question.
If Miss SA was Mam' Doreen Morris's brain child, how did it end up with the Weils family and Sun International?
With Miss World 2014 Rolene Strauss
Sistas need to give us clearity before black people start toy toying the event. She is in a better position to provide us with clearity.
Caption: Me in my kitchen in 2018 before the body cooperate vandalized it.
Welcome to another Tuesday book scrutiny slot.
As we close off the month of July, I thought why not do that with some food to say bye bye July and hello to women's month.
Caption: Baking in my stove before my property was vandalized and the new built in stove destroyed by the body cooperate members of the building.
Yes, I love food. All sorts baking and cooking for consumption and entertaining people. The first
ever person who made me fall in love this art of making food was my father.
That one complimented
every meal I produced for him when I was a little girl.
Thanks to my Sunday school teacher from Naledi Assemblies of God, Mam’
Lizzie Mogale, I also ventured into baking and as if was working in some classy Sandton restaurant, I had to serve her guests with a tray with all that fork and knife and water or drinks served with a sorcery plate.
Youtube on the day I visited Mam’ lizzie
Mogale at her house in Protea North Soweto. Only to be told she's late.
While the boarding
school I attended, Rand Girls High in Braamfonteing Johannesburg. I learnt how
to set up tables like they do in the Rosebank, Sandton restuarants.
You Tube video of green
market lady showing his cooking skills.
You know the oneswith different knives for this and that. Where the fork should be placed
between the different dishes starters, main meal and deserts …. blah, blah
blah.
Caption: pictures of cooking books I have collected through the years.
So whenever I pick up a cooking book I am reminded of my beautiful
colorful childhood.
Time will just go
back to the days of either cooking for my father or helping my aunt, Nomathemba
in Alexandra Township set up her many Sunday dishes.
Her and friends who worked either as domestic workers or
cookers at the affluent Sandton restuarants would share dishes like you are
watching an announcedcooking
competition with the competitors in a healthy and developing cooking club.
Youtube video at the Alexandra township Museum
So I knew who made the best fried cabbage, who preferred it
cooked and spiced with the white pepper spice.
I copied from the
them the different kinds of making a beetroot salad. The traditional grated
with onion and vinegar for taste.
The diced and then dressed up with chutney source and the
ones that are just done with Mayonnaise. As well as copying how to make the
traditional Chakalalaka salad, with chillie and without chillie.
The plain traditional
Coleslaw salad or add raisins or apple.
The traditional Coleslaw salad pic from internet
While I was staying with my aunt, I was still in Primary
school then, she taught me the basic food preparation.
Weekdays were my turn
to cook while Sundays, she took over as the senior woman of the house.
My dishes were very
simple, especially in a house headed by a traditional Sotho man who preferred
Pap in his main meals.
So every day I cooked
pap, with minced meat on Mondays, Tuesday Pap with fried Ox Liver, Wednesday
Pap with steak, Thursday Pap with fried Boerewors, Friday Pap with beef,
Saturday Pap with tinned staff eitherbull Brand or fish.
A picture Idea of my dishes
As you can see, it is true that in Johannesburg meat is the
real deal hence the Eastern Cape say Apho inyama ingapheli kuphela izinyo
lendoda.
Coming from the
Eastern Cape, these people made me enjoy pap and eating it with my bare washed
hands instead of using a spoon.
While my weekend visit to my father in Protea Glen Soweto, I
would grasp almost every recipe for scones, biscuits etc as the Christian woman
loved entertaining guests and her house from Monday to Sundays were always
frequented by different church people.
Others from
Assemblies of God and Faith Mission. Saturday mornings were her evangelism day
for children so she would also gather kids from our street after a session of
Biblical lessons and games. We would have a meal together before dispensation.
So you see, I’ve always been a food lover. I may have lost
interest in cooking over the years but the love of food has always been there.
I’ve always collected
and bought cooking books but never really had a chance of trying all of them.
Entertaining with Tovey- How to be a star in your own
kitchen is one of the books I bought during the many Sunday Times book sales.
The paper had a slot
to review new books at the end of the year,they gave journalist a chance to
buy the books reviewed throughout the year.
John Tovey, a former theatrical company owner and now
operate the Miller Howe Hotel in the Lake District.He has appeared in many Television and Chat shows, runs gourmet competitions and cookery courses at the hotel. He likes going on cooking tours of South Africa and the United States.
In this book, Tovey whose hotel- the Miller Howe- was singled out for its ultimate accolade of tureen, pestle and moratar and bottle for best table, best hotel and finest wines in the Good Food guide of 1978 and 1979. Want to build the confidence of those who love to play in the kitchen.
In this book he compares the preparing food as the art and the kitchen the same as the theater where actors need to practice and polish their skills as well as be ready to deliver that excellent piece to their audiences.
He describes the interpretation of the recipe being the same way as the actor interprets a part.
IF you follow me on social media, you will know by now that
I am a huge fan of Sydney Sheldon.
I was introduced to
him at a very young age. Back then, my father had several of his titles in our
home Library.
Pic
Pic from the internet: Author of Bloodline, Sydney Sheldon
Over the years, I have become a collector of his books. I
think I have about 12 of his titles now.
However, his books were written years ago. He died in 2007
Though not around his stories are relevant in our lives
today.
Hence every month for the rest of this year,
we will feature a title from him. He is one of the greatest writers /storytellers
of all time.
His work should be known by generations.
Pic from internet: Sydney Sheldon's title collection
So my Sheldon pick for this month is the Book Title Blood Line. This is to go
with the theme of the slot, to encourage reading amongst us Africans and every
story lover.
William Collins Sons
Co Ltd first published it in the Great Britain in 1978 then later by Pan books
Ltd in 1979.
Reading this book, purchased at one of the second hand book
sellers in Alexandra Township, South
Africa reminds me of the CCTV drama, Ifa lakwa Mthethwa (
The inheritance of the Mthethwa’s).
caption: screengrab from google of ifalakwa Mthetwa
The Zulu drama was about the battle for the inheritance of Mthethwa family. It is a book that makes you turnpages as there are so many similarities that
one can relate to.
The story is mainly
written from the powerful Jewish family battle of money, power, ambition, lust,
danger and death.
The conspiracy of someone wanting to kill Elizabeth Roffe, a
young intelligent woman.
Whom overnight becomes the richest girl in the world after
someone killed his rich and powerful father.
Click, Click…… Doesn’t this line reminds you of the South
African Zulu drama, Hlalakwabafileyo?
Let’s pause for a second on Blood line and reflect on
Hlalakwabafileyo for a moment.
Plotted in the 80s the drama was a bout a Soweto supermarket
owner whose son, Zuzumuzi was so desperate to take on inheritance that he at
some stage planned to kill him.
His wife (had also
found out that he had a mistress in Hillbrow whom he fathered a son.
To add more to the
story, the family was given a wrong body to bury.
Anyway, back toour book and its author, Sydney Sheldon’s
writing is timeless and cut across everyone.
In this story, he
zooms in on a rich Jewish family that owns a drug company that has enjoyed
success in three continents.
Thanks to the rags to rich story of the founder Samuel
Roffe. His desperate plea to marry a beautiful rich girl leads him to discover an
antitoxin that saves a desperate dying Jewish man.
The background set up of the story is in the Jewish
Community of Krafow ghetto.
In the book, you are introduced
to Samuel, a son of a peddler and a nobody in the community that defines you by
what your family owns.
His passion for
helping people leads him to help a laboratory, Dr Wal’s who has a beautiful and
supportive daughter but the snobbish mother hates him.
She hates him even more when he learns that the low class no
body whose father’s ambition is to own to two broken down horses to pull carts
through the dirty crowded streets of the Krakow ghetto.
The wife influenced
his daughter and the Dr to have nothing to do with the daughter. Terernia was
then arranged to be married to a richold Jewish Rabbi.
(Gaz’lam Kethiwe)
Pause a minute South Africans, doesn’t this remind you of
the Bomb Production drama, Gaz’lam… Khethiwe and S”fiso situation?
Anyway, Terenia was the only supportive person, she
protested the marriage to the Rabbi so much that her parents had to call Samuel
Roffe and give him six months to come up with a plan that will ensure their
girl will be financially and cared forwhen they are married.
He was banned from Dr Wal’s laboratory so this plan was made
so that Terenia, who was seen as a foolish young girl could see that Samuel who
had gone back to peddling could not afford her.
But Sam with little time helps his father with the family
business of peddling and in the evening goes to a makeshift laboratory to try
get concoction that will free him from
his poverty state.
Even when he has
some, ignorant people born into wealth are not willing to give him any chance
to invest in his business venture.
Throughout the six
months, Terernia becomes his only confidant thanks to the terms and conditions
of the six months grace period that allowed him to see Terernia at least three
times a week. While trying to come up with a solid running business before
their union.
She was supportive, so much that she even suggested that
they eloped.
Anyway, with the clock ticking, he was saved by a friend who
had a bedridden father. He had a chocking cough from one of the epidemics that
frequented the crowded Jewish ghettos.
Alexandra township is a picture of the over crowded Jewish ghetto pic from the internet
Now his friend was going to trade an old horse for a cart,
something that Samuel had then and could
even build another one from scratch. The family was so desperate that they didn’t
mind him trying his antitoxin on the dying man.
Miraculously, the man recovered and word of mouth spread
out. More people wanted the syrup Sam himself couldn’t keep up with the demand.
People were getting healed.
For his dowry, the Dr gave Samuel six horses and a small-equipped
laboratory of his own.
His business grew to
a point that he also mixed herbs and even people who could not afford the
medication were treated.
Terenia, believed
medication was to cure people.
But generation’s
later, the legacy was targeted by greedy power hungry people who didn’t mind
blackmailing and killing to get what they wanted.
So many similarities with how South Africa almost lost its
freedom. You will enjoy this read!
