Nhlanhla Cherrol Skosana

Tuesday, 25 July 2017

DATING OUTSIDE YOUR RACE

Queen B and AKA happy than never before

Inter-racial relationships are evident that love does not discriminate. It does not matter which race you will belong to when there’s love. Interracial relationships in South Africa are facing many challenges. People find it hard to accept interracial couples, it is often that it is these kind of relationships that are forbidden by families, friends and groups in society. Interracial relationships symbolizes unity, love and rainbow nation. The rate of interracial dating has grown rapidly over the past years.

Majority of these relationships starts in Varsities and Colleges because that is where you get to meet different kinds of people with different cultural backgrounds than yours. Studies show that people who are either married to each other in an interracial marriage or who are in an interracial relationship are more likely to stay attracted to each other than those in a same race. This is because of each other’s different features that create a certain “spark”.

Most youth think that engaging in interracial relationships is good way of getting to know people from different cultural backgrounds. We have seen many of our South African celebrities who are in inter-racial relationships the likes of Bonang Matheba and AKA, some of them are now married for example Minnie Dlamini and Quinton Jones, Linda Mtoba and Steve Meyer,Connie and Shona Ferguson and they are happy. These kinds of relationships signifies a better world.

These relationships represent a form of race-status exchange, it also assume that these relationships do not often lead to long-term commitments. But that is proven to be false by many inter-racial married couples in our country. Inter-racial relationships can help reduce the increasing rate of racism. However it’s not something that can happen overnight but they are slowly becoming a norm in South Africa.

Racism is real and it is not something that can be forfeited just like that, but with the pace that interracial relationships are going in some countries including South Africa there is still hope for a better harmonious society for all. All that is left is for members of the society to realize that interracial relationships are the same as any other types of relationships they are used to. Let’s stop discriminating and rejecting our fellow brothers and sisters but rather support them and show UNITY.

Monday, 24 July 2017

Welcoming Ceremonies for amasokana

young ndebele men seated waiting to receive gifts

Initiation schools fall under cultural practices which Xhosa, Ndebele and Pedi tribes practice as part of their traditions. Young boys from the age of 12 years are being sent to the bushes with elderly men. Most people when they think about initiation schools what comes to mind is boys being circumcised , but it’s more that its where they get to know about their cultural backgrounds, principles they should hold in society as men, how to handle certain situations and the protection of their families as the head of families.

The initiation school take place every after three years. They leave their homes and go to live in the bushes for two months. Some of these practices are proven not to be safe especially the Xhosa initiation school some boys called iinkwenkwe die in the process some get extremely ill. Recently it is been said that the doctors are now getting involved in ensuring the best health care for the boys.

They are then give new names which belonged to their forefathers .They are also being taught languages that they use to communicate as men. They wear shorts made of cow skin called amabhetjha in Ndebele, they cover themselves with blankets illustrating Ndebele colours and beads.Prior to their return they gather by the Chief’s compound so that he can set them free and welcome them.They celebrate their return by singing songs that they produced for themselves and dance for us.

There have been illegal initiation schools whereby young boys are abducted to go and practice cultures that are not even theirs. This results in more deaths of these children and also parents suffer the consequences of having their children practicing cultures that are not even theirs.

After coming back home safe, they slaughter goats for their ancestors to thank them for looking after them while they are at schools. Their parents also buy gifts to welcome them.

Monday, 19 June 2017

COMMEMORATING 41 YEARS OF BITTER STRUGGLE

youth of 1976 protesting against the use of Afrikaans in school

Today we are celebrating the youth of 1976 who took part in the liberation struggle. Students from various black schools in Soweto led a protest where they fought against the use of Afrikaans and English as the medium of instruction and learning at schools. On June 16 1976, students came in their numbers at Orlando stadium where they voiced out their stance for the use of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction.

The march resulted in the death of a number of students who participated in the rally. Among the students who were shot death by the police were a 15 year old Hastings Ndlovu and a 13 year old Hector Pieterson who were shot at Orlando West high school. Today we are remembering the lives of those students who fought for their right to quality education.

Recently university students led a protest movement that began in October 2015 in response to fee increment at South African Universities. These protests escalated to almost all the universities in our country. The fees must fall movement became stirred violence between the police and the police that were stationed in various institutions. This movement has been going on for 3 years now and students are not backing up until their goal is achieved which is free quality education in all universities.

The #feesmustfall movement left many people wondering whether are we still living in a democratic country or not. Seeing all the violence between students and police reminds us of a very bitter struggle of Soweto Uprising in 1976. The youth of today should be inspired and have courage since this is long journey that they chose to embark on. It’s a battle that needs to be won for generations to come.

Today marks 41 years since the youth of 1976 stood up to the racist tyranny in their schools. We commemorate their courage, bloodshed and torture this youth had to through in standing up for a black community. Most people wear school uniforms and march in remembrance of what happened 41 years ago in Soweto. Some visit the Hector Pieterson Museum to honour their struggle.

Thursday, 30 March 2017

BLUETOOTH NYAOPE IN SOSHANGUVE

Bluetooth in technological terms is the transfer of data from one device to another. Now it is used to transfer blood from one nyaope smoker to the other. This is how most of the addicts get high in areas such as Soshanguve. One inject themselves with the drug and the others get high by drawing the blood from the one who is already high. Resulting in Bluetooth nyaope.

The community of Soshanguve are raising great concerns of this new method of nyaope. This method increasing chances of contracting diseases like HIV/AIDS. Clinics and Police are urging parents to help them fight bluetooth nyaope in the streets of Soshanguve.

photocred:Pretoria news

Trevor Masemula who is a nyaope-user showed us how they do bluetooth nyaope in Soshanguve block H, though he didn't want his face to be showed.He says its much easier when you do it with a friend than just anyone.