Poem

The centre of the world is Saudi;
And the centre of South Africa is Jozi.

From deep and down in the slums;
From different regions they come.

From high in the sky, New York it seems;
With all the lights and all the beams.

Zoom in and get a better look,
And amazingly, you’ll see the truth.

Is it so stunning and striking?
OR…is it just me stereotyping?

Naazneen Ayob

Letter to the editor

Letter to the editor-Crime

http://www.tallus@sundaytimes.co.za/

Sir / Madam

R: E: Listen! Else we fall.

I am writing this letter with reference to the article published in the ‘Sunday Times’ dated 22 July 2007 regarding the son who found his parents brutally murdered in their farmhouse, after being notified by foreman.

I was rather disturbed and appalled to read that the couple’s car (late in their 70`s) had been stolen and their tuck shop in Kwa-Zulu Natal rummaged and torn apart.

The couple were stabbed and beaten to death which brings me to the very, very edge of my concern.

Each day the media saddens us with reports of violence, brutality, senseless attacks on innocent travellers and shoppers, mindless mayhem, family murders and suicides. People don’t like themselves and have thus turned to substance abuse and violence. People don’t like others because they constitute a threat to their way of life, and so they will do all they can by fair means or foul to change their situation. Unemployment, greed and laziness has made robbery, theft, hijacking, abduction and kidnapping the way of life.

September 2 1993 was a great moment in our nation’s history when people everyone stopped, joined hands, sang and prayed for peace. What an encouraging sight it was as we looked out and saw people from all walks of life holding hands as a pledge to work for peace. But that dream is far from reality. Welcome to the real world where children cannot play freely, women cannot walk freely and men cannot earn money freely. They are shot in their business places.

In South Africa, it seems as though night has invaded, has plunged our land into violence and is now nudging her over precipice of anarchy. The veiling blackness has blinded the people to hope and has settled heavily on their hearts. Sunny South Africa seems to have vanished into the coves of a ‘lost order’ along with peace and prosperity. Abnormality has become the norm to us, weapons are our bread especially the AK-47 seems to be a favourite ‘loaf’ and the spilling of blood, our ‘red wine’. The souls of the children reflect despair through their eyes and on the lifelines of their palms lays a prediction of a dismal future, of no tomorrow, only doom and gloom.

Now, an orphan, does this boy, like many others, see hope for tomorrow. He could have been a leader of tomorrow. This can all be changed in preparation for 2010. Children can smile again if the death penalty can be brought back with a passion, a promise of peace again. Murderers must be stopped, killers, rapists must be castrated and then killed. A passionate plea from all women who are victims. Every night, dark frightening night has its dawn. South Africa, there is hope for a violent-free World Cup.

I hope and trust that you will take my recommendation into consideration as well as publish this letter to make the public more aware of the situation in our country.

Yours faithfully,
Concerned
N. Ayob (www.naazneenayob@yahoo.com)

Character analysis

Character analysis- Absalom Khumalo


Private life

Absalom Khumalo appears to be a thief, which spoils his reputation and the then his girlfriend becomes pregnant which makes him seem so irresponsible and foolish. He becomes disruptive and starts committing crimes e.g. the burglary, murder and his disappearance. He also becomes involved with bad company, which shows his ignorance.

Public life

Absalom Khumalo becomes a thief, which publicly destroys him as he is further sent to a reformatory. He is ten let out on the fact that he will do good but that notion does not prove true. He disappears from his job; he commits a burglary and a murder. This shows that he has become troublesome and irresponsible. He leaves home without thinking about his family and what will become of them.

People’s perceptions

People might view absalom as being uncaring, irresponsible, disruptive and so on. His flawed actions may be the cause of people’s analysis of him in this way. He has chosen to be like the way he is and doesn’t think of the consequences facing him at the time.

Evaluation of the audio assignment

Evaluation of the audio assignment


When I had first received the audio assignment, I was afraid and my mind was about to explode. I had no idea what was expected of me because this was extraordinary, something I was not familiar with.

But while doing the assignment I felt the rush of excitement, of making use of new technology, something I never did before. It made me grow as a person and become aware of other people’s personalities and capabilities. It gave me the chance to interact with the outside world and become more involved in the media and the way it works.

There were times when I wasn’t so sure about myself anymore and whether I could accomplish all that I have with all the trouble shooting and the problems, I though it would never end!

But doing the audio assignment was the greatest opportunity i had and it was splendid and really motivating

Evaluation of visit to the townships

Evaluation of my visit to the township


I often reflect back and memories flutter in my mind. That was the day when I visited Sharpeville for the first time along with some of my classmates.

We drove around the township for a while, and visited memorial sites, the graveyards, exhibition centre and schools.
In anguish and even in rage, I asked myself this question: “What help is there for the millions of people in Sharpeville, who face starvation, disease and death as a result of poverty and poor education.” There is no love, comfort or compassion from the more affluent citizens of our country.
Although the media saddens us with reports of prevalence and deaths each day, of the on-going struggle, the reality never struck me until this day. There are many people whose health is being compromised further by their economic and social status. I was faced with my own helplessness while watching all of this for which there was no cure. I was in despair.

Despite our different colours, before we are doctors, lawyers, scholars, dentists, students, teachers, before we are mothers, fathers, children, herdsmen, before we are dark, fair, fat, thin, tall or short, before all that, we are human beings. In each of us there is a flame that must never be allowed to go out. That as long as it burns within us, it can never be destroyed. So let us help light the small place in these people’s hearts. As Khalil Gibran said, “When man can be made to hope, he can be made to win.”

I went to the ocean today. The tide rushes in and covers my footprints, leaving the sand fresh for another adventure. My life is like the sand. People journey through my mind and leave their footprints but then the tide rushes in. But these reflections have left such a strong imprint in my mind that no matter how much time or tide, nothing will erase them.

Evaluation of Term 1 and 2

Evaluation of term 1 & 2- English

Reflections floating free in my memory. Reflections that will always be a part of me. The dawn of my life, like the dawn of that day is only a memory of my mind but so important because it gave the opportunity to grow, to become what I am and what I will be.

That was the first day of our English lesson with Mr. Sujee. I was anxious and frightened to a certain extent because this was something totally new and strange…an environment I was not used to being in. He began by asking if we were ready to start working, to start thinking about what we would like to become one day and when I could no longer answer, I then realised that I was living my life in ignorance.

Adjusting to the new rules, the different manner of teaching and the fast pace of work was tough in the beginning but in the second term I was familiar with it all and it was a pleasure to walk in the English class again. You have bestowed upon us some of the greatest opportunities.

You have inculcated values, morals and meaning into my life. I’m now more aware of the people around me. The elderly, the poor, the needy and the orphan. I am being taught to value people for what they are and not for what they have. I have been taught that where there is hatred, I should show love, where there is despair, I should give hope and where there is sadness, I should show happiness.

Being in the class of Mr. Sujee, it has taught me to consider all facts of life. We all have a role to fulfill in society. The underdog, the bully, the gangster, the drug lord, the landlord and the common labourer all fit into a picture perfect puzzle.