The Importance Of Education

Students take cover as a tear gas canister flies through the air, during clashes with riot police during a demonstration against the government to demand changes in the public state education system in Santiago August 28, 2012. Chilean students have been protesting against what they say is profiteering in the state education system. 

REUTERS/Eliseo Fernandez

This could be a photo taken anywhere! It is in Chile, but we have seen extreme protests last year in London as well. Young people realise the importance of an education. Parents save for years & sacrifice their own pleasures to ensure a decent education for their children. Which brings me to the reason for this article.

I was fortunate enough to be educated to the extent that I am a tertiary education graduate in beautiful South Africa. Which means I have been able to acquire experience in a few different fields, from Accounting, to Business Proprietor, to Website Design & Marketing...and more. But I am fearful of the sad dropping of standards for the school-going youths of today. We need a strong, educated middle class in this country for continued competing in the World economy. In 1994, I voted for a free South Africa, reasoning that after 14 years of schooling, the new generation of school leavers would be educated to the extent of building a strong middle class with high earning potential & creating a stronger consumer base to send our economy soaring. This would make for a content population. ...... IT HASN'T HAPPENED!!

The new government has changed the education curriculum, dropped teaching standards & introduced a system riddled with inefficiency, incompetence & corruption. It is almost so entrenched now that those trying to fill the hole of dark depths of despair are finding it desperately difficult to find a way out. This leads to tension of all sorts. 

We need to find a solution, but the current leadership is too busy trying to explore legal loopholes for personal gain to make any meaningful change in National Education. The wise in the country need to inspire a change in the current leadership. They have my support.

Zuma's Member

This article has been released by SAPA, & published by NEWS24 om 28th August 2012.

"Johannesburg - Another painting of President Jacob Zuma with his private parts exposed went on display at the AVA Gallery in Cape Town on Monday night, according to a report.

According to The Cape Times, artist Ayanda Mabulu's painting of Zuma wearing traditional attire and his penis exposed, entitled Umshini Wam[weapon of mass destruction, according to the artist's description] is part of an exhibition - Our Fathers.

The exhibition also has works from artist Brett Murray whose controversial painting, The Spear, resulted in protests against Johannesburg's Goodman Gallery in May.

The Spear, which also depicted Zuma with his genitals exposed, was later removed by the Goodman Gallery and the City Press website. The artwork was also classified with a rating of "16N" by the Film and Publication Board because it displays nudity.

Mabulu's painting is priced at R75 000.

"He is not naked; I did not paint him with an uncircumcised penis. This is a metaphor that shows he is not a boy; he is a man, an elder, a father, a leader," Mabulu was quoted as saying.

"In this painting I'm engaging my elder in the language of my mother-tongue, the language that carries the culture of my people, the language he understands the most.

"Through this painting, I respectfully, as one of his children, ask my father why he is starving us. Why he is negating his duties to his children, the citizens of South Africa."

- SAPA

As a citizen born 55 years ago in South Africa, it is hard not to make comparisons of the influences on life as we grow up. 

This article raises the issues which headlined in our press a few months ago when our President Jacob Zuma and his advisors saw fit to sue an artist and the gallery displaying the artists painting because of what it depicted. This was the full might of the ruling ANC party and therefore the government coming down on an individual artist. Despite heavy criticism of the leadership, the case was pursued until the painting was defaced, people arrested & jailed & an inevitable bowing to the pressure of officialdom. Was this wise? One felt at the time, that this wasn't the best way to handle this. A public figure is just that, a public figure. It becomes the property of the people, particularly if this is a public servant.

Now the implications of the past actions will come to the fore. It is an unavoidable fact of life in South Africa, that race will be a factor of every decision made. It is noted that the law was brought in to address the past issue on an artist by the name of Brett Murray. One has to assume that he is Caucasian (White). The new painting is done by an artist called Ayanda Mabulu. This is a typically Zulu name (Black).

It doesn't take a lot of brain power to see that the press will be watching eagle-eyed, to see how Ayanda Mabulu and his painting will be dealt with by the authorities. The ruling party have put themselves in a catch 22 situation (they can't win). If they treat this artist more leniently, the question of whether it is because he is black that they decided to not prosecute. If they do, the press will once again question the repression of artistic licence & freedom.

Prezzy Zuma is having a hard year!!