20 January 2009 is OBAMA DAY

It seems like a long while, for this Obama watcher, since Barack Hussein Obama was elected President. Finally, today he will assume the office as the 44th US President.

There has been alot of "hype" ascribed to this occasion. But those who want to treat this as less than the momentous, historic event in world history that it is, are thankfully a minority.

Whether it is the charisma, inspiring oratory, humility, servitude, popular character or colour that Barack Obama brings to the Presidency of the most powerful government in the world, there is nothing more uplifting for our humanity than the hope of a new era in politics.

I doubt Barack Obama will remain as popular a leader as he is today, but my hope is that he will remain as resolute to changing the "game" that politics has become.

For the little direct impact Obama's leadership is likely to have for South Africans, it does have the potential of bringing about the realisation that we too can demand such leadership among the many capable men and women among us.

By any means necessary!

Mugabe has got to go. But it seems neither SADC, South Africa or any of his governing peers (read African leaders) are prepared to get rid of him.

The situation in Zimbabwe has reached cataclysmic proportions, and still the region's leaders seem hamstrung by some force of which the rest of us are clueless, to take any decisive action. Mugabe has flouted every rule in the book, but remains defiant, at times daring SADC to challenge him.

Even the Zimbabwean people themselves seem to be stagnating amid the collapse of their once prosperous country - as if waiting for sanity to prevail or for the man who has failed them so spectacularly to miraculously see the error of his own ways.

Surely the writing is on the wall, with our own peace Archbishop Desmond Tutu suggesting that, with no other options left, Mugabe should be forced out.

So, let it be then...

Bafana Bafana rise to Nelson Mandela Challenge against Cameroon

South Africa looked like a team on the rise as they took the game to Cameroon's "indomitable lions" in the Nelson Mandela Challenge.

I can see something taking shape in the team.

There was accurate passing on display.

There was a game plan on display.

There was heart on display.

And I simply loved it...

Have to admit when pushed to a bet on the final score before the game, I hesitantly put Bafana a goal ahead of Cameroon in a final tally prediction. And unlike I've become accustomed to, my nerves were settled in the first 25 minutes, as I saw South Africa take control early in the game.

All I can say is: Who's next?

Barack Obama captures US Presidency and inspires the world

Yes, the election of Barack Obama as the first Black President of the USA will be recorded as a historic occasion. There are far too many dimensions on which to evaluate this victory, to try to do justice to it in this space. I will just say that the earth moved - or maybe it was just the piece I was standing on.

The world agreed in a symbolic vote with Americans, and for this reason I am hopeful that today will mark the beginning of a global paradigm shift in political leadership that pushes beyond the borders of America...

Barack Obama is an icon of opportunity and inspirational leadership for our generation, and I wish him all the success and fulfilment in his Presidency.

Goodbye Uncle Zeke (1919 - 2008)

I wasn't really shocked to hear of the passing of Prof Es'kia Mphahlele - he had been struggling with his health the past couple of years. But I was sad that he had passed away without me having seen him in a long while. I was also saddened that South Africa has now lost one of its most erudite sons. Although he grew up under the cloud of a staunchly seperatist state, in an uneducated family, he was disciplined in his pursuit of knowledge and went on to live a highly accomplised life as a literary activist and scholar. After 20 years in exile, he chose to return to South Africa after the 1976 Soweto uprising, long before it was considered safe or politically correct to do so, but with the conviction that he could make a more meaningful contribution working within South Africa.

I first met him when I worked at the Es'kia Institute, an NGO inspired by his life work. At the time I knew little about him, other than what I was told by the Institute's CEO, Mike Stainbank. But the little I heard was enough to light the spark that would later ignite a new desire within me.

By the time I met him, Uncle Zeke was already about 82 years old, but unlike any other 82 year old I'd ever met. He was distinguished in his appearance, with eyes that reflected intensity and profound engagement, even when he was a million miles away. Although a bit unsteady on his feet by then, he still managed to go swimming and take daily hikes in the valley near his Lebowakgomo home.

I couldn't get enough of the literature that recorded his thoughts, his work and his life. And in the process, I discovered many great African philosophers, like Ngugi wa'Thiongo, Chinau Achebe and others, who until then I had not been exposed to. As a Black woman around 30 at the time, I was mortified by my sparse knowledge of such giants of thought.

It was somewhere in those first 2 years, between reading the first and second volumes of your autobiograpy (Down Second Avenue and Afrika My Music), learning about your cultural and literary activism and discovering your commitment to the pursuit of knowledge, that I made a personal decision about the direction I wanted for my life - a decision which led in part to SA Patriot - a decision that makes me proud everyday - a decision that I credit entirely to knowing you Uncle Zeke. Thank you.

Go well great African spirit. May your life and work continue to be a light to others in search of knowledge.

Find out more about the Es'kia Institute

Time to focus despite all the distractions

The global economic recession, ANC vs ANC politicking and US elections continue, as I try to pull myself away to focus on exams for the next 3 weeks. Good luck to my fellow UNISA students and to all the young ones writing their Senior Certificate exams this year...

Just one VERY IMPORTANT note - remember Voter Registration on 08 and 09 November.

You can visit http://elections.org.za/ to see if you're registered.

Wanna tell somebody?

Personally, I feel that SA companies for the most part pay lip service to the importance of customer care in retaining business. I think the guys at the top get it, but the employees we as consumers have contact with, are clueless or arrogant enough to place it at the bottom of their longlist of obligations.

When I am impressed I let the staff know, and where appropriate give a cash gratuity. If I'm not, I let them know that too; either by making a direct comment, slashing or eliminating the "exepected" gratuity or throwing a trantrum (yes, I have in very few extreme cases of blatant disrespect or indifference, been known to raise my voice in discontent).

I have also on occasion torturously bit my tongue as my husband advocates restraint, particularly in restaurants - for fear that his next serving may be contaminated by an angry waiter/chef/manager. [FYI, I have it on good authority that his fear may not be without merit at certain establishments. Problem is my sources do not want to be quoted for fear of reprisals]

But bad customer service is amongst my top three irritations guaranteed to raise my blood pressure without fail. So I am very happy that we have hellopeter.com. If you're looking for consolation after an eye-opening customer service experience or just wanna tell somebody, check it out - I have added the link here (see left hand column below the POLL). Once registered (very simple and with due regard to anonymity) you can log your compliment for outstanding service or vent about your latest bad service experience. The guilty company can access it, but more importantly you can share your experience with other consumers so that they are informed and learn from your experience.