Let 2009 begin

This year i'm officially starting off the year as a full-time sports journalist at The Times. The previous year (2008) was trying and at some stage got too scary during the xenophobic attacks..At one point I literally thought I was going to die when these attacks escalated and as a journo I WAS IN THE THICK OF THINGS....

However, my move from news to sports was made smooth by my editor and sports photographer Archie Henderson and Sydney Seshibedi. I will continue to share these experiences with you all about how this year's Confederations Cup and the 2010 World Cup are going...KEEP READING THE TIMES...
http://www.thetimes.co.za/Sport/Article.aspx?id=872754

Sunday Times and The Times photographers at it again!

True art: http://multimedia.thetimes.co.za/photos/2008/08/fuji-photo-award-winners/ and http://multimedia.thetimes.co.za/photos/2008/08/living-inside-a-bridge/

A MEDAL AT LAST

Well done Khotso you have done us proud. Mokoena jumped 8.24 (his personal best) in the men's long jump finals on Monday to claim the first medal for the South African team in Beijing..

The boy has proven what he is capable of and needs to be given more opportunity to shine..VIVA Khotso VIVA...

Abafazi

You strike a women you strike a rock. Fantastic pics by photographer, Moeketsi Moticoe
http://multimedia.thetimes.co.za/photos/2008/08/beautifully-women/ and included in this is my first soccer report, Mamelodi Sundowns vs Free State Stars http://www.thetimes.co.za/Sport/Article.aspx?id=819503 .

Controversy or Normality?

Who should be the judge?? Gays and Lesbian wedding bliss in USA..!
http://multimedia.thetimes.co.za/photos/2008/06/us-gays-wedding-bliss/

Give me access..

I have a story to tell..It's about my press CARD..I finally used it on Friday last week..It was a hostile situation and I needed access to hear ANC general-secretary Gwede Mantashe accepting the Memorandum that was handed to him by the Khutsong residents.

They (Khutsong residents) are @it again..they are very angry about service delivery issuess and being forcefully removed to North West...! So the cops were holding back the masses (there were literally thousands there) as well as ME..but I was on some:"Sir, i need to hear what that guy is saying"..he then asked me:"Are you from the press? and I said YES..he said show me proof..I reached for my wallet and showed him my press card..and that was it..I USED MY PRESS CARD FOR THE FIRST TIME..!!

Happy Birthday to us..

Can you believe it..We (The Times newspaper) are a year old..its has been a year full of Drama and excitment. From being load-shedded to almost dying during the recent xenophobic attacks, we have managed to keep our heads up...I have however been hear for 2months and can not do justice to how the past year has been so check out our Multi-media producers relating the stories they loved doing..

http://multimedia.thetimes.co.za/videos/2008/06/its-been-a-memorable-year/

Enjoy..! (pictured, is Ray Hartley..our Editor)

Two heads are better than one...

Ntjapedi: A Sesotho idiom that means "two dogs". These guys have embraced their own lingo by putting it into song. I am a proud Sotho man and am reminded of where I belong when I listen to these guys. They are extremely good.

Their recent album is titled Ntjapedi Ha E Hlolwe ke Sebata which is a Sesotho idom meaning: "Two dogs can not be defeated by Lion". Simply put, the name means Two heads are better than one. I will not do them any justice if I carry on like this but Moeketsi Moticoe..does a beautiful PHOTO STORY on them..

check it out and tell me what you think of the future of these Sotho man..http://multimedia.thetimes.co.za/photo-video/2008/04/ntjapedi-music-transcends-language-barriers/#comment-2096

Chris to Rock Mzantsi..

Chris Rock has graced Mzantsi and will perfom country wide..Find out what he thinks of Mzantsi..http://multimedia.thetimes.co.za/videos/2008/06/chris-rock-cracking-crowds-up-already/

SA lost a good striker..

I recently did a story on Abram Raselemane, former Bafana Bafana and Wits University star who committed suicide..So check it out..South Africa is truly reeling. Althouhg he had a rough season, "Fire" was one of the best strikers in South Africa. http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=774952

Faces in Places..

Faces in places is a brilliant photographic journey by a young photographer @The Times..
check it out its absolutely beautiful..I promise you - you will want to become a photographer after this..
http://multimedia.thetimes.co.za/photos/2008/05/faces-in-places-3/#comment-1717

The aftermath of the xenophobic attacks..

People are traumatized, women have given birth in these hostile situations and shacks have been burnt - leaving people homeless and seeking refuge @the Methodist Church in the Johannesburg CBD...! Sounds crazy but its true..
Here is a video of what some people are going through after the heavy xenophobic attacks that took place 11 days ago..!

When will it end?

The front page of The Times newspaper had these words: "Please Forgive us"..this was a plea by Bishop Desmond Dudu asking the Foreigners to forgive the South Africans for the violence and hate that has taken place over the past 10days...! What I was wondering today is - Are the police making the situation worse by running around shooting rubber bullets? You tell me..How should the violence be stopped?

-Desmond Tutu's article
-Violence ascalates in Reiger Park..!

Sky Hawk..!

These are the scenes of the Kya Sands- northwest of Johannesburg, yesterday with regards to the xenophobic attacks that are still taking place in South Africa. Many have not seen anything like it..!!

Is this SA 2008??

Once again the Xenophobic attacks in our country continue to spread like wild fire. I am fortunate to say I did not see what my fellow journalists saw. However, I was running for cover recently @Kay Sands - west of Johannesburg after police opened fire on Monday morning. My beloved girlfriend's heart is heavy because she is involved with a journo and as much as this is part of my life now...it is also part of her life and I feel for her. What is SA coming to??Why aren't our leaders saying or doing anything about this??They keep speaking out from their comfort zone..instead of addressing the situation head on and possibly deploying the army..! I watched The Times slideshow on these Xenophobic attacks and i was left in shock. I teared up when i saw all these events taking place across our "RAINBOW NATION"..that has seemingly turned into "RAINBOW HORROR"..we might actually need counselling after all of this.

I also saw a 2year old with blood on her face...they said she was not caught in a crossfire but rather fell down while she was running away from the cops. It got me all watery inside..Between me and you I'm just tired of going to Alex, Kya Sands, Reiger Park and so forth to...I say this with TEARS in my eyes....PLEASE STOP THIS MADNESS,IT IS NOT THE SOUTH AFRICA WE WANT TO LEAVE IN...NO ONE WANTS TO DIE AND NO ONE REALLY WANTS TO GO TO JAIL..!

Check out: The Times slideshow on accumulating attacks

Report on man burning alive..!

South African Horror..I tell you..!

I have never feared death so much in my life since violent attacks by the cops at Wits University. I was in Alexandra - north of Johannesburg during the intense Xenophobic attacks and I saw a dead body and two severely beaten up people with blood streaming down their faces..It was good for my career as a journalist but tell you what: "I ALMOST PEED IN MY PANTS"..I'm not fooling around that was not good to see. Our country is in a crisis as much as we laugh at other countries when crap like that is happening in thier country..look at us now!!

A Malawian, and thousands of Zim residents will be sleeping in run down buildings or no where at all this week as they were forcefully removed from their dwelling places..! The residents said the government were not doing anything about the situation so they were taking matter into their own hands..! What the Hell..South African's come on now..!!!
Check out my story on the front page of The Times on these Xenophobic attacks..! and the video on the attacks by my big bully friend who protected me

My career seems to be taking off

This week I moved into The Times newsroom. Trust me I am excited about my career as a journo, but I am having a dry spell as far as stories are concerned. Basically I need to have contacts and get news that is fair and accurate. I'm a bti nervous about that..Sometimes I have questioned wether my career is taking of or not..!I have to read a lot and know what I'm talking about in all areas..Almost like a jack of all trades but a master of non..!

This is because we journalist are not expects on alot of issues hence we call alot of them and let them say what the real issue is..I dont get payed for my opinions but for my reporting..But the hope is that in future i will get paid to say what i think..! GET A COLUMN..that is what i am working towards..! Join me in this journey..and the rest of my fellow Graduates on the Avusa Pearson Programme for young journalists..!

I'm angry..

I have spent R25 in the past two days and I have a tag. I'm talking about a Metro Bus tag..because I'm a metro-bus commuter but the fliping Bus has driven past me for two days. I mean i'm always holding up my bus tag and this guy just drives past me..what the Heck??
I'm usually one guy who would just get frustrated and not vent my anger or frustration, especially since I don't know the guy?(The Driver)..But he leaves me no choice but to just not understand why he does what he does..?I initially thouhgt he was a nice guy but he has just frustrated and anger me all the more..But I will make a plan to catch that buss in the next couple of days..!I know its not personall thouhg coz the guy does not know me and I dont know him..But when he drives past me?How does he think i'm gonna get to work?
Check out the Metro bus website to see their policies and tell me if I'm worthy of what I have experienced in the past two days?????

“Shoot to Kill” says Deputy Minister.

Susan Shabangu, Deputy Minister of Safety and security, has recently called on the police to shoot to kill when faced with circumstances that would place their lives in danger. I would actually agree with Justice Malala’s article on the issue this past Monday (http://www.thetimes.co.za/). Malala posed a question: “Does Shabangu want to live in a country where her children could be shot dead anytime?” Yes, there have been some horrible acts of crime taking place in our country and if one thinks deeply about this situation, the Deputy Minister might actually be onto something BUT. I don’t think police killing people will solve anything. It would just lead to more rebellion and more acts of crime.

I was watching the SABC news sometime this week and an elderly man was caught in a crossfire at Lenisia where there had been service delivery protests. The police had started firing rubber bullets at the protesters and the old man was on his way back home when he experienced what will probably be a traumatizing event at his age when he was greeted by rubber bullets on his head. Is this the kind of world that Shabangu wants our children to grow up in? This policy will benefit no one…especially since there are some individuals out there who, truth be told, look guilty even though they are innocent and have never committed any form of crime besides – steal sugar!!
Check out Malala's column on the subject!

Phat Lips is Back..!

Phat Joe, whose real name is Majota Khambule, is back in SA media. This is after Kaya FM slotted him in to take over the breakfast show from Cash...I personally have not listened to Majota [Mr. Phat lips] but im sure he is doing a great job. He pitched for his first day in pyjamas as a way to make a grand entrance. Well done Phat Joe..good to have you back Big Dog..![Check out the pics]