Black Tuesday

Radio DJ, Jeremy Mansfield and Abed Ahmed encourage cars to hoot in support during a protest in Sandton, Johannesburg. The protesters are against last weeks Parliamentary approval of the Privacy of State Information Bill, which has been dubbed Black Tuesday, and likened by many as a return to the type of government control enforced under apartheid.

#BlackTuesday

Mis(Dis)information

Police cordon to stop people from entering Eastgate shopping center in Bedfordview, South Africa after a bomb was found in the center.
It remains unclear at time of writing if it was a real bomb (which has been confirmed by Police) or it was a box with some wires in it. (also been confirmed by Police)

First, the Eastgate center-management denied there was a bomb claiming it was a hoax, then turned around and said that it was one. Then the Police spokesperson confirmed to media that it was a bomb, and that it was left outside a jewellery shop in the center and that they destroyed it with a controlled explosion. Then the Provincial Police Chief Mzwandile Petros said it was not a bomb, it was just a box with some wires in it. On the scene a Policeman was so unsure of what he can say to the media that he wouldn't even tell me what unit he was in... WTF?
Is this the way it is to be in the future? Misinformation or disinformation through either incompetance or maliciousness!

Tomorrow marks one week since government voted for the Protection of State Information Bill. Although this is a much smaller matter. Is this the type of disinformation that will be spread by state agencies? I think so, whether it be through incompetence or maliciousness, it's definitely not good for our country or its people.

#BlackTuesday

Life's not fair!

South African Francois Botha (Red trunks) and American Michael Grant during their WBF World Heavyweight Title fight at Montecasino, South Africa. Botha was controlling the fight until the last round when Grant managed to get a big hit on Botha knocking him out and winning the fight and the title.

Francois Botha was dominating the entire fight, that was until 37 seconds to go in the 12th and final round. If he had lasted these 37 seconds, he would have no doubt won the fight easily on points, but, it was not to be and with 37 seconds to go Michael Clark got his first decent punches in and knocked Francois out.

There were so few decent punches from Clark that this picture below is the only picture I got of him actually connecting with Francois during the entire fight, but this was not the knock out blow.

I sat in the corner, trying to keep my place all night, getting covered in blood, sweat and a bit of spit and when the time came I couldn't have been in a better position.

So, in keeping with the theme of this post, I've posted the picture above, a picture that I would never usually post because, well... it's not very good. I kinda cut off Clarks head in the haste to get the pic. But I decided to post it anyway. Just to show that even Pros slip up occasionally (I'm very sure Francois Botha would agree with me about that!)

The Lion Park

One of a few White Lion Cubs at Cub World in the Lion Park in Honeydew, South Africa. Visitors can enter the enclosures and interact with the cubs.

White Lions relax during the midday heat in the Predator area.

A Cheetah rests under a tree in the Predator area of the park.

A young Meerkat peers out from his den in the Lion Park.

Lest We Forget

A Remembrance Day ceremony held at the Ditsong National Museum of Military History in Saxonwold, Johannesburg. The last post was played  and wreaths were laid on the 11th hour of the 11th day of November comemorating the Armistice that came into force to end World War 1. This ceremony is not about celebrating any victories, nor about boasting about any achievements, its simply to show respect to those that were willing to serve their country and  make the ultimate sacrifice to allow us to live the peaceful life we live now.

South African Deputy Minister of Defence, Tabang Makwetla lays a wreath as M.O.T.H  and War-Veteran Arthur Owens sits on.

The last post is played as the flag is lowered and a two minute silence is held thereafter, the first minute is to give thanks for those that survived and the second to remember the fallen.

March to the Premier

A group of about 500 members of the Ekurhuleni Concerned Resident Business and Enterprise Forum marched to the Gauteng Premiers office in the Johannesburg CBD to drop of a memorandum demanding that they investigate foreign business owners in various townships around Ekurhuleni. They have various gripes with foreigners (most specifically, Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals) that own businesses in the townships and accuse some of them of criminal acts.

Could this be the start of more Xenophobic violence in the townships?