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?

Mayfair shoot-out

Police at a crime scene in Mayfair, Johannesburg. A bakkie crashed into a traffic light after a shoot-out between its occupants and police, One suspect was shot dead and a policeman was critically injured after being shot by another suspect during the incident.

The police seen a bakkie that they felt looked suspicious and attempted to stop it, the occupants then fired at the police and a chase took place and the suspects crashed. The shootout claimed the life of a suspect, hitting another and one policeman was also shot.

"Well Done!" to the cops for stopping these guys from doing what they where planning. Another even bigger "WELL DONE!" to the one that shot and killed the suspect. He would just get out on bail and commit another crime anyway. Four handguns and an assault rifle was taken from the suspects.

"Not so well done" to the policeman that accosted me at the scene, angrily forcing me to delete my pictures for no given or legal reason. I acted like I was distrought, as I deleted the empty memory card. I had quickly replaced the one in the camera, with an empty one, as I seen him come running up to me. Then I casually walked away with all the pics I had taken safely sitting on the card in my pocket. "No problem Officer, what ever you say..."

Police watch a Paramedic treat the shot suspect in the back of a police-van.

ANCYL March

The ANCYL (African National Congress Youth League) held a march from Johannesburg to Pretoria to drop off a memorandum demanding the government create more jobs and assist with the economic freedom of the masses. They marched via the Chamber of Mines and the Johannesburg Stock exchange on their way to the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

I'm not a fan of the Youth League or Julius Malema, but lots of people are. I personally think they encourage divisions in South African society, they don't think their statements through and are sometimes blatently racist, but I agree with the fact that the youth need more opportunities. This march was about that (although, it could also have been about political survival for Julius Malema, he may well be on his way to being expelled from the ANC, as the powers that be seem bored with his many indiscretions) but, nevertheless, I agree with the principle. The youth need more jobs.

ANCYL President, Julius Malema in the yellow shirt.

Pretoria is pretty far from Johnnesburg, even driving there is not a short trip, I didn't think they would make it. I was listening to the radio and reading the Twitter feed during the night as the march continued, and I found myself wanting them to make it. I felt conflicted, as I don't agree with the vast majority of the things the Youth League say and do, not least of which is this poster below.

 I found myself willing them on and hoping the would make it to Pretoria, which they eventually did on Friday morning, although a much smaller group of people.
Probably the reason I was rooting for them was because the "official" reason for the march, is something I believe in.
 I think the ANC government must do something drastic to remedy the employment situation in South Africa.

That doesn't make me a closet Youth League Supporter, does it?

3 Babies at the Pilanesberg

A Rhino calf with its mother at Pilanesberg National Park in the North West Province of South Africa.

An Elephant calf covered in dried mud.

A Zebra foal is herded away from us by its mother, as we attempt to get some pictures.