South Africa Jay Naidoo

South Africa

post
16 May 2013

The faultlines in our society: Why are we so angry?

Strikes, violent protests, murder, the rule of drug lords and corruption dominate our headlines. Like Guptagate, all of this exposes the faultlines in our society. Talk show hosts and analysts, with their sharpened tools of the trade, strive to find answers in this toxic mix of rumor and fact. But the question is whether we are really sitting on a powder keg – and what the root causes are of our despair and hopelessness.

I can only speak for myself. I am angry. Today, like the majority of South Africans, I feel like a dagger has been plunged into the heart and soul of our nation. It is laced with the poison of corruption.

I look at Guptagate and see how a family unknown in its homeland, India, has come to our shores and buried itself deep into the bosom of our State, with dire consequences for the democracy we fought so hard to win. I sense that someone not in the highest echelons of power is about to be made the scapegoat.

Read More >
- 1 Comment
- Short Url
post
18 Mar 2013

‘I raped her because she belongs to me’

“I raped her because she belongs to me. I wanted to teach her a lesson. She is refusing everyone. Who does she think she is? She is just a woman. I own her body, she is my property; I don’t have to ask her permission. She was dressed like a whore, wearing that sexy miniskirt. She wanted sex. And she enjoyed it,” were the ominous words of a rapist.

This is the reality women face today. From the pedestal of Olympic glory to the leafy northern suburbs, from the muddy unlit rutted pathways of our squatter camps to the ivory towers of corporate and political power, lurks the warped and brutal battering ram of violent men. Educated or illiterate, many believe that women are their personal property. A culture of sexual entitlement is ingrained into their male psyche.
Read More >
- No Comments
- Short Url
post
4 Mar 2013

Video: Food for Thought: Art and Poetry: A Commentry on Life?

When I addressed the Entrepreneurs’ Organisation, I wanted to highlight the importance of the role we all have to play in building a society based in equality, freedom and bread for all. We all need to be active citizens; business, civil society, government and everyone else.

Andrew Miller, through his spoken word poetry, very eloquently captures the malaise of South African society and it is very thought provoking. I thought you would appreciate the reflections he delivered just before I addressed the audience.

Read More >
- No Comments
- Short Url
post
28 Feb 2013

Video: Entrepreneurs Organisation Address

All South Africans want to see this miracle country of ours succeed. When we faced a scorched earth before our first democratic elections in 1994, leaders from both sides of the divide rose up and negotiated a settlement that saw to the world’s greatest constitution and the iconic leadership of Madiba.

Andrew Miller made recent reference to my address at the Entrepreneurs’ Organisation which I shared. This is the video of that discussion. All of our efforts need to be consolidated, we all have an equal share in our land, business, government, civil society and citizens on the ground. What we need to ask ourselves is, how do we all roll up our sleeves and become active citizens once more?
Read More >
- No Comments
- Short Url
post
21 Feb 2013

Interview: Dutch TV – KRO, FOCAL – South African feature

When Mr Mandela fell ill last year, the entire world was on knife’s edge with their concern for our beloved state’s man. A Dutch television network came to South Africa and looked at his legacy, asking serious questions about what our democracy had achieved in its eighteen years since inception.

Mr Mandela, after 27 years’ imprisonment returned to a South Africa plagued by a housing shortage, lack of service delivery and mass poverty. We wanted to effect change, but we, including myself as then Minister of Reconstruction and Development, made mistakes, the consequences of which are evident today.

Apartheid was defeated with the strength of an active citizenry. But post 1994, we demobilised our citizenry and the state became responsible for solving our problems. Below follows on extract of the entire feature on South Africa.

Read More >
- - Tags:
  - Active Citizenry
  - Jay Naidoo
  - Madiba
  - Mandela
  - Nelson Mandela
  - poverty
  - RDP
  - South Africa
  No Comments
- Short Url
post
18 Feb 2013

Video: An open letter to my fellow South Africans: I am ready. Are you? – Interview

One of the first steps that need to be taken, in curbing the plague of sexual violence that has gripped our communities, is to have open and frank dialogue. We all, especially men, need to come to grips with and change the patriarchal nature of South African society, a society that commits the most horrendous crimes against our mothers, sisters and daughters.

Bafana Khumalo and Prudence Mabele joined me on KykNet’s early morning actuality/breakfast show, Dagbreek, to initiate this discussion. To extend on my open letter to South Africans, we had a brief discussion around why this horrific pandemic is so prevalent in South Africa.

It is now time that we all, including civil society, government and business, join hands and quell this tide.

Read More >
- - Tags:
  - Abuse
  - Anene Booysen
  - Crime
  - Equality of Women
  - Jay Naidoo
  - Open letter
  - Rape
  - Sexual Abuse
  - South Africa
  - Women
  No Comments
- Short Url
post
12 Feb 2013

Podcast: The rape crisis in Cape Town and South Africa

With reference to my open letter to my fellow South Africans about the rape crisis we face in South Africa, Kieno Kammies from 567 Cape Talk had a brief discussion with me this morning, 12th February 2013. Real and effective action will go along way in trying to overcome this scourge in South Africa, where our women and children face an onslaught daily.

One in every two South African women will be raped or abused in her lifetime. Our mothers, daughters and sisters need to feel safe at all times and this can only happen if we change how we view women in terms of religion, culture and tradition. Our government can now take the opportunity and intervene practically. As a nation mourns along with Anene Booysen’s family and we wait for her assailants to be brought to justice, her tragic sacrifice and those of other women should never be allowed to be in vain. We must act now, are you ready?

The podcast to our discussion follows below:
Read More >
- - Tags:
  - 567 Cape Talk
  - Abuse
  - Anene Booysen
  - Crime
  - Equality of Women
  - Jay Naidoo
  - Open letter
  - Rape
  - Sexual Abuse
  - South Africa
  - Women
  1 Comment
- Short Url

Page 1 of 7
Next

South Africa

16 May 2013

The faultlines in our society: Why are we so angry?

18 Mar 2013

‘I raped her because she belongs to me’

4 Mar 2013

Video: Food for Thought: Art and Poetry: A Commentry on Life?

28 Feb 2013

Video: Entrepreneurs Organisation Address

21 Feb 2013

Interview: Dutch TV – KRO, FOCAL – South African feature

18 Feb 2013

Video: An open letter to my fellow South Africans: I am ready. Are you? – Interview

12 Feb 2013

Podcast: The rape crisis in Cape Town and South Africa

About Jay

Events

Recommended Reading

Important Issues

Follow me on Twitter

Join the conversation on Facebook

Poll of the Week

Signup to the newsletter

My Book

Jay’s Favourite quotes

Fighting for Justice

Signup to the newsletter