Over the weekend, the city of Joburg and the department of arts & culture collaborated with the French Embassy and French Institute to produce an Africa Day Celebration in Mary Fitzgerald Square, New Town.

Musicians from around the continent were invited to perform at the free concert which was televised on SABC 2. The concert was good (despite my cell phone being stolen right out of my pocket) - the show was a great success of good music and sound and lighting.

But (there always is a but).

This time last year, SA was in the middle of a foreign diplomacy nightmare. South Africans were burning people alive because the country was caught up in a hype of hatred against Africans who didn’t come from SA. A year later, African musicians were invited to perform in a concert not too far away from the scenes of xenophobic violence as a way of showing that we have moved on and we are embracing all Africans and their music.

In my mind, the concert did not do justice to its intention. The emcees were two local actors who, on a number of occasions, almost said something such as: “We must embrace the citizens of our country” instead of “our continent.”

Would it have been too difficult to get an emcee from another country to stand alongside an SA emcee who was serious about promoting acceptance of Africans? This simple gesture would have sent a strong message without needing to spell it out clearly.

The good intentions of the concert were lost on the crowd who, at one point, began demanding someone to sing a rendition of Mshini wam when the band from Benin became too boring.

Though the musicians (from Benin, Senegal, Angola, Nigeria and SA) performed in single sets through the night, they did not gather to collaborate on a joint song at the end.

A high-tech background screen displayed bright colours and even the Johannesburg skyline, but not once did it portray a symbol of the continent. A simple sign would have reinforced what the concert intended to do.

Admittedly, some of the artists made semi-serious comments about wanting SA to make the continent proud for the soccer World Cup. Songbird Asa, the best act for the night, was the most serious of all when she spoke out about xenophobia. Again, the opportunity was missed as she only spoke once the live TV broadcast had switched off.

The prime task of a musician is to entertain and play brilliantly to a crowd. However, with fame comes responsibility. Bono of U2 knows that he has the power to change opinions from behind his microphone. While the musicians who performed on Saturday are not on the same level as Bono, they missed the free opportunity afforded to them at the All Africa Celebration.

Equally, the organisers missed another opportunity: A collaborative song would have entrenched that as Africans, we can join together in unity of a common identity as being from Africa. This is not to say that there are multiple different African identities.

This country needs a far stronger message of embracing fellow Africans if we are to ensure that xenophobic violence does not rear its ugly head again.

If I had been a boy, my name would have been Max - after Max Biaggi, the multiple 250cc world champion and current Aprilia rider in the World Superbike Championship. I am glad I was not born a boy: I am one of the “Valenteeny boppers”.

The unwritten rule among motorsport fans is you either support Max Biaggi or Valentino Rossi - you cannot support both. 

It’s not that I dislike Biaggi. The red that Biaggi fans wear doesn’t suit me (neither does Rossi’s yellow, mind you.)  

“He is boring, has no character, is always blaming something or someone else for his bad performances and, of course, he is Rossi’s nemesis,” I keep telling myself to convince myself that I am anti-Biaggi. 

Truth be told, I have always had a soft spot for him. 

Recently the World Superbike circus came to Kyalami and lucky me got to go. As I walked pass the Aprilia box, I caught a glimpse of Biaggi, standing in the usual Roman arrogant stance, ignoring the calls from the people wanting an autograph. I took a chance: I stepped in and asked if I could interview him. He jokingly started humping his mechanic’s arm and said he was busy. I was taken aback; I always though Biaggi was stiff and had no humour. “You will have to ask the PR guy, let me go get him quickly for you. Would you like to interview Shinya too?”  

I was baffled! I was expecting a diva response like the one I got from another rider (no names mentioned).  

I wasn’t listening to his answers while I was interviewing him: I was too busy trying to decide if I should ask him about Valentino Rossi or not. It is well known that Biaggi does not like talking about Rossi. I’ve heard that Biaggi once walked out of an interview when a journalist mentioned Rossi. 

[Did I have the bravery to ask him this … or was it stupid? What would happen - would he walk away? That would be cool, I’d have him walking away on camera…. Yes… No… Yes… No… Yes, yes I’d ask him.] 

“You’re in Superbikes and Rossi [his disposition suddenly changed] is in MotoGP. [He swallowed.] Has that caused the rivalry to ease up?”  I tensed up, expecting the worst, but he answered the question - very well too.

By this point, I was either brave or incredibly stupid: “Would you mind if I took a picture with you?”

He agreed. 

Biaggi is not what people make him out to be. He is a decent guy. Dare I say it: I am a Biaggi and Rossi fan! 

Just two weeks after S’bu Ndebele becomes transport minister, the Vukuzakhe programme, which has benefited from a R400m government contract, gives him two head of cattle and a Mercedes-Benz S500. He happily accepts the gift and consults the president to check if he is allowed to keep it.

Talk Radio 702 host David O’Sullivan has DJ recommended that Ndebele donate the car - or proceeds from its sale - to charity.

A few years ago, I watched a celebrity episode of The Weakest Link. I can’t remember who won, but I do remember the winner said he or she would give their winnings to charity. What an act of generosity. Their fame gave them an opportunity to give publicly and to gain respect from fans, who would have a new sense of deep respect for the person they already admired. The original reason for their being admired was overshadowed by their extraordinary generosity.

Ndebele, too, is famous: he’s famous because he’s a cabinet minister with a lot of responsibility to deliver to South Africans. Considering his important job, his salary, I’m sure, is substantial enough for him to purchase his own luxury car.

If Ndebele could turn the media furore around by shocking the public and donating the car to charity, he would instantly heighten his credibility as a generous cabinet minister. It would also do a lot for his reputation and send a strong message to other prospective government contractors that expensive gifts are not for personal satisfaction but for maximising utility for as many South Africans as possible.

How wonderful it could be if everyone in government used gifts as a free way to promote their generosity and credibility by simply declaring and then donating them to worthwhile charities.

SA politics has been reduced to  baseless mudslinging. There is no longer room for informed rational debate. The recent spat between DA leader Helen Zille and the ANC Youth League  indicates that our democracy is in regression.

The cornerstone of good politics and public governance is constructive criticism. Emotions must never enter the equation. There are two elements that led to this ghastly situation: first, is the reactionary nature of Zille; second is the childish logic of the ANC Youth League.

Zille overreacted and dredged up past mistakes instead of hitting President Jacob Zuma with recent relevant criticism. She could have  defended her decision in appointing her cabinet members in  a simple, comprehensive way instead of demonising Zuma.

The ANC Youth League, as usual, reverted to mindless gutter politics. The League does not understand the gravity of calling somebody a racist. Their simple minds don’t grasp the painful history that the term racist is linked to. They don’t understand how calling a person a racist  can destroy their reputation and future employment opportunities. They are supposedly the youth, so why are they calling a woman as old as Zille a girl?  How dare they say she sleeps with the executive members she has appointed? This is childish and disrespectful. They don’t grasp the simple principle that any accusation must be supported by evidence.

SA is fast becoming a banana republic. The ANC’s mature leaders must apply more constraints on their Youth League. These leaders must teach the Youth League some manners. Zille must even in her old age learn to focus on the present and criticise constructively.

SA is Africa’s only hope, we owe it to ourselves and the rest of Africa to take ourselves more seriously and focus on the daunting challenge of  reconciliation and economic development.

Let’s just learn to be civil towards each other and move forward into a prosperous future.

Having recently graduated from Rhodes University with an honours degree and previously graduated from the University of Cape Town with a BSocSci, I decided to compare my two graduation experiences. This is based upon my own experience, so it may differ for your perspective. You can comment at the bottom and share your own experiences or expectations for your graduation.

University of Cape Town
At UCT, graduation ceremonies take place in the second week of December. All students who are hoping to graduate hang around in Cape Town for a summer holiday while they wait anxiously to see if they have actually passed all their courses and can graduate. As soon as they know, there’s a frantic rush to make travel arrangements for family members to attend or a rather demoralising visit to the summer school office to register for a re-take. If you did crack the nod, then before you’ve done your Christmas shopping, your graduation is complete and you are no longer a student.

With so many people graduating and not enough gowns to go around, you can only rent a gown the day before your graduation. They recycle the gowns throughout the week, which means if you are graduating on Saturday afternoon the chances are you’ll smell more like a sweaty gym towel.

All graduates and their supporters arrive early to pose for photos on the famous steps which lead up to Jamieson Hall,Table Mountain towering in the background and the Cape Flats stretching out on the other side right out to Franschoek.

The event is prestigious and joyful, but the number of graduates who are squashed in really makes the event too long and plain boring. Quite often parents will stand up when their child graduates. They call out loudly and there’s a great sense of pride in the hall. Sometimes you will hear grandmothers ululating. You have to climb up four steps to the stage, and then kneel down on a little stool to be capped. Its quite amusing watching people walk up, some confident, some about to fall over in their heels and at my graduation there were two disabled graduates who were wheeled to the bottom of the stage and then capped there. There was a resounding cheer for them that made us all proud to be part of a university that caters so well for disabled students. Though it’s fun, by the end your hands are sore from clapping for over 450 graduates and you’re boiling hot in that black cloak - it’s no wonder your gown stinks.

When the event is over everyone piles out for more photos on the steps and congratulations and greetings fly thick and fast. There are finger snacks, wine and orange juice served at a bun fight party in the Leslie Social Science building after the graduation. Those hungry family members clean up well while others who are slow off the mark arrive in time to view empty plates with chicken bones and thin slices of lettuce.

As soon as you’ve had your official photos taken you have to return your gown and pick up your deposit before the next graduate comes to rent it.

Verdict: Great venue makes for unforgettable memories and good photos, event is too long and the party afterwards is nothing to write home about. But your chances of hearing a great guest speech from a well known person are high.

Rhodes University
Rhodes graduation ceremony takes place in the week after Easter, the year after you complete your degree. It’s a semi-reunion, because if you make the effort to return to Grahamstown then you may as well make a weekend out of it.

You rent your gown from Birches, one of the oldest shops in the town, and it comes in a box with your name on it. The town is abuzz with graduates arriving on buses every hour at the Frontier Country Hotel. Others hire cars from PE airport or catch a shuttle. Everyone has taken a day or two off and is catching up with old friends. If you don’t plan on bumping into someone you know at a tea shop or at Peppergrove Mall then you’re likely to see them at Birches when you collect your gown. The Rat and Parrot is bursting every night as is Olde 65 and Slipstream. Everywhere you go, you see people you know and it makes you feel like you were part of something.

Every department has a cheese and wine event for graduates and their family. You go in formal clothes and wear your gown too. It’s all rather posh and pretentious. Depending on the department, it will be a different sort of event but it will always include a class photo of some sort outside the departmental offices. There are a few awkward moments when you speak to lecturers and try to forget how hard they made you work but generally it’s a great celebration put on by your department.

Then it’s the graduation ceremony at the Settlers Monument. It’s the biggest building in Grahamstown and rather ugly, in my opinion, but big enough to host the event without it being too tight a squeeze. All the graduates (told to wear black and white only) sit on the stage under bright lights and there’s slightly more pomp and ceremony. Not many people cheer loudly and it’s all very official. You have the luxury of hanging onto two rails when you bend down to be capped. This averts and potential disasters if you are wearing heels or trip up.

On Saturday afternoon the university puts on a great garden party. The lawns in front of the clock tower are packed with graduates in their black gowns and professors in their red gowns, wearing their black hats. There’s plenty of food to go around, and a great variety too. No alcohol is served but you can get tea, coffee or juice. Everyone spends more time catching up, taking photos in front of the clock tower and talking about their new jobs or what sort of job they’re still looking for.

A big ball takes place in the monument on Saturday evening - just in case you hadn’t had enough opportunities to reunite with old friends over another drink.

Verdict: A little too pretentious and formal graduation ceremony, fantastic garden party, enjoyable weekend away from work and good to catch up with friends. Grahamstown is in the middle of nowhere so you’ve got to make it worthwhile to attend.

Much hype was made around Nelson Mandela’s public appearance at the Killarney Country Club in Johannesburg to cast his vote in the national elections. And with good reason, too: the man is a symbol of peace in our country and the world, we love what he stands for and we love him for what he did. He seems blameless and perfect in so many ways. He is the hero of our hearts and the leader we can never measure up to. People wanted to watch him vote because people always want to watch a hero. What a hero says and does is always notable. [You can watch it here.]

Seeing him cast his vote was significant for another reason: we may never see Nelson Mandela do that again. He is an old man who cannot walk anywhere fast and when he appears in public, it is usually with the able support of at least two other people. He retired long ago and is noticeably frailer every time he appears in public. He’s old, so it is not really a surprise. What makes it tough to accept is that this great and humble, respected and respectful, wise and humorous old man is just that – an old man. And if there’s one thing I am certain of, it is that in life, death is guaranteed. What we don’t know is when it will happen.

And so April 22 2009 was, in many ways, a very historic occasion. It was not only the fourth time our pimply, teenage democracy was sent to the polls, but it was also the fourth and perhaps the last time that we will see the struggle icon most closely associated with our nation’s miraculous turnaround casting his vote.

Preaching imminent death, doom and gloom is not the point. What is important is for us to recognise that last week Wednesday was a milestone worth noting for what it is – arguably the last time we see Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela voting in an election.

South Africans will never be able to choose the right leaders. This is because of the state of mind of the people. Unfortunately, many South Africans don’t use objective criteria such as educational achievements, leadership achievements and moral character to chose their political leaders. Rather, they choose according to tribalism, ethnicity and class.

This threatens the country’s future. Many South Africans have a cult-like admiration of ANC president Jacob Zuma. If  you ask some of these supporters why they think Zuma should be president, they can’t give a specific answer. Some say, without shame, “he is one of us; he is Zulu”.

Jacob Zuma is not highly educated and there is no great national project that he can claim to have implemented.

This is not the only worrying factor. The reason why SA does not have a strong opposition party and is speeding towards  becoming a one-party state is that citizens are too fragmented. The number of political parties in the country is really ridiculous. There are parties that carter for Zulus, Afrikaners, coloureds, English-speaking people, Xhosas and Tswanas. Every group is pulling in a different direction in this country.

Under these circumstances, how can SA move forward to achieve great technological development and prosperity?

The logic is quite simple: put all ethnic and tribal differences aside and focus on collective national goals. This is the only way there will be a strong opposition party in SA; this is the only way the ANC will feel enough pressure to really deliver to all South Africans. The ANC’s current monopoly over political power is a threat to democracy.

The ANC is very hostile towards the media these days. Zuma has constantly tried to sue the media for very illegitimate reasons. The party has threatened to sue Nando’s for an advertisement featuring a puppet called Julius. Jesse Duarte’s irate and irrational criticism of The Times newspaper also indicates the ANC’s attitude toward the media. All those actions amount to an attempt to suppress the media and curb freedom of expression.

The government recently denied the Dalia Lama a visa to enter the country. This is because the government bowed down to pressure from the Chinese government which is communist and responsible for human rights abuses.

Zuma is going to be used as a puppet by the South African Communist Party (SACP) and Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu).

In this country, there is a general admiration for Barrack Obama and yet people go and vote for Zuma. We are a complex nation with complex problems. We need well equipped leaders. A leader like Julius Malema, who speaks without thinking, is not what we need. The Soviet Union and Cuba paid a severe price for going the communist route: their economies plummeted.

The future looks bleak.