91Èȱ¬

SHOULD SMACKING BE ALLOWED?
Big debate here about whether smacking should be outlawed. Those behind the proposals say it will be part of a push to improve parenting and inter-personal communication. Sound good to you?

HOW LONG DOES A RAINBOW TAKE TO FADE?
That’s what one Joburger asked my WHYS colleague Fiona on Wednesday. ‘13 years,’ was his answer. Another guy came up to me after the show from Nelson Mandela Square and said, ‘You know we have very successful reconciliation in this country. Reconciliation between the elites. They both knew it served them well to work together and they do. For the rest of us there’s no reconciliation at all.’

We’ve broadcast from across this country this week. Has what you’ve heard been a rainbow nation in progress? Email worldhaveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

After we came off air last night, Kilmeny and John got a braai going out the back of their house. As John lobbed enormous steaks from his own cattle onto the hot plate, and a friend of his sliced and salted it once cooked, we stood in the still cool night looking up the stars and talked about the state of South Africa.

A lady who’d come through from Ladysmith, stopped listened and then interrupted. ‘Look, we’ve all got our frustrations, our concerns and our anger, but maybe it’s worth pointing out none of us would live anywhere else. We love it here – not just how we’d like it to be, but as it is now’.

We could turn up in any country in the world and people would have frustrations with their government, with crime, with any number of issues. Sadly for us and for the world’s politicians the country full of contentment has yet to appear. So what should we make of the discontent we’ve heard this week?

Whether this is a country on a bumpy track forwards, or one that has in fact derailed is something lots of people coming today want to talk about. Based on what you’ve heard this week, and what you know of South Africa, you’re welcome to send them your comments.

DRUGS TAKING THEIR LIVES AWAY
I read this phrase in an article about Cape Town I found just before we left the UK. It was talking about the tik epidemic that lots of Capetonian have mentioned to us (tik – is methamphetamine, also called speed and crystal meth). It reminded me of a track you used to hear at a lot of raves in the early 90s - it had a looped sample saying it again and again.

The track of course was a nihilistic celebration of what hard drugs – ecstasy, speed, cocaine and so on – can do. We know it’s hurting us but we don’t care was the gist of it, and of course revelling in a decadent lifestyle is nothing unusual. You hear people joking and sometimes boasting about how much they’vSe drunk or smoked all the time. So where’s the catch?

Well in the case of Cape Town the impact of tik is there for all to see we’re told. My co-host today will be a woman called Hazel who now works for SABC and who came to prominence when she wrote a heartfelt public letter to the press, detailing the way drug use was decimating the city.

But people will always want to take drugs and will always find ways to get them. Why shouldn’t they some of you may say. So what should a city do, when young men and women are dying, when well-educated children are turning to crime to fund their addictions, and when poorer people see drugs as he best way of making a buck?

Cape Town is still looking for the answers. If you live in a town or city with experience of this – it may have solved the problems, it may have not – there’s an appetite from our audience to see what they can learn from you.

DOWN ON THE FARMERS
Some of you were certainly unimpressed buy the white farmers we heard from on yesterday’s programme. ‘Get real’ was one pointed message we heard on air, ‘you sound like you think you’re still living in colonial times’. Whichever way you reacted, I have to say I was fascinated to hear them putting their case and answering your questions, especially about workers pay and conditions.

We did have almost as many workers as we did farm owners in that room but who you heard on air didn’t necessarily represent that as I hope I made clear.

The workers speak Zulu, as do all the farmers when they’re speaking with them, and some didn’t feel confident enough contributing in English. These are also delicate times for the farm labourers of Ladysmith. Various land deals have been tabled only for one complication or another to arise. We are broadcasting on SAFM this week, and there’s no doubt people in high places are listening. It was for that reason some of the workers who do speak English wouldn’t speak to us. They were worried they’d rock a boat that doesn’t appear to take much rocking.

And that of course, is absolutely fine by us.

Speak to you later.

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COMMENTS SENT TO THE WORLD HAVE YOUR SAY BY EMAIL AND TEXT MESSAGE. WE HAVE TO APOLOGIZE ONCE AGAIN: TECHNICAL PROBLEMS ARE MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO POST COMMENTS ON THE BLOG.

I watched your report on Al Gore receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. What I find amazing is that the report mentioned that a law court in England, has ruled that the film that got him his award "An Inconvenient Truth". Can not be shown as an educational film in schools due to its inaccurate content.

I am the only person that is asking what is the value of his contribution and indeed the award? If a school can not show the film to its pupils for its educational content on Global warming, then the film hype and his award are point less?
P Fitzpatrick
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Greetings and wondful moments,
Good to hear that you in Africa,
my concern is the reconciliation in south africa.
That country experinced the waste torture ,ompression and mistreatment the humanbeings canever go throught,however the answer is not revege but reconciliation and peace for the betterment of the young generation.
The stake holders should forget the past and build new south africa.
Field
Lusaka, Zambia

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you noted many plantation owners
plus the fear english speakers have in rocking the boats
think if power full people get a few of the more 'friendly 'tame blacks to your show you will play with what you get
now they will be delivered right to your show by the white /and black ritch exploiters of the poor
how many own the land or the hut? they lare iving in ?

the poor would have to walk [how many 'walkers you intervieuw?
how many barefoot?
how many brought by de bass?[the boss/,master
how many own thier own farm/buisness ,or own income stream?
blacks have a saying 'black out side ,white inside , how many black inside blacks you get to talk to?
Johan Hendrick

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Hi to evereyone,
I think the problem of the world in general and South Africa is the bridge in communication that exists between parents and their children.From the start,a good father-son relationship is not nurtured and developed and when the cild grows up he finds nothing interesting to learn from his father for example.In the case of SA,that forgiving habit and loving one's neighbour deeply has not been transmitted down.What i am trying to say is that,to talk of national reconciliation,we must first of all start where we are supposed to start that is,making it a culture and teach it to our descendants.
Christian in Buea-Cameroon
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Hi to all my good friends in WHYS! Hi to all WHYS good listeners! Dear Ros: As a young Iraqi, South Africa has always been and it will always remain a source of inspiration to me, everyday I look at the tragedies that take place in my country and wish that someday Iraq will manage to reach to the national reconciliation model that has been reached in South Africa! But dear Ros, I have some questions to your South African audiance that I'd really love them to answer: Do you guys think that the South African model of national reconciliation can be applied to the Iraqi situation?! I as an Iraqi would be very interested to learn from your experience! Can you guys give me some of the lessons that you've learned from what happened in your country?! And can you give me some tips about how the Iraqi crisis(from a South African point of view) can be solved?! Please dear Ros, if you could get the answers to those questions from your South African audiance then I'd be very grateful! Ha!
ppy Eid Al-Fitr Festival! With my love!
Your friend Lubna in Baghdad!

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I know 2 guys in S.A. that are like brothers. They work and play together like inseparable twins. They each speak the other's language. (English and Mohlongo) They regularly risk their lives to look out for one another in the bush. So when a young university educated white and an older black from a small village can achieve this symbiosis after Apartheid, anyone can.
Adam in portland

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This may seem like an obvious expat comment, but when I last visited South Africa from my new home on the West Coast of the United States, I was shocked and disappointed by the levels of crime and poverty in Cape Town. Every house in town had security bars on the windows. I love South Africa, but I don't want to live in a prison.
Jeffrey Gillespie
Portland, Oregon, USA

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A few minutes ago a man was complaining about his inability to get a job etc. due to racism, that man might want to consider that his foul mouth and arrogance to even use such language on a forum like this may be the reason he is facing resistance from society.
Harris in Florida

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Hi,
am here in Nigeria my country listening to this programme online.i want to show that in Africa today,though am a Nigerian,the rainbow nation has remained the most progressive nation in Africa looking at it in terms of economy,innovation,standard of life,quality of service,political democratisation,multi cultural heritage and otherwise.
Every country has it's ups and downs and rainbow is not an exception as in future the multicultural heritage of the rainbow nation would make it a stronger and more virile nation.
Though i can't change my country of birth but if i had another life i'lld rather want to be from the rainbow nation.
Hurray rainbow nation.
Michael Ahukannah

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Greetings from Cleveland to my friends in South Africa. I would like to know how many people in the audience supports the idea of an African Union? If they do, could the unification of cultures and resources be a considered a new interpretation of the Rainbow nation?

BTW... WCPN is having their pledge drive and is preempting WHYS... I'm listening on a 91Èȱ¬ feed!

Cheers!
Ken in Cleveland
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I am South African, I love my country and its people, but my auntie was killed, my uncle was killed my mother was hijacked 3 times and my car was stolen. I would love to come back if It were safe and i could get a job.
Timo
Paraguay
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The fact that WHYS is coming to us from The Zulu bar in Cape Town shows that South Africa is still a rainbow nation.Yes I agree that with all the troubles like crime and issues people have been raising during the show, South Africa is and will be a rainbow nation for years to come.
Uzondu Esionye
Porch Internet café
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Is it really treason to leave ones country? There seems to be some anger towards those who chose to leave, but I don't understand why. No one has an obligation to stay and work within the poorly drawn borders of ones own country, as if those matter anyway. Borders are imaginary.
We're all global citizens.
Thomas E.
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Hi,
I'd just like to say that I think the crime in my home country is inexcusable. It is violent and disgraceful. However, I think those who are better off and therefore victims of crime and robbery focus on the problem, and react only by erecting high fences and installing security alarms or immigrating. I would suggest that we all need to focus on addressing the real problem, that being the big divide between the rich and the poor in South Africa.
Thank you,
Samantha
A recent immigrant to the USA because of a recent marriage to a Clevelander.
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Hi ,
I'm a young 24 year old Black man , currently working in the Gulf region .
If we really want S.A to be a rainbow nation let's at least be honest \ transparent enough about this matter . I mean today you still find fellow "White" South Africans that are out of the country who now saying they no longer don't have job opportunity...simpley because now black people have opportunity that they did not have in the time of apartheid .
People of S.A there's a lot to be done if we want to be this rainbow nation .
ENKOSI .
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I have really been enjoying your feature on South Africa, and the addressing of their many conflicts: race, work, drug use, etc. It has been fascinating and enlightening. I have never before heard South Africa be so deeply explored on the radio, especially with the show being hosted by South African citizens. I appreciate the fresh approach to world news and culture.
A Snell
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I am a medical doctor in Melbourne Australia. I left SA because of crime.
I live a happy, uncomplicated and safe life with my family in Australia. Crime is still rampant in SA. I love my old country and its people. It should be time to stop blaming apartheid , stop affirmative action and give everybody now a fair go.Put the past behind you and start working for a common future.
Paul Menssink
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Editor,
The rainbow nation meant that all people were now free to achieve their goals without being disadvantaged by their colour of skin.
The blacks are complaining now because they thought they will be handed freebies after the end of apartheid. They did not realise that they needed to get on their feet and compete like other races. The blacks need to compete through education, through work experience and entrepreneurial skills.
Unless they do that they will not enjoy their country. That is why blacks from other countries are being prefered to local black south africans. The locals want to have it easy. The Government can help the blacks by making sure that the disadvantaged are protected and proped up to compte favourable. The whites have had this work ethic for hundreds of years and so might seem to do fine in the short run.
"We are resolute to empower the poor, particularly those living in remote, rural and marginalised urban areas, to access information and to use ICTs as a tool to support their efforts to lift themselves out of poverty" WSIS.
Mthoniswa Banda
Lusaka,
Zambia
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1) I was born in UK, went to school in Coventry in the Thatcherite 80s when it was vying with Newcastle for murder capital of Britain - I have been living here since 1994 and not only do I feel that it is better for my kids to live here, I feel it is a PRIVILEGE for them to grow up here rather than in blinkered 1st world
2) Do the British ever sit around and discuss their identity? We South Africans may be arguing but at least we've started!
3) You've been here a week and you still can't pronounce Xolani. Make an effort!!!!!
SAMP
South African Monster Productions