The Tao of Politics

The Chinese gave us Taoism, Russia gave us Communism and democracy fleeced the free world. The - isms that binds everyday life with politics that disgust citizens more so now than ever before, dampens not the need to be in the know about what goes on in the local KDM or Ilembe Council Chambers on a micro level to parliament on a macro level. From the Councillor with the silver tongue to the yes man, to the visionary, to the silver tongued pugilist, the public can attend and listen in on the conversations ie. politicking. The Tao or loosely translated principles of politics don't belong to any perceived elite. The more we as public reps bring the unfiltered awareness of the council and  portfolio committee meetings en masse, then surely citizens will desist from the clichés in asking: "What did my Councillor do for me" or saying "all politicians are corrupt." A civilian understanding of the so called South African politics with all its ironies and modalities can usurp the tide of corruption that resembles the layers of an onion (including the burning sensation that brings tears). We are playing oversight for citizens. A citizen's understanding is the Tao to the politics. 

Cllr Vernon Pillay

KwaDukuza

30/03/18

Formula One in Ballito

Crazy as this seems, maybe back in the Bernie Eccelstone era, but US Media conglomerate Liberty Media is the change that the sport really needed. With the surge in popularity of Formula - E finding a niche in the pinnacle of the Grand Prix racing calendar, Formula One needs more. 

If Nico Rosberg tweeted about coming out of retirement to race in South Africa - that is mega.

For South Africans, Kyalami will always be racings holy grail and Cape Town will always be "the" choice. However how about the Formula One Grand Prix of Ballito.

We have the elite of business minds and visionaries that have helped grow Ballito to such an extent that the seaside town has become a mecca of diverse opportunities.

Tourism, residential demand and shopping mall growth would further spike and take off into the stratosphere if the business luminaries can get together and make this street race a la Monaco, happen in the future.

Cllr Vernon Pillay

KwaDukuza

Does KZN also have a #DayZero

As citizens and leaders, at the back of our minds we maybe asking ourselves if what Cape Town is experiencing in terms of water shortages and the psychological impact of their people will blanket us. When KwaDukuza citizens experienced two weeks of zero water years ago, it left an indelible impression of helplessness that may feel like PTSD if it finds repetition. Currently KwaDukuza residents experienced stoppages and we always seem to be on tenterhooks as if water will stop anytime.

Desalination, we are reminded,  is an ultra expensive undertaking. However it is a mandatory option because no living organism can go thirsty.

Do we have to be aware of a KZN water #DayZero that may bring us close to a Horizon Zero Dawn?

Cllr Vernon Pillay

KwaDukuza

5/02/2018

Data broker anyone...

Most of us have insurance brokers and you know the lingo associated with the products.

Data, as society understands it, is used to top up your smartphone and allows you to surf the internet, download pictures and extensively for social media. 

Data has the sound of currency to it. Just after the millennium rolled over USB flash drives used to boast 128mb to 512mb and now thanks to Moore's Law the price we paid for those capacities then will now get you 16gb and 32gb respectively. Like this example mobile and fixed line telephony providers are peppering us consumers with 50gb (gigabytes) of data to use for streaming YouTube in 720p HD, or uploading your video clips to Facebook and more and then some. Having internet access is a necessity for all households now but especially for learners. Most first time buyers who ask for internet products get bombarded with tech speak and may get duped into buying spam hardware so to speak.

Remember 1024 bytes = 1megabyte (mb), 1024 mb = 1 Gigabyte (Gb) and 1024 Gb = 1 Terabyte.

Usher in the Data broker... They don't exist but with terms like night surfer, uncapped and shaped to cloud storage, M disc, external Solid state hybrid drives - we may well need to take a Yoda like Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) from The Big Bang Theory fame when going beachcomber mode for data products at Ballito Junction or Lifestyle Centre.

Cllr Vernon Pillay

KwaDukuza

22/01/18

Compassion for Esidimeni patients was absent

Mental Health Awareness Month ended yesterday whilst the Esidimeni arbitration continues to shock the humane and conscientious of us collective. 

A total of 141 patients died when they where relocated to 27 NGOS from the Life Esidimeni Healthcare.

According to Carte Blanche, who sought to question former MEC Qedani Nah language, informed the show that she was registered and studying in London — which the college has no record off.

Qedani is the key to unlocking how "tens and tens" of death unfolded. She is nowhere to be found when victims want answers from her. 

Compassion which is the prerequisite for healthcare workers taking care of psychiatric patients, was missing. Compassion from the overseers aka leaders, was lacking.

The late patients relatives now are in a chasm of angered pain having to relive the collective ordeal. 

Let's remember that all human beings regardless of mental state or perceived social positions are to be treated equally. 

Cllr Vernon Pillay (DA), 

KwaDukuza

10/31/17

 

The MFMA and the people

The Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) to which councillors need to know, municipalities need to abide by and which "holds the municipal manager and other senior responsible for implementation and outputs" in a nutshell describes its crucial aspects.

In the National Treasury pocketbook, former finance minister Trevor Manuel, in 2004, mentions in the foreword, that the above government officials and councillors must "take ownership of this Act... to guarantee democratic decision-making over financial planning, spending and outcomes." All people will feel the effects of the MFMA henceforth.

Taking on this topic feels like one's breaking the fourth wall. However the Constitution with its "Public Participation and Communication" cavaeat declares: "The more informed people are, the better they will understand what government is trying to do and what the budget and resource limitations are" Councillors also have to go through the "legalese" to empower themselves in playing an active oversight role by dissecting and assimilating the all encompassing MFMA.

The best part is that people have access to this information in all its glory on their phones and other Internet devices by going to...

www.treasury.gov.za/mfma you will be familiar with the MFMA and it's rules.

Cllr Vernon Pillay (DA) 

KwaDukuza

10/2/17

KPMG-Gate adds to state capture mystique

The once lauded multi national auditing firm can never recover from the alleged Gupta R30 million Linkway Trading siphoning of taxpayers' money spent on a wedding.

The denials, deceit and draconian manner which the plausibility and depth of state capture a la shadow state utterances go, is now gaining too much traction to ignore.

The ferocity of the fictitious "rogue SARS unit" that KPMG doctored begs the question of whose idea was this to make a sinister and in your face allegation in which Minister Pravin Gordhan was also fingered as well?

KPMG smashing their own integrity to smithereens in this way has been vindicated further by big finance corporates like Old Mutual and Standard Banks, to name a few; breaking ties thankfully.

Government institutions that have ties with KPMG would and should draw the ire, wrath and anger of every South African. Acts of corruption must succumb in quick oblivion.

Cllr Vernon Pillay (DA)

KwaDukuza

9/25/17

Encouraging eSport among youth

As part of the Youth, Sports and Gender (YSG) committee in the KwaDukuza Municipality (KDM) a reminder to those who love video games that you are now regarded as an athlete. eSport is a form of competition that involves video games.

Getting local youth involved would require sponsorship from companies like PlayStation (through Ster–Kinekor), Xbox (through Microsoft) and even local businesses with the help of local IT companies in hosting competitions. (FIFA video game fans in KDM would love a Kaiser Chiefs 4–1 Manchester United result).

This healthy pastime is a deterrent to the teens and twenty – somethings especially who take to cheap drugs, smoking and alcohol which destroys brain cells, happiness and judgement.

Gaming is great for hand eye co-ordination, spatial awareness, brain elasticity and promoting complex neural connections which may prevent memory loss and Alzheimers.

The knock-on effects are youth obliterating the digital divide and going on to become the Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Mark Shuttleworths and Elon Musks of the world taking up computer programming, software engineering or making the next big AAA video game title.

9/11/17

Cannabilism and child murders shocking to the core

The KwaZulu-Natal province is suddenly caught in the throes of the demonic and gross beyond gross - human rights violations. 

The Escourt incident of a man declaring that he is sick of consuming human flesh and alleged muti related findings to the Port Edward mutilated bodies of the four Mbhele children ranging in age from four to twelve, also with muti related findings, is beyond horrific. 

How do we as a society deal with such gorry and inhumane acts of murder?

Gross ignorance in the promises of so-called "black magic" to the general populace is a problem that plagues communities.

Superstition can be obliterated by education in the form of awareness campaigns and communities reporting to law enforcement about suspicious activities.

Cllr Vernon Pillay

Ward 19, KwaDukuza

9/4/17

The Mayan 'Armageddon' prophecy

I will write this like a narrator speaking in a doomsday movie...
All the world awaited Christmas 2012 and New Years Eve 2012 with religious apprehension and spiritual longing as an extinct civilisation from ancient South America predicted all the earth's demise on 21 December 2012...
These are their fears and hopes... (imagine the Law and Order 'double dong' going of now).
Folks we have a little over four months until a possible Doomsday scenario that could be celestial (an outer space anomaly possibly an asteroid the size of Jupiter's moon: Titan obliterating Earth ),Mutually Assured Destruction (M.A.D) which refers to nations 'nuking' each other into oblivion(a Cold War Nuclear War deterrent) and of course one of many of Michel De Nostradamus's quartrains becoming reality.
Many possible Soothsayers and Anarchists will have a field day looking for their 15 seconds or more of fame and infamy from now.
Will Churches, Temples, Synagogues and Cults see unprecedented growth?
I can see GOD becoming the most sought after person (yes according to the Bible and the Bhagavad-Gita he is an individual) enjoying the celebrity status Hollywood stars enjoy but at a level unprecedented. #GOD will trend on Twitter.
Folks I hope this Mayan prophecy does not get a South African political polarisation.

9/5/12

Bryce Lawrence's filtered refereeing

The Springboks lost to Australia with the help of the referee. Hearing Joel Stransky on Supersport on Sunday morning after the match saying that the 'bokke' did not take opportunities was a half truth. Lawrence's mistakes cost us when Morne Steyn was tackled throat high and held in a choke. 
In another incident Steyn was lucky not to be shouldered (no hands) from a Wallaby when the commentator called this a 'match fine and suspension.' In what was a swansong for John Smit, Victor Matfield and others this match saw us at our finest. 
We checked the Wallabies at the lineouts, Francois Louw worked the breakdown like no other player in this tournament with his turnovers and telegraphed tackling. Guthrow Steenkamp got the yards when it counted. We did everything right.Since taking centre stage in an earlier match, Lawrence seemed too eager to appease critics - aptly described as 'filtered officiating' in this match. 
Mr Lawrence is a villian now in the anals of South African rugby for years to come. We will jeer you next time Mr Lawrence.

10/9/11

The journo and politics

Being a newspaper reporter in this here North Coast in what is now election year means the mental filters work overtime. Discriminating against propaganda and political parties looking to use you as a pawn against rivals, keeps you on your toes.
Accusing us of party bias to saying we're rubbing shoulders with certain councillors makes for good Saturday Night Live sketches (think of the sign language interpreter at Madiba's memorial). If you want so called mileage or feel the primal urge to hog the limelight, try theatre. 
Telling editors and GM's how to publish content will be in vain and may have a backlash on a councillors career, his party and more. Playing the vendetta card is like saying you are a victim in a democracy that affords you freedom of speech. 
I am a certified community journalist via UNISA, obtained a certificate for completing Introductory courses in Social Psychology (Wesleyan University, US) and Theory of Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism (Yale) respectively. Respect us all regardless... please!

...Written sometime in 2016