How to be reasonable when choosing a leader

Before I chose a leader, I ask myself what is it that he or she possesses to chant the way forward for the greater of the community. Be it education wise, leadership traits, communication skills and above all is the person good with people, coz he or she will be leading people not papers etc

The issue of factionalism will not only kill and destroy organizational members, but it will also turn the masses(community members) against the organization. A good lesson was brought to our attention during the recent elections results. I mean, ANC was supposed to have increased its percentages from the previous terms, but we were taken by surprise when we deteriorated instead.

If we are not to be denialists, we would all attest to the fact that we did bad because we were pulling in different directions et al. Our Youth league was dissolved or ban because we were focused on building friendships with each other and isolate others.

I hope we can rise above factionalism. To see that factionalism is not good, just look at the way a family member behaves when he or she realises that parents, guardians or relatives show affection to others and not him or her.

To all the well educated comrades, please mingle well with other members . you are nothing without them. To you who are less educated, please show respect and acknowledgement to your learned comrades. The organization needs them as well to prosper. Certain positions within the organization need such people to drive the agenda of the organization. Let us give credit where it is due.

ANCYL leads and it is all we have. Hence, some of us even go to pillar to post trying to increase our thinking capacity and to amass as much wisdom, knowledge and understanding as we can.

I will die for the youth of South Africa, but Mopani is so dearly to my heart.

Amen — in Leipzig, Germany.

How to harness motivation from the environment

Everyone desires to be successful or at least be able to get recognition for what he or she does. Be it, doing a marvellous job or even a negative task or activity. Hence, criminals or thieves will want to get respect from their circle. Just as an academic will want to get recognition from academia. Having said all of the above. It becomes evident that one’s environment should at least provides one with a good if not adequate motivation to be able to continue doing the undertaken task(s).

As a learner, you will need to have yourself surrounded by educators, library or fellow classmates who share the same sentiment with you. As a child, one needs guidance from parents or guardians to remind and to scorn where possible. An employee, sometimes might need the presence of his employer just to give him that edge of knowing why he or she is there in the first place,sometimes employees do get carried away.

Having said all of these, how then does one positions oneself to be able to benefit from the environment? In cases where there are more than one of you relying on the same environment, how do you go about making sure that you benefit as well?

The initial stage will be for one to understand the reason(s) why one is there in the first place, be it at school, work, meeting etc.. Once you comprehend your reasons, it will be easier for you to pave your way forward, because you would have defined your existence in a particular environment.

The middle stage comprises of researching the necessary requirements(tools or objects)to help you to succeed towards achieving your goal(s). The requirements could be present within that same environment or they could require you to go an extra mile to harness them. Just remember to bring them back to the defined place or the the place of origin. Many are times where people go out to look for required tools but forget to go back to their place of origin or of departure. Do not be seduced and forget why you are where you are at that moment.

Finally, strive to put together what you have acquired and what your environment provides to better or to achieve your output. Your environment can prove to be effective towards achieving your goal(s). What is vital is for one to realise what one requires in order for one to successfully complete a particular task or undertaking.

One is called an employee because he or she does what is expected of an employed person. Just as a student is expected to spend much of his or her time perusing books because one is a student. Unless one defines and understands what one’s task is, one can hardly achieve the desired goal(s).

THE IDEAS EXPRESSED ABOVE ARE THAT OF THE AUTHOR AND SHALL REMAIN HIS. LÖÖÖL

The boy from the hood

He defiled all odds by rising up, like a Felix, from the hood covered by slums. Like many other boys, he too had a share of how life equated to lemon taste like. He grew up from a family where life seemed more better from outside(neighbours and friends house) than it did in his own house. Majority of those who went through the same hurdle of life as him turned out to give up at their youthful stage or primary stage. Indeed, he rose against all odds.

Unlike you, who maybe had people who coerced you from persevering be it in your studies or life at general, he never had anybody who motivated him. Giving up to him was more than an option,it became a daily confrontational thought. Whatever made him not to entertain that thought remains the mistry which only he can explain. At times, he said he would go to school in an empty stomach, not that he could not choose what to eat but there was nothing to choose from. He said.

He seems to have experienced poverty from all its angles: he did not have money, food, clothes etc. Unlike today where government hands out food parcels, that’s if indeed it happens, because the government today seems to cater only for its employees, he said with a soft voice. Government might have institutions such as Social Welfare and Development,but provinces have bad if not careless employees to implement the proposed policies by the government. Ward councillors tend to avail themselves only during the voting times to canvas for their re-election and after that they vanished like a smoke in a thick air, says the boy from the hood.

Asked if he likes how his life has turned out, with a smile on his face he chuckles and said, I really do not know if I was supposed to have had another life except this one, but one thing I am certain of is that I love who I am today. Maybe, I could have been somebody else in life but we only get one life to live and I guess God has given this life to me. So, in short, there is nothing to like and nothing to hate about my life, concludes the boy from the hood.

“I had parents like anybody else you know...” please go on
TO BE CONTINUED...

Life in Germany

It was September 2012 when I left the beautiful country of South Africa in search of expanding my academic knowledge and wisdom. Life as I have known it has finally changed drastically, I mean starting from foods,clothes, environment, transport and also the people around me. Before I forget, I am in a city called Leipzig,Germany.


For those who follow the history of the world, Leipzig played a significant role in instigating the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, through events which took place in and around St. Nicholas Church. Since the reunification of Germany, Leipzig has undergone significant change with the restoration of some historical buildings, the demolition of others, and the development of a modern transport infrastructure.Leipzig today is an economic centre in Germany and has a prominent opera house and one of the most modern zoos in Europe. Leipzig is nicknamed as the "Boomtown of eastern Germany" or "Hypezig.


I enrol with Leipzig University, founded 1409, is one of Europe's oldest universities. I must admit, the standard of education here is totally different from what I have grown up exposed to. I do not remember having read so many articles in my university days in South Africa's university of Limpopo, turfloop campus. Here, I read a minimum of 3 to 4 articles per a class daily.


Food, the Germans do not eat lot of meat. As an African born and bred man, I found it difficult at first to adjust. But as time went by, I had blended very well. The most favourite food that I had fell in love with is called 'Kebab'. I am not sure whether it is German pro or not but I learnt of it from here. They use a burger bun,one has to choose between chicken or beef sliced portions of meat. Then, they put plenty of green salads:lettuce,cucumber,onion,tomato etc. with a source either hot source or ketch up or mayonnaise. Kebab is mainly found in shops run by Arabic people, whether they own or work is not clear to me.


Transport system is the best. It was for the first time that I used a train or tram as the Germans call it. This system of transport is very reliable and does not consume one's time. At first it was difficult for me to know which tram to take because one station has plenty of trains going different parts of the city. Map reading skills become handy.

Language is a barrier. At least, not in the academic way because my master programme is taught in English. But, people around here prefer using Deutsch(German language). There are very few of them who actually speak English, majority of them prefer Russian as an alternative. I took a Deutsch class upon my arrival but still I haven't grasped it all as yet, but I do speak and understand few basics.


People are not friendly as South Africans are. I am not sure whether to say this is how Europeans are or is just this part. Unlike in South Africa where one can make a conversation with anyone without knowing them, here it is difficult. or should I say, everyone seems to mind his or her own business. The streets get empty often, especially during weekends and public holidays. I do miss home with all my heart. I miss the joy of taking a bath and just go out for a walk during 16:00 and find so many people roaming around the streets with no intended destination.


It was my first Christmas being away from home. The mood around here, in Leipzig, was so great. They bring plenty of stalls to the different parts of the city. Things are very affordable. However, Christmas is celebrated on the 24th of December, one source told me that the reason for this early celebration was caused by the fact that kids could not wait to open their presents.


Weather! I came here during September and it was the beginning of winter. It gets very cold. For the first time I experienced snow it was lovely and priceless moment. I remember standing on my window and adoring the snowfall so softly and quietly. I heard Summers are awesome and one can get a chance to go to the sea and lakes for swim. I cannot wait!

Sport, people in this city love sport:soccer, tennis, cricket, gymnasium, jogging etc. I am fortunate enough to stay near a sports field and a swimming academy. I see plenty of older people jogging every now and then. Ladies as well are very determined about their bodies and how they look.