CAPE TIMES FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 2012 INSIGHT 11 Do politicians care about black youth who have no means to earn a living?

Sipho Zungu manifestoes) are trying to make us advertise the services of snake-oil areas who are now decision-makers youth who were part of the 1976 the current legislation (eg EE and believe their parties stand for: “A “doctors” who promise to perform in the corporate world. Is it because We cannot afford uprisings are an example here) BEE) to deny the black youth I AM continually saddened by what better life for all.” wonders!). we are comfortable in our jobs, ensured that our schools functioned employment opportunities? If so, I see happening to the black youth of I’m sure if I can ask each of these Again these are future adults of enjoying the perks that go with them not to be alarmed and were able to produce educated surely we must DO something about this country. The majority sit idle in political parties what exactly they this country who are spending each and only concerned about our people. it? the townships, with nothing to do mean by this, they will eloquently day doing something not adding immediate families and not caring by the plight of We were motivated to post-matric As South Africans, we are good at except drown themselves in alcohol explain their policy. value to their personal development. about these youths? study (again under the harshest of convening indabas to discuss chal- and drugs as a means to escape the The reality is different, leading These young people need opportuni- Are we comfortable with the fact black youth conditions in what were called lenges facing this country (like the reality they face. These are the peo- one to pose the question: Do they ties for a job and/or further educa- that the majority of youths will con- “bush universities”) and to acquire one which is the subject of this arti- ple who will form the majority of really care about the black youth sit- tion which can add value towards tinue living in the same deep the kind of education that enabled cle), but what we are lacking is the the adult population in this country ting in the townships with no means contributing to the growth of the poverty and inequality that our us to compete at the same and even ability to implement decisions taken in future. to earn a living and therefore start economy in this country. grandparents and parents experi- youth. The starting point should be at higher levels with people from during these indabas. What this is saying for me is that building a better life for themselves? We cannot afford not to be enced during colonisation and to ensure better education of our other races (who went to better We cannot afford the situation of we are once again running the risk The majority of these youths alarmed by the plight of the black apartheid? youth especially in the townships/ resourced institutions) and in the always calling these indabas (which of having the majority of the people have matric or post-matric qualifica- youth in the townships of South How do we talk about South rural areas works, by, among other process contribute to the economy of personally I consider a waste of in this country living on the fringes tions which the corporate world is Africa. African togetherness (which by the things actively participating in this country. resources) without seeing tangible of the economy. This will perpetuate deliberately choosing to ignore (for The big question I (and many way has to be harnessed and rein- bringing about proper governance, As decision-makers in the corpo- evidence of the roll-out of initiatives the economic domination of these reasons known to them). more concerned black adults like me forced by these future adults) when management and proper teaching rate world we need to take a keen benefiting the youth of this country, people by other races (especially My sadness is further reinforced who were born and raised in the the majority of our black youth con- (mainly science, maths and business interest in the recruitment and particularly those in the townships those currently controlling the when I see some of our youth in the townships) are asking is: Why are tinue to live in poverty because they economics) in these schools. selection processes our HR depart- and rural areas. economy). main cities of our country (like the we allowing this to happen? This are not given opportunities to make We went through the harshest ments follow when filling positions. ● Zungu is a Transformation This will go against the South Cape Town CBD) spending the question can be directed in particu- a better life for themselves? education system during the Are we seeing a situation where the Manager at Teleperformance South African dream which most if not all whole day handing out flyers to peo- lar at the same black people coming I believe we can do a number of apartheid years, but our communi- recruitment and selection processes Africa. He writes in his personal political parties (based on their ple passing by (some of these flyers from these townships and rural things to alleviate the plight of the ties, teachers and the youth (the take advantage of the loopholes in capacity.

FINDING THE MIDDLE GROUND Baboons: getting the balance right

Esme Beamish iour and a respected conservation- ist, stated that this attitude “effec- KILL all of them versus scare none. tively emasculated the monitors and These are the extremes of the cur- consigned the baboons to death”. rent baboon management debate on UCT’s Dr Tali Hoffman recently the Peninsula. The middle ground is published research showing that managed by the Baboon Conserva- even if every house and residents’ tion Authorities who have achieved lifestyle was baboon proofed that their primary goal of a sustainable baboons would still prefer to forage population of baboons but are still within the urban areas. This is working to reduce human-baboon because our houses and farms are conflict to acceptable levels. on the low lying, richer soils of the Contrary to the recent claims of coastal plains which offer bigger the activist group Baboon Matters and better forms of both indigenous Trust in the Cape Times, there is no and exotic plant food and more secrecy in managing the Peninsula water. If we do not scare baboons baboons. All baboon management away from urban areas then the decisions (good, bad and sad) are incentives to forage among our published by the city in a monthly houses will remain. report compiled by the service International delegates at the provider responsible for the daily workshop impressed upon the management of the baboons. authorities that there was a need for The irony is that activists rou- Numbers of Cape Peninsula baboons from 2006 to July 2011 better trained and appropriately tinely out of ignorance or self-inter- equipped “baboon rangers” to more est misuse these public reports to effectively deter baboons from forag- make erroneous claims that the ing (on natural or human foods) Peninsula baboon population, and within the urban edge while long- in particular adult males, are in term solutions are derived. It was “drastic decline” because of current emphasised that even the Humane management methods. society of the US strongly advocated The facts are somewhat different. scaring wildlife away from humans Peninsula baboons have increased in (“hazing”) to avoid the need for non- number by 100 in the past six years lethal management. (see graph). Furthermore, the num- In January, baboon researchers ber of adult males has increased dra- at UCT proposed baboon-proof fenc- matically from about 40 to 60 males (a ing as a reliable, consistent and 46 percent increase) over the same affordable means of keeping time – the direct result of improved baboons and humans safe from each management by the authorities. SCARE TACTICS: If we do not scare baboons away from urban areas then the incentives to forage among our houses will remain, says the writer. other in perpetuity. GPS collars The authorities are to be com- worn by a variety of Peninsula mended for having achieved their baboons since 2008 have revealed primary goal of a sustainable 2009 to R10m an annum this year. research were all denied permits to participation, and undertook audits induced baboon mortality rate from out that baboons had never been pre- that fences of the right specification baboon population as part of the Monitors now manage 10 of the limit further close contact between of commercial and public properties over 10 percent in 2006 to 5 percent vented from acquiring these bad thwart baboons from even desirable Peninsula’s rich natural heritage. 16 Peninsula troops when previously humans and baboons, especially to minimise baboon attractants. last year. habits and thus other non-lethal areas such as vineyards. However, every year of success only five troops were managed. baboons in conflict with people. Further, the authorities routinely In July last year at a workshop methods should be considered. A variety of fences will be tested brings ever greater management Second, all three conservation Fourth, controversial manage- consult with local and internation- organised by UCT and funded by the The history of the monitor pro- by the authorities and private challenges requiring more resources authorities (SANParks, Cape Nature ment decisions were devolved to an ally recognised experts in baboon Project for the Enhancement of gramme was presented describing landowners this year. In the interim, to be committed in a city struggling and City of Cape Town) hold external body of wildlife specialists behavioural ecology and conserva- Research Capacity, international how all attempts to either herd it is the stated goal of the baboon con- to balance human poverty and biodi- monthly meetings to deliberate on (Wildlife Advisory Committee) to tion to ensure that their manage- conservationists asked why so much baboons away or halt their advance servation authorities to keep baboons versity. More baboons and more peo- management challenges. They also ensure accountability and adher- ment decisions are informed by the effort and money was allocated to a across the urban edge had failed to safely in natural areas and so improve ple but with less natural land as meet regularly with members of the ence to agreed procedures by the latest research. Together, the above population that they described as prevent baboons, particularly adult both their welfare and conservation urbanisation advances, is a recipe public (Baboon Liaison Group) from local authorities. interventions make the Peninsula “the worst behaved baboons they males, from raiding on a daily basis. value while allowing residents to for further conflict. So, how have the areas of the Peninsula affected by Fifth, the authorities, recognis- baboons the best resourced and had ever encountered”. And, attempts to make monitors move freely in and out of their houses authorities responded to this chal- baboons to adapt management to ing the need to educate the public, managed population of free living, Surprisingly, they recommended more effective at scaring baboons without the fear of a raid. lenge since 2009 when they took over engage their concerns. together with civic representatives commensal primates in the country either culling or placing these away were fiercely opposed by a ● Beamish completed her Mas- the Baboon Management Team? Third, the authorities stopped all increased education through public and arguably the continent. There is “spoilt baboons” into a fenced sanc- handful of activists and local wel- ter’s degree at the University of Cape First, the City of Cape Town activities that brought people into meetings, mail drops on waste man- always room for improvement, but tuary following sterilisation. fare groups. In response, Professor Town in 2010 on population dynam- increased the budget for managing close contact with baboons. Filming, agement, improved signage on testament to the success of these However, in defence of the Shirley Strum, a leading interna- ics and the effects of injury on the baboons from R1 million prior to baboon walking tours and pure roads, expert workshops with public actions is the decline in the human baboons, local researchers pointed tional researcher on baboon behav- Peninsula baboons.

Clueless achievers rule, OK? Independence is the name of the game

DOCTOR employs magic at tour- Angry Oy-lympics for Jewish mothers. The EPORTS of my death are tion played fast and loose with not I personally believe that the nament (7, 5).* I’m trying to solve winner would be the mom who greatly exaggerated,” just political issues, but also in Indie Trust is one of the most this clue compiled by gifted tweet Utterances (10) guilts her child the fastest. “You ‘RMark Twain wrote in a Man Friday massive news manipulation in exciting developments in the media cruciverbalist @aclueaday and I’m jonathan ancer don’t phone, you don’t write… just cable to the Associated Press after pursuit of bigger sales and profits. in South Africa in recent years. watching the Olympic Games. How as long as you’re happy.” they had prematurely published his tony weaver As the founding trustees said in The Independent Group employs the hell do the gymnasts get their The weightlifting commentator obituary. a letters to staff when our trust was some of South Africa’s (and indeed, bodies to twist, twirl and tumble? unscramble. Judges would score brings me back to Earth. “She’s got In similar vein, rumours of the dent Group, will buy a 25 percent launched, “the Independent Trust the world’s) finest journalists, but Egyptian Mohamed Sherif El anagrams on speed and ingenuity. a great snatch,” she says. I don’t impending sale of the Cape Times stake in the company, and run the for Media Freedom is aimed at our previous Irish majority owners, Saharty takes his place on the floor. I start my wordnastics training think she’s referring to Ms Hooker. and other newspapers in the newspapers in conjunction with securing the interests of journal- the O’Reilly family, took big profits I bet we’ll see an excellent Arab programme and ask David, a friend, I leave weightlifting before the Independent Newspapers stable our financial backers. ism in any changes at Independent offshore and invested very little in spring from him. The camera turns to be my coach. “Let’s start with clean and jerk (although for 13-year- are, as yet, equally exaggerated. Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Newspapers South Africa, a cause the company. to Team GB. “That’s Kristian an anagram of ‘Boeremag’,” he old boys it’s jerk then clean). But that doesn’t mean we are Tutu, in agreeing to be our patron, that has attracted widespread sup- Throughout that process, we Thomas,” says the commentator, suggests. If there were a category for jerks, safe. Our Irish owners have said “we know that the price of port from workers in the company.” have hung on to the proud tradi- “he’s a wonderful vaulter.” I close my eyes and get into the South Africa would reach its 12- publicly stated that they have freedom is eternal vigilance and at In a separate letter, the trustees tions of our flagship titles – in the A wonderful vaulter? It reminds cross zone. I see “Mega bore” and medal target easily. We have so been approached by various this particular stage in our nascent said “as you know there has been case of the Cape Times, traditions me of a joke. An athlete clutching a “Beg a moer”. There’s also “Mob many. The Boeremag, the Idols parties interested in buying us – but democracy, more than ever we need much speculation about the future that go back to our first publication massive stick walks down the street. rage”, I tell him. But he points out judges, Jessica “K-Bomber” dos San- they haven’t said we are actually a free and independent press. of our holding company in Ireland on Monday, March 27, 1876 – and A reporter stops him and asks: “Are that there’s a leftover “e”. tos and David Bullard. for sale. “The powerful are kept on their and about a possible sale of Inde- which make us the oldest daily you a pole vaulter?” “Keep training,” he advises. In which other categories would We know that various parties toes most often by the knowledge pendent SA. In order to prepare for newspaper in South Africa, and one “No,” answers the athlete, “I’m I sigh and return to the real South Africa be medal contenders? have expressed interest – the Cape that any excesses and abuse of that a sale, should there be one, we are of the oldest in the world. And that German, but how do you know my Olympics. I pick up the remote con- In the Shift-the-Blame Scapegoat Town-based Sekunjalo group, possi- power will be fearlessly exposed. reviving the idea of a staff trust, makes us a plum and prestigious name is Walter?” trol and whiz through sports – from Shuffle with Angie “It wasn’t me” bly the Gupta family, who own that You are absolutely crucial. All open to all staff in our company… prize for any prospective buyer. Thomas may be a wonderful Wal- fencing (“Cool, let’s watch Star Motshekga and Jacob “It was Verwo- dreadful rag, The New Age, Cyril power to you all.” “If there is to be a sale, we I have been asked many times ter, but is he a good Kristian? Gym- Wars,” says my light-sabre-obsessed erd” Zuma carrying the nation’s Ramaphosa and Tokyo Sexwale’s Our biggest concern, as working should make sure that journalists what readers of the Cape Times can nastics provides good double defini- son Khwezi), to handball, to archery, hopes. Zuma, the Michael Phelps of names have both been kicked about. journalists, is to keep the news- and other staff are in a position to do to help preserve the integrity tion clues like Glass acrobat (7) and to beach volleyball (there’s a US the Polygalymypics, is the gold But the most exciting possibility papers free of political interference get a stake of some sort so that we and the future of this newspaper, Smile at narrow apparatus (4). player called Destinee Hooker), to medal favourite in the under-five is that of the Independent Trust for from proprietors, and to continue to can have a say in the future of our and my answer is simply this: buy The answers are TUMBLER, a synchronised diving. I finally settle wives, 20-something children heavy- Media Freedom (the “Indie Trust”), produce high quality newspapers newspapers and help to realise the the Cape Times, and even better, synonym for both “glass” and “acro- on weightlifting and watch 53kg- weight division. whose founding trustees are Cape and news delivery for new media. great potential this company has. subscribe, because without our bat”, and BEAM, which is a “smile” women’s eyeballs pop as they grunt Meanwhile, Brett Murray and Times editor, Alide Dasnois, Busi- It has always been a feature of “As chief executive Tony readers, we are nothing. and a “narrow apparatus”. under the strain of 99kg. Zapiro have been in intensive train- ness Report editor-at-large, Ann particularly the British press, that Howard has emphasised, we have Try it – it’s habit-forming. What about a Crossword Olympic Did the commentator really just ing for months, so SA is sure to bag Crotty, and Media Workers’ Associ- powerful interests vie for owner- the makings of an excellent media Without you, our readers, we Games? Solvers would tumble over say: “She needs to nail a good double gold at the Olympricks. ation of South Africa general ship and control of newspapers company – we have some of the might as well convert to being just homophones, perform full-twisting snatch?” secretary, Tuwani Gumani. because of the political influence oldest and best newspaper titles in another characterless website that anagram flips and double-definition “Oy vey,” I gasp, wondering if *OLYMPIC GAMES: an anagram Essentially the idea is that we, we can bring to bear. We just have to the country and we have dedicated, gets lost in the clutter and noise of somersaults to solve clues. Words I’ve stumbled on the 50 Shades of of “employs magic” (“Doctor” is the the journalists and other media look at the sordid way in which passionate and hardworking the double U double U double U. would be thrown at solvers to Grey Olympics. There should be an anagram indicator). workers employed by the Indepen- Rupert Murdoch’s News Corpora- employees.” [email protected]