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.