Hamba Kahle Mandoza

The death of anyone, let alone a celebrity, is a sad occasion. And it’s right to mourn. However, today isn’t a time to mourn Mduduzi Edmund Tshabalala, aka Mandoza.

Instead, we should be celebrating him. After all, his song, Nkalakatha is a South African classic that transcends cultural borders within our country. You’re as likely to hear it blasting out of the sound system of a national rugby stadium as you are to hear it in a Taxi at the traffic light.

Not only is it South Africa’s unofficial anthem but the dance makes even the most uncoordinated citizens get up off their behinds and throwing their arms, hands, and legs in the air.

Nando’s shows it best with this ad.

Today, Friday, marks his funeral. Hamba Kahle Mandoza. Go well, you legend.

World Rhino Day

Thursday was World Rhino Day. While it’s a global day to celebrate this magnificent animal, it’s particularly important for South Africa, as it is home to the largest remnants of Africa’s black and white rhino populations. According to the Department of Environment Affairs, 363 rhinos have already been poached this year.

Over the past week, we received news of a number of great initiatives aimed at preserving rhinos and combating the scourge of poaching.

There’s the inspiring 10-year-old entrepreneur, Jenna Bischoff, who has collaborated with her father to produce a liquid soap and hand lotion, Jenna B. All profits made from sales will be donated to Unite Against Poaching.

World Rhino Day also saw the launch of ‘Rhino Ranger’, a superhero which aims to work with Vietnamese youngsters and cut consumption of rhino horn in Vietnam. Working with Vietnamese youth, Wilderness Foundation Africa is collaborating with a generation that will, as adults, be in a position to influence not only their peers but also their parents and family.

Finally, The PlanetRhino Fund, a partnership between the MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet fundraising programme and the fund’s administrator, the Endangered Wildlife Trust, recently announced that over the past 12 months, R2.5-million has been raised for rhino conservation.

Nothing like a little bit of hope to get you going on a Friday.

#Feesmustfall 2.0

As much as it would be great not to talk about the serious stuff – as this is a Friday piece and everyone is in weekend mode – we can’t stick our heads in the sand and hope things will go away.

We’re referring to the unrest at universities. We’re pretty sure sticking their heads in the sand is what politicians wish they could do, considering what’s happening.

Last year saw the first protests around the fee increases at universities. Politicians duly acquiesced. However, if you do it once, it often means you have to do it again. And when you don’t, well, people get pretty angry and campuses get shut down.

And then Gwede Mantashe decided to weigh in with his two cents, stating that if it was up to him, he would close down the universities to teach students a lesson. Has he lost his mind?

We hope this gets sorted out soon. The last thing we want is any unnecessary bloodshed. We need unity and togetherness.

It’s Braai Day

Speaking about togetherness, tomorrow is Heritage Day. Or ‘Braai Day’ as Jan Scannell likes to call it.

And as Rebecca Black sings, It’s Braai Day, Braai Day, Gotta get down on Braai Day. Okay, no she doesn’t but she should.

Regardless, it’s an opportunity to have a few celebratory drinks and stand around a fire. Maybe even crank up Nkalakatha while you’re at it.

That’s enough for one week. Enjoy your Heritage Day weekend, and be safe out there.