So its been a while and the reason I never lived up to my promise of blogging at least once a week, was because for the most part I had no passion in me to blog. The other part I got swamped with work and took on more then I could handle with some freebie work I was doing. Yes say it, I know you thinking it anyway – Douche Bag I am!

So the passion to write is slowly returning and the freebie work that I was doing was actually all about writing. I was writing blog posts and reviews for some sites out there. [No I am not sharing it with you, if you find it you do, if not it doesn’t have anything to do with you.]

I’ve also been jamming up my weekends with the Football mania that is gripping my beautiful country South Africa.

Managed to make it to the opening game of Soccer City, Johannesburg. Thanks to my lovely friend Aasia for organising the tickets and making sure I got there. Was so unreal to hear about 80 000 plus [close on to 95 000 I hear] fans blowing vuvuzelas*, cheering their team and bottom line getting into the spirit of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, though it was a Nedbank Cup final between Wits University and AmaZulus.

Capacity crowds at the opening of Soccer City

Then Sunday was all about chilling but Monday brought on another bought of Football Fever. Headed to Soweto once again to see my country South Africa take on Bulgaria. I felt the stadium tremble under the feet of the supporters, I head shouts and screams and vuvuzelas from people of every colour and race. I felt a country united and I had goosebumps, not from the cold, the entire night.

I also learnt that my country will be behind the player 101% even when we know they could be doing better, much better.

I could criticize the players here but that’s for a different blog and a different audience.

Orlando Stadium, Soweto, behind Bafana Bafana 101%

Another exciting and interesting event in the last four days with regards to football was the Kia Street Soccer experience. I watched Under 13’s play with such skill that would make grown men feel ashamed. I heard the streets of Alexandra township come alive cheering for teams of 6 players which had to have 2 girls in their team play to win a trophy. Also I heard that Kia will be taking all 4000 kids who participated in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban to a 2010 FIFA World Cup game, to be part of it and for these underprivileged kids to be able to say “I was there”.

Makes me realise that this world is such a beautiful place with so many great people who will always try to make a difference in peoples lives no matter what.

Winning team from the Kia Street Soccer - Soweto Young Ones

Thank you to the beautiful people out there with the biggest hearts.

PS: Did I mention I also watched GREASE at the theatro on Tuesday. Was amazing and once again Thank you to Aasia.

*Vuvuzelas: are horns or trumpets that are blown at almost every football game in South Africa. It increases the experience by 10 folds but can leave you hard of hearing or short of breath or even both . More info find it here and for pics you can find here.

Nelson Mandela's walk to freedom - 11 February 1990

On this day 20 years ago one of the greatest men walked out of prison to the welcoming arms of his people.

Many people in South Africa today are remembering this day, but like many I was one of those too young to realise the meaning of it all. Sure my parents had set me down countless times and told me why this day was important and who Nelson Mandela was, but a six-year old only knows the excitement that surrounds her and not what is happening. I remember running around the room waiting to see the first images of the man everyone kept talking about.

Not only was is a memorable day because of his release to me, but it was also a hot, sunny one in Durban, meaning pool time for sure. Yes, thats how I remember it.

One thing though that everyone today seems to be forgetting is the if it wasn’t for the push and the person FW de Klerk is, we really would not be having much to celebrate. Mandela is a great man especially for calling for peace and holding a country together which threatened to spill the blood of innocent people, but I personally also have to give credit to de Klerk. Yes, he was part of the Apartheid system, yes his morals and ethics need questioning but he did set free the man who brought this nation together.

Thank you to de Klerk and thank you very very much to Tata Madiba, for giving me the opportunity to grow up FREE and to let me finish school, go to campus and be the person I want to be – in – SOUTH AFRICA!!!

***YouTube vid of the events of that day…20 years ago!!!***
BBC News: Nelson Mandela released from prison

Performers at opening ceremony

Told myself that I needed to start blogging again and more frequently but it never seems to happen. This is me making a concerted effort to blog at least once a week even if its only a picture or a video, even if it also only makes sense in my mind and not my readers. Maybe that way I can generate some interesting conversations on deciphering code.

I have this insane passion for sports and most of all for football/soccer*. This year is Africa’s year of football greatness.

But it was with sadness that we witnessed tragedy strike the Togo international team in Angola this past weekend. To top it all off CAF is lead by some pretty stupid people. The Togo team had decided to return to their country to bury the dead and then make a decision and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) asked that they stay and play in the AFCON [African Cup of Nations].

They removed themselves from the competition but have no decided that they would like to return and to play in the competition. CAF – the bloody idiots – are not allowing them to return to the competition.

Some one please explain the stupidity that lies behind such decisions?

Anyway, not only is CAF stupid but the world if they think that one incident in a country that is approximately more than 5000kms aways [ok I have no idea how far it is] should affect the World Cup in South Africa, shows how devious and low handed people can be.

I mean when there was a bombing in Atlanta AT the Olympics did the rest of the world ask the USA to call of the games or move it elsewhere. This happened in another country NOT in South Africa.

It is not a security risk to SA. We are ready we are prepared for this competition and we want the world to see us for us. Stop grouping all countries in AFRICA as one.

“I think everybody understands [the attack] has nothing to do with South Africa,” Jordaan said. “When there was a bomb in London no-one said we should not have 2012 in London so we cannot have double standards.”

“The world must be balanced and must not apply different standards when it comes to the African continent. Our World Cup is secure and we are confident because we have employed a lot of resources to safeguard the event in our country.”

Blatter wrote to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) president, Isaa Hayatou, saying: “I have faith in Africa, and it is with this faith that together we will organise world football’s showcase event in 2010.”

[Times Live, 10Jan10]

My condolences are with the Togo nationals.

On the other hand, with the opening game already played, and if that’s anything to go by, this is going to be one cracker of a AFCON competition. With Angola leading 4-0 to see the match finish in a 4 all draw, you know this is going to only get better and better. The usual teams are firm favourites – Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Ghana but anything can happen and I for one am excited to be watching African football.

Makes the lead up to the world cup all that more interesting. From today there is only 150days left to the biggest sporting event being kicked of in South Africa. Excitement only continues to mount and every time I see one of our amazing beautiful stadiums I get shivers and tingles down my spine. Also with the number of people coming into our country there is no doubt going to be some beautiful eye candy.

*Most of the world regard the beautiful game as football, but with Americanisation soccer has become as popular globally. Americans already had American football and therefore call football soccer.

Fireworks and laser light display during the opening ceremony

South African doctors on strike on May 29, 2009.

We live in country that has made me proud and sad all in one breath.

Been talking to a doctor friend of mine and came to the realisation that I along with half the country does not actually know nor under stand why the doctors across the country are striking. I convinced the kind soul to enlighten me and along with that the rest of the nation.

His response is below. I suggest reading it completely before judging the doctors and health care professionals who are striking presently. Who we conveniently condemn for leaving their patients unattended.

Have a heart to read the pleas of the doctors, for they are the heart that our nation needs to survive with.

Why Doctors feel the need to strike.

27/06/2009

The current strike happening by government employed doctors gained momentum yesterday when doctors in the Western Cape decided to join the strike action following a meeting at Groote Schuur Hospital. As a doctor at the above institution I had mixed feelings about striking and abandoning our patients in what is seen by the general public as just a dispute over salaries. The protest action is in fact a culmination of years of abuse that medical professionals have endured at the hands of the government.

Let’s start with working conditions. The hospitals are over-capacity, and the doctors are overworked. In my ward, we officially have place for 65 patients. We had more than 85 for the best part of last week. Doctors work 30 hour shifts when they do overtime, working a minimum of 60 hours a week in my hospital, but it’s not like this everywhere. Usually it’s worse. Although, this certainly is an improvement since 2002 when as an intern, I worked 100 hours a week and 30 hour shifts every third day. We are expected to do procedures with needles potentially putting ourselves and others at risk of contracting HIV by needlestick injuries, this even after having been awake and on our feet for 24 hours and more. Yes, just call us Jack Bauer.

If that was all there was to contend with, then it would be bad. But add to that, unsafe working conditions. Doctors and nurses literally put their lives at risk to save others in busy casualties by working late nights, trying to save gunshot victims of gang warfare, knowing full well that someone might just overpower the lone security guard at the door and come in to finish the job. I kid you not. Many of my colleagues have had to dodge a flying bullet.
Supplies. You’d think hospitals wouldn’t run of supplies right? Nope. Gloves. Needles. Syringes. IV fluids. Linen. Antibiotics. Incubators. Two nights ago, on call, I had to place two babies into one incubator, because we just did not have enough. As an Intern and a Community Service doctor, I had to treat patients on the floor. They had to sleep on the floor, because we didn’t have enough beds! Not that there was anymore place to put any beds in the ward. It’s frustrating having to work in a SA hospital. You have nothing to work with, yet are asked to perform miracles. Often the doctor on call, has to decide whether to refuse one patient life-saving treatment, in the hope of saving another with a slightly better chance of survival. This is Africa after all.

All this, in the face of dwindling staff. Nobody wants to work for the state. It’s too difficult. Too stressful. Dying patients you can do nothing for, in overcrowded hospitals, with nothing to help them with.

It’s no wonder so many of my colleagues have decided to jump ship. Go to any hospital in the UK, Australia, Canada, The Netherlands, Ireland, New Zealand, and you’ll be sure to find at least one South African. This brain drain is going to continue, unless the government starts making amends. It’s a one-way ticket out of South African Medical Schools and into European hospitals. And it’s spiraling out of control. The less doctors in government service, the rosier it looks overseas, the more doctors will leave the government service. And if you think it’s just whites, think again. Blacks, whites, indian, coloured doctors….all leaving in droves. Ironically, I know of many European and Canadian doctors wanting to work in South Africa, in SA hospitals, for experience not money, and the government and HPCSA have them jumping beaurocratic hurdles for years.

Add to that, the government recently doubled the internship time from 1 year to 2 years, and are now looking to increase mandatory community service from 1 year to 2 years. Effectively, if you’re 18 when you enter Medical School, you’ll be 28 when you’d be free to make independent choices about your career. Until then, you’ll be told where you must work and live. This is going to force medical graduates to do internship overseas, never to come back.

Now coming to the salaries…after having spent 6 years studying, and at least R30 000 on tuition alone yearly , one can look forward to taking home around R9000 (after tax) a month as an intern. If you ask me, I think this was an incentive for doubling the internship time and community service time. Where do you get skilled workers to perform life-saving procedures locked into a 4 year contract to earn R9000 a month?

To do the job I do in the hospital I have three degrees in the medical field, but earn less than a gym personal trainer. If you compare my job requirements and qualification to any other professional in the government sector, I am being underpaid by at least 50%. In private practice I would be earning at least 300% of my current salary.
So why do I work in government and not private practice? For most people in my position, it’s a lot more about the job than the money. It’s about the patients. It’s about advancing healthcare in this country, and advancing the field of medicine as a whole, by academic work and delivery of professional service. Medical professionals are amongst the most skilled people in society, as it is almost a process of natural selection that produces these individuals.

But they’re being walked all over.

When the Minister held that press conference on Wednesday, it was a sneaky political move. When has any employer presented a wage offer to the public without first taking it the bargaining chamber? It was a move that they knew would be highly publicized and designed to remove public support for the strike action. In it they announced massive increases for Interns and Principle and Chief Specialist. But it was the grades in the middle that basically got nothing. To use an Army analogy, it would be giving the new recruits and the Generals something to keep them happy but everyone in between got shit. The generals were happy, so they didn’t support the action, and the New recruits were happy so they, who are usually the youngest, most militant, out the group, would go back to work.

But they left out the people that really count. The one’s doing the real work. Medical Officers, Junior and Senior Specialists. The Interns, registrars aren’t going to be around forever, they have finite contracts. But the Medical officers and specialists working in the government have made it long-term career choices. This is not the first time that we are being duped either. We were promised that this OSD would come into effect July 2008. It’s now one year later, and we’re still waiting. We want what we were promised.

And those that ask is it worth it? Is it worth patients dying for higher salaries? That’s a difficult one for us, but in the end, it comes down to what’ll happen if we don’t do anything. And the simple answer is this: Our health system is at breakpoint. It’s close to crumbling, and the government has chosen to ignore and put band-aids on it. It’s as if they don’t care. When Manto got her new liver, she didn’t lie in a government hospital.

So, since most of us don’t have the heart or inclination to abandon our sickest patients, doctors in the Western Cape have decided to continue running emergency services, critical care and theatres only. All outpatients and elective surgery will have to close. We’re not doing medical teaching either. Sorry students, we’re fighting for your future too.

If we don’t do something now…it’s going to cost much more lives in the future.

We humbly ask that the public support us in our endeavors. In the end it affects all of us.

Dr Y.J.

Proud supporters of the South African National Team

Been meaning to post my thoughts on the previous matches I attended but I’ve just gotten more and more carried away with events happening around me. Some may find this post seriously delayed but this is my blog [I reiterate] and I have the joy of posting what I want, when and how I want it.

Honestly no matter what people say and the shitty press coverage South Africa seems to garner… there’s just one thing I can say… SOUTH AFRICA YOU CAN BE PROUD!!!

These last few weeks of intense football has shown the world we can pull it off. Bring on World Cup 2010, bring on the world!! We have what it takes and we going to show you how a nation still stands together. A nation just in their adolescent years.

I am proud and honoured to be a South African. To being in the stadium last night [25 June 2009] and singing the national anthem with pride and a little tears in my eyes. To hear 49 000 people cheering on both teams and to know that on the world stage ‘Our boys’ [Bafana Bafana] can perform.

We did not stand in awe of the likes of Kaka and Robinho but fought to the end to win and be the champions, to be the ones who go into the finals knowing that a nation stands behind pushing, encouraging and blessing you for bringing us all together.

But alas that was not so. We lost but only in the dying minutes and I am proud of the way my country has performed. From where we were three months go to playing like this. I am loving it.

The Confederation Cup is seen as the pre-empt to the World Cup and as a training so that the world cup can go smoothly. Well this was indeed a training mission for the South Africans and the Gauteng administrators.

I have to say that there definitely were teething problems, but as I said it was TEETHING issues. Nothing majorly catastrophic like a stampede.

My first match was the Egypt vs. Italy match and the major concern I had after the match was the ‘Park and Ride’ facilities. It was at this point that I realised that a lot had to do with poor organisation and the nature of the crowd. Yes this is my one and only grip with the Local Organising committee.

The park and ride worked beautifully going to the ground, as most supporters arrive in various different batches. It’s after the match when things get a bit ‘unruly’ and crowd control is lacking.

My second match was the Brazil vs. Italy at Loftus, Pretoria. The organisation on was perfect and brilliant. Clear boards pointed you to your awaiting buses, people were helpful and friendly, no pushing and no shoving, but then again the crowd here was mediocre.

SO I know that this Confederation Cup was a test and I hope the guys in Johannesburg will learn from their counterparts in Pretoria.

Many have complained about the Vuvuzelas at the game, but this is South Africa, this is Africa. It is part of our games and it should stay [even if I at times get irritated by them]. Why? Because Fifa you brought the beautiful game to Africa, so let us have our African atmospheres, shouting, laughs and tears. Europe it may disturb and infuriate you but this is AFRICA and not Europe. Give us our freedom of expression!!!

South Africa I am proud to be called South African, I am proud to be living in this country during this historic moment and I am proud of our players, supporters, organisation and friendly smiles.

I am proud to be able to watch a match where our supporters come from every race, creed and background. TO know we have come this far from being nowhere.

I am a PROUD SOUTH AFRICAN today!!!!
SA fans in action

for more videos check here
for more pictures from Egypt vs. Italy, Brazil vs. Italy and SA vs. Brazil