Thursday 26 November 2015
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Monday 23 November 2015
Muhammad Ali: The Greatest of All Time
Muhammad Ali
Boxer, Philanthropist (1942–)
Arguably boxing's most celebrated athlete, Muhammad Ali is also known for his public stance against the Vietnam War and his longtime battle with Parkinson's disease.
Synopsis
Born Cassius Clay in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1942, Muhammad Ali became an Olympic gold medalist in 1960 and the world heavyweight boxing champion in 1964. Following his suspension for refusing military service, Ali reclaimed the heavyweight title two more times during the 1970s, winning famed bouts against Joe Frazier and George Foreman along the way. Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1984, Ali has devoted much of his time to philanthropy, earning the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005.
25 Images
Early Life
Boxer, philanthropist and social activist Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky. Ali showed at an early age that he wasn't afraid of any bout—inside or outside of the ring. Growing up in the segregated South, he experienced racial prejudice and discrimination firsthand, which likely contributed to his early passion for boxing.
At the age of 12, Ali discovered his talent for boxing through an odd twist of fate. His bike was stolen, and Ali told a police officer, Joe Martin, that he wanted to beat up the thief. "Well, you better learn how to fight before you start challenging people," Martin reportedly told him at the time. In addition to being a police officer, Martin also trained young boxers at a local gym.
Ali started working with Martin to learn how to box, and soon began his boxing career. In his first amateur bout in 1954, he won the fight by split decision. Ali went on to win the 1956 Golden Gloves tournament for novices in the light heavyweight class. Three years later, he won the National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions, as well as the Amateur Athletic Union's national title for the light heavyweight division.
Olympic Gold
In 1960, Ali won a spot on the U.S. Olympic boxing team, and traveled to Rome, Italy, to compete. At 6' 3", Ali was an imposing figure in the ring, but he also became known for his lightning speed and fancy footwork. After winning his first three bouts, Ali defeated Zbigniew Pietrzkowski from Poland to win the light heavyweight gold medal.
After his Olympic victory, Ali was heralded as an American hero. He soon turned professional with the backing of the Louisville Sponsoring Group, and continued overwhelming all opponents in the ring. Ali took out British heavyweight champion Henry Cooper in 1963, and then knocked out Sonny Liston in 1964 to become the heavyweight champion of the world.
Often referring to himself as "the greatest," Ali was not afraid to sing his own praises. He was known for boasting about his skills before a fight and for his colorful descriptions and phrases. In one of his more famously quoted descriptions, Ali told reporters that he could "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" in the boxing ring.
Conversion to Islam and Suspension
This bold public persona belied what was happening in Ali's personal life, however. He was doing some spiritual searching and decided to join the black Muslim group, the Nation of Islam, in 1964. At first, he called himself "Cassius X," before settling on the name Muhammad Ali.
A few years later, Ali started a different kind of fight with his outspoken views against the Vietnam War. Drafted into the military in April 1967, he refused to serve on the grounds that he was a practicing Muslim minister, with religious beliefs that prevented him from fighting. He was arrested for committing a felony, and almost immediately stripped of his world title and boxing license.
The U.S. Department of Justice pursued a legal case against Ali, denying his claim for conscientious objector status. He was found guilty of violating Selective Service laws and sentenced to five years in prison in June 1967, but remained free while appealing his conviction. Unable to compete professionally in the meantime, Ali missed more than three prime years of his athletic career. The U.S. Supreme Court eventually overturned the conviction in June 1971.
Boxing Comeback
Prior to the Supreme Court's decision, Ali returned to the ring in 1970 with a win over Jerry Quarry. The following year, Ali took on Joe Frazier in what has been called the "Fight of the Century." Frazier and Ali went toe-to-toe for 14 rounds, before Frazier dropped Ali with a vicious left hook in the 15th. Ali recovered quickly, but the judges awarded the decision to Frazier, handing Ali his first professional loss after 31 wins. Ali soon suffered a second loss, to Ken Norton, but he beat Frazier in a 1974 rematch.
Another legendary Ali fight, against undefeated heavyweight champion George Foreman, took place in 1974. Billed as the "Rumble in the Jungle," the bout was organized by promoter Don King and held in Kinshasa, Zaire. For once, Ali was seen as the underdog to the younger, massive Foreman, but he silenced his critics with a masterful performance. He baited Foreman into throwing wild punches with his "rope-a-dope" technique, before stunning his opponent with an eighth-round knockout to reclaim the heavyweight title.
Ali and Frazier locked horns for their grudge match in Quezon City, Philippines, in 1975. Dubbed the "Thrilla in Manila," the bout nearly went the distance, with both men delivering and absorbing tremendous punishment. However, Frazier's trainer threw in the towel after the 14th round, giving the hard-fought victory to Ali.
After losing his title to Leon Spinks in February 1978, Ali defeated him in the September rematch to become the first boxer to win the heavyweight championship three times. Following a brief retirement, he returned to the ring to face Larry Holmes in 1980, but was overmatched against the younger champion. Following one final loss in 1981, to Trevor Berbick, the boxing great retired from the sport.
Philanthropy and Legacy
In his retirement, Ali has devoted much of his time to philanthropy. He announced that he has Parkinson's disease in 1984, a degenerative neurological condition, and has been involved in raising funds for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Over the years, Ali has also supported the Special Olympics and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, among other organizations.
Muhammad Ali has traveled to numerous countries, including Mexico and Morocco, to help out those in need. In 1998, he was chosen to be a United Nations Messenger of Peace because of his work in developing countries.
In 2005, Ali received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush. He also opened the Muhammad Ali Center in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, that same year. "I am an ordinary man who worked hard to develop the talent I was given," he said. "Many fans wanted to build a museum to acknowledge my achievements. I wanted more than a building to house my memorabilia. I wanted a place that would inspire people to be the best that they could be at whatever they chose to do, and to encourage them to be respectful of one another."
Despite the progression of his disease, Ali remained active in public life. He was on hand to celebrate the inauguration of the first African-American president in January 2009, when Barack Obama was sworn into office. Soon after the inauguration, Ali received the President's Award from the NAACP for his public service efforts.
Ali has been married to his fourth wife, Yolanda, since 1986. The couple has one son, Asaad, and Ali has several children from previous relationships, including daughter Laila, who followed in his footsteps by becoming a champion boxer.
Universally regarded as one of the greatest boxers in history, Ali's stature as a legend continues to grow even as his physical state diminishes. He has been celebrated not only for his remarkable athletic skills, but for his willingness to speak his mind, and his courage to challenge the status quo.
“The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.” —Muhammad Ali
“The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.” —Muhammad Ali
SOURCE: biography.com
Thursday 19 November 2015
FAREWELL TRIBUTE TO JONAH LOMU
Jonah Lomu: All Black rugby great dies, age 40
Story highlights
- Rugby legend dies, age 40, in Auckland
- Lomu scored 37 tries for the All Blacks
- Player had long suffered from kidney disease
(CNN) Former
New Zealand international rugby star Jonah Lomu, widely regarded as one
of the game's finest players ever, died in Auckland early Wednesday
aged 40, according to New Zealand Rugby Union CEO Steve Tew.
"I can confirm the incredibly sad
news that we've lost another All Black great. (Jonah Lomu) died at his
home this morning," Tew said at a press conference Wednesday afternoon
local time.
An earlier statement by Tew on the official New Zealand Rugby Union Twitter account said:
"We're all shocked and deeply saddened at the sudden death of Jonah Lomu.
"We're
lost for words and our heartfelt sympathies go out to Jonah's family...
Jonah was a legend of our game and loved by his many fans both here and
around the world."
Lomu's family also confirmed the news and appealed for privacy.
Tew
said that few details about Lomu's sudden, unexpected death were known
at this point but that the rugby community should reflect on the
contribution that he had made. Since bursting onto the scene in the
mid-1990s his "contribution to the game brought it to another level.
He
was probably the game's first superstar."
Tributes pour in
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key expressed his condolences on Twitter.
"Deeply
saddened to hear of Jonah Lomu's unexpected passing this morning," he
wrote. "The thoughts of the entire country are with his family."
Former teammates and fellow All Blacks also added to the chorus of praise for an exceptional player.
Dan Carter, who helped New Zealand win the 2015 World Cup in his final international match, posted a short message on his Facebook page, sending his condolences to Lomu's family.
Lomu's first international captain, Sean Fitzpatrick, shared the sentiment and called him "a very special person."
"Jonah was one of Auckland's greatest sons," Auckland Mayor Len Brown said.
"He
was an icon who New Zealanders from every walk of life respected both
for his prowess on the rugby field and for the way he dealt with his
health issues."
The Australian Rugby
Union team's official Twitter account put aside traditional All
Black-Wallabies rivalries to honor the rugby great, saying "Our thoughts
go out to Jonah Lomu's family, (the) All Blacks, and the rugby
community. A legend of the game."
Unstoppable on the pitch
146 photos: People we lost in 2015
Lomu
was one of the game's all-time greats, scoring 37 tries in 63 Tests for
the All Blacks in an international career spanning eight years, from
1994 to 2002.
His career total, including club games and rugby sevens
games -- of which he was also a double world champion -- was 160 tries
over 212 games, a comparatively short career.
Originally a rugby league player, he switched codes in time for his breakout tournament, the 1995 World Cup in South Africa.
In
that tournament, he steamrollered over teams, scoring seven tries, and
most notably demolished England with a four-try performance in the
semifinals.
Dubbed the "Muhammad Ali of rugby,"
by then-England captain Will Carling, Lomu's blistering speed and
strength meant that he could sprint 100 meters (109 yards) in under 10.8
seconds, despite weighing 120 kg (265 lb).
Asked
about his favorite memories of Lomu, Tew said: "Anybody of my
generation will remember a World Cup game where he ran over a couple of
guys in white shirts," referring to the hapless 1995 England team.
He
is the joint-highest try scorer at the Rugby World Cup, joined this
year by South Africa's Bryan Habana.
He also is the holder of the record
for most meters made in World Cup competition, at 1,219m (4,999 ft). He
was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in October 2011.
New Zealand's rugby passion 05:13
Career cut short
A
stellar career was likely cut short by a rare kidney condition,
Nephrotic syndrome, which he was diagnosed with in 1995. He underwent a
kidney transplant in 2004.
He had returned to New Zealand from the United Kingdom hours before his death, according to CNN affiliate TVNZ,
where he was acting as a corporate spokesperson for events surrounding
the Rugby World Cup, which concluded at the end of October. New Zealand
won that final against rival Australia 34-17.
SOURCE: CNN
Tuesday 17 November 2015
Re-Working Black Economic Empowerment
By Thandisizwe Mgudlwa
In a move to improve the lives of the masses left out of the main stream of the South African economy because of historical injustices, there’s clearly a need for a more integrated and effective approach to “grass-rooting” the transformation programme of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE), so that the deserving masses can rightly have a share in their country's wealth.
A good example of this is the National Empowerment Fund (NEF) and the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) partnership, which was born in 2011 to launch the GIBS Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Unit and the GIBS/NEF Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) Thought Leaders Dialogue.
Established by the National Empowerment Fund Act No 105 of 1998, the NEF is a driver and a thought-leader in promoting and facilitating Black economic participation through the provision of financial and non-financial support to Black empowered businesses, as well as by promoting a culture of savings and investment among Black people.
The GIBS B-BBEE Unit was launched to focus on the following areas, Research & Development, to establish best practice in Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) in South Africa (rather than the narrow approach which is predominantly focusing on the ownership aspect of the score card); the introduction of academic and executive programmes at GIBS, including a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) Elective Module in BEE, a Certificate Programme and an Executive Programmes Short Course; ensuring that B-BBEE issues and their effect on society are researched by members of the GIBS faculty; and hosting of Forums and Conferences: GIBS running a series of B-BBEE forums, workshops, and seminars as well as an annual conference to generate interest in B-BBEE stakeholders.
According to the Unit, the goal of the Thought Leaders Dialogue, a major initiative of the Unit, is to explore and influence the perception, design and implementation of B-BBEE in the South African economy. It brings business leaders and other stakeholders active in transformation together to vigorously debate the shortcomings and best practices in B-BBEE.
This group of experienced BEE thought leaders acts as a catalyst to influence and undo the unintended consequences of BEE, and point the way to a more integrated and effective approach to “grass-rooting” B-BBEE.
Ultimately, the B-BBEE Thought Leaders Dialogue may serve as a bridge between academia (in partnership with the private sector) and the Government leadership of the day.
South Africa’s entrepreneurial guru and founder of Black Like Me, Herman Mashaba was elected as the first Patron of the B-BBEE Thought Leadership Dialogue.
Meanwhile, the B-BBEE Act established a legislative framework and proposed establishing an advisory council.
And the Act’s preamble acknowledged that Apartheid excluded the majority of South Africans from accessing skills and ownership of productive assets.
Also, the Act would provide a framework to overcome this legacy by promoting the achievement of the constitutional right to equality.
Economic transformation would be achieved through various means such as changing the racial composition of enterprise ownership, management and skills acquisition.
Furthermore, the South African President would chair the BEE Advisory Council, which would include Cabinet ministers, academics and representatives of business, trade unions and community-based organisations, ( including Community Development Forums, Trusts, Councils and Associations among others).
And the Minister of Trade and Industry was empowered to issue a BEE strategy and Codes of Good Practise and publish Transformation Charters.
Codes of Good Practice would provide definitions and guidelines for implementing BEE. While, Sectoral Transformation Charters would be developed by major stakeholders in each sector.
Notably, "the BEE Act and its associated Codes of Good Practice are legally binding on government departments, state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and other public entities. They have to apply the Act and Codes when making decisions regarding procurement, licensing and concessions, public-private partnerships and the sale of state-owned assets and businesses."
However, "the Act and Codes are not legally binding on the private sector, but they may find their business shrinking if they do not promote BEE. For example, a 100% white-owned mining company that does not promote Black staff, or make any attempt to uplift poor communities where its mines are located, could experience difficulty getting its mining license renewed."
Similarly, "a large state-owned enterprise advertising a tender for supply of goods or services could award the tender to a private company that promotes Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), even if this company’s price is higher than another company that makes no attempt to do so."
The BEE legislation adds, “State contracts can be worth millions and this provides an incentive for private companies to change. For many companies, transformation becomes an economic imperative.”
In order for all this to exist the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) as a South African socio-economic policy framework implemented by the African National Congress (ANC) government of Nelson Mandela in 1994, would need to be revived.
"The RDP came into being after months of discussions, consultations and negotiations between the ANC, its Alliance partners the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party, and "mass organisations in the wider civil society."
The ANC's chief aim in developing and implementing the Reconstruction and Development Programme, was to address the immense socioeconomic problems brought about by the consequences of the struggle against its predecessors under the Apartheid regime.
Specifically, it set its sights on alleviating poverty and addressing the massive shortfalls in social services across the country, something that the document acknowledged would rely upon a stronger macroeconomic environment.
"Achieving poverty alleviation, and a stronger economy were thus seen as deeply interrelated and mutually supporting objectives, development without growth would be financially unsustainable, while growth without development would fail to bring about the necessary structural transformation within South Africa's deeply inequitable and largely impoverished population."
"Hence the RDP attempted to combine measures to boost the economy such as contained fiscal spending, sustained or lowered taxes, reduction of government debt and trade liberalisation with socially minded social service provisions and infrastructural projects. And as commentators then remarked that in this way, the policy took on both socialist and neo-liberal elements, but could not be easily categorised wholly in either camp."
Facing this "deep-seated structural crisis of The Reconstruction and Development Programme(RDP) Policy Framework,the government attempted to put together a policy framework that could begin to address the variety of problems being faced economically.The RDP White Paper,(which was presented to the Parliament of South Africa in 1994),identified economic, social, legal, political, moral, cultural and environmental problems that the country faced.
While the RDP White Paper outlined around six major principles that would guide and give substance to the remainder of the programme, the RDP would be integrated, well coordinated and a sustainable programme, to be conducted in and integrated amongst all three spheres of government, along with civil society, business companies and parastatals; the RDP would be 'people-driven'.
"Here, the programme noticed that development is not about the delivery of goods to a passive citizenry, it is about active involvement and growing empowerment. In taking this approach the Government will build on the many forums, peace structures and negotiations that our people are involved in through the land; the RDP attempted to play a role in ending the endemic violence within South Africa by embarking on a national drive for the peace and security of the country.The Programme would also help to encourage investment, thus feeding back into the drive towards economic expansion and greater development; the commitment of all parties to the RDP would encourage the grand project 'Nation-Building'. "
"Here, the programme noticed that development is not about the delivery of goods to a passive citizenry, it is about active involvement and growing empowerment. In taking this approach the Government will build on the many forums, peace structures and negotiations that our people are involved in through the land; the RDP attempted to play a role in ending the endemic violence within South Africa by embarking on a national drive for the peace and security of the country.The Programme would also help to encourage investment, thus feeding back into the drive towards economic expansion and greater development; the commitment of all parties to the RDP would encourage the grand project 'Nation-Building'. "
The Programme noted, "We are a single country, with a single economy, functioning within a constitutional framework that establishes provincial and local powers, respect and protection for minorities, and a process to accommodate those wishing to retain their cultural identity. It is on the basis of our unity in diversity that we will consolidate our national sovereignty."
Furthermore, the RDP would link growth, development, reconstruction, redistribution and reconciliation into an unified program, held together by a broad infrastructural programme that would focus on creating and enhancing existing services in the electricity, water, telecommunications, transport, health, education and training sectors.
"And the programme will pay close attention to those economic factors inhibiting growth and investment and placing obstacles in the way of private sector expansion."
In addition, "The success of the first five principles would in turn facilitate the sixth, democratisation. Here the document made note of minority control and privilege within the economy as a major obstacle to the achievement of an integrated developmentally orientated economy. It also acknowledged that the people most affected by economic policy should participate in the decision-making, and that the government would also have to be restructured to fit the priorities of the RDP."
To compliment the above mentioned factors who be the Batho Pele (People First), a South African government's political initiative. The initiative was first introduced by the Mandela Administration on October 1, 1997 to stand for the better delivery of goods and services to the public. It is also now used to imply the dissolvement of government organizations deemed corrupt or obsolete.
The Batho Pele initiative aims to enhance the quality and accessibility of government services by improving efficiency and accountability to the recipients of public goods and services.
Batho Pele requires that eight service delivery principles be implemented, regularly consult with customers; set service standards; increase access to services; ensure higher levels of courtesy; provide more and better information about services, increase openness and transparency about services; remedy failures and mistakes; give the best possible value for money.
So clearly the B-BBEE Thought Leadership Dialogue project must be deepened and spreaded across the country for the participation and involvement of all our people. More so, at the early stages of the implementation of the National Development Plan. BEE provides the economic balance in the NDP, a Vision 2030 programme.
Friday 13 November 2015
South Africa: Football More Than A Game
The Evolution of South African Football: Celebrating The Beautiful Game in South Africa
Football first arrived in South Africa through colonialism in the late nineteenth century, as the game was popular among British soldiers.
From the earliest days of the sport in South Africa until the end of apartheid, organised football was affected by the country's system of racial segregation.
The all-white South African Football Association (SAFA), was formed in 1892.
While the South African Indian Football Association (SAIFA), the South African Bantu Football Association (SABFA) and the South African Coloured Football Association (SACFA) were founded in 1903, 1933 and 1936 respectively.
However, it should also be noted that football was played widely outside this federations were became formalized.
The original South African Football Association was established in 1892 and became affiliated to FIFA in 1910.
According to soccer history records, the SAFA of 1892 was the first association on the African continent to become affiliated to FIFA.
SAFA withdrew from FIFA in 1924 and later regained full membership in 1952.
In 1932, the South African African Football Association (SAAFA) was formed and a year later the South African Bantu Football Association (SABFA) and the South African Coloured Football Association (SACFA) followed suit. In September 1951, the three merged to form the anti-apartheid South African Soccer Federation (SASF).
SAFA were expected to play in the newly formed Confederation of African Football's 1957 Africa Cup of Nations, however they did not. The minutes of the meetings between SAFA and their counterparts from Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan were lost to fire and so the official reason for their non-appearance is unknown.
Fred Fell, SAFA's representative at FIFA said that SAFA withdrew because of the conflict at the Suez Canal. There were are also rumours that they were expelled from the initial competition due to their favourable stance on apartheid.
In November 1954, the SASF attempted to join FIFA. In May 1955, FIFA concluded that SAFA does not have "the standing of a real national association" because it did not control all clubs, there were more clubs and players with SASF than SAFA. SASF's application was rejected because there were no white players. In 1956, FIFA chose to accept SAFA's stance that segregation was a "tradition and custom" in South Africa.
The South African Football Association were renamed to the Football Association of South Africa (FASA) in 1957. The newly renamed association also removed a clause from its constitution excluding non-whites. In his book African Soccerscapes, Professor Peter Alegi says this was to "create the perception of substantive change while maintaining the status quo".
In 1959, the SASF successfully managed to have a FIFA sanctioned game between Brazilian club Portuguesa Santista and white South Africa cancelled, as the Brazilian club had agreed to withdraw its black players from the game. The SASF had complained to the Brazilian consul in Cape Town, the Brazilian government prevented the club from taking part.
At FIFA's 1960 Congress in Rome, there were calls from the Soviet bloc and Asia for the South African Soccer Federation (SASF) to become a member of FIFA in place of FASA. The calls were rejected as FIFA's own statutes stated that "a National Association must be open to all who practice football in that country whether amateur, 'non-amateur', or professional and without any racial, religious, political discrimination".
In September 1961, FASA were suspended from FIFA because of their pro-apartheid stance and refusal to field non-white players. Also, in 1961 the white-South Africa sympathiser Stanley Rous was elected as FIFA President. Rous and United States citizen Joseph Maguire would later visit white South African officials for two weeks. Rous reported to FIFA that there was no wilful discrimination within FASA and on the basis of his report, FASA were allowed back in to FIFA in September 1963.
At the Tokyo Congress, the Confederation of African Football members were lobbying for the expulsion of the FASA unless its "obnoxious apartheid policy [was] totally eliminated". They had retained the support of Soviet and Asian National Associations and held meetings with South African Soccer Federation in Durban and the South African Non-Racial Olympic Committee in London. CAF had already expelled South Africa from its own membership. The request for expulsion from FIFA was downgraded to suspension and it was passed by a majority of associations at the 1964 FIFA Congress.
Following the suspension, South Africa were also not allowed to partake in the 1964 and 1968 Olympics and were expelled from the Olympic movement in 1970. During this time Rous had been lobbying to have South Africa re-instated into FIFA and the Olympics. In 1973, Brazilian FIFA President candidate Joao Havelange withdrew Brazil from the 1973 South African Games to curry favour with the anti-apartheid national associations and went to beat Rous in the FIFA Presidential Election. At the FIFA Congress on 16 July 1976 in Montreal, FASA were formally suspended from FIFA. Members of FIFA had voted to exclude South Africa 78 votes to 9.
The South African Football Association was founded on 8 December 1991, the culmination of a long unity process that was to rid the sport in South Africa of all its past racial division.
A delegation of the SAFA received a standing ovation at the congress of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) inDakar, Senegal a month later, where South Africa were accorded observer status. South Africa’s membership of the world governing body FIFA was confirmed at their congress in Zurich in June 1992.
Membership of CAF followed automatically and South Africa was back on the world stage, and were awarded the right to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Within a month the country hosted their first international match as World Cup quarterfinalists Cameroon came to play in three matches to celebrate the unity process. In September 1992, South Africa played its first junior international againstBotswana at under-16 level in Lenasia and to date the country has entered a team in each of FIFA's and CAF's competitions, from under-17 to national team level, and also for the women’s team.
In the short space of six years, SAFA has achieved remarkable success with qualification for the World Cup finals in Francein 1998, the title of African champions at the 1996 African Nations Cup finals, which the country hosted, and the runners-up berth in Burkina Faso two years later.
At under-20 level, South Africa were runners-up at the 1997 African Youth Championship in Morocco and qualified to play at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship in Malaysia.
At club level, Orlando Pirates won the prestigious African Champions Cup in 1995, the first club from the southern African region to take the title in more than 30 years of competition. Pirates were playing in the event for the first time and won the title away from home in the Ivory Coast to further amplify the magnificence of the victory.
Behind the scenes, SAFA has worked long and hard to provide the structures to take football to all levels of the South African community. There are now national age-group competitions from under-12 level up, qualified coaches working around the country and nine provincial affiliates, who are further divided into 52 regions.
The current national executive of SAFA consists of:
President: Dr Danny Jordaan
Vice-President: Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana
Vice-President: Mandla 'Shoes' Mazibuko
Vice-President: Dr Irvin Khoza
Secretary General: Leslie Sidibe
And the national teams include:
Under-12 (Tsetse-flies)
Under-15 (Flying Birds)
Under-17 (Amajimbos)
Under-20 (Amajita)
Under-23 (Amaglug-glug)
Senior National Team (Bafana Bafana)
Under-17 Women
Under-20 Women
Under-23 Women
Senior Women's National Team (Banyana Banyana)
Regions:
SAFA's 9 Provinces and 52 Regions
SAFA Eastern Cape (Regions: Alfred Nzo, Amathole, Cacadu, Chris Hani, Nelson Mandela Bay, OR Tambo, Ukhahlamba)
SAFA Free State (Regions: Fezile Dabi, Lejweleputswa, Motheo, Thabo Mofutsanyana, Xhariep)
SAFA Gauteng (Regions: Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg, Metsweding, Sedibeng, Tshwane, West Rand)
SAFA KwaZulu-Natal (Regions: Amajuba, Ethekwini, iLembe, Sisonke, Ugu, Umgungundlovu, Umkhanyakude, Umzinyathi, Uthukela, Uthungulu, Zululand)
SAFA Mpumalanga (Regions: Ehlanzeni, Gert Sibande, Nkangala)
SAFA Northern Cape (Regions: Frances Baard, Kgalagadi, Namakwa, Pixley-Ka-Seme, Siyanda)
SAFA Limpopo (Regions: Capricorn, Mopani, Sekhukhune, Vhembe, Waterberg)
SAFA North-West (Regions: Bojanala, Bophirima, Central, Southern)
SAFA Western Cape (Regions: Boland, Cape Town, Central Karoo, Eden, Overberg, West Coast).
Meanwhile, in 2003 AMOS MANANYETSO reported in the CITY PRESS newspaper that barely a year after their return to football, sweet and chocolate giant Cadbury are not regretting their move to sponsor the United School Sport Association of South Africa (Ussasa) as they are on their way to rewriting the history books.
The Chappies Little League, which was relaunched this year with a R3 million per year sponsorship, surpassed the initial target to register about 2 500 primary schools around the country and amassed 6 023 schools.
As a result of that early success, veteran sports sponsorship consultant Geoff Wald flew to London this week to register the tournament with the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest soccer tournament ever.
The current record-holder listed by the Guinness Book of Records is a tournament held in South Korea that drew 5 000 teams.
"The response by schools was overwhelming and it gives us courage to think what we can do to expand and cover almost every school-going kid in the country," said Wald.
Chappies brand marketing manager Moshe Kola said his company was delighted at the overwhelming success of the competition and were looking at expanding next year's event.
"When we signed the contract with Ussasa, our target was to reach at least 2 500 of the 18 000 primary schools in the country and grow gradually with time. What happened is like a miracle.
"That is why we want to register the tournament in the Guinness Book of Records . If our registration is accepted, not only will it make us and Ussasa proud, but mostly the children who kicked the ball during the games," said Kola.
Kola said his company was looking at involving the girls when the school soccer season began next year or launching a regional tournament that will include winners from South Africa, Botswana and Swaziland.
Ussasa soccer secretary and SA Football Association/Transnet Sport School of Excellence manager Steve Pila was also excited about the latest developments.
"This is a confirmation that South Africa is one of the best footballing nations in the world.
"The Chappies Little League is not a new concept and we all know its successes during the 1980s before it was terminated ," Pila said.
Among top players who once played in the tournament are Junaid Hartley, Thabo Mooki and Brian Baloyi. - SOURCE: CITY PRESS SPORT
In 1991, when the apartheid system was beginning to be demolished, a new multi-racial South African Football Association was formed, and admitted to FIFA. On 7 July 1992, the South African national team played their first game in two decades, beating Cameroon 1–0. Since the integration of the country, it has developed the most sophisticated Professional Football Structure in Africa, the Premier Soccer League. South Africa qualified for the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, but failed to progress past the group stage both times. They hosted (and won) the 1996 African Cup of Nations and hosted the 2010 World Cup, the first African nation to do so.
Football first arrived in South Africa through colonialism in the late nineteenth century, as the game was popular among British soldiers.
From the earliest days of the sport in South Africa until the end of apartheid, organised football was affected by the country's system of racial segregation.
The all-white South African Football Association (SAFA), was formed in 1892.
While the South African Indian Football Association (SAIFA), the South African Bantu Football Association (SABFA) and the South African Coloured Football Association (SACFA) were founded in 1903, 1933 and 1936 respectively.
However, it should also be noted that football was played widely outside this federations were became formalized.
The original South African Football Association was established in 1892 and became affiliated to FIFA in 1910.
According to soccer history records, the SAFA of 1892 was the first association on the African continent to become affiliated to FIFA.
SAFA withdrew from FIFA in 1924 and later regained full membership in 1952.
In 1932, the South African African Football Association (SAAFA) was formed and a year later the South African Bantu Football Association (SABFA) and the South African Coloured Football Association (SACFA) followed suit. In September 1951, the three merged to form the anti-apartheid South African Soccer Federation (SASF).
SAFA were expected to play in the newly formed Confederation of African Football's 1957 Africa Cup of Nations, however they did not. The minutes of the meetings between SAFA and their counterparts from Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan were lost to fire and so the official reason for their non-appearance is unknown.
Fred Fell, SAFA's representative at FIFA said that SAFA withdrew because of the conflict at the Suez Canal. There were are also rumours that they were expelled from the initial competition due to their favourable stance on apartheid.
In November 1954, the SASF attempted to join FIFA. In May 1955, FIFA concluded that SAFA does not have "the standing of a real national association" because it did not control all clubs, there were more clubs and players with SASF than SAFA. SASF's application was rejected because there were no white players. In 1956, FIFA chose to accept SAFA's stance that segregation was a "tradition and custom" in South Africa.
The South African Football Association were renamed to the Football Association of South Africa (FASA) in 1957. The newly renamed association also removed a clause from its constitution excluding non-whites. In his book African Soccerscapes, Professor Peter Alegi says this was to "create the perception of substantive change while maintaining the status quo".
In 1959, the SASF successfully managed to have a FIFA sanctioned game between Brazilian club Portuguesa Santista and white South Africa cancelled, as the Brazilian club had agreed to withdraw its black players from the game. The SASF had complained to the Brazilian consul in Cape Town, the Brazilian government prevented the club from taking part.
At FIFA's 1960 Congress in Rome, there were calls from the Soviet bloc and Asia for the South African Soccer Federation (SASF) to become a member of FIFA in place of FASA. The calls were rejected as FIFA's own statutes stated that "a National Association must be open to all who practice football in that country whether amateur, 'non-amateur', or professional and without any racial, religious, political discrimination".
In September 1961, FASA were suspended from FIFA because of their pro-apartheid stance and refusal to field non-white players. Also, in 1961 the white-South Africa sympathiser Stanley Rous was elected as FIFA President. Rous and United States citizen Joseph Maguire would later visit white South African officials for two weeks. Rous reported to FIFA that there was no wilful discrimination within FASA and on the basis of his report, FASA were allowed back in to FIFA in September 1963.
At the Tokyo Congress, the Confederation of African Football members were lobbying for the expulsion of the FASA unless its "obnoxious apartheid policy [was] totally eliminated". They had retained the support of Soviet and Asian National Associations and held meetings with South African Soccer Federation in Durban and the South African Non-Racial Olympic Committee in London. CAF had already expelled South Africa from its own membership. The request for expulsion from FIFA was downgraded to suspension and it was passed by a majority of associations at the 1964 FIFA Congress.
Following the suspension, South Africa were also not allowed to partake in the 1964 and 1968 Olympics and were expelled from the Olympic movement in 1970. During this time Rous had been lobbying to have South Africa re-instated into FIFA and the Olympics. In 1973, Brazilian FIFA President candidate Joao Havelange withdrew Brazil from the 1973 South African Games to curry favour with the anti-apartheid national associations and went to beat Rous in the FIFA Presidential Election. At the FIFA Congress on 16 July 1976 in Montreal, FASA were formally suspended from FIFA. Members of FIFA had voted to exclude South Africa 78 votes to 9.
The South African Football Association was founded on 8 December 1991, the culmination of a long unity process that was to rid the sport in South Africa of all its past racial division.
A delegation of the SAFA received a standing ovation at the congress of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) inDakar, Senegal a month later, where South Africa were accorded observer status. South Africa’s membership of the world governing body FIFA was confirmed at their congress in Zurich in June 1992.
Membership of CAF followed automatically and South Africa was back on the world stage, and were awarded the right to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Within a month the country hosted their first international match as World Cup quarterfinalists Cameroon came to play in three matches to celebrate the unity process. In September 1992, South Africa played its first junior international againstBotswana at under-16 level in Lenasia and to date the country has entered a team in each of FIFA's and CAF's competitions, from under-17 to national team level, and also for the women’s team.
In the short space of six years, SAFA has achieved remarkable success with qualification for the World Cup finals in Francein 1998, the title of African champions at the 1996 African Nations Cup finals, which the country hosted, and the runners-up berth in Burkina Faso two years later.
At under-20 level, South Africa were runners-up at the 1997 African Youth Championship in Morocco and qualified to play at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship in Malaysia.
At club level, Orlando Pirates won the prestigious African Champions Cup in 1995, the first club from the southern African region to take the title in more than 30 years of competition. Pirates were playing in the event for the first time and won the title away from home in the Ivory Coast to further amplify the magnificence of the victory.
Behind the scenes, SAFA has worked long and hard to provide the structures to take football to all levels of the South African community. There are now national age-group competitions from under-12 level up, qualified coaches working around the country and nine provincial affiliates, who are further divided into 52 regions.
The current national executive of SAFA consists of:
President: Dr Danny Jordaan
Vice-President: Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana
Vice-President: Mandla 'Shoes' Mazibuko
Vice-President: Dr Irvin Khoza
Secretary General: Leslie Sidibe
And the national teams include:
Under-12 (Tsetse-flies)
Under-15 (Flying Birds)
Under-17 (Amajimbos)
Under-20 (Amajita)
Under-23 (Amaglug-glug)
Senior National Team (Bafana Bafana)
Under-17 Women
Under-20 Women
Under-23 Women
Senior Women's National Team (Banyana Banyana)
Regions:
SAFA's 9 Provinces and 52 Regions
SAFA Eastern Cape (Regions: Alfred Nzo, Amathole, Cacadu, Chris Hani, Nelson Mandela Bay, OR Tambo, Ukhahlamba)
SAFA Free State (Regions: Fezile Dabi, Lejweleputswa, Motheo, Thabo Mofutsanyana, Xhariep)
SAFA Gauteng (Regions: Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg, Metsweding, Sedibeng, Tshwane, West Rand)
SAFA KwaZulu-Natal (Regions: Amajuba, Ethekwini, iLembe, Sisonke, Ugu, Umgungundlovu, Umkhanyakude, Umzinyathi, Uthukela, Uthungulu, Zululand)
SAFA Mpumalanga (Regions: Ehlanzeni, Gert Sibande, Nkangala)
SAFA Northern Cape (Regions: Frances Baard, Kgalagadi, Namakwa, Pixley-Ka-Seme, Siyanda)
SAFA Limpopo (Regions: Capricorn, Mopani, Sekhukhune, Vhembe, Waterberg)
SAFA North-West (Regions: Bojanala, Bophirima, Central, Southern)
SAFA Western Cape (Regions: Boland, Cape Town, Central Karoo, Eden, Overberg, West Coast).
Meanwhile, in 2003 AMOS MANANYETSO reported in the CITY PRESS newspaper that barely a year after their return to football, sweet and chocolate giant Cadbury are not regretting their move to sponsor the United School Sport Association of South Africa (Ussasa) as they are on their way to rewriting the history books.
The Chappies Little League, which was relaunched this year with a R3 million per year sponsorship, surpassed the initial target to register about 2 500 primary schools around the country and amassed 6 023 schools.
As a result of that early success, veteran sports sponsorship consultant Geoff Wald flew to London this week to register the tournament with the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest soccer tournament ever.
The current record-holder listed by the Guinness Book of Records is a tournament held in South Korea that drew 5 000 teams.
"The response by schools was overwhelming and it gives us courage to think what we can do to expand and cover almost every school-going kid in the country," said Wald.
Chappies brand marketing manager Moshe Kola said his company was delighted at the overwhelming success of the competition and were looking at expanding next year's event.
"When we signed the contract with Ussasa, our target was to reach at least 2 500 of the 18 000 primary schools in the country and grow gradually with time. What happened is like a miracle.
"That is why we want to register the tournament in the Guinness Book of Records . If our registration is accepted, not only will it make us and Ussasa proud, but mostly the children who kicked the ball during the games," said Kola.
Kola said his company was looking at involving the girls when the school soccer season began next year or launching a regional tournament that will include winners from South Africa, Botswana and Swaziland.
Ussasa soccer secretary and SA Football Association/Transnet Sport School of Excellence manager Steve Pila was also excited about the latest developments.
"This is a confirmation that South Africa is one of the best footballing nations in the world.
"The Chappies Little League is not a new concept and we all know its successes during the 1980s before it was terminated ," Pila said.
Among top players who once played in the tournament are Junaid Hartley, Thabo Mooki and Brian Baloyi. - SOURCE: CITY PRESS SPORT
In 1991, when the apartheid system was beginning to be demolished, a new multi-racial South African Football Association was formed, and admitted to FIFA. On 7 July 1992, the South African national team played their first game in two decades, beating Cameroon 1–0. Since the integration of the country, it has developed the most sophisticated Professional Football Structure in Africa, the Premier Soccer League. South Africa qualified for the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, but failed to progress past the group stage both times. They hosted (and won) the 1996 African Cup of Nations and hosted the 2010 World Cup, the first African nation to do so.
Thursday 12 November 2015
Thusong Service Centres Need To Be More Connected To Their Communities
Department of Communications -
The Thusong Service Centre (formerly known as Multi-Purpose Community Centres — MPCCs) programme of government was initiated in 1999 as one of the primary vehicles for the implementation of development communication and information and to integrate government services into primarily rural communities.
The Thusong Service Centre (formerly known as Multi-Purpose Community Centres — MPCCs) programme of government was initiated in 1999 as one of the primary vehicles for the implementation of development communication and information and to integrate government services into primarily rural communities.
This was done to address historical, social and economic factors, which limited access to information, services and participation by citizens, as they had to travel long distances to access these services.
Thusong Service Centres are one-stop, integrated community development centres, with community participation and services relevant to people’s needs. They aim to empower the poor and disadvantaged through access to information, services and resources from government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), parastatals, business, etc. enabling them to engage in government programmes for the improvement of their lives.
Government’s vision for Thusong Service Centres is to provide every South African citizen with access to information and services within their place of residence and in each local municipality by 2014 with the purpose of improving the quality of their lives through integrated service delivery.
By the end of March 2012, 171 Thusong Service Centres were in operation, making a crucial contribution to the expansion of infrastructure for access to information and services that citizens can use.
Typical services found in these centres include those from the departments of Home Affairs, Labour, South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), Social Development, Government Communications and Information Systems (GCIS), and the department of Health as well as telecentres, the Post Office, libraries, agricultural extension offices and municipal services. Community Development Workers, the South African Police Service, NGOs and community-based organisations, also offer services through the centres.
Thusong Service Centre Partners
Harnessing the energy of partners is key to the programme
Building partnerships is a major focus of the Thusong Service Centre programme. Strong partnerships guarantee sustainable and effective service delivery at Thusong Service Centres. Partners support all aspects of the programme, from funding to enhancing the services provided.
Although the programme is driven by government, Thusong Service Centres are ideal platforms from which businesses and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) can offer their services and reach a wide sector of the market.
June 2015
Each year, on the 17th of May the International Telecommunication Union marks the anniversary of the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention and the creation of this organisation.
Read more...
Each year, on the 17th of May the International Telecommunication Union marks the anniversary of the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention and the creation of this organisation.
Read more...
Partners at Thusong Service Centres are:
- service providers (government, civil society and private sector)
- government strategic planners/policy-makers (national, provincial and municipal)
- local communities benefiting from Thusong Service Centres
- development agencies
- parastatals
- funding partners
Participation and firm commitment are integral to the Thusong Service Centre programme. Consequently, partners have the following critical roles to play:
- Political spheres: Influencing efficient service delivery and participatory partnership
- National, provincial and local government: Strategic planners implement the programme, line departments ensure service delivery
- Parastatals: Critical to infrastructural process
- Civil society, community-based organisations and NGOs: Providing services and resources
- Private sector: Providing services and contributing broader resources.
The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) provides overall co-ordination and support, reporting to the Governance and Administration Cluster and Cabinet Committee. Other government partners and roles are listed below:
Partners in national government
- National Treasury
- Funding options and strategy
- Alignment of funding
- Public Private Partnership (PPP) strategy for Thusong Service Centres
- Technical assistance with business planning
- Department of Provincial and Local Government
- Co-ordination at provincial, local and district level
- Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG)
- Alignment of Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Strategy/Urban Renewal Programme with Thusong Service Centres
- Department of Public Service and Administration
- E-government strategy through E-Gateway Portal
- Legislation re: access strategy, service level agreements, human resources
- Community Development Workers’ alignment strategy
- Thusong Service Centre co-ordination
- Department of Public Works
- Infrastructure advice and roll-out
- Lease agreements at centres
- Department of Trade and Industry - Local Economic Development co-ordinators
- Provision of economic opportunity projects and programmes
- Departments of Home Affairs, Social Development, Labour, Agriculture, and Minerals and Energy
- Roll-out alignment (budgets and infrastructure)
- Service delivery plan at provincial and district levels
- Resource deployment plan at district level (human resources and tools)
- Reporting to national co-ordinator
Partners in provincial and local government
- Premier’s offices
- Co-ordination and governance at provincial level
- Co-ordinate establishment and management of PPP at provincial level
- Alignment with provincial growth and development summits
- Report to national co-ordinators
- Development of proper structures and systems, service level agreements, monitoring, evaluation and support of the programme
- South African Local Government Association
- Co-ordination of district and local municipalities
- District and local municipalities
- Co-ordination and governance of implementation at district and municipal levels
- Provision of centre management and staff
- Alignment with integrated development plans
- Development and implementation of district and local promotional and marketing plans
Other partners
- Department of Communications, South African Post Office, Sentech, National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa, Telkom
- Information and communications (ICT) strategy
- Community radio stations
- Public Information Terminals (PiTs)
- Contribute to intersectoral steering committees
- Universal Service Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA)
- ICT strategy
- Establishment of telecentres
- State Information Technology Agency
- ICT strategy
- Connectivity
- South African Management Development Institute (SAMDI)
- Capacity-building strategy
Many other government departments (national and provincial), NGOs and private-sector stakeholders support this programme as it intensifies. Partnership in the programme is worthwhile because:
- information needs of citizens are placed first in the communication process
- people are empowered through participation
- development is based on consultation and strong networks at community level
- a wide-level commitment is followed rather than a top-down process
- you find improved access to services
- there is face-to-face interaction between government and the people
- the centre model suits community needs: hubs for large centres, satellites for smaller centres and mobile units for vast/inaccessible geographic areas.
SOURCE: Department of Communications (South Africa)
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