Patriarchy (Pty) Ltd

7 AUGUST 2016

If we look at a social system where women are socialised to serve the needs of men, and men are socialised to Lord over women, look not at the men who, from time to time unleash open violence at women - beatings, rape, emotional abuse, "blessing women" and so forth. That is easy to notice. Mounds of literature, the Bible and television are forms of media bearing tales of this arrangement, and therefore its perpetuation.

But where should we look? I say that we look at women. Women bring up girls, and they prepare them for men in later life. Women bring up boys, and they DO NOT prepare boys for women in later life. Women coach girls to bear it; women urge boys to "bring it on." They work around the clock to maintain patriarchy.

Women leaders, who are also brought up through the system, vacilate between being silent in the face of oppression and defending male chauvinists about this violence.

Women are the CEOs of this enterprise. They work day and night, strategising, so that men, who are shareholders, can keep reaping profits. For their effort, women will take income and bonuses (acceptance, validation from men; praises and jealousy from other women) home, which they use to survive, and to keep going back to the factory.

Am I blaming women for their choice to operate the factory? No. Am I exonerating men for their choice to take position as the Shareholder? No. I am describing the business model of patriarchy.

Weather report

23 JULY 2016

An Intern with BA Political Science was thrown in the deep end right after the suspension of Weatherman who was just about to go live.

"It is partly HLAUDI with fifty percent chance of ICASA... 
The moderate to MUTHAMBI winds are softly sweeping across the escarpment...
There is a hot-but-cold JACKSON wind blowing from the Western Peninsula...
With a very serious warning of runaway fires from the LUTHULI highveld...
And it all seems like it will reach MANTASHE temperatures, KODWA with only 10 percent chance of cooling in the evening...
And that is it from us here in the Aucklandpark studios...
Enjoy the rest of your ETV VIEWING."
#grin

"Please support me"

9 JULY 2016

"PLEASE SUPPORT ME"

So Mutsu comes across a sister who is selling sweets at a busy corner in town. He had seen her several times before, standing at different places, but he's never bought any.
'Please support me,' she said, gingerly pushing a box of sweets she was holding in the way of Mutsu.
Okay, let me support you then, said Mutsu.
'O batla tse kae (how many are you buying?)'
None, he said.
She was alarmed.

So why are you selling me these sweets, asked Mutsu.
'Sorry?'
Mutsu repeated what he had said.
'Huh! It's okay if you don't wanna buy.'
Ema pele, Ausi. You're not selling me the sweets; you've only asked me to support you.
'But you are not buying; o ntlhoma dipotso tse sa feleng (you're asking me endless questions!)'
You did not get me to buy them.
'Eng?'
Talk to me about these sweets. What is so good about them? There's plenty of sweets where I am coming from.
Mutsu was holding a green and white "checkers."
'Eheeh... ke mohlolo nthoe!'
Ausi, instead of asking the next person to "support" you, sell them your sweets... atleast support their tastebuds; support the feeling they want to have by eating your sweets. I hope you realise that I have supported you.
'Haai suka,' she dismissed Mutsu as she turned to the next passer-by.

'Please support me...'

The phone rang

27 JUNE 2015

At 6:04 AM,

Hello, I answered.
'Your name is Foozy, right?'
Who is this?
'Look, don't be rude... right.'
I was dumbfounded.
'Your shenanigans have forced President Zoomah to drag me out of retirement.'
Am I speaking to... Mr Maharaj, I asked.
'That's right. Now look Foozy...'
Mr Maharaj, my name is F-u-s-i.
'Right, Foosie! Look, see me at Union Building in a blink.'
In a blink, I asked, not believing what I was hearing.
'Yes, nooow! I am watching you.'

I jumped out of bed, hopped onto a yellow, black and green bicycle, in my natural PJs.

Freezing cold wind started to molest me, tears forming and blinding me.

I woke up.

The item on Nkandla

8 August 2015

The sub-item was Firepool. At a Branch meeting. A comrade stood up, after being recognised by the Chairperson.

'#clearingthroat... Thank you Chair! Er, comrade chair, I should think that it is important to put to bed this long-standing matter by posing the following questions:

One. Are we moving to conclude that er... the firepool argument does not hold water?

Two. Are we saying that, chair, the firepool argument is not water-tight?

Three. Has our argument, which comrade Ministers were mandated to advance, failed to put out fires?

Four. Is it in our revolutionary interest, to continue arguing in favour of firepool which keeps fanning the flames?

And lastly, chair... Is to say that are we ready or not, to concede that the firepool argument has gone up in flames?

As I submarine, thank you chair.'