I would have been the one

Sweat flowing from my dreadlocks, rolling down to my neck licking my grey collar and  loosening my tight black tie; I hopped Johannesburg streets heading to Bree taxi rank. I had knocked off a little bit late, but I was okay with time. My worry was getting home late for The Closer.

I would have been the one, Solange Knowles tormented my ears. I loved it. Enlightening charmer sent from where a Casanova lovely glare and I was chosen, I was there. To the whoreous doors of the rank I was appealing, as always, and so I let them swallow me. I saw my taxi and headed straight to it. I was tired but surety of how good looking I was carried me towards the transport to my destination. And yes, the fact that one day I will pass this building with a very expensive little thing rolling on four wheels inspired the strut in my walk.

Down with the headphones, I got inside the taxi and sat right behind the driver next to a guy who looked at me like I was some kind of fruit waiting to be eaten selfishly. I am sure he had never seen a creature so full of himself. Bless this poor guy’s perplexity.

I settled on the seat, sorted my fare and put back on my headphones. The well gets deeper, more unfolds. And then appeared a very dirty boy. He was dirty and I could smell him. He was a boy because he looked nothing like the man I am.  With the corner of my left eye I saw his lips move. I lacked interest in him since I knew he was most likely begging. Yes he was. I thought you plus me divided me from him but I discovered many more, and again and again...

Like a typical beggar, he attempted to look so sincere. I felt sorry for the few inside the taxi who had no music to drown into. I was far away. Or so I thought. And you don’t know you fill many spaces.

I could hear a sound. No, never mind the skinny Knowles; it was a voice that somehow merged into the song just fine, building a sound I would only imagine Euphonik and Black Coffee to produce. It went so well with what was enthralling my ears.

And he don’t know how he’s stole many places. And we all know we can’t fix him even if we tried.  I would have been the one. The boy was clapping. His lips were still on the move, only this time he seemed to be uttering fast and with passion.

I freed my left ear because I had to hear what he was cheering for. Ngiyakwaz’ ukukhanya kwakho, nokulunga kwakho, Jesu wam, Jesu wam, zungangishiyi la... He was singing; a song I got to know and fell in love with when times were extremely bad in my life.

I was boy, and had run away from a suburb I stayed in to a shack in which I had to share a blanket with six other children and could only eat twice a day. I left what everyone thought was the best life in exchange for a shack in an area where your neighbour’s door was practically two feet away from your and in your face!

Phelisa ukwesaba kimi, nokungakholwa. Msindisi, oh msindisi zungangishiyi la... There I was, with my Blackberry and its R400 worth headphones, comfortably and deliberately ignoring the boy in front of me. One would have sworn I was never poor and that I was rich.

I was the one, yes I was the one and yes that was my name inked up on his arm...Keyword was, yes I was the one. I figured out he was empty on my own. He had to find the answer in something not someone. The man beside me poked me waving a R10 note in my face. So I freed my right ear paying attention to the man I had puzzled earlier. He wanted change because he wanted to give this boy R5. It is fine, I will give him for you, I said. Guilt was there and only then did sympathy grow. This boy was me 10 years ago, only he was worse.

And we all know we can’t fix him even if we tried.  I would have been the one. My hand sank inside my Nedbank bag and came out with a Mr Price wallet. I took out the gold coin, handed it over to the boy. He refused it.

Ngicela ningishayeleni izandla, he said smiling and then walked away.

Solange Knowles was still playing, but it was as if there was still silence in the car. Maybe there was or maybe I was switched off reality – again - attached on a bubble inspired by the money I carelessly spend and the life I am never grateful for.

Those who were attuned with the world clapped. I could have betrayed my pride and ridiculed my ignorance by applauding as well, but the buttered sliced bread I had had for lunch that day was still fresh in my mind. What a hypocritical blessed creature I was; oblivious so prematurely of a journey I had had.

Yehova, ndicela Uxolo...

Happy read!

Our government, whose art is in promises

Just like any other year and like any other president who seeks popularity, President Jacob Zuma stated, in this year’s State Of The Nation Address, that 2011 is a year of job creation. Already the Department of Public Service and Administration website is flooded by vacancies awaiting potential employees to compete for them.

The private sector on the other hand, meeting the government halfway it seems, is doing what it can to assist in the scarcity of jobs. As a result, websites like Bizcommunity, Pnet, Career junction and recruitment agencies are buzzing with what seems to be opportunities for the unemployed.

But how does the process of getting employed work? Is it really possibly to eradicate the ever increasing rate of unemployment in South Africa or we are merely trying to hit a Mariah Carey note with Mary j Blige’s voice?

Laying a complaint

Ever since my mind grew to understand what is uttered by SA presidents, I have been grasping what a normal mind would only dub empty promises; abolition of crime, alleviation of poverty through youth and women empowerment projects, building of houses, yada yada BEE, yada yada bursaries for well deserving students and so forth. All these declarations never seem to be met, well at least NOT entirely.

Having said that, every erudite and scholarly mind, in my opinion, is well aware of the government’s failure to stick to promises. However, we all still lift our hopes and hands up high as if we are welcoming Jesus into our lives, knowing fully that nothing will come out of it.

Consequently, all we do is complain about what the government is NOT doing right FOR us. It appears, our minds have forgotten about Mr Thabo Mbeki’s Vukuzenzele initiative (wake up and do it yourself). Yes, this was mainly invented for the struggling farmers, but that did not mean that a struggling young man in the impoverished Tsomo area, in the Eastern Cape, should just wait for Mbeki to speak to him directly.

The government is at work. The government is delivering. The government is sorting out crime but this is ONLY benefiting certain people in certain areas.

The government is doing all that is possible to get rid of poverty, but this is only experienced by a certain number of people (including the corrupt vultures, of course). Also, the BEE concept is working, but not for every black person who qualifies will get to taste how it feels to a BEE employee.

What does this mean?

First and for most, it does not matter how hard the government lifts up weight in an aim to help and feed the hungry, shield the homeless and comfort the unemployable; it is just impossible to cater for everyone.

There will always be that portion or a number of people who will be poor, who will be unemployed, who will be victims of crime till the world comers to an end.

It is about time people quit looking up to government and expecting a love song to begin after screaming VIVA!

Chairs are fine right next to the table. Leave them for toddlers to lean on when trying to walk, and go out to start something that will bring you money.

Many projects are already in motions in many areas. So, don’t start your own because then as it will take ages to pick up. Get involved in the projects that already exist. Use your talent and what you good at.

Being good does NOT only refer to making the kinkiest moves when having sex; it refers to how you sing, how you dance, the way you draw, the way you cook and the ways herd cows or help build houses for the people in your community.

Not everyone will have a degree or a diploma. Not everyone with qualifications will get a job. So, one MUST do with what is do-able and available right now.

The truth is, you are the ONLY person who solely cares for yourself genuinely. The other people are using you as a ladder for themselves or their businesses. Why don’t you try and be like them then? Use them to grow yourself.

By the way, I hear the world is coming to an end next year, why don’t you start doing something for yourself? Go out and START a job.

Happy read!