God First

It was interesting and very pleasing for me to read an article in The Times online newspaper (19 April 2012) the times in which President Zuma acknowledges God, the church and the role in plays in society.

Some profound words he said: "The country needs more prayer and blessings to succeed. One of the aspects we pride ourselves on is the fact that this organisation was founded in a church in Mangaung. Among those present were men of God. We always say we were blessed at birth in the history of the ANC." – J. Zuma

It’s all good and well that he credits God for where the ANC is today and the role that the church plays within our society; however this then leads me to question why our government is in such dire state?Why it is that corruption is still so rife? If men of God led our country would we as a country not be in a better position? Less crime, less poverty, less suffering?

With all due respect I believe that Zuma’s actions contradict his words. He promotes prayer and God but in the same breath he condones behaviour that is far from Godly. Members in cabinet get away with shameful deeds and he, himself is guilty of the unspeakable.

Every sinner has a past and every saint has a future, only God can judge, but do you think its fair for a man of his calibre to preach God and prayer? To me, it’s considered blasphemy

Happy Birthday Mr President

Yesterday marked President Zuma’s 70^th birthday. Birthday’s are seen as occasions that bring about a special cheer and warms the hearts of those both young and old. However in an article in the Mail and Guardian (12 April) written by ADRIAN EPHRAIM did everything but warm my heart. I was dismayed to find that below his introduction, was a link to “Birthday cards” that ridiculed the President. http://mg.co.za

The cards were a hoax and written/signed by some prominent members of parliament. In an attempt to be humorous some of the messages/wishes in the cards exposed the lack of confidence in the President that his colleagues have in him as well as the envy and rivalry going on in the government. I am all for laughter as it is healthy for the soul, however there is a line between humour and disrespect.

Is it not enough that South Africa’s worldly issues and the appalling state our ‘democratic’ government is in happens to already be splashed our across news room board meeting tables?  I find it disturbing that our very own South Africans have the time to scorn the leader of their country yet on the other hand they sing the praise of President Obama. Do you not think that if we spent more time uplifting Zuma and encouraging him, then he to could deliver just as much as his fellow counter-part?

From a communication perspective, articles such as the above printed within the pages of such a reputable newspaper (Mail and Guardian) make attracting tourists a job as hard as finding a needle in a haystack. When the perception of a country is negative and openly portrayed by the citizens themselves, people abroad immediately close off the possibility of visiting the country.  Public Relations is the management of such perceptions yet, before it can be managed it has to be repaired.

What people don’t understand is that while bad-mouthing the country and the President for any reason may alleviate their grievances, it distraughts all the positive communication sent out by highlighting our countries attributes.

So, before you speak ask yourself if it will hinder or help.  

Corruption charges haunts Zuma

“Unless President Jacob Zuma and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) appeal the Supreme Court of Appeals (SCA) judgment handed down this week, the lid could be lifted on how the country's first citizen dodged corruption charges. This is what Jacob Zuma most dreaded. Three years after charges of corruption, racketeering, tax-evasion and money-laundering were dropped, the country’s Supreme Court has ruled to allow a review of that hugely controversial decision. The ruling on March 20th could ruin Mr Zuma’s chances, not only of getting re-elected leader of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) at the party’s five-yearly “elective” conference in December, but also of serving a second term as the country’s president”

I took the above abstract and cartoon from the renowned cartoonist everybody loves to hate Zapiro. www.zapiro.com – I am often intrigued by his unique way of interpreting every day issues.

The cartoon depicts a grave dispute Jacob Zuma faces. As the current head of state all eyes are on him and his actions are being watched under a microscope. South African citizens watch and await the verdict handed down by the Supreme Court as

This all just makes me wonder, why the future rests in the hands of the man accused of corruption.