Think before you post!

One of the biggest advantages that social media has given us is a voice and the ability to influence in matter of seconds. The best part is that we need not put our lives in a compromising situation because we are too far for anyone to make physical contact with us. This then gives the illusion that we are untouchable or cannot be found. Who hears us or how they hear about us does not matter. All that concerns us is that we have said what we wanted to say.


Reality is this couldn't be far from the truth. People have this bad tendency of being explicit, sexist and of course racist on social networks. We tolerate this and turn a blind eye and some of us have clicked the “HIDE POST” button more than we should. This does not help in fact it worsens over time as the same people apply this to individuals, brands, companies the list goes on.

There are many cases locally and internationally that have depicted the absence of this word. Even so people have not changed their behaviour.

Paul Chambers a 27 year old British young man,was recently found guilty after he had tweeted in frustration. Paul discovered that Robin Hood airport in South Yorkshire was closed due to snow. Eager to see his girlfriend, Paul sent out a tweet on the publicly accessible site declaring: "Crap! Robin Hood airport is closed. You’ve got a week and a bit to get your s*** together otherwise I’m blowing the airport sky high!!”

In February 2013 Zama Khumalo posted for his 493 Facebook friends he would be sending out invitations to a “Big Black Braai" to celebrate that 42 white children died when their school bus plunged into the Johannesburg dam in 1985.

Liam Stacey 21 year old student from Swansea University was suspended for the remainder of his academic year and is not allowed to return to campus, Stacey posted on tweeter‘’LOL (laugh out loud). F*** Muamba. He's dead!!!''

What people don't realize is that the word "PRIVACY" does not exist on social networks and that is one thing that many of us don't seem to grasp.

When we meet a a girl or a guy for the first time what most of us are likely to do is to consult uncle "Google" and aunt "facebook" before even consulting those who gave us life (our parents). Personally I admit to doing this so much that I have lost count. The same principle is applied by your prospective employer and God knows who else!


This gives one an impression or an idea of the kind of what kind of a girlfriend, boyfriend or employee you might be. Some of the most respected social media gurus have advised that one should not say things on social networks that they would not say in person. People that are considering a career in area such as PR, Journalism in fact in any other profession are advised to think before you post, because one post could cost you a career or your dream.

Education light of my life!

As we approach mid year I thought I'd take time and just shift my focus away to what this blog is about and make room for something out of the usual. I found myself pondering about the future of this beautiful country of ours and where we are heading and no I am not talking our president. That is an issue for another day.


This is one issue that is close to my heart and I personally think it is in jeopardy that would our education system. I fail to understand why is it acceptable for South African children to be disabled at this point in our democratic society. For the living being in me I could not imagine how is like being a matriculant of this education system where standards are being to lowered in order to accommodate those who are not able to attain them. As much as this is said to be a solution it is nothing but a magma waiting to explode, a catastrophe in the making.

One does not need Isaac Newton's brain to comprehend that we have serious issues in our hands, the question is what are we doing wrong, why are we taking so long to be where we should be as a nation, particularly with regards to our education system. One wonders if we really do understand the long term effects this could have on our future generation.

Mampela Ramampela in her book titled conversations with my sons and daughters refers to this as "wastage of human and intellectual resources resource that should be applied to enhancing our ability to grow our economy” This year alone R232.5 billion is allocated in bettering our education, this is biggest allocation of the nations budget. We can allocate billions of rands in our education but if we do not have the correct brains behind it we are simply wasting resources.

We need to close the gap between public and private schools by adopting and implementing a system that works, a curriculum that feeds young minds in order to be well developed and independent thinkers. Most importantly we need to an education system that does not make one feel like a second class citizen when standing next to a matriculant of a privileged school, but an education system that enable us to participate in the economy of our country in order to develop all our citizens.

the god of all events!

Cape Town hosts many events among those is the J&B Met, South Africa’s largest horse racing event. This event is held annually at the Kenilworth Racecourse on the last Saturday of January.
The Met as commonly referred to by many draws over 50 000 people nationwide, from the rich & famous, social butterflies, fashion slaves and those looking for day out in the mother city.

Apart from the horse racing, the J&B Met is known for it’s very its very bold and dramatic fashion parade. With themes such as “glitz and glam”, “in full colour” this year is no different with “Larger than Life” as the theme for 2011.
For more information go to www.jbmet.co.za be sure not to miss it.
On a final note i would like to know if you consider the J&B Met to be the god of all events,or not. If not why and what event do you classify as the go of all?

*Image by jbmet

People on panels

It baffles me every time I watch talent shows. Being a number one fan, should I admit to being an addict of these life-changing shows? I find it disturbing that the winners are actually the big losers (no pun intended)

This popped up in a conversation, in a coffee shop recently with a friend. As we were conversing I raised a question about people that are on judging panels for various competitions. Be it dance, singing or even anything that includes a judge on our television screens.

I was eager to know how they are selected and why? I sometimes get the impression that they are chosen because they are famous, probably had more sales than any other artist, or had very popular social status or even better maybe they know a friend. A very popular agent these days to getting a job.

My reason for this assumption is I fail to understand why people who get second place often go far and are able to sustain themselves. These people prove to have what it takes to be stars, and yet they are not recognised by panels of judges.

The strange part is that those who take the trophy home never stay for long. In a matter of a year or less they fade away from the limelight.

Sometimes I tend to think that the real point is often missed,which is talent. It should be the first priority and everything else second. In various competitions such as Coca Cola Pop Stars "So you think you can dance" and "Idols", this is reality.

Contestants tend to be judged by their appearance and this is not how it should be. If that is the case, how about changing to "So you think you can dress"?

Being a Public Relations student myself I understand the importance of image and I also understand that it can be created from nothing to something big. It’s about time that people on panels look for the primary reason and not define talent with what they visually perceive to be “star material” or anything pleasing to the eye.

Do you remember a group called Ghetto Lingo that won the last series of Coca Cola Pop Stars in 2004? Their opponents Jamali, after coming a sorry second, grew stronger. The group( Jamali) has released three great albums, won a South African Music Award and a couple of nominations on their list.

To brighten this dull picture, who could forget the Scottish born Susan Boyle? A lady that came to audition with a look beyond plain. Her powerful soprano voice told a fairy tale story of an ugly duckling about to turn into a beautiful swan. There are many like Susan, South African Thembisile Ntaka, Adam Lambert and the list goes on.

This brings me back to my point, could the panel not have seen the potential these individuals possess? One tends to think that they focus on judging according to their personal taste and opinions, when they should be looking at real talent.

This post is to say if you know you are passionate of whatever you do, don't be discouraged, appearance does not substitute great talent. The panel isn't always right!

Do what you do best, don’t stop.

That and more....