A Tale of Two Countries in One

We find ourselves in a South Africa that is realising neither the best hopes nor the worst fears of all of us. South Africa is caught uncomfortably caught between these two extremes.
     This was the theme of the talk by Professor Chris Landsberg at the meeting last week after he was asked to give his views on the future of the country.

Professor Chris Landsberg of the University of Johannesburg    

     Professor Landsberg is, amongst other titles, South African Research Chair in African Diplomacy and Foreign Policy and senior associate at the School of Leadership at the University of Johannesburg, from where he first graduated when it was st8ill the Randse AFrikaanse Universiteit. The wheel turns.
     Alluding to the opening lines of Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities (It was the best of times, it was the worst of times) he said the problem in South Africa was not one of democracy (there will be free and fair elections next year) but one of an unprecedented social crisis that most people are not aware of.

Professor Chris Landsberg with Amina Frense. He told the club how she had become his "boss" at the SABC after he was approached to host a chat show after he'd had an on-air run-in with Eugene Terre'Blanche and Andries Treurnicht on TV

    He spoke of intergenerational warfare as experienced on campus between students and the lecturers, saying that young people are good at asserting their rights without accepting the responsibilities that go with it. "We want its now, we want it all and we want it on our terms. Demand, demand, demand. Want, want, want now. I sometimes wonder if they know how to say thank you."
     Every successful country prioritises two things: education and health. This is the soft underbelly of South Africa, he said.
     To the youth he wants to say: You have grown up in a world where interracial congress is easy and accepted. Make the most of it.
     To the generation of Baby Boomers he says: Let's reclaim the values we grew up with; let's recommit us to a shared country, shared values and a shared future.

Some were eating and some listening but for sure everyone was concentrating in what Professor Landsberg had to say

     Being an African is a state of mind. Let's help to contribute to Africa's welfare, to make a commitment without arrogance and accept that we can also learn from Africa.
     He praised Rotary for reaching out across borders and continents to help the poor and experience life in other parts of the world. The real problems lie closer to home, however.
     "Apartheid spacial planning has messed up our minds so much that we can sit here in Parkview today, some of us will go to Sandton, some of us will go to leafy Auckland Park, we all live in our different places. In order to see poverty and destitution we sometimes have to make a date to get out of your suburb and see it and yet it is a stone's throw away."

Ron Daintry was a visitor at one of the busiest meetings of the year. he is a member at Knights Pendragon and was previously at White River

     "How is it humanly possible that the richest square kilometre in all of Africa if not the Southern Hemisphere is in Sandton, yet across the road you've got people today that will die of cholera."
     "Let's get serious, let's go and help to rebuild and let's all go and get our hands dirty."
     A tale of two worlds indeed. We should invite Professor Landsberg back for Chapter Two.

President Linda Vink after inducting the four new members. From left are Rusty van der Walt, Emilio Kiyeya Yamfu, Carl Chemaly and Professor Llewellyn Leonard

Other News
     There were no fewer than 32 people at the meeting last week, surely a new record.
     It was a very busy meeting during which the club grew by four and membership now stands at 30 after the induction of Carl Chemaly, Emilio Kiyeya Yamfu, Professor Llewellyn Leonard and Rusty van der Walt.
     All four have been at a number of meetings during the past months (Llewellyn was already a Rotarian, having transferred from the e-club) and have taken part in a fireside chat. All four are keen to get their hands dirty, as Professor Landsberg urged.
     Their induction will be followed up at the meeting next week, which will double up as a club assembly with Membership as the main theme. IPDG Jankees Sligcher will lead a discussion into how to attract members, which kind of members to attract and how to keep them once they've joined.

PDG's Eric Kimani and Jankees Sligcher during a meeting in Nairobi, Kenya during a Rotary Foundation meeting

     Jankees spent some time at the weekend with PDG Eric Kimani of Kenya, who was responsible for a huge resurgence of Rotary in his home country and will no doubt be passing on tips from those quarters.
     Jankees reports that their District Foundation Committee was organising a dinner with RI president Barry Rassin. The dinner will cost $30 (R435) and an extra $1 000 (R14 500) to be publicly recognised by the IP in from of the crowd. It is all part of an effort to raise awareness for members to become a major donor or at least become a member of the Paul Harris Society
     When Jankees was there they already had 30 takers to be recognised.
     They obviously do things on a grand scale in Kenya.
     "It makes you think," says Jankees.
     The Rotaract club, which is proving to be very active, also inducted a new member, Siphumeze Bhaca, at the meeting. It was great to have them there.

Paul Kasango joined the Rotaracters in celebrating their new member Here he is with Victoria Adekomaya, Monique Marques, new member Siphumeze Bhaca, Nadine Mitchell, Minenhle Majola and president Bridget Mukhavhuli

Frayne Going Strong
      Linda and I made a quick trip to Modderfontein on Thursday to deliver a hamper donated by members to Frayne Mathijs after her recent health scare. We expected first of all to find her in hospital or at the very least in bed with nurses hovering, but true to form she was up and about and laughing about her recent ordeal.

     Frayne asked that we thank the club for their generosity and promised to be at the meeting next week.
     Frayne is remarkable and just driving all the way to her home was tiring, something she obviously does very regularly.

Frayne Mathijs at home with the hamper from New Dawn members

Dates to diarise
     Following the meeting next week some members are joining Peter James Smith with his Grub Club at a Chinese restaurant in Cyrildene on Thursday evening, always an interesting cross-cultural experience. Contact Joan Donet before Monday if you're interested in joining the group.

Lyn Collocott and Dave Bradshaw of Rosebank were both visitors. Dave will be speaking on Friendship Exchange on 24th October. Carl Chemaly is in the background

     One of our visitors at the meeting last week, Dave Bradshaw of the Rosebank Club, will be the speaker at the meeting on 24 October. He'll be speaking on Friendship Exchanges.
     The 24th is also the start of Winex, which goes until Friday. This is another fun event and there are still slots available if you can come and help. Joan is the contact there as well.
     There is no meeting on 31st October, as it is a fifth Wednesday, but there will be a board meeting at the Parkview Golf Club on Friday, 2nd November followed by pizzas on the veranda. Do join us for the board meeting at 4.30, or afterwards from about 6pm.
     The meeting on the 7th of November will focus on the youth education and scholarship strategy.
     The Rotary Club of Johannesburg has invited New Dawn to their quiz night on Friday, 16th November and we've committed to taking a table. If you can make it, please give your name to Joan.
     Carin Holmes needs volunteers to take people from Woodside shopping on 24th November and will need help there. Contact her if you want to volunteer.
     If all of this hasn't tired you to yet, remember the 30th November is the Golf Day and the 7th December the Christmas dinner.
     A Thought for the Week: There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in. - Leonard Cohen (1934-2016)