In South Africa, unemployment is at a record high, the worst since WWII. Crime, especially violent or “contact” crime is up by double digits on last year. Gender based violence, fatherless families and poverty stalk the land. The economy has become a basket case, junk status is its lot; new investment has been scared off by cockeyed ideology and state capture. Corruption is rampant and hope of turning things around in a promised magical new dawn is waning. Our education system does not turn out .
Recalibration, refresh buttons and revivals occur through the disruption seen in the flux, fluidity, and especially experimentation (hard paywall, soft paywall, no paywall) around how journalism is to be paid for in a media ecosystem that is shifting to online, with concomitant social media and disinformation.
Lumko Mtimde, who was s
pecial advisor to Jackson Mthembu, has written a tribute to his collegue, describing how the minister s death is a massive loss.
What a great loss!
I write with a heavy heart and sorrow mngani wam , as you would call me. I never thought I would pay tribute to you in this manner and so soon.
On Thursday, at around 13:30, while I was busy organising the funeral service for my aunt, Lulama Xoliswa Mashologu, who died on 20 January, I received a call from my colleague Dr Gwen Ramokgoba, which added more salt to my wound.
I have lost many family members before to Covid-19, from my father Rev AD Mtimde, to my siblings and my daughter, Kwanele Makhathini. I have, however, never felt such a deep wound, hurt and devastation like on Thursday.