Embrace your culture

Gone are the days when as a Tsonga girl, you expect to have a vukhobha ceremony performed for you when you become of age and cross over from being a girl into womanhood. Now it is how big your sweet sixteen party will be and how much booze will be available. Gone are the days when as a young Zulu girl, you prided yourself in attending virginity testing ceremonies and the pride that came with being certified itshitshi and having everyone know that you are as pure as the day you were born. Now it's a trend to see a porn video of a teen being filmed in class during school hours. The days when young men went to the mountains to be circumcised and taught how to be substantial men in the community are no more, all we hear these days is how many of these young men have gone through botched circumcisions.

It is considered illiterate to not know how to speak English without  a European accent yet a non-issue to be Tsonga and be unable to converse in your own native language. You find an African mother in the mall speaking to her own child in (mostly) broken English. What purpose does this act serve exactly?  

What went wrong? Is this what evolution is?

Not Yet Uhuru

What is freedom really?

This is a question I asked myself after reading that Malamulele residents have burned down two schools in their protest for their own Municipality. I get that they are angry and/or frustrated but how does anger and/frustration force you to hinder your children from succeeding? How do you as a parent then want change when you are busy pulling yourself back? How do you rationalise killing your children’s future? How do you even have needs when you are busy destroying your own children’s primary needs?

I think we are losing sight of what is important to us as a nation. It is not only an oversight but its cruelty when a parent stands in the way of a child and their future…I’m certain there are other channels that could be followed to make sure their voices are heard and if that doesn't work then they should go back to the drawing board and find other ways because killing their children’s future can never be a better way…..

We are not yet Uhuru……

By disappointed Manosh

TOLAH Career Planning

 There is no such thing as a standard example of a good CV. A CV is only “good” if it works…if it fulfils its purpose of marketing your skills and expertise. If you are receiving calls and emails because recruiters/employers have seen your CV, then you have a good CV that works for you.

Present your CV in a clear and logical manner, using short sentences, bullet points and consistently sized headings. Proofread, proofread, and then proofread again.

Your CV should include:

• Your name, address and accurate contact details
• Key roles you've completed to date
• Start dates and finish dates ( start with your current role)
• Job title
• Employer
• Key responsibilities (Don’t include faxing, photocopying, scanning etc. please)
• Achievements
• You should also account for any career gaps
• Provide details from secondary school onwards
• The institution name
• Attendance dates
• Qualifications Obtained
• Details of any software packages that you're familiar with

Interviews

• ·         Prepare yourself
• ·         Smile, keep eye contact and if you don't understand questions ask them to elaborate, if you still don't understand ask them to skip it.
• ·         For competency based questions, answer and give examples please.

One on One/KPA/CPA discussions.

Often we go into these meetings unprepared and take whatever our managers say, smile and go back to work with lots of questions. Learn to ask questions, object if you don't agree with your ratings and give reasons. Well these are few things you can plan and discuss with your managers:

Career Phathing/Promotion- Find out if there are any opportunities for you to grow in the company. Discuss the direction you would like your career to take.  Ask what will it take for you to be promoted/ what can/ must you do?

Salary Increase - It’s important to know your salary band/bracket e.g. if your position pays from R150-350pa and you only getting R200 000pa, ask your manager what you must do to get to R300 or whatever your desired amount may be.

Studies- Find out if  there is  bursaries and study loans available for employees. With bursaries normally you have to sign a retention agreement whereas study loans company pay your fees and deduct small amounts per month.

I know you don't like long articles, so I will leave this here.

By Nkomy

Simba Mhere

29 October 1988 – 31 January 2015

Lived in South Africa from when he was 1 year old, born in Zimbabwe

Full name Simbarashe [Shona to English translation meaning the power of God] Mhere a Top Billing presenter, Mrs South Africa 2013 host, freelance voice over artist and a former sprinter for his University was killed in a fatal car accident in the early hours of Saturday morning. The 26 year old Mhere was on his way to OR Tambo International airport to fly to the J&B Met in Cape Town.

He and close friend Kady-Shay O'Bryan (29) who was a blogger and mother to a four year old girl were killed instantly when the VW Polo crashed into the right side of their Mitsubishi.

They were travelling on William Nicol Road near the N1 when he collided with a VW Polo and a Mazda.

The Polo that had got off the N1 in Fourways, crossed over the middle island and crashed into Simba’s side.

Simba was driving and the strong impact killed Simba and the passenger seated upfront.

His PR Company, Styling Concepts named the third passenger, the presenter’s father as having survived the crash.

The driver of the Polo was taken off to hospital before officers could breathalyse him. He will be charged with culpable homicide and reckless and negligent driving.

Mhere matriculated from Rand Park High in Johannesburg and attended the University of Johannesburg where he obtained a Bachelor of Commerce Accounting degree.

We remember Simba as the benchmark in enchanting Top Billing audiences, a role model and having been a truly talented individual.

By Pumi

Weekend roundup!

Weekend roundup

Oh what an eventful weekend this was. So much happened in a space of one weekend you would swear there's a record to be achieved somehow.

It was my B-day weekend so literally I started getting sloshed and totally treated the 30th of January as my "birthday eve". We did the whole countdown to midnight and got the "new year" kiss. Next thing, my person was in the kitchen baking a cake, at 2am. I was speechless from watching him run around like a chicken trying to put together cake baking ingredients all until Anga saw the brownie-looking cake on my whatsapp and she LOL'd @me and that happiness faded on the spot :(. OliviaPope made things worse by refusing to eat my birthday cake after I showed her a picture, she wouldn't even let me at least show her what it looked like in real life. Saturday night, I went clubbing. Felt awks at first but then after a few drinks I was twerking and doing the Nay-Nay like a 19 year old. Who says you can't be 24 and still work the dancefloor?

However, the weekend was not without its bit of sad news.

- I was sad to hear of the passing of Simba Mhere after being involved in a car accident on Saturday morning.  May his soul rest in peace.

- Bobbi Kristina Brown is in hospital after being found unconscious in a bathtub.   

- Prosper Mkwaiwa also passed on this Sunday. May his soul rest in peace.

And in lighter News, Sunday Twitter was all in arms after Omuhle Gela tweeted that her boo is buying her an apartment for Valentine's day. It was so funny to watch mean girls try justify how accepting this gift was like prostitution.  Honestly, can people just be happy for others and accept lucks and levels are not and will never be the same?

Anyway, what did u ladies get up to?

By Queen Troll