Responsible_Citizenship

LIFE ORIENTATION: RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP | June 14 2012 | CHAD WYNGAARD | GRADE 12 | Table of Contents SECTION A:1-4 THE INFLUENCE OF SOUTH AFRICAN POLITICS ON THE YOUTH: -GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION IN SOUTH AFRICA ……………………………………1-4 SECTION B:5-9 RESEARCH AND ANALYSES OF THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY: -QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS……………………………………………………………… 5-9 SECTION C: 10-12 - A FORMAL LETTER TO PRESIDENT, JACOB ZUMA SECTION A: The influence of South African politics on the youth Government corruption in South Africa: Government corruption is a very serious issue that affects South Africa as a country and its people in it. The South African Government consists of many corrupted leaders who are supposed to lead us but how can they lead us, if they are corrupted' Corruption in South Africa includes the private use of public resources, bribery and improper favouritism This issue has a huge impact on the citizens of South Africa. This issue is also one of many examples where our South African government embarrasses us as a country. The government corruption has not only had an influence on us as a country but also other countries, this serious issue have made other countries view our country differently. “Tenderpreneur” is a local term that has been created to refer to individuals who enrich themselves through government tender contracts, mostly based on personal connections and corrupt relationships - although outright bribery might also take place - and sometimes involving an elected or politically-appointed official (or his or her family members) holding simultaneous business interests.[3] This is often accompanied by overcharging and shoddy workmanship. The South African Arms Deal was a US$4.8 billion (R30 billion in 1999 rands) purchase of weaponry by the South African Government finalised in 1999 which has been subject to allegations of corruption. The South African Arms Deal, finalised in 1999, became mostly known for the bribery that was used to gain the contracts. The Schabir Shaik trial arose partly from this scandal – This is probably one of the most prominent Government fraud corruptions’ in South Africa. The brother of a top Limpopo state official scored at least R6.9 million from a company that was awarded a R320m textbook distribution tender after the official played a key role in awarding the tender. The deal involving EduSolutions, a company owned and run by former top government mandarins, is the latest controversy in the R320m deal that was scrapped as “illegal” in April and is now the subject of a major anti-corruption probe - another situation depicting “tenderpreneur”. The Star reported on Thursday 14 June, that crime intelligence officials paid informers to make fake right-wing related threats against the government. They apparently did so in order to claim money from the unit’s secret service account, by ‘remunerating’ sources. Unnamed sources told the newspaper that spy bosses worked their way into the R600m-a-year slush fund by fabricating information to create a false impression of imminent, unprecedented attacks against black people and the African National Congress. Thousands of South African police officers were faced with being stripped of their guns or kicked out of the force entirely after a leaked internal report revealed that one fifth of those with licenses were not qualified to use police-issue weapons. A total of 27,400 officers failed to complete updated firearms training introduced last year, out of 129,713 armed staff in the nation's force. Even our country’s police system has started to become corrupt. They are ones who are supposed to prevent or stop corruption. These are few of many corruptions found within our government and it’s sad to know that all these corruptions have a negative influence on all South Africans. The issue of government corruption has influenced me negatively in the sense that I cannot be proud of my country’s governing system. The government is supposed to have a high standard of ethics set in place so that they can lead the country in the most effective way. Our government on the other hand are not able to do this because how can they' Although most government corruptions are from past years, it still influences the country negatively. Then on the other hand some things seem to changing to for the better of our country: -The newly-appointed police chief Mangwashi Phiyega. She wants to improve internal and external relations in the interest of service delivery, and taking a decisive position on corruption, which to Mangwashi are the main priorities at the moment. This new appointed police chief looks to hold great potential to stop and prevent corruption in our country. This influences my future decisions in a positive way because our president, Jacob Zuma has proved himself once again to make a good decision like this one. - The ANC youth league leader, Julius Malema also contributing to the issue of corruption. Julius was seen as a bad asset to the country. The expulsion of Julius Malema from the ANC party and the 2012 re-election creates a positive sight for our country. Despite the government corruption in South Africa, there seems to be a light at the end of it. The right actions are being taken by our president, Jacob Zuma, to ensure a better country with a better government. It has been noted that he regularly and unexpectedly swaps and changes his cabinet, which could only benefit the country. Being able to vote in next elections puts pressure on one because one vote could change our country. Therefore with our current political situation in our country it makes it harder because you never know what to expect from our politicians. Our current situation at the moment in our country seems like things are changing for the good because most things are being changed and corrected. Research: Government corruption: Corruption in South Africa includes the private use of public resources, bribery and improper favouritism.[1] The 2010 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index assigned South Africa an index of 4.8, ranking South Africa 54th out of 178 countries.[2] Corruption in South AfricaTenderpreneur is a local term that has been created to refer to individuals who enrich themselves through government tender contracts, mostly based on personal connections and corrupt relationships - although outright bribery might also take place - and sometimes involving an elected or politically-appointed official (or his or her family members) holding simultaneous business interests.[3] This is often accompanied by overcharging and shoddy workmanship. It may or may not involve BEE-fronting, where previously disadvantaged individuals (PDIs) are given a seat on the Board of Directors of a company while having no decision-making power in the company, in order to qualify the company for government contracts in terms of Black Economic Empowerment. Government initiatives against corruption are coordinated by the Department of Public Service and Administration.[4] Notable incidents of fraud and corruptionThe South African Arms Deal, finalised in 1999, became mostly known for the bribery that was used to gain the contracts. The Schabir Shaik trial arose partly from this scandal. The Travelgate scandal, in which 40 members of parliament were found to have illegally used parliamentary travel vouchers worth R18 million for personal use.[5] The Goodwood police station commander, Siphiwo Hewana, was found guilty of attempting to defeat the ends of justice for tampering with the docket for convicted fraudster Tony Yengeni's arrest for drunken driving in 2007. Former National Police Commissioner and ex-President of Interpol, Jackie Selebi, was convicted on corruption charges in July 2010, for receiving (at least) R120 000 from alleged crime-syndicate boss, Glenn Agliotti. SECTION B: Research and analyses of the role of the media in a democratic society 1. What roles do the media play in our country' The role of media plays a crucial role in shaping a healthy democracy. It is the backbone of a democratic society. Media makes us aware of various social, political and economical activities happening around our country. The media in South Africa has undoubtedly evolved and become more active over the years. It is the media only who reminds politicians about their unfulfilled promises at the time of elections. T.V news channels excessive coverage during elections helps people, especially illiterates, in electing the right person to the power. This reminder forces politicians to be up to their promises in order to remain in power. Television and radio have made a significant achievement in educating rural illiterate masses in making them aware of all the events in their language. The media also exposes loopholes in the democratic system, which ultimately helps government in filling the vacuums of loopholes and making a system more accountable, responsive and citizen-friendly. A democratic society without media is like a vehicle without wheels. 2. What does the Section 32, of the South African Constitution of 1996, state' Constitution says: Section 32(1)(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act, No. 108 of 1996 (hereinafter referred to as “the Constitution”) provides that everyone has a right of access to any information held by the state and any information held by another person that is required for the exercise or protection of any rights. 3. Explain your answer, to question 1, in your own words. The media plays a role entrenched by our Constitution because the architects of our democratic Constitution, most of who came from progressive movements, insisted on media freedom as a fundamental feature of our new society. The South African media enjoy considerable freedom of expression. This is evidenced by the frequency with which the media criticize the government, the ruling political party, the police and many other public institutions and services. Investigative reporting is prominent and widely respected. 4. What is the big debate on The Protection of State Information Bill about' The Media Tribunal is intended to apply to members of the press, both journalists and newspaper owners. It questions the powers of the press’s existing ombudsman and the Press Code (both of which can already be used to challenge whether an article should be published). If established, the tribunal will require journalists to submit to it the subjects they intend to investigate or have investigated and will write about. They must inform the tribunal of these subjects so it can decide whether they pose a threat to state security. The Secrecy Bill has been and continues to be seen as an obvious means of concealing the corruption that has become a way of South African life for many, from high-placed members of the government down to menial officials. The tender—or bid to carry out government enterprises—has become the currency of much of this corruption. After the government calls for bids on projects from submarines to public buildings, the successful bid gets approved in return for bank deposits that end up in the back pocket of the official who has the power to award the deal. Sometimes the deposit is made to a firm where the wife of the awarding official is a partner. Some nosy person may subsequently reveal that the official himself benefited. COSATU, which along with the South African Communist Party and the Democratic Alliance is a member of the parliamentary opposition to the ANC majority, gave what a newspaper called a pummelling to the bill in Parliament. The “Corruption Watch” launched by COSATU described in detail how the bill would undermine the fight against corruption. COSATU’s director of alternative information and development said that the government’s response to “deepening poverty and inequality, faltering social cohesion” was rolling back human right. The Secrecy Bill is merely one of a much bigger and problematic effort to centralize power in the security cluster of government. 5. What is your opinion on the debate' My opinion on the big debate on The Protection on State Information Bill is that this bill adapted from the apartheid era act, known as the Publications and Entertainments Act (The suppression of freedom of expression that suppressed us under apartheid). So I think that this bill is just an excuse for more government corruption without being exposed. The right to know would beyond question be virtually prohibited for the people of South Africa by the bill’s censorship strictures on the press, both newsprint and other media. But the Secrecy Act also applies anywhere, and by any means, where human concerns and convictions are expressed; it can be used to stifle moral debates about our culture, our complex history, and our present situation. It is appalling to think of the opinions and actions that inevitably will be seen as transgressions of the deafening silence imposed by the bill. Decisions of the government could be hidden from the public under the bill’s parliamentary edict of secrecy. The bill, for example, could suppress the right to explore in public the effects of the new regime of secrecy itself, whether by characters in the theatre, or in reflections on our society expressed by characters in novels and stories. 6. What do you think will happen if the secrecy bill becomes law' Once the Protection of Information Bill becomes law journalists and members of civil society can be arrested for what the State deems to be classified documents. These types of documents have formed the basis for some of the country's most important and ground-breaking stories. A bill that criminalises the possession and disclosure of information that is in the public interest has no place in our democracy. This bill will be used to cover up corruption, unlawful behaviour and inefficiencies. It will enable the abuse of state power. If the Secrecy Bill would become law, the possession, publication and distribution of state sensitive information would become a criminal offence. Offenders - both journalists and could be handed jail sentences of up to 25 years for publishing and disclosing state secrets. SECTION C: Letter to president, Jacob Zuma HE Jacob Zuma President of the Republic of South Africa Cape Town South Africa Cape Town, 7 November 2011 Dear Mister President, I’d like to take this opportunity to express to you my point of view on how the country is managed by you. Firstly I’d like to commend you on your taking responsibility when you need to, which shows us as a country that you truly carry the country’s best interest at heart. The fact that you took time to ride the Metrorail’s trains and buses in the morning rush in order to tackle the service delivery of Metrorail’s transportation shows determination. Metrorail’s bad service delivery has negative effect on South Africa’s economic growth and development. The reshuffling of the cabinet shows that you believe in change and that it’s good to change for the better. The reshuffling also indicates that you want the best for the country and it prevents government corruption (when reshuffling your cabinet diminishes chance or opportunities for corruption within the government.) At the moment the sixty percent of eligible voters believe that you are performing your duties very well, according to a poll (The poll was conducted by a research company Ipsos and they asked 3 565 people to evaluate the performance of the president, duty president, national government, municipalities, and the leader of the opposition. (Reported by new24 – 16/06/12) Your positive impact on education in the country has displayed your trust in education to take the country forward. Education loans have increased to R5.5bn from R3.3bn, and R15bn had been set aside for students to enrol at FET colleges. I like to commend you on representing South Africa on contributing to fight against racism, xenophobia and other related intolerances at the High Level Symposium in New York. This clearly shows your determination to end the relevant issues in our country. There are few other things that our country should improve on like for instance protecting citizens in areas like Lavander Hill, Cafda and other communities affected by the endemic of gangsterism. Our police system should be well trained to handle this kind of endemic affecting innocent people. Swatter camps are a serious problem in our country, especially in the Western Cape. So therefore this issue should obviously be handled effectively because swatter camps are “popping up” everywhere. Actions should be implemented to counter this kind of issue which concerns and affects society and the environment. These places are usually affecting with alerting health problems because of their living conditions. So perhaps a government fund should be arranged or set up to help these situations. I’d like thank you mister president for always doing what is right and the right time. Yours faithfully Chad Wyngaard Bibliography: * www.wikipedia.co.za * www.24news.com * The New Age online newspaper – 14 June 2012 * Telegraph online UK newspaper – April, May and June editions * South Africa, The threat to freedom by Nadine Gordimer * DSC PAIA Information centre