Nkandla - Robin v.d. Berg

Jacob Zuma is the current President of South Africa and has been accused of corruption on numerous occasions, past and present. The fact that he has used over 200 million Rand of government and tax payers money on his new presidential mansion/complex has done nothing to help improve his image among his doubters.

The fact the the government has allowed for this to happen in a country that is severely poverty stricken is completely unacceptable. Zuma continually promises an improved economy and better living condition for those affected by poverty, but then decides to construct himself a mansion while trying to cover it up by paying for the housing of the surrounding locals.

This money could have been used to improve infrastructure, educational facilities etc.But once again he has contradicted himself. One must again question his ability as the President of South Africa...

Zuma Jess Lobe

Poverty:  definition

             -the state of being inferior in quality or insufficient in amount

             -the state of being really poor.

In the economy minority continues to carry out the transformation towards production for the south african economy, the strengthening of the export sector, and the growth of luxury goods production such as Jacob Zuma , South African current president house in Kwa-Zulu Natal . 

There has been no significant change of the economy away since aparthied, this is kept so by the political members who seek rent and have no interest in South Africa  and its econmic growth

Parliament’s public  committee Scopa and public works department on the upgrade of President Jacob Zuma’s private home in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal. 

Nkandla-RF

South Africa's very own President Jacob Zuma  and  his scandal with him buidling a luxury home in nkandla he became the president on December 18 of 2007 Kwa-Zulu Natal for R250 000 000, where there are only 30 houses and 5 of the houses are  his.

To Z or not to Z

It is no lie that our country is not the best, with our corrupt government and crime rate. Many people blame Jacob Zuma  for our country's reputation. We are known as the rape capital of the world and i am not proud of this title  (no-one should be).

But we do nothing to change this. In spite of all of this we can not even trust our police the people who are supposed to keep us safe. People fear the metro police, I know I do.

Jacob Zuma spends our tax money on personal luxuries, like his enormous house. But then denies that the money is even his to begin with. He is corrupt and a bad president. But he is not the only one in our government with corruption problems and can not be the only one to blame.

R.A.M

Nkandla

Nkandla, Zuma's new home created in the center of a township. He spent R750 million on his home alone and R250 million. 

''On Thursday, Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence tabled a report detailing the reasons for R206 million in public funds having been spent to upgrade security at President Zuma’s residence.

The report, produced by a task team appointed by the ministers of police and public works, painted a picture of Nkandla as a place under siege – needing expensive new measures to combat the “high risk” of everything from firestorms and floodwaters to assassination, rape, air disaster and disease.''

I personally feel that instead saying that our country is in trouble and poverty is everywhere and then building 1billion rands worth of home and security he could spend the money on helping the country get out of its situation.

ACL

Nkandla - Julia Brown

The ANC has always been known as the party that freed South Africa from the pain and suffering South Africa was experiencing in the past. Now it is in the papers for all the wrong reasons. Our president, Jacob Zuma, has recently built a mansion costing R750 million to call his home, whilst surrounding him are people who barely have their basic human right of shelter satisfied. What does this say about our country? We state we are on the road to freedom, but the only road we are making is the R582 million road for the driveway up to his house. Worse yet, is the fact that the money spent is not out of Jacob Zuma's pocket. but our country's.

Nkandla - Nina Kisbey-Green

Nkandla, a township situated in Kwa-Zulu Natal. But it is not just any random township, it has about 115000 residents spread sparsely over a large are of the uThungulu district. The media seems to be suppressing news on what is happening on the area where our president is allegedly spending our countries money to build a himself a costly mansion, referred to as a "homestead" by the president. The Nkandla district and what the president is doing with tax payers money is causing public outrage, as millions of dollars have been spent on Zuma's private "homestead" instead of providing necessary services for the country that we are lacking, such as hospitals, schools, and roads full of potholes.

To Z or not to Z - Emma Oelschig

There crime and poverty in this country. South Africa is a developing country and we still have a lof work  do to me dveloped country and does'nt help that the very president of this country is corrupt.

He has been accused of rape, corruption and many more. The way he has been running this country has not been that different however, he has made bad decisions and good decisions. Except for the millions he spent for personal luxury.

He 

He has 

nkandla -C.R

Nkandla is an area that not very many people knew about until recently. Nkandla is the area where our president Jacob Zuma comes from. It is a town in the uThungulu district of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.  Hardly anyone knew about nkandla until Jacob Zuma decided to build a mansion costing  two hundred million rand to build. The South African public is angry about this development as it is believed that Jacob Zuma is using our country's tax money ,which is supposed to go back into the South African economy, to build his mansion. There are also rumors that the contractor used to build the mansion on nkandla over charged and are partly to blame for the incident. 

To Z or not to Z- Pearl Donzwa

South Africa, as we know it, is a striving developing country. There is a larger-than-large amount of poverty stricken people and children who don't know where and when their next meal will come as well as a shocking crime rate. You, me and 52 billion other people live within the rape capital of the world. The even sadder reality of all this is that the president of this very country has had rape charges himself. 

Despite the deep history, legacy and achievements of South Africa as a whole, the country continues to be held back as R250 million is used by Jacob Zuma on his Nkandla upgrade. The use of this money on President Zuma's Nkandla  is the virtual theft of South African citizens' education, food, housing, health care and rightfully deserved way of life.

The president's homeland now has hi-tech security, a yard like a complex, and a hospital. In my eyes Jacob Zuma's actions are the opposite of what a good leader entails. Ignorantly he has met his own needs by upgrading his homeland and, I try to convince myself, has 'forgotten' to upgrade the rest of South Africa- the poverty stricken I mentioned above. 

To Z or not to Z? It seems that everyday I find myself swaying toward 'not to Z' because i believe that the value of the fight for the freedom of this country's citizens is far too precious to have the needs of the president met and not the needs of the very people he leads.

By Pearl Donzwa

This is nkandla: Keza Kayiranga

A town in the uThungulu district of  Kwazulu Natal, South Africa. It encompasses nearly 115,000 inhabitants and it is mainly a rural area. It is listed the top five of the poorest places in Kwazulu Natal
 There's a percentage of 44 unemployed and most inhabitants in this town are zulu's.
This fellow town is rich in natural resources and has a great potential economic growth through algriculture. This town may also be found to be our current president's home village as he also has got homesteads there. The president was also able to give the inhabitants living in that town jobs
And homes as well. Nkandla is basically an extremely poor town that potential to have a high
 economic growth to the fact that there is mostly good climate for crops to grow as algriculture in this town is quite very good as it is said that it is the reason why the town's economy can grow.
This town is also known for its forests that contains indigenous species and its  Zulu history.

This is Nkandla : Ryan Solomons

Nkandla is a town in the uThulungu district of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. It is the seat of the Nkandla Local Municipality.
Nkandla is the home of South Africa's current president Jacob Zuma. Nkandla is the home of President Jacob Zuma's royal palace.Nkandla is situated in a remote area of breathtaking mountainous beauty, which consists mainly of tribal lands and state-owned land. The area has a wealth of undisturbed forests, which boast many indigenous species. Nkandla has a claim to be the ‘cradle’ of Zulu history.
The Nkandla region encompasses nearly 115,000 inhabitants.

mpendulo ndlovu

Nkandala is the place of birth of our president Mr Jacob Zuma.


  A documentary, "Orphans of Nkandla" by the BBC and Truevision, recounted the hardships and deep poverty of orphans in Nkandla. People of Nkandla are suffering everyday. Nkandla is the home of President Jacob Zuma's royal palace.is the home town of the current President . Zuma was joined by Mandela to open Mnyakanya High School in 2004.^[2] Nkandla is mainly a rural area and is in the top five of the poorest places in KZN.

 According to the ministerial handbook, the department can spend R100 000 on security improvements at the private houses of public officials. Any costs above that must be covered by the official. Over R200 000 000 has appeared to be allocated by the department.

The South African government public works department is building a helipad, underground bunkers, security and their accommodation, and fencing around the entire complex. According to the ministerial handbook, the department can spend R100 000 on security improvements at the private houses of public officials.

nkandla thando dlamini

Nkandla is a town in the uThungulu district in kwazulu-nata, South Africa, where the current South African president Jacob Zuma lives and built a homestead in the township while people are suffering from poverty. Zuma could have gave some of his money to help the people in the township with food, water, hospitals and homes instead of building a homestead. this country needs services as we dont have since people are just spending their money on something that is not useful when they can spend their money for saving others and helping them live a better life than they do now, it may not be that much but it can save people and make them happy.

Nkandla- by Emma Zyde

This is the fact: Jacob Zuma bought an area in Kwa-Zulu Natal for R250 000 000, where there are only 30 houses and 5 of the houses are for him.

This is the reality: Jacob Zuma bought this area with money from the government, which are our taxes. So, if you actually think about it, he is using OUR money to live even more luxurious than before. I find this unacceptable as there are millions of people in South Africa that dont have access to electricity, water, houses, etc.. and he is just spending the money on his own instead of using it on something that is more important/necessary!

He could of used this area, to build hospitals and schools on, he could of used the money more wisely.

There have been so many issues with Jacob Zuma that I dont know anymore if he is suitable for this job, ruling South Africa.

To Z or not to Z- Phumelele Mothadi

To Z or not to Z, that is the question...

But the real question is to re-elect or not to re-elect...*sigh*.

Our very own Robert Mugabe has proven to be a very interesting man, lets start off with the infamous rape charges he brought in with him when he waltzed into power. Now where exactly did all those rape charges end up? A few months into his presidency and POOF, gone! No more proceedings, no more news or reports on any of those counts of rape against him. Suspicious, is it not?

Nkandla... Our presidents homeland. Now with a complex-like yard, hi-tech security systems and a hospital. Yes, a hospital! I don't know when it was decided that it was completely normal to have a hospital in your yard. The public was outraged at the hundreds of millions of rands spent on his home renovations but not once did this man of honor step up to the plate and justify his actions. Not once did he try to explain that he was well within his rights, or was he?

The Gupta saga... Now please note that not long before this did Nelson Mandela have to get to hospital urgently but had a problem getting an ambulance to him in time. Though that is in no way Jacob Zuma's fault, it poses the question; what is going on with this country? We can grant clearance for an aircraft to land in a protected area as fast as lightning but cannot get an ambulance to arguably the most important man in this country. Zuma had an abundant plate of NOTHING to tell us. How convenient! As always none of the people who have the answers can actually give them to us, or can they?

In ending, one thing is vital to mention, its very obvious that Jacob Zuma and 'serving the people' are on opposing seats of parliament. 

To Z or not to Z... NOT!!!!!!!!

Bandile Nkandla

Jacob Zuma ,the South African president spent 250 000 000 on renovating a homestead in Nkandla . People have put this under scrutiny as they believe that he is using the government and tax payers' money for personal uses. It is also believed that he doesn't entirely own the homestead and is building it also for use of other people who are not his family. The homestead has state of the art technology while the people of South Africa are struggling and living in poverty . Some of the features the homestead has are unnecessary and has caused the media to investigate the renovation .

While the people of Nkandla are also living in poverty he could have at least made them benefit from this money .This homestead has also led people to talk about the corruption in South Africa. I think this is unacceptable If he is using the tax payers' money for his own gain instead of helping improve the state of the country.

To Z and not to Z - Carolyn Warren

Take a look at our country. The amount of poverty, and hunger stricken people living around us is shocking. Look at how much young infants are being raped and murdered. South Africa is the rape capital of the world, now including our crime statistics. Being in a position that allows you to change your country for the better and the people looking for hopes lives, surely someone would work the best to their ability to make change. Jacob Zuma has been given our money for what we should only assume he would use it to help and improve our country as much as possible. A president should be someone that lives each day trying to make others days better, a president should give all his has up so that he can give every ounce of himself to his duty.  A president is a leader that their whole country looks up to, and should believe in, like a child does their father. Jacob Zuma, our presedint of South Africa as i mention before rape capital of the world and our own president is accused of rape. This man I call my president has basically stolen food, education and a way of life from his own citizens, not literally but thats what he is doing when he uses R250 million rand on his own house and family. If I were president I know that I would strive for a purpose, and a better tomorrow and I am just another foolish teenager living in South Africa. Let me put what i am trying to say in a way Jacob Zuma can understand this, ' My president is a ....'

Nkandla Chantel Olivier

Im not sure that buying Nkandla was Jacob Zumas best idea ever. He bought his area in KwaZulu-Natal for R250 000 000 with the governments money. The ANC should be using our money from our taxes to create better living conditions in South Africa. They should build better roads, schools, infrastructures to make our South Africa a better place for our citizens. Jacob Zuma is spending our money on personal luxuries for himself. He should be a rolemodel for our country but instead he's the opposite.

To "Z' Or Not To "Z" - An Opinion on Jacob Zuma

Jacob Zuma is the fourth President of South Africa, he was elected to power in 2009. Zuma is the President of the African National Congress (ANC), the governing political party, and was Deputy President of South Africa from 1999 to 2005. As there is much controversy about him and his Presidency, I shall examine both points of view and hope to adequately express my conclusions.

Zuma is an economic leftist, who has often described himself as a socialist. He supports redistribution of wealth and is therefor backed up by the South African Communist Party and, the Women's League as well as numerous trade unions.

Policy changes placed by Zuma aim to expand access to HIV treatment. According to Zuma, the government will start treating H.I.V.-positive people with tuberculosis at an earlier stage of their disease, when their immune systems are stronger — a step recommended by the World Health Organization proven reduce death rates.

Another policy to be put in place by Zuma is the National Development Plan (NDP).
The NDP suggests that every municipal district with commercial farming land should form a committee that is compromised of farmers and key stakeholders. Every one of those committees would then need to identify 20% of commercial farming land to be transfered to black farmers. This would ensure that an increased amount of land is successfully returned (and that it is a beneficial change) thus attempting to nullify the damage done by the Land Act of 1913.


Regardless of these positive political policies Zuma has managed to gather a strong and passionate opposition due to his questionable problems with the law and his usage of public funds. 
He is also criticized and ridiculed for his rather conventional public statements.

Zuma has been charged with rape of a 31 year old family friend but was was cleared of all charges on the basis of her lingering at his house till the next morning, and her history of making rape claims that turn out to false. He was also charged with corruption multiple times although all charges have been dropped.

Always in the spotlight, Zuma's latest scandal has been dubbed, "Nkandlagate". President Zuma spent as much as R206m (£12.4m) of the public's tax money on renovations to his private home. These include a tuck shop and a football field.

Moving on to Zuma's provincial opinions. Among others, one saying that he is extremely mocked for is his statement on the unprotected sex he had with an HIV positive woman. He left his bedroom, after having sex, to shower because this "would minimize the risk of contracting the disease [HIV]".
He also has rather bigoted ideas about homosexuals and same-sex marriage. He says that, and I quote,  "Same-sex marriages are a disgrace to the nation and to God." as well as that, "When I was growing up, an ungqingili (a homosexual) would not have stood in front of me. I would knock him out."

While I agree that our current president is not the purest man out there, I still believe that he has some good intentions and that we all should cut him some slack. Although it is true that our leaders should be positive role models we must also remember that they are human as well and deserve second chances. In my opinion a good leader is one who recognizes and apologizes for their mistakes, something that Zuma has done.

- Amber Anglin

This is Nkandla - by Mike Turner 9Z

This is Nkandla




So um, yeah, I guess it's kind of self-explanatory why this is controversial, our president, Jacob Zuma, decides to spend R250 000 000 on a private complex in which there are only 30 houses, 5 of them his, and this money isn't even his own. This money came from the government, in other words, our taxes. While he claims the money was for recent security alterations which is understandable, seeing as he IS the president, but R250 million? I don't know about you, but I think that sounds like a bit much for just security. Money like that should've been spent on housing and other basic needs in other areas, not on his house and surroundings. It was his choice to live there in the first place, So he should deal with the implications that come with living in that area, without using our tax money. Whether his homestead is there or not, it doesn't matter, that much money shouldn't be allowed to be spent if it isn't expressly owned by the persons involved

Mike Turner 9Z

For anyone in America that reads this, it's about 25million dollars, about

Jacob Zuma does not read - Ryan Mac Farlane

I think that it is terrible that our president does not read. When I was younger my gran always told me that “Knowledge is Power” and she always encouraged me to read. Jacob Zuma is in a very powerful position in our country and should be doing everything in his power to better this country and our quality of living.

 

 

I am not talking about Harry Potter novels, I’m talking about intellectual books or articles concerning our countries wellbeing and history  as well as other country’s’ political views and policies as well as their political history. Many South Africans think that he is uneducated and not intelligent, I am one of those South Africans. I personally think that he should at least attempt to read a book after seeing people’s reactions to the fact that he doesn’t read.

He does not have a very “academic” background, and is not the best role model for our country. Unfortunately people do look up to him, even with his false promises and exploitation of the peoples taxes people still vote for him. But that is concerning our country and corruption and that is a different story. With all this in mind, the fact that he doesn’t read doesn’t help his reputation.

Zuma's reading problems by Carolyn Warren

After reading these articles I feel like I agree totally with each writer.  The attitude and behaviour of our president affects the people below him. We need as a country, a leader that will help grow our people, make people surrounded by him want to be better and strive for more. Our last president was strong and a good leader, but he spoke well. We need a leader that is able to have words so powerful; he can grab many nations’ hearts and souls by his simple words but then again why bother and fuss over whether Zuma reads or not, when there is the fact that our president was accused of rape.

by Carolyn Warren

Jacob Zuma Doesn't Read - Robin

To give you some idea about who Jacob Zuma is, he is the 71 year old president of South Africa. He has never received any formal schooling and has previously been charged with rape and corruption before his rise to power.

Many feel that he isn't fit to lead South Africa for multiple reasons. Most of them relating to him being considered as an anti intellectual or to him not being an "academic." One of the most recent reasons is that he doesn't read. I know, but as absurd as it sounds the acusation is that he is unfit to lead a country because he doesn't read (and it's not because he can't). Don't get me wrong, he should read more (especially considering his lack of education), but the fact that he doesn't doesn't make him unfit to lead.

There are plenty of other reasons that are far more justifiable (such as his lack of education) that could declare him unfit to lead. But I'm not saying that being an academic makes you a better leader than one who isn't (just look at the Zimbabwean dictator, Robert Mugabe). To conclude I have to say that him not reading on a regular basis isn't a good enough reason to label him a bad leader, but there are plenty of others that are.

Can Jacob Zuma read?

Jacob Zuma is the current president of South Africa. He was born on 12th of April 1942. Jacob left school during grade 5. He has been accused of several criminal charges such as rape and all charges were dropped. Jacob Zuma is currently part of the ANC.

Jacob Zuma has been accused of not being able to read, you ask why? Its because people are starting to realize that he doesn't read political document's and is not clued up on the information that is highly needed to help and do what hes meant to do as president. He relies on other people to read the documents and do his work for him.

My opinion is that Jacob Zuma is lazy and takes advantage of his possession and i think that a person who has dropped out of school and committed criminal offenses should not have been elected to be president! All this aside, if Jacob could read these documents he would be a step closer to actually being useful.

A.C.L

Jacob Zuma-Cameron Redman

Jacob Zuma is head of the ANC which is a Democratic Party. Jacob Zuma is also the president of our country. He dropped out of school in grade five and is not the most intelligent presedent we have had. He as a few crime charges against him which were dropped when he became president.

Lately it has become apparent that Jacob Zuma does not read as much as he should. When I say he does not read I am talking political documents and portfolios. I believe that he should read more of theses documents as it may help with our constitution as he will have a better understanding of our rights and his responsibilities as presedent of our country.

I believe that Jacob Zuma should read more documents then he does but I do not think that people should be making such a big deal out of this one thing as there are plenty of other things wrong with him which are worse then not reading enough political documents. For example he has multiple rape charges against him and the fact that he is using or publics tax money to build a mansion but people are more concerned about the fact that he does not read as much as he should.

Jacob Zuma does not read- Mpendulo Ndlovu

As I have just read this article I have to say.that I'm very disappointed in  our country. People are always judging saying that our president didn't finish school, is a convicted rapist and a man who did not finish school but to me he is a man that has done what most men who dropped out haven't done and that is to become president and that to me is an inspiring story. This country still has racial issue towards our black leaders and always point out each and every mistake they make in the uttermost disgust and always say we were wrong voting for the ANC.


Now they claim just because he does not read the cabinets progress report or something like that people don't know how much work load he may have and my not have time to read the reports and I thin it was very poor of the professor who write this and not going into more detail. I now I also don't like the way he compares the president to previous ones saying that Thabo Mbeki read all the progress reports and kept his cabinet happy I don't see in the news where it says that the cabinet is very angry with Zuma works by not reading.


Thank you

Zuma does not read- Thando Dlamini

After i just read this article i wonder what is going to our country that we love so much, a country that has suffered a lot these years.The last article mentioned stated how, compared to past South African leaders, Zuma does not read enough, and he is not as exposed to the world around us. The other retaliates by saying that Jacob Zuma recieves too much criticism and he should be amended for all the change he has implemented.

My opinion is that people must just stop criticizing Jacob Zuma, people are making this such a big deal when but to me it is not. Zuma may not be reading books but he is leading South Africa. This country has been through a lot and we shouldn't make this a big issue just because our president doesn't read or doesn't read enough.

Our President Does Not Read- Phumelele Mothadi

The following is adapted from the Mothadi Dictionary

Jacob Zuma (noun)
Definition: A man with several counts of rape against him, despite his six wives and  twenty children. A polygamist. A man living under the scrutiny of over fifty million people.

How to use it in a sentence:
That bald man with a flashy car looks like such a Jacob Zuma!

After reading two articles about how the president of South Africa does not read, I found myself trying to understand what I personally took from the articles. Being a 14-year-old who believes that the answer to any question can be found in a book, a 14-year-old whose sole motivation are all the books I have not yet read, it is only expected for me to frown upon the fact that the man who is supposed to be intellectual royalty does not even read.

Though surprisingly, that is not how I felt at all, in fact being the self-confessed Ms Read-A-Lot that I am, I know that the power of the way you think after reading is not in your hands but rather in the hands of the author. Reading programmes your mind to think in a certain way, be it for two minutes or two decades. Believing that Jacob Zuma is an unfit president after reading article X that says so, is exactly what the author would like and believing that Jacob Zuma's reading should be left alone because there are bigger problems at hand after reading article Y that says so, is exactly what the author would like.

I personally think that the people of  South Africa are constantly hung up on the expectations that THEY THEMSELVES have set for their president that even a slight slip-up from him is a heart attack inducing apocalypse!!!

I SAY... LET'S (even for a moment) FOCUS ON THE SUSPICIOUSLY DROPPED RAPE CHARGES. LET'S FOCUS ON THE CORRUPTION. LETS FOCUS ON THE SECRECY BILL.

Zuma does not read and Choosing bad reasons to damn Zuma - Emma Oelschig

Reading this article, makes me think what this country is coming to. We started out with racist leaders, moved on to F.W de Klerk who helped one of the world's best leaders yet. Thabo Mbeki was next and is praised for the amount he read in this article. Thabo Mbeki is also criticized in this article because he read too much and didn't pay enough attention to advisory voices around him. Jacob Zuma is criticized for reading too little and not paying attention to advisory voices around him. What's next?

The second article criticizes Jacob Zuma for not reading. It also criticized journalists who were claiming that President Jacob Zuma didn't read. The journalists do not have sufficient evidence for the accusations that are aimed at our president.

Jacob Zuma Does Not Read- Pearl Donzwa

Zuma doesn't read- analyst (news 24)
Choosing bad reasons to damn Zuma (by Eusebius McKaiser, The Star Newspaper)

Jacob Zuma Does Not Read

Jacob Zuma is the star of controversial paintings, many Zapiro cartoons but most importantly the President of South Africa. He was elected as president in 2009. There has been a lot of discussion about how President Zuma does not read. I read 2 articles that spoke about the issue many South Africans have with President Zuma's minimal reading.

The first article highlighted that the problem many have is that the president of our country does not read. He doesn't read the things people feel a president of a country should. He doesn't read cabinet briefs and he doesn't read about important historic and political events like the French existentialism or even the details of Marxist debates. People feel that because of this Jacob Zuma embodies anti-intellectualism and disrespect from the citizens of the country he leads.

The second article was written by Eusebius Mckaiser. He brings to my attention that people choose the wrong reasons as to why Jacob Zuma is deemed a non-intellectual. Jacob's minimal reading is used as an excuse, due to lack of a better one, to why he isn't the right man for the job . I must admit that President Zuma is not among the best presidents that has lead South Africa. The fact that he doesn't sound or look like a person educated enough to run our country leads the mind into thinking that  he is stupid. And because critics need a reason for his 'stupidity' they conclude that it's because he doesn't read enough. Jacob Zuma hasn't given the world many reasons to think otherwise, but the world may have chosen the wrong reason to think that the president of this country is not fit for the job.

Our Leaders Aren't Readers - Julia Brown

Most South African citizens are aware of the media's profound interest in our current president, Jacob Zuma. Some of the latest headlines include: "Choosing Bad Reasons to Damn Zuma" and "Zuma does not read: analyst." This just shows how our country is divided in two due to whether you support Jacob Zuma or not.

The last article mentioned stated how, compared to past South African leaders, Zuma does not read enough, and he is therefore not as exposed to the world around us. The other retaliates by saying that Jacob Zuma recieves too much criticism and he should be amended for all the change he has implemented.

The ANC played a major role in creating a free South Africa, and many South Africans believe that the ANC should be kept in power as a sign of respect, whilst others believe that the ANC has played its role, and it is now time for a new party to take over.

Choosing bad reasons to damn Zuma Jessica Lobe

A Brief Synopsis Born in Nkandla, South Africa, on April 12, 1942, Jacob Zuma was elected president of South Africa in 2009. In 2007, he won the presidency of the African National Congress, which he joined at an early age in 1959. Zuma served as deputy president of South Africa from 1999 to 2005. He is a controversial politician, involving himself in several legal scandals associated with corruption and racketeering.

Zuma has put himself in a bad light once again in the public domain .I believe this is a huge problem for South Africa as a president that does not read cabinet documents by put Thabo Mbeki in a bad light by saying he over read in his term he serviced  but you cannot read to much as knowledge is uncapped  in the world  although he did not take peoples  opinions into consideration  he made good choices in his term and has brought South Africa in a good light to the rest  of Africa also implementing Sadeck . While Jacob Zuma has continuously putting South Africa  in a bad light  and not reading papers in cabinet cannot help himself or the country to improve economically or politically 

So I believe this is  a huge problem for himself and the country as a whole 

Zuma doesn't read- Chantel Olivier

These Zuma stories state that he does not read and is not clever. The stories are quite true and they are also written well but they are very harsh and quite pessimistic. I think Jacob Zuma doesn't use his punctuation correctly and he is not the best public speaker but I still think that we shouldn't be so harsh on him and maybe we should think about if we had to stand up in front of all those people and say a speech like Jacob Zuma, it isn't a very easy thing to do. I think that we are all very critical and maybe Jacob Zuma didn’t get the best education.

Chantel Olivier 9Z

Zuma does not read- by Emma Zyde

President Zuma, is the president of South Africa  and is leader of the ANC ( African National Congress). According to some people, President Zuma does not read, which is a major problem if true, as he is in charge of our country. While I was reading both of the articles we were given, I found out that they are both pessimistic articles. So, we did not really get another view.  We only got the negative side of the story so I find it kind of influences you to think in a certain way.

Personally, I don’t know if these stories are true as I have never heard President Zuma speak, so I have no idea of his intellectual capacity. But if you listen to the people around you, you create an understanding that he is quiet dumb.

What I ask myself now, is how did he become president? How would anyone be able to run a country if they don’t have enough knowledge to know what is going on? Is it responsible of the government to support a president that does not even know what he is talking about?  I think the government finds it easier to work with a president who doesn’t know a lot because then they can easily influence him to follow their choices.

I Am David - First Impressions - Julia Brown

I am David sounds like such a heroic title. It is almost as though the title itself is said with much pride and assurance of what is being said, but as I began to read the book, I almost immediately felt that David has no idea who he is, and for me that really contradicts the title. I know that in pages to come David might find himself, and build himself up to be a strong individual, but according to my first impressions, David is a lost soul, tied down by religious prejudice.

Another thing about the book, was that for such a major part (when David escapes the camp) very little detail was gone into, and I found myself wanting more, and a more in depth description. Perhaps it was written like this on purpose to emphasise how quickly it all happened, in a mindless flurry.

Later on in the book, I am hoping that the writer will let us in a little bit more into David's struggles but more importantly I am hoping that David will grow into the confident, self-assured young man that is portrayed in the title.

I am David 1st impressions Jess Lobe

I am David it was an interesting book which I was generally not fond of reading only a few pages it did not interest me but the characters I though did not change but reading further I enjoyed the use of the English vocabulary used in the book.

Thanks for reading thus far

I Am David - First Impressions & Conclusions - Amber Anglin

From the moment I saw 'I Am David' it annoyed me. The way it was barely half an inch thick and the fact that a 7th grader's name was written inside. I felt insulted at having to read a book thinner than those that my 9 year old sister is reading.

However, after putting it off for several days, I finally read it and ... It was just as bad as I had expected. The concepts were too simple and I found the whole book to be rather confusing and anti-climatic. I felt as though the book had so much potential but couldn't quite deliver. In short, I seriously disliked the book.

Then I was told to write a report on my thoughts towards the book and I felt I owed it to 'I Am David' to at least attempt to see it in a more positive light. 

I see now that the reason for the simplicity of the concepts is the age of the main character, David. Not only is he a very young boy but he also (as he mentions in the book) spends almost all of his time avoiding thinking. This would mean that naturally his comprehension of concepts is a little rusty. Also the fact that he is a child, no matter how intelligent, would mean that there are many little details he misses. This would account for the lack of clues in his duration of the camp about his surviving family.

The fact that I understand what the author is doing does not, in my mind, excuse it. I still feel that the book is lacking in so-called rising action before the climax and that the characters are too static (for lack of a better word), verging on monotony.

I am David - Ryan Mac Farlane

I am David

I have not got very far in the book "I am David", but from what I have read I have established that David is a 12 year old Jewish boy who lived in a concentration camp in Germany. He got help from a friend in the camp and escaped. He travelled for quite a while and ran out of food and water. Eventually he came across a delivery van and snuck in...that is as far as I have read.

Ryan Mac Farlane

I am David-Cameron Redman

Cameron Redman

I haven't got very far in the book "I am david" but from what I can tell David is a 12 year old jewish boy in a German concentration camp. At the beginning of the novel david comes across older then he really is. He reasons with himself a lot and manages 2 make the choice of escaping the concentration camp with the help of (who I think is a warden). The warden tells david 2 head south 2 a city called silonica and David follows his instructions 2 the word which takes him through small towns and thorn bushes and into contact with people from time to time. Eventually he comes across to men and from what David can tell they are heading to silonica so David decides to hide in the back of their van and catch a ride without them knowing that he is there

I am David- First impression - Ryan Solomons

When I first read the book "I am David" I thought that it was a book that you were going to read and get bored halfway through it. I Started reading the and it happened to be very interesting book from how it looks. The book is about a boy that escapes from a concentration camp at night and had to find  his way to safety using a compass.

I am David first Impressions Bandz Damoyi

In the beginning of the book I was interested about the story after reading the back ,as I read it intrigued me and made me want to know more about it .As he escapes from the concentration camp I was nervous but wanted to know how he would survive ,also "The man" helped him but the 30 second chance seems like a hard thing to escape ,I'm interested to see what happens as I read on.

i'm david-first impressions-Rita Faria

My first impression aren't very good , because i don't really appreciate this type of books, it is interesting, but not my favorite
For the little bit that i read this is what i can take:  David was a Jews, and he was locked on a concentration camp , he was 12 years old , and one of the things that he always wanted to was to escape, for the concentration camp . Men that work there offered him a chance to escape.
i think that is going to be a book with a lot of adventure, an i think it will inspire me.  

I Am David- First Impressions. Pearl Donzwa

The first few pages of the book have left my mind wondering. i ponder on where it is he could be escaping from and what could be so dreadful that, the man he has a passionate dislike for, would be giving him instructions to his freedom. As I read further and scan through the many places he could be, I come to the conclusion that he is a Jewish boy born in the WW2 era inside a concentration camp. He is unaware of life outside this camp but takes the 30 second chance he is given to escape.

I am David- first impression - Carolyn Warren

Nazis. Jews. Concentration camps. Death. Ruthlessness . An Escape.  Run threw my head as I read through the first pages of the book, ' I am David.' It seems to be set in the era of which the Jews were forced into concentration camps. David is a young Jewish boy of the age of 12 years old that gets the chance to escape the horrifying camp he is staying in. The first couple pages seem intense and quick moving, a lot of information is given but it’s written without any unnecessary information that could possibly cause me to die of boredom.  My first impressions are good, what I have read of the book so far has got me able to carry on reading. 

I Am David First Impressions - Nina Kisbey-Green

I have only recently started reading the book "I Am David" and so far it is not quite to my liking. Much like the plain cover, the writing style is very simple with very little interesting adjectives to paint vivid images in my head. The story happens very quickly, within the first few pages David had successfully escaped from the concentration camp and is already on the run. Everything seems to go Davids way and there is no interesting or dramatic scenes that keep me interested in the story. 

Despite my disappointment at the lacking vocabulary in the book, the actual storyline is to my liking and that alone has me eager to turn the page. David is on the run from the Nazis and is starting to think about the hurt he has promised himself he would forget. With thoughts of the ones he loves racing through his head, David continues to run to his hopeful freedom to start a new life not locked up inside the dreadful camp under the control of the brutal Nazis.

I am David First Impressions - Robin

When I first read I am David, I got a sense of nervousness and paranoia from David. I make the assumption that he is Jewish, because David is originally a Jewish name. I also think he was in a German labor camp during World War 2, before he escaped. Because he claims he was in the camp his whole life, he seems to know little of the world outside the camp.

I Am David First Impression- Thando Dlamini

While I was reading the book I was curious to find out who's is David. Well David is a 12 year old boy who has lived in a concentration camp for as long as he can remember who escapes from a concentration camp with the help of a prison guard in Eastern Europe and journeys to Denmark and meets many people that teach him about life. Maybe when I read more I'll get a better understanding of the book, I am curious to see what else is going to be in this book about this boy.

I Am David. First Impression. Alvin Oyakhilome

I just recently started reading the i am David book. the book starts of quite weirdly because the man that is trying to save David, hates him and David hates him back.but as the book progresses, it get more interesting, revealing the adventure David goes through to get to his safe destination while resting by day and running all night long.

I am David first impressions- Mpendulo Ndlovu

The first impression so far for me has been that this book is very mysterious and has some stuff that could confuse you but I would continue to read the book and get a better understanding. It has been interesting and makes you wonder if it really was during the Nazis time. It is of a 12 year boy named David and  I also understand that he was born in a concentration camp and is escaping and is in a van with two men that are going to a certain city that he has to get to.

Thanks for reading what I have read so far

I am David. First impressions - Emma Oelschig

'I am David' is a book about a boy who was born in a concentration camp in Nazi Germany. The book has been very informing about what it was like for a Jewish boy living in Nazi Germany. David was seperated from the only family he had left.

On his escape out of the concentration camp, he tries his best not to think about his loss and his life at the camp but he can't keep his miseries out of his head for long. He learnt a long time go to not focus or think about his life. The deepest thoughts he allowed himself to think were when his next meal was or when the guards changed. He kept himself from feeling pain but on his journey out of the camp, everything was different. He couldn't resist the thoughts that were kept in a box for most of his life.

Phumelele Mothadi. I Am David- First Impression

First things first, I must be truthful and admit that I was not too eager to open the book, I Am David.

As with every other book I've come across, six pages in, I WAS HOOKED. Once again the universe has taught me not to judge a book by its cover. With a very gripping writing style and a mysterious plot, I Am David promises to be intriguing.

Though I've learnt from past experiences not to be too quick to praise either.
I hoped I'm not made to take back any of my words by the time I've read cover to cover!

I am David. First Impression- Chantel Olivier

I think David, a twelve year old Jew is locked away in a concentration camp and he is sure that sooner or later he is going to die. When a man offers to help him escape he thinks that it is a trap and he's going to get caught and die but David realizes that he is going to die if he stays in the camp anyway and decides to try to escape. After sneaking past the guard he climbs over the fence and starts running for his life across the bare grounds and soon reaches the bushed area where he starts to walk. He is astonished to have escaped and decides to enjoy the night of freedom ahead before the search party is sent in the morning.

He soon reaches a big tree and finds the parcel as the man had said and in it he finds a some food items and a compass. He goes through many bushes and thorns and he thinks that he is going to make it out of the tough bushes when he comes across a town and is forced to wait.

I am David. First Impression- Emma Zyde

When I was reading the first few lines of the book, I was already put into a state of curiosity.

Who is "David"? Who is "the man' that helps David escape?

The only thing I know for sure is that David is a twelve year old boy that is (in the beginning of the book) situated in a camp (probably a concentration camp) and he is probably a person that is disliked by the Germans. So maybe he is a Jew or a Gypsies... so it is not a detailed beginning.

What I like about the beginning of the book, is that it gives you a lot of personal views on things which makes it more interesting. When you analyse the text, you can notice that it also uses a lot of emotive language and I find that it really does make an impact on your emotions. Like the part when he is sent, by his compass, through a thorn bush and he has a lot of pain by the first thorn but when he carries on, he kind of forgets about the pain. This also shows courage and bravery.

The part that I found rather sad is the part when he washes himself with the soap that he got from “the man” to wash away the smell, the feeling and the experience of the concentration camp. It tells you that he had had a very terrible time there and wants to forget about it.

I am David first impressions: Anthony Lambrianos

My first impression of David is vague, his situation and knowledge of the outside world is very limited. The way he worries when thinking about things other than getting away. He doubts others intentions at first but as he gets away from the camp in which he was enslaved, he realises that “the man” really did want him to get away. He then begins his travels across the land and seas to a place where he “will be safe.”

Anthony Lambrianos 

Quadblogging: introducing 9Z (Dainfern College JHB South Africa)

 

Dream World (Amber Anglin)

Dream worlds. Everyone has them, whether we know it or not. As a child, dream worlds are a utopia of rainbow unicorns, talking animals and gingerbread houses, minus the witch. However as we age our dream worlds change. They are no longer fantasy worlds born from our imagination; instead they grow to mirror the real world. An adult's dream world cannot truly be called a world as they are purely fragments of this world, one of the many facets of a diamond. These fragments realize the life goals an adult has, consisting of real people, places and things.

Let us look at an example of a typical adult. A. Costa: an average man who went to university is married with two children and wastes his life away in an office cubicle. What might this man's dream world look like? Most likely, he is the center of attention, with many blond, busty wives, a flashy red Ferrari, yellow Porsche and many other cars belonging solely to the midlife crisis-ed men of our society. In his dream world, Costa is probably filthy rich and living in a huge mansion. Never having to go back to that cubicle again, simply sitting around in his boxers watching the sport channel all day.

Now let's compare that with the dream world of a typical child (to keep it a relatively fair test, we shall look at a male child). Johnny: goes to kindergarten, loves stretching worms and painting the walls of his room with the letters and numbers he can write. His life aspiration is to be a fireman. In Johnny's dream world (and yes, it is a world) he lives in a gingerbread world full of chocolates and gummy worms. He drives a huge red, fire truck and has a talking dog that follows him wherever he goes. He has four entire walls to paint on and he doesn't get in trouble for it. Huge dinosaurs take him for rides and then they all have chocolate cake for lunch.

Why is there such a huge difference between these two dream worlds? Is it simply because Costa is an adult and Johnny is a child? Partially, though it goes deeper than that. It is something so crucial to an individual, but it is something that we lose as we grow older. It's imagination! Imagination, where everything is possible! This short essay may not have impacted you at all. So I beg you, please don't lose your imagination. If you have, although, already fallen victim to this disease of the mind, commonly known to society as adulthood, work on getting it back! The most important thing that you should take away from this essay, if anything at all, would be to never smother out the fire of a child's imagination, it is the most valuable thing we as humans can posess.

Dream World by Pearl Donzwa

Dream World is the place where we go to in our dreams. Whether its day dreaming in class or falling asleep and escaping to a fairytale life we only wish could be true. The dream world is just that... a world of dreams. The place where you'll find the dreams of a three year old with aspirations of becoming a princess or an astronaut or doctor. The place where your mind escapes to when the real world becomes too real; when reality is too hard to handle.

I dreamed a dream. A song written by a french composer, Claude Michel Schonberg, and perfomed in the oscar-winning musical Les Miserables. In the movie, this song was sung by Fantine. She is unemployed, alone and without hope. The song speaks about the dreams had when 'life was worth living'  and 'hope is high' that love would never die and that God would be forgiving. It then goes on to speak about tigers at night that rip hope to peices and put those dreams to shame. Tigers that steal childhood. Further more, the dreams she dreamt are so different from the life she is living and how life killed those dreams.

Perhaps these tigers could be compared to reality of life. Reality steals the innocence of a child and the dreams they had. Those dreams that they hoped would define their livelyhood as adults are destroyed because of life.

Dream World (Chantel Olivier)

I was sitting under a Mahogany tree in my back yard reading my book. I was reading a Harry Pottert Novel. I was very fond of them. There was something about the world that they lived in that was beautiful and I loved picturing it in my mind. I heard my mom call me from inside the kitchen. As I started walking to my house I tripped over a root and I fell... Except this was no ordinary fall. This was what seemed to me as a never ending fall.

All of a sudden I landed. I landed softly in my dream world. It was amazing! A memory that will never escape my mind. Huge meadows filled with flowers that were every colour imaginable. Chrystal clear waters. Little waterfalls coming down from above with fresh berries landing in little pools below. Birds singing joyful songs. Then I saw a golden gate. Behind the gate, I saw carpets of cloud and candy floss trees. As I neared, the temptation grew too much for me. I reached up and touched the smooth and fluffy treat and suddenly I lifted off of the ground. I started flying up through the air and everything went dark. When my eyes opened, I was still sitting under the same Mahogany tree and my mom was still calling my name.

What a wonderful experience. One that will always be remembered.

Dream World ( Jessica Lobe)

Slowly drifting in and out of sleep as different images dance in and out of focus as i  going into my dream world.Finding myself  falling further and further into the darkness of oblivion where my imagination has no  limits.How long, will it last.I never know.

Time appears to extend beyond all reality.The wind and whirl in my mind of what my dream world will appear to be.While out of the darkness a dim light forms.Objects begin to materialize to form a story line  and a vast new world is created my world to be exact.

  Looming in the mist an unexpected  world is  appearing to me the darkness becoming light and  back into the darkness again my dream world.The  wonders of  my thoughts,expectations and horrors.   The walls consisting of eternal night. Unconscious  in this world that I call my dream world.

Dream worlds differ with every human beings weather a nightmare and fantasy world but just a thought to remember everyone has a dream world of their own.

Dream World ( Carolyn Warren )

Dream World

Everyone has a different world that they wish they could escape, or disappear to when the bad of the real world starts killing them. I know my dream world should be a place with no poverty, nor economic problems and world peace, but those things help shape me. All these negative things help my become a better person, help me to appreciate what I have, and inspire me to work harder. All the bad makes people want to be good.

My dream world is the world I enter when I am in the ocean. The water is calm for a minute, but you know that perfect wave is coming, you can see it forming due to the moving  sunlight on the water.At that very moment, just sitting there waiting to catch the first wave of my day, all my worries are gone, its like I am a young child I lose the pain the world brings. People that live that life everyday, start to live there normal lives differently. People start to care more about the beach, about being happy more than fitting into society.  Its not real but its not a fake world, its a living emotions that effects individuals differently. Its as if they dreaming, that's what makes the ocean my dream world.

Dream World (Thando Dlamini)

Dream World 

For me dream world is like a place that i would love to be in and never leave, a place where i can be my self and not be judged by others. Anyone would love to live in a dream world. For me a perfect dream world is when i see beautiful girls walking around, my friends and i having a braai, playing sports, chilling on the beach  and not stressing so  much about school and teachers. In my Dream World things seem to be amazing, i'm not worried about anything, everyone has money no one is on the streets begging  for food and money

I think that most some guys will agree with my dream world with beautiful girls walking around, wherever you go you see girls everywhere left, right and center, you would live life the way its meant to be lived. If i lived in a world like this i would be the happiest guy alive 

Dream World (Phumelele Mothadi)

Dream World

Close your eyes and taste it.

Its succulent.

Its scrumptious.

The sweet, enticing smell.

The sharp, sour taste.

Perfect in its simplicity.

A burning sensation after the first bite to remind you,

You shouldn't enjoy it.

It shouldn't be your guilty pleasure.

But it is.

The first serving is finished, done and dusted,

But that was the easy part. Getting hooked.

All you can and ever will be able to think about from now on is your next fix,

Where,

When,

How...?

Okay, wait.

Think. Keep your cool! Think. Just relax. Think.You"ll get it soon.

Think. Think. Think.

What we need now is a plan.

A map of some sort.

A compass.

Perhaps even a GPS.

Oh my! What's that there? What's that...

Jeepers! Open your eyes, we're here!

YOU'RE here!

There it is, written in dreamy neon lights...

SUCCESS!!!

Dreamworld ( Mpendulo Ndlovu)

A dreamworld to  me is a place that has no crime and absolutely no pollution what so ever. If I were to choose a place i wanted to live in I would make sure that it has pretty girls, sports cars, mansions, and everyone would be rich. There would be no poverty no workers just robots and the air would be as clean and pure and the water would be blue and there also would be no politics every country would be free no war and fighting over stupid stuff. It would be illegal since everyone is rich people would be playing with money like its a toy.


There would be certain people who would be representing a country but will have no more power than the every day citizens. transport would  be provided  by the country and since everyone is rich the taxes are paid by every one and the amount is the same throughout the whole country. If you are seen committing a crime you would have a choice to be hanged in front of your mother or be wiped and put into a tigers den alive. Sport  would be played by people that have the talent to play and at school if you were to fail school with below 40% you would have to start at grade 0 again.

 By Mpendulo Ndlovu

Dream World [by Emma Oelschig]

A world full of unicorns, rainbows, fairytales and floating on clouds that can turn into a world of feeling lost, trapped, being chased, falling and/or drowning. A dream world. Every night a person dreams but dreams are complicated and they confuse the human brain every night.That is the reason we don't remember every dream. Sometimes we don't remember any dreams at all.

Day-dreaming is completely different. One is awake and fully functional while day-dreaming. It is a short period of time where one is detached from one's surroundings. Day-dreaming is usually a fantasy that contains, happy, pleasant thoughts and hopes or ambitions.

Nightmares are a form of an unpleasant dream that can cause emotional distress. Nightmares are the part where you feel lost, trapped, chased etc. They can be reflections of our biggest fears or reflections of the scary movie you just watched.

Dreams are a part of our lives and are very important in analysing a person's thoughts. Dreams can bring pleasure or anxiety, either way dreams help us process emotions and reinforce memories.

Dream World (Julia Brown)

Sleep - a time of peace when your body recharges and cleanses, and your brain fires itself up and processes masses of information collected from your various senses during the day. But, what does it do with this information? Store it in the back of your mind where it will never be thought of again? Or does it perhaps slip through your lips as a form of sleep talking? Or maybe, it brings those memories back to life in the form of a dream...

Dreams are merely successions of  various thoughts, images and memories passing through your mind during sleep. They can take you anywhere - whether it be to fairy-land, a deserted island, or even simply back to yesterday when you fell down the stairs. Dreams have power over you; they can force you to see vivid images of your most mortifying moments, or make you feel invincible as you summit Mount Everest. However, either way, dreams take you out of your comfort zone and place you into a whimsical world where you barely ever have a say over what your body does, or what your mouth says. You can only watch yourself from a birds eye view at your own form being destructive, or destroyed.

Have you ever seen a person in deep sleep and wondered what their subconscious mind was putting them through? Have you looked past their shut eyelids and wonder what was flashing through them? I know I have pondered on these exact thoughts. Dreams are beautiful, and we should not go to sleep at night afraid of the danger that awaits you in Dream World. Instead, we should be grateful that we get to experience adventures that defy gravity and reality, all while we are asleep.

My Dream World (Ryan Mac Farlane)

It resembles Hawaii. A place where people don’t go to school or work, they just relax and have a good time. A place where people can defy the laws of nature and do anything they want (fly or shoot lasers out their eyes).  I would like to be able to eat anything and take anything for myself. During my free time I would play Xbox (Call of Duty and Halo) and permanently be ranked as number one in the world. There would never be bad weather, only sunny days and cool nights, and people sleep on the beach.

All of my closest friends and family would be there. Everyone would bow down to my cat…OBIE!! He and I would be the ruler of the free world and he could talk. We will slay anybody who stands in our way of world domination.

There would be no need to use smartphones or instant messaging, people could easily communicate with each other by being instantaneously teleported to wherever they wanted to go or be.

My dream world is AWESOME ;)

By Ryan Mac Farlane