Government bullies bank out of crime initiative

The ANC government seems not to understand the state of crime in this beautiful country of South Africa.

The Sunday Times reported today that the First National Bank (FNB) "chickened" out of a major crime initiative that would have involved thousands upon thousands of South Africans that are sick and tired of crime.

According to the Times, "The bank had commissioned 2.8 million pamphlets containing a patriotic message on the concern about crime. Attached to each was an envelope addressed to [President] Mbeki. Postage had already been paid."

Officials from the Presidency met with management from FNB and "explained" sensitivities surrounding a campaign aimed at the president, "especially" since there is a current battle for succession in the ANC. According to the Times, government spokesman Themba Maseko saw this campaign as incitement against Mbeki, and that this "incitement" of "people to behave in a certain way towards the head of state cannot be condoned."


It is very interesting that the ANC holds several accounts with FNB, and the ANC must have threatened the closure of their accounts with the bank. This would have been a huge loss for the bank and as a result they must have backed down on their initiative.

Why is it that whenever the subject of crime rears its head, the ANC government must run around like chickens without heads trying to mislead the people about crime in the country? The fact is that the crime situation can be laid at the feet of the current government without any argument. This government has been soft on crime since it came into power. Why shouldn't they be? They would be hard on their own voter's base if they did become hard on crime. The vast majority of criminals in this country vote for the ANC. Why should the ANC government resist their own voter's base on this?

More and more, this government gives us unequivocal proof that it has no idea on how to solve the state of crime in this country; or,... they have no plans on stopping the crime wave! When the Minister of Safety and Security, Charles Nqakula, states that people make too much fuss about crime in this country, and then a short time after that President Mbeki states on national television that crime is not out of control; then, together with the FNB saga, we have incontrovertible proof that the current ANC government simply is not serious about crime and does not care about the welfare of its citizens. A government like this does not deserve to be in power!

On the other hand, the fact that FNB backed off so easily from this campaign has simply proven that they can be intimidated by government. The fact that governmental "sensitivities" are more important than the more than 18,000 people annually that die by violent crime, is simply beyond me! So many of FNB's own branches have undergone waves of crime, and this should have pushed the resolve of FNB's management to go ahead with their campaign!

A government that does not care about the welfare of its people simply does not deserve its power base, and it is time that those who vote for the ANC open their eyes to the truths about the ANC.

The ANC is a typical humanistic organization that would do anything to gain power, even if it means doing exactly what the people stand against. A case in point, in fact several cases: legalization of pornography, legalization of abortion and legalization of same-sex "marriage."

A "democratic" government, elected into power by a democratic vote, who simply does whatever it wants no matter what the people say, is in fact a false government that usurped the power of the people and is aiming at ruling by tyranny.

If, as the statistical claim goes, 70% of people in South Africa are Christian, then those Christians need to rise up and withstand this government and its "tyrannical" laws by voting them out at the next general elections in 2009.

It would be the duty of every Christian to vote against the ANC!

UPDATED 5 February 2007:
The latest in this saga according to News24 is that FNB will go ahead with their anti-crime initiative, but at a later date. It is my opinion that FNB should go ahead in order for the ANC government to feel the pressure from the people in order to bring about REAL change with REAL crime-fighting initiatives!

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Ahmadinejad must be stopped!

Is another Hitler on the rise? You can make a difference and stop this madman!

Updated 5 February 2007:
I used to have a movie here created by aish.com, but it ran whenever my blog was entered. It is not very controllable until it finishes playing through. As a result I removed it, and you can now view it at aish.com.

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Solving crime by making criminals military criminals

It amazes me that so many people, notwithstanding the evidence, still believe that poverty is the main cause of crime!

The fact is, that if one looks at a country such as Mozambique, which is much more poverty stricken than South Africa, it soon becomes apparent that poverty cannot be used as the scapegoat of crime in South Africa.

The crime levels in Mozambique, according to conventional wisdom, should be orders higher than here in South Africa. However, that is not the case! In fact, crime in Mozambique is much lower than in South Africa.

This can also be demonstrated when looking at many other countries that, in fact, are much poorer than South Africa. The fact is that crime statistics in South Africa show that crime in South Africa is of the worst on the planet!

South African Labour Minister, Membathisi Mdladlana (ANC), based on the crime in South Africa, made a call for military conscription.

According to Mdladlana, "The worrying trend whereby our youths are involved in the current spate of armed robberies and other related violent crimes that are ravaging our country could be reversed once they join the army."

Naturally, Mdladlana also believes the Politically Correct (PC) notion that poverty fuels crime. As a result, the Minister Mdladlana feels that conscription should be reconsidered in order to be used as a weapon against crime.

Obviously, Minister Mdladlana doesn't keep up with the news and events of the South African military and the people that join the military here in South Africa.

IOL reports that the SANDF (South African National Defence Force) may soon cost the South African taxpayer almost R1billion in civil claims against military criminals.

According to IOL, The Star newspaper "revealed that the most recent list of recorded criminal cases against army members includes 26 charges of murder, 22 of attempted murder, 15 of assault with grievous bodily harm, 25 of common assault, and 31 of reckless and negligent driving." Joining the military will indeed solve crime in this country!

That is, crime by civilians! After joining the military, these criminals will commit crime on the taxpayers' payroll! Ever heard of a bigger Mafia organisation than that?

Crime in South Africa will diminish when the ANC government takes its citizens seriously. The fact that this government does not take crime in South Africa seriously, proves that the ANC government does not take its people seriously. Even Mbeki, South African president, is completely out of touch with crime and the people of South Africa!

I can understand if people are out of touch with the crime situation when nothing happens to them. However, a person must be absolutely blind, or have a heart of stone, when looking at the crime statistics in the country.

The fact that Mbeki claims that crime is not out of hand in this country proves to me that he has a heart of stone, since I know he is not blind!

This government does not care about its people or their opinions.

South Africans need to vote against the ANC in the next general elections.

The government needs to act harshly against criminals and create a deterrence for crime. However, I believe that this government has no categories to explain deterrence.

As a result, we are perhaps stuck with crime as it is!

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South Africa, a "friend of torture?"

The South African government, led by the ANC, keeps proving my point.

I have for a long time had the idea that the South African government is not really interested in real justice and real human rights.

Our government had the ideal opportunity to stand up for justice and human rights when the U.N. Security Council voted on calling on the military government of Burma to ease up on its repression of its people. And what did our government vote in its maiden vote on the Security Council?

Together with Russia and China, South Africa voted against the measure.

What was the so-called reason for this vote? According to Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad, the resolution did not fit the mandate of the Security Council and belonged to the U.N. Human Rights Commission. What a bunch of bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo! Surely, while the ANC was in exile, they would not have agreed with such an argument about the previous apartheid regime?!

For once the South African government could have proven that it had more back-bone than we all knew it didn't have. Yet, they rather sided with their partners-in-crime, China. China is another major human rights violator, which makes me wonder what the South African government really stand for. It seems that the ANC government was only willing to fight for their own freedom from apartheid, and "basta" with the rest of the oppressed peoples of the world. It seems the attitude is, "I fought for my own freedom; you fight for yours!" Is this what the ANC government seeks to make us believe? From its actions, what else are we to assume?

Has the government ever said anything to China regarding its oppression of people in that country, especially Christians? I think not! This government would rather side with oppressive governments elsewhere, such as China and several Islamic and communistic countries. I do not think that this government is playing open cards with its citizens. I bet if they do, they will soon lose all their votes! Are they aiming at emulating these oppressive regimes? Is that perhaps why they have been so soft on Mugabe, just north of us? I certainly hope not!

Just recently, reports of escalating persecution against the Burmese Christian minority were confirmed by a leaked secret memo from a Burmese government ministry.

Naturally, the South African government, led by the ANC majority will not do or even say anything against this persecution. My guess is that the ANC does not care about what Christians think or believe, until elections come around again!

How can I say that the ANC-led government feels nothing for its Christian citizens? Well, look at some of the major laws it has passed, each of these laws an abomination to God and a source of heartache to Christians! The ANC government has legalized pornography, abortion and same-sex "marriage!"

I just hope that the already weakened U.N. has not been weakened further with a country like South Africa represented. I can see that our government simply does not have the resolve to commit to anything that may perhaps require change of oppressive regimes!

Before the ANC acquired its "freedom" from apartheid, they wanted countries from everywhere to interfere in South Africa's business; yet, now they have changed heart when it comes to other countries that are experiencing violent oppression. Human rights only matter if it concerns them directly, not if someone else is concerned!

Maybe, as someone else has said before, South Africa is a "friend of torture!"

Updated 7 February 2007:
South African government strengthens bonds with China as a "friend of torture!" Also read about the Africa/China connection here!

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A Day of Infamy!

No! Not Pearl Harbour! Something worse than Pearl Harbour! This day of "infamy" has killed 40,000,000 (40 million) people in the U.S.A. alone! 9/11 pales in comparison with THIS day of infamy!

With Pearl Harbour and 9/11, the enemy came into America for all to see! With these two events, the enemy came from outside America.

The day of infamy that I am writing about is different. The enemy is America itself. The enemy is a mother, a father, a judge, a congressman, a senator! Yes, these are the people who have killed those 40 million!

I am thinking of the infamous, evil ruling by the Supreme Court of the U.S.A. in Roe v. Wade, abortion on demand (which is simply a euphemism for murder on demand), on January 22, 2007.

The ruling in Roe v. Wade has always seemed to be impersonal. Well, it IS personal. See for yourself:


HT: Justin Taylor

This is VERY personal!

Abortion on demand (AoD) has been the law in South Africa since 1 February 1997. That means it has been 10 years since AoD was made legal.

By the time 1 February 2007 comes around, approximately 600,000 babies would have been aborted in South Africa. 600,000 legalised murders!

Will the church in South Africa stand up against this injustice? Or, will it fail like it did before 1 December 2006, when same-sex marriage was declared legal? Or, will it fail as it did in the years under apartheid?

It is my contention that if the true church of Jesus Christ stood up against these evils the way it is supposed to, then none of them would have seen the light of day! We would not have seen apartheid, or abortion, or pornography, or same-sex marriage!

Yet, it seems to me that the years of capitulating under the rule of the apartheid government has dulled the moral indignation of the church so much, that it has become totally indifferent to the evils committed in the name of the law in this country.

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." (Pro 14:34)

It is time for the church to stand up against these injustices and these evil practices and to become an example of righteous living. When the church ignores these issues, how will righteousness exalt this nation? The sin and evil of this nation will continually remain its own reproach!

The sin of the church is not only the normal sins that beset us all as humans. No! The sin of the church is that it is silent when evil is committed!

One of the most famous sentences ever is by Edmund Burke who said, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

This is the very sin of the church! When issues arise like legalized abortion, pornography and same-sex marriage, the church does nothing! Evil triumphs in this nation because the church does NOTHING!

Politics in this country will never be revitalized while the church does not get involved in the affairs of the nation! When the church does nothing, and says nothing about these issues, the people will assume that these issues, as they stand, are acceptable!

The church has its head in the sand like the proverbial ostrich!

Church... these issues will not get better if you neither say or do anything!

Updated: (24 January 2007)

If abortion does not bother you, or perhaps you have never thought of it before, visit Abortion NO. Please be warned, it contains a horrific video of an actual abortion. HT: John Piper

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Crime not out of control?

I sometimes wonder, as I did before, whether our government ministers are Martians or not! However, I think that our government, and now especially President Mbeki are even further removed from reality when crime in South Africa is considered. Are the Martians led by a Plutonian? Mbeki might as well be from Pluto, since it seems he has no idea what is going on in South Africa.

Mr. Mbeki, I would advise you to read the newspapers and not just a summarised version prepared by your aids! Further, it may be a good idea to look at the statistics of crime in this country. While there is a war in Iraq, the amount of deaths in Iraq per annum as a result of the Iraqi War is less then those murdered in this country over the same period!

I admire the fact that Mr. Mbeki is so positive, but it just seems to me that he has become the latest spin-doctor in our political scene!

Mbeki is opposite to the boy who cried "wolf." The boy cried "wolf" for such a long time that when the wolf eventually came, no one believed him. Mbeki is crying, "No wolf!", while everyone is staring many wolves in the eye!

When someone tells us that the moon is purple and we know he is joking, we can play along. But, when someone claims the moon is purple and really believes it, we will call that person a "nut."

Now, in Mbeki's case, he is not merely confusing colours, he is confused about the state of crime in this country!

What should we think of Mbeki's claim that "crime is not out of control?" Is he joking? Should we play along and humour him? Or, is there something more serious afoot?



Updated
See the response of the ACDP to Pres. Mbeki's statements on crime here.

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Jiminy "Cricket"

Jiminy Cricket... One of the cutest little insects in all of Disney's Universe.

However, Jiminy Cricket is no ordinary cricket. He is not merely one of those crickets outside your bedroom window keeping you up all night!

No!

Jiminy Cricket is "Lord High Keeper of the Knowledge of Right and Wrong, Counselor in Moments of Temptation, and Guide along the Straight and Narrow Path." This is the elaborate title given to Jiminy by the Blue Fairy when she chose him as Pinocchio's conscience.

Speaking of another cricket... That is "cricket," the game. You know! The one with the bat and ball, and 22 players fighting to control the bat and ball while 2 other guys called umpires try to keep order...

Well, it seems that the ICC (International Cricket Council) and the CSA (Cricket South Africa) would like to play Jiminy Cricket in the game of cricket!

Herschelle Gibbs, batsman for the South African national cricket team (Proteas), made a comment about some unruly spectators in the first cricket test between South Africa and Pakistan.

Apparently, and correct me if I am wrong, he called them a "bunch of animals."

Now, to the ICC and the CSA, that was a racist remark! If it was Australia playing here and Gibbs made those remarks about Australian supporters that were white, then no-one would even have flinched! But, unfortunately, the spectators in question are non-white. Therefore, almost any comment made in anger about such non-white spectators may be seen as racial slurs!

The fact is that I have called some people a "bunch of animals" too! And, lo and behold, they were non-whites too! But, then some of them were whites!

It is quite common to say that people are like animals when they act like animals. We see this animal-like behaviour especially in soccer. I know of no sport except soccer, where the supporters of clubs have been banned from games in Europe when their clubs are playing other clubs in Europe. It has happened with regard to English clubs playing in Europe. And, if I am not mistaken, it happened to more than one English club, more than once.

When Muslim militants in the Middle East capture people and behead them on video for worldwide distribution, you bet I am going to call them a "bunch of animals."

The point is, a comment like Gibbs' might not have been racial at all! Such a comment may or may not have been racist. The fact is that the ICC and the CSA claim to read a person's mind and know the condition of that person's heart! Oh my! How godlike they claim to be!

Are they now going to become the "thought" police too?! It is one thing to castigate a cricket player for what he says, but to claim to know what he meant when saying it is altogether a different matter!

Further, what a person says in a private conversation has absolutely nothing to do with anyone else. That again brings back the idea of the "thought" police!

What Gibbs said to his team mates was picked up by the stumps microphone. His conversation was not meant for the microphone and neither was it meant to be part of the broadcast. That means that it was an intrusion into a private conversation Gibbs had with his team mates! It was simply unfortunate that the microphone was so close!

Now, had he meant it as a racial slur, then it certainly was wrong to do so!

Yet, the fact of the matter is that it was said in a private conversation overheard by a bunch of overzealous teeny-bopper-like tattle-tails; and, unless Gibbs admits to the racist quality of the statement he made, the ICC, nor the CSA could punish him for making a racist comment, since they have no proof that it was racist!

It simply amazes me how political parties and other bodies such as the ICC and the CSA try through political means to rid the planet of racism.

They create endless laws to prevent racism, but to many people those laws mean nothing. Sure, these laws are good, and we need some artificial way to at least create obstacles against the advancement of racism. Many people will not climb over these obstacles in the obvious way, and so, in a sense, it would seem that there is racial harmony.

However, the problem with many laws against racism, is that they become racist themselves! What usually happens is that laws are passed that now simply advance the previously disadvantaged. Thus, racism all over again!

Racism cannot be done away with politically! It is a moral matter of the heart, and unless people have changed hearts, the racism will continue!

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GE2009

Politically speaking, the year 2009 is not so far away!

However, in real terms, the way people live from day to day, here at the start of 2007, 2009 can seem a lifetime away! That is the problem!

Before the political parties can say "Crusoe Robinson," the General Elections of 2009 (GE2009) will be here!

The time between now and GE2009 should be used in educating Christians all over South Africa, so that when GE2009 comes around, they would be ready!

What should Christians be educated in politically? I know many will answer with things like fiscal policy, service delivery and the like. However, I believe there are issues that outweigh the aforementioned issues by a landslide! These issues are moral issues! Issues such as legalized abortion, pornography, same-sex marriage and more.

Since the ANC has taken over the ruling of South Africa, they have had free reign in "immoralizing" South Africa. It is because of the ANC that approximately 50,000 babies are murdered each year. They are the ones that legalized pornography and also same-sex marriage.

In all of these issues the DA party simply has no policy that stands against these issues with any conviction. The DA calls these issues matters of conscience, and allows its representatives free votes on these issues. In the case of pornography the DA wants protection for children. But that is as far as it goes. In these matters the DA has been no opposition to the ANC in government.

The problem with giving party representatives free votes on issues of conscience (which are clear moral issues), is that the party has no objective stance against the "immoralization" of South Africa! This will lead to a clear divided stance against issues of morality.

This is where the ACDP takes a clear moral stand. While other parties equivocate at best on these issues or simply stand for the "immoralization" of South Africa, the ACDP believes that it should stand firm on these issues according to what the Bible teaches!

It is my conviction that while blacks vote for the ANC and whites vote for the DA, this country will never see change in this country. The Christians that continue supporting the ANC because of historic, so-called "freedom" reasons, and those Christians that continue to support the DA because of their own historic, "protective" reasons, should start approaching the elections from a purely Christian, Biblical Worldview.

That Worldview tells us that while Christians continue to vote dividedly for parties that have no convictions concerning objective Biblical morality, South Africa will continue to evolve into a more progressive, sinful and immoral state!

We are in search of Godly leaders! I find it hard to swallow that Christians would vote for parties that have no clear moral stand against immorality! It might not be impossible to find Godly leaders in any party, yet I do believe that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for such parties to have real Godly leaders! If such a leader could be found, it would probably be a very confused leader!

I in no way want to declare that the ACDP is perfect, but what I want to declare is that the ACDP leaders want to do right in the eyes of the Lord Jesus Christ! It is for this reason that the ACDP stands against this legalized immorality.

It just amazes me that liberals will always tell conservatives that we can't legislate morality. If that is the case, why would it be right to legislate immorality? In fact, what else can be legislated but morality? Any law that is in the law books discerns between (according to the current government) what is right and what is wrong! That presupposes some kind of morality for the nation. Just a pity that the ANC is so consistent with its own version of morality--which actually is immorality!

Yet, this kind of "morality" was prophesied about by the prophet Isaiah more than 2500 years ago, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" (Isa 5:20) Matthew, one of the apostles of Jesus wrote, "The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil." (Mat 12:35) This is so true of our current government! They have produced all this evil simply because "out of [its] evil treasure" it is bringing forth evil!

Now is the time for Christians to wake up and to stand for what is right! What the current government has done, is not right!

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Grading the South African Cabinet

The Mail & Guardian, again, presented "its yearly, no-holds-barred Cabinet report card."

In this report card, each cabinet minister is graded from A - F (F is a failing mark), and is compared with the mark received last year (2005).

Here are the scores for this year:

Thabo Mbeki - President - Grade: A-
Ngconde Balfour - Minister of Correctional Services - Grade: E
Thoko Didiza - Minister of Public Works - Grade: C
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma - Minister of Foreign Affairs - Grade: B-
Alec Erwin - Minister of Public Enterprises - Grade: B-
Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi - Minister of Public Service and Administration - Grade: B-
Lindiwe Hendricks - Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry - Grade: B
Zweledinga Pallo Jordan - Minister of Arts and Culture - Rating: C+
Ronnie Kasrils - Minister of Intelligence - Grade: A-
Mosiuoa Lekota - Minister of Defence - Grade: D
Brigitte Mabandla - Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development - Grade: G
Mosibudi Mangena - Minister of Science and Technology - Grade: A+
Trevor Manuel - Minister of Finance - Grade: A
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula - Minister of Home Affairs - Grade: F
Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri - Minister of Communications - Grade: E
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka - Deputy President - Grade: B (Flight class: Jet set)
Mandisi Mpahlwa - Minister of Trade and Industry - Grade: D
Membathisi Mdladlana - Minister of Labour - Grade: D
Sydney Mufamadi - Minister of Provincial and Local Government - Grade: C
Charles Nqakula - Minister of Safety and Security - Grade: F
Essop Pahad - Minister in the Presidency - Grade: B
Naledi Pandor - Minister of Education - Grade: D
Jeff Radebe - Minister of Transport - Grade: C+
Lindiwe Sisulu - Minister of Housing - Grade: A-
Zola Skweyiya - Minister of Social Development - Grade: A
Buyelwa Sonjica - Minister of Minerals and Energy - Grade: C-
Makhenkesi Stofile - Minister of Sport and Recreation - Grade: E
Manto Tshabalala-Msimang - Minister of Health - Grade: F
Marthinus van Schalkwyk - Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism - Grade: B
Lulama (Lulu) Xingwana - Agriculture and Land Affairs - Grade: B-

It would be interesting to know how other political analysts have scored the cabinet. Analysts that are not in the government's pocket, that is! I am not saying M&G is in the government's pocket. What I am saying is that there are many analysts out there, but many of them are as objective as a baby's mother could ever be!

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God's Peacekeeper!

A Cartoon by Chuck Asay

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When a cell phone is the barometer of society

Just a week ago my wife and I decided that it was now time to give my son his first cell phone. My daughter has had hers for two and a half years.

Well, got an upgrade to my phone, and so the pass downs began. I gave my, now, older phone to my wife, who gave her older phone to our daughter and our son received our daughter's older phone. Jason was soooo excited! He quickly SMSed the rest of the family to give them his number. The next thing he did was to play the games on it.

In all of this, I think I was just as excited about him getting a phone as he was. Since my daughter, Nicole, got her first phone (the one Jason just got from her), I had been sending her SMSs every now and again just to let her know that I was thinking of her and that I loved her. I do this for my wife on a regular basis.

So, I was excited about the fact that I would now be able to do that for my son too! I have been doing just that in the past week.

Well, yesterday (Sat, 16 Dec) we were at Menlyn Park Shopping Centre to do some of our Christmas shopping. We arrived there at about 13:00 and we did a little shopping until 14:00. Then the whole family, my wife's sisters and parents and nieces together with our family, came together to watch Open Season.

After the movie we all went our separate ways.

Some hours passed and we finally arrived at Game , an apartment store selling almost everything that a house could need or want.

Jason and I decided to sit outside and wait for my wife and daughter. I have a problem with my neck, and by this time my back had started killing me! So, there we were watching people walk by.

Jason had been complaining that the pockets in his shorts were too small for his cell phone, so while we were sitting there he took it out of his pocket and played some games on it.

While we were sitting there my son's cousin and her dad arrived there. My son's cousin had a balloon with her and the two of them started goofing around with the balloon. This continued for about 10-15 minutes. Finally, my wife and daughter came out and I told my son, "Come, let's go!"

When we were two levels up (Menlyn has six levels), and at the parking pay point my son suddenly said that he did not have his cell phone with him!

Well, that was it! I knew exactly where it was! In somebody else's hands who had no intent of handing it in somewhere, just in case the owner was looking for it.

Jason and I ran all the way back, and by the time we got back to where we were sitting, the phone was gone! There was a key-making vendor close by, so I asked him if a phone was handed in to him just in case someone was looking for it. I went in to Game and asked the security at the entrance the same question. I did the same at the cell phone department and the jewelry department, both of which are just into the entrance to Game. Nothing!

I did not expect any better! Why! Because that is exactly what we expect from the vast majority of South Africans to do. Pick up something that does not belong to them and then to keep it as their own!

When I was a kid, I was taught very clearly by my parents (and that was the expectation from society), that if I ever picked up something that did not belong to me, I should hand it in to the closest store or counter in case the owner came searching for it! Else, look for a name on the item and then try contacting the owner.

Unfortunately, the South Africa we live in today is not a country in which ownership, integrity, honesty and dignity are valued above criminal behaviour! I did in no way expect anybody to simply call one of the numbers in the phonebook of the phone to see if they could find the owner! In fact, when we reached the bench where we sat before and saw that the phone was gone, I immediately called Jason's number. Somebody answered the phone without saying a word. I could heard background noise. However, the thief on the other side ended the call and switched the phone off completely. I tried many times after that to call the number, but his service kept on saying, "The number you are trying to contact cannot be reached right now. Please try again later!"

You cannot imagine the disappointment I felt. The anger! Yes, even hatred! I was so angry, I even took it out on my family and especially my son! Driving home I was seething with anger! I was venting beyond anger! Just thinking that someone could be so dishonest, to take what does not belong to them, in the process breaking a little boy's heart. Several times my son was crying out of control! He was so excited about the phone, and now some lowly criminal stole his phone.

And, don't tell me that person is not a criminal. That person took what did not belong to him, and that makes him a thief, hence a criminal!

After we arrived home I sat in front of the TV feeling very sorry for myself! I behaved like a mad man because someone stole my son's phone!

Just there and then I got up and joined my wife and son in my daughter's room. He was still crying his little heart out. My heart was broken by now too! How could I have vented with such anger and hatred?! I sat there with them telling them that with my outbursts and my attitude I had sinned against God and against them. Much of my anger I levelled at them, and especially my son for losing his phone.

I sat there asking each one of them to forgive me for being angry at them, especially since we were being the victims of a crime. I also spoke my forgiveness toward the person that stole the phone. It is not my business hating anybody, even if they commit crimes against us. Jesus told us to love even our enemies. It is not always easy, but that is what He requires of us.

Next, I prayed, asking God for forgiveness, and for the healing of the hurt that I caused in my family through my outbursts.

Please don't think that the cell phone is a small thing and that I must just get over it. In my side of the family, I have had an uncle stabbed to death, a cousin shot to death, a niece raped and two other nieces had their cars hijacked at gunpoint. I had a car broken into, another car stolen and our home was broken into. That cell phone was no SMALL thing! It represents only the tip of the iceberg!

In South Africa, we have lost our moral barometer. When the government has no ability to be leaders in the country, especially in the field of morality, when they are the leaders in corruption, then the people will simply follow. Especially, when more than 67% voted for the current government.

When the government has proven through its own inaction that they do not care in the least about the crime in this country, what is to be expected? More crime!

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Treating the Symptoms and not the Cause

HIV/AIDS is an epidemic that is literally spreading like wild fire. Of course, this epidemic started in the loins of those that are now infected with the virus.

Now, many SADC countries want to start considering fighting HIV/AIDS by having men circumcised. You see, some research have shown that "male circumcision has a 50% to 60% preventative effect." This is where their strategies have gone wrong..., again!

This is like putting Band Aids on the cuts of someone who likes to cut himself! In this way, you simply treat the cuts, instead of the cause of the cuts. Instead of looking at the cause of the spread of HIV/AIDS, SADC simply wants to slap a Band Aid on the HIV/AIDS problem. "There's your Band Aid. Go in peace!"

The problem with treating the symptoms of HIV/AIDS, is that it will not stop the spreading of the virus. HIV/AIDS is, essentially, a moral issue and not a medical issue!

When Uganda started their implementation of the fight against HIV/AIDS, they used the letters 'ABC' to describe this fight. These letters had the following meanings:

• A - Abstinence
• B - Be faithful
• C - Christ
  

Uganda, thus far has been the most successful in the fight against HIV/AIDS. However, liberal forces have hi-jacked this 'ABC' and condomized it. That's right! Christ was thrown off the team and was replaced with a condom by these amoral/immoral liberals, even though condoms still have a 20% failure rate for protection against HIV/AIDS!

Yet, when these dark forces talk about this fight, you hardly ever hear about the 'A' and 'B' of the 'ABC.' I attended the "1st HIV/AIDS Communications Survey 2006" at the beginning of November, and it was clear in this conference that according to those "fighting" HIV/AIDS, abstinence simply was not an option. Their mantra is: "Use condoms!" There is that Band Aid again!

SADC will lose the fight against HIV/AIDS if they continue this trend. To treat abstinence as a non-option, is to sign the death certificates of millions of people. Yet, the fact is that most of those people who have contracted this moral disease, simply live an immoral lifestyle. This is where the South African government, churches and eventually SADC should take up a leadership role in fighting this scourge. And, that leadership role should not just be a role in which they tell people to use condoms to prevent infection. NO, it should be moral leadership. Certainly not leadership like that of Jacob Zuma!

To keep on suggesting that HIV/AIDS is not a moral problem is to invite massive failure in the war against this disease.

It is with this in mind that the church in South Africa should now start walking the road of the moral high ground. The church must become the example of the fact that abstinence can be followed until marriage. Further, it must also show that being faithful to one's spouse can also be attained. Lastly, the church must uncompromisingly preach the gospel! It is in the gospel of Jesus Christ that there is real deliverance and real forgiveness of sin!

It is time that the church starts speaking out against the sins of our nation, of which sex with someone you are not married to is but just one!

Since HIV/AIDS is a moral issue, the church must start speaking about it as such. We have skirted around this issue for too long. Please, hear me in this! I am not saying that every single person infected with this virus became infected as a result of an immoral lifestyle! What I am saying is that this is true with a great majority of those infected.

The fact is that only the truth concerning this matter can prevent more infections. That truth is that only abstinence can prevent infections. Yet, our government and other institutions keep on lying to the people by telling them that condoms are acceptable to prevent infections. This simply is demonstrably NOT true!

If the death and infections of more and more people can be laid at the feet of someone, it has to be at the feet of those who continue to lie to the people. These liars are in the government and many institutions who claim that they are fighting this virus. Words! That is all they are! Words!

The final solution is not in a small 'c'--condoms, but in the exalted 'C'--Christ!

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Cars cause accidents?

I am sure, that having read the subject to this post, you are thinking, "Yea! Thanks for stating the obvious!"

Well, let me explain!

One can also say, "Guns kill!" Well, is that simply stating the obvious? I don't think so!

You see, cars and guns are inanimate objects. They can do nothing of themselves. Hence, cars do not cause accidents and guns don't kill!

In both these cases, the causing agent is the human race. Human beings cause accidents and kill!

Now, to the cars...

Yesterday, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe, at the closing ceremony of the 16 Days of Activism against Women and Child Abuse Campaign, said that "last year alone, 600 000 vehicles were bought, which translated to a drastic increase in our vehicle population and more drivers on our roads."

He first said that due to economic growth, there is an increase in accidents because there are more cars on the road. He only added the "drivers" later in his speech.

I personally do not think that cars and economic growth are the problem!

Driving just for one day on our roads makes it clear that those driving on our roads do not care much for the rules of the road!

Some of these rules that mean nothing to a whole lot of road users are:

• Speed limits
• Following distance
• Lane change indications
• Turn signaling
• Solid white, yellow and red lines
• Driving without seatbelts
• Speaking on cell phones without using hands-free kits
• Not stopping at stop signs
• Using vehicles that are definitely NOT road worthy
  
• and many more...

IMHO, it is much too easy to get a driver's license in this country. All the common mistakes that people make on the road are proof enough of that!

The fact that so many people snub the rules of the road also point to some other factors:

1. There is not a strong enough presence of traffic officers on our roads, and coupled with that;
2. Traffic officers are not consistent in their legal right to enforce the rules of the road when there are infringements on the road
   

Infringing on the rules of the road should be dealt with by the authorities, otherwise, the carnage on our roads will continue.

It should also not be easy to get a driver's license. Prospective licensees should prove their skill in driving, beyond driving around for a while and doing proper parking.

There are just too many people who do not care about the rules of the road. Until this problem is sorted out, we will continue to see too many people die on our roads!

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Homosexuality a disorder

In the aftermath of the legalization of same-sex marriage (Civil Union Act) in South Africa, I thought that Kathleen Melonakos, M.A., R.N., wrote a very interesting article called Why Isn't Homosexuality Considered A Disorder On The Basis Of Its Medical Consequences? It documents the "[l]ethal consequences to engaging in defining features of male homosexuality-- promiscuity and anal intercourse."

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Christians and Politics: Maturity Required

I heard from someone the other night that a friend of his doesn't vote because the only time that political parties are interested in him is around election times.

That, to me, shows a level of immaturity that is all to common among Christians in South Africa. There is a sense among Christians that they want to be spoon fed all the time, all too reminiscent of pre-school and junior-primary aged children. It is at this level that children, to a large extent, still get spoon fed when it comes to teaching them. They haven't learnt the skills of how to acquire knowledge by themselves and need to be directed in the right direction.

When it comes to politics, South African Christians are largely still in the pre-school/junior-primary category.

Yet, these same Christians want positive change in this country. Something that we are still waiting for since the new "democratic" government took over in 1994.

What we did get from the new government is more crime, abortion, pornography, same-sex "marriages" and a constitution that is Godless and completely anti-life.

This is exactly what Christians do not want!

Yet, how many of these "Christians" are actually willing to stand up for a cause! They simply want things to change, but expect someone else to bring about the change. One thing I have learnt from South African politics, is that democracy is a complete fallacy. We have seen that clearly in the same-sex "marriage" debacle. The government simply refused to acknowledge that the people do NOT want same-sex "marriage" legalized! Yet, they went ahead and legalized it anyhow! When asked why they do not hold a Referendum on the same-sex "marriage" issue, one of the ANC members in the National Council of Provinces responded with, "We don’t need to follow the electorate, we must lead the masses – in a creative way!"

If we as Christians do not stand up against this type of anti-democracy, then our nation is doomed! Yet, some don't even want to vote because their is no one to hold their hands! Christians are not supposed to be led by their noses! Stand up and be counted! Make a difference! Bring about change! Don't let negative change overcome you!

Whenever the Bible speaks of social justice, it expects us to be part of rectifying injustices. The fact is, that much of what should be happening in politics can be explained in two terms: justice and injustice. It is government's responsibility to ensure that justice prevails and that injustices are eradicated. However, what we have in South Africa is that the government are the perpetrators of injustice. It is in this context that Christians should stand up and demand justice in the midst of all the injustices.

The problem is that, just like many non-Christians and non-religious people, Christians in South Africa do what is expedient for themselves!

They would rather vote for the DA, who by the way stands for very much the same as the ANC (the DA is just white whereas the ANC is black), in order to hope that the DA as the only real opposition to the ANC will make sure that the blacks don't completely overrun the country. The truth is that many white South Africans stand behind the DA and many black South Africans still stand behind the ANC purely for historical purposes! For whites, the DA is the only party big enough to still hold the ANC (read blacks) at bay and for blacks, the ANC is still seen as their liberators!

What is sad, is that many of these voters claim to be Christians, yet vote for these two parties without knowing that these two parties stand for the same list of abominations that I listed above.

The question, however is, will the knowledge of those abominations make these Christians change their minds on who to vote for? Or, does personal expediency overrule Biblical standards for them? Do they rather want to be comfortable without rocking the boat, or are they willing to stand up for what is right in the eyes of their Lord?

Will Christians stand up against the injustices of this current government, or is the gentle giant slumbering, ready to fall into a coma?

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