Propaganda versus Political Statements

 

 POLITICAL STATEMENTS

By Edgar Malatji

Politics: Heywood (1997) defines Politics as a way of life – we live in the midst of politics on a daily basis. Politics are forever in the news, in fact, politics make a better part of news production and current affairs coverage in various media platforms.

Political statements are all about communicating a specific message that intends to manipulate the perceptions of an individual or masses in an effort to maintain/attain political power and support. They (Political statements) are relatively different.

The matter of fact is that various political organisations/parties are always striving to score some political points let alone to maintain their political power and support.  Political parties perceive one another as foes hence they often attempt to discredit their respective  rivals. We often come across stories about certain political party criticising its opponent in the media.

For example DA is overtly criticising the ANC – they recently passed motion of no confidence against the leader of the country and ANC Jacob Zuma. DA and other political parties in parliament passed motion of no confidence against the state president. Those political parties were expressing their dissatisfaction pertaining to the manner in which JZ runs the affairs of the state: Nkandlagate, Marikana Massacre, Ambush of SA Army in CAR, unemployment etc.

One of the conspicuous matters that raised a severe political discourse is the Spy-tapes –  The court ruled in favour of the DA.

The court order compels Jacob Zuma’s legal team to hand over the spy-tapes that helped JZ to shrug off myriad of corruption charges in 2009.

Political statements are interesting – as political parties attempt to maintain, improve or change the state quo.  Internationally, North Korean incumbent Kim Jong Un released a ferocious political statement in which he declared war in the Korea Peninsula after the South Korean based US Army dropped a dummy missile around North Korean boarders.

His political statement confirms that North Korea is consolidating its powerful status in Korea Peninsula and that they (North Korea) are not prepared to relinquish their power.

On the other hand, Central African Republic rebel leader Michael Djotodia – released a political statement stating that he will be in power as the president of CAR for the next three years.

That took place immediately after the ousting CAR President Mr Francois Bozize. Locally, Minister of Defence Nosiviwe Mapisa- Nqakula was defensive about the gruesome deaths of SA troops in Bangui.

Instead of conceding defeat the minister emphasised that the troops who succumbed to an ambush by Seleka soldiers showed courage and bravery.

Political parties normally release plethora of political statements during the election campaigns: Manifestos and Mass Demontrations.

•      Language (codes and signs) used in political statements:

•       The codes and signs used in the political statements are often more: Offensive, Provocative, Bias, Defensive, Subjective, Untruthful, inaccurate, manipulative and Partial.

•       Relationship between Propaganda and Political Statements

•       There is a thin line between Propaganda and Political states:

•      Press Conferences by Political parties

•      Statement by film director

•      Political parties’ manifesto

•      Advertisements in the media – Banks

•      Opinion articles on print media

•       Subjective studies e.g. White women are more attractive than their black counterparts.

•       Group Assignment

•       Question: Provide a detailed Analysis of print and electronic discourse. Support your analysis with relevant examples.

•      Two Pages typed excluding cover page: Font size 12

•      Provide References

•      Submission Date: 02 MAY 2013

Language in our education system

Language is a system involving both elements and structures. As in any system, we can define elemental and structural units at many levels, depending on purpose. At any level, however, language includes a set of symbols (vocabulary) and the meaningful methods of combining those units (syntax) (Salawu, 2004:03). Indigenous language is a language that is native to a region and spoken by indigenous people but has been reduced to the status of a minority language. This language would be from a linguistically distinct community that has been settled in the area for many generations. Indigenous languages may not be national languages, or may have fallen out of use, because of language deaths or linguicide caused by colonisation, where the original language is replaced by that of the colonists (Salawu, 2006:55).Kwesi (2006:3) states that if culture is the main determinant of our attitudes, tastes and mores, language is the corner stone of culture. It is therefore; in a language that culture is transmitted, interpreted and configured.

Language is also a register of culture. Historically, the trajectory of a culture can be read in the language and the evolution of its lexicals and morphology. Language is one of the distinctive features, which distinguishes human being from animals. Human beings are in effect talkative animals. In this respect one can also extend the logic of the argument to say that culture is the key distinguishing feature between human beings and the rest of the animal world. Therefore, human beings’ ability to create culture marks them off from other animals. Culture raises people above the rest of nature, beyond instinct and relies on nature four their enlightenment because language is the most important means of human intercourse.

Indigenous language newspapers need sustainable development

There is a conspicuous importance of having newspapers that publish in the indigenous languages for the indigenous population in a democratic dispensation. The indigenous languages are the key components of their respective cultures. If the indigenous cultures must survive, the indigenous language must be constantly used if a language must have life so as to be constant, the indigenous media must be seen to be using it. The survival of the language is, in some way, depends on the print media (newspapers) (Salawu, 2004: 8). In addition the indigenous language newspapers have cardinal roles of promoting previously marginalised languages, preserving indigenous cultures let alone upholding democracy. Nevertheless, these newspapers are struggling to sustain themselves in the print media industry. It is therefore, critically important to examine the factors that adversely affect the sustainability of these newspapers.

Morally distasteful South Africa

 

Morally distasteful South Africa

It is very disgusting to constantly learn about the series of sex shenanigans in our school in particular public schools. One of the best public servants in the country,Gauteng’s MEC for Education Barbra Creecy has alluded to the fact she receives six cases of  sex in public schools every day, to make things worst this  nauseating activities are performed by younger leaners some of them are 10 years and younger let alone toddlers.

Gauteng is one of the best performing provinces in terms of Matric results (Last year they toppled Western Province as the best performing province). And   one expects discipline, proper ethics and constructive morals from this Province, but that is not the case because sex videos, child porn and rapes have overshadowed Gauteng’s academic excellence. It was reported on Mail and Guardian that pupils in Gauteng schools have ventured into porn business as they exchange sex videos and most of them are child porn staff. We must not forget that child porn is a crime in this country and since these immoral activities are taking place in our schools where our children are supposed to learn about human morals and ethics we expect those who propagate such acts to be prosecuted. Be that as it may, school educators are also involved in some of these shameful activities.

Yes, we are talking about parents to these children teachers are meant to play a pivotal guardian role at our schools but most of them are doing the contrary as they perpetuate these acts. It was recently reported that some educators promise poor learners to get good academic results only if they agree to sleep with them and some of the leaners sleep with them in exchange for money and other material purposes.

What happened to the morally grounded South Africa? What happened to our passionate society, where orphans were not feeling the wrath of parentless because the next door parents would serve as their guardians? What happened to our ethically astute citizens? What happened to the spirit of Ubuntu and camaraderie?

We cannot keep on playing a proverbial blame game with our government because real South Africans were taking care of themselves during the difficult times of apartheid government. Indeed we have lost our ground concerning morality. Our kids are seeing reckless sexual activities as stepping stone to better life because they hear such barbaric advice from the elders who see them as mere sex objects. Why is sex the most sought after activity? Kids no longer resort to vintage games and plays to past time as they see that as old-fashioned and they unfortunately resort to porn star to be activities.

To remedy this atrocious situation, I strongly believe that our Education system must incorporate African morals and ethics. Learners must be taught how to live as Africans and forget about what they see on tv American programmes. Our Education system must prioritise building a responsible person rather than producing a best student that is living a reckless life but after all that would be a futile exercise. If we do not teach our children about their history and importance of self-respect we are as good as dead as a country because our future would look as bleak as never before. Another important aspect that needs to be addressed meticulously is Sport and Recreation; our education system must embrace the brotherhood that sport brings in the society by ensuring that our children spent most of their spare time playing sport than fidgeting the mobile gadgets. Because in sport and recreation there is education as well mainly due to the fact that all sporting codes need substantial discipline, team work and passion to work  towords a common goal.

Edgar Malatji: Gordon Igesund must opt for experience

Edgar Malatji: Bafana Bafana Coach Gordon Igesund needs to resort to expereince and club cohesion if he wants to strongly raise the hopes of clinching Afcon next year. Players with international experience such as Itu Khune, Teko Modise,  Kagisho Dikgacoi, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Siphiwe Tshabalala etc. can turn Bafana into a force to be reckoned with come Afcon next year. These experienced players know the ins and outs of international football because they have Afcon, Confed and World Cup expereinces and they can use them to challenge best African teams. And to add weight in to this sentiment is that Gordon Igesund is a best mentor when it comes to working with experienced players rather than rookies his success with experienced squads at Sundowns, Pirates, Santos, and Swallows anchors this sentiment. Club cohesion on the other hand can make things easier for GI to turn Bafana into a cohesive side, for example the likes of Shabba, Khune, Mathoho, Reneilwe, Parker, Majoro and Gaxa are the cog at Kaizer Cheifs and Igesund can use this cog by building a cohesive team around it. This kind of a system helped Spain to win World Cup and Euro titles because their coaches were working on Barcelona's cog to build a strong cohesive Spanish side and Egypt as well used Al Ahly's cog to build a side that won Afcon back to back. Experience and Club cohesion can help Igesund clinch Afcon 2013. This is my view.

I have never thought that Social Media have changed the world of Marketing in the world. Expect to read more pertaining to this concept from me Edgar Malatji. And China used to be a proverbial battle field for USA presidential debate. Soccer lovers Man Utd rivals coach Roberto Mancini has just said that City are not ready to clinch Uefa Champs League; with plethora of arsena at his disposal one expected a more adventours assertion from Mancini.