Come Up with a Best Idea for a Safer City of Durban

Marlan Padayachee, Media Consultant to Imagine Durban

CHRISTMAS could come early in the form of R500 each gift vouchers for 30 innovative and creative people who can come up with some brilliant ideas on one of the Imagine Durban themes before the November 30 deadline for all entries in the newly-launched “My Idea” competition.
Imagine Durban is a public-private sector partnership project led by the eThekwini Municipality and is being implemented in conjunction with Sustainable Cities, an NGO from Vancouver, Canada, and the PLUS Network of 35 cities in 14 countries that has been established to share experiences in sustainability planning. Imagine Durban is a process that has began mobilising government to non-government, civil society organisations, faith based groups, tertiary institutions, business organisations and ordinary citizens to imagine what we want our city to be like in the future and to create a path to begin taking us there today.
Imagine Durban has identified seven long-term sustainability themes to create public awareness and encourage public participation: Safe City, Caring & Commitment (Behaviour Change, Volunteerism, Human Value System, Family), Economic Development and Poverty Alleviation, Human Development, Accessibility, Future City / Eco City, and History, Heritage and Culture.

So how do you get involved and stand a chance to win gift vouchers.

Imagine Durban invite you to enter its "My Idea" Competition, aimed at capturing the innovative and creative thinking of individuals who have ideas on long term sustainability for the City of Durban. Entrants with winning ideas will one of 30 gift vouchers valued at R500 each.

How to enter? That's simple, either on line at http://www.imaginedurban.org/my-idea.html or by collecting an entry form from any Sizakala Customer Centres or Municipal Library and fill in the required information. The entry form is bilingual in English and isiZulu.

Your idea should focus on one of the Imagine Durban themes: creating a safer city, ensuring a more environmentally sustainable city, promoting an accessible city, creating a prosperous city, fostering a more caring and empowering city, and celebrating our cultural diversity, arts and heritage.

The next step would be to determine who best would be suited to implement these ideas? Should government, business or civil society implement your idea? Every question needs to be filled in and ensure that all your contact details are provided. Here’s a tip - your idea should be unique, but yet practical to implement.

Closing date for the competition is 30 November 2008. Entries can also be faxed to (031) 311 3446, or emailed to: imagine@durban.gov.za

For more information, email: imagine@durban.gov.za, or telephone Project Leader Thomas Ferreira on (031) 311 3424; or Project Assistant Zamah Ndlovu.
Kindly use Imagine Durban from this Press Release.

ISSUED BY:
GreenGold Africa Communications, PO Box 346 Pavilion 3611 South Africa
Tel: (031) 266 5599/ 266 1762/ Fax: (031) 266 9202/ Fax mail: 0866 98 93 43 greengold@telkomsa.net
Contact person: Media Liaison Officers: Pinky Naidoo or Lindiwe Nhleko

ON BEHALF OF:

Imagine Durban
eThekwini Municipality
City of Durban
Email: imagine@durban.gov.za
Tel: Project Leader Thomas Ferreira on (031) 311 3424;

OR Zamah NdlovueThekwini MunicipalityImagine DurbanProject AssistantEvent Organiser031 -311 3444

Political Heat Is On As Rockers Swoon South Africans

Left of What’s Right
Marlan Padayachee jives to a tongue-and cheek sing-along as political dissidents step aside to give way to a babalaas blast of entertaining escapism
DATELINE DURBAN: WITH South Africa’s political drama swirling ahead of the 2009 election, South Africans are taking the arts, culture and entertainment escapism route.
Fourteen years later, there’s growing turbulence in the world’s youngest democracy in the aftermath of the Polokwane Triangle that has changed the political landscape, but take heart because some of the world’s top pop-rockers are heading are to Rainbow Country this sizzling summer.
With the winter of discontent etched the memories of political, crime, social and economic victims, add a spectre of xenophobic violence, compatriots will be letting their hair down as they drown in the soulful and lilting lyrics of Lionel Ritchie. Rod Stewart and marvel at how the Canadian Master of Unusual Comedy, Michel Lauziere, can play Mozart in uptown New York with his skateboard blades tickling the little green bottles.
Soon the sunset clause will be history as the revelers get into the party mood when the big hitters croon and drool on the concert stages.
Maybe, Richie will pop in at the Mandela (P) Residency to say Hello! Is It Me You’re Looking For? As the warring comrades belt out Say You, Say Me to leverage the head-splitting at Luthuli House, the fractured ruling regime may be also toyi-toyiing All Night Long as the breakaway band work out if they could be Truly called counter-revolutionaries.
While Richie croons about Endless Love, hoping Love Will Find a Way, there will be no love lost between the one-time comrades-in-arms as they jive to Stewart’s soulful solos, and declaring that I Know I’m Losing You. With all the parties getting into the voting rhythm from door to door, some may end up Dancing on the Ceiling while looking down on Every Picture Tells a Story with Richie choreographing a famous struggle drowned in sours.
But this is Afrique Du Suid, and the Irish grave-digger will soon grasp there’s Never a Dull Moment as he rubs the political salt into The First Cut is the Deepest before declaring a Three Time Loser by the time Thabo Mbeki is Sailin’ over the Victoria Falls down the Zambezi to have cold turkey with Old Man River. With Richie and Stewart strutting the stages, our own AK-47 dancing president-elect Jacob Zuma declaring It’s All Over Now with Our Endless Love for president-in-waiting Terror Lekota as he takes his gloves off for the Street Fighting Man. Then at the height of the dissensions in the wake of the China Olympics, Katie Malua strummed home the point to Capetonians that There Are Nine Million Bicycles in Beijing to ride to the polling booths without catching the gravy train en route to the Easter election. Broadway musical theatre star Christine Pedi put her foot into politics and gave us a tonic of cabaret, comedy and jazz during a triumphant tour with the ballots re-electing her as the Diva Dame. Then the one-liners took the Mickey Mouse out of us with slapsticks, turning Poetry Africa into a festival of poetic justice. Carlos Gomez put the shutters on the White House as Jitsvinger and Godessa (Three Times A Lady) rapped about rainbowism, leaving Bantu Mwaura probing why Kenyans had lost the political plot. iBushwomen left their footprints about the shifting sands and fortunes of the vanishing Khoi-San tribes while the ink dried on Thomas Mapfumo’s visa before he reached at Beit Bridge. Poet by any name is still a poet as they waxed lyrical about the literary legacy of Mahmoud Darwish, Palestine’s reluctant statesman who died on Poetry Road with his inspiring revolutionary verses. Until I dish out the 2008 Lemons and Naartjies Awards, laugh it off.

Marlan Padayachee, recipient of the British Council Fellow and US International Visitor’s Award, is an independent freelance journalist and socio-political commentator who runs a media-communications strategy consultancy in South Africa: greengold@telkomsa.net

Published in Juluka magazine USA in November 2008

Waxing Lyrical About Turning Fifty in Style

SPEECH BY BHEMAN RANDERIA ON THE OCCASION OF THE 50TH BIRTHDAY OF HIS WIFE PRATHIEBA AT THE JAIPUR RESTAURANT ON FRIDAY 7 NOVEMBER 2008. GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES. AT THE OUTSET, LET ME THANK ONE AND ALL OF YOU FOR TAKING TIME OFF AND DRESSING ELEGANTLY AND SMARTLY FOR THIS SPECIAL SIZZLING SUMMER PARTY ON THE OCCASION OF THE 50TH BIRTHDAY PARTY OF MY DEAR WIFE AND FIRST LADY, PRATHIEBA. THIS EVENING, I AM HOPING TO TELL A STORY OF A REMARKABLE WOMAN WHO HAS TURNED HER LIFE AROUND AND HAS BECOME MY CONSUMMATE COMPANION. PRATHIEBA IS ALSO A GOOD, NURTURING MOTHER TO MY SON, RUSHIL, AND HER CHILDREN, SHASHIKA, MISHA AND KABIR. BUT IN THE JOURNEY OF LIFE, WE OWE A DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO OUR MOTHERS FOR GIVING US THE GIFT OF LIFE. ON THAT NOTE, I THINK IT IS THEREFORE FITTING THAT I PAY TRIBUTE TO MY MOTHER, SUZANNE RANDERIA AND PRATHIEBA'S MUM, MANJUBHA MODI, FOR GIVING US THE JOY AND WISDOM OF LIFE. INDIAN PHILOSOPHER GANESHAN VENKATARAM ONCE SAID: "GOD SEES US THROUGH OUR MOTHER'S EYES AND REWARDS US FOR OUR VIRTUES." THANK YOU FOR THE WONDERFUL RECEPTION WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM ALL OF YOU IN THE CIGAR LOUNGE. WHILE THERE I WAS REMINDED ABOUT WHAT LYNDA BARRY ONCE SAID: "LOVE IS AN EXPLODING CIGAR WE WILLINGLY SMOKE". THIS EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE ALL GATHERED TO SALUTE AND HONOUR PRATHIEBA RANDERIA FOR ACHIEVING HER MARVELOUS MILESTONE. OTHERS WILL SING HER PRAISES AND A LOT OF POSITIVE ENERGY IS ALREADY RADIATING AND RESONATING AROUND THIS EXTRAORDINARY LADY OF THE MOMENT. MY OWN TAKE ON MY WIFE IS BASED ON THE MOMENT WHEN I FIRST SET EYES ON HER AND HOW WE HAD CHRONICLED OUR JOURNEY DURING THE PAST TEN YEARS. DURING THIS JOURNEY, I HAVE LEARNT THAT ONE WORD FREES US ALL THE WEIGHT AND PAIN OF LIFE: THE WORD IS LOVE. OUR LOVE BOAT MAY HAVE TOSSED AND TURNED ON THE CHOPPY SEAS OF LIFE AND SAILED SMOOTHLY ON CALM WATERS, BUT WE ALWAYS DROPPED ANCHOR. AND HERE, I WANT TO THANK MEMBERS OF THE MODI FAMILY FOR THEIR WARMTH, HUMILITY AND HOSPITALITY IN ACCEPTING ME INTO A FAMILY THAT IS RICHLY TIED TO THE HISTORY OF THE CITY'S BUSINESS, RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL LANDSCAPE. THIS GRATITUDE IS PRICELESS WHEN I WEIGH UP THE VALUE PRATHIEBA HAS ADDED TO MY LIFE IN ALL THE YEARS THAT WE HAD STRUCK UP A PARTNERSHIP OF MUTUAL LOVE AND RESPECT. TO MY OWN FAMILY IN THE RANDERIA CLAN, THANKS FOR STANDING BY ME IN THE HOUR OF JOURNEY INTO THE MY CROSSROADS OF LIFE. THEN AGAIN, THIS EVENING'S CELEBRATION IS NOT ABOUT ME. IT'S ABOUT SOMEONE SPECIAL, WHO IS A WIFE, FRIEND, CONFIDANTE, PARTNER, PERSONAL TRAINER – THAT'S IN THE GYM OF COURSE – BANKER, ADVISER, MENTOR, LOVER, AND A SOFT SHOULDER TO CRY ON. SHE IS ALSO A PILLOW TO LIE ON AND A GOOD LISTENER DURING PILLOW TALKS. EVEN HER TOES ARE USEFUL. AND FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I WISH TO THANK PRATHIEBA FOR BEING A SUPER-MUM TO MY SON, RUSHIL. SO, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WHETHER WE ARE HIKING, TRAINING, DANCING, TALKING, WE ARE LIKE TWO PEAS IN A POD, WORKING TOGETHER AND STAYING TOGETHER. BUT THERE IS ALSO THE DOWNSIDE OF COLD TALK OR BEING SERVED COLD TURKEY, IF I STRAY OR LOSE FOCUS FOR A MOMENT FROM OUR MARITAL BLISS. BY NATURE, I AM A STICKLER FOR EVERYTHING TRIM, PRIM AND PROPER, HENCE THE NOTORIOUS NICKNAME, HITLER. AND PRATHIEBA HAS ADJUSTED TO MY OWN SET OF DEMANDS AND SHE MEETS ME HALF WAY IN ANYTHING WE DO OR DECIDE ON. MAYBE, I HAVE BECOME THIS NEAR-PERFECTIONIST SINCE THE DAY YOU SHOWERED YOUR BRIGHTNESS INTO OUR LIFE. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN, PRATHIEBA ESPOUSES STRONG VALUES AND ETHICS, A CULTURE SHE LEARNT AS A BANKER AND FINANCIAL ADVISER. SHE IS A STRICT VEGETARIAN WHO WILL BROOK NO NONSENSE WHEN IT COMES TO THIS DIET OF DISCIPLINE – SOMETHING I ADMIRE HER FOR. SHE HAS BEEN REMARKABLE IN THE SENSE THAT SHE HAS PROMOTED A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE FOR HERSELF AND ALL OF US – HENCE THE SHAPELY, SEXY AND SIZZLING PROFILING THAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU. I AM ALSO TEMPTED TO USE THE OLD ADAGE: BEHIND EVERY SUCCESSFUL MAN IS A WOMAN … BUT TONIGHT THE HONOUR IS ON SOMEONE WHO IS THE EPITOME OF ACHIEVEMENT. GROWING IN THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF THE GREY STREET CBD AND INDIAN BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL CAPITAL, PRATHIEBA STARTED LIFE AS A TEACHER AND IT IS HER EXPERIENCE, LOVE AND CARE FOR CHILDREN THAT HAVE TRANSFORMED HER INTO A MUM IN A MILLION. HAVING GAINED SOME INVALUABLE INSIGHTS INTO BUSINESS FROM HER FAMILY, SHE WENT INTO BANKING AND SPENT ALMOST TWO DECADES OF MOTIVATING AND ENCOURAGING CLIENTS SUCH AS MYSELF THAT IF I WAS ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THE RANDS, THE CENTS WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF. IN RECENT YEARS, PRATHIEBA HAS WORKED IN VEHICLE FINANCING. NOW IT IS RUMOURED THAT SHE MAY SOON BE APPOINTED A HOME EXECUTIVE – SO WATCH THIS SPACE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I AM NOT GOING TO ALLOW A GOOD SPEECH TO COME IN THE WAY OF OUR NIGHT OF CELEBRATION AND FESTIVITIES. TO PRATHIEBA, I WISH TO SAY A BIG THANK YOU FOR COMING INTO OUR LIVES AND BRINGING ALL THE WARM-HEARTED FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE GIVEN US INCREDIBLE SUPPORT DURING THIS HEART-STOPPING JOURNEY. YOU ARE, IN MY EYES, THE ESSENCE OF A LOVING, SENSITIVE, COMPASSIONATE AND CARING HUMAN BEING, WHO HAS LEARNT THAT IT IS BETTER TO GIVE THAN TO GET; AND IT IS WISER TO LIGHT A CANDLE THAN TO CURSE THE DARKNESS. THE LIGHT YOU HAVE BROUGHT INTO OUR LIVES WILL CONTINUE TO ILLUMINATE US AS WE NAVIGATE THE COMING YEARS. FINALLY, I BELIEVE THAT BEAUTY, PASSION AND LOVE ARE DIFFICULT TO DEFINE OR EXPERIENCE, OTHERWISE THERE WOULD BE MORE ROMANTICS. SOME SAY THERE IS ALWAYS SOME MADNESS IN LOVE. BUT THERE IS ALWAYS SOME REASON IN MADNESS. ONCE AGAIN TO THE BIRTHDAY GIRL, I BELIEVE THAT AGE DOES NOT PROTECT YOU FROM LOVE, BUT LOVE, TO SOME EXTENT, PROTECTS YOU FROM AGE. AND AS WE ALL KNOW AGE IS ALL ABOUT MIND OVER MATTER, IF YOU DON'T MIND, IT DOES NOT MATTER. HAVE A GOOD ONE, MY DOLL. I THANK YOU.

Speech Researched & Written by Marlan Padayachee GreenGold Africa Communications (greengold@telkomsa.net) +00 27 31 266 5599 or 266 1762

Billy Nair - Epitome of the Freedom Struggle in South Africa

PEOPLE

BILLY NAIR – Epitome of the Struggle for Democracy
LATE in 2008 South Africa lost one of its pioneering foot-soldiers for democracy, human rights and social justice. MARLAN PADAYACHEE penned this piece on one of South Africa’s remarkable bridge-builders for peace, progress and prosperity.
Billy Nair finally laid down his arms for a “Better Life for All”, aged 79, culminating in a lifelong sacrifice for the nation’s poorest of the poor as political praise singers chronicled the life of one man and his mission to change a skewed landscape.
Nair was given a state funeral befitting a Black Nationalist leader in Durban on 30 October as his widow Elsie Nair heard speaker after speaker pour praise on her husband’s impeccable integrity as one of the leading catalysts for change during South Africa’s liberation struggle.
His casket was draped in the green, gold and black colours of the African National Congress.
Twenty years on Robben Island alongside the icons of the human drama that engulfed apartheid South Africa, notably Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, and his fellow Little Rivonia saboteurs Zulu Moonsamy, Kisten Dorasamy and Curnick Ndlovu, had transformed a consummate campaigner into a gentleman of new resistance politics.
Nair returned to Durban without rancour. There was no bitterness in his voice when I interviewed him after his release from prison in February 1984. His spirit of forgiveness and hope was overwhelming at a time when state repression was at its worst. Not even a taste freedom stopped this tireless worker from achieving the big political prize.
It was this spirit of political maturity, level-headedness and humility that catapulted the former guerilla commander back into the trenches, this time navigating Operation Vula alongside Mac Maharaj, Pravin Gordhan and other ANC Umkhonto weSizwe operatives, a contingency unit in case the apartheid regime reneged on its détente deal with the ANC in the early 1990s.
By 1994, Nair was taking his seat as an ANC MP in Parliament as President Nelson Mandela ushered the new South Africa. He retired a few years ago to his constituency in Tongaat with his faithful wife Elsie who stood by this remarkable socialist-communist trade unionist throughout his political life.
The resister they called Muna, isiSotho for comrade, or the Cat, because he often landed on his feet during his fighting trade union days, was paid the highest honour by the ANC. A flag draped on his coffin was later handed to his widow, a heart-warming reminder of the life and legacy of one man they called a gallant revolutionary, true hero, legend, principled political activist, outstanding, humble and selfless leader, born organizer, underground operator, keen dancer, punter and someone who also enjoyed a good whisky and chuckle. I will always remember his charming smile, inner strength and the honour of being called Boeti, as if it was yesterday when he walked out of prison into the arms of his wife. Hamba Kahle, Chief.
MARLAN PADAYACHEE is a freelance journalist and media communications strategist, who covered the frontline politics of the anti-apartheid movement from the 1970s to the 1990s.

Karlen Padayachee on Diwali Diversity at William Mitchell

Posted: October 31, 2008
Diwali Brown Bag Diversity PLP
Keynote Speaker: Karlen Padayachee
Please join us for the Hindu Diwali Diversity PLP. Diwali, the festival of
lights, marks the beginning of the New Year and one of the most
Important festivals for Hindus. Lights, bonfires, and fireworks welcome
gods, ancestors, family, and friends. There will be a time
of questions and answers at the end of the presentation..
Sponsored by:
Office of Multicultural Affairs