Dear Frank Awuah, Manager for Operations at the SABC
Re: It is time to renew your television license
Thanks for your letter, dated 07 October 2010.
In the letter, you remind me that I must pay my yearly television license of R250, 00 by 30 November 2010, failing which I may “incur (unspecified) penalties.”
As a responsible citizen, I have no desire to face any of those “penalties” – so I will pay the amount as expected.
However, I should take this opportunity to remind you, as a representative of the SABC, that you should also take responsibility for the service you are supposed to render.
Just in case you need to be reminded, a couple of weeks ago the SABC was supposed to televise a game between the national football team, Bafana Bafana, and Sierra Leone. Not surprisingly, you failed to televise the game.
I am not sure what you do with the money that I pay into your accounts every year for my television license, and you don’t even bother to explain this. The only time I hear from you is when you remind me to pay up – which I always do.
I hope part of my money does not go to purchasing the many old American television shows that get repeated on your channels. Just the other day, in mid-September, Oprah Winfrey wished me a happy New Year (three months before the end of the year).
I also read in the newspapers that the chairman of the parliamentary committee on communications, Ishamail Vadi, criticised you, the SABC, for breach of relevant procurement processes.
The committee also reportedly said the financial position of the corporation “remains precarious” and that the board has not been able to hammer out a turnaround strategy.
So, does that mean I must just keep paying my annual R250,00 (for fear of those unspecified “penalties”) without knowing where it goes? Exactly what do you do with my money?
I hope you’ll respond to my questions.
Regards,
Madibeng Kgwete
TV license payer
Showing posts with label Companies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Companies. Show all posts
Monday, October 25, 2010
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
'Madibeng, are you a unionist?'
An edited copy of my article, “Our companies are laws unto themselves,” (Pro-Africa Analysis, 05 October 2007), was published on the letters’ section of the News24 website under the headline, “Deaths go unnoticed” (MyNews24, 09 October 2007). The following are readers’ reactions to the article as published by News24:
1. Those who agree that big companies are laws unto themselves say:
1.1. Companies are only concerned about the bottom line. The executives get fat bonuses and little thought is given to the miners who risk their lives on a daily basis. - Jennifer
1.2. You make a very good point, but the fact is that our justice system has effectively totally collapsed. Even if a trial (either crime OR workplace-issue) makes it to court, it'll drag on forever, costing law-abiding citizens tax money.. and in the end the sentence imposed on the purpetrator will be waay lenient. – Juan
2. Those who disagree say:
2.1. Excuse me, 300 people die a YEAR in work related accidents in SA and this is very upsetting,but nobody forces these people to work down the mines,its a dangerous job and they do get paid more money for the danger.How could you possibly relate this to 500 violent deaths or 1200 reported rapes a WEEK,of people who have no choice and just happen to be in the wrong place or sometimes just hanging around their own home?The GOLD mining industry is one of South Africa's few forex earners leave it alone. - me
2.2. Not the only deaths in SA that go unnoticed, so do a lot of deaths in suburbs and on farms. Unfortunately if you can't stop the thug on the street with your police force, you won't be able to stop big companies from doing the same. Start small, be effective and you will reach the high level offenders. – Sun
2.3. Madibeng, is jy so effe 'gebriek'? It is a mine. How safe can you be when you are hundreds of metres beneath the surface. Some jobs are inherently dangerous. My father spent time in mining, as have some of my friends. There are horror stories, but it comes with the job. You fail to appreciate that ALL the workers came up safely thanks to the efforts of the rescue workers. Where there are geniune working environment abuses the state should definitely step in but don't whinge about nonsense. - European-African
2.4. You sound like a unionist - you want jobs and growth but you also want strict safety standards. The fact is big companies employ people who would otherwise be "poor individual criminals or small township gangs". as long as there is minning and major infrastructure development - there will be casualties. At the moment we are chock full of both. You comparing our reasonable rate of mining or constructions incidents to the ridiculous crime rate is so COSATU like... - Fern
2.5. It's terrible that deaths happen at work sites. We're all pleased that these 3000 workers had fresh air and survived their time under. Yet I'm surprised that you feel this is of the same importance than crime? These workers know the risks everyday they go down the shafts. Crime is about people coming into your house and killing you, countrywide. How can you possibly relate the two? Government by companies - you sure? Who are the 'people' holding EVERYONE to ransom with violent strikes. – MJ
2.6. Good article but I was under the impression that miners belong to unions to which they pay a fee...and what do the union's do about the safety issue of workers or are they also to busy enjoying the benefits rolling in to their coffers... - SB
2.7. That some die while @ work, but like others have said, how safe can it be working in a mine underground, Yes maybe there must be better settlements in the event of a death/injury, but thats unfair for me to say cuz i don't know the amount offered.What i do know,is that mining is a very hazardous occupation & i would assume that u get paid extra for the danger involed.. but heh what do i know... - skarr..
1. Those who agree that big companies are laws unto themselves say:
1.1. Companies are only concerned about the bottom line. The executives get fat bonuses and little thought is given to the miners who risk their lives on a daily basis. - Jennifer
1.2. You make a very good point, but the fact is that our justice system has effectively totally collapsed. Even if a trial (either crime OR workplace-issue) makes it to court, it'll drag on forever, costing law-abiding citizens tax money.. and in the end the sentence imposed on the purpetrator will be waay lenient. – Juan
2. Those who disagree say:
2.1. Excuse me, 300 people die a YEAR in work related accidents in SA and this is very upsetting,but nobody forces these people to work down the mines,its a dangerous job and they do get paid more money for the danger.How could you possibly relate this to 500 violent deaths or 1200 reported rapes a WEEK,of people who have no choice and just happen to be in the wrong place or sometimes just hanging around their own home?The GOLD mining industry is one of South Africa's few forex earners leave it alone. - me
2.2. Not the only deaths in SA that go unnoticed, so do a lot of deaths in suburbs and on farms. Unfortunately if you can't stop the thug on the street with your police force, you won't be able to stop big companies from doing the same. Start small, be effective and you will reach the high level offenders. – Sun
2.3. Madibeng, is jy so effe 'gebriek'? It is a mine. How safe can you be when you are hundreds of metres beneath the surface. Some jobs are inherently dangerous. My father spent time in mining, as have some of my friends. There are horror stories, but it comes with the job. You fail to appreciate that ALL the workers came up safely thanks to the efforts of the rescue workers. Where there are geniune working environment abuses the state should definitely step in but don't whinge about nonsense. - European-African
2.4. You sound like a unionist - you want jobs and growth but you also want strict safety standards. The fact is big companies employ people who would otherwise be "poor individual criminals or small township gangs". as long as there is minning and major infrastructure development - there will be casualties. At the moment we are chock full of both. You comparing our reasonable rate of mining or constructions incidents to the ridiculous crime rate is so COSATU like... - Fern
2.5. It's terrible that deaths happen at work sites. We're all pleased that these 3000 workers had fresh air and survived their time under. Yet I'm surprised that you feel this is of the same importance than crime? These workers know the risks everyday they go down the shafts. Crime is about people coming into your house and killing you, countrywide. How can you possibly relate the two? Government by companies - you sure? Who are the 'people' holding EVERYONE to ransom with violent strikes. – MJ
2.6. Good article but I was under the impression that miners belong to unions to which they pay a fee...and what do the union's do about the safety issue of workers or are they also to busy enjoying the benefits rolling in to their coffers... - SB
2.7. That some die while @ work, but like others have said, how safe can it be working in a mine underground, Yes maybe there must be better settlements in the event of a death/injury, but thats unfair for me to say cuz i don't know the amount offered.What i do know,is that mining is a very hazardous occupation & i would assume that u get paid extra for the danger involed.. but heh what do i know... - skarr..
Friday, October 5, 2007
Our companies are laws unto themselves
We’re quick to target petty offenders whilst our mega companies continue to get away with murder
By Madibeng Kgwete: posted on 05 October 2007
The accident at Harmony Gold’s Erlandsrand Mine that saw over 3000 mine workers trapped under the surface has once again brought the subject of workplace safety to the fore of public debate.
Our company executives often list crime as one of the impediments to doing business comfortably in South Africa. Some of them have gone as far as attempting to launch publicity stunts to get government’s attention to the crime problem.
Remember the First National Bank (FNB) and its botched campaign aimed at flooding the office of the president with anti-crime letters from Sunday Times readers?
Campaigns against the high levels of crime in South Africa are unquestionably justified, considering the insecurity that we feel with violent criminals roaming the streets. Nobody disputes the danger that we all are due to the high levels of crime in our country.
However, the high levels of deaths and serious injuries that people suffer due to unsafe working environments such as mines often go unnoticed; and, even if noticed, the culprits (firm owners and chief executives) seem immune from any form of legal action.
We are very quick to demand justice when those endangering our lives are poor individual criminals or small township gangs. The big corporations, which do not comply with safety requirements at their workplaces, continue to get away with murder.
It’s as if our legal system was introduced specifically to shield grand offenders from the smaller and financially inferior citizens. The corporations (and not the people) shall rule!
By Madibeng Kgwete: posted on 05 October 2007
The accident at Harmony Gold’s Erlandsrand Mine that saw over 3000 mine workers trapped under the surface has once again brought the subject of workplace safety to the fore of public debate.
Our company executives often list crime as one of the impediments to doing business comfortably in South Africa. Some of them have gone as far as attempting to launch publicity stunts to get government’s attention to the crime problem.
Remember the First National Bank (FNB) and its botched campaign aimed at flooding the office of the president with anti-crime letters from Sunday Times readers?
Campaigns against the high levels of crime in South Africa are unquestionably justified, considering the insecurity that we feel with violent criminals roaming the streets. Nobody disputes the danger that we all are due to the high levels of crime in our country.
However, the high levels of deaths and serious injuries that people suffer due to unsafe working environments such as mines often go unnoticed; and, even if noticed, the culprits (firm owners and chief executives) seem immune from any form of legal action.
We are very quick to demand justice when those endangering our lives are poor individual criminals or small township gangs. The big corporations, which do not comply with safety requirements at their workplaces, continue to get away with murder.
It’s as if our legal system was introduced specifically to shield grand offenders from the smaller and financially inferior citizens. The corporations (and not the people) shall rule!
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