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Cabinet reshuffle puts fizz in the sugary drinks tax fight

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By Sealy McMurrey

The Beverage Association of South Africa is hoping that the cabinet reshuffle will bolster its efforts to oppose government’s plans to tax sugary drinks.

Former Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan proposed a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages‚ as part of government’s efforts to tackle obesity.

But during the budget meeting in February‚ the proposed implementation date of a sugar tax was shifted until later in 2017.

The beverage association‚ which represents the interests of the non-alcoholic beverage industry‚ is hoping to take advantage of Gordhan’s axing in favour of new Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba. Legislation to introduce the tax is yet to be finalised.

Speaking on behalf of the association‚ general manager for corporate services Tshepo Marumule said‚ “We have recognized the change in ministry and see it as an opportunity to take action forward against the tax”.

The cabinet reshuffle has fueled speculation about whether the sugar tax will still be implemented.

“Parliament convened on the taxation because in its current form‚ the tax is too complex and complicated and it can’t be proven that the tax will actually help South Africans’ health. We appreciate the further consultation on the tax and would like to see the best solution for the country‚” said Marumule.

The World Health Organization supports the imposition of a sugar tax. WHO South African representative Dr Rufaro Chatora said‚ “By implementing a tax on sugary drinks to increase the prices of these beverages‚ South Africa will be taking a proactive step to reduce the intake of sugars‚ which contribute to unhealthy weight gain and other diet-related NCDs [non-communicable diseases]‚ including diabetes”.

What lies ahead for the war on sweet beverages is uncertain but there appears to be some fizz left in the fight against taxing them.

– TMG Digital/The Times

Visit the published story here.

The Day I Met Kathy

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Two months ago‚ I left the United States and arrived in South Africa for the first time. I came to this country as part of a study abroad program to learn about social and political transformation.

We were assigned to read Nelson Mandela’s autobiography‚ “Long Walk to Freedom.” Truthfully‚ before these readings‚ the only ANC members I knew of were Mandela and Thabo Mbeki. But Mandela’s descriptions of his peers in the liberation movement made me want to learn more about them‚ especially Ahmed Kathrada.

Kathrada‚ known affectionately as “Kathy”‚ played a vital role in the struggle‚ one equal to Mandela’s.

His intelligence‚ loyalty‚ and humor stuck with me as we landed in Johannesburg‚ near the location of the Rivonia Trials that sent him to Robben Island. I felt like Kathy was cheated‚ like he did not get enough public attention for his irreplaceable contributions.

Kathy excited me‚ as Mandela wrote about the intimate level of trust they had and Kathy’s organization of the secret communication system within the prison. Mandela is rightly praised by the world‚ but I wanted to know the man Mandela praised‚ his “right hand man‚” Uncle Kathy.

On our fourth day in Johannesburg‚ my class visited the Apartheid Museum. They were holding a book launch for Dikgang Moseneke and Albie Sachs’ new autobiographies.

Towards the end of the Q&A with the authors‚ I noticed that the event poster to the side of Sachs said: “The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation”. I stared‚ my foggy mind struggling from jet lag‚ wondering if that Ahmed Kathrada could really be the Kathy I read about.

Suddenly‚ the event hosts on the stage asked someone to “please stand up.” I perked up and turned to my classmates in search of similar excitement or confusion. I was unsuccessful.

An old man slowly stood up‚ holding his wife’s arm for support‚ and smiled. I mouthed the words‚ “Is that Kathy?” to my program director‚ Imraan Buccus‚ across the room. Imraan winked and nodded. It was he. I felt goosebumps. A man who gave 25 years of his life in the name of equality‚ a man who was imprisoned for standing against white supremacy‚ was standing in front of me‚ waving.

Kathy sat down and the event concluded. Everyone filed out of the same small doorway and down a thin walkway to the parking lot. I was about to pass Kathy on my left. I slowed down‚ stressing‚ trying to come up with the right words.

I felt like I had no right to waste his time with whatever insignificant utterance that was about to leave my white American mouth. I wanted to thank him for everything that he had done. At the same time‚ I felt like a phony‚ having only learnt of him a month ago and feeling the United States’ failures during apartheid in my heart.

I looked at him; face flushed‚ and said “good to see you.” I then tried to disappear.

I found my friend Cherish and told her I wished I could take a picture with Kathy but would never want to bother him again. Cherish laughed at my fear. The fiery four-foot eight woman from New York walked right up to Ahmed Kathrada.

She proceeded to ask if we could take a photo. He reacted as if Cherish was an old friend‚ and said‚ “I cannot say no”. We all laughed and he warmly shook our hands. I could not believe Kathy’s patience with us‚ two very obviously foreign people.

Kathy spent 27 years in prison because of the apartheid regime‚ because of white people around the world‚ and he was kind to me. He embraced us.

As I continue to learn more about his life and the freedom struggle in South Africa‚ the more I realize how lucky I was to meet this giant of a man before he left this earth.

While I have spent much time learning about the history of the ANC in the classroom‚ I have learned the most from the people I met in KwaZulu-Natal‚ specifically in Cato Manor. I lived in that township on the outskirts of Durban for six weeks.

The local people loved to share their political views with me‚ and of course I would always ask. Most of them were proud ANC loyalists‚ like my homestay grandmother host. When I asked her where she stood after watching the State of the Nation‚ she said‚ “No matter who is president‚ I am ANC. I am always ANC.”

I have been thinking of these people the past few days‚ thinking about what it means to them now that one of the greatest names of the ANC is gone. Kathrada was an image of hope and change‚ which has not been coming fast enough since apartheid for my new black Zulu‚ Indian‚ and coloured friends and family members.

So does this loss accentuate pre-existing feelings of dissatisfaction with the state of the country? Since losing this symbol of strength‚ do people like my grandmother feel that further change is farther away?

I know one thing for sure: many people‚ especially outside of South Africa‚ are now learning more about Kathy’s life and accomplishments‚ just from turning on their television sets.

I now live in a hostel in Cape Town and met a Scottish man who had never heard of Ahmed Kathrada before yesterday. But now more people like him are thinking about Kathy and the liberation movement’s ideologies.

Maybe people will think more about what it means to have an equal society‚ or will not laugh the next time their friend makes a racist joke.

Maybe those thoughts will turn into mobilization‚ actual action against systemic racism. Maybe losing Kathy will fuel people to continue his legacy and continue fighting for true democracy‚ equality‚ and destruction of white supremacy around the world.

I will never forget meeting Ahmed Kathrada‚ and more importantly‚ I will never forget what he did for South Africa and what he dreamed South Africa could be.

That is what I will carry with me as I continue to speak truth to power. I only found out about you three months ago‚ but thank you Kathy‚ for all that you have done.

By Emily Rizzo

Emily Rizzo is on an SIT Study Abroad program http://studyabroad.sit.edu/programs/semester/spring-2017/moj/ in South Africa and produced this story in association with Round Earth Media, wwww.RoundEarthMedia.org a nonprofit organization that is supporting the next generation of international journalists.

Inanda Seminary Promoting Confidence in Young Women

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Due to the legacy of Apartheid, most of the private schools in South Africa contain predominantly white students. But Inanda Seminary School is purposefully made up of only young black girls. Inanda is an independent boarding school, founded by American Missionaries in 1869 and situated among the hills of Inanda Township, 25 kilometers from the city of Durban. Emily Rizzo interviewed two archivists and experts of the school. Their jobs are to collect and organize the school’s and students’ important documents and artifacts. Today the two women tell us about the warm familial environment of Inanda Seminary and how it nurtures confidence and pride among the young women. The students truly exemplify the schools’ motto, Shine Where You Are.

Listen to the audio piece below:
https://soundcloud.com/emily-rizzo-659593274/inanda-seminary-for-girls-1

By Emily Rizzo

I Care: A Safe Place for Durban Street Children

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I Care is a non-profit organization based in Durban, South Africa. Their mission is to help solve the problems of street children. This is an interview with Donation, an I Care employee. His job is to attempt to convince the children to experience the safety and comfort that is I Care and to get off the streets. I Care provides a get-away for the children. They are served meals, provided beds for naps, books to read, and games to play. The kids can even do arts and crafts or listen to music. But I Care hopes to eventually get the children in school or back living with a family member. Today, Donation tells us what it’s like to be a child begging on the street, and how we can help as citizens. Listen to the audio piece on sound cloud below:
https://soundcloud.com/emily-rizzo-659593274/donation

If you want to get involved or just learn more, check out I Care’s website:

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By Emily Rizzo

An Interview from Cato Manor

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Interviewee Name: Romilla Nkosi

Photo courtesy of Romilla Nkosi

Romilla is a 38 year old woman from rural KwaZulu Natal. I met her while she was staying at her mother’s home in Cato Manor. Romilla is of Indian descent. She has been married to a black Zulu man for nine years, and she has a twenty- one year old half- Zulu son from a previous relationship. She described how she lives alone, as her son is at university and her husband works far away. Her extended family consists of her six siblings with 13 grandchildren and 5 great- grandchildren in the family. Romilla works for a non- profit old age home in Inanda outside of Durban. This past week she was visiting her mother, and nieces and nephews in their Cato Manor home. I interviewed Romilla to inquire what she has witnessed and her experiences with Afro- Indian culture in and around Cato Manor.

A: When did your family first come to Cato Manor?

R: My mother has lived in Cato for over fifteen years now. She must have come in about 2000.

A: Do you feel that there are tensions between Indian and black populations in Cato Manor?

R: I would say that you see tension in all areas. It’s not exclusive to Cato. There are even tensions where I live in the rural areas, since I’m an Indian and most people are Zulus. But tension comes from not wanting to communicate constructively. Communication comes in levels. Some people only want to talk about the negatives. If you have one person that wants a real conversation and the other person only wants to talk about what’s bad, it creates tension. If both people only want to talk about the negatives it creates tension. You have to be willing to communicate well in order to move forward, but there are some people who don’t want to do that.

A: What would you say are some of the success of the government post- apartheid?

R: Now we have freedom of rights. We are no longer oppressed from exploring our futures, our careers, schools, and traveling; we can go wherever we want now. We get to interact with different people are at schools now. I think it’s so good that we good to school with people who come from different cultures from our own. And because we can explore our own futures and careers we have control of our own lives.

A: What are some of the failures of the post- apartheid government and society in these past 20 years?

R: Overall in the past 20 years, the government has not been failing. The government is failing now. Despite developments, they are lacking in their promises. The presidents now are different. Mandela focused on education because he knew education is freedom for the future. In the rural areas where I live, I work for nonprofits for kids who have so much potential but they have no future because the schools are bad, and then the government doesn’t care to make them better. Now all we hear from our leaders is about their wives and personal lives. No one cares about education. People now will vote but our leaders are not keeping their promises.

A: Are people in the rural areas in high support for the ANC?

R: Yes, people in the rural areas still love the ANC even though they aren’t keeping their promises, but they are still voting. The leaders will say whatever because they know the people will vote. They don’t care about making improvements for education.

A: What are your thoughts on the mixing of Afro- Indian cultures in South Africa, along with interracial relationships and marriages between the two groups?

R: In terms of interracial marriages, people need to see that we are all one. It [race] doesn’t matter because we’re all people. You must learn to respect the culture, the religion, and the people, and see each other as people. I would say when it comes to people’s opinions on interracial relationships, 70% of people are in support, 25% of people would say maybe, and 5% say no. Definitely most people are for it and would consider being in one, some people are not sure, and there are a few people who have the same mentality of before.

A: That’s all I have for you! Thank you so much Romilla for speaking so openly with me.

R: You’re welcome, and thank you so much for speaking with me. I think it’s so important for when American students come to SA to talk to people about the issues we are currently going through. I hope you can come to the rural areas and see what education is like out there, and how are the kids there work. We are always excited to see American students who want to help and work with the nonprofits.

Thobani Ndlovu on being black and gay in South Africa

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By Sealy McMurrey

Thobani Ndlovu is a 27-year-old black gay man. Originally from a small rural town called Ndwedwe, Thobani came to Durban for university at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal where he still studies Gender and Sexuality. Thobani came to talk to SIT South Africa: Social and Political Transformation, where I first met him. The way Thobani talked about the context of race and sexuality and how they overlap in South Africa made me want to know more. As noted later in the interview, Thobani’s inflection in his voice is a little more obvious to passersby that he MAY be gay, being less deep and overbearing as stereotypical male voices sound.

Have you found a community and place where you feel comfortable?

It’s taken a while in Durban to find that community, but I have. I found that I couldn’t quite fit in because I didn’t identify with any of those things [top or bottom] so it was really, really hard for me to find people who understood me because I was always being forced to be one thing or the other. I’ve found that I was comfortable with my race… but they were homophobic so I was comfortable in other areas like… when we were talking about race and stuff they get it. But when we’re talking about things like sexuality or even sexism they didn’t get it. So I sort of had to build my own community and then stay within those confines because I found that every time I decide to venture out I’d come back hurt because of something [they said].

How has being black impacted your experience being gay and how has it impacted your role in the LGBTQ community?

They [other black people] say that black people don’t behave like that. It’s not a black thing to be gay so I always found that my sexuality allowed people to deny me my race, like I’m not black enough because I’m into guys… But in terms of the LGBTQ community, my sexuality and my race have kind of come together to allow me to see like the intersectional issues. The fact that it’s not just the fact that I’m black, it’s not just the fact that I’m gay, but these things make it very complex because I’m black… Then I’ve found that dating is also [hard]. I always thought that because you’re gay you understand being discriminated against. But if you go online on a site and then you chat with someone and if you don’t have your picture there then they ask you your race and then you’re like “I’m black” and they’re like “Oh sorry I’m not looking for blacks, just whites only.” Yeah that and the gender performance as well as the “No fats, no fems, no blacks”… And we don’t really get much mixing of races… I haven’t had friends that were dating outside of their race.

How has being gay impacted your experience in racial discrimination and the black community in general?

I used to lead by my sexuality first but then I realized that when I came out of Ndwedwe that even before a person can notice my sexuality or before I can pronounce my sexuality, they see my race. I’m treated in accordance to my race. In black communities you don’t want to be seen as weak. So you’ll try to… buff up and change how you walk. But when I’m in white spaces in the white community, you don’t want to be seen as threatening, as a danger, so you try to be less macho so it’s always something that I need to catch myself [doing] because it’s not something that I do consciously. Because sexuality was a thing that was most prominent. It forced me to speak about it because that’s what I’ve always lived with. But when I got out of it, there were other issues I also deal with. So it’s made me want to be more active and speak out more against race issues and stuff.

Have you noticed a rural and urban divide in how people treat you?

There’s this assumption though that the people in the rural areas are more homophobic than people in the cities. [But] nobody has ever heckled me in Ndwedwe. Nobody has ever verbally abused me when I was walking on the street, but it’s happened here in Durban. Generally, the assumption is that people are more homophobic in rural areas, but where I come from they are… more tolerant of it. Perhaps it’s because when you come to Durban, because it’s a bigger town and it’s within the city, people are more comfortable to express themselves. So maybe that’s why there’s such a strong pushback.

By not being a “Born-Free” (black South Africans born after Apartheid ended in 1994), what is the difference between the experience you’ve had in the LGBTQ community versus the experience of “Born-Frees” in the LGBTQ community?

Younger black males are more likely to come out earlier now because it’s legal. And that was [passed] after 1994. So whereas we were bombarded with “you shouldn’t do that, boys don’t do this, don’t act that way” and stuff, they probably didn’t get that as much. Or even with like the media, it’s showing more representations. Over the years we’ve had shows showing gay relationships which have been taboo in the past, so I definitely think that there is a difference. When I was in school I was trying to find participants for my research and I would ask them “So how do you feel about that?” And they’d be like “well that’s who he is, so there really isn’t any issue.” I actually had a lot of experiences where I would have thought that my friends would stick up for me but they didn’t because they are now associated with this guy that everyone either suspects or they’re sure that he’s gay so if they stick up for me, then they also stand a chance of being bullied as well. Whereas now, the kids when I talk to them they say “No! I stick up for him if this happens or if someone says this to him.” So yeah, I definitely think that there’s a difference, but there’s still a long way to go.

Colonial Flair, Domestic Culture Create Unique Southern African Dishes

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By Sealy McMurrey

DURBAN, South Africa – Remnants of the original colonial cultures and indigenous roots give both South Africa and Mozambique an interesting melting pot with which both countries have cultivated their own food cultures, but have also grown together because of close proximity. Flavors mix in ways that wouldn’t be obvious to other parts of the world that don’t have the exact mixture of Portuguese, Indian, and indigenous South African tribal flavors. The fresh seafood from the coast mixed with hot spice from Portugal and the hearty curry from India create an enticing fusion of flavors that have people coming back for more.

The city of Durban, South Africa in particular is an interesting cultural hub for food. Durban has a high population of Indian descendants and the Indian food culture has fit into the South African food culture well, shown by the high number of restaurants that serve authentic Indian food and curry around the city. Bunny Chow is one of the most beloved local masterpieces created in Durban itself. The dish started in Durban and is popular in the small restaurant Patel’s Vegetarian Refreshment Room. A restaurant that is celebrating its 105th birthday this year, it sits right in the middle of the city, down the street from the Victoria street market where one can smell the aroma of spices wafting out the doors. To the untrained eye, Patel’s is hard to find and is a hole in the wall, but these characteristics make the restaurant that much more pleasant for locals who want to hide away from the city’s tourism. The Bunny Chow in Patel’s is still the original vegetarian, but the dish has made its way around the city in meat curry form as well, branching out from its Dr. Yusuf Dadoo Street origins.

While Bunny Chow is loved by most who try it, unfortunately it hasn’t ventured far outside South Africa. The dish is a large chunk from a loaf of bread with the soft middle carved out and the bean curry overflows out of the white bread loaf and served with the gutted part of the loaf on the side. Locals eat the meal using only their hands and use the outside shell of the loaf as well as the gutted part of the bread as utensils with which to eat the curry. Most restaurants serve the dish with either a fork or a spoon anyway though, allowing the prerogative on how he or she would like to eat it. Regardless of whether it is enjoyed by hand and bread or with silverware to help, it is a messy plate and upon leaving the restaurant there will be mountains of napkins left at the tables.

Located off of the South-East coast of the African continent, South Africa and Mozambique have made seafood a staple in their diets. Grilled or pan-fried prawns and calamari can be found in most restaurants and a small, cheap fish called Hake is in almost every grocery store and most restaurants. Though frugality can be common when it comes to meals, in the case of seafood it’s best to spend the extra buck for the quality of the fish and the way it is prepared. However, for those looking to save, there is a fast-food restaurant that serves hake called Hake Away Takeaway. It is popular among local South Africans and is perfect for those who don’t want to spend too much every time they want seafood.

In downtown Maputo, aromas of coffee and sweet pastries spill out of the cafes lining the street. Mozambique was originally colonized by the Portuguese and despite now being independent, Mozambique still speaks Portuguese and has food influences as well. One influence in particular, the Pastel De Nata, is a popular Portuguese dessert which Mozambique has also adopted into its dessert menu. Pastel De Nata is a tartlet made up of a small pie-like crust with a milky custard filling. The top is toasted in a similar way to Crème Brûlée, with the inside custard still chilled. Pastel De Nata goes perfectly with a cappuccino and should be eaten around breakfast time, as it usually sells out by the early afternoon.

Portuguese influence doesn’t stop at the decadent pastries, though, it travels to other restaurants in the area lending the hot culture to dishes like Piri Piri chicken. Piri Piri is a popular chicken restaurant in downtown Maputo, Mozambique. It serves a spicy chicken made by using a spice powder and marinade made with chilies, and is then grilled. The chicken is served in quarter-, half-, or whole-chicken sizes depending on the size of the group and the appetite of the person eating. To cool down the mouth between bites, the dish is sided with rice, potatoes, or chips.

South African has found some Portuguese influence in its cultural diet as well. Nando’s is a South African fast food chain known for its Peri Peri-style chicken (adapted after the Mozambican Piri Piri) and traditional South African sides such as puthu and spicy rice. Nando’s branches out from the original Piri Piri recipe in creating its Peri Peri chicken by marinating the chicken in a spicy sauce rather than a spice powder. Fortunately for the rest of the world, Nando’s is franchised internationally and even has a few restaurants in the United States.

The culture of Southern Africa is such a melting pot that it’s evident that the food fusions in its cuisine won’t stop here. With the further influence of other cultures and how much immigration and television have both been influencing cultures around the world, the variety in Southern African food will keep evolving.

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