Two people come out of a building and into a story.

Seventeen years later, and racism still exists in our society. When are we going to put the past in the past and live in the present? Why do our current generation have to be exposed to this ugly, hurtful sickness?

Two Marketing graduates from the same university were shortlisted by a local brewery to interview for the position as Junior Marketing Executive. The candidates, Thabo, (a white South African) and Vusi, (a black South African) were friends and thus excited to bump into each other minutes before their interviews. Entering the job market can be quite intimidating and waiting their turn together made them feel less nervous about their interviews.

Thabo was called into the interview room before Vusi, only to exit two minutes later… Thabo looked ill and Vusi rushed to his friend’s aid. The interviewers told Thabo that they assumed that he was a black economic empowerment, (BEE) candidate, and that they are sorry, but he is not eligible for the job.

Vusi made a decision on the spot. He left the building with his friend and took a stand against racism. Two people came out of a building and walked into a story; this story. Change starts from within- Ghandi.

Designer PR?

Public Relations is not a fashion fad, we establish and maintain lasting relationships! Communication is not “last season,” it always has been and always will be a powerful tool that can either help us to avoid World War III or steer your company’s profits to the JSE Listing.

Sure, (same as any designer) we stay abreast with trends, we strategise and we meet our clients’ objectives. No PR plan is ever the same. We draft proposals, plan, visualize and sketch a “mood board” so that we can appeal to the client’s emotion and persuade him or her that we should represent them.

Public Relations practitioners use their communication skills to avoid or manage a disaster. A pretty frock will not manage your reputation, but a skanky frock will damage your reputation.

It is wrong!

This story breaks my heart. Two matriculants badly want to further their studies. The one wants to study journalism and the other wants to study anatomy. Both girls meet the entrance requirements for the respective courses. They apply ahead of time, but sadly, they do not receive a response regarding their applications. Could it be that their letters informing them of the status of their applications got lost in the mail? Perhaps their paperwork was incomplete?

So to you, mister or miss administrator, you failed to mail these girls their letters. Your failure to do your job reflects badly on the institution that you work for. You hold these girls’ future in your hands. It is wrong of you to be rude to two innocent teenagers and crush their dreams when they come to enquire as to why they did not receive any communication from the institution. It is wrong to crush their want, their need and their spirit to rise above their circumstance. How dare you send them away to become domestic workers?

Lack of respect

I had the most trying week at work and I feel bushed. My day consists of dealing with queries, fending off rude students and trying to juggle school and work.

Am I the only person in this world who still respects others’ personal space? Why do most people feel the need to plonk their stuff on my desk, (or lean on it) when they ask me a question? It freaks me out! Some even pick documents up off my desk while they are talking to me, and others, feel the need to step behind my desk and whisper in my ear!! No, I am not kidding, I wish that I was. I smell people’s breath and sweat all day long., (and sometimes their spit when they decide to scream at me).

I realise that this is not the norm in my office. Registration can be a tedious and frustrating process for all involved. I pray for inner strength so that I may stay calm and motivated and my bubbly self while I tackle my second week at work. It is so difficult to remain professional and to keep a smile on my face. I vow to beat “them rude people” and to stay true to myself.

P.S. That does not mean that I am going to get violentJ

"I am"

My parents nurtured my love for books from a very young age. It was thus no surprise to them when I was heartbroken because my father could not afford to buy Steve Biko's biography for me. I was 11 years old then, (yes, I have always had a serious demeanour about me).

My next big read was, “Children of Apartheid.” It changed my life forever. I used every single “oral” and “mondeling” opportunity to inform my classmates of Hornlee Primary School in Knysna. Fighting for human rights and those of others became my passion, hence my nickname, “Cinders”. I had a permanent frown on my face, (not because I was angry, rather because I was inquisitive and questioned life). It was the late 1980’s and my grandfather said to me, “You are either going to become a lawyer someday, or land yourself in jail. I am proud of you.”

Steve Biko, Tata Nelson Mandela and Maya Angelou influenced who I am today. Their selflessness, humbleness and vigour to fight for what is right, inspire me to hone my skills as a persuasive communicator. My purpose in life is to at least save one starfish, amongst the three hundred that got washed up on the beach.