Do We Have a Real Social Life?

Do We Have a Real Social Life?- By Uriel Nangu

How do we spend our weekends? How much quality times do we spend with our families? What activities do we engage in over weekends? Do you know what's interesting in your surrounding neighborhood? If SAB were to close supply just for one weekend, how would you weekend be like?Have you heard this one before? They say a Black man's weekend is made of triple Ms, Mafu, Manyalo, Matlapa. How can we change from this mindset?

You can change this, yes, we can change this. Many people say the village is boring, they say there isn't much activity in the village, but, is that true? What can we do to utilize the school sports facilities in the area? Do they have basketball, tennis and other courts? What's happening there over the weekends? Why not join the teams that are using those facilities to keep yourself active? Why not offer to coach the youth over weekends, or if such facilities are not there, help the schools to approach institutions like Sun City, Dept of Sports, Arts n Culture to sponsor such facilities/activities, for the benefit of our youth in the village?

Have you ever thought of setting up hiking trails at those neaby mountains? Before you say, it's too hot to do that, what prevents you from starting as early as 5:00 am? Why not form a team, explore what short, medium or longer routes you can take and as you go about it, make it a regular activity. Invite others to join the hiking club? Map your trails, so that whoever wants to join can choose distances they are comfortable with. All that you need for that is proper clothing, caps to protect yourself from the sun, and lots of water. You can have some snacks if you want, anything to make your hiking trip interesting.

Mountain Biking? Have you ever thought of setting up a biking club, or join the existing one in Sun City? You may have to invest in your bike, but in a long run, it will be a worthwhile investement. There's a guy in Soweto, Lebo's Backpackers, who is making money by taking tourist on a biking trips in and around Soweto! What prevents you from doing the same? Advertise such services at Bakubung Lodge, have pamphlets distributed to tourists as they leave the National Park, some don't know what to do next, and beleive you me, some would love to mix and talk to locals, this can be a perfect activity for that, while you're making money out of it. Ride with them, take them to a local shebeens, show them around for an hour or so, they will tell others about their experience, and your business venture can grow from there.

Do you have a skill you can pass on to others, like creating jewellery, art, Mosaics, working with ceramics, etc.? Why don't you get a spot at any of the public places, a school, tribal office, church and train others to make such? Don't make money your goal, but use the time as a skill development exercise to help others help themselves. Who knows, the next Arthur Kaplan may just be from Ledig through your training.

In conclusion, do we still say the weekend is boring at the village? Of all the activies mentioned above, no binging was mentioned. We can spend a weekend without getting drunk. Yes, our social life cannot continue for a long time as 3Ms, Mafu, Manyalo, Matlapa! Bua Kubu!