African Funerals. Where Do We Draw The Line?

Is there a line to start with? Who determines what and how things should be done at funerals? Have we stooped to the level where the society dictates on how we should conduct funerals?

Some few decades ago, funerals used to be a dignified, solemn, somber occasion. Families, friends and neighbors would gather together to comfort one another. Sometimes a night vigil would be held and at that occasion, the life of the deceased is remembered. On the funeral day the surrounding area would be quite. No noise of children playing, no sound of music would break the thick gloom over that family. I don't know where things changed. What we have today can make many of the long gone turn in their graves! The black nation has experience a huge revolution in the way funerals are conducted. I can';t even explain where did it all start.

Was it City Funerals, by introducing glamorous limousines as hearses and family cars to the African market? Was it the 80s, at the height of township riots where 100s were dying on a weekly basis, that our weekend were spent mostly at funerals than at home to relax? Was it the increase of deaths from HIV-related diseases that made us callous to the seriousness of death? Was it hunger at home, knowing that the best cuisine will be at the funeral? What went wrong where? Does it matter?

The funeral management industry and insurance companies saw this gap and took advantage of it, unfortunately to the detriment of the living. How so. Poor families cannot afford to pay for funerals because even a basic coffin has been made so expensive that it's unaffordable. Coffin manufacturers make the basic coffin look so ugly that the family is psychologically pushed to upgrade to a 'better', meaning more expensive coffin. In order to meet these rising expenses families are having stokvels or funeral policies which can meet with these expenses. Many families rather go hungry or with less necessities that miss a stokvel payment. It seems we have invested more in death than in life.

And then there comes the part now where we have turned funerals into parties. My goodness! It's shocking, appalling, to name a few. Girls dress and dance semi-naked. DJs are hired to entertain the mourners. The funeral procession has become more of a wedding celebration than a funeral. Booze flows like rivers, to music blaring at every car with the best sound system one can afford. See video on heavy dancing at a funeral in Dance at a funeral Where do we draw the line? Does it matter?

Look at other nations around us, more richer than us. Just take time to observe their practices and compare it with our funerals. We can't even claim that this is how Africans do things. We have been made puppets of funeral commercialization, all in the name that we want to bury our loved on in dignity. Yes, there's nothing wrong with dignity, but at what cost? What legacy and lesson are we leaving behind for the generations to come? Is this how we want to remembered?

R1 gets you a Gautrain bus straight to the SAB World of Beer

Hop on a Gautrain bus straight to the World of Beer this December and January. Photo courtesy of Gautrain

Travelling to the SAB World of Beer is about to get a whole lot easier – and cheaper too. From 5 December 2015 to 17 January 2016, you can hop on any Gautrain bus for just R1 per trip. One rand? A hundred cents? Yep, we could hardly believe it either.

This offer makes getting to the World of Beer so much easier. Simply hop on the Gautrain to Park Station, get on the bus for a mere R1 (let’s say that again: one rand) and make use of the Gautrain bus’s new route (applicable over the festive campaign) straight to the World of Beer.

What’s more, if you join us for a beer tour during this time, we’ll give you R5 off your ticket price. To qualify, all you have to do is collect your voucher at Park Station as you get off the Gautrain. Travelling this way also affords a little bit of freedom if you’d like to stay for a pint or two in our Tap Room afterwards.

It’s worth mentioning that travellers who will be making use of the Gautrain will also be able to park at any Gautrain station for R1 per day, depending on space availability and when taking a return Gautrain trip.

During the promotion, be sure to keep your ears tuned to Jacaranda FM, 947 and Kaya FM for more incredible prizes brought to you by Gautrain – you could win cash prizes, vouchers and special packages, including tickets to the World of Beer for beer tours, and tour and tasting combos.

Get ready to hop on the Gautrain for a fun, stress-free and super-cheap outing. Roll on December!

Simple Yet Effective Resolutions For 2016.

It is that time of the year again, when New Year Resolutions are drawn and will be quickly shelved back into drawers before any one of them is executed. What can you do to stick to yours? What simple resolutions can you set for yourself and make sure they are all successful?

What simple resolutions can you make for yourself in 2016.


   1. Exercise more, keep fit.- There's nothing more important than keeping a healthy lifestyle, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Setup a fixed time to wake up in the morning to exercise, meditate and pray. You day starts better when you call for divine intervention. It puts you in a right frame of mind and when you start meeting challenges in the day, you have a more calmer,sober frame of mind to deal with them.

  2. Spend More Time With Family.- The importance of family cannot be overemphasized. They can be your primary support structure, your mentors, referees, critics and cheerleaders. I've seen people going to Idols auditions, with no voices capable to sing to save their lives, but with their families believing in them, stand in the long queues and standing before the judges to break the Mics. It's your family, use them.

  3. Save Money, Find Deals.- Look around for ways you can save money in 2016. Can you try to keep your credit card in positive. How about starting end January, to put money aside for your December holiday? There's many platforms today that offer consumers 30% up to 70% Discounts on essential goods. Take advantage of such.

  4. Travel to new places. Explore, be adventurous. Go see places. Do not be stuck in one place. Don't let your weekends be consumed by attending funerals or Pubs. Visit Game farms, canoeing and hiking can be distressing activities you can do in 2016. There's many travel agents that can assist you with your travel arrangements, like NdizaFofa Travel, see www.facebook.com/Ndizafofa

  5. Listen More, Talk Less.- Many people are getting more anxious with the conditions in the world, unemployment, depression, relationship breakdown, economic turmoil. Friends need a listening ear. Be there for them when they need you. Do not be quick to pass judgement, but be careful of taking sides in couple squabbles, you will end up being the villian.

  6. Decorate your Home.- Do not hold back in spending money for your home. It is your haven after all, that's where you unwind after a long day at work. So your home should look relaxing, it should be welcoming, giving you peace of mind. Spend something on it.

  7. Be More Awesome.- Understandably you can't please everyone, but can you try to make your company a pleasant one, refreshing and beneficial to others. Perhaps you are going to be joined by new colleagues, some fresh from school, college or university. Can you try to be polite, friendly and more helpful. You never know what that investment can yield later on in life.

  8. Quit Bad Habits- You know yourself more than anybody else. You know your weaknesses and bad habits. Work on them. Make a commitment and be determined to rid yourself of these bad habit. Let your colleagues see a new you. It can be done, it is worth all the effort.

All in all, as we come to the close of 2015, may 2016 be the most memorable and prosperous one for you and your loved ones.

Independent Ethics Committee bans Joseph S. Blatter and Michel Platini

21.12.2015 The adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee chaired by Mr Hans‑Joachim Eckert has banned Mr Joseph S. Blatter, President of FIFA, for eight years and Mr Michel Platini, Vice-President and member of the Executive Committee of FIFA and President of UEFA, for eight years from all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) on a national and international level. The bans come into force immediately. The proceedings against Mr Blatter primarily related to a payment of CHF 2,000,000 transferred in February 2011 from FIFA to Mr Platini. Mr Blatter, in his position as President of FIFA, authorised the payment to Mr Platini which had no legal basis in the written agreement signed between both officials on 25 August 1999. Neither in his written statement nor in his personal hearing was Mr Blatter able to demonstrate another legal basis for this payment. His assertion of an oral agreement was determined as not convincing and was rejected by the chamber. The evidence available to the adjudicatory chamber in the present case was not sufficient to establish, to the extent required, that Mr Blatter sought the execution or omission of an official act from Mr Platini within the meaning of article 21 paragraph 1 of the FIFA Code of Ethics (FCE) (Bribery and corruption). However, the conduct of Mr Blatter towards Mr Platini without a legal basis constituted a breach of article 20 paragraph 1 of the FCE (Offering and accepting gifts and other benefits). Furthermore, Mr Blatter found himself in a situation of conflict of interest, despite which he continued to perform his related duties, failing to disclose said situation and the existence of personal interests linked to his prospective activities, thus violating article 19 paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of the FCE (Conflicts of interest). By failing to place FIFA’s interests first and abstain from doing anything which could be contrary to FIFA’s interests, Mr Blatter violated his fiduciary duty to FIFA and breached article 15 of the FCE (Loyalty). Mr Blatter’s actions did not show commitment to an ethical attitude, failing to respect all applicable laws and regulations as well as FIFA’s regulatory framework to the extent applicable to him and demonstrating an abusive execution of his position as President of FIFA, hence violating article 13 of the FCE (General rules of conduct). In consequence, Mr Blatter has been banned for eight years from all football‑related activities and fined CHF 50,000. The investigation into the case of Mr Blatter was conducted by Mr Robert Torres, member of the investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee. The investigation resulted in a final report which was submitted to the adjudicatory chamber on 20 November 2015. The adjudicatory chamber opened formal proceedings on 23 November 2015, and the hearing of Mr Blatter took place in Zurich on 17 December 2015. The proceedings against Mr Platini primarily related to a payment of CHF 2,000,000 that he received in February 2011 from FIFA. The payment to Mr Platini had no legal basis in the written agreement signed between both officials on 25 August 1999. Mr Platini’s assertion of an oral agreement was determined as not convincing and was rejected by the chamber. The evidence available to the adjudicatory chamber in the present case was not sufficient to establish, to the extent required, that Mr Platini obtained the payment for the execution or omission of an official act within the meaning of article 21 paragraph 1 of the FCE (Bribery and corruption). Nevertheless, the conduct of Mr Platini without a legal basis constituted a breach of article 20 paragraph 1 of the FCE (Offering and accepting gifts and other benefits). Furthermore, Mr Platini found himself in a situation of conflict of interest, despite which he continued to perform his related duties, failing to disclose said situation and the existence of personal interests linked to his prospective activities in violation of article 19 paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of the FCE (Conflicts of interest). By failing to place FIFA’s interests first and abstain from doing anything which could be contrary to FIFA’s interests, Mr Platini also violated his fiduciary duty to FIFA and breached article 15 of the FCE (Loyalty). In addition, Mr Platini failed to act with complete credibility and integrity, showing unawareness of the importance of his duties and concomitant obligations and responsibilities. His actions did not show commitment to an ethical attitude, failing to respect all applicable laws and regulations as well as FIFA’s regulatory framework to the extent applicable to him and demonstrating an abusive execution of his position as Vice-President of FIFA and member of the FIFA Executive Committee, hence violating article 13 of the FCE (General rules of conduct). In consequence, Mr Platini has been banned for eight years from all football‑related activities and fined CHF 80,000. The investigation into the case of Mr Platini was conducted by Ms Vanessa Allard, member of the investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee. The investigation resulted in a final report which was submitted to the adjudicatory chamber on 20 November 2015. The adjudicatory chamber opened formal proceedings on 23 November 2015, and the hearing took place in Zurich on 18 December 2015 in the presence of Mr Platini’s lawyers. ~From Fifa

Take a Shot'left Mzansi

Going on holiday is very important.

It is that time of the year when you want to unwind, relax and throw your cares away. You have been sweating all year round, working hard to achieve your goals. Some have, some have not, but it's now time to slow down and spend time with your family and friends. Where are you going?

You have ample choices.

1. You can visit a Game reserve.

2. Go to the sea side.

3. Go overseas

4. Book a hotel inland, or while at home,

5. Visit local attractions in your area. For example, if you're in Johannesburg, visit the Zoo, Gold Reef City, Maropeng/Sterkfontein Caves, Haartebeespoort Dam, and many more.

What ever you do, please don't lock yourself at home. Go out to picnics, parks, restaurants, local pubs, mingle, meet new people. This is the time to relax.

How do you get there?

You can,

Drive,

Fly,

Travel by train or by Bus, the choice is yours.

Come visit our website to choose many destination all over the country. Click on the link below
Take a Shot' Left

 Whatever you do, Be safe. Don't drink and drive. Stay Away from trouble. Happy Holidays Mzansi!!!

Please Like our Facebook Page, Ndizafofa Travel

Remove Gear D in Your Marriage.

Remove Gear D in Your Marriage.

Manual cars use gears to move forward, Gear 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Some even have gear 6.You can't move ahead by skipping gear 1 and think you can go straight to gear 5. For a smooth drive, you start with the first gear, which maybe jerky most of the times, especially for a new driver, sometimes even stalls the car. But as you progress to other gears, the ride becomes smoother and enjoyable. You can now focus on the journey ahead, enjoy the scenery and the conversations with your passengers, etc. Unfortunately as you use the car, there are situations you have to use gear R, Reverse gear to get out of a situation in order to move ahead again. The reverse gear is not a forward moving gear, but it's there for a short purpose and only used when necessary, otherwise, if things are okay, you don't even need to use it. It is possible to complete a journey without using the Reverse gear.

Marriage is similar. When you are new in it, things maybe be jerky and a bit rough because both of you are still adjusting to each other. The girl you were dating is no longer a girl now. The guy you were dating is no longer a boyfriend now. Roles have changed, theres a Husband and a Wife. These roles are not trained at college, even if you have been lectured back home, what you're going to face is different from what you thought you knew. New personalities, new habits, good and bad, new attitudes and so on, is the reality you face now. How are you going to handle it will determine is this 'car' will move forward to its destination or not. It takes years and effort to reach a moment where your marriage is a smooth ride and enjoy the 'scenery,' as it were. There will be rough times, there will be serious problems that you're going to face. That's where many want to use the D gear. Some use it as a way of escape, some use it because they have been advised to use it. Some don't even think twice to use it, some use it because they think it's the right thing to do, given the problem at hand. But, stop and think, does the D gear really solve the problem. Does it relieve you of your stress and the reason for pain? Ask many who have used that gear, they'll tell you otherwise. It will change your status but it doesn't remove the memories, good and bad, the history you shared in your marriage. It's not only devastating to both of you, but if there are children in your marriage, they will be hard hit more that you can imagine. You may think what happens will be between the two of you but they also will be torn apart, no matter how much you can try to show them how right you were to use that gear, the D gear. DIVORCE. 

Children are also affected by your divorce

Never use it as a weapon to revenge yourself or as a solution to marital problems. As you are one flesh with your spouse, you don't just cut off you foot because it stepped on poo! Do you cut your face because while you were laughing, a snort came out and it caused an embarrassment for you? As much that is embarrassing, you fix the situation and move on. Even when a doctor can say your limb is cancerous and need to be cut of, you don't take that decision lightly, because, it's you who will have to live without this limb, not the Doctor. You will have to face a difficult life without the use of this limb and all the challenges you are going to face. Divorce is not to be taken lightly. Calm down, evaluate the situation as to what went wrong in your marriage to lead your partner to the reasons you want to divorce him/her for. More often than not, you may find that you were not totally innocent in that. Communication breakdown, taking attention away from your spouse, being occupied with the anxieties of this world, etc. may frustrate your spouse and may be led astray. Try to talk things over, accept what has happened and if there's repentance, strive to forgive. It may be difficult to forget, but try hard. By saying accept what has happened, it doesn't mean condoning and make excuses for the wrong done. What is said is, accept that this has happened, denial and pushing it off won't make it disappear because you may find that you may have to live with the consequences of your spouse's stray as well. Get help, but be careful of friends who will rush to tell you to divorce because they would do the same in your shoes. How sure are you that they will? Some have faced the same situation they advised a friend to divorce and yet they don't when it's their turn! So, think about your situation and evaluate how much losses will you face than trying to fix your marriage. It's worth all the effort, especially if there are children involved.

As far as it's possible, remove the D gear in your marriage!

Uma uJesu Ubengabuya Namuhla, ubezoya kweliphi Isonto?

Baningi abazibiza ngokuthi bangamaKristu namuhla. Mihla nezolo, kuqubuka eziningi izinkonzo, zonke zithi ziphethe iqiniso ngevangeli nangobuKristu. Ngokokucwaninga kwe Centre for the Study of Global Christianity, kucatshangelwa ukuthi kunamahlelo angaba ngu 43000 ngo2013, ekhula ngesibalo esingu 1200 ngonyaka emhlabeni jikelele! Ukube uJesu Kristu ubengabuya namuhla, ubezoya kweliphi isonto?

Wena ucabangani? Ingabe ubezojabulela ukuya kwelamagatari, kukhal’iPiano, nesgubhu, namaTweeter, kujayivwa  kuze kujuluk’indoda, konke lokhu kwenziwa ngegama lakhe? Ubezoya kwelishumayela ngokuthi ‘nikela kakhulu ukuze uNkulunkulu akubusise’, abe ebukel’uPastor ehhamba ngonyonyovu lwe 4x4 langaphandle ehlala kwekanokusho indlu? Ucabanga ukuthi ubengajabula ebuke amakholwa enikela abe eshiya ekhaya kulanjwa ngoba kuthiwa kunikelelwa kuYe? Yona leyomoto kanokusho, ubengajabulela ukuyigibela, noma ajabulele ukumenywa kwamfundisi ebucwazicwazini kuyilapho abalandeli bakhe behlwempuzile? Ake sithi uyadlula abone esikhul’isakhiwo lesi! Naso sibizwa ngesonto lobuKristu. Uma engena uthola sigcwele izithixo okuthiwa ngesakhe nesikanina uMariya! Hhaw! Ngoba washo ngokwakhe nje ukuthi kumelwe kukhulekelwe uBaba osezulwini kuphela, manje yini le abantu abayenzayo, beqoshama uma befika kulezizithombe benza nophawu lukaBathathu emunye (Trinity)! Akazange yini uNkulunkulu abashaye abakwaIsrayeli ebathola bekhulekel’ithole legolide bethi limelel’uNkulunkulu! Uma esathi ubhekile kushiswa impepho langaphakathi, uyazibuza, “Kaze bakuthathaphi-ke lokhu ngoba angizange ngikwenze lokho nabaPhostoli bami!” Uma ebuka nje inqubo yalaph’ekhaya uyezwa ukuthi Abefundisi noma oFata abavunyelw’ukushada! Ngenxa yalokhu naba bezitika ngobungqingili kuze kuyosho kubabhishobhi babo! Azithulele angasho lutho! Uma ebuka izincwadi zomlando wabo,ufunda ukuthi babebashisa nangomlilo abantu ababetholakala benamaBhayibheli emizini yabo! eRwanda batholakala bethengisa amaHutu kwizishokobezi zamaTutsi! Eziningi zezimfundiso zabo zingamasiko obuqaba, akhulekela oonkulunkulukazi oEsther nonogwaja; kugujwa nezinsuku zokuzalwa konkulunkulu welanga bakushintsha lokho bathi uKhisimuzi, okungelona usuku azalwa ngalo, nayengakushongo kubafundi bakhe ukuba bakugubhe. Kuvelaphi konke lokhu! Kubhajadiswa izintsana lapha! Zazini izingane ngokuba ngumlandeli wakaKristu! Zifunde nini zazikhethela ukuba ziyoba ngamaKristu!   

Uma ephuma ezwe nabanye bememeza “In the name of Jesus…” Hhaw! Asondele. Uma esalalele nabo besho ngezilimi ezingaziwa-muntu! “Lokhu ke bakuthathaphi ngoba mina abafundi bami ngabapha isipho sezilimi ukuze bashumayele kwabangemaJuda. Izinhlanga ezazihlangene eJerusalema ngalezozinsuku zamangala ukuthi ‘laba ngoba ngabaseGalile, kungani sibezwa bekhuluma izilimi zakithi?’ Kwamina angizazi lezi izilimi engizizwa zikhulunywa lapha! ” Aphume adlulele phambili abone ithende linabantu abaningi. Kuyaphulukiswa la! Uma esondela kunabahlezi kumaWheelchair, eze uPastor abathinte baphile beme ngezinyawo! Kodwa ngoba wazi konke athi “Lomuntu ngoba akazange akhubazeke nje! Ubezihhambela izolo futhi wanikwa nemali ukuba athi ukhubazekile, sekelashwe kanjani? Ngibona nangu owesifazane owalapha endaweni, wonk’umuntu uyamazi ukuthi wayekhubazekile kwasekuzalweni. Kungani yena engaphulukiswanga bethi kungenxa yokuthi akanakholo! Kanti mina ngangiphulukisa abanokholo kuphela yini? Angizange yini ngiphulukise abanochoko abayishumi, kepha kwaba ngoyedwa kuphela ongibongayo? Angizange ngibabalele isono laba abawu9! Pho kungani bekhipha imali laba abaphulukiswayo ize igcwale amabhakede? Angikaze ngkhokhise noyedwa kwengangibaphulukisa ngiselapha emhlabeni! Ngezani lezipelete abafakwa zona nenyufomu yekhakhi? Angikaze ngikwenze mina lokhu? Kuvelaphi konke lokhu? Lamanyufomu agcwele kuwowonke lamasonto ngawani? Ezimhlophe, eziluhlaza, eziphuzi, kuvelaphi konke lokhu?”

Aphume athole abanye behlangene kwiHolo elincane nje. Ahlale phansi alalele, Uma ebheka la, abesifazane bazifakele amabhulukwe. Amakhosikazi ayashumayela phambili! Esabamb’ongezantsi uzwa kushunyayelwa ngobungqingili. “Kuyamukeleka kuNkulunkulu.” Kwayena lomfundisi ungungqingili. Esath’ucabang’ukuthi yinkonzo kanti ngumshado. Hhaw! Kungena amadoda amabili abambene ngezandla, athul’acabange ukuthi baseza omakoti. Esalindel’ukubona omakoti ezwe sekuthiwa, ‘usungamqabul’umlingani wakho’ Abuke amadoda amabili eqabulana! Bebeshadiswa! Ibandla lishay’izandla! Kuphunye kuhalaliswe kube njeya!

Ucabanga ukuthi uyophuma aziqhenye ukuthi umsebenzi awushiye emhlabeni wenziwa ngendlela ekahle? Angaziqhenya yini ngami nangawe?

Lendaba singayiqhuba kuze kuhlwe. Ngimane nje ngiyabuza, “Ukube uJesu Kristu ubengabuya namuhla, ubezoya kweliphi isonto?”