Matthew Stewart and Business Science

Most of management theory is inane, writes Matthew Stewart, author, most recently, of The Courtier and the Heretic: Leibniz, Spinoza, and the Fate of God in the Modern World. According to him if you want to succeed in business, don’t get an M.B.A. Study philosophy instead. It is not entirely coincidental that the rise in the glorification of Graduate Schools of Business roughly coincides with the decline in American business and finance. http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2006/06/the-managent-myth/4883/1/

2nd QUARTER PROGRAMME - PARKTOWN & WESTCLIFF HERITAGE TRUST

APRIL - ALL DAY BUS TOUR 'RETURN TO IRENE’ AND BEAT THE TOLL ROAD! SATURDAY 2nd APRIL A further opportunity to experience the country charm of an area, rich in history and resisting, still, the encroachment of urban development. Enjoy lunch in the peaceful surroundings of Smuts House and absorb the atmosphere created by the achievements of the remarkable personality of Field Marshall Jan Smuts through an inside tour of his home (now a Museum). After a visit to the concentration camp cemetery (and fascinating talk by the present curator), a view of the original village, the day finishes with a guided visit to Irene Dairy Farm. Please note - If anyone wishes to purchase any of the delectable produce, the farm is now a “cash free" zone. Credit cards are accepted. Meet Janet Hughes and Clare van Zwietan at 08h00 as the bus will leave at 08h30 sharp. Park at the Sunnyside Park Hotel, 2 York Road Parktown. The cost is R290.00 for members and R340.00 for non-members which includes lunch and entrance fees into Museum etc. For more information telephone Eira Bond (weekdays from 09h00 to 13h00 on 011 482-3349. NB : BOOKING AND PAYMENT CAN ONLY BE MADE THROUGH THE OFFICE ON 011 482-3349 WALKING TOUR ‘HOUGHTON LOST AMONGST THE SAINTS AND ROBERT HOWDEN’ SATURDAY, 16th APRIL We simply could not cover all the lovely homes and the oak-lined streets we wanted to enjoy on our last trip to Houghton. This time we’ll be concentrating on Ash Street and St John Road, St Mark and St David with the homes designed by architect Robert Howden, though we shall include one designed by Kallenbach as well. Some rather grand houses on the tour and lovely gardens to enjoy before autumn takes a firm grip on the oaks. Meet Flo Bird and Candice Keeling at 14h00 and park at King Edward VII School - enter from St Patrick’s Road. The cost is R60.00 for members and R80.00 for non-members. For more information telephone Eira Bond (weekdays from 09h00 to 13h00 on 011 482-3349.

WALKING TOUR ‘ROYAL ROMANCES THROUGH THE AGES’ WEDNESDAY, 27th APRIL, THURSDAY, 28th APRIL, SATURDAY, 30th APRIL Join Dennis for a nostalgic look at Royal engagements, weddings and the occasional romance! These are special tours for those who did not receive an invitation to the Royal Wedding! Join him in a champagne toast to our newest royal couple, Prince William and Kate Middleton, who celebrate their wedding on 29th April. Formal dress is definitely NOT necessary, but as space is limited, each tour will be subject to a maximum of 18 people. Meet Dennis Adams on Wednesday 27th April (FREEDOM DAY) at 10h30 to 12 noon and 14h00 to 15h30, Thursday 28th April at 14h30 to 16h00 and Saturday 30th April at 14h30 to 16h00. Park at Darrenwood Village, corner 4th Avenue and 1st Street, Linden entrance in 1st Street for Units 50 to 183 – parking is limited so please double up if you can. Cost is R50.00 for members and R70.00 for non-members – which includes a glass of Champagne. Maximum number 18 per session. For more information telephone Eira Bond (weekdays from 09h00 to 13h00 on 011 482-3349. MAY WALKING TOUR ‘WATER TOWERS, HIGHLANDS AND RAND VIEW’ SATURDAY, 7th MAY This tour starts with a darling – a tiny corrugated iron cottage which must have arrived in a flatpack – do it yourself. You feel on top of the world looking across from this ridge to the Townsview Water Tower and the mine dumps to the west. Some exciting Art Deco blocks of flats Sam Remo, Helvetia Court and Diamond Court and then there are the gracious Westminster Mansions looking so pretty in seaside colours which come from an earlier era. Some parts are rather shabby but others are smart in their new paint. It is an easy walk – we have chosen the flattest route –while getting the best of the Yeoville Ridge. Meet Alex Parker and Raymond Cardoso at 14h00 and park in the grounds of Clayton House 43 Jolly Street Randview. The cost is R60.00 for members and R80.00 for non-members. For more information telephone Eira Bond (weekdays from 09h00 to 13h00 on 011 482-3349. PLEASE NOTE THIS TOUR MUST BE BOOKED THROUGH THE OFFICE ONLY – 011 482-3349 - AND PAY BY EFT OR BRING THE EXACT AMOUNT ON THE DAY.

-----oOo----- WALKING TOUR ‘NEWTON – YESTERDAY’S DOWNTOWN, TODAY’S MUSEUM TOWN … AND TOMORROW’S MODEL CITY’ SATURDAY, 14th MAY Newtown is bubbling with Museums which have some fantastic new displays for you to enjoy. They are mostly housed in grand and gigantic old buildings. This tour covers the industrial architecture and the history of the old Electricity Site and Fresh Produce Market as well as a visit to the new Geological exhibition at Museum Africa, sparkling with a sumptuous display of crystals, the Workers Museum which is an old Compound tracing life for men in Compounds from 1908 up till 1980. Then it will be time to admire the beautiful Turbine Hall, an industrial Cathedral and finish the afternoon off with the S A B World of Beer. Beer Brewing is a traditional occupation in Johannesburg and you get to taste the product as well. Newtown is also the epicentre of Johannesburg’s urban renewal, and an optimist’s view of the city of tomorrow. Meet Ed Coogan and Brian McKechnie at 13h30 in the public parking between Sci Bono and Worker’s Museum – from Jeppe Street turn left into Miriam Makebe Street and immediately right into the parking area. The cost is R90.00 for members and R110.00 for non-members which includes R35.00 entrance to the World of Beer. For more information telephone Eira Bond (weekdays from 09h00 to 13h00 on 011 482-3349.

WALKING TOUR ‘JEPPESTOWN’ SATURDAY, 21st MAY We are venturing back to a favourite historical area. The second oldest building in Johannesburg is the Church of St Mary-the-Less 1889 which we visit and where start the story of the Jeppe family and their name sake. Amongst the Edwardian shops there are still Nineteenth Century gems The Grand Station Hotel no longer Grand or an hotel, but it is still there with memories of heaps of prawns and Norman’s Grill. There is even a sky sign advertising a bottle store, but on a charming three storey building it doesn’t offend the way the giant building wraps do today. Jeppstown boasts the biggest concentration of buildings over 100 years. They may be shabby, but they are the real thing. Meet Val Hammerton and Clare van Zwietan at 14h00 and park in Park Street between Madison and John Page Drive alongside the Park. We have organised car guards. The cost is R60.00 for members and R80.00 for non-members. For more information telephone Eira Bond (weekdays from 09h00 to 13h00 on 011 482-3349.

BUS TOUR ‘CELEBRATING THE SCOTTISH PIONEERS’ SATURDAY, 28th MAY Spend the day with us as we trace the immense contribution made by the Scots in the development of Johannesburg, from H.B. Marshall's Marshall's Township and his other interests to some of the Presbyterian churches, Scottish memorials, homes and activities. Many of our suburbs were developed by the Scots - Craighall, Blairgowrie to name a few, and no tour would be complete without a drive through Kensington. We will finish at The View to look at their magnificent restoration and their bar will be open - drinks for your own account. Meet Winnie Job and Dennis Adams at 09h30 for prompt departure at 10h00 and park at the Sunnyside Park Hotel, 2 York Road, Parktown. The cost is R190.00 for members and R220.00 for non-members excluding lunch and the afternoon drinks at The View. Please bring a picnic lunch! For more information telephone Eira Bond (weekdays from 09h00 to 13h00 on 011 482-3349.

JUNE BUS TOUR ‘CATCHING THE BRT’ ELLIS PARK TO THOKOZA SATURDAY, 4th JUNE Meet David Forrest and Pascale Petit at 09h30 for departure at 09h45 at the Ellis Park North Bus Station – PLEASE DO NOT BE LATE AS WE CANNOT WAIT. Safe parking has been arranged opposite the Ellis Park North bus station and for directions call Eira Bond on 011 482-3349. The cost is R130.00 per member and R170.00 per non-member which includes bus fare, all entrance fees but NOT parking and lunch. We suggest you bring a pack of sandwiches with you; otherwise you will be able to purchase a snack along the way. For more information telephone Eira Bond (weekdays from 09h00 to 13h00 on 011 482-3349. NB: BOOK THROUGH THE TRUST OFFICES ON 011 482-3349

BUS TOUR ‘BAKER’S EASTERN SAINTS’ SATURDAY, 11th JUNE Visit three of Sir Herbert Baker’s lovely stone churches in the mining towns of the East Rand goldfields – Benoni, Boksburg and Germiston. St Michael and All Angels, (Boksburg) was one of the largest he ever designed and in the Romanesque tradition he chose to suit the grander scale. Dr Doreen Greig described it as “displaying a high degree of beauty and drama”. St Dunstan’s Church in Benoni and St Boniface in Germiston have their own special character and it is especially interesting to see how many features they share and yet are such different buildings designed within the short ten years he spent in the Transvaal before sailing to India. This is an extraordinary opportunity for Baker fans to visit this trio of fine buildings that have stood the test of time and survive sometimes in straightened circumstances to be the pride today as they were to those early mining communities. Meet Winnie Job and Esmé Wiesmeyer at 13h00 for prompt departure at 13h30 and park at the Sunnyside Park Hotel, 2 York Road, Parktown. The cost is R130.00 for members and R150.00 for non-members. For more information telephone Eira Bond (weekdays from 09h00 to 13h00 on 011 482-3349.

WALKING TOUR WESTCLIFF, WOOLSTON AND THE WESTCLIFF STAIRS SATURDAY, 25th JUNE Starting from The Ridge School this walk goes along Woolston Road where there are some particularly important heritage homes, then plunges down the stairs to Westcliff Drive, stopping at Kanonklip and round the koppie to Wexford Road. There is a breathing space with Alfio Torisi’s post-Modern buildings before starting the climb up once more to Pallinghurst Road with Donore and Shinglewood and then up, up, up we go once more back to Woolston Road. If you have any breath left there will be time to look at The Woolsack now The Ridge School. The elements and qualities chosen by some modern architects respond to the Westcliff ridge and architectural tradition of Arts and Crafts. Meet William Gaul and Ed Coogan at 14h00 and park at The Ridge School, Woolston Road, Westcliff where safe parking has been organised. The cost is R60.00 for members and R80.00 for non-members. For more information telephone Eira Bond (weekdays from 09h00 to 13h00 on 011 482-3349.

ON THE OCCASION OF KRYNAUW NEL’S GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS AT THE ELEGANT CHEZ GIRARD

SPEECH BY MIXAEL DE KOCK, 25 FEBRUARY 2011


Ladies and Gentleman; Friends and Family

Krynauw asked me - after his flesh-and-blood brother has spoken on behalf of the family this evening - to say a few words and propose the toast to his good health. And, I have to admit that secretly I am hugely flattered, for that means I am now publicly being acknowledged as his virtual brother!

At the same time it can be said that Krynauw is either very trusting or under the misguided impression that I am very discreet. Whichever, I am most honoured to be standing here next to him at this very special and elegant celebration tonight, calling on you to ponder with me a few ideas I had scribbled down this afternoon.

Despite mainstream financial analysts’ theory that gold has no growth prospects and no dividends, gold outperformed stocks over the past 50 years. As of the close yesterday (and actually before then), the 50 year returns for holding physical gold are much higher than the 50 year returns for the Dow Jones Industrial Average. This is not a joke and believe me, has serious implications for any investor that is actually trying also to turn a profit on friendships!

So, it would appear that it takes around 50 years for gold to prove its worth and, therefore, all 50th anniversaries - be these birthdays, weddings or the ascension to thrones - are called Golden Jubilees. Somehow 50 years is the period required for the full value of a person or an event or an object to become apparent and, therefore, it is a time for great celebration but, it is also a time to feel deep gratitude for the very value we are commemorating.

Now, in the year that I turned 50, I had to share my Golden Jubilee with that upstart Elizabeth of England – and, I must say, I was not amused. It is for that reason that today I checked the web and found that Krynauw is particularly blessed on the occasion of his Golden Jubilee in that he does not have to share his festivities with any other old Queen!

That, Krynauw, was the good news about your 50th birthday, the bad news is that, for all the advances in medicine, there is still no cure for the common birthday and they are going to recur with boring regularity for many many years to come. So, you might as well start enjoying every minute of every day – and especially now that you have become so rich in life’s experience and - as Oscar Wilde so aptly put it - no longer need to be led to temptation – seeing that you are quite capable of finding it yourself!

It is said that forty is the old age of youth; but I can assure you, that fifty is the youth of old age. And, while we can no longer make provision for a magnificent life and lofty dreams as we did when turning 21, 25 and 30, we are now perfectly positioned to ensure that the second half of our lives will be spectacular and also meaningful – and richly so right to the end.
Being 50 is all about positive thinking and, as we all know, while our friend Krynauw may engage us in an arguments about the existence of reality, the day the fan of life gets struck, he is the one with the real advice, the real support and the real love - and he takes care of each and every one of us in a very real and loving way.

Also, with all his training in Neuro-Linguistic Programming, his courses in Miracles and so many other of his philosophical pursuits, he, more than most of us, knows that age is strictly a case of mind over matter and has the unique ability to make it an insignificant part of his physical existence.

But Krynauw, from the mouth of your virtual older brother and, from one whom very well knows that age is a damn high price to pay for maturity, my immediate advice to you is the following: You may age chronologically from this point onwards but it is your first and foremost responsibility to all of us to stay immature indefinitely!

There is much that I would have liked to say about the subject of Krynauw: his loyalty, his honesty, his integrity, his transparency, his responsibility to his work, his devotion to his clients, his sincerity to his friends, his intense love and affection for his family and their children – I can go on for weeks about his ability to deliver the goods (and the good); his appreciation for all of the arts; his understanding and respect for the soul of all living things; his surprising depth when it comes to appreciating the aesthetic and his profound respect and sacred approach to space and design.

But, Krynauw asked me to speak for 60 seconds only and, my time is long up!

So, it is left for me to remind you that, of middle age, the best that can be said is that it is a time when, hopefully, we have:

• come to know how to have a little fun in spite of our troubles
• know that if we must choose between two evils to pick the one we has never tried before
• that while in some instances it might be sad to grow old, it is always real nice to experience the ripening process
• that it is better to wear out than to rust out
• and, if we should survive long enough, eventually we will become revered. And, as an architect Krynauw, you will understand the subtlety when I refer to the reverence we have for old buildings ………

Returning to the Golden Jubilee and what gold symbolizes in 50 years of our human experience:

• Gold is both the color and the object that symbolizes justice
• It also symbolizes power, strength, and perfection
• The ancients used gold to symbolize balance in all things, and, in the world of architecture this equilibrium in design is known as the "golden mean."
• Gold is associated with another mathematical principle applied in architecture – considered by some as the divine principles “Phi” which is also known as the golden ratio in architecture
• And, gold has always been regarded as a store of great value.

If we value others, we treat them “as gold”. At school we receive “gold stars” for excellent work. As grown-ups we receive "gold cards" for being valued customers and we award “Gold Cups” to winners. We value moments of peace by saying that "silence is golden." In Greek mythology, "the golden fleece" is the valued, sought-after goal. The list is endless.

But the most significant part of the gold’s association with ageing is that it contains the word “O L D” which, in turn, is always associated with wisdom – and, the height of wisdom, in every culture and every civilization of this world we live in, is always referred to as "the golden age."

Thirty eight years ago, at my father’s 50th birthday party – a time when I was actively engaged in writing poetry! – I concluded the speech with these two lines from a work I had dedicated to him:

Die jare val soos blare:
Groen, goud, grys.

But, tonight is special and, therefore, I want to turn to the Shakespeare of Afrikaans to conclude with Van Wyk Louw’s magnificent words from his poem “Vroegherfs”:

Die jaar word ryp in goue akker blare
in wingerd wat verbruin, en witter lug
wat daglank van die nuwe wind en klare
son deurspoel word; elke blom word vrug,
tot self die traagstes; en die eerste blare val
so stilweg in die rook-vaal bos en laan
dat die takke van die lang popliere al
teen elke ligte môre witter staan.
O Heer, laat hierdie dae heilig word:
laat alles val wat pronk en sieraad was
Of enkel jeug en vér was van die pyn;
Laat ryp word Heer, laat U wind waai, laat stort
my waan, tot al die hoogheid eindelik vas
en nakend uit my teerder jeug verskyn.

Ladies and gentleman, friends and family, please charge your glasses, be upstanding and, along with me, drink a toast of good fortune to our son, our brother, our god-father, our teacher, our architect and, our most treasured friend - Krynauw Nel’s Golden Years. What a great investment he has been for us all!

Whatever with the past, it has gone,
now the best is to come!

Mixael de Kock
Johannesburg, 25th February 2011

26th August 2008: Fulvio de Stefanis, Joburg Pride and Ru Paul - also Pastor Philip Liebenberg

Mixael de Kock interviews Fulvio de Stefanis a director of Joburg Pride, the Section 21 Company responsible for Johannesburg’s greatest annual spectacle.
Fulvio De Stefanis has a BSC Civil Engineering degree from WITS University. In addition to his role in the construction and property development industry.

Fulvio has also been a leading dance event promoter for over a decade. He was a co-founder of The Mother of All Raves which commercialised the rave ‘scene’ in South Africa with events attracting over 16 000 people.

He brought TRADE, London, to the country and produced the largest gay rave in South Africa, with Channel 4, BBC, Attitude Magazine and DJ International covering the event.

Fulvio went on to open Bitch super-club in Johannesburg which operated with great success for a number of years before he opened Legends nightclub in Pretoria. He also has experience in publishing, having launched The Vibe Magazine, with an audited readership of 100 000, which he published for 24 issues.

There will also be a short insert interview with Philip Liebenberg, the author of “Daar is ‘n Gay Pastoor in my Kop“. Phillip has been on quite a journey that took him form studying theology, practicing as a pastor, getting married, having children and, finally coming out ias the 21st Century dawns.

The main interview with Fulvio de Stefanis will centre on the great news that International diva, and the most famous drag artist in the world, RuPaul will be strutting her stuff in Johannesburg and Pretoria during Joburg Pride week this October: presenting a live performance at Therapy’s Viva La Glam Pride After-party and launching her new film at Cinema Nouveau’s Pride Film Festival.

The drag superstar singer and actress will be performing her chart-topping hits on stage at Therapy’s Viva La Glam Pride After-party at Carfax, proudly presented by Flex Bender, on Saturday October 4th, with a live act that starts at 11pm. The mega party will also boast four dance floors each featuring top South African DJs taking the event’s 2008 Pride celebrations into the early hours of the morning.

“This is a major scoop for Joburg’s nightlife and the city’s Pride celebrations – boosting both to an international level,” says Therapy co-owner Fulvio De Stefanis. “RuPaul is one of the world’s true gay icons, and we’re very proud to bring her to South Africa for the first time.”

RuPaul is also coming to the country to promote her latest film, Starrbooty, which will be exclusively screening at Cinema Nouveau’s Pride Film Festival around the country. Starrbooty tells the story of a gorgeous crime fighting federal agent named – you guessed it – Starrbooty, who disposes of villains while becoming entangled in various romantic liaisons.

RuPaul, who plays the titular character, will be appearing at the film’s glamorous premiere on Thursday, October 2nd at Ster Kinekor, the Zone, Rosebank, and will also attend the Pretoria premiere of the film at Brooklyn’s Cinema Nouveau on the 3rd.
All proceeds from the premieres will be donated by Cinema Nouveau and Therapy to the non-profit company that runs Joburg Pride on behalf of the gay and lesbian community.
RuPaul is a multi-talented American singer, actor and lyricist who has appeared across a grand spectrum of media. The singer’s remake of classic disco anthem ‘It’s Raining Men’, her collaboration with Elton John (‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’) and her massive hit ‘Supermodel (You’d better work)’all soared to the top of the charts.

RuPaul has also featured on the silver screen, with roles in mainstream cinema as well as in iconic gay films such as ‘To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar’ and ‘But I’m a Cheerleader’. In 1995, RuPaul was signed as the face of MAC cosmetics; making her the first drag queen supermodel. She is currently working on ‘RuPaul's Drag Race,’ a reality TV game show that aims to find the number one drag performer in the United States.
Therapy’s Viva La Glam Pride Afterparty - proudly presented by Flex BenderSaturday October 4, Therapy, Newtown, Johannesburg.

Doors open at 4pm with shower and change room facilities for revellers wanting to come straight from the Pride march at Zoo Lake. Entrance fees range from R80 between 4pm and 7pm (with no pass-outs) and R150 after 8pm. Pre-sale tickets for the event at R120 per person can be purchased by calling TicketLine 082 16789 or at www.sterkinekor.com. Therapy Happens at Carfax, Pimm Str, Newtown, Johannesburg. Tickets on sale from 25 August.
The Starrbooty Film PremieresThursday, October 2nd – Ster Kinekor, the Zone, Rosebank, Johannesburg

Friday, October 3 - Cinema Nouveau, Brooklyn, Pretoria
Tickets for the premieres of Starrbooty are priced at R150 per person and also include free entry to the Therapy’s Viva La Glam Pride After-party. Tickets can be purchased at Ster Kinekor cinema box offices, from cinema Self-Service Terminals, by calling TicketLine 082 16789 or at www.sterkinekor.com. The Cinema Nouveau Pride Film Festival takes place at Rosebank (26 Sept - 4 Oct), Brooklyn (26 Sept - 3 Oct), V&A Waterfront (3 Oct - 11 Oct), Gateway (3 Oct - 9 Oct). Tickets on sale from 25 August.

Michael de Kock delivered this speech today at the Gay Protest Rally against John Qwelane's anti-gay writings in the Sunday Sun

Friends

I am not going to talk to you about the issues surrounding freedom of speech, the ideals of liberation or the importance of an equitable society. Nor am I going to stress the importance of responsible journalism, the devastation brought about by hate speech, the erosion of our democracy or the eventual loss of press freedom in our country.

South Africa’s gay community had valiantly fought for the creation of an ethical and just society in this country and you, my friends, are standing here today exactly because you intimately understand the very meaning of oppression, of discrimination and of bigotry.

All of you have been - and continue to be - the victims of an unjust society and ever so often you become the objects of ridicule by people such as John Qwelane.

Qwelane is well-known for his ranting and ravings against gay people. He has done it before. And his employers. Media24, has allowed him to continue to express his hatreds and uniformed opinions into an unsuspecting and impressionable society.

Mr Qwelane has stated publicly that he would rather die than have blood from a gay person infused into his veins.

And, if that is his attitude then I have bad news for him. Qwelane, whether he likes it or not, is going to have to relinquish most of the sumptuous lifestyle that he so much enjoys and for which Media24 helps to pay.

Maybe we can make a start with:

his fine suede shoes
his well-cut woollen pants
his soft silk shirts
his tailored leather jackets and his fashionable sunglasses.

Gay people were involved in designing and making up his warm cashmere sweaters and the crisp linen and the comfortable blankets under which he snugly sleeps on cold winter nights.

It is gay people who helped bring into production his luxury cars, and it is gay people that helped design his comfortable home with its lavish trappings.

Gay people, Mr Qwelane, played a part in developing the education that your children are benefiting from and it is gay people that prepare the delicious menus from which you so scrumptiously dine. And, it is gay people that help create the entertainment that you pursue with such vigour.

You, Mr Qwelane, cannot go through this life without being touched by a gay person’s brilliance every minute of your life.

And, what is more laughable than your misguided ideas, Mr Qwelane, Is the fact that you express these hate-filled thoughts of yours through a computer which was designed by none other than a gay man!

Yes, a gay man who was the father of modern computer science; a gay man without whose genius the Nazi communication codes would not have been deciphered; and, a gay man without whom the Allies could not have won the war against fascism.

But, it was the same gay man, who after he had helped win the war, who became the victim of cruel prejudice and social intolerance and was forced to commit suicide - robbing the world of one of its most brilliant brains. Indeed a scarce commodity nowadays, wouldn’t you agree Mr. Qwelane?

So, Mr Qwelane why don’t you just give up that computer?

But, maybe we should pause for a moment to thank Mr Qwelane. While we condemn his bigoted views and wrongful opinions,

We, at the same time, should be grateful to him for:

despite his efforts to insult gay people

despite his attempts at humiliating gay people and,

despite his labouring towards condemning and debasing gay people,

all he has achieved has been the unification of gay people.

Once again this grouping of the oppressed has been brought together – a grouping that, along with all the other oppressed people of this country,

had fought for change

had fought for democracy and

had fought for freedom!

How ironic then, Mr Qwelane, that you should deride liberalism and the left and that you should deny freedom and dignity to the very people who supported you in attaining your own liberties; liberties that you now so flagrantly abuse.

And, Mr Qwelane, may I remind you and your employers, Media24, that without gay people

there will be few pleasures

there will be little beauty and

there will be an absence of empathy

in a world that has been rendered hopeless

in a world that has been made ugly and,

in a world filled with the desperation and suffering

brought about by the brutal views and skewed thinking of people such as you.

Media24 cannot distance itself from the views of its employees - not if those views have been printed on paper OWNED BY and then SOLD BY the company.

And there is only one question for Media24 to answer:

Is it ethical for Media24 to be making profits from spreading writings of intolerance and which writings may even incite the uninformed to commit crimes of violence against their fellow citizens?

The very name Media24 is simply a pretty new dress that replaced the old uniform worn by the Nasionale Persgroep - a group that once was the mouthpiece of the oppressors and bigots of this country. Media24 is the descendant of those that once before supported the fascist views of a regime that brought about incarceration, indignity, death and destruction to the peoples of this country.

By distancing itself from Mr Qwelane and, coming out in favour of editorial independence, Media24, I suspect for the sake of profits, once again may be supporting the kind of fascist views that very well may revisit insult, injustice, imprisonment and murder upon South Africa’s people.

Because, Media24, if you do not counter discrimination and bigotry against a minority grouping - discrimination and bigotry that comes from within your very own ranks - you as a management, as well as the editors of your publications, will be powerless when it comes to the bigger discriminations that eventually will lead to a controlled media and no freedom of the press.

Without gay people, Media24 indeed will find it difficult to bring its publications onto the street. Gays and lesbians populate your ranks; gays and lesbians are associated with your boards; gay and lesbian hands help carry your supplies - even the firm of lawyers that represent the Group here today will find it difficult distance themselves from us.

Today 17 NGO’s will hand Media24 a petition calling for the dismissal of John Qwelane.

My call is for Media24 to think carefully before they decide on how to proceed. This issue is about respect for our country’s constitution, it is about deference for those that died in its pursuit and, it is about our esteem for our hard-won structures of justice. Media24’s decision may very well determine the eventual future of South Africa and all of its peoples – both straight and gay.

Thank you.

Full text of the speech by:
Mixael de Kock, APR, FPRISA, M IPRA
Chief Executive of The MAVERICK Group
Executive Producer of BRAVOBRAVA, South Africa’s only gay radio show
Johannesburg, 29 July 2008