Phuthu Stay Phut, Don't go!

Think you are supporting some random charity by playing the lotto? Think again. According to the National Lottery Distribution “Trust” Fund, this is what they’ve been up to:

• R471 million was allocated for projects linked to the World Cup Event. This included R170 million for three soccer fields in every province as well as R20 million for Bafana Bafana’s training in Brazil and Germany.
• R20 million was given to the cup local organising committee towards the event’s opening and closing ceremonies.
• R88 million went to the Trust for Health Systems and Planning for procurement of HIV testing kits and TB prophylaxis.
• And then eventually R1.869 billion was paid to 2285 charities in the 2009/10 financial year.

I don’t know about you, but I have a major problem with this:

• Surely issues like crime and poverty should take priority to World Cup events? All this money is being spent on something flashy and fleeting instead of bringing about long-term change that will improve the situation in South Africa.
• As we all know, this country is not immune to corruption, so why open the door to temptation? Is every cent really accounted for? Personally I would love to see the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund’s books.
• If the plan was for all the lotto money to go to charity organisations, then this is exactly where this money should be going. If the plan changed for some reason, certainly there should be certain procedure to follow, which should include letting the actual lotto players know where their money is going. This is just wrong in so many ways.

If you justified the purchase of your weekly lotto ticket with some vague idea that you are doing good, may I suggest you rather donate to recognized NGO’s? This way you can at least enjoy the tax rebate.

By Elzet
Reference: Sport24

Louise’s 5c’s worth

When I think of Lotto, I think of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – thousands of people flocking to candy stores to buy a Willie Wonka Chocolate bar in the hope of finding a lucky golden ticket that will change their lives forever! Supporting a charity is not something that comes to the forefront of my mind. And to be honest, I don’t think anyone buys a Lotto ticket for the noble cause of supporting one of it’s charities. But, surprise surprise, in case you didn’t know, Lotto actually supports charities with a percentage of their takings. Lovely concept, isn’t it? They take a little money from all the hope-to-get-rich ticket holders and give it to the poor.

Nevertheless, it was with some kind of uneasiness that I received news of Lotto donating well over R20 million to Bafana Bafana.

Excuse the rhetoric but is Bafana Bafana a charity? Are they poor and needy? Do they have no commercial sponsors? Do they need to have training camps in Brazil? With corruption almost – and I hate to say this – ingrained in the psyche of South African leaders, it makes me question whether all this money will be accounted for. But besides that, I think Lotto should stick to a.) Creating millionaires through the draw of lucky numbers and b.) focusing on real needs and not the opening and closing ceremonies (and whatever else, the list is long) for Bafana.

Kerry’s 5c’s worth

Ok, well it has become fundamentally clear that the funds generated by the National Lottery are not being used as originally planned i.e. for charities, when over half of the gross income was allocated for projects linked to the 2010 World Cup event. I mean why does the local cup organising committee need 20 mil for the opening and closing ceremonies of the World Cup, when billions have been invested already by both FIFA and other similar international organisations? How do the people of South Africa benefit from soccer training camps in Brazil and Germany? If the money is not being used to help the needy, but rather being pumped into government organisations and projects, then why not use the money for something that would positively affect the lives of all working, taxpaying South Africans, why not subsidise ESKOM’s  financial woes which would in turn ease the pressure off of us, 25% electricity hike for the next 3 years can easily be avoided. I mean let’s be honest, it looks like ESKOM has officially become an charity anyway.

I think we should insist that the ‘Fund’ must disclose all lotto recipients. I think that there would be some really interesting donations made. In conclusion I don’t think I will be supporting the National Lottery from now on, Euro lottery or UK lottery would be better.

What is your take on this?

By now we all know that Eugene Terre’blanche was killed by two of his farm workers and although he was a well-known political figure in South Africa, I doubt many a tear will be shed over his death. While his followers may believe that he fought a worthy cause, many believe that he was responsible for a wholelotta noise but that he didn’t achieve much politically.

It may be coincidence that he was killed around the same time that Malema decided to start singing like a bird. The song “shoot the boer” apparently means “kill apartheid” (which I thought we did a number of years ago). Eugene was the icon of “apartheid”. Was.

Or maybe not. Maybe Jules’ hate speech did influence his attackers or at least planted a seed. Who knows. Point is that Julius Malema should learn to play by the rules. I am so gatvol of hearing the words “apartheid” or “black & white”.

*yawn*

Those still living this oppressed lifestyle should get with the programme. Move on, for crying out loud. S-n-a-p   o-u-t   o-f    i-t.

What we wouldn’t give for a youth leader with character like Mandela. Just give us someone who has the country’s best interest at heart (opposed to their own). Someone with vision.

What are your thoughts on this?

By Elzet

As you are all probably well aware, we have the Easter weekend coming up.

So for all those Gautengers who are fighting the queues at The Rand Show to see the latest and greatest merchandise, perving over the fleet of brand spanking new Bayliners sitting pretty in the lake or simply indulging in the vast array of international cuisine.

Or

For those taking it easy with a chilled bevi , sharing a roaring fire with your nearest and dearest. Where steaks, boerie and sosasties are the order of the day-I know that’s what I will be doing.

Or

Let’s not forget that it is an extremely important weekend for Christianity. Christians everywhere will be at their local church paying homage to the miracle of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It doesn’t matter what you do this weekend as long as are happy and you stay safe while doing it. So from the Phuthu Girls to all of you, we hope that you enjoy your long weekend and have a great Easter!

I would like to end on quoting an extremely important, insightful revelation, that I think everybody out there can benefit from, this weekend-

“Remember, this is the only time you have an excuse to eat as much chocolate as you like, so make the most of it. “

To the tune of  “We are the Champions” by Queen
(music video below)

I’ve paid my taxes
Time after time
I’ve done no sentence
But many a crime
And bad mistakes.. eish (it’s not my fault)
I’ve made a few
I’ve had my share of media on my case
But I dodge what is due

We are the comrades, my friends
And we’ll keep on lying till the end (together: yes, we would)
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for resistance
We are the champions… of the world

Still bitter about apartheid
The struggle she calls
You brought me fame and fortune and power and money and songs
And I thank you all

It’s been a bed of roses
but no pleasure cruise (eish, no boat but a Mercedes C Class)
I consider it a challenge for the DA to face
Cos there’s nothing to trace…

We are the comrades, my friends
And we’ll keep on lying till the end (backup: yes, we would)
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for resistance
We are the champions… of the world

“A defiant ANC has vowed to push for the continued singing of controversial liberation struggle songs for “generations to come” so that memories of the past can be preserved.” – Times Live

I am really struggling to get this. What good can it possibly bring to this country to constantly be reminded of a past that no-one is proud of? And that by singing offensive, racist songs. This is not rocket science:

Negative Past + Daily Reminders of this Past = Bitterness and Resentment.

Personally, I seriously question the competence, intelligence and maturity of Mantashe. Tunnel vision?

I was under the impression that South Africa is trying very hard to move on; away from it’s past to get to a place where we can all move forward in unity. If we continue to sing songs like “shoot the Boer”, we might as well go back to using that hateful K-word. Doesn’t make sense now, does it – we have come so far. Racist songs – in any form – will only stir up old emotions and prolong that bitter taste in the mouths of those who are singing it; making it difficult for them to move forward in forgiveness.

“Any nation that doesn’t know where it comes from  will never know where it is going,” said Mantashe.

Memories of the past can be preserved by giving the future generation a solid history lesson without influencing them negatively – we are working on a better future here, remember. And if you really want to impact the youth positively (which is the aim, isn’t it?), add to this history lesson how South Africans overcame this struggle and how we are now working together to ensure a good future for all South Africans.

Geez.

By Elzet

Reference: Times Live

Okay so we’re in a huge panic, we can’t find Marshall, our very dear, very shy little Easter Bunny who distributes marshmallow Easter eggs to the Phuthu Girls when they need a sugar lift….which is approximately every hour.

He’s been gone for the last 24 hours and to be honest, I’m worried about the collective sanity of the girls in this office. We need to scoff down some serious marshmallow coated eggs and fast! If our sugar drops too low, we might actually start to burn fat cells and lose weight and gosh, well, that’d be a public health catastrophe now wouldn’t it?

So, please help us find little Marshall – he’s hiding in a chocolate Easter Egg on the Phuthu website, in some post that we wrote. If you find him, please let him know that we really are decent girls and we just want the egg delivery to resume. asap. demmit!

He sent us these clues as to his whereabouts:

1. What category do the Phuthu Girls usually post their hysterical and nonsensical (at times)  Tuesday group posts?

2. What is the sum of: 1000 + 500 + 500 + 5 + 4 =

3. Fill the gap: J, F, M, A, M, J, J, _, S, O, N, D?

4. Unscramble the following word: MIANLA

Please let us know what post you found him in by leaving a message in the comments section and we’ll be able to haul his fluffy ears in our direction!

Thank-you