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New matric another failure?

by
2009-01-07 10:26

Dear Editor,

The DA is crying foul and would like the matric results be thoroughly investigated.

I was in the Eastern Cape over the holidays and found myself in the midst of teachers when the matric results came out and I asked those present about what their views are on OBE and on the current state of affairs as pertaining to the Eastern Cape division.

One teacher acknowledge that OBE has its good points but that the error might be with how it was presented to the teachers, as some of the teachers spent three years in colleges of education receiving training and guidance whereas with the introduction of OBE they were sent to workshops that ran for less than a few months or weeks.

One teacher told me that they have now changed from the Revised National Curriculum Statement (RNSC) to the National Curriculum Statement (NCS) which she mentioned added to the confusion even more, and them being in the Eastern Cape meant limited resources: inadequate teaching classes, educational material and for some reason a lot of teachers are still on temporary contracts.

One of the teachers also mentioned that under OBE kids are not allowed to fail two times and need to be upgraded or passed should they have difficulties (if kids are upgraded when they had not reached the pass mark on their own that surely means that they did not pass), and that students are encouraged to study at their own pace and teachers are not allowed to force them to work harder.

The more I listened to the teachers the more concerned I became about the state of the education our children are receiving and the more I was confused as to exactly what is being taught in schools.

Maybe someone can better explain what OBE is and how it's meant to be implemented?

Nomveliso kaMbanga kaNguta,
Cape Town

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Kolobe 1/7/2009 10:40:51 AM
Unfortunately the legacy of apartheid still exists in our schools, even in the new curriculum the former rural areas are still underdeveloped, it is unfortunate that one student has to study under a tree without a science laboratory and still be expected to achieve the same results with another student that did chemical sciences practically in a laboratory on a full stomach, OBE is a very good program and nothing wrong with it, infrastructure is the problem.
Viparo 1/7/2009 10:41:29 AM
I have no idea what OBE means for education, but it seems to be that instead of kids working harder to pass, the bar just gets dropped. Our university degrees were once world class, but now when a MD or a dentist wants to practice in Canada for instance, they have to study an additional 2 years over there. Again, instead of solving the root problem, the bar is just dropped at the cost of everyone. But, I might be completely wrong.
Juan 1/7/2009 10:41:57 AM
We get 'good results' that isn't worth the paper it is written on. We're fooling NO-ONE! Marks are adjusted so that the intellectually inferior portion of our population can pass AND make the failed education department look good in the process.
CK 1/7/2009 10:47:26 AM
Good article. Our schools have been a concern for a while now. Sadly discipline, self respect and good manners are not a priority anymore thus the bad results. Why will a child work towards a goal if the goal is given on a silver platter?
A DJ 1/7/2009 10:53:17 AM
I too am concerned at the level of education. We cannot lower our standards as an emerging economy, it plays a pivotal role in encouraging investment due to skills availability. Soon we will see universities dropping the requirements and soon we will have sub standard engineers and doctors which will be detrimental.
Filemon 1/7/2009 10:54:14 AM
that is going to have a negative effect on the future generation of leaders for years to come. They try to blame their collapse of education on apartheid. They have had 14 years to take the country backwards but they are right. Blame it on apartheid - the apartheid that the ANC is currently practising. They should get off their arses and get back former educators to help implement education to a competent level and install an ethic of learning into the children like they do in the Far East
Anonomous 1/7/2009 10:55:18 AM
Nomveliso -- I was a Principal at a High School in 2008. Why do learners fail? 1) Many learners were not motivated. They did not receive HOPE for the future. Their parents did not teach them the meaning of life, nor did the school. So they lost hope. 2) OBE did not teach them the basics of the various subjects; outcomes, therefore, without incomes. 3) Education was managed by the department in a dismally ineffective way. There were no faxes, no Telkom lines, no E-mails, only cell no's.
Nick 1/7/2009 10:56:17 AM
this is not their fault, but the education departments. If you keep lowering the standard of education instead of raising it, the children will fall behind the rest of the world. If you cannot pass a standard you must be moved out of the school, you cannot have 20 year old men and women in school with 12 and 13 boys and girls. SA has missed the boat and now passes the children if they have LIFE SKILLS.If they cannot be taught how to remember subjects, facts and figures,labour work is the only job
Tsotsi 1/7/2009 10:57:53 AM
We should start IMPLEMENTING the APARTHEID curricula and STANDARDS accross the board in stead of making it the "scapegoat"!
andrew 1/7/2009 10:58:55 AM
We all know and accept apartheid is to blame for the lack of education. Apartheid has nothing to do with OBE though. So get off it. The question is if the new system works or not.
pb 1/7/2009 11:05:50 AM
Grow up. How can you still blame the previous government for the total incompetence of the ANC. Don't you think they had enough time to build proper infrastructure? It is about time you lot of ANC supporters stop blaming apartheid and personally take the blame for the current situation in the country. Or do you still want everything handed to you for free. The African way.
Beaver 1/7/2009 11:06:33 AM
You're a racist, finish and klaar. Why bring this racial superiority nonsense? I know you didn't state is as such, but most of us can read between the lines.
Sonny 1/7/2009 11:07:48 AM
Kolobe is back with a vengeance. I think Anonomous has hit the nail on the head. Kolobe will still blame apartheid 100 yrs from now. God forbid he lives that long!
JBIRD 1/7/2009 11:08:09 AM
The students today do not get the appropriate level of support from there families (most importantly), teachers and the edu department. Some children need to be guided more firmly as they do not understand the importance of education (not instilled at home) and lowering the standards will only delay the pain these kids will suffer when they grow up. Remember the world is moving forward (whether we like it or not) and so will SA no matter how hard the ANC tries to keep us behind.
Andrew 1/7/2009 11:08:49 AM
South Africans both white and black are expert at the blame game. Instead of tackling the issue whether a system works or not, rather just blame it on Apartheid or AA or BEE or whatever. So much easier than finding a solution for the problem.
josoap 1/7/2009 11:11:04 AM
In addition the pass mark has been dropped to 30 percent. Boy there is a serious issue here with both the educators and the students, none of them care if they believe that 30 percent medical knowledge will save lives or 30 percent engineering knowledge will propel SA into the future, more like propel us in worse state the Zim
markn 1/7/2009 11:11:12 AM
I spend a large portion of my hard earned salary to put my kids in private schools. This is because the ANC IS screwing up horribly when it comes to education the youth. Education is the only thing worth anything that I can leave my kids and I will suffer to get them a good education, even work 2 jobs if I have to.
CS 1/7/2009 11:14:07 AM
If we wnat any chance of having a decent education system in this country lets start by getting rid of the hold that the likes of SADTU and other trade unions have over the education system! Is has been asked whether the Minister of Education runs education or the tade unions? I am afraid it is the latter.
lloyd macklin 1/7/2009 11:15:11 AM
..if controlled by teachers who are themselves educated. Unfortunately, many teachers are poorly trained and demotivated. Kolobe, makes the point that 'learners' require good facilities. This is only partially correct if one looks at results from some very poor schools. The underlying problem is SADTU. A union that puts protection of teachers before scholars should be charged with sabotage. They are destroying the children through their neglect. There are exceptions but generally this is true.
KOBUS 1/7/2009 11:17:26 AM
The funny thing is that OBE was used in America, years ago. They STOPPED USING IT, as they realised it was turning most of their kids into morons who couldn't do anything on their own (group work). After they had declared it a failure, the ANC (Bengu, I think it was at that time) thought it would be a good idea to implement a FAILED POLICY here in SA where we have many more teachers and resources than America has (or not!). (Same goes 4 the Firearms Law that's based on SCRAPPED Canadian law.)
Isi 1/7/2009 11:19:02 AM
Lets not forget that the ANCYL leadership couldnt pass a normal matric and so what do the government do, change the curriculum to ensure the future leaders at least have a matric. Well at least they will have life skills - what a joke - thank God for private schools.
Duzi 1/7/2009 11:19:11 AM
Maybe the government and the ANC should look at spending more money on education instead of retarded parties and election campaigning? Just a thought... maybe some good work like that would give the ANC some more credibility and improve their chances of getting more votes? Maybe even I would vote for them then... or is having an adulteror as a president more important? Just a thought...
Beaver 1/7/2009 11:19:20 AM
This apartheid excuse is rubbish. To quote Zuma, "you are beating a dead snake". I matriculated in the early 2000s with none of this OBE crap. How is it aparheid's fault that Kader Asmal and Pandor experimented with a ludicrous education system which turned out, unsurprisingly, to be a terrible failure (excuse the pun)? I'm black, in my 20s and I'm gatvol of the blame-it-on-apartheid excuse. It's failure by the government, qha!
Glock 1/7/2009 11:20:45 AM
I have had two children at college level this year, one doing technical Matric and one doing N6 and i can only say that the college system and the department of education are in nothing but chaos, i have had a number of run inns with different lectures throughout the year and as to the quality of the lectures, well ithink you get more out of Jacob Zuma and that says a lot. The system if any is totally non existent as for OBE that remains a lot to be desired, pupils are just getting pushed throug.
Azonic 1/7/2009 11:25:09 AM
Apartheid you say? Strange, I prefer to blame the dedication of the average student these days. Along my daily drive past a township, I see the school there with almost no windows intact. I guess its DA supporters that went to the township and vandalized the school? The ANC has had 14 years to build infrastructure, all I can see that the current crop has built, are lined pockets. Catchawakeup.
Mark V 1/7/2009 11:26:05 AM
How long does it take to build a school? If the gov were really concerned they would have built schools at the rate of stadiums for 2010. Oh, wait, that can't happen - there is not enough money, right? 14 Years and you still can't take responsibility.
Tired 1/7/2009 11:26:27 AM
You are spot on, whilst standards are dropped to ensure future voters pass matric, the consequences for us all are dire. How would you like to be opperated on by an obe educated doctor one day? Its not really that surprising though, if you cant make the grade, change the rules - go look at Toti beach - once blue flag now rubbish dump. Tis the african renaisance.
Mzi 1/7/2009 11:27:32 AM
how do you make matric more easier, scrapping the HG/SG while university entry has been increased to 60%. Do these institutions understand the environment they are in. Why can't we prepare these kids properly instead of pushing them. Are they trying to fulfill their mandate at these kids expense?
mallencolly 1/7/2009 11:31:40 AM
On this I will agree with you, to a point. Apartheid caused differences in socioeconomic conditions leaving some parts (most)of the population severely disadvantaged BEFORE the children even get to school. However the ANC has had the purse strings for 15 years now. Why are we seeing kids without classroms? Perhaps they should go learn on a submarine. Im sure there is one lying around somewhere...
J.O 1/7/2009 11:32:46 AM
if they do not pass. If that means a kid has to repeat a grade 5 times then so be it. Eventually he'll get the picture and realize he must work HARD to pass, despite whatever circumstances he might face. And encourage a learning culture, so that students will want to study instead of toyi-toyi. Make it compulsary for all kids to pass matric (grade 12) no matter what. Force them to obtain their matric - I mean a PROPER matric certificate, not some useless achievement like the current "matric
Smanga Zulu 1/7/2009 11:33:56 AM
Hold it right there!!! The decision to learn or not in the end lies with the learner!! I am a product of public schooling in the township of KwaMashu, Durban and I am doing exceptionally well. It is the education I earned there that got me to where I am today, and trust me it is very high up. I even aced my university studies, I am NOT clever - I was taught well in school. There are people who were in class with me me, but are in the slumps today, why? They did not want to learn! Don't blame gov!
veeman 1/7/2009 11:35:06 AM
Interesting article but it lacks substance. Why must a teacher be sent to a 3-year course everytime something changes. Teachers have plenty of holidays and knock-off early everyday , they must use these for studying . DOE website has everything one needs to apply OBE , all planning and curriculum documents are there , it looks like these teachers don't even know that. Let's give DOE a break , because this exposes the incompetence of our teachers who want to be spoonfed all the time .
Teacher 1/7/2009 11:35:54 AM
Before anyone play the blame game. Let us be honest for a while. By the time you get into matric, you are capable to realise with every action, there is a reaction. Still I have to beg in classrooms for silence, speech upon speech about the importance of doing your work falls upon deaf ears. I'm not there to discipline children, I'm there to teach. Percentage wise, 10% of disruptive children will bring the whole class to a halt if it pleases them. Parents should take responsibility, back the teachers, make sure what is going on in your child's life. Know their friends, don't let them go out and do stupid things. Healthy parents produce healthy children, easy and simple. With no respect in a classroom and no discipline, there is no room left to create a learning environment. Most teachers try their outmost best, but still get lambasted with parents rude comments, when parents think teachers are less than scum, what do they expect their children to think? Just a thought.
Point Blank 1/7/2009 11:38:57 AM
Wasn't there a call by SADTU for teachers to join in on almost all strikes last year? Wasn't there even a teachers strike last year? I'm asking as I am not too sure.
Ali 1/7/2009 11:44:52 AM
My dad-in-law is a teacher, and comparing Maths/Science of the old curriculum to the new,its blatantly obvious that the standard has dropped.Being an engineering graduate,who has done university level maths/science,I can tell you that matrics going to uni will struggle to cope. After matriculating in 2000,with distinction in Maths/Science,I still struggled to scrape through Uni Maths/Science-the old curriculum was of a low standard, and the new one is even worse...
terence 1/7/2009 11:45:56 AM
that education is more important than the renaming of street names i think we can all agree on that.Last year the government spent over 100 million bucks on the renaming of street name,i bet they could have built a few schools with that money hey buddy.that is the problem with you people you dont know what to do with all the bloody money then you blame appartheid hey chump, but sorry buddy the appartheid blame train has left these shores long time ago it is now time to blame your own bloody fools
Kolobe 1/7/2009 11:46:49 AM
Why should anyone blame OBE, because it does not allow students to fail twice? Do you know that failure discourages learners? No one wants to repeat the same standard more than four times, that?s nonsense, are you aware that not all of us are meant to become education professors, hence the main aim of OBE is to allow learners to learn basic life orientations up until grade 10, if they fail in grade 10 then they can move to the technical colleges where they will start doing practical hand work like carpentry, gardening which requires technical rather than academic skills. Make a research before you argue
snoopy 1/7/2009 11:50:49 AM
Kolobe, wouldnt it be great to be able to say that Apartheid was entirely wrong, put non-whites at a disadvantage, but DESPITE these facts, look how our education system is flourishing and the intellectuals that we are producing? Apartheid is not causing any of the current mess. Jeez dude, please, try to get past it already, we're all in this boat together.
Luzuko 1/7/2009 11:51:35 AM
OBE is supposed to improve and help each student learn at his pace while the conventional method was more whole-class focussed and no particular attention was directed at managing the learning curve of each student (meaning there was no flexibility), all in all it is suppose to measure what each students is capable of doing, students with different abilities will follow different paths to reach their goals and may finish at different times (benchmark based), while in the past those who fail were seen as "duff" and no particular emphasis was put to improve them, in this new curriculum outcomes are based what the student knows, what the student can do about what s/he knows and confidence in carrying out a demonstration, previously people left high school without any clue in researching, writing project reports, doing case studies and providing visual/oral presentation, the OBE goes beyond the structured learning where students memorized books and got 100% (which is what was characterized by the traditional education system). OBE is suppose to be intensive, build-up on different aspects of learning development, including providing mentoring to students. The problem as usual with our education system is implementation, the OBE must involve administrators, educators, parents, teachers and students for successful implementation.
Point Balnk 1/7/2009 11:56:19 AM
Failure is something that we ALL go through, it is what you learn from. Pick yourself up and do it again until you pass. You say WE must research oh please man just read your comment again and see how insane it sounds. You only fail if you do not try, and if you fail it was because you didn't try hard enough, hence the need to do it again. Your arguments are getting desperate dude.
veeman 1/7/2009 12:00:14 PM
Attend any university graduation ceremony and see the number of graduates in education programmes vs science . Why is it easy to pass education at university, is it because of their low standards .Garbage in garbage out( GIGO) , education students are getting a raw deal from these universities no wonder they find it difficult to cope with OBE.
Azonic 1/7/2009 12:03:35 PM
1) "Make a research before you argue". Clearly you did not "make a research" of English in school. 2) "Do you know that failure discourages learners". Izzit? When I suck at something, I try harder the next time. Learn basic life orientations...? Are we educating a nation of farmworkers? Yes, not all are meant to be profs, so why send learners well on their way to becoming that - with a lacking school education? Hey, at least Baby Julius had success at carpentry!
waks 1/7/2009 12:04:05 PM
Wow, you really sound like gwede mantashe...... I come from a coloured 'township' not far from Soweto......and I wonder.......if Soweto is such a great place, why must all the students come to the schools such as RW Fick, Bosmont primary, CJB and then to make it worse...........scroll down commando road after 8 in the morning like there's absolutely nothing wrong. Where's the infrastructure development there to cater for enough schools and the required education?????paf en pas masekind!
realist4sa 1/7/2009 12:06:25 PM
"Do you know that failure discourages learners?" Don't you think it may discourage the real hard working learners if they see their fellow peers being promoted even though they failed? Do you know that 99% failure leads to be really successful in life, the small 1%? Does failure discourage you so by the way?
CTheB 1/7/2009 12:11:30 PM
Clearly you're not and don't know any teachers. Teachers don't just go home when the end of day bell rings. They have plenty of work to do. The teachers I know work very hard. Yes, they get longer holidays, but not as much longer as it might appear - they have exams to mark in June, September and December and are also back at work a week or so before the start of term in January. I'm not convinced that OBE will work as it requires significant self-discipline. It'll look like it works as standards are lowered to increase pass rates, but the outcome seems likely to be a disservice to a generation. I don't know of anywhere that OBE has been successful. That doesn't mean it can't work, but it seems unlikely that it will. @Kolobe - yes, apartheid gave rise to near non-existent education for the majority. Has the ANC done enough to improve the situation since 1994? They certainly don't seem to have. In fact, it seems that things have simply been getting worse.
jannie 1/7/2009 12:12:25 PM
Its time to take responsibility and stop hiding behind apartheid. When will you stop to blame apartheid for all government failures? You are one sad, miserable man full of hate.
jannie 1/7/2009 12:16:22 PM
OBE is a failure. Everybody knows it, but no one will admit it. Kolobe, even you know it, but won't admit it. Stop fooling yourself, troubled young man. OBE will be replaced, but it left a generation of children that cannot think for themselves.
KoosS 1/7/2009 12:19:32 PM
Yeah Kolobe, failure is discouraging, but it also shows where you need to put in some work. So take the lesson, and do the work, don't expect a hand-me up. What if Edison gave up on the light-bulb after a 100 FAILURES? How discouraging do you think that was? Did you let your child failing when she started walking? Or did you keep encouraging her until she could? Never forget the immortal words of Thomas Watson, the founder of IBM: 'That's where success lies - on the far side of failure.'
Pangea 1/7/2009 12:20:06 PM
Why do e not learn from others. Lets look internationally at successfull educational systems like that in Japan, Nordic contries and Singapore and learn from them. I personnaly think the issue is poor government management, lack of discipline from both teachers and learners and good for nothing parents.
M 1/7/2009 12:25:05 PM
If I think about the amount of tax that I have been paying for this current govt and how little they have done with it, I shudder. No buddy, this has nothing to do with apartheid, because if my tax money was spent well, they could have built LOTS of schools in the last 13 years,plus upgraded libraries, hired teachers etc, etc. The Dept of Education of the ANC govt has FAILED.
Jannie 1/7/2009 12:29:29 PM
Like my father taught me when I was still in school! Even if you pass with just the lowest pass percentage(33% or something im not shore what the pass mark is nowadays) don't be happy that you passed! be disappointed because when you start working you don't know 67% of what you need to know! If more people have a viewing point like that SA will be a much better place!
AC 1/7/2009 12:30:42 PM
Instead of upgrading the groups of schools that were not up to standard a decade and a half ago, the ANC government, in its infinite wisdom, choose to drop the standard and experiment with the future of our youth. The net result is a drop in the standard, meaning that higher education also had to drop its entrance and pass standards to meet government quotas. Do you want to have a doctor, who qualified at the bottom of his class recently, attend to a loved one, when life is in the balance?
M 1/7/2009 12:31:41 PM
Yup, thats why they need to change the system until morons like Malema and Kolobe get a job with a huge salary. Nevermind that they actually need to perform. Oh no,please don't discourage them by failing them,next time give them access to a nuclear reactor and let them practice there.
JJ 1/7/2009 12:33:26 PM
I doubt if anyone here know that this issue is probably the most serious one to be discussed in any of these columns. The education of the youth is what will eventually make or break this country. And the way it's going now it is "BREAK" So stop with the mudslinging and VOTE for the better. That will do some good. Nothing else.
VG 1/7/2009 12:43:02 PM
I've always thought that the emphasis on the matric pass rate is wrong. What we should be most concerned about is the rate of university expemtions and as I understand it,this went up last year.Maybe the exam was easier, but education officials don't seem to think so.Universities could easily implement bridging courses if the maths/science curricula do not adquately prepare students
Shanag 1/7/2009 12:47:28 PM
I have a friend whose kids live in India and are educated there. He laughed at our standard of education saying my 4 year old boy does not have the quality education that his son a year younger, does. It is disappointing that the government aiming to help the kids are actually putting them at a disadvantage. I want my son to travel before, God willingly, he does settle down, and I donot want him to seem illiterate compared to the people he associates himself with.
VG 1/7/2009 12:48:49 PM
Moving a student on to the next grade even if they don't make it is not the disaster people make it out to be. It depends on the circumstances. A student may struggle with maths/science/afrikaans etc but may be competent in the other subjects. What good would holding back an 8yr old for 5 years until he can spell perfectly do? by then he's 13 and still in GR 3 -let him move on, leave school in Gr 10 and go to a technical college
N 1/7/2009 12:57:46 PM
a load of rubbish! I did my teachers diploma in 1997 and I couldn't believe what was coming... needless to say I never went on to become a teacher. There was nothing wrong with the good old Cape Senior Certificate - if it ain't broke don't fix it government!
Stryker 1/7/2009 1:02:29 PM
that statement in itself tells me how retarded you are - tis the problem with your type - pay huge sums of money to us consultants to provide you with all the facts, research and best possible solution and then you either go in the exact opposite direction or you do nothing - ahh well at least you nuckle heads keep me making money.
20 Something yr old white boy 1/7/2009 1:03:44 PM
If the child is constantly failing there is fundamentally wrong with the child and some sort of evaluation programme is needed, but 2 just push the child thru after failing twice is going 2 produce more problems in life for that child as the foundation has not been set, they have just been pushed thru when in fact they are a failure. Yes people are different & some are good technical and others academically, but in essence, the 2 go hand in hand. Cannot belive gardening is a subject now!!
Justice 1/7/2009 1:12:03 PM
Do you know that failure discourages learners? - Kolobe, where did you get this information from?! No doubt the end of your thumb. Having failed exams myself and seeing others pass, it gave me motivation to put my nose to the grind and study harder. Your comments are an absolute joke, get a life chump.
bg 1/7/2009 1:13:29 PM
I have to agree with Smanga Zulu. Even in the dark past of apartheid, some children shone even when they had no electricity, no food, no shelter and no decent school. Learners are simply lazy. The government isn't too blame, and kudos to them for trying something new. OBE aims to teach the application of knowledge rather than the mere regurgitation of facts - that is what knowledge should be about.
Nomveliso kaMbanga kaNguta 1/7/2009 1:16:07 PM
The students in the villages are most hard hit and this truly breaks my heart. My mother has been teaching for the past 40yrs and they have girls whose goal is to get married after Grade 9 because they do not see anything else or have hope for a better life,they cant even go to career exhibitions for lack of money and tertiary insitutions around are no help, why cant education assist in this? are they aware of such problems or they dont care much as long as they get full pay?
fish 1/7/2009 1:16:33 PM
Want to up the pass rate? Maybe the government should consider the following points: 1. Spend more money on building schools and recruiting teachers as well as teacher education. 2. Finally sort out the school feeding scheme so that the poor are not starving at their desks. 3. Ensure all school materials and stationary are timeously delivered before the start of school term. 4. Ensure students get their results on time. Just a thought....
nthatuwa 1/7/2009 2:03:55 PM
my husbands little sister rejoice for passing with 40%.During my time that was equivalent to FAIL.I just couldn't understand how could she be so pleased with herself for passing so badly.It's just unacceptable.There is no hope for University for her.Or will the acceptance requirements be lowered as well?I sure don't want my child to study under this system.I want her to be smart & intelligent,to study hard to value her EDUCATION
Azonic 1/7/2009 2:11:54 PM
So student's get pushed through if they fail a grade twice? Um, if you fail a grade TWICE you are clearly an idiot and don't deserve to be educated further. Go empty a trashcan or sweet a street then! So a complete retard, given enough time, could make it all the way to matric? Am I the only one that sees the flaw in that?
HA HA HA HA 1/7/2009 2:21:54 PM
Kolobe you a joke but I must admit your far out opinions do bring the best out of some people. Please stop replying but thanks for the laugh.....
John Camp 1/7/2009 2:24:00 PM
50% of the commenters on this article have a point, the remaining 50% respond to Kolobe's shite. It's obvious that he ain't getting hits on his blog so he gate crashes an intelligent conversation with his drivel about apartheid. Ignore the man and he'll leave the room!

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Blue Train Breakaway

Looking for a holiday with a difference? Try the Blue Train! Spend two nights on the train and another two at Zimbali Lodge - meals, transfers and even golf included! For just R9680 per person sharing, there is no reason why you shouldn't book now!

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