on seeing hairspray in south africa.
This weekend, I went to see the new movie Hairspray on the Waterfront. I have been obsessed with the musical for years now, and was quite excited to see it, but during the movie, I could not help but think if the South Africans in the audience thought about the movie in the context of the country in which they live.
The movie takes place in Baltimore, Maryland in the 1960s. Tracy, the main character, is an overweight, white girl who desperately wants to dance on the “Corny Collins” show. To make a long story short, Tracy makes her way on the show, which is only white, and she protests and fights to integrate the Corny Collins show.
The movie completely makes fun of the preposterous segregation and exclusion of blacks in the U.S. in the 1960s. Now, South Africa had legalised segregation up until 1994, when the apartheid ended. Life in South Africa is still completely segregated. While I would not go as far to say that whites exclude blacks from television in South Africa, but the outlandish actions and thoughts of the people in Hairspray, exist in South Africa. I wonder if the South African audience put this movie into the perspective of their life as South Africans, or it is just a silly, American movie to take mind away from the every-day troubles of living in South Africa.
news….zim and health minister…
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7010372.stm-zim refugees
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7008506.stm-
If there is an entire community of people who try to eat a giraffe for its meat- do not take the giraffe away to save the giraffe, rather maybe someone should look at the reason why they need to eat the giraffe and do something about it….
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6983675.stm
“The “Dr Beetroot” nickname appeared after Dr Tshabalala-Msimang began recommending olive oil, lemon, beetroot and the African potato as elements of a healthy diet that could treat the symptoms associated with Aids. “
the jammie shuttle.
The Jammie Shuttle is the baby blue, University of Cape Town shuttle that transports all students around all campuses, the residences. There are many personalities to the Jammie shuttles. Some play loud African music, some loud hip-hop, some boy bands and some Tracy Chapman. Some shuttle drivers are friendly, some will drive the bus away while you are still walking up the stairs onto the bus, and some will just drive with the back door open, just in case someone wants to hop on at anytime during the route. Sometimes we wait 45 minutes for a Jammie, and sometimes three will come in a row, or at the same time. Overall, the Jammie will take us where we want to be…most of the time, and on time….maybe some of the time.
Last week, there was drama in Jammie land. The mini bus drivers staged a protest against the Jammie. The mini busses are like shared taxis that also drive with the door open, with at least six more people in the van that should fit, but they essentially take anyone, anywhere. These taxi drivers claimed that the Jammie shuttle did not have the legal licenses to drive on the Claremont route, and that the Jammie shuttle was taking away business. The protest situation was for the most part peaceful. At first. Last Monday, a minibus taxi driver stopped next to a Jammie shuttle on the Claremont route and started waving a firearm at the Jammie bus driver. The shuttle had to run a red light to safely escape (imagine this incidence on the AU shuttle, friends). For now, the Claremont route has been temporarily cancelled, for clear reasons. Even though I have a love-hate relationship with the Jammie shuttle, I am sure routing for our beloved and unreliable shuttle.
An email we received from the University of Cape Town:
Dear colleagues and students
I write to you on a most serious matter. You will recall my last communication to you on Monday, 27 August 2007, when I expressed my deep concern and the position relating to the protest action by certain taxi associations around the Jammie Shuttle service.
It is with regret that I report to you that the situation has worsened. Despite our best intentions and close monitoring of this situation I was forced last night to make the decision to suspend the Jammie Shuttle service operating on Main Road, Claremont route, until further notice.
The taxi association is insisting that UCT is operating outside the parameters agreed between Sibanya (the transport company contracted to operate Jammie Shuttle Service) and the Operating Licensing Board. We know that we are operating in terms of fully compliant licenses and within the clear stipulations of the permits. The taxi association has a particular issue with the Main Road, Claremont Route.
Although we were particularly concerned with the threats of violence made in the public media by the representatives of the taxi associations on Monday, we were determined to operate our service as we are legally entitled to.
However, yesterday afternoon a minibus taxi stopped next to a Jammie Shuttle. An occupant of the taxi produced a firearm and threatened the driver of the Jammie Shuttle. The driver was forced to run a red light to get away. Mercifully, none of the students and staff traveling in the bus was hurt. We have reported the incident to the South African Police Services and a charge has been laid.
The situation is untenable. I simply will not take a chance with the safety of our students and staff. This is my first priority. It is unfortunate that many students and staff will be inconvenienced. Please make alternative arrangements for your transport until further notice.
Be assured that we are treating this matter with the utmost urgency. We are engaged in discussions on various fronts and will do all we can to resolve this matter. I am grateful for your patience and understanding.
Yours sincerely.
Prof Njabulo S Ndebele
