Dear Reader
Letter from the Editor – Siyabonga Memela
Happy 12th Birthday South African Express Airways

I normally resist the temptation of thinking, doing, and saying things simply because everybody does so. I can safely say I am a bit conservative because I do not consider myself liberal, especially when it comes to traditional values.

My conscience, however, strongly urges me to add my voice, stand up and be counted amongst those people who are saying, “Men! Stop Abusing Women!” My voice and message is also directed at those who claim that African culture allows for the abuse of women. May these cowards explain which part of African culture allows for that. Thus I also stand up to be counted not because I consider myself young, black and proudly African, but because some of these women-abusers commit their nefarious acts in the name of my culture, an African culture.

When I was young, the older boys used to tell us that if you beat a woman it is because you are afraid of other men. Real men do not beat women. I remember that one of the messages of the 1995 Million Man March, by American Men of African descent, was a call to Stop Abuse of Women by African Men. If some men abuse women in the name of black culture, which culture are they referring to? Not Madiba’s, not Kofi Annan’s, not Kwame Krumah’s, not Bantu Biko’s, not Sekhukhune’s, and certainly not mine!

As a direct descendant of Inkosi Mdingi, who led the Gambu warriors as they descended from the mountains of Osuthu, until they settled in what is today known as KwaZulu, I happen to know what is common among the African cultures. One of the commonalities is respect for women. Irrespective of how many and huge distortions have been made about African culture, the fact remains that women are to be respected and sometimes feared. In fact, great African Empires were built by women, for example, the story of Princess Mkabayi kaJama, the aunt of Shaka and Dingane.

Today we live in a free democracy, but the time has come for us all to declare war against the abuse of women, and to take this ware to the doorsteps of deceivers and liars who abuse our mothers, sisters and daughters, in the name of a culture that never has existed.

Women are the bedrock of our nation and must be respected and protected, not as appendages of men, but as human beings who have a right to decency.

May all men who still feel that women are punch bags, doormats, and sex objects, please stand up, as I sit down.

Now sit back, relax and enjoy your flight on South African Express Airways, and your journey through the pages of this edition of Indwe magazine.
Enjoy the read!
Enjoy the flight!
Siyabonga Memela

GIVE-AWAY!
Twenty lucky Indwe readers can each win a double ticket to the tastiest shows on earth, the Good Food & Wine Show®, Cape Town 18 – 21 May and Gauteng, 2 – 5 November 2006. Southern Africa’s largest culinary expo is the flagship event of the renowned Cape Gourmet Festival, celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year. Don’t miss hands-on workshops and dynamic demonstrations with celebrity chefs including Antony Worrall Thompson, James Martin, Alan Coxon, Brian Turner, Steven Saunders and Daniel Galmiche; taste organic produce, daring desserts paired with brandy and chilling cocktails; and shop for cookware, appliances, crockery and more. For more information and hands-on workshop bookings please visit www.gourmetsa.com or call 084 565 0069.
Simply SMS the word SAX followed by the word FOOD, your name and email address to 35131. (Cost per SMS is R3. Competition closes 30th April 2006. By entering this competition you consent to receiving electronic information pertaining to Indwe and/or SA Express.)