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THE POLITICS OF FATHERHOOD
Oct. 20 | Over the years in my Customary Court work it has become clear that the most significant factor tipping the scales of genders politics to the disadvantage of women folk is the issue of children. It does not matter whether these children are born...
OURS OR MINE
Sep. 28 | We are emerging from a society that did not place that much importance on ownership of assets because there was an unwritten law that, “You may own but we shall all use.” This was the case with such issues as farming land (masimo) and drinking...
NO HIDING PLACE
Sep. 21 | Kids beat up dad over practice of ‘Go Ikutswa’ ‘Long ago’ it was unheard of that ‘daddy’ (ntate) could get beaten. If anybody was going to do the beating it would be the head of the household who had the authority to chastise his...
SIBLING RIVALRY
Sep. 14 | Giving and receiving love is central to human relations and traditionally the seeds of powerful interpersonal relations are sewn and nurtured in the fertile ground of the home. Unconditional love and respect was a creed the older generation lived by,...
A PRAYER FOR ESTHER
Sep. 7 | Aids and the issue of ‘go ikutswa’ For many years September has been set aside as the month of prayer for HIV/AIDS. There is an indication that God has heard our cry since there is evidence of infection rates dropping and there are a number...
FRUSTRATED DAD
Aug. 31 | In this weeks column Ma Mosojane responds to a reader’s question THE QUESTION Picture from internet: African American baby, protective father “I am young man of 30 years old. I have a baby girl of 22 months. I started staying with her when she was...
THE CHEATING CHAIN
Aug. 24 | A lot of resources have gone into the Break the Chain of Infection project. ‘The chain’ has become obstacle number one to the achievement of zero infection in the fight against AIDS, and manifests itself in so many aspects of kgotla work. Before...
GRANDMA’S SON
Aug. 10 | A prominent theme in my column over the last few months has highlighted the contrast between transitional cultural practices and modern day behaviour in issues concerning family, reproductive health and inheritance. It was something I thought about recently...
THE MISSING MOTHER
Aug. 3 | The sight of a highly expectant young woman at the kgotla, looking far from happy at the ‘bundle of joy’ she is carrying, usually brings to mind one conclusion – that some irresponsible father of the unborn child has thrown her out and run away...
FRAUDULENT PATLO
Jul. 22 | FILE PICTURE: A typical example of Patlo unfolding In response to several requests from readers to address the issue, my column this week takes a look at customary marriage. Although there appears to be some confusion in this matter, the older generation...
TRADITIONAL HEALING AND THE CHURCH
Jul. 6 | A conflict of interests? This week I would like to reflect on another thorny topic that is most often discussed in hushed tones and one that many people openly despise and yet secretly practice. That is the subject of traditional healing or traditional...
THE RIGHTS OF THE AFRICAN CHILD
Jun. 29 | An issue of inheritance African Children We have just come out of the commemoration of the Day of the African Child and it got me thinking about the children of the 50’s and those of the 21st Century. Most kids today are a world apart from challenges...
CULTURE SHOCK
Jun. 22 | This week’s story is about a most feared and best-avoided topic – one that we would rather tip toe around and speak in hushed tones about lest the heavens come down on us in judgment and condemnation. Now that I have your interest let me give...
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER
Jun. 15 | An issue of parental responsibility Sunday 17June 2012 is the day officially set aside to celebrate Father’s Day. Some might say that they don’t need a special day to celebrate their dad – others might not have a father they consider worth...
CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD?
Jun. 4 | A Question of Equality The concept that we are all equal before the law, and our Maker, is enshrined as a basic human right. But as the subject of this week’s column discovered, human rights and reality is not always a match made in heaven. Selei...
THE DISPUTED BOREHOLE
May. 25 | An issue of community of property If a word could sum up the difference in outlook from the old to the new generation, it would I feel be the change of the pronoun ‘our’ into the singular ‘my.’ We are emerging from a social order where people...
NO WEDDING AND A FUNERAL
May. 18 | Moepi’s long march to marriage One of the objectives in writing this column is to illustrate how our historically peaceful society has been destabilised by issues of transition. As I unpack every case study I am hoping that attitudes will be shaped...
MOTHER’S LOVE
May. 12 | Apologies for missing last week’s column as I was away attending the Gender Justice Summit in Johannesburg. Today I would like to tackle motherhood in modern day Botswana as my topic of the week. On Saturday 13May global communities will commemorate...
A SLAP IN THE FACE OF CULTURE
Apr. 13 | This week I would like to highlight the link between culture and gender based violence. It is quite interesting to listen to a discussion on culture. People talk of its importance and value, but curiously it is often unclear exactly what is meant by...
