Reggie, the programme’s presenter, as usual was strict with callers who were digressing from the topic by negatively commenting on what other callers said. I generally commend Reggie for keeping panelists and callers on a strict and narrow path to avoid snide remarks which risk derailing from the topic. Reggie occasionally overshoots his target. Take this morning when one of the BDP regular cynical callers veered from topic to attack Dr Tafa, alleging he was responsible (as University lecturer) for producing these ‘under-qualified’ graduates. When a caller tried to respond to the unfair insinuation, Reggie, cut him short. I thought, “unfair”! Without self-contradiction, allowing cross-comments from callers can take a subject out of context. But still it’s fair that after allowing an insinuation from one caller, another caller or the person disparaged should rebut without prolonging the asides. Again, during the Gabz FM constituency political debates, some members of the audience at a number of constituencies tried to ask questions about the unity of opposition parties, which Reggie disallowed, promising it’d be discussed at the Presidential Debates. Unfortunately, time was not available at the Presidential debates; to make matters worse the UDC President, as the last to make the closing remarks, used the ‘unity issue’ as a sneaky knockout punch! The moderator had by over-control, denied the public the privilege to look at the issue from both angles.
I acquired a penchant for education early: When I grew up, father was a seasonal worker shuttling between South African mines and his Mosalakwane ploughing fields. Plough time meant he was home tilling his fields, then he was off on contract to the South African mines or white farms in Tuli Block. At the mines he noted those with a modicum of education did lighter jobs above ground and received higher pay than those working down the mine shafts, risking rock-fall and death but paid peanuts. On the farms, the importance of farming as a means of producing food was not lost to Pa. For son, to avoid backbreaking underground work, being paid peanuts; son had to be educated. He sent me to school at the tender age of eight- in those days defying extended family objections.
