A festive full of strangers

Quality time: Christmas allows families to catch up, but not everyone does. PIC KAGISO ONKATSWITSE
Quality time: Christmas allows families to catch up, but not everyone does. PIC KAGISO ONKATSWITSE

They wait all year through to see their beloved ones and Christmas provides the perfect opportunity to catch up, engage and share. When the children arrive, however, they are not alone. They have smartphones, followers, friends, posts, likes and re-tweets. Mmegi Correspondent, NNASARETHA KGAMANYANE illustrates

It is Christmas 1988 and everyone is gathered in the homestead.  The monotonous buzz of excited chatter filters through from the kitchen as the women catch up, gossip and laugh while preparing a feast.  Some boast about their perfect marriages and what their husbands have done, while others moan about their awful spouses.

Outside, men from different generations are seated by the fire at the kgotla deep in discussion about the rains, ploughing, government policies, community issues and good old days.  The younger men keenly observe their elders, taking the conversational cue from them and never attempting to lead discussions.  The fireside chats are, after all, a time-honoured tradition with unwritten but unyielding rules.

Editor's Comment
Cameras watching: Drive safely or pay the price

A network of high-tech cameras is now live, and they will be watching motorists every move behind the wheel. For the safety of everyone on the roads, drivers must take this wake-up call seriously or be prepared to face the consequences. These are not just speed traps. The new detecting devices are sophisticated. They will catch you running a red light, speeding, or driving an unregistered vehicle. They will spot the driver who is not wearing a...

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