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HEARTLINES is based on the assumption that the promotion of values is the most effective way to deal with major social problems. Therefore, by looking at the issues that face South Africa today, HEARTLINES chose the values that would best address these.
South Africa’s current reality includes high levels of HIV&AIDS, violence, corruption, drug abuse, family breakdown and unemployment. At the same time, the vast majority of South Africans (84%) affiliate themselves with faiths which embrace a belief in values such as compassion, forgiveness and honesty. However, problems arise where there is a gap between people believing in these values, and their actions. HEARTLINES’ research with focus groups and key stakeholders showed that people felt that an intervention that encourages people to live out their positive values, could help transform society. In the future other values may be tackled, but the following EIGHT values were featured in the first series:
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ACCEPTING DIFFERENCE
Stemming to a large extent from its history of racial prejudice, South Africa today faces problems of xenophobia, gender discrimination, HIV&AIDS stigmatisation and the marginalisation of the disabled. This despite the belief system espousing that all are created equal before God. HEARTLINES has chosen Accepting difference as a value which goes beyond mere tolerance. If South Africans could learn to accept and embrace the differences within this multi-cultural society, each individual could be encouraged to realise their full potential and give their best back to the nation.
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Articles on this issue produced by Heartlines Features:
- Once the polecat of the world, South Africa is now lauded as an example of a tolerant society. But twelve years into democracy – realistically - just how deep does our acceptance of one another go? HEARTLINES patron Rev Dr Mvume Dandala takes a hard look at just how accepting our society is.
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- South Africa is considered a model of peaceful change and of social integration. Sharon David looks at whether we are indeed accepting of the drastic social change sweeping our country.
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- Is corporate South Africa embracing change, BEE. Stuart Graham looks at how business is faring
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- Being a woman in man’s world can be harrowing, as weightlifter Babalwa Ndleleni has learned in her quest to change perceptions. She spoke to Karien Jonckheere.
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- Legendary basketballer Magic Johnson has done it, so has five time Olympic medallist Greg Louganis. But somehow South African sportspeople just aren’t following suit in disclosing their HIV status. By Karien Jonckheere.
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RESPONSIBILITY
Family breakdown, high divorce rates and the abandoning of children are problems that face many South African families. There is also a crisis of absent fathers - men who don’t take responsibility for their children, leaving mothers to shoulder the entire responsibility for raising children. This feeds into a myriad of social problems, such as a lack of discipline, early school drop-out and lack of positive role models. Although it is especially hard to take responsibility in difficult circumstances – like unemployment, unwanted pregnancy, and untimely death, due to AIDS or other illnesses. HEARTLINES will try to show that taking responsibility for one’s children, is a value that will help solve a number of societal problems. Taking responsibility in one area of one’s life also teaches one to take responsibility in other areas.
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Articles on this issue produced by Heartlines Features:
- It is time for every citizen to be responsible, writes Rev Dr Mvume Dandala, patron of Heartlines.
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- Family and the notion of family responsibility seem to be changing rapidly. Recent research indicates that absent fathers are common in South Africa and that poverty might be shaping the way the family is evolving. Sharon Davis reports.
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- Do companies honour their responsibility to their staff, environments and communities? Do they have a community? Stuart Graham reports.
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- Jabu Pule’s is the ultimate tale of talent squandered and opportunities lost. Having struggled with drugs and alcohol abuse and earned a reputation of being entirely unreliable due to his infamous disappearing acts, Pule claims now to be a changed man, complete with the new name of Jabu Mahlangu. He spoke to Karien Jonckheere.
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- The Laureus Foundation is an academy of 42 former elite sportsmen and women which words to allocate funds for social projects worldwide which use sport as a tool for change. South Africa is well represented with several Laureus ambassadors, such as Morne du Plessis, Gary Player and Lucas Radebe. By Karien Jonckheere.
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- Players, supporters and administrators should take responsibility for keeping rugby safe, writes Karien Jonckheere as she explores the events which killed Riaan Loots recently.
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- People and elected leaders are equally accountable. Winston Churchill once said, “The price of greatness is responsibility.” Sharon David looks at the characteristics of a good leader.
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- Karien Jonckheere looks at how Swimming South Africa is fulfilling its responsibility to children with its “Every Child A Swimmer” programme.
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- Should sports people be role models? A column by Karien Jonckheere.
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- Warren Buffet’s Guide to Ethical Investing by Stuart Graham.
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FORGIVENESS
Forgiveness is a value that is particularly relevant in South Africa. Icons such as former-President Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have led the way in encouraging South Africans to forgive and be forgiven. The power of this value is that it can have a two-way benefit. Both for the person who is forgiven, and for the person who is forgiving. Ultimately, forgiveness sets both free. In some cases, it leads to reconciliation and restored relationships. Even though we are well into our new democracy, South Africans need to be encouraged to live out the value of forgiveness every day, whether it is related to a racial issue, bereavement through violent circumstances or through other injustices.
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Articles on this issue produced by Heartlines Features:
- Genuine forgiveness is followed by visible attempts to correct past wrongs, writes HEARTLINES Patron Rev Dr Mvume Dandala.
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- Adrian Vlok, the ageing former Minister of Law and Order, has been in the spotlight following his ritualistic apology to Reverend Frank Chikane. Once one of the most hated men in South Africa, he now just wants his apparent change of political consciousness to be understood. He spoke to Helen Grange.
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- Washing of feet a biblical gesture – the religious meaning of this gesture. By Helen Grange.
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- Apartheid robbed thousands of top-class South African athletes the opportunity of representing their country. Alan Jacobs’ journey to forgiveness has been made slightly easier by the fact that his son has now been afforded the opportunities he never had. He spoke to Karien Jonckeere about real forgiving.
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- Is forgiveness important in business and are companies prepared to provide jobs to people who have committed and paid for their crimes? Stuart Graham put this question to two respected chief executives.
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- Being good is human, says Hasim Amla, who recently acknowledged Australian commentator Dean Jones’s apology for calling him a “terrorist”. By Bate Felix and Karien Jonckheere.
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- Individual sports can be punishing. Each time you go out the spotlight is on you and your performance alone. Yet everyone loses some time. Khotso Mokoena spoke to Karien Jonckeere about the role forgiving yourself plays in getting back on top off and on the field.
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- Forgiving can be difficult, says songstress Mara Louw, but allows you to move on. Helen Grange reports.
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- Natalie du Toit, star swimmer and role model, says forgiving has contributed to her phenomenal success. She spoke to Karien Jonckeere.
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- Sports Vox Pop on Forgiveness by Karien Jonckheere.
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- Former star athlete Zola Budd recounts her darkest moment on the track and the strength it took to move on. She explains to Karien Jonckeere the role forgiving played in her life.
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PERSEVERANCE
Unemployment is one of the most pressing problems facing South Africa today, because unemployment often leads to other issues, including poverty and crime. People try for jobs and eventually give up when they are repeatedly turned down. It takes great perseverance not to give up when faced with continual rejection. Perseverance is also needed in many other areas of life - in studying, in sporting activities, in remaining HIV-negative and especially in our relationships with others. If one has goals and a hope for the future, one is more likely to persevere than if one does not feel there is anything to hope for or work towards.
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Articles on this issue produced by Heartlines Features:
- Things will come right if we work together as a nation and persevere, we don’t need unrealistic, pie-in-the-sky propaganda, writes Rev Dr Mvume Dandala, patron of HEARTLINES.
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- Elana Meyer is one of the country’s finest athletes. As South Africa honours its women this month and citizens engage in a national conversation on positive values, she spoke to Karien Jonckeere about how she finally got to her dream Olympics.
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- For SA cyclist Elsa Karsten things were going great. She had just won the SA championships in her age category and seemed destined for even greater things. She had already bagged a world masters title in 2003. Then, early last year everything came crashing down when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. A mastectomy followed and she is currently still under going treatment. But next week will see the deeply determined Karsten setting off on her first international tour since being diagnosed. By Karien Jonckeere.
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- At the age of just 14 Kass Naidoo announced to her family she was going to become South Africa’s first female cricket commentator. She spoke to Karien Jonchkeere about her latest achievement.
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- Persistence pays – on and off the court. Karien Jonckheere reports on South African tennis player Liezel Huber’s charity to help hurricane victims.
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- How long should we persevere and what for? A range of pro- and anti-South African websites has surfaced on the world wide web. Bate Felix checked some of them out and found that the question behind this raging debate taking place on these sites is whether to persevere or not.
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- Headstrong and persisent, and reaping the rewards. Zweli Manyathi First National Bank’s chief executive of branches shares with Stuart Graham an amazing tale of perseverance.
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- Living the dream. From garage cleaner to owner, Angela Ndziba, a smart entrepreneur tells Stuart Graham how it all happened for her.
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SELF-CONTROL
Today’s generation is one of “instant gratification”. Many South Africans live for today, and want it all now with no regard for the future. This is particularly a problem in the prevention of HIV&AIDS. Because young people live for the present and those things that give them instant pleasure, they see no point in remaining HIV-negative. A lack of self-control affects many aspects of life. Getting into debt to gratify immediate desires is another major problem that affects economic development. An important part of self-control is saving that which is worth waiting for, for later. This results in a greater enjoyment of and appreciation for that particular thing (delayed gratification).
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Articles on this issue produced by Heartlines Features:
- There is value in waiting. And this waiting is borne out of the element of self-control, writes Rev Dr Mvume Dandala, patron of HEARTLINES.
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- There is a Hindu poem that the self-restrained man moves through the world with felicity, but in South Africa restraint is a value that is seldom practiced and experts on the issue are at their wits end about what to do. Stuart Graham reports.
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- Self-control is a difficult, but says Shaun Pollock, it is critical in sport as it is in every other part of life. He shared his thoughts on this important value with Karien Jonckheere.
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- A recently-released government study says that young South Africans are increasingly turning to drugs and alcohol to deal with their problems, or just for fun. Sharon Davis asked a few young South Africans flirting with celebrity what their views were on drugs, alcohol, sex and corruption. Here is what they had to say.on. She explains to Karien Jonckeere the role forgiving played in her life.
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HONESTY
Theft, corruption, fraud and family breakdown are all issues that can be traced back to a lack of honesty. Telling the truth is a value shared - in theory - by all South Africans. But which, when circumstances are difficult, falls by the wayside. Honesty is the value that underpins the decision not to take things that don’t belong to one, along with respect for other people and their possessions. A life of integrity can be described as in when what is said and what is done is “one”. This is a challenge in every sphere of daily living.
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Articles on this issue produced by Heartlines Features:
- HEARTLINES patron Rev Dr Mvume Dandala writes that honesty is the cornerstone on which godly values are built.
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- Honest referees scarce, says former PSL official Adeel Carelse. By Karien Jonckheere.
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- Athletics SA calls for Medicines Control Council to act on doping. By Karien Jonckheere.
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- Does honesty pay in the workplace? Between and 35 percent of South Africa’s workers are HIV positive – depending on which statistics you believe. Sharon Davis looks at workers’ fear of revealing their status.
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- Honesty boosts the bottom line. Stuart Graham explores the approach of two of South Africa’s admired executives to crises in their organizations.
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COMPASSION
Most people find it easy to care for and show compassion to those who are close to them, or those who are similar to them. It is more difficult when the person is different, or outside one’s immediate circle. The HIV&AIDS epidemic has presented South Africans with the challenge of compassion, and how to care for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Compassion was chosen for the HEARTLINES series in the belief that the problem of stigma could also be tackled if South Africans were truly compassionate. With compassion, there is a two-way benefit – both for the giver and the receiver. One finds that in giving of oneself, one receives more than one expected.
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Articles on this issue produced by Heartlines Features:
- HEARTLINES Patron Rev Dr Mvume Dandala talks about the kind of compassion that requires self-sacrifice and a decision to move out of one’s comfort zone.
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- Showing compassion is good for business. Stuart Graham examines how compassion impacts on the bottom line.
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- Many know her as the face of SABC’s sports coverage. But there’s more to Cynthia Tshaka that her flashy earrings and glossy smile.She has a burning desire to make a difference in South Africa. By Karien Jonckheere.
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SECOND CHANCES
Partly as a result of South Africa’s history, life circumstances are difficult for many people. Because of this, young people are easily drawn into crime, drug abuse and early (often violent) sexual experience. The workplace offers the temptation of fraud and corruption. In the home, families suffer when infidelity causes a breakdown of trust. For people who have fallen into these traps, it is extremely difficult to start again - unless other people value the power of giving a person a second chance. HEARTLINES will show that if individuals reached out with selfless love to those who have made mistakes, many lives could be transformed.
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Articles on this issue produced by Heartlines Features:
- HEARTLINES Patron, Rev Dr Mvume Dandala, looks at the role second chances plays in the rehabilitation of first-time offenders.
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- Thousands of businesses fail in South Africa each year, many of them belonging to the poor who will never get another chance. But do failed businesses and fired employees deserve second chances? What can be done to make it easier for businesses to survive? Stuart Graham reports.
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- Second chances should be coveted says 29-year-old tennis star, Jeff Coetzee. By Karien Jonckheere.
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- What actions deserve second chances, asks Karien Jonckheere, when children hero-worship their sports idols.
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