Tau 'a Tswako

Bookworm. Travel junkie. Omnivore. Jack of all trades but Master of none. Living miracle. Epitome of Love.

[Tau 'a Tswako @KoketsoM85]

@Khazi_Rinae Love lives here...

[Tau 'a Tswako @KoketsoM85]

@ChrisExcel102 Your humour is unmatched. #crazy

[Tau 'a Tswako @KoketsoM85]

DM has spoken. Case closed 🔐 Meeting adjourned @FabAcademic

[Kgethi Phakeng, PhD(Wits); Hon DSc (UBristol) @FabAcademic]

Allow me vent a little bit.

Guys, if any country wants us to apply and pay for a VISA to visit them, then it’s only fair for South Africa to demand the same of their citizens🤷🏽‍♀️ We want the West to respect us but we still pander to them at the expense of our nation’s dignity.

The assumption that requiring VISAs would somehow stop tourists from coming here is insulting, really. It implies that South Africa is not worth the inconvenience of applying for a visa. I mean, SA is a world-class destination - we have everything imaginable. We are no charity case; no one comes here because it’s convenient or visa-free, they come because they want to experience what we have to offer. The Western countries are not doing us any favour by visiting us, it’s a mutual exchange!

Assuming that visas would somehow stop them just shows an embarrassing lack of confidence in our value as a nation. But also, if we demand VISAs, it should be easy for them to get them, right? I mean, they should be able to prove they’re coming here to spend money🤷🏽‍♀️ If they’re denied entry for any reason, do we really want them here? Clearly they’re bad news! If they don’t have money, we’re allowing them to come here to do what exactly? If they can’t afford VISA application fees, then clearly they won’t help us with anything when they get here, so the “promoting Torusim” argument is an excuse for timid leadership.

At this stage, it feels like a permanent beggar-master arrangement. SAns must go through lengthy and demeaning processes to visit some countries - they have to present proof of finances, pre-book flights and hotels, and pay high “processing” fees. Regardless, we still go! But I really don’t understand how it makes sense to our leaders that the poor guy should pay the wealthy guy for him to DECIDE whether or not he can visit, but the wealthy guy pays nothing to visit the poor guy🤷🏽‍♀️

Remember, if the VISA is denied, you get no refund whatsoever. This may not be significant for 1% of our population, but the amount can actually be more than our national minimum wage. If you don’t book flexible flights and hotels, it’s a disaster. You lose, but they continue making money off you even after denying you entry….how crazy is that? Actually, why are we subjecting ourselves to this? This submissive colonial mentality is a betrayal of our value as a country and I really hope it reaches its expiry date soon.

I have repeatedly travelled to over 60 countries and, yes, I’ve never been denied a VISA, but I recently wanted to host a young African girl whose story as an unemployed graduate touched my heart. Her flights and accommodation were covered, and I actually wrote a letter stating that I will host her for a month. However, her VISA was still denied because she didn’t have money in her own account. This made me angry because this prejudice is targeted specifically at Africans.

Why do we assume that those from Western countries are wealthier and more valuable? They may well be, yes, but what makes us certain without question? Why is the harsh scrutiny reserved for our African brothers and sisters? I’m not suggesting SA should be a free-for-all, but we must be consistent and not self-destructive. These colonial biases, even if unconscious, will continue to divide us and erode our values.

We must drop this submissive, inferiority attitude and command the respect we deserve. We are a valuable nation after all, not some charity case.

The venting session ends.

[Tau 'a Tswako @KoketsoM85]

@brilliantia @ActivateZA Because parents find shifting responsibilities rather convenient than stepping up.

[Tau 'a Tswako @KoketsoM85]

@faryus88 @LancasterUni Well done and congratulations on your acceptance Mr. President. Have a great 🔆 experience.

[Tau 'a Tswako @KoketsoM85]

@bozzie_t Rural communities still experience 4hr without electricity daily. Animal farm perhaps..?

[Tau 'a Tswako @KoketsoM85]

@PolokwaneObserv Dear Editor
We wish to bring to your attention the following factual errors in the article.
1. The Toyota Land Cruiser 200 Series is not a R4m vehicle. It is just under a million rands.
2. The owner of the vehicle is a former Member of Parliament.

Thank you

[Tau 'a Tswako @KoketsoM85]

@wiseconnector The Columbiana

[Kwena Molekwa @Miz_Ruraltarain]

To International Literature Festival in Mexico on behalf of ordinary South Africans.

You can go, okay... this rubbish that #Chidimma Adetshina made herself look like safety is her main reason to withdraw, not the identity theft which she benefited from is problematic. Where was the safety concern before yesterday when she was parading herself ? What about the innocent South African woman and her children who havebeeng denied their citizenship, rights, and identity to exist in their own country due Chidimma Adetshina family selfish and crime they have been denied that for 23 years yonke. Honestly, this is rubbish gaslighting to our country's immigration crisis and how influx ordinarily affect people who opened their country & hearts to accommodate African migrants !

There's nothing good, honestly, about Mexicans. They are heartless drug dealers like Nigerians.

So hamba. If fighting crime is xenophobia, you don't note the effects of injustice committed to ordinary people of host country, then we stay committed to remove all bogus characters!

It's no coincidence in that the person who signed that document is a Nigerian living in Mexico... like seriously @IkennaOkeh, stop the BS! Excusing crime!

We understand, bro. We are not moved & lastly We don't care!
😂😂😂we didn't even know that festival existed. A Nigeria removed us from some unknown festival? #ChidimmaMustFall #CancelChidimma #NigeriansMustGo #MissSA2024

[Tau 'a Tswako @KoketsoM85]

@SALEM_WORD @ThuliMadonsela3 Obvious

[Tau 'a Tswako @KoketsoM85]

@faryus88 @_AfricanUnion Happy birthday Mr President

[Tau 'a Tswako @KoketsoM85]

@Khazi_Rinae Rirhandzu yanga. Super proud of you 🙏 my darling 🌹 continue shining your light

[Tau 'a Tswako @KoketsoM85]

@brilliantia Boniface Mwangi

[Tau 'a Tswako @KoketsoM85]

@GaytonMcK Congratulations on your inclusion in the New Executive of GNU

[Tau 'a Tswako @KoketsoM85]

@VuyiswaRamokgop @zilevandamme That speech was first delivered by Peter Mokaba so Juju did copy and paste job.

[Tau 'a Tswako @KoketsoM85]

@Khazi_Rinae Khalazi yanga ❤️

[Tau 'a Tswako @KoketsoM85]

@Tessa_Dooms She's a necessary problem

[Tau 'a Tswako @KoketsoM85]

@Anele Yes 🙏

[Tau 'a Tswako @KoketsoM85]

@MoshabelaMosa Well done and warm felicitations on your appointment Prof @MoshabelaMosa Continue shining your light

[Africa Facts Zone @AfricaFactsZone]

South Africa's Springbok Women have won the 2025 Rugby Africa Women's Cup.

They have won all four editions of the Rugby Africa Women's Cup.

They have qualified for the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England.

They are ranked as the best Women's Rugby Team in Africa.