Mashila C Phihlela

[Appie Culé @appiecule]

I’m going to take my time with this one. If you’re busy, save this post and read it later. If you’re a night owl like me, this is a good late-night read.

Do you know the worst thing about Cristiano Ronaldo?

It’s that he set the standards for what defines a legend… and in the end, he couldn’t even live up to the standards he created himself.

After winning Euro 2016, Ronaldo said:

“You can’t become a legend until you win a trophy with your national team.”

It was an obvious dig at Messi.

Argentina had just lost the 2014 World Cup final to Germany, and Messi was going through the toughest period of his international career. Those words only added fuel to the fire.

Where was the respect for a rival, Ronaldo?

The surprising part was that social media completely embraced that narrative. Messi was labeled a bottler, while Ronaldo was declared the winner of the rivalry—at least in the media, not on the pitch.

Then Messi retired from international football, came back, won the Copa América, and suddenly they were level in major international trophies.

What happened next?

Ronaldo fans started saying that one Euro is worth more than a hundred Copa Américas, claiming there was no competition in South America. Not true—but that became the excuse.

Then Messi went on to win the World Cup.

This time, the excuses changed again.

They claimed FIFA had fixed the tournament for Messi. That the World Cup was scripted in his favor. They simply didn’t know what else to say.

Then Ronaldo himself came out with one of the strangest quotes imaginable:

“A legend’s career can’t be defined by just seven games.”

At first glance, it sounds reasonable.

But beneath it was another attempt to diminish what Messi had achieved.

Before the World Cup, they insisted it would be Ronaldo’s tournament. On paper, Portugal had a fantastic squad. If the manager couldn’t get the best out of them, that’s Portugal’s problem—not Ronaldo’s.

Yet that same Portugal squad wasn’t any weaker than the Argentina team Messi led to the 2014 World Cup final—the same team people mocked Messi for not carrying to the title.

Just a couple of days ago, Ronaldo said:

“The World Cup doesn’t define my career, whether I win it or not.”

A statement that directly contradicts what he had said years earlier, when he admitted that winning the World Cup would make him feel completely fulfilled.

Now you’re 41 years old, Cristiano.

By your own standards:

* You have 5 Ballon d’Ors, not 8.
* You have one European Championship, not two Copa América titles.
* You never won the World Cup.
* You have four European Golden Shoes, while Messi has six—even though you’re an out-and-out striker.

So what now?

Will you keep playing until the next World Cup and become the first player to appear in one at 45, hoping to finally win it?

If we judged you by the standards you created, you wouldn’t qualify as a legend.

Of course, nobody actually judges you that way. Everyone still recognizes you as one of football’s greatest legends.

The real mistake was comparing Ronaldo to Messi in the first place.

That rivalry was exaggerated from the beginning by the media and figures like José Mourinho.

Messi conquered every major trophy available to him, shattered records that once seemed untouchable, and at 39 years old he’s still competing with Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland—the stars of the next generation—for the Golden Boot. And honestly, he could still win it.

What made Messi beloved by so many fans is that he never tried to diminish Ronaldo’s achievements.

Ronaldo, on the other hand, repeatedly made comments that many interpreted as attempts to downplay his greatest rival’s accomplishments—and that’s never an admirable trait.

Cristiano helped create a generation that thinks belittling other people’s achievements while constantly glorifying your own is a way to establish dominance.

Good bye. Ronaldo.

[The Instigator @Am_Blujay]

So people watch this man play football like this for 90 mins and conclude he is better than Messi 😂

[Sotho Siren 🐚🪸🧜🏾‍♂️🪽 @Modirwa_]

Watch the kids✨

[Ferial Haffajee @ferialhaffajee]

Some really terrible, horrible things happening in South Africa 🇿🇦 💓

[Madute Rapulane @M4dute]

Okay, I will be recruiting for the new year, if not sooner!

SHOW me your WORK and I'll reach out to.

I'm maining looking for a Civil Engineer with experience in Water or Roads.
Must know Civil 3D!

Let's see how good you are!

[Vimlesh Rajbansi @VimleshRajbansi]

The DA's Dangerous Political Conditioning Strategy is in play | A Caution to Our Black Leaders and the Black Population in South Africa as Coalition Discussions are in full swing to form our new government

The Black population must recognize this strategy for what it is—a dangerous political conditioning aimed at destroying the unity of Ubuntu among the Black majority. Be cautious of narratives that seek to undermine our collective power and unity.

The ANC, MK, and EFF collectively have 10.4 million votes, 65%, representing the black majority population in the 2024 election giving them a combined 256 of the 400 seats in the National Assembly.

If every vote counts, how can the 10.4 million votes of Black voters who chose Black-led parties to govern South Africa, be overlooked in the selection of our government and president?

Why is the DA, with only 3.5 million votes, 21.8% largely from the white minority, given so much power by business and media to dictate the terms, conditions, and structure of our government?

When did the 10.4 million Black voters, who chose the ANC, MK, and EFF, grant permission to outsource their votes to the DA or amongst political parties they did not vote for, allowing them to dictate how our government is formed and who should be our next President?

The DA's dangerous political conditioning strategy to keep the ANC, MK and EFF out of "power" is currently in play for coalitions.

Social conditioning is the process by which people in a society are trained to think, believe, feel, want, and react in a way approved by influential groups within that society.

The "Doomsday Coalition" is one of the DA’s political strategies for this election, aimed at convincing the Black population that only the DA, a white-led minority political party, is capable of governing South Africa. Their primary goal has been to entice the Black majority to vote for the DA or one of its MPC partners, such as ActionSA and the IFP, along with allies like BOSA and Rise Mzansi. Failing that, if the ANC, MK, and EFF do achieve a majority in the elections to create a new government at the exclusion of the DA, the DA's "Doomsday Coalition" campaign was crafted to condition black voters for the DA to take control of the coalition discussions and dictate the terms for the formation of our new government.

This is done through persistent political framing, suggesting that any Black-led dominant political party that threatens DA leadership is led by thieves who have destroyed South Africa. The more powerful a black leader is the greater the threat to the white-led DA and the more intense the political strategy to portray him as corrupt and dangerous to South Africa.

This "Doomsday Coalition" strategy was strategically crafted and deployed through media, social media releases and mentioned in public speeches, creating a social phenomenon that implies only a white-led party can prevent the so-called "doomsday coalition" of the ANC, MK, and the violent EFF which aims to position the DA as the sole capable guardian of South Africa's future and destroy the credibility of the ANC, MK and EFF to make it impossible for these three parties to form one government.

An example of how the DA used Political Framing is evident in Helen Zille's Statement

Listen carefully to the political framing used by Helen Zille during her appearance on Newsroom Afrika on 30 May 2024 before the votes were counted, she said:

1. "The DA's job is to keep out the doomsday coalition of the ANC, MK, and EFF.
2. The DA will put South Africa's interest first
3. and it is in South Africa's interest that the DA grows and thrives to eventually become the biggest party in South Africa
4. because that is the only way to defend the constitution, defend the rule of law, and grow the economy.
5. So it is in South Africa's interest for the DA to flourish and prevent South Africa from falling into the hands of the people who are going to destroy it."

Let's unpack the Key Elements of the DA's Political Framing:

1. Defining the Opposition:
"The DA's job is to keep out the doomsday coalition of the ANC, MK, and EFF."
Zille frames the ANC, MK, and EFF as a "doomsday coalition," implying that their governance would lead to catastrophic outcomes for South Africa.
This negative framing between the DA and these Black-led parties,portrays the latter as a threat to the nation's well-being.

2. Positioning the DA as the Savior:
"The DA will put South Africa's interest first."
By claiming that the DA prioritizes South Africa's interests, Zille positions her party as the selfless protector of the nation. This positive framing seeks to build trust and credibility among voters, particularly within the Black population, to whom the DA's appeal has traditionally been limited.

3. Future Vision and Urgency:
"It is in South Africa's interest that the DA grows and thrives to eventually become the biggest party in South Africa."
This statement emphasizes the need for the DA's expansion and success as crucial for the country's future. It suggests that only a strong DA can ensure the protection of national interests.

4. Guardianship of Key Values:
"Because that is the only way to defend the constitution, defend the rule of law, and grow the economy."
Zille invokes core democratic values and economic growth, implying that these can only be safeguarded under DA leadership. This framing appeals to voters' concerns about stability, justice, and prosperity, painting the DA as the guardian of these essential elements.

5. Fear Appeal:
"Prevent South Africa from falling into the hands of the people who are going to destroy it."
The use of fear is evident in this statement. By suggesting that the ANC, MK, and EFF would "destroy" South Africa, Zille aims to instill a sense of urgency and danger, motivating and preparing the public to support the DA as a defensive measure against perceived threats.

What is the the Impact of the Political Framing used by the DA:

6. Psychological Influence:
This framing leverages psychological tactics such as fear, hope, and the appeal to higher values to sway voter opinion. By repeatedly associating the DA with positive outcomes and the ANC, MK and EFF with dire negative consequences, the DA hopes to condition voters to perceive them as the only viable option.

7. Social Conditioning:
Zille's framing attempts to reshape societal perceptions and beliefs. It aims to create a social consensus that only the DA can save South Africa, thereby undermining the unity and influence of Black-led parties.

8. Reinforcement of Narrative:
The framing reinforces the narrative that Black-led parties are incapable of effective governance and are a danger to the nation. This aims to weaken the unity of the Black majority and their confidence in their chosen leaders, aligning with the DA's broader strategy to disrupt the unity of Ubuntu among the Black population.

In conclusion, Helen Zille's statement is a clear example of the DA's political framing strategy, designed to manipulate public perception and consolidate power by leveraging fear, positioning the DA as the protector of national interests, and discrediting Black-led opposition parties. This framing serves the broader objective of weakening the unity and influence of the Black majority in South Africa's political landscape.
Warning:

The Black population must recognize this strategy for what it is—a dangerous political conditioning aimed at destroying the unity of Ubuntu among the Black majority. Be cautious of narratives that seek to undermine our collective power and unity.

[Madute Rapulane @M4dute]

Construction Conversions episode 7 - CIVIL ENGINEERING 🏗️

https://t.co/YfEsTwc89Z

[🇿🇦Apostle Deza Mekgwe🇨🇺 @ApstDeza]

[BREAKING NEWS]

Looters in Gowns‼️‼️‼️

@WitsUniversity received over 146 000 applications for academic year 2024. They can only accepted 6200 new students.

This means 139 800 students will be rejected. All of them have paid an application fee of R200.

Wits university made a profit of R27 960 000 for rejecting people. Things like application fees are scams of the highest order. Capitalism is ruthless and evil.🚮😒Sies!

[Madute Rapulane @M4dute]

For this size of streams, I would work for free to model the required bridge sizes for pedestrian and vehicle crossing within a 1:50yr return period.

But we're not ready to have that conversation and action plan.

[Lesilo Rula @kay_mahapa]

Only thing keeping me going at this point ke mohau wa Modimo. I’m TIRED!

[Lesilo Rula @kay_mahapa]

King Monada > King Charles

[Mashila C Phihlela @Mashila_C]

@M4dute Had a demonstration recently of a 'mobile' coffer, interesting stuff.

[Madute Rapulane @M4dute]

Civil Services and Bulk Earthworks for Township Development, and Property Development

Potable Water Reticulation
Sewer Reticulation
Stormwater Management
Roads and Pavements
Bulk Earthworks

DM for further details and costing 👷🏾‍♂️

[Madute Rapulane @M4dute]

So this is real now! 🙈

[Madute Rapulane @M4dute]

Bulk water distribution and Potable water reticulation Design.
It's what we do best 👌🏾

DM for more details

[Batswala_Rest @Batswala_Rest]

Plug!

[Junior @jxjx23_]

👨🏽‍⚖️ LLB TWITTER 👩🏽‍⚖️

I am, on behalf of the LPC and SASSETA, looking for 50 (Fifty) LLB Unemployed Graduates for an Internship Programme placement across the country in various provinces. Candidates must be between 18-35 years old and currently unemployed LLB Graduates

👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾

[Batswala_Rest @Batswala_Rest]

Location! Si la

[Batswala_Rest @Batswala_Rest]

Join us this Friday 😉

[Mashila C Phihlela @Mashila_C]

@Maropola_ Eh, ungodly hours ko lewatleng? O tla gobala🤣