CSI in South Africa: The Challenges

Ok. So. CSI could never be a real thing in South Africa. Just read the following excerpt from a local newspaper and let me know your thoughts (my comments in brackets): 

"Pastor held, body parts found at KZN church
While the remains of Kiki Ntuli had been found in a plastic bag on Saturday, forensic specialists who probed the pastor's yard found more bones on Thursday, said Captain Thulani Zwane.

"The bones have been taken for forensic analysis to verify whether they are those of a human being or not," Zwane said. (?)

The 51-year-old pastor had, however, not been charged. (Although the remains of a small child and other bones/body parts were found with and around this pastor)

Zwane said investigations were ongoing. (That is reassuring to hear Zwane.)

While searching for the rest of Ntuli's body parts on Tuesday, police discovered a skull and skeleton at a woman's house in Ncotshane. (Imagine a skull. And a skeleton., if you will. These were PEOPLE who have FAMILY who LOVE them...)

It was unclear whether those bones were linked to the Ntuli case or whether they were that of a human being. (What did the skull and skeleton look like? it says SKULL and not Skull Fragments, and it says SKELETON and not Bone fragments... I'm at a loss here.)

The bones were taken for forensic testing. (Thank. god.)

Angry residents went on the rampage on Tuesday and torched the pastor's church and woman's house. (Cheerio crime scene! No more testing and possible justice for you!)

Fifteen people were arrested for violence (the burning of the crime scenes) and were scheduled to appear before the Ncotshane Magistrate's Court on Thursday. (Ok...)

The court was, however, petrol bombed (by friends of the burners of the crime scene, because, lawlessness) on Wednesday night. (Of course it was, because, vigilantism)

The group (who burned the Crime Scenes, or the group who mutilated the bodies?) finally appeared in the Pongola Magistrate's Court on Friday, where they were released on a warning. ("You were naughty to burn the crime scene/s and/or kill these nice people and your friends were naughty to bomb the courthouse! Now go home and think about that! Naughty!")

(What in theeee hell is going on in this world. 
I just cant. Even. Just can't )

The Emperor

I'm sorry, but I don't want to be an emperor. That's not my business. I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone - if possible - Jew, Gentile - black man - white. We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other's happiness - not by each other's misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way.

Greed has poisoned men's souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical. Our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost....

The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men - cries out for universal brotherhood - for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world - millions of despairing men, women, and little children - victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people.

To those who can hear me, I say - do not despair. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed - the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish. .....

Soldiers! don't give yourselves to brutes - men who despise you - enslave you - who regiment your lives - tell you what to do - what to think and what to feel! Who drill you - diet you - treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder. Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men - machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have the love of humanity in your hearts! You don't hate! Only the unloved hate - the unloved and the unnatural! Soldiers! Don't fight for slavery! Fight for liberty!

In the 17th Chapter of St Luke it is written: "the Kingdom of God is within man" - not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you! You, the people have the power - the power to create machines. The power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure.

Then - in the name of democracy - let us use that power - let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world - a decent world that will give men a chance to work - that will give youth a future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfil that promise. They never will!

Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people! Now let us fight to fulfil that promise! Let us fight to free the world - to do away with national barriers - to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men's happiness. Soldiers! in the name of democracy, let us all unite!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dGPo9XBIPA

Speech by Charlie Chaplin in movie "The Great Dictator" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Dictator 

STOP BULLYING! Poem: Sticks and Stones by Sandy Bigara

Sticks and Stones

Sandy Bigara

I am porcelain.

I am glass.

I am fine, bone-white china.

When you speak to me the way you do,

You make yet another crack that I have to mend.

A fissure that festers with malicious intent.

You walk away, feeling relieved?

Entitled?

And you leave me broken, chipped, fractured…

I walk to the mirror of my mind and I see scars, rips, torn identity…

A patchwork of badly mended design.

I lower my eyes as I feel ashamed –

What if your words are true?

They are not.

What if your intentions are good?

They are not.

What if you say what you say in love?

You do not.

Your words are like a pick-axe,

Every syllable sharpened like flint.

You poke, prod and pierce my heart,

Casually. Pointedly. Unaware.

When I feel that hope is almost lost,

When my mind starts to pull away from the person that I AM,

I turn and look into the eyes of my family, my friends,

Those who know me truly…

And I see my reflection from their point of view.

I look strong.

I look whole.

I look smooth and confident.

Only I know the full extent of the damage done by you.

Perhaps too late you will see me truly, as they do.

Perhaps too late.

© 2012 Sandy Doherty-Bigara 

HOTLINES:

Depression 

• Suicide Hotline (US, UK, Canada & Singapore): 1-800-SUICIDE (2433)
• Suicide hotline (New Zealand): 0800 543 354
• Depression hotline: 1-630-482-9696
• Suicide Crisis Line: 1-800-999-9999
• National Suicide Prevention Helpline: 1-800-273-TALK (8245)
• National Adolescent Suicide Helpline: 1-800-621-4000
• Postpartum Depression: 1-800-PPD-MOMS
• NDMDA Depression Hotline – Support Group: 1-800-826-3632
• Veterans: 1-877-VET2VET
• Crisis Help Line – For Any Kind of Crisis: 1-800-233-4357
• Suicide & Depression Crisis Line – Covenant House: 1-800-999-9999

Domestic Abuse

• National Child Abuse Helpline: 1-800-422-4453
• National Domestic Violence Crisis Line: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
• National Domestic Violence Hotline (TDD): 1-800-787-32324
• Center for the Prevention of School Violence: 1-800-299-6504
• Child Abuse Helpline: 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)
• Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-548-2722
• Healing Woman Foundation (Abuse): 1-800-477-4111
• Child Abuse Hotline Support & Information: 1-800-792-5200
• Women’s Aid National Domestic Violence Helpline (UK): 0345 023 468
• Sexual Abuse Centre (UK): 0117 935 1707
• Sexual Assault Support (24/7, English & Spanish): 1-800-223-5001
• Domestic & Teen Dating Violence (English & Spanish): 1-800-992-2600
• Rape Crisis England & Wales: 0808 802 9999 1(open 2 - 2.30pm 7 - 9.30pm) e-mail info@rapecrisis.org.uk
• Rape Crisis Scotland: 08088 01 03 02 every day, 6pm to midnight

Alcohol & Drug Abuse

• National Association for Children of Alcoholics: 1-888-55-4COAS (1-888-554-2627)
• National Drug Abuse: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
• Al-Anon/Alateen Hope & Help for young people who are the relatives & friends of a problem drinker): 1-800-344-2666
• Alcohol/Drug Abuse Hotline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
• Be Sober Hotline: 1-800-BE-SOBER (1-800-237-6237)
• Cocaine Help Line: 1-800-COCAINE (1-800-262-2463)
• 24 Hour Cocaine Support Line: 1-800-992-9239
• Ecstasy Addiction: 1-800-468-6933
• Marijuana Anonymous: 1-800-766-6779
• Drinkline (UK): 0800 9178282
• Frank (UK): 0800776600

Youth & Teen Hotlines

• National Youth Crisis Support: 1-800-448-4663
• Youth America Hotline: 1-877-YOUTHLINE (1-877-968-8454)
• Covenant House Nine-Line (Teens): 1-800-999-9999
• Boys Town National: 1-800-448-3000
• Teen Helpline: 1-800-400-0900
• TeenLine: 1-800-522-8336
• Youth Crisis Support: 1-800-448-4663 or 1-800-422-0009
• Runaway Support (All Calls are Confidential): 800-231-6946
• Childline: (UK Only) 0800 1111
• Kids Helpline (Australia) 1800 55 1800
•  b-eat youthline (UK): 08456347650 (open Mon-Fri 4.30pm - 8.30pm, Saturday 1pm-4.30pm)

Pregnancy Hotlines

• AAA Crisis Pregnancy Center: 1-800-560-0717
• Pregnancy Support: 1-800-4-OPTIONS (1-800-467-8466)
• Pregnancy National Helpline: 1-800-356-5761
• Young Pregnant Support: 1-800 550-4900

Gay and Lesbian Hotlines

• The Trevor Helpline (For homosexuality questions or problems): 1-800-850-8078
• Gay & Lesbian National Support: 1-888-THE-GLNH (1-888-843-4564)
• Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) Youth Support Line: 1-800-850-8078
• Lesbian & Gay Switchboard: (UK Only) 0121 622 6589
• Lothian Gay & Lesbian Switchboard – Scotland: (Scotland Only) 0131 556 4049

Other Hotlines

• Self-Injury Support: 1-800-DONT CUT (1-800-366-8288) (www.selfinjury.com)
• Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention: 1-800-931-2237 (Hours: 8am-noon daily, PST)
• Eating Disorders Center: 1-888-236-1188
• Help Finding a Therapist: 1-800-THERAPIST (1-800-843-7274)
• Panic Disorder Information and Support: 1-800-64-PANIC (1-800-647-2642)
• TalkZone (Peer Counselors): 1-800-475-TALK (1-800-475-2855)
• Parental Stress Hotline: 1-800-632-8188
• National AIDS Helpline: (UK) 0800 567 123
• Samaritans (UK): 08457909090 e-mail jo@samaritans.org
• b-eat eating disorder support (UK): 0845 634 14 14 (only open Mon-Fri 10.30am-8.30pm and Saturday 1pm-4.30pm) e-mail: help@b-eat.co.uk
• Mind infoline (UK mental health information): 0300 123 3393 e-mail: info@mind.org.uk
• Mind legal advice (UK): 0300 466 6463 legal@mind.org.uk
• Cruse Bereavement Care (UK): 08444779400 helpline@cruse.org.uk

Swedish Hotlines (all of these are anonymous)

• Nationella Hjälplinjen (National Help Line) 020-22 00 60 | open 13-22
• BRIS (children’s rights in society, must be 18 or younger, and is for children that are in /any/ bad situation) 116 111 | open 10-22 (calls to BRIS will /not/ show up on the bill!)
• kvinnofridslinjen (women’s line) 020-50 50 50 | open all day

Recipe Cajun Blackened Chicken on Salad Bed

Cajun Blackened Chicken on Salad Bed
Sandy Bigara 

2 Chicken Breasts butterfly-cut and tenderised 

Cajun Spices

Salt to taste

Fenugreek Sprouts

Spring Onion

Greek Pesto (Basil/Feta/Rocket/Olive)

1 Carrot

1/4 Cucumber

Rocket

1/2 round of Feta

Olive Oil

Garnish:
1) Fry up fenugreek sprouts and spring onion with a table spoon of Greek pesto in a little Olive oil. Take the hot garnish out of your frying pan and place in a small Ramekin to steam. 

2) Dust your butterfly chicken in Cajun Spices, salt and drizzle with olive oil. Fry on high heat until blackened on either side.

3) Place washed rocket onto the serving dish, and using a shredder/peeler shred the cucumber and carrot and place onto serving dishes. 

3) Place Chicken on the bed of Salad, smear a tablespoon of Peppadew Pesto over the chicken, and spoon the hot garnish on top of that. Crumble a small amount of Feta on top and Serve immediately. 

Recipe Butternut Soup & Home Made Flat Bread

Butternut Soup & Home Made Flat Bread

Sandy Bigara

Butternut Soup
2 Butternuts cut into 3- 5cm cubes, but with skin still on them
1 Tbsp Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Salt
1/4 cup Fresh Cream
1/4 cup Fresh Milk
1 Tbsp Sugar

1) Cut up the butternut and boil in salty water (leave the skin on but wash them first!) 

2) When the Butternut is cooked, (soft enough for a knife to slide through) blend the soup with a Kenwood hand held mixer. I used the Baby Mu-lee adapter and then the smoothie adapter for a finer soup. 

3) Add Cream, Milk, Cinnamon and Salt to the pureed soup - add more milk to make it thinner if required.

4) Serve! 


Home Made Flat Bread
250g Self Raising Flour
1/4 pack of yeast
1 tsp Sugar
1/5 tsp Salt
1 Egg
1 Tbsp Pesto (I used the GREEK Pesto from EverFresh)
Splash of milk
handful of baby tomatos cut in half
1/4 round of Feta
palmful of Cheddar grated
(Cheddar for the top if you like a nice cheesy topping to your flat bread)

1) Put Flour, Yeast, Sugar, Salt Pesto and Cheddar into a deep mixing bowl and mix well. 

2) Add Egg and mix, add milk and mix manually until the dough forms a round ball that can be shaped. You may need to dust it with a little flour because it sticks to your hands. 

3) Turn it out onto a sheet lined with baking paper and press it out into a flat bread shape (we had an oval shape) keep it about 1cm thick. 

4) Crumble feta over the top, press the tomato halves all around the edge and place some in the middle. 

5) Bake at 180C for about 15 minutes and then add a sprinkle of cheddar to the top and grill for another 3 - 5 mins. Just keep an eye on it!

Serve hot soup and steaming hot bread together... 

Recipe Fresh Strawberries & Cream Mousse

Fresh Strawberries & Cream Mousse
Sandy Bigara

1 tub Bulgarian yogurt
1 ramekin of fresh cream - whipped until stiff peak - set aside.
6 frozen strawberries - stalks removed.
2 teaspoons sweetener (I used Xylitol)
100's & 1000's

Liquidise yogurt, sweetener and strawberries until smooth. Fold in whipped cream. Spoon the mousse into ramekins (makes 4) and top with 100' & 100's (or any cake toppers)

Please note: The Photograph is not my own, but most closely resembled what I made. The photo comes from a blog with Tonnes of gorgeous recipes! Please click on the following link and visit HEALTHY RECIPES BLOGS for more recipes and tips for healthy cooking :)  

Recipe Mediterranean Inspired Roti

Mediterranean Inspired Roti
Sandy Bigara

Filling:
2 tablespoons Everfresh's Greek/Basil pesto
1 large leek chopped
1/2 Head broccoli
1 small onion
1 ramekin full raw shoots
1 small potato - mashed

Roti (or a thicker pancake)
Hummus

Topping:
Crumbled Feta
Rocket

Method:
1) Fry up onion, leek, broccoli and shoots in a small pot with a dash of olive oil. Add pesto when the veg looks softer.
2) In a separate pot cook the potato and mash it. Add the mash to the veg pot.
3) Smear 1 tablespoon of hummus onto a warm roti, top with hot veg, followed by fresh crisp rocket salad, crumble feta over the rocket and serve.
The taste will be warm, rich and flavourful thanks to the gorgeous pesto (you can use whichever pesto you love - just be generous!) Our two small children gobbled theirs up with lots of 'yummy' and 'wow nice!' comments from them. All in all, a nice tasty vegetarian option - and also a non-curry roti option for those who do not enjoy hot spicy foods. I will make this again!

HELP! Missing In Sydney

"Hi Everyone, could all my friends in Australia, New Zealand, Asia and America please share this photo. This is my brother Jonathan and we haven't heard from him for 5 months now. The last time anyone heard from him he was in Sydney. Also anyone that knows someone that is Traveling or lives in these places could they please share too. It would be very much appreciated, thank you :-)"

Kate Ansell


http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152040823596277&set=a.10152040826851277.1073741825.670611276&type=1&relevant_count=1
Regards,

Sandy Bigara
www.sandybigara.com

The Barefoot Music Festival And My Latest Track

I'll be performing tomorrow at the SPCA PMB Barefoot Music Festival - try to pull in if you can! There will be some amazing performers and I will be on at 11am xx The aim is to raise fund for our furry friends and make some epic music as well! 

To hear my latest offering on Soundcloud, a golden-oldie romantic 'jazzy' number - click HERE :) 

To see the poster and information for the SPCA PMB Barefoot Music Festival, click HERE

09.00 - 09.30      Di Veness

09.40 - 10.10      Summer du Preez

10.20 - 10.50      Gareth Mare

11.00 - 11.30      Sandy Bigara

11.40 - 12.10      Quinton Tarr

12.20 - 12.50      Byron Love

01.00 - 01.30      Marcelles Raman

01.40 - 02.10      New artist

02.20 - 02.50      Super Llama

03.00 - 03.30      Undivided Roots (or Steve Fataar)

03:30 - onwards  Steve Fataar, FireTree...

Have a safe Saturday night and  a wonderful Sunday everyone! 

South African Doctors To Be Told Where To Work

"President Jacob Zuma has quietly signed into law sections of the National Health Act that can prevent doctors and other health professionals opening private practices where they choose to."

"There are about 70000 dieticians, specialists, GPs, physiotherapists and occupational therapists who would all need certificates to open a new practice in private. The department is not geared for this kind of [action]." As of April 2016, any Health Professional without a 'certificate of need' will face up to 5 years in prison."

http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2014/05/23/docs-to-be-told-where-to-work

So, being the end of May, there are roughly 22 months to go.

70,000 people will need certificates in that time.

That equals 3182 approvals per month.

With 20 working days per month that would be 159.1 certificate approvals per day.

Does anyone think that the Health department can do this? Can they actually do this in time? Or will there be a mass exodus of Health Professionals leaving South Africa?

I foresee chaos. I do believe that young Doctors will leave this country, I also believe that it will deter young learners from following a career in medicine. It affects family practices. There will be bribery and corruption as Doctors with financial backing... will be 'certified' to work from more affluent areas... 

I hope from the bottom of my heart that Government see's the error here and rectifies it by amending this law. I think their sentiment is alright, but this is most definitely not the way forward.