Public hearing into the closure of Arlington..

Well observed Mr Freeman!

Perhaps, you will have the balls to explain to Parliament why-

1.
A white is the President of a black grooms' school?

2.
A white controls the budget?

3.
A white is bad-mouthing a black that stands up to / exposes him?

Any different from the 'apartheid' deivide and rule where some blacks are made more equal than others (those in and those out of the Groom's School)?

Your comments bring out the glaring racist in you!

Perhaps, you will be pleased to know that there are whites within the industry who supported Mr Simoto?
And, you should, like Mr Ian Jayes, have asked questions about what happened to the Grooms' Fund (circa R17-million)?

However, I will not delve into your own personal history (Government which subsidises the Grooms School via the relevant SETA and for which you are accountable to nobody!)

A veritable kettle calling the pot black?

You will definitely have your chance for your accusations and name-calling before the Commission..... to answer quite a few questions Mr Freeman!

I wish you well, Mr Freeman......
by another fool!

And to get back on topic, we were informed at a meeting with the ECGBB last Monday
that the Board have approved the application by Phumelela to amend their licence
conditions, but they will have to provide two TRACKS (not courses). There was only
a commitment to install a Polytrack, and it was not made a condition of the licence.

So as soon a s there is a second track at Fairview, Arlington is gone!

Umlilo,the answer to a couple of your questions are obvious......just not PC.

@rob faux:

Tnx.... I erred in responding!

very interesting?
Are we going to get a reply to Umlilo's questions.

Umlilo and the race card again....

John Freeman and his team should be commended for their hard work over the years, which has uplifted grooms !

Strange how some people creep out from the woodworks, jostling for position, as they get in line for a potential "job" in Racing which they hope will come about through "govt intervention" which they are suddenly baying for . Could these be the same people who put nothing other than their own CV forward to govt. , as part of their "complaint" against Racing ?

And also strange that not only the work in WP , but also the Millions spent on turning Randjes grooms hostel into a Village for grooms and the same presently being done at Vaal, goes unnoticed.

Most strange must surely be the fact that Gold Circle KZN ALWAYS escapes mention. This could surely have nothing to do with a potential "job" in Racing and which Operator is wealthier or could be forced to pay a higher salary ?

No, this is all just for the grooms..... and pigs can fly.

@LouisG:

'Strange how some people creep out from the woodworks, jostling for position, as they get in line for a potential "job" in Racing which they hope will come about through "govt intervention" which they are suddenly baying for . Could these be the same people who put nothing other than their own CV forward to govt. , as part of their "complaint" against Racing ?'

During one of my speeches (and press statements) during the struggle, I stated 'If I have a car, I want to drive it.... and if I smash it up, that's ebtirely my problem!

Not a white to not only drive my car, but also tell me where to go and ...not to go!'

Louisg, did you ever understand the impact of your mobility being restricted in the country of your birth?

Like producing a 'dompaas', being raided by Black Jacks, served with house arrest, or, to travel from KZN to Tvl... get a permit?

Or, just disappear while under detention?

Or, that you had to move aside when walking on a pavement if a white approached or came from behind?
Worse, in Bloenfontein, a black could never walk on the pavement.

And what of the curfew?

Or, you could not sit on a bench either at the bus stop or in the park?

Mr louisg, our lives were prescribed, dictated and directed by whites..... we did not struggle for this country for you and your likes who still come here cheek in jowl and hurl abuse and insults left and right!

Yet, we don't call for your blood (except the handful of extremists who / and their families suffered worse scars like being thrown off aeroplanes!).

Can you ever get that?

Political speech.... now it's the race card coupled with a historical reference to apartheid. You just dont get it, do you ? But, I think that others do..... !

"Man who looks back whilst moving forward will fall over a lot and lose direction"

Umlilo I think it is high time that somebody of your own colour takes you on. Many suffered under the old structures that you referred to and I agree maybe some more than others. However, although I am a Namibian I also studied for four years in SA and experienced the worst from 1976 till 1980. My wife is a South African and we spent time in SA. I am a colour holder for 30 years. I can assurred you that not one day have I raised the past when things were not going my way. Yes,things are not perfect in the racing world but we must work together to rectify that. Grooms accommodation is one point that irritates me but I have seen improvement over the years and I am sure there is more to come. To point fingers at each other and bring up the past will solve no problems.
I also differ with some of the things Louis and other persons on this forum say but IT IS THEIR RIGHT. You can take them on and that is also YOUR RIGHT but to bring in politics everytime. I don't no.
Enrico Junius

@Royal IQ:

Forums like this are for educating, sensitising and respect.

The politics was brought in by John Freeman's outburst againt 2 blacks who appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Commission; they said what they did. This is no different to what 2 gentlemen (inlcuding an Indian) from the Racing Association told a Parliamentary Monitoring Group a whole lot of hogwash recently (including a soccer field and race track in the E Cape area.... of which nobody has heard anything to date!).

Why did Mr Freeman not come out guns blazing against those 2?

Easier to pick on a poor black groom and a black lady he helped? Is that it?

There are white multi-millionaires marrying black women... that does not qualify them to speak on behalf of blacks; just as I wouldn't think of speaking / acting on behalf of whites.

So, marrying a South African qualifies you, with due respects, to intercept?

Besides, the problems within the horseracing industry are not restricted to grooms and a 'charlatan' black woman only!

Why raise your voice about grooms now? Where were you for the past 30 years?

Umlilo,with all due respect. I did not query your motives nor did I want to get involved in an arguement. Let me repeat. Not only on this forum, but on others , you have a tendency to play the race card. You are entitled to take issue with anybody but argue the merits and don't always bring in politics. I agree that the issue with John Freeman does involve people of colour but again argue the merits. About the issue of raising my voice now I would just like to let you now that I ,unlike some people, don't pretend that I am fighting for others but have nothing to prove.

@royaIQ:

'unlike some people, don't pretend that I am fighting for others but have nothing to prove.'

As also a San descendant probably like you, I have never pretended to be fighting for others with nothing to prove!

Politics is part and parcel of every fabric of our lives in South Africa where very little has changed since 1994, except to enrich a few blacks who have become mouthpieces of a band of capitalist elite which thrived on 'apartheid' and is now exploiting the mass again.... via BEE!

Namibia had its own struggle history which we supported and admired (SWAPO). We lost comrades there also!

We need to constantly remind all of our people of the past so that they appreciate what was brought to them by supreme sacrifices &, like true Africanists, revere their ancestors....... always!


If that not be so, down with the Voortrekker Monument and Madiba statue in Sandton Square & close Robben Island.... forthwith!

Just as much as the critics on this forum are not a handful, those amongst cadres who hold (even more extreme) views than mine are as many!

The race card will remain; especially horse -RACISM!