Public servants on strike - indefinitely

Today began what many call the biggest public sector strike in the history of South Africa.

Public Servants, including nurses, doctors, teachers, policemen went on strike today.

A media statement from COSATU says: “the unions are united in their rejection of the current [salary increase] offer of 6.0% and are resolute in our decision to embark on indefinite industrial action in pursuit of 12%.”

“Don’t send your kids to school tomorrow,” the late edition newspapers said yesterday afternoon, as I was going home.

I phoned Baby's school to find out if the strike affects teachers from private schools. The school secretary assured me it’s business as usual at the school, as the problem with government about salary increases does not apply to them.

Phew! Glad Baby's school programme remains uninterrupted. I hope no one robs us, and we don't fall sick during this time, because going to a hospital with skeleton staff just sounds scary.

WRITING NEWS: THE LIMPOPO INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES WRITER’S COMPETITION

I’ve polished a children’s story I plan to submit to the Limpopo Indigenous Languages Writer's Competition for Foundation Phase stories.

Problem is, the story should be in Sepedi, Tshivenda, Xitsonga or IsiNdebele, and I don’t speak or write any of these languages.

So I’m going to ask a friend of my sister’s to help me redo the story in one of these languages and submit it. I need to check with the competition organizers though to find out if they mind that it would be a translation of an original, unpublished story. The competition rules do not say anything about the matter.

According to the rules of the competition:

* The story must be suitable for Foundation Phase (4-9 years).
* The entries must be previously unpublished and original.
* The text must be suitable for a picture book- no illustrations necessary but suggested artwork briefs can be added.
* Easy readers with simple text.
* Length: around 600 words.
* Manuscripts must be typed in double spacing and submitted in duplicate hard copies.

Maskew Miller Longman will award R500 for the best entry in Sepedi, Xitsonga, Tshivenda and IsiNdebele.

Maskew Miller Longman will also publish the winning entries if they meet their publishing requirements. Non-winning entries may also qualify for publication.

The deadline for entries is the 27 July 2007.