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Time Management: A tool for achieving set goals.

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 05:25:07 GMT

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Time management is as old as humanity itself and yet it has not achieved much success with many people or rather it has been given little or no attention.

It is associated with words such as deadlines, schedules, priorities, time frame, time lag, appointments, closing date etc for example. Nevertheless, the importance of this essential tool to the achievement of set goals in life is questionable.

Most people believe that they have always achieved optimal level with time management, however; a handful is yet to attain maximized productivity and effectiveness with it. Many people become frustrated with a day that is unproductive while others are of the opinion that time has not been fair to them.

According to Richard Koch, “it is not that we are short of time, or even that we have too much of it. It is the way that we treat time, the way we think about it, that is the problem and the opportunity’’.

Effective time management begins from within than without. It emanates from the proper understanding of oneself. Most people understand the idea but nevertheless do not set priorities, deadlines; do not have defined goals and objective. Some have ordered their time wrongly, while a handful of others are ignorant about the idea of the management.

A research by Total Success Training Institute, UK reveals that time is uncontrollable we, can only manage ourselves and our use of it; hence time management is self management. In order to attain optimal set goals, it is essential to appreciate the techniques of time management.

Franklin Covey, Author ‘The Modern Gladiator’ emphasized the positive effect of time management on productivity, job satisfaction, self fulfilment, goal achievement and the eventual balance in every area of life. Though time management is aligned with huge benefits, to achieve appreciable success on the issue, it is important to know what aspect of our personal management need to be improved.

Some frequent occurrences or issues are responsible for reduced effectiveness in time management. It is imperative to identify these major obstacles to your time, efficiency, effectiveness and productivity.

These occurrences are referred to as’’ Time stealers’’ The following are few examples of time stealers; irrelevant phone calls, irrelevant discussions, browsing on the internet for too long, personal visitors (drop ins), procrastination and indecision, acting overloaded or incomplete information, ineffective delegation, crisis management, unclear communication, chatting on phone via text, inadequate technical knowledge, unclear objectives and misplacement of priorities, lack of planning, stress and fatigue, inability to say ‘’NO’’ cluttered desk and personal disorganization.

Ineffective time management could always leave people disorganized professionally as well as in private life. It often leads to stress, frustration, feeling of helplessness as well as feeling that there is too much to do.

It is essential to identify your values, goals and issues of high importance so that those values can help you to order your schedules accordingly. It is a simple process of ‘First things First’ as Franklin Covey entitled in one of his books. Attend to the important issues before they degenerate extremely into urgent status.

Identify your personal time stealer and define action plans to manage them. Set your goals and target plan actions to achieve them, prioritize your schedules, and set deadliness per task.

The ability to identify your goals will give you a sense of direction; people who do not have definite goals to pursue often drift personally and professionally. Planning your action steps will guide you towards achieving your goals and objectives, prioritizing your task will ensure that you are doing right things at the right time while setting deadlines will assist you in measuring the degree of achievement at intervals.

It is very important to organize your life. Understand the strategies and tools for effective time management. Personal diaries, organizers (electronic and paper), time schedulers, calendar, PDA’s are all examples of tools that can assist you to planning your activities. Some sophisticated business phones also have facilities that can assist you in scheduling effectively; however, such gadgets can only perform the functions where they are programmed as such.

The Microsoft outlook is also another tool for schedules management. Classifying your daily tasks on a “To Do” list in the order of importance is essential. It is important to distinguish between the important tasks and the less important ones. It is also necessary to differentiate assignments that must be achieved within a specific period from those that can be suspended to another time.

Such tasks should be attended to at your peak periods. This implies that you also need to identify the period that you are at your best and off peak periods. This will help you to order your schedules such that they can be attended to when they are important but not urgent. Tasks that degenerate into important and urgent status are great time issues which invariably are the stage of crisis management or emergencies.

A recent newspaper survey reveals how many people spend their first and last thirty minutes at work. It was revealed by most respondents that they spend their first and last 30 minutes at work on mostly nonproductive issues. According to H. Jackson Brown, “Don’t say you don’t have enough time.

You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Louis Pasteur, and Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo Da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein”, hence, manage your time effectively to achieve set goals and maintain good balance in your personal and professional life.

Time lost will never be regained and opportunity may come only but once. Why not start today to use your time wisely and achieve set goals. The choice is entirely yours.

Author: by Cajetan Nnaocha, lectures at the University of The Gambia.

RVTH blood recruitment programme underway

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 04:19:10 GMT

Thursday, November 27, 2008

The Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH), in collaboration with the Gambia Blood Donor Association, recently began a week-long National Blood Donor Day programme in Banjul.

Speaking at the opening ceremony held at the Banjul City Council premises on Tuesday, the deputy mayor of Banjul, Wilson Shyngle - who represented the lord mayor of Banjul Samba Faal, welcomed the voluntary blood donors and thanked them for their humanity service and courage.

Baboucarr Ngum, the RVTH public relations officer who is also the coordinator of the programme, elaborated on the importance of blood donation.
“The blood you donate may save any of your family members, friends or even your own life," Mr Ngum remarked.

Aji Rohey Njie Secka, president of the Gambia Blood Donor Association delivered the vote of thanks.

Author: by Yunus S Saliu

President Jammeh bags 3 international awards

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 04:56:06 GMT

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Thursday, November 20, 2008

Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, the president of the Republic of The Gambia, yesterday received in his office at State House in Banjul representatives of the International Parliament for Safety and Peace (IPSP), led by Dr George Raif, the ambassador of the IPSP.

Dr George Raif was at State House to present 3 international awards to President Jammeh. The awards, which include Senator for Life, Vice President for the International Parliament for Safety and Peace (IPSP) and the Honorary Degree and Academic Award for Traditional Medicine Treatment, are from the IPSP and the University of Costa Rica.

Presenting the awards to President Jammeh, Dr George Raif the ambassador of the IPSP said the two awards (Senator for Life and Vice President of IPSP) are from many African and European presidents, who decided that Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh should be honored for all his positive deeds towards the promotion of peace and safety in Africa, especially in the sub-region.

He described President Jammeh as a man of peace who has been championing peace in many African countries, with special emphasis on Guinea Bissau and Sierra Leone. He also conveyed the Costa Rica University’s special congratulatory message to President Jammeh for receiving the Senator for Life award.

Receiving the award, President Jammeh thanked the IPSP for honoring The Gambia with this great award in recognition of the service that he, the president, has rendered to humanity on behalf of the Gambian people.

“These awards would not have been possible without the full support and prayers of the Gambian people. Little did I know that what I am doing here in The Gambia is known all over the world,” President Jammeh remarked.

The Gambian leader revealed that his involvement in traditional medical treatment is not for money or fame, but instead is meant for the sake of humanity. He then recalled that when he started the HIV/AIDS treatment (the Breakthrough), many things were said all over the world and the international media came to The Gambia to cover the treatment programme.

He said despite all what was said, his treatment programme was successful. This was proven by medical laboratories that are internationally recognized. He added that the award he received from the University of Costa Rica came as a surprise to him. President Jammeh finally thanked the IPSP and the University of Costa Rica for recognizing his efforts for humanity.

Speaking earlier, Honourable Fatim Badjie-Janneh, secretary of state for Communication, Information and Information Technology, on behalf of her fellow secretaries of state thanked Dr George Raif and his colleagues for presenting the awards to President Jammeh.

SoS Badjie-Janneh also described President Jammeh as a role model for other African presidents. Dr Omar Touray, secretary of state for Foreign Affairs, also described the award as a worthwhile one and a fitting tribute to The Gambia. He thanked the IPSP for recognizing President Jammeh’s efforts in peace building in Africa.

Author: by Assan Sallah

COMMONWEALTH GAMES EXECUTIVES MEET PRESIDENT JAMMEH

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:24:35 GMT

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Wednesday, November 19, 2008

The President of the Republic of The Gambia, Alhagie Dr Yahya Jammeh, yesterday received at State House the Executive Bureau of the Commonwealth Games Federation, which comprises 71 nations in the world.

Accompanied to State House by a high powered delegation including Sheriff Gomez, the Secretary of State for Youth and Sport, their visit was meant to brief the Gambian leader on the three-day general assembly of the Federation in The Gambia.

Speaking at the meeting held at the cabinet room of State House, President Jammeh thanked the Federation for choosing The Gambia for such an important event. He told the delegation that his passion for sports is due to the fact that it is one of the pillars that ensure peace and stability in a society.
He told them that the importance of Sports cannot be overemphasized as it fosters peace, stability and understanding. “Seeing young people meet and make friends through sports is most reassuring and shows that the future of humanity is bright.

Sports is the only competition that ensures absolute peace and tolerance. It is the only competition that allows people to compete, and at the end of the day, the loser embraces the winner,” the Gambian leader observed.

“Looking at the Olympic games, I have seen humanity in its greatest diversity. People come from different corners of the earth, with diverse religions and races and stay together for days without a single incident. This is unprecedented,” President Jammeh said, adding that this goes a long way to show how significant sports is.

According to the Gambian leader, sports is another key way of eradicating unemployment as it encourages young people to be responsible. He then observed that through sports, the ideas of fair play and discipline are inculcated in the minds of young people. He added that it also teaches them to accept failure for improvement in the future.

The Gambian leader thanked the Federation for giving the country the chance to host the meeting. This is the second time it is being hosted on the continent. While assuring them of his support towards the development of sports for the purpose of nation building, President Jammeh also spoke at length about the faithfulness of Gambians to Almighty Allah, which he said is one of the reasons for the friendly nature of Gambians.

Michael Fannal, president of the Commonwealth Games Federation, hailed the Gambian leader’s commitment to the cause of sports development. The CGF president told the Gambian leader that one of their objectives for the Banjul meeting is to review the preparation of the commonwealth games.

The CGF president spoke at length about The Gambia’s hospitality, adding that since they landed on Gambian soil, they have felt at home. He acknowledged the support given by the Gambian government, adding that the country’s Foreign Affairs department has aided them very much by ensuring that visas and other facilities were available to the delegates of the 71 member countries.

Sheriff Gomez, the secretary of state for Youth and Sports thanked The Gambian leader for the visit accorded to them. SoS Gomez also spoke about the president’s keen interest in youth and sports development.

Abdou Dandeh Njie, the president of The Gambia National Olympic Committee told the delegation that The Gambia is lucky to be blessed with a dynamic leader who has real passion for sports. While acknowledging the president’s support to the National Olympic Committee, Dandeh Njie hailed him for his personal intervention in the development of Gambian sports.

In a show of appreciation for The Gambian leader’s exemplary role in the development of sports and support for the Federation, the CGF president awarded a certificate of appreciation to President Jammeh. In the same vein, the Gambian leader was also decorated with the General Assembly batch indicating his involvement in the CGF General Assembly.

Author: by Hatab Fadera

From one earth to one world!The need for sustainable development

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:53:11 GMT

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

The objective of development is to meet the needs and aspirations of the people.

Humanity has the capacity and potential to meet these needs in a sustainable manner, without exploiting or deteriorating its natural resources.

We have to meet our needs with out compromising the needs of the future generation. This is the basic principle behind sustainable development.

The earth is one; the world is not. We all depend on one biosphere for sustaining our lines, yet each community, each country strings for survival and prosperity with little or no regard for its impact on others.

Some consume the earth’s resources at a rate that would leave little for future generations while others, many more in number, consume far too little and line with the prospect of hunger, squalor, disease and early death.

This situation is much more complex as the world found itself in an interconnected economic sphere. This gave birth to translational co operations, most of which now take centre stage in the exploitation of the earth’s resources for human survival and maximisation of production, undermining their basic concept of emergence.

As the world enters a technological age that coordinates human activities, it is time to take a sober reflection on the reality of world economy so that we can pay our debt to the future generation.

Most of the earth’s resources are found in countries where poverty, disease and hunger are common phenomenon for survival while trans-national co-operations have their roots from nations that are at the core of the global economy. This uneven distribution of the world’s resources is however a natural phenomenon but its exploitation, control and management rest in the hands of humanity.

Author: DO

Who Wants Obama Dead?

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 06:09:44 GMT

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Barack Obama’s rise to the top of American politics must have taken a lot of people by surprise. Like Bill Clinton, Barack Obama has come out of relative obscurity to take the world by storm. But it is clear that he has had his eyes set for the top job all the while, if his kindergarten essay “I Want To Be President” is anything to go by. Along the way, he, like Clinton, read voraciously, studying at Columbia University and Harvard Law School, two Ivy League institutions in the United States. And when he was called upon to address the National Democratic Convention in 2006, most observers felt at the time that the young senator from Illinois was set for the big stage. In his book, The Audacity of Hope, Barack Obama relates how President George W. Bush drew him aside one day at the Oval Office and told him that he would soon be a target not only for the Republicans, but also for the Democrats. Senator Obama has surmounted the on slaught of his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, and he is on the verge of getting the better of his Republican rival for the Oval Office the irrepressible Senator John McCain.
It is his surging progress in the race to the White House that has incurred the wrath of Paul Schlesselman and Daniel Cowart, two alleged neo-Nazis hell-bent on assassinating him. Both young men are apparently racists cast in the mould of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), the notorious organisation of white men in the US who commit violent racist crimes. The KKK was dreaded in the 1960s, when it inflicted unspeakable horrors on African Americans, especially those who dared to spearhead the civil rights movement. Obama’s ascendancy is a symbolic victory of the civil rights movement over the hate represented by the KKK. This is exactly what Obama meant when he told reporters that “these kinds of hate groups” ‘had been marginalised and were not part of America’s future”.
Senator Obama represents the new America where race is of no account; he represents America’s future where character and competence will be the standard for becoming president. In this new future that will be ushered in on November 4, 2008, race will cease to matter in all facets of American life. In this new America, it will dawn on everyone that all of humanity is genetically the same; no race is genetically superior to another.
This is the new global trend, embodied in a dramatic fashion in the person of Senator Barack Obama.
In this new America, the likes of Paul Schlesselman and Daniel Cowart will be made impotent unless they change their ways and come to terms with the emerging reality of the fellowship of humanity.

“Cruelty has a Human Heart And Jealousy a Human Face, Terror the Human Form Divine, And Secrecy the Human Dress”.

Blake William

Spotlight on the Late Lalo Samateh, Journalist Per Excellence

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 07:48:56 GMT

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Hello and a warm welcome to yet another scintillating edition of Personality of the Week, your weekly column aimed at bringing prominent Gambian top notches and achievers into the limelight.

As it is always said, death can strike anyhow, anywhere and anytime. In this sense, we live in the danger of death every working moment- that is, the fact that we are alive means that we shall die someday. It is for this reason that philosophers over the ages have urged us to live each day as though it were our last day on earth.

Well, in today’s edition, we bring you the profile of a man who though has gone, his legacy will remain fresh in the minds of many people (Gambians and non-Gambians alike) and will always be a shining example of selfless service to humanity. A man who was a lot more than what he seems. He is the late Alhagie Lalo Samateh, veteran journalist at the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) whose sudden demise on Friday 17th October spread across the country. But knowing Lalo during his life- time, death has come too soon, many would have loved him to live on some more.

The late Lalo Samateh meant many and different things to many and different people. He was a father, an uncle, a brother, a journalist and an honest broadcaster. But it is in his last capacity after retiring and taken back on contract basis at GRTS that he endeared himself far more to the nation and to humanity.

He devoted his life to broadcasting, a noble profession. Doubtless, as a journalist, he must have influenced the lives of so many people who are possibly in positions of influenced and authority today. Any one who knew him will no doubt be sadden by his passing away.

Born in the year 1942, the late Lalo Samateh, a native of Salikene in the North Bank Region met his untimely death on Friday 17th October at the age of 66.

The late Lalo Samateh, who was until his demise working for the State owned GRTS radio on contract, joined GRTS in the mid 60’s from the Audit Department as a freelance announcer.

Prior to his appointment at GRTS Radio, the late Lalo Samateh distinguished himself as an ardent auditor who spent part of his life at the Audit Department.

Brought up in Banjul by the late Kebba Buya Jallow, the late Lalo served radio Gambia for so many years before returning back to the Audit Department and then back to radio Gambia again as a trainee announcer.

Few years after joining GRTS Radio, the late Lalo’s passion in the pursuit of education remained unabated. He undertook series of courses on broadcasting within and outside the country.

He was from there promoted to the rank of senior announcer before being elevated to the position of head of local language section and religious affairs.

After retiring from GRTS, the late Lalo Samateh was not left alone, as GRTS could not afford to loose him and thus took him again on contract basis up to his retirement.

His love for sharing his knowledge whenever and wherever possible brought him out of retirement. He then went back to work for Radio Gambia on contract basis until he met his untimely death.

A trained BBC journalist, the late Lalo Samateh undertook series of courses on broadcasting. He was once attached to Radio Senegal as Salesmanship.

As explained by his long time friend and colleagues at Radio Gambia, Alhagie Mansour Njie in a recent interview with The Point, the late Lalo Samateh was a patriotic citizen who is always dedicated and committed to his job. “He love everybody and he was a pious man”.

Lalo’s returning back to GRTS radio after his retirement was no doubt a well-deserved recognition of his immense contribution to humanity as a veteran broadcaster and a mentor to thousands and thousands of people even at Radio Gambia.

As one of the longest serving journalists that this country has ever produced, the late Lalo was very strategic, thoughtful, organised, compassionate, saintly, incorruptible and honest to goodness.

During his time at radio Gambia, he conducted his work diligently, upheld the dignity of the institution and led by good examples. His ability to be upright made him a role model worthy of emulation.

He will always remain a shining example of selfless service to humanity. Adieu Alhagie Lalo Samateh!

The late Lalo Samateh is survived by three wives and fourteen children.

Author: Abba Gibba & Babucarr Senghore

Source: Picture: The Late Lalo Samateh

Ambassador Jallow felicitates President Jammeh

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 08:11:09 GMT

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

In the wake of the recent Eid celebrations, marking the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan, more messages have been coming in to State House, felicitating the president of the Republic, Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, in honour of the Holy Feast.

The latest to have arrived come from the Gambia’s ambassador to The Republic of France, Moses Benjamine Jallow. Below is the full text of the message.

On this blessful occasion, when Muslims, the world over celebrate the Holy Feast of Eid Mubarak, I am honoured on behalf of my able staff and our respective families and all Gambians in the French Republic, to extend best wishes to Your Excellency, the First Family, The Government and people of The Gambia.

In spite of Your Excellency’s tasking schedules, during the period you embarked on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in a bid to pray for all and sundry, coupled with your endless courtesies to the poor and needy and for the sake of Allah. In turn we wish to join all Gambians and well wishers, in The Gambia and abroad, to ask Almighty Allah to continue to shower his richest blessings on you and to reward you accordingly for your consideration to humanity.

It is worthy to note that The Gambia as a country is blessed owing to Your Excellency’s respect and love for all peoples irrespective of religion. Muslims and Christians no doubt continue to live together in peace and harmony.

Please, accept, Your Excellency, Mr President, the assurances of our highest consideration.

Author: DO

Saboteurs of national interest

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 03:51:54 GMT

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

The idea of re-cycling used materials is born out of a pure need to enhance sustainability of natural resources for succeeding generations of humanity. It is especially important for resources that are susceptible to the depleting effect of the ever-increasing world population.

However, today, even materials that have nothing to do with natural resources are at the forefront of re-cycling activities. Metal is a typical example. Scrap metals used to be a common sight in street corners in Serekunda and its environs. But thanks to an invading army of buyers of these materials, today we hardly see them around. This is indeed a blessing, but collectors have gone beyond limits as the situation is such that scavengers of these scrap metals have now taken to the habit of ransacking other people’s properties. Valuable materials like copper wires are at the centre of this illegal trade.

The authorities at the Banjul International Airport, for instance, have a better idea as to the magnitude of this nuisance, which also threatens electricity supplies as NAWEC also suffers the same banditry. The country’s communication giant, GAMTEL, also faces a similar situation.

The situation is such that urgent action is needed now. Obviously, if there was no market, then this trade could not have been sustained. So, it becomes an obvious fact that the people responsible for buying these illegally obtained materials should be put to task, to start with.

For as far as we are aware, Gambians have not yet heard of any announcement of the existence of copper or that kind of valuable material in this country; therefore, every material of that nature in use in this country must have been brought in from outside by some establishment, and only for their own consumption of course.

It is therefore ludicrous to hear that some people sell these wires in this country. The question is: how could they have gotten them if not through theft? Something ought to be done about this; now! Members of the general community have a great role to play in helping the security personnel to track these buyers, who are nearby, on our street corners. They are mostly foreign nationals; we have absolutely nothing against peace loving foreign nationals, only that we can not condone troublemakers.

Author: DO

The Big Read: Bantu Stephen Biko

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 03:57:30 GMT

Friday, September 19, 2008

"We have set on a quest for true humanity, and somewhere on the distant horison we can see the glittering prize. Let us march forth with courage and determination, drawing strength from our common plight and brotherhood. In time we shall be in a position to bestow upon South Africa the greatest gift possible - a more human face". Steve Biko.

The above quotation from Steve Biko's essay:"Black Consciousness - A Quest for a True Humanity", perhaps encapsulates his mind frame and the role that he set himself towards the betterment of his people, given their experience, which he shared.

Bantu Stephen Biko was born in Kingwilliamstown on the 18th December 1946, the third son of the late Mr & Mrs Mzimgayi Biko.

He did his primary schooling in Kingwilliamstown. His secondary schooling was virtually all done at the Marianhill Secondary School in Kwazulu.
He entered the Medical School of the University of Natal(Black Section) in 1966. This is where he broke his political teeth.

Biko gave up what could have been a comfortable and affluent life of the stethoscope to selflessly work for the total liberation of his people.

He and his colleagues founded the South African Students' Organisation(SASO) in 1968. He was elected the first President of the organisation at its inaugural congress held at Turfloop in 1969. This organisation was borne out of the frustrations Black students encountered within the multi-racial NUSAS and geared itself at addressing those frustrations and problems of black students and black people generally.

But the black students, under his leadership, went on to further argue that they were black before they were students and argued for a black political organisation in the country. Opinion was canvassed and finally the organisation, the Black People's Convention (BPC), was founded in July 1972 and inaugurated in December of the same year.

Through his inspiration, the youth of the country at high school level were mobilised and this resulted in the formation of the South African Students' Movement (SASM). This is the Movement that played a pivotal role in the 1976 Uprisings, which accelerated the course of our liberation struggle.

The other formation was the National Association of Youth Organisations (NAYO), which catered for the youth generally.
He was instrumental in the formation of one of SASO's projects, the Black Workers' Project (BWP) which was co-sponsored by the Black Community Programmes (BCP) for which Steve worked. This project addressed problems of Black workers whose unions were then not recognised in law.

After serving as President, Biko was elected Publications Director of SASO where he wrote prolifically under the pen name Frank Talk in the SASO Newsletter.
On leaving the Medical School in 1972 - from which he was expelled, Steve joined the BCP, which he co-founded, in their Durban offices.

This organisation engaged in a number of community based projects and published a yearly, Black Review, which was an analysis of political trends in the country.

In March 1973 he was banned and restricted to Kingwilliamstown. There he set up a BCP office where he worked as a Branch Executive. But soon his banning order was amended to prohibit him from working or associating with the BCP. The BCP did well however, building a clinic, the Zanempilo Clinic, and a creche, both of which were very popular.

Despite the inconvenience brought about by the restriction order, Steve was instrumental in the founding of the Zimele Trust Fund in 1975. This was set up to assist political prisoners and their families. This was another example of the man's resolve and his indestructible black pride.

In Ginsberg, he set up the Ginsberg Educational Trust to assist black students.
In January 1977, the Black People's Convention (BPC), in recognition of his momentous contribution to the liberation struggle, unanimously elected him its Honorary President.
In his short but remarkable political life, Steve was always a target of the "system".

He was frequently harassed and detained under the country's notorious security legislation.
On the 18th August 1977, he was arrested in a police roadblock with his colleague and comrade, Peter Cyril Jones and detained under Section 6 of the nefarious Terrorism Act.

Steve and Peter had in fact been to Cape Town, despite Steve's banning, to lend their weight to efforts to get all political organisations of the people to agree to a broader programme of co-operation to advance our course. His quest for black unity was eventually to cost him his life.

That is the kind of man Steve was, no price was ever too high for him if what was asked of him was to advance the struggle.

Unfortunately, this detention rudely interrupted Steve's noble journey in his quest for a true humanity. His death in detention at the hands of the operatives of one the most savage and repressive regimes ever known to humankind, less than a month after his detention, robbed the country of one of its foremost political thinkers and analysts.

But, he did us proud as people, because even in the face of his death, he remained dignified. The man died on his feet and not on his knees as the enemy would have loved.

Author: DO