There was a time in my life, in the not-so-distant past, when I used to be a very nice person. I never used to charge anyone for any services I rendered, be it writing documents or giving presentations at events. If anyone asked me to deliver a keynote address at a memorial lecture, Id spend days doing my research and preparing for it, and never once raise issues about payment. It was partly because I did not know how to charge and because I felt bad raising issues of being paid. I even did work for institutions like the NYDA and didnt charge a cent. I only asked for them to book me flights from Eastern Cape (this was in 2012 when I was doing my first year at Rhodes University) to Bloemfontein. I justified everything by saying Im doing it from the heart, so money doesnt matter. When the SRC of CPUT Bellville asked me to deliver a paper at the Sharpeville Massacre commemoration, I spent a week compiling a 20 page document, but didnt raise issues of payment because I felt that students cant be charged. I used the same argument when University of Limpopo (Turfloop) SRC asked me for a presentation last year. Worst part about this one was that I was very very sick when I delivered that lecture. I had just returned from Gambia in west Afrika with a bad virus. My skin was literally peeling off. I had a colony of pimples bleeding on my face. My friend Roleta was waiting for me at the airport in Polokwane and upon seeing me, took me to her doctor immediately, to get treated. But I still told myself: Malaika, these are students, you cant charge students, they are from a working class background. They paid for your flight and accommodation, thats enough. But these days, I simply refuse to do anything for free. I will not write a single article for any publication that wont pay me. I got spoiled by Destiny Magazine because they pay me good money for my articles. And I will not speak at any event for anything less than R2500.00, at thats the minimum. I am going through my emails and seeing many invitations to present on this topic and that, and in my head Im thinking: Okay, you will pay for my flight, accommodation and my work. I will not get out of my bed until a email with my flight ticket and confirmation of proper accommodation is sent to me, and FNB sends a message telling me that R2500.00 or more has been deposited into my account. Some of these people are going to be charged no less than R20 000.00 and its not even negotiable. At some point, I must start getting paid for this hard work I do for people. People cant be sounding key with the work I sweat for, while my dad sends me a monthly allowance. No ways. Kudala ngxuthwa maan, moer!
Posted on: Thu, 23 Jan 2014 18:06:57 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015