One for the pharmaceutical industry whom won the case against government regarding the controversial law on dispensing of medicine and the price structure of such. The Bloemfontein High Court ruled in favor of the organisation and also ordered government to all costs. Now of course our Health Department wants to take the matter to the Constitutional Court which I would think has got absolutely nothing to do with silly laws passed without proper industry consultation.

Early in the new year a concerted effort will be put behind the "Homecoming Revolution" non-profit organisations' efforts of convincing and assisting ex-South Africans to return to this country. According to an article published in the Cape Argus an extensive media campaign will be launched early next year. This is great, or is it?

The organisation will assist ex-pats with arrangements to return and will even offer a competition where you could win a trip back to this country. Great show and a good idea. Or is it? Many South Africans are still leaving the country. Many foreigners as well as ex-pats actually return to this country. Most of these ex-pats either did not find what they expected overseas or could not "cut it" wherever they went. What's the old saying about "the grass is always greener on the other side" because of the brown stuff? People leave with high expectations only to get a rude awakening once on the other side.

But who does the Home Revolution target specifically? Everybody. Whether you will "cut it" back here or not, they won't care too much about that though. Thousands of youngsters will be entering the job market next year and sad to say, there's not much prospect for white (especially male) job applicants in the South African job market. With universities turning down top performing students what option do these kids have but to look elsewhere?

BEE (Black Economic Empowerment) is a major stumbling block as well. With government "enforcing" legislation to "promote" BEE in a country where there are only a handful of suitable candidates is a joke. In the IT industry there's the ridiculous situation of government insisting that international companies comply with "equal partnership" regulations. Imagine a company like Hewlett Packard or Dell embracing BEE on such a scale that they "sell" equity to local black businesses? Ridiculous to "sell" 30% of HP to a black consortium? Not according to the ANC government! And who really benefits out of this? People like Cyril Ramaphosa and others like him.

And where does the white South African fit into the big scheme of things? Nowhere really. So why try and get these people who made a success of their lives outside our borders, come back? Beats me. Maybe they need the "real" success stories back in order to create more jobs (good idea) by starting new companies or turn bad ones around just in order to "hit" them with BEE.

Take this scenario - my "across the road" neighbour and his partner is running a little business, primarily working on bank contracts fixing fire and water damage to houses which are bonded and thus insured by the relevant bank. They've been in operation for a good number of years which shows their professionalism and competency. All the major banks now insist on an equal black partner before awarding any further contracts to this company. Their turnover isn't great but it's enough to pay the bills and the wages of the fifteen odd (primarily) black workers. What to do? Appoint a black partner (competent guys are hard to find and expensive) and you're back in business? For how long. How many black businesses are out there competing for the same contracts? Do you really have a fair chance in surviving? Don't think so. Fair? Don't think so.

And to highlight the plight of business in this situation trying to find the right partner here's a story to illustrate the "mentality" (for lack of a better word) of the majority of black South Africans -

Nelson Mandela started a yearly Christmas party at his home town of Qunu. Primarily for handing out gifts to the local children. This has grown to something much bigger where some twenty thousand people arrived last year. The organisers of this event decided to base this years (expected) attendance on the 20 000 that arrived there last year. First mistake. Mandela himself was not able to attend this year due to his son being very ill in hospital but the party must continue. Second mistake. Some 76 000 people arrived at the venue with high expectations of receiving a gift from Mandela for the kids. Needless to say, the venue couldn't handle it, the organisers couldn't handle it and even the police panicked at one stage at not being able to handle it.

A stampede followed after people got tired of queuing the whole day in the sun. Kids were abonded whilst the parents rushed forwarded with the hope of getting "something" for their children. Tear gas followed after sjamboks did nothing to improve the situation and Mandelas' soothing voice of reason was not there to calm the crowd. Only about a hundred children got what they came for. The trucks with the presents left as soon as trouble broke out and the "party" was cancelled.

I draw my own conclusions from this. This is the way it's been and will always be. During the apartheid years it took one instigator to sweep up a mob of protestors and stone throwers. And township "justice" worked on the same principles - if one decide you are guilty of a crime you will be stoned, set alight or stabbed to death before the sun sets. Guilty or not.

Is this really what an ex-pat want to come home to? Why not? After all, there are thousands of very successful black South Africans outside our borders that will contribute significantly to our economy. And the millions of white South Africans? Why not? Why should those of us who remained here suffer alone!

Now you all have a blessed Christmas and a safe holiday. Buckle up, be aware and safe. We only have one life!

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