Strikes, strikes and more strikes. Sound familiar? Yes, we're still in the middle of it. South Africa's economy hinged on raw materials mined across our landscape. Today this only represents some 3% of our foreign income. Some 80 thousand mine workers will be going on strike for two days starting Sunday.

Bus drivers have left some 60 thousand kids without transport to schools. Victims of another strike. Bus operators want more money from the Gauteng Department of Education to transport kids from rural areas to schools. The only way they know how to settle things is through striking.

Bill sent me an interesting article (strange how the 'foreigners' come up with these things) on the legacy of the African black and their governments. For years the only recourse they had was striking. First against the so-called "white regime". I was still but a "puppy" when the black population revolted against being taught Afrikaans as a compulsory subject at schools. Books were burnt and so were schools. Today we sit with a lost generation of black adults who cannot read or write because of this. And now their own elected government.

Were there some sinister forces behind this? Read the full article here, interesting stuff!

Today we see the ANC government, who were the driving force behind these revolts hopelessly lost against their own. I reckon they got a rude awakening when their voters started using these very same tactics against them - what do they say about a wheel that turns?

And there is the loan to Mbekis' friend Mugabe. Good business practice requires measurable's. If something cannot be measured, it cannot be analysed nor improved upon (in a business sense). Opposition parties are obviously dead set against this so-called "loan" which we all know Zimbabwe cannot repay. After a brief moment of sanity, the government continued with their so-called "clean-up" operation by demolishing more homes.

After the announcement last week on Zimbabwe's "deal" with China, South Africa had to step in with a bit of their own lunacy by announcing that they're quite willing to bail Zim's out. The IMF is being touted as the main reason behind this total stupidity and despite the fact that this money far exceeds what is required locally on our own housing problems (never mind the commitment from government since 1994), Mbeki will lend his friend a hand. Sounds like Shaik and Zuma all over again!

Sounds like the S.A. government is ready to push the 'self-destruct' button? It's been pressed a long time ago I'm afraid. Is there really any truth behind all these conspiracy theories about how the super powers are manipulating African governments in order to gain access to this continents' rich resources? More and more it seems so.

After the Americans withdrew from the Rhodesian war (yes, they were involved) one would think that they would still be active (publicly and more visibly) in pushing for reform. But all we hear is the occasional remark about Mugabe. Up front not much is happening, but I bet behind the scenes there are numerous plans behind made for the ultimate take-over.

In the meantime there are casualties of war.

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