Cosatu is planning another national strike against soaring interest rates, high fuel and food prices as well as the recent spike in electricity costs.

Initially the ANC led government distanced themselves from this action, but now decided to support the action even though they will not participate in any strikes or marches. Their argument is that they are not to blame for high food and fuel prices and therefore approve Cosatus actions.

This of course have nothing to do with the general elections next year. It also has nothing to do with their increasingly unpopularity amongst their own. Or their inability to get once productive farms under past white ownership, back to providing food for the country.

The infighting, backstabbing and militant habits of the ANC today has not won them many friends. Malema and Vavi preaching death before defeat for Jacob Zuma has revealed how big a split within the ANC there is. The continued lambasting of Thabo Mbeki and the firing of his supporters from government structures has done nothing for party building. The touting of Jayzee as next president of South Africa and the constant appointment of his faithful into top structures has lifted many an eyebrow. But bulldozing ahead they are.

Years of self-enrichment, scandals, bribery and mismanagement is hopefully taking it's toll on the party. I have to admit that once upon a time, about ten years ago, we were all hopeful of a prosperous life without fear of discrimination and corruption. But our hopes were shattered piece by piece. We were exposed to all these things just as with crime, that we've become accustomed to it to such a point where we don't notice it anymore. What's another million these days anyway?

I have yet to see however, any other political party in this country that will get my full vote of confidence. The problem is that if Thabo stuck with his word of ridding the ANC government of criminals without question, we probably would've enjoyed a much richer life. But as with most politicians, they know when to say what to please the people. But as the old saying goes, you can bull some people most of the time, but not all all of the time. And this has caught up with them.

Foreign countries have lost faith in Africa as a whole. Talk talk talk with no real action. Give give give with no real result. How much longer must the outside world dance to the Mandela jive? How much longer must they empty their pockets into the African piggy bank?

African countries should learn how to become productive. They should stop their hunger for absolute power and use their combined strengths to rebuild the continent. We have the resources and we have some very clever people. The world can be our oyster with the riches in our soil.

Yet, for some reason things just don't work. I've been reading and scouring the net for the reason behind this. I found black academics criticizing and blaming their own race for the mind set that traps them. I found white racists with a totally one-sided view without justification except for placing themselves on a moral high ground. I found intricate theories but no explanations. Is this really how God created us? And if so, why?

I don't believe in evolution of man. Simple explanation - if homo sapiens came from ape, why are there still apes? If apes are two chromosomes short of the human DNA, why don't they live in my neighbourhood? Sure, everything evolves. School girls are prettier these days than in my school days, athletes are getting better and faster but real clever people are still rare.

Enough of that. I'm sure everyone has their own convictions of why and how, yet no one can really explain why rural Africans are the way they are.

Something to think about, yes?

Let's have your ideas -

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