Another two weeks have gone past without anything from my side. Unfortunately that's the way things go from time to time.
The international economic chaos has eventually filtered through to South Africa. Luckily our banks are in tip-top shape, even though some of the major banks have already laid off some workers.
The motor trade being the biggest 'problem'. It's our biggest employer and sales have been declining at a steady rate. Sales are down which means retrenchments. This impacts the financiers (which are the banks) and some of their staff has to go. Export orders are down and the various manufacturers who shares the ups and downs of the motor trade are all feeling the pinch.
So, at last I've become another small statistic in crime. Thought we'll get out of Johannesburg (home broken into twice up there) to escape crime. Seems to me that the heat is on in the major metropolitan areas so the criminals move out and onto the softer targets. Once you're one of the local 'clan' and have a story to tell, you get to hear all the other stories. Corrupt cops, audacious criminals and inexcusable excuses.
In Pretoria the cops investigated a case and told their buddies where the safe was and what it contained. The buddies were cops too and promptly robbed the people using their official cop vehicle and uniforms. The story was broadcasted on Carte Blanche (M-Net) this past Sunday.
Unemployment does that to some of us. Drugs does that to most of us. Unfortunately we live in a country where most civil servants don't have a clue how to do their jobs. Take home affairs. 70% of senior management failed a competency test. Of course they won't loose their jobs. That's not what the new South Africa is all about - and I agree with that in principal. Offer them jobs that they can do and fire the person who employed them. We all know that that won't happen..
So the new political party is growing by the day. More and more disgruntled ANC members are joining COPE (Congress of the people). The ANC complained about the name as it's 'taken' from a congress the ANC hosted some time ago. We'll see if the IEC (Independent Electoral Commission) will agree with them or not. Strangely enough some independent market surveys found that the ANC will have a landslide victory with the election come November 2009.
The Obama story from the US of A has ignited interest in politics worldwide. Hopefully it's a real interest and not firing the fuels of the militant few who's out to prove a point. We know from experience of intimidation and the lengths some people / organizations will go to.
Zimbabwe is now honestly and truly in ruins. We'll not even talk about the horrendous inflation rate. You just need to look at the non-existing infrastructure. With cholera (over 9 000 infected) taking it's daily toll and hundreds of Zimbabweans seeking medical help in South Africa, let's hope that we can cope.
We have a similar situation here and my guess is that it won't take long now. Since the ANC take-over in 1994 we've witnessed the steady decline in services and the deadly spike in violent crime. The watchdogs, organizations and individuals are largely ignored when voicing their concerns. Our courts are in disarray with a chief justice under investigation for trying to influence the Jacob Zuma case.
Where will it all end? This roller coaster is bound to run for a long time. Puking Luke got off on a technicality, the drunk judge and old Tony Yengeni? Who knows.
A fresh investigation is under way regarding BAE and the new fighter jets South Africa has ordered. Turns out some shady backhanders were involved with Britains' serious crime unit doing their part on the other side of the ocean. Will this one also die a slow death or will justice prevail?
Let's have your ideas -
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