So, the election is upon us. The DA and most of the other political parties have decided to stand together concerning the NPA decision to withdraw charges against JZ (our future president).
And what a perfect opportunity for the official opposition it was with plackards screaming "Stop Zuma". The biggest concern obviously being that the ANC should not get the 2 thirds they want. The ANC says that they've enjoyed the freedom of a 2 thirds majority and they did not change the constitution (even though they could have), so what's the problem now? Jacob Zuma for one, Julius Malema another one, and one Winnie "matchbox and tyres" Mandela.
Interesting website which is a must before the elections : see which party will do it for you!
And before you cast a vote for the ANC, remember these words -
Nelson Mandela
Recipient of the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize.
"For whenever a white man seeks to live among them as their equals they will either destroy him or devour him. And they will destroy all of his work." "Never fraternize with them as equals. Never accept them as your social equals or they will devour you. They will destroy you."
Still wondering why some blacks don't want whites in this country?
Interesting poll conducted in February this year -
April 14 2009
Eleven percent of South Africans are considering leaving the country, according to a survey published on Tuesday.
The study conducted in February by TNS Research Surveys found that 15 percent of the white population wanted to leave, compared to nine percent of black people and 12 percent of Indian, Asian and coloured correspondents.
All in all, 60 percent of citizens were confident about the future of the country, while 26 percent were negative and 14 percent unsure, TNS said in a statement.
Their survey indicated that sentiment varied considerably depending on the race of respondents, with whites, coloureds and Indians/Asians feeling far less positive about the country than black citizens.
Of those who felt pessimistic about the future, only 15 percent were black, while 48 percent were white, 42 percent of Indian or Asian origin, and 39 percent coloured.
"The much higher negativity correlates with a great lack of confidence in the current leadership - these groups are much more negative about both President Kgalema Motlanthe (approval levels average 20 percent for these three groups compared to 54 percent for blacks) and Jacob Zuma," the survey found.
Only 10 percent of whites, coloureds and Indians felt Zuma would make a good president, compared to 58 percent of black citizens canvassed.
TNS said its survey was conducted among 2 000 people in the country's seven major metropolitan areas in face-to-face interviews and had a margin of error of under 2.5 percent. - Sapa
We're waiting in anticipation and can only hope that the 16 000 South Africans 'in die buiteland' voted. I don't really care who they voted for and they might be but a drop in the bucket, as long as ti was not for the arrogant and self-proclaimed masters the ANC.
Following is an e-mail I received some time ago. The man who forwarded it to me is the franchise owner of Matrix Warehouse, the business that I run in our part of the world. The ANC should read this and learn -
Date: Sat, 03 Jan 2009
To All My Valued Employees,
There have been some rumblings around the office about the future of this company, and more specifically, your job. As you know, the economy has changed for the worse and presents many challenges. However, the good news is this: The economy doesn't pose a threat to your job. What does threaten your job, however, is the changing political landscape in this country.
However, let me tell you some little tidbits of fact which might help you decide what is in your best interests.
First, while it is easy to spew rhetoric that casts employers against employees, you have to understand that for every business owner there is a back story. This back story is often neglected and overshadowed by what you see and hear. Sure, you see me park my Subaru Outback outside. You've seen my big home at last year's Christmas party. I'm sure all these flashy icons of luxury conjure up some idealised thoughts about my life.
However, what you don't see is the back story.
I started this company 28 years ago. At that time, I lived in a 2 bedroom flat for 6 years. My entire living area was converted into an office so I could put forth 100% effort into building a company, which by the way, would eventually employ you.
My diet consisted of baked beans, stew and soup because every cent I spent went back into this company. I drove a rusty Toyota Corolla with a wonky transmission. I didn't have time to go out with women. Often times, I stayed home on weekends, while my friends went out drinking and partying. In fact, I was married to my business -- hard work, discipline, and sacrifice.
Meanwhile, my friends got jobs. They worked 40 hours a week and made a modest R50,000 a year and spent every dime they earned. They drove flashy cars and lived in expensive homes and wore fancy designer clothes. Instead of hitting the Malls for the latest hot fashion item, I was trolling through the discount store extracting any clothing item that didn't look like it was birthed in the 70's. My friends refinanced their mortgages and lived a life of luxury. I, however, did not. I put my time, my money, and my life into a business with a vision that eventually, some day, I too, will be able to afford these luxuries my friends supposedly had.
So, while you physically arrive at the office at 9am, mentally check in at about noon, and then leave at 5pm, I don't. There is no "off" button for me. When you leave the office, you are done and you have a weekend all to yourself. I unfortunately do not have the freedom. I eat, and breathe this company every minute of the day. There is no rest. There is no weekend. There is no happy hour. Every day this business is attached to my hip like a 1 year old special-needs child. You, of course, only see the fruits of that garden -- the nice house, the Subaru, the vacations... you never realise the back story and the sacrifices I've made.
Now, the economy is falling apart and I, the guy that made all the right decisions and saved his money, have to bail-out all the people who didn't. The people that overspent their pay suddenly feel entitled to the same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed a decade of my life for.
Yes, business ownership has its benefits but the price I've paid is steep and not without wounds.
Unfortunately, the cost of running this business, and employing you, is starting to eclipse the threshold of marginal benefit and let me tell you why:
I am being taxed to death and the government thinks I don't pay enough. I have Company taxes, Property taxes, Sales and Use taxes, Payroll taxes, Workers compensation, Unemployment taxes, Skills Development Taxes, Taxes on taxes. I have to hire an accountant to manage all these taxes and then guess what? I have to pay taxes for employing him. Government mandates and regulations and all the accounting that goes with it, now occupy most of my time. On Oct 15th, I wrote a cheque to the Tax Office for R288,000 for quarterly taxes. You know what my "stimulus" cheque was? Zero. Zip. Zilch.
The question I have is this: Who is stimulating the economy? Me, the guy who has provided 14 people good paying jobs and serves over 2,200,000 people per year with a flourishing business? Or, the single mother sitting at home pregnant with her fourth child waiting for her next welfare cheque? Obviously, government feels the latter is the economic stimulus of this country.
The fact is, if I deducted (Read: Stole) 50% of your pay you'd quit and you wouldn't work here. I mean, why should you? That's nuts. Who wants to get rewarded only 50% of their hard work? Well, I agree which is why your job is in jeopardy.
Here is what many of you don't understand ... to stimulate the economy you need to stimulate what runs the economy. Had the government suddenly mandated to me that I didn't need to pay taxes, guess what? Instead of depositing that R288,000 into the SA black-hole, I would have spent it, hired more employees, and generated substantial economic growth. My employees would have enjoyed the wealth of that tax cut in the form of promotions and better salaries. But you can forget it now.
When you have a comatose man on the verge of death, you don't defibrillate and shock his thumb thinking that will bring him back to life, do you? Or, do you defibrillate his heart? Business is at the heart of SA and always has been. To restart it, you must stimulate it, not kill it. But the power brokers in Government believe the poor of SA are the essential drivers of the SA economic engine. Nothing could be further from the truth and this is the type of change you can keep.
So where am I going with all this?
It's quite simple.
If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, my reaction will be swift and simple. I fire you. I fire your co-workers. You can then plead with the government to pay for your mortgage, your 4WD and your child's future. Frankly, it isn't my problem any more.
Then, I will close this company down, move to another country, and retire. You see, I'm done. I'm done with a country that penalises the productive and gives to the unproductive. My motivation to work and to provide jobs will be destroyed, and with it, will be my citizenship.
So, if you lose your job, it won't be at the hands of the economy; it will be at the hands of the politicians that swept through this country, changing its financial landscape forever. If that happens, you can find me sitting on a beach, retired, and with no employees to worry about....
Signed,
Your boss
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