Welcome to GPSA.

The Weekly update to life in post-apartheid South Africa.

Onto my favourite (and most South Africans) which is Eskom, our electricity provider.

Not based on fact, but let's have a look at the following... At the height of our "brown-outs" or share times (whatever Eskom chose to call it) our government gave some forty plus schools electricity. We know that most of our government schools cannot afford to pay for these and other services. I would guess that some 30% (conservatively speaking) of electricity usage is being pirated. And just for the fun of it Eskom sits with about 20% of total usage in arrears on their books (people who use but cannot pay).

Getting their act together they could probably already start building their new, much needed power plants. We've gone for months now without power cuts but living under the constant threat of future cuts. The big knob (and he's a knob) got a massive salary increase not so long ago and the end of the year is upon us with more bonuses to be paid to the lesser knobs in this parastatal.

Yet, our power will go up in price by no less than 45%. And this will be set for another 45% next year. Eventually we'll pay more for our power than anywhere else in the world. Which is not surprising - we're already the most expensive on telephone calls (or second to Egypt only).

It's all very nice and cosy in the meantime within the ranks of our ANC government - that's now not taking into consideration the almighty fight for power, position and self-enrichment within their own ranks. They're not bothered with the massive blunder of a couple of years ago by ignoring constant warnings from Eskom execs that we need money for power stations. They're not worried that the people are the ones now suffering because they want more and more. Us, the taxpayer pays for their electricity. Also their homes, their hundreds of thousands of Rands hotel bills, their parties, their luncheons, their cars, their food, their holidays, their medical schemes (no NHI for them thank you), their maids, their consultants, their hairdo's, their personal protection (and their cars and salaries and uniforms / clothing and accommodation etc.), and computers and property - my goodness, this list can carry on for a while yet... their gyms, their hygiene, their taxes, their court cases (no matter who's the bad guy), their parking, their transport etc. (okay, enough now!).

Think about this, more and more people are looking at alternative power sources (myself included). Let's say that 10% of the power using population start saving at least 45% and the others start cutting down drastically with some more becoming just about totally independent, how much of that 45% increase will Eskom actually put in the bank? Get the drift? It's sort of logical - more people will find another way of doing things, less people will actually be able to afford electricity and yet again more people will default on their accounts. Eventually Eskom will sit with less money than what they had before the actual increase. Ah, the light just came on didn't it? Oh, forgot... not enough money for power!

Zuma has had a meeting with the guys in charge of municipalities re. bad or no service delivery. This came a week after some people starting rioting and burning stuff down (they've had plenty practice during the apartheid years and really need the minimum to start fires) because of no service delivery or promises not kept. Now it's time this man takes control of his Eskom employees!

Read here what Mbeki (not our ex-Prez, but his brother) has to say about the ANC and what's happening in our country.

Many years ago our army worked in a similar fashion (but just the opposite) - one guy in a platoon screwed up and everybody got punished. This built comradery and character. It made the unit stronger and more tolerant of each others' faults and shortcomings. These days it seems that the one wants to rise above the other at all costs. But worse, mostly at the cost of the people who voted them into power. The people that put their trust and faith into these leaders (or so they thought). That's why we have these riots, that's why they'd rather burn down state owned property because it represents total failure - no matter that we'll have to pay to replace these again!

Remember the trains they burnt not so long ago? Because they were late. Now imagine there were no trains, what would they turn their attention to then? We have a whole generation that's lost. The ones who want and aren't prepared to give back. The ones who think society owes them a favour - and these are the same little bastards who sit in government. No wonder the next generation is already totally screwed up.

Welcome to the Malema generation.

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