What if...

What a time to be alive?! Is it because we have so much access to information and it is almost instantaneous or is the world really extremely loopy at the moment. When the so-called leader of the free world can call players who peacefully use their voice to speak for the voiceless and are called ‘sons of bitches’, yet people who light candles and engage in violence to protect a discriminatory and racist ideology statues and flag are braded ‘good people’, a world when said president is more interested in his ratings or ‘bigging up’ himself instead of sparing a thought for the lives that have been lost in many a tragedy both natural and otherwise that have befallen his people.

Yes indeed what a time? Greetings dear friends, to think this is my first post in 2017. And it is already almost mid-October, I keep asking where is this life rushing to?

Anyway, allow me to bring the conversation home a wee bit shall we. So, a little while ago I was fortunate enough to travel with Premier Zille to the land of my birth, Ghana. What a pleasant trip. How grateful i was to properly engage with this lady. Some may call me bonkers, but I have a lot of respect and admiration for this human, she not only presides over a relatively well run government, but I believe she has done a whole lot more for this land than a lot of us back seat critics have, granted the same argument may be used for Mr. Zuma and his ilk, but a stark contrast, in my humble opinion of course is that if nothing at all, her province and entities it administers, keep amassing clean audits. That in itself is a testament to her government’s ‘proper’ running of affairs in the Western Cape and her continued desire to do her best for the people.

Whilst on this trip the boss asked me, “what do you think about my tweet regarding colonialism”. Just asking that question, my opinion, in my mind was an indication that she still wasn’t convinced that what she said did not deserve the backlash it rightfully received. Yes, we have Lex coup, Beeemers, Benzs, airports, hospitals, infrastructure etc. on the continent and these are some of the remnants of colonialism. But my argument is: Was that the price to pay? Bloody expensive price if you ask me! What says that given the opportunity, and allowed an equal platform, great African leaders, the likes of Mandela, Kaunda, Nkrumah and Sankara would not have been able to implement what they saw abroad on their travels back home upon their return? Some might argue so why aren’t they being done now? To that I answer clearly we don’t have a grip on the deep effects of colonialism and apartheid in a very tribal Africa, trying to live in a democratic world. Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam may be getting it ‘right’ or have ‘gotten it right’, but the rulers that set them on that path may be seen by many to be counter democratic. A country on this continent that seems to be showing such a trajectory, particularly from the troubled past from which it has recently come, is Rwanda, but there are few opinions being bandied around about President Kgame.

Ok so back to my retort to Hells J, my answer is simple really, right or wrong, being in a position that you hold, what good would ever have come from that statement, PARTICULARLY taking into consideration that a majority of this continent and our own citizens STILL suffer the after effects of this colonialism pooh! She then thought raising the fact that half her family was unfortunately wiped out by the holocaust as a defence. Which was a great point for my argument. My argument was this, if you look at the world now, some of the most protected, powerful and richest people are Jewish, post the holocaust, Jewish people have their Promised Land, can I EVER say that “legacy of the holocaust was ONLY negative” I COULD NEVER nor would I EVER want to, because it serves no purpose. The holocaust was disgustingly despicable PERIOD!!

So now that I have laid the context for this weeks blog…I was disappointed that given this country’s state and history, someone, in so high an office doesn’t get it. Sure from the other benches, the only defence is race for all our country’s ills, but I would think that the boss at least got this one right? In as much as her party preaches an inclusive, non-racial and equal society, many members of her party don’t get it nor want to get it hence why I don’t see myself voting for the party. My argument was further strengthened when one of the members of our delegation, let’s call him Carel, with whom I struck a rapport, invited me to come shooting with him. I ain’t no shooter, but I was like cool sounds ‘lekker’, to which he responded, great we will have dogs and everything, apprehension overcame me…DOGS?! I exclaimed, to which he gleefully responded, ag don’t worry you will be ok, you don’t look like a gardener or nuffing (nothing/anything). That sheet ain’t right on many and any level... Just doesn’t get it. You don't have to be a part of the "Woke brigade" to get it do you

And that my friends is MY summation of the mindset of some (not all) of the people of this nation. The facts are land was taken from the people, and the people, unlike the USA are the majority. The people remain disenfranchised. The people have a government that is largely inept or overwhelmed, because firstly the system was set up only to cater for a tenth of the population of this nation and secondly the education offered to some of the implementers in government spheres doesn’t afford the ability to navigate this monster that lies ahead. That being said though, it is not that difficult to do the right thing and some people choose not to on many an occasion. In the event that the land be handed back to the people, I will more than likely be castrated for this, but in all likelihood the land will become largely unproductive. Even though it is the people that work these lands, their ‘masters’ have limited their capacity to only know how to work the land, and not how to access the markets into which the goods are sold or where the inputs are purchased and thus allowing them to be merely workers. But the time is coming when the people will say “I’ve taken all I can stands and I can’t stands no more” (Yes I just quoted Popeye) and who wins this situation?

Is a more positive solution not for the landowners to sell/give the land back to government and lease it back linked to a program that ensures that farm workers are upskilled and at the same time making sure that the economic welfare of the farmers are protected in some way? Everyone wins in that instance no? Perhaps I live in an utopian reality, because in as much as the land owners may currently believe they could be protected for life, no one ever saw what happened in Zim happening did they? With our unemployment levels hovering at roughly 27%, our Gini co-efficient at about 0,62 (the closer it gets to 1 the more uneven the income distribution is, ideally you want it tending towards 0). So there is wealth in the system, but in the hands of very few, I think a place like the Sweden/Denmark considered one of the more equal countries in the world, has a Gini co-efficient of 0,25. This centre cant hold for too much longer if it isn’t arrested.

A positive solution for the better of the country and all parties should be formulated. People need to stop protecting their position.

Another conversation that keeps playing itself out in my head and with anyone willing to engage is the private sector and what role they have to play in this country. Truth be told, I have very little confidence in government, whether intentionally or otherwise, we have a knack of scoring own goals that result in creating environments that diminish confidence and thus people become afraid to invest in. How do you fire your finance minister and deputy when the public and international entities see them as doing their best to hold the fiscus together. Yet don’t see it fit to reshuffle the minister of Social Development?!

Do I blame the private sector for being cautious with their cash. HELL NO, but do I want to plead with them to help us out? For sure!! Many companies are sitting on piles of cash or shipping quite a bit of money offshore into hard currency because they witness the gross and unabated mismanagement of public funds which seems to go on with gay abandon, with very little, if any recourse to persons deemed to be guilty of such behavior. Why should they invest in such an environment? Well I believe if they don’t, then it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy right? No money in the system, more unemployment, crime and civil disobedience increases. I can’t imagine wanting to participate in random acts if I am gainfully employed and through such employment I can see a better future for myself and those around me right? Government’s role in my mind is not to create employment but to create an environment where employment can be created. Sure they are failing on their part, but I believe the power of the rand and those controlling the rand can chart this government’s course. If in nothing at all pump money into schools and teachers, enterprises that will benefit your corporations. I really do believe the private sector is quite powerful in this country, but then again perhaps I live in a world of eternal bliss….far divorced from reality, but sheet it makes so much sense to me.

I look out of my window and think of how blessed we are to live in this nation and continent, so blessed with good people and resources. How easy it would be if we rather took the time to see each other rather than to see just ourselves.

Anyway, perhaps my Piscean star sign is correct, my life is but that of a dreamer…

Enjoy the rest of your week!