| If you are visiting South Africa, no problem, a | | | | this pandemic is working it’s way from the |
| great holiday destination, if you are travelling | | | | politician to the street sweeper. My domestic |
| within South Africa, that’s also great, we | | | | worker overheard two nurses at a clinic discussing |
| have superb holiday destinations, comparable to | | | | how much money could be made infecting clean |
| the best in the world. So if you are reading this | | | | patients with the HIV virus, they would do it for a |
| article, perhaps for information on the 2010 FIFA | | | | small cash payment and the patient would benefit |
| Soccer world cup, don’t be alarmed, carry on | | | | for life from a state subsidy, why work after all. |
| with your plans, you will be safe and will have a | | | | Children are having children to qualify for a state |
| wonderful holiday. | | | | subsidy, corruption is rife in school feeding funds; |
| Living here is another story, on the surface it all | | | | the state pension system, an ID or drivers licence |
| looks great, deep down, at grassroots and | | | | is hardly worth the paper it’s written on, I |
| foundation level the country, the new and | | | | can buy you one tomorrow with less than R500 |
| wonderful home of the so called rainbow nation, | | | | passing hands. Rape is common, almost respected |
| the nation who helped create leaders who will go | | | | in some circles, tenders are awarded in an |
| into the annuls of history, the great Nelson | | | | incestuous manner, the local hospital (Frere - East |
| Mandela who we all respect and admire, O.R. | | | | London) awarded the laundry contract to a |
| Thambo, Steve Bhiko, a brave freedom fighter of | | | | person without a washing machine, I ask you with |
| an age long past, Chaka Zulu, king of the mighty | | | | tears in my eyes, where to next. |
| Zulu tribe, Moshesh; Piet Retief; Adam Tas; Olive | | | | I am not a professional writer, a politician, I am |
| Schreiner; Christian Barnard, Helen Suzman, great | | | | merely a person, born and raised in South Africa, |
| leaders and statesmen of a different era who | | | | as my parents and theirs were before me. I am |
| must either be turning in their graves or watching | | | | one of the people of South Africa, one of the |
| progress with disdain. | | | | rainbow people who love this country, love the |
| Let’s take a brief look at our current leaders, | | | | basic beautiful people of all colours and creed who |
| they sit back and still, yes still, believe it or not, | | | | pray and look forward to a future for our |
| blame the old “apartheid” era for poor | | | | children, I love this land, your and my land, a land |
| education, for poor hospital services, what a lot of | | | | of beauty and splendour. I am a parent, I will be |
| clap-trap, guys, that was fifteen years ago, the | | | | dead long before we reach our low point, |
| education of our children has regressed | | | | where’s that you ask? In my humble opinion |
| continuously every year for over fifteen years, | | | | at this rate it will not be dissimilar to the story of |
| we’re talking about children conceived after | | | | our neighbour Zimbabwe. As we look, study and |
| the apartheid days, after billions of Rands (yes | | | | analyse what could have been, had our natural |
| Billions) spent of corrupt arms deals. We have a | | | | wealth and intrinsic ability not been plundered by |
| President who takes adulterous relationships as | | | | the corrupt amongst us, the thieves. |
| normal practice, who thinks a shower will prevent | | | | I pray for and urge the South African populace, |
| him from being effected by the HIV or aids virus, | | | | each and every one of us, politicians included, to |
| good grief I think he has a junior school education | | | | grab the future with both hands, not to grab |
| and signs off on economic policies. The previous | | | | things that do not belong to you, we have enough |
| president ignored all the international medical | | | | of that already, but to grab the opportunity that |
| experts, delayed the use or recommendation of | | | | sits in your face, the opportunity to become the |
| ant-retroviral medicines for use by HIV positive | | | | first successful African Republic. |
| members of his electorate and recommended | | | | If you’re planning a visit, prepare yourself for |
| they eat vegetables. The members of parliament | | | | an awesome experience, exciting, beautiful, |
| who think the example set by those in England | | | | spectacular are words that come to mind. |
| recently, basically stealing from their own | | | | Don’t just come for the soccer, South |
| electorate by using state funds, or public funds | | | | African tourism offers visitors a really unique |
| for their personal use, is just fine. A Mayor (East | | | | experience including East London, the Garden |
| London/ Buffalo City) who claims to have | | | | route, Durban and Port Alfred, Cape Town was |
| entertained important clients by using her city | | | | voted as one if the top five tourism destinations |
| credit card to buy take-away chicken, our own | | | | in the world, these and many travel attractions |
| travelgate scandal where members of parliament, | | | | abound. The undercurrents don’t matter yet. |
| through a corrupt travel agent, used state funds | | | | Accommodation standards and tourist facilities can |
| to book non-work related flights. | | | | hold their own with the best in the world, |
| One could go on forever, the increase in crime | | | | obviously, as when travelling in any strange |
| levels; unemployment, the ANC who celebrated | | | | destination certain basic rules if security and |
| another obvious election victory with a party | | | | safety apply. |
| costing in excess of R1 million, sufficient to feed | | | | My advice though, don’t stay, take advantage |
| thousands of their starving electorate. | | | | of our poor economy and enjoy a low cost |
| There is an intrinsic deep seated problem in | | | | holiday and cheap beer, then head for the |
| African politics and more importantly South | | | | departure lounge at the airport…watch this |
| African politics and the public service, where a | | | | space for a few years, dear God, I hope I am |
| selfish, greedy, arrogant and inconsiderate attitude | | | | wrong. You gave us this gift, please save us from |
| is evident in most public enterprises daily and is | | | | ourselves. |
| well publicised in the press. This virus, this scourge, | | | | |