The couple's driver Mr Zola Tonga and another man, Mzwamadoda Qwabe, 26, from Khayelitsha, have since been charged with her murder. A third person, Xolile Mmgeni, 26, from Khayelitsha, is due to face court over charges including murder and "robbery with aggravating circumstances" on Thursday. The alarming fact of this whole sordid story is that all three of these South African men is that they are all card-carrying members of the ANC's Western Cape Branch, which has past links with Third Force activities to destabilise the DA held province. And the are various reports that the incident might have been pre-planned by various members at the Western Cape Branch in an attempt to cause a public relations nightmare for the Democratic Alliance leader, Helen Zille...
The Recent death of Annie Divani in Guglethu, Cape Town is a tragic sign of both age-old resentments and modern racial circumstances. A person always wonders why someone would kill the "cash-cow", so to speak, when thousands of poor poeple's livelihoods depend on it surviving. However, there are a number of factors involved that very few would notice, even if you're a South African citizen.
The South African economy and that of the Western Cape Province (Cape Town is the provincial capitol) both dearly need the revenue of international tourism and so do the millions of people living in townships like Gugulethu, Nyanga Khayelitsha, Harare, Makhaza and Langa. The African demographic of Cape Town's population is at least 65% (though that is definately going to increase once the 2011 Census is tabulated). Many of these people of living on roughly R800 per month (which normally has to feed a family of eight people) and is the equivalent of $100 American. This is barely sufficient to sustain life, nevermind maintain it, and nothing that the ANC government has tried (or promised to) in the last 16 years is going to change that reality (though the ANC really isn't trying at all)...
Why Attack, Hijack and Murder a Foreign Tourist visiting one of the townships? It's simply a case of Poverty, Greed, Avarice and ingrained Jealousy that is regularly and repeatedly aggravated by ANC Youth League Cadres, who are desperately trying to destabilise the Western Cape economy and Political Foundation ahead of the next provincial and national elections (Electioneering Nigerian/Zibabwean/Congolian Style). This can be clearly seen with regard to the recent uproar between the DA's Cape Town Council and the local residents (ANC supporters) over the question of whether it is acceptable to enclose toilets with corrugated zinc-plate (the residents roused by the ANC are demanding brick and mortar enclosures around their toilets even though they personally are more than happy to live in the zinc-plate enclosed shacks - One newspaper commented that in a disaster at least their toilets would still be standing!
It sounds so strange to anyone from outside South Africa, but locals don't expect anything less from a political party, whose Youth League anthem is "Kill the Boer", Sung by Julius Malema (Boer is the derogatory term for any European person, regardless of nationality or affliation). This aggressive anger and voilence towards any European (Tourists of any non-African grouping are also thought of as European) was also the cause for Amy Beal (Amercian Teenager) being killed only a few years after 1994 and has long been a cause for alarm in the Western Cape.
The sad fact is that no European person or Tourist is safe anywhere in Cape Town or South Africa, because the ANC-instigated campaign of violence towards Europeans (and Tourists) makes everyone a potential target and it will not change until the ANC has achieved its political aspirations of total control of South Africa's provinces. There is reports of a White Paper Policy being compiled by the ANC Caucus (governing body) that contains the ANC's plans to wrest control from the DA using any means necessary and may include using the arms caches hidden in the townships during the Liberation Struggle of the late 1980s and early 1990s, which have never been recovered...
Unless internation condemnation is placed on the ANC government to curb the actions of its Youth League and change its Policy towards Europeans (and Tourists) on a national and provincial level, there will be many more murders and attacks on Europeans (and Tourists) all over South Africa. The South African government should be held legally responsible for any attack, murder and injury of all European (and Tourist) victims of violence in South Africa! This is because the current ongoing wave of attacks on Europeans (Tourist and Local) is largely politically inspired and aggravated by racial resentment, for which the ANC government has done nothing to alleviate.
The truth is that South Africa has achieved "racial" parity, according to the international Guinea scale, and has reached the same level as Brazil, through Affirmative Action. Percentage wise, there are actually just as many Europeans that are impoverished as Africans and the fact that there is still 50% Plus unemployment amongst the Africans is due to the ANC never initiating Skills Development and Job Creation policies!
With 65% Unemployment (unofficial until the 2011 Census), Regulation of the 15 to 25 Million Illegal Immigrants and Widespread Government Mismanagement and Corruption nothing is going to change!
So What can Tourists do to protect themselves and their property while visiting in South Africa for any period of time? The following Vigilance Guidelines will definately be a major help, as they are used by the local European population:
1. Never go anywhere in a group of less than three or four at night (after sunset) and then also make use of private taxi services or transportation. (DO NOT drive on your own through any African township or "Coloured" residential area)
2. Always be aware of your surroundings (like in a conflict zone). (You MUST know what is going on around you and who is around you at all times)
3. DO NOT carry any valuables in plain sight (cellphones, etc).
4. DO NOT work with money (currency) in any open area, as you are going to be watched by several people (Usually 1/4 Coloured, 1/4 European and 1/2 African)
5. If anyone approaches you that you do not know or have some link to (ie... your tourguide or escort or hotel staff), then you MUST be on your guard, as you'll know that they have no purpose in approaching you.
6. Keep all your travel documents, money and personal details out of sight (DO NOT leave them in your hotel room). Preferably on your person in an inside pocket of your jacket.
7. Always know where the nearest police station or police officer is. (This includes security staff)
8. Do Not give money to vagrants or beggars at anytime, because it immediately makes you a target! (They use it to buy alcohol and drugs)
9. If any unknown or strange person tries to approach, you have to immediately tell them to leave you alone in a loud voice
10. ALWAYS confirm the credencials, identity and registration of all drivers and tour operators with the South African Tourist Bureau before leaving your hotel! (This is just a matter of basic safety precautions)
11. NEVER go anywhere without an accredited tourguide, especially at night and in the townships!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Barbara Hogan: Collateral Damage
Jacob Zuma reshuffled his cabinet, fine, but what did he actually achieve? Did he get rid of non-performing ministers and send a stern message to all government departments? No...
Sp what happened and why did Barbara Hogan get the axe?
Jacob Zuma organised the cabinet reshuffle while consulting with his ANC Alliance partners, like Cosatu and made sure that most of the ministers in the ANC security cluster remained safe, except for Fikile Mbalula, who conflicted with Zuma's Police minister, Nathi Mthetwa over policy implementation. All of these ministers were hand picked by Zuma and is just another case of presidential protectionism... Thabo Mbeki was very defensive of his economic cluster of minsiters. Zuma, like Mbeki, will not fire or replace any ministers in his security cluster for the same reason that he personally hand picked them.
But Zuma needs to beware of his protectionism becoming full blown nepotism, as it will irrecably damage the ANC's reputation both locally and abroad. Mbeki lost power through loosing popularity with members of the ANC caucus over his inability to acknowledge the public complaints and international pressure to take responsibility for the problems in his administration (like the raging AIDS epidemic). Zuma could also experience serious problems from being overly defensive of the mistakes and failures of the ministers in his security cluster.
And this is the painful reality behind Barbara Hogan's dismissal, as she was not connected to any of the ANC Alliance partners and also because Malusi Gigaba was wanting her postion. Gigbab has an overwhelming mountain of media scrutiny and public ridicule for the condition of his corruption riddled ministry of Home Affairs, which has a bloated unproductive administration. Gigaba has done nothing to correct these problems, nor address the issue of 15 to 25 million illegal immigrants living undocumented in South Africa and Gigaba will have to process a monolithic amount of demographic data next year (2011) when the proposed National Census occurs, which the Home Affairs ministry is completely unprepared for carrying out the Census and the subsequent activities that will result.
So why replace the well performing Barbara Hogan as the Public Enterprises minister with the imeffectual Malusi Gigaba from the Bloated Home Affairs minsitry? Simple... Barbara Hogan was too outspoken about problems in the ANC government and the changes that were needed (She was too Leftist for the Zuma lead ANC Alliance). She was too musch of an opposition and drew the wrong sort of attention to issues in the Zuma administration, which made a problem for Zuma, as she was interfering with the plans of the ANC Caucus. that was why it was better for Zuma to move Gigaba in, so that the ANC could achive its objectives onbstructed by Barbara Hogan.
What is so important about the Public Enterprises ministry? It is the ministry that organises and appoints the tenders for public projects and therefore, is a prime vehicle for the ANC government to acquire contacts and financial donations from companies that want their tenders approved. It's the Arms Deal Scandal all over again, but focussed on home ground (where there is a lot less scrutiny from the international media)!
The ANC needs a trusted person in this postion in order to manipulate the tender process and gain all of the bribes and that is why the issue of Nationalising the Mines will keep appearing in the media, as it is the nect relevant step in the plans of the ANC Caucus! The ANC Ministers and core Party members can make billions in bribes and retrospective payments (gratuity for services rendered)...
The ANC are, in effect, trying to speed up the "Gravy Train" and reap in as much as they can, which is why you will see the Security Cluster ministers involved in the NAtionalisation of the mines discussions! And you wonder why the ANC is making such a fuss about all the attention its getting and why they want to force the Media Security Bill through Parliament. It's all so bloody obvious it screams corruption!!!
Sp what happened and why did Barbara Hogan get the axe?
Jacob Zuma organised the cabinet reshuffle while consulting with his ANC Alliance partners, like Cosatu and made sure that most of the ministers in the ANC security cluster remained safe, except for Fikile Mbalula, who conflicted with Zuma's Police minister, Nathi Mthetwa over policy implementation. All of these ministers were hand picked by Zuma and is just another case of presidential protectionism... Thabo Mbeki was very defensive of his economic cluster of minsiters. Zuma, like Mbeki, will not fire or replace any ministers in his security cluster for the same reason that he personally hand picked them.
But Zuma needs to beware of his protectionism becoming full blown nepotism, as it will irrecably damage the ANC's reputation both locally and abroad. Mbeki lost power through loosing popularity with members of the ANC caucus over his inability to acknowledge the public complaints and international pressure to take responsibility for the problems in his administration (like the raging AIDS epidemic). Zuma could also experience serious problems from being overly defensive of the mistakes and failures of the ministers in his security cluster.
And this is the painful reality behind Barbara Hogan's dismissal, as she was not connected to any of the ANC Alliance partners and also because Malusi Gigaba was wanting her postion. Gigbab has an overwhelming mountain of media scrutiny and public ridicule for the condition of his corruption riddled ministry of Home Affairs, which has a bloated unproductive administration. Gigaba has done nothing to correct these problems, nor address the issue of 15 to 25 million illegal immigrants living undocumented in South Africa and Gigaba will have to process a monolithic amount of demographic data next year (2011) when the proposed National Census occurs, which the Home Affairs ministry is completely unprepared for carrying out the Census and the subsequent activities that will result.
So why replace the well performing Barbara Hogan as the Public Enterprises minister with the imeffectual Malusi Gigaba from the Bloated Home Affairs minsitry? Simple... Barbara Hogan was too outspoken about problems in the ANC government and the changes that were needed (She was too Leftist for the Zuma lead ANC Alliance). She was too musch of an opposition and drew the wrong sort of attention to issues in the Zuma administration, which made a problem for Zuma, as she was interfering with the plans of the ANC Caucus. that was why it was better for Zuma to move Gigaba in, so that the ANC could achive its objectives onbstructed by Barbara Hogan.
What is so important about the Public Enterprises ministry? It is the ministry that organises and appoints the tenders for public projects and therefore, is a prime vehicle for the ANC government to acquire contacts and financial donations from companies that want their tenders approved. It's the Arms Deal Scandal all over again, but focussed on home ground (where there is a lot less scrutiny from the international media)!
The ANC needs a trusted person in this postion in order to manipulate the tender process and gain all of the bribes and that is why the issue of Nationalising the Mines will keep appearing in the media, as it is the nect relevant step in the plans of the ANC Caucus! The ANC Ministers and core Party members can make billions in bribes and retrospective payments (gratuity for services rendered)...
The ANC are, in effect, trying to speed up the "Gravy Train" and reap in as much as they can, which is why you will see the Security Cluster ministers involved in the NAtionalisation of the mines discussions! And you wonder why the ANC is making such a fuss about all the attention its getting and why they want to force the Media Security Bill through Parliament. It's all so bloody obvious it screams corruption!!!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
G20 Meeting: Currency, Trade & Unemployment (The Comparison)
So all of the big leaders and influencial people are meeting together again is Seoul, South Korea... Whoopee Doo! They meet all the time to try bash out one economic deal or another... Usually, the Americans find someway to scuttle any chance of there being any consensus result to these conferences and I am actually for these 20 leaders getting together to resolve World problems!
However, what are the fundamental topics or issues on the Agenda of the G20 Meeting?
1. The Americans want China to let its national currency float free on the World stockmarkets with out fixing its price or limiting trading in it, as they say that it is heavuly over valued. The Americans are also clamboring for the Germans, Brazilians and Japanese to devalue their currencies, as the USA can't accept monetary protectionalism by these countries to mantain the trade deficit any more. The rest of the World is complaining about the Americans plans to dump $600 Billion into the US economy to facilitate the devaluation of the Dollar, but the other countries say that this could lead to a massive Trade War and Protectionist policies that actually worsened the effects of the Great Depression.
2. The Americans, lead by Barak Hussein Obama, want to force China, Brazil and the rest of the World to stop using the USA as a dumping ground for their national exports, as the USA is no longer capable of continuing to run up large trade deficits (Now that Enron, WolrdBank and all the other Financial Companies that burst the stockmarket value balloons are gone - "The Era of Big Business Bankrolling the American economy and World Trade is over" and the "The World and the American Public have to accept that the Wizard of Oz can not save their export trade surplus anymore, so they need to look for a new Wonderland").
3. The Citizens of several nations are complaining bitterly about the high unemployment that exists all over the World and Demand that the World leaders come up with a plan to Slash Unemployment around the World and therefor increase the National Gross Domestic Product of each country.
So what is the truth behind all of the noise?
Devaluing Currencies Doesn't necessaril;y mean that One Specific Nation's economy or the Global Economy will improve, as it doesn't in itself cause more money to circulate through the economy. It Just blows wind up the leader's backsides!
Strictly controlling Trade will not mean that One Specific Nation's Economy or the Global Economy will improve either, as it doesn't pump more money into the hands of its citizens to circulate through the economy. It just blows wind up the backsides of the Industrialists or the Venture Capitalists!
Dumping $600 Billion into the US economy will devalue the Dollar, but will not increase the amount of currency circulating through the American Economy or the Global Economy, as it is a very protectionist measure and an over-reactionary action by the American Government. It will only blow windback in the faces of the World leaders, who are trying to save their economies.
So what do we need to do?
Create More jobs and get more money into the hands of the average person on the street, so that they can spend it or save it. Which will increase the circulation of currency in the economy and through a knock-on effect, increase the national GDP, which ultimatly will mean a lot more for the country and its citizens than any currency devaluation or trade deal/ trade deficit reduction...
We can only hope that one or more of the South African government ministers actually do pay attention, in between their parties at luxury hotels and getting back to work...
However, what are the fundamental topics or issues on the Agenda of the G20 Meeting?
1. The Americans want China to let its national currency float free on the World stockmarkets with out fixing its price or limiting trading in it, as they say that it is heavuly over valued. The Americans are also clamboring for the Germans, Brazilians and Japanese to devalue their currencies, as the USA can't accept monetary protectionalism by these countries to mantain the trade deficit any more. The rest of the World is complaining about the Americans plans to dump $600 Billion into the US economy to facilitate the devaluation of the Dollar, but the other countries say that this could lead to a massive Trade War and Protectionist policies that actually worsened the effects of the Great Depression.
2. The Americans, lead by Barak Hussein Obama, want to force China, Brazil and the rest of the World to stop using the USA as a dumping ground for their national exports, as the USA is no longer capable of continuing to run up large trade deficits (Now that Enron, WolrdBank and all the other Financial Companies that burst the stockmarket value balloons are gone - "The Era of Big Business Bankrolling the American economy and World Trade is over" and the "The World and the American Public have to accept that the Wizard of Oz can not save their export trade surplus anymore, so they need to look for a new Wonderland").
3. The Citizens of several nations are complaining bitterly about the high unemployment that exists all over the World and Demand that the World leaders come up with a plan to Slash Unemployment around the World and therefor increase the National Gross Domestic Product of each country.
So what is the truth behind all of the noise?
Devaluing Currencies Doesn't necessaril;y mean that One Specific Nation's economy or the Global Economy will improve, as it doesn't in itself cause more money to circulate through the economy. It Just blows wind up the leader's backsides!
Strictly controlling Trade will not mean that One Specific Nation's Economy or the Global Economy will improve either, as it doesn't pump more money into the hands of its citizens to circulate through the economy. It just blows wind up the backsides of the Industrialists or the Venture Capitalists!
Dumping $600 Billion into the US economy will devalue the Dollar, but will not increase the amount of currency circulating through the American Economy or the Global Economy, as it is a very protectionist measure and an over-reactionary action by the American Government. It will only blow windback in the faces of the World leaders, who are trying to save their economies.
So what do we need to do?
Create More jobs and get more money into the hands of the average person on the street, so that they can spend it or save it. Which will increase the circulation of currency in the economy and through a knock-on effect, increase the national GDP, which ultimatly will mean a lot more for the country and its citizens than any currency devaluation or trade deal/ trade deficit reduction...
We can only hope that one or more of the South African government ministers actually do pay attention, in between their parties at luxury hotels and getting back to work...
Monday, November 1, 2010
Cabinet Shuffle: Service Delivery Adjustment or Political Instability?
Over the last week, President Jacob Zuma (Yes, Mr Shower-Head) has reorganised his cabinet in a relatively large game of musical chairs. However, what does this actually mean? No much, honestly...
Many people say that it is a sign of the instabile ANC alliance coming apart at the seams. Not likely, as the major cabinet posts occupied by the ANC allies are still untouched, even though they are the scene of gross incompetance and fraud! You don't even need to mention the Ministry of Sport as an example to see the validity of this...
So what really is going on in the corridors of power? A sad imitation of the Mexican Wave! As only three or four of the shuffled ministers have effectively been fired, all of the others are still there, but in different seats.
What about the cliams that the President is trying to correct Public Service Delivery problems? WELL...Only half of the ministers that have failed to achieve significant performance levels in their ministries have been fired (the others were just shifted sideways). All of the ministers who were fired are underperformers, but it is only a lame attempt at window-dressing, as there are twice as many still in office!
In summary: was it a Service Delivery Adjustment - Yes and no; was it Political Instability - Definately No; Or was it an attempt to assuage the fears of many South Africans that the Bloated Corrupt Hegemony Ruling this country is becoming completely uot-of-touch with its citizens needs - Yes, Yes & Yes...
Many people say that it is a sign of the instabile ANC alliance coming apart at the seams. Not likely, as the major cabinet posts occupied by the ANC allies are still untouched, even though they are the scene of gross incompetance and fraud! You don't even need to mention the Ministry of Sport as an example to see the validity of this...
So what really is going on in the corridors of power? A sad imitation of the Mexican Wave! As only three or four of the shuffled ministers have effectively been fired, all of the others are still there, but in different seats.
What about the cliams that the President is trying to correct Public Service Delivery problems? WELL...Only half of the ministers that have failed to achieve significant performance levels in their ministries have been fired (the others were just shifted sideways). All of the ministers who were fired are underperformers, but it is only a lame attempt at window-dressing, as there are twice as many still in office!
In summary: was it a Service Delivery Adjustment - Yes and no; was it Political Instability - Definately No; Or was it an attempt to assuage the fears of many South Africans that the Bloated Corrupt Hegemony Ruling this country is becoming completely uot-of-touch with its citizens needs - Yes, Yes & Yes...
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