Comments on: South Africans and the fine art of bitching

By: Jane

Jane — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 07:29:22 +0000

Thanks Rod.

By: Clean Air

Clean Air — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:45:46 +0000

I’m not bitching just a little concerned:

(Report to Parliament. February 3, 2010).

Only 32 of the 970 sewage plants in the country are still functioning properly.

..Free State – 99% of the plants do not function properly,
..Limpopo – 95% are out of order,
..North West – all are out of order,
..Gauteng – 67% broken down,
..Mpumalanga – 90% are out of order,
..KwaZulu-Natal – 77% are out of order.
..About 3% of the plants country-wide are in good functioning condition.
(Beeld. January 28, 2010)

..When it comes to fresh water, only 30 municipalities out of 283 have the
capability to supply clean water.

By: Rod MacKenzie

Rod MacKenzie — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:23:35 +0000

Part two

To Jane – In essence in the blog I am saying moaning does not help. But your trauma and your dead friends’ family’s trauma is an entirely different matter. I have no words to say about those families and the hell they are going through right now. Respectfully, I just don’t think it is fair to read my blog in the light of tragedies like that.
Having jusy read Koos Kombuis’s Bakkies Botha blog on this site, I like to think this blog compliments it. We need more Bakkies Bothas instead of whingers and abusers of authority. That time will come. Hopefully sooner than later.
My blog, as I think are all blogs, is just designed to open up discussion and is vulnerable to all kinds of criticism., if readers wish to.

By: Rod MacKenzie

Rod MacKenzie — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:18:23 +0000

Part one

Hi again Jane – I did not read your comment properly, in fact I just flitted through all the comments this morning and somehow skipped the part where you mention the horrific death of your friend and her critically injured husband. That is horrific and seems to be an increasingly mundane part of life today. I apologise – in context – for my remarks above which must have come across as flippant and callous. I withdraw those remarks.

However. That aside.

This blog was written in the context of readers loving to follow the shenanigans of three so-called leaders of SA. It was not written in the context of the daily traumas of so many people in SA and elsewhere. Context is important. If that were not the case, then the humour of Madam & Eve, Zapiro and the recent appearanceof Koos Kombuis (most welcome) on Thought Leader etc. would also be regarded as horribly callous. That is not my context. If that were so, then it becomes ridiculous. Then every blog referring to SA I write, and the very act of drinking a latte or writing about everyday incidents, becomes a betrayal of standing up for humanity and the humane.
Whilst you or I are enjoying a drink, god knows how many people in the world at that moment in time are being murdered, raped….

By: Atlas Reader

Atlas Reader — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:50:32 +0000

What will poor old Harris do when he finally wakes up to the hard reality that all races really are NOT all happily-clappily equal, and that is precisely why some invariably cluster uptown while others inevitably accumulate in dingy downtown, no matter what their country or their history?

Constantia/Khayelitsha; Knightsbridge/Brixton; Takapuna/Otara; Manhattan/Harlem …

Probably learn how to shave his fluff, I’d guess?

By: Rod MacKenzie

Rod MacKenzie — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:15:34 +0000

Jane – I could bitch about the dozen hoops and various costs I have to go through to get permanent residence in New Zealand, but don’t However, carry on moaning about your lot. It’s clearly your preference and your choice.Hi Katman – I love Roger Waters but offhand don’t recall that track. I like the idea of a song called, “The joy of being out of range” with the lines being, “the joys of globe-trotting… and not feeling idiotically… and myopically… and autistically …. READ patriotically… required to just LIIIIVE in one country… and one tooowwn ALLLL….my life. The world’s an oyster, babyyyy…gooooo and…. exploooorre… hoo haa…” drum roll and repeat to fade.
(Dishes out “GET A LIFE” beige or grey T-shirts to detracting, whinging commentators)

Nadine – thanks . From my last two months here, and this one week now in Kiwi-land, I can only concur.

By: katman

katman — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:26:13 +0000

Hey Rod, do you know the Roger Waters song, “The bravery of being out of range”?

By: Dave Harris

Dave Harris — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:06:51 +0000

@Witbooi and Peter L
Its precisely your mindset that is the cause of apartheid and our current situation.

You guys seriously need help! I’ve been an advocate of self-help groups to overcome your apartheid indoctrination. Unfortunately there is not magic pill you can take.

By: Borris the Beast

Borris the Beast — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:30:54 +0000

@Rod MacKenzie

Re: “my next radio interview is on Radio SAfm Sunday 21st March 2PM with Karabo Kgoleng”

Thanks for warning us in advance.

Cheers
Borrie

By: Rod MacKenzie

Rod MacKenzie — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:08:48 +0000

OOOPS …. My radio interview on Radio SAfm with Karabo Kgoleng Sunday 21st March has just been changed to two PM. A “literary” talk show, ahem. I shall practise a hot potato accent beforehand for the show and fail at aping the accent miserably.