The term “revolution” has been in vogue among the new ANC leadership since the Polokwane conference in December 2007. Many of us knit our brows in shock and have often been left astonished and wondering, “What the hell are they talking about? What damn revolution?” Having listened painstakingly to the revolutionary rhetoric of the new ANC and observed political events taking shape in the country, I arrived at the conclusion that therein lies something we are not being let into. Suffer me to impart my interpretations of these recent “revolutionary” developments.
That the struggle for the liberation of the oppressed black masses was a struggle deeply rooted and inspired by socialist ideology is common knowledge. The Freedom Charter, although many in the ANC may violently contest this assertion, makes it explicit that the ideals which the liberation struggle was waged for were, among others, the socialist ideals.
There has been increasing reference within the ANC to the so-called National Democratic Revolution, which is informed primarily by the Marxist theory of national democracy and Chairman Mao’s theory of “new democracy”. According to Lenin, “without revolutionary theory, there can be no real revolutionary movement”, and thus resurgence of revolutionary rhetoric and some measure of hooliganism.
The dawn of the new democratic dispensation in 1994 was the completion of the first revolution: the bourgeois-democratic revolution, although socialist in character, was to advance capitalism. This is consistent with what former President Nelson Mandela said in 1955 at the annual congress of the ANC in Bloemfontein, that the Freedom Charter would, “… open up fresh fields for the development of a prosperous non-European bourgeois class”.
President Mbeki also in 1999 at the conference of the Black Management Forum spoke, “to the question of the challenge of the formation of a black capitalist class, a black bourgeoisie.” The president continued to state that, “the ANC would change its character once it had completed its historic mission; once the purposes for which it had been established had been accomplished.” The purpose for which the ANC was established is clearly enshrined in the Freedom Charter, which as I have already indicated, demands gradual progression towards a socialist state.
The bourgeois-democratic revolution, according to Chairman Mao, “serves the purpose of clearing a still wider path for the development of socialism”, which will be brought about by the second revolution: the proletarian-socialist revolution. This revolution would be led by the proletariat — those ordinary poor mass supporters of Cosatu and SACP — with the aim to establishing a “new democratic society” brought together by the common struggle against capitalist exploitation.
Jacob Zuma marched to Polokwane to the drum-beats of proletariat for whom he had modelled himself as their saviour and thus emerged triumphant to advance the proletarian-socialist revolution. The message to the proletariat when going to Polokwane was clear – the leadership of President Mbeki that was monopolised by the bourgeoisie had become an instrument of suppressing the basic rights of common people. And so Jacob Zuma and his henchmen emerged the leading force to advance the new democratic order.
Joe Slovo in 1988 said, “… according to these views (bourgeois-democratic) there will be time enough after apartheid is destroyed to then turn our attention to the struggle for socialism. Hence there should be little talk of our ultimate socialist objectives. The working class should not insist on the inclusion of radicals’ social measures as part of the immediate agenda because that would risk frightening away potential allies against apartheid.”
The talk of transition, largely by Gwede Mantashe, can be loosely interpreted to construe transition from the Mbeki administration to the Zuma administration (if by then he is not in orange overalls), but such transition if interpreted in line with revolutionary rhetoric can be understood to mean transition towards socialism. We have already been witness to the existence of elements of socialism in the form of nascent social appropriation of the economic means via collective ownership – the broad-based black economic empowerment. Increased legislation from employment equity to black economic empowerment has been the necessary preliminary to the eventual social appropriation of the means of production and to enable effortless transition to socialism.
Malcolm X of the Nation of Islam said, “… a revolution is bloody, … the Russian revolution was bloody; Chinese revolution was bloody; French revolution was bloody; Cuban revolution was bloody; and there was nothing more bloody than the American Revolution.”
Charmain Mao explained the hostile relationship between the revolution and counter-revolutionaries; that counter-revolutionaries may be dealt with in four ways: (1) execution, (2) imprisonment, (3) supervision, and (4) leaving at large. Stalin never hesitated to execute those who stood against the revolution by carrying out counter-revolutionary sabotage of one kind or another.
The new ANC has already identified some of the counter-revolutionaries; those who they claim are resolute in their intentions to reverse the gains of the revolution. Julius Malema of the ANC Kindergarten League, Zwelinzima Vavi of Cosatu and Buti Manamela of the Young Communist League have fired their warning shots to counter-revolutionaries and signalled their intention to take up arms and “kill”. The deputy secretary general of the MK Veterans also made their intention crystal clear, “… No Zuma, no country…”
The struggle for national liberation appears to have taken some shape that none of us ever imagined.
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73 Responses to “Decoding the revolutionary rhetoric of the new ANC”
So what you are saying is that the ANC has continually lied about its true purpose and political destination? That is, a one party socialist state has been its covert goal all along?
I never anticipated the current political situation at the time that I was ecstatic that Nelson Mandela was free at last.
Mbeki was the man to destroy that dream and it has been downhill ever since.
South Africa now independent, in the hands of dictators - will go the way of all African Countries and shoot itself in the foot.
It will systematically loot, destroy and neglect the capital investment of hundred of years.
The degradation is reported daily.
I am shocked and forced to admit that the dire warnings of the hated Apartheid Regime were so accurate.
The shock is that it occurred so fast that I am already desensitised to the continuum of revelations.
Here is a short extract from a detailed analysis.
The whole page is worth reading and I agree with the future projection.
Where is the Promised Land?
Stanley Uys
12 August 2008
Stanley Uys on the Zuma ascendency and the unfilled promise of the Mandela-era
“”The view from Mount Pisgah
When Nelson Mandela was South Africa’s president (1994-1999), in his all-embracing way, he calmed the country’s nerves. Some cynics said that unwittingly he had prepared the way for Mbeki’s race-obsessed regime.
He was South Africa’s prozac, infusing the three minority ethnic groups (white, coloured, Indian) with a false sense of security.
However, there is often encouragement in the past, to have a vision of the future. Martin Luther King had a dream: “He’s (God) allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land.” Nelson Mandela, too, had a dream - of a “rainbow nation” - and he failed to see it fulfilled either. He has not lost faith in it though.So, as he celebrates his 90th birthday, his dream unfulfilled,
Mandela still can say: I did not lead our people into the promised land, but it was a splendid view from Pisgah.”"
(Yes but now SO devastating to the dreamers.)
“”The question though is whether stability in a society really can be engendered by undermining its values - in this case the most fundamental one of all, the rule of law? What truly binds a nation is its “social contract” in which all its members aspire to and buy into an enduring set of principles and values that exist above any temporal concerns and individuals? This view sees South Africa’s future as drift without values; a time and place for operators, grifters, dodgers, dissemblers, hoodwinkers and, worse, the Mr. Bigs and their enforcers, and policemen looking the other way.”" Stanley Uys
Goodbye prosperous old South Africa -
Hello Zimbabwe, Cuba and all the FAILED communist REGIMES of Africa who condemned their countries to starving beggars, ridden with disease. May God watch over us as the ANC is out to eliminate everything that made us the power house of the continent.
The Giants of Russia and China have come to their senses.
Capitalist dirty money is the basis for the means to provide Socialist ideals.
Old,female,paleface on August 12th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Its difficult to see how the ANC with its legacy of being championed and led by the black bourgeoisie can somehow slowly move towards a complete socialist agenda. Its important to note that even though the Freedom Charter espoused socialist outcomes, these were only intended to unify the oppressed black people towards the achievement of a certain goal.
Again, the resurgence of the revolutionary rhetoric within the ANC and its alliance is very perculiar, seeing that the democratisation of South Africa has been achieved. The question is “what is the purpose of this new revolution?”. Who are they fighting against.
It seems quite clear that the ANC is fighting against itself. In essence the capitalists are fighting against the ‘pseudo-socialists’. Even in this very protracted scenario, the pseudo-socisalists within the ANC find themselves in a very difficult position in that they need the fruits of capitalism in order to fund and advance their socialist agenda. There can be no socialist state without the means to fund it; the people would revolt if they were not able to have their basic needs fulfilled.
It is now very important for ANC members and South African citizens at large to fight for what is right for them and for the country. The outcome of this would indeed be true democracy. The notion of Jacob Zuma by all means is very undemocratic and presumes that everyone wants JZ to lead. It has become evident that those who what JZ at the helm are pursuing their own agendas. If they would ever achieve their intentions is another question altogether.
OWEN, I don’t think we can accuse the ANC of lying to us. What we have not done was to interrogate the nature of its alliance with the SA Communist Party and the socialist ideals inscribed in the Freedom Charter.
It is obvious that when the revolution started there were pre-plans of which diretion the messiah of Parties will head to. There would have been 2 realistic options in the long-run; 1. convert to a communist party (yes, we know Zuma is one); then 2. Socio-capitalize the ANC. Now in conjunction with our choices avail., do we need/want Stalinism in our counrty, or even Leninism? Becuse there is a disinct difference between those two Revolutionaries. How will you successfully govern a counrty like this; WITH; heavy traditional values, pseudo-liberalism, multi-national individuals, poverty, general abuse of our human privileges, financial abuse, natural development as a nation and interllectual properties? I believe the Marxist concept could work, but in a modified form and we cannot run away from collating with another party to control our actions. I thought the power is for the people, not for the parties.
Very right, we cannot blame the ANC, as they did not promise us they wouldnt politically convert; for the main aim was to gaine freedom; and they delivered.
Now I believe we should have pre-analysed the primary intentions of the messiah of parties; there would have been 2 realistic options in the long run; ANC “communist” or ANC “socialist”(in conjunction with our socio-economic values and traditions)according to Marx socialism is a transition phase of capitalism and communism. Since Marx released his manifesto, everyone is improving on his (league of its own) Thesis (e.g. Lenin). Why cant they be a social capitalistic government instead, I know the Idea is challenging but in the shit-uation of SA it would be a theory that could work. Considering the greed and poverty in this counrty; it could even help maintain our tradions in regards to the village-attitude (help and be helpt). It is far fetched, yes.
Yes, let’s make role models out of Mao and Stalin, the two most tyrannical dictators in recent history. That’s smart.
Like the one representative of the free market foundation said on radio: There is simply is no excuse for this kind of economic ignorance in the 21st century.
Socialism does not work. It never has, it never will. Capitalism works. It always has, it always will. Ironic that you don’t hear the so-called anti-revolutionaries calling for people’s heads on platters. Only the socialists care enough about their fellow man to kill them for Zuma.
Here you come again with your fashionable confusion as usual - the term revolution does not necessarily refers to socialism, but to total change, emancipation, liberty and real freedom for all, particularly the oppressed. Now, in South Africa,as in during apartheid, the terms Democracy, Comdrades, Viva, Amandla,Revolution and many more were deliberately associated with terrorism out of fear of the unknown. Ironically but this legacy still find its irrelevent place in our democratic South Africa. Everytime the ANC refers to its normal expression like NDR, white liberals and you turn to imagine a pool of blood emanating from a crazy mob of uncivilized members of the ANC, forcing irrational change, forgetting that our struggle goes beyond academic fashion. You must get some life and start understanding that the ANC knew what it wanted long before you were taught how to read and write and that it has always followed a principle than what you term “rhetoric”. Our relationship with the SACP is based on the Freedom Charter,which document in essence aknowledges some good elements of capitalism as well as capitalism. The ANC aknowledges a visible fact that capitalism cannot be the answer to all questions, all the times and all the places. The same attitudes will apply to socialism. So in our scenario, you borrow what is relevent from each school of thought but concentrate on social intervention than thinking that capitalism can eradicate poverty.
Communism is so last century. I don’t suppose any of these would be communists have taken time to observe that their ideology has never had a succesful outing and that it nearly always ends in tears.
The only social system I have experienced that works extremely well is the Icelandic model but you’ll find none of the rhetoric of communism or revolution there.
Most of our ruling party have certainly embraced the more Orwellian aspects of communism…particularly the credo that reads,
‘Everyone is equal, it’s just that some of us are more equal than others’
and they certainly like their black luxury vehicles running around with high speed escorts in true Politburo style.
I find the lot of them sickening and I suspect you’d be hard pressed to find a single strand of moral or ethical fibre among the lot of them.
It is safe to say that you are unwell, madam. It is strange that a person like yourself who cannot string a single original thought can condemn a whole country and continent JUST LIKE THAT. Find the nearest head shrink and pay him/her huge amounts of money over the next 10 years or so. That’s the amount of therapy you’ll need.
There is a big difference between a socialist welfare state, and a communist one party state. Under the later everything is run as badly as Home Affairs, the Land Bank and Eskom.
Both the Russian and the French revolutions actually were revolutions by a new educated middle class, which were swamped and overtaken by a mob. Almost exactly the format of what Moeletsi Mbeki has analysed as having happened in Zimbabwe. But we are a global world now. Even one party states have to be competative.
The reason that the ANC is trying to clamp down on the media and the Scorpions has nothing to do with any ideology, and everything to do with covering up corruption.
Socialism or capitalism who cares as long it represents the majority elctorate. Mbeki’s model or Zuma’s model I choose the latter which far better than having just the DA to hold the government to account. The vulnerability of Zuma’s government lies in failing to balance the expectations of all stakeholders whether SACP, Cosatu, opposition parties or the Youth league. I find find this model better than that where ministers are degraded to president’s servants who blindly follow orders even if they go against the ANC’s constitution or very often logic. Dare I mention “beetroots” by our health minister.
I hope Zuma realizes what he is in for. There has already been a warning from Cosatu against his recent statements that there will be no change in the current government policies which is contredary to Polokwane ANC resolutions and his supporters’ vocal call for change.
Mr Diakanyo, well thought and researched viewpoint, Just pure personal views and facts no cynical clairvoyance. Maybe, this is why the ANC has always been accomodating to the Russias and Cuba’s of this world, remember former president Mandela’s backlash to the west for his cordial interactions with Cuba, he said “my friends can never be your friends and your friends can never be my friends”. Their choice of alliance partners could also be seen to be confirming Sentletse’s assertion.
But, if i may ask, is there anything particularly wrong with socialism and /or communism?
There is bound to be a revolution especially when real issues of crime, proverty, unemployment continues in this state. I am sure we all nevous about JZ and his persidency, but what we tend to forget is the legacy of his Thabo Mbeki in policy, practice and moving us towards a nation that is progressive and optimistic. As it is now, i think he has not doen a good job hence a revolution may be inevitable in the future.
Mmmm. An interesting theory.
Premeditated or not these people are using tried and tested techniques to defy the barriers (constitution, scorpions, ant-corruption legislation, etc.) put in place by themelves nogal, in their quest to acquire absolute power. That adds plausibility to your theory.
The consistency with inconsistency may well be an indication of the blueprints being dusted off and updated.
Micelle - Socialism heavily salted with capitalism works in Europe but alas, this ain’t Europe.
“Politicians by the pure nature of their work shouldn’t be allowed to exist without proper supervision.”
I wasn’t suprised to see that comments by white South Africans on this blog express dismay at the thought of a move to the left. The ANC was all right (okay, tolerable) as long as it wore capitalist-bourgeois colours, but it’s all downhill from here…going the way of Zimbabwe…such reactions are depressingly predictable. Is a liberal democracy necessarily the ideal towards which South Africa should aspire?
Nobody can look at the tripartite alliance and not detect an underlying socialist/Marxist smell. I’m surprised that that’s what is being contested here, instead of just how far left the ANC leadership is willing to take this country to appease the SACP and COSATU.
What amazes me about these so-called Socialists that infest our nation is that they all LOVE to live like good, old Capitalists…with bells and whistles!!
Sentletse Diakanyo, why ask the lady the question
(”Do you care to tell us what has deteriorated since Mbeki took over”) when you yourself already gave the answer in your “Thought Leader”? Let me quote you again:
“..the leadership of President Mbeki that was monopolised by the bourgeoisie had become an instrument of suppressing the basic rights of common people.”
Among this bourgeoisie are the “operators, grifters, dodgers, dissemblers, hoodwinkers and, worse, the Mr. Bigs and their enforcers” she referred to in the words of that prime old liberal Stanley Uys.
I rather wonder how the communists will deal with the local “bourgeois” elements in the coming years. Of course their great hero, Lenin, knew how to deal with these what he called “insects”: “shoot”, “exterminate”, “kill” were routine orders to his henchmen. My, that sounds familiar.
The problem that South Africa has been burdened with for centuries is racism. That it has seriously frustrated our development I do not think anyone can deny.
Put in simple terms racism is but one example of the wrong use of the results of categorisation.
I am quite correctly categorised as an aged, I am 69, white male, English speaking South African.
If the above correct categorisation is used as the reason for declaring me a racist it is an inappropriate and incorrect use of the results of the categorisation. I am not a racist. I have had to work hard to dislodge all sorts of prejudices, some being racial, unconsciously absorbed from my environment as I grew up. But I worked on them all because I do not want my life to be governed by prejudices least of all racist ones.
1994 saw the ending of Apartheid and it was for me like finally arriving at the pot of gold at end of the Rainbow. I thought at last racism was going to be excised from our politics and our legislation.
Under Mandela racism continued its exit from our public life. Nelson Mandela palpably values people for their own sake. He could not care whether you are black, white, pink or yellow, rich or poor, to him you are a person first and foremost.
Unfortunately under Mbeki racism in our public life has been resurrected through AA and BEE. This is an unfathomable tragedy for our beloved country and its people.
That people were damaged as people by Apartheid is absolutely undeniable but the damage was to individuals each in his or her own particular way. The damage was as the result of Apartheid policies which were racially group oriented but the damage was experienced by indidivuals. Thus the sensible way to address the damage is at an individual level not at a racial group level. To address the damage at a racial group level is but to continue with racism, i.e. the inappropriate use of the results of categorisation.
The racist way of thinking enshrined in AA and BEE has seriously retarded the development of this country. It has precipitated a mass exodus of the few skilled and experienced people that the country possessed because, due to Apartheid, they happened to be white, and as consequence public services, on which the poor in particular depend, have been badly eroded.
In my view this situation and an erroneous attributiion of it to Mbeki’s style, rather than to the consequences of the continued racism under the Mbeki regime, is what contributed to the dissatisfaction which fuelled the change of guard at Polokwane and continues to fuel the populist push for JZ to be the next president of the country.
Mis-diagnosis of the causes of a problem generally means that the proposed solutions will not solve the problem.
Let me begin with the SARS as the most efficient department in RSA. Money for government is crucial - so no expense is spared for the best brains. Congratulations….. and full stop amen.
1. Hospitals are “dying” from lack of maintenance, staff shortage crisis, lifts not working, doctors leaving, generators not working - aids epidemic rampant, babies dying and sleeping in cardboard cartons. Health Minister a drunk.
2. Education a disaster with unacceptable failure rates, under-qualified teachers, lack of equipment and teaching materials, teacher shortages, children raped and molested, children ill treated and abused by teachers. Children murdering each other on school premises.
3. Streets unmaintained or upgraded with deep dongas in Gauteng. Billions needed to repair highways.
4. Sewerage plants failing with pollution spills countrywide and children dying from polluted water.
5. SAPS has become a haven for syndicates and criminals. Not to mention the top cop.
6. Prison service corrupt with prisoner escapes normal, officials aid and abet criminals.
7. Home Affairs is a disaster zone.
8. Traffic and Licensing departments ineffective, corrupt and outright dangerous.
9. Let us not even mention ESKOM fiasco.
10. RDP houses collapsing with tender fraud.
11. Court cases continuously postponed, magistrates absent, officials corrupt.
12. Metro Cops - ja, well, no fine just pay a bribe.
13. Land Reform and Land Bank are an embarrassment and are useless state departments for cronies.
14. Social Welfare is the personal purse for its employees to enrich themselves.
15. SANDF - ask a soldier what he thinks of his force and officers.
16. SAAF is bleeding skills and will eventually be earthbound.
17. The Navy is suffering from incompetence.
18. Municipalities are failing the masses.
19. Parliament caucus up for fraud.
20. Drunk driving charges for Judges, politicians, traffic chiefs and on probation politicians.
21. Courts are flooded with bureaucrats suing, at taxpayers expense, against suspensions.
22. SABC our daily soap opera.
23. Xenophobia and brutality have made SA the new pariah on the block.
24. The spectacle of the future President dancing and singing on world screens is demeaning.
25. Vavi and Malema seem to be governing the country as they are the only Politicians making comments - with loud threatening voices.
26. Air traffic control losing crucial skilled staff.
There is much more but its past my bed time.
NPA head Mokotedi Mpshe ( ANC APPOINTEE or coconut? )
has painted a devastating picture of the horror experienced by child rape victims in SA’s justice system.
IOL asked readers: “Is the justice system a mirror of the South African society?”
Of the 469 readers who responded to our poll,
74 percent (158 votes) said ‘Yes’ and
26 percent (55 votes) said ‘No and 10 percent (46 votes).
The comments by readers of the page reflect the “degradation” of SA.
TRADERE - I thank you for supporting my back.
LEBO - your logic is correct. Sadly, you are deemed a mere coconut and your words have no relevance to the thick heads of the denialists.
ZUMA will wake up the next day and trust me - he is a man to be pitied. His Frankenstein monster is next to him - waiting, panting.
Have you witnessed hungry dogs jumping around their master expecting food? Not to mention that they unintentionally BITE the hand that holds the food.
I say - the OLD MAN will wake up to his hostage situation.
So will the rest of the gullible, hopeful population living in shanty towns, unemployed, starving.
Welcome to Zim Africa - (my new name) for South Africa. Zim’s total onslaught of the border will increase.
MK - You are correct. The ANC is to reap the devastation of indoctrinating angry citizens to MAKE THE COUNTRY UNGOVERNABLE.
Unmet false promises and daily DEGRADATION, which will be blamed on USA, UK, white, etc, etc, will not be believed by the mobs.
Old,female,paleface on August 13th, 2008 at 7:40 am
WHAT DID I JUST SAY ? My fellow citizens never fail me.
THE Scorpions are run by the British intelligence service, MI5, and by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), a public hearing into the disbanding of the elite crime- fighting unit was told yesterday.
This startling revelation was made by Sam Kikine, head of the International Traditional and Medicine Research Council, at the KwaZulu-Natal public hearings on the disbanding of the National Prosecuting Authority’s Directorate of Special Operations — the Scorpions. In his testimony at the Umlazi indoor sports complex, Kikine said: “Why have the Scorpions not investigated [chemical warfare expert] Wouter Basson and the CIA, who have created this Aids? “The Scorpions are working for MI5 and the CIA and not for South Africa.”
Old,female,paleface on August 13th, 2008 at 7:47 am
Here we go again. The old discredited ‘ Two Stage Theory’ on the agenda again. Sentletse Diakanyo, what ever Mbeki praise singing you dress up as argument is transparent. Whilst in exile, Mbeki was a SACP member, for they carried the purse. ANC politics goes by its p[roper name…. OPPORTUNISM.
So, Sentletse how do you convince the majority of people who seem happy with the current status quo (if we are to believe your previous postings) to join the revolution.What levels of education do people need before they get the irrestible urge to join the revolution. Or are you just accusing south africans of sheep mentality. Is it not true that no revolution will ever take place without favourable conditions, like corruption, poverty, incompetency, nepotism, racism,elitism etc. Could it be that the tsotsis are part of the revolution?
Sentletse like I always maintained in your blog debates that Mbeki’s expiry date has been drawn and cast in stone. I would like to know if you have commenced on the process of identifying your next godess to worship?
Despite your eloquent and articulate writing skills, your South African perspective defines logic espacially in the eyes of the struggling poor of this country. I am certain most of us share your fantasies but reality is that we have not moved an inch in turning around the living conditions of these people as matter of fact we have gone backwards. For evidence let’s arrange a tour to several squater camps around Jo’burg my brother and while at it we could inerview a few people from these places to evaluate our perspectives on Mbeki’s. Well I already know as I am a train commuter.
OLD FEMALE, PALE FACE, I agree SA has it’s own problems, like any other country, but I’m flabbergasted that you deliberately ommitted to mention these achievements:
1.The number of ‘dollar millionaires’ in South Africa has increased from less than 25,000 in 2004 to over 55,000 in 2007, according to the World Wealth Report.
2.According to the World Pay Report, South African managers are earning disposable incomes that are higher than those in many developed countries.
3.Johannesburg ranks 2nd among countries from Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa in dealing with urbanisation and environmental challenges, in the MasterCard Insights Report on Urbanisation and Environmental Challenges.
4.South Africa was ranked as the 18th most attractive destination for Foreign Direct Investment by global strategic management consulting firm AT Kearney.
5.21 South African beaches were awarded Blue Flags, an international indicator of high environmental standards for recreational beaches in 2007.
6.South Africa is ranked 20th out of a total of 128 economies in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2007, ahead of many developed nations, including, the United States (31), Switzerland (40), Austria (27) and France (51).
7.South Africa ranks 57th out of 157 countries in the world in terms of economic freedom, ahead of Italy (64), Brazil (101), the United Arab Emirates (63), Greece (94th), India (104th) and China (126), according to the Index of Economic Freedom 2007
8.The black middle class grew by 30% in 2005, adding another 421,000 black adults to SA’s middle-income layer and ramping up the black population’s share of SA’s total middle class to almost a third, according to the Financial Mail. Between 2001 and 2004, there were 300,000 new black entrants to the middle class.
9.South Africa ranks in the top four countries worldwide in terms of the transparency surrounding its budgets - ahead of the US, Norway and Sweden - according to the Open Budget Index.
10.South Africa is ranked 35th out of 178 countries for ease of doing business - ahead of Spain, Brazil and India - according to Doing Business 2008, a joint publication of the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation.
11.The Johannesburg Stock Exchange was the 7th best performing stock market in 2005, according to the World Federation of Exchanges.
12.Home ownership in SA has increased from 64% (5,12m households) in 1994 to 78% (7,9m households) in 2006, according to a South African Advertising Research Foundation development index
13.Pretoria has the second largest number of embassies in the world after Washington, D.C.
14.In 2005, interest rates were at a 25-year low.
15.South Africa accounts for almost 45% of the GDP of the entire African continent, with an economy three times the size of the second biggest (Egypt).
16.According to the Economic Freedom of the World 2005 Annual Report, South Africa ranks 38th out of 127 countries in terms of ecomomic freedom, tied with France and ahead of Israel, India, Italy, China, Brazil and Russia.
17.The rand, the world’s most actively traded emerging market currency, has joined an elite club of 16 currencies - the Continuous Linked Settlement (CLS) - where forex transactions are settled immediately, lowering the risks of transacting across time zones.
18.The South African Rand was the best performing currency against the US Dollar between 2002 and 2005, according to the Bloomberg’s Currency Scorecard.
19.South Africa’s per capita GDP, corrected for purchasing power parity, positions the country as one of the 50 wealthiest in the world.
20.South Africa is the best-ranked country in terms of price stability, our fiscal policy is ranked 11th, our international trade competitiveness 21st, and we are the 28th most-attractive destination for foreign direct investment, according to the World Competiveness Yearbook 2005.
21.South African business owners of mid-size companies are the second most optimistic worldwide about their economic prospects of the year ahead, according to the annual Grant Thornton International Business Owners Survey for 2005.
22.Since 1994, 500 houses have been built each day for the poor.
23.Tax revenue in SA has increased by 220% over the past 10 years.
24.In 2005, 10 million South Africans benefited from access to social grants.
25.The number of tourists visiting South Africa has grown by 116% since 1994.
26.Over the past 5 years, Consumer Confidence in SA has improved by 43%.
27.In the global measure of women in Parliament, South Africa ranks 8th in the world.
28.Of the 10 LSM levels ( LSM1=poorest; LSM10 wealthiest ), the average SA family located in LSM6.
29. Real GDP has grown since 1999, accelerating towards the end of 2006. The economy grew by 5.1% in 2007,slightly lower than the 5.4% recorded in 2006. These numbers are magical compared to those pre-1994.
30. Real per capita income (average income per person) has been rising at around 4% annually since 2004.
31. Since 2003, gross fixed capital formation has been rising and it expanded further in 2007. The increase is partly due to capital investment by government and public corporations in infrastructure development programmes. Over the past three years, investment in construction has been extremely strong as a result of large capital expenditure programmes.
32. Rising national income coupled with prudent fiscal policy resulted in further improvement in the fiscal balance, with a deficit below 1% of GDP since 2005/06. The 2007/08 budget surplus was 0.8% of GDP from 0.3% surplus in 2006/07.
33. Government debt has fallen from 43.5% of GDP in 1994 to 22.3% in 2007. This has led to low debt
servicing costs for the public sector. Revenue collection increased, while spending was controlled.
34. The bond point spread for South Africa (rate at which South Africa has to pay its creditors compared to the United States of America, USA) has been steadily falling since 2001. This shows that the risk of investing in South Africa has fallen compared to other emerging markets.
35. Black representation in the top management positions has grown, and the public sector has largely become representative of the population. Black people filled 22.2% of all top management positions and 26.9% of all senior management positions in 2006. Black representation in all senior management positions increased by 1.2% from 25.7% in 2004 to 26.9% in 2006 and increased by 8.4% from 18.5% in 2000 to 26.9% in 2006, indicating a slow but steady growth performance.
36. The rate of unemployment has fallen since 1994, as the number of jobs created started to outstrip the growth of the labour force. Currently at 23%.
37. The Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) is implemented across four sectors: infrastructure, environment and culture, social and economic. From 2004 to the end of 2007, the EPWP has created over 950 000 temporary work opportunities. Of those who have benefited thus far, 48% are female and 37% young people.
38. Using various income poverty measures, the number of people living in poverty has declined especially between 1999 to 2007.
39. Poverty gap - P1 measures how far below a poverty line the income of an average poor person is. Using a R250 per month poverty line, the IES data shows that in 1995 the average poor person’s income was 12% below the poverty line, while in 2005 the depth of poverty had been reduced almost by half.
40. As of 2007, the Millennium Development Goal of halving the proportion of people without sustainable access to an improved water source was surpassed and access at the level of Reconstruction and Development Programme standards stood at 87.2%.
41. The provision of sanitation services started from a very low base of 50% of all households in 1994 and significant progress has been made to the current 73% in 2007.
42. The estimated number of households with access to electricity has increased from 4.4 million households in 1994 to 8.8 million in 2007.
43. Land restitution is a critical component of Government’s land reform process. By the end of 2007/08, 74 747 claims were settled involving more than 1.4 million beneficiaries. The rate at which claims are settled has slowed down considerably from 2006/07 to 2007/08 due to the complex nature of the remaining 4 949 claims which are primarily rural-based.
44. A cumulative total of 2.3 million hectares has been distributed since 1994.
45. Malnutrition - there is a decrease from 2001 to 2007 in the number of children with a weight less than 60% of their estimated ‘normal’ weight for age.
46. Immunisation coverage has been one of the most notable successes of the government’s commitments.
47. Compared to the steep rise in the rate of infection in the 1990s, the rate of prevalence has been levelling off and can be seen as indicative of the positive effect of prevention programmes. The rate of increase of HIV prevalence in the total population is also slowing down.
48. Education - Between 1994 and 1999, the senior certificate pass rate fluctuated between 58% and 47%. After 1999,it improved substantially, reaching 73% in 2003. The period between 2004 and 2007 has seen a slight drop in the pass rate each year. This decline may be related to rising standards in the quality of exams relative to preparedness of learners to write these exams.
49. Adult literacy - From 2002 there has been a steady annual increase in the literacy rate and by 2006, 74% of adults were literate.
Diakanyo,your analysis is based on false premises.
I agree that Vavi and Malema have said what they have said and that it is immoral and undemocratic and wrong.
Vavi comes from Cosatu and probably the UDF. he was never an ANC theoretician about the struggle in the ANC.Malema was in nappies in 1986; and had no influence whatsoever in that regard.
Mao Tsetung, Malcolm X were never part of the ideoligical discourse in the ANC. The SACP was a Marxist-Leninist movement within the ANC-SACP Alliance.I dont know if you know about Dialectical Materialism and the social theory of Antonio Gramsci then you could be much nearer to the thinking within the ANC.
Maoism was the ideological seedbed of Mugabe’s ZIPRA. There is no ANC strategic meeting where Maoism was used or even borrowed from. To use Malcolm X to explain an ANC position is intellectual dishonesty; Malcolm dealt with issues of racism within the American imperialist system.
Vavi and Cosatu should be held accountable to the strategic document adopted by the ANC in Harare in 1989 known as “The Conference for a Democratic Future in South Africa.” They were part of the deliberations and signatories to the document which gave birth to the Kempton Park negotiations.
I am not intimidated by a group of “misled” 4000+ delegates in Polokwane who claim to represent 40 million South Africans. having said that lets analyse things within perspective, and needless to say Diakanyo there is a lot of catching up reading you need to do.
The Harare conference convinced whites and others that it was worthwhile talking to the ANC because the future was not rigidly drawn in black and white read: socialism.
My greatest regret is that in the absence of a genuine debate on issues and facts; “Thought Leader” becomes just another mediocre website. No wonder it attracts pseudo-intellectuals who parade their so-called “problems” in South Africa. Take that away from them they become who they really are uneducated, bigoted, racist whites who applaud every black fool who has his facts the wrong way.
I am still waiting for a real analysis of vavi and Malema. Perhaps “Thought Leader” must ask for my input.
The Bobster: In my comment(quote):” I believe the Marxist concept could work, but in a modified form”
Now you tell me, which political concept has worked to a hundred percent, regardless of the location of the to govern country, in the long run that is? Do you think it is safe to say socialism won’t work. And I quote again:”It is far fetched, yes”; “Why cant they be a social capitalistic government instead, I know the Idea is challenging but in the shit-uation of SA it would be a theory that could work”
SA is a very complicated counrty (compared to the rest of the world, I know Europe and other counrties have their own individual differences), but have you concidered that in the high of communismus and socialismus, that those concepts of governing were applied in bordered counrties somewhat equivalent if not bigger than the size of south africa now (incl. poverty)? Fact is that the size of the to govern counrty is very relevant and has to be one of the “number one” priorities (besides socio-economic values, issues, history…etc)when thinkin of which theory in relation to what political direction the ruling party will head for. I am sure the ANC have considered all of that a LONG time ago, mainly the size and population and thats why SACP probably exsists. And another fact is the the apartheid regime, calcutated(or should have calculated)the after effects of their regime and what they deposited will definatly have a negative/positive outcome in future, with sureness I can say that they knew the oppression will have to end and that after the fall the economie will deteriorate. If I oppress something or someone now, what will be the outcome in the longrun??? So if the ANC applies new ways of governing in SA, believe me they have already calcutaed the outcome minimum 20 years ahead. Do you really think that these people were born yesterday?
The fact that your drawn staistics start with the number of dollar millionaires says a lot about you and your mentality. I observed your brain washed mentality in the past but this has to be the lowest. How does the number of dollar millionaires translate to improved conditions for the poor. Pay a visit to one of the gold mining towns like Welkom where infrastructure development has fallen flat despite continued high rates of gold in the international markets which drive your highly praised economic conditions and I am sure that can easily be put in percentage terms. I agree millionaires have increased at the expense of poor labourers and their families. My point is that the majority voters of this country would very much dispute what is written on your survey journals or government reports. These are the people who find themselves living in houses half the size of what we used to call match-boxes. So much for millions of houses built many of which are falling apart.
Sadly your stats do not include the number of blacks who lost their homes in the suburbs and everywhere else while you and Mbeki continue praising this struggling economy managed through misguided and illinformed policies aligned with the west and ignoring local realities.
Old,female,paleface
Do you care to tell us what has deteriorated since Mbeki took over.
Sentletse Diakanyo on August 12th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
I OBEYED YOUR COMMAND - with the list of
deterioration since Mbeki took over. Be specific when requesting anything. I am not a mind reader.
There was a time that I really enjoyed your past essays but you have jumped ship. Have you become the devil’s advocate or just baiting angry readers?
Your list of positives have a stark reality that the S.A.Communists need to face.
All the positives were possible due to CAPTILASIM funding the treasury. BEE and AFFIRMATIVE improves the upper and middle earners. Profitable companies are able to obey the law.
The deterioration is due to lack of skills driven away and incompetents messing up the works.
I am tired of this old argument - lose skills, lose capitalism and a you have a financial implosion DUE TO pending COMMUNISM. Known as capital and brain flight.
Communism is anathema to capitalism.
Socialism is preferable and could be financed PROVIDED prolific spending on overseas trips, endless parties, corruption, court cases for politicians and officials ALL looting of taxpayers money and the plethora of wastage ends - the treasury will sustain social welfare. The population will develop and thrive in being worthy citizens in a caring governance environment.
All this talk is an exercise of futility - SA is on a downhill slope and in not too many years will have the problems of Zim.
Why waste time debating the impossible dream.
Old,female,paleface on August 13th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Communism = nice idea, wrong species. Works pretty well with bees though. Hmm. BEEs.
Seriously though, Zuma, Michelle and anyone else who believe Marxism in any form will do anything but worsen an already poor situation is living in a dream world.
The very definition of junk science, Marxism only works if it can create its fictional “New Man,” a being devoid of class, race, family, personal and other loyalties. A State-controlled robot, if you will. Marx supposed that, given the right cultural environment, such a man could be created on the human “blank slate.”
Unfortunately for Marxists, and fortunately for the rest of us, humans are born with certain inherent qualities, like love for family, an urge to compete, desire to express themselves freely and so on - all the things that make us what we are. Marxism’s attempt to deny human nature and human differences in the interests of imposing “fairness” is a hideous, destructive paradox of an ideology.
If the ANC really wishes to inflict this nightmare scenario on SA, it will go down in history as a far greater evil and abuser of human rights than the Apartheid government ever was.
“The struggle for national liberation appears to have taken some shape that none of us ever imagined.”
Can’t agree with you. This is why some of us voted a vehement NO in the 1992 referendum.
Although I must agree that more than 70% of whites, generally of the pc liberal variety, never saw it coming. But why would they; to some it is more important to sprout the reigning liberal groupspeak and seem cool than actually know what is happening around them.
Well, why complain, they now have the government they deserve. Just a pity the rest of us are in the same cesspit.
Not that I want to take anything away from your writing, Sentletse. Good piece my man. You have hit the nail on the head, exactly.
Hmmmm! quite an insightful analysis…it makes me scratch my head a bit. I wish you could keep delivering these goodies.
At least you’ve managed to demonstrate three sides of the square, unlike Sentletse Diakanyo who has been ranting (for a while) about the new ANC NEC and Rev Zuma with his twisted analysis of ANC and who falls short of criticising the pipe smoking cerebral on matters of national anxiety.
We, I suppose, all know that the pipe-smoker has brought prosperity to this country during his tenure and he’s one of few successful presidents in Africa but equally, he has let us down on several matters and from time to time, we could do with knowledge of why they were failures, why he has ignored certain advices and who didn’t assist (him) to accomplish a 10/10 rating or score card.
Sentletse overlooks such side of the pipe-smoker, I wonder why.
Siphiwo Qangani with kangaroos on August 13th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Judging by the comments on here it is again the blind leading the blind.
It’s Mbeki this and Zuma that and there is NOT ONE amongst you that is able to see that the whole Mbeki/ Zuma thing is a cover up for the fact that THE ANC as a party has failed. How many times has the ANC not stated that not one member is greater than the party, Mbeki and Zuma included, and now they are trying to make it about Mbeki and Zuma, WHY?
Mbeki is the fall guy, Zuma the new chrysalis and “Hey Presto” where before there was a greedy, incompetent, failed ANC, we now have brand new hope on the horizon and just, incidentally, a brand new party, also called the ANC.
Don’t be fooled. Place responsibility where it belongs. THE ANC failed, not Mbeki. Vote for competence in the next election, not for a party or for race. It is the only way that anything will improve.
Failing that, yes, our future is communist, of the African variety, not the Marxist or Leninist or whatever theoretical rubbish sprouted so eloquently on here by our hordes of esteemed armchairs analysts. And can you not also see some Chinese in your future?
Lebo just said what came into my head when I examined those stats. The number of dollar millionaires is a complete irrelevance really in terms of the other 98% of the population if there’s been no increase or, worse, a decrease for them.
You’ve obviously been compiling them for a while, bravo. Unfortunately economic stats and quasi-stats from 2005 don’t cut it today, it’s more than halfway through 2008 and our economy isn’t the booming exciting place it was; hasn’t been certainly since the beginning of this year. Foreign investors are not getting excited about the economy generally, only specific sectors. I indirectly do a bit of work for fund managers, etc. and I have yet to see any who have mentioned SA in the last few months say anything positive at all. At best that brand of money men are ignoring us; at worst they’re turning up their noses.
“According to a new survey by the TNS Research group, 10 percent of the black middle class have had items repossessed in the past 12 months.”
They could have probably left the race marker out of that. I’d say probably 10 percent of the entire middle class have had something repo’d, pure subjective speculation of course. I’m still hanging on to my stuff for now but who knows.
@michelle. No, some of them weren’t born yesterday, but they are as stupid as if they had been.
Social welfare states are nototiously expensive to run and require a large tax base to provide the money to run them. They also require a huge, EDUCATED,INCORRUPT civil service to operate them. At present in South Africa these do not exist. Communism/Socialism have failed everywhere in modern societies. They are merely dictatorships. Western countries are by and large capitalist with a sound element of social welfare provided by the taxation of a capitalist system.
I can’t believe anyone today believes this socialist communist claptrap, outside of a few academics who have little grasp of the real world.
If the Marxist thoughts, further worked out by Mao, were something to follow, why is it that the ANC do not wake up to the fact that both the USSR and China are no longer following the original Marxist policies —OR is the new style of fatcats in Government (under whatever label you want to call it) the way forward - but at the expense of the proletariat???? (suckers)
— RORY, what solution did you have in mind for redressing injustices of aparheid? —
Apartheid created injustices but their consequences varied for different individuals.
Thus the first and most essential requirement is that solutions are not race based, they must be individual condition based.
As I said in my first comment this country and the full development of its people have been frustrated by racist thinking for centuries. You cannot cure erroneous thinking by promoting more of the same which is what AA and BEE do.
You and I are human beings first and foremost. The fact that we happen to belong to different race groups neither adds to nor detracts from that central fact because it transcends all such things.
Take disadvantage for example. Individuals are disadvantaged in all sorts of different ways.
Unfortunately many South African adults will have been disadvantaged through receiving poor schooling. The fact is that because of Bantu Education many of these folk will be black however this is no reason to restrict any remedial program to black people because there will be members of other race groups who have also been educationally disadvantaged for some or other reason.
There is absolutely no sound reason why any policy, established to help people overcome particular problems that they might have, should be raced based.
What is the point of intellectual debate about how Mugabe followed Maoism, and the ANC followed Marxism, when Maoism did not work in China, and Marxism did not work in Russia? The one producec Mao and the other Stalin!
The truth is that all communism followed the same road - work up the ignorant masses to vote for you by promising the moon. Once you have power suppress them and rule with an elite. This was the same in Russia, in China and in most of Africa.
As for Zuma. He has to promise “no change in policy” to the investors of the world or the exodus of investment will bankrupt SA. He has to promise the moon to the electorate and Cosatu or the majority (the poor) will not vote for him and he won’t get into power.
THAT by the way was why the much maligned Liberals, like Ian Smith, Helen Susman and Alan Paton, wanted a qualified franchise in African Politics - so that you at least had reached the lower middle class before you had the vote. BECAUSE the poor and illiterate will just vote for the biggest liar!
Without doubt conditions have both improved and worsened in South Africa. Lets be honest… 15 years gone, and with the mandate any new government could have, things could only but be improved for the previously disadvantaged. So to quote a long list of things that are better, are expected. To openly criticise the government for its shortcomings is where the freedom of speech holds true - and also proves the validity of democracy.
However my impressions are that journalists are continually silenced when such things are reported… and when when such reports do move into the public domain, very little is done about it. In fact old cadres end up being vindicated for their crimes, after long drawn out investigations and hearings that use up precious resources.
To be honest no politician is a saint, I don’t ever expect them to be… but crimes should be punished, and this is severely lacking in South Africa. No one, unless a political adversary, is ever really held accountable for their crimes - and please so not start a list of people who have been convicted of crimes - the words scapegoat and political foe spring to mind.
Bottom line, I am now an outside looking in to South Africa, and I am pleased that it is a nation that is no longer by a bunch of Afrikaans speaking, white racists, but my God things are deteriorating at a rapid rate in Johannesburg.
For those of you who live there, it is probably not all that noticeable - but my God have seen it.
I left South Africa in 2002, and have flown back there twice this year… so 6 years, 1 presidential term has gone by…. what do I see: smog, jammed roads, load shedding, urban decay on a level that would makes the Bronx in the 70’s look like club Med.
There is no excuses… we are nearing two decades of ANC rule… by enriching the previously disadvantage, there come the responsibility of basics… like capacity planning, civil engineering and more… leaving crime and corrupt politics out of this (although I suspect the inaction is probably based in corruption or at least the greed in taking as much money in as possible and investing as little as possible back) aside, the gross mismanagement of the country is apparent to the outsider, such as myself.
Wake up guys… use your vote, get rid of the people who quite simply are having one long party at the expense of everyone who contributes positively to South African society. Use your vote before it goes… or are votes rigged there too.
South Africa will no longer be in a productive state if things continue the way they are… it is decaying… it has a cancer, and that cancer is it local, provincial and national government.
Few other points to note: Cape Town seems fine… believe that she and Kwa Zulu Natal are the only two provinces that have some sort of alternative government… so there is a modicum of proof that a different brand of politics can yield better results (again remember I think all politicians are corrupt before we start compiling lists).
On the score of the new millionaires… the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and that thin line called middle class foots the tax bill… and sadly it is the middle class that is the minority that pays for the majority…. this is where some sort of socialism or political system would make sense… if you pay tax… you can choose who you empower to manage the expenditure of that… most millionaires don’t pay… and the easily manipulated masses don’t either.
RORY, you suggest the solution should have been “individual condition based”, but you fail to expand on practical implementation of such a solution.
What you miss to understand is that ALL black people were disadvantaged by apartheid; there that required a solution that will address the inequalities and iniquities due to apartheid. No white person can claim to have been disadvantaged by apartheid; and not to have benefited in one way or the other. Government policies at the time were favourable to the advancement to the minority interests to the detriment of the majority.
I will agree with those that claim that with all intended good; Employment Equity and BEE may not have been implemented in the manner that is should, in some instances; but we cannot in any way claim that the solution itself is inappropriate. The constitutionality of “fair” discrimination as promoted by EE and BEE cannot be contested; and you may consider such measures the “necessary evil” to bring society back to normality.
Sentletse, you surely know that there is some untruth in your absolutism? Just once, try and think outside your own personal experience.
When you can get away from needing to prove that AA and BBEE is not unfair to at least one person (whether positively or negatively), you’ll be able to progress in your this debate. While you are still tied up in the pointless need to justify your belief that in every single instance imaginable, there is always justice individually inter partes, there is no point trying to be logical.
As a question here: were all black people disadvantaged to exactly the same degree? Politically, yes, in terms of fundamental disenfranchisement. But in every other sphere? Are you absolutely sure? And did every white person in SA receive undue advantage in exactly the same manner?
It’s an intrinsically fair system when taken as a whole; it is not necessarily fair between individuals. Get over that.
Bravo! So Sentletse you are still african after all. There is still hope that your distorted view of this country and the plight of its majority voters can be refocused in the right direction.
@ Kit; it doesnt count to what degree a black person was disadvantaged, the word says it all “disadvantaged, if to 5%- or 100% doesnt matter in our society, because Blacks were deprived of their personal and intellectual development (to a certain degree, yes) but does it make it better?
Advantaged = Advantaged 5% or 100% “EGAL”, whites were advantaged PERIOT.
Whites in this country know that they are “Africans” and they don’t know how to practise any other culture but their own, which is why we a a nation. Where will you go? Back to Holland, UK, Germany??? Where? They wont want all of you there, so it is obvious that whites would rather want a SA that is based on solidarity, because now they are suffering the consequences of their forefathers and it hurts huh? At least children, mothers, fathers, possible Einstein’s…etc did not have to die in the process and who are you know WHAT we feel, all the frustation doesnt go anywhere it stays and travells with the new generation on and on.
E.g. The Jews are complaining till TODAY about “Das Deutsche Reich” and that they want compensation for their killed *ancestors* that is 63 years ago (I have to add that Jews belong to richest people in this world, I know everyone here knows that) and the Regime did hold for long and didnt kill as much indiviuals as in SA *alone*. When a black person wants compensation (i.e. BEE, AA, RDP…etc) it is pulling the “race Card” or we are told let gone by’s be gone by’s, after not even 15yrs?????…come on. And Blacks have been opressed and killed for hundreds of years, WE are REPRESENTING the whole of Africa and all potential talent that was just murdered.
@Kit: What you are asking for is something that could be answered, but doesnt have any relevance to what is really happening.
In apartheid there was alot of collateral damage (So a minority can live in luxury, blacks must be oppressed and in the process killed,), so now the implementation of BEE, AA, black parties A.N.C., SACP are literaly the same just WE dont KILL you. Where is a problem with that? There we go Capitalism, dont white people think that if more Black people(which is the majority of SA) would have a better education, it would benefit us as a nation? And there we go, whites don’t want to be categorised with black people, coz it is a step back for them as a White-global-regime.I still see white ignorance and greed.
KIT & LEBO, there is relevance for quoting the increase in number of dollar millionnaires.
Besides what Economics 101 teaches, even common sense (which is not always common among all of us) suggests that consumer spending in an economy that is not operating at optimal level can lead to aggregate macroeconomic outcomes with are positive.
Read John Maynard Keynes’ “The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money”.
Your marginal propensitty to consume increases as your disposable income rises. While Say’s Law suggests that, “supply creates demand,” in these modern times, demand does create supply. Producers of goods and services are ever trying to meeting increasing demands of consumers; that means rise in production, which should lead to more employment (that fuelling more consumer spending), and economic growth.
We have seen a correlation between rising disposable income over the last few years and economic growth; unfortunately the consequence had been rising inflation.
Actually according to De Klerk about 1 million votes WERE rigged in our first election in 1994, which meant the NP got 20% not 25% of the vote.
Michelle
If the Jews are rich now - it is from hard work. They could not have been more destitute or more broke than after the Second World War. You sound just like a Nazi.
AND there are more black capitalists in SA than white ones now.
The worms are not crawling but flying out Pandora’s Box.
The following excerpts from the
…………….mouths of politicos in person
-justifies my statement that SA is DEGRADING.
“”The criminal justice system is unacceptably dysfunctional and the “fragmented” and inadequate crime statistics do not necessarily reflect the true situation in the country,
“the government has admitted.”
Large numbers of cases went unreported because people had lost faith in the criminal justice system, while more than 50 percent of all crime scenes were currently not being combed for forensic clues.
This was revealed on Wednesday by……
Deputy Justice Minister Johnny de Lange in his recent report to the Cabinet lekgotla.”"”"
“”The Gauteng education department has kicked out the entire management of the worst-performing district in the province.
Sedibeng West’s lousy mid-year matric results and the brutality of a teacher who branded 23 kids with a hot knife prompted the department’s action.
“What happened at the school was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” …………
said the Gauteng education MEC’s spokesman, Panyaza Lesufi, pictured.
“The department has released the entire management from their duties.”
“”Moleketi……….
warned that cities would have to dig deep, and negotiate their own loans to make up the shortfall - in excess of R2-billion - for the completion of stadiums.
The amount necessary was “something to the north of R2-billion as we speak”, with figures expected to change along with the global cost of goods, he said.
But Moleketi …….
laid much of the blame squarely at the feet of the host cities, who had opted for technical and very expensive designs with “all the bells and whistles”.
He called on host cities to take responsibility for the increased costs.
Thus far, the government had spent R6-billion
……..on the construction of stadiums, the bulk of it going to contractors and the rest to professional services, the moneys spent proportional to progress at the stadiums.”"
“”Political pressure is mounting on Agriculture and Environmental Affairs MEC Mtholephi Mthimkhulu to clean up his crisis-ridden department or resign.
This comes in the wake of calls by the department’s employees………..
to the ANC to put pressure on premier S’bu Ndebele to fire the MEC amid allegations of racial discrimination and “jobs for pals” in th
“Unless we can assess the extent of the deluge left in one of the province’s most important departments, no remedial action of substance and benefit to the people of KwaZulu-Natal can take place,” ……………………said Mtshali.
He added that the ANC’s refusal to publicise the forensic report had created a sense of lawlessness and encouraged further anarchy in the department.”"
Old,female,paleface on August 14th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Sentletse Diakanyo – Please excuse my tweeting over your post.
Michelle – “Now you tell me, which political concept has worked to a hundred percent, regardless of the location of the govern to country, in the long run that is?”
Sorry. The fact is that is that I know of no government system or political ideology past or present that has ever worked in the service and to the satisfaction of the people it is ordinanced to benefit.
To create a Utopian system of governance is beyond the memes of human capability in its current form. The homo sapien species has not progressed enough and cannot in terms of the natural evolutionary processes, elicit responses that are inclusive to the aspirations of recipients. Our genomes just do not allow this to happen.
On current form though, a light form of socialism with a heavy dose of capitalism seems to keep the knives in the draw.
“”It is safe to say that you are unwell, madam. It is strange that a person like yourself who cannot string a single original thought can condemn a whole country and continent JUST LIKE THAT. Find the nearest head shrink and pay him/her huge amounts of money over the next 10 years or so. That’s the amount of therapy you’ll need.
Bonginkosi on August 12th, 2008 at 1:53 pm”"
I do not have 10 years left - any way from here on, I will let the politicians speak for me and save your sensitive soul with my “unoriginal” mind. Silly me to have said the SAAF will soon be earth bound and grounded.
Defence Minister
……..acknowledges there are only 20 pilots left (with tables)
The Minister of Defence, Mr. Mosiuoa Lekota, says the Air Force has in the past three years lost 91 pilots and 822 technicians. At present the Air Force has only 20 operational fighter pilots.
This is the answer to a question of Mr. Pieter Groenewald of the Freedom Front Plus in Parliament. {DAMN OPPOSITION!}
“It is clear that the Air Force is busy collapsing. Apart from the concern about the pilots, the true crisis is the huge number of technicians which have been lost.
Without technicians airplanes can not be ………….maintained or flown.
This is also one of the main reasons why the Cheetah fighter jets were phased out 4 years earlier than originally planned. This situation makes South Africa vulnerable against other African countries such as Zimbabwe”, Mr. Pieter Groenewald (MP), chief spokesperson on Defence for the Freedom Front Plus said.”
Michelle
“E.g. The Jews are complaining till TODAY about “Das Deutsche Reich” and that they want compensation for their killed *ancestors* that is 63 years ago (I have to add that Jews belong to richest people in this world, I know everyone here knows that)
“and the Regime did hold for long (ABOUT AS LONG AS ANC TO DATE) and didnt kill as much indiviuals as in SA *alone*.”
Good old Nazis you were OK it seems.
Refresh my memory please.
Were millions - MILLIONS? killed in SA>?
It is this theorising tendencies Sentletse that has lead this country where it is right now. We have forgoten the basics. Allleviating poverty cannot be achieved simply by leaping from the worst side of wealth continuum to the highest end. It wuold be accpetable to the poor if more of them received better houses as opposed to shacks in bricks, than to have a growing number of the dollar millionaires with no benefit to them.
Once again how does this improve the lives of the poor majority of this country? Did knowing that Patrice has achieved a dollar billionaire status benefit any of the poor out there? I like him though because after Polokwane he has assumed a low profile and you only see him in soccer games.
At least he has been able to identify something that connects him with the ordinary people of this country though they still do not benefit from his recently attained wealth status.
Old,female pale face is 76 years old. What an insensitive and spiteful comment. She is worried about her children and grandchildren!
Michelle
6 million Jews were killed. Aids denialism has caused over 2 million deaths. Deaths by the Nats were about 600 of persons detained. I don’t have the figures for battles and riots.
Lyndall says:
“Deaths by the Nats were about 600 of persons detained”
Deaths due to violent crime alone, since 1994 under the current government, are in the region of 280 000. That is not counting the millions upon millions of rapes, often of babies only a few years old. Is there even a comparison?
There’s a clear disctinction when it comes to leadership difference in the ANC - those who look to the SACP and COSATU to realise their dream of ascending the country’s rule. Was Madiba part of this shameless grouping, and is Zizi part of it? I doubt if Mboweni, Manuels, Mphahlwa are part of this clique…
And then of course, Nzimande cannot be a communist, can he? As for Vavi, leader of the capitalist- enslaved proletariat - is he communist also? VIVA ANC- SACP- COSATU!!! anyone diverting from this ideology must be eliminated, comrades! Now for the 3rd revolution, place your get- rich- quick ducks in a row and ensure they toe the line, otherwise raise Polokwane…..
@ Sentletse
As promised, my previous post, and my questions.
@ Sentletse
Please tell me how you feel that blacks were disadvantaged by “Apartheid”.
And then tell me why the Dutch, when they first landed here in the 1600s, found indigenous people who were completely illiterate and by the terms of the day, uncivilized, from what is presumably, the oldest race on earth? Note that said indigenous people had never seen a white man by that time.
The convenient scapegoat “Apartheid” officially ended 14 years ago, unofficially it ended more than 25 years ago. It took the Japanese 10 years after their almost total economic destruction after the Second World War to start dominating global trade and production worldwide, and they were still under American military rule at the time.
Similarly it took the white Afrikaner about 14 years after the virtual destruction of his whole race where 28 000 women and children and 7 000 men were murdered during the Anglo-Boer war, to be well on the way to recovery under colonial rule. Comparatively how has your race progressed since “Apartheid”? Or have you gone backwards, and why?
Eagle: The Afrikaner was in the Free State, Natal and Cape Colony as well as the ZAR - to say they were almost wiped out is a step too far
Also the japs only started dominating global trade in the late 70’s to early 80’s… the first japanese cars were only exported to the States and Europe in the late 70’s… as were the cameras and radios - sure Japan got off their arses and rebuilt their country, but the turnaround did take a few generations. Sadly I doubt ZA will be the shining beacon for Africa that it still has the potential to be, as African Politics have not really gained any sophistication - it merely has western ideals thrust upon, which is then leveraged and abused by those in power to justify or vindicate their actions.
Why can’t we all be honest, and just admit that tribalism ultimately is the only ‘political’ system that exists in Africa? We window dress it with words like election and democracy, but ultimately it is nothing more than a bunch of megalomaniacs and henchmen running the affairs of africa… once in a lifetime one monarch may be fairer than another.
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Sentletse Diakanyo's blogs may contain views on any subject which may upset sensitive readers. Parental Guidance is strongly adviced. He is not a journalist and his readers should not unreasonably expect balanced articles.
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So what you are saying is that the ANC has continually lied about its true purpose and political destination? That is, a one party socialist state has been its covert goal all along?
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