South Africa being wasted in broad daylight

Twenty five years into the new constitution and what do we have: more homeless, destitute, hungry, sickly, unemployed, criminals, and the most damaging of all - which is now the ruling party m.p's national pastime/sport - corruption!

It is synonymous with most of the 'liberated countries in Africa, and one can only wonder if this is seen by the liberators as their rightful booty or, plunder. Like the accounts in the Old Testament, they see it as their God given right to plunder, or steal, as much as possible before there is nothing left to steal.

South Africa, along with Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) used to be the bread basket of Southern Africa, but now we are running short. Also, whilst, granted, the strong $ is partly to blame, in the 60's the rand was much stronger than the dollar and was a strong currency. Since the liberation the rand has been on a steady decline, now at a seriously worrying rate.

Crime, since the change (and in stark contrast to the stats released by the authorities) is not only about forty times higher, but appears to have, along with the corruption, become the new national sport. There is no accountability and the rulers refuse to even acknowledge the fact. Our new leader, bless his entrepreneurial soul, appears to think that his success as a businessman will pull things back in line. But unfortunately he is also lost in the legacy of "when we rule we will all be rich like the previous rulers" which, as we all know, is a another pipe dream. One has to wonder what is in their pipe, now that marijuana has also been legalized. I guess the next step will be to legalize crime?

It is so sad because, were the country to be run by an honest, conscientious entity, there would be plenty for all. Unfortunately, the African traditional old tribal laws where the fiscal basket was shared unfairly and unequally by the chief appear to have returned. The chief and his cronies take all and throw some crumbs to the populace. The black wool is being pulled over the electorate's eyes and they are loving it. They are in charge and no one will tell them otherwise, ever again.

I viewed a semi-documentary movie in the late sixties called Africa Addio and, while a little over exaggerated, the conditions depicted in the movie have now prevailed. One of the saddest occurrences - naturally after the plight of the previously disadvantaged people themselves - is the plight of their animals. Try and correct an ethnic animal owner and you are quickly told where to get off. Their pets and animals have no life and they don't see any problem with that either. It is not a race issue, it's an African issue, and until they see and understand that everyone is as responsible for their own plight or fate, the status quo will remain and, very sadly, deteriorate even more. I pray that I am wrong because South Africa is a beautiful, unique country and, with the correct management, could be a world player in many more avenues other than Rhino horn.

Many, if not most of those who can leave, have or are planning their exodus and, if continued, will only exacerbate the drain as, most of those who can and do, are usually the most educated and successful. The country is being raped by people who do/will not understand that, without a rich business owner, there is little or no motivation and not too much to strive for. Communism would be ideal in an idealistic world and I would support it if there were none of the common human factors at play. The law of consecration will, however, return for those who understand. My South African 2c worth=0,1U.S.c