The South Africans reading this will know, but some background for the buitelanders/foreigners/gaijin…
South Africa was warned about 10 years ago that electricity needs will outsrip supply by 2007. The far thinking government thought they’d worry about that in 2007. The power has run out. A week ago, all the gold and platinum mines closed for 5 days because electricity supply could not be guaranteed. Some economist just worked out that closing the mines for one day a month is enough to tip the country into a recession. Loadshedding is now normal. The effect on the economy has been instant and catastrophic. If the government goes on a spending spree of nte and gets top class construction companies to work 24/7 – it will still take 6 to 8 years before they can generate more power. So in the short to medium term, we are fucked.
Just spoke to a mate of mine in Jozi. Mittal Steel (the old Yskor) have declared Force Majeure, and will not be honouring their steel contracts. Because they can’t make enough. All the major steel distributors/traders have done the same. The supply they think will be 40% less than last year. Ja no well fine. You can imagine how a 40% reduction in steel will affect the economy. And of course steel is not the only thing affected. The whole economy is.
Is this the start of the long slow slide into mediocrity? Me thinks the slide started a long long time ago, even before 1994 and the new South Africa. Is a turnaround possible. Of course it is. But not if you’re going to be politically correct about it. I have this theory. After visiting/living in/working in so many third world countries, I’m sure if someone ran the country like a business things would be better. The MD (Thabo) gets a Toyota. If the country does well, he gets a bonus. If it does badly, he gets fired. Every department has to make a profit. Hey, they’re doing it in Dubai, and It’s not from oil revenues which are only 4% of their income. The dept that hands out visas for visitors is making $600m a year. Just because they’re efficient.
But I’m not sure if it’s possible where corruption is regarded as acceptable and medical officers olive oil and onions cure aids… then there’s the millions that don’t have work and have to steal to stay alive. How do you convince them that working 10 hours a day for $250 a month is better than earning a $1,000 for 5 minutes work when they steal the Beemer at the traffic lights from a Sandton Susan?
So what option do we have? Bitch and moan like pomms? Piss off like most of the educated? Or adapt, mutate and use the system – sell cheap Chinese generators to the masses, grow dope in your garden, sell submarines to Zuma, get a contract to supply the dept of health and welfare with olive oil and onions… and hope to hell this doesn’t become Zim two..
