NEIGHBOURLY NOTES
THE past weekend saw a trio of South African international fixtures with some disappointments, surprises and a real SA “Bok glow” moment. The Proteas headed home early after suffering a “must win” defeat against India in the ICC Champions Trophy Tournament by eight wickets on Sunday. Good job to Bafana Bafana who stunned Nigeria in a 2-0 victory on Saturday in the Afcon qualifiers. The Springboks are looking much better after some young blood has been injected into the team. Our Boks managed to overpower France 37-17, at a half-empty Loftus Versveld on Saturday. The same cannot be said about the Baby Boks, losing 24-22 to England in the semifinal of the World Junior Rugby Championship on Tuesday evening. WELL done to Kelly Wicks Ferreira who won the Emerging Entrepreneur prize at the Business Women’s Association Awards 2017/Investec Regional Business Achievers Awards on Tuesday. Quite a bid deal, I might add. Good job to the local lady! NEWS broke last week that Minister of Finance Malusi Gigaba, then minister of home affairs (2015), granted the Gupta family early citizenships as South Africans. Gigaba hit back during the week and said he did not operate outside if the realms of the law, and that the decision was taken with no impropriety. “The granting of naturalisation certificates of this nature is not unusual. Similar courtesies have been extended to prominent businessmen, including executives of multinationals and sports people. There is no impropriety on the part of the minister in relation to the manner in which this application has been handled,” Gigaba’s office said in a statement on Tuesday. Now in my experience, with friends, families and even sometimes their children, citizenship can take up to ten years if they are lucky. I know of people whose spouses have been separated from children when one of the parents had to leave the country on expired visas. But I guess it’s a case of who you know if you want to skip the long process. HAPPY Father’s Day for Sunday to all the dads, grandpas and male role models out there. We hope you are spoilt and receive much appreciation from your loved ones! CONGRATULATIONS and every good wish to everyone having and hopefully enjoying a happy birthday in the week ahead, especially to Kaelene Steyn, Denise Drew, Emma Myburgh, Cheryl Coates, Anne Williams, Terry Illingworth, Pat Holford, Valencia Jacobs, Benjemi Barnard, Tom Hartzenberg, Liza Opperman, Betty Bremmer, Hilary Smith, Tanya Schenk, Annette Laas, Annelize Cloete, Joan Buckley, Shane le Roux, Driekie Straus, Jean Page, Andrew du Plessis, Calla-Ann Faca, Winston Vermaak, Linda Reynolds, Cecelia Morris, Gordon Reynolds, Gavin Breeden, Lynette Hansen, Keith Knight, Kris Gallager, James Boucher, Marie du Plessis, Cary Davis, Jennifer Groenewald, June Barnes, Noxolo Kiviet, Jeff Earle, Lyn Harbrecht, Karel Prins, June Smith, June Hart, Dominique Willatt, Fuzeka Runeli, Chris Carter, Norma Terry, Amanda Ludick, Cindy Katz, Jean Whittingham and June Whittaker. BUSINESS anniversary congratulations with even more success in the year ahead to Guido’s, Designer Laser Engraving, Port Alfred Country Club, Leaf it to Me Garden Services, Mike’s Driving School and Port Alfred High School’s Founders Day. AFTER news broke that South Africa is now in a technical recession, consumers have had to buckle up and be ready for a bumpy road. It’s important to remember that a country’s status can change from quarter to quarter depending on its growth rate. Currently we are listed with a growing number of countries which have slipped into a technical recession. These include Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea and Venezuela. This is the second recession experienced in the post 1994 South Africa. It must be noted that recessions are rare events, as policies are generally aimed at economic growth. Rapid economic growth depends on investment, which in turn is dependent on confidence and positive expectations of the country’s future. President Jacob Zuma’s administration doesn’t instil confidence. This partly explains subdued investment. The recent credit risk downgrades into sub-investment grade has made South Africa a less attractive investment destination. So, how do we get out of it? We need investments. As much as it is starting to sound like the plot of a Joseph Heller novel. The upside is, we can get out again. Investment will boost demand in the economy, with good spill-over into a number of sectors. Restoring South Africa’s credit risk rating to investment grade would help boost investment. A better credit rating would reduce the risk of investing in the country. So let’s sit tight for now, and cross our fingers, that the upcoming credit rating from global credit rating agency Moodys goes down well. The rand managed to keep good ground and stabilize from last week. At the time of going to press and with last year’s figures in brackets to compare against, the rand was trading at R12.76 to the dollar (R15.24), R16.31 to the Pound (R21.61) and R14.32 to the euro (R17.10). Gold is trading at $1268.50 per fine ounce ($1252.51), platinum at $938.50 per fine ounce ($981.47) and only Brent crude oil at $46.13 per barrel ($51.73). SPECIAL thoughts and prayers are with all those folk who are not well, who are having or have already had tests, operations and treatments. “Sterkte” to Roy Potter, Andrew de Vries, June Hart, Dot Fetherstonhaugh, Ben Kember, Myrna Keet, Barbara Tee, Brenda Shelton. HEARTFELT condolences and special thoughts to Des and Angi Bezuidenhout on the passing of Angi’s mom, Merle Miles, wife of Fergus Miles. A memorial service will be held at the Dutch Reformed Church in Cathcart on Friday at 11 p.m. Our thoughts are with you at this sad time. May happy memories sustain you. WEDDING anniversary congratulations to all couples enjoying such an occasion, especially Ken and Catherine Reynolds, Barry and Herma Purdon, Bradley and Kathryn Fick, Reay and Dee Squires. BELATED 58th wedding anniversary congratulations to Geoff and Peggy Southey. We wish you a blessed anniversary as well as many more happy years to come. THOUGHT for the week: “Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom”. BEST regards as always, The Team