SA prioritises consulates over its poorest of the poor

TOWARDS the end of World War

II in 1945 there was not much left of Germany’s cities due to the horrific carpet bombing by the Allied forces. Some were obliterated. Germany was carved in half and divided between the then Soviet Union and the Allies, creating two independent countries – West Germany and East Germany.

Within a 20-year period, with the assistance of the West and a nation which mostly included women clearing the streets of rubble as there were not many men left alive, West Germany rebuilt itself structurally, financially, and economically. It had the highest standard of living in Europe and holds the same financial position today. In the last few years, it has financially been bailing out other European countries.

South Africa during the war was never attacked by Germany, nor carpet bombed, but did supply men, women and resources to assist the Allies in getting rid of the abhorrent Nazi Germany and axis partner Italy.

South Africa post-apartheid had all the infrastructure such as working hospitals, roads, sewer and water infrastructure, municipalities, military, education system, working shipping ports and international airports. All the new government had to focus its resources on was creating new employment, uplifting communities, building houses, roads, new infrastructure as well extra schools in rural areas and not redesigning the wheel.

Twenty-four years into democracy, we have seen ministers, officials and the opposition parties destroy the country by its continual thieving of the state coffers for their own gain.

Party members and officials are appointed into positions with no qualifications or experience, only because they are loyal cadres. Of the 205 municipalities, 60% are under financial administration due to irregular spending. Watch for the next elections in 2019, municipal tenders will come out for iPads, buses, tents, catering (KFC), T-shirts and not toilets, water, houses, roads and electricity for the needy.

Expropriation of land without compensation is another stupid and dangerous statement to make just to garner votes. It beggar’s belief. Then senior government officials fly off to Davos, Switzerland and announce to the world “South Africa is open for business”. What planet are these politicians on? I can tell you it’s not Earth. A classic example in Zimbabwe is the farm land invasions which created chaos, food shortages and unemployment. Not to mention the revenue the government would have received through taxes on exports.

South Africans must be the only nation in the world that when they are not happy with service delivery, they begin to self-destruct and burn down buses, schools, universities, municipalities and murder innocent people. What country buys military hardware costing billions of rand, yet the basics such as education, housing and health have not been met for the poorest of poor? What country has over 159 consulates and embassies all over the world at such a massive cost of billions of rand yet the basics such as education, housing and health have not been met for the poorest of poor. South African politicians in general are immature, self-centred, arrogant and stupid.

In my opinion, until we have a president that can step up to the plate and lead, we are in a spiral to nowhere.