A month of unusual happenings
THE PHRASE “once in a blue moon” refers to something that does not happen often.
The term was coined by our ancestors, based on how often they saw the full moon in a single month. If the moon was sighted twice in a month, the second sighting was referred to as a blue moon. And since it did not happen all that frequently, the term “once in a blue moon” came about.
This October we will see a full moon twice. We saw it on the first of the month and, if the skies are clear, we will see it again on the 31st. It is not something that happens frequently, but October 2020 is proving to be a month of unusual happenings.
Take Donald Trump testing positive for Covid-19. While we wish him a full and speedy recovery, there is something karmic about him falling ill.
The American president let his country down with his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. He did not do enough to slow the spread of the virus but, worse, helped its spread by actively campaigning against the use of masks.
By so doing he endangered the lives of thousands of Americans. No wonder America has the highest number of Covid-19 infections and fatalities worldwide.
Meanwhile, in South Africa, the wheels of justice, which generally barely turn, moved up a gear or two with the arrest of several people involved in fraud and corruption.
It included Vincent Smith, a former ANC member of Parliament, who appeared in court last week on allegations of fraud and corruption.
In KwaZulu-Natal, Mmamonnye Ngobeni, a woman who once led the police in the province, appeared in court and was charged. Her matter is linked to Thoshan Panday, a Durban businessman charged with fraud, extortion, corruption and forgery.
While those arrested are innocent until proven guilty, it is a relief the allegations that have been bandied about in the media for so many years can finally be tested in a court of law.
The arrests also serve as a warning that there will be consequences for those who do wrong.
One of the consequences could be prison food for the foreseeable future.
The rest of us can take comfort in the fact that, if we can afford it, a McDonald’s burger is cheapest in South Africa compared to any of 70 other capital cities across the world.
The Big Mac Index, which was first started in 1986, reflects each country’s power purchase parity. It is the same product, the same brand but at a different price.
While the burger was priced lowest in South Africa, it was most expensive in Switzerland.
The next time you’re enjoying a Big Mac, count your blessings because for many people across the world it is unaffordable.
Also, it means our currency is undervalued, something investment banks across the world would have realised.
If we can only stabilise our political and economic environment, South Africa suddenly looks a lot more promising. But such things only happen once in a blue moon.