South Africa

Political animal: Posters taking the mickey out of the March 1 municipal elections have appeared on the streets of Cape Town. Photo: Sophia Stander, Saturday Argus

Checkout this funny article about some pranksters who are putting up posters such as the one above all over CT. (hat-tip African Houseit)

I read the President's interview with Sunday Times editor Mondli Makhanya and political correspondent Xolani Xundu with considerable interest. Although the interview didn't follow the format I was hoping for (I was hoping for a more direct Q&A style questioning, with the President being asked a question and directly responding), there were still a number of interesting issues raised during the course of the interview. Let's take a look :

ON MISTAKES MADE IN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT:

We did not insist on co-operative government. The results are that we didn’t achieve the levels of co-operation, for instance, between provinces and local government that we needed as well as the engagement of national government with those municipalities. In a sense we kind of let them do their own thing. But ... the Constitution also says there must be co-operative government. Having understood that, we now thought it was necessary to kind of institutionalise it so that we just don’t leave it as an optional thing. It is now a legal requirement that we have to engage.

 

Here the President is way off the mark. If he thinks the sum-total of mistakes made at local level in the last 5 years were simply due to problems in co-operation between local authorities and the Provincial government he is sadly mistaken. Delivery, Delivery, Delivery, has been the drumbeat of discontent from those at local level - all other problems are either a contributing factor to this or have manifested themselves due to this problem. The dearth of skilled technocrats at local level, inefficient and corrupt local councilors, uncaring and overworked civil servants - all have lead to a slowdown in delivery of essential services to those that need them most. This lack of delivery has resulted in over 900 protests in the last two years. The people are angry and it is not because of some faux co-operation problem between the two spheres of local government.  

ON TRAVELGATE FRAUDSTER RUTH BHENGU BEING ON TOP OF THE ELECTIONS LIST IN KWAZULU-NATAL’S UGU DISTRICT:

 

She admitted to her wrongdoing and a particular punishment was imposed by the courts. She accepted that punishment and she has apologised. Should we impose a second punishment when she was punished for what she did and accepted that punishment? I understand the concern that [is being] expressed but I think that I could understand the argument that we need to be able to show mercy. There must be a bit of a quality of mercy in what we do. We should not be so driven by notions of retribution.

 

If this is the logic that permeates the ANC then we are all in trouble. There are a number of reasons why Ms. Bhengu should be nowhere near an elections list and they all have to do with signalling. By putting her name on the elections list (not even just on, but on the top of that list) the ANC hierarchy is in effect saying to its members "corruption is not okay but if you get caught there will be no major repercussions for you politically, we'll look after you" - this is the signalling I'm talking about. Whether intentional or not it is the message that every low level party functionary will pickup loud and clear. Now the Prez goes on to say "Should we impose a second punishment when she was punished for what she did and accepted that punishment?", no-one is saying that this should be so, however at the same time Ms Bhengu was placed in a fiduciary position and abused that position of trust for her own benefit. Trust is something that is earned over time and is not won back easily, certainly not in a few short months as the President seems to think. If Ms Bhengu moves on and does some honorable service for the communty for the next few years, then I would have no problem with her having a shot at a return to political life. What I don't agree with is revolving door with corrupt politicians getting "punished" and then shortly thereafter returning to an active political life.

ON THE JUDICIARY’S FEARS OF THE GOVERNMENT ENCROACHING ON ITS POWERS:

I’ve been engaged with the Justice minister [Brigitte Mabandla] and said to her that I think that whatever the parliamentary processes, we need to kind of slow them down in order to create the space for more discussion. I know for a fact that the government has not yet taken any position which seeks to undermine the independence of the judiciary. I’m certain about that. I thought that we needed to slow down this process because it may very well be that the phrasing of a particular [paragraph] might suggest an intention to compromise that independence. I would like to understand what it [the fear] means because all we want to do is to ensure that electricity bills are paid and judges have computers and laptops. Why would doing that result in undermining the judiciary?

 

If the President has indeed slowed down the movement on these Bills (aimed at major changes to the judiciary) I salute him, more debate and discussion is definitely needed. When you have various bar associations, George Bizos (Nelson Mandela's lawyer and an acclaimed human rights lawyer), former Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson and a number of other legal commentators questioning these Bills the government certainly needs a serious rethink! Saying it is all just a matter of "[ensuring] that electricity bills are paid and judges have computers and laptops", is not quite accurate from what I have read and heard.

Reading between the lines I think 2005 was a major wake-up call for the ANC. I think a lot of the policy that will be gazetted and discussed in cabinet in 2006 will have its roots in the various scandals and shake-ups of 2005.

...Eskom CEO Thulani Gcabashe. Taking sheer bluster and blind arrogance to the next level Gcabashe stated :

"If there is only one unit available and a problem occurs, there could be power shortages. And it is likely that for a portion of winter, we will have only one generator. So this is a wake-up call for citizens to live more sparingly."

 

Yes. A wake-up call. To live more sparingly. Thanks for that profound message of hope Thulani, I agree completely - let us all come togethor as citizens and make some sacrifices for the common good! Of course being CEO of Eskom means you have already been doing your own bit of sacrificing and will be ready to lead the charge towards this Utopia of common sacrifice and universal brotherhood, right? RIGHT? 

Of course you have! Witness you having been forced to accept a paltry package of R13-million over a period of 15 months, oh the humanity. Yes in "light" of your fine example I will definitely turn off the bathroom light before heading to bed...

Just doing my bit. For the children.

Next in our "Q&A with the Parties" series is the Independent Democrats (ID). For this interview we were fortunate enough to have Mr Simon Grindrod in the hotseat (Mr Grindrod is mayoral candidate for the ID in the Cape Town Metro). So without further ado :

Q : Is the ID feeling confident in the run-up to the Local Government  elections? Why?

The Independent Democrats are very confident.  This is the first time that the party is campaigning in local elections and it is evident that people are happy to have a third choice.

Q : What does the ID believe is the greatest challenge facing South Africans at the local level? Further, if given a mandate by voters at the local level, what area of service delivery is the party most concerned with?

The greatest challenge is ensuring the correct skills are utilised to deliver the priority of housing, which is at the base of dignity and our top priority.

Q : The ID as an opposition party is competing against a variety of other smaller opposition parties. How does the ID differentiate itself from these other parties and what makes it better able to govern?

The big difference between us and the others is that the Independent Democrats have a very strong belief in team work and consensus to achieve the objective we have for the people.  Opposition for its own sake has paralysed service delivery.

Q : In Cape Town the ID is running a relatively unknown candidate, why did the party to follow this route and what special skills does this candidate possess?

This candidate possesses management skills and human resources skills.  He has experience in planning and strategy.  The ID believes that we need more management in the city of Cape Town and less politicians.

Q : What is the ID’s position on the highly criticized Municipal Managers salaries? Would the ID support efforts to cap or limit these types of salaries? What other actions does the party believe are appropriate for this problem?

The ID has no objection to paying people for results.  We do not believe bonuses should be paid unless they are directly liked to increasing efficiencies, performance and savings.  The issue of bonuses is not applicable to city employees in terms of their Christmas bonuses.

Q : The ID remains a very small party with limited influence in the political arena. How do the leaders of the party believe they can turn this position around?

We believe that our message of consensus based politics and positive vision will eventually replace the outdated tactics and message of confrontation espoused by the ANC and DA.

Q : If faced with a close election result in any election, would the ID be prepared to accept a partnership with any other party? If so, who does the ID feel closest to ideologically at the local level?

The ID does not believe in coalitions but will work with any or all parties who bring forward constructive initiatives to benefit our people.

Q : The ID was decimated during the last floor crossing period. There is also a nasty rumor doing the rounds (emanating from the DA) that come the next floor crossing period there will be a repeat of the last debacle for the ID. What measures has the ID put in place to ensure that there is no repeat of this and that voters will be assured that the candidates they give a mandate to, will actually carry them out.

All parties suffered from the phenomenon of floor crossing.  We believe that our candidates are more than ever committed to our ideals and that their pride in our achievements will negate any temptation to cross the floor for personal benefit. All ID candidates have signed a code of conduct and an oath to serve the people they represent faithfully.

Q : Is there any specific candidate or ward that the ID feels particularly proud of? Who or which and why?

We are proud of all of our candidates in each and every one of the 105 wards we are contesting in the metro.

Q : Finally, is there anything else the party would like to say to the people of SA before the elections?

We would ask all voters to consider the consequences of another 5 years of division and polarisation under the ANC and DA.  Voters now have an opportunity to unlock the potential of our city and break the deadlock.  Both other parties have failed.  We ask voters to give us a chance.

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Well there you have it! I would like to thank Mr Grindrod for taking time off his schedule to answer our questions and wish him and his party all the best for the elections.

- News of the Cape powercuts continues to dominate the news today. Officially the cuts will continue in certain areas until next Monday, however Die Burger is disputing the official line and is warning that it has information that the real date may even be next Wednesday.  These power outages are apparently costing the country R331m a day.  

- The "Shills Friends of Jay-Z" are pushing their supporters to contribute more to the fund set up to pay for the big man's defense. Trust administrator Barnabas Xulu stated "We... urge those who have been contributing to our defence fund to continue doing so as it is only through properly funded legal challenges that we can confront the NPA's systematic abuses and unjust conduct."

- Don't dare bring in any Castle Lager, Nando's or Nike clothing to any of the games at the 2010 World Cup - you won't be welcome! This was the word from Jerome Valcke, the CEO of Fifa Marketing and TV who went on to explain how Fifa would "prefer" fans to wear Adidas, drink Coke/ Budweiser and  eat McDonald's when they are at the stadiums - those brands being the official sponsors.

- Truman Prince has finally been fired, surprisingly (or not, depending how cynical you are about politicians) Icosa has stuck to their man saying the ruling "changes nothing". Good riddance to bad rubbish.

                               "Can I get a hell yeah..."

Dear Your Excellency, Mr President, The Chosen One, African Visionary, Bob

Please forgive me for being late in sending you my sincerest birthday wishes. As I'm sure you know South Africa also has its problems with an uppity press and errant judiciary, so this humble blogger has been hard at work showing them the light of inspiration that resides across our northern border. Yes my dear Robert it is a hard path to walk but with your fine example it makes the burden a bit easier to carry (sigh). The other day my good friend Vuyo Mvoko was saying how he was considering moving on to the fertile plains of East Harare. I replied to him earnestly "Go my son and know that all South Africa wishes you well on your journey to the most democratic state in Africa (if not the world!)" Some among us have questioned whether this African Utopia can be real, others can scarcely believe it to be true - fools! But then the chattering classes always try to break down a true visionery with their foul invective and fearmongering. No fear Robert, no fear, we have the facts on our side - the truth shall set them free -

• Under your fine leadership Zimbabwe has a triple digit inflation rate of over 600%;
• Under your exemplary tutelage Zimbabwe has a 70% unemployment rate;
• Under your visionary direction more than two-thirds of Zimbabweans consider food shortages as one of the most important problems they are facing;
• Under your most excellent management 46% of Zimbabweans surveyed said they had gone without food often in the past year;
• Under your inspirational target driven fiscal control 82% of Zimbabweans say they expect living conditions to be "much worse" in the year ahead;
• Under your charismatic, forward looking agenda Zimbabwe was given a world-wide press freedom index Rank of 155 out of 167 countries;
• Under your stupendously wise decision making Zimbabwe received the following fine letter of recommendation from Amnesty International. "Following [the ZANU-PF government's] first major defeat in a national referendum to change the constitution, the government began using its supporters and state agents to pursue a campaign of repression, aimed at eliminating opposition and silencing dissent. Since then, state-sponsored intimidation, arbitrary arrest, torture and attacks on supporters of the political opposition, human rights defenders and the independent media have steadily escalated."

What better way to batter those critics and nay sayers than with a bit of cool, cold logic eh? So to you Robert and all the fine gentleman of the ZANU-PF government, I would like to salute you! Yes, salute you for doing so much in such a short time - truly inspirational. Now of course no birthday message can be complete without giving some sort of gift, a small token of our feelings to you Dear Leader. In this regard I would like to turn things over to the late, the great Johnny Cash in wishing you, Bob, a most Happy Birthday!

Regards.

Comrade Someamongus.  

You know what I find stunning in SA's electricity crises? The way absolutely no-one is to blame for this problem. No-one. Apparently (according various government officials and Eskom talking heads) the problem a) just blew out of nowhere with virtually no warning or b) is the fault of a number of unlucky coincidences bringing on the current problems. I'm sorry but those excuses are just not good enough. I would like to point this discussion in the direction of an article written by Andrew Kenny on Fin24. Let's start with this quote shall we :

THE outstanding feature of the present electricity crisis is that it was so easy to avoid. South Africa has now run out of generating capacity and it was entirely predictable at least ten years ago that it would do so.

 

Yes that's right, no big conspiracies, no fancy coincidences just a lack of poor planning by the powers that be with regard to our electricity consumption. But first a bit of history from Kenny -

South Africa nearly ran out of power in the late 1960s when a rapidly growing economy demanded more electricity, and the existing power stations were barely able to supply it. To ensure future supply, Eskom built a series of gigantic coal stations in the Transvaal and Koeberg Nuclear Power Station in the Western Cape. However, because economic growth slowed down dramatically and the lead time for building power stations is so long, South Africa found itself with a large surplus by about 1985. Majuba, whose construction began in 1983, was the last power station to be built in South Africa.

 

So for over twenty years there has been zero construction of new power stations, zero. This was in spite of -

In the democratic era, the yearly increase in electricity consumption has averaged just over 3%. A projection in 1994 of this modest [my emphasis] increase would have shown us running out of capacity now, which is exactly what has happened. Our generating capacity is about 36 500 MWe (megawatts electrical). In 2004, peak demand was 34 200. This gives a reserve margin of 6%. A healthy electricity grid has a reserve margin of about 15% to allow for planned maintenance and for unplanned shut-downs, which happen all the time. Both the national generation and transmission systems are now chronically overloaded, so that if a generating unit shuts down it knocks the whole grid and can cause blackouts.

 

So we have known the problems we were faing for awhile and yet the talking heads in the Department of Trade and Industry and Eskom have basically just twiddled their thumbs and waited till the crises became so severe that they would have to do something! So why did this happen -

Why did we not build more power stations five years ago when it was perfectly obvious we needed them? The answer is that there was a void in responsibility. Under the new government, Eskom faced the probability of being deregulated, split up and competing with new electricity supply companies. Eskom did not know whether it was in the business of building power stations.

 

Moreover, it was undergoing radical change. Accountants replaced engineers in its leadership, and they wanted a good bottom line now rather than to spend huge sums of money on power stations for the future. Affirmative action and social directives, such as bringing electricity to poor households, diverted attention away from the job of ensuring future power supply. We were lucky to have a mild winter this year and to have some gold mining shafts shut down. This made peak demand for 2005 slightly less than 2004. Even so, we have seen blackouts. A more rapidly growing economy, new industrial projects, cold winters, more use of air-conditioning in summer, more households getting electricity - all of these will aggravate the problem. We need at least 1000 MWe extra capacity every year.

 

So basically we are deep trouble. The government and Eskom's response has been -

Eskom plans to build two simple gas turbine plants, one in Mossel Bay, the other in Atlantis, with a combined capacity of 1000 MWe, by the winter of 2007. These are quick to build but very expensive to run, and will only be used at peak times (07:00 to 10:00 and 18:00 to 20:00 on weekdays). Again too little. Programmes to improve energy efficiency and for "Demand Side Management" (shifting load from peak times) will only help to a limited extent.

 

Many of Eskom's industrial customers, such as BHP Billiton, are on interruptible contracts. They can be, and have been, shut down without notice to relieve pressure on the grid. This helps Eskom but does not help South Africa's reputation among potential investors for having reliable electricity. What we really need is to strengthen the transmission system and build more large, baseload stations. The only two local contenders are coal and nuclear. (Wind and solar are good for small applications but hopelessly expensive and unreliable for bulk electricity). We need more of both but such stations take about eight years to build. The nuclear Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) will be quicker but must first be proven. In the meantime we are in trouble.

 

Well we can see that the "Demand Side Management" has not worked as has been ably illustrated in the Western Cape in the past week (checkout the happy headline there!). As to PBMR - I think we can safely say that this is a massive gamble by the government after they were caught with their pants down. They need a solution and quick and are hedging their bets in following both PBMR and a more conventional solution.

Not good enough gentleman, report to the principal's office for a stern lecture on the importance of planning for the future. You've let us all down. 

It's just before the Local Government elections and I thought I'd ask a few questions to the major Parties on a couple of issues I thought were relevent to SA voters. Over the next two weeks I hope to publish the views of the various party representatives and hopefully provide (a bit) of insight into what they are thinking and how they plan to tackle problems at local level. So without further ado and in no particular order (I will publish responses in the order I receive them) here is my Q&A session with Joe Seremane, Chairman of the DA :

Q : Is the DA feeling confident in the run-up to the Local Government elections? Why?

A : Yes, because, historically, the DA has performed well in local government elections. Nationally, in the municipal elections that took place in 2000, the DA received 20.4% of the vote. Also, there is massive discontentment at a grassroots level with the way in which the ANC has plunged local government into crisis over the past five years. There have been thousands of protests against the ANC’s service delivery failures nationwide. The electorate has seen for itself that the ANC is corrupt, that it can not deliver and that all it can offer is more promises which will be broken.

Q : What does the DA believe is the greatest challenge facing South Africans at the local level? Further, if given a mandate by voters at the local level, what area of service delivery is the party most concerned with?

A : The greatest challenge is the lack of capacity. For example, a recent government survey found that 4 out of 231 local municipalities have no civil engineers, technologists or technicians, 45 have only one civil technician, and 186 local municipalities have no civil engineers whatsoever. According to the government’s own statistics, as many as thirty-six percent of managers have a matric with a diploma or less and one municipal manager does not even have a matric qualification. Thirty-seven percent of municipal managers have less than five years experience in local government, while 74% have eleven or less years experience in local government. The lack of skills is a key factor behind service delivery backlogs. The result on the ground is that 5 million South Africans still have no access to any basic sanitation and nearly 1 million people face the indignity of the bucket system. Free basic electricity is still a pipe dream for many in ANC municipalities and 3.7 million people still have no access to running water.

In terms of our manifesto, the DA will:

· Ensure that all officials in DA-led municipalities are accessible and responsive to queries or complaints. 
· Ensure that the municipality employs competent municipal staff to install new services, maintain these services and to deal with customer queries, complaints and payments for basic services. 
· Maintain a set of key performance indicators (KPIs) against which delivery and service on a particular new delivery project can be measured.  KPIs also help to keep the officials and politicians of a municipality accountable for what they said they would deliver.   
· Provide quarterly updates on the progress of major new installations and publish these in very visible places and publications. 
· Continuously monitor any projects undertaken through outsourcing or privatisation using enforceable service level agreements. 
· Provide a channel of communication between residents and the service provider so that residents know what is happening and what is being achieved.  

Q : The DA as an opposition party is competing against a variety of other smaller opposition parties. How does the DA differentiate itself from these other parties and what makes it better able to govern?

A : The DA is the only viable alternative to the ANC. It has prior experience in government, with a good track record of service delivery, and the sheer weight of numbers – in terms of electoral support – compared with other opposition parties. Whereas the DA is a party for all the people, the Freedom Front Plus represents a conservative niche market. Whereas the DA believes that Afrikaners deserve an equal place in South African society, the FF+ would prefer to isolate Afrikaners from the political mainstream. Whereas the DA believes in the freedom of religion, the ACDP believes that South Africa should be governed solely according to the principles of the Bible. Whereas the DA is a large and vocal opposition party, the Independent Democrats [ID] represents a mere 1.7% of the electorate.  The ID has shown that it prefers to attack other opposition parties than hold government to account.

Q : Analysts are predicting a very close contest in the Cape Town mayoral race. If the DA is victorious how would it go about managing the city of Cape Town differently from the ANC?

A : Our manifesto for Cape Town is a blueprint for building a city that is clean, safe, efficient, growing and sustainable. We want to turn Cape Town’s municipal government into a “delivery machine” that serves all people equally and efficiently and puts the ratepayers’ money to proper use. We will implement a realistic long-term housing plan that provides for a wide range of housing needs, and provide a legitimate waiting list that does not discriminate on the basis of race or political affiliation and is published for all to see. We will provide city jobs and tenders on the basis of best price and ability to perform, in order to provide the best possible services to the maximum number of people. We will conduct a comprehensive forensic audit on tender awards upon taking power, and we will take a hard line against corrupt politicians and officials. We will link bonuses for city employees to actual performance. We will strengthen the city’s efforts to fight and prevent crime by reorganizing and expanding the City Police. We will get rid of wasteful spending and upgrade infrastructure so that our economy can grow rapidly, create jobs and attract investment.

We will implement a new strategic development plan that will take Cape Town through the 2010 World Cup and the next twenty years. We will expand basic services in poor communities and conserve the natural beauty and the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Cape Town for future generations

Q : What is the DA’s position on the highly criticized Municipal Managers salaries? Would the DA support efforts to cap or limit these types of salaries? What other actions does the party believe are appropriate for this problem?

A : The DA has been very vocal on the issue of municipal managers’ salaries. In fact, it was a reply to a parliamentary question posed by the DA that revealed that the average salary for a district municipal manager is R642 376.00, before performance bonuses. This is shocking when one considers that 43 out of the 47 district municipalities have been targeted for Project Consolidate, the department of provincial and local government’s programme to revamp struggling municipalities.

Most municipal managers do not have the skills to do the job and are appointed based on their political connections and nothing else. 36% of managers only have a matric with a diploma or less, and one municipal manager does not even have a matric qualification. Thirty-seven percent of municipal managers have less than five years experience in local government, while 74% have eleven or less years of experience. The DA is not opposed to reasonable remuneration for fully qualified municipal managers that really perform. The DA believes firmly that performance should be rewarded and that it is vital that talented individuals are attracted to work in the local sphere of government.

Q : The DA has been criticized as a “white-party” with little mass based appeal. This was confirmed by the Markinor poll where it was found that only 2% of Africans supported the party (as apposed to the ANC with 84% support). Why does the DA have such an image problem with these voters and how does it intend to change this? 

A : In 2004 the DA made some inroads into the black vote and we are going to increase further our support in previously disadvantaged communities in the forthcoming election. Critics who dismiss the DA as a ‘white’ party often forget that we have more black support than historically ‘black’ parties like the PAC and Azapo. The DA is dedicated to reaching out over the racial divide and providing a political home for all, both white and black. This commitment is underlined by the fact that 55% of our electable candidates on the proportional representation (PR) lists in the six Metros are from previously disadvantaged communities. In the Ekurhuleni Metro, 63% of our PR candidates are black. 47% of the DA’s ward list comprises black candidates and a full 66% of the DA’s ward list comprises candidates from previously disadvantaged communities.

Q : If faced with a close election result in any election, would the DA be prepared to accept a partnership with any other party? If so, who does the DA feel closest to ideologically at the local level?

A : In a country where the ruling party has such a large majority, coalition-building between opposition parties is a practical – and often necessary – step. The DA will consider entering into a partnership with any other opposition party that shares our broad vision of an open, opportunity society, and whose co-operation contribute to good government.

Q : The last floor crossing period for the DA was a disaster and yet the party has not come out strongly against this practice. In addition there has also been widespread public condemnation of this issue. The DA was instrumental in opening this Pandora’s Box, does it regret its actions in this regard and what are the party’s thoughts on future floor-crossing?

A : The DA believes that floor-crossing, as currently practised by the ANC, poses a grave threat to democracy. Originally, floor-crossing legislation was intended to allow politicians to change parties on the basis of their conscience. Under the ANC, however, floor crossing has degenerated into the lowest form of chequebook politics. The DA is pushing to scrap floor crossing legislation. We also advocate a change to the current electoral system so that it incorporates a measure of constituency representation without sacrificing proportionality. Under this system, only those public representatives that are directly elected by voters would be allowed to cross the floor. Those that cross the floor for personal gain and not out of principle will have to face the wrath of the voters.

Q : Is there any specific candidate or ward that the DA feels particularly proud of? Who or which and why?

A : We are proud of all our candidates and all the wards and municipalities which we currently govern. It would be unfair to isolate only one, but often comparisons can be instructive. So take George, for example, which is run by the DA and is not far from the ANC-controlled Bitou Municipality (formerly Plettenberg Bay Municipality). For the last three years in a row, George has received unqualified reports from the Auditor-General. In 2004, the Auditor-General rated George as one of the top 25 municipalities in the country. And last year, George received a certificate for attaining the highest expenditure on its budget of all municipalities in the Western Cape.Where you have good government you have delivery. In George, since 2001, 3 000 residents have been given ownership of municipal rental homes. The municipality has received awards, both nationally and provincially, for its housing project. Over 85% of residents have access to free basic electricity and free basic water. Compare this with Bitou municipality next door, where less than half the population has access to free basic electricity, and over a third of residents have no access to water or sanitation.

Q : Finally, is there anything else the party would like to say to the people of SA before the elections?

A : Democracy only works if citizens participate and make their mark at the polls. The ANC has caused local government to spiral into a state of chaos. It is time to take action and initiate change by voting the ANC out of power. You can’t do that by staying at home on election day. You also can’t do that by wasting your vote on one of several small opposition parties that has no real chance of giving the ANC a run for its money. In short, we need to unite the opposition – not divide it. That means putting your cross behind the DA. Only in that way will we stop corruption and start delivery!

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Well there you have it! I would like to thank Mr Seremane for taking time off his schedule to answer our questions and wish him and his party all the best for the elections.

I usually enjoy reading the Opinion section of the Suntimes with its views that seem to span the political spectrum. Even if I don't always agree with what the various commentators have to say, usually the discussion is kept within the realm of good robust, debate. This is not the case with this article by Vuyo Mvoko - a cynically written piece that hauls out all your favourite prejudices and delights in casting everything into an us-versus-them childish discourse. Setting the tone for the entire article is the heavily loaded title of "Homecoming: The return of a baas from abroad is too much for me", and yes it can get worse than that! Let's take a peek into the mind of Mvoko, who sees in the eyes of every returning expat a raving white supremacist intent on destroying everything the rest of us have done since 1994 :

I am concerned about the message that this homecoming initiative is going to send. Among the questions I ask myself: how do we end up creating heroes out of villains? Admittedly, I also feel an awkwardness about not sharing the sunny optimism in a country that’s facing not only massive unemployment but abject poverty in many of its parts.

 

Villains? In what way? Please explain to the rest of us how you managed to quickly head overseas and interview each and every single one of these expats who are returning and come to this conclusion? But then of course never let logic stand in the way of a good smear so please roll on...

I start asking myself whether it was really our government’s conviction that we have a “skills crisis” so big that we have no other choice but to go down on our knees and call back all those affirmative action “exiles”, some of whom used every opportunity to spew forth the self-serving propaganda that they were being “chased away” by the employment equity policies of this government. I am keen to know what the government said during its successful bids to persuade the 90 “messiahs”. Something along the lines of “we’ve come to realise just how wrong we were about you guys and we sincerely apologise for that. We are indeed lucky the country did not come crashing down as soon as your flights took off to Perth and London”?

 

Going down on our hands and knees? Us? Are we not instead doing what every other country on the planet is doing in attempting to attract highly skilled individuals into our country to make ourselves more competitive in a globalising world? I liked the stereotype that all expats must be running from affirmative action, hell it couldn't be anything else could it? Things like developing your career, experiencing a new culture, not enjoying the SA lifestyle never factor into Mvoko's logic. But do go on...   

I didn’t think I was way out of line in assuming that someone would have given them the impression that if this country was to spend another year without them, South Africa would be doomed.

 

Yes I believe you would be out of line. The government has never even romotely given this impression; this is a government that has become infamous for hardly ever backtracking or apologising for past incorrect decisions. Do you think they would make an exception for a couple of expats? Doubt it.

But before I could give the Zimbabwean High Commission’s asylum office a call, I found solace in the President’s words that our country had entered its “Age of Hope”. And as the book of Isaiah he quoted from says: “Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree. And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree ...”

Please don't hesitate on this one, and as they say in the ad's "Call now! Our operators are standing by for your call". I'm sure in Zim a man of your vision and forthrightness would be greatly appreciated, especially with your job description listed as "an independent media and political consultant".

Tembekile, a friend of mine who is an engineer by training but who has done very little of that in his dozen or so years of working because there are no opportunities, swears that his anger has nothing to do with the fact that he must just stick to selling cars and forget about being an engineer again. He insists his apparent lack of trust of white people has nothing to do with the hostile reception he and scores of black professionals get when they entered the world of work.

 

He laughs at me when I say he’s taking things a bit too far when he also blames white people for the fact that we have asylum-seekers from the African continent, who are qualified in all manner of things, but who end up parking cars and being security guards.

 

Yes of course your "friend" Tembekile. Come now Vuyo, just own up to your own prejudices, no need to bring in your imaginary friend  to cover your own ass in trying to bolster your very shaky logic. But of course here comes the kicker -

I have now accepted that I’m an endangered species. But the thought of having a baas returning from the UK, New Zealand and Australia is too much for me.

 

What can you say to that? Ninety expats return and Mvoko's whole world comes crashing down, the return to a white-dominated government is just round the corner. What an intellectually dishonest and horrendously stereotypical piece! No I'll tell you what you can say to Mvoko -

All people are different. Everyone has different dreams and aspirations in life and just cos they don't fit with whatever Mvoko's dream is, doesn't make them "villains" or "affirmative action exiles". Undoubtedly there are a number of bitter SA expats who are hoping that things don't go our way in SA so their decision to leave can be validated by our implosion, but that doesn't mean every single expat is like that. Isn't that what we all wanted, a country where we could be free from labels and stereotypes? What Mvoko presents here is his very twisted society in which everyone fits into a certain category and god help them if they dare step out of their assigned box! "Oh you're an SA expat well then you must be a bitter racist who wanted to see out country fail! What's that, you went overseas because you wanted to expand your skill set and now you've returned to do your bit and build the country? Sorry no dice, we've already decided what you are, so no use trying to argue your way out of it!" Hey Vuyo I've got another stereotype for you - all senior appointees to the SABC must have been politically connected to the ANC to get their jobs. Weren't you the former head of the Politics desk of the SABC?

Should we go on? No, we should move on because that's a childish way of establishing someone's bona fides, instead why don't we look at a persons actions today. Making the decision to return to SA and giving a vote of confidence to our country, wanting to use your skills to make a difference, wanting to help the next group of managers and professionals develop! How about that for a stereotype!

Positive thinking is what we need in SA today - not the loaded trash that Mvoko offers here!

Had a good laugh when I read this story -

AN on-duty policeman who spent his Sunday afternoon on Blue Horizon Bay beach in Port Elizabeth in full uniform in the company of a "skimpily dressed" female "colleague", has residents of the coastal village fuming...Long-time Blue Horizon Bay resident Brian Bezuidenhout said he was furious to see the policeman arrive in a marked police vehicle – BNV 979 EC, no 63, belonging to the area crime combating unit in Struandale in Port Elizabeth – with a "skimpily dressed female" for a 2½-hour visit to the beach. "They were frolicking on the dunes. They walked along the beach and then as they walked towards the dunes they held hands and cuddled, and then disappeared behind the dunes. After about an hour they reappeared. The whole process took more than 2½ hours."...

 

(Here it comes) The policeman, whose name is known to The Herald, this week admitted to being in Blue Horizon Bay on Sunday afternoon "on official general duty with a constable colleague". He did not want to provide the name of the female constable in a small black outfit, but said he was an official swimming instructor in the police and took her for swimming instruction. However, Bezuidenhout said he had not seen the two, who had a small bag with them, enter the water. The operational commander of the crime combating unit, Superintendent Greg Botha, said the matter would be investigated.