Perspective …
It is all too easy to lose our sense of perspective in the never-ending barrage of news we encounter daily from “legacy” media (newspapers) and the more pervasive digital media (television and our smart phones). The trouble is much of the news that we receive is linear and predominantly negative. I’ll take one example – the electricity crisis in the country! We are all fed up with
loadshedding on top of frequent local electricity supply faults. As a direct result we know that many have turned to solar panels and inverters. However, did you know that in the last few years the private sector has installed well over 4,500 Megawatts of roof-top solar. That is far more power than Eskom’s biggest power station, Medupi, can produce. Medupi’s construction started in 2007 and was declared “complete” on 31 July 2021, 14 years later. Just 9 days later unit 4 of Medupi blew up in a hydrogen explosion! The repairs to that unit have still not been completed – and yet “Joe Public” has built the equivalent power production capability as another entire Medupi in that time. So, with that “perspective” on the subject, we can switch to being “prospective” and conclude that the private sector will provide solutions to our electricity problems while Government continues to drag its heels. Government’s changed approach has enabled the private sector to roll up its sleeves.
SA Economic Outlook …
While negativity abounds – there is some good news. Employment is growing faster than expected due mainly to the contribution from our rapidly expanding private renewable energy sector. In the year to end June 2023 some 784,000 new jobs were created. Interest rates seem to have peaked, so we should see reductions in the rate in 2024 [an election year – but more about that later]. 
Consumer price inflation continues to trend lower and there has been a decline in real [inflation adjusted] salaries. Bringing the theme of “perspectives” back into the fore – we cannot ignore the very real challenges the country faces. The horrific fire on the 31st of August 2023 which engulfed a five story Johannesburg apartment building resulting in the deaths of 77 people, including 12 children, has brought the reality of urban decay and government neglect into sharp focus. Government’s initial knee jerk response blaming Charitable Organisations was particularly bad form given that the building is in fact owned by the municipality which has done nothing despite repeated calls for interventions. The building was “hijacked” years ago and run by criminals exploiting the dire shortage of affordable housing. “People are preying on the poorest of the poor, but government doesn’t seem to care”. [Solly Msimanga – Democratic Alliance].
There is no denying that those at the poverty end of South African Society have paid the highest price for the endemic corruption which has spread throughout National, Provincial and Local Government in the country.
Elections 2024 – time for change!
Albert Einstein never said “insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” but he did in fact say “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world”. So – to avoid the former trap and embrace the latter wisdom – imagine our country governed by men and women of integrity and moral fortitude. That may be a stretch for some of you reading this newsletter – but the invitation stands.
South Africa still has …
- vast mineral resources, several critical to the 4th Industrial Revolution;
- world class publicly listed and private companies plying their goods and services at home and abroad;
- an active automotive industry with 7 global brands having production plants in the country;
- a highly productive agricultural sector [despite the erosion caused by “redistribution” policies];
- leading telecommunication networks ranked the 4th most advanced in the World;
- a solid banking industry, well regulated by a globally respected and still independent Reserve Bank;
- magnificent scenery and stunning wildlife parks as the backbone to tourism;
- etc …
The biggest problem we have is voter apathy among the youth which has been rising steadily since the first “magical” elections held almost 30 years ago in 1994. To quote Tessa Dooms – “There are 14 million unregistered young people in this country. The last election the ANC only got 10 million votes. If those 14 million young people showed up, they could unseat the ANC”.
Collette Schulz-Herzenberg produced an analysis of the South African non-voter – and here is a chart from her report. It shows that in our 2019 National Election less than half [49%] of all folk old enough to vote actually voted. Back then 9 million eligible voters remained unregistered. That number has now swelled to 14 million in the past 5 years. On top of the vast number of unregistered voters – we also have seen a steady decline in voter turnout.
It really is time for a change in the political landscape in South Africa – but wishing for it will not do the trick. We all need to do what we can to encourage folk to show up and vote in 2024 for anyone other than the ANC. Help to educate family, friends and employees about the crucial importance of voting so that the prospects of a healthy coalition can be put in place after the next National Elections. They will be upon us faster than you may think!
