Zuma Honours Ethiopia Leader Meles

South African President Jacob Zuma Pays Tribute To Meles

President Zuma today paid tribute to late Ethiopian leader Meles Zenawi who died at the age of 57.

President Zuma called Meles Zenawi a "great leader" who had contributed much to Ethiopia and Africa as a whole.

Was President Zuma talking about the same Meles Zenawi, the dictator of an impoverished 10th world nation with no viable economy, no modern infrastructure, rampant starvation, and whose citizens flood South Africa as "Economic Refugees". If he was, then Jacob Zuma either doesn't keep himself up to date on what is happening in the real world, or he is living in a dream.

The Spear Painting | Winners and Losers

Jacob Zuma The Spear | Success of the Century

Controversy has been the order of the day for the past two weeks after a painting by an obscure artist .... named Zuma - The Spear was exhibited in a Johannesburg, South Africa, art gallery. The Spear portrayed the South African president, the honourable Jacob Zuma, with idealised exposed genitalia.

There have been winners and losers created by this whole episode. The artist, the gallery, the buyer and even the constitution are clearly winners, while the ANC emerges as the only loser with egg on their faces.

ANC Objects to The Spear

The ruling political party, the African National Congress and their cohorts in the tripartite alliance (COSATU and SACP) took exception to the painting, claiming it dishonoured and insulted the president and stated it was unacceptable to black African culture for a leader to be portrayed in this manner. The ANC and allied parties demanded the painting be removed from display and destroyed. A protest march was organised for Tuesday this weeks to deliver the demands to the gallery, and a court case initiated to obtain a court order for the painting's removal.

Apartheid Lives in South Africa in 2012

Legislated Apartheid Continues in South Africa Today

Apartheid in 2012

Eighteen years after the fascist National Party government of South Africa was removed from power, their policies of apartheid continue under the rule of the previous 'freedom fighters' organisation, the African National Congress.

Apart from a brief hiatus from 1990 to 1994 after President de Klerk scrapped all apartheid legislation, and from 1994 to 1999 when the rule of common sense and decency held sway under the guidance of President Nelson Mandela, apartheid continues as an entrenched policy supported and practised by the government of today...

DA and Cosatu Lock Horns

Discord and Violence Over Youth Wage Subsidy

Tuesday's DA led demonstration against government's proposed wage subsidy for young citizens resulted in violence on the streets of Braamfontein when Cosatu members objected to the demonstration.

Violence at wage subsidy protest - image courtesy Mail & Guardian

The DA supports the wage subsidy, believing it will help young people get employed and gain essential experience in the workplace, while Cosatu believes it will lead to currently employed workers losing their jobs, further exploitation of the labour force and lower wages (as if workers wages aren't poor already).

Unfortunately both sides have good, valid points. From Cosatu's side, they are likely correct to believe the subsidy will lead to reduced earnings and exploitation, while the DA is right to support any means to create employment in South Africa. 

Agriculture Minister Too Busy to Do Her Job

Tina Joemat-Pettersson Too Busy or Too Lazy?

Tina Joemat-Pettersson, South Africa's Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries told parliament yesterday May 07 2012 she could not possibly meet with all the agricultural organisations in south Africa as there were too many (around 550) because she would have to work every day of the year for 5 years to do so!

Image from Business Day

Well Minister, that's what we (the taxpayers) pay you to do. We do not pay you to drive around the country in luxury vehicles, fly all over the place, stay in expensive houses and up-market hotels when you are travelling for business.

It's part of your job. If it's to much work for you, resign and let someone who is not so bloody lazy take over (if there is any member of your party that actually knows what the concept "Work Ethic" means).

South Africa Budget 2012 in Brief

2012 South African Budget Overview

Presented to parliament and the nation by South Africa's Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan

• South Africa’s finances are in good health. A budget deficit of 4.6 per cent of GDP is projected in 2012/13. We plan to reduce the deficit to 3 per cent of GDP in 2014/15, and public debt will stabilise at about 38 percent of GDP.
• An expansion in infrastructure investment is one of the central priorities of the 2012 Budget.
• Special emphasis is given to improving competitiveness in industry, investment in technology, encouragement of enterprise development and support for agriculture.
• Total spending will reach R1.1 trillion next year, representing some 32 per cent of GDP.
• Education, health and social assistance will remain the largest categories of expenditure, sustaining and expanding the social wage over the MTEF period ahead. Investment in people is at the centre of our growth and development strategy.
• The budget continues to support job creation, with a particular focus on unemployed youth.
• The budget provides for personal income tax relief of R9.5 billion, with further measures to increase tax compliance.
• Measures are proposed to invigorate household savings.
• We will strengthen financial management in the public sector, pursue value for money with the greatest possible vigour and ensure that taxpayers’ money is well used.
• Fraud and corruption will be combated through changes to procurement policies and practices and tough enforcement of the law.

State Of The Nation - Jobs

The Presidents State of the Nation Address 2012

Sawubana boPresident Jacob Zuma, unjani boBaba. Once again you have delivered a well presented State of The Nation Address to the people of South Africa. Your State of The Nation Address was poignant, and addressed serious issues affecting our people, in an absorbing speech with well timed humorous remarks that broke the tension of an otherwise serious discussion. Congratulations, I applaud you.

However Mr President, you continue on a path that has failed since the early 1980's, of course I refer to the intended way forward on the road to job creation.