After reading the papers, listening to radio news and watching the equivalent on TV over the past week, I became convinced we are living in one of the weirdest countries on earth. I became convinced of this after selecting five items from recent news events to underscore this statement.
Here is my own version of “you know you’re in South Africa when”:
In a country where crime is rampant, 50 000 police officers are withdrawn and sent to Bloemfontein to celebrate National Police Day at a cost of R40-million to the taxpayer. The official reason given for the exercise was that it would boost the morale of the Police Service. Why not boost their morale by using that money to pay them better salaries? If any morale was boosted by this gross waste of money, it could only have been that of the people who tendered to deliver services on this day. They must have made millions.
The president of the country has three wives, is planning to marry another, has at least two ex-wives, and has fathered at least 20 children, the latest of which is by the daughter of a long-time friend. Against the background of what became known of the president’s love life during the court case after which he was found not guilty on a charge of rape, he seems to be in the same league as Tiger Woods and other celebrities who have undergone therapy for an addiction to sex.
Corruption and mismanagement are causing major cost escalations in the power utility Eskom, but this is being swept under the carpet. Contracts worth millions of rand are being awarded without asking for tenders, and this has doubled coal costs at a major power station. To crown it all, the man who must take the rap for the mess, including the massive tariff increases over the coming years, ex-CEO Jacob Maroga, is suing Eskom to the tune of R85-million for “wrongful dismissal” and loss of income.
The wife of the Minister of State Security is arrested on suspicion of being involved in drug trafficking, after being under suspicion for more than a year.
She is a senior local government official, not known for her work ethic, who has used up all her leave, and more, to travel the world. Instead of statements from the appropriate people on the matter, at the time of writing this column all that had been forthcoming was a chorus of voices praising the integrity of the minister, but a stony silence on the arrest of his wife.
The report of a task team commissioned by the mayor of Pretoria on the feasibility of changing Pretoria’s name to Tshwane, has warned against it, saying it will cost more than 1.5 thousand million rand. This report was kept secret since 2005, but leaked to the media last week when the ANC reaffirmed its intention to change the name as soon as possible.
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EVERY now and then a truly innovatory and ground-breaking decision is taken that irrevocably changes the course of events. We believe the newly formed partnership between the local community radio station, Radio Sunny South, and the South Coast Fever, is such a decision that will have a huge impact on the local community.
HE is just as funny in person as he is behind the microphone, short, with dreadlocks, and soft spoken. Laughing and cracking jokes is one of his hobbies.
Port Shepstone Hospital
It is indeed good news that a total breakdown of services at the Port Shepstone Provincial Hospital has been averted. Although it still has many deficiencies, this hospital performs a vital function in our community, and in spite of many sporadic complaints about the standard of service rendered, there still are dedicated and hardworking personnel who care for their fellow man and go the extra mile.
WITH radio experience at SAFM, 94.7 Highveld and Radio Today under her belt, South Coaster Nicole de Gruchy is an exciting new addition to the Radio Sunny South family.
