30 Years On

A TV special looked at our thirty years of democracy and freedom.

I saw an ANC election poster for the 1994 elections:

'Vote for Jobs, Peace and Freedom!'

 One out of four is not bad. We voted.

Someone said that is is important to remember the good things. Good advice. I must say that remembering the good things makes me feel better about betrayal, blundering, incompetence, indifference and corruption. What do you mean: 'What good things?' Haven't you noticed that we have electricity?

Someone else said that we are no longer a country divided, at war with itself. As the harmonious music emanating from EFF, ANC, MK and others clearly indicates. That and the mutterings of so many peacemakers on social media. Anyone listening and reading can tell that we have conquered racial disharmony, resentment,  victimhood and attendant ills that lesser countries struggle with. We have uBuntu. Even our many unsolved murders were probably committed in a spirit of goodwill to all.

We are no longer an international pariah, added someone else. Yes, but we're trying hard.

'According to JICA, Japan recovered from World War II by 1955, as its per capita GDP returned to pre-war levels. However, Japan's economy experienced rapid and sustained growth from 1945 to 1991, a period known as the Japanese Economic Miracle. By the 1960s, Japan had become the world's third-largest economy, after the United States and the Soviet Union.'

'Germany took around 20 years to fully recover from World War II. The reconstruction process was long and difficult, with millions of people homeless and unemployed. In the early years, the focus was on basic necessities, such as food and shelter. As the economy began to recover, more attention was paid to rebuilding the country's industrial base'.

But you can't compare us to the Germans and Japanese. They had advantages. Raw materials imported from us, foreign aid. I suppose that they also had leadership that focused on reconstruction and growth. But they can't sing, dance or shout slogans worth a damn. We have them there. Besides, they were only bombed into ruin. We had apartheid.

We do outperform them in several areas. We have social grants, blue light brigades and well - pampered, well paid officials. Lots of them. Take that, Germany and Japan!

So we're lost at sea, but we did have a great start to the voyage  - cheers, streamers, champagne for some. And we did travel a long way - in a circle, but it's a big circle, and nicely round. You can't say we didn't make progress. It's a completely new place that we're lost in. We have left the old behind.

So, there, fellow South Africans. Much to celebrate.

The Scuffle Continues!

Tips for the blogger gratefully accepted 

Capitec Bank, South Africa  

1378565477

O Tichmann 

+27 833970723