With the rand at R10 to the US dollar and first quarter growth at under 1%, it’s hard to see this ‘silver lining’ that Mr Pennington predicts. Please don’t compare crime in this country with other more civilised countries. It’s the nature of the crimes that are so shocking, for example, a son raping his mother or the rapes of two-year-old babies and 90-year-old grandmothers.
And the less said about our incompetent police force, the better. At any day of the week, about 30% do not even turn up for work. Crime certainly pays in SA. A criminal has about 5% chance of being caught and successfully prosecuted. Not a bad business to be in!
Comparing our debt with the US, UK and Japan is rather silly – they can afford it! With all the new tax laws I’m not surprised that tax collected has grown eight-fold. Even if you take inflation, population growth and the halving of the rand’s value over the last 20 years, we should, by all accounts, be booming. The things that are important to South Africans are: Unemployment is at least 30%.
We are now a net importer of food. Lack of service delivery. The state of our infrastructure – sewage, water, roads and electricity. A corrupt government. Five-million taxpayers (as opposed to registered taxpayers) paying for 16 million receiving government grants. I’m old enough to remember the 1960s when it was two US dollars to the rand, R2 to the pound and you could fill your car with petrol for a lot less than it costs you today for one litre. A bit pointless quoting figures, though, don’t you think?
Read Steuart Pennington’s article ‘And now for the good news‘
